Before 1816
Before 1816, the area was mostly timber and settled by Potawatomi Indians. The Potawatomi of Wisconsin and Illinois River signed their first land cession treaty with the United States in 1816.
Indian Treaty and Land Cessions of 1833
Potawatomi Indians sold the last of their land in northern Illinois and all land in southeastern Wisconsin to the United States at a treaty council in Chicago. Nektosha falls within the 1833 treaty.
1838 Land Survey of Vernon Township
The land survey of 1838 shows, that Nektosha (red square) is in a broad timbered area that has not yet been cleared for farming. The first settlers arrived probably shortly thereafter.
1861 and 1873
The land during that time was probably farmed, but changed hand quite frequently. In 1861, Nektosha belonged to a Josiah Burritt and in 1873, it was farmed by A. Barber.
1885 Plat Map of Site
By 1885, the site, a 40-acre farmstead, was owned by a Mr. John Barker. There was a house on the site, suggesting that the land was actively farmed at that time. Mr. Barker petitioned the Commission of Highways on November 13, 1894 to lay out a road for public/private use to his property (Barker Road, now Nektosha Way). The Commissioners granted the petition on November 18, 1894.
Aerial Photographs from 1939-2018
- \1939: Site appears to be farmed.
- 1946: Site appears to be farmed.
- 1947, October 21: Trust agreement with La Salle National Bank is signed.
- 1952, October 14: Julius F Simon and his wife Genevieve L. Simon bought the south-eastern part of the 40-acres (204 x612 feet) for $ 100.
- 1960: The area where the site is located is incorporated as a village. It is named Mettawa for a Potawatomi chief who resided in the area prior to 1833.
- 1961: Site appears to be farmed.
- 1973: Trust agreement with Chicago Title & Trust Company is signed.
- 1974: Farm appears to be fallow.
- 1980: Mr. Edward C Johnson, living in Chicago, begins to pay site taxes. The site is developed into a tree farm.
- 1989: Taxes are paid by Edward C & Lorraine Johnson, both living in Libertyville.
- 1993: Both ponds are well established. Site is managed as a tree farm.
- 1997: Site is not farmed.
- 2002: Taxes are paid by Kurt Johnson living in Lake in the Hills, IL.
- 2004/2005: Site is not farmed.
- 2007: Improving the pathways
