Hubbard’s store in Danville catered to white settlers and he got to know nearly all of the residents, and voters, of Vermillion County, and extend credit to many of them.  When he decided to run for state representative in July 1831, despite being a Whig in a Democratic county, he won the election easily. 

Governor John Reynolds’ assigned Hubbard to the Road and Public Land, and Banking and Finance committees.  The former designated Hubbard’s Trail the first State Road designated State Route 1.  Much of the route today follows closely Hubbard’s Trail.  Where it crosses over the boundary of an earlier and smaller Chicago it is called State Street.

The Banking and Finance committee gave him a complete understanding of the state’s financial problems, and the costs of building the I&M Canal.

On February 12, 1833, Hubbard’s bill “An Act Establishing Iroquois County” was passed.  But an election of county officials would have to wait more than a year before the proposed county’s population reached the required 350 residents.  By then Hubbard’s single term in office ended and he and his wife had left the new county to live in Chicago.

Next page: Becoming a Chicagoan