Kellogg's Grove
Also known as: Blackhawk War Monument; Blackhawk Battlefield Park; Blackhawk
Why it's listed
Kellogg's Grove is a Black Hawk War battlefield southeast of Kent, Illinois, set on a knoll overlooking the Yellow Creek and Plum River valleys. Oliver W. Kellogg settled here in 1827, building a log cabin and barn on the trail between Peoria and Galena; the cabin often served as an inn for travelers. In June 1832 two battles were fought at the site. In the first, soldiers under Captain Snyder lost three men. In the second, on June 25, Major Dement's militia fought a force led by Black Hawk, and several soldiers were killed. That fight is described as the last Indian battle or skirmish on Illinois soil. Today a small county park holds a limestone monument raised in 1887, topped with cannonballs and enclosed by an iron fence. Soldiers killed in the area are buried at its foot. The cabin foundation and wagon ruts survive on adjoining farmland, and the nominated area covers 56 acres.
Significance in brief: The site was an early settler's cabin and inn on the Peoria-to-Galena trail, and it was the scene of two Black Hawk War battles in June 1832. The second battle, on June 25, 1832, is described as the last Indian battle or skirmish on Illinois soil. The graves of soldiers killed in the war's local fighting lie at the monument.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78001191, listed June 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Kent, Kent |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | June 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001191 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1827, 1832 and 1887 (specific dates given) |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | A county park of about one-half acre holds the monument, playground equipment, a shelter house and rest rooms. The original Kellogg cabin and outbuildings are gone, but the cabin foundation remains, along with wagon ruts on an unfarmed hillside. |
| Acreage | 56 |
| Coordinates | 42.29594, -89.88668 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78001191.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6385830
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.