As Kane County celebrates its 175th anniversary, we note that real history is often lost in the mere chronicling of past events when what really captivates us is learning about the characters involved.  After all, how would we ever know about the man Kane County is named for never actually lived here. 

Linda Eder of the Kane County Genealogical Society notes that in the late 70's Kane's courts and the clerk's office unloaded their ancient probate, naturalization, and marriage records into the Society's hands.  The 880,000 names now stored and accessed through the Society began as a smaller project in 1977 in the basement of Linda's home where she and a friend transcribed the first records from an 1888 History of Kane County onto 3x5 index cards - 65,000 of them!  Later, in the 80's the records were transferred to floppy disks.  Many of the original records are neatly stored in binders that line the Society's shelves in their office at the Geneva History Center.  The City of Geneva is also celebrating its 175th anniversary as well as the Batavia United Methodist Church.  Take a dive into your own pedigree.  Visit the Kane County Genealogical Society.

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