Map of Lake County, Illinois 1861. Published by L. Gast Bro. & Co.
The Lake County, Illinois map of 1861 was
the county's second official map. An earlier map was commissioned by the County in about 1845, but no copies are known to exist.
Lithographers Leopold Gast and Brother of St. Louis, Missouri were hired to publish the Lake County map. By 1861, the American map making industry was in full swing. The lithographic process was more cost effective than copperplate engraving, allowing lithographic map publishers to make good maps at a low cost, even in small publishing runs.
To ensure the map's accuracy, the surveys of County Surveyor, George Hale, were used along with the records of the Clerk of the Circuit Court/Recorder of Deeds, Josiah M. Truesdell. The map was a useful resource for farmers, businessmen and government officials.
Lithographers Leopold Gast and Brother of St. Louis, Missouri were hired to publish the Lake County map. By 1861, the American map making industry was in full swing. The lithographic process was more cost effective than copperplate engraving, allowing lithographic map publishers to make good maps at a low cost, even in small publishing runs.
Detail from map of Lake County, Illinois 1861.
To ensure the map's accuracy, the surveys of County Surveyor, George Hale, were used along with the records of the Clerk of the Circuit Court/Recorder of Deeds, Josiah M. Truesdell. The map was a useful resource for farmers, businessmen and government officials.
Libertyville Township (partial) from 1861 Map of Lake County, Illinois.
As an historical record, the map is a snapshot of Lake County’s agricultural heritage, and settlement and immigration patterns prior to the start of the Civil War (1861 - 1865). In 1860, Lake County's population was 18,257.
An original 1861 map in the collections of the Bess Bower Dunn Museum was in need of conservation. A grant from the Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution funded the map's conservation by the Book Restoration Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Detail of the 1861 Lake County map before conservation. BBDM 2016.0.24
The paper map had significant cracks, flaking, and the shellac coating had aged to a dark color. Its conservation treatment included, but was not limited to soaking the map in milk alkaline solution to relax flat, de-acidification, removal of shellac varnish, and mounting map pieces onto Okawara paper and then onto Irish linen.
After conservation, the map is now stable and able to be exhibited for short periods of time.
Full view of 1861 Lake County map after conservation. BBDM 2016.0.24
The map contains information on landowners and farms, locations of churches, dwelling houses, schools, businesses, roads and natural features. It also includes census data, a view of the public square in Waukegan, and business districts for Waukegan, Antioch, Half Day, Wauconda, Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Deerfield, Forksville (Volo), O’Plain Bridge (Gurnee), Diamond Lake and Barrington.
Similar to county atlases that included artist's renderings of farms, and county histories with biographical sketches of prominent citizens, the 1861 wall map promoted the county's civic pride and was a useful source for finding ownership of parcels of land.
Public Square in Waukegan showing Recorders office (left) and courthouse.
Today, the 1861 Lake County map is considered an invaluable genealogical and historical record.
To view the map online (and other county maps) visit Lake County, Illinois Maps Online https://maps.lakecountyil.gov/mapsonline/.
Special thanks to the Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for funding the conservation of the Dunn Museum's 1861 Map of Lake County.
