From farms to foundations: Peoria’s legacy was built on hard work and whiskey

PEORIA (25News Now) - It may come as no surprise that Peoria was founded by a farmer who saw an opportunity to prosper in the rich land along the Illinois River.

Derived from the indigenous people that lived in the area, the city of Peoria was founded around 1837, about 12 years after the county was formed. Since then, the River City has been a hub for exports, historically grain and alcohol, like beer and whiskey.

Peoria Historical Society Curator Maureen Naughtin said the city was settled by six young men, all around 18 or 19 years old, who were exploring north from St. Louis. The men settled at the base of the present-day Bob Michael Bridge.

She specified that one man, Josiah Fulton, decided to cultivate the rich soil around him, and he laid the groundwork for a prosperous export city.

“The reason why Josiah Fulton gets credit for being the father of Peoria is because he stayed,” Naughtin said. “Some of the other early pioneers moved on.”

Naughtin said the settlers came to the area to build railroads, farm the land, and access the river.

“[The river was useful for] transportation and harvesting ice,“ she said. “[That included] getting the ice out of the river, using it, chipping it south, and using it to be stored later for breweries.”

She said all three resources present in the Peoria area created the opportunity for a massive industry to form in the late 1800s and early 1900s — distilling and brewing.

“[Due to] the area, because of the rich limestone water, all the grain in the area, the timber, and the river for transportation, distilling was king,” Naughtin said.

Peoria, nicknamed the Whiskey City, was the largest exporter of the liquor in the nation at one point in history, according to Naughtin. She said the product played a major part in filling the government’s purse.

“The tax on that income went directly to the federal coffers,” she said. “Up to 45% to 50% of the federal budget came from taxing liquor made here in Peoria.”

Naughtin said in present-day Peoria, the remnants of the old distilling industry can still be seen along State and Washington Streets. She also said people can still learn from the founding settlers.

“Seeking freedom and knowing how important it was to drive their own destiny and make their own choices,” Naughtin said. “I think that was an important part of our early history that continues today.”

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