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The history of Rutland Township, LaSalle County, Illinois

In LaSalle County, Rutland Township was one of the first areas of the county to attract settlers. A former historian in 1886 stated it this way: ” Its (Rutland Township) location is an enviable one, having the Grand Rapids of the Illinois River on the south, the village of Marseilles in the Southeast corner, and Ottawa near the Southwest. The Fox River in the North and West, with its vast water-power resources , make for Rutland a situation of unsurpassed manufacturing interests.

When the Township was organized on April 2, 1850, it was labeled Trenton. After a few years, the name was changed to “Rutland Township” in honor of the vast holding of rich Rutland silty loam soil found in the area containing very little lope and good for farming. For years, Rutland Township held the distinction of purveying these indigenous soils as one would distribute valuables.

In 1850, the first Corps of officials holding office was as follows:

Supervisor – A.D Butterfield

Clerk – J.R Shaver

Assessor – W. Pitzer

Collector – Cyrus Shaver

Highway Commissioners – E.S Hallowell, O. Olmstead and John Nichol

Justice of the Peace – John Gibson, J. Smith

Constables – J.M Trenery, C. Shaver