Nisbet Homestead Farm Records (DeKalb County)

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-216

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Nisbet Homestead Farm records document the establishment of the family homestead by Matthew Nisbet using property and mortgage deeds, and traces the homestead’s development into a recreational park and campground by Helen Nisbet-Roberts beginning in 1976. The collection contains two series. Series I, The Old Stone House, is arranged chronologically, and contains land purchase deeds, National Heritage Site information, and documents pertaining to the conversion of the homestead’s land into a recreational area. Series II, the Nisbet Family, is arranged according to the Nisbet Family Tree, located in the oversized collection (RC 200). This series contains photographs, family genealogy, family research, receipts and bills, and correspondence between family members spanning from 1841-1998. For further information regarding family farms in DeKalb County the researcher should consult the Guy Lanan Farm Records (RC 111) and the Harry A. Joslyn Records (RC 183). For further information regarding other family farms in the region the researcher should consult the Regional Collections Guide.

Dates

created: 1824-2009
Other: Majority of material found in 1860s-1990s
Other: Date acquired: 10/19/1993

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

Matthew Nisbet, born in Scotland in 1818, came to DeKalb County from Canada in 1841. He settled in Paw Paw Township in DeKalb County where he proceeded to build a two story log cabin to live in while he built the historic stone house. The house, built of ten by four feet blocks of stone hauled by ox cart from Ottawa, took 15 years to build. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 31, 1984. The Nisbet Homestead land was later developed into a recreational park and campground in 1976 by Helen Nisbet-Roberts which remained with the family until 1994 when the property was sold to Russell Marcum.

Note written by

Extent

2.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Chronolgically and by the family tree

Source of Acquisition

Helen Nisbet-Roberts

Method of Acquisition

Helen Nisbet-Roberts donated the Nisbet Homestead Farm Records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on October 19, 1993.

Related Materials

For further information regarding family farms in DeKalb County the researcher should consult the Guy Lanan Farm Records (RC 111) and the Harry A. Joslyn Records (RC 183). For further information regarding other family farms in the region the researcher should consult the Regional Collections Guide.