Gougar's Crossing

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Aaron Friend and Joseph Brown established an outpost along Hickory Creek in 1829, making it one of the earliest settlements in Will County [Gougar Rd, north of Hickory Creek]. Along with Brown and Friend was a Col. Sayre who remained until 1832 when he built a sawmill about a half mile away in Joliet Township. After Brown died in 1830, Friend remained only a few years in the area, moving west with the Native Americans after the Blackhawk War of 1832.

William Rice, Sr. and William Rice, Jr. came in 1830, began farming and built a log cabin [Gougar Rd., north of Hickory Creek]. In the fall of that same year they sold their land to John Gougar who purchased the land on behalf of his father William Gougar. The William Gougars stayed and eventually flourished. In 1832 Gougar established a post office at his farm. Residents in the area went to "Uncle Billy Gougar's" for mail. The Gougar farm became the center of activity in the area.

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