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GAYLORD |
PRINTED IN U S A. |
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
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HISTORY
OF
MCHENRY COUNTY,
ILLINOIS,
TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNS,
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL
HISTORY, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND
BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
ALSO A CONDENSED
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,
EMBODYING ACCOUNTS OF PRE-HISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, WINNE- BAGO AND BLACK HAWK WARS, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO: INTER-STATE PUBLISHING CO.
1885.
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THE BLAKELY MARSH PRINTING CO.
PRINTERS, 155 &' 157 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO.
DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY BOOKBINDERS, 3IS-32I WABASH AVE., COR. CONGRESS ST. CHICAGO.
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S
PREFATORY .
In presenting the History of McHeney County to its patrons, the publishers are confident that it will meet with a hearty recep- tion. No trouble nor expense has been spared to make it a com- plete and reliable history, and any errors or inaccuracies it may contain are due to the inability of the compilers to obtain the necessary information. We do not claim perfection for our book, for mistakes are common to the human family, and, although we have tried to be very vigilant, we do not doubt but the merciless critic may find something to fill his hungry soul with delight. Thanks are due to tbe members of the press for their kind loan of newspaper files, to public societies and churches for data furnished and to the citizens for their ready co-operation and interest taken in our work. It has been our aim to give at least the name, if not more extended notice, of every "old pioneer," and if any are omit- ted it is owing to the slight importance placed on the preservation of records in the early days of the county's history, and failure on the part of those having the knowledge to impart it to the compiler.
In the spelling of proper names, we have found in this as in other counties, that members of a family disagree, and where such is the case who shall decide ? In the personal sketches we have, of course, followed the subject's "copy," but in the general history have tried to give the preference to the majority. Also, members of the same family oftentimes differ in regard to dates of settlement of the family in the county, births and deaths of the members of the family, and it will readily be seen that the historian and pub- lishers are unable to determine which is correct, this or that.
The desire to meet a long-felt want on the part of many citizens for a history of the Prairie State induced us to add that feature to
-k~
PREFATORY.
our prospectus, and accordingly we have met our obligation and have covered the ground in a condensed form, from the earliest settlement of the Territory of Illinois to the present day.
Our book is not one to be read to-day and then laid on the shelf, but one that will grow in interest and importance as the years go by, each succeeding year making it more valuable; and, as other sources of information diminish, it will stand, a monument to tell to coming generations the noble part their forefathers took in the settlement of the grand old State of Illinois, and the populous and wealthy county of McHenry.
THE PUBLISHERS.
Chicago, March, 1885.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
FORMER OCCUPANTS.
Monnd BuilderB— Galena Mounds— Large Cities 17-20 •
INDIANS.
An Original Race— Origin of Name— Illinois Confederacy— Starved Rock— Sacs and Poxes- Manners and Customs— Single Handed Combat with Indians 21-30
EARLY DISCOVERIES.
Nicholas Perrot — Joliet and Marquette — La Salle's Explorations — Great Battle of the Illinois — Frenchmen Driven Away — Inhuman Butchery — Tonti Safe at Green Bay — La Salle's Return— La Salle's Assassination 31-43
FRENCH OCCUPATION.
First Settlements— The Mississippi Company — The People Taxed— Arrival of John Law — Visions of Wealth— The Babble Burst 44-47
ENGLISH RULE.
Claimed by the English— General Clark's Exploits— He Takes Kaskaskia— Vincennes Capt- ured— The Hair-Buyer General — Advantageous Services of Clark 47-54
ILLINOIS AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
County of Illinois— Ceded in 1784— Ordinance of 1787— Sympathy with Slavery— St. Clair, Governor of Northwestern Territory— Illinois Territory 55-59
WAR OF 1812.
The Outbreak — Massacre at Fort Dearborn — Slaughter of Prisoners — Kinzie Family Saved— Expedition Against the Indians— An Indian Killed— Town Burned— Peoria Burned— Ex- pedition up the Mississippi— A Desperate Fight 59-74
ILLINOIS AS A STATE.
Organization — Boundary Changed — First Constitution — Derivation of the Name Illinois — State Bank — LaFayette's Visit— Early Governors — Grammar and Cook Contrasted 74-83
INDIAN TROUBLES.
Winnebago War— John Reynolds Elected Governor— Black Hawk War— Stillman's Run— As- sault on Apple River Fort — Rock River Expedition — The Battle of Bad Axe — Incidents of the Battle— Black Hawk Captured— Sketch of Black Hawk— Black Hawk Set at Liber- ty—Death and Burial 83-95
FROM 1834 TO 1842.
Internal Improvements— Stupendous System of Improvements Inaugurated — Illinois and Michigan Canal— Panic Repudiation Advocated— Martyr for Liberty— Carlin Elected Governor 95-102
PRAIRIE PIRATES.
Organized Bands— Ogle County the Favorite Field— Burning of Ogle County Court-House— Campbell Killed— The Murderers Shot 102-104
MORMON WAR.
" Latter Day Saints " — The Founder of Mormonism — Attempt to ArreBt Joe Smith— Origin of Polygamy — Joe Smith as a Tyrant-^Military Forces Assembling— Smith Arrested— Joe Smith and His Brother Killed— Consternation at Quincy — Various Depredations- Incendiarism — Making Preparation to Leave — The Battle of Nauvoo— Maltreatment of New Citizens — The Mormons Reach Salt Lake 104-118
>\
CONTENTS.
MEXICAN WAR.
Battle of Buena Vista-Bravery of the Second Illinois-Saddest Event of the Battle-Victory for Our Army— Honored Names of this War uo-i**
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
1?BBlinff at the South— Abraham Lincoln did not Seek the Preaidency— States Seceding -The Fee£°Kat;,S2„?„_n„ii fnr Troops Promptly Answered-A Vast Army Raised in
Well as mrioUsm-Shermau's March to the Sea-Character ofAteftam Lincoln-The War Ended-The Union Reitored-Scbedule of Illinois Volunteers 1 2>
141
OFFICIAL.
Governors of Illinois-Lieutenant-Governors-Superintendents of Public Instrnclion-Treas- u™rs-Secretariee of State-Auditors-Unite<f States Senators-Representatives in Con-^ gress
HISTORY OF MC HENKY COUNTY.
CHAPTER I. Introductory and Descriptive.
The Importance of Local History-Scope of the following pages— Geography of Mc- Henry County-Original Area of the County-Present Extent-Climatic Featnree-Topog- riphy-Theories Con erning Prairies-Water Courses of th* County-Geological Feat- ures—Abundance of Drift Formation— Limited Exposure of Silurian Rocks— Clay and Peat 155"1M
CHAPTER II.
The Early Settlers.
Aboriginal Inhabitants of Northern Illinois— Characteristics of the Different Tribes- Indian Titles and Their Extinguishment— Various Treaties— Final Treaty at Chicago in 1833— The Dawn of Civilization— Gillilan, the First Settler in McHenry Couniy, 1864 - Early Centers of Settlement-Pioneer Life— The Log Cabin— Characteristics of tae Fio- neers— An Early Settler's Reminiscences 1M-18J
Civil History.
CHAPTER III
Origin of the County's Name— Establishment of McHenry County from Cook— Legisla- tive Commission— Selection of the County Seat— First Election— Commissioners' Court- Formation of Precincts and Road Districts— T ix and Toll Rates— Lake County Organ- ized—Precincts Re-formed— Township Organization— The Circuit Court— First County Buildings— Removal of the County Seat— New County Buildings— The Present Court- House and Jail— Provisions for Paupers— The County Farm— Items of Interest 184-^10
Resources and Industries-
CHAPTERIV. -Official and Political History .
McHenry County Industrially Considered— Agriculture— Advantages Afforded to Stock- raisers— The Beginning and Growth of the Cheese-Making Industry— The Dairy Interest —McHenry County Agricultural Society— Railroads— Official Register— Roster of Legis- lative, Civil and Judicial Officers from 1837 to 1884— Political History— Statistics— Vote for President— Valuation of County— Population— Manufacturing Statistics 211-23S
McHenry County in the Rebellion.
CHAPTE R V.
The Firing Upon Sumter— President's Call for Troops— Governor Yates' Proclamation —The State's Prompt Response— Popular S -nti nent in McHenry County— Meeting of the Board of Supervisors— Proceedings— History of Fifteenth Regiment— Twenty-Third Regiment— Thirty-Sixth Regiment— Ninety-Fifth Regiment— One Hundred and Forty- First Regiment— One Hundred and Fifty-Third Regiment— Eighth Cavalry— Miscella- neou s Organizations 237-255
McHenry County Bar.
CHAPTER VI.
McHenry County Lawyers— Men of Character and Ability— Earlv Members of the Bar— A.E.Thomas, Searl, Barwick and Others— First Lawyers at Wooistock— D. C. Bush, William Sloan and Col. L. S. Church— A. B. Com, the Oldest Lawyer of the Present Bar —Piatt &, Piatt— Hon. T. D. Murphy— Hoi. M. L. Joslyn— Kerr, Slaviu and Others— Bi- ographies and Personal Mention 256-273
The Medioal Profession.
CHAPTER VII.
Introduction — Early Physicians— Their Character and Experiences — Prevalence of Fever and Ague in Early Times— The Climate— Its General Healthful Character— High Stand- ing or McHenry County Physicians— Historical and Biographical Record— Mention of Prominent Doctors, Early and Late— Physicians of the Several Towns and Villages of the County 274-294
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Public Schools — The Press.
The Cause of Education in McHenry County— The Pioneer Schools— Growth and Devel- opment of the Present School System -The Present Condition of the Schools of the County— Statistics— The Local Press— The First I 'aper, the Illinois Republican, estab- lished in 184b — The Woodstock Democrat — Woodstock Argus— The Sentinel — The New Era— The McHenry County Democrat — Marengo Papers — 1'he Marengo Republican — The Harvard Independent — McHenry Plaindealer — Richmond Gazette— Nunda Herald — Nunda Advocate 295-
The Old Settlers' Association.
CHAPTER IX.
First Meeting, 1868— Officers Elected— The Reunion at McHenry in 1869— Account of Pro- ceedings—The Reunion of 1876 — The Association Permanently Organized in 1876— The Constitution— Oiiginal Members— Subsequent Reunions— Reminiscences— Officers and Members of the Society ; 310-324
CHAPTER X. The Honored Dead.
A Chapter Devoted to" Eminent and Worthy Citizens, Pioneers and Others Whose Life- work is Completed — Farmers, Business Men, Soldiers— Legislators — Editors and Educa- tors—The Early Settlers— Eminent Men of Woodstock— Of Other Parts of the County- Incidents of Pioneer Life — Achievements and HonorB 325-337
CHAPTER XI. Crimes and Accidents.
A Chapter Devoted to the Dark Side of Life in McHenry County— The First Murder Trial — The First Murder— Dark Deeds of Later Times— A Whole Family Killed— Suicide and Murder — A Boy Murdered a Man for Money — Remarkable Storms— Destruction of Life and Property— Commonplace Accidents— Railroad Disasters— Suicides— A Long List of Unfortunate Occurrences 338-358
CHAPTER XII. Farm Dratnaoe 359-366
Alden Township.
CHAPTER XIII.
Origin of Name— First Settlers— Settled in 1836— Location— A Prairie Township— Nip- persink Creek— First Happenings— CemeterieB— Educational Interests — Religious Inter- ests— Postoffice— Dairy Interests— Township Officers— Alden Village — Business Men — Biographical 367-i
Algonquin Township.
CHAPTER XIV.
Location — Topography Lakes and Streams — Railroads — Name — Settlement — Early Set- tlers— Early Events — Cemeteries— Grist and Saw Mills— School Statistics — Township Officers— Crystal Lake Village — Date of St ttlement— Location — Crystal Lake — Incorpora- tion— First and Present Officers — Business Directory — Algonquin Village— Location — Laid Out in 1836— First Doings — Postoffice — Schools— Churches— Business Directory — Biographical 382-417
Burton Township.
CHAPTER XV.
The Smallest Town in the County — Early Settlement — Events of Pioneer Life — A Yankee Settler Among Englishmen— Early Schools, Postoffices, Meetings, etc. — First Township Ejection — Changing the Name of the Town— Spring Grove — Churches — Bi- ographical 418-430
Chemung Township.
CHAPTER XVI.
Name— Settlement— Location— Surface Features— Railroads— Cemeteries— School Sta- tistics—Township Officers — Cyclone— Destruction oT~OTe and Property, and Peculiar Freaks— Lawrence— Postoffice— Presbyterian Church — Chemung— Saw and Grist Mill — Cheese Factory— Postoflice— First Religious Services— Harvard— When Platted— First Events— Hotels— Banks— Manufactories— Churches— Societies— Biographical 431-517
Coral Township.
CHAPTER XVII.
Location— Description— Railroad— Kishwaukee— Settlement— First Events — Religious Services— Cemetery— School Statistics— First Postoffice— Postoffice at Harvard— Cheese Factory— First Election— First and Present Officers— Indian Village— Council House- Union Village— Date of Settlement— First House— Postoffice— Societies— Churches- Coral Village— Harmony— Biographical 518-542
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Dorr Township and City op Woodstock.
Location— Description— Brooks and Streams— Railroad— Named lor Governor Dorr- Settlement— Virginia Settlement— First Events^PreBByterian Church of Ridgefield— ■ School Statistics^-Ridgefleld Cemetery— Creamery— Early Reminiscences — Ridgefield Village Laid out in 1855, by Wm. Hartman— Postoffice— Township Offices— Woodstock- Location and Appearance— Beginning and Growth— First Events— Early Settlers— Me r- cantile and Industrial Histury— Incorporated as a Village, 1852— Village Officers— City Government" Formed 1873— City Officers— Memorable Fires— Fire Department—Post- office— Mineral Springs— Items-Public Schools— Private Schools— Churches and Socie- tieB— Biographical 54d-e,»
CHAPTER XIX. Dunham Township.
Location— Physical Features— Settled in 1836-Name Given— First Events— First Town- ship Election— Officers— Batter and Cheese Factories— Cyclone— School Statistics— A Township Without a Trading Point— Biographical 626-635
CHAPTER XX. Grafton Township.
Location— Topography— Streams and Lakes — Railroad — Settlement — Name — First Events— Cemeteries— School Statistics— Cheese Factory— Township Officers — Huntley Village— Name-Date of Settlement— First Events— Village Incorporated in l87f— Churches— Societ.es— Postoffice— Biographical 63e-bb9
CHAPTER XXI. Greenwood Township.
Name of Township— Location— Topography— Organization— Officers— First Settlers- Early Events— School Statistics— Postoffice— Religious Denominations— Norwegians- Germans— Cemeteries— Saw and Grist Mills— Butter and Cheese Factories— Greenwood Village— Business Directory— Biographical 670-bSs
CHAPTER XXII. Hartland Township.
Location— Physical Features— A Good Site for a Village— Settlement— Origin of Name- Organization— First Events— Officers— Schools— Mail Facilities — CemeterieB — Early Dispute About ClaimB— Counterfeiters— Catholic Church— School Statistics— Biograph- ical 69i
1-706
CHAPTER XXIII. Hebron Township.
Named by a Lady— Settled in 1836— First Settlers— Location— Topography— First Events — Postoftices— Cemeteries— Butter and Cheeee Factories— Railroad— Township Officers- School Statistics— Hebron Village— Societies— Churches— Biographical 707-733
CHAPTER XXIV.
Marengo Township.
Situation— Rich in Soil and Improvements— Description— Stone Quarry— Railroad— Settlement— Early Settlers— Name Given— Early Events— First Election — Officers- School Statistics— Marengo Village— Location— Description— Temperance Town — Date of Settlement— Incorporation— Officers— Churches— Societies — Graded School — Post- office— Banks — Manufactures — Business Directory — Biographical 734-775
McHenrt Township.
CHAPTER XXV.
Location — Water Advantages — Lakes, Rivers and Creeks — Rich Lands — RajlEOjflda— Site of the OldCounty Seat— First Settlement — First Events— Cemeteries— Postoffice— School Statistics— TownBhiD Officers— McHenry Village — Settlement— Incorporation— Officers- Manufactures— Public School— Lodge— Business Directory— West McHenry— Early His- tory— Manufactures— Church — Business Directory — Ringwood — School — Church— Johns- burg— Church— Marble W orks— Business Directory— Biographical 776-825
Nxjnda Township.
CHAPTER XXVI.
First
Location — Lakes and Streams— Railroads — Name of Township — Settlement Events—Prairie Grove Cemetery — B"utter and Cheeee Factory — Barreville— Grist-Mill PoBtoffice— Oary Station— Postoffice— Pickle Factory— Church— School Statistics— Nunda Village— First Called Dearborn — First Business Men — Hotels— Depot and Railroad — Postoffice — Manufactures— churches — Societies — Business Directory — Biographical. . . 826-883
Richmond Township.
CHAPTER XXVII.
A Prosperous Community —The First Settler— The Pioneers— Early Events— Present Condition of Schools— Agricultural Statistics— The Village of Richmond— Its Origin and Growth— Religious History— Societies— Biographical .884-922
Riley Township.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Settlement— Whitman Cobb— First Settler— Other Early Settlers— First Events— School Statistics— First Physician— Cemeteries— Township House— Location of Township- Description— Coon Creek— Stock and Dairy Business— Township Officers— Biographi- cal 923-9:9
Seheca Township.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Location— Appearance in Early Times— A Rich and Prosperous Township— Origin of Name— First Settler— Vermont Settlement— Early Events— School Statistics— Religious —Methodist Church— Franklinville— Postmasters and Merchants— Town Organization — Officers— Cemeteries— Saw and Grist Mills— Cheese Factory and Creamery— Biographi- cal 930
*"\
Abbott, George 677
Axtell, A. E 460
Ayer, E. G 430
Ayer, Mrs. E. G. .. 431
Burgett, James 368
Button, J. C 188
Carmack, Aoram 631
Clark, Samuel 295
Colby, Page 570
Crosby, R. R 25
Crosby, Louisa J 26
Crumb, J. C 516
Cummings, J. S 648
Duffield, Henry 597
Eckert, Henry 681
Eddy, Capt. John 528
Faircbild, Kev. I. H 598
Fulkr, Russel 37
Gage, George 776
Gardner, William 115
Gardner, Mrs. Ann B 116
Ga'es, S. S 38i
IXLIISTKAT10XS.
Goff, Cameron 852
Goff, Mr-. Lydia 853
Green, J. W 274
Hanlv.A. H 140
Harrison, Jnhn 49
Hatch, Lewis 419
Heaney, John 69
Heaney, Mrs. J 70
Huffman, W. H 236
Huffman, Mrs. Mary 237
Hunt, G. W 717
Huntley, C. C 636
Huntley, T. S 637
Johonnutt, E S 904
Johonnot.t, Mrs. Fannie L.905
Keller, He ry 350
Keller, Mrs. Sarjh C 351
Ladd, Wesley 807
Lincoln Monument 137
Lye, Henry 40^
Lye, Mrs. Sarah 407
jlap of McHenry Couuty...l55
McConnell, Wm. A 909
Mead, H. W 706
Old Fort Dearborn 61
Quinlan, Jerry 686
Saylir, J. R 338
Sayler, Mrs. J. R 331
Sears, Z W 99
Senger, Peter 689
Slater, William 484
Slater, Mrs. William 485
Smith, B. F 503
Stickney, George 871
Thompson, Ahira 750
Todri, Rev. R. K. Frontispiece
Tryon, Chas. H 724
Tryon, Mrs. Harriet B 163
Walkup, Wm. P 211
Weeks, Daniel 918
Weeks, Mrs. Ann P 919
Wells, G. V 734
Wheeler, Rev. Joel 816
Whieler, Mrs. E. D 817
BIO&JKAPHICAIi KKKTCIII 8.
Abbott, A. C 395
Abbott, Georse, 677
Adams, Castor 790
Albee, Orrin 936
Aldrich, J. V 89:2
Allen, George 677
Anderson, 3. L 449
AndersoD, V. B 280
Andison, Thomas 587
Andrews, George 893
Andrews, Robert 842
Armstrong, Charles 450
Armstrong, John 843
Arps, Geo. H 587
Austin, A. L 895
Austin, I. A 588
Avery, Col. W.lliam 588
Axtell, A. E 451
Axtell,E. M 525
Ayer, E. G 451
Aylsworth, John 840
Aylsworth. Mrs. A. F. F....841
Babcock, J. B 755
Backus, L. S 629
Badger.J. A 589
Baker, Henry 454
Baldwin, Sebrean 677
Ballard, J. H 644
Barber, Lester 526
Barnee,C. P 272
Barrows, Dexter 630
Barth, Jacob 455
Bassett, Rev. J. E 791
Baumgartner, Rev . J. E — 645
Beck,7.A.... 895
Beck, Robert 456
Beck. R.J 456
Beckley, E '43
Beckley, G. L 843
Beckley, Capt. J. E 845
Beckley, Lucius 846
Beckwith, Chauncey 791
Beers, E. A 2:7
Belden, H. W 938
Bell, J. B 792
Benjamin, Henry 457
Bennett, S. F ail
Benson, E. H 396
Benson, W. P 397
Bentley.D. K 457
Bentley, Rodolphus 458
Besley, G. W 792
Bigelow, F.J 936
Billings, W.G 458
Binnie, H. W 459
Bishop, Hon. Richard 270
Blake.N.E 4*0
Bakeslee, G 589
Bliss, J. D 5^6
Boies, Israel 756
Boies, Wm. A 756
Boley.G 792
Bordwell, D 372
Bourne, A. E 272
Bower, Elijah 896
Brainard, Gilbert 460
Braunen, James 645
Brewer, J. C 372
Brwham E. W 713
Brink, John 847
Broadley, Henry 421
Brotzman, John 925
Brown, A. L 896
Brown, B. S 461
Brown, C. R ....462
Brown, H. B 646
Brown, H. T 277
Brown, J. F 713
Brown, T. M 526
Brown, Wm. A 462
Branson, D. H 679
Bryan, Mrs. S. T 679
Buchanan, J. F 590
Buck.Alfred US
Buck, W. H 280
Bunker, J. F 590
Banker, Geo. K 591
Burbank, A. J 463
Burbank, Elisha 591
Burbank, G. A 592
Burbank, G. E 592
Burgett, James 714
Burke, Michael 698
Bunch, N.B 305
Burton, David 287
Burton, S. L 397
Butler, J. B 849
ButterBe d, Merrick 757
Bmton,J. C 593
Butts, B. B 464
Capron,L. A 937
Carey, B. F 465
Carmack, Abram 630
Carr.R. H 793
Chandler, Simeon 397
Chase, E. T 793
Chase, M. M 794
Chilson.D. W 465
Chilson, Villiam 466
Church, E.L 466
Church, Col. L. S 257
Clark, J. W 467
(Jlai'k, Samuel 646
Clark, M. D., Samue' 293
Clark.S.E '. 679
Clawson.G.T 372
Clayson.G. H 849
Clemens, Chester 850
Coe, H.B 468
Colby, A. P 794
ifo .-
CONTENTS.
Colby, CO 795
Colby, Henry 795
Colby, Ira 795
Colby, N. S 796
Colby, O.C 851
Colby. Page 796
Cole, M.J 714
ColliBon, Freder.ck 897
Conn, G. W 715
Conover, J. L 851
Conover J . S 647
Cook, W. W 281
Coon, A. B 259
Coon, A. B., Jr 272
Cooney, Martin 699
Cooney, E. D 595
Copelaod, H. W 373
Coventry, Wm. H 4f 9
Crabtree, William 398
Crego, Charles 757
Crego, George 758
Crissey, S. A 758
Cristy, J. W 797
Cristy, Wm. A 797
CrOBby.E. E 898
Crow, James 852
Crumb, H. D 470
Crumb, J. C 516
Culver.C.N 899
Cummings, G. C ..648
Cummings, J. S 618
Cunningham, J. F 470
Curtiss, Hon. I. R 266
Cutter, Samuel 373
Dailey, Peleg 680
Davie, A. F 595
Davis.D. L 527
Dayton, Elisha 758
Deitriecb, Henry 680
Deilz, Hon. P. W 759
Dcnison, C. D 899
Diesel, Endolph 596
Dike,C. F 398
Dike. H»nrv 716
Dodge, Elisha 471
Dodge, J. L 399
Dadge, Solomon 798
Donahue, Jo'm 649
Donnelly, C. H 271
Donnelly, Hon. Neill 327
Downs, David 472
Downs, D. L 472
Drake, R. H 527
Daffleld, Henry 597
Duffield, James 598
Dufield, James A 596
Dunham, A. B 527
Dunham, A. E 528
Dunham, C. A 528
Dutton, O.J 47 J
Dwelly, Horace 798
D*ight, W. H 599
Dygert, H. P 399
Earl, Geo. A 374
Eckert, Henry 6trt
Eddy, Rev. H. C 529
Eddy, Captain John 529
Edwards, David 649
Ellis, B. F 650
Ellis, T.J 799
Ellsworth, M. F 21,8
Ellsworth, W. W 937
Eppel, Frederick 699
Estergren, William 400
Evans, J. J 650
Fairchild, I. H 599
Fegers.C. H 278
Fenner, Hamlin 716
Featon, D. L 760
Ferris, Sylvanus 374
Ferris, T. E 651
Fillmore, Wm. J 530
Fisher, Rev. Wm. H 531
Flavin, D. H 700
Foote, Marcus 899
Forby. John 473
Ford, E. A 400
Ford. George 853
Forrest, Eobert 701
Fosdick, Hairy 682
Foster, R. W 600
Foster, S. F 401
Frame, Norman 600
Frary.G. S 401
Frett, Wm.F 799
Frey, George 682
Frey, Veter 683
Friend, M. D 601
Frinb, J. M 531
Fuller, Eussel 900
Gage, George 799
Gale, S. G 901
Gardner, Robert 474
Gardner, William 901
Garry, Patrick 651
Gates, S.S 403
Gays, Wm. C 475
Gibbs, Col. H 902
Gilison.D. L 601
Giddings, J. H 717
Gleseler. Phili p 802
Gillies, JohnC 7»1
Gillis.H W 475
Gillilan, Mrs. Margaret 404
Gillmore, Hon. O.'H 269
Given, Wm. D 683
Gla-s,Elias 375
Goff . Cameron 853
Goflf, W. W 601
Goodhand William 903
Goodrich, G. W 937
Goodwin, J 854
Granger, Hon. ¥.K .... 263
Gratton, E. O 284
Graves, O. E 938
Green.D. C 279
Green, J. W 289
i^regorv, S. 0 602
Griebel, Michael 702
Grifliug, G. H 6u2
Griffith, P. S 926
Grimley, Thomas 651
HackeU, W. M 65J
Hackley, E. G 926
Hackley, F. G 927
Had ey, Richard 652
Hagaman, C. E 476
Hait.N. S 802
Hale,O.M 855
Haiey, William 702
Hanly, A. H 803
Hanson, Magnus 477
Harrison, John 804
Harrison, William 804
Harsh, Isaac 805
Hart, Charles 477
Hart,Wm.B 286
Hartman.O, G 603
Hartman, William 603
Hastings, Carlisle 531
Hatch, Lewis 421
Haven, E. F 512
Hawley, John 653
Hawver, John 478
Hawver.P. D 479
Hay, Eev. S. C 604
HazIet.W. J 938
Heaney, John 422
Hebord, F. A 805
Helm, John 405
He!m,N. B 480
Henderson, Andrew 855
Herdklotz, George 684
HerdUlotz, P. J 684
Hesselgrave, Robert 904
nibbard, A. W 480
Hickox, Mark 604
Hill, Capt. Walter 805
Hills, Oalvin 761
Hodsell, Edwin 927
Hoffman, Aaron 423
Hollister, R. C 653
Holmes, Thomas 904
Houston, C. F 532
Howard, Mathew 684
Howard, O. J 276
Howe, E.N 761
Howe, J. I, 806
Howell, Cary 685
Hoy,M. D 605
Hubbell,M. A 631
Huffman, P. M 856
Huffman, Wm. H 857
Hunt, Charles 481
Hunt, E. H 861
Hunt.G. W 717
Hunt, Brothers 718
Hnntington, Calvin 654
Huntley, C. C 655
Huntley, Mrs. E. M 405
Huntley. T. S 654
Hutchinson, D. P 482
Imeson, Jonathan 424
Ingalls.A.O 938
Ingersoll, C. W 761
Jackman, J. E 862
Jackman, E. D 863
Jackson George . . 533
Jackson, Wi'liam M 533
Jackson, William 266
James, Mason 939
Jecks, Isaac 806
Jerome. J. N 631
Jewett, Henry 606
Johnson, H. W 287
Johnson, J. H 606
Johonnott, A. J 904
Johonnott, E. S 905
Joslyn.Hon. M. L 263
Kee, James 406
Keeney,H. B 762
Keller, Henry 863
Kelley, C. E 762
Kelly, J. W 607
Kendall, C.N 607
Kerns-Mrs. Ann 406
Kerr, Hon. William 262
Kilkenny, Eev. John 657
Kingsley, C. L 375
Knickerbocker, David 376
Knox, Edward 865
LaBrec, Joseph 482
LaBrec, Victor 376
LaBrec, William 377
Ladd, Wesley 807
Lake, M. W 483
Lawson, J. T 658
Lawson, Eichard 906
Lawrence, D. W 763
Lewis, J. 0 483
Leydon, Rev. T. F 608
Lincoln, O. H 763
Lindsay, Thomas 608
Lines, U E 484
Linn, Eev. J. M 485
Lockwood, CharleB 533
Lockwood, H. J 609
Logue, James 486
Lounsbury, M. M 609
Lowell, L. D 293
Lumley, Thomas 808
Lye, Henry, 407
Madole,Jacob 809
Marsh, Henry 906
Marshall, John 939
Marshall, T. P 486
Martin, J. J 487
Martin, L. L 907
Mason, D. T 658
Mason, J. N 908
f
CONTENTS.
Maeon, O. P 659
Matthews, E. F 865
McOonnell, A. B 609
McConnell, George 908
McConnell, John 909
McConnell, Wm. A 909
McDonald, James 685
McDonnell, Patrick 487
McGee, Owen 488
McGee, Sylvester 703
McGee, Wm. F 489
McGhee, A. F 610
McLaren, J. A 610
McLean, H. W 259
McMillan, A. J 865
Mead, Charles 425
Mead, C. L 718
Mead, F. W 910
Mead, H. C 809
Mead, H. W 732
Mead, Marcus 939
Medlar, J. S 610
Merchant, G. E 810
Merry, Eli 377
Merry, W. S 378
Metcalf, Gilbert 928
Metcalf.M. B 928
Miller Brothers 659
Miller, C. C 291
Miller, Ferdinand 489
Mills, S.G. W 490
Minier, H. B 491
Montgomery, William 611
Moore, J. F 638
Moore, William 911
Morris,E.R 533
Morris, T. L 409
Morse, Sherman 611
Morse, W. P 866
Morton, Edward 409
Morton, N. B 493
Mudgett, J. H 867
Mudgett, W. H 867
Mnnger, Milo 492
Monger, W. M 493
Murphy, A. W 686
Murphy, Hon. T. D 261
Murphy, Wm. H 612
Muzzy, I. N 584
Myers, G. H 912
Nash, A. W 660
Nash.S. H 410
Nason, Wm. A 410
Nickle, William 810
Nihan, J. J 704
Nieh, Jameg 618
Noble, Major 912
Norton. Daniel 661
Nutt, F. L 290
O'Brien, Peter 940
Ocock, J. H 534
Ocock, W. W 535
Olmsted, E. S 613
O'Neill, Eev. P. M 811
Onthank, C. W 493
Overton, J. 8 913
Overton, R. W 912
Owen, E. M 811
Page,GeorgeR 763
Page, L. S 614
Parker, B. S 764
Parker, J. F 615
Parker, W 812
Parrish, J. A 265
Parsons, T. L 661
Patrick, F. A 765
Patterson, C. C 867
Paul, Eev. Samuel 494
Peacock, MrB. Nancy 425
Pearsali,E. E 662
Pease, M. C 495
Peck,D. E 765
Peirce, Marvel 426
Pendleton, CM 662
Pervey, John 663
Peters, John 412
Pettingill, O. N 535
Phillips, Robert ...412
Phillips, S. K 536
Philp, James 413
Pierce, John 719
Pierce, John S 704
Pierce, Lyman 719
Porter, T. W 766
Potter, D. A 913
Pringle, Patterson 766
Puffer, H.L 495
Puffer, S. L 496
Puidy, George 914
Purinton, Josiah 496
Qulnlan, Humphrey 704
Quinlan, Jeremiah 686
Quitm, William 61b
Eandal), J. F 664
Eead, Charles 536
Read, J. A 537
Eector. G. S 378
Reynolds, E. S 497
Reynolds, J.N 498
Richards, E. E 616
Richards, T. Mc. D 616
Richardson, Robert 426
Richmond, EH 617
Rider, Wm. H 687
Riley, Wm. O 537
Eobbins, James 914
Robinson, Wm. B 618
Rogers, O. P 767
Rosencrans, H. E .910
Ross, C. L 940
Ross, Wm. S 537
Rowe, Aaron 720
Rowe, Frank 720
Salisbury, J. W 868
Salisbury, William 869
Sanborn, J. W 922
Sanders, W. H 769
Saunders, P. B 4!<9
Sawyer, John 721
Sayler. J. R 812
Schaaf, Michael 705
Schultz, Adolph 499
Schutt, E.M. 500
Scully, J. M 70r>
Seamans, G. W 721
Sears, Z. W 770
Seely, Lyman 500
Senger, Michael 687
Senger, Peter 688
Seward, E. H 538
Seymour, Ephraim 414
Shales, C 870
Shatzla, J> eeph 501
Shearer, William 770
Sheldon, Daniel 941
Sheldon, E. L 290
Sheldon, F. H 539
Sheldon, F. L 538
Sheldon, Prof. J. A 870
Sheldon, T. R 915
Shepard, S. S 870
Sherwin, Ai 539
Sherwood. E. E 415
Shippee, L. J 501
Short, Edward 618
Short, F. L 70o
Short, J. D *19
Shufelt, P. D 502
Shufeldt, Robert 414
Shurtleff. A.J 770
Sindereon, G. J 502
Simpkins, Eichard 941
Simpson, Henry 813
Sinnett. Henry 664
Sinton, David 632
Sinton, Richard 633
Slater, William 427
Slavln, J. H 269
Smith, A. M 502
Smith, A. W 619
Smith, B. F 503
Smith, Hon. B. N 268
Smith, Bradford 813
Smith, CM 684
Smith, Dwight 688
Smith, E. B 620
Smith, E. S 3;9
Smith, G. R 503
Smith.H. C 814
Smith, Janies 871
Smith, Prof. L. L 871
Smith, L. P 504
Smith, W. E 335
Smith, W. L 814
Snowden.John 633
Snyder, Jacob 620
Soothill, J. H 278
Soudericker, George f>89
Southworth, J. M 270
Sperry, Anson 260
Speny.E.P 771
Spraguc, Samuel 665
Staley, J. H 504
St. Clair, I. C 621
Stedman, D. A 771
Stevens, A rieteces 689
Stevens, B. A 428
Stevens, William 814
Stewart, Alexander 772
Stewart, A. D.... .... 772
Stewart, C. F 916
Stewart.J. J 723
Stewart, John 722
Stewart, E. W 721
sticltuev, George 872
St. Jobn, Josiah 929
Stone, Geo. E 279
Stone, G. F 621
Stone, J. B 917
Story, Jacob 815
street, C. and Sons 123
Siryker, Christian 622
Sullivan, Cornelius 706
Sweeney, J. A 505
Sweet, Chauncey 429
Talbot, Jacob 929
Tebbetts, Charles 506
Tefft, C. H 917
Templeton, J. G 666
Terwilliger, S amuel 877
Terwilliger, William 622
Thomas, Andrew 8 6
Thomas, Briegs 918
Thomas, H. E 918
Thomas, M. B 918
Thomas, S. M 415
Thompson, Ahira 773
Thompson, Anson 878
Thompson, A. C 690
Thompson, James 507
'I hompson, J. C 506
Thompson, O. H 507
Thompson, Wm. G 508
Thompson, W. p 416
Thome, C. H 773
To>d, E. K 567
Tong, John 623
Tooker, E. E 509
Tooker, S. B 509
Truesdell, (+. W 919
Tryon, C. F 725
Tryon,C.H 725
Tryon, G. F 729
Turner, G. E fl9
Tweed, Robert 429
Udell, Alby 379
Udell, A. W
Udell, George. Udell, O.J
623 379 3t0
V
CONTENTS.
TJsborne, J. W 540
Vail, B. J 774
Vail.F.G 774
Van Slyke J 307
Van Wie, Lorenzo 510
Vom Bruch, Otto 510
Wakeley, William 511
Walker, Everton 512
Walker, W. B 512
Walkup, J. B 878
Walkup, Wm. P 624
Wallace, James 634
Walters, August 730
Ward, H. K 283
Warner, 0. E 879
Warner, D. B 880
Warner, Walter 540
Waterman, Ira 541
vVaterman, L. A 816
Watrous,J. S 882
Watson, C.C 288
Watson, James '90
Weber, Pr.tz 513
Weeks, Daniel 919
Weeks, E. B 920
Wells, G. V 774
Wells, Jonathan 634
Weltszein, John 666
Wentworth, Isaac 817
Wernham, S. 0 290
Wesson, J. E *91
Wettstein, Herman 513
Wheeler, C. G 276
Wheeler, Rev. Joel 817
White, Christopher 920
Whiting, A. 1) 832
Whiting, A. 0 834
Whiting, Freeman 821
Whitson, Thomas 624
Whittaker, Thomas 416
Whittemore, Washington. .667 Wickham, G. S 380
Wilcox, C. A .....541
Wilcox, H. J 541
Wilkinson, CM 514
Wilkinson, Edwin 514
Wilkinson, Philo 515
Willard, W. R 863
Willey. O 884
Williams, James 668
Williams, Thomas 669
Wood. J. A 614
Woodard Loron 775
Woodbeck,W. H 625
Woodbury, W. H 731
Wooeter, George 516
Wray, Richard 921
Wright, A. S 625
Wright, Burton 691
Wright, Leroy 692
Writht, M. J 692
Young, A. W 264
Zenk, John 669
~
■V
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
FORMER OCCUPANTS.
MOUND-BUILDEKS.
The numerous and well-authenticated accounts of antiquities found in various parts of our country, clearly demonstrate that a people civilized, and even highly cultivated, occupied the broad surface of our continent before its possession by the present In- dians; but the date of their rule of the Western World is so re- mote that all traces of their history, their progress and decay, lie buried in deepest obscurity. Nature, at the time the first Euro- peans came, had asserted her original dominion over the earth ; the forests were all in their full luxuriance, the growth of many cen- turies; and naught existed to point out who and what they were who formerly lived, and loved, and labored, and died, on the conti- nent of America. This pre-historic race is known as the Mound- Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earth-works left by them. The remains of the works of this people form the most in- teresting class of antiquities discovered in the United States. Their character can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences and the peculiarities of the only remains left, — the mounds. They consist of remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure grounds, etc., etc. Their habitations must have been tents, struc- tures of wood, or other perishable material; otherwise their remains would be numerous. If the Mound-Builders were not the ancestors of the Indians, who were they? The oblivion which has closed over them is so complete that only conjecture can be given in answer to the question. Those who do not believe in the common parentage of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the West- ern hemisphere; others, with more plausibility, think they came from the East, and imagine they can see coincidences in the religion of the Hindoos and Southern Tartars and the supposed theology of
IT"
_^ 3
l£-
18 HIST0KY OF ILLINOIS.
the Mound-Builders. They were, no doubt, idolators, and it has been conjectured that the sun was the object of their adoration. The mounds were generally built in a situation affording a view of the rising sun: when enclosed in walls their gateways were toward the east; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried always opened in the same direction ; whenever a mound was partially en- closed by a semi-circular pavement, it was on the east side ; when bodies were buried in graves, as was frequently the case, they were laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been found representing the sun and his rays of light.
At what period they came to this country, is likewise a matter of speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among them, it has been inferred that the time was very remote. Their axes were of stone. Their raiment, judging from fragments which have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven with feathers; and their military works were such ai a people would erect who had just passed to the pastoral state of society from that dependent alone upon hunting and fishing.
The mounds and other ancient earth-works constructed by this people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the bluffs which border the narrower valleys; so that when one finds him- self in such positions as to command the grandest views for river scenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon, or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the labors of an ancient people.
GALENA MOUNDS.
On the top of the high bluffs that skirt the west bank of the Mis- sissippi, about two and a half miles from Galena, are a number of these silent monuments of a pre-historic age. The spot is one of surpassing beauty. From that point may be obtained a view of a portion of three States —Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. A hundred feet below, at the foot of the perpendicular cliffs, the trains of the Illinois Central Eailroad thunder around the curve, the portage is in full view, and the « Father of Waters," with its numerous bayous
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 19
and islands, sketches a grand pamorama for miles above and below. Here, probably thousands of years ago, a race of men now extinct, and unknown even in the traditions of the Indians who inhabited that section for centuries before the discovery of America by Colum- bus, built these strangely wonderful and enigmatical mounds. At this point these mounds are circular and conical in form. The larg- est one is at least forty feet in diameter at the base, and not less than fifteen feet high, even yet, after it has been beaten by the storms of many centuries. On its top stands the large stump of an oak tree that was cut down about fifty years ago, and its annual ringB indicate a growth of at least 200 years.
One of the most singular earth- works in the State was found on the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsinawa creek in the lead region. It resembled some huge animal, the head, ears, nose, legs and tail, and general outline of which being as perfect as if made by men versed in modern art. The ridge on which it was situated stands on the prairie, 300 yards wide, 100 feet in height, and rounded on the top by a deep deposit of clay. Centrally, along the line of its summit, and thrown up in the form of an embankment three feet high, extended the outline of a quadruped measuring 250 feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, and having a width of 18 feet at the center of the body. The head was 35 feet in length, the ears 10 feet, legs 60 and tail 75. The curvature in both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal lying on its side. The general outline of the figure most nearly resembled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megathe- rium. The question naturally arises, By whom and for what pur- pose was this earth figure raised? Some have conjectured that numbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over the prai- ries of Illinois when the Mound-Builders first made their appearance on the upper part of the Mississippi Valley, and that their wonder and admiration, excited by the colossal dimensions of these huge creatures, found some expression in the erection of this figure. The bones of some similar gigantic animals were exhumed on this stream about three miles from the same place.
LAEGE CITIES.
Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the "Western country in 1817, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom, says: "The great number and extremely large size of some of
20 HISTOEV OF ILLINOIS.
them may be regarded as furnishing, with other circumstances, evidences of their antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to think that at the period when they were constructed there was a population here as numerous as that which once animated the borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The most num- erous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in pre- cisely those parts of the country where the traces of a numerous population might be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the Ohio on the east side of the Mississippi, to the Illinois river, and on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country."
It must be admitted that whatever the uses of these mounds — whether as dwellings or burial places — these silent monuments were built, and the race who built them vanished from the face of the earth, ages before the Indians occupied the land, but their date must probably forever baffle human skill and ingenuity.
It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the places of sepulture raised by the Mound-Builders from the more modern graves of the Indians. The tombs of the former were in general larger than those of the latter, and were used as receptacles for a greater number of bodies, and contained relics of art, evincing a higher degree of civ- ilization than that attained by the Indians. The ancient earth- works of the Mound-Builders have occasionally been appropriated as burial places by the Indians, but the skeletons of the latter may be distinguished from the osteological remains of the former by their greater stature.
What finally became of the Mound-Builders is another query which has been extensively discussed. The fact that their works extend into Mexico and Peru has induced the belief that it was their posterity that dwelt in these countries when they were first visited by the Spaniards. The Mexican and Peruvian works, with the exception of their greater magnitude, are similar. Belies com- mon to all of them have been occasionally found, and it is believed that the religious uses which they subserved were the same. If, indeed, the Mexicans and Peruvians were the progeny of the more ancient Mound-Builders, Spanish rapacity for gold was the cause of their overthrow and final extermination.
A thousand other queries naturally arise respecting these nations
ST"
.tU
HIBTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 21
winch now repose under the ground, but the most searching investi- gation can give ns only vague speculations for answers. No histo- rian has preserved the names of their mighty chieftains, or given an account of their exploits, and even tradition is silent respecting them.
INDIANS.
Following the Mound-Builders as inhabitants of North America, were, as it is supposed, the people who reared the magnificent cities the ruins of which are found in Central America. This peo- ple was far more civilized and advanced in the arts than were the Mound-Builders. The cities built by them, judging from the ruins of broken columns, fallen arches and crumbling walls of temples, palaces and pyramids, which in some places for miles bestrew the ground, must have been of great extent, magnificent and very pop- ulous. "When we consider the vast period of time necessary to erect such colossal structures, and, again, the time required to reduce them to their present ruined state, we can conceive something of their antiquity. These cities must have been old when many of the ancient cities of the Orient were being built.
The third race inhabiting North America, distinct from the former two in every particular, is the present Indians. They were, when visited by the early discoverers, without cultivation, refinement or literature, and far behind the Mound-Builders in the knowledge of the arts. The question of their origin has long interested archaeologists, and is the most difficult they have been called upon to answer. Of their predecessors the Indian tribes knew nothing; they even had no traditions respecting them. It is quite certain that they were the successors of a race which had entirely passed away ages before the discovery of the New "World. One hypothesis is that the American Indians are an original race indigenous to the "Western hemisphere. Those who entertain this view think their peculiarities of physical structure preclude the possibility of a common parentage with the rest of mankind. Prominent among those distinctive traits is the hair, which in the red man is round, in the white man oval, and in the black man flat. A more common supposition, however, is that they are a derivative race, and sprang from one or more of the ancient peoples of Asia. In the absence of all authentic history, and when even tradition is
^hr
,4*- -
22 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
wanting, any attempt to point out the particular location of their origin must prove unsatisfactory. Though the exact place of origm may never be known, yet the striking coincidence ot physical organization between the Oriental type of mankind and the Indians point unmistakably to some part of Asia as the place whence they emigrated, which was originally peopled to a great extent by the children of Shem. In this connection it has been claimed that the meeting of the Europeans, Indians and Africans on the continent of America, is the fulfillment of a prophecy as recorded in Gen- esis ix. 27: "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant." Assuming the theory to be true that the Indian tribes are of Shemitic origin, they were met on this continent in the fifteenth century by the Japhetic race, after the two stocks had passed around the globe by directly different routes. A few years afterward the Hamitic branch of the human family were brought from the coast of Africa. During the occupancy of the continent by the three distinct races, the children of Japheth have grown and prospered, while the called and not voluntary sons of Ham have endured a servitude in the wider stretching valleys of the tents of Shem.
When Christopher Columbus had finally succeeded in demon- strating the truth of his theory that by sailing westward from Eu- rope land would be discovered, landing on the Island of Bermuda he supposed he had reached the East Indies. This was an error, but it led to the adoption of the name of " Indians " for the inhab- itants of the Island and the main land of America, by which name the red men of America have ever since been known.
Of the several great branches of North American Indians the only ones entitled to consideration in Illinois history are the Algon- quins and Iroquois. At the time of the discovery of America the former occupied the Atlantic seaboard, while the home of the Iroquois was as an island in this vast area of Algonquin popula- tion. The latter great nation spread over a vast territory, and various tribes of Algonquin lineage sprung up over the country, adopting, in time, distinct tribal customs and laws. An almost continuous warfare was carried on between tribes; but later, on the entrance of the white man into their beloved homes, every foot of territory was fiercely disputed by the confederacy of many neighboring tribes. The Algonquins formed the most extensive alliance to resist the encroachment of the whites, especially the English. Such was the
HISTORY OF ILLINIOS. 23
nature of King Philip's war. This King, with his Algonquin braves, spread terror and desolation throughout New England.With the Algonquins as the controlling spirit, a confederacy of conti- nental proportions was the result, embracing in its alliance the tribes of every name and lineage from the Northern lakes to the gulf. Pontiac, having breathed into them his implacable hate of the English intruders, ordered the conflict to commence, and all the British colonies trembled before the desolating fury of Indian vengeance.
ILLINOIS CONFEDERACY.
The Illinois confederacy, the various tribes of which comprised most of the Indians of Illinois at one time, was composed of five tribes : the Tamaroas, Michigans, Kaskaskias, Oahokas, and Peorias. The Illinois, Miamis and Delawares were of the same stock. As early as 1670 fehe priest Father Marquette mentions frequent visits made by individuals of this confederacy to the missionary station at St. Esprit, near the western extremity of Lake Superior. At that time they lived west of the Mississippi, in eight villages, whither they had been driven from the shores of Lake Michigan by the Iroquois. Shortly afterward they began to return to their old hunting ground, and most of them finally settled in Illinois. Joliet and Marquette, in 1613, met with a band of them on their famous voyage of discovery down the Mississippi. They were treated with the greatest hospitality by the principal chief. On their return voyage up the Illinois river they stopped at the principal town of the confederacy, situated on the banks of the river seven miles below the present town of Ottawa. It was then called Kas- kaskia. Marquette returned to the village in 1675 and established the mission of the Immaculate Conception, the oldest in Illinois. When, in 1679, LaSalle visited the town, it had greatly increased numbering 460 lodges, and at the annual assembly of the different tribes, from 6,000 to 8,000 souls. In common with other western tribes, they became involved in the conspiracy of Pontiac, although displaying no very great warlike spirit. Pontiac lost his life by the hands of one of the braves of the Illinois tribe, which so enraged the nations that had followed him as their leader that they fell upon the Illinois to avenge his death, and almost annihilated them.
STAEVED ROCK.
Tradition states that a band of this tribe, in order to escape the general slaughter, took refuge upon the high rock on the Illinois
JV
24 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
river since known as Starved Kock. Nature has made this one of the most formidable military fortresses in the world. From the waters which wash its base it rises to an altitude of 125 feet. Three of its sides it is impossible to scale, while the one next to the land may be climbed with difficulty. From its summit, almost as inac- cessible as an eagle.'s nest, the valley of the Illinois is seen as a landscape of exquisite beauty. The river near by struggles between a number of wooded islands, while further below it quietly meanders through vast meadows till it disappears like a thread of light in the dim distance. On the summit of this rock the Illinois were besieged by a superior force of the Pottawatomies whom the great strength of their natural fortress enabled them to keep at bay. Hunger and thirst, however, soon accomplished what the enemy was unable to effect. Surrounded by a relentless foe, without food or water, they took a last look at their beautiful hunting grounds, and with true Indian fortitude lay down and died from starvation. Years afterward their bones were seen whitening in that place.
At the beginning of the present century the remnants of this once powerful confederacy were forced into a small compass around Kaskaskia. A few years later they emigrated to the Southwest, and in 1850 they were in Indian Territory, and numbered but 84 persons.
SACS AND FOXES.
The Sacs and Foxes, who figured most conspicuously in the later history of Illinois, inhabited the northwestern portion of the State. By long residence together and intermarriage they had substan- tially become one people. Drake, in his "Life of Black Hawk," speaks of these tribes as follows : " The Sacs and Foxes fought their way from the waters of the St. Lawrence to Green Bay, and after reaching that place, not only sustained themselves against hostile tribes, but were the most active and courageous in the subjugation, or rather the extermination, of the numerous and powerful Illinois confederacy. They had many wars, offensive and defensive, with the Sioux, the Pawnees, the Osages, and other tribes, some of which are ranked among the most fierce and ferocious warriors of the whole continent; and it does not appear that in these conflicts, run- ning through a long period of years, they were found wanting in this, the greatest of all savage virtues. In the late war with Great Britain, a party of the Sacs and Foxes fought under the British
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standard as a matter of choice; and in the recent contest between a fragment of these tribes and the United States, although defeated and literally cut to pieces by an overwhelming force, it is very questionable whether their reputation as braves would suffer by a comparison with that of their victors. It is believed that a careful review of their history, from the period when they first established themselves on the waters of the Mississippi down to the present time, will lead the inquirer to the conclusion that the Sacs and Foxes were truly a courageous people, shrewd, politic, and enter- prising, with no more ferocity and treachery of character than is common among the tribes by whom they were surrounded." These tribes at the time of the Black Hawk War were divided into twenty families, twelve of which were Sacs and eight Foxes. The follow- ing were other prominent tribes occupying Illinois: the Kickapoos, Shawnees, Mascoulins, Piaukishaws, Pottawatomies, Chippewas, and Ottawas.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but, like that of war, was a means of gratifying his love of "distinction. The male children, as soon as they acquired sufficient age and strength, were furnished with a bow and arrow and taught to shoot birds and other small game. Success in killing large quadrupeds required years of careful study and practice, and the art was as sedulously inculcated in the minds of the rising generation as are the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic in the common schools of civilized communities. The mazes of the forest and the dense, tall grass of the prairies were the best fields for the exercise of the hunter's skill. No feet could be impressed in the yielding soil but that the tracks were the objects of the most searching scrutiny, and revealed at a glance the animal that made them, the direction it was pursuing, and the time that had elapsed since it had passed. In a forest country he selected the valleys, because they were most frequently the resort of game. The most easily taken, perhaps, of all the animals of the chase was the deer. It is endowed with a curiosity which prompts it to stop in its flight and look back at the approaching hunter, who always avails himself of this opportunity to let fly the fatal arrow.
Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men. When in council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the
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28 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
speaker, and each individual, notwithstanding the fiery passions that rankled within, preserved an exterior as immovable as if cast in bronze Before commencing business a person appeared with the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After being lighted, it was first presented to heaven, secondly to the earth, thirdly to the presiding spirit, and lastly the several councilors, each of whom took a whiff. These formalities were observed with as close exactness as state etiquette in civilized courts.
The dwellings of the Indians were of the simplest and rudest character. On some pleasant spot by the bank of a river, or near an ever-running spring, they raised their groups of wigwams, con- structed of the bark of trees, and easily taken down and removed to another spot. The dwelling-places of the chiefs were sometimes more spacious, and constructed with greater care, but of the same materials. Skins taken in the chase served them for repose. Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, the uncertain supply from those sources led them to cultivate small patches of corn. Every family did everything necessary within itself, commerce, or an interchangeof articles, being almost unknown to them. In cases of dispute and dissension, each Indian relied upon himself ior retaliation. Blood for blood was the rule, and the relatives of the slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge for his death. This principle gave rise, as a matter of course, to innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars of extermination where such' were possible. War, indeed, rather than peace, was the Indian's glory and delight, — war, not conducted as civilization, but war where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and cruelty were prime requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the Indian would make great sacrifices, and display a patience and perseverance truly heroic; but when the excitement was over, he sank back into a listless, un- occupied, well-nigh useless savage. During the intervals of his more exciting pursuits, the Indian employed his time in decorating his person with all the refinement of paint and feathers, and in the manufacture of his arms and of canoes. These were constructed of bark, and so light that they could easily be carried on the shoulder from stream to stream. His amusements were the war-dance, ath- letic games, the narration of his exploits, and listening to the ora- tory of the chiefs; but during long periods of such existence he remained in a state of torpor, gazing listlessly upon the trees of the forests and the clouds that sailed above them ; and this vacancy
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 29
imprinted an habitual gravity, and even melancholy, upon his gen- eral deportment.
The main labor and drudgery of Indian communities fell upon the women. The planting, tending and gathering of the crops, making mats and baskets, carrying burdens, — in fact, all things of the kind were performed by them, thus making their condition but little better than that of slaves. Marriage was merely a" matter of bargain and sale, the husband giving presents to the father of the bride. In general they had but few children. They were sub- jected to many and severe attacks of sickness, and at times famine and pestilence swept away whole tribes.
SINGLE-HANDED COMBAT WITH INDIANS.
The most desperate single-handed combat with Indians ever fought on the soil of Illinois was that of Tom Higgins, August 21, 1814. Higgins was 25 years old, of a muscular and compact build, not tall, but strong and active. In danger he possessed a quick and discerning judgment, and was without fear. He was a member of Journey's rangers, consisting of eleven men, stationed at Hill's Fort, eight miles southwest of the present Greenville, Put- nam county. Discovering Indian signs near the fort, the company, early the following morning, started on the trail. They had not gone far before they were in an ambuscade of a larger party. At the first fire their commander, Journey, and three men fell, and six retreated to the fort; but Higgins stopped to "have another pull at the red-skins," and, taking deliberate aim at a straggling savage, shot him down. Higgins' horse had been wounded at the first fire, as he supposed, mortally. Coming to, he was about to effect his escape, when the familiar voice of Burgess hailed him from the long grass, " Tom, don't leave me." Higgins told him to come along, but Burgess replied that his leg was smashed. Hig- gins attempted to raise him on his horse, but the animal took fright and ran away. Higgins then directed Burgess to limp off as well as he could; and by crawling through the grass he reached the fort while the former loaded his gun and remained behind to protect him against the pursuing enemy. When Burgess was well out of the way, Higgins took another route, which led by a small thicket, to throw any wandering enemy off the trail. Here he was con- fronted by three savages approaching. He ran to a little ravine near for shelter, but in the effort discovered for the first time that
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30 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
he was badly wounded in the leg. He was closely pressed by the largest, a powerful Indian, who lodged a ball in his thigh. He fell, but instantly rose again, only, however, to draw the fire of the other two, and again fell wounded. The Indians now advanced upon him with their tomahawks and scalping knives; but as he presented his gun first at one, then at another, from his place in the ravine, each wavered in his purpose. Neither party had time to load, and the large Indian, supposing finally that Higgins' gun was empty, rushed forward with uplifted tomahawk and a yell; but as he came near enough, was shot down. At this the others raised the war-whoop, and rushed upon the wounded Higgins, and now a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. They darted at him with their knives time and again, inflicting many ghastly flesh-wounds, which bled profusely. One of the assailants threw his tomahawk at him with such pre- cision as to sever his ear and lay bare his skull, knocking him down. They now rushed in on him, but he kicked them eff, and grasping one of their spears thrust at him, was raised up by it. He quickly seized his gun, and by a powerful blow crushed in the skull of one, but broke his rifle. His remaining antagonist still kept up the con- test, making thrusts with his knife at the bleeding and exhausted Higgins, which he parried with his broken gun as well as he could. Most of this desperate engagement was in plain view of the fort; but the rangers, having been in one ambuscade, saw in this fight only a ruse to draw out the balance of the garrison. But a Mrs. Pursely, residing at the fort, no longer able to see so brave a man contend for his life unaided, seized a gun, mounted a horse, and started to his rescue. At this the men took courage and hastened along. The Indian, seeing aid coming, fled. Higgins. being near- ly hacked to pieces, fainted from, loss of blood. He was carried to the fort. There being no Burgeon, his comrades cut two balls from his flesh; others remained in. For days his life was despaired of; but by tender nursing he ultimately regained his health, although badly crippled. He resided in Fayette county for many years after, and died in 1829.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 31
EARLY DISCOVERIES
NICHOLAS PERROT.
The first white man who ever set foot on the soil embraced within the boundary of the present populous State of Illinois was Nich- olas Perrot, a Frenchman. He was sent to Chicago in the year 1671 by M. Talon, Intendant of Canada, for the purpose of inviting the Western Indians to a great peace convention to be held at Green Bay. This convention had for its chief object the promulgation of a plan for the discovery of the Mississippi river. This great river had been discovered by De Soto, the Spanish explorer, nearly one hundred and fifty years previously, but his nation left the country a wilderness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in which condition it remained until the river was dis- covered by Joliet and Marquette in 1673. It was deemed a wise policy to secure, as far as possible, the friendship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous. Thus the great con- vention was called.
JOLIET AND MARQUETTE.
Although Perrot was the first European to visit Illinois, he was not the first to make any important discoveries. This was left for Joliet and Marquette, which they accomplished two years thereafter. The former, Louis Joliet, was born at Quebec in 1645. He was educated for the clerical profession, but he abandoned it to engage in the fur trade. His companion, Father Jacques Mar- quette, was a native of France, born in 1637. He was a Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and great zeal and devotion in extending the Eoman Catholic religion among the In- dians. He was sent to America in 1666 as a missionary. To con- vert the Indians he penetrated the wilderness a thousand miles in advance of civilization, and by his kind attention in their afflic- tions, he won their affections and made them his lasting friends. There were others, however, who visited Illinois even prior to the famous exploration of Joliet and Marquette. In 1672 the Jesuit
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missionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
According to the pre-arranged plan referred to above, at the Jes- uit mission on the Strait of Mackinaw, Joliet joined Marquette, and with five other Frenchmen and a simple outfit the daring ex- plorers on the 17th of May, 1673, set out on their perilous voyage to discover .the Mississippi. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, they entered Green Bay, and passed thence up Fox river and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Muscatines and Miamis, where great interest was taken in the expedition by the natives. With guides they proceeded down the river. Arriving at the portage, they soon carried their light canoes and scanty bag- gage to the Wisconsin, about three miles distant. Their guides now refused to accompany them further, and endeavored, by re- citing the dangers incident to the voyage, to induce them to return. They stated that huge demons dwelt in the great river, whose voices could be heard a long distance, and who engulfed in the raging waters all who came within their reach. They also represented that if any of them should escape the dangers of the river, fierce tribes of Indians dwelt upon its banks ready to complete the work of de- struction. They proceeded on their journey, however, and on the 17th of June pushed their frail barks on the bosom of the stately Mississippi, down which they smoothly glided for nearly a hundred miles. Here Joliet and Marquette, leaving their canoes in charge of their men, went on the western shore, where they discovered an Indian village, and were kindly treated. They journeyed on down the unknown river, passing the mouth of the Illinois, then run- ning into the current of the muddy Missouri, and afterwaid the waters of the Ohio joined with them on their journey southward. Near the mouth of the Arkansas they discovered Indians who showed signs of hostility; but when Marquette's mission of peace was made known to them, they were kindly received. After pro- ceeding up the Arkansas a short distance, at the advice of the natives they turned their faces northward to retrace their steps. Af- ter several weeks of hard toil they reached the Illinois, up which stream they proceeded to Lake Michigan. Following the western shore of the lake, they entered Green Bay the latter part of Sep- tember, having traveled a distance of 2,500 miles.
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On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in LaSalle county. The following year he returned and established among them the mission of the Im- maculate Virgin Mary. This was the last act of his life. He died in Michigan, May 18, 1675.
lasalle's exfloeations. The first French occupation of Illinois was effected by LaSalle, in 1680. Having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin," above the falls of Niagara, he sailed to Green Bay, and passed thence in canoe to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, by which and the Kan- kakee he reached the Illinois in January, 1680; and on the 3d he entered the expansion of the river now called Peoria lake. Here, at the lower end of the lake, on its eastern bank, now in Tazewell county, he erected Fort Crev.ecoeur. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen just below the outlet of Peoria lake. It had, however, but a temporary existence. From this point LaSalle determined, at that time, to descend the Mississippi to its mouth. This he did not do, however, until two years later. Keturning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of getting material with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort at Peoria in charge of his lieutenant, Henri Tonti, an Italian, who had lost one of his hands by the explosion of a grenade in the Sicilian wars. Tonti had with him fifteen men, most of whom disliked LaSalle, and were ripe for a revolt the first opportunity. Two men who had, previous to LaSalle's departure, been sent to look for the " Griffin " now returned and reported that the vessel -was lost and that Fort Frontenac was in the hands of LaSalle's creditors. This disheartening intelligence had the effect to enkindle a spirit of mutiny among the garrison. Tonti had no sooner left the fort, with a few men, to fortify what was afterward known as Starved Rock, than the garrison at the fort refused longer to submit to authority. They destroyed the fort, seized the ammunition, provisions, and other portables of value, and fled. Only two of their number remained true. These hast- ened to apprise Tonti of what had occurred. He thereupon sent four of the men with him to inform LaSalle. Thus was Tonti in the midst of treacherous savages, with only five men, two of whom were the friars Eibourde and Membre. With these he immediately returned to the fort, collected what tools had not been destroyed, and conveyed them, to the great town of the Illinois Indians.
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By this voluntary display of confidence he hoped to remove the jealousy created in the minds of the Illinois by the enemies of La- Salle. Here he awaited, unmolested, the return of LaSalle.
GREAT BATTLE OF THE ILLINOIS.
Neither Tonti nor his wild associates suspected that hordes of Iro- quois were gathering preparatory to rushing down upon their country and reducing it to an uninhabited waste. Already these hell-hounds of the wilderness had destroyed the Hurons, Eries, and other natives on the lakes, and were now directing their attention to the Illinois for new victims. Five hundred Iroquois warriors set out for the home of the Illinois. All was fancied security and idle repose in the great town of this tribe, as the enemy stealthily approached. Suddenly as a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky the listless inhabitants were awakened from their lethargy. A Shawnee Indian, on his return home after a visit to the Illinois, first discovered the invaders. To save his friends from the im- pending danger, he hurriedly returned and apprised them of the coming enemy. This intelligence spread with lightning rapidity over the town, and each wigwam disgorged its boisterous and as- tounded inmates. Women snatched their children, and in a delirium of f.ight wandered aimlessly about, rending the air with their screams. The men, more self-possessed, seized their arms ready for the coming fray. Tonti, long an object of suspicion, was soon surrounded by an angry crowd of warriors, who accused him of be- ing an emissary of the enemy. His inability to defend himself properly, in consequence of not fully understanding their language left them still inclined to believe him guilty, and they seized his effects from the fort and threw them into the river. The women and children were sent down the river for safety, and the warriors, not exceeding four hundred, as most of their young men were off hunting, returned to the village. Along the shores of the river they kindled huge bonfires, and spent the entire night in greasing their bodies, painting their faces, and performing the war-dance, to prepare for the approaching enemy. At early dawn the scouts who had been sent out returned, closely followed by the Iroquois. The scouts had seen a chief arrayed in French costume, and re- ported their suspicions that LaSalle was in the camp of the enemy, and Tonti again became an object of jealousy. A concourse of wildly gesticulating savages immediately gathered about him, de-
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manding his life, and nothing saved him from their uplifted weap- ons but a promise that he and his men would go with them to meet the enemy. With their suspicions partly lulled, they hurriedly crossed the river and met the foe, when both commenced firing. Tonti, seeing that the Illinois were outnumbered and likely to be defeated, determined, at the imminent risk of his life, to stay the fight by an attempt at mediation. Presuming on the treaty of peace then existing between the French and Iroquois, he exchanged his gun for a belt of wampum and advanced to meet the savage multitude, attended by three companions, who, being unnecessarily exposed to danger, were dismissed, and he proceeded alone. A short walk brought him in the midst of a pack of yelping devils, writhing and distorted with fiendish rage, and impatient to shed his blood. As the result of his swarthy Italian complexion and half-savage costume, he was at first taken for an Indian, and before the mistake was discovered a young warrior approached and stabbed at his heart. Fortunately the blade was turned aside by coming in contact with a rib, yet a large flesh wound was inflicted, which bled profusely. At this juncture a chief discovered his true char- acter, and he was led to the rear and efforts were made to staunch his wound. When sufficiently recovered, he declared the Illinois were under the protection of the French, and demanded, in consid- eration of the treaty between the latter and the Iroquois, that they should be suffered to remain without further molestation. Durin^ this conference a young warrior snatched Tonti's hat, and, fleeino- with it to the front, held it aloft on the end of his gun in view of the Illinois. The latter, judging that Tonti had been killed, renewed the fight with great vigor. Simultaneously, intelligence was brought to the Iroquois that Frenchmen were assisting their enemies in the fight, when the contest over Tonti was renewed with redoubled fury. Some declared that he should be immediately put to death, while others, friendly to LaSalle, with equal earnest- ness demanded that he should be set at liberty. During their clamorous debate, his hair was several times lifted by a huge sav- age who stood at his back with a scalping knife ready for execution. Tonti at length turned the current of the angry controversy in his favor, by stating that the Illinois were 1,200 strong, and that there were 60 Frenchmen at the village ready to assist them. This state- ment obtained at least a partial credence, and his tormentors now
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determined to use him as an instrument to delude the Illinois with a pretended truce. The old warriors, therefore, advanced to the front and ordered the firing to cease, while Tonti, dizzy from the loss of blood, was furnished with an emblem of peace and sent staggering across the plain to rejoin the Illinois. The two friars who had just returned from a distant hut, whither they had repaired for prayer and meditation, were the first to meet him and bless God for what they regarded as a miraculous deliverance. "With the assurance brought by Tonti, the Illinois re-crossed the river to their lodges, followed by the enemy as far as the opposite bank. Not long after, large numbers of the latter, under the pretext of hunting, also crossed the river and hung in threatening groups about the town. These hostile indications, and the well-known disregard which the Iroquois had always evinced for their pledges, soon convinced the Illinois that their only safety was in flight. With this conviction they set fire to their village, and while the vast volume of flames aud smoke diverted the attention of the enemy, they quietly dropped down the river to join their women and children. As soon as the flames would permit, the Iroquois entrenched themselves on the site of the vil- lage. Tonti and his men were ordered by the suspicious savages to leave their hut and take up their abode in the fort.
At first the Iroquois were much elated at the discomfiture of the Illinois, but when two days afterward they discovered them recon- noitering their intrenchments, their courage greatly subsided. With fear they recalled the exaggerations of Tonti respecting their numbers, and concluded to send him with a hostage to make over- tures of peace. He and his hostage were received with delight by the Illinois, who readily assented to the proposal which he brought, and in turn sent back with him a hostage to the Iroquois. On his return to the fort his life was again placed in jeopardy, and the treaty was with great difficulty ratified. The young and inexpe- rienced Illinois hostage betrayed to his crafty interviewers the nu- merical weakness of his tribe, and the. savages immediately rushed upon Tonti, and charged him with having deprived them of the spoils and honors of victory. It now required all the tact of which he was master to escape. After much difficulty however, the treaty was con- cluded, but the savages, to show their contempt for it, immediately commenced constructing canoes in which to descend the river and attack the Illinois.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 39
FRENCHMEN DRIVEN AWAY.
Tonti managed to apprise the latter of their designs, and he and Membre were soon after summoned to attend a council of the Iro- quois, who still labored under a wholesome fear of Count Frontenac, and disliking to attack the Illinois in the presence of the French, they thought to try to induce them to leave the country. At the assembling of the council, six packages of beaver skins were intro- duced, and the savage orator, presenting them separately to Tonti, explained the nature of each. "The first two," said he, " were to de- clare that the children of Count Frontenac, that is, the Illinois, should not be eaten; the next was a plaster to heal the wounds of Tonti; the next was oil wherewith to anoint him and Membre, that they might not be fatigued in traveling; the next proclaimed that the sun was bright; and the sixth and last required them to decamp and go home."
At the mention of going home, Tonti demanded of them when they intended to set the example by leaving the Illinois in the peaceable possession of their country, which they had so unjustly in- vaded. The council grew boisterous and angry at the idea that they should be demanded to do what they required of the French, and some of its members, forgetting their previous pledge, declared that they would " eat Illinois flesh before they departed." Tonti, in imitation of the Indians' manner of expressing scorn, indignantly kicked away the presents of fur, saying, since they intended to de- vour the children of Frontenac with cannibal ferocity, he would not accept their gifts. This stern rebuke resulted in the expulsion of Tonti and his companion from the council, and the next day the chiefs ordered them to leave the country.
Tonti had now, at the great peril of his life, tried every expedient -to prevent the slaughter of the Illinois. There was little to be ac- complished by longer remaining in the country, and as longer delay might imperil the lives of his own men, he determined to depart, not knowing where or when he would be able to rejoin LaSalle. With this object in view, the party, consisting of six persons, embarked in canoes, which soon proved leaky, and they were compelled to land for the purpose of making repairs. While thus employed, Father Ki- bourde, attracted by the beauty of the surrounding landscape, wan- dered forth among the groves for meditation and prayer. Not return ■ ing in due time, Tonti became alarmed, and started with a compan-
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
ion to ascertain the cause of the long delay. They soon discovered tracks of Indians, by whom it.was supposed he had been seized, and guns were fired to direct his return, in case he was alive. Seeing nothing of him during the day, at night they built fires along the bank of the river and retired to the opposite side, to see who might approach them. Near midnight a number of Indians were seen flitting about the light, by whom, no doubt, had been made the tracks seen the previous day. It was afterward learned that they were a band of Kickapoos, "who had for several days been hovering about the camp of the Iroquois in quest of scalps. They had fell in with the inoffensive old friar and scalped him. Thus, in the 65th year of his age, the only heir to a wealthy Burgundian house per- ished under the war-club of the savages for whose salvation he had renounced ease and affluence.
INHUMAN BUTCHERY.
During this tragedy a far more revolting one was being enacted in the great town of Illinois. The Iroquois were tearing open the graves of the dead, and wreaking their vengeance upon the bodies made hideous by putrefaction. At this desecration, it is said, they even ate portions of the dead bodies, while subjecting them to every indignity that brutal hate could inflict. Still unsated by their hell- ish brutalities, and now unrestrained by the presence of the French, they started in pursuit of the retreating Illinois. Day after day they and the opposing forces moved in compact array down the river, neither being able to gain any advantage over the other. At length the Iroquois obtained by falsehood that which number and prowess denied them. They gave out that their object was to pos- sess the country, not by destroying, but by driving out its present inhabitants. Deceived by this false statement, the Illinois separa- ted, some descending the Mississippi and others crossing to the western shore. The Tamaroas, more credulous than the rest, re- mained near the mouth of the Illinois, and were suddenly attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy. The men fled in dismay, and the women and children, to the number of 700, fell into the hands of the ferocious enemy. Then followed the tortures, butch- eries and burnings which only the infuriated and imbruted Iroquois could perpetrate. LaSalle on his return discovered the half-charred bodies of women and children still bound to the stakes where they had suffered all the torments hellish hate could devise. In addition
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 41
to those who had been burnt, the mangled bodies of women and children thickly covered the ground, many of which bore marks of brutality too horrid for record.
After the ravenous horde had sufficiently glutted their greed for carnage, they retired from the country. The Illinois returned and rebuilt their town.
TONTI SAFE AT GREEN BAY.
After the death of Ribourde, Tonti and his men again resumed their journey. Soon again their craft became disabled, when they abandoned it and started on foot for Lake Michigan. Their supply of provisions soon became exhausted, and they were compelled to subsist in a great measure on roots and herbs. One of their companions wandered off in search of game, and lost his way, and several days elapsed before he rejoined them. In his absence he was without flints and bullets, yet contrived to shoot some turkeys by using slugs cut from a pewter porringer and afire- brand to discharge his gun. Tonti fell sick of a fever and greatly retarded the progress of the march. Fearing Green Bay, the cold increased and the means of subsistence decreased and the party would have perished had they not found a few ears of corn and some froz- en squashes in the fields of a deserted village. Near the close of November they had reached the Pottawatomies, who warmly greet- ed them. Their chief was an ardent admirer of the French, and was accustomed to say: " There were but three great captains in the world,— himself, Tonti and LaSalle." For the above account of Tonti's encounter with the Iroquois, we are indebted to Davidson and Stuv6's History of Illinois.
lasalle's return.
LaSalle returned to Peoria only to meet the hideous picture of devastation. Tonti had escaped, but LaSalle knew not whither. Pass- ing down the lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discov- ered that the fort had been destroyed; but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still on the stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search he fastened to a tree a painting repre- senting himself and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the painting attached a letter addressed to Tonti.
LaSalle was born in France in 1643, of wealthy parentage, and edu- cated in a college of the Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada, a poor man, in 1666. He was a man of daring genius,
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42 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and outstripped all his competitors in exploits of travel and com- merce with the Indians. He was granted a large tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. In 1669 he visited the headquarters of the great Iroquois confederacy, at Onondaga, New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio river to the falls at Louisville. For many years previous, it must be remembered, missionaries and traders were obliged to make their way to the Northwest through Canada on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower lakes and Niagara river, which entirely closed this latter route to the upper lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, paddling them through Ottawa river to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the portage to French river, and descending that to Lake Huron. This being the route by. which they reached the Northwest, we have an explana- tion of the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neighborhood of the upper lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening the route by Niagara river and the lower lakes to Canada commerce by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the G-ulf of Mex- ico. This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to have animated him in his wonderful achievements, and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the French crown, and a body of troops, by which he repulsed the Iroquois and opened passage to Niagara Falls. Hav- ing by this masterly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his next step, as we have seen, was to build a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was successful in this under- taking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a strange com- bination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them and united with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of his success in opening new channels of commerce. While they were plodding with their bark canoes through the Ottawa, he was con- structing sailing vessels to command the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans excited the jealousy and envy of
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 43
small traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of bis men, and finally led to the foal assassination by which his great achievements were permanently ended.
lasalle's assassination. Again visiting the Illinois in the year 1682, LaSalle de- scended the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. He erected a standard upon which he inscribed the arms of France, and took formal possession of the whole valley of this mighty river in the name of Louis XIV., then reigning, and in honor of whom he named the country Louisiana. LaSalle then returned to France, was appointed Governor, and returned with a fleet of immigrants for the purpose of planting a colony in Illinois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to find the mouth of the Missis- sippi, up which they intended to sail, his supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on Matagorda Bay. "With the fragments of the vessel he constructed rude huts and stockades on the shore for the protection of his followers, calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to find his colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel on foot to Illinois. With some twenty of his men they filed out of their fort on the 12th of January, 1687, and after the part- ing,— which was one of sighs, of tears, and of embraces, all seeming intuitively to know that they should see each other no more, — they started on their disastrous journey. Two of the party, Du Haut and Leotot, when on a hunting expedition in company with a nephew of LaSalle, assassinated him while asleep. The long absence of his nephew caused LaSalle to go in search of him. On approaching the murderers of his nephew, they fired upon him, kill- ing him instantly. They then despoiled the body of its clothing, and! ieft it to be devoured by the wild beasts of the forest. Thus, at the age of 43, perished one whose exploits have so greatly enriched the history of the New World. To estimate aright the marvels of his patient fortitude, one must follow on his track through the vast scene of his interminable journeyings, those thou- sands of weary miles of forest, marsh and river, where, again and again, in the bitterness of baffled striving, the untiring pilgrim pushed onward toward the goal he never was to attain. America owes him an enduring memory; for in this masculine figure, cast
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in iron, she sees the heroic pioneer who guided her to the possession of her richest heritage.
Tonti, who had been stationed at the fort on the Illinois, learning of LaSalle's unsuccessful voyage, immediately started down the Mississippi to his relief. Beaching the Gulf, he found no traces of the colony. He then returned, leaving some of his men at the mouth of the Arkansas. These were discovered by the remnant of LaSalle's followers, who guided them to the fort on the Illinois, where they reported that LaSalle was in Mexico. The little band left at Fort St. Louis were finally destroyed by the Indians, and the murderers of LaSalle were shot. Thus ends the sad chapter of "Robert Cavalier de LaSalle's exploration.
FRENCH OCCUPATION.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first mission in Illinois, as we have already seen, was com- menced by Marquette in April, 1675. He called the religious society which he established the " Mission of the Immaculate Con- ception," and the town Kaskaskia. The first military occupation of the country was at Fort Crevecoeur, erected in 1680; but there is no evidence that a settlement was commenced there, or at Peoria, on the lake above, at that early date. The first settlement of which there is any authentic account was commenced with the building of Fort St. Louis on the Illinois river in 1682; but this was soon abandoned. The oldest permanent settlement, not only in Illinois, but in the val- ley of the Mississippi, is at Kaskaskia, situated six miles above the mouth of the Kaskaskia river. This was settled in 1690 by the removal of the mission from old Kaskaskia, or Ft. St. Louis, on the Illinois river. Cahokia was settled about the same time. The reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission, was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michigan and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and traders traveled down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. It was removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. Illinois came into possession of the French in 1682, and was a dependency of Canada and a part of Louisiana. During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 45
probably never exceeded ten thousand. To the year 1730 the fol- lowing five distinct settlements were made in the territory of Illinois, numbering, in population, 140 French families, about 600 "converted " Indians, and many traders; Cahokia, near the mouth of Cahokia creek and about five miles below the present city of St. Louis; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia; Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia river six miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. Fort Chartres was built under the direction of the Mississippi Company in 1718, and was for a time the headquarters of the military commandants of the district of Illinois, and the most impregnable fortress in North America. It was also the center of wealth and fashion in the West. For about eighty years the French retained peaceable possession of Illinois. Their amiable disposition and tact of ingratiating them- selves with the Indians enabled them to escape almost entirely the broils which weakened and destroyed other colonies. Whether exploring remote rivers or traversing hunting grounds in pursuit of game, in the social circle or as participants in the religious exer- cises of the church, the red men became their associates and were treated with the kindness and consideration of brothers. For more than a hundred years peace between the white man and the red was unbroken, and when at last this reign of harmony terminated it was not caused by the conciliatory Frenchman, but by the blunt and sturdy Anglo-Saxon. During this century, or until the coun- try was occupied by the English, no regular court was ever held. When, in 1765, the country passed into the hands of the English, many of the French, rather than submit to a change in their insti- tutions, preferred to leave their homes and seek a new abode. There are, however, at the present time a few remnants of the old French stock in the State, who still retain to a great extent the ancient habits and customs of their fathers.
THE MISSISSIPPI COMPANY.
During the earliest period of French occupation of this country, M. Tonti, LaSalle's attendant, was commander-in-chief of all the territory embraced between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, and extending east and west of the Mississippi as far as his ambition or imagination pleased to allow. He spent twenty-one years in estab- lishing forts and organizing the first settlements of Illinois. Sep-
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46 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
tember 14, 1712, the French government granted a monopoly of all the trade and commerce of the country to M. Crozat, a wealthy merchant of Paris, who established a trading company in Illinois, and it was by this means that the early settlements became perma- nent and others established. Crozat surrendered his charter in 1717, and the Company of the West, better known as the Missis- sippi Company, was organized, to aid and assist the banking system of John Law, the most famous speculator of modern times, and perhaps at one time the wealthiest private individual the world has ever known; but his treasure was transitory. Under the Company of the West a branch was organized called the Company of St. Philip's, for the purpose of working the rich silver mines sup- posed to be in Illinois, and Philip Eenanlt was appointed as its agent. In 1719 he sailed from France with two hundred miners, laborers and mechanics. During 1719 the Company of the West was by royal order united with the Royal Company of the Indies, and had the influence and support of the crown, who was deluded by the belief that immense wealth would flow into the empty treas- ury of France. This gigantic scheme, one of the most extensive and wonderful bubbles ever blown up to astonish, deceive and ruin thousands of people, was set in operation by the fertile brain of John Law. Law was born in Scotland in 1671, and so rapid had been his career that at the age of twenty-three he was a " bankrupt, an adulterer, a murderer and an exiled outlaw." But he possessed great financial ability, and by his agreeable and attractive manners, and his enthusiastic advocacy of his schemes, he succeeded in inflaming the imagination of the mercurial Frenchmen, whose greed for gain led them to adopt any plans for obtaining wealth.
Law arrived in Paris with two and a half millions of francs, which he had gained at the gambling table, just at the right time. Louis XIY. had just died and left as a legacy empty coffers and an immense public debt. Every thing and everybody was taxed to the last penny to pay even the interest. All the sources of in- dustry were dried up; the very wind which wafted the barks of commerce seemed to have died away under the pressure of the time ; trade stood still ; the merchant, the trader, the artificer, once flourishing in affluence, were transformed into clamorous beggars. The life-blood that animated the kingdom was stagnated in all its arteries, and the danger of an awful crisis became such that
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 47
the nation was on the verge of bankruptcy. At this critical junc- ture John Law arrived and proposed his grand scheme of the Mississippi Company; 200,000 shares of stock at 500 livres each were at first issued. This sold readily and great profits were realized. More stock was issued, speculation became rife, the fever seized everybody, and the wildest speculating frenzy pervaded the whole nation. Illinois was thought to contain vast and rich mines of minerals. Kaskaskia, then scarcely more than the settlement of a few savages, was spoken of as an emporium of the most extensive traffic, and as rivaling some of the cities of Europe in refinement, fashion and religious culture. Law was in the zenith of his glory, and the people in the zenith of their infatuation. The high and the low, the rich and the poor, were at once filled with visions of untold wealth, and every age, set, rank and condition were buying and selling stocks. Law issued stock again and again, and readily sold until 2,235,000,000 livres were in circulation, equaling about $450,000,000. While confidence lasted an impetus was given to trade never before known. An illusory policy everywhere prevailed, and so dazzled the eye that none could see in the horizon the dark cloud announc- ing the approaching storm. Law at the time was the most influ- ential man in Europe. His house was beset from morning till night with eager applicants for stock. Dukes, marquises and counts, with their wives and daughters, waited for hours in the street below his door. Finding his residence too small, he changed it for the Place Yendome, whither the crowd followed him, and the spacious square had the appearance of a public market. The boule- vards and public gardens were forsaken, and the Place Vendome became the most fashionable place in Paris; and he was unable to wait upon even one- tenth part of his applicants. The bubble burst after a few years, scattering ruin and distress in every direction. Law, a short time previous the most popular man in Europe, fled to Brussels, and in 1729 died in Venice, in obscurity and poverty.
ENGLISH EULE.
As early as 1750 there could be perceived the first throes of the revolution, which gave a new master and new institutions to Illi- nois. France claimed the whole valley of the Mississippi, and Eng- land the right to extend her possessions westward as far as she might desire. Through colonial controversies the two mother
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48 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
countries were precipitated into a bloody war within the North- western Territory, George Washington firing the first gun of the military struggle which resulted in the overthrow of the French not only in Illinois but in North America. The French evinced a determination to retain control of the territory bordering the Ohio and Mississippi from Canada to the Gulf, and bo long as the En- glish colonies were confined to the sea-coast there was little reason for controversy. As the English, however, became acquainted with this beautiful and fertile portion of our country, they not only learned the value of the vast territory, but also resolved to set up a counter claim to the soil. The French established numerous mili- tary and trading posts from the frontiers of Canada to New Or- leans, and in order to establish also their claims to jurisdiction over the country they carved the lilies of France on the forest trees, or sunk plates of metal in the ground. These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explorations; and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only a question of time when the storm should burst upon the frontier settlement. The French based their claims upon discoveries, the English on grants of territory extending from ocean to ocean, but neither party paid the least attention to the prior claims of the Indians. From this posi- tion of affairs, it was evident that actual collision between the contending parties would not much longer be deferred. The En- glish Government, in anticipation of a war, urged the Governor of Virginia to lose no time in building two forts, which were equipped by arms from England. The French anticipated the English and gathered a considerable force to defend their possessions. The Governor determined to send a messenger to the nearest French post and demand an explanation. This resolution of the Governor brought into the history of our country for the first time the man of all others whom America most loves tojionor, namely, George "Washington. He was chosen, although not yet twenty-one years of age, as the one to perform this delicate and difficult mission. "With five companions he set out on Nov. 10, 1753, and after a per- ilous journey returned Jan. 6, 1754. The struggle commenced and continued long, and was bloody and fierce; but on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1765, the ensign of France was replaced on the ramparts of Fort Chartres by the flag of Great Britain. This fort was the
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 51
depot of supplies and the place of rendezvous for the united forces of the French. At this time the colonies of the Atlantic seaboard were assembled in preliminary congress at New York, dreaming of liberty and independence for the continent; and Washington, who led the expedition against the French for the English king, in less than ten years was commanding the forces opposed to the English tyrant. Illinois, besides being constructively a part of Florida for over one hundred years, during which time no Spaniard set foot upon her soil or rested his eyes upon her beautiful plains, for nearly ninety years had been in the actual occupation of the French, their puny settlements slumbering quietly in colonial dependence on the distant waters of the Kaskaskia, Illinois and Wabash. gen. clark's exploits. The Northwest Territory was now entirely under English rule, and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary war the British held every post of importance in the West. While the colonists of the East were maintaining a fierce struggle with the armies of England, their western frontiers were ravaged by merciless butcheries of In- dian warfare. The jealousy <3f the savage was aroused to action by the rapid extension of American settlement westward aud the im- proper influence exerted by a number of military posts garrisoned by British troops. To prevent indiscriminate slaughters arising from these causes, Illinois became the theater of some of the most daring exploits connected with American history. The hero of the achieve- ments by which this beautiful land was snatched as a gem from the British Crown, was George Rogers Clark, of Virginia. He had closely watched the movements of the British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan; he also knew the Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and therefore was convinced that if the British could be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality. Having convinced himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlement might easily succeed, he repaired to the cap- ital of Virginia, arriving Nov. 5, 1777. While he was on his way, fortunately, Burgoyne was defeated (Oct. 17), and the spirits of the colonists were thereby greatly encouraged. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. After satisfying the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his project, he received two sets of instructions, — one secret, the
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52 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
other open. The latter authorized him to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, and serve three months after their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburg, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country.
HE TAKES KASKASKIA.
With these instructions Col. Clark repaired to Pittsburg, choos- ing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Holstein and Captains Helm and Bowman to other localities to enlist men; but none of them succeeded in rais- ing the required number. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the expedition. With these companies and several private volunteers Clark commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the falls, where he took posses- sion of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present cities of Louisville, Ky., and New Albany, Ind. Here, after having completed his arrangements and announced to the men their real destination, he left a small garrison; and on the 24th of June, dur- ing a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, they floated down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Yincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Mississippi river and cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received good items of information: one that an alliance had been formed between France and the United States, and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants at the various frontier posts had been led by the British to believe that the " Long Knives," or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly, if treated with unexpected lenity. The march to Kaskaskia was made through a hot July sun, they arriving on the evening of the 4th of July, 1778. They captured the fort near the village and soon after the village itself, by surprise, and without the loss of
HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS. 53
a single man and without killing any of the enemy. After suffi- ciently working on the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the great conflict they would; also he would pro- tect them against any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect; and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked-for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms; and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered and gladly placed themselves under his protection.
In the person of M. Gibault, priest of Kaskaskia, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain pos- session of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. St. Yin- cent, the post next in importance to Detroit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted this offer, and July 14th, in company with a fellow-townsman, Gibault started on his mission of peace. On the 1st of August he returned with the cheerful intelligence that everything was peaceably ad- justed at Vincennes in favor of the Americans. During the inter- val, Col. Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, and sent word to have a fort (which proved the germ of Louisville) erected at the falls of the Ohio.
While the American commander was thus negotiating with the Indians, Hamilton, the British Governor of Detroit, heard of Clark's invasion, and was greatly incensed because the country which he had in charge should be wrested from him by a few ragged militia. He therefore hurriedly collected a force, marched by way of the Wabash, and appeared before the fort at Vincennes. The inhabi- tants made an effort to defend the town, and when Hamilton's forces arrived, Captain Helm and a man named Henry were the only Americans in the fort. These men had been sent by Clark. The latter charged a cannon and placed it in the open gateway, and the Captain stood by it with a lighted match and cried out, as Ham- ilton came in hailing distance, "Halt!" The British officer, not
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54 IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS.
knowing the strength of the garrison, stopped, and demanded the surrender of the fort. Helm exclaimed, " No man shall enter here till I know the terms." Hamilton responded, " You shall have the honors of war." The entire garrison consisted of one officer and one private.
VINCENNES CAPTURED.
On taking Kaskaskia, Clark made a prisoner of Kocheblave, commander of the place, and got possession of all his written instructions for the conduct of the war. From these papers he received important information respecting the plans of Col. Ham- ilton, Governor at Detroit, who was intending to make a vigorous and concerted attack upon the frontier. After arriving at Vin- cennes, however, he gave up his intended campaign for the winter, and trusting to his distance from danger and to the difficulty of approaching him, sent off his Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, and to annoy the Americans in all ways. Thus he sat quietly down to pass the winter with only about eighty soldiers, but secure, as he thought, from molestation. But he evidently did not realize the character of the men with whom he was contending. Clark, although he could muster only one hundred and thirty men, determined to take advantage of Hamilton's weakness and security, and attack him as the only means of saving himself; for unless he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Accordingly, about the beginning of February, 1779, he dispatched a small galley which he had fitted out, mounted with two four-pounders and four swivels and manned with a company of soldiers, and carrying stores for his men, with orders to force her way up the Wabash, to take her station a few miles below Yincennes, and to allow no person to pass her. He himself marched with his little band, and spent six- teen days in traversing the country from Kaskaskia to Yincennes, passing with incredible fatigue through woods and marshes. He was five days in crossing the bottom lands of the "Wabash; and for five miles was frequently up to the breast in water. After over- coming difficulties which had been thought insurmountable, he appeared before the place and completely surprised it. The inhab- itants readily submitted, but Hamilton at first defended himself in the fort. Next day, however, he surrendered himself and his gar- rison prisoners-of-war. By his activity in encouraging the hostili- ties of the Indians and by the revolting enormities perpetrated by
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those savages, Hamilton had rendered himself so obnoxious that he was thrown in prison and put in irons. During his command of the British frontier posts he offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of the Americans they would bring him, and earned in con- sequence thereof the title, "Hair-Buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known.
The services of Clark proved of essential advantage to his coun- trymen. They disconcerted the plans of Hamilton, and not only saved the western frontier from depredations by the savages, but also greatly cooled the ardor of the Indians for carrying on a contest in which they were not likely to be the gainers. Had it not been for this small army, a union of all the tribes from Maine to Georgia against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed.
ILLINOIS.
COUNTY OF ILLINOIS.
In October, 1778, after the successful campaign of Col. Clark, the assembly of Virginia erected the conquered country, embracing all the territory northwest of the Ohio river, into the County of Illi- nois, which was doubtless the largest county in the world, exceeding in its dimensions the whole of Great Britian and Ireland. To speak more definitely, it contained the territory now embraced in the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. On the 12th of December, 1778, John Todd was appointed Lieutenant- Commandant of this county by Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, and accordingly, also, the first of Illinois County.
NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY.
Illinois continued to form a part of Virginia until March 1, 1784, when that State ceded all the territory north of the Ohio to the United States. Immediately the general Government proceeded to establish a form of government for the settlers in the territories thus ceded. This form continued until the passage of the ordi- nance of 1787, for the government of the Northwestern Terri- tory. No man can study the secret history of this ordinance and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye the des-
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56 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
tinies of these unborn States. American legislation has never achieved anything more admirable, as an internal government, than this comprehensive ordinance. Its provisions concerning the distribution of property,, the principles of civil and religious liberty which it laid at the foundation of the communities since established, and the efficient and simple organization by which it created the first machinery of civil society, are worthy of all the praise that has ever been given them.
ORDINANCE OF 1787.
This ordinance has a marvelous and interesting history. Con- siderable controversy has been indulged in as to who is entitled to the credit for framing it. This belongs, undoubtedly, to Nathan Dane; and to Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belong the credit for suggesting the proviso contained in it against slavery, and also for aids to religion and knowledge, and for assuring for- ever the common use, without charge, of the great national high- ways of the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and their tributaries to all the citizens of the United States. To Thomas Jefferson is also due much credit, as some features of this ordinance were embraced in his ordinance of 1784. But the part taken by each in the long, laborious and eventful struggle which had so glorious a consum- mation in the ordinance, consecrating forever, by one imprescript- ible and unchangeable monument, the very heart of our country to Freedom, Knowledge, and Union, will forever honor the names of those illustrious statesmen.
Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government for the Northwestern Territory. He was an emancipationist and favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory, but the South voted him down every time he proposed a measure of this nature. In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti- slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in session in New York. On July 5, Eev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the Northwestern Territory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that
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HI8T0KY OF ILLINOIS. 57
once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the breath of the Almighty.
Cutler was a graduate of Yale. He had studied and taken de- grees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New England. As a scientist in America his name stood second only to that of Franklin He was a courtly gentleman of the old style, a man of commanding presence and of inviting face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North. He came representing a Massachusetts company that desired to purchase a tract of land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This company had collected enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made Dr. Cutler their agent, which enabled him to represent a demand for 5,500,000 acres. As this would reduce the national debt, and Jefferson's policy was to provide for the public credit, it presented a good opportunity to do something.
Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she wa6 crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the North- western region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspiration, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The entire South ral- lied around him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, be- cause many of the constituents of her members were interested personally in the Western speculation. Thus Cutler, making friends in the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the lobby, was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convic- tions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from Jefferson the term "Articles of Compact," which, preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred char- acter. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massa- chusetts, adopted three years' before. Its most prominent points were:
1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.
2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a semi- nary and every section numbered 16 in each township; that is, one thirty -sixth of all the land for public schools.
3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or
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58 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. Beit forever remembered that this compact declared that "re- ligion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good govern- ment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu- cation shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified dec- laration that it was that or nothing, — that unless they could make the land desirable they did not want it, — he took his horse and buggy and started for the constitutional convention at Philadelphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unani- mously adopted. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, a vast empire, were consecrated to free- dom, intelligence, and morality. Thus the great heart of the nation was prepared to save the union of States, for it was this act that was the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon the South saw their great blunder and tried to have the compact repealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance was a compact and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery.
SYMPATHY WITH SLAVERY.
"With all this timely aid it was, however, a most desperate and protracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. It ex- isted among the old French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. That portion was also settled from the slave States, and this popu- lation brought their laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The Northerner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt, and ignorance. These causes aided in making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French set- tlers to retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might
=SV"
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 59
bring their slaves if they would give them an opportunity to choose freedom or years of service and bondage for their children till they should become thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State within sixty days, or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses for which white men were fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous laws were im- ported from the slave States, just as the laws for the inspection of flax and wool were imported when there was neither in the State.
ST. CLAIE, GOVERNOE OF NORTHWESTERN TEERITORT.
On October 5, 1787, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was, by Congress, elected Governor of this vast territory. St. Clair was born in Scot- land and emigrated to America in 1755. He served in the French and English war, and was major general in the Revolution. In 1786 he was elected to Congress and chosen President of that body.
ILLINOIS TERRITORY.
*
After the division of the Northwestern Territory Illinois became one of the counties of the Territory of Indiana, from which it was separated by an act of Congress Feb. 3, 1809, forming the Territory of Illinois, with a population estimated at 9,000, and then included the present State of "Wisconsin. It was divided, at the time, into two counties, — St. Clair and Randolph. John Boyle, of Ken- tucky, was appointed Governor, by the President, James Madison, but declining, Ninian Edwards, of the same State, was then appointed and served with distinction; and after the organization of Illinois as a State he served in the same capacity, being its third Governor.
"WAR OF 1812. THE OUTBREAK.
For some years previous to the war between the United States and England in 1812, considerable trouble was experienced with the Indians. Marauding bands of savages would attack small settle- ments and inhumanly butcher all the inhabitants, and mutilate their dead bodies. To protect themselves, the settlers organized companies of rangers, and erected block houses and stockades in every settlement. The largest, strongest and best one of these was Fort Russell, near the present village of Edwardsville. This stockade
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60 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
was made the main rendezvous for troops and military stores, and Gov. Edwards, who during the perilous times of 1812, when Indian hostilities threatened on every hand, assumed command of the Illi- nois forces, established his headquarters at this place. The Indians were incited to many of these depredations by English emissaries, who for years continued their dastardly work of "setting the red men, like dogs, upon the whites."
In the summer of 1811 a peace convention was held with the Pottawatomies at Peoria, when they promised that peace should prevail; but their promises were soon broken. Tecumseh, the great warrior, and fit successor of Pontiac, started in the spring of 1811, to arouse the Southern Indians to war against the whites. The pur- pose of this chieftain was well known to Gov. Harrison, of Indiana Territory, who determined during Tecumseh's absence to strike and disperse the hostile forces collected at Tippecanoe. This he success- fully did on Nov. 7, winning the sobriquet of " Tippecanoe," by which he was afterwards commonly known. Several peace councils were held, at which the Indians promised good behavior, but only to deceive the whites. Almost all the savages of the Northwest were thoroughly stirred up and did not desire peace. The British agents at various points, in anticipation of a war with the United States, sought to enlist the favor of the savages by distributing to them large supplies of arms, ammunition and other goods.
The English continued their insults to our flag upon the high seas, and their government refusing to relinquish its offensive course, all hopes of peace and safe commercial relations were abandoned, and Congress, on the 19th of June, 1812, formally declared war against Great Britain. In Illinois the threatened Indian troubles had already caused a more thorough organization of the militia and greater protection by the erection of forts. As intimated, the In- dians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the two civilized nations, committing great depredations, the most atrocious of which was the
MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN.
During the war of 1812 between the United States and England, the greatest, as well as the most revolting, massacre of whites that ever occurred in Illinois, was perpetrated by the Pottawatomie In- dians, at Fort Dearborn. This fort was built by the Government, in 1804, on the south 6ide of the Chicago river, and was garrisoned
HIST0KY OF ILLINOIS.
61
by 54 men under command of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm and Ensign Konan; Dr. Voorhees, surgeon. The residents at the post at that time were the wives of officers Heald and Helm and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadians. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, the prin- cipal tribes around them.
On the 7th of August, 1812, arrived the order from Gen. Hull, at Detroit, to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and distribute all United States property to the Indians. Chicago was so deep in the wilderness
OLD FORT DEARBORN.
that this was the first intimation the garrison received of the dec- laration of war made on the 19th of June. The Indian chief who brought the dispatch advised Capt. Heald not to evacuate, and that if he should decide to do so, it be done immediately, and by forced marches elude the concentration of the savages before the news could be circulated among them. To this most excellent ad- vice the Captain gave no heed, but on the 12th held a council with
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02 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
the Indians, apprising them of the orders received, and offering a liberal reward for an escort of Pottawatomies to Fort Wayne. The Indians, with many professions of friendship, assented to all he proposed, and promised all he required. The remaining officers re- fused to join in the council, for they had been informed that treach- ery was designed,— that the Indians intended to murder those in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. The port holes were open, displaying cannons pointing directly upon the council. This action, it is supposed, prevented a massacre at that time.
Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Capt. Heald not to confide in their promises, or distribute the arms and ammu- nitions among them, for it would only put power in their hands to destroy the whites. This argument, true and excellent in itself, was now certainly inopportune, and would only incense the treach- erous foe. But the Captain resolved to follow it, and accordingly on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other property, the arms were broker), and the barrels of whisky, of which there was a large quantity, were rolled quietly through the sally-port, their heads knocked in and their contents emptied into the river. On that night the lurking red-skins crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of the promised booty going on within. The next morn- ing the powder was seen floating on the surface of the river, and the Indians asserted that such an abundance of " fire-water" had been emptied into the river as to make it taste " groggy." Many of them drank of it freely.
On the 14th the despondiDg garrison was somewhat cheered by the arrival of Capt. Wells, with 15 friendly Miamis. Capt. Wells heard at Fort Wayne of the order to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and knowing the hostile intentions of the Indians, made a rapid march through the wilderness to protect, if possible, his niece, Mrs. Heald, and the officers and the garrison from certain destruction. But he came too late. Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the following morning.
The fatal morning of the 16th at length dawned brightly on the world. The sun shone in unclouded splendor upon the glassy waters of Lake Michigan. At 9 a. m., the party moved out of the south- ern gate of the fort, in military array. The band, feeling the solem- nity of the occasion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Capt.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 63
Wells, with his face blackened after the manner of the Indians, led the advance guard at the head of his friendly Miamis, the garrison with loaded arms, the baggage wagons with the sick, and the women and children following, while the Pottawatomie Indians, about 500 in number, who had pledged their honor to escort the whites in safety to Fort "Wayne, brought up the rear. The party took the road along the lake shore. On reaching the range of sand-hills separating the beach from the prairie, about one mile and a half- from the fort, the Indians denied to the right into the prairie, bring ing the sand-hills between them and the whites. This divergence was scarcely effected when Capt. Wells, who had kept in advance with his Indians, rode furiously back and exclaimed, " They are about to attack us. Form instantly and charge upon them!" These words were scarcely uttered before a volley of balls from Indian muskets was poured in upon them. The troops were hastily formed into line, and charged up the bank. One veteran of 70 fell as they ascended. The Indians were driven back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged by 54 soldiers, 12 civilians, and three or four women — the cowardly Miamis having fled at the outset — against 500 Indian warriors. The whites behaved gallantly, and sold their lives dearly. They fought desperately until two-thirds of their number were slain; the remaining 27 surrendered. And now the most sickening and heart-rending butchery of this calam- itous day was committed by a young savage, who assailed one of the baggage wagons containing 12 children, every one of which fell beneath his murderous tomahawk. When Capt. Wells, who with the others had become prisoner, beheld this scene at a distance, he exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be heard by the savages, " If this be your game, 1 can kill too;" and turning his horse, started for the place where the Indians had left their squaws and children. The Indians hotly pursued, but he avoided their deadly bullets for a time. Soon his horse was killed and he severely wounded. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and re- serve him for torture. But an enraged warrior stabbed him in the back, and he fell dead. His heart was afterwards taken out, cut in pieces and distributed among the tribes. Billy Caldwell, a half- breed Wyandot, well-known in Chicago long afterward, buried his remains the next day. Wells street in Chicago, perpetuates his memory.
64 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
la this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. A wife of one of the soldiers, who had frequently heard that the Indians subjected their prisoners to tortures worse than death, resolved not to be taken alive, and continued fighting until she was literally cut to pieces. Mrs. Heald was an excellent equestrian, and an expert in the use of the rifle. She fought bravely, receiving several wounds. Though faint from loss of blood, she managed to keep in her saddle. A savage raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, and with a sweet smile and gentle voice said, in his own language, " Surely you will not kill a squaw." The arm of of the savage fell, and the life of this heroic woman was saved. Mrs. Helm had an encounter with a stalwart Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same time she seized the savage round the neck and endeavored to get his scalping-knife which hung in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling, she was dragged from his grasp by another and an older Indian. The latter bore her, struggling and resisting, to the lake and plunged her in. She soon perceived it was not his intention to drown her, because he held her in such a position as to keep her head out of the water. She recognized him to be a celebrated chief called Black Partridge. When the firing ceased she was conducted up the sand-bank.
SLAUGHTER OF PRISONERS.
The prisoners were taken back to the Indian camp, when a new scene of horror was enacted. The wounded not being included in the terms of the surrender, as it was interpreted by the Indians, and the British general, Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for American scalps, nearly all the wounded were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was afterwards paid by the British general. In the stipulation of surrender, Capt. Heald had not particularly mentioned the wounded. These helpless sufferers, on reaching the Indian camp, were therefore regarded by the brutal savages as fit subjects upon which to display their cruelty and satisfy their desire for blood. Eeferring to the terrible butchery of the prisoners, in an account given by Mrs. Helm, she says: "An old squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends or excited by the sanguin- ary scenes around her, seemed possessed of demoniac fury. She seized a stable-fork and assaulted one miserable victim, who lay
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
67
at night, within a few miles of the village, without their presence being known to the Indians. Four men were sent out that night to reconnoiter the position of the village. The four brave men who volunteered for this perilous service were Thomas Carlin (after- ward Governor), and Eobert, Stephen and Davis Whiteside. They, proceeded to the village, and explored it and the approaches to it thoroughly, without starting an Indian or provoking the bark of a dog. The low lands between the Indian village and the troops were covered with a rank growth of tall grass, so highland dense as to readily conceal an Indian on horseback, until within a few feet of him. The ground had become still more yielding by recent rains, rendering it almost impassable by mounted men. To prevent de- tection, the soldiers had camped without lighting the usual camp- fires. The men lay down in their cold and cheerless camp, with many misgivings. They well remembered how the skulking sav- ages fell upon Harrison's men at Tippecanoe during the night. To add to their fears, a gun in the hands of a soldier was carelessly discharged, raising great consternation in the camp.
AN INDIAN KILLED.
Through a dense fog which prevailed the following morning, the army took up its line of march for the Indian town, Capt. Judy with his corps of spies in advance. In the tall grass they came up with an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The Indian wanted to surrender, but Judy observed that he "did not leave home to take prisoners," and instantly shot one of them. With the blood streaming from his mouth and nose, and in his agony " singing the death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally wounded a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired. Many guns were immediately discharged at the other Indian, not then known to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her hus- band killed by her side, the agonizing wails of the squaw were heart-rending. She was taken prisoner, and afterwards restored to her nation.
TOWN BUENED.
On nearing the town a general charge was made, the Indians fleeing to the interior wilderness. Some of their warriors made a stand, when a sharp engagement occurred, but the Indians were routed. In their flight they left behind all their winter's store of
71
a
g8 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
provisions, which was taken, and their town burned. Some Indian children were found who had been left in 1 he hurried flight, also some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition and with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. He is said to have been killed by a cowardly trooper straggling behind, after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian.
About the time Gov. Edwards started with his little band against the Indians, Gen. Hopkins, with 2,000 Kentucky riflemen, left Yincennes to cross the prairies of Illinois and destroy the Indian villages along the Illinois river. Edwards, with his rangers, ex- pected to act in concert with Gen. Hopkins' riflemen. After marching 80 or 90 miles into the enemy's country, Gen. Hopkins' men became dissatisfied, and on Oct. 20 the entire army turned and retreated homeward before even a foe had been met. After the victory of the Illinois rangers they heard nothing of Gen. Hopkins and bis 2,000 mouuted Kentucky riflemen; and apprehensive that a large force of warriors would be speedily collected, it was -deemed prudent not to protract their stay, and accordingly the retrograde march was commenced the very day of the attack.
PEORIA BUENED.
The force of Oapt. Craig, in charge of the provision boats, was not idle during this time. They proceeded to Peoria, where they were fired on by ten Indiana during the night, who immediately fled. Capt. Craig discovered, at daylight, their tracks leading up into the French town. He inquired of the French their where- abouts, who denied all knowledge of them, and said they " had heard or seen nothing; " but he took the entire number prisoners, burned and destroyed Peoria, and bore the captured inhabitants away on his boats to a point below the present city of Alton, where he landed and left them in the woods, — men, women, and children, — in the inclement month of November, without shelter, and without food other than the slender stores they had themselves gathered up before their departure. They found their way to St. Louis in an almost starving condition. The burning of Peoria and taking its inhabitants prisoners, on the mere suspicion that they sympathized with the Indians, was generally regarded as a needless, if not wanton, act of military power.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 71
SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS.
In the early part of 1813, the country was put in as good defense as the sparse population admitted. In spite of the precaution taken, numerous depredations and murders were committed by the In- dians, which again aroused the whites, and another expedition was sent against the foe, who had collected in large numbers in and around Peoria. This army was composed of about 900 men, collect- ed from both Illinois and Missouri, and under command of Gen. Howard. They marched across the broad prairies of Illinois to Peoria, where there was a small stockade in charge of United States troops. Two days previously the Indians made an attack on the fort, but were repulsed. Being in the enemy's country, knowing their stealthy habits, and the troops at no time observing a high de- gree of discipline, many unnecessary night alarms occurred, yet the enemy were far away. The army marched up the lake to Chili- cothe, burning on its way two deserted villages. At the present site of Peoria the troops remained in camp several weeks. While there they built a fort, which they named in honor of Gen. George Rogers Clark, who with his brave. Virginians wrested Illinois from the English during the Revolutionary struggle. This fort was de- stroyed by fire in 1818. It gave a name to Peoria which it wore for several years. After the building of Fort Crevecceur, in 1680, Peo- ria lake was very familiar to "Western travel and history; but there is no authentic account of a permanent European settlement there until 1778, when Laville de Meillet, named after its founder, was started. Owing to the quality of the water and its greater salu- brity, the location was changed to the present site of Peoria, and by 1796 the old had been entirely abandoned for the new village. After its destruction in 1812 it was not settled again until 1819, and then by American pioneers, though in 1813 Fort Clark was built there.
EXPEDITION UP THE MISSISSIPPI.
The second campaign against the Indians at Peoria closed with- out an engagement, or even a sight of the enemy, yet great was the benefit derived from it. It showed to the Indians the power and resources of his white foe. Still the calendar of the horrible deeds of butchery of the following year is long and bloody. A joint ex- pedition again moved against the Indians in 1814, under Gov.
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72 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Clark of Missouri. This time they went up the Mississippi in barges, Prairie du Ohien being the point of destination. There they found a small garrison of British troops, which, however, soon fled, as did the inhabitants, leaving Clark in full possession. He im- mediately set to work and erected Fort Shelby. The Governor returned to St. Louis, leaving his men in peaceable possession of the place, but a large force of British and Indians came down upon them, and the entire garrison surrendered. In the mean time Gen. Howard sent 108 men to strengthen the garrison. Of this number 66 were Illinois rangers, under Capts. Rector and Biggs, who oc- cupied two boats. The remainder were with Lieut. Campbell.
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
At Bock Island Campbell was warned to turn back, as an attack was contemplated. The other boats passed on up the river and were some two miles ahead when Campbell's barge was struck by a strong gale which forced it against a small island near the Illinois shore. Thinking it best to lie to till the wind abated, sentinels were stationed while the men went ashore to cook breakfast. At this time a large number of Indians on the main shore under Black Hawk commenced an attack. The savages in canoes passed rapidly to the island, and with a war-whoop rushed upon the men, who retreated and sought refuge in the barge. A battle of brisk musketry now ensued between the few regulars aboard the stranded barge and the hordes of Indians under cover of trees on the island, with severe loss to the former. Meanwhile Capt. Bector and Biggs, ahead with their barges, seeing the smoke of battle, attempted to return ; but in the strong gale Biggs' boat became unmanageable and was stranded on the rapids. Bector, to avoid a similar disaster, let go his anchor. The rangers, however, opened with good aim and telling effect upon the savages. The unequal combat having raged for some time and about closing, the commander's barge, with many wounded and several dead on board,— among the former of whom, very badly, was Campbell himself, — was discovered to be on fire. Now Bector and his brave Illinois rangers, comprehending the horrid situation, performed, without delay, as cool and heroic a deed— and did it well— as ever imperiled the life of mortal man. In the howling gale, in full view of hundreds of infuriated savages, and within range of their rifles, they deliberately raised anchor,
^
HI8T0KY OB' ILLINOIS. Tb
lightened their barge by casting overboard quantities of provisions, and guided it with the utmost labor down the swift current, to the windward of the burning barge, and under the galling fire of the enemy rescued all the survivors, and removed the wounded and dying to their vessel. This was a deed of noble daring and as heroic as any performed during the war in the West. Rector hur- ried with his over-crowded vessel to St. Louis.
It was now feared that Riggs and his company were captured and sacrificed by the savages. His vessel, which was strong and well armed, was for a time surrounded by the Indians, but the whites on the inside were well sheltered. The wind becoming allayed in the evening, the boat, under cover of the night, glided safely down the river without the loss of a single man.
STILL ANOTHER EXPEDITION.
Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of the two expedi- tions already sent out, during the year 1814, still another was pro- jected. It was under Maj. Zachary Taylor, afterward President. Rector and Whiteside, with the Illinoisan, were in command of boats. The expedition passed Rock Island unmolested, when it was learned the country was not only swarming with Indians, but that the English were there in command with a detachment of regu- lars and artillery. The advanced boats in command of Rector, White- side and Hempstead, turned about and began to descend the rapids, fighting with great gallantry the hordes of the enemy, who were pouring their fire into them from the shore at every step.
Near the mouth of Rock river Maj. Taylor anchored his fleet out in the Mississippi. During the night the English planted a battery of six pieces down at the water's edge, to sink or disable the boats, and filled the islands with red-skins to butcher the whites, who might, unarmed, seek refuge there. But in this scheme they were frustrated. In the morning Taylor ordered all the force, except 20 boatmen on each vessel, to the upper island to dislodge the enemy. The order was executed with great gallantry, the island scoured, many of the savages killed, and the rest driven to the lower island. In the meantime the British cannon told with effect upon the fleet. The men rushed back and the boats were dropped down the stream (Hit of range of the cannon. Capt. Rector was now ordered with his company to make a sortie on the lower island, which he did,
f-
74 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
driving the Indians back among the willows ; but they being re-in- forced, in turn hurled Rector back upon the sand-beach.
A council of officers called by Taylor had by this time decided that their force was too small to contend with the enemy, who outnumbered them three to one, and the boats were in full retreat down the river. As Eector attempted to get under way his boat grounded, and the savages, with demoniac yells, surrounded it, when a most desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The gallant ranger, Samuel "Whiteside, observing the imminent peril of his brave Illinois comrade, went immediately to his rescue, who but for his timely aid would undoubtedly have been overpowered, with all his force, and murdered.
Thus ended the last, like the two previous expeditions up the Mississippi during the war of 1812, in defeat and disaster. The enemy was in undisputed posession of all the country north of the Illinois river, and the prospects respecting those territories boded nothing but gloom. With the approach of winter, however, Indian depredations ceased to be committed, and the peace of Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, closed the war.
ILLINOIS AS A STATE.
ORGANIZATION.
In January of 181 8 the Territorial Legislature forwarded to Nathaniel Pope, delegate in Congress from Illinois, a petition pray- inc for admission into the national Union as a State. On April 18th of the same year Congress passed the enabling act, and Dec. 3, after the State government had been organized and Gov. Bond had signed the Constitution, Congress by a resolution declared Illi- nois to be "one of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects."
The ordinance of 1787 declared that there should be at least three States carved out of the Northwestern Territory. The boundaries of the three, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, were fixed by this law. Congress reserved the power, however, of forming two other States out of the territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southern boundary of Lake Michigan. It was generally conceded that this line would be the northern boundary of Illinois ;
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 75
but as this would give the State no coast on Lake Michigan; and rob her of the port of Chicago and the northern terminus of the Illinois & Michigan canal which was then contemplated, Judge Pope had the northern boundary moved fifty miles further north.
BOUNDARY CHANGED.
Not only is Illinois indebted to Nathaniel Pope for the port where now enter and depart more vessels during the year than in any other port in the world, for the northern terminus of the Illinois & Michigan canal, and for the lead mines at Galena, but the nation, the undivided Union, is largely indebted to him for its perpetuity. It was he, — his foresight, statesmanship and energy, — that bound our confederated Union with bands of iron that can never be broken. The geographical position of Illinois, with her hundreds of miles of water-courses, is such as to make her the key to the grand arch of Northern and Southern States. Extending from the great chain of lakes on the north, with snow and ice of the arctic region, to the cotton-fields of Tennessee ; peopled, as it is, by almost all races, classes and conditions of the human family ; guided by the various and diversified political, agricultural, religious and educational teachings common to both North and South, — Illinois can control, and has controlled, the destinies of our united and beloved republic. Pope seemingly foresaw that a struggle to dissolve the Union would be made. With a prophetic eye he looked down the stream of time for a half century and saw the great conflict between the South and North, caused by a determination to dissolve the confederation of States; and to preserve the Union, he gave to Illinois a lake coast.
Gov. Ford, in his History of Illinois, written in 1847, while speaking of this change of boundary and its influence upon our nation, says:
"What, then, was the duty of the national Government? Illinois was certain to be a great State, with any boundaries which that Government could give. Its great extent of territory, its unrivaled fertility of soil and capacity for sustaining a dense population, together with its commanding position, would in course of time i^ive the new State a very controlling influence with her sister States situated upon the Western rivers, either in sustaining the federal Union as it is, or in dissolving it and establishing new gov- ernments. If left entirely upon the waters of these great rivers, it
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76 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
was plain that, in case of threatened disruption, the interest of the new State would be to join a Southern and Western confederacy; but if a large portion of it could be made dependent upon the com- merce and navigation of the great northern lakes, connected as they are with the Eastern States, a rival interest would be created to check the wish for a Western and Southern confederacy.
"It therefore became the duty of the national Government not only to make Illinois strong, but to raise an interest inclining and binding her to the Eastern and Northern portions of the Union. This could be done only through an interest in the lakes. At that time the commerce on the lakes was small, but its increase was con- fidently expected, and, indeed, it has exceeded all anticipations, and is yet only in its infancy. To accomplish this object effectually, it was not only Decessary to give to Illinois the port of Chicago and a route for the canal, but a considerable coast on Lake Michigan, with a country back of it sufficiently extensive to contain a popu- lation capable of exerting a decided influence upon the councils of the State.
" There would, therefore, be a large commerce of the north, west- ern and central portion of the State afloat on the lakes, for it was then foreseen that the canal would be made; and this alone would be like turning one of the many mouths of the Mississippi into Lake Michigan at Chicago. A very large commerce of the center and south would be found both upon the lakes and rivers. Asso- ciations in business, in interest, and of friendship would be formed, both with the North and the South. A State thus situated, having such a decided interest in the commerce, and in the preservation of the whole confederacy, can never consent to disunion ; for the Union cannot be dissolved without a division and disruption of the State itself. These views, urged by Judge Pope, obtained the unquali- fied assent of the statesmen of 1818.
" These facts and views are worthy to be recorded in history as a standing and perpetual call upon Illinoisans of every age to remember the great trust which has been reposed in them, as the peculiar champions and guardians of the Union by the great men and patriot sages who adorned and governed this country in the earlier and better days of the Eepublic."
During the dark and trying days of the Eebellion, well did she remember this sacred trust, to protect which two hundred thousand
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 77
of her sons went to the bloody field of battle, crowning their arms with the laurels of war, and keeping inviolate the solemn obliga- tions bequeathed to them by their fathers.
FIRST CONSTITUTION.
In Jnly and August of 1818 a convention was held at Kaskaskia for the purpose of drafting a constitution. This constitution was not submitted to a vote of the people for their approval or rejection, it being well known that they would approve it. It was about the first organic law of any State in the Union to abolish imprisonment for debt. The first election under the constitution was held on the third Thursday and the two succeeding days in September, 1818. Shadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard Lieuten- ant Governor. Their term of office extended four years. At this time che State was divided into fifteen counties, the population being about 40,000. Of this number by far the larger portion were from the Southern States. The salary of the Governor was $1,000, while that of the Treasurer was $500. The Legislature re-enacted, ver- batim, the Territorial Code, the penalties of which were unneces- sarily severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory were used for minor offenses, and for arson, rape, horse-stealing, etc., death by hanging was the penalty. These laws, however, were modified in 1821.
The Legislature first convened at Kaskaskia, the ancient seat of empire for more than one hundred and fifty years, both for the French and Americans. Provisions were made, however, for the removal of the seat of government by this Legislature. A place in the wilderness on the Kaskaskia river was selected and named Vandalia. From Vandalia it was removed to Springfield in the year 1837.
DERIVATION OF THE NAME ILLINOIS.
The name of this beautiful "Prairie State" is derived from lllini, an Indian word signifying superior men. It has a French termination, and is a symbol of the manner in which the two races, the French and Indians, were intermixed during the early history of the country. The appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabitants of the soil, whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile region in the great valley of the
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78 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Mississippi, which their e&emies coveted and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of war they were dimin- ished in number and finally destroyed. " Starved Kock," on the Illinois river, according to tradition, commemorates their last trag- edy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than surrender.
The low cognomen of " Sucker," as applied to Illinoisans, is said to have had its origin at the Galena lead mines. In an early day, when these extensive mines were being worked, men would run up the Mississippi river in steamboats in the spring, work the lead mines, and in the fall return, thus establishing, as was supposed, asim- ilitude between their migratory habits and those of the fishy tribe called "Suckers." For this reason the Illinoisans have ever since been distinguished by the epithet " Suckers." Those who stayed at the mines over winter were mostly from Wisconsin, and were called " Badgers." One spring the Missourians poured into the mines in such numbers that the State was said to have taken a puke, and the offensive appellation of " Pukes " was afterward applied to all Missourians.
The southern part of the State, known as " Egypt," received this appellation because, being older, better settled and cultivated, grain was had in greater abundance than in the central and northern por- tion, and the immigrants of this region, after the manner of the children of Israel, went " thither to buy and to bring from thence that they might live and not die."
STATE BANK.
The Legislature, during the latter years of territorial existence, granted charters to several banks. The result was that paper money became very abundant, times flush, and credit unlimited; and every- body invested to the utmost limit of his credit, with confident expectation of realizing a handsome advance before the expiration of his credit, from the throng of immigrants then pouring into the country. By 1819 it became apparent that a day of reckoning would approach before their dreams of fortune could be realized. Banks everywhere began to waver, paper money became depreci- ated, and gold and silver driven out of the country. The Legisla- ture sought to bolster up the times by incorporating the " Bank of Illinois," which, with several branches, was created by the ses- sion of 1821. This bank, being wholly supported by the credit of the State, was to issue one, two, three, five, ten and twenty-dollar
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notes. It was the duty of the bank to advance, upon personal prop- erty, money to the amount of $100, and a larger amount upon real estate. All taxes and public salaries could be paid in such bills; and if a creditor refused to take them, he had to wait three years longer before he could collect his debt. The people imagined that simply because the government had issued the notes, they would remain at par; and although this evidently could not be the case, they were yet so infatuated with their project as actually to request the United States government to receive them in payment for their public lands! Although there were not wanting men -who, like John McLean, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, fore- saw the dangers and evils likely to arise from the creation of such a bank, by far the greater part of the people were in favor of it. The new bank was therefore started. The new issue of bills by the bank of course only aggravated the evil, heretofore so grievously felt, of the absence of specie, so that the people were soon com- pelled to cut their bills in halves and quarters, in order to make small change in trade. Finally the paper currency so rapidly depre- ciated that three dollars in these bills were considered worth only one in specie, and the State not only did not increase its revenue, but lost full two-thirds of it, and expended three times the amount required to pay the expenses of the State government.
lafayette's visit. In the spring of 1825 the brave and generous LaFayette visited Illinois, accepting the earnest invitation of the General Assembly, and an affectionately written letter of Gov. Cole's, who had formed his personal acquaintance in France in 1817. The General in reply said: " It has been my eager desire, and it is now my earnest inten- tion, to visit the "Western States, and particularly the State of Illi- nois. The feelings which your distant welcome could not fail to excite have increased that patriotic eagerness to admire on that blessed spot the happy and rapid results of republican institutions, public and domestic virtues. I shall, after the 22d of February (anniversary day), leave here for a journey to the Southern States, and from New Orleans to the Western States, so as to return to Boston on the 14th of June, when the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill monument is to be laid, — a ceremony sacred to the whole Union and in which I have been engaged to act a peculiar and honorable part."
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80 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
General LaFayette and suite, attended by a large delegation of prominent citizens of Missouri, made a visit by the steamer Natch- ez to the ancient town of Kaskaskia. No military parade was attempted, but a multitude of patriotic citizens made him welcome. A reception was held, Gov. Cole delivering a glowing address of welcome. During the progress of a grand ball held that night, a very interesting interview took place between the honored General and an Indian squaw whose father had served under him in the Revolutionary war. The squaw, learning that the great white chief was to be- at Kaskaskia on that night, had ridden all day, from early dawn till sometime in the night, from her distant home, to see the man whose name had been so often on her father's tongue, and with which she was so familiar. In identification of her claim to his distinguished acquaintance, she brought with her an old, worn letter which the General had written to her father, and which the Indian chief had preserved with great care, and finally bequeathed on his death-bed to his daughter as the most precious legacy he had to leave her.
By 12 o'clock at night Gen. LaFayette returned to his boat and started South. The boat was chartered by the State.
EARLY GOVERNORS.
In the year 1822 the term of office of the first Governor, Shadrach Bond, expired. Two parties sprung up at this time, — one favorable, the other hostile, to the introduction of slavery, each proposing a candidate of its own for Governor. Both parties worked hard" to secure the election of their respective candidates; but the people at large decided, as they ever have been at heart, in favor of a free State. Edward Coles, an anti-slavery man, was elected, although a majority of the Legislature were opposed to him. The subject of principal interest during his administration was to make Illinois a slave State. The greatest effort was made in 1824, and the propo- sition was defeated at the polls by a majority of 1,800. The aggre- gate vote polled was 11,612, being about 6,000 larger than at the previous State election. African slaves were first introduced into Illinois in 1720 by Eenault, a Frenchman.
Senator Duncan, afterward Governor, presented to the Legisla- ture of 1824-5 a bill for the support of schools by a public tax; and William S. Hamilton presented another bill requiring a tax to be
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used for the purpose of constructing and repairing the roads, — both of which bills passed and became laws. But although these laws conferred an incalculable benefit upon the public, the very name of a tax was so odious to the people that, rather than pay a tax of the smallest possible amount, they preferred working as they formerly did, five days during the year on the roads, and would allow their children to grow up without any instruction at all. Consequently both laws were abolished in 1826.
In the year 1826 the office of Governor became again vacant. Ninian Edwards, Adolphus F. Hubbard and Thomas C. Sloe were candidates. Edwards, though the successful candidate, had made himself many enemies by urging strict inquiries to be made into the corruption of the State bank, so that had it not been for his talents and noble personal appearance, he would most probably not have been elected. Hubbard was a man of but little personal merit. Of him tradition has preserved, among other curious sayings, a speech on a bill granting a bounty on wolf-scalps. This speech, delivered before the Legislature, is as follows: " Mr. Speaker, I rise before the question is put on this bill, to say a word for mj' constit- uents. Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a wolf. I cannot say that I am very well acquainted with the nature and habits of wolves. Mr. Speaker, I have said that I had never seen a wolf; but now I remember that once on a time, as Judge Brown and I were riding across the Bonpas prairie, we looked over the prairie about three miles, and Judge Brown said, ' Hubbard, look! there goes a wolf; ' and I looked, and I looked, and I looked, and I said, - Judge, where?' and he said, 'There!' And I looked again, and this time in the edge of a hazel thicket, about three miles across the prairie, I think I saw the wolf's tail. Mr. Speaker, if I did not see a wolf that time, I think I never saw one; but I have heard much, and read more, about this animal. I have studied his natural history.
"By the bye, history is divided into two parts. There is first the history of the fabulous; and secondly, of the non-fabulous, or unknown age. Mr. Speaker, from all these sources of information I learn that the wolf is a very noxious animal ; that he goes prowl- ing about, seeking something to devour; that he rises up in the dead and secret hours of night, when all nature reposes in silent oblivion, and then commits the most terrible devastation upon the rising generation of hogs and sheep.
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" Mr. Speaker, I have done; and I return my thanks to the house for their kind attention to my remarks."
Gov. Edwards was a large and well-made man, with a noble, princely appearance. Of him Gov. Ford says: "He never con- descended to the common low art of electioneering. Whenever he went out among the people he arrayed himself in the style of a gentleman of the olden time, dressed in fine broadcloth, with short breeches, long stockings, and high, fair-topped boots; was drawn in a fine carriage driven by a negro; and for success he relied upon his speeches, which were delivered in great pomp and in style of diffuse and florid eloquence. When he was inaugurated in 1826, he appeared before the General Assembly wearing a golden-laced cloak, and with greatpomp pronounced his first message to the houses of the Legislature."
GRAMMAR AND COOK CONTRASTED.
Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar, who was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1816, and held the position for about twenty years, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, " If it succeeds, no one will ask who voted against it: if it proves a failure, he could quote its record." When first honored with a seat in the Assembly, it is said that he lacked the apparel necessary for a member of the Legislature, and in order to procure them he and his sons gathered a large quantity of hazel-nuts, which were taken to the Ohio Saline and 6old for cloth to make a coat and pantaloons. The cloth was the blue strouding commonly used by the Indians.
The neighboring women assembled- to make up the garments; the cloth was measured every way, — across, lengthwise, and from corner to corner, — and still was found to be scant. It was at last con- cluded to make a very short, bob-tailed coat and a long pair of leg- gins, which being finished, Mr. Grammar started for the State capital. In sharp contrast with Grammar was the character of D. P. Cook, in honor of whom Cook county was named. Such was his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Com- mittee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- less of consequences. T> was his integrity that elected John Quincy
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Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson, Clay, Crawford and Adams. There being no choice by the people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so bal- anced that it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, elect- ing him. He then came home to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois.
The first mail route in the State was established in 1805. This was from Vincennes to Cahokia. In 1824 there was a direct mail route from Vandalia to Springfield. The first route from the central part of the State to Chicago was established in 1832, from Shelby- ville. The difficulties and dangers encountered by the early mail carriers, in time of Indian troubles, were very serious. The bravery and ingenious devices of Harry Milton are mentioned with special commendation. When a boy, in 1812, he conveyed the mail on a wild French pony from Shawneetown to St. Louis, over swollen streams and through the enemy's country. So infrequent and irregular were the communications by mail a great part of the time, that to-day, even the remotest part of the United States is unable to appreciate it by example.
The first newspaper published in Illinois was the Illinois Herald, established at Kaskaskia by Mathew Duncan. There is some va- riance as to the exact time of its establishment. Gov. Reynolds claimed it was started in 1809. Wm. H. Brown, afterwards its editor, gives the date as 1814.
In 1831 the criminal code was first adapted to penitentiary pun- ishment, ever since which time the old system of whipping and pillory for the punishment of criminals has been disused.
There was no legal rate of interest till 1830. Previously the rate often reached as high as 150 per cent., but was usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, then to 10, and lastly to 8 per cent.
INDIAN TROUBLES.
WINNEBAGO WAE.
The Indians, who for 6ome years were on peaceful terms with the whites, became troublesome in 1827. The "Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes and other tribes had been at war for more than a hun- dred years. In the summer of 1827 a war party of the "Winnebagoes surprised a party of Chippewas and killed eight of them. Four
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of the murderers were arrested and delivered to the Chippewas, by whom they were immediately shot. This was the first irritation of the Winnebagoes. Red Bird, a chief of this tribe, in order to avenge the execution of the four warriors of his own people, attacked the Chippewas, but was defeated; and being determined to satisfy his thirst for revenge by some means, surprised and killed several white men. Upon receiving intelligence of these murders, the whites who were working the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena formed a body of volunteers, and, re-inforced by a company of United States troops, marched into the country of the Winnebagoes. To save their nation from the miseries of war, Red Bird and six other men of his nation voluntarily surrendered themselves. Some of the number were executed, some of them imprisoned and destined, like Red Bird, ingloriously to pine away within the narrow confines of a jail, when formerly the vast forests had proven too limited for them.
JOHN REYNOLDS ELECTED GOVERNOR.
In August, 1830, another gubernatorial election was held. The candidates were William Kinney, then Lieutenant Governor, and John Reynolds, formerly an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, both Jackson Democrats. The opposition brought forward no can- didate, as they were in a helpless minority. Reynolds was the successful candidate, and under his administration was the famous
BLACK HAWK WAR.
In the year of 1801 a treaty was concluded between the United States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. One old chief of the Sacs, however, called Black Hawk, who had fought with great bravery in the service of Great Britain during the war of 1812, had always taken exceptions to this treaty, pronouncing it void. In 1831 he established himsel1', with a chosen band of warriors, upon the dis- puted territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The settlers complaining, Gov. Reynolds dispatched Gen. Gaines, with a company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers, to the scene of action. Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their villages and forced them to conclude a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east of the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of the river. Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into submission, which made him more than ever determined to be
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avenged upoi: his enemies. Having rallied around him the warlike braves of the Sac, and Fox nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1832. Upon hearing of the invasion, Gov. Keynolds hastily collected a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under the command 01 Brig-Gen. Samuel "Whiteside.
stillman's run.
The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to ashes the Indian village known as '•' Prophet's Town," proceeded for several miles up the river to Dixon, to join the regular forces under Gen. Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter the enemy. They advanced under command of Maj. Stillman, to a creek afterwards called "Stillman's run;" and while encamping there saw a party of mounted Indians at the distance of a mile. Several of Stillman's party mounted their horses and charged the Indians, killing three of them; but, attacked by the main body under Black Hawk, they were routed, and by their precipitate flight spread such a panic through the camp that the whole company ran off to Dixon as fast as their legs could carry them. On their arrival it was found that there had been eleven killed. The party came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, each squad positive that all who were left behind were massacred.
It is said that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a loud voice, who was a colonel of the militia but a private with Stillman, upon his arrival in camp gave to Gen. Whiteside and the wondering multi- tude the follovi/ing glowing and bombastic account of the battle: " Sirs," said he, "our detachment was encamped among some scat- tering timber on the north side of Old Man's creek, with the prairie from the north gently sloping down to our encampment. It was just after twilight, in the gloaming of the evening, when we dis- covered Black Hawk's army coining down upon us in solid column; they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prai- rie, and such accuracy and precision of military movements were never witnessed Dy man; they were equal to the best troops of Wellington in Spain. *. have said that the Indians came down in solid columns, and displayed in the form of a crescent; and what was most wonderful, there were large squares of cavalry resting upon the points of the curve, which squares were supported again by
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other columns fifteen deep, extending back through the woods and over a swamp three-quarters of a mile, which again rested on the main body of Black Hawk's army bivouacked upon the banks of the Kishwakee. It was a terrible and a glorious sight to see the tawny warriors as they rode along our flanks attempting to outflank us, with the glittering moonbeams glistening from their polished blades and burnished spears. It was a sight well calculated to strike con- sternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and accordingly our men soon began to break in small squads, for tall timber. In a very little time the rout became general, the Indians were soon upon our flanks and threatened the destruction of our entire detach- ment. About this time Maj. Stillman, Col. Stephenson, Maj. Perkins, Capt. Adams, Mr. Hackelton, and myself, with some others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and pro- tect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell bravely fighting hand-to-hand with the savage enemy, and I alone was left upon the field of battle. About this time I discovered not far to the left a corps of horsemen which seemed to be in tolerable order. I immediately deployed to the left, when, leaning down and placing my body in a recumbent posture upon the mane of my horse so as to bring the heads of the horsemen between my eye and the horizon, I discovered by the light of the moon that they were gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which token I knew thev were no friends of mine. I therefore made a retrogade movement and recovered my position, where I remained some time meditating what further I could do in the service of my country, when a ran- dom ball came whistling by my ear and plainly whispered to me, ' Stranger, you have no further business here.' Upon hearing this I followed the example of my companions in arras, and broke for tall timber, and the way I ran was not a little."
For a long time afterward Maj. Stillnan and his men were sub- jects of ridicule and merriment, which was as undeserving as their expedition was disastrous. Stillman's defeat spread consternation throughout the State and nation. The number of Indians was greatly exaggerated, and the name of Black Hawk carried with it associations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty.
ASSAULT ON APPLE EIVEE FORT.
A regiment 6ent to spy out the country between Galena and Rock Island was surprised by a party of seventy Indians, and was on the
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point of being thrown into disorder when Gen. Whiteside, then serving as a private, shouted out that he would shoot the first man who should turn his back to the enemy. Order being restored, the battle began. At its very outset Gen. Whiteside shot the leader of the Indians, who thereupon commenced a hasty retreat.
In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of 150 warriors, attack- ed the Apple Kiver Fort, near Galena, defended by 25 men. This fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the miners. For fifteen consecutive hours the garrison had to sustain the assault of the savage enemy ; but knowing very well that no quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and des- peration that the Indians, after losing many of their best warriors, were compelled to retreat.
Another party of eleven Indians murdered two men near Fort Hamilton. They were afterwards overtaken by a company of twenty men and every one of them was killed.
BOCK RIVEK EXPEDITION.
A new regiment, under the command of Gen. Atkinson, assem- bled on the banks of the Illinois in the latter part of June. Haj. Dement, with a small party, was sent out to reconnoittr the move- ments of a large body of Indians, whose endeavors to surround him made it advisable for him to retire. Upon hearing of this engage- ment, Gen. Atkinson sent a detachment to intercept the Indians, while he with the main body of his army, moved north to meet the Indians under Black Hawk. They moved siowiy and cautiously through the country, passed through Turtle village, and marched up along Kock river. On their arrival news was brought of the discovery of the main trail of the Indians. Considerable search was made, but they were unable to discover any vestige of Indians save two who had shot two soldiers the day previous.
Hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock river, at the Manitou village, they resolved at once to advance upon the enemy; but in the execution of their design they met with opposition from their officers and men. The officers of Gen. Henry handed to him a written protest; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered the officers to be arrested and escorted to Gen. Atkinson. Within a few minutes after the stern order was given, the officers all collected around the General's quarters, many of them with tears in their
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eyes, pledging themselves that if forgiven they would return to duty and never do the like again. The General rescinded the order, and they at once resumed duty.
THE BATTLE OF BAD-AXE.
Gen. Henry marched on the 15th of July in pursuit of the Indians, reaching Kock river after three days' journey, where he learned Black Hawk was encamped further up the river. On July 19th the troops were ordered to commence their march. After having made fifty miles, they were overtaken by a terrible thunder- storm which lasted all night. Nothing cooled, however, in their courage and zeal, they marched again fifty miles the next day, encamping near the place where the Indians had encamped the night before. Hurrying along as fast as they could, the infantry keeping up an equal pace with the mounted force, the troops on the morning of the _?lst crossed the river connecting two of the four lakes, by which the Indians had been endeavoring to escape. They found, on their way, the ground strewn with kettles and articles of baggage, which the haste of their retreat had obliged the Indians to throw away. The troops, inspired with new ardor, advanced so rapidly that at noon they fell in with the rear guard of the Indians. Those who closely pursued them were saluted with a sudden fire of musketry by a body of Indians who had concealed them- selves in the high grass of the prairie. A most desperate charge was made upon the Indians, who, unable to resist, retreated obliquely, in order to out-flank the volunteers on the right; but the latter charged the Indians in their ambush, and expelled them from their thickets at the point of the bayonet, and dispersed them. Night set in and the battle ended, having cost the Indians 68 of their bravest men, while the loss of the Illinoisans amounted to but one killed and 8 wounded.
Soon after this battle Gens. Atkinson and Henry joined their forces and pursued the Indians. Gen. Henry struck the main trail, left his horses behind, formed an advance guard of eight men, and marched forward upon their trail. When these eight men came within sight of the river, they were suddenly fired upon and five of them killed, the remaining three maintaining their ground till Gen. Henry came up. Then the Indians, charged upon with the bayonet, fell back upon their main force. The battle now
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became general; the Indians fought with desperate valor, but were furiously assailed by the volunteers with their bayonets, cutting many of the Indians to pieces and driving the rest into the river. Those who escaped from being drowned took refuge on an island. On hearing the frequent discharge of musketry, indicating a general engagement, Gen. Atkinson abandoned the pursuit of the twenty Indians under Black Hawk himself, and hurried to the scene of action, where he arrived too late to take part in the battle. He immediately forded the river with his troops, the water reaching up to their necks, and landed on the island where the Indians had secreted themselves. The soldiers rushed upon the Indians, killed several "of them, took others prisoner, and chased the rest into the river, where they were either drowned or shot before reaching the opposite shore. Thus ended the battle, the Indians losing 300 besides 50 prisoners; the whites but 17 killed and 12 wounded.
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.
Many painful incidents occurred during this battle. A Sac woman, the sister of a warrior of some notoriety, found herself in the thickest of the fight, but at length succeeded in reaching the river, when, keeping her infant child safe in its blankets by means of her teeth, she plunged into the water, seized the tail of a horse with her hands whose rider was swimming the stream, and was drawn safely across. A young squaw during the battle was stand- ing in the grass a short distance from the American line, holding her child — a little girl of four years — in her arms. In this posi- tion a ball struck the right arm of the child, shattering the bone, and passed into the breast of the young mother, instantly killing her. She fell upon the child and confined it to the ground till the Indians were 'driven from that part of the field. Gen. Anderson, of the United States army, hearing its cries, went to the spot, took it from under the dead body and carried it to the surgeon to have its wound dressed. The arm was amputated, and during the oper- ation the half-starved child did not cry, but sat quietly eating a hard piece of biscuit. It was sent to Prairie du Chien, where it entirely recovered.
BLACK HAWK CAFfURED.
Black Hawk, with his twenty braves, retreated up the "Wisconsin. river. The Winnebagoes, desirous of securing the friendship of
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the whites, went in pursuit and captured and delivered them to Gen. Street, the United States Indian agent. Among the prisoners were the son of Black Hawk and the prophet of the tribe. These with Black Hawk were taken to Washington, D. C, and soon con- signed as prisoners at Fortress Monroe.
At the interview Black Hawk had with the President, he closed his speech delivered on the occasion in the following words: " We did not expect to conquer the whites. They have too many houses, too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to revenge injuries which my people could no longer endure. Had I borne them longer without striking, my people would have said, ' Black Hawk is a woman; he is too old to be a chief; lie is no Sac' These reflections caused me to raise the war-whoop. I say no more. It is known to you. Keokuk once was here; you took him by the hand, and when he wished to return to his home, you were willing. Black Hawk expects, like Keokuk, he shall be permitted to return too."
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BLACK HAWK.
Black Hawk, or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, was born in the prin- cipal Sac village, near the junction of Kock river with the Missis- sippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa. Black Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted to paint, and was ranked among the braves. About the year 17S3 he went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one of whom he killed and scalped; and for this deed of Indian bravery he was permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years afterward he, at the head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce battle ensued in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them near the present city of St. Louis his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced him- self chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes and a hundred Iowas, he waged war against the Osage
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nation, and subdued it. For two years lie battled successfully with other Indian tribes, all of which he conquered.
The year following the treaty at St. Louis, in 1804, the United States Government erected a fort near the head of Des Moines Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moines. The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties with the British Government arose about this time, and the war of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, induced them to remain hostile to the Ameri- cans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn massacre -had a few days before been perpetrated. Of his con- nection with the British but little is known.
In the early part of 1815, the Indians west of the Mississippi were notified that peace had been declared between the United States and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. From the time of signing this treaty, in 1816, until the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, lie and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life.
Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox Indians were urged to move to the west of the Mississippi. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which Black Hawk was leader. He strongly objected to the removal, and was induced to comply only after being threatened by the Govern- ment. This action, and various others on the part of the white settlers, provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his native village, now occupied by the whites. The war fol- lowed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been complied with at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would have been prevented.
BLACK HAWK SET AT LIBERTY.
By order of the President, Black Hawk and his companions, who were in confinement at Fortress Monroe, were set free on the 4th day of June, 1833. Before leaving the fort Black Hawk
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made the following farewell speech to the commander, which is not only eloquent bu.t shows that within his chest of steel there beat a heart keenly alive to the emotions of gratitude:
" Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my companions, to bid you farewell. Our great father has at length been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of the rifle hereafter will only bring death to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them presents, and you have given them plenty to eat and drink. The memory of your friendship will remain till the Great Spirit says it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and your young warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but the red man has a heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of his white brother. The Great Spirit has given us our hunting grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill there is his favorite, for its color is white, and this is the emblem of peace. This hunting dress and these feathers of the eagle are white. Accept them, my brother. I have given one like this to the White Otter. Accept it as a memorial of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will serve to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your children. Farewell."
After their release from prison they were conducted, in charge of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that thev mio-ht witness the power of the United States and learn their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multitudes flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention paid them rendered their progress through the country a triumphal procession, instead of the transportation of prisoners by an officer. At Bock Island the prisoners were giveu their liberty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In 1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be said that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her
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with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her up- ward of forty years.
BLACK HAWK'S DEATH AND BUTSIAL.
At all times when Black Hawk visited the whites he was received with marked attention. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' re- union in Lee county, Illinois, at some of their meetings and received many tokens of esteem. In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever, and terminated his life October 3. After his death, he was dressed in the uniform presented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. The body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side the cane given him by Henry Clay was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. Thus, after a long, adventurous and shifting life, Black Hawk was gathered to his fathers.
FKOM 1834 TO 1842.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Ko sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began rapidly to pour into the northern part of Illinois, now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had grown into a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence.
At the general election in 1834 Joseph Duncan was chosen Governor, by a handsome majority. His principal opponent was ex-Lientenant Governor Kinney. A reckless and uncontrollable desire for internal public improvements seized the minds of the people. In his message to the Legislature, in 1835, Gov. Duncan said : " "When we look abroad and see the extensive lines of inter- communication penetrating almost every section of our sister States ; when we see the canal boat and the locomotive bearing with seem- ing triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen and space, what patriot bosom does not beat high with a laudable ambition to give Illinois her full share of those advantages which are adorning her
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sister States, and which a magnificent Providence seems to invite by a wonderful adaptation of our whole country to such improve- ments?"
STUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF IMPROVEMENTS INAUGURATED.
The Legislature responded to the ardent words of the Governor, and enacted a system of internal improvements without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the construction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There were a few counties not touched by railroad, or river or canal, and they were to be comforted and compensated by the free distribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond credence, it was ordered that work should commence on both ends of eacli of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the same time. This provision, which has been called the crowning folly of the entire system, was the result of those jealous combinations ema- nating from the fear that advantages might accrue to one section over another in the commencement and completion of the works. We can appreciate better, perhaps, the magnitude of this grand system by reviewing a few figures. The debt authorized for these improvements in the first instance was $10,230,000. But this, as it was soon found, was based upon estimates at least too low by half. This, as we readily see, committed the State to a liability of over $20,000,000, equivalent to $200,000,000, at the present time, with over ten times the population and more than ten times the wealth.
Such stupendous undertakings by the State naturally engendered the fever of speculation among individuals. That particular form known as the town-lot fever assumed the malignant type at first in Chicago, from whence it spead over the entire State and adjoining States. It was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms without regard to locality, and cut up the purses of the purchasers without regard to consequences. It was estimated that building lots enough were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the United States.
Chicago, which in 1830 was a small trading-post, had within a few years grown into a city. This was the starting point of the wonderful and marvelous career of that city. Improvements,
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unsurpassed by individual efforts in the annals of the world, were then begun and have been maintained to this day. Though visited by the terrible' fire fiend and the accumulations of years swept away in a night, yet she has arisen, and to-day is the best built city in the world. Reports of the rapid advance of property in Chicago spread to the East, and thousands poured into her borders, bringing money, enterprise and industry. Every ship that left her port carried with it maps of splendidly situated towns and additions, and every vessel that returned was laden with immigrants. It was said at the time that the staple articles of Illinois export were town plots, and that there was danger of crowding the State with towns to the exclusion of land for agriculture.
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.
The Illinois and Michigan canal again received attention. This enterprise is one of the most important in the early development of Illinois, on account of its magnitude and cost, and forming as it does the connecting link between the great chain of lakes and the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Gov. Bond, the first Governor, recommended in his first message the building of the canal. In 1821 the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. This work was performed by two young men, who estimated the cost at $600,000 or $700,000. It cost, however, when completed, $8,000,000. In 1825 a law was passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of Daniel P. Cook, Congressman from this State, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828 commis- sioners were appointed, and work commenced with a new survey and new estimates. In 1834-5 the work was again pushed forward, and continued until 184:8, when it was completed.
PANIC — REPUDIATION ADVOCATED.
Bonds of the State were recklessly disposed of both in the East and in Europe. Work was commenced on various lines of railroad, but none were ever completed. On the Northern Cross Eailroad, from Meredosia east eight miles, the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel in the great valley of the Mississippi, was run. The date of this remarkable event was Nov. 8, 1838. Large sums of money were being expended with no assurance of a revenue,
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and consequently, in 1840, the Legislature repealed the improve- ment laws passed three years previously, not, however, until the State had accumulated a debt of nearly $15,000,000. Thus fell, after a short but eventful life, by the hands of its creator, the most stupendous, extravagant and almost ruinous folly of a grand sys- tem of internal improvements that any civil community, perhaps, ever engaged in. The State banks failed, specie was scarce, an enormous debt was accumulated, the interest of which could not be paid, people were disappointed in the accumulation of wealth, and real estate was worthless. All this had a tendency to create a desire to throw off the heavy burden of State debt by repudiation. This was boldly advocated by some leading men. The fair fame and name, however, of the State was not tarnished by repudiation. Men, true, honest, and able, were placed at the head of affairs; and though the hours were dark and gloomy, and the times most try- ing, yet our grand old State was brought through and prospered, until to-day, after the expenditure of millions for public improve- ments and for carrying on the late war, she has, at present, a debt of only about $300,000.
MARTYR FOR LIBERTY.
The year 1837 is memorable for the death of the first martyr for liberty, and the abolishment of American slavery, in the State. Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot by a mob in Alton, on the night of the 7th of November of that year. lie was at the time editor of the Alton Observer, and advocated anti-slavery principles in its columns. For this practice three of his presses had been destroyed. On the arrival of the fourth the tragedy occurred which cost him his life. In anticipation of its arrival a series of meetings were held in which the friends of freedom and of slavery were represented. The object was to effect a compromise, but it was one in which liberty was to make concessions to oppression. In a speech made at one of these meetings, Lovejoy said: "Mr. Chairman, what have I to compromise? If freely to forgive those who have so greatly injured me; if to pray for their temporal and eternal happiness; if still to wish for the prosperity of your city and State, notwith- standing the indignities I have suffered in them,— if this be the compromise intended, then do I willingly make it. I do not admit that it is the business of any body of men to say whetlier I shall
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or shall not publish a paper in this city. That right was given to me by my Creator, and is solemnly guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and of this State. But if by compromise is meant that I shall cease from that which duty requires of me,. I cannot make it, and the reason is, that I fear God more than man. It is also a very different question, whether 1 shall, voluntarily or at the request of my friends, yield up my position, or whether I shall forsake it at the hands of a mob. The former I am ready at all times to do when circumstances require it, as I will never put my personal wishes or interests in competition with the cause of that Master whose minister I am. But the latter, be assured I never will do. You have, as lawyers say, made a false issue. There are no two parties between whom there can be a compromise. I plant myself down on my unquestionable rights, and the ques- tion to be decided is, whether I shall be protected in those rights. You may hang me, as the mob hung the individuals at Vieksburg; you may burn me at the stake, as they did old Mcintosh at St. Louis; or, you may tar and feather me, or throw me into the Mis- sissippi as you have threatened to do; but you cannot disgrace me. I, and I alone, can disgrace myself, and the deepest of all disgrace would be at a time like this to deny my Maker by forsaking his cause. He died for me, and I were most unworthy to bear his name should I refuse, if need be, to die for him.'''' Not long afterward Mr. Lovejoy was shot. His brother Owen, being pres- ent on the occasion, kneeled down on the spot beside the corpse, and sent up to God, in the hearing of that very mob, one of the most eloquent prayers ever listened to by mortal ear. He was bold enough to pray to God to take signal vengeance on the infernal institution of slavery, and he then and there dedicated his life to the work of overthrowing it, and hoped to see the day when slavery existed no more in this nation. He died, March 24, 1864, nearly three months