The best way to do this cache is by walking around the block and up the street. You can drive if you want, but if you do, please do not drive too slowly or block the street. People live in this neighborhood and use the street to get around.
The listing coordinates will take you to the E. A. Collins Home. It faces West St. This home was built as a double house by E. A. Collins and Jesse R. Grant. Jesse came to Galena in the 1840s to start a new leather business. He already had a prosperous leather business in Ohio and was looking to branch out into this new territory. Grant and Collins were partners in the leather business and this home. They also built another home farther up Hill St. The successful partnership lasted 12 years.
Please proceed to the other waypoints to gather information for the final.
John E. Smith 1854
The Museum will tell you that John E. Smith lived on S. Bench St. He did in the late 1840s and it is a beautiful home. However he lived in this fine brick home in 1854. I think Smith liked brick homes. This is the second one I know of. I walk past here almost every day with my dog Trixie. Trixie noticed that the porch with the number 519 has been removed from the front of the home
Please write down the Hill St. address of this home.
The third digit = D
John A. Rawlins
John A. Rawlins lived in this new home in 1858. John was an attorney. His wife died of tuberculosis in 1861. Then John joined US Grant's staff rising to the rank of Major General during the war. In March 1869 President Grant appointed Rawlins Secretary of War. Unfortunately John died of tuberculosis on Sept. 6, 1869.
Please write down the Hill St. address of this home.
Add the second and third digit to = E
William R. Rowley
This home was built at the same time as the Rawlins house next door. Its first occupant was William R. Rowley. He held several different jobs for Jo Daviess County. When the war began in 1861 he joined the 45th IL Volunteer Infantry Regiment under John E. Smith. He transferred to US Grant's staff in 1862. He contracted rheumatism and had to resign in 1864. In 1866 Grant recommended his appointment as Brevet Brigadier General for his service in the war.
Please write down the Hill St. address of this home.
Add the second and third digit to = C
John E. Smith 1858
After the last 3 stops you probably thought we had 3 future Generals living in a row. I don't know if Rawlins and Rowley moved in before Smith moved out but John E. Smith lived in this home in 1858. I think he built it but can't verify that. This was Smith's home when he went off to war. Notice it is brick? John E. Smith formed the 45th IL Volunteer Infantry Regiment here in Galena. It became famous as Washburne's Leadmine Regiment. He left Galena as a Colonel and returned as a Major General. His wife Aimee and their 3 youngest children lived here through the war. Their oldest son Alfred graduated West Point in 1861 and rose to the rank of Colonel in command of a Regiment before war's end. Alfred was later brevetted Brigadier General.
Please write down the Dodge St. address of this home.
The third digit = B
Collins House
This is the other house built by Jesse Grant and Collins. Collins lived here. I always liked this home. My friend Tom lived here. His mother was cub scout den leader. I grew up 2 blocks away. Hill Street was my route to school and downtown. I knew about the Rawlins and Rowley homes when I was young. The rest of the information in this listing I learned recently in my research of Major General John E. Smith who I portray in the Galena Generals. You can find us on Face Book.
Please write down the Hill St. address of this home.
The second digit = A
Nelson House
This home has triple history. I am going to ignore the Nelson history. In the 1850s Jesse R. Grant lived here for a short time. His leather businesses in Ohio and Galena were doing very well. Jesse was also one of the original investors who built the new Desoto House Hotel in downtown Galena. In the late 1850s two of Jesse's sons, Samuel and Orville came to Galena. He started the J.R. Grant leather business for them to run. They covered the area and had 2 remote warehouses in Wisconsin. Unfortunately Samuel contracted tuberculosis and by 1860 was dying. Jesse invited his oldest son to Galena to become partner and carry on the family business. Ulysses S. Grant and his family arrived in April 1860. He hated the leather business while growing up and didn't like it in 1860 either, but pitched in replacing Samuel on the road. When war broke out Ulysses went off to serve his country again. That is another story. His brother Samuel died Sept 13, 1861.
The third history of this home - John E. Smith moved into this home in 1866. Aimee and their 3 youngest lived here until 1869 while John was serving his country out west. In 1869 all 3 children were married. (Not at the same time.) Then Aimee moved west and joined John in Utah.
Please write down the Hill St. address of this home.
The third digit = F
Now that you have gathered all the information needed it is time to sharpen your pencil and figure out the coordinates. All addresses are 3 digit numbers.
The final is located at:
N 42 25 .ABC W 090 25 .DEF
This cache is located on private property with permission from the owner. It is accessible from the sidewalk. Do not enter the yard.
Have Fun,
Kirk