| 1600s |
Fertile lands and abundant catfish, sun fish, pike, and black bass from the Calumet River drew the Potawatomi and
Miami Indian tribes to the area. |
| 1700s |
The local surrounding area is part of the Northwest Territory. |
| 1809 |
The area is transferred to the Illinois Territory. |
| 1818 |
Illinois becomes the 21st state of the United States. |
| 1838 |
Defeated in war and excluded by treaty, few from the Indian tribes remain. Those who did remain helped the early
Dutch settlers. |
| 1847 |
Hendrik de Jong purchases 300 acres of land in Thornton Township, and he, his wife Geertje (de Vries) and 12
children become the first settlers in what is established as De Laage Prarie, also known as Holland Bridge or Low Prarie. Antje
Paarlberg also settled here later in the year. |
| 1848 |
Low Prarie Church is formed, later known as Reformed Protestant Church, then First Dutch Reformed Church, and
finally First Reformed Church of South Holland. |
| 1849 |
Thorn Creek Church is formed in High Prarie (now Roseland), and is now known as Thorn Creek Reformed Church of
South Holland. |
| 1853 |
Illinois Central railroad tracks are laid in the village. |
| 1854 |
Gouwen School is built, named for J.C. Gouwen who donated the land. |
| 1860 |
A combination General Store and Post Office is built. |
| 1860 |
The Panhandle Railroad lays tracks through the village. |
| 1870 |
The Post Office is recognized by the US Government, and the town's name was changed to South Holland, Illinois. |
| 1871 |
Eastern Illinois Rail lays tracks passing through the village. |
| 1880 |
The Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad lays tracks across the southern portion of the village. |
| 1882 |
Swedish Evangelical Mission Church is formed, now known as Village Evangelical Free Church. |
| 1882 |
John Shilling founds Wausau Lumber & Coal Company. |
| 1886 |
First Christian Reformed Church of South Holland is formed. |
| 1892 |
Dutch and German farmers begin raising onion sets and eventually came to dominate the commercial production and
distribution of this crop, earning for South Holland the title "Onion Set Capital of the World". |
| 1893 |
Roosevelt School is formed. |
| 1894 |
South Holland is incorporated into a Village under the statutes of the State of Illinois. |
| May 12, 1894 |
South Holland's first Village Board is elected:
| President |
John Shilling |
| Clerk |
Peter Anker |
| Trustees |
D.P. DeYoung |
|
Gerrit Van DeBerg |
|
Roel VanVuren |
|
Okke VanZanten |
|
