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The history of Loran is sparse but it is known that Haight gave over his claim in Section Twenty-four on the road to Freeport, and east of present day Loran. George LaShelle made the actual claim nearer to Loran, the community-to-come, in the "hollow," as the one-time popular description said. The writer of the 1880 Stephenson County history quaintly stated, "improvements were the usual in such casesa cabin and a corn patch." Twice, perhaps more, the author points out that from the first settlers information was readily available but from the later emigrés (after 1850), little could be obtained. Perhaps they were of a retiring nature, who knows now! It may be that what is on record is not asaccurate as it could be.
Two conditions occurred, however, that changed the course of the otherwise routine development in the taming of the wilderness; number one being that many Germanic peoples came in from Europe to settle in Northwest Illinois due to unrest in their homelands ... Lippe, Mecklenberg, Pomerania, Saxonywhere exodus was in the thousands. They dominated the population in the hills and valleys around Loran's neighborhood and other pockets throughout America. The second situation which changed history up there in the 1850's was the arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad at Freeport from where branches spread across the top of the state. Because of the rails making easy access, travelers and settlers flooded in to take up farm claims, begin their tradesmake a life. They were of many nations as well as Americans already here a couple generations who were moving West. During that "second wave" of population in the '50's the first store was opened in Loran to be joined off and on by others until the last merchandiser closed its doors in 1961. A small cluster of homes had begun to make the nub of a settlement look much like a village on its way to getting larger ... Farms grew, houses, school and churches were completed so that, as was said, "whitersoever the eye may turn," could be seen progress. Before Loran Township was shorn of that part that became Jefferson, it could be said it was "watered" by Yellow Creek and its tributaries, Plum and Lost Creeks," an adequate water power to turn the water mills which were so necessary to the primitive frontier and its development. Loran Township's first settler had been William Kirkpatrick in 1836, he building the first sawmill in the county at Mill Grove, a few miles east of present day Pearl City. That mill supplied the lumber for the first houses/buildings in Freeport which was vying with Cedarville for county seat. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick lived under his overturned wagon as others built houses due to his occupation. He was quite the entrepreneur but is little credited with the services he performed such as "laying out" the City of Freeport that, at the time, had but four stores but was noted for having a "postal station." Freeport drew trade from surrounding regions especially after the railroad came on, Loran/Jefferson included, because as history relates there was no town of "import" in those townships; only a gathering of a few houses as late as 1880 that became known simply as "Yellow Creek" because it was perched on the creek of the same name. There were two-three stores, a blacksmith shop plus a "postal station," it could boast about, too ... And history relates that success could only be accomplished "on the contingency of a railroad facility," that wasn't attained until 1886-87 with arrival of the Chicago-Great Western which transformed "Yellow Creek" into "Pearl City," it taking on some of the trade of the county seat. Jefferson Township farms were devoted to dairying and raising hogs in the sweeping hills and rolling prairies where thickets and groves accented their beauty. George LaShelle had a village platted in 1854 which became Loran. There would be five blocks with twelve lots each. His major road through would be called, "High." LaShelle's objective was to draw in population and further the boundaries of a town, lure in tradesmen, farmhands, teachers and so forth. As it was promoted, "The lots would be priced at cost within the means of even the least ambitious." !! This was not an especially positive sort of promotion and it didn't build a stampede of buyers but during the ensuing years a blacksmith plied his trade, the previously mentioned stores, a wagon maker who in 1880 built a cheese factory which persisted as a farmer's co-op until 1961 when it became a feed store till 1968. There was a shoemaker, a blind furniture maker (whose St. Bernard dog might have been security) at times a homeopathic physician and veterinarian. Of course there was a school in various buildings, a step up each time, and three churches: a Methodist that was built in 1875, frame, at the cost of $1,600. They met two Sundays a month. An Evangelical with a congregation similar in size to the Methodists, 75, meeting every other Sabbath also, and nearby a Lutheran which was served by transient ministers. The bustle of Loran has quietened over the years as businesses, trades, professions have left. However, the "Slurp and Burp" tavern remains to entertain its customers with its poetic name, light meals, a bar, card playing and the atmosphere that can only be attained in the rural setting that it enjoys. For many years Loran was known for its annual Homecoming but as reference gives it was "overwhelmed by success." Not enough volunteers to promote it. Now, however, Homecoming is once again being observed. For the second year a Horse and Carriage Parade is being organized ... August 22, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., an original idea from another of those interesting places that dot the hillsides of Northwest Illinois and which have developed in individualistic ways. Stop by. Next weekmore!
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