Apple River Fort, 1832 Black Hawk War

03/24/2026

1. Do you think you know the Three Elizabeths? (Name them.)

2. Which Elizabeth was not buried in Jo Daviess County?

4. For which “Elizabeth” was the present village named? (It’s not who you think.)

5. Who was the principle landowner for the original village site? (It’s probably not who you think.)

6. Where was the original village platted and lot lines laid out? (It’s not where you think.)

03/21/2025

Apple River Fort needs your help.

Despite outstanding original planning and construction, the fort is 25++ years old. Portions are in dire need of a rebuild, while other areas need refurbishment. Years ago, pleas to renew chinking, reset hinges, clean and reseal the chimney and its chinking fell on ears unwilling or unable to act.

The can has been kicked down the road, and we’re out of road. Allowing the fort to simply fall apart is not acceptable. The State of Illinois needs to harvest some replacement logs and put a few thousand dollars of replacement and refurbishment into the site.

Please contact your Illinois representatives and nicely request money desperately needed to restore Apple River Fort.

Do it today!!

09/28/2023

A fond fairwell to Interpretive Specialist Elizabeth B., as she has left Apple River Fort State Historic Site for other opportunities. Thank you for many years of great service!

With Elizabeth’s departure, the question of whether or not the site will remain open. Best information indicated that volunteers from the Foundation are devoting hours to the site thus keeping the doors open during regular hours through October.

05/09/2023

A beautiful example of a Bean “Southern School” rifle.

As you may recall, two of Russel Bean’s sons were present on the roster for the “Apple River Company” of militia in 1832.

10/21/2022

Hallowe’en approaches, a time of lit Jack O’ Lanterns, spooky stories, and hoards of children roaming the streets for more candy in their treat bags.

Did the people who lived around Apple River Fort celebrate Hallowe’en? The answer is almost certainly “no.” However, they lived a Hallowe’en of their own all year—- by way of their traditional mannerisms, customs, and means of dealing with local spirits “haints” or ghosts.

For example:

1. Leaving a rocking chair rocking invites spirits into the house;
2. Hang a mirror by the door to confound the Devil;
3. Acorns placed on window sills prevents lightening from striking the house;
4. Upon a person’s death, the clock is stopped, mirrors and pictures covered, and a window is opened (to allow the spirit to depart)
5. Placing your hat upon a bed is bad luck.
6. An itchy palm means you will receive money;
7. An itchy nose means company is coming.
8. Never step on the threshold of a door.
9. If you bring a tool out of the house, you must return it walking backwards the same way you left the house, for good luck.
10. Never sleep in bed facing either the door or a window, for good luck.

There are hundreds more— each meant to add or detract luck, secure a good planting season, predict the weather, good luck at weddings and the New Year, etc., etc.

10/21/2022

A recent post regarding the people of Apple River Fort and “where did they come from?” did a good job of listing several family surnames, but at first glance didn’t go into depth as to their physical and geographical origins.

Generally speaking:

1. The majority of the 1832 fort inhabitants were Southerners (either by birth or by avocation [the latter means people who considered themselves “southern” by adopting southern ways, etc. regardless of their geographical birth place].) Many of these Southerners originated in North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and so forth.
2. As one might expect, only a few Yankees (born in New England) were at the fort during the June 24 fight. One of these may have been Josiah Nutting of Massachusetts, wounded by a glancing ball to his head. While the destructive American Civil War less than 30 years into the future, sectional differences became stronger as time went on. For example, the Eames brothers were born Yankees. George Eames’ place was close to the future fort site. Yet the Eames’ chose to refugee the 15 or so miles west to the stockade at Galena, rather than the half-mile to Apple River Fort. John D. Winters was born in Pennsylvania, yet considered himself a Southerner, by avocation.
3. Only a very few at the fort were “foreign born.” The best example is Charlie Baur. Born in Germany, at a young age he opened farming and was traditionally the foreman of the lead furnace of LeBaum & de St. Vrain located east of the fort site. Baur boarded with another family closer to the fort but never joined the militia per se during the 1832 “war.”

This and much, much more in a forthcoming book!

06/04/2022

Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to link actual artifacts to the short-lived Apple River Fort experience. But sometimes we can get close.

This image is of an original Bean hunting bag, made by Charles Russel Bean, Jr.. There were two Bean brothers on Captain Stone's roster: Charles Robertson Bean, and younger brother Joseph Russell Bean. Both men were schooled by their father as blacksmiths and gunsmiths.

The Bean rifle was a "Southern school" product: full-stock walnut, slightly larger cal. barrel, and "iron furniture." The bean rifle contained such distinctive features, the "Beans School" be came a subset of the "Southern School" of rifle-making.

The Bean hunting bag, much like their rifles' signature trigger guard and long oval patch box, were signature pieces, in that they were on average about the same bag made for customers.

Charles Russell Bean, Jr. was the son of Charles Robertson Bean of Apple River Fort fame. Charles, Jr. emerges as a particularly gifted rifle maker and artisan.

Discover even more ideas for you

03/23/2022

With great sadness we report the passing of a truly dedicated man:
Robert Lopp.

I had the privilege of chatting with Robert in several occasions after the fort closed for the day. He had keen common sense and the ability to see though one’s 💩almost immediately.
At times, Robert ledge a hard life— one I did not envy, yet he carried a kind of buoyancy and harmony about life that never seemed to completely go away.
Fridays were “French fried frog legs” day, when he and his sister went out to eat. He could (and often did) go through the preparation process in minute detail. Then he’d laugh, that rich, full, nose-runny laugh that seemed to come straight from the timber. The forest landscape of a bygone age.
Robert Lopp has left behind shoes that can never be completely filled. His passing has and will leave a lasting mark at Apple River Fort— a vacancy buoyancy of quiet dedication, often without pay, performing tasks that no one else would or could do… and did them quietly and with his reverence for the site.
We shall continue to pray for the repose of the Soul of Robert Lopp.

03/15/2022

We observe with very heavy hearts the passing of Robert Lopp, a long-time maintenance worker and expert maker of lead round ball at Apple River Fort State Historic Site. He passed at a Galena hospital this morning 14 March 2022. He was 70.
Mr. Lopp was a dear friend to many readers of this page. He was down to earth, highly dedicated, and one of the most friendly, personable, and unassuming gents it was my privilege to know.
He lived simply, and his hallmark was the years of service he devoted to the historical site. This service continued for a long time after his paid state contract expired. Despite almost constant joint and back pain, he continued with daily cleaning and maintenance duties, repairing signs and fences, climbing ladders, and setting up canvas flies for special events. He was a genuine “fixture” at Apple River Fort. We will miss Robert, very, very, much.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be forthcoming.