Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society

06/11/2026

The Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society will present a program entitled, "Riding the North West Carousel Part II - Winter", detailing the trials and tribulations of working on the railroad in the winter as it went through Dixon, Sterling and Nelson.The program will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 22nd at the LCHGS office at 113 S. Hennepin Avenue in Dixon.
The speaker will be Mike McBride, a well-known expert on the railroads that helped form the history of our area. Mike was born in Dixon and graduated from Dixon High School in 1966. He traveled for a number of years while in the Army, but returned to Dixon to resume his life after serving his country. He worked for the Chicago Northwestern RR, the Chicago Central Pacific RR and the Illinois Central RR.
Mike has authored books on freight cars and has photos in 49 hardcover books, advertising and various magazines. He has wonderful stories of these early years in our history to share. Please come join us. There is no fee and there is ample parking nearby. The office is handicapped accessible. For further information, call 815-284-1134.

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

We are excited to be a part of the Dixon Petunia Festival, Inc. again this year and are offering this year's button for sale ! This year, you will also be entered into a raffle for some great prizes with each button purchased ! We have Tom Wadsworth's book, "Distinctive Dixon", Jeff White's book celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Petunia Festival, and local restaurant gift cards.
Stop by the office or catch us at local events between now and July 7th when we do the drawing !

05/30/2026

From the February 24th, 1914 Dixon Evening Telegraph -

05/30/2026

Mr. Lee Sherman, for thirty years a resident of Dixon, died at his home on Fourth Street last Friday afternoon. The cause of his disease was rupture the bladder, undoubtedly caused by inflammation induced by an accidental and injury sustained too weeks previous.* Those who saw him on the street Monday and Tuesday, little expected to attend his funeral within a week. His sufferings from Wednesday night were very severe. Mr. Sherman was born in September, 1828, at St. Hyacinth, Canada, of French-Canadian parentage. He was raised a Catholic, but for many years has been a member of the Universalist faith. He came to the United States when but ten or twelve years of age and settled in New York state. He was married in 1852, at Montpelier, Vermont, to Miss Caroline Loomis, who survives him. They have three children, all grown. Mr. Sherman, with his little family, came to Dixon in 1858, and at once engaged in the sale and to some extent in the manufacture of al implements and machinery, in which trade he remained for about twenty years. Since that time, with health impaired, he has retired from active business. His funeral on Sunday conducted at the family residence, within sight of his last resting place.
*Sherman, while building a kitchen addition to his house, fell from a long step ladder, striking on the joists below in a manner to sustain a very severe and painful injury.

05/21/2026

The Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society will be closed on Saturday, May 23rd.