-J^' r <j ^/' v^ -^ 
 
 4^ "^c^ :^^ - % 
 
 ^^i-^i^r ^ \^ 
 
 A ^ 
 
 0' 
 
 
 
 <, y •S' 
 
 * V fj-. 
 
 '-■ ^ 
 
 
 ,Ar- , ^ <• r . 
 
 

 xV 
 
 \^ 
 
 > ^-^- vV 
 
 
 %.^' 
 
 ^■i '^r 
 
 V' 
 
 ^\ 
 
 T' r ,<? 'S 
 
 
 --^^ %'^- 
 
 /- 
 
 ^c^. 
 
 "^-^ ' , X ^ ,\ 
 
 %^ * '' - " n> 
 
 -^ 
 
 -j:' 
 
 C'^ 
 
 
 
 
 a\' 
 
 
 
 .-^^ 
 
 
 ^ ^ 8 1 A '■• \^ 
 
 
 
 '-- ^ - ^^^ .0^ 
 
 
 ^/. * K O ^ 
 
 O^ ^ 
 
 
 '^^. 
 
 .-Js' > 
 
 '"^' V 
 \^'. 
 
 '•^^A.y'-' 
 
 
 
 
 Ci. 
 
 
 
 V s "> * / 
 
 
 
 .A""- 
 
A GAZETTEER OF ILLINOIS. 
 
GAZETTEER OF ILLINOIS, 
 
 IN 
 
 THREE PARTS: 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE, A GENERAL 
 VIEW OF EACH COUNTY, y 
 
 AND 
 
 A PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF EACH TOWN, SETTLE- 
 MENT, STREAM, PRAIRIE, BOTTOM, BLUFF, 
 ETC.; ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. 
 
 v.-^ .-.« 
 
 ^ 
 
 BY J. M. PECK, A.M. 
 
 AUTHOR OF A NEW GUIDE FOR EMIGRANTS, ETC. 
 
 ENTIRELY REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 GRIGG & ELLIOT, 9 NORTH FOURTH STREET. 
 
 1837. 
 
Enterkd according to the act of congress, in the year 1834, by J. M. 
 I'eck, in the clerk's office of the district court of Illinois. 
 
 T. K. & P. G. COLLINS, PHINTEllS, 1 LODGE ALL£i^. 
 
iK" 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The utility and importance of an accurate Gazet- 
 teer of Illinois to every class of citizens within the 
 state, and to rdl other persons who desire full and par- 
 ticular information, are too obvious to need proof. 
 
 The first edition of this work was undertaken by 
 the author more than four years since, at the sugges- 
 tion and request of many of his fellow citizens, some 
 of whom filled distinguished posts of honor in the 
 state and nation. Four thousand two hundred copies 
 of it were published by R, Goudy of Jacksonville, 
 Illinois, a due proportion of which were sent to other 
 states, and have been extensively circulated. 
 
 In complying with the call for a new edition, it 
 became necessary to make an entire revision of the 
 work and add much new matter — so rapid had been 
 the changes and the progress of this state in three 
 years. Ten new counties have been organised — 
 
VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Boone, Cass, Kane, Livingston, McHeury, O^le, 
 Stephenson, Whiteside, AVill, and Winnebago — and 
 a large addition to the descriptive list of names in 
 part third. 
 
 No state in the " Great West" has attracted so 
 much attention, and elicited so many enquiries from 
 those who desire to avail themselves of the advantages 
 of a settlement in a new and rising country, as that of 
 Illinois; and none is filling up so rapidl}^ with an emi- 
 grating population from all parts of the United States, 
 and several kingdoms of Europe. Consequently, the 
 call for correct information of all portions of the state 
 has become pressing. 
 
 In ])reparing this work wiih special reference to 
 to liiis call, the author has kept one point constantly 
 in view. Accuracy of description, or a registry of 
 facts and things as they actually exist in every part of 
 the state, has been a paramount object. How far he 
 has succeeded will be submitted to the judgment of 
 his fellow citizens in each county. That no imper- 
 fections or inaccuracies exist in the work, the author 
 is not vain enough to imagine; but that as a whole, 
 or as to its parts, it is sufficiently accurate for all use- 
 
INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 ful purposes, will appear on reference to the labor 
 bestowed to obtain correct inlbrmatioa of every spot 
 he attempts to describe. 
 
 To the facts and observations of many years' resi- 
 dence in the state, and traveling in all the older settle- 
 ments, of which record was made for his own use, 
 and that of his immediate friends, may be added the 
 following facilities for gaining correct topographical 
 and historical information. 
 
 In the winter of 1832, '33, die author spent several 
 weeks at Vandalia, during the session of the iec^isla- 
 ture, where the principal part of the work was writ- 
 ten. Access was had through the polite attention of 
 the governor, secretar}' of state, auditor, and other 
 public officers, to ail the public documents, state re- 
 cords, and journals. Both houses of ilie legislamre, 
 with equal liberality, granted a copy of the laws and 
 journals of that body, and likewise, (if duplicates ex- 
 isted,) copies of all preceding laws, journals, and 
 printed documents, of ihe territorial and state govern- 
 ments. These were carefully examined, and from 
 them much valuable information obtained. 
 
Vm INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Personal intercourse was also had with the members 
 of the legislature and other gentlemen, from each 
 county, and from that source many of the facts in the 
 general description of the counties in Part Second, and 
 the particulars of each place in Part Third, were ob- 
 tained. The course of the author was, to spend two 
 or three hours each evening with gentlemen from a 
 county, who were well acquainted with every part, 
 and write a brief sketch of the same. 
 
 These were drawn off in proper order the next day, 
 and, in many instances, submitted to the same persons 
 for inspection and revision. All the items for one coun- 
 ty were thus finished before entering upon a survey 
 of another. 
 
 By this method, no creek, prairie, or settlement, 
 known by name amongst the people, would escape 
 notice, and accuracy of description would be attained. 
 
 These accounts were then collated with the state- 
 ments received from other sources, and from the au- 
 thor's own notes of observation. 
 
 The same mode, including a more extensive cor- 
 respondence with postmasters, and other gentlemen 
 of intelligence in every county, has been pursued, to- 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 gether with a large stock of information gained while 
 compiling with another gentleman, a " New Section- 
 al Map of Illinois,''^ published in New-York by J. 
 H. Colton. 
 
 No small pains have been taken to obtain the latest 
 information, especially from the recently organised 
 counties in the north, where new settlements are made 
 every month, and villages spring up as the growth of 
 a summer. Still, some settlements, planted within 
 the present year, may not have come to the author's 
 knowledge. 
 
 It would be rather invidious to name individuals 
 from whom the author has received aid in this work, 
 and to whom he is desirous of returning his humble 
 and grateful acknowledgements. To the officers of 
 state, the members of the legislature, postmasters, and 
 other citizens, his thanks are due. Much of the real 
 value of the work is from information they imparted, 
 or from documents and records over which they had 
 legal control. 
 
 The Appendix of the former volume containing a 
 brief Gazetteer of the Wisconsin Territory has been 
 left out of this work. That territory, having an orga- 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nised government, and a great increase of its popula- 
 tion, counties, settlements, etc. should have a Gazet- 
 teer of its own. For this purpose the author is aiming 
 to collect materials. 
 
 It has caused the author no small trouble to decide 
 upon the orthography of proper names. Many of 
 those found in this work have never been published to 
 any extent, so as to become settled in orthography. 
 In offering new names to the public it is desirable the 
 spelling should conform to the pronunciation. While 
 the author does not feel authorised to make innova- 
 tions upon established usages, he is willing to contri- 
 bute his humble mite to improve the orthography of 
 the language, where custom has not fixed it. 
 
 Many aboriginal names in the west were first writ- 
 ten in French, and after by persons of very inferior 
 literary attainments. Some of these have already un- 
 dero^one chans^es. Thus we have Wabash for Ou- 
 bache, — Washitau for Ouchitta: and for similar rea- 
 sons we ought to write Wisconsin for Ouisconsin, — 
 Mackinau for Michilimacinac, — Merodosia for Ma- 
 rais d'Ogee, etc. 
 
 Such aboriginal names as have notbeen printed, the 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 author has spelled according to the pronunciation, and 
 for the correctness of this he has relied upon informa- 
 tion of persons accustomed to hear the sounds ex- 
 pressed by natives. 
 
 After all, several discrepancies will be discovered 
 in different parts of the work. 
 
 In such names as have the French or broad sound of 
 a, he has preferred the termination of au to aw. The 
 exceptions are in Wabash and a few others, where the 
 a is sanctioned by custom, and the sound generally 
 understood. 
 
 Rock Spring, {Illinois,) May, 1837. 
 
PART FIRST. 
 
 GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 Situation, Boundaries and Extent. — Face of the Country, and 
 Qualities of Soil. — Rivers and Lakes. — Mineral, Animal, and 
 Vegetable Productions. — Manufactures. — Xatural Curiosities, 
 and Antiquities. — Climateand Health. — Civil Divisions. — Gov- 
 ernment. — Education. Religious Denominations. Public 
 
 Lands. — Plans of Internal Improvement. — History. — Miscel- 
 laneous Remarks. 
 
 SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AND EXTENT. 
 
 The State of Illinois is situated between 37 and 42 
 degrees, 30 minutes, north latitude, and between 10 de- 
 grees, 25 minutes, and 14 degrees, 30 minutes, west 
 longitude from Washington city. It is bounded on the 
 north by Wisconsin territory, north east by Lake Mi- 
 chigan, east by Indiana, soutli east and south by Kentucky, 
 and west by the state of Missouri, and Territory of 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 Its extreme length is 380 miles, and its extreme width, 
 220 miles; — its average width, 150 miles. The area of 
 the whole state, including the portion of lake Michigan 
 within its boundaries, is 59,300 square miles. 
 
 This result has been obtained after a careful estimate 
 of the surveyed portions in the land districts, and calcu- 
 lating the remainder by its medium length and breadth. 
 1 
 
2 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The exact length of its northern portion is now ascer- 
 tained from the continuation of the fourth principal 
 meridian, from the vicinity of Rock river to the north- 
 ern boundary. The exact length of the northern bound- 
 ary from the Mississippi at the northwestern corner of 
 the state, to lake Michigan, is 144 1-3 miles. The eastern 
 boundary leaves the Wabash river at a point about 60 
 miles north of Vincennes, and continues due north to 
 the northern boundary of Indiana. The northern boundary 
 line extends into the middle of lake Michigan. 
 
 The act of Congress authorising the people of Illinois 
 to form a state government, and the convention in framing 
 the constitution, described the following as the boundaries 
 of the state. 
 
 " Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river, thence 
 np the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the north 
 western corner of said stale; thence east with the line of 
 tha same state., to the middle of lake Michigan; thence north 
 along the middle of said lake, to north latitude 42 degrees 
 and 30 minutes; thence west to the middle of the Mis- 
 sissippi river; and thence down along the middle of that 
 river to its confluence with the Ohio river; and thence 
 up the latter river along its northwestern shore to the 
 beginning." 
 
 Within these described boundaries, allowing for the 
 curves of the rivers, are not less than 59,300 square miles 
 or 37,952,000 acres. 
 
 The water area of the state is computed at 3,750 square 
 miles as follows: 
 
 Square Miles. 
 
 Lake Michigan 2,750 
 
 One half of the Mississippi, for 700 miles, in- 
 cluding its meanderings, at the ordinary 
 
 stage of water 350 
 
 Half of the Wabash river 60 
 
 Estimates for small lakes, ponds, and rivers 
 
 within the state COO 
 
 3.750 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 With tliis deduct 5,550 square miles for irreclaimable 
 wastes, and there is left, in Illinois, 50,000 square miles 
 or 32 millions of acres of arable land. In this estimate, 
 inundated lands, submerged by high waters, but which 
 may be reclaimed at a moderate expense are included. 
 
 FACE OF THE COUNTRY, AND QUALITIES OF SOIL. 
 
 The general surface is level, or moderately undu- 
 lating, the northern and southern portions are broken, 
 and somewhat hilly, but no portion of the state is tra- 
 versed with ranges of hills or mountains. At the verge 
 of the alluvial soil on the margins of rivers, there are 
 ranges of " bluffs" intersected with ravines. The bluff's 
 are usually from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet high, 
 where an extended surface of table land commences, 
 covered with prairies and forest of various shapes and 
 sizes. 
 
 When examined minutely, there are several varieties 
 in the surface of this state which will be briefly specified 
 and described. 
 
 1. Inundated Lands. I apply this term to all those 
 portions, whi(;h, for some part of the year, are under 
 water. These include portions of the river bottoms, and 
 portions of the interior of large prairies, with the lakes 
 and ponds which, for half the year or more, are without 
 water. The term " bottom" is used througtj^out the west 
 to denote the alluvial soil on the margin of rivers, usually 
 called " intervals," in New England. Portions of this 
 description of land are flowed for a longer or shorter 
 period, when the rivers are full. Probably one tenth of 
 the bottom lands are of this description; for though the 
 water may not stand for any length of time, it prevents 
 settlement and cultivation, though it does not interrupt the 
 growth of timber and vegetation. These tracts are on 
 the bottoms of the Wabash, Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois, 
 and all the interior rivers. 
 
 When the rivers rise above their ordinary height, the 
 
4 A GAZETTEER 
 
 waters of the smaller streams which are backed up by 
 the freshets of the former, break over their banks, and 
 cover all the low grounds. Here they stand for a few 
 days, or for many weeks, especially towards the bluffs; 
 for it is a striking fact in the geology of the western 
 country, that all the river bottoms are higher on the 
 margins of the streams than at some distance back. 
 Whenever increase of population shall create a demand 
 for this species of soil, the most of it can be reclaimed 
 at comparatively small expense. Its fertility will be 
 inexhaustible, and if the waters from the rivers could be 
 shut out by dykes or levees, the soil would be perfectly 
 dry. Most of the small lakes on the American bottom 
 disappear in the summer, and leave a deposit of vegetable 
 matter undergoing decomposition, or a luxuriant coat of 
 weeds and grass. 
 
 As our prairies mostly lie between the streams that drain 
 the country, the interior of the large ones is usually level. 
 Here are formed small ponds and lakes after the winter 
 and spring rains, which remain to be drawn off by evapo- 
 ration, or absorbed by the soil. Hence the middle of our 
 large, level prairies are wet, and for several weeks por- 
 tions of them are covered with water. To remedy this 
 inconvenience completely, and render all this portion of 
 soil dry and productive, only requires a ditch or drain of 
 two or three feet deep to be cut into the nearest ravine. 
 In many instances a single furrow with the plough, would 
 drain many acres. At present this species of inundated 
 land offers no inconvenience to the people, except in the 
 production of miasm, and even that, perhaps, becomes too 
 much diluted whh the atmosphere to produce mischief 
 before it reaches the settlements on the borders of the 
 prairie. Hence the inference is correct that our inunda- 
 ted lands present fewer obstacles to the settlement and 
 growth of the country, and can be reclaimed at much 
 less expense, than the swamps and salt marshes of the 
 Atlantic states. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 RIVER BOTTOMS, OR ALLUVION. 
 
 The surface of our alluvial bottoms is not entirely 
 level. In some places it resembles alternate waves of 
 the ocean, and looks as though the waters had left their 
 deposit in ridges, and retired. 
 
 The portion of bottom land capable of present cultiva- 
 tion, and on which the waters never stand, if, at an ex- 
 treme freshet, it is covered, is a soil of exhaustless fer- 
 tility; a soil that for ages past has been gradually deposit- 
 ed by the annual floods. Its average depth on the Ameri- 
 can bottom is from twenty to twenty-five feet. Logs of 
 wood, and other indications, are found at that depth. The 
 soil dug from wells on these bottoms, produces luxuriant- 
 ly the first year. 
 
 The most extensive and fertile tract, of this descrip- 
 tion of soil, in this state, is the American Bottom, a name 
 it received when it constituted the western boundary of 
 the United States, and which it has retained ever since. 
 It commences at the mouth of the Kaskaskia river, five 
 miles below the town of Kaskaskia, and extends north- 
 wardly along the Mississippi to the bluffs at Alton, a dis- 
 tance of ninety miles. Its average width is five miles, and 
 contains about 450 square miles, or 288,000 acres. Op- 
 posite St. Louis, in St. Clair county, the bluflTs are seven 
 miles from the river, and filled with inexhaustible beds of 
 coal. The soil of this bottom is an argillaceous or a sili- 
 cious loam, accordingly as clay or sand happens to pre- 
 dominate in its formation. 
 
 On the margin of the river, and of some of its lakes, is 
 a strip of heavy timber, with a thick undergrowth, which 
 extends from half a mile to two miles in width, but from 
 thence to the bluffs, it is principally prairie. It is inter- 
 spersed with sloughs, lakes, and ponds, the most of which 
 become dry in the fall season. 
 
 The soil of the American bottom is inexhaustibly rich. 
 About the French towns it has been cultivated, and pro- 
 duced corn in succession for more than a century, without 
 
 1* 
 
6 A GAZETTEER 
 
 exhaustincr its fertilising powers. The only objection that 
 can be offered to this tract is its unhealthy character. 
 This, however, has diminished considerably within eight 
 or ten years. The geological feature noticed in the last 
 article — that all our bottoms are higher on the margin of 
 the stream than towards the bluff's, explains the cause 
 why so much standing water is on the bottom land, 
 which, during the summer stagnates and throws off nox- 
 ious effluvia. These lakes are usually full of vegetable 
 matter undergoing decomposition, and which produces 
 large quantities of miasm. Some of the lakes are clear 
 and of a sandy bottom, but the most are of a different cha- 
 racter. The French settled near a lake or a river, appa- 
 rently in the most unhealthy places, and yet their consti- 
 tutions are little affected, and they usually enjoy good 
 health, though dwarfish and shrivelled in their form and 
 features. 
 
 *'The villages of Kaskaskia, Prairie du Rocher, and 
 Cahokia, were built up by their industry in places where 
 Americans would have perished. Cultivation has, no 
 doubt, rendered this tract more salubrious than former- 
 ly; and an increase of it, together with the construc- 
 tion of drains and canals, will make it one of the most 
 eligible in the states. The old inhabitants advise the emi- 
 grants not to plant corn in the immediate vicinity of their 
 dwellings, as its rich and massy foliage prevents the sun 
 from dispelling the deleterious vapours."* 
 
 These lakes and ponds could be drained at a small ex- 
 pense, and the soil would be susceptible of cultivation. 
 The early settlements of the Americans were either on 
 this bottom, or the contiguous bluff's. 
 
 Beside the American bottom, there are others that re- 
 semble it in its general character, but not in extent. In 
 Union county there is an extensive bottom on the borders 
 of the Mississippi. Above the month of the Illinois, and 
 along the borders of the counties of Calhoun, Pike, and 
 Adams, there is a series of bottoms, with much good and 
 
 * Beck. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 7 
 
 elevated land, but the inundated grounds around, present 
 objections to a dense population at present. 
 
 The bottoms of Illinois, where not inundated, are equal 
 in fertility, and the soil is less adhesive than most parts 
 of the American bottom. This is likewise the character 
 of the bottoms in the northern parts of the state. 
 
 The bottoms of the Kaskaskia are generally covered 
 with a heavy growth of timber, and in many places inun- 
 dated when the river is at its highest floods. 
 
 The extensive prairies adjoining will create a demand 
 for all this timber. The bottom lands on the Wabash 
 are of various qualities. Near the mouth, much of it is 
 inundated. Higher up it overflows in high freshets. 
 
 These bottoms, especially the American, are the best 
 regions in the United States for raising stock, particular- 
 ly horses, cattle, and swine. Seventy-five bushels of corn 
 to the acre is an ordinar}' crop. The roots and worms of 
 the soil, the acorns and other fruits from the trees, and the 
 fish of the lakes, accelerate the growth of swine. Horses 
 and cattle find exhaustless supplies of grass in the prai- 
 ries; and pea vines, buffalo grass, wild oats, and other 
 herbage in the timber, for summer range; and often 
 throughout most of the winter. In all the rush bottoms, 
 they fatten during the severe weather on rushes. The 
 botton. soil is not so well adapted to the production of 
 small grain, as of maize or Indian corn, on account of its 
 rank growth, and being more subject to blast or fall down 
 before harvest, than on the uplands. 
 
 3. Prairies. A large part, probably two-thirds of the 
 surface of the state, is covered with prairies. A com- 
 mon error has prevailed abroad that our prairie land is 
 wet. Much of it is undulating and entirely dry. Prairie 
 is a French word, signifying meadow, and is applied to 
 any description of surface, that is destitute of timber 
 and brushwood, and clothed with grass. Wet, dry, level, 
 and undulating, are terms of description merely, and ap- 
 ply to prairies in the same sense as they do to forest 
 lands. 
 
 Level \)XdXnQ is sometimes wet, the water not runnirg 
 
8 A GAZETTEER 
 
 off freely is left to be absorbed by the soil, or evaporated 
 by the snn. Crawfish throw up their hillocks in this 
 soil, and the farmer who cultivates it, will find his labors 
 impeded by the water. 
 
 In the southern part, that is, south of the national road 
 leading from Terre Haute to the Mississippi, the prairies 
 are comparatively small, varying in size from those of 
 several miles in width, to those which contain only a few 
 acres. As we go northward, they widen and extend on 
 the more elevated ground between the water courses to a 
 vast distance, and are frequently from six to twelve miles 
 in width- Their borders are by no means uniform. Long 
 points of timber project into the prairies, and line the 
 banks of the streams, and points of prairie project into 
 the timber between these streams. In many instances 
 are copses and groves of timber, from one hundred to two 
 thousand acres, in the midst of prairies, like islands in 
 the ocean. This is a common feature in the country be- 
 tween the Sangamon river and lake Michigan, and in the 
 northern parts of the state. The lead mine region, both 
 in this state and the Wisconsin tenitory, abounds with 
 these groves. 
 
 The origin of these prairies has caused much specula- 
 lion. We might as well dispute about the origin of 
 forests, upon the assumption that the natural covering 
 of the earth was grass. Probably one half of the earth's 
 surface, in a stale of nature, was prairies or barrens. 
 Much of it, like our western prairies, was covered with 
 a luxuriant coat of grass and herbage. The steppes of 
 Tartary, the pampas of South America, the savannas of 
 the southern, and i\\e prairies of the western states, desig- 
 nate similar tracts of country. Mesopotamia, Syria, and 
 Judea had their ancient prairies, on which the patriarchs 
 fed their flocks. Missionaries in Burmah, and travellers 
 in the interior of Africa, mention the same description of 
 country. Where the tough sward of the prairie is once 
 formed, timber will not take root. Destroy this by the 
 plough, or by any other method, and it is soon converted 
 into forest land. There are large tracts of country in the 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 9 
 
 older settlements, where, thirty or forty years since, the 
 farmers mowed their hay, that are now covered with a 
 forest of young timber of rapid growth. 
 
 The fire annually sweeps over the prairies, destroying 
 the grass and herbage, blackening the surface, and leav- 
 ing a deposit of ashes to enrich the soil. 
 
 4. Barrens. This term, in the western dialect, does 
 not indicate /)oor land^ but a species of surface of a mixed 
 character, uniting forest and prairie. These are called 
 "openings" in Michigan. 
 
 The timber is generally scattering, of a rough and stunt- 
 ed appearance, interspersed with patches of hazle and 
 brushwood, and where the contest between the fire and 
 timber is kept up, each striving for the mastery. 
 
 In the early settlements of Kentucky, much of the 
 country below and south of Green river presented a 
 dwarfish and stunted growth of timber, scattered over the 
 surface, or collected in clumps, with hazle and shrubbery 
 intermixed. This appearance led the first explorers to 
 the inference that the soil itself must necessarily be poor, 
 to produce so scanty a growth of timber, and they gave 
 the name of barrens to the whole tract of country. Long 
 since it has been ascertained that this description of land 
 is amongst the most productive soil in the state. The 
 term barren has since received a very extensive applica- 
 tion throughout the west. Like all other tracts of country, 
 the barrens present a considerable diversity of soil. In 
 general, however, the surface is more uneven or rolling 
 than the prairies, and sooner degenerates into ravines and 
 sink-holes. Wherever timber barely sufficient for present 
 purposes can be found, a person need not hesitate to settle 
 in the barrens. These tracts are almost invariably healthy; 
 they possess a greater abundance of pure springs of water, 
 and the soil is better adapted for all kinds of produce, and 
 all descriptions of seasons, wet and dry, than "the deeper 
 and richer mould of the bottoms and prairies. 
 
 When the fires are stopped, these barrens produce 
 timber, at a rate of which no northern emigrant can have 
 any just conception. Dwarfish shrubs and small trees of 
 
10 A GAZETTEER 
 
 oak and hickory are scattered over the surface, where 
 for years they have contended with the fires for a pre- 
 carious existence, while a mass of roots, sufficient for 
 the support of large trees, have accumulated in the earth. 
 Soon as they are protected from the ravages of the annual 
 fires, the more thrifty sprouts shoot forth, and in ten years 
 are large enough for corn cribs and stables. 
 
 As the fires on the prairies become stopped by the sur- 
 rounding settlements, and the wild grass is eaten out 
 and trodden down by the stock, they begin to assume 
 the character of barrens; first hazle and other shrubs, and 
 finally a thicket of young timber, covers the surface. 
 
 5. Forest, or timbered land. In general, Illinois is 
 abundantly supplied with timber., and were it equally 
 distributed through the state there would be no part 
 wanting. The apparent scarcity of timber where the 
 prairie predominates, is not so great an obstacle to the 
 settlement as has been supposed. For many of the pur- 
 poses to which timber is applied, substitutes are found. 
 The rapidity with which the young growth ])ushes itself 
 forward, without a single effort on the part of man to 
 accelerate it, and the readiness with which the prairie 
 becomes converted into thickets, and then into a forest 
 of young timber, shows that, in another generation, tim- 
 ber will not be wanting in any part of Illinois. 
 
 The kinds of timber most abundant are oaks of various 
 species, black and white walnut, ash of several kinds, 
 elm, sugar maple, honey locust, hackberry, linden, hic- 
 kory, cotton wood, pecaun, mulberry, buckeye, syca- 
 more, wild cherry, box elder, sassafras, and persimmon. 
 In the southern and eastern parts of the state are yellow 
 poplar, and beech; near the Ohio are cypress, and in 
 several counties are clumps of yellow pine and cedar. 
 The undergrowth are redbud, papaw, sumach, plum, crab 
 apple, grape vines, dogwood, spice bush, green brier, 
 hazle, &c. 
 
 The alluvial soil of the rivers produces cotton wood and 
 sycamore timber of amazing size. 
 
 For ordinary purposes there is now timber enough in 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 11 
 
 most parts of the state, to say nothing about the artificial 
 production of timber, which may be effected with little 
 trouble and expense. The black locust, a native of Ohio 
 and Kentucky, may be raised from the seed, with less 
 labour than a nursery of apple trees. It is of rapid 
 gfrowth, and as a valuable and lasting timber, claims the 
 attention of our farmers. It forms one of the cleanliest 
 and most beautiful shades, and when in blossom, gives 
 a rich prospect, and sends abroad a delicious fragrance. 
 
 6. Knobs, Bluffs^ Ravines, and Sink-/ioles. Under these 
 heads are included tracts of uneven country found in va- 
 rious parts of the state. 
 
 Knobs are ridges of flint limestone, intermingled and 
 covered with earth, and elevated one or two hundred feet 
 above the common surface. This species of land is of 
 little value for cultivation, and usually has a sprinkling 
 of dwarfish, stunted timber, like the barrens. 
 
 The steep hills and natural mounds that border the al- 
 luvions have obtained the name of bluffs. Some are in 
 long, parallel ridges, others are in the form of cones and 
 pyramids. In some places precipices of limestone rock, 
 from fifty to one or two hundred feet high, form these 
 bluflfs. 
 
 Ravines are formed amongst the bluflfs, and often near 
 the borders of prairies, which lead down to the streams. 
 
 Sink-holes are circular depressions in the surface like 
 a basin. They are of various sizes, from ten to fifty feet 
 deep, and from ten to one or two hundred yards in cir- 
 cumference. Frequently they contain an outlet for the 
 water received by the rains. Their existence shows 
 that the subtratum is secondary limestone, abounding in 
 subterraneous cavities. 
 
 There are but few tracts of stony ground in the state; 
 that is, where loose stones are scattered over the surface, 
 and imbedded in the soil. Towards the northern part of 
 the state, tracts of stony ground exist. Quarries of stone 
 exist in the bluff's, and in the banks of the streams and 
 ravines throughout the state. 
 
 The soil is porous, easy to cultivate, and exceedingly 
 
12 A GAZETTEER 
 
 productive. A strong team is required to break up the 
 prairies, on account of the firm, grassy sward which 
 covers them. But when subdued they become fine, ara- 
 ble lands. 
 
 RIVERS AND LAKES. 
 
 This state is bounded on three sides by the Mississippi, 
 Ohio, and Wabash rivers. The Illinois, Kaskaskia, San- 
 gamon, and many smaller streams are entirely within its 
 boundaries. Others, as the Kankakee, Rock river, and 
 Vermillion of the Wabash, run part of their course with- 
 in the state. 
 
 The Mississippi, which, in its meanderings, runs about 
 700 miles along its western border, takes its rise in Itasca 
 lake, in latitude 45 degrees north. 
 
 From this to the falls of St. Anthony, a distance of 
 about five hundred miles, it runs a devious course, first 
 southeast; then southwest; and, finally, southeast again; 
 which last it continues without much deviation till it 
 reaches the Missouri. From thence its course is a few 
 degrees east of south to the mouth of the Ohio. 
 
 The appearance and character of the Mississippi, above 
 and below the mouth of the Missouri, are so distinctly 
 marked as to lead to the general opinion that the former 
 is but a branch of the latter. The average width of the 
 Mississippi proper, is from one half to one mile; and its 
 current generally is from two to four miles an hour, vary- 
 ing according to the height and volume of the water. 
 The mean descent of this river is about six inches per 
 mile. Its sources are estimated by Mr. Schoolcraft to 
 be 1,330 feet above the level of tide water at the gulf of 
 Mexico; the distance being computed at 3,000 miles. 
 Below the mouth of the Missouri, the water of the Mis- 
 sissippi has the turbid appearance of the Missouri, and 
 was formerly obstructed with snags and sawyers. These 
 obstructions to the navigation have been partially remov- 
 ed by the enterprising Captain Shreve and his snag boat, 
 in the employment of the general government, arid the 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 13 
 
 trees that form these obstructions have been cut away 
 from its banks. 
 
 The principal tributaries of the Mississippi^ within the 
 state of Illinois, are Rock, Illinois, Kaskaskia and Muddy 
 rivers. The aboriginal name is said to signify ^^ Father 
 of Waters^'''' or " Great Waters.'''' 
 
 The Ohio river, which washes the southern boundary 
 of Illinois, is formed by the junction of the Allegheny and 
 Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh, and after running a 
 southwestern course 1,100 miles, unites with the Mis- 
 sissippi at the extreme south end of the state. At the 
 confluence of these rivers, as is the case with most other 
 rivers in the west, there is an extensive and recently 
 formed alluvion. Below the mouth of the Wabash, no 
 large streams enter the Ohio from Illinois. Saline, Big 
 Bay, and Cash are the largest. 
 
 The Wabash river rises in the northeastern part of In- 
 diana, and running first a southwestern, and then a south 
 course, it enters the Ohio about 200 miles above its mouth 
 It is a beautiful stream, and at high water is navigated 
 by steam boats as far as Logansport in Indiana. Its head 
 waters approach within a short distance of the waters of 
 the Maumee of Lake Erie, with which a canal navigation 
 is now being constructed under the authority of the state 
 of Indiana. 
 
 About twenty miles below Vincennes, and near the 
 junction of White river, are considerable rapids, which 
 obstruct the navigation in low water. Funds in part 
 have been provided and measures are in train by the 
 two states to improve the navigation at this place. The 
 character of the lands and soil bordering on the Wabash 
 does not differ materially from that on the Ohio and 
 Mississippi; only there is more sandy soil, and its bot- 
 toms are more subject to inundation. In this region, 
 and especially in Lawrence and Crawford counties, there 
 are some swamps, called by ixdiVeWers purgatories. 
 
 The principal tributaries of the Wabash within the 
 state of Illinois, are the Vermillion, Embarrass, and 
 Little Wabash rivers. 
 2 
 
14 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The Illinois, Kaskaskia, Rock, and other rivers within 
 the state will be described under their respective names 
 in the third part of this work. ZaA-e Michigan is the only 
 lake deserving special notice. There are several other 
 lakes in different parts of the state, but they are small and 
 unimportant, and rather deserve the name of ponds. A 
 portion of lake Michigan is included within the boundaries 
 of the state, and affords a medium of communication with 
 the northern states and Canada. It is about 280 miles 
 long and its medium width is about 60 miles. About fifty 
 five miles of its southwestern border is in Illinois. Its 
 waters are cool and clear, and it affords fine navigation for 
 schooners and steamboats for about eight months in the 
 year. The plan of a canal to connect its commerce with 
 the navigable waters of the Illinois will be found under 
 the head of " Plans of Internal Improvement.'''' 
 
 PRODUCTIONS. 
 
 These are naturally classed into mineral, animal and 
 vegetable. 
 
 Mineruh. The northern portion of Illinois is inex- 
 haustibly rich in mineral productions, while coal, se- 
 condary limestone, and sandstone, are found in every 
 part. 
 
 Iron ore has been found in the southern parts of the 
 state, and is said to exist in considerable quantities in 
 the northern parts. 
 
 Native copper in small quantities has been found on 
 Muddy river, in Jackson county, and back of Harrison- 
 ville, in the bluffs of Monroe county. One mass weigh- 
 ing seven pounds was found detached at the latter 
 place. A shaft was sunk forty feet deep in 1817, in 
 search of this metal, but without success. Red oxide 
 of iron and oxide of copper were dug out. Crystallized 
 gypsum has been found in small quantities in St. Clair 
 county. Quartz crystals exist in Gallatin county. 
 
 Silver is supposed to exist in St. Clair county, two 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 15 
 
 miles from Rock Spring, from whence Silver Creek de- 
 rives its name. In ihe early times, by the French, a 
 shaft was sunk here, and tradition tells of large quan- 
 tities of the precious metal being obtained. In 1828, 
 many persons in this vicinity commenced digging, and 
 began to dream of immense fortunes, which however 
 vanished during the following winter. They dug up 
 considerable quantities of home blende^ the shining specula 
 of which were mistaken for silver. 
 
 Ill the southern part of the state several sections of 
 land have been reserved from sale, on account of the 
 silver ore they are supposed to contain. Marble of a fine 
 quality is found in Randolph county. 
 
 Lead is found in vast quantities in the northern part 
 of Illinois, and the adjacent territory. Here are the 
 richest lead mines hitherto discovered on the globe. 
 This portion of country lies principally north of Rock 
 river south of the Wisconsin river. Dubuque's, and 
 other rich mines, are west of the Mississippi. 
 
 Native copper, in large quantities, exists in this re- 
 gion, especially at the mouth of Plum creek, and on the 
 Peckatonakee, marked on the map, above Rook river, 
 which puts into the Mississippi. Peekatonakee is a branch 
 of Rock river. 
 
 AMOUNT OF LEAD MANUFACTURED. 
 
 For many years the Indians, and some of the French 
 hunters and traders, had been accustomed to dig lead in 
 these regions. They never penetrated much below the 
 surface but obtained considerable quantities of the ore, 
 which they sold to the traders. 
 
 In 1823, the late Col. James Jolmson, of Great Cross- 
 ings, Ky. and brother to the Hon. R. M. Johnson, ob- 
 tained a lease from the United States government, and 
 made arrangements to prosecute the business of smelt- 
 ing, with considerable force, which he did the following 
 season. This attracted the attention of enterprising 
 
16 A GAZETTEER 
 
 men in Illinois, Missouri, and other states. Some went 
 on in 1826, more followed in 1827, and in 1828 the coun- 
 try was almost literally filled with miners, smellers, 
 merchants, speculators, gamblers, and every descriptirn 
 of character. Intelligence, enterprise, and virtue, were 
 thrown in the midst of dissipation, gaming, and every 
 species of vice. Such was the crowd of adventurers in 
 1829, to this hitherto almost unknown and desolate re- 
 gion, that the lead business was greatly overdone, and 
 the market for awhile nearly destroyed. Fortunes were 
 made almost upon a turn of the spade, and lost with equal 
 facility. The business has revived and is prosecuted to a 
 great extent. Exhaustless quantities of mineral exist 
 here, over a tract of county two hundred miles in extent. 
 The following table shows the amount of lead made an- 
 nually at these diggings, from 1821, to September, 30, 
 1833. 
 
 Lbs. of lead made from 1821, to Sept. 1823, 335,130 
 
 Do. for the year ending Sept. 30, 1824, 175,220 
 
 Do. do. do. 1825, 664,530 
 
 Do. do. do. 1826, 958,842 
 
 Do. do. do, 1827, 5,182,180 
 
 Do. do. do. 1828, 11,105,810 
 
 Do. do. do. 1829, 13,344,150 
 
 Do. do. do. 1830, 8,323,998 
 
 Do. do. do. 1831, 6,381,900 
 
 Do. do. do. 1832, 4,281,876 
 
 Do. do. do. 1833, 7,941,792 
 
 Do. do, do. 1834, 7,971,579 
 
 Do. do. do. 1835, 3,754,290 
 
 Total, 70,421,297 
 
 The rent accruing to government for the same period, 
 is a fraction short of six millions of pounds. 
 
 Formerly the government received 10 per cent, in lead 
 for rents. Now it is 6 per cent. 
 
 A part of the Mineral land in the Wisconsin Territory 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 17 
 
 has been surveyed and brought into market, which will 
 add greatly to the stability and prosperity of the mining 
 business. It is expected that the Mineral lands in Illi- 
 nois will soon be in market. 
 
 Coal. Bituminous coal abounds in this state and may be 
 found in nearly every county. It is frequently perceived 
 without excavation in the ravines and at the points of 
 bluffs. 
 
 Exhauslless beds of this article exist in the bluffs ad- 
 jacent to the American bottom in St. Clair county, of 
 which large quantities are annually transported to St. 
 Louis for fuel. 
 
 A Rail Road is now constructing by a private company, 
 from the bluffs to the ferry, six miles, for the purpose of 
 transporting coal to St. Louis. 
 
 A large vein of coal, several feet thick, and apparently 
 exhaustless, has been struck in excavating the Illinois and 
 Michigan canal, a few miles below Ottawa. 
 
 A bed 0^ Anthracite Q,o-d.\, it is said, has been discovered 
 on Muddy river in Jackson county. 
 
 Agatized Wood. A petrified tree, of black walnut, 
 was found in the bed of the river Des Plaines, about forty 
 rods above its junction with the Kankakee, imbedded in 
 a horizontal position, in a stratum of sandstone. There 
 is fifty-one and a half feet of the trunk visible — eighteen 
 inches in diameter at its smallest end, and probably three 
 feet at the other end. 
 
 Muriate of Soda, or common salt. This is found in 
 various parts of the state, held in solution in the springs. 
 The manufacture of salt by boiling and evaporation is car- 
 ried on in Gallatin county, twelve miles west-north-west 
 from Shawneetown; in Jackson county, near Brownsville; 
 and in Vermilion county, near Danville. The springs 
 and land are owned by the state, and the works leased. 
 
 A coarse freestone, much used in building, is dug from 
 quarries near Alton, on the Mississippi, where large bodies 
 exist. 
 
 Scattered over the surface of our prairies, are large 
 masses of rock, of granitic formation, roundish in form, 
 
 2* 
 
18 A GAZETTEER 
 
 usually called by the people '■^ lost rocks.''^ They will 
 weigh from one thousand to ten or twelve thousand 
 pounds, and are entirely detached, and frequently are 
 found several miles distant from any quarry. Nor has 
 there ever been a quarry of granite discovered in the 
 state. These stones are denominated bowlders in mine- 
 ralogy. That they exist in various parts of Illinois is an 
 undoubted truth; and that they are of a species of gra- 
 nite is equally true, as I have specimens to show. They 
 usually lie on the surface, or are partially imbedded in 
 the soil of our prairies, which is unquestionably of dilu- 
 vial formation. How they came here is a question of 
 difficult solution. 
 
 Medicinal Waters are found in different parts of the 
 state. These are chiefly sulphur springs and chalybeate 
 waters. There is said to be one well in the southern 
 part of the state strongly impregnated with the sulphate 
 of magnesia, or Epsom salts, from which considerable 
 quantities have been made for sale, by simply evaporating 
 the water, in a kettle, over a common fire. 
 
 There are several sulphur springs in Jefferson county, 
 to which persons resort for health. 
 
 Vegetable Productions. The principal trees and shrubs 
 of Illinois have been noticed under the head of ''^Forest 
 or timbered land.''^ Of oaks there are several species, as 
 overcup, burr oak, swamp or water oak, white oak, red 
 or Spanish oak, post oak, and black oak of several varie- 
 ties, with the black jack, a dwarfish, knarled looking tree, 
 excellent for fuel, but good for nothing else. 
 
 The black walnut is much used for building materials 
 and cabinet work, and sustains a fine polish. 
 
 In most parts of the state, grape vines, indigenous 
 to the country, are abundant, which yield grapes that 
 might advantageously be made into excellent wine. Fo- 
 reign vines are susceptible of easy cultivation. These 
 are cultivated to a considerable extent at Vevay, Switzer- 
 land county, Indiana, and at New Harmony on the Wa- 
 bash. The indigenous vines are prolific, and produce 
 excellent fruit. 7'hey are found in every variety of soil; 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 19 
 
 interwoven in every thicket in the prairies and barrens; 
 and climbing to the"^ tops of the very highest trees on the 
 bottoms. The French in early times made so much wine 
 as to export some to France; upon which the proper au- 
 thorities prohibited the introduction of wine from Illinois, 
 lest, it might injure the sale of that staple article of the 
 kingdom. 1 think the act was passed by the board of 
 trade, in 1774. 
 
 The editor of the Illinois Magazine remarks: " We 
 know one gentleman who made twenty-seven barrels of 
 wine in a single season, from the grapes gathered with but 
 little labor, in his immediate neighbourhood." 
 
 The wild plum is found in every part of the state; but 
 in most instances the fruit is too sour for use, unless for 
 preserves. Crab apples are equally prolific, and make 
 fine preserves with about double their bulk of sugar. 
 Wild cherries are equally productive. The persimmon is 
 a delicious fruit, after the frost has destroyed its astrin- 
 gent properties. The black mulberry grows in most 
 parts, and is used for the feeding of silk worms with suc- 
 cess. They appear to thrive and spin as well as on the 
 Italian mulberry. The gooseberry, strawberry, and black- 
 berry grow wild and in great profusion. Of ourtiuts, the 
 hickory, black walnut, and pecaun deserve notice. The 
 last is an oblong, thin shelled, delicious nut, that grows 
 on a large tree, a species of the hickory, (the Carya olivse 
 formis of Nuttall.) The paupaw grows in the bottoms, 
 and rich, timbered uplands, and produces a large, pulpy, 
 and luscious fruit. Of domestic fruits, the apple and 
 peach are chiefly cultivated. Pears are tolerably plenty 
 in the French settlements, and quinces are cultivated with 
 success by some Americans. Apples are easily culti- 
 vated, and are very productive. They can be made to 
 bear fruit to considerable advantage in seven years from 
 the seed. Many varieties are of fine flavor, and grow to 
 a large size. I have measured apples, the growth of St. 
 Clair county, that exceeded thirteen inches in circumfe- 
 rence. Some of the early American settlers provided 
 orchards. They now reap the advantages. But a large 
 
20 A GAZETTEER 
 
 proportion of the popnlation of the frontiers are content 
 without this indispensable article in the conatcrts of a 
 Yankee farmer. Cider is caade in small quantities in the 
 old settlements. In a few years a supply of this beverage 
 can be had in most parts of Illinois. 
 
 Peach trees grow with great rapidity, and decay pro- 
 portionably soon. From ten to fifteen years may be 
 considered the life of this tree. Our peaches are delicious, 
 but they sometimes fail by being destroyed iu the germ 
 by winter frosts. The bud swells prematurely. 
 
 Garden Vegetables can be produced here in vast profo- 
 sion, and of excellent quality. 
 
 That we have few of the elegant and well dressed gar- 
 dens of gentlemen in the old states, is admitted; which is 
 not owing to climate, or soil, but to the want of leisure 
 and means. 
 
 A cabbage head two or three feet in diameter including 
 the leaves, is no wonder on this soil. Beets often exceed 
 twelve inches iu circumference. Parsnips will penetrate 
 our light, porous soil, to the depth of two or three feet. 
 
 The cultivated vegetable produrfions in the Jield, are 
 maize or Indian corn, wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, 
 Irish potatoes, sweet polatces, turnips, rye for horse 
 feed and distilleries, tobacco, cotton, hemp, flax, the 
 castor bean, and every other production common to the 
 middle states. 
 
 Maize is a staple prodoction. No farmer can live with- 
 out it, and hundreds raise little else. This is chiefly owing 
 to the ease with which it is cultivated. Its average yield 
 is fifty bushels to the acre. I have oftentimes seen it pro- 
 duce seventy-five bushels to the acre, and in a few in- 
 stances, exceed one hundred. 
 
 TTheat yields a good and sure crop, especially in the 
 counties bordering on the Illinois river, and through the 
 northern parts of the state. It weighs upwards of GO 
 pounds per bushel; and flour from this region has prefer- 
 ence in the New Orleans market, and passes better in- 
 spection than the same article from Ohio or Kentucky. 
 
 la 1S25, the weavel, for the first time, made its ap- 
 
or ILLDiOIS. 21 
 
 pearance in St. Clair and the adjacent conntiea, and bas 
 
 occasionally renewed its \isits since. Within the last 
 two seasons, some fields hare been injured by the flj. 
 
 A common hot slovenly practice among-st oar farmers, 
 is, to sow wheat among^st the standing com, in September, 
 and cover it by mnniug a few furrows with the ploogii 
 between the rows of corn. The dry stalks are then cut 
 down in the spring, and left on the oroond. Even by this 
 imperfect mode, fifteen or twenty bushels of wheat to the 
 acre are produced. But where the ground is duly pre- 
 pared by fallowing, and the seed pot in at the proper time, 
 a good crop, averaging from twenty-five to thirty-nre 
 bushels per acre, rarely fails to be pr-DCured. 
 
 The average price of wheat is one dollar to one dollar 
 twenty-five cents per bushel, varying aliitle according to 
 the competition of mills and facilities to market. In manj 
 instances a single crop of wheat will pay the expenses of 
 purchasing the land, fencing, breaking the prairie, seed, 
 putting in the crop, harvestiaa. threshing, and taking it to 
 market. Wheat is now freq-jently sown on the prairie land 
 as a first crop, and a good yield obtained. 
 
 Flouring mills are now in operation in many of the 
 wheat growing counties. Steam power is getting into 
 extensive use both for sawing and mannfa-turing fioor. 
 
 It is to be regretted that so few of oar farmers kare 
 erected bams for the security of their crops. No article is 
 more profitable, and really more indispensable to a farmer, 
 than a large bam. 
 
 Oats have not been mnch raised till lately. They are 
 very productive, often yielding from forty to fifty bushels 
 ou the acre, and usually sell from twenty to thirty cents 
 the bushel. The demand for the use of stage and traTeU 
 ers' horses is increasing. 
 
 Ezmv is an indigenous plant in the southern part of 
 this state, as it is in Missouri. It has not been exten- 
 sively cultivated, but wherever tried, is fonnd very pro- 
 ductive, and of an excellent quality. It might be made 
 a staple of the country. 
 
 TJiucco, though a filthy and Doxioos weed, which no 
 
22 A GAZETTEER 
 
 human being ought ever to nse, can be produced in any 
 quantity and of the first quality in Illinois. 
 
 Cutton, for many years, has been successfully cultivated 
 in this state for domestic use, and some for exportation. 
 Two or three spinning factories are in operation, and pro- 
 duce cotton yarn from the growth of the country with 
 promising success. This branch of business admits of 
 enlargement, and invites the attention of eastern manu- 
 facturers with small capital. Much of the cloth made in 
 families who have emigrated from states south of the 
 Ohio is from the cotton of the country. 
 
 Flax is produced, and of a tolerable quality, but not 
 equal to that of the northern states. It is said to be pro- 
 ductive and good in the northern counties. There is an 
 oil mill to manufacture oil from the seed, in Sangamon 
 county. 
 
 The palina christi^ or castor oil bean, is produced in 
 considerable quantities in Madison, Randolph, and other 
 counties, and large quantities of oil are expressed and 
 sent abroad. 
 
 Sweet Potatoes are a delicious root, and yield abundant- 
 ly, especially on the American bottom, and rich sandy 
 prairies. 
 
 But little has been done to introduce cultivated grasses. 
 The prairie grass looks coarse and unsavory, and yet 
 our horses and cattle will thrive well on it. It is already 
 known to the reader that this grass disappears when the 
 settlements extend round a prairie, and the cattle eat off 
 the young growth in the spring. Consequently in a (ew 
 years, the natural grass no longer exists. 
 
 It is to be regretted that so few have thought of pro- 
 viding themselves with natural meadows of fifty or more 
 acres to each plantation, by a process so cheap as that 
 of fencing in the prairie, before the cattle liad subdued 
 the natural grass, and preserving it with a very little care, 
 in a perfectly natural state. 
 
 But this notion was entirely incorrect. To produce 
 timothy with success, the ground must be well cultivated 
 in the summer, either by an early crop, or by fallowing, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 23 
 
 and the seed sown about the 20th of September, at the 
 rate of ten or twelve quarts of clean seed to the acre, and 
 lightly brushed in. 
 
 If the season is in any way favourable, it will get a ra- 
 pid start before winter. By the last week in June, it 
 will produce two tons per acre, of the finest of hay. It 
 then requires a dressing of stable or yard manure, and 
 occasionally the turf may be scratched with a harrow, to 
 prevent the roots from binding too hard. By this process 
 timothy meadows may be made and preserved. There 
 are meadows in St. Clair county, which have yielded 
 heavy crops of hay in succession, for several years, and 
 bid fair to continue for an indefinite period. Cattle, and 
 especially horses, should never be permitted to run in 
 meadows in Illinois. The fall grass may be cropped 
 down by calves and colts. There is but a little more 
 labour required to produce a crop of timothy than a crop 
 of oats, and as there is not a stone or a pebble to interrupt, 
 the soil may be turned up every third or fourth year for 
 corn, and afterwards laid down to grass again. 
 
 A species of blue grass is cultivated by some farmers 
 for pastures. If well set and not eaten down in summer, 
 blue grass pastures may be kept green and fresh till late 
 in autumn, or even in the winter. The English spire 
 grass has been cultivated with success in the Wabash 
 country. 
 
 Of the trefoil, or clover, there is but little cultivated. 
 A prejudice exists against it, as it is imagined to injure 
 horses by affecting the glands of the mouth, and causing 
 them to slaver. It grows luxuriantly, and may be cut 
 for hay early in June. The white clover comes in natur- 
 ally, where the ground has been cultivated, and thrown 
 by, or along the sides of old roads and paths. Clover 
 pastures would be excellent for swine. 
 
 Animals. Of wild animals there are several species. 
 The buffalo is not found on this side the Mississippi, nor 
 within several hundred miles of St. Louis. This animal 
 once roamed at large over the prairies of Illinois, and.was 
 found in plenty thirty years since. Wolves, Panthers^ 
 
21 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and wild cats are still numerous on the frontiers, and 
 through the unsettled portions of the country. Wolves 
 harbor in almost ever}' county, and annoy the farmer by 
 destroying his sheep and pigs. Theie are three species 
 found in Illinois: 
 
 1. The large gray wolf, or canis lupus of Linneus, is 
 not very plenty, and not commonly found in the older set- 
 tlements. 
 
 2. The black wolf, or canis li/caon of Linneus, is scarce. 
 Occasionally they are killed by our hunters. 
 
 3. The canis lafrans of Say, or common prairie wolf, is 
 the^ost common, and found in considerable numbers. 
 This mischievous animal is but little larger than the 
 common fox, burrows in the prairies, and comes forth in 
 the night to attack sheep, pigs, poultry, &c. Many of 
 the settlers keep hounds to guard against the depredations 
 of this animal. 
 
 Panthers and wild cats are less common, but occasion- 
 ally do mischief. 
 
 Deer dixe also very numerous, and are valuable, particu- 
 larly to that class of our population which has been raised 
 to frontier habits; the flesh atTording them food, and the 
 skins, clothing. Fresh venison hams usually sell seven- 
 ty-five cents, to one dollar fifty cents a pair, and when pro- 
 perly cured, are a delicious article. Many of the frontier 
 people dress tlieir skins, and make them into pantaloons 
 and hunting shirts. These articles are indispensable to 
 all who have occasion to travel in viewing land, or for any 
 other purpose beyond the settlements, as cloth garments, 
 in the shrubs and vines, would soon be in strings. 
 
 It is a novel and pleasant sight to a stranger, to see the 
 deer in flocks of eight, ten, or fifteen ^in number, feeding 
 on the grass of the prairies, or bounding away at the sight 
 of a traveller. 
 
 The brown bear is also an inhabitant of this state, al- 
 though he is continually retreating before the advance of 
 civilization. 
 
 Foxes, raccoons, opossums, gophars, and squirrels, are 
 also namerous, as are muskrats, otters, and occasionally 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 23 
 
 beaver, aboat our rivers and lakes. Raccoons are very 
 common, and frequently do mischief in the fall to oor com. 
 Opossums sometimes trouble the ponltry. I have a few 
 facts reported to me from sources entitled to great credit, 
 that the production of the young of this sinigular and ex- 
 traordinary animal, is different from the ordinary process 
 of generation in Tiriparons animals. The fcBtns is found 
 adhering to the teat, within the false belly, at the very 
 first stage of existence. 
 
 The vophar is a singfular little animal, about the size of 
 a squirrel. It burrows io the ground, is seldom seen, jjot 
 its works make it known. It labors during the night,«ii> 
 digging subterranean pass^iges in the rich soil of the prai- 
 ries, and throws up hillocks of fresh earth, within a few 
 feet distance from each other, and from twelve to eighteen 
 inches in height, I have seen a dozen of these hillocks, 
 the production of one night's labour, and apparently from 
 a single gophar. The passages are formed in such a laby- 
 rinth, that it is a difficult matter to find the animal by dig- 
 gin 2". 
 
 The crray and fox squirrels often do mischief in the com 
 fields, and the huntingr of them makes fine sport for the 
 boys. It is a rule amcrigst the Kentucky riflemen to shoot 
 a squirrel only through his eyes, and that from the tops 
 of the highest trees of the forest. It is evidence of a bad 
 marksman, for a hunter to hit one in any other part. 
 
 Common Babbits exist in every thicket. These animals 
 annoy nurseries and young orchards exceedingly. The 
 fence around a nursery must always be so close as to shut 
 out rabbits, and young appletrees must be secured at the 
 approach of winter, by tying straw or com stalks around 
 their bodies, for two or three feet in height, or the bark 
 will be stripped off by these mischievous animals. 
 
 TJlld horses are found ranging the prairies and forests 
 in some parts of the state. Thty are small in size, of the 
 Indian or Canadian breed, and very hardy. They are 
 caught in pens, or with ropes having nooses attached to 
 them, and broken to the saddle and harness. The French, 
 who monopolise the basioess of catching, and breaking 
 3 
 
2^ A GAZETTEER 
 
 these horses, make them an article of traffic; their common 
 price is from twenty to thirty dollars. They are found 
 chiefly in the lower end of the American Bottom, near the 
 junction of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi rivers, called 
 the Point. They are the offsprincr of the horses brought 
 there by the first settlers, and which were suffered to run 
 at larg'e. The Indians of the West have many such hor- 
 ses, which are commonly called Indian ponies. 
 
 Domestic Animals. These are the same as are found 
 in other portions of the United States. But little has been 
 done to improve the breed of horses amongst us. Our 
 common riding or working horses average about fifteen 
 hands in height. Horses are much more used here than 
 in the eastern states, and many a farmer keeps half a 
 dozen or more. Much of the travelling throughout the 
 western country, both by men and women, is performed 
 on horseback; and a large proportion of the land carriage 
 is by means of large wagons, with from four to six stout 
 horses for a team. A great proportion of the ploughing 
 is performed by horse labor. Horses are more subject to 
 diseases in this country than in the old states, which is 
 thought to be occasioned by bad management, rather than 
 by the climate. A good farm horse can be purchased for 
 fifty dollars. Riding, or carriage horses, of a superior 
 quality, cost about sixty, eighty, or a hundred dollars. 
 Breeding mares are profitable stock for every farmer to 
 keep, as their annual expense in keeping is but trifling, 
 their labor is always needed, and their colts, when grown, 
 find a ready market. Some farmers keep a stallion, and 
 eight or ten brood mares. 
 
 Mules are raised in Missouri and are also brought from 
 the Mexican dominions into Illinois. They are hardy 
 animals, grow to a good size, and are used by some both 
 for labour and riding. 
 
 0\JT neat cattle ^re usually inferior in size to those of 
 the old states. This is owing entirely to bad manage- 
 ment. Our cows are not penned up in pasture fields, but 
 suffered to run at large over the commons. Hence all 
 the calves are preserved, without respect to quality, to 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 37 
 
 entice the cows homeward ateveninpr. They are kept up 
 throucrh the day, and oftentimes without much pasture, 
 and turned to the cows for a few minutes at night, and 
 then permitted to graze through the night over the short 
 and withered grass around the plantation. 
 
 In autumn their food is very scanty, ond during the win- 
 ter they are permitted to pick up a precarious subsistence 
 amongst fifty or a hundred head of cattle. With such 
 management, is it surprising that our cows and steers are 
 much inferior to those of the old states? 
 
 And yet, our beef is the finest in the world. It bears 
 the best inspection of any in the New Orleans market. 
 By the first of June, and often by the middle of May, our 
 young cattle on the prairies are fit for market. They do 
 not yield large quantities of tallow, but the fat is well 
 proportioned throughout the carcase, and the meat tender 
 and delicious. By inferiority, then, I mean the size of our 
 cattle in general, and the quantity and quality of the milk 
 of cows. 
 
 Common cows, if suffered to lose their milk in August, 
 become sufficiently fat for table use by October. Farrow 
 heifers and steers, are good beef, and fit for the knife at 
 any period after the middle of May. Nothing is more 
 common than for an Illinois farmer to go among his stock, 
 select, shoot down, and dress a fine beef, whenever fresh 
 meat is needed. This is often divided out amongst the 
 neighbours, who, in turn, kill and share likewise. It is 
 common at camp and other large meetings, to kill a beef 
 and three or four hogs for the subsistence of friends from 
 a di>5tance. 
 
 We can hardly place limits upon the amount of beef 
 cattle that Illinois is capable of producing. A farmer 
 calls himself poor, with a hundred head of horned cattle 
 around him. A cow in the spring is worth from twelve 
 to twenty dc^llars. Some of the best quality will sell 
 higher. And let it be distinctly understood, once for all, 
 that a poor man can always purchase horses, cattle, hogs, 
 and provisions, for labor, either by the day, month, or 
 job. 
 
28 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Cows, in s^eneral, do not produce the same amount of 
 milk, nor of as rich a quality as in older states. 8ome- 
 thingr is to be attributed to the nature of our pastures, and 
 the warmth of our climate, but more to causes already 
 assigned. If ever a land was characterised justly as " flow- 
 inor with milk and honey," it is Illinois and the adja- 
 cent states. From the springing of the grass till Septem- 
 ber, butter is made in great profusion. It sells at that 
 season in market for about twenty cents, and in the inte- 
 rior of the state for twelve cents per pound. "With proper 
 care it can be preserved with tolerable sweetness for win- 
 ter's use. Late in autumn and early in the winter, some- 
 times butter is not plenty. The feed becomes dry, the 
 cows range further off, and do not come up readily for 
 milking, and dry up. Avery little trouble would enable 
 a farmer to keep three or four good cows in fresh milk at the 
 season most needed. 
 
 Cheese is made by many fiimilies, especially, in the 
 counties bordering on the Illinois river. Good cheese 
 sells for eight and sometimes ten cents, and finds a ready 
 market. The most important arrangement for the dairy 
 business in Illinois, and especially for cheese making is 
 to persuade a few thousand families, from the dairy re- 
 gions of New England, to emigrate, and continue their 
 industrious habits after settling here. 
 
 Swine. This species of stock may be called a staple 
 in the provision of Illinois. Thousands of hogs are raised 
 without any expense, except a few breeders to start with, 
 and a little attention in hunting them on the range, and 
 keeping them tame. 
 
 This kind of pork is by no means equal to that raised 
 and fatted on corn, and in a domestic way. It is soft, 
 oily, and will not bear inspection at New Orleans. It 
 usually sells for three dollars per hundred. 
 
 Pork that is made in adomestic way and fatted on corn, 
 will sell for from four to five dollars, according to size, 
 quality, and the time when it is delivered. With a pasture 
 of clover or blue grass, a well filled corn crib, a dairy, and 
 slop barrel, and the usual care that a New Englander be- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 29 
 
 Stows on his pigs, pork may be raised from the sow^ fat- 
 ted and killed, and weigh from two hundred to two hund- 
 red and fifty, within twelve months, and this method of 
 raising pork would be profitable. 
 
 Few families in the west and south put up their pork in 
 salt pickle. Their method is to salt it sufiiciently to pre- 
 pare it fur smoking, and then make bacon of hams, shoul- 
 ders, and middlings or broadsides. Tiie price of bacon, 
 taking the hog round, is about ten and twelve cents. Good 
 hams command twelve cents in the market. Stock hogs, 
 weighing from sixty to one hundred pounds, alive, usually 
 sell for from two dollars to two dollars and fifty cents per 
 head. Families consume much more meat in Illinois, in 
 proportion to numbers, than in the old states. 
 
 Sheep do very well in this country, especially in the 
 older settlements, where the grass has become short, and 
 they are less molested by wolves. But few are kept. 
 The people from the south are more accustomed to cotton 
 for clothing, than to wool, which sells for fifty cents 
 per pound. Little is said or done to improve the breed 
 of sheep, or introduce the IMerino, or Saxony breed. Mr. 
 Georg-e Flower, at Albion, has a valuable flock of Saxony 
 and Merino. 
 
 Foidtry are raised in great profusion — and large num- 
 bers of fowls taken to market. It is no uncommon thing 
 for some farmers' wives to raise three or four hundred 
 fowls, besides geese, ducks, and turkeys, in a season. 
 Young fowls, butter, and eggs, are the three articles 
 usually mustered from every farm for the market. By 
 these means many families provide their coffee, sugar, tea, 
 and various articles of apparel. 
 
 Eggs, when plenty, as at the close of winter and spring, 
 sell for ten and twelve cents per dozen. 
 
 In noticing poultry, I ought not to pass over some of 
 our wild fowl. 
 
 Ducks, geese, swans, and many other aquatic birds, visit 
 our waters in the spring. The small lakes and sloughs 
 are often literally covered with them. Ducks, and some 
 of the rest, frequently stay through the summer and breed. 
 
 3* 
 
30 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The prairie fowl is seen in jrreat numbers on the prairies 
 in the sunnmer, and about the cornfields in the winter. 
 This is the grouse of the New York market. They are 
 easily taken in the winter. 
 
 Partridges, (the quail of New England) are taken with 
 nets, in the winter, by hundreds in a day, and furnish no 
 trifling item in the luxuries of the city market. 
 
 Bees. This laborious and useful insect is to be found 
 in the trees of every forest. Many of the frontier people 
 make it a prominent business after the frost has killed 
 the vegetation, to hunt them for the honey and wax, both 
 of which find a ready market. Bees are profitable stock 
 for the farmer, and are kept to a considerable extent. 
 
 Silkworms are raised by a few persons. They are ca- 
 pable of being produced to any extent, and fed on the com- 
 mon black mulberry of the country. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 In the infancy of a state, little can be expected in 
 machinery and manufactures. And in a region so much 
 deficient in water power as some parts of Illinois are, still 
 less may be looked for. Yet Illinois is not entirely de- 
 ficient in manufacturing enterprise. 
 
 The principal salines of this state have been mentioned 
 under the head of minerals. 
 
 Steam Mills for flouring and sawing are becoming very 
 cominon, and in general are profitable. Some aie now in 
 operation with four runs of stones, and which manufacture 
 one hundred barrels of flour in a day. Mills propelled by 
 steam, water, and animal power, are constantly increasing. 
 Steam mills will become numerous, particularly in the 
 southern and middle portions of the state, and it is de- 
 serving remark that while these portions are not well sup- 
 plied with durable water power, they contain, in the 
 limber of the forest, and the inexhaustible bodies of bitu- 
 minous coal, abundant supplies of fuel, while the north- 
 ern portion, though deficient in fuel, has abundant water 
 povver. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 31 
 
 A. good steam saw-mill with two saws can be built for 
 2,000 dollars; and a steam flouring mill with two runs of 
 stones, elevators and other apparatus complete, and of 
 sufficient force to turn out forty or fifty barrels of flour per 
 day, maybe built for 6,000 dollars. 
 
 Tlie northern half of the state will be most abundantly 
 supplied with water power, and ordinary mills for sawing 
 lumber and grinding grain are now in operation on the 
 various streams. Probably in no part of the great west 
 does there exist the capability of such an immense water 
 power, as is to be found naturally, and which will be 
 created artificially along the rapids of the Illinois and Fox 
 rivers, and the Illinois and Michigan canal. Incorporated 
 companies with ample means are now constructing hy- 
 draulic works at Ottawa, Marseilles, and other points 
 along the rapids of the Illinois. Fox river rapids have a 
 descent of sixteen feet at Green's mills, four miles above 
 Ottawa, with abundant supplies of water at its lowest 
 stage; and the river itself, from thence to McHenry county, 
 is a rapid stream with rocky banks, admirably suited for 
 hydraulic purposes. On the Kankakee are some fine 
 sites for water privileges. Rock river furnishes abundant 
 facilities for hydraulic purposes, especially at Grand De- 
 tour and Rockford. A company engaged in the estab- 
 lishment of a large town at the mouth of Rock river, has 
 been recently chartered by the legislature for the purpose 
 of cutting a canal from a point on the Mississippi at the 
 upper rapids, to Rock river, by which they expect to gain 
 eighteen feet fall and immense hydraulic power. 
 
 It is expected that the improvement of the Kaskaskia 
 and Little Wabash rivers, as provided for by the recent 
 law of the state, will create valuable water privileges 
 along these streams. 
 
 Certainly, in connection with the improvement of the 
 Great Wabash river by the joint operations of Indiana 
 and Illinois, hydraulic power to any desirable extent will 
 be created. Such will be the effect, too, upon Sangamon 
 and other rivers within the state. Des Plaines river, and 
 also the Calumet, furnish extensive hydraulic privileges; 
 
32 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and the surplus water provided by the construction of the 
 Illinois and Michigan canal, and which may be conveni- 
 ently applied to manufacturing purposes, is estimated to 
 be equal to that required for running 700 pairs of mill 
 stones four and half feet in diameter. 
 
 Incorporations for companies for various manufacturing 
 purposes have been granted by the legislature within the 
 last four or five years, some of which have been organised 
 and commenced operations. The conclusion is, that Illi- 
 nois will furnish as great facilities for manufacturii;g pur- 
 poses, as soon as the circumstances and wants of the 
 community shall call for their operation, as can be found in 
 any western state. 
 
 Large quantities of castor oil ^re annually manufactured 
 in Illinois from the palma christi, or castor bean. A num- 
 ber of presses are in operation in Madison, Greene, Ma- 
 coupen, St. Clair, Randolph, Edwards, and perhaps other 
 counties. The most extensive establishment is at Ed- 
 wardsville, owned by Mr. John Adams, where from thirty 
 to forty thousand gallons of oil are made annually. 
 
 Cotton Goods. A few factories for spinning cotton yarn 
 have been put into operation in several counties on a small 
 scale of from one hundred to two hundred spindles each. 
 They are carried by animal power on the inclined plane. 
 
 Coarse clothing from cotton is manufactured in the 
 southern portion of the state, where the article is raised in 
 small quantities. Woollen cloth, and jeans, a mixture of 
 wool and cotton, is made for ordinary wear, as is cloth 
 from flax. 
 
 Lead. In Jo Daviess county are eight or ten furnaces 
 for smelting lead. The amount of this article made an- 
 nually at the mines of the Upper Mississippi, has been 
 given under the head of minerals. 
 
 Boat Building will soon become a branch of business 
 in this state. Some steamboats have been constructed 
 already within this state, along the Mississipj)i. It is 
 thought that Alton and Chicago are convenient sites for 
 this business. 
 
 There is in this state, as in all the western states, a 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 33 
 
 lar^e amount of domestic manufactures made by families. 
 All the trades, needful to a new country, are in existence. 
 Carpenters, wagon makers, cabinet makers, blacksmiths, 
 tanneries, etc., may be found in every county and town. 
 At Mount Carmeland Springfield, there are iron foundries 
 for castings. 
 
 There has been a considerable falling off in the manu- 
 facture of whiskey within a few years, and it is sincerely 
 hoped by thousands of citizens that this branch of busi- 
 ness, so decidedly injurious to the morals and happiness 
 of the community and of individuals, will entirely decline. 
 
 Ox mills on the inclined plane, and horse mills by 
 draught, are common throughout the middle and southern 
 j)arts of the state. 
 
 With the table of the census, taken in 1835, and pub- 
 lished by authority of the legislature the succeeding win- 
 ter, the following report was made. 
 
 Manufactories, . . . • 339 
 
 Mills, 916 
 
 Machines, ..... 87 
 
 Distilleries, 142 
 
 This report is defective and imperfect. In some coun- 
 ties ordinary mechanics' shops, such as tinners, coopers, 
 wheelwrights, &c., were reported under the head of 
 manufactories; in others no distinction was made. 
 
 NATURAL CURIOSITIES AND ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 On the banks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and 
 the bluffs that overhang the alluvions, are many singular 
 appearances. These consist of ledges of rock, which ex- 
 hibit the most fanciful forms, and in many places are 
 penetrated by caverns of various dimensions. Of these 
 the ^^Cavein Mock,''' on the Ohio will be described under 
 its own name. The "Devil's Anvil," "Grand Tower," 
 "Starved Rock," "Buffaloe Rock," "Mount Joliet," and 
 
34 A GAZETTEER 
 
 many other singular appearances will be found under Iheir 
 respective names, in the third part of this work. 
 
 The Fossil Tree of the Des Pluines and to which allu- 
 sion has been made already, is fully described by Mr. 
 Schoolcraft, in a memoir read before the American Geolo- 
 gical Society, in 1821. 
 
 It lies in a horizontal position, imbedded in a stratum 
 if flcetz sandstone, of a gray colour and close grain. The 
 middle portion of the trunk is fifty-one feet six inches in 
 length, and is eighteen inches in diameter at the smallest 
 end. It is a species of the juglans nigra, or black walnut, 
 a tree common to the Illinois, and completely petrified. 
 It lies in the bed of the Des Plaines about forty rods 
 above its junction with the Kankakee. 
 
 Petrifications are very common in Illinois. The "lost 
 rocks," or boulders scattered over a surface of an evident 
 diluvial deposit, are a curiosity. They are in great num- 
 bers towards the he heads of the Kaskaskia and Sanga- 
 mon rivers, and become more numerous and are found at 
 various depths in the soil, as the traveller passes north- 
 ward along the great prairies. Indeed the geological for- 
 mation of the whole state, presents a rich field for inves- 
 tigation in that science. 
 
 The antiquities of Illinois are similar to those of other 
 western states. Indian graves are common, especially 
 along the bluffs. Fragments of bones and not unfrequent- 
 ly whole skeletons, in a tolerable state of preservation, 
 are found deposited from two to three feet below the sur- 
 face. In not a few instances they are found enclosed 
 with stone slabs, undressed, and obtained from the neigh- 
 ing cliffs. There are no proofs of a pigmy race of aborig- 
 ines in the western states. Graves are not unfreqiient 
 where the length from the head to the foot stone, does not 
 exceed four feet, and yet contain the skeleton of an adult 
 of full stature. In such instances it M'ill be found upon 
 careful examination of the position of the bones, that the 
 leg and thigh bones lie parallel, and that the corpse was 
 inhumed with the knees bent into that position. Some 
 bones of unusual size have been discovered, but 1 am not 
 acquainted with facts to justify a supposition of a race of 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 35 
 
 pants. Bones of a huge animal, but different fronn the 
 Mammoth, have been recently found in St. Clair county. 
 
 About the Gallatin and Big Muddy salines, large frag- 
 ments of earthenware, are very frequently found, under 
 the surface of the earth. They appear to have been por- 
 tions of large kettles, used, probably, by the natives for 
 obtaining salt. Small fragments of earthenware, arrow 
 and spear heads, stone axes and mallets, and other anti- 
 quities, are found in various parts of the state. Silver 
 coins of ancient origin have been found at Kaskaskia. 
 They were probably brought there by the Jesuits, or 
 the early French emigrants. 
 
 Of one thing the writer is satisfied, that very imperfect 
 and incorrect data have been relied upon and very erro- 
 neous conclusions drawn, upon western antiquities. 
 Whoever has time and patience, and is in other respects 
 qualified to explore this field of science, and will use his 
 spade and eyes together, and restrain his imagination 
 from running riot amongst mounds, fortifications, horse- 
 shoes, medals, and whole cabinets of relics of the " olden 
 time," will find very little more that the indications of 
 rude savages, the ancestors of the present race of Indians. 
 
 Of ancient military works, I have long been convinced 
 that not half a dozen such structures ever existed in the 
 west before the visits of Europeans. Enclosures of va- 
 rious sizes, and perhaps for diflferent purposes, with an 
 embankment of earth, three or four feet high, and a tri- 
 fling ditch out of which the earth was dug, imdoubtedly 
 were formed. In all probability some of these embank- 
 ments enclosed their villages; others the residence of 
 their chiefs or head men. But what people, savage, bar- 
 barous, civilised, or enlightened, ever constructed a forti- 
 fication around five or six hundred acres, with a ditch in the 
 inside! Or what military people made twenty or thirty such 
 forts, within two or three miles! At any rate I am confident 
 these immense armies of military heroes never visited 
 Illinois. 
 
 The remains of Fort Chartres, commenced by the 
 French in 1720, to defend their infant settlements against 
 the Spaniards and Indians, is probably the most ancient 
 
36 A GAZETTEER 
 
 military work within this state, of which any portion 
 now remains. 
 
 Those who are particularly desirous of information 
 concerning the millions of warriors, and the bloody bat- 
 tles in which more were slain than ever fell in all the 
 wars of Alexander, Caesar, or Napoleon, with a particu- 
 lar description of their military works, would do well to 
 read the " Book of Mormon^'''' made out of the " golden 
 plates" of that distinguished antiquarian Joe Smith! 
 
 It is far superior to some modern productions on west- 
 ern antiquities, because it furnishes us with the names 
 and biography of the principal men who were concerned 
 in these enterprises, with many of the particulars of their 
 wars for several centuries. But, seriously, the attention 
 of scientific men is invited to this subject. 
 
 And as a starting question to such an investigation, it 
 ought to be first settled how long human bones will re- 
 tain their form and solidity without decomposition, when 
 exposed to the air, earth, water, and other causes of de- 
 cay, interred two or thee feet deep in the earth. Will 
 they preserve their form and soundness over two, or at 
 the most three hundred years'? Are not the relics of the 
 early pilgrims of New England, and the first settlers of 
 Jamestown mouldered entirely to dust? Will any one 
 say that human skeletons, entombed as those are in the 
 mounds of Illinois, but two or three feet below the sur- 
 face, remain in a state of preservation five or six hundred 
 years'? A sober investigation of these questions would 
 result in an entire overthrow of the hypothesis of exist- 
 ing races of men prior to the Indians, founded upon such 
 remains. 
 
 The existence of " Jfowwrfs" in this and other western 
 states has been assumed as substantial proof, amounting 
 to demonstration, of a race of men of enterprising habits, 
 and far more civilised than the present race of aborigines. 
 But it is now seriously questioned whether these mounds 
 are the work of art. I know not that any writer ever 
 ventured to attack this supposition till John Russell, Esq. 
 sent forth his essay in the Illinois Magazine, of March, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 37 
 
 1831. Mr. Russell is a citizen of this state, and well 
 known as a writer of talents and literary acquirements. 
 He has had an opportunity of examining for himself, many 
 of those mounds, of various dimensions. He maintains 
 they are not artificial, and offers objections to their being- 
 productions of human art, not easily obviated.* 
 
 But there are many mounds in the west, that exactly 
 correspond in shape wiih these supposed antiquities, and 
 yet from their size most evidently were not made by 
 man. 
 
 Monk hill, in the American bottom, near the road from 
 
 * In the summer of^ 1836, Mr. Russell made a most interest- 
 ing and curious discovery, pertaining to the antiquities of Illi- 
 nois, in the range of bluffs that overhang BlufFdale, Greene 
 county, the place of his residence. 
 
 At an elevation of 80 feet above the valley, in a projecting 
 cliff, and imbedded amongst a mass of loose rocks, Mr. R. found 
 on excavating, three shells, nearly similar, each of which exhi- 
 bited tbe following characteristics. 
 
 1. They were univalve, and had been bisected, the edges 
 worked off, and the inside excavated, so as to resemble some- 
 what in appearance the half of a slender, straight gourd with a 
 neck tapering proportionably in size from the body. 
 
 '2. Each had evidently been used as an ai'ticle of furniture, 
 and had been prepared for the purpose by some sharp instru- 
 ment, and each holds about tliree pints. 
 
 3. They are unquestionably of salt water origin, and belong 
 to a description of shells not found in the waters of tbe Atlantic, 
 or on any part of the American Continent. Similar shells are 
 to be found in the South Pacific Ocean and about the Feejee 
 islands. 
 
 4. They were most unquestionably deposited in these bluffs at 
 the period of their formation. The position in which they were 
 found would preclude the idea of their subsequent deposition 
 by human or other means. They are not fossil remains, in the 
 sense of having undergone any change in their structure, being 
 purely natural shells, fashioned into ladles by the art of man. 
 Very limited knowledge of the science of Conchology prevents 
 me from defining the genus and species of these interesting re- 
 mains. They are highly deserving the attention of the curious, 
 and are yet in the possession of John Russell, Esq., Postmaster 
 at Bluffdale, Illinois. 
 
 4 
 
38 A GAZETTEER 
 
 St. Louis to Edwardsville, is of tlie following- dimen- 
 sions. The circumference of its base is about eight 
 hundred yards — its height 90 feet — its shape that of a 
 parallelogram. 
 
 Mr. Flint, who has written some fine romances and 
 considerable " History and Geography of the Western 
 States," describes one in Ohio, between thirty and 
 forty rods in circumference, and seventy feet high. It 
 would be well to calculate, upon the ordinary labor of ex- 
 cavating canals, how many hands, with spades, wheel- 
 barrows, and other necessary implements, it would take 
 to throw up such a mound within any given time. 
 
 Muunt Juliet on the Des Plaines, is about one mile in 
 circumference, and 150 feet high, rising like a pyramid 
 of sand. In the northwestern part of Illinois, and in 
 the Wisconsin territory, are mounds of much larger di- 
 mensions, and compared to which Monk hill is but a 
 mole hill. Mount Charles, Sinsinewa, and the Blue 
 Mounds are on a grand scale. The latter range is three 
 or four hundred feet high, and has an area of several 
 hundred acres of table land on its summit. Springs of 
 water gush from its sides. Mr. Brigham has an elegant 
 farm on one of these mounds. West of the Arkansas 
 territory, in the Osage country, and near Clermont's 
 village, are a number of large, regularly formed mounds, 
 two hundred feet high, ranging with each other, and 
 extending in a line for ten or twelve miles. They are 
 level on the top, and contain from two to five acres of 
 table land, and the sides are so steep as to be inacces- 
 sible excepting in one or two places. The country around 
 is an immense prairie, nearly level. 
 
 These large mounds are of the same shape and propor- 
 tions as the smaller ones. Who supposes these to be works 
 of human art? Who will place these among the antiquities 
 of a country? 
 
 If any one will account for the formation of these stu- 
 pendous works of nature, in a country of unquestionably 
 diluvial formation, there are men who make no preten- 
 sions to the rank of western antiquarians, who will ac- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 39 
 
 count for the formation of the smaller ones, of a few feet 
 elevation, without the aid of an extinguished race of men. 
 Until further evidence of their being the work of men's 
 hands, I shall class them among the natural curiosities of 
 the country. 
 
 CLIMATE AND HEALTH. 
 
 The state of Illinois, extending as it does, through five 
 and half degrees of latitude, must possess some variety 
 in its climate. Its extensive prairies, and its level sur- 
 face, give greater scope to the winds, especially in winter. 
 Snow frequently falls, but seldom lies long, during the 
 three winter months, in the southern portion of the state. 
 In the northern portion, the winters are nearly as severe 
 as in the same parallel of latitude in the Atlantic states. 
 The Mississippi at St. Louis is frequently frozen over and 
 passed on the ice, and ocoasionally for several weeks. The 
 hot season is longer,, though not more intense, than occa- 
 sionally for a day or two in New England. 
 
 During the years 1 817-18-19, the Rev. Mr. Giddings, at 
 St. Louis, made a series of observations upon Farenheit's 
 thermometer. 
 
 Deg. Hund. 
 Mean temperature for 1817, . . . 55 . 52 
 Do. do. from the beginning 
 
 of May, 1818, to the end of April 
 
 1819 56 . 98 
 
 Mean temperature for 1820 . . . . 56 . 18 
 The mean of these results is about fifty six degrees and 
 a quarter. 
 
 The mean temperature of each month during the above 
 years, is as follows: 
 
 Deg. Hund. 
 
 January 30 . 62 
 
 February 38 . 65 
 
 March 43 . 13 
 
 April 58 . 47 
 
40 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Ceg. Hund. 
 
 May 62 . 65 
 
 June 74 . 47 
 
 July 78 . 66 
 
 August 72 . 88 
 
 September 70 . 10 
 
 October 59 . 00 
 
 November 53 . 13 
 
 December 34 . 33 
 
 The mean temperature of the different seasons is as 
 follows: 
 
 Winter, 34. 53— Spring:, 54. 74— Summer, 74.34— Au- 
 tumn, 60.77. 
 
 The greatest extremes of heat and cold dnrin;^ my re- 
 sidence in the country for seventeen years, in the vicinity 
 of St. Louis, is as follows: 
 
 Greatest heat in July 1820, and July 1833, 100 degrees. 
 Greatest cold January 3d, 1834, 18 degrees below zero. 
 
 The foregoing facts will doubtless apply to about one 
 half of Illinois. This climate also is subject to sudden 
 changes from heat to cold; from wet to dry, especially 
 from November to May. The heat of the summer below 
 the 40th degree of latitude is more enervating, and the 
 system becomes more easily debilitated than in the brac- 
 ing atmosphere of a more northerly region. 
 
 The putting forth of vegetation in the spring, furnishes 
 data for the most correct conclusions concerning the cli- 
 mate of a country. Some facts gathered from the obser- 
 vations of a series of seasons, will be presented in the 
 appendix. 
 
 Winds. Southwesterly winds prevail during the spring, 
 summer and autum, at least south of the forty-first degree 
 of latitude. In the spring, and during the rise of the 
 Missouri, they are from a more westerly direction, and 
 rains are usually more frequent. During the latter part 
 of summer and autumn the air is dry and elastic. In the 
 months of December and January northwest and northerly 
 winds often prevail. Nortiieast storms are extremely rare, 
 unless towards lake Michigan. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 41 
 
 Weather. There is a great proportion of clear, plea- 
 sant days throughout the year. Dr. Beck, who resided at 
 St. Louis during the year 1820, made observations upon 
 the changes of the weather, and produced the following 
 results. 
 
 Clear days, 245. — Cloudy, including all the variable 
 days, 110. 
 
 The results of nny own observations, kept for twelve 
 years, with the exception of 1826, and with some irregu- 
 larity, from travelling into different parts of Illinois and 
 Missouri during the time, do not vary in any material de- 
 gree from the above statement. 
 
 The putting forth of vegetation in the spring furnishes 
 some evidence of the character of the climate of any coun- 
 try, though by no means entirely accurate. Other causes 
 combine to advance or retard vegetation. A wet or dry 
 season, or a few days of heat or cold at a particular crisis, 
 will produce material changes. 
 
 The following table is constructed from memoranda 
 made at the various dates given, near the latitude of St. 
 Louis, wliich is computed at 38° 30'. The observations 
 of 1819 were made at St. Charles and vicinity^, in the 
 slate of Missouri. Those of 1820, in St. Louis county 
 17 miles N. W. from the city of St. Louis. The re- 
 mainder at Rock Spring, Illinois, 18 miles east from St. 
 Louis. It will be perceived, the years are not consecu- 
 tive. In 1826, the writer was absent to the eastern states, 
 and for 1828 his notes were too imperfect to answer the 
 purpose. 
 
 In the columns showing the times of the first snows, 
 and the first and last frosts in the season, a little explana- 
 tion may be necessary, A " light" snow means merely 
 enough to whiten the earth, and which usually disappears 
 in a few hours. 
 
 Many of the frosts recorded " light" were not severe 
 enough to kill ordinary vegetation. 
 
 4* 
 
42 its 
 
 £.5 2 
 
 o.g 
 
 &«^ 
 
 o o 
 
 on o 
 
 a 
 
 *^ p 
 
 L'^ C» CD 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 '>» 
 
 d.y 
 
 
 
 
 51 , 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 . 00 
 
 00 
 
 
 ^^ CO 
 
 
 
 
 
 S. '!-> 
 
 
 
 a. „, 
 
 « ^ 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 
 y.O 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 MhS 
 
 c a*^ i-j 
 
 c» S 
 
 O^ 
 
 " it 
 
 5.J= 
 
 O) 61) 
 72 — 
 
 > 
 
 OP 
 
 00 
 
 1—1 
 
 i-h" 
 
 
 
 l-H t» r 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 H . 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 Qj 0^ 
 
 bio 
 
 *— 
 
 
 
 >:.ii 
 
 z; 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (N 
 
 L-5 
 
 i?{ s' 
 
 r- 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 :.^ 
 
 
 ^ d 
 
 
 o 
 
 -< 
 
 ^ 
 
 U."^ 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 A <u 
 
 
 Ml t« 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 r/J 
 
 
 ib" 
 
 <V 1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 C 
 
 
 u 
 
 ^ J= 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 J3 
 
 ^^ 
 
 J5 
 
 ci « 
 
 CI 
 
 JZ 
 
 ,4_, 
 
 
 o 
 
 ^ 
 
 o 
 
 c c 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 S 
 
 bX) 
 
 a 
 
 
 c-» 
 
 (6 
 
 ^fex 
 
 
 M 
 
 «o' 
 
 c>' 
 
 
 00 
 
 fH 
 
 r-l 
 
 J> 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 5« > 
 
 > 
 
 !> 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 
 > 
 
 > " 
 
 o c 
 
 c 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 07 
 
 o 
 
 o a, 
 
 D >' 
 
 ^ 
 
 &: 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^- 
 
 Q 
 
 ;?; 
 
 ^^ 
 
 O' "" <^ i OJ l>^ ^' 
 
 — 
 
 >v^j 
 
 T", 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^2^. 
 
 
 -ss 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "S* >> 
 
 r. is 
 
 ^. rT' 
 
 
 d 
 
 CO 
 
 
 o c 
 
 
 — S 
 
 •^ O 
 CI er, 
 
 CI CS 
 
 C< 
 
 M 
 • — 
 
 2^ 
 
 c» 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s. OJ 
 
 
 O. N 
 
 d«^ 
 
 a-s 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 
 
 O-N 
 
 
 <lv" 
 
 •<^ 
 
 <1-x 
 
 •< 
 
 •#; 
 
 <: 
 
 <-T. 
 
 < 
 
 »o ,-1 
 d. tK. 
 
 <5 
 
 ~ c ' 
 
 2 oj cj 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 © 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 50 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 c< 
 
 
 
 
 C-i 
 
 
 1-H 
 
 
 sz 
 
 x: 
 
 c* 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 c- 
 
 £1. 
 
 o. 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 
 < 
 
 «r< 
 
 -r| 
 
 
 < 
 
 -s- 
 
 s 
 
 ^ 
 
 <1 
 
 ,« 
 
 CU • 
 
 
 
 >^ oi o 
 ■rr •-" to 
 a I- -n 
 
 rt i< o 
 oa ,o xi 
 
 ■ to B 
 
 > Oi o 
 aJ J- oD 
 
 ««^ 
 
 CSTS 
 
 *> ^ e 
 
 <: 
 
 LO 
 
 
 ci 
 
 GO 
 
 ci 
 
 
 T^ 
 
 .A 
 
 
 M 
 
 c< 
 
 C» 
 
 CJ 
 
 ''^ 
 
 '-< 
 
 C» 
 
 ."^ 
 
 >% 
 
 r^ 
 
 ."^ 
 
 ."T^ 
 
 .^ 
 
 r^ 
 
 ."7^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 &, 
 
 c3 
 
 Su 
 
 a. 
 
 o. 
 
 c 
 
 Q. 
 
 &, 
 
 < 
 
 s 
 
 < 
 
 <: 
 
 <: 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 lO 
 
 ■^ 
 
 00 
 
 lO 
 
 d 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 *™' 
 
 
 
 
 
 c< 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 
 cS 
 
 O. 
 
 Q. 
 
 CI, 
 
 o. 
 
 
 a. 
 
 Q. 
 
 S 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 <1 
 
 <; 
 
 f. 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 
 
 t-^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 » . 
 
 TiH 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 
 »j^ 
 
 
 
 
 -nee 
 
 c» 
 
 
 c< 
 
 rH 
 
 
 
 
 Oi 
 
 >^ 
 
 >.<-- 
 
 >. 
 
 >, 
 
 s>. 
 
 >. 
 
 s>. 
 
 >. 
 
 >» 
 
 >-, 
 
 e8 
 
 cs r: 
 
 rt 
 
 m 
 
 cd 
 
 rt 
 
 es 
 
 «i 
 
 eS 
 
 « 
 
 S 
 
 S<2 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 g 
 
 g 1 S 
 
 g 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 ifi 
 
 to 
 
 00 
 
 
 d 
 
 ■^ 
 
 
 O 
 
 c» 
 
 M 
 
 ©» 
 
 0» 
 
 c< 
 
 fri^' 
 
 
 C» 
 
 >o 
 
 c 
 
 _^ 
 
 .^ 
 
 .« 
 
 «^ 
 
 vrt 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 -^ 
 
 — ri 
 
 «•« 
 
 
 *J^ 
 
 
 
 J^ 
 
 
 j^ 
 
 Im 
 
 b 
 
 ©■a 
 
 o. 
 
 O. 
 
 a. 
 
 CL 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 O. 
 
 o. 
 
 ^. s 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 <^ 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 <: 
 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^M 
 
 2C3 
 
 . 
 
 Ci 
 
 d 
 
 W 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■* 
 
 ^O 
 
 
 
 
 •* 
 
 c» 
 
 
 
 S-g 
 
 07; 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 n. 
 
 ^'^ 
 
 
 Q. 
 
 c 
 
 tn. 
 
 a 
 
 Q. 
 
 G, 
 
 a. 
 
 < 
 
 <o.<a. 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 5; 
 
 •s! 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 o, 
 
 A 
 
 _ 
 
 ly* 
 
 « 
 
 ^f 
 
 — is — 
 
 ^» 
 
 r') 
 
 ^■■ 
 
 CD 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 00 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^. 
 
 ^ 
 
 CO 
 
 ^ 
 
 ss 
 
 fH 
 
 S 
 
 
 -^ 
 
 r-< 
 
 
 rl 
 
 1-1 
 
 
 1-t 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 43 
 
 The following observations were made at Aug:usta, 
 Hancock county, and kindly furnished by S. B. Mead, 
 M. D. 
 
 1834 
 
 April 13 
 April 14 
 
 April 14 
 
 April 22 
 April 9, 
 15. 
 
 Sept. 11 
 
 Dec. 2 
 
 April 13 
 April 25 
 April 13 
 April 12 
 
 April 19 
 
 Gooseberries leav- 
 ed out, 
 Crab Apple, 
 Thorn, 
 Black Hare, 
 Elm, 
 
 Forest crreen. 
 Prairies green 
 
 First killing frost, 
 First snow, 
 Gooseberry in blos- 
 som. 
 Crab Apple, 
 Wild plum, 
 Shadhush, 
 Redbud, 
 
 The dates are at the time Dr. M. first observed this 
 progress of vegetation. Augusta is 108 miles, (according 
 to the land surveys) north of St. Louis, and is nearly 
 equidistant from the northern and southern extremities 
 of the state. 
 
 I have before me also from Dr. Mead, a tab]e of Mete- 
 orological observations taken during the years 1834, 1835, 
 and 1836, a mere epitome of which I have room to give 
 in this place, including the mean temperature for each 
 month. The observations were made half an hour after 
 sun-rise, at two o'clock, P. M., and half an hour after sun- 
 set, from Fahrenheit's Thermometer. 
 
 1»JD 
 
 April 11 
 April 30 
 April 30 
 
 May 15 
 
 April 30 
 
 Sept. 23 
 
 Nov. 20 
 
 April 29 
 May 9 
 April 29 
 April 25 
 
 May 6 
 
 1836 
 
 April 
 
 25 
 
 April 28 
 
 April 28 
 
 April 28 
 
 April 
 
 28 
 
 May 
 
 5 
 
 April 23, 
 
 25 
 
 
 Oct. 
 
 4. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 21 
 
 April 
 
 24 
 
 May 
 
 7 
 
 April 
 
 29 
 
 May 
 
 5 
 
 May 
 
 1, 
 
 15, 
 
 20 
 
44 
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 1834 
 
 Dei?. 
 
 Hund. 
 
 
 Deg. 
 
 Hund 
 
 January, 
 
 20 
 
 . 88 
 
 July, 
 
 77 
 
 . 59 
 
 February, 
 
 44 
 
 .48 
 
 August, 
 
 77 
 
 . 40 
 
 March, 
 
 45 
 
 . 30 
 
 September, 
 
 64 
 
 . 03 
 
 April, 
 
 57 
 
 . 90 
 
 October, 
 
 56 
 
 . 25 
 
 May, 
 
 61 
 
 . 95 
 
 November, 
 
 48 
 
 . 09 
 
 June, 
 
 71 
 
 . 10 
 
 December, 
 
 36 
 
 . 76 
 
 
 
 
 Annual mean 
 
 55 
 
 . 32 
 
 1835 
 
 Deg. 
 
 Hund 
 
 
 Deg. 
 
 Hund 
 
 January, 
 
 37 
 
 . 23 
 
 July, 
 
 72 
 
 . 61 
 
 February, 
 
 22 
 
 . 72 
 
 Aug\ist, 
 
 70 
 
 . 87 
 
 March, 
 
 43 
 
 . 91 
 
 September, 
 
 62 
 
 . 23 
 
 April, 
 
 52 
 
 . 56 
 
 October, 
 
 57 
 
 .97 
 
 May, 
 
 68 
 
 . 12 
 
 November, 
 
 40 
 
 • 55 
 
 June, 
 
 71 
 
 . 15 
 
 December. 
 Annual mean 
 
 36 
 
 .37 
 
 
 
 
 52 
 
 . 02 
 
 1836 
 
 Deg. 
 
 Hund. 
 
 
 Deg. 
 
 Hund. 
 
 January, 
 
 31 
 
 . 82 
 
 July, 
 
 75 
 
 . 03 
 
 February, 
 
 31 
 
 . 41 
 
 August, 
 
 71 
 
 . 59 
 
 March, 
 
 37 
 
 . 39 
 
 September, 
 
 66 
 
 . 00 
 
 April, 
 
 53 
 
 . 08 
 
 October, 
 
 50 
 
 . 65 
 
 May, 
 
 67 
 
 . 40 
 
 November, 
 
 44 
 
 . 89 
 
 June, 
 
 70 
 
 . 11 
 
 December, 
 
 24 
 
 . 84 
 
 
 
 
 Annual mean. 
 
 51 
 
 . 01 
 
 
 
 WEAT 
 
 HER. 
 
 
 
 
 Fair days 
 
 C 
 
 loudy. Rainy. 
 
 
 Snow. 
 
 1834 
 
 246 
 
 
 74 42 
 
 
 3 
 
 1835 
 
 250 
 
 
 67 43 
 
 
 5 
 
 1836 
 
 229 
 
 
 78 48 
 
 
 10 
 
 Diseases. The more common diseases of Illinois are 
 interrnittents, frequently accompanied with bilious symp- 
 toms. Those vi^hich prove fatal in sickly seasons are 
 bilious remittents. More than one half of the sickness 
 endured by the people is caused by imprudence, bad 
 management, and the want of proper nursing. Emigrants 
 from the northern states or from Europe, will find it ad- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 45 
 
 vantageous to protect themselves from the cool and hu- 
 mid atmosphere at night, to provide close dwellings, yet, 
 when the atmosphere is clear, to have their rooms, and 
 especially their sleeping rooms, well ventilated, and in- 
 variably wear thin clothing in the day, and put on thicker 
 apparel at night or when exposed to wet. 
 
 Families are seldom sick who live in comfortable 
 houses with tight floors and well ventilated rooms, and 
 who upon a change of weather, and especially in a time 
 of rain, make a little fire in the chimney, though it may 
 be in the midst of summer. 
 
 I have seen but few cases of genuine consumption. 
 Affection of the liver is more common. Pleurisies, and 
 other inflammatory diseases, prevail in the winter and 
 spring. Ophthalmia prevails at some seasons. Dysen- 
 tery is not uncommon. Fewer die in infancy than in the 
 old states. 
 
 Finally, I am prepared to speak decidedly in favor of 
 the general health of Illinois. 
 
 CIVIL DIVISIONS. 
 
 There are seventy counties within the state, in sixty 
 of which courts are held. In the others the judge of 
 the circuit where they lie, is authorised to organise them 
 by appointing an election for county officers whenever in 
 his opinion there are three hundred and fifty inhabitants 
 within their boundaries. Their names, dates of formation, 
 number of square miles, population of the state census of 
 1835, (with the estimation of certain new counties since 
 formed,) and seats of justice are given in the appendix. 
 
 For the purpose of electing representatives to congress, 
 the state is divided into three districts, each of which 
 sends one representative. 
 
 The first district is composed of the counties of Galla- 
 tin, Pope, Johnson, Alexander, Union, Jackson, Frank- 
 lin, Perry, Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Washington, 
 Clinton, Bond, Madison, and Macoupen. 
 
46 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The second district includes the counties of White, 
 Hamilton, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Law- 
 rence, Clay, Marion, Fayette, Montgomery, Shelby, 
 Vermilion, Champaign, Edgar, Coles, Clark, Iroquois, 
 Crawford, Effingham and Jasper. 
 
 The third district is composed of the following counties: 
 Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, Macon, McLean, 
 La Salle, Cook, Putnam, Peoria, Henry, Jo Daviess, 
 Rock Island, Mercer, Warren, Hancock, McDonongh, 
 Fulton, Knox, Schuyler, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Will, 
 McHenry, Benton, Boone, Kane, Ogle, Whiteside, Ste- 
 phenson, Winnebago, Coffee, Bureau, and Livingston. 
 
 For judiciary purposes the state is divided into seven 
 circuits, in each of which a circuit judge is appointed. 
 
 The First Judicial Circuit includes llie counties of San- 
 gamon, Morgan, Greene, Macoupen, Macon, McLean, 
 Tazewell, 
 
 The Second Judicial C^>cti^7 includes the counties of Ma- 
 dison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Washington, Clin- 
 ton, Bond, Shelby, Fayette, Montgomery, and Effingham. 
 
 The Third Judicial Circuity includes the counties of 
 Gallatin, Pope, Johnson, Alexander, Union, Jackson, 
 Perry, Franklin, Marion, Jefferson, and Hamilton. 
 ? The Fourth Judicial Circuit includes the counties of 
 Edgar, Vermilion, Champaign, Coles, Jasper, Clay, 
 Wayne, White, Edwards and Wabash. 
 
 The Fifth Judicial Circuit embraces the counties of Cal- 
 houn, Pike, Adams, Schuyler, Hancock, Warren, Knox; 
 McDonough and Fulton. 
 
 The Sixth Judicial Circuit includes the counties of Jo 
 Daviess, Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Putnam, Peoria 
 Ogle, and Winnebago. Whiteside is in this circuit; but 
 for judicial purposes attached to Ogle county, as are also 
 the counties of Stephenson and Boone, formed at the re- 
 cent session of the legislature, attached to Winnebago 
 county. The judge of the circuit has authority by law to 
 autliorise them to be organised whenever petition and 
 proof is offered that a county contains three hundred and 
 fifty inhabitants. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 47 
 
 The Seventh Judicial Circuit includes the counties of 
 Iroquois, Cook, Will, La Salle, Kane, and McHenry. 
 
 Counties are not subdivided into townships as in Indi- 
 ana, Ohio, and the more eastern states. For the conveni- 
 ence of holding elections, the county commissioner's court 
 is required to divide the county into '•''precincts^'''' and de- 
 signate the house or place in each precinct M^here the 
 polls shall be opened. 
 
 Electors throughout the county vote at which precinct 
 they please. 
 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The constitution of Illinois was formed by a convention 
 held at Kaskaskia, in August, 1818. It provides for the 
 distribution of the powers of government into three dis- 
 tinct departments. — The legislative, executive, and judi- 
 ciary. The legislative authority is vested in a general 
 assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representa- 
 tives. Elections are held biennially, as are the ordinary 
 sessions of the legislature. Senators are elected for four 
 years. 
 
 The executive power is vested in the governor, who is 
 chosen every fourth year by the electors for representa- 
 tives, but the same person is ineligible for the next suc- 
 ceeding four years. The lieutenant governor is also cho- 
 sen every four years. 
 
 The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, and 
 such inferior courts as the general assembly from time to 
 time shall establish. The supreme court consists of a 
 chief justice and three associate judges. 
 
 The governor and judges of the supreme court consti- 
 tute a council of revision, to which all bills that have 
 passed the assembly must be submitted. If objected to 
 by the council of revision, the same may become a law 
 by the vote of a majority of all the members elected to both 
 houses. 
 
48 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Synopsis of the Public Officers^ Terms of Service^ Manner 
 of Appointment, and Compensation. 
 
 Governor — Elected by the people, for four years; Salary 
 ^1000 perannum: eligible for one term only in succession; 
 i^alary cannot be diminished during his continuance in 
 office. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor — Elected by the people, for four 
 years; paid per day during the session of the legislature; 
 ^ 6 per day during the last session. He is speaker of the 
 senate, and becomes Governor in case of a vacancy in the 
 latter office. 
 
 Secretary of State — Appointed by the Governor and Se- 
 nate diiring pleasure; Salary ^ 1100 per annum, including 
 clerk hire; and ^300 per annum, for additional clerk hire 
 for 1837 and 1838. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Auditor of Public Accounts — Elected by the legislature 
 biennially; Salary ^ 800; two clerks, ^400 each; with ad- 
 ditional for clerk hire during 1837 and 1838, ^400 per 
 annum. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Treasurer — Elected by the legislature biennially; Sa- 
 lary ^800; clerk hire $ 800 per annum. Office at Van- 
 dalia. 
 
 Adjutant General — Appointed by the Governor during 
 pleasure; Salary ^ 100. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Supreme Judges — Elected by the legislature during good 
 behaviour; Salary ^800, with an extra compensation for 
 1837 and 1838 of ^200. 
 
 Clerk of the Supreme Court — Appointed by the court du- 
 ring good behaviour; fees. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Circuit Judges — Elected by the legislature during good 
 behaviour; Salaries ^ 750, with an additional allowance 
 of ^250, during 1837 and 1838, excepting the judge of 
 the sjixth judicial circuit. 
 
 Clerks of the Circuit Courts — Appointed by the courts, 
 during good behaviour; fees. Offices at the respective 
 seats of justice. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 49 
 
 Attorney General — Elected by the legislature biennially; 
 Salary $ 350 and fees. Office to be kept at Vandalia. 
 
 Six State'' s Aitorneys — Elected by the legislature bien- 
 nially; Salaries ^250, and fees. 
 
 Agent for the Sale of Saline Lands — Elected by the le- 
 gislature biennially; Salary ^ 200. 
 
 Three Canal Commissioners — Elected by the leo-islature 
 biennially; Compensation ^ 5 per diem, while engaged 
 in actual business. 
 
 Three Fund Commissioners on Internal Improvement — 
 Elected biennially by the legislature; pay ^5 per diem 
 while actually employed. 
 
 Seven Commissioners of the Board of Public Works — 
 Elected biennially by the legislature; pay ^5 per diem 
 while in actual service. 
 
 Warden of the Penitentiary — Elected by the legislature 
 biennially; Salary ^800. 
 
 Three Inspectors of the Same — Elected by the legislature 
 biennially; compensation per diem ^ 2; but not to exceed 
 ^50 per annum. 
 
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 Number of Senators^ 40 — Elected for four years. 
 
 Number of Representatives, 91 — Elected biennially; com- 
 pensation regulated by law each se&sion; ^4 per day last 
 session. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor, {speaker of the Senate,') pay last 
 session ^6 per day. 
 
 Secretary of the Senate — pay at last session, ^ 6 per day, 
 and ^ 350 for furnishing a copy of his Journal for the 
 press. 
 
 Assistant Secretary of the Senate — pay at last session, 
 ^5 per day. 
 5 
 
50 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the Senate — pay at 
 last session ^5 per day. 
 
 Doorkeeper of the Senate — pay at last session ^ 4 per day. 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives — pay at the last 
 session, % 6 per day. 
 
 Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives — pay at 
 the last session ^ 6 per day, and ^ 350 for preparing his 
 Journal for the press. 
 
 Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives — pay at 
 last session ^ 5 per day. 
 
 Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives — pay at last session, % 5 per day. 
 
 Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives^-^ay $ 4 per 
 day. 
 
 There is some variation in compensation each session. 
 From 20 to 25 per cent, was added hy the late legislature 
 to former rates, which does not equal the increased value 
 of labor in every other branch of business within the last 
 two years. The legislature usually sits from 70 to 90 
 days. Last session continued 93 days. 
 
 The amount of the pay of the legislature, with the pre- 
 sent number of members, at a session of 90 days, at ^4 
 per day, is ^46,080. 
 
 Officers and Clerks of the legislature, ^5,380. 
 
 Contingent expenses per session, for fuel, stationary, 
 repairs, furniture, etc., ^ 6,000. 
 
 Public printing of various kinds, including binding and 
 distributing the laws, journals, etc., $ 12,000. 
 
 Making the biennial expenses for legislation, about 
 $ 70,000, or $ 35,000 per annum. 
 
 The appropriations for the contingent fund for 1837, 
 '38, are $ 4000 per annum. 
 
 Salaries of the Executive and Judiciary officers, $ 18, 
 700; making the whole ordinary annual expenditures of 
 the state about ^ 53,700. 
 
 The revenue of the state is derived principally from 
 land taxes. The tax on lands of residents aoes into the 
 county treasuries, for county purposes, while the tax orv- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 51 
 
 the lands of non-residents goes into the state treasury for 
 state purposes. 
 
 The quantity of land subject to taxation on the first of 
 August, 1836, was 5,335,041 acres. And the quantity sub- 
 ject to taxation 
 
 In 1837 will be 5,674,452 
 
 In 1838 5,90-2,127 
 
 In 1839 6,262,367 
 
 In 1840 6,616,380 
 
 In 1841 7,837,218 
 
 And in 1842 about 12,000,000 
 
 Lands sold by the general government are not subject 
 to taxation under five years after purchase. 
 
 COUNTY OFFICERS. 
 
 Judges of Probate — Formerly elected by the legislature, 
 during good behaviour; hereafter to be elected by the peo- 
 ple; fees. 
 
 Sheriffs — Elected by the people, biennially; fees. 
 
 Coroners — Elected by the people, biennially; fees. 
 
 County Commissioners — Three in each county, to man- 
 age county concerns; Elected by the people biennially: 
 ^ 150 per day while employed in court. Regular sessions, 
 first Mondays in March, June, September, and December. 
 
 County Clerk — Elected by the people; collector of taxes 
 on non-residents' lands, fees; and per diem allowance 
 while attending court. 
 
 County Treasurer — Hereafter elected by the people, bi- 
 ennially; per centage and per diem allowance, on moneys 
 received and services performed. 
 
 County Surveyors — Elected by the people quadrennial- 
 ly; fees. 
 
 County Recorders — Elected by the people quadrennial- 
 ly; fees. 
 
 Justices of the Peace — Elected by the people quadrenni- 
 ally; fees. 
 
 Constables — Elected by the people quadrennially; fees. 
 
52 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Notaries Public — Appointed by the Governor and Se- 
 nate, during good behaviour; fees. 
 
 Supervisors of Roads — Appointed by the county com- 
 missioners annually; exempt from military duly and serv- 
 ing on juries, but receive no other compensation. 
 
 Public Mnilnlstrator — Ai)pointed by the Governor and 
 Senate; term indefinite; fees. 
 
 Commissioner of the school funds arising from the sale 
 of the sections numbered sixteen; appointed by the coun- 
 ty commissioners, who fix his compensation. 
 
 The right of suffrage is universal. All white male in- 
 habitants, twenty-one years of age, \A\q have resided 
 within the state six months next preceding the elections, 
 enjoy the right of electors. 
 
 Votes are given viva voce. The introduction of slavery 
 is prohibited. The constitution can be altered only by a 
 convention. 
 
 PLANS OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 Those undertaken by the state are embraced in two di- 
 visions. The Illinois and Michigan canal, and the inter- 
 nal improvement system adopted by the legislature last 
 winter. 
 
 The project of uniting the waters of the Illinois river 
 with Lake Michiiran was conceived soon after the com- 
 mencement of the grand canal of New York. It was 
 brought before the legislature of Illinois, at its first ses- 
 sion after the state government was organised by Gover- 
 nor Bond. The legislature, in February, 1823, appointed 
 a board of commissioners to survey the route and esti- 
 mate the cost, and make report to the next legislature, 
 w^hich was done. These commissioners employed Col. 
 Post and Col. Paul of Missouri as engineers. They ex- 
 amined five different routes for a portion of the distance, 
 and estimated the expense of each route. They varied 
 from about ^640,000, to ^71 G, 000. The estimale of the 
 fifth route was upon the project of using lake Michigan 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 53 
 
 alone for a feeder by directing a portion of its waters to 
 the Illinois river, and was a fraction short of ^090,000. 
 
 Upon the report of these surveys the legislature passed 
 a bill to incorporate the " Illinois and Michig^an Canal 
 Company," in January, 1825. No stock having been 
 taken, the legislature, at a special session, the next win- 
 ter, repealed the law chartering the company. 
 
 The embarrassments of the state in its finances, grow- 
 ing out of the ruinous policy of a state bank without capi- 
 tal, prevented any thing further from being done until 
 January, 1829, when the legislature passed an act to or- 
 ganise a board of commissioners, with power to employ 
 agents, engineers, surveyors, draftsmen, and other persons, 
 to explore, examine, fix, and determine the route of the 
 canal. 
 
 The congress of the United States had made provision 
 by an act passed March 2d, 1827, to give the state each 
 alternate section of land, within five miles of the contem- 
 plated canal. 
 
 The commissioners were authorised to sell this land, 
 to lay off town sites and sell lots, and apply the funds. 
 
 Accordingly they laid off Chicago near the lake; and 
 Ottawa, at the junction of Fox river and the Illinois. 
 Town lots and tracts of land were sold, a skilful en- 
 gineer employed, surveys were made with more particu- 
 larity, the surface of the earth perforated, the waters at a 
 low stage examined, and estimates of the expense made. 
 It was now ascertained that a supply of water in dry 
 seasons, from the streams on its route, was doubtful, 
 and that the rock approached so near the surface on the 
 summit level between the Chicago, and the Des Plaines, 
 as to present a serious obstacle to using the lake for a 
 feeder. 
 
 The subsequent legislature authorised a re-examination 
 to be made with a view to a railway, and to ascertain 
 whether the waters of the Calamic could not be obtained 
 in sufficient quantities for a feeder. 
 
 The result was in the report of the engineer to the com- 
 missioners; and by them to the legislature, decidedly in 
 
 5* 
 
54 A GAZETTEER 
 
 favor of a railway. To this project congress has given 
 its assent. 
 
 Two estimates of the expense of a canal were sub- 
 mitted. The first was on the plan of following the sum- 
 mit ten feet above the level of lake Michigan and depend 
 on streams for feeders. 
 
 Total cost of the entire line of 95f miles ^1,001,965 
 83. Cost on the same location by obtaining a supply of 
 water from lake Michigan, by cutting through the divid- 
 ing ridge between the lake and the head waters of the 
 Illinois river, much of it rock excavation, ^4,043,086 
 50. 
 
 The estimated cost of a railway with a single track laid, 
 distance 96 miles, is ^1,052,428 19. 
 
 During the summer of 1832, the late Mr. Pugh, visited 
 New York, to obtain information of the relative cost and 
 value of canals and railways, and to ascertain whether 
 funds could be obtained, and on what terms, to complete 
 this work. 
 
 The state not having means at its disposal, and the 
 session having drawn toward a close, the whole business 
 was postponed, by abolishing the office of canal commis- 
 sioners. 
 
 At a special session of the legislature held in the win- 
 ter of 1835-6, an act was passed for the construction 
 of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, the Governor was 
 authorised to negociate a loan on the faith and credit of 
 the state, not exceeding ^500,000, a board of three com- 
 missioners was organised, with full power to employ en- 
 gineers, let contracts, dispose of property and carry on the 
 whole business on behalf of the state. One is styled the 
 *' acting commissioner" with a salary of twelve hundred 
 dollars per annum; the others to be styled " President and 
 "Treasurer," and to receive compensation for the time of 
 their services at the rate of three dollars per day. The 
 law specified that said " Canal shall commence at or 
 near the town of Chicago, and terminate near the mouth 
 of Little Vermilion in La Salle county, and on land owned 
 by the state. The law furthermore provided that ♦* said 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 55 
 
 canal should not be less than forty-five feet wide at the 
 surface, thirty feet at the base, and of sufficient depth to 
 ensure a navigation of at least four feet, to be suitable for 
 ordinary canal boat navigation, to be suj)plied with water 
 from Lake Michigan, and such other sources as the canal 
 commissioners may think proper, and to be constructed 
 in the manner best calculated to promote the permanent 
 interest of the country; reserving ninety feet on each side 
 of the canal to enlarge its capacity, whenever in t'le opin- 
 ion of the board of land commissioners, the public good 
 shall require it." 
 
 The commissioners, after a re-examination of the route, 
 and obtaining due information from all sources, "deter- 
 mined to adopt the recommendation of the chief engineer, 
 and construct it of the following dimensions; to wit: — 
 sixty feet wide at the top water line; thirty six feet wide 
 at the bottom; and six feet deep. The irregular fluctua- 
 tions, or tides in the lakes, occasioned by the action of 
 high winds, rendered the depth agreed upon, indispen- 
 sably necessary to insure a navigation of at least four 
 feet." 
 
 This stupendous work commences on the North fork 
 of the South branch of Chicago river, four miles to the 
 southwest of the city of (yhicago,, (the river itself form- 
 ing a deep and naturul canal from this point to the har- 
 bour,) and from thence extends to the Des Plaines river 
 seven and half miles, at a place called "the Point of 
 Oaks." This division presents a cutting 18 feet deep, 
 through a substratum of stiflT blue clay. From thence 
 down the valley of the Des Plaines to the running out 
 of the lake level, 25 miles, the cutting is from 16 to 18 
 feet deep, principally through stratified limestone, in stra- 
 ta from two to six inches thick. On section 23, T. 36 
 N. R. 70, E. of the third principal division, the commis- 
 sioners have laid out a town on state property, one mile 
 square, called Lockport. Here are to be two locks, ten 
 feet lift each, placed in conjunction, so as to create twenty 
 feet fall, ?nd an immense water power from the surplus 
 water drawn from lake Michigan. Here, also, will be 
 
56 A GAZETTEER 
 
 constructed a basin for three fourths of a mile, and 120 
 feet wide. Froni Lockport the canal proceeds down the 
 valley of Des Plaines, to Juliet where it crosses by a dam, 
 its line runs past Marseilles, and crosses Fox river by 
 an aqueduct betwixt the main bluff and Ottawa. A 
 navigable feeder, will connect it with the rapids of Fox 
 river, four miles above Ottawa, and extend through the 
 town to the Illinois river, where a natural basin, of deep 
 water, is at the mouth of Fox river. Below Ottawa, the 
 canal passes down the right bank of the Illinois, near the 
 bluffs, crosses the Pe-cum-sangan, and Little Vermilion, 
 and enters the Illinois river, in the corner of fractional 
 section 21, in township 33, N. Range one, east of the third 
 principal meridian. To this point the Illinois is naviga- 
 ble for steamboats at all stages of water. A steamboat 
 basin, or harbor, is to be constructed, and a large town 
 laid off on section 15, near the termination of the canal. 
 
 The whole length of the canal including Fox river 
 feeder, will be 100 miles, and 28 chains, to which add 
 Chicago river, of 5 miles and 44 chains, gives 105 miles 
 and 72 chains for the entire length of the navigable line. 
 
 The work has been arranged by the board of commis- 
 sioners into three divisions, as given in the following 
 
 General Summary, 
 
 1. Summit Division, including Chicago 
 river, 34 miles, 35, 78-100 chains, es- 
 timated cost by the Engineer, $ 5,871,324 97 
 
 2. Middle Division, 37 miles, 55,80-100 
 
 chains, estimated cost, 1,510,957 46 
 
 3. Western Division, and Fox river 
 
 feeder, 33 miles, 61 20-100 chains, cost 1,272,055 08 
 
 Total estimated cost $ 8,654,337 51 
 
 The legislature, at its late session, authorised a sur- 
 vey of the Calumet, and the Sauga-nas-ke valley with 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 57 
 
 the view of constructingr a lateral canal, to open a naviga- 
 ble communication from the main canal to the Calumet, 
 from which it is expected a water communication will be 
 made in the slate of Indiana to the Wabash and Erie 
 canal. 
 
 Resources. The resources of the state to meet the cost 
 of this stupendous work, which will connect the naviga- 
 ble waters of the Mississippi and Illinois, with the lakes 
 of Canada, the gulf of St. Lawrence, and the canals 
 and other lines of communication in Ohio, Pennsylvania 
 and New York, arise from the sales of town lots and 
 lands along the line of this work. 
 
 Each alternate section, along the line of the canal, and 
 ten miles in width, has been granted by congress for the 
 purpose. During last year, 375 lots were sold in Chica- 
 go, for the gross amount of one million, three hundred and 
 fifty five thousand, seven hundred andfifty five dollars. In 
 Ottawa, 78 lots sold for 21,358 dollars. The unsold lands 
 for canal purposes, belonging to the state amount to 270, 
 182 acres, which, including the tovv'n lots laid off, are es- 
 timated equal to the expense of the canal. 
 
 Amount of sales for lands and town lots previous to 
 1833, §18,798 08| 
 
 Sale of lots at Chicago in June, 1836, after deduct- 
 ing forfeitures, ^1,355,755. 
 
 Sale of lots in Ottawa, September, 1836, §21,358. 
 
 The estimated value of the lots in the town of Lock- 
 port, and the town laid offat,the termination of the canal 
 is one million and a-half dollars. The remainder of the 
 canal lands may be estimated at 20 dollars per acre. 
 
 The project of this canal is a vast enterprise for so 
 young a state, but truly national in its character, and will 
 constitute one of the main arteries in eastern and western 
 communication. The work is going forward, and from 
 five to eight years is the period estimated for its com- 
 pletion. 
 
 Already commerce, in no small extent, is passing along 
 that line. Merchants from St. Louis, from along the Illi- 
 nois river, from Galena and the Wisconsin territory, and 
 
58 A GAZETTEER 
 
 especially from tlie Wabash river as far south as Terre 
 Haute, bring" their goods that way. 
 
 Were a communication opened between the navigable 
 waters, the distance from New York to St. Louis would 
 be passed in from sixteen to twenty days. 
 
 I'lie following^ result is founded upon information 
 gathered by the commissioners. 
 
 From New York to Buffalo, 5 days. — From Buffalo to 
 Chicago, by steamboat.s fitted for lake navigation, 8 days. 
 — From Chicago to the foot of the rapids on the railway, 
 estimating the speed at 3 miles an hour 33 hours. — From 
 the foot of the rapids to St. Louis, by steamboats, 48 hours. 
 
 The whole distance can be passed over in sixteen days, 
 but giving four days additional time,- and the transporta- 
 tion on this route can be made in twenty days. 
 
 The shipments through Chicago in 1832, amounted to 
 300,000 dollars. Li 1833, from April 8 to September 10, 70 
 schooners and 2 steamboats had discharged their cargoes. 
 
 In 1835, the arrivals were 9 steamboats, 267 schooners 
 and brigs, with 5015 tons of merchandise, and 9400 barrels 
 of salt, besides lumber, provisions, etc. 
 
 Li 183u, from April 18th to December 1st, the arrivals 
 at Chicago were 40 steamboats, 10 ships and barques, 
 26 brigs, 363 schooners, and 8 sloops equal to 60,000 tons. 
 
 The commercial and consequently the agricultural in- 
 terests of the whole valley of the Mississippi, are con- 
 cerned in the result of this undertaking. For whatever 
 amount of produce is thrown off through this channel to 
 the Canadas and New York, it increases the advantages 
 of a market for the commerce that floats down the Missis- 
 sippi. The Missouri, and the Wisconsin territory are no 
 less interested in opening this communication. In accept- 
 ing the donation of land made by the general government, 
 the honor and credit of Illinois is really pledged for the suc- 
 cess of this enterprise. There is then no ground for retreat. 
 
 I regret the prescribed limits of this work will net 
 permit me to exhibit the important bearing that the 
 success of this project will have upon the fur business, 
 the lead manufacture, the Indian trade, the rapid settle- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 59 
 
 merit and improvement of all the northern portion of the 
 state, and the adjacent territory, and upon the prosperity 
 of the farmino- community throughout our whole interior. 
 It ought to be noticed that a project is now in progress 
 in Michigan to construct a railway across the peninsula 
 from Detroit to the mouth of the St. Joseph's river, which 
 enters lake Michigan nearly opposite and east from Chi- 
 cago. This would save the circuitous route by water, and 
 greatly lessen the distance and risk. 
 
 GREAT INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM. 
 
 At the late session of the legislature, (188G-7) an act 
 was passed to establish and maintain a general system of 
 Internal Improvement. 
 
 It provides for a " Board of Fund Commissioners^'''' of 
 three persons, and a " Board of Cotnmissioners of Public 
 Works,^'' of seven persons one in each judicial circuit. 
 
 The Board of Fund Commissioners are authorised to 
 negociate all loans, authorised by the legislature, on the 
 faith and credit of the state for objects of Internal Im- 
 provement; receive, manage, deposit, and apply all sums 
 of money, and manage the whole fiscal concerns of the 
 improvement system. 
 
 The Board of Public Works are authorised and re- 
 quired to locate, superintend, direct, and construct on 
 behalf of the state all works of internal improvement, 
 which are or shall be authorised to be undertaken by the 
 state (except the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which is 
 managed by a distinct Board.) This Board is required 
 to hold semiannual meetings in June and December. Each 
 member has specificcharge of that portion of the works that 
 falls within his own district. They are required to execute 
 the works by ^ tting out contracts, except in special cases. 
 
 The Fund Commissioners are authorised to contract 
 loans by issuing state stock at a rate not exceeding six 
 per centum per annum, and to an amount not exceeding 
 eight millions of dollars, redeemable after 1870. 
 
60 A GAZETTEER 
 
 WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT PROVIDED FOR. 
 
 1. The Great Wabash river in co-operation with the 
 state of Indiana, in that part over which both states have 
 concurrent jnrisdistion; appropriated ^100,000. 
 
 2. Illinois rivers, ^100,000. 
 
 3. Rock river, ^100,000. 
 
 4. Kaskaskia river, ^50,000. 
 
 5. Little Wabash river ^50,000. 
 
 6. On the Great Western Mail Route leading from 
 Vincennes to St. Louis. ^250,000. 
 
 7. A railroad i'rom the city of Cairo, at or near the 
 junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, via Vandalia 
 Shelby ville, Decatur and Bloomington; — to cross the Illi- 
 nois river, at the termination of the Illinois and Michigan 
 canal, and from thence, via Savanna to Galena, appro- 
 priated ^3,500,000. 
 
 This is called the " Central Rail road," by the people. 
 
 8. A southern cross railroad frona Alton, via Edwards- 
 ville, Carlyle, Salem, Fairfield, Albion to mount Carmel; 
 from whence it is expected a line will be extended through 
 Indiana to New Albany, and become connected with the 
 great railroad chartered and surveyed from the Ohio river 
 to Charleston, South Carolina. 
 
 Also a railroad from Alton to Shawneetown, to diverge 
 from the aforesaid southern cross railroad at Edwards- 
 ville, and pass through Lebanon, Nashville, Pinckney- 
 ville, Frankfort and Equality. 
 
 And further, a railroad from Belleville via Lebanon, and 
 to intersect the road from Alton to Mount Carmel. This last 
 will pass near Rock Spring. Appropriated ^1,750,000, 
 
 9. A northern cross railroad from Quincy on the Missis- 
 sippi river, via Columbus, Clayton, Mount Sterling, to cross 
 the Illinois river at Meredosia, and to Jacksonville, 
 Sprigfield, Decatur, Sydney, Danville, and thence to the 
 state line in the direction of Lafayette, Indiana, and thus 
 form a line of communication with the great works in In- 
 diana, and to the eastern states. Appropriated $1,850,000. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 61 
 
 10. A railroad from Alton via Upper Alton, Hillsboro, 
 Shelbysville, Charleston, Paris, and from thence to the state 
 line in the direction of Terre Haute, Indiana, where it 
 will be connected with railroad and canal communications 
 through that state, both in an estern and southern direction. 
 Appropriated, $1,250,000. 
 
 11. A railroad from Peoria, via Canton, Macomb and 
 Carthage to Warsaw, on the Mississippi, at the foot of the 
 Des Moines rapids. Appropriated $700,000. 
 
 12. A railroad from Bloomington, to Mackinau, and 
 from thence two branches to the Illinois river; — one 
 through Tremont to Pekin; the other to Peoria. Appro- 
 priated $350,000. 
 
 An appropriation of $200,000 was made to those counties 
 through which no railroad or canal is made at the cost of 
 the state, to be in a rateable proportion to the census of 
 1835, and to be applied in the improvement of roads, 
 bridges and other public works by the counties. 
 
 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. 
 
 The special fund for this purpose shall consist of all 
 moneys raised from state bonds, or stock, or other loans, 
 authorised by law; — all appropriations made from time to 
 time out of the revenue of the state arising from land taxes; 
 — all tolls and rents of water privileges and other tolls from 
 the works when constructed; — all rents, profits and issues 
 from lands to be purchased on the routes; — the proceeds 
 of all donations of lands from the general government, or 
 from individuals, companies, or corporations; — a portion of 
 the proceeds of the surplus fund distributed by congress; 
 together with the net proceeds of all bank and other stocks 
 subscribed and owned by the state after liquidating the in- 
 terest on loans contracted for the purchase of such bank 
 or other stocks. 
 
 A subsequent enactment authorised the Fund Commis- 
 sioners to subscribe two millions of dollars stock to the 
 State Bank of Illinois, and one million four hundred 
 6 
 
62 A GAZETTEER 
 
 thousand dollars to the Illinois bank at Shawneetown, by 
 the creation of six per cent, stock. The net proceeds of 
 this stock, after paying interest on the loans will equal six 
 per centum per annum, or produce an annual revenue to 
 the Internal Improvement fund of $180,000. 
 
 The interest of the state in all these works, all their 
 proceeds, with the faith of the state, are irrevocably 
 pledged for the payment of the interest and the redemp- 
 tion of the principal of all stock and loans for Internal Im- 
 provement. 
 
 The improvement of the great western mail route from 
 Vincennes to St. Louis, and the special appropriation to 
 to the counties, are to be provided for from the first loans 
 made. 
 
 The improvement of the rivers is to be for steam, keel 
 and flat boats; to be commenced at their mouths and con- 
 tinued up as far as the appropriations admit. 
 
 The rail roads are to be commenced at their intersection 
 with navigable rivers, and commercial towns, and as soon 
 as five miles of any one line is completed the commis- 
 sioners are required to place thereon locomotives and 
 facilities of transportation, to establish tolls, etc. 
 
 Congress has made an appropriation to improve the 
 navigation of the Mississippi at the rapids — a work of im- 
 mense inportance to the northern part of this state, and 
 the Wisconsin Territory. 
 
 The improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi 
 should be regarded and urged as strictly a national work. 
 There are two rapids in the Mississippi river, which, in 
 times of low water, impede the progress of steamboats. 
 One is near the mouth of the Des Moines, and adjoining 
 Hancock county, where the water descends over sand 
 rocks 25 feet 5 inches in about 11 miles. The other 
 commences at Rock Island and extends about fifteen 
 miles. The descent of the water in that distance is 21 
 feet 10 inches. In both of these rapi<ls there are ledges 
 of rocks, with intervals of deep water, extending across 
 the river. 
 
 The harbor at Chicago, nearly completed by the gene- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 63 
 
 ral government will be of immense benefit to tbat place 
 and all the northern portion of the state. It will form one 
 of the finest harbors in all the northern lake country. 
 
 T\\e National Road is in progress through this state, 
 and considerable inprovemcnt has been made on that 
 portion which lies between Vandaiia and the boundary 
 of Indiana. This road enters Illinois at the northeast 
 corner of Clark county, and passes diagonally through 
 Coles and Effingham counties in a southwesterly course 
 to Vandaiia, a distance of 90 miles. The road is esta- 
 blished 80 feet wide, the central part, 30 feet wide, 
 raised above standing water, and not to exceed three 
 degrees from a level. The base of all the abutments of 
 bridges must be equal in thickness to one third of theheight 
 of the abutment. 
 
 But little has been done on this road during the last two 
 years. About $220,000 of appropriated funds now remain 
 on hand, and arrangements are in progress to work out 
 this fund during the present season. 
 
 From Vandaiia, westward, the road is not yet located, 
 but the legislature of Illinois with great unanimity have 
 consented to its passage through the state, only on the 
 contingency it shall pass Alton and cross the Mississippi, 
 above the mouth of the Missouri. 
 
 Many companies have been incorporated for the con- 
 struction of short canals, rail roads and turnpike roads, 
 some of which will be noticed in connection with towns 
 etc. 
 
 A railroad from Naples to Jacksonville, now undergoing 
 construction ; — another rail road from Jacksonville via 
 Lynnville and Winchester to the Illinois river opposite 
 Augusta. A third railway has been commenced from Chi- 
 cago to the Des Plaines, twelve miles over level prairies 
 and designed to extend across the state to Galena. 
 
 Another railroad is now under contract and working 
 from the Mississippi, opposite St. Louis, across the Ameri- 
 can Bottom to the coal mines in the bluff's of St. Clair 
 county. Governor John Reynolds, George E. Walker, 
 Vital Jarrot, S. B. Chandler and Louis Boismenu own the 
 
64 A GAZETTEER 
 
 land and have commenced this railroad, six miles lonor, 
 which will be completed before the close of the present 
 year. They own a strip of land alon^ the bluffs for three 
 miles in extent, filled with exhaustless beds of bitumi- 
 nous coal, from which it is expected that not less than one 
 million of bushels of coal will be transported annually to 
 the river. 
 
 No state in the union possesses such facilities for inter- 
 communication by canals and railways, at so cheap a rate 
 and which can be so equally distributed to its population, 
 as Illinois, 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 The congress of the United States, in the act for admit- 
 ting the state of Illinois into the union upon equal footing 
 with the other western states, grarited to it the section 
 numbered sixleoi in every township, or one thirty-sixth 
 part of all the public lands within the state, for the use 
 of schools. The avails of this section are understood to 
 constitute a fund for the benefit of the families living 
 within the surveyed township, and not the portion of a 
 common fund to be applied by the state for the general 
 purposes of education. 
 
 Three per cent of the net proceeds of all the public 
 lands, lying within this state, which shall be sold after 
 the 1st of January, 1819, is to be paid over by the general 
 government, and constitute a common fund for education 
 under the direction of the state authority. One sixth of this 
 three per cent, fund, is to be exclusively bestowed upon 
 a college, or university. 
 
 Two entire townships, or 46,080 acres selected from 
 choice portions of the public lands, have likewise been 
 given to education. Part of this land has been sold by 
 state authority and the avails funded at six per cent, in- 
 terest. 
 
 The amount of funds realised from these sources, and 
 under charge of the state, (independent of the sixteenth 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 65 
 
 sections,) is about ^384,183, the interest of which is now 
 distributed annually to such schools as make due returns 
 to the proper authority. 
 
 By a recent act of the legislature, a moiety of the " .wr- 
 phis fund,''^ received from the national treasury, is to be 
 converted into bank stock, and the income to be distribu- 
 ted to common schools. The income of the three per cen- 
 tum from the sales r.f public lands, will continue as long 
 as there are public lands to be sold. 
 
 The unsold lands in this state belonging to the general 
 government, may be estimated at 18,000,000 of acres. 
 Were this sold at the present minimum price, it would 
 produce ^22,500,000, of which three per cent, would be 
 675,000 dollars. 
 
 But it is highly probable that this immense domain will 
 not all be sold at its present price; we will put the ave- 
 rage value at 75 cents per acre, or ^13,500,000, of which 
 three percent, belonging to this state,_would give ^405,000 
 for education purposes. 
 
 The amount of the sections numbered sixteen, and re- 
 served for s'"hools in the respective townships, was esti- 
 mated by the commissioner of public lands, and reported 
 to Congress in April, 1832, at 977,457 acres in Illinois. 
 
 This tract is not usually sold until the township in 
 which it lies is somewhat populated, and hence commands 
 a higher price than other larids. The section in the vicin- 
 ity of Chicago was sold in November, 1833, (after re- 
 serving twelve acres,) for ^38,705. Other tracts in set- 
 tled portions of the siate have been sold for from five to 
 ten dollars per acre. 
 
 Estimating the whole at two dollars per acre, the 
 value is ^1,954,914. 
 
 Present fund at interest, ^ 384,183 
 
 Value of Seminary lands unsold, 20,000 
 
 Value of sections numbered sixteen, 1,954,914 
 
 Estimate of the three per cent, fund on all 
 public land now unsold in the state, at 
 75 cents per acre, 405,000 
 
 6* ^2,704,097 
 
66 A GAZETTEER 
 
 To this add the moipty of the surplus fund to be in- 
 vested in bank stock and the income to be distributed with 
 the interest on the school fund, equal to 318,500 dollars; 
 but as it is liable to be denfianded by the general govern- 
 ment, I have not considered it any portion of the perma- 
 nent school fund. 
 
 The funds and claims of Illinois for education pur- 
 poses may be estimatnd at three millions nf dollars. 
 
 But it is sincerely and ardently hoped that the patriot- 
 ism, foresight, intelligence, and liberality of congress, after 
 reducing the price of the j)ublic lands to the actual settler 
 and cultivator, will be manifested in applying all future pro- 
 ceeds to the object of common schools, by some equitable 
 apportionment amongst the several states of tlie Union. 
 Hitherto these lands have been pledged for the payment 
 of the national debt. That being now accomplished, I 
 cannot but hope this question will be settled to the entire 
 satisfaction of all parties, by a consecration of the net 
 proceeds to the noble, beneficent, and truly national pur- 
 pose of educating every child in the Union. Such a dis- 
 position of the public domain would reflect more honor on 
 this nation, and tend more to its aggrandisement, than a 
 hundred wars or a thousand victories. It would provide 
 for a triumphant conquest of human ignorance, and carry 
 joy and gladness to millions of hearts. 
 
 Notwithstanding the liberal provision in funds and lands 
 for education, little has yet been done by the legislature 
 in providing a system for common schools. A law was 
 framed in 1825, providing for school districts to become 
 incorporated, by the action of the county commissioners' 
 courts, upon a petition of a majority of the qualified voters 
 of any settlement. The voters in each district, by a ma- 
 jority of votes, could levy a tax not exceeding one half 
 per centum on property, and appoint trustees and other 
 officers to manage the business. 
 
 This feature of the law was soon made unpopular, and 
 a subsequent legislature repealed that portion that autho- 
 rised the levying of a tax, and made other modifications, 
 by which it remains on the statute book as a matter of 
 very little value. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 67 
 
 The preamble to this law establishes beyond controver- 
 SJS the great principles for legislative authority and aid 
 for common schools. It reads thus: — 
 
 " To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must under- 
 stand them; — their security and protection ought to be the 
 first object of a free people; — and it is a well established 
 fact that no nation has ever continued long in the enjoy- 
 ment of civil and political freedom, which was not both 
 virtuous and enlightened; — and believing that the ad- 
 vancement of literature always has been, and ever will 
 be the means of developing more fully the rights of man; 
 that the mind of every citizen of every republic, is the 
 common property of society, and constitutes the basis of 
 its strength and happiness; — it is considered the peculiar 
 duty of a free government, like ours, to encourage and 
 extend the improvement and cultivation of the intellect- 
 ual energies of the whole: Therefore, 
 
 " Be it enacted^ eic.'''' 
 
 Provision now exists by law for the people to organise 
 themselves into school districts, and to conduct the affairs 
 of the school in a corporate capacity by trustees, and they 
 can derive aid from public funds under control of the 
 state. 
 
 Upon petition from the inhabitants of a township, the 
 section numbered sixteen can be sold, and the proceeds 
 funded, the interest of which may be applied annually 
 to the teachers of such schools within the township as 
 conform to the requisites of the law. To some extent the 
 people have availed themselves of these provisions and 
 receive the interest of the fund. 
 
 A material defect in all the laws that have been framed 
 in this state, on this subject, has been in not requiring the 
 necessary qualifications on the part of teachers, and a 
 previous examination before a competent board or com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Without such a provision no school law will be of much 
 real service. The people have suflTered much already, and 
 common school education has been greatly retarded by 
 the imposition of unqualified and worthless persons under 
 
68 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the name of school teachers; and were funds ever so libe- 
 rally bestowed, they would prove of little real service, 
 •without the requisites of sobriety, morality, and suffi- 
 cient ability to teach well on the part of those who get 
 the pay. 
 
 A complete common school system must be organised, 
 sooner or later, and will be sustained by the people. The 
 lands, education funds, and wants of the country, call 
 for it. 
 
 Many good primary schools now exist, and where three 
 or four of the leading families unite and exert their influ- 
 ence in favor of the measure, it is not difficult to have a 
 good school. 
 
 In each county a school commissioner is appointed, to 
 superintend the sales of the sixteenth sections, loan the 
 money, receive and apportion the interest received from 
 this fund and from the state funds, receive schedule re- 
 turns of the number of scholars that attend each school, 
 and make report annually to the secretary of state. 
 
 The people in any settlement can organise themselves 
 into a school district, employ a teacher, and obtain their 
 proportion of the income from the school funds, provided 
 the teacher keeps a schedule of the number of scholars who 
 attend, the number of days each one is present, and the num- 
 ber of days each scholar is absent, a copy of which must be 
 certified by the trustees of the district, and returned to the 
 school commissioners of the county semiannually. 
 
 If the school is made up from parts of two or more 
 townships, a separate schedule of the scholars from each 
 township must be made out. 
 
 The term "township" in the school laws merely ex- 
 presses the surveys of 36 sections, and not a civil orga- 
 nisation. 
 
 Several seminaries, and institutions for colleges, have 
 been established and promise success. 
 
 Illinois College. This institution is located in the vi- 
 cinity of Jacksonville, and one mile west of the town. 
 Its situation is on a delightful eminence, fronting the east, 
 and overlooking the town, and a vast extent of beautiful 
 prairie country, now covered with well cultivated farms. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 69 
 
 This institution owes its existence and prosperity, 
 under God, to the pious enterprise of several young men, 
 formerly members of Yale College, Connecticut. Most 
 of its funds have heed realised from the generous dona- 
 tions of the liberal and philanthropic abroad. 
 
 The buildings are as follows: a brick edifice, 104 feet 
 in length, 40 feet in width, five stories high, including 
 the basement; containing 32 apartments for the accom- 
 modation of officers and students. Each apartment con- 
 sists of a sitting room, or study, 14 feet by 12, two bed 
 rooms, each eight feet square, two dress closets, and one 
 wood closet. The basement story embraces a boarding 
 hall, kitchen, store rooms, etc. for the general accommo- 
 dation. 
 
 To this main building are attached two wings, each 
 38 feet long, and 28 feet wide, three stories high, includ- 
 ing the basement; for the accommodation of the families 
 of the Faculty. 
 
 The chapel is a separate building, 65 feet long, and 36 
 feet wide, two stories high, including rooms for public 
 worship, lectures, recitations, library, etc. and eight 
 rooms for students. 
 
 There are also upon the premises a farm house, barn, 
 workshops for students who wish to perform manual 
 labor, and other out buildings. 
 
 The farm consists of 300 acres of land, all under fence. 
 The improvements and stock on the farm are valued at 
 several thousand dollars. 
 
 Students who choose are allowed to employ a portion 
 of each day in mgnnal labor, either upon the farm or in 
 the workshop. Some individuals earned >^150 each du- 
 ring the year. 
 
 The library consists of about 1,500 volumes. There 
 is also a valuable chemical and philosophical apparatus. 
 
 The year is divided into two terms, of twenty weeks 
 each. The first term commences eight weeks after the 
 third Wednesday in September. The second term com- 
 mences on the Wednesday previous to the 5th of May; 
 
70 A GAZETTEER 
 
 leaving eight weeks vacation in the fall and four in the 
 spring. 
 
 There are 42 students connected with the college 
 classes, and 22 students in the preparatory deparment. 
 Of this number, several are beneficiaries, who are aided 
 by education societies, with a view to the gospel miuis- 
 try. A considerable number more are pious. 
 
 The trustees of the college are Rev. Edward Beecher, 
 President, Hon. Samuel D. Lockwood, John P. Wilkin- 
 son, Esq., William C. Posey, Esq., Rev. Messrs. The- 
 ron Baldwin, John F. Brooks, Elisha Jenney, William 
 Kirby, Asa Turner, John G. Bergen, and John Tillson, 
 Esq., Rev. Gideon Blackburn, D. D, Gov. Joseph Dun- 
 can, Col. Thomas Mather, Winthorp S. Gilman, Esq., 
 Frederick Collins, Esq., Nathaniel Coffin, Esq., Trea- 
 surer and Agent, Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, Secretary, Jere- 
 miah Graves, Superintendant of the Farm. 
 
 Faculty. Rev. Edward Beecher^ A. M. President, and 
 Professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy and Po- 
 litical Economy. 
 
 Rev. J. M. Sturtevant^ A. M. Professor of Mathe- 
 matics and Natural Philosophy, and lecturer on Chem- 
 istry. 
 
 Truman M. Post, A. M. Professor of the Greek and 
 Latin Languages. 
 
 Jonathan Baldwin Tamer, A. M. Professor of Rheto- 
 ric and Belles Letters. 
 
 Reuben Gaylord, A. B. Instructor in the preparatory de- 
 partment. 
 
 Classes. — Senior, 3; — Junior, 11; — Sophomore, 12; — 
 Freshman, 16. Total Collegiate department, 42 
 
 In the Preparatory department, 22 
 
 64 
 The course of Instruction is intended to be equal to the 
 
 first rate colleges in the eastern states. 
 
 Shurtleff College of Alton, Illinois, is pleasantly situated 
 
 at Upper Alton. It originated in the establishment of 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 71 
 
 a Seminary at Rock Spring-, in 1827, and which was sub- 
 sequently removed. 
 
 At a meeting held June 4th, 1832, seven gentlemen 
 formed a written compact, and agreed to advance funds 
 for the purchase of about 360 acres of land, and put up 
 an academical building of brick, 2 stories with a stone 
 basement, 40 feet long and 32 feet wide. A large stone 
 building for a Refectory, and for Professors' and Students' 
 rooms has since been erected. The Rev. Hubbel Loomis 
 commenced a Preparatory school in 1833. In 1835 build- 
 ing lots were laid off within the corporate bounds of the 
 tov/n, a part of which was sold, and a valuable property 
 still remains for future sale. 
 
 The same year funds to some extent were obtained in 
 the eastern slates, of which the liberal donation of ten 
 thousand dollars was received from Benjamin Shurtleff 
 M. D. of Boston, which gives name to the institution. 
 Of this fund 5000 dollars is to be appropriated towards a 
 College building, and 5000 dollars towards the endow- 
 ment of a Professorship of Oratory, Rhetoric and Belles- 
 letters. 
 
 Regular College classes are not yet organised. The 
 Preparatory department is in regular progress and con- 
 tains about 60 students. 
 
 Rev. Washington Levcrett^ A. M. Professor of Mathe- 
 matics, and Natural Philosophy. 
 
 Hev. Zenas B. Newman^ A. M. Principal of the Prepa- 
 ratory Department. Measures are progressing to put up 
 a large college building, and to complete the organisation 
 of the College Faculty. 
 
 Alton Theological Seminary is an organisation distinct 
 from Shurtleff College. Rev. Lewis Colby, A. M. is 
 Theological Professor, with seven or eight students, li- 
 centiates of Baptist churches, under his charge. 
 
 Mc Kcndreean College^ under the supervision of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, is located at Lebanon, St. 
 Clair county. It has a commodious framed building, 
 and about 50 Students in the Preparatory Department, 
 under the charge of two competent instructors. 
 
72 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Mc Donougk College^ at Macomb, has just commenced 
 operations. It is identified with the interests of the 
 *' old school" Presbyterians, as the Illinois college at 
 Jacksonville is with the " New School" Presbyterians. 
 
 Canton College in Fulton county has recently been 
 chartered as a college by the legislature, and is a respect- 
 able academical Institution, and has 70 or 80 students. 
 Rev. G. B. Perry A. M. formerly pastor of the Spruce 
 street Baptist Church Philadelphia, has recently been 
 elected president of this Institution. 
 
 A Literary Institution, modeled somewhat after the 
 plan of the Oneida Institute in the state of New York, is 
 in progress at Galesboro, Knox county, under the super- 
 vision of the Rev. Mr. Gale and other gentlemen. 
 
 Belvidere College,in Winnebago county, has been re- 
 cently chartered, and an effort is about being made to 
 establish a respectable literary institution in this new 
 and interesting portion of the slate. 
 
 Several respectable academies and seminaries are also 
 in operation, established chiefly by individual effort, 
 where good schools are taught. Amongst these we no- 
 tice the following, though some of equal importance may 
 be overlooked. 
 
 The Jacksonville Academy conducted by Messrs. Charles 
 E. Blood, and Charles B. Barton A. B. is established for 
 the convenience of those whose studies are not sufficient- 
 ly advanced to enter the Preparatory Department of Illi- 
 nois College. 
 
 The Jacksonville Female Jicademy is a flourishing insti- 
 tution. 
 
 A respectable Academy is in operation at Springfield, 
 another at Princeton, Putnam county, a third at Griggs- 
 ville, and a fourth at Quincy. 
 
 The Alton Female Seminary is an institution projected 
 for a full and useful course of instruction, on a large scale, 
 towards the establishment of which Benjamin Godfrey, 
 Esq., will contribute fifteen or twenty thousand dollars. 
 
 It is located at Monticello, a little more than four miles 
 from Alton, on the borders of a delightful, elevated prairie, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 73 
 
 and is designed wholly as a boarding- school. The business 
 of instruction will be in the hands of competent ladies. 
 The system of instruction will be extensive. The Rev. The- 
 ron Baldwin will exercise a general supervision over the 
 institution, and lecture on scientific and religious subjects. 
 
 The project of establishing a Seminary, for the educa- 
 tion of teachers at Waverley in the southeastern part of 
 Morgan county, is entertained by several gentlemen. 
 
 A Seminary is about being established in a settlement 
 of Reformed Presbyterians in the eastern part of Randolph 
 county. 
 
 The " Reformers," or Campbellites, as some term them, 
 have a charter and contemplate establishing a college at 
 Hanover, in Tazewell county. 
 
 Thus abroad and deep foundation is about beino-laid in 
 this state for the promotion of education. 
 
 Several lyceums and literary associations exist in this 
 state, and there is in almost every county a decided 
 expression of popular opinion in favor of education. 
 
 RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church is the most numerous. 
 The Illinois Conference, which embraces this state and 
 a portion of Wisconsin Territory, in 1835 had Gl circuit 
 preachers, 308 local preachers, and 15,097 members of 
 society. They sustain preaching in every county, and 
 in a large number of the settlements. 
 
 The Baptist Denomination includes 22 Associations, 
 260 churches, 160 preachers and 7,350 communicants. 
 
 The Presbyterians have one Synod, 8 Presbyteries, and 
 about 80 churches, 60 ministers, and 2,500 members. 
 
 There are 12 or 15 Congregationalist churches, united 
 in an association, and several ministers. 
 
 The Methodist Protestant Denomination has one confer- 
 ence, 22 ministers and 344 members. 
 
 The Reformers^ as they term themselves, or " Campbell- 
 ites," as others call them, have several large, and a num- 
 7 
 
74 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ber of small societies, a number of preachers, and several 
 hundreil members, includinor the Christian body with 
 which they are in union. They immerse all who profess 
 to believe in Christ for the remission of sins, but differ 
 widely from orthodox baptists on some points of doctrine. 
 
 The Cumberland Presbyterians have 2 or 3 Presbyteries, 
 12 or 15 preachers, and several hundred communicants. 
 
 There are two churches of Reformed Presbyterians^ or 
 Covenanters^ 1 minister, and about 280 communicants, 
 with a few families scattered in other parts of the state. 
 There are also two or three societies of Associate Reformed 
 Presbyterians.) or Seceders. 
 
 In McLean county is a society of United Brethren, or, 
 as some call them, Dutch Methodists. 
 
 The Dunkards have five or six societies and some 
 preachers in this state. 
 
 There are several Lutheran congregations with preach- 
 ers. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church has an organised 
 diocese, 8 or 10 congregations, and 7 or 8 ministers. 
 
 There are small societies of Friends or Quakers in 
 Tazewell and Crawford counties; and a few Mormons, 
 scattered through the state. 
 
 The Roman Catholics are not numerous. They have a 
 dozen congregations, 8 or 10 priests, and a population be- 
 tween five and six thousand including old and young. A 
 convent and boarding school for young ladies is in opera- 
 tion at Kaskaskia. The Roman Catholics are mostly 
 about the old French villages, and the laborers along the 
 line of canal. 
 
 There is considerable expression of good feeling 
 amongst the different religious denominations, and the 
 members frequently hear the preachers of each other, as 
 there are but few congregations that are supplied every 
 Sabbath. The qualifications of the clergymen are various. 
 A number of them are men of talents, learning, influence, 
 and unblemished piety. Others have had but few advan- 
 tages in acquiring either literary or theological informa- 
 tion, and yet are good speakers and useful men. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 75 
 
 Some are very illiterate, and make utter confusion of the 
 word of God. Such persons are usually proud, conceit- 
 ed, fanatical, and influenced by a spirit far removed from 
 the meek, docile, benevolent, and charitable spirit of the 
 gospel. 
 
 In general there are as many professors of religion, of 
 some description, in proportion to the population, as in 
 most of the states. The number will not vary far from 
 40,000, or one to ten. 
 
 PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 In all the new states and territories, the lands which 
 are owned by the general government, are surveyed and 
 sold under one general system. In the surveys, " meri- 
 dian'''' lines are first established, running north from the 
 mouth of some noted river. These are intersected with 
 " 6a.se" lines. 
 
 There are five principal meridians in the land surveys 
 in the west. 
 
 The " First Frinclpal Meridian"'' is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Miami. 
 
 The " Sec.07id Principal Meridia?i'^ is a line due north 
 from the mouth of Little Blue river, in Indiana. 
 
 The " Third Principal Meridian'''' is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Ohio. 
 
 The Fourth Principal Meridian''^ is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Illinois. 
 
 The ^^ Fifth Principal Meridian''^ is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Arkansas. Each of these meridians 
 has its own base line. 
 
 The surveys connected with the third and fourth meri- 
 dians, and a small portion of the second, embrace the state 
 of Illinois. 
 
 The base line for both the second and third principal 
 meridians commences at Diamond Island, in the Ohio, 
 opposite Indiana, and runs due west till it strikes the 
 Mississippi, a few miles below St. Louis. 
 
76 A GAZETTEER 
 
 All the townships in Illinois, south and east of the Illi- 
 noisriver, are numbered from this base line eithernorth or 
 south. 
 
 The third principal meridian terminates wrth the north- 
 ern boundary of the state. 
 
 The fourth principal meridian commences on the right 
 bank, and at the mouth of the Illinois river, but immedi- 
 ately crosses to the east shore, and passes up on that side, 
 (and atone place nearly fourteen miles distant,) to a point 
 in the channel of the river, seventy-two miles from its 
 mouth. Here its base line commences and extends across 
 the peninsula to the Mississippi, a short distance above 
 Quincy. The fourth principal meridian is continued north- 
 ward through the military tract, and across Rock river, to 
 a curve in the Mississippi at the upperrapids, in township 
 eighteen north, and about twelve or fifteen miles above 
 Rock Icland. It here crosses and passes up the west side 
 of the Mississippi river fifty-three miles, and recrosses 
 into Illinois, and passes through the town of Galena to 
 the northern boundary of the state. It is thence continued 
 to the Wisconsin river and made the principal meridian 
 for the surveys of the territory, while tlie northern boun- 
 dary line of the state is constituted its base line for that 
 region. 
 
 Having formed a principal meridian with its correspond- 
 ing base line, for a district of country, tlie next operation 
 of the surveyor is to divide this into tracts of six miles 
 square, called '■^ townships.''^ 
 
 In numbering the townships east or west from a princi- 
 pal meridian, they are called ^^ ranges,''^ meaning a range 
 of townships; but in numbering nor/^ or south from a base 
 line, they are called " townships.''^ Thus a tract of land is 
 said to be situated in township four north, in range three 
 east, from the third principal meridian: or as the case 
 may be. 
 
 Townships are subdivided into square miles, or tracts 
 of 640 acres each, called " sections.''^ If near timber, trees 
 are marked and numbered with the section, township, and 
 range, near each sectional corner. If in a large prairie, a 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 77 
 
 mound is raised to designate the corner, and a billet of 
 charred wood buried, if no rock is near. Sections are 
 divided into halves by a line north and south, and into 
 quarters by a transverse line. In sales, under certain con- 
 ditions, quarters are sold in equal subdivisions of forty 
 acres each, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. 
 Any person, whether a native born citizen, or a foreigner, 
 may purchase forty acres of the richest soil, and receive 
 an indisputable title, for fifty dollars. 
 
 Manges are townships counted either east or west from 
 meridians. 
 
 Townships are counted either north or south from their 
 respective base lines. 
 
 Fractions are parts of quarter sections intersected by 
 streams or confirmed claims. 
 
 The parts of townships, sections, quarters, etc. made 
 at the lines of either townships or meridians are called 
 excesses or deficiencies. 
 
 Sections^ or miles square, are numbered, beginning in the 
 noriheast corner of the township, progressively west to the 
 range line, and then progressively east to the range line, al- 
 ternately, terminating at the southeast corner of the town- 
 ship, from one to thirty-six, as in the following diagram: 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 17 
 
 16* 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 25 
 
 30 
 
 29 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 
 26 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 • Appropriated for schooh in the township. 
 
 7* 
 
78 A GAZETTEER 
 
 I have been thus particular in this account of the sur- 
 veys of public lands, to exhibit the simplicity of a system, 
 that to strangers, unacquainted with the method of num- 
 bering the sections, and the various subdivisions, appears 
 perplexing and confused. 
 
 A large tract of country in the north, and northeastern 
 portion of this state is yet unsurveyed. This does not 
 prevent the hardy pioneers of the west from taking pos- 
 session, where the Indian title is extinct, as it is now to 
 all lands within this state. They risk the chance of pur- 
 chasing it when brought into market. 
 
 Land Offices and Districts. There are ten land offices in 
 Illinois, in as many districts, open for the sale or entry of 
 public lands. 
 
 The Land District of Shawneetoivn embraces that por- 
 tion of the state, bounded north by the base line, east and 
 south by the boundaries of the state, and west by the third 
 principal meridian. 
 
 Office for the entry and sale of lands at Shawneetown. 
 
 The Lund District of Kaskaskia is bounded north by 
 the base line, and comprehends all that part of the state 
 that lies between the third principal meridian and the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 Land office at Kaskaskia. 
 
 The Land District of Edwardsville extends south to the 
 base line, east to the third principal meridian, north to 
 the line that separates the thirteenth and fourteenth town- 
 ships north, and west to the Mississippi. 
 
 Land office at Edwardsville. 
 
 The Land District of Vandalia extends south to the 
 base line, east to the line between ranges eight and nine, 
 east of the third principal meridian, north to the south 
 line of Springfield district, and west to the range line be- 
 tween ranges second and third west of the third principal 
 meridian. 
 
 Land office at Vandalia. 
 
 The Land District of Palestine extends south to the 
 northern boundary of the Shawneetown district, west to 
 the eastern boundary of Vandalia district, north to the di- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 79 
 
 viding line between townships sixteen and seventeen 
 north; and east to the boundary of Indiana. 
 
 The Land District of Springfield extends south to Ed- 
 wardsville district, east to the Palestine and Danville dis- 
 tricts, and north and west to the Illinois river. 
 
 The Land District of Quincy embraces all the tract of 
 country between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers to the 
 line between townships 12 and 13 north and west of the 
 third principal nieridian. 
 
 The Lund District of Danville includes that part of the 
 state to its northern boundary, which lies north of Pales- 
 tine, to the line between T. 30 and 31 N. of the 3d meri- 
 dian and east of Springfield district. 
 
 Northwest District is in the northwestern portion of 
 the state, and bounded south by the line between town- 
 ships twelve and thirteen north, on the military tract, and 
 east by the line between ranges three and four east of the 
 third principal meridian, and north by the northern boun- 
 dary of the state. 
 
 Land office at Galena. 
 
 Northeast District is in the northeast portion of the 
 state, and bounded south by the line between townships 
 thirty and thirty-one, on the third principal meridian, 
 east by lake Michigan, and north by the boundary of the 
 state. 
 
 Land office at Chicago. 
 
 The officers in each land district are a register and re- 
 ceiver, appointed by the president and senate, and paid 
 by the general government. 
 
 The land, by proclamation of the president, is first of- 
 fered for sale at auction, by half quarter sections. If no 
 one bids for it at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre 
 or upwards, it is subject to private entry at any time after, 
 upon payment at the time of entry. No credit is al- 
 lowed. 
 
 In special cases congress has granted pre-emption 
 rights, where settlements and improvements have been 
 made on public lands previous to the public sale. 
 
 Pre-emption Rights confer the privilege only of pur- 
 
80 A GAZETTEER 
 
 chasing the tract containing improvennents at one dollar 
 and twenty-five cents per acre, by the possessor, without 
 the risk of a public sale. 
 
 All lands in this state, purchased of the general govern- 
 ment, are exempted from taxation for five years after pur- 
 chase. 
 
 All lands owned by private citizens ar corporate bodies, 
 and not exempted as above, are divided by law into two 
 classes for taxation, called ^'■Jirst and second rates. ^"^ First 
 rate lands are taxed three dollars and twenty cents per 
 quarter section of one hundred and sixty acres, per annum. 
 Second rate lands are taxed two dollars and forty cents 
 per quarter section, besides a county tax for roads. Re- 
 sident and non resident landholders are taxed equally. 
 
 Residents owning lands in the different counties may 
 list the same and pay taxes in the counties where they re- 
 side, or in the auditor's ofllice, at their option. 
 
 Non residents must list their lands in the auditor's 
 office. 
 
 Taxes of non residents are required to be paid into the 
 state treasury, annually, on or before the first of August. 
 If not paid at that time, a delinquent list of all lands, 
 owned by non residents, on wliich taxes have not been paid, 
 is sent to the clerk of the county commissioners' court of the 
 county where the land lies, aud a transcript of this list is 
 to be published in some newspaper, printed within the 
 state, at least sixty days previous to sale. 
 
 If the taxes are not paid to the clerk of the county by 
 the first Monday in March, so much of the land, as is 
 necessary to pay taxes and costs, is sold at the seat of 
 justice of the county. 
 
 Lands sold for taxes maybe redeemed within two years 
 from the time of sale, by paying to the clerk of the county 
 for the use of the purchaser, double the amount of taxes, 
 interest, and costs for which the same may have been 
 sold. 
 
 Lands belonging to minor heirs may be redeemed at 
 any time before the expiration of one year from the time 
 the youngest of said heirs shall become of lawful age. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 81 
 
 Military Bounty Lands. The lands which constitute 
 the Illinois military tract, given as a bounty to the soldiers 
 in the last war with Great Britain, are included within the 
 peninsula of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and ex- 
 tend on the fourth principal meridian, from the mouth of 
 the Illinois, one hundred and sixty miles north. This 
 tract embraces the counties of Calhoun, Pike, Adams, 
 Schuyler, McDonough, Warren, Mercer, Knox, Henry, 
 Fulton, Peoria, and a portion of Putnam. 
 
 For a particular description, reference may be had to 
 each of these counties in part second. 
 
 In general terms however, this tract contains as much 
 good land, both limber and prairie, as any portion of the 
 state of equal extent. About three fifths of the quarter 
 sections have been appropriated as military bounties. The 
 remainder is to be disposed of in the same manner as other 
 public lands. South of the base line, which passes 
 across the tract through Schuyler and Adams counties, 
 the public lands have been offered for sale. North of that 
 line there is much excellent land yet for sale. 
 
 The disposition of so much of this fine country for 
 military purposes has very much retarded its settlement. 
 Most of the titles have long since departed from the sol- 
 diers for whose benefit the donations were made. Many 
 thousand quarter sections have been sold by the state for 
 taxes, and are past redemption. Much of it is in the 
 hands of non residents, who hold it at prices too exorbi- 
 tant to command sale. Some have doubted the legality 
 of these sales at auction for taxes, but able lawyers, and 
 those who have investigated the business, have express- 
 ed the opinion, that " tax titles," are valid. Within the 
 last two years the military tract has received a great ac- 
 cession to its population. A large quantity of these mili- 
 tary lands are now owned by a company, who have a land 
 office, opened at Quincy, and offer tracts from three to ten 
 dollars per acre. 
 
 The following particulars may be of use to non resi- 
 dent landholders: 
 
 1. If persons have held lands in the military tract, or 
 
82 A GAZETTEER 
 
 in the state, and have net atttended to paying taxes for 
 more than two years, the land is sold and past redennption, 
 unless there are minor heirs. 
 
 2. Every non resident landholder should employ an 
 agent within the state to pay his taxes, and take the over- 
 sight of his property. 
 
 3. All deeds, conveyances, mortgages, or title papers 
 whatsoever, must be recorded in the ^'' recorder s office,'''' in 
 the county where the land is situated. Deeds and ti»e 
 papers are not in force until ^/ec? in the recorder's office. 
 
 4. The words ^^ grant, bargain and sell,'''' whatever may 
 be the specific form of the instrument in other respects, 
 convey a full and b )na fide title, to warrant and defend, 
 unless express provision is made to the contrary in the 
 instrument. 
 
 [See revised lavt's of Illinois, of 1833, art. " recorder," 
 page 510.] 
 
 HISTORY. 
 
 About 1670, the notion prevailed amongst the French 
 that visited Canada, that a western passage to the Pacific 
 ocean existed. They learned from the Indians that far in 
 the west there was a great river; but of its course or ter- 
 mination they could learn nothing. They supposed that 
 this river communicated with the western ocean. 
 
 To investigate this question, P. Marquette, a Jesuit, and 
 Joliet, were appointed by M. Talon, the intendant of New 
 France. Marquette was well acquainted with the Cana- 
 das, and had great influence with the Indian tribes. They 
 conducted an expedition through the lakes, up Green bay 
 and Fox River, to the Portage, where it approaches the 
 Wisconsin, to which they passed, and descended that 
 river to the Mississippi, which they reached the 17th of 
 June, 1673. These were the first Europeans that ever 
 visited the " father of waters." They found a river much 
 larger and deeper than it had been represented by the In- 
 dians. Their regular journal was lost on their return to 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 83 
 
 Canada, but from the account afterwards given by Joliet, 
 they found the natives friendly, and that a tradition existed 
 amongst them of the residence of a " Mon-e-to," or spirit, 
 near the mouth of the Missouri, which they could not 
 pass. Tiiey turned their course up the Illinois, and were 
 highly delighted with the placid stream, and wood- 
 lands and prairies through which it flowed. They 
 were hospitably received and ktndly treated by the Il- 
 linois, a numerous nation of Indians who were destitute 
 of the cruelty of savages.* 
 
 Marquette continued amongst these Indians with a 
 view to Christianise them; but Joliet returned to Canada 
 and reported the discoveries he had made. 
 
 Several years elapsed before any one attempted to fol- 
 low up the discoveries of Marquette and Joliet. M. de 
 La Salle, a native of Normandy, but who had resided 
 many years in Canada, was the first to extend these early 
 discoveries. He was a man of intelligence, talents, en- 
 terprise, and perseverance. After obtaining the sanction 
 of the king of France, he set out on his projected expedi- 
 tion, in 1678, from Frontenac, with Chevalier Fonii, his 
 lieutenant, and father Hennepin, a Jesuit missionary, and 
 thirty or forty men. 
 
 He spent about one year in exploring the country bor- 
 dering on the lakes, and in selecting positions for forts 
 and trading posts, to secure the Indian trade to the French. 
 After he had built a fort at Niagara, and fitted out a small 
 
 * The word " Illira," from whence is derived the name 
 " Oillinois," or " Illinois," as it was variously written by the 
 French explorers, is said by Hennepin to signify " a full grown 
 man." This nation, or confederacy, appears to have possessed 
 originally, the Illinois country. The confederacy was formed 
 of seven tribes: — the Illinois, Michigamies^ Mascotans, Kaskas- 
 kias, Kahokias, Peorias, and Tau-mar-waus. 
 
 Their country was subjugated by the Iroquois or Mohawks 
 about the close of the seventeenth century, who held dominion 
 over the soil by right of conquest. In 1701 the Iroquois ceded 
 all that part of Illinois that lies south and east of the Illinois 
 river, to the British government. 
 
84 A GAZETTEER 
 
 vessel, he sailed through the lakes to Green bay, then 
 called the " Bay of Puants." From thence he proceeded 
 with his men in canoes towards the south end of lake Mi- 
 chigan, and arrived at the mouth of the " river of the 
 Miamis" in November, 1679. This is thought to be 
 Chicago. Here he built a fort, left eight or ten men, and 
 passed with the rest of his company across the country 
 to the waters of the Illinois river, and descended that 
 river a considerable distance, when he was stopped for 
 want of supplies. This was occasioned by the loss of a 
 boat which had been sent from his post on Green bay. 
 He was now compelled by necessity to build a fort, 
 which, on account of the anxiety of mind he experienced, 
 was called Creve-cceur, or broken heart. 
 
 The position of this fort cannot now be ascertained, 
 but from some appearances, it is thought to have been 
 near Spring bay, in the northeast part of Tazewell county. 
 
 At this period the Illinois were engaged in a war with 
 the Iroquois, a numerous, warlike, and cruel nation, with 
 whom La Salle had traded, while on the borders of Ca- 
 nada. The former, according to Indian notions of friend- 
 ship, expected assistance from the French; but the inter- 
 est and safety of La Salle depended upon terminating 
 this warfare, and to this object he directed his strenuous 
 efforts. The suspicious Illinois construed this into 
 treachery, which was strengthened by the malicious and 
 perfidious conduct of some of his own men, and pro- 
 nounced upon him the sentence of death. Immediately 
 he formed and executed the bold and hazardous project 
 of going alone and unarmed to the camp of the Illinois, 
 and vindicating his conduct. He declared his innocence 
 of the charges, and demanded the author. He urged 
 that the war should be terminated, and that the hostile 
 nations should live in peace. 
 
 The coolness, bravery, and eloquence of La Salle filled 
 the Indians with astonishment, and entirely changed their 
 purposes. The calumet was smoked, presents mutually 
 exchanged, and a treaty of amity concluded. 
 
 The original project of discovery was now pursued. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 85 
 
 Father Hennepin started on the 28th of February, 1680, 
 and having passed down the Illinois, ascended the Mis- 
 sissippi to the falls of St. Anthony. Here he was taken 
 prisoner, robbed, and carried to the Indian villages, from 
 which he made his escape, returned to Canada by the 
 way of the Wisconsin, and from thence to France, where 
 he published an account of his travels. 
 
 La Salle visited Canada to obtain supplies, returned 
 to Creve-cceur, and shortly after descended the Illinois, 
 and then the Mississippi, where he built one or two forts 
 on its banks, and took possession of the country in the 
 name of the king of France, and in honor of him called 
 it Lonisiana. 
 
 After descending the Mississippi to its mouth, he re- 
 turned to the Illinois, and on his way back left some of 
 his companions to occupy the country. This is supposed 
 to have been the commencement of the villages of Kas- 
 kaskia and Cahokia, in 1683. La Salle went to France, 
 fitted out an expedition to form a colony at the mouth of 
 the Mississippi, sailed to the gulf of Mexico, but not 
 being able to find the mouths of that river, he commenced 
 an overland journey to his fort on the Illinois. On this 
 journey he was basely assassinated by two of his own 
 men.* 
 
 After the death of La Salle, no attempts to discover 
 the mouth of the Mississippi, were made till about 1699; 
 but the settlements in the Illinois country were gradually 
 increased by emigrants from Canada. 
 
 In 1712, the king of France, by letters patent, gave 
 the whole country of Louisiana to M. Crosat, with the 
 commerce of the country, with the profits of all the mines, 
 reserving for his own use one fifth of the gold and silver. 
 After expending large sums in digging and exploring for 
 
 * La Salle appeal's to have discovered the Bay of St. Bernard, 
 and formed a settlement on the western side of the Colorado, in 
 1685. This fact constitutes our claim to Texas. See J. Q. 
 Adams'' s Correspo7idence iwithJJon Onis. Pub. Doc. first session 
 1 5th Congress, 1818. 
 
 8 
 
86 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the precious medals without success, Crosat gave up his 
 privilege to the king, in 1717. Soon after, the colony- 
 was granted to the Mississippi company, projected by 
 Mr. Law, which took possession of Louisiana, and ap- 
 pointed M. Bienville governor. In 1719, La Harp com- 
 manded a Fort with French troops not far from the mouth 
 of the Missouri river. 
 
 Shortly after, several forts were built within the pre- 
 sent limits of Illinois, of which fort Chartres was the 
 most considerable. By these means a chain of commu- 
 nication was formed from Canada to the mouth of the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 The oldest record or document in the state is at Kas- 
 kaskia, dated 1725. It is a petition to Louis XV. king 
 of France, asking a grant of common fields, commons, 
 etc.; stating their great sufferings the preceding year, 
 [1724] from the great flood which swept away all their 
 improvements and obliged the people to flee to the bluffs 
 opposite the village, and across the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 At the termination of hostilities between the French 
 and English, in 1763, the Illinois country, with Canada, 
 was ceded to the British government; and in 17^5, Capt. 
 Sterling, of the royal Highlanders, took possession of Il- 
 linois. He was succeeded by Major Farmer, who was 
 relieved by Col. Reed, in 1766. The principal military- 
 post and seat of government during these changes, was at 
 fort Chartres. The administration of Col. Reed was ex- 
 tremely unpopular with the inhabitants, and is said to have 
 been a course of military oppression. In 1768 he was 
 succeeded by Lieut. Col. W'ilkins, who established a 
 court of justice amongst the people, and appointed seven 
 judges to settle all matters relating to debts and property. 
 
 They met for the first time at fort Chartres in Decem- 
 ber following, and continued to meet for business month- 
 ly. Still the people were dissatisfied, and demanded the 
 right of trial by jury, which was denied them. 
 
 Affairs continued in this posture till the revolutionary 
 war, when the Virginia militia, under command of Gen. 
 George Rodgers Clarke, made an excursion through the 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 87 
 
 Indian country, subjugated fort Chartres, Kaskaskia, and 
 other posts on the Mississippi, and then conducted a suc- 
 cessful expedition against Port Vincent, now Vincennes. 
 This was in 1778. 
 
 The same year the legislature of Virginia organised a 
 county in this remote region, called "///mozs," and ap- 
 pointed a magistrate over it with extensive powers styled 
 lieutenant governor. Timothy Demonbrun was appointed 
 to this office. 
 
 This territory was afterwards ceded by Virginia to the 
 United States, and formed a portion of the Northwestern 
 Territory, by whose authority the county of Illinois was 
 divided, and the names of St. Clair and Randolph given. 
 In 1800, it was included within the limits of Indiana ter- 
 ritory, and at that time the country that forms the present 
 state ot Illinois contained about 3,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Many of the officers and soldiers that accompanied Ge- 
 neral Clarke in his expedition became enamored with the 
 country, returned v^^ith their families and formed the early 
 American settlements. Other persons settled in Kaskas- 
 kia about the same time, to engage in the Indian trade. 
 
 In 1786, the Kickapoo, and other bands of Indians, 
 commenced their predatory warfare, which greatly har- 
 assed the American settlers for the succeeding ten years. 
 
 After 1800, the population increased considerably from 
 emiofration. In 1809, a territorial government was form- 
 ed, and the population the next year amounted to 12,282. 
 
 During the last war between Great Britain and the 
 United States, Illinois, in common with other frontier 
 districts, felt the calamities of warfare. The defence of 
 the long line of frontier from the mouth of the Missouri, 
 across the territory to Shawneetown, depended upon the 
 energy and vigilance of the citizens, under the able and 
 indefatigable governor, the late Ninian Edwards. 
 
 In 1812, the territory, which had been under the govern- 
 ment of the governor and judges, entered upon the second 
 grade of territorial government, with a legislature, and 
 a delegate in congress. 
 
88 A GAZETTEER 
 
 In 1818, the constitution was framed and Illinois was 
 received into the Union as the twenty-second state. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. 
 
 1. This State presents many inducements to those who 
 are emigrating to the west. It is now receiving large 
 accessions from the north, the south, and from Europe. 
 Many Germans have already entered it, and many more 
 are shortly expected. An English colony was formed at 
 Albion, in Edwards county, by Messrs. Birbeck and 
 Flowers, in 1818. 
 
 Morgan county contains many English families, who 
 came three or four years since. In general they have pur- 
 chased lands, and are doing well. 
 
 Emigrants from New England, New York, Pennsyl- 
 vania, and Ohio, pour into the middle and northern coun- 
 ties. 
 
 From the southern states there are hundreds visiting 
 Illinois monthly, to find convenient residences, and a re- 
 treat from the inconveniences of slaveholding. 
 
 2. Farms, partially cultivated may be purchased, at a 
 reasonable price, in almost every county. The prices 
 vary from local situation, or factitious circumstances. 
 From three to ten dollars per acre, including improve- 
 ments, is the common range of prices. 
 
 3. In no part of the United States can uncultivated land 
 be made into farms with less labor than in Illinois. An 
 emigrant may purchase a quarter section for .^200, a pro- 
 port'onate supply of limbered and prairie land, and have a 
 large farm under cultivation in a short time. His cattle, 
 horses, and hogs will run upon the range around him, and 
 find feed nine months in the year, and a small amount of 
 labor will provide a supply of winter food. Hundreds of 
 families, who have not the means to purchase, settle on 
 public lands, make their farms and live unmolested. Any 
 laboring man, with reasonable industry and economy, with 
 a family, may arrrive here without any capital, and in 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 89 
 
 half a dozen years be the owner of a good farm, with stock 
 in abundance. The prairies and woodland would furnish 
 range until his farm was made. 
 
 Those who have one or two thousand dollars to com- 
 mence with, have peculiar advantages. 
 
 4. Mechanics of every description, for the ordinary pur- 
 poses of life, find abundant encouragement. 
 
 I could name common mechanics, whom I knew when 
 apprentices, and who commenced business without a cent 
 of capital, but who now own property valued from ten to 
 twenty thousand dollars. They have gained it by steady, 
 persevering industry. And yet, no one makes money ra- 
 pidly, and grows rich suddenly. The great secret of the 
 accumulation of property in any part of the " West," con- 
 sists in the gradual rise of property^ by the advantageous 
 application of manual labour. As a general principle, with 
 exceptions to particular places, this rise of property in Illi- 
 nois, the last ten years, has equalled from twenty-five to 
 thirty per cent, per annum. About some of our rising 
 towns the rise has been 1000 per cent, in three years. 
 
 5. Good school teachers, who will follow the employ- 
 ment, are much needed. The usual method is to pay by 
 the scholar per quarter. Prices for ordinary branches in 
 the country settlements, including board ^2 50, and ^3 
 per scholar. Female teachers for schools, are inquired 
 after. 
 
 6. The people of the West, and of Illinois, have much 
 plain, blunt, but sincere hospitality. Emigrants who 
 come amongst them with a disposition to be pleased with 
 the people and country — to make no invidious compari 
 sons — to assume no airs of distinction — but to become 
 amalgamated with the people, where, of course every 
 thing is different to what they have been accustomed, 
 will be welcome. 
 
 8* 
 
PART SECOND. 
 
 GENERAL VIEW OF EACH COUNTY IN THE 
 STATE OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 
 
 ADAMS COUNTY. 
 
 Mams County was organised from Pike county, in 
 1825, and is thirty miles long, with an average width 
 of twenty-four miles — containing about 810 square miles. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Hancock; east by Schuyler and 
 a corner of Pike; south by Pike; and west, by the Mis- 
 sissippi river. 
 
 Its streams are Bear creek and branches, Cedar, Tyrer, 
 Mill, Fall, and Pigeon creeks, on the western; and the 
 north and west forks of M'Kees creek on its eastern bor- 
 der. 
 
 For quality of soil, well proportioned into timber and 
 prairie, it is second to none in the state. Few tracts of 
 country are equal, and none superior to the one on Bear 
 creek. 
 
 Its productions are similar to other counties in the 
 military district. The people in general are enterprising 
 and industrious farmers. The population is about 8,500. 
 Adams county is attached to the fifth judicial circuit, and 
 sends one senator and two representatives to the legisla- 
 ture. 
 
 The seat of justice is Quinci/, 
 
92 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ALEXANDER COUNTY. 
 
 »3.lexander County lies at the south end of the slate, in 
 the forks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which wash 
 its western, southern, and a portion of its eastern borders. 
 More than sixty miles of its western side are along the 
 curves and windings of the latter river. It has a fertile 
 soil, covered with a heavy growth of timber, amongst 
 which are oaks of various kinds, especially white oak, 
 cypress, poplar, walnut, hickory, some cherry, elm, etc. 
 and a tract of yellow pine in the northwestern part. A 
 reef of rocks of limestone, intermixed with sand stone, 
 forming the grand chain of the Ohio, six miles above 
 America, is supposed to extend across this county, (below 
 the surface of the earth,) to the Mississippi river. At 
 least one third of the county is alluvion. On Cash river, 
 and near the mouth of the Ohio, the land is inundated in 
 times of-high water. Along the Mississippi is an ex- 
 tensive tract of alluvial land, entirely above high water. 
 
 The streams in this county are Cash river and branches, 
 Sexton's creek, and Clear creek. Cash river enters it 
 at the northeastern part, passes in a circuitous course 
 through it, and enters the Ohio six miles above its mouth, 
 at Trinity. 
 
 Alexander county is about twenty-four miles long, and 
 upon an average width of eighteen miles — containing 
 about 375 square miles. 
 
 Alexander county is attached to the third judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and, with Union county, one member to the senate. 
 Population about 2350. It was formed from Union coun- 
 ty, in 1819. 
 
 The seat of justice is Unity. 
 
 BOND COUNTY. 
 
 Bond County was organised from Madison, in 1817. It 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 93 
 
 then embraced an extensive district of country, but has 
 sirice been reduced to an area of twenty miles lona, and 
 eighteen miles wide, or 360 square miles. It has Mont- 
 gomery on the north, Fayette east, Clinton south, and 
 Madison on the west. 
 
 Shoal creek and its branches pass through the middle, 
 and Hurricane fork waters the eastern portion of this 
 county. 
 
 It is duly proportioned into timber and prairie. In some 
 parts the latter is rather too level for convenience, but is 
 good second rate land. The population generally are in- 
 dustrious, frugal, and intelligent farmers. 
 
 Bond county sends one member to the house of repre- 
 sentatives, and with Montgomery one to the senate. It 
 belongs to the second judicial circuit. Population about 
 3,980. 
 
 The seat of justice is Greenville. 
 
 BOONE COUNTY. 
 
 Boone County was formed from Winnebago and Mc 
 Henry counties in February, 1837. It is bounded north 
 by the Wisconsin territory; east by McHenry; south by 
 Kane, and West by Winnebajjo county. It is about 24 
 miles long, and 21 miles wide; containing about 500 
 square miles. 
 
 It is watered on the western side by the northern and 
 main branches of the Kishwaukee, and on its eastern side 
 by branches of Fox river. 
 
 Its timber, scattered over the county, is found chiefly 
 in groves and oak openings, with a large proportion of rich, 
 undulating prairie. Its representative and its judicial con- 
 nection is with Jo Daviess county. The seat of justice 
 not yet located. Most of the land in this and the adjoin- 
 ing counties is unsurveyed and of course not in market, 
 but is rapidly settling. I estimate its population at 600, 
 
94 A GAZETTEER 
 
 CALHOUN COUNTY. 
 
 Calhoun County was oro^anised from Pike-counly, in 
 1825. It is a long and narrovv strip of country lying in 
 the forks of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. It is 
 bounded on three sides by those rivers, and on the northern 
 end, by Pike county, and is thirty-seven and a half miles 
 long, and from three to ten miles in width from one river to 
 the other — making about 260 square miles. The mouth of 
 Bay creek is in the northern part of this county, which 
 affords a harbor and navigation for steam boats seven 
 miles. There are no other creeks worth naming. Seve- 
 ral fine prairies lie at the foot of the bluffs on both sides 
 of the county, amongst which are Illinois, Salt, Belleview. 
 On the rivers considerable tracts are subject to inundation, 
 and in the interior are bluffs, ravines and sink holes. Still 
 there are considerable tracts of good land unoccupied. 
 
 The bottoms furnish excellent range for stock. Cat- 
 tle, beef, pork, corn, honey, and beeswax are its exports. 
 
 Formerly honey from the trees was obtained in profuse 
 quantities. It grows more scarce as the population in- 
 creases. Calhoun belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, and 
 is connected with Greene, in electing a representative, and 
 senator. Population about 1200. 
 
 Surrounded by rivers and low bottoms, Calhoun county 
 is less healthy than others on the military tract. 
 
 Coal, in large bodies, is found on the Mississippi in the 
 south part of the county. 
 
 The seat of justice is Guilford. 
 
 CASS COUNTY. 
 
 Cass County was formed from the north part of the 
 county of Morgan at the late session of the legislature, 
 and decided by the votes of the ])eople of Morgan county 
 on the third Monday of April, 18.37, as the law provided. 
 
 It is bounded north by Sangamon county and river, east 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 95 
 
 by the same county, south by Morgan, and west by the 
 Illinois river which. separates it from Schuyler county. 
 
 It is 27 miles long, and about 12 miles broad, contain- 
 ing about 256 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by various branches that fall into Sanga- 
 mon river on the north, with the head branches of Indian 
 and other small creeks that fall into the Illinois river, on 
 the west and south. It is proportionably divided into tim- 
 ber and prairie, the surface undulating, and the soil gene- 
 ally very rich. 
 
 The population is estimated at 6,500. Its representa- 
 tive and judicial connection is still with Morgan county. 
 
 The seat of justice is Beardstown. 
 
 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 
 
 Champaign County was organised from the attached 
 part of Vermilion county, in February, 1833. It is bound- 
 ed, on the north, by a strip of country not belonging to 
 any county; on the east by Vermilion; on the south by 
 Coles; and on the west by Macon and McLean counties. 
 It is 36 miles long, and about 28 miles wide, and contains 
 about 1008 square miles. The streams, are the Salt Fork 
 of the Vermilion of the Wabash; the Vermilion of the Il- 
 linois, the Kaskaskia, and the North Fork of the Sanga- 
 mon; — all of which take their rise in this county and run 
 in opposite directions. Here are extensive prairies, in- 
 dented with beautiful groves of fine timber, of which Big 
 Grove, at the head ol Salt Fork, is the largest. Around 
 these groves the prairies are undulating, and very rich soil. 
 
 The settlements are not yet extensive. As an interior 
 county, it will be further from market than those situated 
 either on the Wabash or Illinois, but is well adapted to the 
 growth of stock, and will be undoubtedly a healthy region. 
 
 Champaign county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, 
 and sends one representative and, with Vermilion county, 
 one senator to the legislature. Population about 1250. 
 
 The seat of justice is Urbatina. 
 
96 A GAZETTEER 
 
 CLARK COUNTY. 
 
 Clark County was formed from Crawford county, in 
 1819; and is bounded on the north by Edgar; on the east 
 by Indiana and the Wabash river; south by Crawford: 
 and west by Coles. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles long, east and west; and twen- 
 ty-one miles broad — containing about 500 square miles. 
 
 Its streams are, the North Fork of the Embarras, which 
 crosses the northwestern part of the county; Mill creek, 
 and Big- creek, which cross its northeastern part. 
 
 Walnut, Union, Dolson, and Parker's prairies are found 
 in this county. 
 
 At York, in the southeastern corner of the county, is a 
 steam saw and flouring mill. 
 
 Its exports are corn, pork, and beef cattle. From 60,000 
 to 100,000 bushels of corn are sent out annually. 
 
 Clark county has 4,000 inhabitants, sends one member 
 to the house of representatives, and, with Coles, one 
 member to the senate. It belongs to the fourth judicial 
 circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Darwin. 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 Clay County was formed from portions of Wayne, Law- 
 rence, Crawford, and Fayette, in 1824. 
 
 It is bounded on the north, by Effingham and Jasper; 
 east, by Lawrence; south, by Wayne, and a corner of Ed- 
 wards; west, by Marion, and a corner of Fayette. 
 
 Its medium length is thirty miles; width, twenty-one 
 miles — containing about 620 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Little Wabash, and branches. 
 
 Probably two thirds of the surface is prairie of an infe- 
 rior quality. The streams usually overflow their banks in 
 freshets. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 97 
 
 Clay county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and 
 sends one naember to the house of representatives, and also 
 with Fayette and Effingham sends one member to the 
 senate. 
 
 Population, at the last census, 1648; increase since, 
 probably about twenty per cent. 
 
 Its seat of justice is 3Iaysville, 
 
 CLINTON COUNTY. 
 
 Clinton County was formed from Washington and a por- 
 tion of Bond, in December, 1824. 
 
 It is bounded north by Bond; east by Marion; south 
 by Washington; and west by St. Clair, and a corner of 
 Madison. 
 
 It is thirty miles long, and eighteen miles wide — con- 
 taining about fourteen townships, or 504 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Kaskaskia river, which passes 
 through it, and its tributaries — Crooked, Shoal, and Sugar 
 creeks; and is about equally proportioned into timber and 
 prairie. 
 
 Much of the land in this and the adjacent counties is not 
 equal in quality to that further north. This is true espe- 
 cially of the prairies. The soil is thinner, the surface is 
 less undulating, and farmers are subjected to greater in- 
 convenience from wet seasons. 
 
 The timber, where it abounds, is generally of a good 
 quality. 
 
 Clinton county belongs to the second judicial circuit, 
 and sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Marion, one to the senate. 
 
 Population about 3,000. 
 
 The seat of justice is Carlyle, 
 9 
 
98 A GAZETTITER 
 
 COLES COUNTY. 
 
 Coles County was organised, in 1830, from Clark and 
 Edgar counties. 
 
 It lies in the eastern part of the state, and is bounded 
 north by Champaign; east by Edgar and Clark; south 
 by Jasper, and a corner of Effingham; and west by Shel- 
 by and Macon counties. It is forty-eight miles long, from 
 north to south; and twenty-six miles wide on a medium; 
 — containing about 1,248 square miles. 
 
 The Kaskaskia river passes through four townships m 
 its northwestern part; the Embarras runs its whole length, 
 with several branches; and the heads of the Little Wabash 
 afford fine mill streams, and settlements, in its southwes- 
 tern portion. 
 
 This county contains much excellent land, equal in qua- 
 lity to the country on the Illinois river. 
 
 The northern, and a tract through the middle portions 
 of the county are prairies of considerable extent; but 
 the other parts are duly proportioned into limber and 
 prairie. 
 
 The timber is similar to the borders of the Kaskaskia; 
 and much of the prairie land is moderately undulating, 
 The southeastern part is rather wet or broken. 
 
 The streams are not large; they generally run over a 
 bed of sand, and afford many good mill seats. 
 
 Most of the settlements are of recent formation, but its 
 agricultural productions soon must exceed those of any 
 other county near the Wabash, and will find their way to 
 that river for market. 
 
 It belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and sends two 
 members to the house of representatives, and, with Clark, 
 one to the senate. 
 
 The population is equal to 5800. 
 
 Pork, beef, cattle, and horses, will be the staple pro- 
 ductions. 
 
 The seat of justice is Charleston. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 99 
 
 COOK COUNTY. 
 
 Cook County was orq^anised January 15th, 1831, and is 
 bounded north by McHenry county, east by lake Michi- 
 gan; south by Will county; and west by La Salle. It is 
 about 42 miles long and 36 miles wide, but irregularly 
 shaped on its eastern and southeastern sides. It has about 
 1330 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Des Plaines, the north aud south 
 branches of the Chicago, the Du Page, Hickory creek, 
 and some snialler streams. 
 
 Its surface is tolerably level, of a rich soii, with large 
 prairies, and the timber in groves. There is a fine body of 
 timber on the north fork of the Chicago, and along the 
 lake shore. 
 
 This county, and those adjacent, differ in several re- 
 spects from the country below. The small streams run 
 perennially, over rocky and gravelly beds through the 
 prairies. The timber is not confined to the banks of the 
 streams, but exists in groves and strips, often on the di- 
 viding ridges between the water courses. 1'he summers 
 are comparatively cooler, and the winters longer and more 
 severe. 
 
 Cook county is rapidly settling, chiefly by emigrants 
 from the northern states; and will be both a stock and 
 grain growing region. Its market will be through the 
 lakes to New York and Canada. 
 
 This county belongs to the seventh judicial circuit, 
 and sends one senator and three representatives to the le- 
 gislature. 
 
 The seat -of justice is Chicago. 
 
 CRAWFORD COUNTY. 
 
 Crawford County was formed, in 1816, and lies north 
 of Lawrence, east of Jasper, south of Clark, and west 
 of the Wabash river, that separates it from Indiana. 
 
100 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is twenty two miles lon^, and twenty miles broad, 
 — containing- 426 square miles. 
 
 Racoon, Hutson, Sugar, and La Motte creeks, are 
 small streams, that rise in this county, and run east into 
 the Wabash; its western border is watered by branches 
 of the Embarras. 
 
 La Motte prairie is a level and rich tract, admirably 
 adapted to the growth of corn. Its exports are similar to 
 those of other counties along the Wabash, consisting chief- 
 ly of corn, beef, pork, and cattle. 
 
 Crawford county with Jasper sends one member to the 
 house of representatives, and with Lawrence, one to the 
 senate. It is attached to the fourth judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Palestine. 
 
 EDGAR COUNTY. 
 
 Edgar County was formed from Clark, 'n\ 1823, and is 
 bounded north by Vermilion; east, by the state of Indiana; 
 south by Clark; and west by Coles county. 
 
 It is twenty-seven miles long, from north to south; and 
 twenty-five miles wide, from east to west — containing 
 eighteen townships, or about 648 square miles. 
 
 Edgar county is watered by Big Clear, and Bru- 
 lette's creeks, which are small streams, and enter the 
 Wabash. Little Embarras heads in the western and 
 southwestern parts of this county, and runs southwest 
 into Coles. 
 
 The south and east sides of this county are well timber- 
 ed with all the varieties found on the eastern side of the 
 state, including poplar. 
 
 The soil in general is rich, adapted to the various pro- 
 ductions of this state. Pork and beef — especially the 
 former — are its chief exports, which find a ready market 
 at Terre Haute and Clinton, Indiana. 
 
 It belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and sends two 
 members to the house of representatives, and one to the 
 senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Paris, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 101 
 
 EDWARDS COUNTY. 
 
 Edwards County was organised from Gallatin, in 1814. 
 It lies on the Little Wabash river, and has Lawrence 
 county on the north; Wabash county east; White coun- 
 ty south; and Wayne county west. 
 
 It is twenty-two miles long, from north to south; and 
 an average width of eleven miles — containing about 183 
 square miles, proportionably divided into timber and 
 prairie. It is tiie smallest county in the state. 
 
 The prairies are small, high, undulating, and bounded 
 by heavy timber. The English settlement formed by 
 Messrs. Birbeck and Flowers is in this county. 
 
 Edwards county is watered by the Little Wabash 
 river which runs along and near its western border; and 
 the Bon Pas, which forms its eastern boundary, and their 
 branches. 
 
 Its prairies are Boltenhouse, Burnt, Long, Bon Pas, 
 Village, Bush and Mills, in all of which are flourishing 
 settlements. A settlement of about 60 families is in the 
 timbered country, in the south end of this county. 
 
 Edwards county is attached to the fourth judicial cir- 
 cuit; sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and, with Wabash and Wayne, one member to the senate. 
 The seat of justice is Mblon. 
 
 EFFINGHAM COUNTY. 
 
 Effingham County was laid off by the legislature from 
 Fayette county, in 1831, but did not become organised by 
 the election of officers and the possession of county pri- 
 vileges till the commencement of 1833. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Shelby, and a corner of Coles; 
 east by Jasper; south by Clay, and a corner of Fayette; 
 and west by Fayette. It is twenty-four miles long, and 
 about twenty-one broad — containing 486 square miles. 
 It is watered by the Little Wabash river and its branches, 
 
 9* 
 
102 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and contains good second rate land, tolerably level. Tlie 
 hottom lands on the Little Wabash are rich, and heavily 
 timbered, but are inundated for a day when the river rises 
 so as to overflow its banks. 
 
 Effingham county, in union with Fayette, sends two 
 members to the house of representatives, and with Fay- 
 ette and Clay, one to the senate. It belongs to the second 
 judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Ewington, 
 
 FAYETTE COUNTY. 
 
 Fayette County was formed from Bond, Edwards, Craw- 
 ford, and Clark, in 1821, embracing a large extent of 
 territory, extending northward to the Illinois river, 
 which has since been formed into several counties. It 
 is situated on the Kaskaskia river, and is bounded north 
 by Shelby; east by Effingham; south by Marion, and a 
 corner of Clinton; and west by Bond and Monigomery. 
 It is about twenty-seven miles long, and twenty-four 
 broad, with additional townships at the southeast and 
 southern corners, and contains about 720 square miles. 
 Vandalia the present seat of government for the state, is 
 situated towards the southwestern part. Besides the 
 Kaskaskia river, which passes through Fayette, it is 
 watered by Hurricane fork, Higgin's, Ramsey's and 
 Beck's creeks on the west, and by Big and Hickory 
 creeks on the east. There is a heavy growth of timber 
 in several parts of this county, especially along the 
 Kaskaskia, and the Hurricane fork. Besides some prai- 
 ries of convenient size, intersected with points of timber, 
 about twelve miles in width of the eastern side of Fayette 
 is in the Grand prairie. 
 
 The bottom lands of the Kaskaskia are low, subject to 
 inundation, and contain many small lakes and ponds. The 
 country around Vandalia is undulating and well timbered, 
 and the soil is second rate. 
 
 The principal settlements in Fayette are Hurricane, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 103 
 
 Seminary township, Buckmaster's, Hall's, Brown's, 
 Wakefield's, Haley's and Bi^ creek. 
 
 There are several grist mills propelled by water power 
 in the county, and a valuable steam sawmill atVandalia, 
 Fayette belongs to the second judicial circuit; and with 
 Effingham, sends two members to the house of represen- 
 tatives, and with Effingham and Clay, one to the senate 
 The population is estimated at 4100. 
 
 The seat of justice is Vandalia, 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 Franklin County was formed out of Gallatin, White, 
 and an attached part of Jackson county, in 1818, and is 
 situated in the southern part of the state. It is bounded 
 north by Jefferson county; east, by Hamilton and Gallatin; 
 south, by Johnson and Union; and west, by Jackson and 
 Perry counties. It is thirty-six miles long and twenty- 
 four miles wide; making 864 square miles. Franklin 
 county is watered by Big Muddy river and branches, and 
 and the south fork of Saline creek. The prairies are gene- 
 rally small and fertile, but rather too level; the timber is 
 good and in abundance; the soil rather sandy. Its pro- 
 ducts are similar to those of the counties adjoining, and it 
 is capable of being made a rich agricultural county. 
 
 Franklin sends two members to the house of represen- 
 tatives, and with Jackson county, one member to the se- 
 nate. It is attached to the third judicial circuit. 
 
 The county seat is Frankfort. 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 Fulton County was formed from Pike county, in 1825, 
 and is bounded north, by Knox, and a corner of Peoria; 
 east by Peoria, and the Illinois river; south by the Illi- 
 nois river, and Schuyler county; and west by Schuyler 
 and McDonough and a corner of Warren counties. 
 
104 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The Illinois washes its southeastern side, and gives 
 it an irregular shape. The Spoon river passes through 
 it; and Otter creek waters the southwestern, and Cop- 
 peras creek the northeastern portions. 
 
 It is from twenty-four to forty-two miles long, from 
 north to south; and from twelve to thirty miles hroad — 
 containing 874 square miles. 
 
 Nearly one half of Fulton county is heavily timbered 
 with the varieties that abound on the military tract; and 
 much both of its prairie and timbered land, is of an ex- 
 cellent quality. It is in general well watered; the streams 
 usually flow over a gravelly bottom, and furnish many 
 good mill seats. 
 
 Its productions are and will continue to be similar to this 
 region of country; and the Illinois and Spoon rivers will 
 afford facilities to market. This whole region on the 
 Illinois must shortly become a wealthy agricultural coun- 
 try. 
 
 Fulton county belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, and, 
 with Knox and Henry, sends two members to the house 
 of representatives, and one member to the senate. Popu- 
 lation about 7000. 
 
 County seat Lewiston. 
 
 GALLATIN COUNTY. 
 
 Gallatin CoM»/y joins the Wabash and the Ohio, in the 
 southeastern corner of the state, and was organised in 
 1812. It is bounded north by White county; eaaft by 
 the states of Indiana and Kentucky; south by Pope coun- 
 ty; and west by Pope, and Frankjin counties. 
 
 It is from thirty to thirty-six miles long, and with a 
 medium width of twenty-seven miles — containing about 
 760 square miles. 
 
 Its eastern boundary is washed by the Wabash and 
 Ohio rivers, and the interior watered by the Saline creek 
 and its tributaries. 
 
 Sand predominates in the soil of this part of the state. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 106 
 
 The basis rock generally is sandstone, lying probably 
 upon a stratum of clay slate. 
 
 This county is mostly covered with timber, amongst 
 which are various kinds of oak, walnut, poplar, mulberry, 
 hickory, beech, cypress, and the other kinds found in this 
 part of the state. 
 
 The salines, in the vicinity of Equality, are sources 
 of wealth; and furnish large quantities of salt for home 
 consumption. 
 
 Other articles of export, are horses, beef, pork, cattle, 
 lumber, some tobacco, etc. About one half of the salt 
 manufactured at the salines is exchanged for corn, corn 
 meal, flour, beef, pork, potatoes, and every species of pro- 
 duce raised in the country, to support the establishment. 
 
 This part of the state is well adapted to the growth of 
 stock. 
 
 Gallatin county contains about 9,750 inhabitants. It 
 is attached to the third judicial circuit, and sends three 
 members to the house of representatives, and one member 
 to the senate. 
 
 Shawneetown is an important commercial town on the 
 Ohio. 
 
 The seat of justice is Equality. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 Greene County was formed from Madison, in January, 
 1821; and is bounded on the north by Morgan; east by 
 Macoupin; south by^ Madison 'and the Mississippi river; 
 and west by the Illinois river, which separates it from Cal- 
 houn and Pike counties. 
 
 Its medium length is thirty-eight miles; width, twenty- 
 four miles; superficial contents 912 square miles. The 
 Illinois and Mississippi washes its western and a portion 
 of its southern borders; Apple and Macoupin creeks pass 
 through it. 
 
 The banks of the Mississippi in the southern parts of 
 this county are generally composed of perpendicular cliffs, 
 
106 A GAZETTEER 
 
 •varying in height from 80 to 200 feet, consisting of hori- 
 zontal strata of lime and sandstone; frequently imbedded 
 with coal. The latter does not show itself at the face of 
 the cliffs, but is found in great abundance a short distance 
 from it. These cliffs commence at Alton, and extend 
 along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to the northern 
 part of the county; sometimes, however, receding several 
 miles east, leaving a low and fertile alluvion which is usu- 
 ally timbered on the banks of the river, and a prairie sur- 
 face towards the bluffs. 
 
 Greene county has much excellent land, both timber 
 and prairie; the surface approaches nearer to a level than 
 the counties further north, with proportionate quantities 
 of timber and prairie, The population about 13,500. 
 
 Greene county is attached to the first judicial circuit, 
 and sends three members to the house of representatives, 
 and one to the senate, and unites with Calhoun in send- 
 ing one additional representative and senator. 
 
 The seat of justice is Carrollton, 
 
 HAMILTON COUNTY. 
 
 Hamilton County was formed from White county, in 
 1821, and is bounded north by Wayne; east by White; 
 south by Gallatin; and west by Franklin and JelTerson 
 counties. It is twenty-four miles long, and eighteen 
 broad — area 432 square miles. 
 
 This county is watered by branches of the Saline creek, 
 and Little Wabash river, and contains a large proportion 
 of timbered land. The soil generally is second and third 
 rate, with a considerable tract of swamp in the northern 
 part of the county. 
 
 Hamilton county belongs to the third judicial circuit; 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Jefferson county, one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Mc Leanshuru\ 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 107 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY. 
 
 Hancock County was formed from Pike county, in 1825. 
 It is thirty miles in length, and from twenty-four to thirty 
 miles broad — containing about 775 square miles. 
 
 It lies north of Adams, west of McDonough, south of 
 Warren, and is washed by the Mississippi on its western 
 side. 
 
 Hancock prairie, from twelve to twenty miles in width, 
 runs from south to- north through this county. On the 
 east, it is watered by the branches of Crooked creek; 
 and on the southwest, by Bear; and on the northwest, 
 by Camp creek. This county in the aggregate is defi- 
 cient in timber. The banks of Bear creek furnish a sup- 
 ply for that portion of the county. A strip lines the bank 
 of the Mississippi, in some places of considerable width 
 and of excellent quality-^in other places narrow and of 
 inferior quality. A tolerably dense settlement extends 
 along the line of this timber. Crooked creek furnishes 
 a due proportion of timber and prairie, and a body of ex- 
 cellent land. 
 
 Hancock county belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, 
 and sends one representative, and with McDonough one 
 Senator to the legislature. 
 
 The county seat is Carthage, 
 
 HENRY COUNTY. 
 
 Henry Connty was formed in 1825, but not organised 
 for judicial purposes till recently. 
 
 It is bounded north by Whiteside and Roek Island; 
 east by Putnam; south by Knox, and west by Mercer 
 and Rock Island counties. It is thirty miles long east 
 and west, and about the Same broad — area 840 square 
 miles. It is watered by Edwards, and some of the head 
 branches of Spoon river, Rock river, Green river and the 
 Winnebago swamp and outlet. 
 
108 A GAZETTEER 
 
 About the Big Grove, Fraker's settlement, and on Ed- 
 wards river is considerable good land, but in general 
 Henry county is not equal to the counties contiguous. 
 The Winnebago swamp spreads along its northern side; 
 and there is considerable level, wet, swampy land be- 
 tween the waters that fall into the Mississippi and those 
 that flow to the Illinois. 
 
 There is good land enougli within its borders to make 
 a respectable county. It belongs to the fifth judicial cir- 
 cuit, and with Knox and Warren, sends one member to 
 each branch of the legislature. Its county seat not lo- 
 cated. 
 
 IROQUOIS COUNTY. 
 
 This county was laid oflf by the legislature, in 1833. 
 It is bounded on the north by Will county; east by the 
 state of Indiana; south by Vermilion county; and west 
 by an irregular strip of country, attached to Vermilion 
 county. 
 
 It is about 42 miles long and thirty-four broad — con- 
 taining about 1428 square miles. 
 
 Kankakee, Iroquois, Sugar, Spring and Beaver creeks 
 are its water courses. A large proportion of this county 
 is prairie; the timber is in groves, and strips along the 
 streams. 
 
 Settlements have been formed to some extent on Iro- 
 quois and Sugar creeks. There are many sand ridges 
 and plains in this region, but considerable portions of 
 prairie are very rich. Iroquois is attached to the seventh 
 judicial circuit, and sends one representative, and with 
 La Salle, Kane and Boone, one senator to the legisla- 
 ture. Population about 1800. The seat of justice is not 
 yet established. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 109 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 Jackson County was formed from Randolph and John- 
 son, in 1816. It is situated on the Mississippi, and has 
 Randolph county on the north, Franklin east, Union south, 
 and the Mississippi river and a portion of Randolph west. 
 It is twenty-four miles from north to south, and from 
 eighteen to twenty-eight miles from east to west — its 
 area is about 576 square miles. This county is watered 
 by Muddy river and its tributaries. 
 
 On this stream, near Brownsville, is a saline where 
 considerable quantities of salt are manufactured. 
 
 Jackson county is generally a timbered tract of coun- 
 try, except towards its northeastern part where are some 
 fine prairies. The timber in this country and along the 
 Muddy, is of the various kinds common to this portion of 
 the state, as oaks of several species, hickory, elm, poplar, 
 walnut, sugar maple, etc. 
 
 Its exports are salt, coal, pork, beef, horses, etc. 
 
 Jackson county belongs to the third judicial circuit, 
 and sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and with Franklin, one member to the senate* Popula- 
 tion about 3,150. 
 
 County seat Brownsville. 
 
 JASPER COUNTY. 
 
 Jasper County was formed out of Crawford, and small 
 portions of Lawrence and Clay, in 1831. 
 
 It is bounded north by Coles; east by Crawford; 
 south by Lawrence and Clay; and west by a corner 
 of Clay, and Effingham. It is twenty-three miles long, 
 and twenty-two wide — and contains about 508 square 
 miles. The Enibarras runs through it, and the Muddy 
 Fork of the Little Wabash waters its western side. 
 Much of the prairie and timbered land of this county is 
 10 
 
110 A GAZETTEER 
 
 level, wet, and of an inferior quality. The settlements 
 are small amounting to fifty or sixty families. 
 
 On the North Fork and the main Embarras are some 
 good tracts of fertile soil. 
 
 The county seat is called Newton, 
 
 JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
 
 Jefferson County was organised from Edwards and 
 "White counties, in 1S19. It is bounded on the north by 
 Marion; east by Wayne and Hamilton; south by Frank- 
 lin: and west by Perry and Washington. It is twenty- 
 four miles long and the same in width — containing 576 
 square miles. 
 
 Jefferson county is watered by several branches of the 
 Big Muddy, which head in this county, and a small 
 branch of the little Wabash. 
 
 The soil is tolerable second rate land, about one-third 
 prairie; the timbered land is covered with various kinds of 
 oak, hickory, elm, sugar tree, etc. 
 
 Its productions find their market either at Shawneetown 
 or St. Louis. Its prairies, all of which contain good set- 
 tlements, are Casey's, Jordon's, Moore's, Walnut Hill, 
 Arm of Grand, and Long prairie. Its streams are East, 
 Middle, and W^est Forks of Big Muddy river, and Adams's 
 branch of Skillet Fork. 
 
 Jefferson county is attached to the third judicial circuit, 
 and sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and, with Hamilton county, one member to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Mount Vernon. 
 
 JO DAVIESS COUNTY. 
 
 Jo Daviess County was formed in 1827, but has since 
 been reduced to about the following extent. From east 
 to west from 12 to 34 miles, and from north to south 
 37 miles, and extending by the curve of the Mississippi, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. Ill 
 
 in a triangular form nearly to a point at its northwestern 
 corner; — containing about 724 square miles. 
 
 It is bounded by Wisconsin territory on the north, Ste- 
 phenson on the east, Whiteside county south, and the Mis- 
 sissippi river west. 
 
 It is watered by Fever river, Apple, Rush, and Plum 
 creeks, and some smaller streams. 
 
 This county is rich, both for agricultural and mining 
 purposes. Lead and copper are in abundance here. Like 
 all the northern part of Illinois, timber is scarce. The 
 surface is undulating — in some places hilly — well water- 
 ed, both with springs and mill streams. 
 
 The timber is in groves, and upon the margins of the 
 streams. 
 
 The county was named in honor of the late general Jo- 
 seph H. Daviess, of Kentucky, who gallantly fell, in the 
 disastrous battle of Tippecanoe, in 1811. It was bad 
 taste, however, in the legislature, to affix the appellation 
 of Jo to a name that has received marked respect in the 
 western states. 
 
 The chief export of this region is lead; but it is a fine 
 country for both grain and stock. 
 
 Jo Daviess county is attached to the sixth judicial cir- 
 cuit, and, with Mercer and Rock Island, Stephenson, 
 W'innebago, Ogle and Boone, sends two representa- 
 tives and one senator to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Galena, 
 
 JOHNSON COUNTY. 
 
 Johnson Count t/ was organised from Randolph in 1812, 
 and is situated in the southern part of the state. It is 
 bounded north by Franklin; east by Pope; south by the 
 Ohio river; and west by Union and Alexander coun- 
 ties. 
 
 It is from twenty-five to thirty miles long; breadth, 
 eighteen; its area, about 486 square miles. 
 
 The interior of the county is watered by Cash river and 
 
1 If A GAZETTEER 
 
 Biff Bay creek. Between these streams and ten or twelve 
 miles from the Ohio river, which washes its southern 
 boundary, is a line of ponds, interspersed with ridges 
 and islands of rich land; and at high water, a large cur- 
 rent passes out of Big Bay into Cash river. 
 
 On the south side of these ponds is very rich land with 
 a string of settlements; but an unhealthy region. Be- 
 tween this tract and the Ohio river, is a tract of barrens 
 and timber, with a tolerably good soil, but not much popu- 
 lation. A line of settlements contiguous to the Ohio river 
 extends through the county. 
 
 Johnson county contains considerable quantities of good 
 land, tolerably level, well timbered, and inclining to a 
 sandy soil. The principal timber in this region, is cypress, 
 sugar maple, oaks of various species, hickory, sweet gum, 
 with some poplar, elm, walnut, and cedar. 
 
 Johnson county sends ojie member to the house of re- 
 presentatives; and with Pope, one to the senate. It be- 
 longs to third judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Vienna. 
 
 KANE COUNTY. 
 
 Kane County was formed from the attached portion of 
 La Salle, January, 1836. It is bounded north by Boone 
 and McHenry, east by Cook, south by La Salle, and west 
 by Ogle county. 
 
 It is thirty-six miles square, and contains 1296 square 
 miles. 
 
 It is watered by Fox river in its southeastern parts, 
 and Indian creek, Somonauk, Rock and Blackberry, Wa- 
 bonsic, Morgan and Mill creeks that enter Fort river, and 
 on its western and northwestern portion, several small 
 streams, and the south and main branches of the Kish- 
 "waukee or Scyamore, that enters Rock river. These are 
 all excellent mill streams, and already saw and flouring 
 mills are built or in progress. 
 
 The timber is in groves, of which Au Sable, Big- woods, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 113 
 
 Little-woods and various others are thickly settled around. 
 There is white, black, red, yellow and bur oaks, sugar 
 maple, linden or basswood, black and white walnut, hick- 
 ory, ash of various species, white poplar, ironwood, elna, 
 some cherry, and occasional clumps of cedar along the 
 cliffs that overhang Fox river, and other streams. 
 
 Population from twelve to fifteen hundred and rapidly 
 increasing. 
 
 Kane county belongs to the seventh judicial circuit and 
 is represented in connection with La Salle, and Iroquois. 
 
 The seat of justice is not permanently located. 
 
 KNOX COUNTY. 
 
 Knox County is bounded north by Henry; east by Peo- 
 ria, and a corner of Putnam; south by Fulton; and west 
 by Warren, and a corner of Mercer. 
 
 It is thirty miles long, and from twenty-four to thirty 
 miles broad — containing 792 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Henderson and Spoon rivers, and their 
 tributaries. 
 
 The prairies in this county are large and generally of the 
 best quality; and there are several large and excellent 
 tracts of timber on the water courses. The soil in general 
 is of the first quality. 
 
 Knox county was laid off by the legislature in a gene- 
 ral distribution of counties on the military tract, in Janu- 
 ary, 1825, though not organised for judicial purposes till 
 about five years after. 
 
 It belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, and with Warren 
 and Henry sends one member to each branch of the legis- 
 lature. 
 
 Population about 2000. 
 
 Seat of justice, Knoxville. 
 
 10* 
 
114 A GAZETTEER 
 
 LA SALLE COUNTY. 
 
 La Salle County was formed in 1831. It is bounded 
 north by Kane, east by Will, south by Livingston and 
 M'Lean, and west by Putnam. It is 48 miles \ans from 
 east to west, and 36 miles wide, with an addition of four 
 townships projecting south from its southwest corner — 
 containing about 1864 square miles. 
 
 Besides the Illinois river, which passes through it, 
 Fox river, Big and Little Vermilion, Crow creek, Au Sa- 
 ble, Indian creek, Mason, Tomahawk, and several smaller 
 streams water this county. In general, the streams in 
 this part of the state run over a rocky or gravelly bed, and 
 have but few alluvial bottoms near them. 
 
 Like the adjacent counties, La Salle is deficient in tim- 
 ber; but contains abundance of rich, undulating, dry prai- 
 rie, fine mill streams, extensive coal beds, and must even- 
 tually become a rich county. Its situation will enable 
 the population to send off their produce either by the Illi- 
 nois river to a southern market, or by the lakes to the 
 north. 
 
 La Salle county belongs to the seventh judicial circuit 
 and with Kane sends one representative, and, with the ad- 
 dition of Iroquois, one senator to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Ottawa. 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 Lawrence County was formed in 1821, from a part of 
 Edwards and Crawford, and is situated on the eastern 
 side of the state, opposite Vincennes. 
 
 It is bounded north by Crawford, and a corner of Jas- 
 per; east by the Wabash river; south by Wabash and 
 Edwards counties; and west by Clay. 
 
 It is twenty milns across, north and south, and a medium 
 length of twenty-eight miles— containing about 560 square 
 miles. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 115 
 
 It is watered by the Embarras river, and Racoon creek, 
 which pass through it, and Fox river on its western bor- 
 der. The baniis of these streams are low and subject to 
 inundation. 
 
 In the low prairies, near the Wabash, are swamps and 
 slouglis, Icnown by the name of " purgatory," which, in a 
 wet season, are miry, and extremely unpleasant to the 
 traveler. Over some of these, bridges and levees are now 
 constructed. In a dry season, the water evaporates, and 
 the ground becomes firm. 
 
 Lawrence county contains about an equal proportion of 
 timber and prairie, some of which is inferior land, and 
 other portions of an excellent quality. 
 
 Its exports are corn, beef, pork, cattle, etc., much of 
 which is sent down the Big Wabash in flat boats to New 
 Orleans. 
 
 This county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and 
 sends two members to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Crawford and Jasper one to the senate. 
 
 The county seat is Lawrenceville, 
 
 LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 
 
 Livingston County w'as formed from La Salle, McLean, 
 and an attached portion of Vermilion county, in February, 
 1837. It is 36 miles long, and about 30 miles wide; con- 
 taining about 1040 square miles. 
 
 It is bounded north by La Salle, east by a strip of coun- 
 try attached to Vermilion, south by the same tract, and 
 McLean, and west by McLean and La Salle counties. 
 
 It contains some rich tracts of timbered land, and a 
 large quantity of fine rich undulating prairie. It is wa- 
 tered by the Mackinau and its branches, and by the Muddy 
 Fork, Otter Fork, and other small streams. 
 
 Limestone and coal are its principal minerals. Livings- 
 ton county belongs to the first judicial circuit, while one 
 portion is represented in the legislature by the represen- 
 tation of La Salle, and the other by that of McLean. 
 
 Its seat of justice is not yet established. 
 
116 A GAZETTEER 
 
 MACON COUNTY. 
 
 Macon County was formed from the attached part of 
 Shelby, in 1829, and is bounded north by McLean; east 
 by Champaign and Coles; south by Shelby; and west by 
 Sangamon. 
 
 It is thirty-nine miles long, and thirty-six broad — con- 
 taining 1,404 square miles. 
 
 The southeastern portion is watered by the Kaskaskia 
 and its tributaries; the middle and northern portions by 
 the North Fork of the Sangamon; and the northwestern 
 part by Salt creek. 
 
 There is much first rate land in Macon county. Some 
 of the prairies are large, and, in the interior, level and 
 wet; but generally dry, rich, aud undulating near the 
 timber. 
 
 Macon county is attached to the first judicial circuit 
 and sends one representative, and with McLean county, 
 one senator. The population is estimated at 3,600. 
 
 The county seat is Decatur. 
 
 MADISON COUNTY. 
 
 Madison County was organised from St. Clair county, 
 in 1812, and then embraced a large portion of the state. It 
 is now bounded north by Greene, Macoupin, and a corner 
 of Montgomery counties; east, by Bond, and a corner of 
 Clinton; south by St. Clair; and west by the Mississippi. 
 
 It is 24 miles from north to south; and from 28 to 36 miles 
 from east to west — and contains about 750 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Silver and Cahokia creeks, and Wood 
 river, and their branches. 
 
 A portion of this county lies in the American bottom, 
 but much of it is high, undulating, and proportionably 
 divided into timber and prairie. 
 
 Settlements were formed in this county about thirty- 
 five years since. Coal, and building stone, are abundant. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 117 
 
 Around Alton, and along Wood river, and Cahokia creek, 
 is one of the finest bodies of timber in this part of the 
 state. 
 
 The prairies are very advantageously situated for set- 
 tlements, and will soon be covered with well cultivated 
 farms. Wheat, corn, beef, pork, horses, cattle, and al- 
 most every production of Illinois, are raised in this county, 
 and find a ready market. 
 
 Madison county belongs to the S€Cond judicial circuit, 
 and sends one senator and two representatives to the legis- 
 lature, and unites with St. Clair and Monroe in another 
 senator. 
 
 The seat of justice is EdwardsviUe, 
 
 MACOUPIN COUNTY. 
 
 Macoupin County was organised from the attached por- 
 tion of Greene county, in 1829. It is bounded north by 
 Sangamon and Morgan; east by Montgomery; south by 
 Madison; and west by Greene. It is thirty-six miles 
 long, from north to south; and twenty-four miles broad — 
 containing 864 square miles. 
 
 The Macoupin creek and its branches water the middle 
 and western parts, the Cahokia creek the southeastern, 
 and the heads of Wood river and Piasau, the south- 
 western parts of the county. 
 
 Some of the prairies on the eastern side are large, level, 
 and wet; but a large portion of the county is excellent 
 soil, and well proportioned into timber and prairie, and 
 rapidly settling. About one-third of the county is tim- 
 bered land. It is an excellent agricultural county, and 
 will soon produce large quantities of pork, beef, wheat, 
 etc., which will naturally reach the market at Alton. 
 
 Macoupin county sends one member to the house of 
 representatives, and one to the senate. The county seat 
 is Carl'uiville. 
 
118 A GAZETTEER 
 
 MARION COUNTY. 
 
 Marion County lies in the interior of the state, and is 
 bounded north by Fayette; east by Clay, and a corner of 
 Wayne; south by Jefferson; and West by Clinton, and a 
 corner of Fayette. 
 
 It was formed from Jefferson and Fayette counties, in 
 1823, is twenty-four miles in extent, and contains 576 
 square miles. 
 
 Marion county embraces the southern part of the Grand 
 prairie, and is watered by Crooked creek, and the East 
 ForK of the Kaskaskia, on its western, and Skillet Fork 
 on its eastern side. 
 
 It has considerable land of second quality; about one 
 third timber, and the rest prairie. Considerable post oak 
 timber is found in this county. 
 
 Marion county is attached to the third judicial circuit, 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Clinton, one member to the senate. 
 
 The county seat is Salem. 
 
 Population, 3,000. 
 
 MCDONOUGH COUNTY. 
 
 McDonough County was formed from Pike county, in 
 1825, but not organised till 1829. It is situated in the 
 centre of the military tract; is bounded north by War- 
 ren; east by Fulton; south by Schuyler; and west by 
 Hancock. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles square, with an area of sixteen 
 townships, 576 square miles, and 368,640 acres. 
 
 Crooked creek and its branches water mostof this tract. 
 The eastern side of McDonough county for eight or ten 
 miles in width is prairie; the remainder is suitably pro- 
 portioned into timber and prairie of the richest quality. 
 A tract of country, fifteen or twenty miles square, taken 
 from the eastern side of Hancock and the western half of 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 119 
 
 McDonough, is not excelled for agricultural purposes by 
 any portion of the great valley. 
 
 Most of the streams have good mill seats for a portion 
 of the year. 
 
 McDonough county is attached to the fifth judicial cir- 
 cuit, sends one representative, and, with Hancock, one 
 senator to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Macomb, 
 
 MCHENRY COUNTY. 
 
 McHenry County was formed from Cook county, Janu- 
 ary, 1836, and is bounded north by Wisconsin Territory; 
 east by lake Michigan; south by Cook; and west by 
 Boone county. 
 
 It is about forty miles long and twenty-four miles wide, 
 containing about 960 square miles. This includes only 
 its laud area. Its legal boundary extends east to the 
 middle of Lake Michigan. 
 
 It is watered by the north branch of the Chicago, Des 
 Plaines, Fox river and branches, together with Cache 
 Mere, Crystal and other small lakes. Some of these lakes 
 have limpid water, gravelly beds, with ridges of gravel 
 and sand around them. 
 
 East side of Fox river, the soil approaches to a clay, 
 while on the western side it is a rich, sandy loam. Tim- 
 ber abounds along the lake shore, and near the streams, 
 with many beautiful groves and oak openings in the in- 
 terior. It is similar in quality to Kane and Ogle coun- 
 ties. Limestone is plenty. 
 
 McHenry belongs to the seventh judicial circuit, and is 
 connected with Cook and Will counties in its represen- 
 tation. 
 
 The seat of justice is not yet located. 
 
12Q A GAZETTEER 
 
 MCLEAN COUNTY. 
 
 McLean County has Livingston and La Salle on the 
 north; an irregular strip of country, and a corner of Chanti- 
 paign county, east; Macon, south; Sangamon touches it 
 on the southwest; and Tazewell lies west. 
 
 It is from twenty-eight to forty-eijjht miles long, and 
 forty-two to twelve broad, having 1,675 square miles. 
 
 One third of the eastern, and a portion of the northern 
 side of this county is one vast prairie, and yet it has large 
 tracts of the finest timbered land in the state. The tim- 
 ber is beautifully arranged in groves of various shapes 
 and sizes, from those of fifteen or eighteen square miles, 
 down to those of a few acres. 
 
 McLean county is watered by the Kickapoo, Sugar 
 creek, and Salt creek, all which take their rise in the 
 prairies of this couniy. The heads of the Vermilion 
 river of the Illinois are found in the northeastern corner 
 and those of Sangamon are on the eastern skirts. These 
 streams furnish good mill seats when the water is not too 
 low. 
 
 The country is elevated, moderately undulating, and of 
 a rich soil. \Vhere timber exists it is usually of excellent 
 quality. Here are to be found oak of various species, 
 walnut, hickory, ash, sugar maple, elm, hackberry, lin- 
 den, cherry, and many other kinds. Papaw is frequently 
 amongst the smaller growth. 
 
 Of the minerals, limestone is found on the branches of 
 the Vermilion. Granite, in detached masses, or boulders, 
 called by the settlers " lost rocks," and used for mill 
 stones, are plentifully scattered over the country. Coal 
 is found in several settlements. 
 
 McLean county sends two representatives, and, with 
 Macon, one senator to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Bloomington. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 121 
 
 MERCER COUNTY. 
 
 Mercer County lies north of Warren; west of Henry; 
 and south of Rock Island counties, and has the Missis- 
 sippi on its western side. 
 
 It is about thirty-two miles long and eighteen miles 
 wide, containing about 550 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Edwards and Pope rivers, and the 
 northern branches of Henderson river, along which are 
 excellent tracts of timber, as there is on the borders of the 
 Mississippi. Its middle and eastern parts have extensive 
 tracts of prairie. 
 
 It is said that the seasons are more uniform, the win- 
 ters more severe, and the summers more pleasant than in 
 the counties further south; but the frosts of spring do not 
 injure the labours of the husbandman. 
 
 The soil is rich, undulating and excellent for farming. 
 
 Mercer is attached to the sixth judicial circuit, and 
 unites with Rock Island and Jo Daviess counties, in 
 sending two representatives and one senator to the legis- 
 lature. 
 
 The seat of justice is New Boston, 
 
 MONROE COUNTY. 
 
 Monroe County was formed out of Randolph and St. 
 Clair counties, in 1816. It is bounded north by St. Clair; 
 east by St. Clair and Randolph; south by Randolph; and 
 west by the Mississippi. Its shape is quite irregular; 
 its average length is twenty miles; average width eighteen 
 miles, contairiing about 360 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Horse, Prairie de Long, and Eagle 
 creeks. The American bottom, which is alluvion, runs 
 through the county adjacent to the Mississippi, and is 
 divided into timber and prairie. On the blutfs, the 
 country is hilly and broken, with sink holes. Around 
 Waterloo, end New Design, and on the eastern border 
 11 
 
122 A GAZETTEER 
 
 of the county, is considerable good land, and a mixture of 
 timber and prairie. 
 
 Monroe county is attached to the second judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Waterloo, 
 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 
 
 Montgomery County was formed from Bond, in 1821. 
 It is bounded north by Sangamon; east by Shelby and 
 Fayette; south by Bond; and west by Madison and Ma- 
 coupin counties. 
 
 It is thirty-four miles long, with an average width of 
 twenty-seven miles, and has about 960 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Shoal creek and its branches, some of 
 the heads of the Macoupin, a branch of the South Fork 
 of the Sangamon, and the Hurricane Fork, and is propor- 
 tionably divided into timber and prairie. The surface is 
 generally high and undulating. 
 
 Montgomery county belongs to the second judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and, in connection with Bond one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Ifillsboro\ 
 
 MORGAN COUNTY. 
 
 Morgan County, one of the most flourishing counties in 
 the state, lying on the east side of the Illinois river, was 
 formed from the attached part of Greene, in January, 
 1823. 
 
 It is bounded north by Cass; east by Sangamon; 
 south by Macoupin and Greene; and west by the Illinois 
 river, which separates it from Pike and Schuyler. It is 
 thirty-four miles long; medium width, twenty-seven; area 
 918 square miles. 
 
 The Illinois river washes its western border; Indian, 
 
OF ILLINOIS, 123 
 
 Maiivaiseterre, Apple, Sandy, and several smaller creeks 
 rise within its borders, and pass throagh it, furnishing 
 many good mill seats. 
 
 Morgan county is destined to become one of the rich- 
 est agricultural counties in the state. In 1821, the tract 
 of country embraced within the limits of this county, con- 
 tained only twenty families, [n 1825, its population was 
 4,052; in 1830, it was 13,281; and now, is estimated at 
 20,000, without Cass county. 
 
 It is well proportioned into timber and prairie, well 
 watered, and contains many extensive and well cultivated 
 farms. In this county are more than thirty mills for 
 sawing and grinding, propelled by animal or water power. 
 Seven large steam mills are in operation, and two more 
 have been commenced, and will be finished the present 
 year. 
 
 Improved farms, in the populous parts of the county, 
 sell for from ten to twenty dollars per acre; several towns 
 and villages have been commenced besides Jacksonville, 
 which are in a thriving condition. 
 
 Emigration, attended with industry and enterprise, in 
 a few fleetinor years, has changed a regian that we have 
 seen in all the wildne&s of uncultivated nature, into smil- 
 ing villages and luxuriant fields, and rendered it the hap- 
 py abode of intelligence and virtue. 
 
 Morgan county belongs to the first judicial circuit, 
 sends six members to the house of representatives, and 
 three to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Jacksonville, 
 
 OGLE COUNTY. 
 
 Ogle County was formed from Jo Daviess, and a part 
 of the attached portion of La Salle, January, 1836. It 
 is from 36 to 42 miles long, and 36 miles wide; — contain- 
 ing about 1440 square miles. 
 
 Rock river passes diagonally through its northwestern 
 portion. Winnebago Swamp and Inlet, and several other 
 
124 A GAZETTEER 
 
 swamps are in its southern part. Pine, Leaf, and Kite 
 rivers, and several smaller streams, all of u^hich empty 
 themselves into Rock river, furnish p^ood mill seats. 
 The timber is chiefly in groves, many of which are pecu- 
 liarly beautiful, and of various shapes and sizes. Much 
 of the surface is undulating-, the soil calcareous, deep and 
 rich, and the country is rapidly settling. The present 
 population may be estimated at 1-200. 
 
 Ogle county belongs to the sixth judicial circuit; — its 
 representative connection is with Jo Daviess and several 
 other counties. Its courts are held temporarily at Oregoa 
 city, but its seat of justice is not permanently established. 
 
 PEORIA COUNTY. 
 
 Peoria County lies on the west side of the Illinois 
 river, about two hundred miles by water, and a hundred 
 and fifty by land, above the junction of the Mississippi. 
 This county contains considerable tracts of excellent 
 land. 
 
 Its principal settlements are Peoria, Kickapoo creek, 
 La Salle prairie, Senatchvvine, Prince's and Harkness' 
 settlements. 
 
 It is watered by the Kickapoo, the heads of Spo,on 
 river, Coj)peras creek and the Senatchwine. On the Kic- 
 kapoo, and on the shore of Peoria lake, for several miles, 
 the timber is good but the prairie ])redominates. 
 
 Peoria county was formed from Pike county, in 1825, 
 and is bounded north by Putnam; east by Tazewell; 
 south by Fulton; and west by Knox. It is about twenty- 
 seven miles long, and has an average width of twent}'- 
 four miles — containing about G48 square miles. 
 
 One of the principal roads to Galena passes through 
 this county. 
 
 The surface of the land is moderately rolling; on the 
 Kickapoo it degenerates into bluffs and ravines. In the 
 western and northwestern portion there is a scarcity of 
 timber. Between Peoria and La Salle prairie is heavy 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 125 
 
 timber, from two to five miles in width, and in places 
 beyond the bluffs. In the bottom land adjoining the 
 lake, are spots that overflow; but, in general, it is fit for 
 cultivation. The bottom timber consists of oaks of va- 
 rious species, white and black walnut, ash, hackberry, 
 locust and some hickory, buckeye, coffee nut, and grape 
 vines. 
 
 Peoria County belongs to the sixth judicial circuit, and 
 sends one representative, and with Putnam, one senator 
 to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Peoria, 
 
 PERRY COUNTY. 
 
 Perry County was organised from Randolph and Jack- 
 son counties, in 1827, and is bounded north by Washing- 
 ton; east by Jefferson and Franklin; south by Jackson; 
 and west by Randolph. It is twenty-five miles long, 
 from east to west, and eighteen miles wide — containing 
 447 square miles. 
 
 The Big Beaucoup and its tributaries run through the 
 middle of this county, from north to south, and the Lit- 
 tle Muddy touches its eastern border. 
 
 About one third of Perry county is prairie, tolerably 
 level, good soil, and susceptible of immediate cultivation. 
 
 Its productions are corn, beef cattle, pork, tobacco, and 
 some cotton. This little county has sent to market many 
 fat steers and fat hogs per annum. 
 
 Perry sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and with Washington, one member to the senate. It belongs 
 to the third judicial circuit. 
 
 Pinckneyville is the seat of justice. 
 
 PIKE COUNTY. 
 
 Pike County is the oldest county on the military tract, 
 and was erected from Madison and other counties, in 
 
 11* 
 
126 A GAZETTEER 
 
 1821. It then embraced the whole country north and 
 west of the Illinois river; but by the subsequent fornna- 
 tion of new counties, it is now reduced to ordinary size, 
 containing about twenty-two townships, or 800 square 
 miles. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Adams; east, by Schuyler, and 
 the Illinois river; south, by that river and Calhoun; and 
 west by the Mississippi. 
 
 Besides the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, which wash 
 two sides, it has the Snycartee slough running the whole 
 length of its western border, which affords steamboat 
 navigation to Atlas at a full stage of water. Pike coun- 
 ty is watered by the Pigeon, Hadley, Keys, Black, Dutch, 
 Church, Six Mile, and Bay creeks, which fall into the 
 Mississippi; and Big and Little Blue, and the North and 
 West forks of McKee's creeks, which enter the Illinois. 
 Good mill seats are furnished by these streams. 
 
 The land is various. The section of country, or rather 
 island between the Snycartee slough and the Missis- 
 sippi, is a sandy soil, but mostly inundated land at the 
 spring floods. It furnishes a great summer and winter 
 range for stocks, affording considerable open prairies; 
 with skirts of heavy bottom timber near the streams. 
 Along the bluffs, and for two or three miles back, the 
 land is chiefly timbered but cut up with ravines, and 
 quite rolling. In the interior, and towards Schuyler 
 county, excellent prairie and timbered uplands are found 
 especially about the Blue rivers and McKee's creek. This 
 must eventually become a rich and populous county. 
 
 In Pleasant Vale, on Key's creek, is a salt spring, 
 twenty feet in diameter, which boils from the earth, and 
 throws off a stream of some size forming a salt pond in its 
 vicinity. Salt has been made here though not in great 
 quantities. 
 
 Pike county is connected with Adams and Hancock, and 
 sends two representatives and one senator to the legisla- 
 ture, and belongs to the fifth judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Pittsjield. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 127 
 
 POPE COUNTY. 
 
 Pope County was formed from Gallatin and Johnson 
 counties, and is situated in the southern part or the state, 
 and is bounded north by Gallatin, east and south by the 
 Ohio river; and west by Johnson county. 
 
 It was organised as a county, in 1816, by the territo- 
 rial government; and, after having been subsequently 
 reduced, is now thirty-six miles long, with a medium 
 width of about sixteen miles, and an area of 576 square 
 miles. 
 
 The Ohio makes a bend so as to wash its eastern and 
 Bouthern sides, and project into the interior. Big Bay 
 creek rises towards its northwestern corner, and, after 
 entering Johnson county, turns again into Pope, and 
 runs a southeastern course to the Ohio. Lusk's creek, 
 and some smaller streams, give it the character of a well 
 watered county. It is generally well timbered with the 
 varieties that abound on that side of the state; the sur- 
 face is tolerably level; the soil of a good quality, but 
 rather sandy. 
 
 Corn, beef, pork, oats, potatoes, horses, etc., are articles 
 of exportation in considerable quantities. 
 
 Pope county sends one member to the house of repre- 
 sentatives, and with Johnson, one to the senate. It be- 
 longs to the third judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Golconda, 
 
 PUTNAM COUNTY. 
 
 Putnam County was formed from Pike county in 1825, 
 but not organised for judicial purposes till 1831, when 
 the boundaries were altered. 
 
 It is now situated on both sides of the Illinois river, 
 and is bounded north by Ogle, and Whiteside counties; east 
 by La Salle; south by Tazewell and Peoria; and west by 
 Henry and a portion of Knox counties. 
 
128 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is Ihirty-six miles long, and thirty six miles broad, 
 besides a. fractional portion in its south eastern part— and 
 contains about 1,340 square miles. 
 
 The Illinois river enters this county on its eastern 
 border, makes a large bend and passes out at its southern 
 side. The Bureau, Crov/, and some smaller streams enter 
 the Illinois within this county, and Spoon river waters its 
 western border. 
 
 Some of the finest lands in the state are in this county; 
 beautiful groves of timber, and rich, undulating, and dry 
 prairies. 
 
 There are a number of large settlements of industrious 
 and thrifty farmers, amongst which are Bureau Grove, Ox 
 Bow Prairie, Knox's settlement, Spoon river settle- 
 ment, and Strawn's settlement. Population about 4,800. 
 
 There are many fine springs in the county, and excellent 
 mill seats on the streams. 
 
 Besides oaks of several species, there are most of the 
 varieties of timber common to the state, as black and 
 white walimt, sugar maple, blue, white, and hoop ash, 
 elm, cherry, aspen, iron wood, buckeye, linden, locust^ 
 mulberry, etc. 
 
 Lime stone, sand stone, free stone and bituminous coal, 
 are its principal mineral productions, and in sufficient 
 quantities. 
 
 Produce will be sent down the Illinois river in steam 
 boats from Hennepin. 
 
 A few tracts of prairie in this country are level and wet, 
 and there are some small ponds and swamps in the north- 
 ern part. 
 
 In this county are three Presbyterian, two Baptist, one 
 Congregational, and three or four Methodist societies, a 
 county Bible society that has twice supplied all the des- 
 titute with Bibles, a temperance society, a county Sunday 
 School Union, ten Sunday schools, a county lyceum, and 
 several other philanthropic societies. 
 
 Putnam county belongs to the sixth judicial circuit, and 
 sends one representative, and with Peoria one senator to the 
 legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Hennepin, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 129 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY, 
 
 .Randolph County was formed before the organisation 
 of the territory of Illinois, and is the oldest county, ex- 
 cept'St. Clair, in the state. 
 
 It is bounded north by Monroe, St Clair, and Wash- 
 ington counties; east by Perry; south by the Mississippi 
 river and a corner of Jackson county; and west by the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 Its medium length and breadth is about twenty-four 
 miles, though from curvatures of the Mississippi, it con- 
 tains but about 540 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Kaskaskia river, and St. Mary, 
 Horse, and some smaller creeks. The soil is of various 
 kinds; from first rate to indifferent, and has a diversity of 
 surface, from the low alluvion, and the undulating prairie, 
 to the rugged bluffs and abrupt precipices. 
 
 Randolph county belongs to the second judicial circuit, 
 sends two members to the house of representatives, and 
 one to the senate. 
 
 County seat, Kaskaskia. 
 
 ROCK ISLAND. 
 
 Rock Island is a small irregularly shaped county, form- 
 ed from portions of Mercer and Jo Daviess counties, in 
 1831, but subsequently organised by the judge of the fifth 
 judicial circuit. The boundaries of this county, as defined 
 by law, begin *' at the middle of the main channel of the 
 Mississippi, where the north line of township fifteen north 
 intersects the same; thence east, to the fourth principal 
 meridian; thence north, with said meridian, to the middle 
 of the main channel of Rock river; thence up said chan- 
 nel to the confluence of the Marais dWgee slough or creek; 
 thence along said slough to the middle of the Missis- 
 sippi river, and down that channel to the place of begin- 
 ning." It contains about 400 square miles. 
 
130 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Rock river, and some minor streams, water this county. 
 Rock Island, in the Mississippi, is included in this county. 
 The soil along the Mississi|)pi for twenty-five miles is al- 
 luvion, sandy, and rich, iiFcluding the site of the old Sauk 
 village. There is much good land in the interior of the 
 county, between the rivers. 
 
 This county elects a senator and representative in con- 
 junction with Jo Daviess and Mercer. 
 
 The county seat is Stephenson. 
 
 SANGAMON COUNTY. 
 
 Sangamon County is one of the largest and most flour- 
 ishing, counties in the state. It is bounded on the north 
 by Tazewell; east, by Macon; south by Montgomery 
 and Macoupin; and west by Cass and Morgan counties. 
 The northwestern corner runs down between the San- 
 gamon river, which separates it from Cass county, and 
 Tazewell county, to the Illinois river. 
 ' It is forty-eight miles long, besides the corner mention- 
 ed; and forty-five miles wide — containing, in the whole, 
 an area of about 1,270 square miles. 
 
 Sangamon county is watered by the Sangamon river and 
 its numerous branches. Those which take their rise with- 
 in the limits of the county are Clary's, Rock, Richland, 
 Prairie, Spring, Lick, Sugar, Horse, and Brush creeks, 
 on the south side, proceeding upward in the arrangement; 
 and Crane, Indian, Cantrill's, Fancy, Wolf, and Clear 
 creeks, which enter from the opposite side. Those 
 branches vi'hich rise without the county, and yet run a con- 
 siderable distance within it, are Salt creek and branches, 
 North Fork, and South Fork. These streams not only 
 furnish this county with an abundance of excellent water 
 and a number of good mill seats, but are lined with ex- 
 tensive tracts of first rate timbered land. 
 
 Here are oaks of various species, walnut, sugar maple, 
 elm, linden, hickory, ash, hackberry, honey locust, mul- 
 berry, sycamore, cotton wood, sassafras, etc., together 
 with the various shrubs, common to the country. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 131 
 
 The size of the prairies in Sangamon county is seized 
 upon as an objection, by persons who are not accustomed 
 to a prairie country. But were the timber a little more 
 equally distributed with prairie surface, its supply would 
 be abundant. The prairies vary in width from one to eight 
 or ten miles, and somewhat indefinite in length, being con- 
 nected at the heads of the streams. 
 
 Much of the soil in this county is of the richest qua- 
 lity, being a calcareous loam, from one to three feet deep, 
 intermixed with fine sand. The point of land that lies 
 between the Sangamon and the Illinois rivers, which is 
 chiefly prairie, is divided betwixt inundated land, dry 
 prairie, and sand ridges. A. stranger to observations upon 
 the surface of Illinois, upon first sight, would pronounce 
 most parts of Sangamon county a level or plane. It is 
 not so. With the exception of the creek bottoms and the 
 interior of large prairies, it has an undulating surface, 
 quite sufficient to render it one of the finest agricultural 
 districts in the United States. These remarks are not 
 meant exclusively for Sangamon. They apply with equal 
 propriety to many other counties on both sides of the Illi- 
 nois river. What has been heretofore known to persons 
 abroad as the Sangamon country, may now be included 
 in a large district, containing a number of large and popu- 
 lous counties. 
 
 This county contains a larger quantity of rich land than 
 any other in the state, and therefore can maintain a larger 
 agricultural population, which is the great basis of na- 
 tional wealth. A distinguished writer, speaking of the 
 state of Illinois, and particularly of this portion of it, re- 
 marks in a letter to a friend from Springfield, Illinois, — of 
 
 March 2d: . , . i 
 
 "Our 'far west' is improving rapidly, astonishmgly. 
 It is five years since I visited it, and the changes within 
 that period are like the work of enchantment. Flourishing 
 towns have grown up, farms have been opened, comfort- 
 able dwellings, fine barns and all a])purtenances, in a 
 country in which the hardy pioneer had at that time 
 sprinkled a few log cabins. The conception of Coleridge 
 
132 A GAZETTEER 
 
 may be realised sooner than he anticipated. The possible 
 destiny of the U. States as a nation of a hundred millions 
 of freemen — stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
 living under the laws of Alfred, and speaking the language 
 of Shakspeare and Milton, is an august conception — why 
 should we not wish to see it realized] On the subject of 
 internal improvements tlie young giant of the west is 
 making Herculean efforts — a bill passed the legislature 
 last winter appropriating eight millions of dollars for rail- 
 roads, canals, &c., works whicii, when completed, will 
 cost twenty millions. A bill also passed transferring the 
 seat of government from Vandalia, in Fayette county, to 
 this place, Springfield, which is in the fertile district of 
 Sangamon county, and as near as may be to the geographi- 
 cal centre of the state, and soon will be the centre of 
 population. 
 
 "The state of Illinois has probably the finest body of 
 fertile land of any state in the Union, and the opportuni- 
 ties for speculation are numerous — property will continue 
 to advance — admirable farms and town lots may be pur- 
 chased with a certainty of realising large profits. The 
 country here is beautiful — equal in native attractions 
 though not in classic recollections to the scenes I visited 
 and admired in Italy. The vale of Arno is not more 
 beautiful than the valley of Sangamon, with its lonely 
 groves and murmuring brooks and flowing meads. — 
 
 * Oh Italy, sweet clime of song, where oft 
 
 The bard hath sung thy beauties, matchless deemed. 
 
 Thou hast a rival in this western land.' " 
 
 The first settlement on the waters of the Sangamon, 
 made by white people for a permanent abode, was in 1819; 
 the county was organised in 1821, and then embraced a 
 tract of country 125 miles long, and seventy-five broad. 
 
 The public lands were first offered for sale in Novem- 
 ber, 1823, by which time, however, farms of considerable 
 size, even to 100 acres of cultivated land, had been made. 
 
 At the present time, the borders of the prairies are co- 
 vered with hundreds of smiling farms, and the interior 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 133 
 
 animated with thousands of domestic animals. The rough 
 and unseemly cabin is givingplace to comfortable framed 
 or brick tenements, and plenty every where smiles upon 
 the labors of the husbandman. 
 
 This county is in the geographical centre of the state, and 
 wull eventually be in the centre of population. 
 
 Its river market and deposit is Beardstown; but much of 
 its imports will be received and its exports sent off by its 
 own river, which has already been navigated by steam to 
 the vicinity of Springfield, and when some of its obstruc- 
 tions are removed, will afford convenient navigation for 
 steamboats of the smaller class. Its exports now are beef 
 cattle, pork, wheat, flour, corn meal, butter, cheese, etc. 
 and soon will include almost every article of a rich, agri- 
 cultural country. 
 
 Sangamon county belongs to the first judicial circuit, 
 sends seven members to the house of representatives, and 
 two members to the senate. 
 
 Its population, at the last census, was 17,573, its num- 
 ber now would exceed 20,000. 
 
 Villages and towns are springing up, some of which may 
 become places of note, as Athens, New Salem, Richland, 
 Salisbury, Greenfield, Rochester, etc. 
 
 The seat of justice \b Springfield. 
 
 SCHUYLER COUNTY. 
 
 Schuyler County wzs formed from Pike county, in 1825, 
 and lies on the Illinois river, opposite Morgan county. It 
 is bounded north by McDonough,and a corner of Fulton; 
 east by Fulton, and the Illinois river; south by the Illi- 
 nois river, and Pike; and west by Adams and a corner of 
 Hancock. 
 
 The southeastern side is washed by the Illinois, the 
 interior is watered by Crooked and Crane creeks, the south 
 western by McKee's creek, and the northeastern part by 
 Sugar creek. 
 
 Schuyler county is of an irregular shape, thirty miles 
 12 
 
134 A GAZETTEER 
 
 long-, and from eighteen to thirty broad — containing about 
 864 square miles. 
 
 Along the Illinois river is considerable land inundated 
 at high floods, generally heavily timbered, as is more than 
 one half of the county. The middle and northern portions 
 are divided into timber and prairie of an excellent quality. 
 Along Crooked creek is an extensive body of fine timber. 
 Sugar creek also furnishes another body of timber eight 
 or ten miles wide. 
 
 Schuyler county is attached to the fifth judicial circuit, 
 and sends two members to the house of representatives, 
 and one member to the senate. 
 
 Mushville is the county seat. 
 
 SHELBY COUNTY. 
 
 Shelby County was formed from Fayette, in 1827, and 
 is bounded on the north by Macon; east by Coles; south 
 by Effingham and Fayette: and west by Montgomery, and 
 a corner of Sangamon. 
 
 It is thirty-six miles long and thirty broad — area, 1,080 
 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Kaskaskia and tributaries. 
 
 Shelby county contains a large amount of excellent land, 
 both timber and prairie, and is one of the best inland ag- 
 ricultural counties in the state. 
 
 Shelby sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and one to the senate. It belongs to the second ju- 
 dicial circuit. The population is about 5,500. 
 
 The seat of justice is Shelbyville. 
 
 ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 
 
 ^S"^. Clair County is the oldest county in the state, and 
 was formed by the legislature of the Northwestern Ter- 
 ritory in 1794 or '95, and then included all the settlements 
 on the eastern side of the Mississippi. It now lies on 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 135 
 
 that river opposite St. Louis, and is bounded north by 
 Madison county; east by Clinton and Washington; and 
 south by Randolph and Monroe counties — containing 
 1,030 square miles. 
 
 The land is various, much of which is good first and 
 second rate soil, and is proportionably divided into tim- 
 ber, prairie, and barrens. The prairies are distinguished 
 as Looking Glass, Twelve Mile, Ogle's, Ridge, Bottom, 
 and Du Pont prairies. 
 
 The streams are Cahokia, Prairie du Pont, Ogle's creek, 
 Silver creek, Richland creek, Prairie de Long, and the 
 Kaskaskia river. 
 
 Its timber comprises the varieties found on the western 
 side of the state. 
 
 The exports are beef, pork, flour, and all the varieties 
 in the St. Louis market. 
 
 Extensive coal banks exist in this county, along the 
 bluffs, from which St. Louis is partially supplied with 
 fuel. The quantity hauled there in wagons, in 1836, 
 amounted to about 300,000 bushels. A railroad is now 
 making from these mines to the river, opposite St. Louis, 
 by a private company. 
 
 There are five steam mills in this county, besides a 
 number propelled by water and animal power. Belleville 
 and Lebanon are its principal tovi^ns. Cahokia and Illi- 
 nois are small villages. The people of this county are a 
 mixture of Americans, French, and Germans, about 10,000 
 in number. 
 
 St. Clair county belongs to the second judicial circuit, 
 and sends one senator and two representatives to the le- 
 gislature, and, with Madison and Monroe, an additional 
 senator. 
 
 The seat of justice is, Belleville. 
 
 STEPHENSON COUNTY. 
 
 Stephenson County was formed from Jo Daviess and 
 Winnebago counties, in February, 1837, and is bounded 
 
136 A GAZETTEER 
 
 north by "Wisconsin Territory, east by Winnebago county, 
 south by Ogle and Jo Daviess, and west by Jo Daviess 
 county. 
 
 It is 27 miles long, and 21 miles wide, containing about 
 560 [square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Peekatonokee and its tributaries 
 on the north, and the heads of Plum river and smaller 
 streams in the southwestern part. 
 
 The timberis mostly in groves; the prairies generally un- 
 dulating and rich, with tracts of hilly barrens and oak 
 openings. The population is not large, but rapidly set- 
 tling, as are all the northern counties. 
 
 For judicial and representative purposes it is attached 
 to Jo Daviess county. 
 
 TAZEWELL COUNTY. 
 
 Tazewell County was formed from Peoria county, in 
 1827. It is bounded north by Putnam; east by McLean; 
 south by Sangamon; and has the Illinois river along its 
 northwestern border, which gives it a triangnlar form. 
 
 Its extreme length is forty-eight miles, and its extreme 
 width forty-two miles — containing about 1,130 square 
 miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Illinois river, which extends the 
 whole length of its northwestern side, Mackinaw, and its 
 branches, Ten Mile, Farm, and Blue creeks, all which 
 enter the Illinois, with some of the head branches of the 
 Sangamon. 
 
 A strip of this county, consisting mostly of sandy 
 prairies, puts down the Illinois river, and between that and 
 Sangamon county. On the bluffs of the Mackinau and 
 the other streams, the land is broken, and the timber chief- 
 ly oak; in other portions of the county it has an undulating 
 appearance and has much good land. 
 
 Below Pekin, and towards Havanna, are swamps, 
 ponds, and sand ridges. Thesouth eastern portion of the 
 county is watered by Sugar creek and its branches. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 137 
 
 This will soon be a rich agricultural county. Pleasant 
 Grove and the adjacent country is delightful. 
 
 Tazewell county belongs to the first judicial circuit, 
 and sends one senator and two representatives to the legis- 
 lature. 
 
 The county seat is Tremont. 
 
 UNION COUNTY. 
 
 Union County w^s formed from Johnson county, in 1818, 
 and is bounded north by Jackson; east bv Franklin; 
 south by Alexander; and west by the Mississippi river. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles long, and from twenty to twenty- 
 six miles broad, containing above 396 square miles, and 
 is watered by Clear creek, some of tho south branches of 
 Big Muddy, and the heads of Cash river. A large bend 
 of the Big Muddy projects a few miles into the county 
 towards its northwestern portion, and some sloughs and 
 ponds are found on the Mississippi bottom. Much of this 
 county is high, rolling, timbered land. Here are found 
 oaks of various kinds, hickory, white and black walnut, 
 poplar, some beech, and other species of timber common 
 to the country. There is considerable German population 
 in this county. 
 
 Union county belongs to the third judicial circuit, and 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Alexander, one to the senate. 
 
 The exports from this county are corn, beef, pork, 
 hordes, etc. Large quantities of produce from this county 
 go down the river to New Orleans in flat boats. 
 
 The county seat is Jonesboro\ 
 
 VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 Vermilion County was formed from Edgar, in 1826, 
 and lies north of Edgar and Coles; east of Champaign; 
 south of Iroquois, and west of the state of Indiana. 
 
 12* 
 
138 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is forty-two miles long, and about twenty-four miles 
 wide, containing about 1,000 square miles. 
 
 Vermilion county is watered by the Big and Little Ver- 
 milion rivers, and tributaries, and contains large bodies 
 of excellent land. In the eastern part of the county the 
 timber predominates, amongst which is the poplar and 
 beech. Along the streams are oaks of various species, 
 hickory, walnut, linden, hackberry, ash, elm, and various 
 other kinds common to Illinois. The soil of the prairies 
 is a calcareous loam, from one to three feet deep. Their 
 surface is generally dry and undulating. 
 
 The exports are pork, beef, corn, salt, etc., which find 
 a convenient market at the towns on the Wabash, and 
 down that river to New Orleans. In da« time much of 
 the produce of the Vermilion country will pass by the way 
 of Chicago and the lakes; and up the Wabash, and 
 through a canal to Lake Erie. It would be no difficulty 
 matter to open a water communication between the Wa- 
 bash and Illinois rivers, and thus furnish an outlet for the 
 productions of this part of the state in every direction. 
 Population about 9,500. 
 
 It is attached to the fourth judicial circuit, and sends 
 three members to the house of representatives, and, with 
 Champaign, one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Danville. 
 
 WABASH COUNTY. 
 
 Wabash County was formed from Edwards county, in 
 1824, and is bounded north by Lawrence; east by the 
 Wabash river; south it terminates in a point between 
 the Bon Pas which divides it from Edwards county, and 
 Wabash river; and west by Edwards county. 
 
 It is eighteen miles long, and from ten to fifteen miles 
 broad, with the eastern side irregularly curvated by the 
 Wabash river. It has about ISO square miles. 
 
 Wabash county is watered by the Wabash river on its 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 139 
 
 eastern, and Bon Pas creek on its western border, and 
 Crawfish, Jordan, and Coffee creeks, from its interior. 
 
 It contains considerable g'ood land, both timber and 
 prairie, and a full proportion of industrious and thriving 
 farmers. This county sends one member to the house 
 of representatives, and, with Edwards and Wayne, one 
 to the senate. It belongs to the fourth judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Mount Carmel. 
 
 WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 Warren County was formed from Pike county, in 1825, 
 but not organised till 1830. It contains extensive tracts 
 of first rate land, and several fine settlements. It lies 
 on the Mississippi, north of Hancock and McDonough, 
 west of Knox, and south of Mercer. 
 
 Its prominent stream is Henderson river and branches; 
 Ellison, Honey, and Camp creeks are in Warren. The 
 land on these streams is generally a little undulating, rich, 
 and where timber exists, it is excellent. A number of 
 good mill seats exist. 
 
 Much of the bottom in this county that lies on the river 
 is low, subject to inundation, and has a series of sand 
 ridges back of it, with bold and pointed bluffs further in 
 the rear. 
 
 North of Henderson river is an extensive prairie, which 
 divides it from Pope and Edwards rivers. 
 
 Warren county is about thirty miles in extent, and 
 contains about 900 square miles. It belongs to the fifth 
 judicial circuit, and, with Knox and Henry counties, sends 
 one member to each branch of the legislature. 
 
 1'he seat of justice is Monmouth, 
 
 WASHINGTON COUNTY. 
 
 Washington County was formed from St. Clair, in Ja- 
 nuary, 1818, and is bounded north by Clinton; east by 
 
140 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Jefferson; south by Perry, and a corner of Randolph, 
 and west by St. Clair. It is thirty miles lon^ and from 
 fifteen to twenty miles broad, containing about 656 square 
 miles. 
 
 The Kaskaskia river runs along the northwestern side 
 for eighteen miles, Elkhorn creek waters its western, 
 Beaucoup and Little Muddy its southeastern, and 
 Crooked creek, and some smaller streams, its northern 
 portions. Considerable prairie, especially the southern 
 points of the Grand prairie, is found in this county, some 
 of which is rather level and wet, and of an inferior qua- 
 lity. A large body of timber lines the banks of the Kas- 
 kaskia river. 
 
 The produce of this county is pork, beef cattle, and 
 other articles common to the adjacent parts. The timber 
 is oak of various kinds, hickory, elm, ash, and the timber 
 common to the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 Washington county is attached to the second judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends two members to the house of representatives, 
 and unites also with Perry in sending one to the senate. 
 
 The county seat is Nashville. 
 
 WAYNE COUNTY. 
 
 Wayne County was formed from Edwards, in 1819, and 
 is situated in the southeastern part of the state, and is 
 bounded on the north by Clay; east by Edwards; south 
 by Hamilton, and a corner of White; and west by Jefferson 
 and Marion. 
 
 It is thirty miles long, twenty-four miles wide, and con- 
 tains 720 square miles. 
 
 The Little Wabash passes through its eastern part, 
 and Elm river and Skillet fork water the northern por- 
 tions of the county. It is proportionably interspersed 
 with prairie and woodland, generally of a second quali- 
 ty. The productions of this county for exportation are 
 beef, pork, cattle, and some peltry, which are sent down 
 the Little Wabash in flat boats to New Orleans, or find a 
 market over land to Shawneetown. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 141 
 
 Wayne county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, 
 and sends one mennber to the house of representatives, 
 and, with Edwards and Wabash, one mennber to the 
 senate. 
 
 County seat Fairjield. 
 
 WHITE COUNTY, 
 
 White Couniy was organised from Gallatin county, in 
 1815. It is situated in the south eastern side of the 
 state. Its form is nearly square, about twenty-two 
 miles in extent, — containing an area of nearly 480 square 
 miles. 
 
 It is bounded north by Wabash, Edwards, and Wayne 
 counties; east by the Big Wabash river, south by Gal- 
 latin, and west by Hamilton counties. 
 
 The eastern side of this county is washed by the Big 
 Wabash, along which is a low bottom, subject to inunda- 
 tion; the interior is watered by the Little Wabash and 
 its tributaries,. The banks of these streams are heavily 
 timbered, among which are oaks of several species, 
 hickory, walnut, hackberry, elm, ash, and poplar. Be- 
 tween the streams are fine prairies most of which are cul- 
 tivated; the principal of which are the Big, Burnt, and 
 Seven Mile. 
 
 The exports of White county are pork, beef, and 
 beef cattle, corn, flour, venison hams, horses, and some 
 tobacco. Horses and cattle are sent in droves to the south, 
 and produce descends the river to New Orleans from 
 this and the adjacent counties, in large quantities. 
 
 There are three water mills in this county for flouring 
 and sawing, which do good business. 
 
 White county is attached to the fourth judicial circuit, 
 has a population of between six and seven thousand in- 
 habitants, and sends two members to the house of repre- 
 sentatives, and one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Carmi, 
 
142 A GAZETTEER 
 
 WHITESIDE COUNTY. 
 
 Whiteside County was formed from Jo Daviess in Jan- 
 uary, 1836, and is bounded north by that county; east by 
 Ogle; sonth by Henry and Putnam, and west by Rock 
 Island county, and the Mississippi river. 
 
 It is from 27 to 36 miles lon^, and about 24 miles wide 
 — containing about 770 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Rock river, which passes diagonally 
 through it, Little Rock, Marais d' Ogee lake and Swamp 
 that divide it from Rock Island county. Cat-tail swamp, 
 and several small streams. 
 
 It has some tracts of heavy timber along Rock river 
 and Little Rock, besides groves, copses, and brushy 
 swamps. Some of its prairie land is flat, while other 
 portions are beautifully undulating and rich. Its popula- 
 tion is yet small, and in its judicial and representative con- 
 nections, it is attached to Jo Daviess county. 
 
 WILL COUNTY. 
 
 Will County was formed from portions of Cook and 
 Iroquois counties in January, 1836, rather irregularly 
 shaped on its northern side, and is bounded north by Cook; 
 east by the state of Indiana; south by Iroquois, and west 
 by La Salle. 
 
 It is from 30 to 24 miles from north to south, and from 
 12 to 38 miles from west to east; and contains about 1228 
 square miles. 
 
 Its timber is in detached portions in groves and along 
 the watercourses of the streams; — in some parts are large 
 bodies; in other parts are extensive prairies. Much of 
 Will county is excellent, first rale land. 
 
 It is watered by the Kankakee and branches, the Des 
 Plaines, Du Page, Hickory, Forked, Rock, Soldier, 
 Hawkins and Dennis creeks, and some of the tributaries 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 143 
 
 of ibe Calumet. The Illinois and Michigan Canal will 
 pass along the Valley of the Des Plaines. 
 
 Will county belongs to the seventh judicial circuit and 
 is united with Cook county in its representation to the 
 legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Juliet, 
 
 WINNEBAGO COUNTY. 
 
 Winnebago County was formed from Jo Daviess and 
 the attached portion of La Salle county in January, 1836, 
 from which parts of Stephenson and Boone counties have 
 since been detached. It is bounded north by Wisconsin 
 territory, east by i^Boone, south by Ogle, and west by 
 Stephenson. 
 
 It is 24 miles long and 21 miles broad, having about 
 504 square miles. Rock river passes through it from 
 north to south; the Peekatonokee comes in on its western 
 border and enters Rock river in township 46 north; Kish- 
 waukee waters its southeastern part and enters Rock river 
 in township 43 north, besides some smaller streams. There 
 is much excellent land in Winnebago county; — the timber 
 is in groves and detached portions, and the prairies undu- 
 lating and abundantly rich. Rock river furnishes im- 
 mense water power, especially at Rockford, and all the 
 streams abound in good mill seats. The Polish emigrants 
 receive their lands, granted by Congress, in this county. 
 
 Winnebago county belongs to the sixth judicial circuit 
 and is attached to Jo Daviess county in its represent- 
 ation. 
 
 Tlie county seat is not yet permanently located. 
 
 NEW COUNTIES. 
 
 Besides several new counties formed at the last session 
 of the legislature, and which are placed in alphabetical 
 order, provision was made by law for the formation of the 
 
144 A GAZETTEER 
 
 following counties on condition that a majority of the 
 voters in the counties from which they were detached, at 
 an election provided to be held subsequently, should de- 
 cide in favour of such organisation. 
 
 Coffee County to be formed chiefly from Putnam with 
 two townships from Knox, and one from Henry county, 
 and will be bounded on the north by Putnam and Henry; 
 east by Putnam; south by Peoria, and west by Knox and 
 Henry; being 18 miles square, and containing 324 square 
 miles. 
 
 It is watered by Spoon river and its branches, and con- 
 tains excellent land — valuable timber on the large streams 
 and in groves, and rich, undulating prairies. Much of the 
 county will admit of a dense population. 
 
 De Kalb Counfy^ to be formed from the western part of 
 Kane county, will be bounded north by Boone; east by 
 Kane; south by La Salle, and west by Ogle county. It 
 will be 36 miles long, and 18 broad, containing 648 square 
 miles. It is watered by the south branches of the Kish- 
 waukee, Wabonsic, Morgan and Blackberry creeks, and 
 some smaller streams. 
 
 The timber resembles that of the adjacent counties, and 
 is in groves, and scattered portions of oak openings. The 
 surface generally is undulating, and the soil rich. 
 
 Michigan County., to be formed from the western part of 
 Cook county, will be bounded north by McHenry; east by 
 Cook; south by Will, and west by Kane county. It will 
 be 30 miles long, and 24 miles broad, with an additional 
 township at its southeastern corner. Fox river and its 
 branches will water its western and northwestern portions, 
 the heads of the Du Page its southwestern, Des Plaines 
 will run through its southeastern corner, and Salt creek 
 and Flag creek its eastern side. 
 
 The southern portion of this county is a superior region 
 with some large groves of timber and rich, undulating 
 prairie. Along Fox river are cedar cliffs, and in the 
 northeastern and middle portions are extensive prairies. 
 
PART THIRD; 
 
 CONTAINING A PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION 
 
 OF EACH TOWN, SETTLEMENT, STREAM, PRAIRIE, 
 
 BOTTOM, BLUFF, &c. 
 
 ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. 
 
 Apakeesheek Grove, in La Salle county, lies three miles 
 north of Holderman's grove. 
 
 Adams''s Fork, a branch of the Skillet fork of the Little 
 Wabash. It rises in the prairies of Marion county, pass- 
 es southeast, across the corner of Jefferson, and enters 
 the Skillet fork in Wayne. The land is well timbered 
 and of a good quality. 
 
 Alabama Settlement, in the northeastern part of Union 
 county, of about thirty families. The timber, chiefly 
 white oak, with a thin soil. 
 
 Albion, the seat of justice for Edwards county, situa- 
 ted in section two, of township two south, in range ten, 
 east of the third principal meridian. It was laid out by 
 Messrs. Birbeck and Flowers, in 1819, and settled prin- 
 cipally by English emigrants. The situation is high and 
 healthy. It contains three stores, three houses of enter- 
 tainment, an ox flouring mill, a cotton gin, and thirty or 
 forty families. The court house is of brick, forty-four 
 feet square, two stories, and finished. Albion is forty 
 miles southwest of Vincennes. 
 13 
 
146 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Men's Prairie and Settlement, in Greene county, 
 twelve miles northeasterly from Carrollton. The land 
 is ^ood, the prairie large, with good timber on the water 
 courses. 
 
 AUisoii's Prairie, (sometimes improperly spelt Ellison) 
 in Lawrence county, five miles northeast from Lavvrenoe- 
 ville. It is ten miles long, and five broad. The eastern 
 part towards the Wabash, contains some wet land and 
 purgatory swamps, but the principal partis a dry, sandy, 
 and very rich soil, covered with well cultivated farms. 
 Few tracts in Illinois are better adapted to corn than 
 this. The population equals 200 families. This prairie 
 was settled in 1816 and '17, by emigrarits from Ohio and 
 Kentucky, and mostly of the religions sect known in the 
 west by the name of Christians, and the settlement is 
 sometimes called by that name. In a few years death 
 had thinned their numbers. Tlie purgatory swamps, as 
 they are called, around the prairie, had a deleterious in- 
 fluence, and retarded the progress of population. In later 
 years but little sickness has existed, and this settlement 
 furnishes one of many evidences that upon ihe subjuga- 
 tion of the luxuriant vegetation with which our rich prai- 
 ries are clothed, and the cultivation of the soil, sickly 
 places will be changed to healthy ones. 
 
 Alton^ an incorporated town on the bank of the Missis- 
 sippi, is thought by many to possess advantages for com- 
 merce equal to any in the st^te. It is situated on frac- 
 tional sections thirteen and fourteen, in township five 
 north, in range ten west of the third principal meridian. 
 
 It is two and a half miles above the mouth of the Mis- 
 souri, and at the place where the curve of the Mississip- 
 pi penetrates the furthest into Illinois, eighteen miles 
 below the mouth of the Illinois river, and at the point 
 where the commerce and business of the wide spread re- 
 gions of the northeast, north, and northwest must arrive. 
 
 The legislature of Illinois have memorialised congress 
 repeatedly to have the great national road, now construct- 
 ing through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, cross the Missis- 
 sippi at this place, and sanguine hopes are entertained 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 147 
 
 that the rights of Illinois in this particular will be duly 
 regarded. 
 
 Lower Alton has the best landing for steamboats on 
 the east bank of the Mississippi, having a rock of level 
 surface, of suitable height, forming a natural wharf. 
 The state penitentiary has been established here, and 
 many are sanguine that it will be the future seat of go- 
 vernment. 
 
 One of ihe finest bodies of timber in the state surrounds 
 it for several miles in extent, from which vast quantities 
 of lumber may be produced. Bituminous coal exists in 
 great abundance but a short distance from the town. In- 
 exhaustible beds of limestone for building purposes, and 
 easily quarried, are within its precincts. A species of 
 free stone, easily dressed and used for monuments and 
 architectural purposes, and that peculiar species of lime, 
 used for water cement, are found in great abundance in 
 the vicinity. 
 
 The corporate bounds extend two miles along the river, 
 and half a mile back. The town plat is laid out by the 
 proprietors upon a liberal scale. 
 
 There are five squares reserved for public purposes, a 
 large reservation is made on the river for apiiblic landing 
 and promenade. Market street is 150 feet wide, other 
 streets are one hundred, eighty, and sixty feet, according 
 to the situation and public accommodation. 
 
 Alton, contained at the commencement of 1837, 20 
 wholesale and 32 retail stores and groceries, 8 attorneys, 
 7 physicians, 7 clergymen devoted to their calling, (be- 
 sides several preachers of the gospel, who follow secular 
 business during the week,) 4 hotels, 2 of which have 
 large accommodations, a large steam flouring mill, four 
 large slaughtering and packing houses for putting up 
 pork, which do a large business, and mechanics' shops of 
 various descriptions. 
 
 There are three printing offices which issue weekly 
 papers, the Spectator, Telegraph and Observer; besides 
 the Illinois Temperance Herald issued monthly. There 
 is a large temperance society, that holds monthly meet- 
 
148 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ing^s; a lyceum that holds weekly meetings, and two 
 schools. 
 
 The public buildings are four houses for public wor- 
 ship, and two others expected to be erected soon. The 
 Baptist church has a large stone edifice, with a handsome 
 spire, bell, clock and organ. The basement furnishes 
 three store rooms in front for rent, and a Sunday school 
 room, and a committee room in the rear. The Presbyte- 
 rian church has a moderate sized stone edifice with a cu- 
 pola and bell, and a basement Sunday school room. The 
 Methodist Episcopal church has a neat framed edifice 
 with a stone basement and a cupola. The Methodist Pro- 
 testant church has a small stone building. The Protestant 
 Episcopal church, the Unitarian church, and the German 
 Evangelical church, each meet in private rooms prepared 
 for the purpose. 
 
 Among the public institutions are a bank, (a branch of 
 the state bank of Illinois,) an insurance office, a Masonic 
 lodge of independent odd fellows, a lyceum and a mechan- 
 ics' association. 
 
 Depositories of the Illinois Bible, Sunday school, Tract, 
 and Temperance societies are kept in this town for the 
 supply of the state, and a spacious edifice, four stories 
 high, with a front of hewn stone, is about to be erected 
 by the citizens, by subscription, for which purpose two 
 liberal and wealthy gentlemen have given a lot of the 
 value of more than 5000 dollars. A large proportion of 
 the funds for the erection of the building has been secured. 
 
 In no western town of the size, population, and busi- 
 ness, has an equal amount been given by its citizens for 
 religious and benevolent purposes within the last two 
 years. 
 
 The state penitentiary is located in Alton. It has the 
 warden's house, guard house, twenty-four cells, and the 
 exterior wall around the yard erected. 
 
 The rapidity with which Alton has grown up from a bu- 
 siness state to its present prosperous condition has been 
 hardly equalled in the enterprising West. Mercantile bu- 
 siness was commenced here in 1831. Its facilities are 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 149 
 
 now great. Real estate has risen here more than 1000 
 per cent, within two years. 
 
 The prices of lots depend upon their location. The 
 best stands for business near the river sell from 300 to 
 400 dollars per foot front. Lots more retired, for pri- 
 vate residences, from 100 to 50 and 25 dollars per foot. 
 Stores rent from 1500 to 400, and dwelling houses from 
 600 to 200 dollars. Some of the large wholesale stores 
 do business from 250,000 to half a million of dollars an- 
 nually. 
 
 Seven or eight steamboats are owned here in wliole 
 or in part, and arrivals and departures occur every day 
 and at all times in the day during the season. Alton 
 now commands a large proportion of the trade of the 
 Upper Mississip|)i and Illinois rivers, and of the interior 
 country for one hundred miles. Besides the public rail- 
 roads that concentrate here, noticed imder the head of 
 " Internal Improvement," a survey has been made and 
 the stuck taken for one from Alton to Spritigfield, 72 miles, 
 which will open an important line of communication with 
 the interior, and eventually become connected with the 
 great line to the Atlantic cities. 
 
 The natural surface of much of the town site of Alton 
 is broken by bluiTs and ravines, but the enterprise of its 
 citizens and the corporation is fast removing these in- 
 conveniences by grading down its hills and filling up its 
 ravines. A contract of 60,000 dollars has recently been 
 entered upon to construct a culvert over the little Piasau 
 creek that passes through the centre of the town, over 
 which will soon be built one of the most capacious and 
 pleasant streets. Since its settlement the citizens of 
 Alton have enjoyed as good health, as those in any river 
 town in the West. Its population is about 2500. 
 
 We close this article with the following extract from 
 Beck's Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri, written in 1821. 
 
 " Alton, although yet small, possesses natural advan- 
 tages rarely equalled. Situated as it is, at the junction 
 of three large and navigable rivers; possessing a fine, 
 commodious harbor, and landing for boats at all seasons 
 
 13* 
 
150 A GAZETTEER 
 
 of the year; surrounded by a fertile country, rapidly set- 
 tling, it bids fair to become a populous, wealthy, and 
 commercial town." 
 
 Aikiri's Grove, in Ogle county, lies five miles southeast 
 of Oregon city, and east of Rock river, on the road from 
 Dixonville to Princeton and Peoria. Here are three or 
 four small groves, and thirty families. 
 
 America, the former county seat of Alexander county, 
 situated on the west bank of the Ohio, on the first high 
 land, and twelve miles above its mouth. The landing at 
 this place is much injured by a sand bar. 
 
 .dppanooce, a town site and post office on the Mississippi, 
 in Hancock county, ten miles above Commerce, and 
 eighteen miles northwest from Carthage. 
 
 Apple Creek post office. {See PVaverlei/.) 
 
 Apple Creek Prairie, in Greene county, lies north of 
 Apple creek, to the left of the road from Carrollton to 
 Jacksonville. It is ten miles long, and from two to four 
 miles wide, of good quality, and spread over with large 
 farms, and populous settlements. 
 
 Apple River, in Jo Daviess county, rises near the bound- 
 ary line, where its branches interlock with the waters of 
 the Pee-ka-ton-o-kee, runs a southwestern course about 
 forty-five miles, and enters the Mississippi twenty miles 
 below Galena. It is a rocky and rapid stream, with good 
 mill seats, and fifty yards wide at its mouth. The bot- 
 toms are excellent land. The uplands hilly ani, broken. 
 Larti-e bodies of timber are on its banks. Towards its 
 heads is a fine undulating country. 
 
 Apple Creek rises near the borders of Sangamon county, 
 runs a southwestern course through the southeastern 
 part of Morgan into Greene county, and e'.iters the Illinois 
 river in section thirty-six, fractional township eleven north, 
 fourteen west. It has several tributaries, which are noticed 
 under their respective names, and which water a valuable 
 tract of country, with a large population. 
 
 Arm of the Grand Prairie, in Jefferson county, lies eight 
 miles northwest from Mount Vernon. The soil is toler- 
 ably good, and the settlement contains about fifty families. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 151 
 
 Armstrong Post Office is in Wabash county, seven miles 
 above Mount Carmel. 
 
 Arrow smith's Settlement \s towards the east side of Mer- 
 cer county. 
 
 Ashmore''s Settlement^ in Coles county, fifteen miles 
 north of Charleston, and on the east side of the Embarras. 
 Timber and prairie good. 
 
 Ashton^ a post office and town site in Adams county, 
 nine miles south of Quincy. 
 
 Athens, a village in Sangamon county, on the east side, 
 and four miles from the Sangamon river, and fifteen miles 
 norih from Springfield. It has several stores, one steam 
 mill for sawing and flouring, and about seventy-five fami- 
 lies. It has timber of the Sangamon on the west, and the 
 prairies east, with a large settlement around. 
 
 Athens, a town site on the left bank of the Kaskaskia 
 river, in St. Clair county, known as HilVs Ferry. 
 
 Athertonh Settlement, in Alexander county, two miles 
 east from Unity, containing about one-hundred families. 
 The upland tolerably good. 
 
 Atlas, a small town in Pike county, situated on the north- 
 west quarter of section twenty-seven, township six south, 
 range five west. It is on a handsome tract of ground, 
 under the bluiTs, half a mile from Snycartee Slough, which 
 is navigable for steamboats to this place, in high water. 
 
 Aubuchon, a passage from the Mississippi to the Kas- 
 kaskia river, about four miles above the town of Kaskas- 
 kia. 
 
 Augusta, a town site and post office in Hancock county, 
 on southwest section twenty-three, township three north, 
 range five west, sixteen miles southwest from Carthage. 
 
 It has several families, and a respectable school. 
 
 Augusta, a town site on the west bank of the Illinois 
 river, in Pike county, ten miles east of Pittsfield, and 
 twenty-two miles from .Jacksonville. It is opposite the 
 termination of the Jacksonville, Ly nnville and Winchester 
 railroad, which is now under contract. Another company 
 has been chartered to extend this line from Augusta, by 
 Pittsfield and Atlas to Louisiana, Mo., from whence 
 
152 A GAZETTEER 
 
 another line of railroad has been projected and a charter 
 granted by the legislature of Missouri, across to Colum- 
 bia and the Missouri river. 
 
 Auburn^ a town site, in Sangamon county, on the north 
 side of Sugar creek, on the stage road, and contemplated 
 railroad route from Alton to Springfield, It has two stores, 
 one grocery, one tavern, and ten or twelve families, sur- 
 rounded with a beautiful prairie. 
 
 Jiu Sable, [Fr. snndy -^gravelly,'] a small stream in the 
 eastern part of La Salle county. It rises near the west 
 fork of Du Page, runs south mostly through prairie, and 
 enters the Illinois three miles below the junction of the 
 Des Plaines, and Kankakee. 
 
 Jlu Sahle Grove is in the northeastern part of La Salle 
 county, at the heads of the Au Sable creek. Here is a 
 fine body of timber surrounded with an extensive and rich 
 prairie. 
 
 Avlston, a town site and post office, in Clinton county, 
 on the Vinceunes and St, Louis stage road, with a dozen 
 houses. 
 
 Bachelder^s Grove, in Cook county, eighteen miles south- 
 west of Chicago, contains about two sections of timber, 
 and a large settlement. 
 
 Budgley''s Settlement, in St. Clair county, five n>iles 
 northwesterly from Belleville, one of the oldest American 
 settlements in the county. 
 
 Bailet/'s Point, a branch of the Vermilion, and a set- 
 tlement in La Salle county, fourteen miles southwest 
 from Ottawa. Here is a small tract of excellent timber, 
 surrounded with the choicest prairie. The settlement 
 contains about twenty families. 
 
 Baker^s Grove, in Ogle county, lies bordering on Rock 
 river, between Grand Detour and Oregon city. It is eight 
 miles long and three miles wide; timber good and land 
 excellent. 
 
 Bankstone*s Fork, in Gallatin county, rises in the in- 
 terior, runs a southeastern course, and enters the South 
 Fork of Saline creek, fourteen miles above Equality. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 153 
 
 It has a fine country on its borders, and a large settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Banning's Settlement, in Shelby county, near the Kas- 
 kaskia river, twelve miles south of Shelby ville. The land 
 is good, and plenty of timber and prairie. 
 
 The bottom on the opposite side of the river is over- 
 flowed in hiorh water. 
 
 Barmifs Prairie, in Wabash county, seven miles north 
 of Mount Carmel, is a good tract of land well cultivated, 
 Barbee's Settlement, seven miles northwest of Palestine, 
 in Crawford county, with timber and prairie. 
 
 Bartletfs Settlement, in the southwestern part of 
 McDonough county, on Crooked creek, fifteen miles from 
 Macomb. The land is good, and the settlement exten- 
 sive. 
 
 Bath, a post office and settlement on the south side of 
 Cass county, on the road from Jacksonville to Beards- 
 town. 
 
 Batcheldorsville post office is on the east side of Coles 
 county, seven miles from Charleston. 
 
 Bay Creek rises in the prairies towards the eastern part 
 of Pike county, and running westward enters Calhoun 
 county, and forms a kind of bay at its mouth, which is 
 navigable for some miles. 
 
 The land on its borders is generally good, except about 
 the bluffs, where it is broken. 
 
 Beardstown, the seat of justice for Cass county, is situ- 
 ated on the Illinois river, twenty-five miles northeast 
 from Jacksonville, on fractional township eighteen north, 
 and twelve west. It is on elevated ground, sandy soil, 
 and entirely above the highest floods. It has thirteen 
 stores, four of which do commission and forwarding 
 business, three groceries, two druggists, four physicians, 
 one large hotel, and several boarding houses, two bakeries, 
 two shoemakers, three tailors, two blacksmiths, two cabi- 
 net makers, one silversmith, one watchmaker, four car- 
 penters and housejoiners, three cooper shops, one painter 
 and glazier, two tinners, two brick and one stone niasons, 
 one "carriage maker, two steam flouring mills, with six 
 
154 A GAZETTEER 
 
 pairs of stones, one steam sawmill, one steam distillery, 
 and a larj^e brewer5% one lawyer, one minister of the gos- 
 pel, and about 1,000 inhabitants. There is a Methodist 
 and an Episcopalian congregation, but no house of wor- 
 ship. 
 
 Canalprnjed. A company has been chartered and sur- 
 veys made preparatory to the construction of a canal from 
 this place to Sangamon river, at Huron, and from thence 
 to improve the river by slack water navigation to the head 
 And it has been ascertained that a water communication 
 may be opened at moderate expense across the state to 
 the Vermilion of the Wabash. The construction of that 
 portion of the canal from Beardstown to the Sangamon 
 river can be easily effected. 
 
 Bear Creeh, a small branch of the Macoupin, twelve 
 miles west from Carlinville. 
 
 Bear Creek heads in String prairie, and enters Apple 
 creek, in Greene county. A considerable settlement is 
 on its borders. 
 
 Bear Creek^ a small stream and branch of the middle 
 fork of Shoal creek, and a settlement in Montgomery 
 county. The land is rather level, and inclined to be wet, 
 but fertile. 
 
 Bear Creek^ a small stream in the southeastern part 
 of Sangamon county, with a considerable settlement. It 
 enters the South Fork of Sangamon from the south side. 
 
 Bear Creek, a small stream that rises in the north part 
 of Gallatin county, runs south, and enters the North Fork 
 of Saline creek, ten miles above Equality. Here is much 
 good land, and a large settlement. 
 
 Bear Creek, is a fine stream in Adams county, with two 
 principal forks. South Fork rises in one north, six west. 
 North Fork rises in five north, seven west, in Hancock 
 county, and interlocks with the western branch of Crooked 
 creek. They unite in section thirteen, two north, eight 
 west. After passing through the bluff's into the Missis- 
 sippi bottom, this stream divides into two prongs; one 
 runs a northwest course and enters the Mississip[»i — the 
 other prong bears a little south of west, receiving several 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 155 
 
 fiinall streams, and enters Boston Bay, one mile above 
 Qiiincy. 
 
 This stream is about forty yards wide at its separation, 
 and has a number of mill seats. Few bodies of land in 
 the state equal that which lines its banks. 
 
 Large settlements extend along its timber. 
 
 Bear Prairie is a small tract in Wayne county, five 
 miles east of Fairfield, with twenty families. 
 
 Beaucoup is a large settlement on Beaucoup creek, in 
 "Washington county, south of New Nashville. The land 
 is a mixture of timber and prairie, and good second rate 
 soil. 
 
 Beaucoup ScWement is in Jackson county, twelve miles 
 northeast from Brownsville, between the Big Beaucoup 
 creek and Big Muddy river. The land is rich, heavily 
 timbered, with a considerable settlement. 
 
 Beaver Creeks called also Stinking creek, rises in Bond 
 county, runs south into Clinton county, crosses the Vin- 
 cennes and St. Louis road, four miles west of Carlyle, 
 and empties into Shoal creek, in the northeastern part of 
 township one north, four west. It is about twenty-five 
 miles in length, is a sluggish, muddy stream, and waters 
 a fine tract of country. 
 
 The settlement extends its whole length. 
 
 Beaver Creek rises in Boone county, runs southwest 
 and enters Kishwaukee, twelve miles above its mouth. 
 It is sparsely timbered with walnut, linden, oaks of va- 
 rious species, and oak openings. Soil, sand and clay; 
 prairies, rolling; fine springs. 
 
 Beaver Creek, a branch of Iroquois river in Iroquois 
 county. 
 
 Beck'' s CreekhezAs in the western part of Shelby county, 
 runs southeast, and enters the Kaskaskia in the northern 
 part of Fayette, eighteen miles above Vandalia. It is a 
 mill stream, has much good land on its banks, and 
 rolling prairie adjoining. 
 
 The timber is oak of various kinds, walnut, locust, cof- 
 fee nut, cherry, elm, etc. 
 
 Begg's Settlement, in the southeast part of Union coun- 
 
156 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ty, on the waters of Cash river. It is a fine, undulating, 
 timbered region, and contains about 120 families. 
 
 Belief ountaine^ a large spring and settlement in Monroe 
 county, near Waterloo. In the vicinity of this place, 
 several attacks were made by the Indians, forty years 
 since; some of the inhabitants were killed and others 
 taken prisoners. 
 
 Belleville^ the seat of justice for St. Clair county, is 
 situated on sections twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty- 
 seven, and twenty-eight, of township one north, in range 
 eight west of the third principal meridian. It is a neat 
 flourisliing village, on high ground, six miles from the 
 American bottom, and thirteen miles east southeast from 
 St. Louis. The public buildings are a handsome court 
 house of brick, finished in a superior style, a brick jail, 
 a clerk's office, a public hall belonging to a library com- 
 pany, and a framed Methodist house of worship. It has 
 two select schools; one for boarders half a mile distant. 
 
 There are two largre merchant steam flouringr mills, with 
 six pairs of stones, a brewery, a steam distillery, a wool 
 carding machine, eight carpenters, one cabinet maker, 
 five blacksmith's shops, one tinner's shop, two silver- 
 smiths, three wagon makers, one turner and wheel- 
 wrigiit, two shoemakers' shops, one millwright, two coop- 
 ers, two saddlers, two tailors, one bakery, one high 
 school, one common school, a Presbyterian, Baptist and a 
 Methodist congregation, and about 700 inhabitants, of 
 vvliich about 100 are Germans, twenty French, and the 
 residue Americans. There are three lawyers, four phy- 
 sicians, and four resident ministers of the gospel. 
 
 It is surrounded with a rich and extensive agricultural 
 settlement, and a fine body of timber. Belleville contains 
 a printing office, which issues the " St. Clair Gazetie^^ 
 and is a place of considerable business. 
 
 Bdleview Prairie^ is a rich, dry, prairie, at the foot of 
 the bluffs, in Calhoun county. It is six miles long, and 
 three fourths of a mile wide, with a gradual descent from 
 the bluffs. Belleview post office, is in this settlement, 
 which contains about forty families. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 157 
 
 Belvldere^ a village of a dozen families, two stores, 
 a post office, saw and grist mill, and rapidly increasing, 
 in the western part of Boone county on the stage road from 
 Chicago to Galena. It is situated on Squaw prairie, and 
 has a delightful appearance. Near the town site is a 
 mound, fifty rods long and about thirty rods wide, ele- 
 vated seventy feet above the bottom lands of Rock river. 
 On the top of this mound is the cemetery of an Indian 
 called Big Thunder. He died about the period of the 
 Sauk war in 1831 or '32, and was placed in a sitting pos- 
 ture on a flag mat, wrapped in blankets, his scalping 
 knife by his side to cut the plugs of tobacco that are offer- 
 ed him. Over the body is constructed a covering of 
 wood and earth, with an opening in front, where Big 
 Thunder may be seen sitting with his tobacco lying 
 before him. The Indians still visit the place to replenish 
 his stores of tobacco, whiskey, &c. 
 
 The citizens of this region are about to erect a College 
 edifice on this spot, in a vault under which the bones of 
 Big Thunder will repose unmolested. A charter was 
 granted for the purpose ut the recent session of the legis- 
 fature. The Rev. S. S. Whitman, formerly Professor in 
 the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution, New 
 York, is engaged in the enterprise. 
 
 Btmaii's Mill and settlement on Apple creek, in Greene 
 county, seven miles northwest from Carrollton. 
 
 Bennington^ a post office in the western part of Fulton 
 county. 
 
 Berlin^ a town site and post office, in Sangamon county, 
 on the west side of Island Grove, seventeen miles west 
 from Springfield, on the main road to Jacksonville. 
 
 Bernudotte^ a town on Spoon river, in Fulton county, 
 on section nineteen, five north, two west, 12 miles south- 
 west from Lewistown. It has one sawmill, one flouring 
 mill with three runs of stones, three stores, two groceries, 
 one tavern, and a common school. 
 
 Spoon river can easily be made navigable to this place. 
 
 Berrj/s Settlement is in the forks of Crooked creek, in 
 Clinton county, eight miles southeasterly from Cariyle. 
 14 
 
158 A GAZETTEER 
 
 BefhcU a populous settlement in St. Clair county, ten 
 miles nortli of Belleville. Here is a Baptist meeting 
 house and conorregation, and a moral, religious society of 
 industrious farmers. 
 
 Beihavy^ a post office and settlement, in Sangamon 
 county, twenty-one miles southeast from Springfield, on 
 the road to Shelhyville. 
 
 Bi^ Barren Grove is in the western part of Putnam 
 and eastern part of Henry county, 25 miles long, and 
 from 2 to 3 miles wide; and forms the dividing ridge be- 
 tween the waters of Spoon river and the Winnebago 
 Swamp. The timber is scattering, resembling barrens, 
 with various kinds of oaks, hickory, &c. The west end is 
 called Black Oak Ridge where a colony from Welhersfield, 
 Con., is settled. 
 
 Big Bay Creeks a small stream that rises in the north 
 eastern part of Johnson county. It takes a southeastern 
 direction, receiving Cedar creek in that county, and Little 
 Bay creek in Pope county, and enters the Ohio about six 
 miles below Golconda. Its bottoms are wide, and the 
 bluffs rather broken; and towards the Ohio the bottom land 
 produces large quantities of cyj)ress with other growth. 
 
 Big Bottom is a settlement in the northwest corner of 
 Alexander county, on Clear creek. The soil is first rate 
 alluvion. 
 
 Big Bcaucoup CreeJe, one of the four heads of Big Mud- 
 dy river. It rises in the southeastern part of Washing- 
 ton county, township three south, in range two west, runs 
 a south course through Perry county and enters the Big 
 Muddy in section thirty-five, eight south, two west, eight 
 miles above Brownsville. It has much good land on its 
 borders, some excellent prairies, and fine timber, consist- 
 ing of oak, hickory, ash, poplar, elm, walnut, etc. The 
 bottom land is rather wet. Big Beaucoup is navigable for 
 flat boats. 
 
 Big Creek, in Pope county, rises in the northern part of 
 the county, runs south, and enters the Ohio, fifteen miles 
 above Golconda. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 159 
 
 Big Creek, in Crawford county, a small stream that enters 
 the Emharras in the southwestern part of the county. 
 
 Big Creek is a small stream that rises on the Grand 
 Prairie, in Edgar county, runs a southeast direction, 
 passes through a corner of Clark, and enters the Wabash 
 near the point at which the dividing line of the two states 
 leaves that river. The land through which it passes is 
 good, well timbered, and densely settled with a farming 
 population. 
 
 Big Creek, in Effingham county, a branch of the Little 
 Wabash, running a southeast course through Brockett's 
 settlement to that river. 
 
 Big Creek, in Macon county, a branch of the North 
 Fork of Sanoramon. It is formed from Lonor creek, and 
 Find ley's fork. 
 
 Big Creek, a stream in Fayette county, which rises in 
 the Grand prairie, northeast from Vandalia, crosses the 
 national road twelve miles east of that place, runs south- 
 west, and enters the Kaskaskia in the lower part of the 
 county. 
 
 Big Creek, in the western part of Crawford county, runs 
 south and enters the Enibarras. 
 
 Big Creek, in Fulton county, a small stream that rises 
 near Canton, runs southwest, and enters Spoon river one 
 mile above the ro.id from Rushville to Levi'istown. A con- 
 siderable settlement and good land towards its head. 
 
 Big Grove, in Cliampaign county, is on a branch of the 
 Salt Fork of the Vermilion river, and is about the centre 
 of the county. It is a body of heavy timbered, rich land, 
 twelve miles lonor, and of an avprajre of three miles in 
 width. The country around is most delightful, the prairie 
 is elevated, dry, and of a very rich soil, ihe water is good, 
 and the country very healthy. Tiie population at Big 
 Grove must now exceed 200 tamilies. 
 
 Big Grove, in Kane county, is on the South Fork of the 
 Kishwaukee. The surface around undulating, and the 
 soil a black sandy loam. 
 
 Stratified limestone, flint, pebbles and coal abound iu 
 this resfion. 
 
160 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Big Grove, in La Salle county, twenty miles northeast 
 from Ottawa, is about three miles in diameier. The land 
 in the timber is wet, but the surrounding- prairie is dry, 
 undulatiricr and rich. 
 
 Big Grove, a limbered tract, or rather Sfveral or )ves, 
 coimc^cted. for twelve miles in lengrth, in the southwest- 
 ern part of McLean county, on the third principal n.eridi- 
 an, and township twenty-one north. It is a fine tract of 
 country, rich in soil and well timbered, on the Kickapoo 
 creek. Blooming-ton, the county seat, is eiohteen miles 
 from the heart of the settlement, which contains from one 
 hundred and fifty to two hundred families. 
 
 Big Grove, a beautiful, high, undulating, and rich tract 
 of timber, near some of the lieads of Spoon river, in Henry 
 cou' ty. It is twelve or fifteen miles long, arid about three 
 miles wide, surrounded with extensive and rather level 
 prairies. 
 
 Big Mound Prairie, in Wayne county, is five miles west 
 from Fairfield, three miles in extent, undulating surface, 
 thin soil, and has about fifty families. 
 
 A large mound gives the name to this prairie. 
 
 Big Muddy river, (called by the French who discover- 
 ed it, Riviere au Vase, or Vaseux) a considerable stream 
 in the southwestern part of the stale. 
 
 It has four principal heads, which, rising in Washincr- 
 ton, Jefferson, and Hamilton counties, and uniting- in Jack- 
 son county, form the main stream. 
 
 They are the Beauconp, Little Muddy, and Middle 
 Fcrk. The genera! course of the stream is southwest, 
 and it is navigable some distance above Brownsville. Be- 
 low Brownsville it turns south to the county line, makes 
 a short bend, and enters the Mississippi near the north- 
 eastern corner of township eleven south, in range four west 
 of the third principal meridian. 
 
 Its bluffs generally are abrupt, the land along its borders 
 and branches is unriulating, and for mostof its length well 
 timbered. Valuable salim s exist on its banks, and are 
 worked about i!rownsville, where there is an inexhausti- 
 ble bed of bituminous coal. Native copper has been found 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 161 
 
 on its banks in detached masses. It runs through a fine 
 agricultural and grazing country. 
 
 Big Neck is a settlement in one south, six west, at the 
 head of the South Fork of Bear creek, in Adams county: 
 a tract of good land. 
 
 Big Prairie^ in White county, between the Little and 
 Big Wabash, about three miles in diameter, and nearly 
 all in a state of cultivation. The soil is sandy, but of 
 great fertility. 
 
 Big Rock Creek, is a branch of Fox river in Kane 
 county. 
 
 Big Woods, a large tract of timbered land, lying on the 
 east side of Fox river, in Kane county, and provided the 
 surveys were run it would lie mostly in townships .38 and 
 SI) N., range 8 east. It is about 10 miles in length and 
 from 4 to 5 miles in width. The timber consists chiefly 
 of white, black, yellow, and bur oaks, sugar maple, lin- 
 den, black and white walnut or butternut, hickory, ash of 
 various species, poplar, ironwood, elm, cherry, etc. The 
 soil is generally a dark sandy loam; sometimes approach- 
 es to clay, generally a little undulating, but in some places 
 quite level and a little wet. The Big Woods are thickly 
 settled on all sides, as is the prairie country adjoining. 
 
 Bethel a post otfice and town site with a dozen families 
 in Morgan county, 12 miles west of Jacksonville. 
 
 Bethesda, a post otfice in Coles county, 8 miles west of 
 Charleston. 
 
 Birch Creek, is a small stream that rises in Morgan 
 county, aufl enters Apple creek in Greene county. The 
 settlement contains about tweuty-five families. 
 
 Blackberry Creek, in Kane county, rises in the central 
 part of the county, runs south and enters Fox river near 
 the south line of the county. Groves of timber, barrens, 
 and rich undulating prairie along its course. 
 
 Black Creek is an insignificant stream, in Pike county, 
 that enters the Snycartee. 
 
 Black Partridge Creek, a post office, and a small stream 
 in the upper part of Tazewell county, that enters the Illi- 
 nois river. 
 
 14* 
 
162 A GAZETTEER 
 
 BloomJicM, a town and post office in Edgar county, 10 
 miles north of" Paris, with three stores, two groceries, one 
 tavern, one physician, various mechanics, and about 20 
 families. 
 
 Blooming Grave, a tract oftimbered land and a large set- 
 tlement, in McLeiin county, adjoining Bloomington. It 
 is about six miles long from northwest to southeast, and 
 varying iti width from one to four miles, containing about 
 twelve square miles of beautiful timber, with a large set- 
 tlement of industrious farmers around it. Nearly all the 
 land is already occupied with settlers, a majority of whom 
 are from Ohio. Both timbered land and prairie are first 
 rate. 
 
 Bloomingdale is the locality of a colony in Tazewell 
 county. 
 
 Bloomington, is the seat of justice for McLean county and 
 is beautifully situated on the margin of a fine prairie and 
 north side of Blooming-Grove, on section four, township 
 twenty north, range two east. It lias eight or ten stores, 
 three groceries, two taverns, two lawyers, three physicians, 
 a handsome academy building, various mechanics, two 
 steam mills for sawing, a Presbyterian and a Methodist 
 meeting house, and ministers, atid about 700 population. 
 1 he surrounding country is most delightful. 
 
 Block House, a name given to an American settlement 
 formed about forty years since, in the American bottom, 
 in the southwestern part of St. (ylair county. At the 
 foot of the bluffs, near this, is a spring that regularly ebbs 
 and flows, once in twenty-foui hours. 
 
 Blue Creek, in the upper part of Tazewell county, rises 
 in the prairie, runs west, and enters the Illinois below 
 Spring bay. 
 
 Blaffdale, a settlement in Greene county, ten miles west 
 of Carrollton, and under the bluffs that overhang the Illi- 
 nois bottom. The land is rich, dry, and beautifully situ- 
 ated for six miles in extent, under overhanging bluffs and 
 precipices from which springs of "crystal waters" gusli 
 forth. The settlement is generally arranged along the 
 bluffs fron:i Apple creek to the Macoupin, from three to 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 163 
 
 four miles from the Illinois river, and consists of fifty or 
 sixty families. The selilementof Bliiffdale has two stores, 
 one trrocery, one tavern, one minister of the gospel, and a 
 Baptist concrregation, one post oflice, one school, and vari- 
 ous mechanics. 
 
 Blue Pointy a point of timber projecting into the prairie, 
 in Effingham county, five miles north west of F]vvinartoii. 
 
 Blue River. There are tv.'o siTiall streams of this name 
 in Pike county distinguished as J?/j§- and Litfte Blue. They 
 rise in the middle of the coimty, run a southeast course 
 and enter the Illinois, in three south, two west, about six 
 miles apart. The land through which they pass is fertile. 
 
 Bulive, a town site in the forks of Sangamon river, ten 
 miles southeast from Springfield, surrounded with a large 
 and flourishing settlement. 
 
 Boltinghnnse Prairie., lies south of Albion, in Edwards 
 county. It is about four miles long and three broad, dry, 
 undulating surface, and good soil. 
 
 Bon Pas {Bumpau,) a small village near the creek of 
 the same name in the nortlieast part of White county. 
 . Bon Pas, a creek that divides Wabash and Edwards 
 counties. It rises near the Vincennes road, fifteen miles 
 west of Lawrenceville, and taking a southeasterly course, 
 enters the Wabash river in section fourteen, township 
 three south, range fourteen west of the second principal 
 meridian, at the corner of Wabash and White counties. 
 Its banks are low and swan>[)y. 
 
 Bon Pas Prairie, tour miles northeast from Albion, in 
 Edwards county, and about two miles in diameter. It con- 
 tains good land, and a settlement. 
 
 Bon Pas Settlement, near the southeast corner of Ed- 
 wards county, between the Bon Fas creek and Little Wa- 
 bash river. It is a timbered tract, good land, and contains 
 about sixty families. 
 
 Boston Bay is an arm of the Mississippi, above Quincy 
 in Adams county, which, at a tolerable stage of water, fur- 
 nishes a fine harbor for boats. 
 
 Boston, a town site in Canaan settlement, Shelby county 
 
164 A GAZETTEER 
 
 twelve miles north of Shelbyville, township thirteen 
 north, four east, on tlie west fork of the Kaskaskia. 
 
 Bostwick's Settlement, is three miles northeast from 
 Hillsboro' in Montgomery county, a dry, rolling, fertile, 
 prairie. 
 
 Bottom Settlement, commences in the northwestern part 
 of Union county, and extends down the Mississippi- This 
 bottom is timbered, and is from three to four miles wide 
 but part of it is wet and inundated. 
 
 The settlement lies chiefly along the bank of the 
 river. 
 
 Bottom Settlement, in Alexander county; lies along the 
 Mississippi, on rich alluvial land, heavily timbered, and 
 contains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 Bradley''s Settlement is at the head of Kincaid creek, 
 in the north part of Jackson county. It is a timbered re- 
 gion, tolerable land, and has twenty-five or thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Brattleville, a post office, in Carter's settlement, in Mc- 
 Donough county, twelve miles south of Macomb, and on 
 the mail road to Rushviile. 
 
 Bridfre's Settlement, in Johnson county, ten miles west 
 from Vienna, contains some tolerably good land. Popu- 
 lation about sixty families. 
 
 Brighton, a town site and post office in Brown's prairie, 
 thesouthwestcorner of Macoupin county, 12 miles north of 
 Alton. It has two stores, a castor oil factory and a do- 
 zen families. 
 
 Broad Run, a small stream in Coles county. It rises in 
 the Grand prairie, and runs southwest into the Kaskaskia. 
 Settlement small. 
 
 Brockets Settlement on the west side of tlie Little Wa- 
 bash, eight miles southwesterly from Ewington, in Ef- 
 fingham county. The surface is tolerably level and the 
 settlement contains forty or fifty families. 
 
 Brooklyn, a town site laid off on the bank of the Mis- 
 sissippi river, in St. Clair county, opposite North St. 
 Louis. 
 
 Brown's Point, a settlement at the head of timber in 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 165 
 
 a larpre prairie in Morgan counly, ten miles south of Jack- 
 sonville. 
 
 Brow7i's Pi-airie^ in the corner of Macoupin and Greene 
 counties and pxteiidin<T into Madison county, between 
 Wood river and the Piasau. It is rich, dry soil, and is 
 about twelve niiles north Ironi Alton. 
 
 Bro-vnsville, the seat of of justice for Jackson county, 
 is situated on the north side ot Bia Muddy river, on sec- 
 lion two, nine south, and three west of the third principal 
 meridian. It is twelve miles by land, and twenty-five by 
 water from the Mississippi, and is surrounded by hills. 
 
 The Big Muddy Salines and coal banks are near this 
 plare. The population is about twenty families. 
 
 Brahtie's Creek rises in the north part of Edgar county, 
 and runs eastward across a portion of Indiana into the 
 Wabash. The timber on its banks is chiefly oak. The 
 settlement is in the forks, and along the north fork of the 
 creek. The land is good. Prairie predomiftates over the 
 timbered land. The post office is called Bluomfield. 
 
 Brush Creek rises in the east part of Shelby county, 
 runs a southwest course, and empties into the Kaskaskia 
 river, in the south part of the county. The timber is in- 
 diiTereni, arid the prairies are level and wet. 
 
 Brush Creek rises in the prairies in the south part of 
 Sangamon county, runs north and enters Horse creek, a 
 little above its junction with the Sangamon. 
 
 Brush Hill post office is in Cook county, in the north- 
 east corner of township thirty-eight n(;rth, range eleven 
 east, and sixteen miles west of Chicago. 
 
 Brush Prairie Creek, a (rifling stream in Franklin coun- 
 ty, rises in a prairie of the same name, runs west, and 
 enters the middle fork of Muddy river. Good timbered 
 land. 
 
 Brushy Fork, a small branch of the Embarras on the 
 east side, and in tlie northern part of Lawrence county. 
 It runs a south course, and enters the main stream six 
 miles above l.awrenceviile. 
 
 The settlement is new, containing twenty-five or thirty 
 families, and a portion of the country barrens. 
 
166 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Brushy Fork., a small stream that rises in the prairie, 
 near the borders of Edgar county, and taking a southwest 
 course, enters the Emharras in Coles county, fourteen 
 miles above Charleston. On the east sid^ the land is 
 rolling and fertile, and there is a settlement of fifteen or 
 twenty families; on the west side the land is level and 
 rather wet. 
 
 Brxtshy Prairie, on the east side of the Little Wabash, 
 in Wayne county, eleven miles east of Fairfield, and con- 
 tains about fifty families. 
 
 Buck-heart Prairie, in Fulton county, is northeast from 
 Lewistown, and joins Canton prairie. It is six or eight 
 miles in extent, and has a considerable settlement. 
 
 Buck-heart Creek rises near the South Fork of the San- 
 gamon river, runs northwest, and enters the North Fork. 
 It has a considerable settlement. 
 
 Buck-heart Grove, at the head of Buck-heart creek, 
 in Santramon county, fifteen or twentj'^ miles southeast 
 from Springfield. It is a fine tract of timber, about 1000 
 acres, surrounded with high prairie and settlement. 
 
 Buck Prairie lies in Edwards county, six miles north- 
 east from Albion, and is about two miles and a half 
 across. 
 
 Buck-horti Prairie is in Morgan county, six or eight 
 miles south of Jacksonville. The soil is rich, but its sur- 
 face is rather level and wet. 
 
 Buckle''s Grove, at the head of the north branch of Salt 
 creek, in McLean county, contains about twelve sections 
 of timbered land, surrounded with rich prairie. It is in 
 twenty-two north, four east, and is about six or eight 
 miles east from Bloomington. 
 
 Timber principally oak, with some sugar maple, and 
 the land around it rather level. 
 
 Buffaloe Grove, in Jo Daviess count3^ twelve miles 
 north of Dixon's ferry, and on the road to GaleUfi. It 
 contains four or five sections of timber, surrounded with 
 the richest prairie, a post office called Buffaloe Grove, 
 and a town site called St. Marion. 
 
 Buffaloc-heart Grove lies in Sangamon county, fourteen 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 167 
 
 miles northeast from Springfield and six miles south- 
 easterly from Elk-heart grove, which it resembles. It 
 is about three miles long, and one mile and a half wide, 
 containing about four sections of timber and twenty-five 
 or thirty families. The rushes, which cover the prairies 
 around, furnish winter food for cattle. 
 
 Buffalue Rock, a singular promontory on the north side 
 of tlie Illinois river, in La Salle county, six miles below 
 Ottawa. It rises fifty or sixty feet nearly perpendicular 
 on three sides, and contains on its surface about six hun- 
 dred acres of timber and prairie. 
 
 Bnllard's Prairie, sometimes called Gardner's prairie, 
 in the western })art of Lawrence county, sixteen miles 
 from Lawrenceville. It is eight or ten miles long, and 
 two miles wide, second rate soil, and has considerable 
 settlements on its borders. 
 
 Bullbona Grove in sixteen north, eijjht east, in Putnam 
 county. Prairie rich and undulating. 
 
 Buncombe Settlement, in Johnson county, eiorht miles 
 northwest from Vienna, contains forty families; soil rather 
 broken, thin and rocky. 
 
 Bunker Hill, an elevated town site in the south part of 
 Macoupin county, section fourteen, seven north, eight 
 west, in a large undulating prairie. 
 
 Bureau Creek rises in the northern part of Putnam coun- 
 ty, runs southwest, receives Little Bureau, turns thence 
 southeast, and enters the Illinois river nearly opposite 
 Hennepin. It is a fine mill stream, with a bold current, 
 rock, gravel, and sand in its bottom, and receives a num- 
 ber of branches. About the bluffs of the Illinois the sur- 
 face of the land is broken, but in general it is excel- 
 lent the whole length of the stream. Between its branches 
 are fine prairies, undulating, rich, and dry, and along its 
 borders is much excellent timber. 
 
 BurnsicWs Settlement, in Clinton county, five miles 
 north of Carlyle, called by some the Irish settlement. 
 
 Burnt Prairie, in the northwestern part of White, and 
 extending into Wayne county, is about two miles in di- 
 
168 A GAZETTEER 
 
 anieter, contains some g'ood land and a dense settlement. 
 Here is a post office and town site. 
 
 Burnt Frairie, in Edwards county, four miles north- 
 west from Albion. It is about six miles long- and two 
 miles wide, interspersed with small groves and points of 
 timber. The soil is good, and the population dense. 
 Here is a windmill erected by a Mr. Clark, an English 
 gentleman, which does good business as a grist mill. 
 
 ^^rort, a town site in Champaign county in Big Grove, 
 three and half miles northwest from Urbanna, with three 
 or four families. 
 
 Cache Mere^ a small lake in McHenr}' county. 
 
 CadweWs Branch,, a small branch of the Mauvaiseterre, 
 which it enters from the south, ten miles below Jackson- 
 ville. It is a mill stream and rocky. 
 
 CahcA-ia, and old French village, and one of the earliest 
 in Illinois, situated in the American bottom, in ^t. Clair 
 county, five miles south of VViggin's Ferry, and ten miles 
 north of west from Belleville. 
 
 The Cahokias, (or according to the orthography of the 
 early French explorers, the Cao^J^'G-s,) one of the tribes of 
 the |»reat nation of Illini, had made this a resting place 
 for a long time previous to the discovery of the Missis- 
 sippi, probably on account of the game which abounded 
 in the vicinity. It is probable that the first settlement 
 was made here by the French, shortly after La Salle de- 
 scended the Mississippi, in 1683. 
 
 Charlevoix, who visited the place in 1721, expresses 
 his astonishment that his countrymen had pitchi-d upon 
 so inconvenient a situation, being " half a league" from 
 the river. He says, however, the people told him that 
 the Mississippi otice washed the foot of the village, but 
 that in three years it had receded half a league, and that 
 the people were talking of removing to a more eligible 
 situation. 
 
 In 1766, it contained forty families; and at the com- 
 mencement of the revolutionary war they had increased 
 to fifty. This is about their present number. It was once 
 the seat of a considerable fur trade. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 169 
 
 Both the Spanish and French governments, in form- 
 ing settlements on the Mississippi, had special regard to 
 convenience of social intercourse, and protection Irom 
 the Indians. All their settlements were required to be 
 in the form of villages or towns, and lots of a convenient 
 size for a door yard, garden and stable yard were pro- 
 vided for each family. To each village were granted two 
 tracts of land at convenient distances, for " commonfields 
 
 and " commons.''^ ^ „ i • j j 
 
 A common field is a tract of land of several hundred 
 acres, enclosed in common by the villagers, each person 
 furnishintr his proportion of labor, and each family pos- 
 sessing individual interest in a portion of the field, mark- 
 ed off,'' and bounded from the rest. Ordinances were 
 made to reo-ulate the repairs of fences, the time of ex- 
 cludino- catUe in the spring, and the time of gathering 
 the cro'p and opening the field for the range of cattle m 
 the fall. Each plat of ground in the common field was 
 owned in fee simple by the person to whom granted, sub- 
 ject to sale and conveyance, the same as any landed pro- 
 perty. , , . c 
 
 A common is a tract of land granted to the town or 
 wood and pasturage, in which each owner of a village lot 
 has a comvion, but not an individual right. In some cases 
 this tract embraced several thousand acres. 7 he " com- 
 mon" attached to Cahokia, extends up the prairie oppo- 
 site St. Louis. 
 
 Cahokia creek rises in Macoupin county, runs in a 
 southwesterly direction through Madison into St. Clair 
 county, and empties into the Mississippi two miles be- 
 low the ferry at St. Louis. Through the American bot- 
 tom the course of this stream is very sluggish, and 
 meanders greatly. A mill dam backs up the water fif- 
 teen milesr Near its borders are several lakes and 
 ponds rendering this portion of the American bottom 
 
 unhealthy. , . .,i j 
 
 Formerly this creek passed Cahokia village, and en- 
 tered the Mississippi further down, but a mischievous 
 Frenchman, from some pique against the village, cut a 
 15 
 
170 A GAZETTEER 
 
 channel from the creek to the river, and formed its present 
 outlet. Along its borders are sixty or seventy mounds of 
 various shapes and sizes. 
 
 Cairo is located near the mouth of the Ohio and extends 
 across the point of land from river to river. Tlie termi- 
 nation of the great central railroad is to be at or near the 
 site of Cairo. 
 
 Calamic, a stream at the south end of lake Michigan. 
 It rises in Indiana, runs westward into Illinois, turns north 
 and enters the lake. Much of the country near the lake is 
 low and swampy. Further up are rapids and falls in the 
 streann. 
 
 Caledonia, a town laid off on the bluffs of the Ohio in 
 Alexander county, three miles above America. A wharf is 
 here constructing to secure a good landing for boats which 
 is wanted at America. 
 
 It has two or three stores, a dozen families, and is 
 thought to be an important site for business. 
 
 Calumet^ a large stream that rises in Indiana, winds 
 into Illinois, turns again and enters the lake Michigan, 
 near the boundary line. Much of the country near the 
 lake is low and swampy. Further up are rapids, and good 
 water power. 
 
 Calumet,, a town site with 8 or 10 houses and a post of- 
 fice near the mouth of the Calumet. 
 
 Camden, a town site at the mouth of the Illinois river in 
 the southwest part of Green county. 
 
 Cameron's Settlement, in Fulton count}^ eight miles 
 northwest from Lewistown, is in a tract of good land, a 
 mixture of timber and prairie, with a considerable popu- 
 lation. 
 
 CamphelVs Island, in' the Mississippi, ten miles above 
 Rock Island, in the upper rapids of the Mississippi. 
 
 Camp Creek, a small stream in Randolph county, that 
 enters the Kaskaskia river on the west side, in five south, 
 eight west. 
 
 Camp Creek is an insignificant stream that rises in the 
 prairies which divide Hancock from Warren county, and 
 runs west into the Mississippi. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 171 
 
 Camp Creek in Mercer county, rises in the interior of 
 Henry county, runs west and enters Edwards river in 
 township fifteen north, range one west; high, rolling 
 prairie, and Richland grove. 
 
 Camp Fork, a hranch of Crooked creek in McDonough 
 county, rises in Hickory grove, on the north side of seven 
 north, two west, runs south, and unites with Drowning 
 fork. The land on these creeks is of the first quality. 
 
 Canaan is a rich settlement in Shelby county, twelve 
 miles north of Shelbyville: a very superior tract. 
 
 Canaan, a post office, in Rock Island county, 20 miles 
 north of Stephenson. 
 
 Canteen Creek rises in ridge prairie, in the south part 
 of Madison county, runs a western course, and enters the 
 Cahokia creek in the American bottom. Little Canteen 
 creek rises in St. Clair county, and enters the main creek 
 about the bluffs. 
 
 Canteen Settlement, in Madison county, about six miles 
 south of Edvvardsville. 
 
 Carlton, a pleasant town in Fulton county, on the borders 
 of a large prairie, fifteen miles north of Lewistown on 
 section twenty-seven, seven north, four east. 
 
 It is a respectable town, has eight or ten stores, a large 
 academy and a charter for a college, and a population of 
 five or six hundred. The country around is high, undu- 
 lating, fertile and healthy, with a due mixture of timber 
 and prairie. 
 
 Canton Prairie, in Fulton county, commences near 
 Spoon river and runs northward, dividing the waters that 
 fall into Spoon river on the left, from those that enter the 
 Illinois on the right, till it becomes lost in the interminable 
 prairies on Rock river. At Canton it is from two to three 
 miles ir. width, dry, undulating, and inexhaustibly rich. 
 Further north it becomes inferior. 
 
 CantriWs Creek rises on the eastern side of Sangamon 
 county, runs west, and enters Sangamon river about fifteen 
 miles above Salt Fork. The land on this creek is rather 
 level, the soil rich, and about equally divided into timber 
 and prairie. 
 
172 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Cape au Gris. A small French settlement of this name, 
 (which means Cape of Grit or Gr'mdstone^ from the ror-ks 
 near,) was formed on the Mississippi, above the mouth of 
 the Illinois, at the most southern bend of the river in Cal- 
 houn county, about forty years since. In 1811, it con- 
 sisted of about twenty families, who had a village on the 
 bank of the river, and cultivated a common field of about 
 five hundred acres in the prairie, one mile from the river. 
 They were driven off by the Indians durinor the last war 
 with Great Britain. The American population began to 
 enter this county, in 1818, 
 
 Carlinville, the seat of justice of Macoupin county, 
 is situated on the north side of the Lake Fork of the Ma- 
 coupin, in a beautiful prairie. 
 
 It is on section twenty-eight, ten north, seven west of 
 the third principal meridian. 
 
 Carlinville has several stores, one grocery, two lawyers, 
 two physicians, and about 80 families, and is improving 
 rapidly. The state roads from Vandalia to Carrollton, 
 and from Springfield to Alton, intersect at this place. 
 
 It is fifty-five miles northwest from Vandalia, forty-five 
 miles southeast from Jacksonville, forty-five miles south- 
 west from Springfield, thirty-five east of Carrollton, thir- 
 ty-five miles north from Edwardsville,and thirty-five north- 
 east from Alton. The country around Carlinville ispropor- 
 tionably divided into timber and prairie. 
 
 A theological Seminary, under patronage of the Presby- 
 terian Synod of Illinois is about to be established at this 
 place, and the railroad from Alton to Springfield will pass 
 through it. 
 
 Carlyle, the seat of justice for Clinton county, is si- 
 tuated on the west side of the Kaskaskia river, 215 miles 
 by water above its mouth, and on the Vincennes and St. 
 Louis road. 
 
 It was laid out as a town site, in 1818, on section eigh- 
 teen, two north, two west, on elevated ground, on the bor- 
 der of a large prairie. The intersection of several public 
 roads from different parts of the state, gives it an appear- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 173 
 
 ance of life and business, rarely to be seen in a place so 
 remote from commercial advantages. 
 
 Carlyle contains five stores, three taverns, a orrist and 
 saw mill by water power, and forty families. The court 
 house is of wood. 
 
 Carmi, the seat of justice of White county, situated on 
 the west bank of the Little Wabash, and nearly in the 
 centre of the county. It is surrounded by lands of a good 
 quality, and an extensive settlement, and is in latitude 
 thirty-eiwht degrees five minutes north, eighty miles south- 
 east of Vandalia. It is now in an improving condition, 
 has four stores, a saw and flouring mill, and a neat brick 
 court house, forty feet square, with a cupola, the whole 
 painted and neatly finished. 
 
 Carmi has many good framed houses, and about fifty 
 families, 2 lawyers, and 3 physicians. 
 
 Curolus, a post office in Vermilion county, about twen- 
 ty miles from Danville, west of south, and on the mail 
 route from Vincennes to Chicago. 
 
 Carrollton, the seat of justice for Greene county, is 
 a flourishing and pleasant village, situated on the borders 
 of String prairie, nearly equidistant from Macoupin and 
 Apple creeks, and on the dividing line of sections twenty- 
 two and twenty-three, ten north, and twelve west. 
 
 It has J 7 stores, 6 groceries, 2 taverns, 7 lawyers, 
 physicians, 4 ministers of the gospel, 2 male and 2 female 
 schools, 2 steam flouring mills, 2 steam saw mills, one 
 tannery, and about 1000 inhabitants. 
 
 The court house is neatly built of brick; forty-four by 
 forty-six feet, two stories, with a handsome spire. 
 
 Around Carrollton is a beautiful country, tolerably lev- 
 el, rich soil, suitably proportioned into timber and prai- 
 rie, and densely populated with industrious and thriving 
 farmers. 
 
 Here are Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and Refor- 
 mer societies. 
 
 Houses of worship for the Baptists, Reformers, and Me- 
 thodists are erected, and the Presbyterians are preparing 
 to build. 
 
 15* 
 
174 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Improved farms around Carrollton sell for ten, fifteen, 
 and twenty dollars per acre. The houses mostly are 
 framed, or of brick, built in a plain but convenient style. 
 
 Carter^s Settlement^ near the south part of McDonough 
 county, twelve miles from Macomb, on the road to Rush- 
 ville. The land is gently undulating, soil rich, timber and 
 prairie proportioned, and an extensive settlement. 
 
 It is in tPie south part of four north, two west, between 
 the heads of Sugar creek and Grindstone fork. This is 
 the oldest settlement in the county. 
 
 Carthage, the seat of justice for Hancock county, is 
 situated in the prairie, one mile from timber between the 
 head waters of J3ear and Long creeks, and nine miles from 
 the Mississippi, on the northwest quarter of section nine- 
 teen, township five north, in range six west. The town 
 was laid oif by commissioners in March, 1833, and about 
 one hundred lots sold the following. June; averaging about 
 thirty dollars each. It now contains three stores, one gro- 
 cery, three carpenters, one blacksmith, two cabinet mak- 
 ers, one wheelwright, one tavern, one brick maker, one 
 physician; but no lawyer. 
 
 The adjoining prairie is dry, and beautifully undula- 
 ting. The timber adjacent is excellent. Good water in 
 all this region is obtained by digging wells from fifteen to 
 twenty-five feet deep. Coal is near and in abundance. 
 Since the sale of lots, property has risen in value about 
 fifty per cent. 
 
 Cass Post Office is in Cook county, 22 miles from Chi- 
 cago, on the road to Ottawa. 
 
 Casey''s Grove is fifteen miles northeast from Jackson- 
 ville, on the road to Beardstown, It is a small grove of 
 from five to six hundred acres on Clay creek. 
 
 Casey^s Fralrie, in Jefferson county, adjoining IMount 
 Vernon, is five miles long and two miles broad; surface 
 tolerably level, soil second rate, and the population con- 
 sists of about 130 families. 
 
 Cash river, a stream in the southern part of the state, 
 which is formed from several branches, and a series of 
 ponds that exist in Union and Johnson counties. These 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 175 
 
 unite in Alexander county, through which the main 
 stream follows a devious course, at one time approaching^ 
 within a mile and a half of the Mississippi, and again ap- 
 proaching near the Ohio, till it empties its waters into the 
 latter river, at Trinity, six miles ahove its mouth. 
 
 One of its principal branches rises in Union county, 
 and forms the " Scatters of Cash," which see. 
 
 Another source of its waters is in Johnson county, in 
 a series of ponds which are connected with the waters of 
 Big Bay creek, in Pope county. The outlet of these 
 ponds is known by the name of Pond Slough. 
 
 The alluvions of Cash river, where not inundated, are 
 wide, of a rich soil, and heavily timbered. 
 
 Ca/o, a post office on the west side of Clay county, and 
 on the Vincennes and St. Louis stage roads. 
 
 Cat Tail Swamp, is in Whiteside county, and connects 
 the waters of the Mississippi and Rock river. It is navi- 
 gable for small craft at some seasons. 
 
 Cave-in-Rock. This natural curiosit)', well known to 
 all the navigators of the Ohio river, is situated on the 
 bank of the Ohio, where the dividing line between Pope 
 and Gallatin counties strikes the river. Such caves and 
 piles of rock, as are described in the following sketch, 
 are called by the Indians Mon-c-to — a name spelled Man- 
 i-teau, by the French, and sometimes Mon-it-to by other 
 authors. It signifies ''"the residence of a s/}2>i7," either 
 good or bad. 
 
 There are several Mon-e-toes in Illinois, Missouri, and 
 other western states. One is at the precipices of the 
 Mississippi adjoining Lower Alton. Two more that give 
 names to streams in Boone and Coles counties, Missouri. 
 The Indians relate some wild and extravagant legends 
 of the freaks of these imaginary beings at their " resi- 
 dences," and they usually propitiate the favour of the 
 Mon-e-to, by liberal offerings, and the firing of guns, as 
 they pass his habitation. 
 
 The one at the head of this article, known to Americans 
 by the name Cave-in-rock, was long the rendezvous of a 
 
176 A GAZETTEER 
 
 class of beings, far more formidable and dangerous to the 
 whites, than the Indian Mon-e-toes. 
 
 In 1797, it was the place of resort and security to Ma- 
 son and his £:ang of robbers; who plundered and murdered 
 the crews of boats, while descending the Ohio. It still 
 answers as a temporary residence for those who need 
 shelter while on the river. The rock is limestone abound- 
 ing with shells. 
 
 The following description of this cave is given by 
 Thaddeus M. Harris, an English tourist, made in the 
 spring of 1803, a writer who has done justice to the West 
 in his descriptions generally. 
 
 "For about three or four miles before you come to this 
 place, you are presented with a scene truly romantic. On 
 the Illinois side of the river, you see large ponderous 
 rocks piled one upon another, of differerit colours, shapes 
 and sizes. Some appear to have gone through the hands 
 of the most skilful artist; some represent the ruins of an- 
 cient edifices; others thrown promiscuously ia and out of 
 the river, as if nature intended to show us with what ease 
 she could handle those mountains of solid rock. In some 
 places, you see purling streams winding their course down 
 their rugged front; while in others, the rocks project so 
 far, that they seem almost disposed to leave their doubt- 
 ful situations. After a short relief from this scene, you 
 come to a second, which is something similar to the first; 
 and here, with strict scrutiny, you can discover the cave. 
 
 "Before its mouth stands a delightful grove of cypress 
 trees, arranged immediately on the bank of the river. 
 They have a fine appearance, and add much to the cheer- 
 fulness of the place. 
 
 " The mouth of the cave is but a few feet above the 
 ordinary level of the river, and is formed by a semicircu- 
 lar arch of about eighty feet at its base, and twenty-five 
 feet in height, the top projecting considerably over, form- 
 ing a regular concave. From the entrance to the ex- 
 tremity, which is about 180 feet, it has a regular and 
 gradual ascent. On either side is a solid bench of rock; 
 the arch coming to a point about the middle of the cave, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 177 
 
 where you discover an opening sufficiently large to receive 
 the body of a man, through which comes a small stream 
 of fine water, made use oif by those who visit this place. 
 From this hole, a second cave is discovered whose di- 
 mensions, form, etc., are not known. The rock is of lime- 
 stone. The sides of the cave are covered with inscrip- 
 tions, names of persons, dates, etc."* 
 
 The trees have been cut down and the entrance into the 
 cave exposed to view. 
 
 Cedar Creek post office is in Warren county, section 
 thirty-five, township twelve north, range three west, and 
 about seven miles northwest from Monmouth. 
 
 Cedar Creek, in Adams county, which rises in one south, 
 eight west, runs west, and enters Boston bay. 
 
 A saw and grist mill has been erected on this stream 
 and the land contiguous is good. 
 
 Cedar Creek, in Johnson county, rises in the northeastern 
 part, runs south, and enters Big bay creek. It has large, 
 abrupt bluffs, covered with cedar, and a settlement near 
 it. 
 
 Cedar Creek, a branch of Big Muddy river in Jackson 
 county, rises in Union county, and runs first north, and 
 then a western course, and enters Muddy river twelve 
 miles above its mouth. This creek has high bluffs to- 
 wards its mouth, which abound with cedar. 
 
 The country is broken, timbered, well watered with 
 springs, and contains about one hundred families. The 
 main settlement is six miles from Brownsville. 
 
 Cedar Fork, a branch of Crooked creek, in the north- 
 west corner of Schuyler county, runs through a dry and 
 rather hilly tract of country. 
 
 Cedar Fork oi Henderson river rises in the great prairie 
 between Henderson and Spoon rivers and taking a north- 
 western course, enters the main Henderson. The land 
 along its borders is first rate, and begins to receive culti- 
 vation from an industrious settlement. 
 
 Centerviile, called also " Virginia Centerville," a settle- 
 
 * Harris's Tour, etc., Boston, 1805. 
 
178 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ment at the intersection of the base line of the fourth prin- 
 cipal meridian, with the boundary line betwixt Adams 
 and Schuyler counties. Excellent prairie and timbered 
 land, undulating-, healthy, and watered by the head 
 branches of McKee's and crooked creeks. 
 
 A post office is here called Daviston, within Schuyler 
 county, twenty-five miles from Rushville. 
 
 Centerville, a post office in Wabash county, situated 
 five miles northwest from Mount Carmel. 
 
 Charleston, the seat of justice for Coles county, is 
 situated on the border of the Grand prairie, two and a half 
 miles from, and on the west side of, the Embarras river, 
 or. section eleven, township twelve north, nine east. The 
 surface around is tolerably level, the soil fertile, and the 
 settlements already considerable, will soon be extensive. 
 It has three stores, three groceries, and about twenty-five 
 families. It was laid out in 1831, and the first sale of 
 lots took place in that year. 
 
 Charter^s Grove^ a small tract of timber on the waters of 
 Kishwaukee in Kane county. 
 
 Chatham, a post office in Sangamon county, north of 
 Sangamon river, and on the road from Springfield to Ha- 
 vanna. 
 
 Chei/ney^s Grove, a settlement near the head waters of 
 the Sangamon, on the east of McLean county, twenty-three 
 north, six east. This timber is an island in the great prai- 
 rie, of three or foursquare miles, twenty-five miles east of 
 Bloomington, and on the road to Danville. The population 
 is 24 fiimilies. 
 
 Cherry Grove, a settlement in S{. Clair county, eight 
 miles northeasterly from Belleville, with a dense popu- 
 lation of Germans. 
 
 Cherry Grove, a post office, iii Jo Daviess county. 
 
 Chester, a town on the bank of the Mississippi river, 
 in Randolph county, and about two miles below the mouth 
 of the Kaskaskia river. It \r, situated on an elevated strip 
 of bottom land at the foot of the bluffs and is a commer- 
 cial depot for the country back. 
 
 Exports by steamboats for 183G, ^150,000; imports, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 179 
 
 130,000. It has five stores, three groceries, one tavern, 
 one physician, two ministers of the gospel, four ware- 
 houses, one steam saw and grist mill, one castor oil fac- 
 tory, and 280 inhabitants. 
 
 Chicago, the seat of justice for Cook county, is situated 
 on a river or bay of the same name, at the junction of 
 North and South branches, and from thence to lake Michi- 
 gan. The town is beautifully situated on level ground, 
 but sufficiently elevated above the highest floods, and on 
 both sides of the river. 
 
 Its growth, even for western cities, has been of unpar- 
 alleled rapidity. In 1832 it contained five small stores, 
 and 250 inhabitants. In 1831, there were four arrivals 
 from the lower lakes, two brigs and two schooners, which 
 was sufficient for all the trade of the northeastern part of 
 Illinois, and the northwestern part of Indiana. In 1835 
 there were about 267 arrivals of brigs, ships and schoon- 
 ers, and 9 of steamboats, and brought 5015 tons of 
 merchandise and 9400 barrels of salt. The valueof mer- 
 chandise imported equal to two and a half millions of dol- 
 lars, besides a vast number of emigrant families, with 
 their furniture, provisions, &c. Owing to the vast influx 
 of emigration, the exports have been but small. There 
 are about 60 stores, 30 groceries, 10 public houses, 23 
 physicians, 41 lawyers, five ministers and about 5000 in- 
 habifanis. 
 
 The Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopali- 
 ans, and Roman Catholics, each have houses of worship. 
 The harbor constructed by the United States government 
 is now nearly completed and will afford one of the safest 
 and best on the northern lakes. 
 
 Chicago is now an incorporated city, under the usual niu- 
 Dicipal regulations. It lias one or more insurance com- 
 panies, fire companies, water works for the supply of the 
 city from the lake, several good schools and a respectable 
 academy, three printing offices that publish weekly papers 
 and mechanics of every description. 
 
 The natural position of the place, the enterprise and 
 capital that will concentrate here, with favorable pros- 
 
180 A GAZETTEER 
 
 pects for health, must soon make this place the emporium 
 of trade and business for all the northern country. 
 
 Back of the town, towards the Des Plaines, is a fertile 
 prairie, and for the first three or four miles, elevated and 
 dry. 
 
 Along the north branch of the Chicacro, and the lake 
 shore, are extensive bodies of fine timber. Large quan- 
 tities of white pine exist in the regions towards Green 
 bay, and about Grand river in Michigan, from which lum- 
 ber in any quantities is obtained and conveyed by ship- 
 ping to Chicago. Yellow poplar boards and plank are 
 brought across the lake from the St. Joseph's river. 
 
 The mail in post coaches from Detroit, arrives here 
 tri-v;eekly, and departs for Galena, for Springfield, Alton, 
 and St. Louis, and for Danville and Vincennes. 
 
 The United States owns a strip of elevated ground be- 
 tween the town and lake, about half a mile in width, on 
 which Fort Dearborn and the lighthouse are situated, but 
 which is now claimed, as a pre-emption right, and is now 
 in a course of judicial investigation. 
 
 Chicago^ the stream or bay, on which the town of Chi- 
 cago is situated. It is made by North and Soii'th branch- 
 es, which form a junction in the upper part of the town, 
 about three fourths of a mile from the lake. The Chicago 
 resembles a vast canal, from fifty to seventy-five yards wide 
 and from fifteen to twenty-five feet deep. Northerly and 
 easterly storms throw the cool waters of thelake into this 
 channel, and raise it about three feet. 
 
 North Branch, which is the largest, rises a short dis- 
 tance above the boundary line, and near the lake, and runs 
 parallel with the lake shore a southerly course, and is na- 
 vigable for small boats. Its banks are well timbered, and 
 the land fertile. 
 
 In spring floods, its waters, in one or two places, flow 
 across the prairie and commingle with those of Des 
 Plaines. 
 
 South Branch rises in an opposite direction, in the prai- 
 ries towards the Saganaskee swamp, runs a northern 
 direction about twenty miles, and forms a junction with 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 181 
 
 the Nortli branch, in the town of Chicago. The timber 
 is rather scarce on South branch. 
 
 Chillicothe, a to\rn site and 00 or 30 families, in Peoria 
 county at the upper end of Peoria lake. 
 
 Chippewa^ a town site in Madison county, directly op- 
 posite the mouth of the Missouri. A steam mill and seve- 
 ral buildings are goin^ up. 
 
 Chateau^ s Island, is in the Mississippi river, in the south- 
 western part of Madison county. It is four miles long-, 
 and a mile and a half wide, and has several families and 
 farms on it. In extreme high floods the water of the river 
 nearly covers it. 
 
 Christian Settlement, see Allison''s Prairie, 
 
 Clirisfy''s Prairie, sometimes called Lewis''s Prairie, is 
 in liawrence county ten miles west of Lawrenceville, 
 moderately rolling, and good second rate land. Popula- 
 tion 150 families. 
 
 Clary'' s Grove is a beautiful tract of timber and flour- 
 ishing settlement, in Sangamon county, eighteen miles 
 northwest from Springfield, and surrounded with excel- 
 lent prairie. The timber is three or four miles in diameter, 
 consisting of oaks, sugar maple, walnut, hickory, linden, 
 elm, locust, and various other species. Clary's creek 
 issues from this grove, runs northwesterly, and enters the 
 Sangamon river near the corner of Morgan county. 
 
 Little Grove is a smaller tract contiguous to Clary's 
 Grove; timber and prairie of the same quality. 
 
 Clayton is a town site on the east side of Adams county, 
 on section thirty-five, township one north, range five west. 
 
 Clay Creek rises in the prairies in the northeastern 
 part of Morgan county, passes through two lakes in the 
 bottom, and enters the Illinois river below Eeardstown. 
 
 Clay Lick, a branch of Cedar creek, in Union county. 
 The land is hilly, and heavily timbered. 
 
 Clay Prairie, in Clark county, lies west from Union 
 Prairie, and eight miles southwest from Darwin. It con- 
 tains a large settlement. 
 
 Clear Creek, a small stream that rises in the prairies 
 near Paris, Edgar county, and leaving the county at its 
 16 
 
182 - A GAZETTEER 
 
 southeast corner, passes across a strip of Indiana, and 
 enters the Wabash. It is a mill stream, and the land on 
 each side is good. 
 
 Clear Creek, a small stream in Putnam county, ten 
 miles south of Hennepin. Along its banks are fine tim- 
 ber, and the adjoining prairies are excellent. 
 
 Clear Creek, a stream that rises in Union county, runs 
 south and enters the Mississippi in the northwestern part 
 of Alexander county. One branch rises in the northern 
 part of Union, the other in the neighbourhood of Jones- 
 boro'. 
 
 Clear Creek, in Sangamon county, rises in the prairies 
 between Salt creek and the North Fork, runs a south- 
 western course, and enters the Sangamon river near the 
 junction of the North and South Forks. This is a good 
 mill stream; the country on its borders rather level, tim- 
 ber good, considerable prairie, and a population of 200 or 
 300 families. 
 
 Clear Creek, a small stream in Morgan county, that 
 passes through the narrows and enters the Illinois river 
 below Beardstown. 
 
 Clear Creek, post office, is at Mechanicsburg, 14 miles 
 east of Springfield, and on the road to Decatur. 
 
 Clear Lake, an expansion of water in the American bot- 
 tom, St. Clair county, about ten miles westerly from 
 Belleville. 
 
 Clendening' s Settlement, in Greene county, six miles 
 southwest of Carrollton. 
 
 Clifton, a post office on Sugar creek, Clinton county. 
 
 Clifton, on the bank of the Mississippi, four miles 
 above Alton. Here is a landing, a steam saw mill, an 
 excellent free stone quarry, and a quarry of water cement 
 lime stone, and a town site. 
 
 Clinton, a town site, post offices and half a dozen fami- 
 lies, in the northern part of Macon county, 24 miles from 
 Decatur. 
 
 Clinton Hill is three miles north of Belleville, in St. 
 Clair county, and the residence of John Messenger, Esq. 
 It is an elevated timbered tract, containing some excel- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 183 
 
 lent springs, and a valuable stone quarry. The Rich- 
 land Baptist church have their house of worship here. 
 
 C/«o, a post office in the northwest corner of Pike county, 
 23 miles northwest from Pittsfield. 
 
 Coal Banks, in the bluifs of St. Clair county, east side 
 of the American bottom, and seven miles from St. Louis 
 ferry. 
 
 Several beds have been opened along the bluffs, with- 
 in three miles. The coal is bituminous, burns well, and 
 appears to be inexhaustible. About 300,000 bushels are 
 now taken to St. Louis annually, and the demand for it 
 is rapidly increasing. 
 
 Cool Creek, in Schuyler county, heads near Crane creek, 
 runs east, and enters the Illinois, four miles above Beards- 
 town. 
 
 Coal Creek, in the northwest part of Putnam county, 3 
 miles west of French grove, and runs into swamps. 
 Here is coal in abundance and a beautiful grove of timber. 
 
 Cochran'' s Grove, a post offiice and settlement in Shelby 
 county, ten miles east cf Shelbyville. 
 
 Coffee Creek, an inconsiderable stream in Wabash 
 county, that enters the Wabash river, six miles below 
 Mount Carmel. A settlement of the same name is along 
 its course. It is a timbered country, undulating, and 
 broken. 
 
 Cold Prairie is in the American bottom, in St Clair 
 county, on the road from St. Louis to Belleville. 
 
 Cold Spring Settlement and post office is in Shelby 
 county, on the road from Vandalia to Shelbyville, twelve 
 miles south of the latter place. The land is second rate, 
 and proportioned into timber and prairie. This was for- 
 merly called Wakefield'' s Settlement. 
 
 Collinsville, a village, post office, and settlement, in the 
 south part of Madison county. 
 
 Here is a store, a large mill for sawing and grinding, 
 and several mechanics. A meeting house and Presby- 
 terian church of fifty members, a large Sabbath school, 
 and a body of sober, moral and industrious citizens, ren- 
 der this an interesting settlement. 
 
184 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Columbusi a town near the centre of Adams county, of 
 40 or 50 families. 
 
 Columbo Creek rises in Perry county, runs a southeast 
 course, and enters Big Beaucoup, in Jackson county. 
 
 Columbus, a town .site in Randolph county, near the 
 Flat prairie, eighteen miles east of Kaskaskia, on section 
 one, five south, six west. Here is an academy, a congre- 
 gation of Reformed Presbyterians, and an industrious and 
 large settlement. 
 
 The post office is called " Shannori's Store.'^ 
 
 Commerce, a town, landingand post office on the Missis- 
 sippi, in Hancock county, 16 miles northwest of Carthage, 
 and at the head of the Lower rapids, in seven north, one 
 west. It has two stores, one grocery, and 12 or 15 families. 
 
 Compton's Prairie, in Wabash county, twelve miles 
 west of Mount Carmel. This is a small, rich, level 
 prairie, inclined to be wet, and has twenty-five or thirty 
 families. 
 
 Concord, a post office and settlement, sometimes called 
 *' Slocumb's," in White county, between the Little and 
 Big Wabash, below Big prairie. 
 
 Concord, a town site on the Iroquois river, opposite Iro- 
 quois town. It has a steam saw and grist mill, and two 
 or three families. 
 
 Coon Creek, a branch of the North Fork of the Kish- 
 waukeein Kane county. It rises in township forty north, 
 range four east, and runs west. 
 
 Coonsville, a small creek and settlement, on the south 
 side of Apple creek, in Greene county, and six miles 
 northwest from Carrollton. 
 
 Coop''s Creek, a branch of the Macoupin, in Macoupin 
 county. It rises in the prairies towards the head of Ca- 
 hokia creek, runs a northwesterly course, and enters the 
 main stream below the forks. Timber and prairie, undu- 
 lating and rich. 
 
 Copperas Creek, in Fulton county, towards the eastern 
 part. It rises'- near Canton, runs a southeastern course, 
 and enters the Illinois river in six north, five east. 
 Much of it is a timbered tract; some good prairie, and a 
 larsfc settlement. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 185 
 
 Cottonherger'^s Settlement, on Salt creek, in the north- 
 west part of Macon county, eighteen miles north from 
 Decatur. 
 
 Cotton Hill Prairie is in Sangamon county, between 
 South Fork and Horse creek, twelve miles south of 
 Springfield. 
 
 Court Creek runs through Knox county, from north- 
 west to southeast, and enters Spoon river. 
 
 Covington was formerly the seat of justice of Washing- 
 ton county, but after its division in forming Clinton, this 
 place was left in the northwest corner of the county, 
 and now contains half a dozen families. It is situated 
 on the left bank of the Kaskaskia river, in section thirty- 
 three, township one north, three west. Should the con- 
 templated improvements of the Kaskaskia river be carried 
 forward so as to be navigated by steam, Covington may 
 become a place of some importance. 
 
 It is fourteen miles from Nashville. 
 
 Coumover''s Branch., in Morgan county, rises at the head 
 of Jersey prairie, and enters Indian creek near Smart's 
 mill. 
 
 Cox's Grot?/?, a small body of timber on the line of Cass 
 and Sangamon counties. 
 
 Cox's Prairie, northeast of Brownsville, in Jackson 
 county, near Big Eeaucoup, contains about four sections 
 of good rolling land. 
 
 Crab Orchard, a small creek that rises in the south part 
 of Franklin county, passes into Jackson, and enters the 
 Big Muddy, fifteen miles above Brownsville. The coun- 
 try adjoining is level and good, and the settlement has 
 forty or fifty families. 
 
 Crawfish Creek, a small stream in Wabash county, that 
 enters the Wabash river six m.iles above Mount Carmel. 
 The adjacent country is sterile and broken. 
 
 Crawford' s Creek is an insignificant stream in Adams 
 county, containing excellent land and timber. It enters the 
 south prong of Bear creek. 
 
 Crane Creek, a small stream in Schuyler county, which 
 rises near Rushville, runs south through a timbered re- 
 
 IG* 
 
186 A GAZETTEER 
 
 gfion,and enters the Illinois a few yards above the mouth 
 of Crooked creek. 
 
 Crane Creek, a triflincr stream that enters the Sangamon 
 river from the north side, below Miller's ferr}'. 
 
 Crane Creeks in Whiteside county, rises near the south 
 fork of Plum creek, runs west, then south, and enters Rock 
 river fifteen or twenty miles below Dixon's ferry, near the 
 foot of the second rapids. Its length is about twenty-five 
 miles. The timber near it is in groves, and the country 
 generall}' the finest for farming purposes. It is a good 
 mill stream. 
 
 Crooked Creek, ow the military tract, from its size, length, 
 and number of its branches, should be called a river; but 
 it is not our province to make or alter names. The term 
 *' creek" is applied to this stream on the maps, and in the 
 vocabulary of the country. It rises in numerous branches 
 in McDonough and Hancock counties, and near the bor- 
 ders of Warren, runs a southern course through McDon- 
 ough and Schuyler counties, and enters the Illinois in sec- 
 tion thirteen, one south, one west, six miles below Beards- 
 town. It can easily be made navigable some distance. 
 No better land can be found in Illinois than the country 
 in general watered by this stream; and the many small 
 tributaries emptying into it from the east and west not 
 only afl[brd many mill seats, but apportion the timber and 
 prairie so nearly equal as to render almost every tract ca- 
 pable of immediate settlement. It is to be regretted that 
 much of the land in this section of the country is owned 
 by non residents, and that it is held at prices much too 
 liiffh to suit the circumstances of settlers, or the relative 
 value of land in this state. 
 
 The country generally on Crooked creek is gently un- 
 dulating, dry soil, inexhaustibly rich, and where timber 
 exists it is of excellent quality. Here are found oaks of 
 different species, walnut, sugar maple, linden, hackber- 
 ry, hickory, cherry, honey locust, mulberry, elm, ash, and 
 vaiious other growth common to the state. The soil is an 
 argillaceous mould, from one to four feet deep. Near the 
 inouth of Crooked creek is an extensive bottom on the II- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 187 
 
 linois, inundated in high water, but affording an extensive 
 range for stock during the greatest part of the year. 
 
 Bituminous coal is found in great abundance along this 
 stream and its tributaries, with several quarries of free 
 stone. 
 
 Crooked Creek^ in Marion county, rises in the Grand 
 prairie near Salem, runs a southwesterly course, and en- 
 ters the Kaskaskia river above Covington. 
 
 Crooked Creek^ an insignificant stream and branch of 
 the Little Wabash, in White county, eight miles above 
 Carmi. 
 
 It is a timbered region, and the settlement is large. 
 
 Crow Creek rises in the north part of McLean coun- 
 ty, passes through the southwestern part of La Salle, 
 and enters the Illinois river in Putnam county below 
 Hennepin. 
 
 There is a fine skirt of timber and much good prairie 
 along its borders. 
 
 Crow Creek, a small stream in Putnam county that en- 
 ters the Illinois river from the west side. It rises in Crow 
 grove, (Boyd's) and runs an east course. 
 
 Crow Grove, or Boyd's settlement, forty miles above 
 Peoria, on the stage road to Galena. It is a beautiful 
 tract of country, in fourteen north, eight east from the 
 fourth principal meridian, and thirteen miles west of Hen- 
 nepin. 
 
 Crow Meadow post office is in Putnam county, on the 
 road from Peoria to Ottawa. 
 
 Crow Prairie lies near the Illinois river, in Putnam 
 county, on the east side, twelve miles below Hennepin. 
 It is six miles long and three miles wide, good soil, and 
 timber around it. 
 
 Crow Prairie is in Putnam county, on the west side of 
 the Illinois river. It is twelve miles long, four miles 
 wide, and dry, rich, farming land. 
 
 Cumberland, a post office on the National Road, 6 miles 
 east of Vandalia. 
 
 Curran, a post office in Gallatin county, 13 miles north- 
 west from E(]ualit3\ 
 
188 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Cufler^s Settlement, in Coles county, eight miles north- 
 east from Charleston, on the east side of the Enibarras. 
 The soil, both of the timbered land and prairie, is good, 
 and the settlement contains from forty to fifty families. 
 
 Cypress, a slnggish creek in Gallatin county, between 
 Equality and Shawneetown, which runs into the Saline 
 creek. 
 
 The land in the vicinity is generally good and heavily 
 timbered. 
 
 Crystal Lahe, a beautiful sheet of water in McIIenry 
 county, with gravelly banks and a delightful prospect. 
 
 Dad Joe''s Grove, so called from Joseph Smith, but more 
 commonly known to the people, by the euphonious name 
 of ^^ Old Dad.'''' It is in Putnam county, section four, 
 eighteen north, nine east. 
 
 Danville, the seat of justice for Vermilion county, is 
 situated on the Vermilion river of the Wabash, on section 
 eight, in township nineteen north, and in range eleven 
 west from the second principal meridian. 
 
 It is on a dry, sandy, and elevated surface, surrounded 
 with heavy timber on the east, north, and west, bat open 
 to the prairie en the south. 
 
 It has fourteen stores, three groceries, three taverns, 
 five lawyers, six physicians, various mechanics, a public 
 land office for this district, and a printing office from 
 which issues weekly the " Danville Enquirer, and 700 in- 
 habitants. 
 
 The Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians each have 
 congregations. There are about 120 families. The coun- 
 try around is populous, and rich land. 
 
 Darwin, the seat of justice of Clark county. It is sit- 
 uated on the Wabash, in section twenty-seven, ten north, 
 eleven west from the second principal meridian, adjoining 
 Walnut prairie, and contains about twenty families. 
 
 Daviston Post Office is at the place where the base 
 line of the fourth principal meridian crosses the dividing 
 line of Adams and Schuyler counties, twenty-five miles 
 south of west from Rushville on the road to Quincy. 
 
 Dawson'^s G/'ouc, called sometimes " Old Town Timber,''^ 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 189 
 
 in McLean county, twelve miles east from Bloomington, 
 and at the heads of Kickapoo and Salt creek, in twenty- 
 three north, and three and four east. The road from 
 Pekin to Danville passes through this grove. It is long, 
 and intersected with some harrens. Timber principally 
 oak with some sugar maple. The prairie around it is very 
 rich. 
 
 Bead Mail's Grove, in Coles county, six miles west of 
 Charleston. It is almost circular, about two miles in 
 diameter, and contains three or four sections of indif- 
 ferent timber, surrounded with a rich and undulating 
 prairie, and is monopolised by two or three families. It 
 receives its name from the circumstance of a man perish- 
 ing here with cold several years since. The old Kickapoo 
 towns were adjoining this grove. 
 
 Deaton's Mill, one of the first settlements in Morgan 
 county, on the Mauvaiseterre, three miles northwest from 
 Jacksonville. Here is a steam mill and a large and flourish- 
 in^ settlement. 
 
 Deaiisix, a trifling stream, and branch of the Kas- 
 kaskia river, in the southeastern part of St. Clair 
 county. 
 
 Deckcr^s Prairie, a small tract of second rate, undula- 
 ting land, in Wabash county, twelve miles northeast from 
 Mount Carniel, with about twenty-five families. 
 
 Decatur, the seat of justice for Macon county, is situ- 
 ated on the west side of the North Fork of Sangamon 
 river, and on the borders of an extensive prairie. It is 
 on the northeast quarter of section fifteen, in sixteen north, 
 two east from the third principal meridian. It is dry, 
 elevated, and bids fair for iiealth. The country around is 
 elevated, rich, and has a fine settlement. 
 
 Decatur has three stores, several mechanics and about 
 thirt}' families. 
 
 Delhi, a post office and town site in the south part 
 of Greene county, 22 miles from CarroUton. It was form- 
 erly called "Zii/'/on's." 
 
 J)cs Plaines River [Riviere des Flaincs, Fr.] rises in 
 the Wisconsin territory, a few miles above the boundary 
 
190 A GAZETTEER 
 
 line of Illinois, and about six miles from lake Michigran. 
 It runs a south course, generally over a bed of limestone 
 rock, and forms one of the prominent branches of the Illi- 
 nois river, by its junction with the Kankakee. 
 
 Groves of timber are found on its banks, and interspersed 
 through the vast prairie region. The country along its 
 borders is rapid ly populating, notwithstanding the apparent 
 deficiency of timber. 
 
 In many places along the Des Plaines rock may be easily 
 obtained both for fencing and building. The country is 
 well watered, the streams perennial, and the soil rich, and 
 covered with luxuriant herbage. It is frequently written 
 and pronounced jIux Plaines or 0'' Plane. 
 
 DeviPs Anvil is a singular rock, of considerable eleva- 
 tion, and the top jutting over its base, near the road from 
 Equality to Golconda. The surrounding country is very 
 hilly, with rocky precipices, and exhibits all the desola- 
 tion and wildness of a mountainous region. 
 
 DeviPs Oven is a singular promontory of sand rock that 
 projects into the Mississippi, in Jackson county, one mile 
 above the Grand Tower. It has a cave resembling the 
 mouth of a mammoth oven, to be seen from the river. 
 
 Diamond Grove, a most beautiful tract of timber in 
 Morgan county, two miles southwest from Jacksonville. 
 It is elevated above the surrounding prairie, and con- 
 tains 700 or 800 acres, and surrounded with beautiful 
 farms. 
 
 Diamond Grove Prairie, in Morgan county, south and 
 adjacent to Jacksonville. It is four miles in extent, rich 
 soil, undulating, dry surface, and mostly covered over with 
 fine farms. 
 
 Dickerson'^s Lake is in the Illinois bottom, in Morgan 
 county, near the bluffs. 
 
 Dillard's is a large settlement in Gallatin county, eight 
 miles northwest of Shawneetown. The land generally is 
 good. 
 
 Dillon''s Post Office is in the town of Liberty, Tazewell 
 county. Here is a large settlement called Dillon's. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 191 
 
 Dixon's Ferri/, and post office in Ogle county, on Rock 
 river, on tlie stage road from Peoria to Galena. 
 
 The country around is excellent, but there is a deficiency 
 of timber for dense settlements. Formerly called 0^ Gee's 
 Ferry. 
 
 Dlxonville, a town site at Dixon's Ferry, on the south 
 side of Rock river, in Ogle county. It contains 2 stores, 
 2 taverns, 1 grocery, a steam saw mill, 10 or 12 families, 
 and is a pleasant site. Here the stage roads from Chicago 
 by Napiersville: — from Ottawa by Troy grove; — and from 
 Peoria by Windsor and Princeton all concentrate, and pass 
 into Galena. Rock river here is 206 yards wide and is 
 crossed by a rope ferry boat. 
 
 Dolsoii's Prairie is on the west side of Clark county, 
 six miles wide, and twice as long, level, considerably wet 
 and a rather thin and clay soil. 
 
 DonoJiue's Settlement is in the northeast corner of Jef- 
 ferson county, on Adams's creek, ten miles from Mount 
 Vernon. It is mostly a timbered tract, and has twenty or 
 thirty families. 
 
 Downi7-ig's Settlement^ in Bond county, nine miles south 
 of Greenville. It is on the waters of Beaver creek, and 
 is well furnished with timber and prairie. 
 
 Douglass, a post office on the east side of Macoupin 
 county fifteen miles northeast from Carlinville. 
 
 Dresden., a town site near the junction of the Des Plaines 
 and Kankakee, and on the line of the canal. It has one store 
 and two or three families. 
 
 Drewr-ifs Creek, a branch of Crab Orchard. It rises 
 in Union County, runs a devious course northeasterly 
 into Jackson county, and has a settlement of fifteen or 
 twenty families. The land timbered, and second rate 
 soil. 
 
 Driftwood, a post office in Iroquois county, on the road 
 from Danville to Chicago. 
 
 Drowning Fork, in McDonough county. It rises in the 
 prairies six north, one west, runs a southwestern course, 
 and uniting with other branches, forms Crooked creek. It 
 
192 A GAZETTEER 
 
 has a large body of excellent timber, surrounded with 
 extensive prairies. 
 
 Dry Fork, a snnall stream in Macoupin county. It rises 
 towards Cahokia creek, runs a northwesterly course, and 
 enters the Macoupin above the forks. 
 
 Dry Fork, a branch of Shoal creek, in the northwest part 
 of Bond county. 
 
 Dry Grove is a timbered tract in McLean county, in 
 twenty-four north, one east, six miles north of west 
 from Bloomington, and lies at the iiead of Sugar creek. 
 It is about ten miles long, from east to west, high, dry, 
 and undulating, and contains a settlement of about fifty 
 families. 
 
 Dry Point, a small branch of Lake Fork of the Ma- 
 coupin. The head of the timber is well known on the old 
 road from Edwardsville to Springfield, and is nine north, 
 six west, nine miles southeast from Carlinville. 
 
 Duck Grove, a small body of timber north of Holderman's 
 Grove in La Salle county. 
 
 Dudley'' s Settlement, in Coles county, seven or eight 
 miles east from Charleston. 
 
 Including Richwood'^s, a fine body of timber south, it is 
 an excellent tract of country, and contains more than 120 
 families. 
 
 Duncanton, a post office in Mantua settlement, in the 
 southwestern part of White county, on the mail road from 
 McLeansboro' to Shawneetown. 
 
 Du?iwoody^s Mill is on Indian creek, Morgan county, 
 eight miles north of Jacksonville, 
 
 Du Page, [_Riviere du Page, Fr.] a beautiful stream in 
 Cook county. It rises in two forks, which unite in the 
 settlement of Fountaindale. One fork rises near the Des 
 Plaines, and runs a western course, and forms a junction 
 with the other fork, which rises towards Fox river. After 
 the junction it runs a southwestern course through groves 
 and prairies, and enters the Des Plaines three miles above 
 its junction with the Kankakee. There are larsfe settle- 
 ments on this stream at Walker's grove and Fountain- 
 dale. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 193 
 
 Dutch Church Creek, in Pike county, takes its name 
 from a blafFof a singular shape resembling one of the an- 
 tiquated buildings of New York in Knickerbocker's days. 
 It rises in the interior, and enters Snycartee. 
 
 l)utchman''s Creek, a small branch of Cash river, in 
 Johnson county. The land on this creek is excellent, and 
 the settlement extensive. 
 
 Dutch Hill, a settlement in the southeast part of St. 
 Clair county, and east of the Kaskaskia river. The land 
 is good, and a mixture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Dutch Settlement, in Union county, lies south and in 
 the vicinity of Jonesboro'. The land is good, rolling, and 
 well timbered. The settlement contains probably 200 
 families and is watered by Clear creek. 
 
 Eaturi's Mill, is noticed as the name of a settlement in 
 Jasper county, near Crawford, on the west side of the 
 North Fork of the Embarras. 
 
 Eagle Creek, a small stream in Gallatin county. It 
 rises in the interior, runs south, and enters the Saline creek 
 near its mouth. Some broken, and some good land, and 
 a large settlement are on this stream. 
 
 Eagle Creek, or UAigle creek, in Monroe county, see 
 Fountain Creek. 
 
 Eagle Point, a post office in Macoupin county, 16 miles 
 northwest from Carlinville. 
 
 East Fork of Cash River rises in Johnson county, 
 twelve south, three east, runs south, by Vincennes, and 
 enters the main stream below the ^^ Scatters of Cash.''^ 
 The land on this stream is excellent. The timber con- 
 sists of cypress, cedar, walnut, oaks of various species, 
 etc. 
 
 East Fork of Kaskaskia River rises on the north side of 
 Marion county, near the waters of the Little Wabash, 
 runs west along the north part of Marion, crosses the 
 northeast corner of Clinton, and enters the Kaskaskia, in 
 the southwest corner of Fayette county. It has a heavy 
 body of excellent timber on its banks; the prairies ad- 
 joining are undulating and rich, and the settlements along 
 this v^ater course are extensive. 
 17 
 
194 A GAZETTEER 
 
 East Fork of Shoal Creeks a stream and a settlement in 
 the eastern part of Montgomery county. The stream 
 rises in a large prairie in the northern portion of the county, 
 runs southwestwardly, and enters the main creek near 
 the south side of Bond county. The settlement extends 
 along the timber which lines its banks and the land is 
 tolerably level and fertile. 
 
 East Fork of Silver Creek rises in the northeastern part 
 of Madison county, and unites with the West or main fork 
 a short distance below the Marine settlement. 
 
 Edinburgh a town site in Sangamon county, in thirteen 
 north, two west, 28 miles southeast from Springfield. 
 Tiiree stores, one grocery, one tavern, and a dozen families, 
 surrounded with an excellent country along the south fork 
 of Sangamon river. 
 
 Edmonson's Prairie, in McDonough count}^, six miles 
 southwest from Macomb, is from one to two miles wide, 
 ten miles long, and contains twenty-five or thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Edwardsville, the seat of justice for Madison county, 
 is situated on sections two, three, and eleven, of town- 
 ship four north, in range eight west of the third principal 
 meridian, twenty-one miles northeast from St. Louis, on 
 the Springfield road, and twelve miles southeast from 
 Alton. It has a court house and jail of brick, a land of- 
 fice for Edwardsville district, seven stores, two taverns, 
 two physicians, four lawyers, a castor oil factory, various 
 mechanics, and about seventy families. Here is also an 
 academy and a commodious building. The Baptists and 
 Methodists each have houses of worship. The inhabi- 
 tants are generally industrious, intelligent, moral, and a 
 large proportion professors of religion. 
 
 The location of Edwardsville is pleasant, on high 
 ground, healthy, and in the centre of a fertile, vi^ell wa- 
 tered, and w^ell limbered country, settled with enterprising 
 farmers. It is in latitude thirty-eight degrees forty-five 
 minutes north. 
 
 Edivards^s Settlement is in the north part of Pike county, 
 on McRaney's creek. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 195 
 
 Edwards River rises in the prairies of Henry county, 
 fifteen norili, four east, runs west through Mercer coun- 
 ty, where it turns south and enters the Mississippi near 
 the Upper Yellow Banks. The country on this river is 
 undulatinjr, the timber in skirts and groves, the prairies 
 large, and a supply of good water. 
 
 Eight Mile Prairie, in the southwest corner of Frank- 
 lin county, eighteen miles southwest from Frankfort, 
 level, and has a dense population. It is from one to two 
 miles in diameter. 
 
 Elbridge Post office, in Edgar county, 10 miles from 
 Paris, on the road to Terre Haute. 
 
 Elgin, a town site on Fox river, in the south part of 
 McHenry county. 
 
 Ellisville, in Fulton county, on the west side of Spoon 
 river, near the north side of seven north, two east. It 
 has three stores, one tavern, a mill and a dozen families. 
 
 A large prairie lies west. The land on the river is 
 rather broken and timbered. 
 
 Situation twenty miles northwest from Lewistown. 
 
 Ellison, a small stream that rises in the prairies of War- 
 ren county, runs west, and enters the Mississippi six miles 
 below Henderson river. It has a fine settlement, and a 
 rich body of land on its banks. 
 
 Elkheart Grove, in Sangamon county, north of Sanga- 
 mon river, and about twenty miles northeast from Spring- 
 field, in eighteen north, three west. It is a beautiful 
 grove of timber, containing six or seven hundred acres, on 
 the right hand of the great road leading to Peoria, Ottawa, 
 and Chicago. The timber is oak, walnut, linden, hickory, 
 sugar tree, etc. 
 
 The prairie adjoining is rich soil, rather wet, and fur- 
 nishes fine summer and winter range for cattle. 
 
 Several families are settled here. 
 
 Elkhorn, a stream that rises in Washington county, 
 south of Nashville, runs northwest, and enters the Kas- 
 kaskia river. The country on its borders is tolerably 
 level, and has a large settlement. A post office is here. 
 
 Elkhorn Grove is in Jo Daviess county, west of Buffa- 
 
196 A GAZETTEER 
 
 loe grove. It is nine miles long-, and from one to three 
 miles wide. A beautiful prairie surrounds it, and Elkhoni 
 creek passes tlirough it. 
 
 Elkhorn Creek, in Jo Daviess county. It rises near 
 Red Oak grove, passes through Elkhorn grove, runs south- 
 west, and enters Rock river twenty miles below Dixon's 
 ferry. 
 
 Here is a beautiful country, and the timber in groves. 
 
 Elk Prairie lies between the little Muddy and Beaucoup 
 creeks, in Perry county, and is about five miles in extent. 
 It is dry and tolerably level; soil second rate, and the 
 settlement contains about twenty-five families. 
 
 Elm River, a branch of the Little Wabash. It rises in 
 two heads, in the Twelve Mile prairie, in Clay county, 
 north of the Vincennes road, and takino- a southeastern 
 direction, enters the Little Wabash in Wayne county. 
 The west branch of Elm river bears the name of Racoon 
 creek. 
 
 Eniharras River, (pronounced Emhroy in Fr.) a consi- 
 derable stream in the eastern part of the state. It rises 
 in Champaign county, eighteen north, nine east, near the 
 sources of the Kaskaskia, the two Vermilions, and the 
 Sangamon rivers. It runs south through Coles county, re- 
 ceives several smaller streams, enters Jasper, turns south- 
 east across a corner of Crawford, passes through Lawrence 
 county, and enters the Big Wabash, about six miles be- 
 low Vincennes. The country on the Embarras is various, 
 thouo-Ji there is much "food land. Towards its head the 
 prairie greatly predominates, the timber being in groves, 
 and narrow strips along its banks. In Coles county, north 
 of Charleston, the timber is from two to six miles wide. 
 Below that place it gradually widens to the distance of 
 eight or ten miles. 
 
 It consists of the various qualities common on this side 
 of the state. Generally the prairies through which 
 it flows are second rale for more than half its length 
 from its mouth. Its bottoms are inundated in very high 
 floods. The main stream and its branches afford many 
 good mill seats. From the vicinity of Lawrenceville to 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 197 
 
 Vincennes, in high freshets, the Embarras and Big "Wa- 
 bash unite their waters and spread over the country for 
 seven or eight miles in extent. Hence, fronn this occa- 
 sional obstruction to travelling on the old " Vincennes 
 trace,''^ as the obscure path through the prairies to Kas- 
 kaskia was then called, the early French explorers gave 
 the name " Embarras^^ to this stream. 
 
 Embarras, a town site in Coles county, one half mile 
 east of the Embarras river, at the junction of the national 
 road and tbe road from Palestine to Shelbyville, twenty 
 miles south of Charleston, and fifty-two miles east of 
 Vandalia. Good springs of water, high, rich, undulating 
 prairie, and abundance of fine timber are said to belong to 
 the conveniences of this location. 
 
 Embarras Settlement, in Coles county. I have given 
 this name to an extensive tract of country thinly populated, 
 extending along the west side of the Embarras, and north 
 of Charleston. The quality of the land is on a medium 
 with the rest of Coles county. South of Charleston, and 
 on the same side, the country is thinly settled. 
 
 Eminence, a town site near Sugar creek in Tazewell 
 county. 
 
 Emmettsburg, a Roman Catholic Irish and German set- 
 tlement, or hamlet, on the line of the canal, eight miles 
 above Juliet. 
 
 English Settlement is in Morgan county, west of Jack- 
 sonville, on Cadwell's, Walnut and Plum creeks. There 
 are about one hundred families, mostly from Yorkshire, 
 England, and farmers. They appear to be well pleased 
 with the country, and to be accumulating property. 
 
 English Settlement, in the east part of Monroe county, 
 is on Prairie de Long creek, in township three south, 
 eight west. It contains about forty families, amongst 
 whom are a number of English Catholics. 
 
 Equality, the seat of justice for Gallatin county, si- 
 tuated on the north side of Saline creek, on section fifteen, 
 nine south, eight east. It has nine stores, four groceries, 
 two taverns, a brick court house forty feet square, two 
 stories high, and neatly finished, a number of mechanics 
 
 17* 
 
198 A GAZETTEER 
 
 of different trades, and about seventy or eighty fannilics. 
 It is situated in the vicinity of the salt manufactories, 
 fourteen nniles south of Shawneetown. 
 
 The adjacent courtry soutii and west is broken and 
 roug-h; north and east is much good land. 
 
 Elvira Settlement, in Johnson county, on Lick crceJc, a 
 branch of Cash river. It is about fifteen miles northwest 
 from Vienna, and contains thirty or forty families. The 
 land is rich and level. 
 
 Essex's Settlement, in the forks of Spoon river, in the 
 western part of Putnam county, townships twelve and 
 thirteen north, in range six east from the fourth principal 
 meridian. The surface is undulating, excellent timber, 
 rich prairie, good water, stone quarries, a saw and grist 
 mill, and about fifty families. The post office is called 
 Wyoming. 
 
 Estes'^s Frairie, in Franklin county, fourteen miles north 
 of Frankfort, is level, dry, and has a thin population on 
 its borders, 
 
 Evmi^s Settlement, on the north side, and near the head 
 of Cash river, and on the eastern border cf Union county. 
 It has about forty families. 
 
 EwiNGTON, the seat of justice of Effingham county, is 
 situated on the national road, twenty-nine miles from 
 Vandalia, in a northeastern direction, on the west bank 
 of the Little Wabash river, and on section five, seven 
 north, five east. The site is elevated, and surrounded 
 with timber. Opposite is the bottom land of the Little 
 Wabash, about one fourth or a mile wide, and in hioh 
 floods occasionally inundated. Ev.-ington will probably 
 become a pleasant village, though but little improvement 
 is yet made. 
 
 Eiuing''s Fork, a branch of the Middle Fork of the Big 
 Muddy river, in Franklin county. 
 
 Exeter, a town site and post office on the Mauvaiseterre, 
 in Morgan county, fourteen miles west of Jacksonville. 
 It has a large flouring mill, two or three stores, and about 
 fifteen families, and is surrounded with a large settle- 
 ment. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 199 
 
 Eyman's Settlement^ in St. Clair county, four miles 
 southwest of Belleville — a mixture of timber and prai- 
 rie. 
 
 Fairfield, ttie seat of justice for Wayne county, is on 
 the border of Margrave's prairie, on section six, tow^nship 
 two south, rang-e eight east. It contains three stores, one 
 tavern, a handsome brick court house, and about twenty- 
 five families. Large quantities of castor oil are manufac- 
 tured at a press located here, belonging to Messrs. Leech 
 & Turney. 
 
 Fairfield is a small but pleasant settlement in the 
 northwestern part of Hancock county, in seven north, 
 eight west. 
 
 Fairfield d. town site in Adams county, on section eleven, 
 township one north, range eight west, and has 10 or 12 
 families surrounded with a large settlement called Bear 
 creek. 
 
 Fair Mounts a pleasant siuation in the Macoupin prai- 
 rie, Greene county, sixteen miles a little west of south 
 from Carroll ton. 
 
 Fall Creek is a small stream in Adams county, eight 
 miles long, which enters the Mississippi a few miles be- 
 low Quincy. 
 
 Fancy Creek, a small branch of the Sangamon river. 
 It rises in the prairies, takes a westerly course, and enters 
 the river below the junction of the North and South Forks. 
 The country is level, and the population considerable. 
 
 Fancy Farm, a post office in Franklin county, 9 miles 
 east-southeast from Frankfort. 
 
 Fanning's C'-eek, a small branch of Apple creek, eight 
 or ten miles long, in Morgan county, and has a dense 
 population of about two hundred families. 
 
 Farm Creek, a small stream in Tazewell county, that 
 runs west and enters the Illinois river opposite Peoria. 
 Its bottoms are rich, bluffs broken, with white oak timber, 
 and occasionally cedar. It is a mill stream. 
 
 Farmington, a town site and post office in the northeast 
 corner of Fulton county, on the road from Canton to 
 Knoxville. Elegant, rich, and rolling prairie around. 
 
200 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Fayetle, a town site and post office in Greene county, 
 adjoining Macoupin county, on sections twelve and liiir- 
 teen, township ten north, ten west, and on the road from 
 Alton to Jacksonville. It has two stores and several fa- 
 milies. 
 
 Fayettevllle, a town site on the west side of the Kaskas- 
 kia river in t)t. Clair county, 16 miles southeast from 
 Belleville, long known as Pulliam's ferry. It is on ele- 
 vated ground and a good situation for a town site. 
 
 Fever River, in Jo Daviess county, rises near the Platte 
 Mounds in two branches, the East and West forks, runs 
 a southwesterly course past Galena, and enters the Mis- 
 sissippi seven miles south of that place. It is navigable 
 at all times to Galena by steamboats of any size, and in 
 high water, two miles above. For this distance it is deep 
 and sluggish. 
 
 The stream above Galena runs with a swift current 
 over a rocky and gravelly bottom, is full of fine fish, and, 
 like all the streams in this region, it is fed with peren- 
 nial springs. 
 
 In the East Fork settlement, which is twelve miles east 
 from Galena, the timber is scarce, but there is much ex- 
 cellent prairie, and the lead mines are the best in Illinois. 
 Population of farmers and miners about fifty families. 
 
 On the West Fork or main creek is a considerable set- 
 tlement, and some good farms. The alluvion on the 
 stream is fine, and a tolerable supply of timber. This 
 settlement is eight miles in a direct course, and twelve 
 miles the travelled way, northeast from Galena. 
 
 Fever river has been incorrectly called Bean river 
 (Riviere au Feve, Fr.) We have given its proper name 
 from two traditionary accounts. 
 
 The first is, that in early times the Indians were car- 
 ried off by a mortal sickness, supposed to be the small 
 pox. This circumstance gave rise to the name of another 
 creek now called Small Pox. The other tradition, and 
 the correct one is, that it derived its name from a French 
 trader by the name of Le Fevre, who settled near its 
 mouth. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 201 
 
 Fincli's Settlement is on a branch of the South Fork of 
 Spoon river, in the southwestern part of Knox county. 
 
 Five Mile Grove is in the south part of Cook county, 
 on tlie road from Hickory creek to Kankakee and Dan- 
 ville. 
 
 Flag Creek^ a trifling stream in Cook county, that rises 
 in the prairie between Du Page and Des Plaines, runs 
 easterly, and enters Des Plaines below the road from 
 Plainfield to Chicago. The land on its borders rather 
 wet. 
 
 Flat Branch rises in Shelby county, runs northward, 
 and empties into the South fork of Sangamon, in the 
 northwest corner of the county. The country prairie 
 and timber, and a settlement of seventy or eighty fami- 
 lies. The bed of the stream is rock3^ 
 
 Flat Prairie, a well cultivated prairie and large settle- 
 ment in Randolph county, twenty miles east of Kaskas- 
 kia, settled chiefly by Reformed Presbyterians, or Cove- 
 nanters, who have a resident minister and a respectable 
 society. 
 
 Flora, a post office in Edgar county, 8 miles east of 
 Paris. 
 
 Floria, a town site and settlement in Putnam county, 5 
 milps east of Hennepin — a delightful situation. 
 
 Furd'^s Ferry, in Gallatin county, on the Ohio, twenty 
 miles below Shawneetown, and twenty-five miles south 
 of Equality. It is on the great road from the southern 
 parts of Kentucky and Tennessee to Illinois and Mis- 
 souri. 
 
 Forked Creek, a small creek in Will county, and branch 
 of the Kankakee. 
 
 A post office of the same name is on it. 
 
 Forks of Sangamon is the name given to the settlement 
 near the junction, and between the North and South forks 
 of the Sangamon river. It is eight or ten miles south 
 of Springfi!-ld. The surface is rather wet, level, consi- 
 derable prairie land, with large bodies of timber on both 
 streams. Here is a large settlement, and a town has 
 been laid oflT, called Bolive. 
 
202 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Fork Prairie^ in Bond county, between the forks of 
 Shoal creek, and from two to eight miles north of Green- 
 ville. It is gently undulating, and surrounded with set- 
 tlements. 
 
 Furk Sdlhment., in Clinton county, between Shoal 
 creek and the Kaskaskia river, twelve miles southwest- 
 erly from Oariyle. 
 
 Forks of Spoon River. These are two principal branches 
 that form the heads of this stream, and which for distil c- 
 tion I shall call the East and West forks. 
 
 The East Fork rises in fifteen north, six east, runs 
 south, through townships fourteen, thirteen, and twelve, 
 of the same range, where it turns west, and meets the 
 West fork, receiving in its course a number of smaller 
 streams. There is much excellent land on this fork and 
 its branches; prairie predominates, but it is generally 
 dry and rich, with groves and points of timber, and many 
 fine springs. 
 
 The JVest Fo7-k, rises in the southeast part of Henry 
 county, in township fourteen north, five east, runs a 
 southeasterly course, and unites with the East fork near 
 the tuwnship line between four and five east. The coun- 
 try adjoining is similar to that on the East fork, except 
 that the surface is more undulating. The timber is good, 
 and in considerable bodies. Near the junction of these 
 streams is much excellent timber, with a strip of fertile 
 prairie between. Here is a considerable settlement, a 
 grist and saw mill, and a post office. It is sometimes 
 called Essex''s Settlement. 
 
 Fort Chartres was a large stone fort, bnilt by the French, 
 while in possession of Illinois. It is situated half a mile 
 from the Mississippi, and three miles from Prairie dii 
 Rocher, in the northwestern part of Randolph county. 
 
 It was originally built by the French in 1720, to defend 
 themselves against the Sjianiards, who were then taking 
 possession of the country on the Mississippi. It was 
 rebuilt in 1756. The circumstances, character, form and 
 history of this fort are interesting, but I have not room 
 in this place to give them. Once it was a most formida- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 203 
 
 Lie piece of masonry, the materials of which were brought 
 three or four miles from the bluffs. It \<'as originally 
 an irregular quadrangle, the exterior sides of which were 
 490 feet in circumference. Within the walls were the 
 commandant's and commissary's houses, a magazine for 
 stores, barracks, powder magazine, bake house, guard 
 house and prison. 
 
 This prodigious military work is now a heap of ruins. 
 Many of the hewn stones have been removed by the people 
 to Kaskaskia. A slough from the Mississippi approached 
 and undermined the wall on one side in 1772. Over the 
 whole fort is a considerable growth of trees, and most of 
 its walls and buildings have fallen down and lie in one 
 promiscuous ruin. 
 
 Fort Edwards is situated on the Mississippi in the 
 southern part of Hancock county, five miles below the 
 foot of the Lower rapids, and directly opposite the mouth 
 of the river Des Moines. This was a military post till 
 within a few years past, situated on a high rocky bluff of 
 sand stone, which does not show itself on the surface. 
 
 The country back is well timbered for a short distance, 
 lis of good soil and is now partially settled. Native alum 
 is said to be found in considerable quantities near this 
 site. Opposite the water is deep, the current gentle, and 
 affords a good landing. When the river is low this will 
 be the place to which the produce of the interior will be 
 brought. A town called Warsaw is near this place. 
 
 Fort Massac^ formerly a military post, situated on the 
 Ohio river, on the dividing line of Johnson and Pope coun- 
 ties, eight miles below Paducah at the mouth of the Ten- 
 nessee. " A fort was erected here by the French when in 
 possession of the western c;ountry. The Indians, then at 
 war with them, laid a curious stratagem to take it. A 
 number of them appeared in the day time on the opposite 
 side of the river, each of whom was covered with a bear 
 skin and walked on all fours. Supposing them to be 
 bears, a party of the Ib'rench crossed the river in pursuit of 
 them. The remainder of the troops left their quarters to 
 see the sport. 
 
204 A GAZETTEER 
 
 "In the mean time a large body of warriors, who were 
 
 concealed in ►he woods near by, came silently behind the 
 
 fort, entered it without opposition, and very few of the 
 
 French escaped the massacre. They afterwards built 
 
 ,^ another fort on the same ground and called it Massac^ in 
 
 ^- * memory of this disastrous event."* 
 
 In 1750 they abandoned the position. After the revo- 
 lutionary war the Americans repaired or rebuilt it, and 
 kept a garrison here for several years. The buildings 
 are now destroyed. According to Ellicott, the latitude 
 of Fort Massac is 37 degrees 15 minutes north. 
 
 Fosfer''s Settlement^ in the southeast corner of McDo- 
 nough county, on the head of Sugar creek. 
 
 Foster^s Settlement, of sixty or seventy families, lies on 
 Mounse's creek, five miles south of Decatur. 
 
 Fountain Creek, a small stream in Monroe county. It 
 rises in New Design settlement, running first northeast, 
 then northwest, and finally bending round to the south- 
 west it enters the Mississippi river in section seven, tliree 
 south, eleven west. It is also called Eagle^ and by the 
 early French explorers, UAigle creek. 
 
 Fountain Bluff, frequently called the " Big Hill,'' in 
 Jackson county. It is a singularly formed eminence, or 
 rocky bluff on the Mississippi, six miles above the mouth 
 of the Big Muddy river. It is of an oval shape, eight 
 miles in circumference, and with an elevation of 300 feet. 
 The western side is on the river, and the top is broken, 
 full of sink holes, with shrubs and scattering timber. 
 The north side is nearly perpendicular rock, but the south 
 side is sloping, and ends in a fine rich tract of soil, cover- 
 ed with farms. East is an extensive and low bottom with 
 lakes and swamps. 
 
 Fine springs of limpid water gush out from the foot of 
 this bluff on all sides. 
 
 North, and along the bank of the Mississippi, is dry 
 and rich alluvion with a line of farms, known by the name 
 of the "Settlement under the Bluff." 
 
 * See Beck's Gazetteer, Art. Fort JWzssac; and Stoddard's 
 Sketches of Louisiana. , 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 205 
 
 Founfatndak, a flourishing- settlement in the forks of 
 the Du Page, Cook county, thirty miles west of Chicago. 
 Here are perennial springs, beautiful timber, rich soil, 
 extensive prairies, and good society of industrious and 
 enterprising farmers. The Methodists and Presbyterians 
 have congregations and constant preaching. 
 
 Fountain Green^) a town site and post office in Hancock 
 county, on section twenty-eight, township six north, range 
 live west, ten miles northeast from Carthage. A flourish- 
 ing settlement. 
 
 Four Mile Prairie^ in Perry county, adjoining Pinck- 
 neyville, is seven miles long, and four miles wide. It is 
 an elevated, dry, undulating, and fertile tract, with a 
 dense settlement, and lies between the Big Beaucoup and 
 Little Elm creeks. 
 
 Fourteen Mile Prairie, in Effingham county, receives its 
 name from its distance along the national road. It lies 
 east of E wington, is generally level, but has some dry land 
 and good points of timber. 
 
 Fox River, one of the principal branches of the Illinois. 
 It rises in the Wisconsin territory, passes through a 
 series of small lakes about the boundary line, and enters 
 the Illinois river at Ottawa. 
 
 Its general course is south. At the boundary line its 
 width is forty-five yards. 
 
 Several bodies of fine timber line its banks, especially 
 about the mouth oi Indian Creek and the Big Woods. At 
 the rapids, five miles above its mouth, are most extensive 
 water privileges. 
 
 Here the river is from eighty to one hundred yards 
 wide, with the bed and banks of coarse grained sand 
 stone. The rapids are sixteen feet descent, and both 
 sides of the river will admit of mills and machinery for 
 three-fourths of a mile, with inexhaustible supplies of 
 water. 
 
 The deficiency of timber near this spot is the only draw- 
 back upon it; but inexhaustible bodies of coal are to be 
 found but a few miles distant. 
 
 It furnishes a vast amount of water power, and can be 
 18 
 
206 A GAZETTEER 
 
 easily made navigable by dams and slack water. From 
 the town of Elgin near the south part of McHenry county, 
 it is a deep sluggish stream, connected with a string of 
 lakes, and is navigable within fifteen miles of Milwau- 
 kee. Hence, with small expense, a navigable communi- 
 cation may be opened from Lake Michigan by Milwaukee 
 and Fox river. 
 
 Fox River, a tributary of the Little Wabash, dividing 
 the counties of Clay and Lawrence. It rises in Jasper 
 county, runs south, and enters the Little Wabash near the 
 line of Edwards county. The land along its course is 
 about second quality for tliis portion of the state. 
 
 Fox River, in the northeastern part of White county. 
 It is a bayou that puts out from the Big Wabash, runs a 
 few miles, and again enters that river. The late Morris 
 Birbeck, Esq., known as one of the English emigrants 
 to Edwards county, and aulhor of ^^ Letters from Illinois,^* 
 was unfortunately drowned in attempting to swim this 
 stream on horseback. 
 
 Fox River post office, is near Fox river in White county. 
 
 Frakers^a small settlement between the forks of Spoon 
 river, and the borders of Henry county, thirteen north, 
 four east. 
 
 Franklin Grove, in Ogle county, lies between Grand De- 
 tour and Winnebago inlet with seven or eight families 
 settled around it. 
 
 Frankfort is the seat of justice for Franklin county, 
 on section twenty, seven south, three east of the third 
 principal meridian. 
 
 It is situated on elevated ground, and has five stores, 
 two groceries, one tavern, with a blacksmith, wagon- 
 maker, saddler, and tanyard, together with a horse mill, 
 a distillery, and 150 inhabitants. 
 
 Franklin, a town site and post office in Morgan county, 
 thirteen miles southeast from Jacksonville. It has two 
 stores, one grocery and twenty families. 
 
 Frazier^s Creek rises near the base line, in Adams 
 county, runs west, and falls into the south prong of Bear 
 creek. Along it are fine farms and a beautiful country. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 207 
 
 Frte!s Settlement is on the borders of a handsome prai- 
 rie, in the southeastern part of St. Clair county, be- 
 tween the two Mud creeks, eighteen rniles from Belle- 
 ville. 
 
 French Grove, in Putnam county, sixteen north, seven 
 east — a small grove settled around; prairie dry and undu- 
 lating. 
 
 French Grove, a small settlement in the northwestern 
 part of Peoria county, on the branches of Spoon river. 
 It contains three or four sections of excellent timber 
 in groves, with abundance of rich, dry rolling prairie 
 around it. 
 
 French Settlement, in the southeastern part of Lawrence 
 county, ten miles from Lawrenceville, is a timbered tract, 
 and rather broken. Of the population, which consists of 
 sixty families, about one half are French. 
 
 French Village, in St. Clair county, called formerly 
 Little French Village, was formed by settlers from Ca- 
 hokia about forty years since. It lies on the bottom, 
 near the bluffs, on the road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
 and contains fifteen or twenty families. 
 
 Friends Creek, a branch of the North fork of Sangamon, 
 in Macon county, sixteen miles northeast from Decatur. 
 The land is good, and the settlement large. 
 
 Funk's Grove, a settlement in McLean county, twelve 
 miles southwest from Blooniington. The grove is round- 
 ish in form, contains about eight square miles; and lies 
 on the main branch of Sugar creek. It has an excellent 
 soil, fine water, and is monopolised by a family connec- 
 tion of the name of Funk, from Ohio, who raise large 
 numbers of cattle. 
 
 Fulfer^'s Creek, near the south border of Effingham 
 county, enters the Little Wabash below Brockett's set- 
 tlement. There is a considerable quantity of good land 
 on its banks, and a settlement of twelve or fifteen fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Fulton, a town site at the mouth of the Ohio river, 
 •where it is contemplated to erect a monument to the me- 
 mory of Robert Fulton, whose inventive powers in the 
 
208 A GAZETTEER 
 
 appl'cation of steam to navirration is fast transforming 
 the immense regions of the valley of the Mississippi into 
 the garden of the world. 
 
 Mercantile enterprise will undoubtedly yet triumph 
 over the obstructions of nature, and erect a spacious city 
 at the mouth of the Ohio river. 
 
 Gagnie^ a sluggish stream that runs southwest into the 
 Mississippi, and forms the boundary line between Ran- 
 dolph and Jackson counties. 
 
 Galena is the seat of justice for Jo Daviess county, 
 and the principal town in the lead mine country. It is 
 pleasantly situated on Fever river, and on the fourth 
 principal meridian. It has eighteen or twenty stores, a 
 dozen groceries, four taverns and hotels, a printing office 
 that publishes the " Gaze//e," a weekly paper, four law- 
 yers, three physicians, two schools, two preachers, a 
 pipe and sheet lead manufactory, a flour and saw mill, 
 a gunsmith, silversmith, saddler, tailor, several carpenters, 
 blacksmiths, brick and stone masons, etc. 
 
 There are about three hundred families and ten or 
 twelve hundred inhabitants. Fever river is navigable 
 for steamboats to the town. 
 
 Gap Grove^ lies in Ogle county, to the north of the road 
 from Dixonville to Buffaloe grove. Three sections of 
 timber. 
 
 Garden Prairie^ between Richland and Rock creeks, in 
 Sangamon county, is a level, rich, beautiful prairie, two 
 miles wide, and six or eight miles long, fourteen miles 
 northwesterly from Springfield, and contains a ])opulation 
 of one hundred and fifty families. 
 
 Germany^ a settlement of Pennsylvania Germans, in 
 Sangamon county, four miles northeast from Springfield, 
 and near the mouth of Sugar creek. 
 
 Geneva is a post office and town site in Morgan county, 
 about ten miles southwest from Jacksonville. 
 
 Gcorge^s Creek heads in the interior of Johnson county, 
 runs south, and enters the ponds between the Big Bay 
 creek and Cash river. The land is tolerably rich, and 
 the settlement contains twenty-five or thirty families. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 209 
 
 Georgetown^ a post town and village, containing about 
 twenty families and three stores, situated on the north 
 side of the Little Vermilion, in eighteen north, eleven 
 west, in Vermilion county, ten miles south of Danville. 
 A fine country, and flourishing settlements around it. 
 
 Georgetown^ a town site in Sangamon county, twenty 
 miles northeast from Springfield, betweeu Lake fork and 
 Salt creek, in section nineteen, eighteen north, two west. 
 
 Georgetown^ in the eastern part of Randolph county, 
 contains one store, two groceries, a mill, and seven or 
 eight families. The post office is called ^^ Steele\^ Mill." 
 
 Gilead, the former seat of justice of Calhoun county, 
 is situated at the foot of the bluflTs, three-fourths of a mile 
 from the mouth of Salt Prairie slough, on section eight, 
 eleven south, two west. 
 
 It has two stores, and a dozen families. 
 
 Gilhani's Settlement is in Bond county, nine miles east 
 of north from Greenville. 
 
 The land is of inferior quality, consisting of both timber 
 and prairie. 
 
 Gilmore''s Settlement is on Crooked creek, in Clinton 
 county, on the road to Shawneetown, twelve miles south- 
 east of Carlyle. 
 
 Girard, a town site in the northeast part of Macoupin 
 county, on the road from Alton to Springfield. 
 
 GoLcoNPA is situated on the south side of Lusk's creek 
 and north bank of the Ohio. It is the county seat of Pope, 
 and has three stores, one grocery, two taverns, and about 
 twenty dwelling houses, chiefly framed and brick. The 
 court house is of brick, thirty-six feet square, two stories, 
 with a neat cupola. It is situated on the fractional town- 
 ship thirteen south, in range seven east of the third prin- 
 cipal meridian. 
 
 Goose Creek enters the North fork of Sangamon, in 
 Macon county, twenty-five miles northeast from Decatur. 
 
 Goshen is the oldest settlement in Madison county, 
 along the bluflfs, west aud sonthwest of Edwardsville, 
 
 G ruble'' s Settlement^ in Gallatin county, is sixteen miles 
 west from Equality, on the road to Frankfort. 
 
 18* 
 
210 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is a large settlement, with considerable tracts of good 
 farming land. 
 
 GrahanCs Settlement^ in Alexander county, on the 
 north side, twenty-five miles northwest from America. 
 The upland is thin soil, but there is a rich bottom on a 
 branch of Cash river, which runs through this settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Graftoyi is a town recently laid off, two rniles below 
 the mouth of the Illinois, in Greene county. It is si- 
 tuated on a strip of elevated land, under the bluffs, and 
 on the banks of the Mississippi, and has a good land- 
 ing. It is on fractional section fifteen, township eight 
 north, in range twelve west t''rom tlie third principal meri- 
 dian. 
 
 Several Islands in the Mississippi make this point the 
 real junction of the Illinois and Mississi])pi rivers, as to 
 navigation. 
 
 The country a few miles back is rich, and becoming 
 densely populated. 
 
 Grafton is twenty-four miles from Carrollton, and ten 
 miles from St. Charles, in Missouri, and must soon become 
 a thoroughfare for travelling from the Sangamon country 
 across the Mississippi \o St. Charles, and the regions 
 along the Missouri river. It has a post office, several 
 stores and warehouses, 400 or 500 inhabitants, and pro- 
 mises to be a place of considerable business. A cliarter 
 for a rail road from this place through Carrollton to Spring- 
 field has been obtained, the company organised and a por- 
 tion of the stock taken. A chartered company are about 
 to erect a splendid hotel, and a printing office is to be es- 
 tablished here in a few weeks and a weekly paper issued. 
 
 Grand Cote, an eminence in a large prairie, in the eastern 
 part of Randolph county. 
 
 Grand Detour, a singular bend in Rock river, in Ogle 
 county, five miles above Dixonville. Here a town of the 
 same name has been laid off, and by cutting a canal across 
 the neck of the bend for a short distance, a valuable hy- 
 draulic power will be gained. An enterprising company 
 are engaged in the project. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 211 
 
 Grand Maraisj called also Clear LaJte, in St. Clair 
 county in the bottom, between the French Village and 
 Cahokia. 
 
 Grand Passe, two lakes in the Illinois bottoni, at the 
 southwest corner of Greene county, so called by the 
 French explorers of Illinois, from the successive flocks 
 of geese seen flying from the one to the other. They 
 are connected with Apple creek by a stream called 
 Fishing creek. 
 
 Granger'' s Prairie is in the northwest part of Adams 
 county, and is three miles long and from one and a half to 
 mile wide. Very rich land. 
 
 Grand Point, a small stream and settlement in Wash- 
 ington county, six miles northeast from New Nashville, 
 and contains about twenty families. The creek runs north 
 and enters Crooked ceek. 
 
 Grand Prairie. Under this general name is embraced 
 the prairie country lying between the waters which fall 
 into the Mississippi, and those which enter the Wabash 
 rivers. It does not consist of one vast tract, boundless 
 to the vision, and uninhabitable for want of limber; but 
 is made up of continuous tracts, with points of timber 
 projecting inward, and long arms of prairie extending 
 between the creeks and smaller streams. The southern 
 points of the Grand prairie are formed in the northeastern 
 parts of Jackson county, and extend in a northeastern 
 course between the streams of various widths, from one 
 to ten or twelve miles, through Perry, Washington, Jef- 
 ferson, Marion, the eastern part of Fayette, Effingham, 
 through the western portion of Coles, into Champaign 
 and Iroquois counties, where it becomes connected with 
 the prairies that project eastward from the Illinois river 
 and its tributaries. A large arm lies in Marion county, 
 between the waters of Crooked creek and the East fork 
 of the Kaskaskia river, where the Vincennes road passes 
 througli in its longest direction. This is frequently called 
 the Grand prairie. 
 
 Much the largest part of the Grand prairie is gently 
 undulating; but of the southern portion considerable tracts 
 
212 A GAZETTEER 
 
 are flat, and of rather inferior soil. No insurmountable 
 obstacle exists to its future population. No portion of it 
 is more than six or eight miles distant from timber, and 
 coal in abundance is found in various parts. Those who 
 have witnessed the changes produced upon a prairie sur- 
 face within twenty or thirty years, consider these extensive 
 prairies as offering no serious impediment to the future 
 growth of the state. 
 
 Grand Prairie^ in Crawford county. The tract of prairie 
 between the Embarras and Wabash rivers, commencing 
 in Crawford county, and running northward through Clark 
 and Edgar into Vermilion county, is called Grand prai- 
 rie, by the citizens of those courities. It is not of great 
 width, interspersed with long points of timber on the 
 streams, and frequently throwinj out arms of prairie land 
 between those streams. 
 
 The prairie soil in this region is not equal in quality to 
 that further north and west. With the exception of the 
 sand prairies along the Wabash, the soil is thinner, less 
 undulating, and more inclined to be wet. 
 
 Grand Tower, a perpendicular sand rock rising from the 
 bed of the Mississippi, near the Missouri side, and a short 
 distance above the mouth of Big Muddy river. The top 
 is level, seventy or eighty feet high, and supports a stratum 
 of soil on which are found a few stunted cedars and 
 shrubs. Here are indications that a barrier of rock once 
 extended across the Mississippi, and formed a grand 
 cataract. The bed of the river, at a low stage of water 
 still exhibits a chain of sunken rocks. The '■''Devils Tea 
 Tahle^^'' '''• Back Bone,'''* etc. are names given by the boat- 
 men of the Mississippi to the singularly formed, abrupt, 
 and romantic precipices that line the banks of that river in 
 the vicinity of the Grand Tovi'er. 
 
 Grand View, a village in the southwestern part of Edgar 
 county, ten miles from Paris, and on the state road to 
 Vandalia. It is on, and surrounded by a beautiful, rolling 
 rich prairie, near the head waters of Big creek. A post 
 office is here. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 213 
 
 Grassy Creek, in Franklin county, a branch of Crab 
 Orchard. Good land. 
 
 Graysville, a town of fifteen or twenty fannilies and a 
 convenient landing- on the Big Wabash, in the northeast 
 corner of While county, and at the mouth of the Bon Pas 
 creek. 
 
 It has 3 stores, 1 grocery, 2 taverns, one steam saw and 
 grist mill and 100 inhabitants. Exports about ^100,000; 
 imports, ^30,000 per annum. 
 
 This is a convenient place of deposit for Edwards 
 county. 
 
 Gregory^s Settlement^ in Clinton county, fifteen miles 
 northwest of Carlyle. 
 
 Green Plains, a post office and settlement, in Hancock 
 county 8 miles southeast of Warsaw. 
 
 Greenfield, a town site near Lick creek, in Sangamon 
 count}'^, fifteen miles southwesterly from Springfield on 
 sections three and ten, fourteen north, seven west, Here- 
 dith's mills are in the-vicinity. 
 
 Greenfield, a town site in Green county, in String 
 prairie, 10 miles east from Carrollton. It has two stores, 
 a carding machine and a dozen families. 
 
 Greenfield^ a town site in Putnam county, near the 
 head of the Bureau timber, on section twenty-four, eighteen 
 north, ten east. It has half a dozen houses. 
 
 Greenup, a town site and post office, on the National 
 Road east of the Embarras, in Coles county. It has 
 2 stores, 2 saw and one grist mill and about 20 families. 
 
 Greenville, the seat of justice for Bond county, is a 
 pleasant village on the East fork of Shoal creek, on sec- 
 tion ten, township five north, in range three west of the 
 third principal meridian. 
 
 It has 4 stores, 3 taverns, 3 physicians, 1 lawyer, va- 
 rious mechanics, and 200 inhabitants. The court house 
 is a two story frame building, unfinished. 
 
 Green's Settlement, in Bond county, seven miles south- 
 west from Greenville. The country around is proportioned 
 into timber and prairie. 
 
 Green River has its rise in the Winnebasfo and other 
 
214 A GAZETTEER 
 
 swamps in Ogle and Henry counties, runs a west course 
 tlirough Henry county, and enters Rock river in township 
 seventeen nortii, one west. It is a deep sluggish stream 
 well adapted to navigation and below the swamps has 
 much fine land both timber and prairie. 
 
 Griggsville, a town site and post office in Pike county, 
 eight miles northeast from Pittsfield, on sections fifteen and 
 twenty-two, four south, three west. It is four miles west 
 of Phillip's ferry on the Illinois river, on high ground, and 
 on the border of a large, undulating prairie, and surround- 
 ed with good settlements. 
 
 Grindstone ForJe, a branch of Crooked creek, in the south 
 part of McDonough county. 
 
 Griswold's Post Office is in Lockwood's settlement, 
 Hamilton county, twenty miles north of Equality. 
 
 Gros Point is a promontory that puts into Lake Michi- 
 gan, twelve miles above Chicago. It is twenty feet high, 
 projects two hundred yards into the lake, rich, timbered 
 land, and settled around. 
 
 Groveland, a post office and town site, in Tazewell coun- 
 ty, on section twenty-seven, township twenty-five north, 
 range five west, and on the road from Springfield to Pe- 
 oria. 
 
 h Guilford, the new county seat of Calhoun county, is 
 situated on the west side of the Illinois river, in fractional 
 township eleven south, two west, one mile below and oj)- 
 posite the mouth of the Macoupin. It has been recently 
 laid oflf and is said to be well situated for business pur- 
 poses. 
 
 A company has been chartered to cut a canal from the 
 Mississippi near Gilead, the former seat of justice, to the 
 Illinois river at Guilford. The distance does not exceed 
 three miles, and by tunneling a short distance under the 
 bluff, it is said the work can be accomplished, and a 
 steamboat canal constructed at comparatively small ex- 
 pense. This communication would save fifty miles navi- 
 gation from the Illinois river to the Upper Mississippi, 
 and, as the latter is elevated considerably above the 
 
OF ILLINOIS. SI 5 
 
 former, create an immense water power, which is the ob- 
 ject of the company. 
 
 Gum^s Fort. See Henderson's Settlement, Knox count3^ 
 
 Gun Prairie, in Jefferson county, six miles south of 
 Mount Vernon, two miles lon^, and one mile wide. The 
 land is good, and the settlement contains twenty families. 
 
 Hadky''s Creek rises in the north part of Pike county, in 
 four south, three west, and enters the Snycartee slough. 
 The land is undulating but good. 
 
 Hadley, a post office and settlement, in Will county, 
 eight miles northeast of Juliett, and on the road to Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 Hamburg, a landing on the Mississippi, in Calhoun 
 county, and the residence of .Tohn Sliaw, Esq., ten miles 
 northwest of Gilead. The landing is said to be good, 
 and the bank high. Here is a post office of the same 
 name. 
 
 Hummefs Settlement, in Coles county, on the east side 
 of the Embarras, twenty-two miles north of Charleston. 
 The land is good, generally rolling, and the settlement 
 has twelve or fifteen families. 
 
 Hancock Prairie commences above Bear creek, in Ad- 
 ams county. This is an extensive tract of rich prairie, 
 tolerably level, which runs through Hancock county, 
 enters Warren, and stretches between Henderson and 
 Spoon rivers indefinitely north. Its width is various, being 
 from ten to twenty miles. 
 
 A principal road to Rock river and northward passes 
 through this prairie. 
 
 Hanover, a town site in Tazewell county, on sections 
 seventeen and twenty, township twenty-seven north, 
 range two west, and on the road from Springfield, via 
 Tremont, to Ottawa. A steam mill and several buildings 
 are in process of erection. A charter has been obtained 
 for a college, which is contemplated to be brought into 
 operation by the Baptist Reformers. 
 
 Hardeii's Settlement, in the southeast part of Hancock 
 county, on the head and along the North fork of Bear 
 
216 A GAZETTEER 
 
 creek. The land is excellent and well watered, with a 
 tolerable supply of good timber. 
 
 Hargrave^s Prairie, in Wayne county, adjoining Fair- 
 field. It is about seven miles long and two wide: rolling, 
 and thin soil. Population about one hundred families. 
 
 Harkness's Settlement is on the west side of Peoria coun- 
 ty, adjoining Fulton, twelve miles west from Peoria. 
 
 Harris's Creek rises in the bluffs of the Ohio river, in 
 Gallatin county, runs a north course, and enters Saline 
 creek, fifteen miles below Equality. Much of the land 
 on its borders is rough and broken, interspersed with tracts 
 of good soil. 
 
 IIarrisonville,{he former seatof justice of Monroe coun- 
 ty, situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, and nearly 
 opposite Herculaneum. It is a place of very little account, 
 having not more than half a dozen families. 
 
 Havanna, a town site and landing on the Illinois river, 
 directly opposite the mouth of Spoon river. 
 
 It has an eligible situation on a high sand ridge, fifty 
 feet above the highest floods of the river. It is on section 
 one, township twenty-one north, in range nine west of the 
 third principal meridian. 
 
 Havanna is well situated to receive the produce and 
 direct the trade of a pretty extensive country on both 
 sides of the Illinois river, and is on the great thoroughfare 
 from Indiana, by Danville and Bloomington to the coun- 
 ties that lie to the west and north. 
 
 Haw Creek is a branch of Spoon river, twenty miles 
 long, that rises in the middle part of Knox county, runs 
 east, and enters Spoon river. 
 
 The country on its borders is first rate for settlements, 
 which are forming fast. 
 
 It has some good mill seats. 
 
 Hawkins Prairie, in Greene county, on the south side 
 of the Macoupin, and nine miles east of south from Car- 
 rollton. 
 
 HazePs Settlement is in Pope county, on the road to Vi- 
 enna. 
 
 Head of Apple Creek is an extensive settlement in the 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 217 
 
 southeastern part of Morgan county, eighteen miles from 
 Jacksonville. 
 
 It is a fertile tract, tolerably level, and has about three 
 hundred families. 
 
 Head of Apple River is a settlement in Jo Daviess 
 count5% southeast of Galena. 
 
 Head of Richland is a fine settlement of fifty or sixty 
 families in Sangamon county, seventeen north, seven 
 west, on Richland creek, fourteen miles northwest from 
 Springfield. 
 
 The land is high, dry, undulating and rich. 
 
 Here is an excellent flouring mill by ox power, and a 
 carding machine and clothier's works, for dressing cloth. 
 
 Head of Silver Creek, a settlement in the northeastern 
 part of Madison county, surrounded with large prairies. 
 
 Head of Wood River, a settlement in the south part of 
 Macoupin county. It is a good tract of land, and the set- 
 tlement is considerable. 
 
 Henderson River rises in Knox county, takes a south- 
 western course through Warren, and after receiving 
 several branches, enters the Mississippi in ten north, five 
 west, through a low and inundated bottom. 
 
 It is a beautiful stream, furnishes some good mill seats, 
 and has a fine body of timber on its banks. The country 
 on Henderson is considered one of the finest bodies of 
 land in Illinois. 
 
 Its principal branches are South fork, and Cedar fork. 
 The timber is oaks of various species, hickory, walnut, 
 ash, elm, sugar maple, linden, etc. 
 
 South Fork of Henderson river rises in ten north, five 
 west, runs through an excellent body of land and fine set- 
 tlements in Warren county. The heads of all the streams 
 in this part of the state are in rich and dry land. 
 
 Henderson Settlement lies in Knox county, on Hender- 
 son river, ten miles north of west from Knoxville. Here 
 is a large body of rich timbered land, surrounded with 
 dry, fertile, first rate prairies. The settlement is some- 
 times called Gum's fort. 
 
 Henderson^ Creek, in Greene county, a small stream 
 19 
 
218 A GAZETTEER 
 
 that rises near the line of Morgan county, runs a south 
 course, and empties into Apple creek. 
 
 Hennepin, the seat of justice for Putnam county, is 
 situated in the great bend, and on the east bank of the 
 Illinois river, and the border of De Pru prairie, on sec- 
 tion nine, township thirty-two north, in range two west 
 of the third principal meridian. Its situation is elevated, 
 the surface gently ascending from the river, with an ex- 
 tensive body of rich land adjacent. 
 
 The bottom opposite is about one mile and a half wide, 
 and overflowed in high water. 
 
 This town was laid off in 1831, and contains ten stores, 
 4 groceries, 3 taverns, 3 lawyers, 4 physicians, Presby- 
 terian and Methodist congregations, court house and jail, 
 a good school, and 475 inhabitants. Steamboats ascend 
 to this place at a moderate stage of water. 
 
 Htrron's Prairie is in the southwestern part of Franklin 
 county. 
 
 HerringtoTi* s Prairie, eleven miles northwest from 
 Fairfield, in Wayne county, is eight miles long, from 
 two to four miles wide, surface rolling, soil second rate, 
 and has a settlement of fifty families. 
 
 Hickory Creek, in Coles county, rises in the Grand 
 prairie, runs southeast, and enters the Embarras five 
 miles below Charleston. It is a good mill stream, and 
 the land through which it passes is undulating and rich; 
 the settlements contain 120 families. 
 
 Hickory Creek rises in Cook county, runs a westerly 
 course, and enters the Des Plaines nearly opposite Mount 
 Joliet. On its banks are large bodies of excellent tim- 
 ber, intermixed with good prairie land. The settlements 
 are extensive. 
 
 Hickory Creek, a small stream in Fayette county. It 
 rises about nine miles east of Vandalia in the prairies, 
 runs southwest, and enters the Kaskaskia five miles be- 
 low Vandalia. The soil is thin, timber post and other 
 species of oak. 
 
 Hickory Creek Post Office, is in Fayette county, in the 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 219 
 
 centre of a large settlement, four and a half miles south- 
 east from Vandalia, and on the road to Salem. 
 
 Hickory Grove, in Champaign county, on the north 
 branch of salt fork, and 12 miles east of Urbanna. The 
 timber is from half a mile to one and a half miles wide, 
 and the soil and prairie round first rate. 
 
 Hickory Grove, a post office, and large settlement, on 
 the borders of Shoal creek prairie, in Bond county, nine 
 miles south of west from Greenville. The prairie is large 
 undulating, and rich. The timber adjoining is excellent 
 and abundant. The settlement contains seventy or eighty 
 families and a store. Many European Germans are set- 
 tling in the prairie. 
 
 Hickory Grove, a settlement near a point of timber in 
 the Macoupin prairie, Greene county, twelve miles south 
 of Carrollton, and on the road to Alton. The settlement 
 is spreading over a fine, rich, prairie, moderately undu- 
 lating. 
 
 Hickory Grove, in McDonough county, in seven north, 
 two west, is a small and beautiful tract of timber, on the 
 head of Camp fork. This is sometimes called Walnut 
 grove. The prairie around it is undulating and rich. 
 
 Hickory Hill Settlement, in Wayne county, eighteen 
 miles west from Fairfield, and on the west side of the 
 Skillet fork. It is a mixture of timber and prairie, soil 
 second quaility, and population about fifty families. 
 
 Higgi7is''s Creek, a small stream in Fayette county, that 
 enters the Kaskaskia from the west, three miles above 
 Vandalia. 
 
 Higgins^s Settlement, in Crawford county, is five miles 
 south of Palestine. 
 
 Highlarid, a town site in the Looking-Glass prairie, 
 Madison county, 16 miles southeast from Edwardsville. 
 
 An extensive settlement of Germans is in its vicinity. 
 
 HigJdand post office and settlement is in Pike county 
 between Pittsfield and Atlas. 
 
 High Prairie, a beautiful prairie and fine settlement in 
 St. Clair county, eight miles south of Belleville. 
 
 HighsmitJi's Settlement, in Crawford county, ten miles 
 
220 A GAZETTEER 
 
 south of Palestine. Here are considerable barrens, the 
 timber is oak, hickory, etc., the soil a medium quality, 
 the population twenty or twenty-five families. 
 
 HiLLSBORo', the seat of justice for Montgomery county, 
 is situated twenty-eight miles northwest from Vandalia. 
 It has six stores, two taverns, three blacksmiths, three 
 carpenters, one cabinet maker, two physicians, two tan- 
 neries, one shoenaaker, two tailors, one tinner, a post 
 office, 70 families, and about 350 inhabitants. 
 
 It is situated in an elevated region, near middle fork of 
 Shoal creek. 
 
 The Presbyterian society in this place has built a neat 
 brick edifice, in the modern style, for a house of worship. 
 
 Hillsboro' is a healthy and flourishing town. The 
 principal road from Vandalia to Springfield, and another 
 from Shelbyville to Alton, pass through this place. 
 
 Hitesville^ a town site and post office on the easi border 
 of Coles county, 12 miles from Charleston. 
 
 Hiitle's Grove, in Tazewell county, lies between little 
 Mackinau and Sugar creek. It is four miles long and two 
 miles wide, and surface level; the adjoining prairie un- 
 dulating. 
 
 Hodge's Creek, in Greene county, rises in Pratt's prai- 
 rie, runs southwesterly, and enters Grand Passe. It is 
 also called Hurricane. 
 
 Hodge'^s Fork, a branch of the Macoupin from the north 
 side, which unites with the main stream twelve miles 
 east from Carrollton, and near the line of Greene county. 
 Towards its head it is called Otter creek. See North 
 fork of the Macoupin. 
 
 Hog Prairie is in Hamilton county, a ^ew miles west 
 of McLeansboro'. It is about two miles in diameter, 
 level, and rather wet. 
 
 Holderman'' s Grove, in La Salle county, is sixteen miles 
 northeast from Ottawa, containing about 500 acres of 
 timber, and a settlement of several families. Here is a 
 town site and post office called Lisbon. 
 
 Holland'^s Grove, a settlement on Farm creek, in Taz.e- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 221 
 
 well county. The limber and prairie are first rate. It 
 adjoins Peoria lake. 
 
 Hollandrs Grove post office is in the town of Washing- 
 ton, which see. 
 
 Honey Creek is a stream that rises in the prairies of 
 Warren county, runs west twenty miles, giving name to 
 a low bottom, and enters the Mississippi, below Ellison. 
 
 Horse Creek rises near the centre of Monroe county, 
 runs a southeasterly course into Randolph county, and 
 enters the Kaskaskia river, in five south, eight west; 
 several settlements lie along this creek where there is 
 good timber and prairie land. 
 
 Horse Creek, in Sangamon county, rises in the prairies 
 towards the head of Macoupin, and enters the South fork 
 of Sangamon about section twenty, fifteen north, four 
 west. 
 
 Horse Prairie, in Randolph county, on Horse creek, a 
 rich undulating tract, and contains forty or fifty families. 
 
 Horse Shoe Lake, in Alexander county, eight or ten 
 miles long, and from half a mile to one mile wide. Its 
 name indicates its form, and its outlet is into Cash river. 
 
 Horse Shoe Prairie, is in the Virginia settlement, Mc 
 Henry county, 7 miles west of Fox river. 
 
 HowarcTs Settlement, in Pope County, on Big creek, 
 fifteen miles northeast from Golconda, comprises excel- 
 lent land, and about seventy or eighty families. 
 
 Howard's Settlement, in Madison county, on the borders 
 of the Looking Glass prairie, thirteen miles southeasterly 
 from Edwardsville. ^ 
 
 Howard's Settlement, near Potatoe creek, in Fulton 
 county, twelve miles south of west from Lewistown. 
 The soil is good, of the description called barrens. 
 
 Hoxey\s Settlement, in Madison county, on the West 
 fork of Silver creek, nine miles northeast from Edwards- 
 ville. The prairie is undulating and rich. 
 
 Hudson, a settlement of New England people in Mc 
 Lean county, ten miles north of Bloominglon, south side 
 and in the bend of Mackinau river. 
 
 19* 
 
222 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Hutson^s Creek is a small stream in Crawford county, 
 that flows into the Wabash. 
 
 Hutsonville^ a small town and post office, on Hutson's 
 creek, nine miles north of Palestine, in Crawford county. 
 
 Huey's Settlement^ on the west side of the Grand prai- 
 rie, in Clinton county, three miles east of Carlyle. A. 
 rich tract of prairie, bordered with heavy limber. 
 
 Hugh's Settlement, in Alexander county, on the west 
 side of Cash river, seventeen miles north from America. 
 Mill creek, a branch of Cash river, runs through it. 
 
 The bottom and the upland are both good, and the set- 
 tlement has forty or fifty families. 
 
 Huron, a town site in Sangamon county, on the south 
 side of the Sangamon river, about thirty miles north north- 
 east from Springfield, on the road to Fulton county. 
 , It is a good situation for a town, and where the Beards- 
 town canal is projected to unite with the Sangamon river. 
 It was formerly called Miller's ferry. 
 
 Hurricane Settlement, in the eastern part of Montgo- 
 mery, and western part of Fayette counties. It extends 
 along the timber of Hurricane fork, has a rolling surface, 
 which is broken near the creek; the timber is post oak, and 
 the soil rather thin. 
 
 Hurricane, an extensive settlement along the creek of 
 that name and on the eastern side of Bond county. The 
 prairie is rather wet, the timber excellent, and in large 
 bodies. 
 
 Hurricane Post Office is in Hurricane settlement, Mont- 
 gomery county, on the road from Vandalia to Hillsboro', 
 and equidistant from these places. 
 
 Hurricane Fork, a branch of the Kaskaskia river, rises 
 near the line of Montgomery and Shelby counties, runs 
 south near the western line of Fayette county, and enters 
 the Kaskaskia on the right side, twelve miles below Van- 
 dalia. The banks of this stream are well timbered, and 
 the low bottoms occasionally inundated. 
 
 Hutchens^s Creek, a branch of Clear creek, in Union 
 county, ten miles from Jonesboro'. 
 
 Hutchens*s Settlement, in Perry county, fivo miles north 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 223 
 
 of Pinckneyville. The surface is undulating, the soil of a 
 middling quality, and the settlement small. 
 
 Illinois Prairie, formerly called Wolf prairie, com- 
 mences near the mouth of the Illinois river, in Calhoun 
 county, and extends twenty miles along the foot of the 
 bluffs, adjoining the alluvion of the Illinois. Its average 
 width is one mile and a half, the soil is good and thirty 
 families are settled here. 
 
 Illinois River, a beautiful stream of water that passes 
 diagonally through the state, and enters the Mississippi 
 twenty miles above the mouth of the Missouri. 
 
 It commences under its proper name at the junction of 
 the Kankakee and Des Plaines. From thence it runs 
 nearly a west course, (receiving Fox river at Ottawa, and 
 Vermilion near the foot of the rapids,) to Flennepin, in 
 township thirty-three north, and in range two west of the 
 third principal meridian. Here it curves to the south, 
 and then to the southwest, receiving a number of tributa- 
 ries, the largest of which are iSpoon and Sangamon rivers, 
 till it reaches Naples. Here it bends gradually to the 
 south, and continues that course till within six miles of 
 the Mississippi, when it curves to the southeast, and 
 finally nearly to an east course. Its length, (without 
 reckoning the windings of the channel in navigation,) is 
 about 260 miles. It is navigable at a moderate siage of 
 water to the foot of tlie rapids, 210 miles; and to Ottawa, 
 nine miles further, in high water, for steamboats. 
 
 In going up the river at a low stage of water the fol- 
 lowing bars and impediments to the navigation exist: 
 
 1. French bar, gravel, twenty miles above the mouth, 
 near Smith's ferry — three feet deep at low water. 
 
 2. A bar fourteen miles further up — channel close to an 
 island — two and a half feet at low stage. 
 
 3. At Hodge's warehouse, seven miles above the mouth 
 of Apple creek, there is difficulty in getting a point, but 
 no bar. 
 
 4. Six miles below Naples is a centre bar — channel 
 near the side of the river. 
 
224 A GAZETTEER 
 
 5. At Meredosia, is a narrow channel on the opposite 
 side, but no getting to tiie landing at very low water. 
 
 6. Three fourths of a mile below Beardstown is a bar, 
 extending, like a wing dam, nearly across the river, 
 excepting a narrow passage near the west shore. Any 
 boat that can pass this bar will reach the port of the 
 rapids. 
 
 From this imperfect sketch of the obstructions to the 
 navigation of this river at low water, it will be seen that 
 with the comparatively trifling expense of 100,000 dol- 
 lars, which the legislature has provided, the navigation of 
 the Illinois may be made good at all stages of water. 
 
 At high floods this river overflows its banks and covers 
 its bottoms for a considerable extent. The Mississippi, 
 at extreme high water, backs uj) the Illinois about seventy 
 miles to the mouth of the Mauvaiseterre. 
 
 Besides several villages and commercial towns, which 
 are springing up on the banks of the Illinois, there are 
 many landings for goods, and deposits for produce, where 
 temporary warehouses have been erected. 
 
 The commerce of this river now is extensive, and in- 
 creasing with a rapidity, known only in the rich, agricul- 
 tural regions of the western states. Several steamboats 
 are constantly employed in its trade, and many others 
 make occasional trips. About thirty-five different boats 
 passed and landed at Beardstown in 1836, making the 
 arrivals and departures 450. 
 
 The following account of arrivals of steamboats at Na- 
 ples, from 1828 to 1831, will show the increase during 
 those years. 
 
 1828, the first year of steamboat 
 
 navigation 9 arrivals 
 
 1829 3 " 
 
 1830 54 " 
 
 1831 186 " 
 
 1832, from March 4, to .Tune 19, 108 arrivals by 
 nineteen different boats. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 225 
 
 Illinois Town, a small village of a dozen families, in 
 St. Clair county, on Cahokia creek, opposite St. Louis. 
 
 Illiopolis, a town site, laid off on a magnificent scale in 
 Sangamon county, twenty-two miles east of Springfield, 
 on the road to Decatur. It is a handsome elevated site 
 in the prairie. 
 
 Indian Creek, ?i branch of Fox river from the northwest. 
 It enters the main stream ten miles above Ottawa, aqd 
 five miles above the rapids. 
 
 Large bodies of fine timber lie on this stream; the sur- 
 face of the country is undulating, and the soil good. 
 
 On the 20th of May, 1832, fifteen persons belonging 
 to the families of iMessrs. Hall, Daviess, and Pettigrew 
 were barbarously massacred by the Indians near this 
 creek. Two young ladies. Misses Halls, were taken 
 prisoners, and afterwards redeemed, and two young lads 
 made their escape. 
 
 The bodies of men, women, and children were shock- 
 ingly mutilated, the houses of the settlers burned, their 
 furniture destroyed, and their cattle killed — all in day 
 light, and within twenty miles of a large force of the 
 militia! This was done by the Indians under the infa- 
 mous Black Hawk! A portion of that band were exter- 
 minated during the same season by the combined forces of 
 United States troops and Illinois militia, and the remain- 
 der dispersed over the prairies west of the Mississippi. 
 
 Settlements are now rapidly forming on Indian creek 
 and Fox river, and much excellent country remains to be 
 possessed in that quarter. 
 
 Indian Creek, a stream in Morgan county, near the 
 borders of Sangamon, runs a westerly course, passes 
 through a string of Lakes in the Illinois bottom, until its 
 waters mingle with the Illinois, near the corner of the 
 base line and the fourth principal meridian. 
 
 It passes through a beautiful and fertile country, di- 
 versified with timber and prairie. 
 
 The French explorers called it La Bullance. 
 Indian Creek, in Lavvrence county, rises in the prairies 
 west, runs southeast, and enters the Embarras five miles 
 
228 A GAZETTEER 
 
 below Lawrenceville. It has much good land in its 
 vicinity, both timber and prairie, and a settlement of 150 
 families. 
 
 Indian Creek^ a smaM stream in Madison county, be- 
 tween Edwardsville and Alton, that enters Cahokia 
 creek. 
 
 Indian Crech^ a small stream and post office in Gallatin 
 county 11 miles northwest from Equality. 
 
 Indian Creek a branch of the Des Plaines, rises in Mc 
 Henry county, runs southeasterly, and enters the Des 
 Plaines in Cook county. The land along its course very 
 excellent. 
 
 Indian Creek,3. small stream that rises in the east part of 
 Sangamon county, and enters the Sangamon river above 
 Salt creek. The timber adjoining is excellent, and the 
 prairie is undulating and rich. 
 
 Indian Creek a small stream in the northern part of Bond 
 county. It runs west and enters Shoal creek. 
 
 Indian Creek a name of one of the forks of Spoon 
 river. It rises in Henry county, runs across the north- 
 east corner of Knox, and enters Spoon river in twelve 
 north, six east. 
 
 Indian Creek, in Coles county, and a branch of the Em- 
 barras. It rises in the Grand prairie, runs southeast, and 
 enters the principal stream eight miles below Charleston. 
 The land is good, both timber and prairie, and the popu- 
 lation forty or fifty families. 
 
 Indian Prairie, in Wayne county lies ten miles north- 
 westerly from Fairfield; surface level, soil of an inferior 
 quality, with a scattering settlement of fifteen or twenty 
 families. 
 
 Inlet Grove, in Ogle county, lies on the road from Dixon- 
 ville to Chicago, 16 miles from the former place. The 
 inlet is a stream that rises near the heads of the south 
 fork of the Kishwaukee, runs a southwestern course for 
 50 miles, part of that distance through swamps, until it 
 is lost in the Winnebago swamp. 
 
 Irish Grove, in Sangamon county, on the road from 
 Springfield to Peoria, eighteen miles from the former 
 
OF ILLINOIS. . 227 
 
 place. It is two miles from Salt creek, and is three miles 
 long and one mile and a half wide, and contains a settle- 
 ment of about fifty families. The land is good, and the 
 timber is chiefly Oak of various kinds. 
 
 Irish Settlement in Randolph county, six miles northeast 
 of Kaskaskia, on Plum Creek. 
 
 Irish Settlement^ on the Ohio river, in Pope county, about 
 fifteen miles above Golconda, is on a rich alluvial soil, and 
 contains about one hundred families. 
 
 Iroquois^ a town site and post office, on the south side 
 of the Iroquois river, in Iroquois county, in twenty -seven 
 north, eleven west. It has 3 stores, 2 groceries, 1 tavern 
 and twenty families. Montgomery joins it. 
 
 Iroquois {Riviere des Iroquois^ Fr.) a considerable river 
 which rises in the northwestern part of Indiana, and taking 
 a northwest course, flows into the Kankakee river, and 
 thus forms one of the heads of the Illinois. It received 
 its name from the circumstance of a large party of the 
 Iroquois Indians being surprised and massacred on its 
 banks by the Illinois nation.* The Kickapoos called it 
 Mocubella. Others have called it Canawaga. It is pro- 
 bably the same stream that the Commissioners for settling 
 the boundary between Illinois and Indiana called Ficka- 
 rninck. It crosses the boundary line in township twenty- 
 seven north, where its width is 175 links. The country 
 through which it passes will soon be covered with settle- 
 ments, the surface being fine and undulating, the soil rather 
 inclined to sand, dry and rich, and the timber abundant. 
 Sugar creek is a principal branch. 
 
 Iroquois City, a town site laid out in Iroquois county, on 
 section twenty-five, township twenty-seven north, range 
 twelve west, but contains no houses. 
 
 Irvin's Settlement lies in the western part of Hamilton 
 county. The surface is undulating, the soil second rate, 
 and timbered. 
 
 Island Grove, a large body of excellent timber, sur- 
 rounded with rich prairie, in Sangamon county, sixteen 
 
 * Charlevoix. 
 
228 A GAZETTEER 
 
 miles west of Springfield, and on the road to Jackson- 
 ville. 
 
 Island Grove, a body of timber near the west side of 
 Montgomery county, containing about 600 acres. 
 
 Jackson's Grove, a post office in Fulton county, on the 
 road from Lewistown to Canton equidistant from the two 
 places. Here is a considerable tract of barrens. 
 
 Jackson Grove, in Will county, six miles south of 
 Juliet. 
 
 Jacksonville is one of the largest inland towns in the 
 state, and the seat of justice for Morgan county. It is 
 situated on elevated ground, in the midst of a most de- 
 lightful prairie, on sections twenty and twenty-one, town- 
 ship fifteen north, in range ten west of the third principal 
 meridian. 
 
 The plat of this town was laid off in 1825, but its rapid 
 growth did not commence in three or four years. 
 
 Few towns exhibit a finer prospect than does Jackson- 
 ville, from whatever side the traveller approaches. The 
 surrounding prairie country, now in a state of cultivation 
 is beautifully undulating, and uncommonly rich. The 
 timber in sight is either in groves, or spread along the 
 waters of the Mauvaiseterre and Sandy. 
 
 Jacksonville has 16 stores, 6 groceries, 2 druggist's 
 shops 2 taverns or hotels, several respectable boarding 
 houses, 1 baker, 2 saddlers, 3 hatters, 1 silversmith, 1 
 watchmaker, 2 tinners, 3 cabinet makers, 1 machinist, I 
 house and sign painter, 6 tailors, 2 cordwainers, 4 black- 
 smiths, 3 chair makers, 1 coach maker, 1 wagon maker, 
 1 wheelwright, 11 lawyers and 10 physicians. 
 
 It has 1 steam flour and 1 saw mill, a manufactory for 
 cotton yarn, a distillery, 2 oil mills, two carding factories 
 a tannery, and 3 brick yards, with a proportion of various 
 mechanics in the building line, and other trades. 
 
 The public buildings are, a spacious court house, of 
 brick, a neat framed building for the Presbyterian house 
 of worship, a large brick building for tiie Methodist society, 
 and a handsome edifice, also of brick, for the Episcopalian 
 denomination, another of wood for Congregationalists, a 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 229 
 
 lyceum, a mechanics' association, a male and a female 
 academy, a hrick market house, and a county jail. The 
 college edifices are one mile west from the town. 
 
 There are two printing offices that puhlish weekly pa- 
 pers, the " Pa/>7o/," and the " iN^eios," and also a book 
 and job printing office, with a book bindery attached, and 
 a monthly religious periodical. 
 
 The present population of Jacksonville is about 2,500; 
 exclusive of the college students. 
 
 Situated near the centre of the county, and in the midst 
 of one of the finest tracts of land, densely populated with 
 industrious and enterprising farmers, with the advantages 
 of good water, health, and good society, Jacksonville 
 must continue to pros[)er, and doubtless will attract many 
 emitjrants who are seekinofan agreeable home in the "far 
 west." 
 
 The railroads projected and now working from this 
 place to the Illinois river, have been noticed under the 
 head of" Internal Improvements." 
 
 Jacksonville^ a settlement in St. Clair county, on the 
 bluffs, eight miles northwest from Belleville. 
 
 Jarvls's Settlement is near the head of Ellison, in War- 
 ren county. Here are about two townships of valuable 
 timber, surrounded WMth immense tracts of fertile prairie. 
 
 Jersey Prairie is a beautiful and rich prairie, in Morgan 
 county, ten miles northerly froin Jacksonville. 
 
 The land is rich, timber adjoining excellent, the people 
 moral and industrious, the settlement extensive and popu- 
 lous, and decidedly healthy. 
 
 Jerseyville^ a town site and post office in Greene count)"-, 
 fourteen miles south of Carrollton; a beautiful situation 
 in the prairie, containing twenty or twenty-five families. 
 
 JoVs Creek is a small stream in part of Cass county, 
 runs norih, and passes through several small lakes into 
 Sangamon river. 
 
 Job''s Settlement^ called also New Hope, in the northwest 
 
 part of McDonough county, in townships six and seven 
 
 north, range four west. The timbered land in the several 
 
 forks of Crooked creek, and the intervening tracts of 
 
 20 
 
230 A GAZETTEER 
 
 prairie, are all of first rate quality. Houston's, Bagby's, 
 and Dicken's forks, are small streams north of Job's fork, 
 and are heads of Crooked creek. 
 
 Johnsuri's Creek, a small stream in the south part of Jo 
 Daviess county. Its head is towards Rock river, its course 
 west, and it enters the Mississippi, thirteen miles above 
 the Marais d'Ogee, and twenty-five miles below Plum 
 river. The land towards its mouth is low and marshy; 
 towards its head it is gently undulating, occasional groves 
 of timber, and well adapted to farming. 
 
 Juhnson''s Settleme7it, on Sugar creek, in Clinton county, 
 twenty miles south of west from Carlyle. 
 
 Jonathan's Creek is a tributary of the Kaskaskia, in 
 Shelhy county. 
 
 JoNESBORo', the seat of justice for Union county, is 
 situated on section thirty, twelve south, one west, in a 
 high, rolling tract of country, nine miles from the Mis- 
 sissippi, twenty-five miles souih-snutheast from Browns- 
 ville, in latitude thirty-seven degrees, twenty-five minutes 
 north. It has about twenty-five families, seven stores, 
 one tavern, one lawyer, two physicians, two ministers of 
 the gospel, one carding macfiine, and various mechanics. 
 The court house is a framed building, two stories high, 
 and finished; and a brick jail. The surrounding country 
 is undulating and healthy, and contains several good set- 
 tlements. 
 
 Jones''s Creek post office. (See Liberty, Randolph 
 county.) 
 
 Jordan Creek rises in the interior of Wabash county, 
 and enters Bon Pas creek near the northwestern corricr 
 of the county. It passes through a fertile tract, both tim- 
 bered and prairie, and has a considerable settlement ten 
 or twelve miles northwest from Mount Carmel. 
 
 Jordan's Frairie, in Jefferson county, six miles north 
 of Mount Vernon, is five miles long, and one mile and a 
 half wide. The land is second rate, and the settlement 
 contains about fifty families. 
 
 Jordan's Frairie post office is on section thirteen, one 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 231 
 
 * 
 
 south, two east, eight and a half miles north of Mount 
 Vernon. 
 
 Jordan's Stitlement, in Jasper county, on the west side 
 of the Embarras river. In the centre of this settlement 
 is the contemplated county seat. 
 
 JuLiETT, the seat of justice for Will county, located on 
 both sides of the Des Plaines, and at the crossing place 
 of the Illinois and Michigan canal. 
 
 It has fourteen stores, two groceries, one drug store, 
 three taverns, a saw and grist mill, and the benefit of 
 great water power, various mechanics, six lawyers, five 
 physicians, a Methodist and an Episcopal society, and 
 about 600 inhabitants. This should have been called 
 /o//e/, from one of the earliest French explorers. 
 
 Kane Post Office, in Macoupin settlement, Greene coun- 
 ty, nine miles south of Carrollton. 
 
 Kankakee, one of the principal streams that form the 
 Illinois river. It rises in the northern part of Indiana, 
 near the south bend of the St. Joseph's river, runs a west- 
 erly course into Illinois, where it receives the Iroquois, 
 and forms a junction with the Des Plaines, in section 
 thirty-five, township thirty-four north, and in range eight 
 east fronri the third principal meridian. Here is a large 
 body of fine timber, but along the Kankakee there is very 
 little timber. It runs swiftly, and has a lime stone bed. 
 
 At the ford of the Vincennes and Chicago road it is 
 two-hundred yards wide. This is 178 miles north of Vin- 
 cennes, and forty-seven miles south of Chicago. The 
 prairie country through which it passes is generally of 
 good soil, gently undulating, and interspersed with sand 
 ridges. Navigation for small craft can be effected through 
 the Kankakee and St. Joseph. 
 
 This river was discovered by the French at a very early 
 period, and was one of the principal routes to the Illinois 
 country. Its aboriginal name was Theakiki, or as pro- 
 nounced in French, Te-au-kee-kee, which by the fatality 
 attendant upon many of the aboriginal names carried 
 through French into English, has become fixed in the 
 sound and orthography o( Kan-ka-kee, 
 
232 A GAZETTEER 
 
 • 
 
 Kankakee^ a town site in the forks of the Kankakee and 
 Des Plaiiies rivers, with one store and three or four 
 houses, saw n)ills, &c. Near the point, the land is over- 
 flowed at hicrh water. Further hack is fine bottom and 
 rollinor prairie. Calculations are made for a city here at 
 some future time. 
 
 Kaskaskia, the seat of justice for Randolph county, 
 and formerly the seat of government of the Territory of 
 Illinois. It is situated on the riffht bank of the Kaskas- 
 kia river, seven miles above its junction with the Missis- 
 sippi. 
 
 The early French explorers made one of their first set- 
 tlements at this spot, shortly after the visit of La Salle, 
 in 1683; and so lon^ as the French continued in posses- 
 sion of the Illinois country, Kaskaskia was its capital, and 
 was flourishing and populous. In 1721, when Charlevoix 
 visited it, there existed a Jesuit college. Its ruins are now 
 scarcely visible. In 1763, when the country east of the 
 Mississippi was ceded by France to Great Britain, it con- 
 tained about one huiidred families. Of late years its 
 population and trade has been much reduced. It num- 
 bers now about fifty or sixty families, a majority of whom 
 are French. 
 
 The court house is of brick. A Roman Catholic chapel, 
 and a nunnery and female boarding school are here. 
 Kaskaskia is the location of the land ofiice for this dis- 
 trict. 
 
 Kaskaskia Hive)-, a large and navigable stream. It 
 rises in Champaign county, in township twenty north, 
 range eight east, near the waters of the Sangamon and 
 the Vermilion of the Wabash, and runtiinyc in a souih- 
 western direcion through Coles, Shelby, Fayette, Clin- 
 ton, St. Clair, and Randolph counties, eriiers ifie Missis- 
 sippi, in sections fourteen and fifteen, nine south, seven 
 west, about 120 miles above the mouth of the Ohio. 
 
 It is four hundred miles in length, following its mean- 
 derings, and receivers a large number of tributaries, which 
 are noticed under their respective names. An extensive 
 body of timber from two to ten miles wide, is found along 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 233 
 
 this stream, generally of a good quality, consisting of 
 oaks of various kinds, as overcup, burr, water, while, 
 black, red or Spanish, and post oak, walnut, hickory, 
 ash, iiaekberry, elm, white and sugar maple, honey lo- 
 cust, cotton wood, sycamore, pecaun, mulberry, sassafras, 
 box elder, etc. The country through which it passes is 
 undulating, and fertile, adapted to the growth of corn, 
 wheat, oats, tobacco, and some cotton. The latter is not 
 a sure crop in all seasons; but with proper care, a suffi- 
 cient quantity may be raised for home consumption. 
 The bottoms of this stream are from half a mile to two 
 or three miles in width, and subject to inundation in high 
 floods. 
 
 The legislature in its system of internal improvement, 
 appropriated ^50,000 to improve the navigation of Kas- 
 kaskia river. The chief obstructions are logs, sand 
 hanks and short bends. A steamboat went up as far as 
 Carlyle in April, 1837. 
 
 Kellogg's Grove, in Jo Daviess county, thirty-five miles 
 east-southeast from Galena, and on the road from Dixon's 
 ferry. It is a small grove of three or four hundred acres, 
 witii several small groves near it. 
 
 Kellogg's Grove, a small tract of timber in La Salle 
 county seventeen miles northeast from Ottawa. 
 
 Keltner''s Fork, in Morgan county, is a small branch of 
 Indian creek. It rises near Jersey prairie. 
 
 Keys^s Creek rises in the interior of Pike county, and 
 enters the Snycartee slough. The bottom is excellent 
 land proportioned into timber and prairie. About the 
 bluffs very uneven, towards the head of the creek mode- 
 rately undulating. 
 
 KIckapoo, a stream that rises near Spoon river in two 
 forks denominated East and West forks. 
 
 East Fork rises in sections eleven and twelve, eleven 
 north, seven east, runs a southwestern course. 
 
 West Fork rises in ten north, four east, runs a south- 
 easterly course and unites with the east fork in section 
 thirty-four, ten north, six east. 
 
 The Kickapoo then takes a southern course, and enters 
 
 20* 
 
231 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the Illinois river two miles below Peoria. On the forks 
 there is much excellent land, wiih g^roves and points of 
 timber, interspersed with barrens. The country border- 
 ing on the nvdin creek has considerable bodies of fine 
 timber, but the land is generally too uneven for conve- 
 nient cultivation. 
 
 Kickapoo^ a branch of Salt creek in Sano^amon county. 
 It rises in Dawson's grove, McLean county, in twenty- 
 three north, four east, runs a southern course and enters 
 Salt creek in Sangamon county, in the north part of nine- 
 teen north, three west. It furnishes good mill seats, 
 when the water is not too low; and the soil and limber 
 on each side of the creek are first rate. 
 
 Kincaid Creeks is a small branch of Big Muddy river, 
 which heads in Randolph county, runs southeast, and 
 enters that stream twenty-four miles from its mouth. 
 The land along this creek is rocky, broken, heavily tim- 
 bert^d with poplar, oak, etc. and the settlement is small. 
 
 KinsawTs ^'ettlancnf, near the northern side of Gallatin 
 county, on the road from Carmi to Equality. The land 
 is rather inferior, and the settlement considerable. 
 
 Kishwmikee or Sycamore^ a branch of Rock river. It 
 is divided into North, East and South forks, and these 
 again have numerous branches. 
 
 The branches of North Fork head in Winnebago, Boone 
 and northwest corner of McHenry counties, and in the 
 Wisconsin Territory, of which the Beaver, Piskasau and 
 Pappoose creeks are best known. 
 
 The East Fork has several heads in the northern parts 
 of Kane county. 
 
 The Sduth Fork originates in several heads in the in- 
 terior of Kane, and southeastern corner of Ogle counties. 
 One of its heads is near the Paupau grove. The East 
 and South Forks unite in township forty-one north, range 
 three oast, where is a large body of timber, twelve sec- 
 tions or more of various kinds, and the prairies adjoining 
 undulating and rich. Along the East Fork the prairie 
 is flat and rather wet. Ohio, Norwegian and Big groves 
 are found in this region. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 235 
 
 The North and South Forks unite in township forty- 
 three nor^h, range two east, and the main Kishwankee 
 enters Rock river on section twenty-two, township forty- 
 three north, range one east, of the tliird meridian. Tne 
 country in general has an undulating surface, a rich, deep, 
 black, sandy, calcareous soil, and abounds with lime and 
 free stone, coal, and fine perennial springs, while the 
 different streams produce good mill sites. 
 
 There is a deficiency of timber as there is through the 
 northern part of Illinois. Much of it is in groves, many 
 of which equal in appearance English parks. There are 
 also extensive tracts of barrens or oak openings, as they 
 are called by the people, and the whole country gives 
 most unequivocal promise of health. 
 
 Kite river^ in Ogle county, rises in the prairie north of 
 Panpau grove, runs a west-southwest course and enters 
 Rock river one and a half miles, below Oregon. Soil rich and 
 sandy, timber scattering, surface tolerably level. Besides 
 other timber, here is yellow and white poplar, or aspin. 
 
 Knight^ s Prairie lies west of McLeansboro', in Hamil- 
 ton county, with a settlement around it. 
 
 Knob Prairie^ fifteen miles northwest from Frankfort, 
 in the corner of Franklin county, is low and wet, and has 
 a small settlement. 
 
 Knoxville is the county seat of Knox county, and is 
 pleasantly situated on an elevated and rich prairie on the 
 north side, and adjoining the timber of Haw creek. It 
 is on section twenty-eight, eleven north, and two east of 
 the fourth principal meridian. It was laid off about 1832, 
 contains now 40 families and bids fair to oecome a thriv- 
 ing inland town. The surrounding country is rich, and 
 settling fast with industrious farmers. 
 
 Knoxh Grove, in the northeastern part of Putnam and 
 extends into La Salle and Ogle counties. It is at the 
 head waters of the Bureau. 
 
 Knox Settlement, in Putnam county, on Sandy, thirteen 
 miles southeast from Hennepin, is a large and flourish- 
 ing settlement. 
 
 Lacon^ (formerly Columbia) is on the left bank of the 
 
236 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Illinois river in Putnam county, 20 miles below Henne- 
 pin surrounded with a populous and rich settlement. It 
 has 3 stores and 15 or 20 families. 
 
 La Fux, a post office on Fox river in Kane county, near 
 the liior Woods. 
 
 La Harpe^ a town and post office in Hancock county, 
 in seven north, five west, with a beautiful country, inter- 
 spersed with timber and prairie around it. 
 
 Lake Fork^ a main branch of Macoupin creek, which 
 rises in the prairie between the heads of Shoal creek, and 
 Sangamon waters, and near Macoupin point, which see. 
 Below the joom/ it passes througli a small lake, or pond. 
 
 Lake Fork, a branch of Shoal creek, that rises in seven 
 north, five west, runs a northeastern dirpction, and enters 
 the west fork of Shoal creek in Montgomery county. 
 
 Lake Fork of Sail Creek is formed by a long lake in 
 the northeastern part of Sangamon county, runs a riorth 
 course and forms one of the heads of Salt creek. It is 
 in township seventeen north, and range two and three 
 west. 
 
 Lake Juliet is an expansion of the River Des Plaines, 
 two miles below Mount Juliet, and opposite Mount Flat 
 Head, in Will county. It is about five miles long, 60 or 
 70 rods wide, and deep water. 
 
 La Marche, a small stream and branch of the Kickapoo 
 in Peoria county. Excellent land and a fine body of lim- 
 ber, especially near its mouth. 
 
 Lainaster''s Settlement is in Schuyler county, on Crane 
 creek four miles south of Rushville. 
 
 Lamotte Cree^ rises in the interior of Crawford county, 
 runs east and enters the Wabash below Palestine. 
 
 Lamotte Prairie is a sandy and rich tract of prairie, 
 in Crawford county, eight miles long, and from one to 
 five miles broad. The soil is well adapted to the growth 
 of corn. 
 
 La Salle Prairie, a prairie and large settlement in Peo- 
 ria county, adjoining Peoria lake. The southern part is 
 sandy, rich and undulating; the northern portion is a mix- 
 ture of clay and sand, elevated in the middle. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 237 
 
 La Salle prairie is an elevated bottom, above the high- 
 est floods, ten miles long, and from three to four miles 
 wide. At the shore of the lake the water is deep, and 
 tile landing good. 
 
 The settlement contains about 100 families and is fif- 
 teen miles distant from the county seat. 
 
 Laughion'^s, an old trading house and settlement on the 
 Des Plaines, in Cook county, twelve miles west of Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 Lawrenceville, the courit}'^ seat of Lawrence county. 
 It is situated on the west bank of the Embarras river, 
 nine miles from Vinceiines, on the St. Louis road, and 
 on an elevated ridge. It contains three stores, two 
 groceries, two taverns^ and sixty or seventy families. 
 
 The court house is of brick, and is a respectable 
 building. A saw and grist mill is on the Embarras, ad- 
 joining. 
 
 Its exports per annum ^50,000; imports $30,000. 
 
 Leaf River, in Ogle county, rises in North Grove, near 
 the source of Pine creek, runs east about 12 miles, and 
 enters Rock river four or five miles brlow Stillman"s run. 
 It has several branches of four or five miles in lentJth, 
 fine groves of timber, and rich, calcareous soil on its 
 borders. 
 
 Lebanon, a beautifully situated village in St. Clair 
 county, twelve miles northeast from Belleville, and one 
 mile east of Silver creek. 
 
 It is on elevated ground, surrounded with a beautiful, 
 populous and well cultivated district of country and on 
 the Vincennes and St Louis stage road. * 
 
 Lebanon has a steam mill for manufacturing grain — an 
 ox mill for flouring, on an inclined plane, a post office, two 
 public houses, seven stores, one grocery, three physicians, 
 mechanics' shops of various kinds, and about sixty 
 families. The Methodist college, located in the immediate 
 vicinity of Lebanon, has been noticed under the head of 
 *' Education" in the first part of this work. 
 
 The Methodist society embraces the largest proportion 
 of the religious community about Lebanon. There is a 
 
238 A GAZETTEER 
 
 large society of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a 
 small society of the Methodist Protestant church. 
 
 Lcesbursh, a town site in Montgomery county on sec- 
 tions seven and eight, townphip ten north, five west. 
 
 Leniarde Prairie, in Wayne county, seven miles north- 
 west from Fairfield, about six miles long, and three wide, 
 of inferior quality, wiih a small po[)ulation. 
 
 Lester'' s Point, in Iroquoiscounty in twenty seven north, 
 eleven west; — a point of timber, surrounded with a rich, 
 undulating prairie. 
 
 Lewises Creek, di trifling stream in Jackson county, enters 
 Big Muddy near the coal bank foiy miles east of Browns- 
 ville. 
 
 Lewises Settlement, in the southern part of Pope county, 
 above and opposite the mouth of Cumberland river. This 
 is the oldest settlement in this part of the state, and con- 
 tains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 Lewistown, the seat of justice for Fulton county, si- 
 tuated on section twenty-two, five north, three east, 
 four miles east of Spoon river, and twelve oiiles from the 
 Illinois. 
 
 It has three stores, two taverns, a framed court house, 
 painted white, and about forty families. Lewistown is 
 surrounded with a heavy body of timber, chiefly of 
 white and other oaks; the soil rather thin, and surface 
 broken. 
 
 Lexington, a town site in the north part of McLean 
 county, eighteen miles northeast of Bloomington, on the 
 road to Chicago. 
 
 Liberty, a town and post oflfice in Adams county, near 
 Weigle's seilement. 
 
 Liberty a town site on the Mississippi, in Randolph 
 county, on section seven, township eiorht south, five west. 
 It has a steam saw and flouring mill, six stores, three 
 groceries, two taverns, one minister, two physicians and 
 140 inhabitants. One house for public worship. 
 
 Lick Creek, a branch of Sugar creek, of Sangamon 
 county. It rises on the western side of the county, takes 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 239 
 
 an easterly course throuoh a rich and populous trac% 
 with good timber, and enters Sugar creek a short distance 
 above its mouth. Tlie seiiieinetiis extend us whole 
 length, and the borders of the prairie adjoining are well 
 populated. 
 
 Lick Run is a branch of Indian creek, in Morgan county 
 near the bluffs of the Illinois. 
 
 Lima^ a town site and post office in Adams county, 18 
 miles north of Quincy, and has eight or ten families. 
 
 Paine^s Groveis in Ogle county on Kite creek. 
 
 Lincoln, a post office and town site in Macoupin county, 
 near the head of Wood river, and on the road from 
 Edwardsville to Springfield. It is thought to be an eli- 
 gible situation, and will soon be surrounded by a large 
 settlement. 
 
 Linden Bottom, in Greene county, south of the Macoupin 
 calleft also the " Richwoods." It is a fine tract of tim- 
 bered land, elevated and rich, yet in appearance its surface 
 resembles alluvion. 
 
 It has a large settlement extending from the Macoupin 
 river to Otter creek. 
 
 Linden Grove, a small body of excellent timber in the 
 northeast part of Morgan county, surrounded with rich, 
 undulating prairie. 
 
 Lisbon, .1 post office and town site at Holderman's grove, 
 in La Salle county, sixteen miles northeast from Ottawa. 
 
 Little Beauconp Creek, a small stream in Perry county, 
 and a l)ranr'h of Big Beaucoup creek, between that stream 
 and Little Muddy. 
 
 Little Crooked Creek rises in Washington county, near 
 Nashville, runs a north course, and enters Crooked creek 
 near its mouth. Land good, surface undulating, and a 
 mixture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Little Detroit is the French name for the " Straif^ or 
 narrows in Peoria Lake. 
 
 Little Indian Creek, in Morgan county, rises in Silvan 
 grove, runs southwest, and enters Indian creek. 
 
 Little Mackinau is a stream in Tazewell county, that 
 
240 A GAZETTEER 
 
 runs westward, and enters the Mackinau. The settle- 
 ment here is extensive. 
 
 Little Missouri Creeks a branch of Crooked creek, in 
 the western part of Schuyler county and eastern part of 
 Adams county, twelve miles from Rushville. Green's 
 settlement is on the southern, and Brown^s Settlement on the 
 northern side of this creek. The country is a mixture of 
 timber and prairie. 
 
 Little Mount Prairie is u\ Wayne county, three miles 
 southwest from Fairfield, about two miles long, and one 
 wide. 
 
 Here is a small but high mound, covered over with the 
 graves of the aboriginal people. 
 
 Little Muddy is one of the four heads of the Big Muddy 
 river. It rises in the southeastern corner of Washington 
 county, crosses the line into Jefferson, then into Franklin 
 and finally into Jackson, wliere it enters the parent stream 
 on the right side, in section tiiirteen, eight south, one west. 
 A post office. 
 
 It has good timber and prairie on both sides. 
 
 Little Piasmi, called also Cave Spring branch, rises in 
 a large spring among the bluffs of Lower Alton, and 
 passes through the town into the Mississippi. 
 
 Little Rock River, rises in Jo Daviess county, runs south 
 into Whiteside county and enters Rock river in township 
 nineteen north, four east. There is much good land along 
 its course. 
 
 Little Rock Creek rises in the interior of Kane county, 
 and runs south into Fox river. 
 
 Little Saline, in Gallatin coutny, rises in the bluffs of 
 the Ohio river, runs a north course, and enters the South 
 fork of the Saline creek, eighteen miles above Equality. 
 It waters a tolerably good country, with a scattering 
 population. 
 
 Little Saudi/, a small creek that heads in Sweet's prai- 
 rie, i[i the south part of Morgan county; and enters Sandy 
 creek, about the bluffs of the Illinois. A large tract of 
 timbered land is on it. 
 
 Little Silver Creek rises in the Looking Glass prairie, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 241 
 
 in the northeastern part of St. Clair county, runs south- 
 west past Lebanon, and enters Silver creek two miles be- 
 low that village. 
 
 Little Vermilion rises in the prairies west of Fox river, 
 runs south, and enters the Illinois near the foot of the 
 rapids. Just below is the termination of the canal, and 
 the site of a great commercial town. 
 
 Its Indian name is Pe-cum-sauk-in^ or Tomahawk. 
 
 Little Wabash Rivtr rises in township eleven north, 
 range six east, in the large prairies towards the head 
 waters of the Kaskaskia, and running south through the 
 counties of Coles, Effingham, Clay, Wayne, Edwards, 
 and White, enters the Big Wabash, in the northeast 
 corner of Gallatin county, seven south, ten east. It is 
 about one hundred and ten miles in a direct line from its 
 heads to its mouth, though about one hundred and fifty 
 miles to follow its meanderings. 
 
 Its principal tributaries are Skillet fork, Fox, and 
 Muddy. It is navigable for flat boats and small craft, at 
 a full stage of water — about forty of the former leaving 
 it ann\ially, from Wayne and White counties, with beef, 
 pork, corn, cattle, and some tobacco, for the New Orleans 
 market. 
 
 The timber upon the banks of the Little Wabash is 
 generally heavy, and of a good quality, and is several 
 miles in width. In Clay county is some poplar. 
 
 The country adjoining is generally fertile, but the bot- 
 toms are subject to inundation at high floods. The 
 country between the Little Wabash and the Skillet 
 fork, is generally flat, and in some places inclined to be 
 wet. 
 
 Several valuable mills have been erected on this stream 
 in White county. 
 
 Little Woods is a tract of timber on Fox river, in Kane 
 county above the " Big Woods." The land of excellent 
 quality, but swampy in places. 
 
 Liverpool^ a town site on the right bank of the Illinois 
 river, in Fulton county, six miles above the mouth of 
 Spoon river. The site has been called Bailey's Island, 
 21 
 
242 A GAZETTEER 
 
 from being surroun-ded in the rear by a slough at high 
 water, over which a causeway or levee is about to be 
 constructed. It is the landing place for Canton, and 
 the termination of the Liverpool, Canton and Knoxville 
 rail road. 
 
 Livingston, a village on the national road, in Clark 
 county. It is in the timber of Big creek, fourteen miles 
 from Terre Haute, in Indiana and ten miles west of north 
 from Darwin. It has three stores, three groceries, three 
 taverns, one physician, two ministers, various mechanics, 
 and 150 inhabitants. 
 
 Lockport, a town site on the Illinois and Michigan ca- 
 nal, at the termination of the lake level, thirty-four and a 
 half miles from Chicago. Here will be two locks estab- 
 lished, each ten feet lift, which will give twenty feet fall 
 for the immense quantity of surplus water that can be 
 brought from Lake Michigan, equal to 10,000 cubic feet 
 of surplus water per minute, after supplying the canal, 
 and making full allowance for leakage, evaporation, &c., 
 enough to drive 234 pairs of mill stones, four and a half 
 feet diameter. A large town and extensive manufacturing 
 operations will be here as soon as the canal is completed. 
 Near this place the Des Plaines has fifteen feet fall. 
 
 Lockwoodh Settlement, near the south fork of Spoon 
 river, on the border of Warren county, township ten 
 north, range one west. An excellent tract of country. 
 
 Lockwood^s Settlement is in the south part of Hamilton 
 county. The surface is rolling, timbered, and the soil 
 second rate. 
 
 Locust Creek, a branch of Elkhorn creek, in Washing- 
 ton county, and has a settlement on it three miles south 
 of Nashville; country chiefly prairie. 
 
 Locust Grove, a post office and settlement in Shelby 
 county, five miles east of Shelbyville. 
 
 Logan^s Settlement is in a good tract of country, in Gal- 
 latin county, eighteen miles northwest from Shawnee- 
 town. 
 
 Lollard's Settlement is ten miles northwest from Shaw- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 243 
 
 neetown, in Gallatin county, and contains much good 
 land. 
 
 Long Creek, a branch of Big- creek, in Macon county. 
 
 Long Grove lies west of Au Sable grove, in the eastern 
 part of La Salle county. 
 
 Long Prairie, thirteen miles northwest from Mount 
 Carmel, in Wabash county, is undulating, second rate 
 land, with twenty-five or thirty families. 
 
 Long Prairie, in Edwards county, north of Albion, nine 
 miles long, and from one mile to one and a half wide, in- 
 terspersed with groves and points of timber. 
 
 Long Prairie, a branch of the Twelve Mile prairie of 
 Clay county, projecting into Wayne. It is eight or ten 
 miles long, three miles wide, level, poor soil, and has a 
 population of twenty-five or thirty families. 
 
 Long Prairie, in Jefferson county, five miles west of 
 Mount Vernon, is four miles long, and one mile and a 
 half wide. 
 
 It lies between the Middle and West forks of Big 
 Muddy river, is tolerably good land, and contains a set- 
 tlement of forty families. 
 
 Looking Glass Prairie, a large, rich, beautiful, and un- 
 dulating prairie lying between Silver and Sugar creeks, 
 and on the eastern border of St. Clair county. It com- 
 mences near the base line, in range six west, and ex- 
 tends northward about twenty miles into Madison county, 
 and is from six to ten miles in width. Few prairies in 
 the state present more eligible situations for farms than 
 this. 
 
 Extensive settlements are on its borders, and project 
 into its interior. 
 
 Lorton's Prairie, on the north side of Apple creek, in 
 the upper part of Greene county. It is a tract of excel- 
 lent land, has good timber, and contains about eighty 
 families. 
 
 Lost Creek, in Marion county, rises in the Grand prai- 
 rie, runs southwest, and enters the Kaskaskia river, near, 
 the mouth of Crooked creek. 
 
244 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Lost Grove is seven miles east of Sidney, on the eastern 
 border of Champaign county. 
 
 Lost Prairie, in Perry county, seven miles west of 
 Pinckneyviile, is three miles long, and one mile and a 
 half wide. It has a rich soil, high undulating surface, 
 and a good settlement. There are two prairies between 
 this and Pinckneyviile, called Eaton and Conant prai- 
 ries. 
 
 Loup CreeJc, an insignificant branch of Silver creek, 
 in St. Clair county, in township one south, range seven 
 west. 
 
 Lukeri's Prairie is on the south side of Lawrence coun- 
 ty, wilh a settlement of fifty or sixty families. 
 
 Lusk^s Creek, a small stream, running southwardly 
 through Pope county, and entering the Ohio at Gol- 
 conda. 
 
 Lynn Grove, in Champaign county, is four miles south 
 of Sidney, from seventy-five to one hundred acres of tim- 
 ber, mostly linden and honey locust. 
 
 Lynnville, a town site and postoflBce in Morgan county, 
 and a point on the rail road from Jacksonville, by Win- 
 chester to the Illinois river. It has three stores, three 
 groceries, and fifteen or twenty families. It is in the 
 prairie at the head of Walnut creek, in an English settle- 
 ment, and eight miles southwest from Jacksonville. 
 
 Lyons, is a town site on the Des Plaines at Laughton's 
 old trading house, twelve miles west of Chicago. It now 
 has a sawmill, three houses and a tavern. 
 
 Macklnau, (Michilimacinac) a navigable stream in Taze- 
 well county. It rises in the prairie near the centre of Me 
 Lean county, and after receiving several small branches, 
 runs southweslwardly through Tazewell county, and en- 
 ters the Illinois three miles below Pekin. 
 
 It is a clear stream, and has Little Mackinau, Rock, 
 Walnut, and Panther creeks for its branches. The 
 Mackinau bottoms are rich, but its blufl^s are very broken, 
 thin soil, from one to two miles in width, and the timber 
 chiefly white oak, and some cedar. The prairies adjoin- 
 ing are rolling, dry, and tolerably good. Towards its 
 
♦ OF ILLINOIS. 245 
 
 head the land is less broken, limber various, and soil 
 rich. It has a number of mill seats. 
 
 Mackinau, a small village, and formerly the county- 
 seat of Tazewell. It is situated on the Mackinau creek, 
 in twenty-four north, two west, sixteen miles north of 
 east from Pekin, surrounded with a large settlement. It 
 is located in the prairie, on the southeast side of Mac- 
 kinau. 
 
 3Iucon County Prairie., an extensive tract, from twelve 
 to twenty miles in width, lying north of Decatur, and 
 betwixt the North fork of the Sangamon and Salt creek. 
 Some parts are level and wet — other portions dry and 
 undulating. 
 
 Macoupin Crzek^ a considerable stream that rises in the 
 north part of Macon county; runs southwesterly, passes 
 through Greene county, and enters the Illinois river twen- 
 ty-six miles above its junction with the Mississippi, in 
 section twenty-four, eight north, fourteen west of the third 
 principal meridian. 
 
 Its branches are PhilPs, Dry fork. Bear, and Hodge's 
 creeks, and Lake fork. 
 
 The country along its banks is generally fertile, suit- 
 ably proportioned into timber and prairie, and has a line 
 of settlements through Macoupin and Greene counties. 
 
 Macoupin is aboriginal, and in all the French authors, 
 spelled Ma-qua-pin, but it has become legalised on the 
 statute books of the state in the uncouth form given at 
 the head of this article, and usually pronounced by the 
 people, Ma-goo'pin. 
 
 This word is said to be the Indian name of a vegetable 
 with a large round leaf, growing in the lakes and ponds 
 of Illinois, called by some people "splatter-dock," and 
 found plentifully near this stream. 
 
 The large roots of this plant, if eaten raw, are very 
 deleterious. The Indians, in early times, dug holes in 
 the earth, which they walled with stone, and after heat- 
 ing them with large fires, put in the roots, covered them 
 with earth, and in two days the rank poisonous taste was 
 
 21* 
 
246 A GAZETTEER 
 
 g^one. They were then put on poles and dried for food. 
 In this form they were eaten by the natives.* 
 
 Macoupin Prairie, a large prairie in Greene county, be- 
 tween the Piasau and Macoupin, moderately undulating, 
 rich, and rapidly settling. The road from Alton to Car- 
 rollton passes through this prairie. 
 
 Towards the Illinois river, on the west, and the Ma- 
 coupin creek on the east, are extensive bodies of fine tim- 
 ber. Emigrants from Vermont, and other northern and 
 eastern states, are covering over this part of the county 
 with fine farms. The settlement in the south part of this 
 prairie is sometimes called South Greene. 
 
 Macoupin Settlement lies near the timber bordering upon 
 the Macoupin creek and prairie, in Greene county, nine 
 miles south of Carrollton. This settlement was com- 
 menced in December, 1816, by Daniel Allen, and John 
 and Paul Harriford, and was then the most northern white 
 settlement in the Illinois Territory. The prairie land is 
 rich, but rather level, and the timber adjoining good. 
 Ka7ie post office is in this settlement. 
 
 Macoupin Pointy a noted stand at the junction of the 
 roads from Edwardsville to Springfield, and from Hills- 
 boro' to Morgan county and Beardstown, sometimes called 
 Henderson's stand. 
 
 It is in the northwest corner of Montgomery county, 
 at the head of the timber, on the South fork of the Ma- 
 coupin. South, along the roads to Edwardsville and 
 Hillsboro', the surface of the prairie is flat and wet. 
 North, towards Sugar creek, it is dry and undulating. 
 
 Maddux Settlement is in Clinton county, near the mouth 
 of Crooked creek, eight miles south of Carlyle. 
 
 Manchester, a post town in Morgan county, on section 
 twenty-eight, thirteen north, eleven west of the third 
 principal meridian. It is on the main road leading from 
 Carrollton to Jacksonville, eighteen miles from each 
 place on the north side of Mark's prairie, and surrounded 
 with a body of excellent timbered and prairie land. 
 
 * See Charlevoix's Voyage to North America, 1721. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 247 
 
 Mantua^ a large settlement in a timbered tract, in the 
 soutliwestern part of White county, ten miles from Carmi. 
 Duncanton is the post office. 
 
 Marais cfOgee {Ma-re-do-she) is a sluggish stream, and 
 a series of swamps, extending from Rock river to the 
 Mississippi, and constituting the present boundary be- 
 tween the counties of Rock Island and Whiteside. 
 
 It is about twenty miles long, and in some places one 
 mile, and in other places twenty or thirty yards wide. 
 Near the Mississippi, where the road crosses, it is a clear 
 stream of water, twenty yards wide, and sandy bottom. 
 It is supposed that a canal might be cut, at very little ex- 
 pense, through this swamp into Rock river. 
 
 Marchanfs Settlement, on the north side of Fulton coun- 
 ty, twenty-four miles east of north from Lewistown. 
 
 Marine Settlement, a flourishing settlement in Madison 
 county, between the east and west forks of Silver creek, 
 and twelve miles east of Edv.'ardsvslle. 
 
 This settlement was commenced by Captains Blakeman 
 and Allen, in 1819. The settlement is large, and spread 
 over an undulating, rich, and beautiful prairie, and is 
 healthy and well watered. A post office. 
 
 3Iarkham''s Settlement, in Macoupin county, on Taylor's 
 creek, twelve or fifteen miles west of Carlinville. 
 
 The land is good, surface undulating, and equally di- 
 vided into timber and prairie. 
 
 3farrow Bone, a small creek in the north part of Shel- 
 by county. It rises in Macon county, runs southeast 
 through Bone's settlement, into the west fork of the Kas- 
 kaskia. 
 
 Mitr^e/Z/es, a projected manufacturing town, on the north 
 side of the Illinois river, at the Grand rapids, eight miles 
 above Ottawa. A chartered company are engaged in con- 
 structing dams, mills, &c. Flour and lumber are made 
 here, and the water power is immense and easily com- 
 manded. A post office has been established here. The 
 canal will pass through it, and it already assumes the as- 
 pect of a bustling, enterprising village. 
 
 Marshall^ a town site in Clark county, on the national 
 
248 A GAZETTEER 
 
 road, on sections thirteen and twenty-four, township eleven 
 north, twelve wesf.. It is a pleasant, healthy situation, 
 and bids fair to become a place of some importance. 
 
 Marshall' s Prairie, north of Cox's prairie, fourteen miles 
 northeast of Brownsville, in Jackson county, is rich, 
 undulating land, and the settlement contains a dozen 
 families. 
 
 MartiiibS Creek and Settlement, in Wayne county, on 
 Elm river, five miles north of Fairfield. The settlement 
 consists of fifty or sixty families, and the creek is a branch 
 of Elm river. 
 
 Martinsville, a town site and post office on the national 
 road, in Clark county. 
 
 Mason, a small stream that enters the Illinois river 
 from the south, twelve miles below the junction of the 
 Kankakee with the Des Plaines. It is called also Nettle 
 crteh. 
 
 Maso7i Grove, in La Salle county, lies eio^hteen miles 
 northeasterly from Ottawa. It lies on the Little Mason, 
 is five miles long, and one mile wide, a tract of excellent 
 land. It is called also Virginia Grove. 
 
 Muson^s Prairie and settlement is in the southwestern 
 part of Lawrence county, from twenty to twenty-five miles 
 from Lawrenceville, with seventy or eighty families. 
 
 3Iauvaiseterre^a. stream in Morgan county, that rises in 
 the prairie on the borders of Sangamon county, in several 
 branches, runs a west course near Jacksonville, and flows 
 into the Illinois river two miles below Naples. 
 
 Above Jacksonville, it is divided into North, South, ^nd 
 Brier or Middle forks. 
 
 For beauty of situation, fertility of soil, salubrity of 
 climate, a due proportion of timber and prairie, good 
 water, and almost every other advantage for agricultural 
 purposes, no country in the wide spread valley of the 
 west exceeds this, and yet by a most singular misnomer, 
 the French, who explored the Illinois river, called it 
 *^ Mauvaise terre^^ — poor land. 
 
 Maysville, the seat of justice for Clay county, is 
 situated on the borders of the Twelve Mile prairie, and 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 249 
 
 near the Little Wabash river, on the stage road to Vin- 
 cennrs. 
 
 It has three taverns, three stores, and about twenty 
 families. The adjacent prairie is undulating, and second 
 rate. 
 
 McAdarrCs Settlement is in Bond county, four miles 
 south of Greenville; the land level, and tolerably good, 
 and the settlement large. 
 
 Macomb, the seat of justice of McDonough county, is 
 situated on elevated ground, iu a delightful prairie, be- 
 tween Drowning fork and Town fork, near the centre of 
 the county. It is on the southwest quarter of section 
 thirty-one, six north, two west, and was laid off in 1831. 
 In 1832 it contained three stores, one grocery, about 
 twenty families, and promises soon to become a pleasant 
 inland village, with a considerable population around it. 
 
 McCord^s Settlement,, in Bond county, on the east side 
 of the west fork of Shoal creek, eight miles northwest 
 of Greenville. 
 
 The land is good, and there is a due proportion of tim- 
 ber and prairie. 
 
 McCormaclc's Settlement, lies towards the southwestern 
 part of Pope county. 
 
 McCreery'' s Settlement, in Franklin county, ten miles 
 east of Frankfort, in a timbered tract of country. The 
 timber consists of oaks of different kinds, hickory, some 
 poplar and other varieties. The soil is good, rather un- 
 dulating, and the settlement large. 
 
 McEaver^s Settlement is six miles, southeast of Carlyle, 
 in Clinton county, on the waters of Crooked creek. 
 
 McFatridge^s Settlement, in Johnson county, eight miles 
 northeast from Vienna, on the old road from Golconda 
 to Kaskaskia, and on the waters of Cedar creek. The 
 surface is rather broken, the soil thin, and the settlement 
 contains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 McHenry, a town site in McHenry county, twelve 
 miles south of the state boundary, and on the west side 
 of Fox river. Surrounded with excellent prairie, and 
 timber in groves and bur oak openings or barrens. 
 
250 A GAZETTEER 
 
 McKee's Creek^ in the military tract, enters the Illinois 
 river, in the northeast part of Pike county, in township 
 three south, in range two west of the fourth principal 
 meridian. It is made up of three principal branches, 
 known by the names of North, Middle, and West forks. 
 
 North i^or/f, which is the longest branch, rises in Adams 
 county, near the base line, in range five west, runs a de- 
 vious course into Schuyler county, and receives a number 
 of small tributaries. Its general course to the Illinois 
 river is southeast. 
 
 Middle Fork originates near the boundary of Pike and 
 Schuyler counties, and enters the west fork a few miles 
 above its junction with the main stream. 
 
 West Fork rises in the northern part of Pike county, 
 where it interlocks with the waters that fall into the 
 Mississippi, and after running an eastern course, joins 
 the main stream a few miles above its mouth. The land 
 on McKee's creek and branches is excellent, suitably 
 proportioned into timber and prairie, which is gently 
 undulating and rich. The settlements already are large, 
 and population is increasing from emigration. The same 
 obstruction to rapid settlement exists here as in all por- 
 tions of the military tract. Much good land is held by 
 non residents. Could the land all be had at a reasonable 
 price, this tract of country would soon be overspread with 
 large farms. 
 
 McKee^s Branch, a fork of Sugar creek, in Schuyler 
 county, is a mill stream, three miles north of Rushville. 
 
 McLeansboro', the county seat of Hamilton county, 
 situated on high ground, in township five south, and in 
 range seven east from the third principal meridian. The 
 settlement around is pretty extensive and the town con- 
 tains twenty or twenty-five families, and five stores, 
 
 McRaney^s Creek is a small stream that heads in Adams 
 county, passes into Pike, and enters the Snycartee slough. 
 The land is proportionably divided into timber and prai- 
 rie, and of a good quality. 
 
 MeachanCs Grove, now called Salem, is in Cook county, 
 near the head of Salt creek, and contains about three sec- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 251 
 
 tions of timber, of sugar maple, walnut, oaks, linden, 
 ash, elm, hickory, &c. The prairie is undulating- and 
 rich. Around that and other small groves are about 
 twenty-five families. 
 
 Mechanicsburg, a town site in the prairie near Clear 
 creek, fifteen miles east of Springfield, on the road to 
 Decatur. Post office Clear creek. 
 
 Melrose, a town site and post office, situated in Clark 
 county, twelve miles southwest from Darwin. It has 
 eighteen or twenty families. 
 
 Menomone, a stream in the northwest corner of the 
 state. It rises in Iowa county, Wisconsin territory, runs 
 southwest, and empties into the Mississippi three miles 
 below the boundary line. The surface near its mouth 
 is broKen, and towards its head are rich prairies, and 
 rich mines of lead. The timber is scarce, in groves and 
 patches for six or eight miles up. Length about fifteen or 
 twenty miles. 
 
 Meredosia, a town site, landing, and place of consider- 
 able business on the Illinois river in Morgan county, 
 six miles above Naples. It is situated on an elevated 
 sand ridge, with a good landing when the water is not 
 too low. Here are two steam mills, several stores, and 
 fifty families: and to be a point in the Northern cross 
 rail road from Quincy by Springfield, to Indiana. 
 
 Meredosia can be approached from the bluffs and table 
 land, without crossing any lakes or sloughs, which is not 
 the case with other towns on the river in Morgan county. 
 Much of the mercantile business of Jacksonville passes 
 through this place. Above the town is a singular bayou, 
 from whence its name, which, in French orthography, 
 would be, Marais (T Ogee. 
 
 Exports for pork, lard, flour, beef, corn, whiskey, butter 
 and potatoes, $ 200,000. 
 
 Imports in various kinds of merchandise landed at 
 Meredosia, % 450,000. 
 
 Meredosia Bay, is a body of water connected with the 
 Illinois river, above Meredosia. It is seven miles long; 
 its width varies from one half to one mile. 
 
252 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Middle Fork of Big Muddy River^ one of the four heads 
 of Big Muddy river, in Franklin county. It rises on the 
 borders of Hamilton county, runs a southwestern course, 
 and enters the main stream a few miles west of Frankfort. 
 The country along its borders is divided into timber and 
 prairie; the surface tolerably level, and the soil good 
 second rate. 
 
 Middle Fork Settlement, in Jefferson county, lies be- 
 tween Mount Vernon and Long prairie; a limbered tract, 
 good sugar tree groves, and a pleasant settlement. 
 
 Middle Fork of Shoal Creek rises in the prairies of Mont- 
 gomery county, eight north, four west, passes Hillsboro', 
 and enters Shoal creek about four miles above Bond 
 county line. 
 
 Middle Fork of Silver Creek rises in the prairies north- 
 east of the Marine settlement, in Madison county, runs 
 south and enters the East fork. 
 
 Middle Grove, a post office and settlement on the north 
 side of Fulton county, on section six, township eight 
 north, four west and on the road from Canton to Knox- 
 ville. 
 
 Middletori's Ferry, on the Kaskaskia river, twenty miles 
 east of Belleville, and fourteen miles southeasterly from 
 Lebanon. 
 
 Middlefown, in Sangamon county, is laid off in the prai- 
 rie, between the timber of Salt creek and Irish grove, 
 near Musick's station. Several families, &c. 
 
 Miers's Settlement is in Bond county, on the west side 
 of Beaver creek, and two miles south of Greenville. 
 
 Milan, a post office and town site in the south part of 
 Calhoun county, fractional section twenty-eight, town- 
 ship thirteen south, one west. 
 
 Mill Creek, a small stream that rises in the southwest- 
 ern part of Edgar county, runs diagonally through Clark, 
 and enters the Wabash near York. 
 
 Mill Creek, a small mill stream in Randolph county. It 
 enters the Kaskaskia river on the east side, one mile 
 above the town of Kaskaskia. 
 
 Miller's Settlement adjoins the Mississippi, on the west 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 253 
 
 side of Alexander county. Here is some bottom, and 
 rolling upland, generally good. Population about thirty 
 families. 
 
 Miller'' s Seltlement^ near the centre of Mercer county. 
 A good tract of country. 
 
 Miller''s Settlement^ in Macon county, four miles west 
 of Decatur, in the south side of Macon county prairie. 
 Soil rich with good timber adjoining. 
 
 Mills^s Prairie, in Edwards county, eleven miles north- 
 east from Albion, four miles long, and two and a half 
 wide — a fine and well settled tract. 
 
 Milton was once a town site, situated on Wood river, 
 in Madison county, two miles southeast of Alton. 
 
 MitcheWs Settlement, in St. Clair county, six miles east 
 of Belleville — a fine tract of country. 
 
 Monk Hill is situated on the American bottom, in the 
 borders of Madison county, eight miles northeasterly 
 from St. Louis. 
 
 The circumference, at the base, is about six hundred 
 yards, and its height about ninety feet. On the south side, 
 about halfway down, is a broad step, or apron, about fif- 
 teen feet wide. 
 
 This hill, or mount, was the residence, for several 
 years, of the monks of the order of La Trappe, the most 
 rigid and austere of all the monkish orders. 
 
 Their monastery was originally situated in the district 
 of Perche, in France, in one of the most lonely spots that 
 could be chosen. They fled from the commotions of that 
 kingdom to America, lived for a time in Kentucky, and 
 came to Illinois in 1806 or '07, and settled on this mound. 
 
 They cultivated a garden, repaired watches, and traded 
 with the people, but were generally filthy in their habits, 
 and extremely severe in their penances and discipline. 
 In 1813, they sold oflT their personal property, and left the 
 country, for France. 
 
 Monmouth, the seat of justice for Warren county, is 
 in the prairie, and, on the south side of the timber of Hen- 
 derson river. It is located on section twenty-nine, eleven 
 22 
 
254 A GAZETTEER 
 
 north, two west has a flourishing settlement, and a first 
 rate tract of country around it. 
 
 It has four stores, two groceries, one tavern, two phy- 
 sicians, no lawyers, and about twenty families. 
 
 Muntehello is a town site, post office and settlement in 
 Hancock county, on the bluifs of the Mississippi, one and 
 a half miles above the foot of the Lower rapids. 
 
 There is a considerable settlement along the river, the 
 whole length of the rapids. 
 
 Moniecello, the site of the Alton Female Seminary, a 
 delightful situation on the borders of Scamet's prairie, 
 four and a half miles norili of Alton. 
 
 Montezuma, a town site, post office, and landing on the 
 riorht bank of the Illinois river in Pike county, thirteen 
 miles southwest from Pittsfield. 
 
 Montgomery, a town site in Adams county, in section 
 twenty-seven, township two south, six west, with four 
 families. 
 
 Moore'^s Prairie, in Jeffi^rson county, is eight miles long, 
 from two to three miles wide, and from six to twelve 
 miles southeast of Mount Vernon. A post office. 
 
 Some portions are flat and wet, other parts dry and 
 gently undulating, and the settlement along its borders 
 consists of seventy-five families. 
 
 Moore'^s Prairie, in St. Clair county, is five miles east 
 of Belleville, and about the same in extent. It is tolera- 
 bly level, of good soil, and spread over with fine farms. 
 
 Moore's Settlement, in Monroe county, near Waterloo, 
 is an extensive settlement. 
 
 Morgan's Creek, in Kane county, rises in Ausauble grove, 
 runs west, and enters Fox river, one mile above the 
 south boundary of Kane county. 
 
 Mosses Settlement, in Pope county, near the heads of 
 Big Bay and Lusk's creeks; twenty miles from Golcon- 
 da. It is a good tract of country. 
 
 Mounse's Creek, a small stream, and branch of the 
 North fork of Sangamon, in Foster's settlement, Macon 
 county. 
 
 Mount Carbon, a coal bank on Muddy river, four miles 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 255 
 
 above Brownswille, in Jacksou county. Large quantities 
 are exported from this place down tiie river. Here is a 
 large steam saw and grist mill. 
 
 Mount Carmel, the seat of justice for Wabash coun- 
 ty, is situated on high ground, on the Wabash river, and 
 on section twenty, in fractional township one south, and 
 in range twelve west from the second principal meridian. 
 
 This town was laid off in 1818, by Rev. Thomas S. 
 Hinde, of Ohio, on the project of establishing a moral, 
 temperate, and industrious village. 
 
 The prospective improvement of the rapids of the Wa- 
 bash near this place, is thought to give it peculiar impor- 
 tance as a place of business. The country around is high, 
 undulating, healthy, and contains an extensive settlement 
 of industrious farmers. The court house and jail are brick. 
 The Methodist society, which is large, has a house of 
 worship. 
 
 In Mount Carmel are ten stores, two groceries, (or 
 *' doggeries," as our correspondent calls them, and further 
 states, " the keepers are getting ashamed of them,") — 
 two taverns and a third in course of preparation, one sta- 
 tioned preacher, and four local preachers, of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, one German Reformed preacher, two 
 physicians, one steam doctor, three lawyers, and from one 
 thousand to twelve hundred population. 
 
 The religious denominations, are Methodists (Episco- 
 pal,) numerous, evangelical Lutherans, associated with the 
 German Reformed, Presbyterians, some Baptists and 
 Episcopalians — three steam mills, one ox tread mill, me- 
 chanics and trades of various descriptions, a foundry for 
 castings for machinery, etc. The commerce of this place 
 is considerable, and from the 31st of March to the 12th 
 of April, 1837, 26 steamboats arrived and departed. 
 
 Mount Flat Head^ on the west side of the Des Plaines, 
 and two miles below Mount Joliet. It extends two miles; 
 the north end is rounded — the south end irregularly 
 shaped — its contents sand, gravel, and coarse pebbles, 
 worn smooth by water friction. 
 
 Mount Joliet,) a mound situated on the west bank of the 
 
256 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Des Plaines, about sixteen miles above its junction with 
 the Kankakee. It is in the southwestern part of Cook 
 county, in township thirty-five north, in range ten east 
 from the third principal meridian. It is in the midst of 
 a large plain, covered in summer with short, thin grass, 
 and which bears striking marks of having been once 
 inundated. 
 
 Its size is variously estimated. Beck, in his Gazetteer, 
 states, "It is three or four hundred yards in length, north 
 and south, and two or three hundred in breadth, east and 
 west. It is in the form of a pyramid, and is evidently the 
 work of art." 
 
 From the last position I entirely dissent. From all the 
 facts I have gathered from those who have visited it, I have 
 no doubt, but like similar eminences in every part of the 
 globe, it is a natural production. Several gentlemen, who 
 have passed this mound without stopping particularly to 
 measure it, have estimated its length one mile, its breadth, 
 at the base, half a mile, and its height one hundred and 
 fifty feet. It appears to be an immense pile of sand and 
 pebbles, similar to the sand ridges along the Illinois river. 
 
 This name was given by the companions of Joliet, who 
 visited this country in 1673. 
 
 Mount Pleasant^ in St. Clair county, and four miles 
 northeast of Belleville, the residence of William Kinney, 
 a former lieutenant governor of the state, and now presi- 
 dent of the " Board of Public Works." 
 
 Mount Pleasant^ a post office in Union county, east of 
 Jonesboro', on the road to Vienna. (See Stokes's Settle- 
 ment.) 
 
 Mount Pulaski^ a town site in Sangamon county, on an 
 elevated prairie, in township eighteen north, range two 
 west. 
 
 Mount Sterling, a post office and town site in Six's 
 prairie, Schuyler county, seventeen miles west of Rush- 
 ville, on the mail road to Quincy. It has four stores, one 
 minister and a small Presbyterian church, organised, 
 various mechanics, and about 150 inhabitants. 
 
 Mount St. Charles, in Jo Daviess county, twelve miles 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 257 
 
 east of Galena. The surrounding country becomes ele- 
 vated to the height of seven or eight hundred feet above 
 the mining coun^try generally. This mount, like a pyra- 
 mid, rises from the centre of this elevation one hundred 
 and fifty feet. The base of the whole mount includes two 
 or three square miles; — the base of the pyramid is one 
 fourth of a mile in length, and two hundred and fifty yards 
 in breadth. Its top is long and quite narrow. The whole 
 mound, as is the case with many smaller ones, is a natural 
 formation. 
 
 Mount Vernon, the seatof justice for Jefferson county, 
 situated on the stage road from St. Louis, by Carlyle, to 
 Shawneetown, on section twenty-nine, township two 
 south, in range three east of the third principal meridian, 
 and near the centre of the county. 
 
 It has six stores, three groceries, one tavern, two phy- 
 sicians, two ministers, a court house and jail, a Methodist 
 Episcopal and a Baptist society, and various mechanics, 
 and 140 inhabitants, and is pleasantly situated on the 
 north side of Casey's prairie, and surrounded with a con- 
 siderable settlement. It is in latitude thirty-eight degrees 
 twenty minutes north, forty-seven and a half miles a little 
 east of south from Vandalia. 
 
 Mouth of Ohio. The importance of a good town site, at 
 the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, has, for 
 many years, excited the attention of the enterprising. It 
 is a feature in our western rivers, with few exceptions, 
 that at and near their junction, the land is alluvion, of a 
 recent formation, and at the high annual floods, usually 
 inundated to the depth of several feet. This is the case, 
 particularly at the mouth of the Ohio. For twelve miles 
 along that river, above its mouth, and a farther distance 
 along the Mississippi, and across the point to Cash river, 
 the country is subject to annual inundations. Had the 
 author of nature formed here an elevated situation, no- 
 thing could have prevented this spot from becoming the 
 central commercial emporium of the great western valley. 
 The immense trade of the Ohio and Mississippi, at some 
 future day, will warrant the expense of forming a site 
 
 22* 
 
258 A GAZETTEER 
 
 here for a commercial town. The termination of the great 
 central railroad will greatly facilitate this object, and, with 
 the commerce of these great rivers, build up a splendid 
 city. In due time, art, enterprise, and perseverance will 
 triumph over nature at this place, and a large commercial 
 city will exist where now the waters of the Ohio and 
 Mississippi occasionally spread. 
 
 Mud Creek^ a small stream in the southwestern part of 
 Washington and southeast part of St. Clair counties. It 
 rises in the northwestern part of Perry county, takes a 
 northwestern direction, and enters the Kaskaskia river 
 opposite an island in township two south, six west. A 
 smaller creek, in the same region, is called Little Mud 
 creek. 
 
 Mud Creeks a hranch of Vermilion river in Livingston 
 county. It rises in the prairie, runs siuthwest, and enters 
 Vermilion, twelve miles below Otter creek. Weed's set- 
 tlement is on it near the head of the timber. 
 
 Muddy^?i small stream and branch of the Embarras, in 
 Lawrence county, ten miles west from Lawrenceville. 
 
 Muddy^ a branch of the Little Wabash that flows into 
 it on its eastern side, in Clay county, just below the Vin- 
 cennes road. Between the two streams for some distance, 
 is a swamp, which overflows in high water. 
 
 Muddy Crcek^ in Lawrence county, rises in the prairie, 
 runs north of east, and enters the Embarras, five miles 
 above Lawrenceville. Land, second rate; population forty 
 or fifty families. 
 
 Muddy Fork, a branch of the Embarras river, in Coles 
 county, that enters the Embarras, three miles below the 
 national road. 
 
 Muddy Point, in the southwestern part of Coles county, 
 and one of the heads of the Little Wabash. The timber is 
 excellent, prairie adjoining is rolling and rich, and the 
 settlement consists of eighty or one hundred families. 
 
 Mud Prairie is on Mud creek, a small branch of Big 
 Beaucoup creek. It lies in Washington and Perry coun- 
 ties, fourteen miles northeast from Pinckneyville, and is 
 level and rather wet. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 259 
 
 Mud Prairie, in Wayne county, eight miles northwest 
 froTi Fairfield, is a low, wet tract, rightly named. 
 
 Mulberry Grove, a small grove at the head of Apple 
 creek, near the boundary line of Morgan and Sangamon 
 counties. 
 
 Mulberry Grove Post Office^ the eastern side of Bond 
 county, on the road to Vandalia. 
 
 Muskeeto Creek, rises in the large prairie of Macon coun- 
 ty, and enters the North fork of Sangamon, in Sangamon 
 county. 
 
 Muscooten Bay, a large body of water in the northwest 
 part of Morgan county, that unites with the Illinois river 
 just above Beardstown. In high water it becomes con- 
 nected with the Sangamon river. 
 
 Napierville, a town in Cook county, on the east side of 
 the west fork of the Du Page, and has four stores, a saw 
 and grist mill, a school, twenty-five families, and two- 
 hundred and fifty inhabitants. The country around is dry, 
 undulating surface, and rich soil, with a tolerable supply 
 of timber on the Du Page. 
 
 Naples, a commercial town in IMorgan county, situated 
 on the Illinois river, two miles above the mouth of the 
 Mauvaiseterre, on section twelve, township fifteen north, 
 in range fourteen west from the third principal meridian. 
 
 It is laid off on a level prairie, at the foot of a sand 
 ridge, and above ordinary high water. Very occasionally, 
 extreme floods will come over a portion of the town site. 
 
 Here are several stores, three taverns, a medical and 
 drug shop, two physicians, a number of mechanics, three 
 steam mills, and one hundred families. 
 
 Its commerce is considerable. In 1835, the arrivals and 
 departures of steamboats amounted to 302. Exports in 
 produce, 1835, ^965,000. Imports in merchandise and 
 sold wholesale and retail, 25,000. A railroad to Jackson- 
 ville is now in progress of construction; distance, via 
 Bethel, 20 miles. 
 
 Narrows, or Little Detroit, a place so called, on Peoria 
 lake five miles above Peoria. The bluffs from the west 
 
260 A GAZETTEER 
 
 side here touch the lake, and the Galena road runs at the 
 foot. 
 
 Narrows* Two places in Morgan county bear this name. 
 One is now Sweefs Settlement^ five miles east of Jackson- 
 ville. The other is on the road from Springfield to Beards- 
 town, ten miles from the latter place. Here is a fine 
 settlement, good prairie, with points and groves of timber. 
 The settlement receives its name from two points of tim- 
 ber approaching. 
 
 Nashville, the seat of justice for Washington coun- 
 ty, is situated on a beautiful and elevated prairie, near the 
 head of Little Crooked creek, and two and a half miles 
 south of east from the centre of the county. 
 
 It is situated on section twenty-four, township two 
 south, range three west of the third principal meridian. 
 It contains three stores, several mechanics, a steam mill, 
 and fifteen or twenty families. It is on the borders of 
 an arm of the Grand prairie, elevated, rich and undu- 
 lating. 
 
 Nettle Creek, a trifling stream in Morgan county, near 
 Winchester. The settlement contains one hundred 
 families. 
 
 Nettle Creek, in La Salle county. (See Mason.) 
 
 Newbern, a post office in Greene county, seven miles 
 northeast from Grafton. 
 
 New Boston, the seat of justice for Mercer county, 
 situated on the Mississippi, two and a half miles above 
 the mouth of Edwards river. It is a small but growing 
 place. 
 
 New Castle, a town site in the southwest part of McLean 
 county in township twenty-one north, range one east. 
 
 New Design is in Monroe county, four miles south of 
 Waterloo. This is one of the oldest American settle- 
 ments in Illinois. The land was originally a mixture of 
 timber and prairie. 
 
 New Haven, a post town, two miles above the mouth of 
 the Little Wabash, on the line between Gallatin and 
 White counties. Here is a large saw and flouring 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 261 
 
 mill, with several stores, and about fifteen or twenty 
 families. 
 
 New Lexington, a town site and post office eight miles 
 northwesterly from Jacksonville, in Morgan county. 
 It has two stores, two groceries, and fifteen or twenty 
 families. 
 
 NewUii's Settlement, in Crawford county, ten miles north- 
 west from Palestine, on the borders of a prairie, with fifty 
 or sixty families. 
 
 Newman s Branch, a trifling stream in Morgan county, 
 that runs southwest, and enters the Mauvaiseterre north 
 of Jacksonville. 
 
 Newport, a town site and landing at the mouth of Apple 
 creek, in Greene county. It contains two or three stores, 
 and half a dozen families. 
 
 New Salem, a post office and town located in Sangamon 
 county, on the southwest side of Sangamon river, on a bluff 
 and surrounded with a large settlement. It has three or 
 four stores, and thirty families. A grist and saw mill is 
 here, erected on Sangamon river. 
 
 It is on section twenty-five, eighteen north, seven west. 
 ■ Newton, the seat of justice for Jasper county, situ- 
 ated on the west side of the Embarras, on the road 
 from Palestine to Vandalia and about the centre of the 
 county. 
 
 it has one store, one grocery, a Baptist society, and 100 
 inhabitants. 
 
 New Virginia, a settlement and tract of country in Bond 
 county, two miles east of Greenville, and on the head 
 waters of Beaver creek. Here are several fine oroves, and 
 good prairie. 
 
 Nine Mile Creek, in Randolph county. It rises north- 
 east of Kaskaskia, takes a western direction, and en- 
 ters the Kaskaskia river ten or twelve miles above the 
 town. 
 
 A branch of it is called Little Nine Mile creek. 
 
 Nine Mile Prairie, in Perry county, lies ten miles 
 east of Pinckneyville, and a post office of the same 
 name. 
 
262 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is about nine miles in diameter, tolerably level, and 
 considerable population around it. 
 
 North Arm^ a prairie and a settlement, in Edgar county, 
 six miles east of Paris. The prairie is good land, about 
 three miles wide. Its east end runs to the state line, and 
 its west end unites with the grand prairie. The settle- 
 ment is large and dense. 
 
 North Fork, a post office, in section twenty-five, town- 
 ship twenty-two north, twelve west in Vermilion county. 
 
 North Fork of the Emharras rises in the southwest part 
 of Clark county, runs south near the line between Crawford 
 and Jasper, and enters the Emharras at the southeast 
 corner of the latter county. The country is a level, tim- 
 bered tract, in some places rather wet. 
 
 North Fork of the Macoupin. This stream is the same 
 as Hodges's or Otter creek, but the settlement, which is 
 extensive and flourishing, is known by the name of North 
 Fork. 
 
 North Fork of Salt Creek. It rises in McLean county, 
 and, with Lake fork, forms the head of one of the principal 
 branches of the Sangamon river. 
 
 North Grove, in Cass county, is at the head of Clear 
 creek, twelve miles east from Beardstown. It has fine 
 timber. 
 
 No7'th Grove at the head of Leaf river in Ogle county. 
 
 North Prairie, in Morgan county, twelve miles north 
 easterly from Jacksonville, is a delighiful tract of rich, 
 dry, undulating prairie. A large settlement surrounds it, 
 and several families from Virginia have recently made 
 locations in it. 
 
 North Prairie, on the south side of the Mauvaiseterre 
 in Morgan county, and adjoining Walnut creek. It is 
 level. 
 
 Norris^s Settlement in Greene county, twelve miles north- 
 easterly from Carrollton, with a proportion of timber and 
 prairie, rather level, but good soil. 
 
 Norwegian Grove is on the east fork of the Kishwaukee 
 in Boone county. 
 
 Oakland^ a post office and settlement in Coles county, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 263 
 
 14 miles northeast from Charleston, and on the road from 
 Springfield to Paris and Terre Haute. 
 
 Ogle's Creek, a small stream in St. Clair county that 
 rises in the west end of Ogle's prairie, runs a northeast 
 course and enters Silver creek. 
 
 Oglt^s Prairie, a beautiful, undulating prairie, in St. 
 Clair county, five miles north of Belleville. It is five 
 miles long, and from one to two miles wide, surrounded, 
 and partly covered, with a flourishing settlement and fine 
 farms. 
 
 Ohio Settlement, in Fork prairie. Bond county, five miles 
 north of Greenville, is of considerable extent. The land 
 is second rate. 
 
 Ohio Grove is in the east fork of the Kishvsraukee four 
 miles from its mouth, near the corners of Winnebago and 
 Boone counties. 
 
 Okaii, {Au Kas, Fr.) a name frequently given to the 
 Kaskaskia river. 
 
 It appears to have been originally a contraction, using 
 the first syllable for the whole name, and prefixing the 
 article — a practice common among the early settlers and 
 explorers of Illinois. 
 
 Okatipost office is in Washington county, section twenty- 
 five, township one south, five west, on the road from 
 Nashville by Middleton's Ferry to Lebanon. 
 
 Okau Settlement, in the southeastern part of Macon 
 county, twenty miles from Decatur, lies on the West fork 
 of the Kaskaskia, and contains twenty or thirty families. 
 
 Olmsted's Mound, an eminence in the prairie in Morgan 
 county, eight miles south of west from Jacksonville. It 
 was the temporary seat of justice for this county previous 
 to 1825. 
 
 Oldmari's Creek, a small stream in the country attached 
 to La Salle county, that enters Rock river eighteen miles 
 above Dixon's ferry. 
 
 diverts sometimes called Allen''s Prairie, in the corner 
 of Hancock, Adams, and Schuyler counties. It is twelve 
 miles long, and from two to four miles broad. 
 
 Old Town Timber, (See Dawson's Grove.) 
 
264 A GAZETTEER 
 
 O^NeaVs Creek, is a branch of Crooked creek, in Schuy- 
 ler county, ten miles from Rushville. 
 
 Ono, a post office in Edgar county, on section four, 
 township fourteen north, eleven west, six miles north- 
 northeast from Paris. 
 
 Orendorff's Mill and settlement is on Sugar creek, in 
 the south part of Tazewell county. The settlement is 
 large, and the land good. 
 
 Oregon City, is the temporary seat of justice for Ogle 
 county, situated on the north side of Rock river on a hand- 
 some elevated alluvion bottom, ten miles above Grand 
 Detour, and fifteen miles above Dixonville. It has two 
 stores and eight or ten families. 
 
 Ottawa, the seat of justice for La Salle county, was 
 laid off by the canal commissioners, in 1830, at the junc- 
 tion of Fox river with the Illinois, and is thought by many 
 to be an important location for business. 
 
 It is laid off on both sides of the Illinois river, on the 
 entire section numbered eleven, and in township thirty- 
 three north, in range three east of the third principal me- 
 ridian. 
 
 At the town site, the water of the Illinois is deep, and 
 the landing convenient. Steamboats reach this place in 
 the spring, and at other seasons when the water is high. 
 
 Below, for the distance of eight or nine miles, are rapids 
 and shoals, formed by barriers of sand and lime stone 
 rock. Ottawa has 8 or 10 stores, 2 taverns, 3 physicians, 
 5 lawyers, and 75 or 80 families. Large additions have 
 been made to the town plat by laying off additional lots on 
 lands adjoining. It is expected a lateral canal from the 
 Illinois and Michigan canal will pass through the town 
 to the Illinois river. This, by means of a feeder to 
 the rapids of Fox river will open a navigation into 
 Kane county. Fox river is susceptible of improvement 
 by slackwater at small expense, into the Wisconsin 
 territory, and from thence by a short canal of fifteen 
 miles may become connected with Milwaukee. Hence Ot- 
 tawa may be regarded as one of the most important sites 
 for commercial business in the state. Near it dams are 
 
OF ILLINOIS. ^ 265 
 
 already projected across the Illinois river and imniense 
 "water power thus created. The Ottawa Repuhlican a 
 weekly paper is published here. 
 
 The country around is pleasant, undulating, and well 
 adapted to farming-. The timber is in small quantities, 
 chiefly in groves; the prairie land generally dry and rich 
 soil. 
 
 Lime, and coarse free stone, in great abundance. 
 
 Otter Creek^ a small stream that rises in the prairies in 
 the southwestern part of Greene county, runs a westerly 
 course, and enters the Illinois river about fourteen miles 
 above its junction with the Mississippi. 
 
 Towards its head is fine, undulating prairie, but lower 
 down the surface is timbered and broken. 
 
 Otter Creek rises in the southwestern part of Fulton 
 county, runs east, then south, and enters the Illinois in 
 section twenty-two, three north, three east. Large bodies 
 of timber and good coal are on this stream. 
 
 Otter Crcek^ in Livingston county, rises in La Salle 
 county, runs southwest, and enters Vermilion river in 
 the southwest corner of thirty north, four east. Here 
 is a valuable body of timber, rolling and rich prairie 
 and a large settlement. 
 
 Out House Settlement, on Sugar creek, in Clinton county, 
 twenty-two miles southwest from Carlyle. 
 
 Ox Bow Prairie is in Putnam county, ten miles south 
 of Hennepin. It is a rich prairie, five miles long, and 
 from one to two miles wide, shaped like au ox bow, and 
 surrounded with excellent timber. The prairie is over- 
 spread with fine farms. 
 
 Paddock''s Settlement is in Madison county, on the Spring- 
 fiele road, seven miles north of Edwardsville. The prai- 
 rie is undulating, fertile, and healthy. 
 
 Panktfs Settlement is in the southeast corner of Pope 
 county. 
 
 Panther Greek heads in McLean county, runs southeast, 
 and enters the Mackinau near the county line. 
 
 Panther Creek, in Sangamon county, a trifling stream 
 and branch of Sugar creek, in fifteen north, five west. 
 23 
 
266 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Panther Creek is in the northeastern part of Morgan 
 county, and enters Sangamon river. 
 
 Panther Grove, a point of timber on Panther creek, in 
 Morgan county. 
 
 Another grove, called Little Pantlier, lies east of it. 
 
 Palestine, the seat of justice for Crawford county, 
 situated three miles from the Wabash river, on the bor- 
 ders of Lamotte prairie, and in sections thirty-three and 
 thirty-four, township seven north, in range eleven west of 
 the second principal meridian. 
 
 It is twenty-five miles north of Vincennes, in latitude 
 thirty-eight degrees, fifty-eight minutes north, and eighty- 
 two miles east irom Vandalia. 
 
 It has 4 stores, 2 groceries, 3 taverns, 2 lawyers, 4 phy- 
 sicians, 2 ministers, about 450 inhabitants, 2 apothe- 
 caries' shops and a land office, and mechanics of various 
 trades. 
 
 The religious denominations are Presbyterians, Metho- 
 dists and Baptists. The Methodists have a house of wor- 
 ship. 
 
 Pahner^s Settlement, above the south fork of Spoon river, 
 in the county of Knox, and near the line of Fulton 
 county. 
 
 Pappoose Creek rises in the swampy land in the eastern 
 part of Boone county, runs a southwestern course and 
 enters the North Fork of the Kishwaukee. Timber oak 
 barrens, chiefly bur oak; soil sandy and jjravelly. 
 
 Paradise, a post office at the head of the Little Wa- 
 bash, in Coles county, on the road from Shelby ville to 
 Charleston. 
 
 Paris, the county seat for Edgar county, on section one, 
 thirteen north, twelve west of the second principal meri- 
 dian. It is a pleasant village, on the borders of a rich 
 prairie, surrounded with good farms, and has a court house 
 of brick, 7 stores, 2 groceries, 1 tavern, 4 physicians, 3 
 lawyers, and about 55 families, or 275 inhabitants. 
 
 Parker^s Prairie is a large, level prairie, on the western 
 side of Clark county, somewhat wet, soil second rate. A 
 considerable settlement. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 267 
 
 Parher^s Seitlement is ten miles southwest from Pa- 
 lestine, in Crawford county. A mixture of timber and 
 prairie, and about forty families. 
 
 Farr^s Settlement is in Bond county, seven miles north 
 of Greenville, adjoining, and within the timbered tract, 
 on the East fork of Shoal creek. 
 
 Fatipau Grove is at the head of Indian creek, Kane coun- 
 ty. It is a rich tract of country. 
 
 Peek-a-ton-o-hee, a large, navigable stream that enters 
 Rock river, in Jo Daviess county, about six miles below 
 the boundary line. It rises in two principal branches, 
 near the Blue Mounds, in Wisconsin territory, called the 
 East and West forks, which unite before they enter the 
 state of Illinois. 
 
 The East fork rises north of the Blue Mounds, near the 
 head of Grant river The West fork runs near the Blue 
 Mounds. 
 
 After their junction, the Peek-a-ton-o-kee runs first 
 a south course into Illinois, thence a southeast course, 
 and finally winds round north of east, and enters Rock 
 river. It is one hundred yards wide at the mouth, eighty 
 yards wide at the boundary line, and is navigable for 
 flat boats to Mineral Point, in the Wisconsin terri- 
 tory. 
 
 I have had no little trouble in determining the ortho- 
 grrphy of this name. Its aboriginal meaning is said to 
 be " Swift loafer/^ By many persons it is written and 
 pronounced Pik-e-tol-e-ka. I have adopted the ortho- 
 graphy and pronunciation of gentlemen from its vi- 
 cinity. 
 
 Pekin is situated on the east side of the Illinois river, 
 twelve miles below Peoria, on fractional section thirty- 
 three, twenty-five north, five west of the third principal 
 meridian, on a sandy bluff, elevated and pleasant. The 
 landing is tolerably good at a moderate stage of the river, 
 but too shoal at the low stage. 
 
 Pekin contains twelve stores, three groceries, two 
 taverns, (and a splendid hotel building by a company.) 
 seven lawyers, four physicians, four ministers of the gos- 
 
268 A GAZETTEER 
 
 pel, one drug store, three forwarding and commission 
 houses, two houses for slaughtering and paekiuiJ" pork, 
 one auction house, a printing office which issues the 
 Tazewell Telegraph, and about eight-hundred inhabi- 
 tants. 
 
 There is also one steam flouring mill that manufac- 
 tures two hundred barrels of flour per day, a steam saw 
 mill and two steam distilleries, an academy and a com- 
 mon school. 
 
 The religious denominations are Presbyterian, Metho- 
 dist and Unitarian, which have houses of worship. 
 
 Peoria, the seat of justice for Peoria county, situated 
 on the west bank of the Illinois river, on section nine, 
 eight north, eight east, and formerly called Fort Clark. 
 
 From a report made by Edward Coles, Esq. formerly 
 governor of Illinois, to the Secretary of the treasury, it 
 may be learned, " The old village of Peoria was situated 
 one mile and a half above the lower extremity or outlet 
 of the Peoria lake. This village had been inhabited by 
 the French previous to the recollection of the present 
 generation. About the year 1778 or 1779, the first house 
 was built in what was then called La Ville de Mailiet, 
 afterwards the new village of Peoria, and which has re- 
 cently been known by the name of Fort Clark, situated 
 about one mile and a half below the old village, imme- 
 diately at the lower point, or outlet of the lake. The - 
 situation being preferred on account of the water being 
 better, and its being thought more healthy, the inhabi- 
 tants gradually deserted the old village, and by the year 
 1796 or 1797, had entirely abandoned it, and removed to 
 the new one. 
 
 " The inhabitants of Peoria consisted generally of In- 
 dian traders, hunlers, and voyagers, and had long formed 
 a link of connection betwen the PVench residing on the 
 great lakes and the Mississippi river. From that happy 
 felicity of adapting themselves to their situation and as- 
 sociates, for which the French are so remarkable, the 
 inhabitants of Peoria lived generally in harmony with 
 their savage neighbours. It appears, however, that about | 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 269 
 
 the year 1781, they were induced to abandon the village 
 from an apprehension of Indian hostility; but soon after 
 the peace of 1783, they again returned, and continued to 
 reside there until the autumn of 1812, when they were 
 forcibly removed from it, and the place destroyed by a 
 captain Craig, of the Illinois militia, on the ground, it 
 was said, that his company of militia was fired on in the 
 night, while at anchor in their boats before the village, 
 by Indians, with whom the inhahitants were suspected 
 by Craig to be too intimate and friendly." 
 
 The inhabitants being thus driven from the place, 
 fled to the French settlements on the Mississippi for 
 shelter. 
 
 In 1813, Peoria was occupied by the United States 
 troops, and a block house erected and called Fort Clark. 
 The timber was cut on the opposite side of the lake, and 
 with considerable labor transported across, and hauled 
 on truck wheels by the men. 
 
 After the termination of the war. Fort Clark was aban- 
 doned, and the buildings soon after burnt by the Indians. 
 
 The present town is near its ruins. 
 
 Without intending to do injustice to several other beau- 
 tiful town sites along the upper parts of the Illinois river, 
 amongst which is Pekin, Hennepin, the foot of the rapids, 
 Ottawa, etc. I shall copy from Beck's Gazetteer the fol- 
 lowing description of Peoria. 
 
 "The situation of this place is beautiful beyond de- 
 scription. From the mouth of the Kickapoo, or Redhnd 
 creek, which empties, into the Illinois two miles below 
 the old fort, the alluvion is a prairie which stretches it- 
 self along the river three or four miles. 
 
 " The shore is chiefly made up of rounded pebbles, 
 and is filled with springs of the finest water. The first 
 bank, which is from six to twelve feet above high water 
 mark, extends west about a quarter of a mile from the 
 river, gradually ascending, when it rises five or six feet to 
 the second bank. This extends nearly on a level to the 
 bluffs, which are from sixty to one hundred feet in height. 
 These bluffs consist of rounded pebbles, overlaying strata 
 
 23* 
 
270 A GAZETTEER 
 
 of lime stone and sand stone, rounded at the top, and cor- 
 responding in their course witii the meanders of the river 
 and lake. The ascent, although steep, is not perpendi- 
 cular. On the bluffs, the surface again becomes level, 
 and is beautifully interspersed with pfeirie and woodland. 
 
 *' From the bluffs the prospect is uncommonly fine. 
 Looking towards the east you first behold an extensive 
 prairie, which, in spring and summer, is covered with 
 grass, with whose green the brilliant hues of a thousand 
 flowers form the most lively contrast. Beyond this, the 
 lake, clear and calm, may be seen emptying itself into, 
 or by its contraction forming the river, whose meanders, 
 only hid from the view by the beautiful groves of timber 
 which here and there arise, can be traced to the utmost 
 extent of vision." 
 
 Peoria is now rapidly advancing in population and im- 
 provements. In the summer of 1833, it consisted of 
 about twenty-five families. These more than doubled in 
 a few weeks from emigration. 
 
 Peoria now has twenty-five stores, two wholesale and 
 five retail groceries, two drug stores, two hotels and se- 
 veral boarding houses, two ifree schools and an incorpo- 
 rated academy, two Presbyterian houses of worship and 
 congregations, one Methodist, one Baptist, one Unita- 
 rian and one Episcopal congregation, six lawyers, eight 
 or ten physicians, one brewery, two steam sawmills, the 
 usual proportion of mechanics, a court house and jail and 
 a population from fifteen to eighteen hundred, and ra|)idly 
 increasing. The " Peoria Register and Northwestern 
 Gazetteer" is issued weekly, by S. M.Davis, Esq. The 
 religious people of this place appear to have been uncom- 
 monly liberal, by contributing about twenty-three thousand 
 dollars the past year for philanthropic purposes. 
 
 Feoria Lake, an expansion of the Illinois river, com- 
 mencing at Peoria, and extending about twenty miles in 
 a northeasterly direction. It is much wider than the river, 
 and has very little current. The water is clear, and its 
 bottom gravelly. It may be considered as two lakes, di- 
 vided by the Narrows. It abounds with various kinds of 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 271 
 
 fish, such as sturgeon, buffalo, bass of several species, 
 perch, white fish, pickerel, etc., which can be caught with 
 the seine in great abundance. 
 
 The Indian name for this lake is Pin-a-ta-wee. Some 
 authors call it Illinois Lake. 
 
 Perkiti's Seitkment is in the northeast part of Hancock 
 county, on the head waters of Crooked creek. The name 
 of the post office is Fountain Green. 
 
 Pcra^ a j)ost office, landing and town site, on the north 
 side of the Illinois river, on section sixteen, township 
 thirty-three north, one east, and one mile below the termi- 
 nation of the Illinois and Michigan canal. It has one 
 "warehouse and two or three families. 
 
 Perry., a town site in Pike county, on section twenty- 
 one, township three south, three west. It has two or 
 three stores, several families, and is a pleasant village, 
 surrounded with a fine country, diversified with timber 
 and prairie. 
 
 Petersburg, a town and post office, on the west side of 
 Sangamon river, in Sangamon county, on fractional sec- 
 tion fourteen, township eighteen north, seven west, and 
 about seventeen miles nortiieast from Springfield. It has 
 six stores, a steam saw and grist mill, and twenty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Phelps^s Grove is on a small stream in Ogle county, 
 that enters Rock river three miles above Oregon city. 
 
 Phelps^s Prairie, in Franklin county on the waters of 
 Crab Orchard creek, twelve miles south of Frankfort, is 
 good land, and somewhat rolling. 
 
 In its neighbourhood is Poor prairie, a wet, level tract; 
 and Wrighfs prairie, an undulating tract, with a consider- 
 able settlement. 
 
 Phlgley''s Settlement lies between the head waters of 
 McKee's creek and Bear creek, in Adams county. It has 
 about twenty-five families. The land is rather flat, but 
 good, — about twenty miles east from Quincy. 
 
 PliiVs Creek enters the Macoupin on the south side, 
 about the middle of township nine north, eleven west. 
 It heads in the prairies near the sources of the Piasau. 
 
272 A GAZETTEER 
 
 There is considerable limber, with excellent prairie on the 
 borders of this stream. 
 
 Fhillips^s Settlement,, in the northwestern part of Alex- 
 ander county, on Sexton's creek, twenty-five miles from 
 America, consists of eight or ten families. 
 
 Piankeshau Bend., on the Wabash river, in Wabash 
 county, eighteen miles north from Mount Carmel. It is a 
 fertile tract, timber rather scarce, with a mixture of prairie 
 and barrens. 
 
 Piasau, a small stream that rises in a beautiful tract of 
 country near the line of Greene and Macoupin counties, 
 and enters the Mississippi about ten miles above Lower 
 Alton. 
 
 Pigeon Creek is a stream that rises in Adams county, 
 and runs westward near that and Pike county, which it 
 enters, and passes into the Snycariee slough three miles 
 below the county line. 
 
 In the bottom, the land is level, dry, and excellent — on 
 the bluffs, somewhat broken. 
 
 Pilot Knob, in the western part of Washington county, 
 a singular eminence and point of observation on the old 
 Vincennes and Kaskaskia trace. 
 
 PiNCKNEYViLLE, a Small village, and the seat of justice 
 for Perry county. It is situated on the west side of Big 
 Beaucoup creek, at the head of the four mile prairie, and 
 on section twenty-four, five south, three west, it has four 
 stores, one tavern, one grocery, and fifteen or twenty fami- 
 lies, and is surrounded with a large settlement of indus- 
 trious farmers. 
 
 Pine Creek, in Ogle county. It rises in the prairie be- 
 tween Rock river and White Oak grove, runs a southeast 
 course and enters Rock river at Grand Detour, and is a 
 good mill stream. Its timber is shrubby pine, white, 
 black, red and bur oaks, hickory, linden, sugar maple, 
 elm, &c. One-sixth part of the land on its borders is 
 timbered. The prairie adjoining is elevated, rolling and 
 rich, and the country abounds with fine springs. 
 
 Pinusj a post office in Jackson county, on section thirty- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 273 
 
 four, township ten south, two west, twelve miles south- 
 southeast from Brownsville. 
 
 Piper'^s Pointy a settlement in Greene county, sixteen 
 miles northeast from Carrollton, adjoining String prairie, 
 and the timher of Apple creek. The land is tolerably 
 level, rich, and proportionably divided into limber and 
 prairie. There are sixty or seventy families in this set- 
 tlement. 
 
 Piskusau, a branch of Kishwaukee. It rises in Boone 
 county, and some of its head branches probably over the 
 boundary line, runs a southwestern course, and enters the 
 north branch of the Kishwaukee, in section iwenty-five, 
 township forty-four north, range four east. Near its head 
 the soil is wet, but further down, dry and undulating. 
 
 PiTTSFiKLD, the new seat of justice for Pike county, 
 was laid off in April, 1833, on the southw^est quarter of 
 section tweniy-four, five south, four west. It is a high 
 and healthy situation, in an undulating prairie, and on the 
 dividing ridge nearly equidistant from the Illinois and 
 Mississippi rivers. The country around is fertile, and 
 proportionably distributed into timber and prairie, and is 
 rapidly settling. 
 
 Pittsfield has three stores, two groceries, two taverns, 
 three lawyers, one physician, several mechanics, and from 
 150 to 200 inhabitants. 
 
 Plalnjield., a village and post town in Will county, on 
 section nine, township thirty-six north, nine east, and 
 nine miles north-northwest from Juliet. 
 
 It has two stores, two taverns, several mechanical 
 trades, a Methodist and a Baptist congregation with 
 houses of worship, and between four and five hundred in- 
 habitants. 
 
 Plainfield is beautifully situated on an undulating prai- 
 rie, east side of the Du Page, and adjoining Walker's 
 grove. 
 
 P/a/o, a town site laid off on Iroquois river, four miles 
 from the mouth of Sprino- creek, in Iroquois county. A 
 steam mill is to be erected here. 
 
 Pleasant Grove^ in Boone county, on the stage road from 
 
274 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Chicago to Galena, on the southeast side of the Kishwau- 
 kee, and twelve miles east of Belvidere. It is about four 
 miles long and one mile wide, surrounded with a lich, un- 
 dulating prairie. A considerable settlement around. 
 
 Pleasant Grove, three miles long and one wide, and a 
 settlement of twenty-five or thirty families, in Tazewell 
 county, eight miles east of Pekin,on t^e waters of Dil- 
 lon's creek. The land is rich, and the timber consists of 
 walnut, sugar maple, linden, oak, etc. 
 
 Pleasant Grove, in Morgan county, a settlement on the 
 borders of Sweet's prairie, between Manchester and Win- 
 chester. The land in this quarter is good, with a due mix- 
 ture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Pleasant Vale, a town site and post office in Pike county, 
 on section nine, township five south, six west, seventeen 
 miles northwest from Pittsfield. It is pleasantly situated 
 under the bluffs, and surrounded with rich land, both tim- 
 ber and prairie. 
 
 Plum Creek, in Randolph county, enters the Kaskaskia 
 river from the east side, eighteen miles above Kaskaskia. 
 
 Plum Creek rises in the prairie of Morgan county, west 
 of Jacksonville, runs west, and enters the Illinois river 
 below Phillip's ferry. 
 
 Plum Creek Prairie is near the boundary line of St. 
 Clair and Randolph counties, ten miles long, and three 
 broad ; good soil, and scattering settlements along its 
 borders. 
 
 Plum River, in Jo Daviess county, rises near Kellogg's 
 grove, runs southwest, and enters the Mississippi ten miles 
 below Rush creek. It is a good mill stream. 
 
 Above its mouth are rapids, The country along its 
 borders is a mixture of limber and prairie. It is divided 
 into South, North, and Middle forks, and here is some of 
 the finest farming land in the country. 
 
 Point Republic, a post office and settlement, near the 
 Vermilion river, in La Salle county, and on the road from 
 Hennepin to Ottawa. 
 
 Polecat Creek, a stream in Coles county, that rises in 
 the prairies towards Edgar county, runs southwest, and 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 275 
 
 enters the Embarras east of Charleston. Near it^ head 
 is a very fertile region, well timbered: further down the 
 surface is broken. The settlennent has thirty families. 
 
 Pond Slough, ihe name given to the outlet of a line of 
 ponds in Johnson county, between Big Bay creek and 
 Cash river. It is a deep, muddy channel. [See Cash 
 river.] 
 
 Pope^s River rises in the great prairies in the south part 
 of Henry county, between Henderson's and Edwards's 
 rivers, runs a west course through Mercer county, and 
 enters the Mississippi, a few miles below Edwards's river. 
 In Mercer county there are some fine tracts of timber on 
 this stream, further up it passes through a prairie country. 
 The land generally on Pope's and Edwards's rivers is 
 abundantly rich, but there is a deficiency of limber. 
 
 Postville, in the northeastern part of Sangamon count}'^, 
 on section tvveniy-five, township twenty north, range three 
 east, and on the north side of Salt creek. It has 2 stores, 
 1 grocery, and 3 or 4 families. 
 
 Potatoe Creek rises on the west side of Fulton count}'-, 
 near Table grove, runs a southeastern course, and enters 
 Spoon river about four miles west of Lewistown. Excel- 
 lent land, both prairie and timbered, adjoins it. 
 
 Prairie Creek in Sangamon county, a trifling stream 
 that rises in the prairie between Spring and Richland 
 creeks; makes a circuit in sixteen north, six west, and 
 enters the latter before its junction with Sano-amon river. 
 
 Prairie de Long Creek rises north of Waterloo, near the 
 dividing line of St. Clair and Monroe counties, runs south- 
 easterly through the eastern part of Monroe, receives 
 Richland creek, and enters the Kaskaskia river in the 
 southwestern part of township three scuth, range seven 
 west. Along its borders is a coiisiderable settlement, and 
 the soil in some parts is good, in others inferior. 
 
 Prairie du Pont, [pronounced Prairie du Po, Fr.] a 
 small stream in St. Clair county. It rises in the bluffs 
 southwest of Belleville, passes through the American 
 bottom, and enters the Mississippi in the southwestern 
 part of the county. 
 
276 A GAZETTEER 
 
 - An old French village, with the appen- 
 
 dage of commons and common fields to the same, located 
 a short distance south of Cahokia. 
 
 Prairie du JRocher, an ancient French village, in Ran- 
 dolph county, on the American bottom, near the Rocky 
 bluffs, from which it derives its name, fourteen miles 
 northwest of Kaskaskia. It is a low, unhealthy situa- 
 tion, along a small creek of the same name, which rises 
 in the bluffs, passes across the American bottom, and en- 
 ters the Mississippi. The houses are built in the French 
 style, the streets very narrow, and the inhabitants preserve 
 more of the simplicity of character and habits peculiar to 
 early times, than any village in Illinois. It has its village 
 lots, common fields, and commons, the peculiarities of 
 which are noticed under the article " Cahnkia.''^ 
 
 Prairie du Rocher, in 1766, contained fourteen families; 
 the population at present is estimated at thirty-five fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Here is a Catholic church dedicated to St. Sulspice, 
 but at present has no resident priest. American settlers 
 have not yet disturbed the repose of this ancient commu- 
 nity. The ruins of Fort Chartres are three miles north 
 west from this village. 
 
 FraiVs Prairie^ in the northeastern part of Greene 
 county, fifteen miles northwesterly from Carrollton. 
 
 Prather''s Settlement, on Apple creek, in the north- 
 eastern part of Greene county, sixteen miles from Carroll- 
 ton. 
 
 Preston, a town site in Randolph county, east of the 
 Kaskaskia river. 
 
 Prophefs village, a post office and town site on Rock 
 river, in Henry county, and on the road from Rushville 
 and Warren county to Galena. 
 
 On the south side of the river is a handsome town site, 
 on a high, undulating bottom. The opposite side of the 
 river is inundated at high floods. 
 
 Rock river can be forded at this place for two-thirds of 
 the year. It is about two hundred yards wide. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 277 
 
 The country around will admit of considerable settle- 
 ments. 
 
 Prospect HilU in St. Clair county, one mile south of 
 Belleville, and the residence of Major Washington West. 
 Spread out before this delightful situation is one of the 
 most beautiful prairies in the state, about five miles in 
 extent, and partially covered with well cultivated farms. 
 
 Prince's Settlement is on a branch of Spoon river, twen- 
 ty miles northwest from Peoria, in ten and eleven north, 
 ranges six and seven east. Here are three groves of tim- 
 ber, from which at least one hundred farms might be sup- 
 plied. The soil is a rich clay, and undulating. The pre- 
 sent population does not exceed fifteen families. 
 
 Princeton^ a town site on the borders of Jersey prairie, 
 in Morgan county, ten miles north from Jacksonville, in 
 township seventeen north, in range ten west. The sur- 
 face is undulating, and the surrounding country one of 
 of the finest tracts of land in the state, and the settlement 
 is large. The post oflice is called Workman, 
 
 Princeton, a town site in Putnam county, in Bureau 
 settlement, ten miles north of west from Hennepin. It 
 was laid off by colonists from Northampton, Massachu- 
 setts, in 1833, contains a post office of the same name, and 
 is in the heart of a flourishing settlement and a rich body 
 of land. 
 
 Puncheon Camp, a creek near the north side of Mor- 
 gan county, that enters the Sangamon. It is divided 
 into two branches. A grove of the same name is on this 
 stream. 
 
 Putnam Creek rises towards Canton, in Fulton county, 
 and taking a southwestern course, enters Spoon river. 
 
 QuiNCY, the seat of justice of Adams county, is situa- 
 ted on the bluff of the Mississippi on section two, two 
 south, nine west. It has seven stores, four groceries, one 
 carding machine, one large flouring and saw mill by steam 
 power, with four run of burr stones, two schools, seven 
 lawyers, four physicians, several mechanics, about one 
 hundred families and six hundred inhabitants. 
 34 
 
378 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The land office for the sale of Congress lands north and 
 east of the Illinois river, is located at this place. The 
 land in the vicinity is excellent. A low alluvion lies on 
 the opposite side of the Mississippi river, vi'hich is over- 
 flowed in high waters. 
 
 Quincy must become a place of considerable business. 
 
 Quaker Settlement^ near the Wabash, in the northeast- 
 ern part of Crawford county, on Racoon creek. Here is 
 a society of Friends who keep up regular meetings. 
 
 Racoon^ a small stream in Greene county, that enters 
 the Illinois river twelve miles above its mouth. The bot- 
 toms on this creek, and on the Illinois river at this point, 
 are narrow, and the surface adjoining is much broken into 
 bluffs and ravines. 
 
 Racoon Creek, a small stream that runs across the north 
 end of Crawford county, and enters the Wabash. 
 
 Racoon Creek, in the northeastern part of Morgan coun- 
 ty, and runs into Dickerson's lake. 
 
 Radcliff's Point, in Washington count}'^, five miles west 
 of Nashville, and a small settlement. 
 
 Ramsey'' s Creek rises near the line of Montgomery and 
 Shelby counties, runs a southeastern course, and enters 
 the Kaskaskia ten miles north of Vandalia. A consider- 
 able settlement lies along this creek. This is sometimes 
 called Booz Creek. 
 
 Ramsey^s Settlement, in the southwestern part of Madi- 
 son county, on Sugar creek, twenty miles from Edwards- 
 ville. 
 
 Randleman's Settlement, in St. Clair county, twelve 
 miles southwest of Belleville, and near the borders of 
 Monroe county. 
 
 Randolph, a town site at the mouth of the Piasau on 
 the Mississippi, on fractional sections twenty-five and 
 twenty-six, township two north, eleven west and about 
 equidistant between Alton and Grafton. It is laid out 
 above the Piasau and betwixt that stream and the Missis- 
 sippi, on table land, above the highest floods. Abund- 
 ance of lime stone and good timber, water privileges and 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 279 
 
 never failing springs, a good landing for steamboats and 
 other advantages are found here. 
 
 Lots to the value of ^20,000 have been sold this spring 
 and buildings are in process of erection, especially a large 
 hotel. 
 
 Randolpli/s Grove^ on Kickapoo creek, above Big grove, 
 above twelve miles south from Bloomington, in McLean 
 county. In shape, it is almost circular, and is a valua- 
 ble tract of land, containing lime stone, and a population 
 of about forty families. The grove comprises about 
 twelve sections of timbered land. A post office. 
 
 Rapids of Illinois. There is a succession of rapids in 
 the Illinois, both above and below the mouth of Fox 
 river, with intervals of deep and smooth water. From 
 the mouth of Fox river to the foot of the rapids is nine 
 miles — the descent in all eight fest. The rock soft sand 
 stone mixed with gravel and shelly lime stone. Nine 
 miles above Fox river the grand rapids commence, and 
 extend ten or twelve miles. They are formed by ledges 
 of rock in the river, and rocky islands. 
 
 The whole descent from the surface of lake Michigan, 
 at Chicago, to the foot of the rapids, a distance of nine- 
 ty-four and one-fourth miles, is 141 87-100 feet. 
 
 Rapids of the Mississippi. These are distinguished as 
 the Lower and Upper rapids. 
 
 The Lower^ or, as frequently called, the Des Moines, he- 
 cause opposite the mouth of ihat river, are twelve miles 
 long, and formed by beds of rock. They injure the na- 
 vigation in low water, and sometimes entirely prevent 
 the passage of large boats. 
 
 The Upper Rapids commence at Rock Island, and ex- 
 tend eighteen miles up the river. The navigation of 
 these rapids is about to be improved by the general go- 
 vernment for which purpose an appropriation was made 
 last congress. 
 
 Rattan''s Prairie is in Madison county, seven miles 
 northwest from Edwardsville. It is level, some portions 
 rather wet, and surrounded with fine farms. 
 
 Ray''s Settlement is on the east side of Hancock county, 
 
280 A GAZETTEER 
 
 in five north, five v;^est — a fine tract on the waters of 
 Crooked creek. 
 
 Readficld^ a town site in Pike county on section thirty, 
 four south, five west. 
 
 Rector^ s Fork, in Gallatin county, is a hranch of the 
 North fork of Saline creek, which it enters fifteen miles 
 above Equality. 
 
 Rhoades's Settlement, in Greene county, south of the 
 Macoupin, and fifteen miles southeast of Carrollton. A 
 mixture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Richland Creeh, a small stream and branch of Sanga- 
 mon river. It rises in the prairies near the borders of 
 Morgan county, runs a northerly course, and enters San- 
 gamon river below Spring creek. The land on its bor- 
 ders is first rate. 
 
 Richland, a tributary of the Kaskaskia, in Shelby coun- 
 ty, rises on the east side of the county, runs southwest, 
 and enters the Kaskaskia river near the line of Fayette. 
 A larire settlement in the southeastern part of the county. 
 
 Richland, a small creek in St. Clair county, that rises 
 in Ogle's prairie, runs south past Belleville, and unites 
 with Prairie du Long creek, in the east part of Monroe 
 county. The land upon its borders is proportioned into 
 timber and prairie, and of excellent quality. 
 
 Richland Grove, on Camp creek in the eastern part of 
 Mercer and western part of Henry county, is a valuable 
 body of timber, five miles long, and an average width of 
 two miles. It is principall}' in fifteen and six north and 
 one east. 
 
 Richwoods. Three tracts of timbered land in Greene 
 county are known by this name, one of which is also 
 called Linden bottom. 
 
 The timbered tract north of Apple creek, and between 
 Apple creek prairie and the Illinois bluffs, bears this 
 name. 
 
 A tract of timber lying between Carrollton and Bluff- 
 dale, several miles in extent, has also received this name. 
 The land is undulating, rich, well timbered, and is occu- 
 pied by a large settlement. See Linden bottom. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 281 
 
 Ridge Prairie is situated in Madison county, commenc- 
 ing near Edwardsville, and extending south to St. Clair 
 county. 
 
 It is on the dividing ridge between the waters that fall 
 into the Mississippi west, and those that flow to the Kas- 
 kaskia east. Originally this prairie extended into St. 
 Clair county as far south as Belleville, but long since, 
 where farms have not been made, it has been intersected 
 by a luxuriant growth of timber. Its surface is gently 
 undulating, the soil rich, and is surrounded and indented 
 with many fine farms. 
 
 Ridge Prairie post office is at Troy, Madison county, 
 seven miles southeast from Edwardsville, on the road to 
 Carlyle. 
 
 Ridge Settlement^ in Clinton county, from three to six 
 miles south of Carlyle, is a large settlement and in a 
 good tract ol land. 
 
 Ridge Settlement lies in Union county, on the road to 
 Brownsville, and extends into Jackson county. It is a 
 high, hilly, timbered tract of good land, well watered, 
 and has from one hundred to one hundred and fifty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 River Precinct is the settlement which extends along 
 the Wabash river opposite Vincennes, in Lawrence county. 
 It is a rich bottom, heavily timbered, and contains sixty 
 or seventy families. 
 
 Robinson's Creek rises in the northwestern part of Shel- 
 by county runs a south course, and enters the Kaskaskia 
 river near Shelbyville. The country on its borders is 
 proportioned into timber and prairie, and has a large set- 
 tlement. 
 
 Rochester^ a town site in Sangamon county, at the junc- 
 tion of the North and South forks of the Sangamon river, 
 ten miles east of Springfield, on the principal road to De- 
 catur. It has a steam and other mills, and twenty-five 
 or thirty families, and a post office. 
 
 Rock Creek rises in Adams county, in one north, seven 
 west, runs west, and enters the south prong of Bear creek. 
 The land is timber and prairie, and excellent. 
 
 24* 
 
282 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Rock Creeks a branch of the Mackinau, in Tazewell 
 county. 
 
 Rock Creek, in Sangamon county, rises near Clary's 
 grove, runs north and enters the Sangamon river, a few 
 miles below Richland creek. The land adjoining is ex- 
 cellent. 
 
 Rockford, a town site in Winnebago county at the ra- 
 pids of Rock river in township forty-four north, and on 
 the stage road from Chicago to Galetra. Here is im- 
 mense power for hydraulic purposes, and mills are erect- 
 ing. 
 
 Rock Island is in the Mississippi, three miles above the 
 mouth of Rock river. It is three miles long, and from 
 one half to one mile wide, with lime stone rook for its 
 base. Fort Armstrong is on its south end. On two sides 
 the rock is twenty feet perpendicular above the river, and 
 forms the foundation wall of the fort. A portion of the 
 island is cultivated. 
 
 Rock Island City is laid out on a magnificent scale, at 
 the junction and in the forks between Rock river and the 
 Mississippi. In connection a company has been chartered 
 to cut a canal from the Mississippi, near the head of the 
 upper rapids, across to Rock river, by which it is said, an 
 immense hydraulic power will be gained. The town site 
 as surveyed, extends over a large area and includes 
 Stephenson the seat of justice. 
 
 Rock Port^ a town site in Pike county, on the Snycartee 
 Slough, and where it strikes the bluff and high grounds. 
 Here the Atlas mills are in operation for sawing and manu- 
 facturing flour on an extensive scale. A charter has been 
 granted and a company formed to open a steamboat canal 
 from the vSnycartee to the Mississippi rivers, at a point 
 three miles above Rockport, where the Snycartee ap- 
 proaches within half a mile of the Mississippi, and 
 thus furnish steamboat navigation direct to the town. 
 
 Rock River a large, navigable stream in the northern 
 part of the slate, that enters the Mississippi three miles 
 below Rock Island. Its principal head is in a region of 
 lakes and swamps, towards Fox river of Green Bay, its 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 283 
 
 course south, and then southwesterly. Another head is 
 Catfish, a streann in Wisconsin territory, that connects 
 together the " Four lakes,^^ the head waters of which 
 commence in a swamp a few miles south of fort Winne- 
 bago. The country towards the head of Rook river is 
 made up alternately of swamps and quag mires, ridges, 
 of sand and shrubby oaks, with tracts of rich, dry, un- 
 dulating land. The Teri-e Tremhlant^ or trembling land, 
 is in this region, so called from the shaking of the sur- 
 face while passing over it. The militia of Illinois suffered 
 much in passing their horses through this country in 1832 
 while pursuing the army of Black Hawk. 
 
 After Rock river enters the state of Illinois it receives 
 the Peek-a-ton-o-kee, anH several smaller streams, from 
 the right; and from the left. Turtle river, Sycamore, Green 
 river and several smaller streams. 
 
 Muchof thecountry through which it passesin Illinois is 
 prairie. About the mouths of Turtle river and Sycamore 
 creek are large bodies of timber. It generally passes along 
 a channel of lime and sand stone rock, and has several 
 rapids of some extent that injure the navigation at low 
 water. The first are three or four miles above its mouth. 
 The second are twelve or fifteen miles below Dixon's 
 ferry. The next are below the Peek-a-ton-o-kee. 
 
 Thecountry generally along Rock river to the boundary 
 line is beautifully undulating, the soil rich, and the tim- 
 ber deficient. This, however, will not prevent it from be- 
 coming an extensive agricultural region. 
 
 Rock Spring is situated in St. Clair county, on the Vin- 
 cennes and St. Louis stage road, eighteen miles east of 
 the latter place, and eight and a half miles northeast of 
 Belleville. It is an elevated, and a healthy, and pleasant 
 situation, in a tract of barrens, selected by the author of 
 this work as a permanent residence in 1820. Its name is 
 derived from a series of springs that issue from ledges of 
 rock a few rods from the public road. Here is a post office, 
 and daily mail. 
 
 Hockwellf a town site on the north side of the Illinois 
 
284 A GAZETTEER 
 
 river above the mouth of Little Vermilion river, on the 
 line of the canal. 
 
 Hodgers'^s Creek, called also Turkey fork, a branch of 
 Crooked oreek, in McDonough county. [See Vance''s 
 settlement.'] 
 
 Rollln's Prairie, in Franklin county, north of Frankfort, 
 is six miles long and four miles wide. The land is level 
 and good, the settlement small. 
 
 Rome, a town laid off on section five, ten north, nine east 
 on the west side of Peoria lake, in Peoria county. Here 
 the lake is one mile wide. Population about 150. 
 
 Round Grove is a small tract of timber described by its 
 name in Warren county, in ten north, three west. 
 
 RoundPrairie, in the northeastern part of Schuylercoun- 
 ty, on Williams's creek twenty miles from Rushville. It is 
 a rich, dry, undulating prairie, four miles in diameter, and 
 surrounded with timber. 
 
 Round Prairie, in Wabash county, twelve miles north- 
 east from Mount Carmel, four milesin diameter, very fertile, 
 and has eighteen or twenty fine farms on it. 
 
 Round Prairie, in Bond county, six miles west of 
 north from Greenville, is Irom one to two miles in dia- 
 meter. It is undulating and rich, surrounded with a 
 large body of good timber, and has a considerable set- 
 tlement. 
 
 Round Prairie, in Perry county, on the east side of 
 Beaucoup, eight or nine miles from Pinckneyvilie. It is 
 one mile wide, and from one to two miles long, and has a 
 good settlement. 
 
 Round Prairie, the forks of Sugar creek and the south 
 fork of Sangamon river, in Sangamon county, a fine tract of 
 country, seven miles southeast of Springfield. 
 
 Rush Creek, a small stream in Jo Daviess county, that 
 rises between Plum and Apple rivers, runs a southwestern 
 course, and enters the Mississippi six or eight miles below 
 Apple river. The first six miles from the mouth is low, 
 wet, bottom land; above are alternate bottoms and pre- 
 cipitous bluffs. At the head is a fine farming country, 
 with considerable timber. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 285 
 
 RusHviLLE, the seat of justice for Schuyler county, is 
 situated in ihe central part of the county, at the south end 
 of a beautiful prairie, on section thirty, two north, one 
 west, ten miles from the Illinois river at the nearest point, 
 and twelve from Beardstown. 
 
 It has eight or ten stores, various mechanics and pro- 
 fessional men, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian and 
 Campbellite churches, and 1000 inhabitants. A charter 
 for a railroad to the Illinois river opposite Beardstown has 
 been granted. 
 
 The court house is of brick, two stories, and the people 
 have erected a brick school house. Good building stone 
 and plenty of coal are found in the vicinity. 
 
 The settlements around Rushville are large, and the vil- 
 lage itself exhibits a quietness and neatness in its ex- 
 ternal appearance that is pleasing to the traveller. 
 
 Busselts Grove, in McDonongh county, north of westfroni 
 Macomb, is a fine tract of timbered land surrounded with 
 rich prairie, and a considerable settlement. 
 
 Busselville^ a town site and post office on the Wabash 
 river in the northeast corner of Lawrence county. 
 
 Sadorus, a small grove and settlement at the head tim- 
 ber of the Kaskaskia, on the road from Springfield to 
 Danville. 
 
 Salem, the seat of justice for Marion county, is situated 
 on the eastern border of the grand prairie, on the Vincennes 
 and St. Louis stage road, on section eleven, two north, 
 range two east of the third principal meridian. It is a 
 pleasant village of about thirty families. 
 
 Saline, a navigable stream in Gallatin county, that enters 
 the Ohio river twelve miles below Shavvneetown, on sec- 
 tion five, eleven south, ten east. It is made by three prin- 
 cipal branches distinguished as the North, South, aiid 
 Middle forks, which unite near Equality. 
 
 The North fork rises near McLeansboro' in Hamilton 
 county, and runs a southerly course. 
 
 The South fork rises on the borders of Johnson and 
 Franklin counties, takes an easterly course, and unites 
 with the North fork. 
 
286 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The Middle fork rises on the east side of Franklin coun- 
 ty, takes a southeasterly course, and unites with the South 
 fork a few miles above Equality. 
 
 Saline creek is navigable for steamboats to Equality, 
 fourteen miles. 
 
 Salisbury, a village just commenced in the border of the 
 timber of Richland creek, ten miles northwest from Spring- 
 field, in Sangamon county. 
 
 Salt Creek, in Effingham county, five miles east of Ew- 
 ington, and on the west side of the Fourteen Mile prai- 
 rie. It is large enough for a mill stream, and enters the 
 Little Wabash river ten or twelve miles below Ewing- 
 ton. 
 
 . Salt Creek rises in the prairies north of Du Page, runs 
 an easterly course and enters the Des Plaines near the 
 Chicago road. The timber is good and the prairie land 
 dry, undulating, and rich soil. 
 
 The settlement contains fifteen or twenty families; the 
 land is tolerably good, and the surface rolling. 
 
 Salt Creek Settlement, on the north side of Macon coun- 
 ty, twenty miles from Decatur, of about one hundred fa- 
 milies. The land is good, with plenty of prairie. 
 
 Salt Creek post office is in the the above settlement. 
 
 Salt Fraii'ie, in Calhoun county, lying between the 
 bluffs and Salt Prairie slough. 
 
 It is a dry, rich prairie, six miles long, and half a mile 
 wide, densely settled with about sixty families. Fine 
 springs break out from the foot of the bluffs, and a large 
 saline rises at the head of the prairie, which furnishes 
 abundant salt water for stock. 
 
 Salt Prairie Slough, a small arm of the Mississippi, in 
 Calhoun county, six miles long, near the foot of which is 
 Gilead. It is navigable for small boats, and affords an 
 excellent harbor. 
 
 Sangamon River, a prominent branch of the Illinois. It 
 rises in Champaign county, in the most elevated region of 
 that portion of the state, and near the head waters of the 
 two Vermilions and the Kaskaskia rivers. It waters 
 Sangamon and Macon counties, and parts of Tazewell, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 287 
 
 McLean, Montgomery, Shelb}^ and Champaign counties. 
 Its general course is northwesterly. Besides a number 
 of smaller streams, noticed in their alphabetical order, as 
 Clary's, Rock, Richland, Prairie, Spring, Lick, Sugar, 
 Horse, and Brush creeks, on the south side, and Crane, 
 Cantrill's, Fancy, Wolf creeks, and other^streams on the 
 north side, its three principal heads are Salt creek, North 
 fork, and South fork. 
 
 Salt creek rises in McLean county, twenty-two north, 
 ranges four and five east, and runs a westerly course 
 through the northwest corner of Macon into Sangamon 
 county, where, after receiving Kickapoo and Sugar creeks, 
 and several smaller ones, it enters the Sangamon river in 
 the northwest part of township nineteen north, range six 
 west. Its two principal heads are called the North fork 
 of Salt creek, and Lake fork of Salt creek. 
 
 North fork, which may be regarded as the main stream, 
 rises in Champaign county, near the heads of the Ver- 
 milion river of the Illinois, the Vermilion of the Wabash, 
 and the Kaskaskia, in twenty-four north, seven east, in a 
 small lake. It runs southwesterly through Macon, then 
 south, then west into Sangamon county, where it receives 
 South fork and Salt creek. 
 
 The South fork of Sangamon rises by several branches, 
 in the northwestern part of Shelby, and the northeastern 
 part of Montgomery counties, runs a southeastern course, 
 and forms a junction with the North fork in sixteen north, 
 four west, seven miles east from Springfield. 
 
 Sangamon river and its branches flow through one of 
 the richest and most delightful portions of the Great West. 
 Complaints are made of the extent of the prairies, but this 
 offers no serious inconvenience for the present. These 
 prairies for many years will afford range for thousands of 
 cattle. The general aspect of the country on the Sanga- 
 mon is level, yet it is sufficiently undulating to permit the 
 water to escape to the creeks. It will soon constitute 
 one of the richest agricultural districts in the United 
 States, the soil being of such a nature that immense crops 
 can be raised with little agricultural labor. 
 
288 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The Sangamon is naviorable for steamboats of the small- 
 er class to the junction of the North and South forks, and, 
 with a little labor in clearing out the drift wood, each prin- 
 cipal fork may be navigated with flat boats for a long dis- 
 tance. In the spring of 1832 a steamboat of the larger 
 class arrived within five miles of Springfield, and dis- 
 charged its cargo. At a small expense in clearing out the 
 logs, and cutting the stooping trees, this river would be 
 navigable for steamboats half the )'ear. From a bend 
 near the mouth of Clary's creek, fifty miles above the 
 mouth of the Sangamon, the waters find a channel through 
 the low grounds and slou^'hs to the vicinity of Beards- 
 town, so that keel-boats can pass in this direction into the 
 Sangamon. It is thought that with small expense, a com- 
 munication might be opened in this direction. The im- 
 provement of the navigation of this river by slackwater, 
 the connection with Beardstown by a canal, and the open- 
 ing a navigable water communication across the state by 
 this route have already been suggested. 
 
 Sangamon^ a village and post office on the left bank of 
 Sangamon river, 7 miles northwest from Springfield. It 
 has a steam saw and flour mil! and 10 or 12 families. 
 
 Sand Creek is a small stream in Shelby county, ten 
 miles northeast of Shelby ville, and enters the Kaskaskia 
 river. 
 
 Sand Creek Settlement, in Shelby county, eight miles 
 northeast of Shelbyville. The land is good, and the set- 
 tlement large. 
 
 Sandy, a small mill stream that rises on the west side of 
 La Salle county, runs southwest, and enters the Illinois 
 in Putnam county. 
 
 Sandy Creek post ofiice is in La Salle county, on sec- 
 tion ten, township thirty north, one west. 
 
 Sandy, a small mill stream in Morgan county. It rises 
 near the South fork of the Mauvaiseterre, runs a southwest- 
 erly course past Winchester, and enters the Illinois river 
 above Apple Creek. 
 
 Sandy, an insignificant stream, and branch of Cash 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 289 
 
 river, in Alexander county. Tiie land near it is rolling 
 surface and rather thin soil. 
 
 Sand Praii-ie, a prairie of some extent, and a settlement 
 of eighty or a hundred families, in Tazewell county, four 
 miles south of Pekin. A rich sandy soil. 
 
 Sau-ga-nas-kee Swamp, is a sloughed tract of inundated 
 land in Cook county, about twenty miles southwest of 
 Chicago. After perforating through a few feet of mud, 
 the base is found to be lime stone. The canal commis- 
 sioners are authorised to cause a survey of this route from 
 the Illinois and Michigan canal to the Calumet, for a late- 
 ral canal. 
 
 Sauk village, in Rock Island county, was three miles above 
 Rock river, and four miles east of Rock Island. This 
 was formerly the chief village of the Sauk nation. Here 
 were Indian fields fenced with poles, bark cabins, plats of 
 blue grass pasture, and a large body of rich prairie land. 
 
 The white settlement here is large, with fine farms. 
 
 Savanna, a town and post office on the Mississippi, 
 in Jo Daviess county, above the mouth of Plum creek, and. 
 a point for the central rail road from the mouth of Ohio 
 to Galena. 
 
 Scatters of Cash. This name is given by the people of 
 Johnson county to a succession of ponds in which Cash 
 river " «ca^/er.s" itself. They are in township thirteen 
 south, two east. 
 
 Seminary Township, a settlement in the southwest 
 corner of Fayette county, being five north and one west of 
 the third principal meridian. It is a township of land, 
 thirty-six miles square, granted by congress to Illinois 
 for purposes of education. It has since been relinquish- 
 ed to the general government, and in place thereof, an 
 equal quantity is to be selected from unsold lands within 
 the state. The Kaskaskia river crosses its southeastern 
 part, and the Hurricane fork runs through it near its wes- 
 tern boundary. 
 
 It is proportioned into timber and prairie, contains much 
 good land, and about thirty-five families. 
 
 Senatchwine, a stream in Peoria county, rises in thirteen 
 25 
 
290 A GAZETTEER 
 
 north, eight east, and runs a devious course, nearly par- 
 allel with the Illinois, which it enters in section eighteen, 
 eleven north, nine east, twenty miles above Peoria. 
 
 There is much good land, both timbered and prairie, 
 on this creek, and a settlement of twenty or thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 It derives its name from a well known Indian chief 
 who formerly resided at its mouth. 
 
 Senex, a post office in McLean county, fifteen miles 
 east of Bloomington, on section twenty-seven, township 
 twenty-three north, four east. 
 
 • Seven Mile Creek, in Ogle county, rises near the Buifalo 
 grove, runs an east course, and enters Rock river six 
 miles above Dixon's ferry. The country for twenty or 
 thirty miles above Dixon's ferry is generally prairie, inter- 
 spersed with small groves of three or four hundred acres 
 each, gently undulating, soil dry and very rich. From 
 thence on the road to Galena the surface is hilly and bro- 
 ken. 
 
 Seven Mile Prairie., in White county, seven miles west 
 of Carmi, contains a large and flourishing settlement and 
 post office. 
 
 Sextants Creek, a small stream in Alexander county, 
 running westward, and emptying into the Mississippi a 
 short distance below Cape Girardeau. 
 
 The bottom land is rich, but the upland near it is roll- 
 ing and rather thin soil. This by mistake is called Sea- 
 ton's creek, on some maps. 
 
 Shannon's Store, a post office and settlement, in Ran- 
 dolph county, eighteen miles northeast of Kaskaskia, on 
 the road to Vandalia. Here is a town site called Colum- 
 bus. 
 
 Shawneetown is the principal commercial town in the 
 southern part of the state. It is situated on the Ohio river, 
 about ten miles below the mouth of the Wabash, in sec- 
 tion six, of township ten south, in range ten east of the 
 third principal meridian, in latitude thirty-seven degrees 
 forty minutes north. 
 
 The bank of the Ohio at this place has a gradual as- 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 291 
 
 cent, but is subject to inundation at the extreme floods. 
 Between the town and the bluffs the surface is still low- 
 er, and more frequently submerged. Though no conside- 
 rable sickness has prevailed in this town for some years 
 past, it cannot but be regarded as less healthy than the 
 more elevated portions of the state. 
 
 Considerable commercial business is transacted at this 
 place, both in the wholesale and retail line. It has eight 
 or ten stores, several groceries, two public houses, and 
 six or seven hundred inhabitants. 
 
 The land office for the district is in Shawneetown. A 
 printincr office is here which publishes a weekly paper 
 called The " Illinois Advertiser:' There is also a bank 
 here which was chartered by the territorial legislature, and 
 which has lately recommenced doing business, after a 
 suspension of several years. 
 
 Shelbyville, the seat of justice for Shelby county, 
 is situated on the west bank of the Kaskaskia river, on 
 elevated and timbered land, on section seven, eleven north, 
 four east. It has six stores— three groceries— a brick 
 court house, forty feet square, two stories, with a cupola 
 —and forty-five or fifty families. The country around it 
 is excellent land, a mixture of timber and prairie, and the 
 settlements are extensive. There is a large sulphur spring 
 in the town. 
 
 Shiluh, a settlement in St. Clair county, six miles north- 
 east from Belleville. Here is a Methodist meeting house 
 and camp ground. 
 
 Shipley's Prairie, a small p'.:iirie in Wayne county, five 
 miles southeast of Fairfield, and has fifteen or twenty 
 families. 
 
 Shnul Creeh, a fine stream that rises in Montgomery 
 county, runs southwesterly through Bond and Clinton, 
 and enters the Kaskaskia river in section six, one south, 
 four west. It is formed by the union of the East, West, 
 and Middle forks, and might be made navigable for small 
 craft to a considerable distance. Its branches are Beaver, 
 East, and West forks. The timber on its banks is of va- 
 rious kinds, and from two to six miles in width, with prai- 
 
292 A GAZETTEER 
 
 lies between each fork. The soil is second rate, and the 
 surface in sonne places is rolling, in others level. 
 
 Shoal Creek Bridge and post office, in Clinton county, 
 on the Vincennes and St. Louis road, nine miles west of 
 Carlyle. 
 
 Shoal Creek Prairie^ an extensive prairie lying to the 
 west of Shoal creek, in Clinton, Bond, and Montgomery 
 counties. Its average width is eight miles. It is slight- 
 ly rolling, and contains much good land. 
 
 Shoal Creek Settlement^ in Clinton county, twelve miles 
 southwest from Carlyle. 
 
 Shockokon, a post office in Warren county, on section 
 twelve, township eight north, range six east, and on 
 the road from Commerce to Monmouth. 
 
 ShonVs Settlement^ in Mercer county, between Edwards 
 river and the Mississippi, and seven miles above New 
 Boston. Timber and prairie interspersed; rich, dryland, 
 and uneven. 
 
 Shook''s Settlement, in the American bottom, in Monroe 
 county. The land around is rich pr?irie. 
 
 Shuey'^s Settlement is in the eastern part of Adams coun- 
 ty, near the heads of Bear and McKee's creeks, and the 
 land is less rolling than other portions of the same county. 
 
 Silvan Grove, a settlement and post office in Cass coun- 
 ty, sixteen miles south-southwest from Beardstown. It 
 is at the head of Job's creek, and both the timber and 
 prairie are excellent land. 
 
 Sidney, a town site in Champaign county, on Salt Fork 
 of the Vermilion river, on the south side of section nine, 
 township eighteen north, range ten west, on the northern 
 cross rail road from Springfield by Decatur to Danville. 
 
 Silver Creek rises in the northern part of Madison coun- 
 ty, runs south into St. Clair, and enters the Kaskaskia in 
 section twenty-eight, two south, seven west. It is about 
 fifty miles in length, has several branches, and passes 
 through a fertile and well populated country, diversified 
 with timber and prairie. Its name was given from the 
 supposed existence of Silver mines, not far from Rock 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 293 
 
 Spring, where the early French explorers made conelde- 
 rable excavations. 
 
 Sinsinaway^ a streann in the northwest corner of the 
 state. It rises in the prairies of Wisconsin territory, runs 
 a southwest course, and enters the Mississippi six miles 
 above Fever river, and nearly west from Galena. 
 
 Timber scattering-, some cedar and a few pines. 
 
 Sitgreave's Settlemeaty in Clinton county, twelve miles 
 south of Carly le. 
 
 Six's Prairie lies in the southern part of Schuyler 
 county, seventeen miles west of south from Rushville, 
 and seventeen miles northwest from Naples. It is a rich, 
 undulating, dry tract, ten miles long, and three miles 
 broad, and surrounded with excellent timber. The set- 
 tlement commenced in 1829, and now contains seventy- 
 five or eighty families. The post ofRce is called Mount 
 Sterling. 
 
 Six Mile is the name of a creek, and a settlement, in 
 Pike county. The creek heads in the interior and enters 
 Snycarlee near the county line of Calhoun. The settle- 
 ment on it is large. 
 
 Six Mile Prairie, in the American bottom, southwestern 
 part of Madison county — a rich tract of alluvion, with 
 fine farms, and surrounded with a heavy body of timber 
 — rather unhealthy. 
 
 Six Mile Prairie, in Perry county, nine miles southwest 
 of Pinckneyville, is nine miles long and six miles wide. 
 It is level, tolerably good soil, and settled along its 
 eastern border. 
 
 Skillet Fork, a large branch of the Little Wabash. It 
 rises in the prairies east of Vandalia, and running a 
 southern course, enters that river in the northern part 
 of White county. Its banks are subject to inundation. 
 The land adjoining it is fertile, but too level for conveni- 
 ence. 
 
 Skillet Fork Settlement, in the northeast corner of Ha- 
 milton county. 
 
 Skillet Fork, a settlement in White county, six miles 
 25* 
 
2^4 A GAZETTEER 
 
 northeast of Carmi, in a timbered region, between the 
 Skillet fork and Little Wabash. 
 
 Slab Point,, a point of tinriber and a small stream in 
 the border of Montgomery county, a few miles west of 
 south from Macoupin point, on the road from Springfield 
 toEdwardsville. 
 
 Small Pox River, in Jo Daviess county, rises southeast 
 of Galena, runs west, and enters the Mississippi at the 
 mouth of Fever river, in an acute angle with that stream. 
 It is fifteen miles long, the county on its borders very 
 broken, has some fertile and level bottom land, and con- 
 siderable timber towards its mouth. 
 
 Smallsburg, a town site with mills, etc., on the Em- 
 barras, six miles below Lawrenceville. 
 
 SmaWs Settlement, in St. Clair county, six miles south- 
 west from Belleville. The land chiefly timbered and 
 barrens. 
 
 Smith's Lake, in the Illinois bottom, Morgan county. 
 It is below Meredosia, and unites with the river. 
 
 Smithes Settlement is near Shoal creek timber in Bond 
 county, four miles south of Greenville. 
 
 Smooth Prairie is in Madison county, in the forks of 
 "Wood river, eight miles east from Alton. It is three 
 miles long and about two wide, level and rather wet. 
 
 Snake Creek, a branch of Indian creek, in Morgan 
 county. 
 
 Snycartee, (in French, Chenail-ecarte, said to mean the 
 *'cut off," or " lostchannel,") an arm of the Mississippi, 
 in Pike county, commonly called a " slough," in the dia- 
 lect of the country. It is a running water at all stages 
 of the river, and for several months furnishes steamboat 
 navigation to Atlas. It leaves the Mississippi in section 
 nineteen, three south, eight west, in Adams county, enters 
 it again in Calhoun county, section seven, eight south, 
 four west, and runs from one to five miles from the main 
 river. It is about fifty miles in length. The land on the 
 island is of first rate alluvion, proportioned into timber 
 and prairie, but subject to annual inundations. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 295 
 
 Snlder''s Settlement is on the south side of Macon 
 county. 
 
 Somonauk Creek rises in Kane county, runs a southern 
 course, and enters Fox river in La Salle county. It is a 
 mill stream. 
 
 South America is a settlement in Gallatin county, fifteen 
 miles southwest from Equality, and near the corner of 
 Pope and Franklin counties. 
 
 South Fork of Spoon River rises in Warren county, near 
 the head of Ellison creek, runs a southeasterly course, 
 and unites with the main stream in section four, township 
 eight north, range two east. 
 
 Some of the best land in the state lies on this stream. 
 This is frequently called West Fork. 
 
 South Prairie, in Morgan county, is on the south side 
 of Walnut creek. 
 
 Spanish Needle, a trifling stream in Macoupin county 
 that enters Macoupin creek, above Dry fork. 
 
 Spoon River, a large and beautiful river on the military 
 tract. A description of its principal heads maybe seen 
 by reference to the articles, ^^ Forks of Spoon river,'''' and 
 ^^ South fork of Spoon river. ''^ After the union of these 
 forks, the general course of this river is south till within 
 a few miles of its mouth, when it takes a southeasterly 
 course and enters the Illinois in section thirty-three, four 
 north, four east, directly opposite Havanna. 
 
 This stream is navigated for several miles, and, at a 
 trifling expense, in clearincj out the trees and rafts of tim- 
 ber, it might be made navigable for one half of the year 
 to the forks. 
 
 Large bodies of timber of the best quality line the 
 banks of this stream, and the soil in general is inferior to 
 none. 
 
 The main river and several of its tributaries furnish 
 excellent mill seats. The prairies adjacent are generally 
 undulating, dry and fertile. 
 
 Above the mouth of Spoon river is a large lake on the 
 west side of the Illinois. 
 
 Spring Bay, a singular basin, about seventy-five rods 
 
296 A GAZETTEER 
 
 in diameter, adjoining llie Illinois river, in the upper part 
 of Tazewell county. In front it opens to the river, the 
 waters of which enter and fill it at flood stage. When 
 low, they retire and leave the basin dry, excepting a 
 stream made by a number of springs which burst forth from 
 the sand ridge on three sides of it. On this ridge are 
 signs of an old settlement or fortification, A short dis- 
 tance below is the mouth of Blue creek, over which is a 
 bridge of earth. Below this is a mound, forty-five yards 
 in circumference at the base, and twenty feet in height. 
 It is said to have been opened, and human skeletons found 
 twenty feet from the top. 
 
 Spring Creek enters Sangamon river four miles from 
 Springfield. The country bordering is rather level, very 
 rich and densely populated. The timber is from two to 
 five miles wide, and of excellent quality. 
 
 Spring Creek, in Putnam county, enters the Illinois 
 four miles below the I.ittle Vermilion. 
 
 Spring Creek, a branch of the Iroquois river, in Iroquois 
 county, excellent timber, and level, rich prairie. 
 
 Springfield one of the largest towns in Illinois, and 
 the seat of justice of Sangamon county. It is situated 
 on the border of a beautiful prairie on the south side of 
 the timber of Spring creek, on sections twenty-seven and 
 thirty-four, in township sixteen north, in range five west 
 of the third principal meridian. This town was laid off 
 in February, 1822, before the lands in this region were 
 sold. At the land sales of November, 1823, the tract on 
 which the older portion of the town is located, was pur- 
 chased and duly recorded as a town. It then contained 
 about thirty families, living in small log cabins. The 
 surface is rather too level for a large town, into which it 
 is destined to grow; hut it is a dry and healthy location. 
 
 Springfield has nineteen dry goods stores, one whole- 
 sale and six retail groceries, four public houses, four drug 
 stores, one book store, two clothing stores, eleven law- 
 yers, eighteen physicians including steam doctors, one 
 foundry for castings, four carding machines, mechanics 
 and trades of various descriptions, and two printing offices 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 297 
 
 from which are issued weekly the ^^ Illinois Bepuhlican,^^ 
 and the " Sangamon Journal.^^ The public buildings are 
 a court house, jail, a market house, and houses of wor- 
 ship for two Presbyterian churches, one Methodist, one 
 Baptist Reformer, one Episcopalian, and one Baptist so- 
 ciety, each of which have ministers, and respectable con- 
 gregations. 
 
 The first house built in Springfield was erected fifteen 
 years since. The town has increased more than half 
 within the last three years. It hus excellent schools for 
 both sexes, and an academy. By a recent act of the 
 legislature Springfield is to be the permanent seat of go- 
 vernment after 1840, and an appropriation has been made 
 of ^50,000 and commissioners appointed to build a state 
 house. 
 
 Sp7'ing Island Grove, in Sangamon county, from four- 
 teen to twenty miles west of Springfield, on the road to 
 Jacksonville. It lies at the head of Spring creek, and 
 is an excellent timbered tract, surrounded with rich prai- 
 rie, from six to ten miles long, and from two to three 
 miles wide, and has a flourishing settlement. Many ex- 
 cellent springs are found in this tract of country. 
 
 Spring Grove post office, in Warren county, seven miles 
 north of Monmouth. 
 
 Spring Pointy in Jasper county, on the national road. 
 
 Squaw Prairie^ in Boone county, lies between the Bea- 
 ver and PisUasau creeks. It is round, rich, level, and 
 contains about ten sections of land. 
 
 Starved Pock, near the foot of the rapids, and on the 
 right bank of the Illinois, is a perpendicular mass of lime 
 and sand stone washed by the current at its base, and ele- 
 vated 150 feet. The diameter of its surface is about 100 
 feet, with a slope extending to the adjoining bluff from 
 which alone it is accessible. 
 
 Tradition says that at'ter the Illinois Indians had killed 
 Pontiac, the French governor at Detroit, the northern 
 Indians made war upon them. A band of the Illinois, in 
 attempting to escape, took shelter on this rock, which 
 they soon made inaccessible to their enemies, and where 
 
298 A GAZETTEER 
 
 they were closely besieged. They had secured provi- 
 sions, but their only resource for water was by letting' 
 down vessels with bark ropes to the river. The wily 
 besiegers contrived to come in canoes under the rock and 
 cut off their buckets, by which means the unfortunate 
 Illinois were starved to death. Many years after, their 
 bones were whitening on this summit. 
 
 Steam Point, a point of timber running into the prairie 
 that adjoins Brulette's creek, in Edgar county. 
 
 Steefs Mill, a post office and settlement in Randolph 
 county sixteen miles east of Kaskaskia, on the Shawnee- 
 town road. The soil is of a middling quality. 
 
 Steven^s Creek rises in Macon county, and enters the 
 North fork of Sangamon three miles below Decatur. 
 
 Stephenson, the seat of justice of Rock Island county, 
 is situated on the Mississippi opposite the lower end of 
 Rock Island. It has twenty or thirty families and is in- 
 creasing. 
 
 Stillnian''s Run, in Ogle county, formerly called Mud 
 Creek, a small stream that runs northwest and enters Rock 
 river a few miles below Kishwaukee, where, on the 14th 
 of May, 1832, a battalion of militia, consisting of about 
 275 men, under the command of Major Isaiah Stillman, 
 of Fulton county, were attacked, defeated, and eleven 
 men killed, by a portion of the Indian army under the 
 celebrated Black Hawk. 
 
 Stinking Creek, see Beaver creek. 
 
 St. Marion, a town site in Ogle county, at Buffaloe 
 grove. 
 
 St. Mary's River rises in Perry county, and enters the 
 Mississippi six miles below the mouth of the Kaskaskia. 
 
 St. Mary''s, a town and post office on the west side of 
 crooked creek in Schuyler couuty, in four north, five 
 west, on the mail route from Rushville to Canhage. It 
 commenced in 1836, and has two stores, one grocery, and 
 a dozen families. 
 
 Stokes^ s Settlement, in the eastern part of Union county, 
 near the head, and on the south side of Cash river, con- 
 tains one hundredf amilies. The surface of the land is 
 rolling, and the soil good. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 299 
 
 Stone^s Settlement is fifteen miles below Quincy, in 
 three south, seven west. 
 
 Stoufs Grove, a settlement in McLean county, on the 
 Mackinau, in twenty-four and twenty-five north, one west, 
 and twelve miles northwest of Bloomington. The north 
 part is a large and heavily timbered bottom, principally 
 oak, with some barrens. The south part is first rate 
 timbered land. 
 
 Struwn's Settlement, in Putnam county, about twenty 
 miles below Hennepin, was commenced in 1831. 
 
 String Prairie, in Greene county, lies betvveen Ma- 
 coupin and Apple creeks, commencing four miles west 
 of Carrollton, and extending fifteen miles east,'and from half 
 a mile to three miles in width. It is a rich, level tract, 
 and much of it in a state of cultivation. 
 
 String Town, on the Embarras, in Lawrence county, 
 sixteen miles north of Lawrenceville, has 100 families. 
 
 Slubhlefield's Branch is a trifling stream that rises in 
 the northern part of Bond county, runs southwest, and 
 enters the East fork of Shoal creek, two miles above 
 Greenville. A considerable settlement is near it. 
 
 Sugar Creek, in Sangamon county, rises in the prairies 
 towards the southwestern part of the county, where its 
 waters interlock with the heads of the Macoupin and Ap- 
 ple creeks, runs a northeasterly course, and enters the 
 Sangamon river a short distance below the forks. Its 
 main branch is Lick creek. The land is good, surface 
 rather level, and the timber of various kinds, from one 
 to two miles in width. The settlements are large, and 
 extend from the mouth to the head of the timber. 
 
 The lands situated between Lick and Sugar creeks, are 
 said to be of a superior quality for grazing, etc. 
 
 Sugar Creek, in the northeastern part of Schuyler coun- 
 ty. It rises in the southeast corner of McDonough county, 
 takes a southeastern course, near the boundary line of 
 Fulton, and enters the Illinois above Beardstown, on sec- 
 tion four, two north, one east. A large body of excellent 
 timber lies on this stream. Red and yellow ochre are 
 found in its banks. 
 
300 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Sugar Creek, a small stream that rises in the interior 
 of Edgar county, takes an eastern eonrse and passes 
 through a corner of Indiana into the Wabash. 
 
 Sugar Creek, a small stream in Clark county, that passes 
 near Palestine and enters the Wabash. 
 
 Sugar Creek, in Iroquois county, a branch of the Iro- 
 quois river. There is considerable timber along its bor- 
 ders. 
 
 Sugar Creek, a small stream rising in township four 
 north, in range five west of the third principal meridian, 
 and running a southerly course through the eastern bor- 
 ders of Madison into Clinton county, enters the Kaskaskia 
 near the base line, in five west. I-c- passes through a fine 
 country of land. 
 
 Sugar Creek, in McLean county, rises in twenty-four 
 north, two east, and runs through Blooming grove in a 
 southwestern direction. It is a good mill stream, has firm 
 banks, and gravelly bottom. It passes across the south- 
 east part of Tazewell into Sangamon county, and enters 
 Salt creek in township twenty north, range five west. It 
 waters a rich body of land, and has an extensive line of 
 settlements. 
 
 Sugar Creek Settlement, in the southeastern part of 
 Tazewell county, on Sugar creek. It has seventy or eighty 
 families, and is increasing. 
 
 Sugar Grove, in the north part of Sangamon county, 
 twenty miles north of Springfield. It is a fine tract of 
 timber surrounded with fertile prairie, about three miles 
 long, and one mile wide, with a respectable settlement. 
 
 Sugar Grove, in Putnam county, in fifteen north, six 
 east; a bea\itiful grove of timber with good prairie and 
 barrens around it. 
 
 Sugar River, in Winnebago county. It rises in the 
 Wisconsin territory, runs south across the boundary line 
 about eleven miles west of Rock river, and enters the 
 Peek-a-ton-o-kee. The country between it and Rock 
 river is rather swampy, with ridges of bur oak timber. 
 Along its course the land and timber are good. 
 
 Sugar Tree Grove, in Henry county, north of Edwards 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 301 
 
 river, in fifteen north, three east. Timber, various; prai- 
 rie, undulating and rich. 
 
 Summit., a town site in Cook county, at the " Point of 
 Oaks," on the canal, thirteen miles from Chicago. 
 
 Sweeps Prairie is in the south part of Morgan county, 
 three miles west of Manchester. It is level and wet. 
 
 Sivett^s Prairie is in Madison county, four miles north- 
 east from Edwardsville. 
 
 SwigarVs Settlement^ in St. Clair county, is under the 
 bluffs seven miles east of St. Louis. 
 
 Swinningfori's Point, a settlement in Morgan county. 
 
 Swanwick'' s Creek rises near the Grand Cote, and enters 
 Beaucoup creek, in Perry county. 
 
 Sycamore Creek rises in the prairies near Fox river, and 
 enters Rock river, thirty-five miles above Dixon's ferry. 
 It is fifty yards wide at its mouth. The Indian name is 
 Kish-wau-kee. 
 
 Table Grove is a beautiful and elevated tract of 150 or 
 200 acres of timber, on the west side of Fulton county, 
 and has a delightful prospect. 
 
 Tamarawa, a town site on the right bank of the Kas- 
 kaskia river, and near the line of St. Clair and Monroe 
 counties, and at the lower end of the Twelve Mile prairie. 
 It is an elevated and pleasant situation. 
 
 Tarapin Ridge, a settlement four miles north of Leba- 
 non, in St. Clair county. 
 
 Ihylor's Creek rises in Macoupin county, and enters 
 Macoupin creek, in Greene county. 
 
 Tecumseh, a town site on the Great Wabash river, in 
 White county, at the Little Chain, (rapids,) on high 
 ground, and well situated for business. It is on fractional 
 section thirty-one, township six south, eleven east. 
 
 Tegarderi's Mill, on Taylor's creek, in Greene county. 
 
 Ten Mile Creek rises in the Great prairie near Putnam 
 county, runs through a broken but well timbered country, 
 and enters Peoria lake five miles above Peoria. 
 
 Ten Mile CreeJcy in Hamilton county, is a branch of 
 Muddy river, and runs through an undulating tract. Here 
 is a settlement of forty or fifty families. 
 26 
 
302 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Thorn Creek rises in three forks in the northeast part of 
 Will county, runs north and enters the Calunnet in Cook 
 county. 
 
 Thornton^ a town site on Thorn creek, near the south- 
 eastern part of Cook county. 
 
 Three Mile Prairie^ in Washington county, has an un- 
 dulating surface. It is eight miles south of Nashville. 
 
 Timbered Settlement includes the northeast quarter of 
 Wahash county, and is ten miles from Mount Carmel. 
 it contains sixty or seventy families. The timber is ex- 
 cellent. 
 
 Tum''s Prairie, in Wayne county, is six miles northeast 
 of Fairfield, on Elm river, and has twenty or twenty-five 
 families. The soil is second rate. 
 
 Tottens Prairie^ in Fulton county, seven miles north- 
 west of Lewistown, is from one to three miles wide and 
 ten long. It is good land and has a large settlement. 
 
 Town Fork is a branch of Troublesome creek, in Mc- 
 Donough county. 
 
 Tremont, the seat of justice for Tazewell county, is 
 situated in a delightful prairie, between Pleasant grove 
 and Mackinau, on section eighteen, township twenty-four 
 north, three west, and was laid off by a company in the 
 spring of 1835. It now contains six stores, four groceries, 
 two taverns, two lawyers, two physicians, two ministers, 
 one apothecary's shop, sixty-eight buildings, and about 
 three-hundred inhabitants. The religious denominations 
 are Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, 
 and Unitarians, all of whom, at present, worship in one 
 house. It is contemplated to erect one or more houses of 
 worship this year. It lies in the heart of a beautiful coun- 
 try of prairie and timber. 
 
 Trinity is on the Ohio six miles above its junction with 
 the Mississippi, and at the mouth of Cash river, on sec- 
 tions one and two, seventeen south, one west. Steamboats 
 from the Ohio and Mississippi rivers exchange cargoes 
 here, repair, etc. It has one tavern and one store, and is 
 inundated six feet at extreme high water. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 303 
 
 Troublesome Creek, a branch of Crooked creek, in 
 McDonough county. 
 
 Troy, a town site in Madison county, seven miles south- 
 east from Edwardsville. 
 
 Troy Grove is in La Salle county, at the head of Little 
 Vermilion, twelve miles above its mouth, through which 
 the stage road passes from Ottawa to Dixonville and Ga- 
 lena. 
 
 7hirkey Creek enters the Illinois river, in Morgan coun- 
 ty, between Walnut and Sandy creeks. 
 
 Turkey Hill, in St. Clair county, four miles southeast 
 of Belleville, the oldest American settlement in the coun- 
 ty was commenced by William Scott, Samuel Shook, and 
 Franklin Jarvis, in 1798. It is now populous. Formerly 
 this name was used to designate a large tract. 
 
 Turney'^s Prairie, in W'ayne county, eight miles south 
 of Fairfield, is from one to two miles in extent. The soil 
 is good, and the settlement contains about twenty-five 
 families. 
 
 Turtle River rises in Wisconsin territory, and enters 
 Rock river, forty rods below the boundary line. 
 
 Twelve Mile Grove is between the Kankakee and Hick- 
 ory creek, in Cook county, and contains 600 acres. 
 
 Twelve Mile Prairie, in Effingham county, vv^est of the 
 Little Wabash, is level, and in many places wet. It ex- 
 tends through Effingham and Clay counties. The nation- 
 al road crosses it in the former, and the Vincennes in the 
 latter county. 
 
 Twelve Mile Prairie, in St. Clair county, is moderately 
 undulating, and good soil. Indian name Tau-mar-waus. 
 
 TwUcheir s 3Iill, a post office on Big creek, Pope county. 
 
 Tyrer''s Creek, a branch of the Mississippi, in Adams 
 county, rises in two south, eight west. 
 
 Union Prairie, in the southeast part of Clark county, 
 is five miles long and three broad. The settlement is large. 
 
 Union Praii'ie, in Schuyler county, four miles west of 
 Rushville. 
 
 Union, a post office in Champaign county, twenty miles 
 west of Danville. 
 
304 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Union Grove, in St. Clair county, is on the borders of 
 Looking Glass prairie and on the east side of Silver creek. 
 The land is excellent, and the settlement extensive. It 
 is sometimes called Padjielcfs Settlement, 
 
 Unity, the seat of justice of Alexander county, recently 
 located, in the corners of townships fifteen and sixteen 
 south, in ranges one and two west of the third principal 
 meridian. It is on the east side of Cash river. 
 
 Upper Alton, a delightfully situated town, on elevated 
 ground, two and a half miles back from the river and east 
 from Alton, on section seven, township five north, range 
 nine west. The situation of the town is high and healthy 
 The country around was originally timbered land, and is 
 undulating; the prevailing growth consists of oaks of va- 
 rious species, hickory, walnut, etc. 
 
 There are eight stores, five groceries, two lawyers, five 
 physicians, mechanics of various descriptions, a steam 
 saw and flour mill, and about 300 families, or 1500 inhab- 
 itants. The Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, 
 each have houses of worship. The Baptist and Pres- 
 byterian houses are handsome stone edifices, with spires, 
 bells, &c. and provided with ministers. There are seven 
 or eight ministers of the gospel, residents of this place, 
 some of whom are connected with the college and the 
 Theological seminary; — others are agents for some of the 
 public benevolent institutions, whose families reside here. 
 
 Good morals, religious privileges, the advantages for 
 education in the college, and in three respectable com- 
 mon schools, with an intelligent and agreeable society 
 make this town a desirable residence. 
 
 Upper Alton was laid off by the proprietor in 1816, and 
 in 1821, it contained fifty or sixty families. In 1827, it 
 had dwindled down to a few from several causes. But 
 since the commencement of Alton, the flourishing mer- 
 cantile town on the river, it has experienced a rapid growth 
 and will doubtless continue to advance, proportionate to 
 the progress of the town and country around. 
 
 U])per Mackinau Settlements, a string of settlements 
 towards the head of the Mackinau, in McLean county, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 305 
 
 about fourteen miles north of Bloomington. The timber 
 is divided into several groves, and is about twenty-four 
 miles in lenjjth from east to west, and from one to three 
 miles in width. The old Kickapoo and Pattowatomie 
 towns were on the north side of this timber, where the 
 blue grass grows in wild luxuriance. Here are over 100 
 families, and the land is excellent. 
 
 Urbanna, the seat of justice for Champaign county, 
 named by the last legislature. 
 
 Ursa,, a post office in Bear creek settlement, Adams 
 county, on section eighteen, township one north, eight west 
 and ten miles north of Quincy. 
 
 Utica^ a town site in Fulton county, two and a half 
 miles from the Illinois river, on Copperas creek. It has 
 one steam mill, one store, one distillery and ten or twelve 
 families. 
 
 Utica,, a town site and post office on the north side of 
 the Illinois river at the Lower rapids, on the canal line, 
 and 10 miles below Ottawa, on section seventeen, town- 
 ship thirty-three north, two east. It is four miles 
 from the termination of the canal, and has two or three 
 stores, and families. 
 
 Valentine's Settlement is in Bond county, on the west 
 side of Shoal creek. The land is good. 
 
 Vandewenter'' s Settlement is on the Illinois river, in the 
 south part of Schuyler county, twenty miles from Rush- 
 ville. 
 
 VanciVs Settlement^ in Union county, on a branch of 
 Clear creek. The land is rolling. 
 
 Van Buren, a town site on the Mississippi in Whiteside 
 county, 42 miles above Rock Island, and 50 miles below 
 Galena. It has two steam saw mills, a post office, (name 
 unknown) and ten or twelve houses building. 
 
 Van Buren, a post office in Big Grove, in Champaign 
 county, four miles north of Urbanna. 
 
 Vance's Settlement^ in McDonough county, is in five 
 north, two and three west, six or eight miles southwest, 
 from Macomb, and on the waters of Crooked creek. The 
 land is excellent. 
 
 26* 
 
306 A GAZETTEER 
 
 VANDALIA is the present seat of government for the 
 state, the seat of justice for Fayette county, and was 
 laid out in 1818, by commissioners appointed for that 
 purpose, under the authority of the state. It is situated 
 on the west bank of the Kaskaskia river, on sections 
 eight, nine, sixteen and seventeen, of township six nortii, 
 in range one east of the third principal meridian. The 
 site is high, undulating, and was originally a limbered 
 tract. The streets cross at right angles and are eighty 
 feet in width. The public square is on elevated ground. 
 The public buildings are, a state house of brick and suf- 
 ficiently commodious for legislative purposes, unfinished, 
 a neat framed house of worship for the Presbyterian 
 society, with a cupola and bell, a framed meeting house 
 for the Methodist society, another small public building 
 open for all denominations, and for schools, and other 
 public purposes. 
 
 There are in the town two printing ofllces tliat issue 
 weekly papers, the " State Register,'*'' and the " Free 
 Press,'''' — four taverns, eight stores, two groceries, one 
 clothing store, two schools, four lawyers, four physicians 
 one steam and one water saw mill, one minister of the 
 gospel, and about 850 inhabitants. 
 
 Near the river the country generally is heavily timbered, 
 but a few miles back are extensive prairies. The "national 
 road" has been permanently located and partially con- 
 structed to this place. 
 
 Vcrniilion River, of the Wabash, rises in the great 
 prairies of Champaign and Iroquois counties and enters 
 the Wabash in the state of Indiana. Its branches are, 
 North, Middle and Salt forks. 
 
 North fork, rises in Iroquois county, and unites with the 
 main stream below Danville. 
 
 Salt fork rises in Champaign county, near the head of 
 the Sangamon river, runs a south course till it enters 
 township eighteen north, in range ten east, when it 
 makes a sudden bend and runs north of east to Danville. 
 The Salt works are on this stream, six miles above Dan- 
 ville. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 307 
 
 Middle fork rises in the prairie, forty miles northwest of 
 Danville, and enters Salt fork. 
 
 The timber on these forks is from one to two miles wide 
 and of a good quality. The adjoining- prairies are dry, 
 undulating and rich. 
 
 Vermilion {Little) rises in the south part of Vermilion 
 county, and enters the Wabash river in Indiana. It is a 
 mill stream, with a gravelly and rocky bottom, and has a 
 fine body of timber on its banks. Large and flourishing 
 settlements have been made on both sides ef the limber 
 to its head. 
 
 Vermilion Elver of the Illinois, rises in Livingston 
 county, through which it passes into La Salle county, and 
 enters the Illinois near the foot of the rapids. Towards 
 its head the surface is tolerably level, with a rich soil, 
 large prairies, and but small quantities of timber. To- 
 wards the Illinois its bluffs become abrupt, often 100 feet 
 high, with rocky banks and frequent rapids and falls. It 
 is an excellent mill stream, about fifty yards wide, and 
 runs through extensive beds of bituminous coal. Its bluffs 
 contain immense quarries of lime, sand and some free stone 
 excellent for grind stones. The timber upon its banks 
 are oaks of various kinds, walnut, ash, sugar maple, 
 hickory, etc. 
 
 Vermillonvllle, a town site and post office north of the 
 Vermilion river in La Salle county, on section nine, town- 
 ship thirty-two north, two east. It is a pleasant situation, a 
 thriving village, and surrounded with an excellent country. 
 
 Near it on the Vermilion river, is Lowel, a manufacturing 
 town in embryo, with abundance of water power. Great 
 quantities of bituminous coal exist in this vicinit}'. 
 
 Versailles a village of twelve or fifteen families on the 
 w^est side of McLean county, 20 miles northwest of 
 Bloomington. 
 
 Vienna, the county seat of Johnson county, contains 
 twenty-five or thirty families, and three stores. It is situ- 
 ated on the east fork of Cash river, in sections five and 
 six, thirteen south, three east. The main road from Gol- 
 
308 A GAZETTEER 
 
 conda to Jonesboro,' and Jackson, Mo., passes through this 
 place. It is in latitude 37 deg. 25 minutes north. 
 
 Village Prairie^ in Edwards county, two miles north of 
 Albion, about three miles wide. A small stream called 
 " The Village'''' runs through it to the little Wabash. 
 
 Vincennes Road passes from Vincennes to St. Louis, 
 through Lawrence, Clay, Marion, Clinton, and St. Clair 
 counties, 154 miles. A daily mail in post coaches passes 
 this road. 
 
 Vinegar HilU in Jo Daviess county, six miles north of 
 Galena, is a prairie country, and contains one of the richest 
 lead mines in this region. 
 
 Virginia Settlement, in McHenry county on the west side 
 of Fox river, seven miles from it. It is on the old Indian 
 trail from Chicago to the Wisconsin. The prairie and 
 timber about equally interspersed, surface rolling, soil a 
 black sandy loam aiid very rich. 
 
 Wabash Grove, in the east part of Shelby county, is on 
 one of the heads of the Little Wabash. The timber and 
 prairie are excellent and the settlement is large. 
 
 Wabash Point, in the southwestern part of Coles county 
 is the principal head of the Little Wabash. The timber 
 and adjoining prairie are good, and the settlement is large. 
 
 Wabonsie, a tributary of Fox river in Kane county. It 
 rises in a large spring, runs southwest, and enters Fox 
 river, 8 miles below the Big Woods. It is a fine mill 
 stream. 
 
 Waii^s Settlement, is in Bond county, nine miles west 
 of Greenville and on the west side of Shoal creek. The 
 prairie is good, and the timber abundant. 
 
 Wakefield's Settlement, in the south part of Shelby 
 county, is a fertile tract well timbered. The settlement 
 is large. 
 
 Walkers Grove, a post office in McDonough county, 
 seven miles south of Macomb. 
 
 Walnut Creek, in Morgan county, enters the Illinois 
 above Plum creek. 
 
 Walnut Creek heads in the northwestern part of Taze- 
 well county, and enters the Mackinau in section sixteen, 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 309 
 
 twenty-five north, one west. It has a free current, gra- 
 velly bottom, and runs through rich land. 
 
 Walnut^ a branch of Beaucoup creek, in Perry county. 
 
 Walmit Grove, a rich tract on Walnut creek, in Taze- 
 well county, about one mile wide and nine long. 
 
 Walnut Grove, a settlement in the southwest corner of 
 Edgar county. 
 
 Walnut Hill Prairie, on the line between .Tefferson and 
 Marion counties. Some parts are tolerably good, others 
 rather flat and wet. It is four miles long, and three broad 
 and contains seventy-five families. 
 
 Walnut Hill post office is in the southwest corner of 
 Marion county, on the road from Carlyle to Mount Ver- 
 non. 
 
 Walnut Prairie, in Clark county, near the Wabash, 
 about five miles long and two broad. It is tolerably level, 
 has a rich sandy soil, and a fine settlement. 
 
 Walnut Point post office, is in Adams county, on sec- 
 tion thirty-two, township one north, six west, eighteen 
 miles northeast from Quincy. 
 
 Walker's Grove, on the Du Page, in Will county, forty 
 miles from Chicago, is a beautiful tract surrounded by a 
 rich prairie and a large settlement. It is about three miles 
 long and one wide. 
 
 Wapelo, a town site at the falls of Apple river, in Jo 
 Daviess county. Here are a saw and grist mill, several 
 families, stores, etc. 
 
 Ward^s Settlement is the oldest in Macon county, and is 
 eight miles south of Decatur. 
 
 Warrenton, a town site in Cook county on the west fork 
 of the Du Page, four miles above Napierville. 
 
 Warsaw is an important commercial position, on the 
 Mississippi river, at the foot of the Des Moines rapids, 
 16 miles west-southwest from Carthage. It has a steam 
 mill, several stores, and 200 or 300 inhabitants, and is to 
 be the termination of the railroad from Peoria. It is near 
 the site of old Fort Edwards. 
 
 Washington, a new village in the western part of Ful- 
 ton county, twenty miles from Lewistown, 
 
310 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Washington, a town site and handsome village in Taze- 
 well county, on section twenty-three, township twenty-six 
 north, three west, and 14 nriiles north of Tremont. It is situ- 
 ated on the south side of Holland's grove, on the border of 
 a delightful prairie, and contains 5 stores, 2 groceries, 4 
 physicians, various mechanics, a steam saw mill, and 
 about 300 inhabitants. The post office is ^o//a??c^'5 Grove. 
 
 Washington Grove is in the interior of Ogle county, and 
 contains two or three sections of limber, surrounded with 
 an excellent rolling prairie. 
 
 Waterloo, the seat of justice for Monroe county, is 
 situated on high ground, in township two south, ten west. 
 It has a court house of brick, two stores, two taverns, and 
 about twenty families. 
 
 Watt's Settlement, in Crawford county, is sixteen miles 
 west from Palestine, and has about twenty families. 
 
 Waynesville, a town in the southwest corner of McLean 
 county, on the road from Springfield to Bloomington, and 
 on the south side of the timber of Kickapoo creek. It 
 has 6 stores, 2 groceries, 2 physicians, a Methodist and a 
 Presbyterian society, a good school, and a charter for a 
 Seminary of learning. It has a fine body of timber on 
 the north, and a rich, undulating and beautiful prairie 
 south. Population in the village about 150. 
 
 WehVs Prairie, and settlement, in Franklin county, fif- 
 teen miles east of north from Frankfort. The land is good. 
 
 Weed^s Settlement is on a branch of the Vermilion in 
 Livingston county. Here is fine, rolling, rich prairie, 
 lime and free stone, coal, and will probably be the loca- 
 tion of the county seat. 
 
 Webster, a town site in the northwest corner of Living- 
 ston county on section ten, township thirty north, three east, 
 on the south side of the Vermilion river, surrounded with 
 great bodies of lime and free stone, coal, and extensive 
 tracts of rich, undulating prairie. 
 
 Weigle'^s Settlement, in Adams county, has 600 or 700 
 industrious Germans, of the society of Diinkards, and is 
 watered by the West fork of McKee's creek. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 311 
 
 TVesi Fork of KaskasMa River rises in Macon county, in 
 township sixteen north, four east, and enters the main 
 stream, ten miles above Shelbyvi)le. The land on its 
 borders, in general, is excellent, and the timber good. 
 
 West Fork of Muddy Settlement^ in the northwestern 
 part of Jefferson county, is a well timbered tract. 
 
 West Fork of Shoal Creek rises in the north part of 
 Montgomery county, in nine north, three west, runs south, 
 and forms the main creek. The average width of the 
 timber is two miles. 
 
 West Grove is a body of timber on Pine creek in Ogle 
 county. 
 
 Wesfs Settlement^ in Johnson county, on the east side 
 of Cash river, is a fine, fertile tract, and has thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Wei Grove, is a small body of timber in Ogle county 
 near the head of Kite creek. 
 
 Whitaker''s Creek, in Greene county, a branch of Apple 
 creek on the south side. 
 
 White Hall, a village and post office in Greene county, 
 10 miles above CarroUton, on the road to Jacksonville. 
 It has 9 stores, 2 groceries, 2 taverns, 3 physicians, one 
 school, and an incorporation for a Seminary, a steam mill 
 in the vicinity, framed houses of worship for Methodists 
 and Baptists, and 600 inhabitants. 
 
 Whitley''s Point is the head of Whitley's creek, in 
 Shelby county, east of the Kaskaskia river, and fifteen 
 miles northeast from Shelby ville. The timber and prairie 
 are good. 
 
 Whitley''s Settlement, on Whitley's creek, Shelby coun- 
 ty, fifteen miles northeast from Shelbyville is a mixture 
 of timber and prairie. 
 
 White Oak Grove, in Henry county, is a fine body of 
 timber. Adjoining it is Andover settlement. 
 
 Whiteside'' s Settlement, in Pope county, is twelve miles 
 west of Golconda on Big Bay creek and the state road, 
 and has 100 families. 
 
 Whiteside^s Station, in Monroe county, five miles north 
 
312 A GAZETTEER 
 
 of Waterloo, is one of the oldest American settlements 
 in Illinois. 
 
 Wiggins's Ferry ^ on the Mississippi opposite St. Louis 
 and the property adjoining, are owned by a company. 
 Here are two good steamboats, a public house, livery 
 stable, store, and post office. 
 
 Wihoxeri's Settlement, in Fulton county — good soil. 
 
 Williams's Creek rises in Hancock and enters Crooked 
 creek in Schuyler county. 
 
 Willis's Settlement, in Putnam county, five miles east of 
 Hennepin, was begun in 1827, in a rich tract of land. 
 
 Wilson'^s Grove is a beautiful eminence, one mile west 
 of Jacksonville, and now called College Hill. The Illi- 
 nois college stands on its eastern slope. 
 
 Winchester, in Morgan county, sixteen miles southwest 
 of Jacksonville, on section twenty-nine, township fourteen 
 north, in range twelve west of the third principal meri- 
 dian, was laid off in 1831, on elevated ground, and is a 
 thriving village, increasing rapidly, has several stores, 
 mechanics of various descriptions, and a population of 
 three or four hundred. The Baptists, Methodists and Con- 
 gregationalists have societies here. It has excellent lime 
 and free stone quarries in the vicinity and several mills. 
 
 Winchester, a town site on the Kankakee, 9 miles above 
 its mouth, and containing half a dozen houses, one store, 
 one tavern, two saw mills etc. 
 
 Windsor, a town, in fifteen north, nine east on the Bureau, 
 and on the stage road from Peoria by Princeton to Galena. 
 It has 2 stores, 2 groceries, one tavern, one lawyer, one phy- 
 sician, one minister and about 100 inhabitants. A grist and 
 saw mill are near. 
 
 Winnebago Inlet, in Putnam county, passes through se- 
 veral ponds into the Winnebago Swamp, in Ogle county. 
 
 Winnebago Swamp is in Henry and Ogle counties, thirty 
 miles long, and from one half to three miles wide. 
 
 Wulf Creek is a branch of the Sangamon river, in Sanga- 
 mon County. The land is level but well settled. 
 
 Wolf Creek, in Effingham, enters the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 JVolf Run, in Morgan county, enters Dickerson's lake. 
 
OF ILLINOIS. 313 
 
 Wood River, in Madison county, enters the Mississippi 
 nearly opposite the mouth of the Missouri. It rises ia 
 Macoupin and runs through a fine country. 
 
 Woodbury is a town site and post office on the national 
 road, situated in Coles county, containing half a dozen 
 families. 
 
 Wood^s Prairie is a small tract of good land in Wabash 
 county, ten miles from Mount Carmel. 
 
 Worcester post office is in McDonough county on the 
 western side. 
 
 Workman post office in Jersey prairie Morgan county, 
 
 Wyo)ning, a town site and post office on the east side 
 of Spoon river, on section two, township twelve north, six 
 east, on the mail road from Hennepin to Knoxville. 
 
 Worleys Creek, in Adams county, enters Bear creek. 
 
 Yellow Banks are sand bluffs of the Mississippi, in 
 Warren and Mercer counties, distinguished as Lower, 
 Middle, and Upper, at the mouths of Henderson, Pope, 
 and Edwards rivers — the first five miles long. They fur- 
 nish convenient landings for steamboats. 
 
 Yankee Settlement, in the southwestern part of Cook and 
 corner of Will county, a large settlement in a rich undu- 
 lating prairie, between Hickory creek, and the Sauganas- 
 kee. 
 
 Yellow Creek, in Winnebago county, enters the Peek-a- 
 tono-kee near its junction with Rock river. It rises near 
 Kellogg's Grove. 
 
 York, a village in Clark county, on the Wabash, con- 
 tains one steam saw and flouring mill, four stores, and 
 about 300 inhabitants. Its exports amount to ^40,000. 
 27 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 TABLE I. 
 
 A Table exhibiting the Name of each County, Date of Forma- 
 tion, number of Square Miles, Population according to the 
 State census of 1835, {excepting certain neic counties, marked 
 thus *, of which the estimate is given,) and Seat of Justice. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 oqaare 
 Miles. 
 
 Population 
 1835. 
 
 SEATS or JUSTICE. 
 
 Adams, 
 
 1825 
 
 810 
 
 7,042 
 
 Quincy 
 
 Alexander, 
 
 1819 
 
 375 
 
 2,050 
 
 Unity 
 
 Bond, 
 
 1817 
 
 360 
 
 3,580 
 
 Greenville 
 
 Boone,* 
 
 1837 
 
 500 
 
 600 
 
 Not established 
 
 Cass,* 
 
 1837 
 
 256 
 
 6,500 
 
 Beardstown 
 
 Calhoun, 
 
 1825 
 
 260 
 
 1,091 
 
 Guilford 
 
 Champaign,* 
 
 1833 
 
 1008 
 
 1,250 
 
 Urbanna 
 
 Clark, 
 
 1819 
 
 500 
 
 3,413 
 
 Darwin 
 
 Clay, 
 
 1824 
 
 620 
 
 1,648 
 
 Maysville 
 
 Clinton, 
 
 1821 
 
 504 
 
 2,648 
 
 Carlyle 
 
 Coles, 
 
 1830 
 
 1248 
 
 5,125 
 
 Charleston 
 
 Cook, 
 
 1831 
 
 1330 
 
 7,500 
 
 Chicago 
 
 Crawford, 
 
 181G 
 
 426 
 
 3,540 
 
 Palestine 
 
 Edgar, 
 
 1823 
 
 648 
 
 6,668 
 
 Paris 
 
 Edwards, 
 
 1814 
 
 183 
 
 2,006 
 
 Albion 
 
 Effingham, 
 
 1831 
 
 486 
 
 1,055 
 
 Ewington 
 
 Fayette, 
 
 1821 
 
 720 
 
 3,638 
 
 Vandalia 
 
 Franklin, 
 
 I8I8 
 
 864 
 
 5.551 
 
 Frankfort 
 
 Fulton, 
 
 1825 
 
 874 
 
 5,917 
 
 Lewistown 
 
316 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 TABLE I. — CONTINUED. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 tjquare 
 AlilGs. 
 
 ropiilalion 
 1335. 
 
 SEATS OF JUSTICE. 
 
 Gallatin, 
 
 1812 
 
 760 
 
 8,660 
 
 Equality 
 
 Greene, 
 
 1821 
 
 912 
 
 12,274 
 
 Carrollton 
 
 Hamilton, 
 
 18-21 
 
 432 
 
 2,877 
 
 McLeansboro' 
 
 Hancock, 
 
 18-25 
 
 775 
 
 3,249 
 
 Carlhagd 
 
 Henry,* 
 
 1825 
 
 840 
 
 600 
 
 Not established 
 
 Iroquois,* 
 
 1833 
 
 14-28 
 
 1,800 
 
 Not established 
 
 Jackson, 
 
 1816 
 
 576 
 
 2,783 
 
 Brownsville 
 
 Jasper,* 
 
 1831 
 
 508 
 
 375 
 
 Newton 
 
 Jeffersion, 
 
 1819 
 
 576 
 
 3,350 
 
 Mount Vernon 
 
 Jo Daviess,* 
 
 1827 
 
 724 
 
 4,350 
 
 Galena 
 
 Johnson, 
 
 1812 
 
 486 
 
 2,166 
 
 Vienna 
 
 Kane,* 
 
 1836 
 
 1297 
 
 1,500 
 
 Not established 
 
 Knox, 
 
 1825 
 
 792 
 
 1,600 
 
 Knoxville 
 
 La Salle, 
 
 1831 
 
 1864 
 
 4,754 
 
 Ottawa 
 
 Livingston,* 
 
 1837 
 
 1040 
 
 750 
 
 Not established 
 
 Lawrence, 
 
 1821 
 
 560 
 
 4,450 
 
 Lawrenceville 
 
 Macon, 
 
 1829 
 
 1404 
 
 3,022 
 
 Decatur 
 
 Madison, 
 
 1812 
 
 750 
 
 9,016 
 
 Edwardsville 
 
 Macoupin, 
 
 1829 
 
 864 
 
 5,554 
 
 Carlinville 
 
 Marion, 
 
 18-23 
 
 576 
 
 2,844 
 
 Salem 
 
 McDonough, 
 
 1825 
 
 576 
 
 2,883 
 
 Macomb 
 
 McFIenry,* 
 
 1836 
 
 960 
 
 1,100 
 
 Not established 
 
 McLean, 
 
 1830 
 
 1675 
 
 5,311 
 
 Blooniington 
 
 Mercer,* 
 
 1825 
 
 550 
 
 800 
 
 New Boston 
 
 Monroe, 
 
 1816 
 
 360 
 
 2,660 
 
 Waterloo 
 
 Montaomery, 
 
 1821 
 
 960 
 
 3,740 
 
 Hillsboro' 
 
 Morgan, 
 
 1823 
 
 918 
 
 16,500 
 
 •lacksonville 
 
 Ogle, 
 
 1836 
 
 1440 
 
 1,200 
 
 Not established 
 
 Peoria,* 
 
 18-25 
 
 648 
 
 4,500 
 
 Peoria 
 
 Perry, 
 
 1827 
 
 446 
 
 2,201 
 
 Pinckneyville 
 
 Pike, 
 
 1821 
 
 800 
 
 6,037 
 
 Pittsfield 
 
 Pope, 
 
 1816 
 
 576 
 
 3,756 
 
 Golconda 
 
 Putnam, 
 
 1825 
 
 1340 
 
 4,021 
 
 Hennepin 
 
 Randolph, 
 
 1795 
 
 540 
 
 5,695 
 
 Kaskaskia 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 317 
 
 TABLE I. CONTINUED. 
 
 COU.NTIES. • 
 
 Rock Island,* 
 
 8anoranion, 
 
 Scliuyler, 
 
 Shelby, 
 
 St. Clair, 
 
 Stej)hensotJ, 
 
 Tazewell, 
 
 Union, 
 
 Vermilion, 
 
 Wabash, 
 
 Warren, 
 
 Washington, 
 
 Wayne, 
 
 White, 
 
 Whiteside,* 
 
 Will,* 
 
 Winnebao-o,* 
 
 DATE. 
 
 t^quare 
 Miles. 
 
 1831 
 
 400 
 
 1821 
 
 1234 
 
 1825 
 
 864 
 
 1827 
 
 1080 
 
 1795 
 
 1030 
 
 1837 
 
 5G0 
 
 1827 
 
 1130 
 
 1818 
 
 396 
 
 1826 
 
 1000 
 
 1824 
 
 180 
 
 1825 
 
 900 
 
 1818 
 
 656 
 
 1819 
 
 720 
 
 1815 
 
 516 
 
 1836 
 
 770 
 
 1836 
 
 1228 
 
 1836 
 
 504 
 
 Population 
 1835. 
 
 850 
 
 17,573 
 6,361 
 
 4,848 
 9,055 
 
 400 
 5,850 
 4,156 
 8,103 
 3,010 
 2,623 
 3,292 
 2,939 
 6,489 
 
 350 
 3.500 
 1,000 
 
 SEATS OF JUSTICE. 
 
 Stephenson 
 
 Springfield 
 
 Rushville 
 
 Shelbyville 
 
 Belleville 
 
 Not established 
 
 Tremont 
 
 Jonesboro' 
 
 Danville 
 
 Mount Carniel 
 
 Monmouth 
 
 Nashville 
 
 Fairfield 
 
 Carmi 
 
 Not established 
 
 Juliet 
 
 Not established. 
 
 The present population of Illinois (April, 1837) may 
 be estimated at 375,000. 
 
318 APPENDIX. 
 
 TABLE II. 
 
 A Table of the Public Officers in Illinois, both State and Na- 
 tional, April, 1837. 
 
 GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE. 
 
 His Excellency Joseph Duncan, Governor; term of 
 Service expires December, 1838; residence, Jacksonville. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor, vacant. Hon. 
 
 William Davidson, Speaker of tlie Senate, and ex officio 
 lieutenant governor till December, 1838. 
 
 Alexander P. Field, Esq., Secretary of Slate. 
 
 Levi Davis, Esq., Auditor of Public Accounts. 
 
 John D. Whitesidc, Esq., Treasurer. 
 
 U. F. LiNDER, Esq., Attorney-General. 
 
 UNITED STATES COURT.— For the District of Illinois. 
 
 NAMES. OFFICES. KESIDENCE. SALARY. 
 
 Nathaniel Pope, Judge, Kaskaskia, ^1,000 
 David J. Baker, U. S. Attorney, do 200, fees 
 Harry Wilton, Marshall, Carlyle, 200, fees 
 , Clerk, fees, etc. 
 
 This court is held at Vandalia, the fourth Monday in 
 May, and the first Monday in December, annually. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 319 
 
 U. S. LAND OFFICERS IN ILLINOIS. 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 Kaskaskid, 
 
 Shawneetown, 
 
 Edwardsville, 
 
 Vandalia, 
 
 Palestine, 
 
 Quincy, 
 
 Danville, 
 
 Springfield, 
 
 Chicago, 
 
 Galena, 
 
 REGISTERS. 
 
 Miles Hodgkiss, 
 James C. Sloo, 
 Alex. M.Jenkins, 
 Chas. Prentice, 
 Joseph Kitchell, 
 Samuel Leech, 
 J. C. Alexander, 
 S. A. Donglass, 
 James Whitlock, 
 James M. Strode, 
 
 RECEITEUS. 
 
 Edward Humphries. 
 John Caldwell. 
 S. H. Thompson. 
 William Linn. 
 Guy W. Smith. 
 Thomas Carlin. 
 Samuel McRoberta. 
 John Taylor. 
 E.D.Taylor. 
 John Deraint. 
 
 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 KAMES. 
 
 John M. Robinson, 
 Richard M. Young, 
 
 RESIDENCE. 
 
 Carmi, 
 Quincy, 
 
 TERM EXPIRES. 
 
 March 3d, 1841. 
 March 3d, 1843. 
 
 Representatives elect to the Twenty-Fifth Congress; their term 
 commenced March 4, 1837. 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 First District, 
 Second District, 
 Third District, 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Adam W. Snyder, 
 Yadock Casey, 
 Wm. L. May, 
 
 HESIDEI7CE. 
 
 Belleville. 
 Mount Vernon. 
 Spriiigfield. 
 
No. III. 
 SUGGESTIONS TO EMIGRANTS. 
 
 Canal, Steam-Boat and Stage Routes. — Other Modes of Travel 
 — Expenses — Roads, Distances, &cc. &c. 
 
 1. Persons in moderate circnmstnn^es, or who would 
 save time and expense, need not make a visit to the West, 
 to ascertain particulars previous to removal. A few gene- 
 ral facts, easily collected from a hundred sources, will 
 enable persons to decide the great question, whether ihey 
 will emigrate to the Valley. By the same means, emi- 
 grants may determine to what State, and to what part of 
 that State, their course shall be directed. There are many 
 things that a person of plain, common sense will take for 
 granted without inquiry, — such as facilities for obtaining 
 all the necessaries of life, the readiness with which proper- 
 ty of any description may be obtaiised for a fair value, and 
 especially farms and wild land, that they can live where 
 hundreds of thousands of others of similar habits and feel- 
 ings live; and above all, they should take it for granted, 
 that there are difficulties to be encountered in every coun- 
 try, and in all business; — that these difficulties can be 
 surmounted with reasonable effort, patience and perseve- 
 rance, and that in every country, people sicken and die. 
 
 2. Having decided to what State and part of the State, 
 an emigrant will remove, let him then conclude to take as 
 little furniture and other luggage as he can do v.-itb, espe- 
 cially if he comes by public conveyances. Those who 
 reside witliin convenient distance of a sea port, would find 
 it both safe and economical to ship by New Orleans, in 
 boxes, such articles as are not wanted on the road, especi- 
 ally if they steer for the navigable waters of the Missis- 
 
APPENDIX. 321 
 
 sippi. Bed and other clothing-, books, &e., packed ia 
 boxes, like nnerchanls' goods, will go mucli safer and 
 cheaper by New Orleans, than by any of the inland routes. 
 I have received more than one huiidred packages and box- 
 es from eastern ports, by that route, within twenty years, 
 and never lost one. Boxes should be marked to the 
 owner or his agent at the river port where destined, and to 
 the charge of some forwarding house in New Orleans. 
 The freight and charges may be paid when the boxes are 
 received. 
 
 3. If a person designs to remove to the north part of 
 Ohio and Indiana, to Cliicago and vicinity, or to Michi- 
 gan, or Green Bay, his course should be by the New 
 York canal, and the lakes. The following table, show- 
 ing the time of the opening of the canal at Albany and 
 Buffalo, and the opening of the lake, from 1827 to 1835, 
 is from a report of a committee at Buffalo to the common 
 council of that city. It will be of use to those who wish 
 to take the northern route in the spring. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Canal < 
 
 "•pened 
 
 Canal o] 
 
 pened 
 
 Lake Erie opened 
 
 
 at Buftaio. 
 
 at Alba 
 
 ii<y. 
 
 at Buffalo. 
 
 1827 
 
 Api 
 
 ril 21 
 
 April 
 
 21 
 
 April 21 
 
 1828 
 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 " I 
 
 1829 
 
 
 25 
 
 <( 
 
 20 
 
 May 10 
 
 1830 
 
 
 15 
 
 i( 
 
 20 
 
 April 6 
 
 1831 
 
 
 16 
 
 (( 
 
 16 
 
 May 8 
 
 1832 
 
 
 18 
 
 4( 
 
 25 
 
 April 27 
 
 1833 
 
 
 22 
 
 «( 
 
 23 
 
 " 23 
 
 1834 
 
 
 16 
 
 (( 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 1635 
 
 
 15 
 
 (( 
 
 15 
 
 May 8 
 
 The same route will carry emigrants to Cleaveland, 
 and by the Ohio canal, to Columbus, or to the Ohio river, 
 at Portsmouth; from whence, by steamboat, direct com- 
 munications will offer to any river port in the Western 
 States. From Buffalo, steamboats run constantly (when 
 the lake is open,) to Detroit, stopping at Erie, Ashtabula, 
 
322 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Cleaveland, Sandusky and nnany other ports, from whence 
 stages run to every prominent town. Transportation 
 ivagons are employed in forwarding goods. 
 
 Route from Buffalo to Detroit, by water. 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 
 Mi 
 
 les. 
 
 Dunkirk, N. Y. 
 
 39 
 
 Cleaveland, Ohio, 
 
 30- 
 
 -193 
 
 Portland, " 
 
 18—57 
 
 Sandusky, " 
 
 54- 
 
 -247 
 
 Erie, Pa, 
 
 .35—92 
 
 Amherstburg, U. C. 
 
 52- 
 
 -299 
 
 Ashtabula, Ohio, 
 
 39—131 
 
 Detroit, Mich., 
 
 18- 
 
 -317 
 
 Fairport, " 
 
 32—163 ] 
 
 
 
 
 From Detroit to 
 
 Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 St. Clair river, Mich 
 
 40 
 
 Mackinaw, 
 
 58- 
 
 -329 
 
 Palmer, 
 
 17-57 
 
 Isle Brule, 
 
 75- 
 
 -404 
 
 Fort Gratiot, 
 
 14—71 
 
 Fort Howard, Wis- 
 
 
 
 White Rock, 
 
 40—111 
 
 consin Ter., 
 
 100- 
 
 -504 
 
 Thunder Island, 
 
 70—181 
 
 Milwaukee, W. T. 
 
 310- 
 
 -814 
 
 Middle Island, 
 
 25—206 
 
 Chicago, 111., 
 
 90- 
 
 -904 
 
 Presque Isle, 
 
 65—271 
 
 
 
 
 From Cleaveland to Port 
 
 smovth via the Ohio Canal. 
 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 
 Mile.=. 
 
 Cuyahoga aqueduct, 
 
 22 
 
 Irville, 
 
 2G- 
 
 -158 
 
 Old Portage, 
 
 12—34 
 
 Newark, 
 
 13- 
 
 -171 
 
 Akron, 
 
 4—38 
 
 Hebron, 
 
 10- 
 
 -181 
 
 New Portage, 
 
 5—43 
 
 Licking Summit, 
 
 5- 
 
 -186 
 
 Clinton, 
 
 11—54 
 
 Lancaster Canaan, 
 
 11- 
 
 -197 
 
 Massillon, 
 
 11—65 
 
 Columbus, side cut. 
 
 18- 
 
 -215 
 
 Bethelehem, 
 
 6—71 
 
 Bloomficld, 
 
 8- 
 
 -223 
 
 Bolivar, 
 
 8—79 
 
 Circleville, 
 
 9- 
 
 -232 
 
 Zoar, 
 
 3—82 
 
 Chillicothe, 
 
 23- 
 
 -255 
 
 Dover, 
 
 7—89 
 
 Piketon, 
 
 25- 
 
 -280 
 
 New Philadelphia, 
 
 4—93 
 
 Lucasville, 
 
 14- 
 
 -294 
 
 Newcomers'town, 
 
 22—115 
 
 Portsmouth, (Ohio 
 
 
 
 Coshocton, 
 
 17—132 
 
 river.) 
 
 13- 
 
 -307 
 
APPiiNDIX. 
 
 323 
 
 The most expeditious, pleasant arid direct route for trav- 
 elers to the southern parts of Ohio and Indiana; to the Illi- 
 nois river, as far north as Peoria; to the Upper Mississippi 
 as far as Quincy, Rock island, Galena and Prairie du 
 Chien; to Missouri, and to Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, 
 Natchez and New Orleans, is one of the southern routes. 
 These are, — 1. From Philadelphia to Pittsburor, by rail- 
 roads and the Pennsylvania canal; 2. By the Baltimore 
 and Ohio rail-road and stages, to^ Wheeling'; or, 3. For 
 people livinor to the south of Washington, by stage, by 
 the way of Charlottesville, (Virginia,) Staunton, the Hot, 
 Warm, and White-Sulphur Springs, Lewisburg, Charles- 
 ton, to Guyandotte, from whence a regular line of steam- 
 boats runs three times a week to Cincinnati. Interme- 
 diate routes from Washington city to Wheeling, or to 
 Harper's Ferry, to Fredericksburg, and intersect the route 
 through Virginia, at Charlottesville. 
 
 From Philadelphia to Pittshurgt hy the rail-road and canal. 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Columbia, on the S 
 
 us- 
 
 Petersburg, 8—221 
 
 quehanna river, 
 
 by 
 
 Alexandria, 23—241 
 
 rail-road, daily. 
 
 81 
 
 Frankstovvn and Hoi- 
 
 By canal packets to \ 
 
 lidaysburg, 3 — 247 
 
 Bainbridge, 
 
 11—92 
 
 From thence, by rail-road, 
 
 Middletovvn, 
 
 17—109 
 
 across the mountain, to 
 
 Harrisburg', 
 
 10—119 
 
 Johnstown 38 — 285 
 
 Juniata river. 
 
 15—144 
 
 By canal, to 
 
 Millerstown, 
 
 17—151 
 
 Blairsville, 35—320 
 
 Mifflin, 
 
 17—168 
 
 Saltzburg, 18—338 
 
 Lewistown, 
 
 13—181 
 
 Warren, 12—350 
 
 Waynesburg-, 
 
 14—195 
 
 Alleghany river 16—366 
 
 Hamiltonville, 
 
 11—206 
 
 Pittsburg, 28—394 
 
 Huntingdon, 
 
 7—213 
 
 
 The Pioneer line, on this route, is exclusively for pas- 
 sengers, and professes to reach Pittsburg in four days, 
 but is sometimes behind, several hours. Fare through, 
 Passengers pay for meals. 
 
324 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Good'Tntent line is also for passengers only, and 
 rons in cnmpeiillon with the Pioneer line. 
 
 Leech's line, called the " Western Transportation line" 
 takes both freight and passengers. The packet-boats ad- 
 vertise to go tlirongh, to Pittsburg, in five days, for ^7. 
 
 Midship and steerage passengers in the transportation 
 line, in six and a half days — merchandise delivered in 
 eight days. Generally, however, there is some delay. 
 Emigants must not expect to carry more than a small 
 trunk or two, on the packet-lines. Tliose who take goods 
 or furniture, and wish to keep with it, had better take the 
 transportation lines, with more delay. The price of meals 
 on board the boats is about thirty-seven and a half cents. 
 
 In all the steam-boats on the Western waters no addi- 
 tional charge is made to cabin passengers for meals; — and 
 the tables are usually profusely supplied. Strict order is 
 observed, and the waiters and officers are attentive. 
 
 Steamhoat route from Pittsburg to the mouth of the Ohio. 
 
 Middletown, Pa. 
 Economy, " 
 Beaver, " 
 
 Georgetovvn, " 
 Steubcnville, Ohio, 
 Wcllsburg^h, Va., 
 Warren, Ohio, 
 Wheeling, Va., 
 Eliza bethtown, Va., 
 Sistersville " 
 
 Newport, Ohio, 
 Marietta, " 
 Parkersburg', Va., 
 Belpre and Blanner 
 
 basset Island, O., 
 Troy, Ohio, 
 Belleville, Va., 
 
 Letart's Rapids, " 
 Point Pleasant, " 
 Gallipolis, Ohio, 
 
 Miles. 
 
 11 
 
 8—19 
 
 10—29 
 
 13—42 
 
 27—69 
 
 7—76 
 
 6—82 
 
 10—92 
 
 11—103 
 
 34—137 
 
 27—164 
 
 14—178 
 
 11—189 
 
 4—193 
 10—203 
 
 7—210 
 37—247 
 27—274 
 
 4—278 
 
 ft'iles. 
 Guyandoite, Va., 27—305 
 Burlington, Ohio, 10 — 315 
 Grcensburg, Ky., 19 — 334 
 Concord, Ohio, 12-346 
 Portsmouth (Ohio ca- 
 nal,) 7—353 
 Vanceburg, Ky., 20—373 
 Manchester, Ohio, 16-389 
 Maysville, Ky., 11—400 
 Charleston, '♦ 4—404 
 Ripley, Ohio, 6—410 
 Augusta, Ky., 8 — 418 
 Neville, Ohio, 7—425 
 Moscow, " 7—432 
 Point Pleasant, " 4—436 
 New Richmond, " 7—443 
 Columbia, " 15—458 
 Fulton, " 6—564 
 
 ClxNCINNATl, " 2 — 466 
 
 North Bend, « 15—481 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 325 
 
 Lawrenceburg, Ind., 
 
 and mouih of the 
 
 IMiami, 
 Aurora, Ind., 
 Petersburg, Ky., 
 Bellcvue, " 
 Rising Sun, Ind., 
 Fredericksburg, Ky., 18 
 Vevay, Ind., and 
 
 Ghent, Ky., 11 
 
 Port William, Ky., 8 
 Madison Ind., 15 
 
 New London, " 12 
 Bethlehem, " 
 
 VVestport, Ky., 
 
 Transylvania, " 
 Louisville, " 
 
 Shippingport, through 
 
 the canal, 2J— 
 
 New Albany, Ind., H- 
 Salt River, Ky., 23- 
 
 Northampton, Ind., 18- 
 Leavenworth, " 17- 
 Fredonia, " 2- 
 
 8- 
 
 7- 
 
 15- 
 
 12- 
 
 Miles. 
 
 -489 
 -491 
 -49.3 
 -501 
 -503 
 -521 
 
 -532 
 -540 
 -555 
 
 -567 
 -575 
 
 -582 
 -595 
 -609 
 
 61 U 
 -613 
 -636 
 -654 
 -671 
 -673 
 
 Miles. 
 Rome, Ind., 32—705 
 
 Troy, " 25—730 
 
 Rockport, " 16—746 
 
 Owenburg, Ky., 12 — 758 
 
 Evansville, Ind., 36 — 794 
 Henderson, Ky., 12—806 
 
 Mount Vernon, Ind., 28—834 
 Carthage, Ky., 12-846 
 
 Wabash river, " 7—853 
 
 Shawneefown, 111., 11 — 864 
 Mouth of Saline, « 12—876 
 Cave in Rock, " 10—886 
 Golconda, " 19—905 
 
 Smithland, mouth of 
 the Cumberland ri- 
 ver, Ky., 10 
 Paducah, mouth of 
 the Tennessee ri- 
 
 ver, Ky., 13- 
 
 Caledonia, 111., 31- 
 
 Trinity, mouth of 
 
 Cash river. 111., 10- 
 
 MOUTH OF THE OhIO 
 
 River, 6 
 
 —915 
 
 -928 
 -959 
 
 -969 
 
 —975 
 
 Persons who wish to visit Indianopolis will stop at 
 Madison, Indiana, and take the stage conveyance. Fronn 
 Louisville, by the way of Vincennes, to St. Louis by 
 stage, every alternate day, two hundred and seventy-three 
 miles, through in three days and a half. Fare, seventeen 
 dollars. Stages run from Vincennes to Terre Haute and 
 other towns up the Wabash river. At Evansville, Indiana, 
 stage lines are connected with Vincennes and Terro Haute; 
 and at Shawneetown twice a week to Carlyle, Illinois, 
 where it intersects the line from Louisville to St. Louis. 
 From Louisville to Nashville by steamboats, passengers 
 land at Smithland at the mouth of Cumberland river, un- 
 less they embark direct for Nashville. 
 
 In the winter^ both stage and steamboat lines are uncer- 
 tain and irregular. Ice in the rivers frequently obstructs 
 28 
 
326 APPENDIX. 
 
 navigation, and high waters and bad roads sometimes pre- 
 vent stages from running regularly. 
 
 Farmers who remove to the West from the Northern 
 and Middle States, will find it advantageous, in many iii- 
 stances, to remove with their own teams and wagons. 
 These they will need on their arrival. Autumn, or from 
 September till November, is the favorable season for this 
 mode of emigration. The roads are then in good order, 
 the weather usually favorable, and feed plenty. People of 
 all classes, from the Stales south of the Ohio river, remove 
 with large wagons, carry and cook their own provisions, 
 purchase their feed by the bushel, and invariably encamp 
 out at night. 
 
 Individuals who wish to travel through the interior of 
 Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, &c., will find that 
 the most convenient, sure, economical and independent 
 mode is on horseback. Their expenses will be from sev- 
 enty-five cents to one dollar fifty cents per day, and they 
 can always consult their own convenience and pleasure as 
 to time and place. 
 
 Stage fare is usually six cents per mile, in the West. 
 Meals, at stage-houses, are thirty-seven and a half cents. 
 
 Steam Boat Fare, including Meals. 
 
 From Pittsburg to Cincinnati, $ 10 
 
 " Cincinnati to Louisville, 4 
 
 " Louisville to St. Louis, 12 
 
 And frequently the same from Cincinnatti to St. Louis,— 
 
 varying a little, however. 
 
 A rfecA: passage, as it is called, may be rated as follows: — 
 From Pittsburg to Cincinnati, $ 3 
 
 " Cincinnati to Louisville, 1 
 
 " Louisville to St. Louis, 4 
 
 The deck for such passengers is usually in the midship, 
 forward of the engine, and is protected from the weather. 
 Passengers furnish their own provisions and bedding. 
 They often take their meals at the cabin table, with the 
 boat hands, and pay twenty-five cents a meal. Thousands 
 
APPENDIX. 327 
 
 pass up and down the rivers as deck passengers, especi- 
 ally emigrating families, who have their bedding, provis- 
 ions and cooking utensils on board. 
 
 The whole expense of a single person from New York 
 to St. Louis, by the way of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, 
 with cabin passage on the river, will rangej between ^40 
 and $ 45; — time from twelve to fifteen days. 
 
 Taking the transportation lines on the Pennsylvania 
 canal, and a deck passage in the steam-boat, and the ex- 
 penses will range between ,^20 and ^25, supposing the 
 person buys his meals at twenty-five cents, and eats twice 
 a day. If he carry his own provisions, the passage, &c., 
 will be from ^15 to ^18. 
 
 The following is from an advertisement of the Western 
 Transportation, or Leech's line, from Philadelphia: — 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Fare to Pittsburg, 
 
 400 
 
 " Cincinnati, 
 
 900 
 
 " Louisville, 
 
 1050 
 
 " Nashville, 
 
 1650 
 
 " St. Louis, 
 
 1750 
 
 Days. 
 
 Fare. 
 
 6^ 
 
 $ 6 00 
 
 8i 
 
 8 50 
 
 9^ 
 
 9 00 
 
 13| 
 
 13 00 
 
 14 
 
 13 00 
 
 The above does not include meals. 
 
 Packet-hoats for Cabin Passengers, {same line.) 
 
 Wiles. Days. Fare. 
 
 Fare to Pittsburg, 400 5 $ 7 00 
 
 " Cincinnati, 900 8 17 00 
 
 " Louisville, 1050 9 19 00 
 
 " Nashville, 1650 13 27 00 
 
 " St. Louis, 1750 13 27 00 
 
 Emigrants and travellers will find it to their interest 
 always to be a little skeptical relative to statements of 
 stage, steam and canal-boat agents; to make some allow- 
 ance in their own calculations for delays, difficulties and 
 expenses; and above all, to /ee/ perfectly patient and in 
 good humor with themselves, the officers, company, and 
 the world, even if they do not move quite as rapidly, and 
 fare quite as well as they desire. 
 
328 APPENDIX. 
 
 EMIGRATION. 
 
 While on this subject, we would say, for the benefit of 
 those who have determined on coming to the West, that 
 the State of Illinois offers every possible inducement to 
 emigrants. This State is advancing rapidly in population, 
 and when her public works, which are progressing- with 
 all possible speed, are completed, and in successful ope- 
 ration, she will be the admiration of the " far West." 
 It being by far the richest State in soil in the Union, of 
 course it holds out the greatest prospect of advantage to 
 farmers. Here, too, there is plenty of room for farmers, 
 there being vast quantities of first rate land lying in every 
 direction uncultivated, which may be had very cheap, and 
 one acre of it vt'ill produce at least three times as much 
 as the same amount of land in most of the eastern States! 
 
 If rural occupations are pleasant and profitable any 
 where in our country, they must be peculiarly so in Illi- 
 nois, for here the produce of the farmer springs up almost 
 spontaneously, less than one-third of the labour being ne- 
 cessary on the farms here that is required on the farms in 
 the east. Indeed, Illinois may with propriety be callec' 
 the " Canaan" of America! 
 
 Industrious mechanics, more particularly brickmakers 
 bricklayers and carpenters, are much wanted in the 
 various towns in Illinois. We know of no better plac« 
 west for a permanent location; and we hope that some of 
 those who have been so unfortunate at the east, will come 
 on, and mend their broken fortunes in a state where enter- 
 prise and industry meet with a sure reward. 
 
 meet w 
 
 ^15 "^m 
 

 s^ A 
 
 ^\' .<^^'«^. <e 
 
 
 'P 
 
 cP" '' 
 
 ^o 
 
 V^ 
 
 r 
 
 
 xQ 
 
 
 
 
 A^ 
 
 
 « o 
 
 ,0' 
 
 -o V"^- 
 ^-^ 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ■XV^ ■-%.. ". % 
 
 - ' 
 
 
 ^-^A.^ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 s%^ 
 
 0^ 
 
 \^ -f. 
 
 c^. 
 
 ^0^ 
 
 
 '^y^ * 9 1 \ .V ^ » 9 
 
 'cf-. 
 
 .^' 
 
 
 
 o > 
 
 
 K'^\.-\''';"'^. 
 
 
 
 
 /• 
 
 '. .^\^■ 
 
 •j * 
 
 -^/i — c^ 
 
 Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
 Neutralizing Agent: Magnesium Oxide 
 Treatment Date: 
 
 ■ 0' 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^0^ 
 
 PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, L.P. 
 Ill Thomson Park Drive 
 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
 (724)779-2111 
 

 -7 V-* 
 
 
 ,^^ 
 
 
 1/1,' ^■;,^J_ ., w =fr 
 A 
 
 
 ..&* 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 .^" 
 
 
 9,._" 
 
,'-'8RARy OF 
 
 CONGRESS 
 
 005 328 371 8