Rock Falls was founded on the south bank of the Rock River in eastern
Whiteside County in 1867 by A.P. Smith. Whiteside County itself was
named after General Samuel Whiteside, a distinguished
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officer who
participated in area Indian wars from 1812 until the close of the
Black Hawk war.
In his
pursuit of Black Hawk in 1832, he passed through this section, and
burned Prophetstown.
General Whiteside was a
native of Rutherford County, North Carolina, and came to the Illinois
Territory in about 1806.
Besides
holding the positions of Captain, Major, Colonel and General Commander
of forces against hostile Indians, he was frequently elected and
appointed to civil offices of trust and honor. He died in 1861 and was
buried near the home of his daughter in Christian County, Illinois. |
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