Newell S. Colby, farmer and stock-breeder, was born in Danville, VT Oct 13, 1826, and in 1840, when fourteen years of age, came with his father to McHenry [county]. During the winter of 1841-2 he attended a school taught by Archelaus Sias in the north end of what was known as "Brown's Log-Cabin Tavern". This was the first public school ever taught in McHenry, although Elder Wheeler had taught a private boarding school at a previous date. Sias was the son of a Methodist minister at Danville VT, and had come west with the family of Ira Colby for the purpose of selling the "Sias Improved Medicines" prepared by his father. The younger Sias sold these medicines to the pioneer settlers for some time, after which he engaged in the mercantile business at McHenry, but finally went, in the ocmpany of Dr. Brown of McHenry, to California, where he died.
-- Historic Encyclopedia of Illinois, Vol II McHenry County Citizens, Edited by Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, Munsell Pub. Co. Chicago IL 1903
