Peotone Illinois, is located approximately 40 miles from downtown Chicago. They are a small community that is proud of their history of friendly people, good schools, and home to one of the last remaining mills in the country, originally built in 1872. The Village of Peotone was established in 1856 on the windswept prairie of Illinois and soon grew into a farming community.
As there wasn't a reliable source of water available for the production of power needed for grinding grain, Henry A. Rathje is given credit for building a windmill. Some historians account that it was his father, Frederick, together with Christoph Elling, who constructed the mill. Information found on a warranty deed dated July 3, 1871 states the "wind grist mill was erected in 1871 by Messrs. Elling & Rathje and contains two run of stones, and is doing a successful and satisfactory business." Another account of the Rathje family from the 1900 Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County, Illinois, states, "In 1874 H.A. Rathje married Miss Wilhelmina Luhmann, a native of Hanover Germany. After his marriage, he engaged in the milling business acquiring the mill at Peotone. When the mill came into production, it provided a variety of products such as wheat, rye, budwheat flour, and cornmeal. An actual mill invoice recently discovered states that Henry's business was established in 1974.
For many years the mill stood in silence while general maintenance was performed by Henry's son Paul W. Rathje. The mill eventually passed to Paul Conrad Rathje who recognized the mill was a historic structure. Paul donated the mill, and the land on which it stands to the Village of Peotone in 1982. The Peotone mill is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Peotone Historical Society has undertaken the job of restoring the mill to its original working condition.
Peotone is ready for industry, business and general economic development. The community also has an outstanding park district and library operated by the Peotone Public Library District. Peotone residents enjoy the tranquility of a country life-style. The homes in Peotone range from many gorgeous historic turn-of-the-century homes to beautiful new contemporary ones. Peotone is particularly supportive of opportunities afforded by new technology, with a high-tech, fiber-optic artery running through its heart. Census data of 2000 states that Peotone has a total population of 3,385. That number has grown significantly with the addition of many new homes.
Current home listings in the Village of Peotone range from $120,000 to $990,000.
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