Illinois and Michigan Canal

At some point after my 3rd-great-grandfather John O'Brien retired from the sea, he made his way to Illinois. It looks like John may have become involved with the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which opened in 1848. The canal path runs through La Salle County, Illinois, where John O'Brien obtained some land deeds in 1851 and 1853.

Source: Wikipedia, Illinois & Michigan Canal

The canal connects commerce from the East Coast via the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. Preserved sections of the canal are still located in La Salle County.

On 24 October 1851, John O'Brien and John Nolan received lots numbered 4 and 5 in block 93, town of La Salle (John O'Brien was deeded lot 5) from the trustees of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. They paid $150.

Two years later, on 26 October 1853, John O'Brien bought 40 acres in Section 27, Township 36 North range 2 East from land speculator Elias B. Stiles and Sybil C. Stiles. John paid $50 for the tract.

I do not currently have much more on John O'Brien's time in La Salle County. I was hoping there would be other land records from before he moved the family to Shelby County.