Peru’s history is ultimately the story of its people. Some became prominent community leaders, business owners, public servants, or civic volunteers. Others led quieter lives whose experiences still reveal something meaningful about the community they called home. Explore the stories of the individuals and families who helped shape Peru—and discover how their lives were woven into the larger history of the city.
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Above Ground for Eternity: A Coal Miner’s Wish
Visitors to Peru City Cemetery may have noticed the impressive stone mausoleum bearing the name WHITTLE. With its stately columns and substantial stonework, it looks like the final resting place of a wealthy and prominent family. But the story behind it is quite unexpected—and perhaps more interesting. The mausoleum owes its existence to William Packer,…
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The Packer and Whittle Families: From the Coal Mines to a Lasting Legacy
The Whittle mausoleum in Peru City Cemetery has an unusual history. Although it bears the Whittle family name, its construction was financed by William Packer, an English immigrant and coal miner who spent much of his adult life living with his sister’s family. Understanding why Packer made this remarkable provision in his will begins with…
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A Sad Duty: Bridget Halligan and the Removal of Her Family’s Remains
People in the Illinois Valley may be familiar with the story of the LaSalle Mission, the early Catholic burial ground at 24th and Chartres streets—also known as Wenzel and Airport roads. If so, they may also be aware of the eventual removal of remains from that cemetery to St. Vincent Cemetery during the second half…
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The School Superintendent Who Held a Patent
Peru educator Dr. Joseph Mini received a 1964 patent for an ingenious liquid soap dispenser. Discover this little-known side of his remarkable career.
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The Ancestry of Maud Powell
Our society attended a birthday celebration for Maud Powell on August 22nd in Centennial Park. The event was hosted by The Maud Powell Society of America and featured several musicians focusing on string instruments. After the event as we were getting ready to take down our display for the Peru Historical Society, someone stopped by…
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One Old Bill, Many LaSalle-Peru Stories
This estate account voucher for Patrick Halligan’s estate was found in a local probate file at the LaSalle Genealogy Guild in Ottawa. At first glance it may seem like a simple listing of materials sales. However, a deeper dive into it reveals so much more history of our area. A Peru Business Still Operating Today…
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The Peru Zimmerman Family
The Zimmerman Blueprint: From Old World Roots to a Landmark at Fourth and West Explore the story of the Zimmerman family—from their German origins and early business ventures to the creation of their prominent family estate in Peru. Click the image below to download the pdf to view.
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The House That Lumber Built: Uncovering the Zimmerman Legacy at 4th and West
The 12-Year-Old Apprentice: A Life Built on Industry Long before he was a titan of local commerce, Christian Zimmerman Jr. was a boy learning the “judicious training” of his father. One of nine children in a bustling 19th-century household, Christian Jr. was required to develop a sense of responsibility early. While a modern middle-schooler is…
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Margaret Stout O’Donnell: From a Wartime Field Hospital to Peru’s Hospitals
Margaret Catherine Stout O’Donnell served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from 1943 to 1945. After completing her nursing education in West Virginia, she entered the Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Her wartime service took her from Northern Ireland and England to field hospitals in France, Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria. As a…
