An area in Lee County, just five miles east of Dixon was laid out as a village in the fall of 1853 on land which was owned by Colonel Dysart and George Baugh. This was the start of the village of Nachusa, which got its name in honor of Father John Dixon, to whom, in earlier times, the Indians applied the name "Nachusa", which meant in their language, "white hair."

The village was originally established as a trading post which soon thereafter dealt in large amounts of grain. Some 200,000 bushels of grain were handled with the figure increasing to over 300,000 bushels a short time later. During 1860 a large grain elevator was built which was operated by John Dysart and Israel Slothower.

Settlement was slowed by the fact that Dixon was just miles away to the west and Ashton and Franklin Grove to the east were also established areas. The early days of the village had cows and chickens running all over and people had to fence in their gardens, flowers and etc. to keep the animals out.

The first church built was the German Baptist which was widely called the Dunkard and was located where Emmert Cemetery is today. The small church had a basement, kitchen and a sleeping room above the audience room. Different ministers were hired from time to time to preach the sermons and they usually stayed or slept in the special room for that purpose.

The first blacksmith shop opened in early 1856 by a Mr. Farwell. There was also located a paint shop and John S. Eicholtz, manufactured wagons of all kinds along with carriages and buggies. In 1868, Mr. Eicholtz added a blacksmith and a repair shop to his wagon factory which served the village and surrounding areas for many years.

When John Dysart returned home following service in the Civil War he brought with him a Negro slave who he had befriended during the war. Since the slave was now given his freedom, the Colonel gave him a job and a place to live in Nachusa. His name was Peter Hatcher who later was married and had six children who were all educated in the Nachusa school. He was the only Negro to ever live and raise a family in Nachusa and were loved by the residents of the community. Mr. & Mrs. Hatcher and some of their children are buried in Emmert Cemetery.

In 1873 a general store and combined post office was built which was operated by Horace Street. The upstairs of this structure was used for Sunday school and was utilized for church suppers. It was also used as a dance hall and for social gatherings. But the building only lasted for two years as it was then torn down to erect a larger building in its place. The business and new post office was now owned by William Dysart. The structure later burned down in a fire in 1918.

During the early railroad years most of the people living in Nachusa were of Irish descendent who worked for the railroad. They attended St. Patrick's Church in Dixon and often times, their mode of travel back and forth was with a railroad hand car. If a doctor was needed in town they went to the town depot and telegraphed Dixon for a doctor. By 1873 many had moved on following the progress of the rails westward. Settlers were arriving from Pennsylvania and other areas of the eastern part of the United States. Bigger and more fashionable homes were being built, among them a home built for William Dysart by George Eichholz. Another large structure built was used as a hotel and run for many years by Mr. & Mrs. Dan Eicholtz.

The laying of the corner stone for St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Nachusa was in September of 1887. It was on August 9th of that year when an organizational meeting was held to start a congregation with W. L. Remsberg as the first church pastor. On Dec. 11, 1887 the church was completed and dedicated, debt free. The building had been a community enterprise built by members and non members of the church for $2,686.

George Weyant and Frank Coleman operated a slaughter house begun in 1889 and traveled the county peddling meat in wagons to the farmers. In the ensuing years a barber shop, implement building, harness shop, shoe repair and a ice cram parlor would be operated. It was on May 12, 1904 when the Nachusa Home was formally opened with six children at the time enrolled. The 45 acre tract of land was donated for this home by Mrs. Mary Shippert. The home was rebuilt in 1911 due to a fire. A second fire occurred in 1928 and once again the home was rebuilt during the next year. By 1950 the Nachusa Lutheran Home consisted of three cottages, a two room school building, a three car garage and a group of four farm buildings with enrollment at 48 children. The home today has all modern facilities and continues to serve the children.

Nachusa never became a "boom town," which would later on lose its identity, rather, the area has maintained its stature through some 140 years.

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