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Continued: History of Cook County Illinois; page 465
One of Mr Patterson's assistants in raising the house was Alexander McDaniel, wo was also seeking a homestead. This land had not been surveyed by the Government, and those who built upon their claim acquired many advantages in obtaining their choise of real estate. When completed, Mr Patterson's house, then located on the military road from Chicago to Green Bay, was opened as a "way-side inn". In October, of this year, Mr McDaniel bought a Government claim upon the present site of the village of Wimmtka, and now known as the "peck Place". In the spring of 1837 he purchased land and built himself a house where John Garland now lives, south of the railroad depot. Here he resided for five years, keeping "bachelor's hall", and accommodating all his Chicago friends and others who could not "put up" at the "Paterson House". Mr McDaniel afterwards removed to Evanston and to Wilmette.
Alexander McDaniel moved to Wilmette in the spring of 1869.
The village of Wilmette was incorporated in October, 1872, and the following officers elected: Board of Trustes, A. McDaniel (President), C.F. Boggs, A.T. Sherman, B.M. Munn, Amos Shantz and John G. Westerfield.
In connection with Messrs. McDaniel and Latham he has made large and valuable additions to Wilmette, now known as Hillville.
Up to the age of twenty-one he remained with his parents, and for the last two years of his stay was on a farm. On May 12, 1836, he started for the West, reaching Chicago May 27 of the same year. He remained in Chicago that summer, and August 14 came to what is now Winnetka, Cook County, and in October, 1836, bought a Government claim where that village is now located, known as the Peek Place. In the spring of 1837 he bought and cleared ground and built a small shanty where John Garland now lives, south of the railroad depot. He afterward built a good house on Peck Place, and lived there until September 27, 1842. He removed to Evanston, where he built a house west of the railroad depot, in which he lived until April 1853, when he moved to New Trier Township, about one mile and a quarter east of what is now Wilmette Station. He remained there up to the spring of 1869, then moved to where he now resides in Wilmette. In connection with H.A. Dingee, of New York, he laid out the village of Wilmette, and made many of its improvements. Mr McDaniel is the oldest settler now living in New Trier Township. He was school director and Trustee of the village to assist in its start, and although repeatedly solicited, has always been adverse to holding public offices. He was married to Miss Eracline Hunteen, of Champlain, St Lawrence Co, New YOurk on November 27, 1842. They had five children: Elten (now Mrs A.B.Baleam, of Minnesota), Charles, Henry, George and Grant. The parents of Mrs McDaniel settled in South Evanston in 1839.
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