Nathaniel Pope first appeared in Kaskaskia in 1804 but shortly moved to St. Genevieve, Missouri. He returned to Kaskaskia in 1808 and became, by appointment, Secretary of Illinois Territory in 1809. Before the arrival of Governor Edwards, Pope, as acting governor, issued a proclamation organizing the Illinois Territory. As territorial delegate to congress, he succeeded in having the northern boundary of the state moved from the line running due west from the southern tip of Lake Michigan to the parallel of 42 degrees, 30 minutes north, thus giving to Illinois the site of the future city of Chicago.
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