Pioneers built homesteads in the Fox River Valley between 1830 and 1850. They were attracted to the area that would become Cary and Fox River Grove by the beautiful scenery, abundance of clear water, and opportunity for waterpower provided by the river. The Fox River was the principle highway for Native Americans and these early settlers. It later attracted many residents of Chicago who spent their summers vacationing along its banks. The river provides outdoor recreational opportunities and is today the busiest waterway in the Midwest. The pages in this book bring to life the people, places, and historic communities--Fox River Grove to the south and Cary to the north, as well as Oakwood Hills and Trout Valley--along the Fox River.