Timeline: 1885

Jacob Earnest (1832–1910), a former enslaved person from Tennessee, settled in South Homer Township in Champaign County. He purchased 80 acres of land southwest of Homer near Lost Grove adding to the 404 acres he farmed in Vermilion County. He arrived in Ridgefarm, Vermilion County, IL, in 1871.

Albert Lee is hired as a messenger in the President’s office of the University of Illinois. He would eventually develop his position so that he is considered “the unofficial Dean of Students for Negro students.”

George W. Pope married Sarah Allen, sister of Essex Allen on March 19, and they moved from Sidney to Champaign, IL.