About Us :

The village of Leaf River was plotted by J.B. Bertolet, Ogle County Surveyor, on 40 acres of land owned by M.J. West and Chas. Gaffin in 1880. There were some settlers who were living along the banks of the Leaf River at this time. With the coming of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad westward through the township at this time, these settlers envisioned the need for a village where supplies could be easily obtained. The railroad was originally built under the name of the Chicago & Pacific Railroad and was designed to be a narrow-gauge railroad, but adopted the standard gauge before commencing work. It was built to Byron in the spring of 1875, where it remained five years. It was completed to Leaf River in October 1880, and the growth of the town began. A railroad station would soon be established, and also a 10,000 bushel capacity grain elevator. (In 1888, fifteen to twenty farmers reconized the need for a larger railway station in Leaf River. These farmers pooled $ 50.00 each for the construction of a new Depot.) Frederick Speck, soon after, completed the first dwelling house in the platted town. The first building designed for a store and dwelling was erected about the same time by Preston & McKee. They opened a stock of General merchandise, continued in business for about one year, and were then succeeded by Preston Brothers, who subsequently failed in business. (This building still remains on the corner of Main St. and Second St, and will be better remembered as the site of the first newspaper "The Mirror," and later as the Leslie Kretsinger Garage.)