Belvidere and Boone County

Although Boone County is one of the smallest counties in Illinois, it is rich in larger—than—life stories that grew from its prairies, forests, and streams. Its history includes a king of the hobos, a huge wheel of cheese, and a business leader who manufactured some of the best sewing machines and bicycles ever built in the United States. From the 1830s to the 1940s, Boone County rode booms and busts while steadily growing and attracting new residents with diverse backgrounds. To understand...