House name and year built

Chamberlain House

1854

304 State Ave.

The Bradley L. Chamberlain family moved to St. Charles from New  York in 1848 and built this Federal Style house in about 1854.

Chamberlain owned and operated a grocery business on East Main Street and served as a postal railway agent before joining the 8th Illinois Cavalry in 1861 to fight in the Civil War. Bradley's son, Oscar, also enlisted in the 8th Illinois Cavalry.

Bradley Chamberlain held the position of quartermaster of the 8th Illinois Cavalry and provided supplies and provisions to its troops. Bradley and Oscar Chamberlain were both captured in May of 1862 and imprisoned at Libby Prison in Virginia.

They were released from prison in late 1862 as part of a prisoner exchange and returned to St. Charles.

Bradley reenlisted in May, 1863 as quartermaster in the 8th lllinois Cavalry, serving in that position until the end of the Civil War in 1865.

Bradley returned to St. Charles and operated his grocery business until his death on September 18, 1872. Oscar ran the grocery for several years after his father's death.

Sources