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An explanation with reference to "underground railroad " connected with some of the early homes, should be made. Col. Peter Stewart, one of the pioneer settlers, together with several others, was anxious to help in any way to free the Slaves of their bondage by aiding them in their route of escape prior to the Civil War. Several underground passages for moving them were dug. These passages or rooms were a part of the system known as the 'Underground Railroad', a system which operated throughout the northern states. There was, of course, no actual railroad and in most cases, there were no tunnels dug. The fugitives were hidden in attics, barns, church belfrys, wood piles, hay stacks, etc. The name underground was a code name and many railroad terms were used to mislead those trying to catch the so called 'run-aways'. The buildings at the end of a 'line' were called 'stations'. The people helping were called 'engineers' or 'conductors'. The fugitives were referred to as 'cargo' or 'freight'.
 Dave Aldrick, a carpenter, purchased land and built an octagon shaped home on South Water Street. This was known as the 'round house', and is a most unique type of architecture. The home had a square keystone extending from roof to basement. The staircase winds around a hollow shaft. It is reported that fugitives were sheltered here as the home was a station on the underground.
Specific, recorded information on the Underground Railroad here in Wilmington is, for the most part, difficult or impossible to find. Bits of information gathered from verbal sources have been gradually pieced together.
In 1836 Daniel McIntosh built the stone house near Forked Creek and now located just south of U.S. 66.
 In 1848 a two story brick building was erected by Franklin Mitchell, at the corner of Water and Baltimore streets. This building housed the first Bank, run by John H. Daniels; and the Exchange Hotel operated by Franklin Mitchell, and was later converted into store buildings.
Wilmington was incorporated as a village by act of Legislature in 1854 and this same year Peter Stewart built a three story brick hotel the "Stewart House".
The Chicago and Alton railroad was completed through Wilmington in 1854, the first train of cars passing through the village July 4, 1854. From this date the real prosperity of the country, within a distance of fifteen to twenty miles on either side of the road, began. Farm lands which had been held at from two to five dollars an acre jumped to three times these prices. Wilmington was incorporated as a city by act of Legislature, February 15, 1865, and John H. Daniels was elected the first mayor.
The first water mains for use of the city in case of fire were laid in 1867 and a volunteer fire department, the Empire Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company, was organized in 1868, their equipment being all hand apparatus. This served until 1916 when the department was motorized, the equipment being built by the firemen. In 1922 the City purchased a modern pumper and in 1927, by public subscription, a second pumper was added as auxiliary community equipment.
In 1869-70 a flour mill, with a run of six stones and a capacity of 200 barrels a day was built at the head of the race, by McIntyre and Whitten , and continued to operate as such until 1907 when the Wilmington Light and Power Company was incorporated. The old White Cloud mill was torn down and modern brick building erected on the site, housing an electric plant run by water power. This furnished light and power to the community until sold to the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois which has since served this large area.
 The City hall, a substantial stone building including the City jail and Fire house, was built in 1879. The present water system was started in 1917 by the drilling of a well 720 feet deep on the City hall lot. New water mains and sewers were laid which, with plenty of water available afforded the citizens all modern conveniences.
The early settlers of Wilmington were religious people, and they had but constructed a habitation which barely sheltered them from the weather, before they began to take measures for establishing a house of worship. Peter Stewart's barn answered the purpose of a tabernacle. In this barn, services were held, and in 1837 in it was organized the Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Mr. Porter as pastor. The first church was built in 1840, and the present beautiful building was erected in 1902-03.
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