| The town is named for galena, an ore of lead, lead sulfide. The Native Americans mined the ore here, at least for use as body paint. The French mined lead here as early as 1690. Americans were working the mines prior to 1818. Because of the lead deposits, Galena was settled early on by Americans, even though its location, in the far northwest corner of the state, was remote from the early settlers, who generally came from the southeast. But in the 1840s, at the height of Galena's prosperity, the town's population was larger than Chicago's. As the use of lead declined, so did Galena's fortunes. But the beautiful architecture of the city remained, and much has been preserved for today's generations to enjoy. Ulysses S. Grant, the future American Civil War general and 18th U.S. President, lived in Galena for several years working as an assistant in his father and brother's leather shop. Today the home he lived in Galena for several years after the Civil War is a popular tourist attraction. His political mentor was Elihu B. Washburne, a Galena attorney who served in Congress and later as Grant's own Secretary of State. Reference |  |