''■';■' •!.•!' ' , "' .'•: ■;. !!!i':ii'!' r • V.t'i',, ', >• ',t" ^ v"-;..;v .*:.if: t;/ ■I/,"-;?'**: xV ^' \\ V ■ V °, * ,4 ■^. >0^ ,0 o. ..-iv^ 5o. ,;% -n<. 0'- o 0^ ;> . -\ <^% .<^ N' c*-, «- ,,■? '», "c ■^^.^\\' -< '^%_ "oo^ _o \: Oo ./-"c. ^N^ ^^• •:*', •^,_ ^^ s^<^. * .0^ ,0^ V' .•^^ ct-^ c\ '-ts~ FIRST COURT-HOUSE, 1821. CONTENTS. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. MOl ND-BUILDERS ODIANS Illinois (."onfederacy Starved Rock '. Sacs and Foxf Manners and Customs Sinijle-lianded ( Omhat witii Indians. EARLY DIS OVliRIES Nicholas Perrot Joliet and ^larquctte LaSalleV Exploratio i8 Great Battle of tlie Illiuois ■ Tonti Sale at Green Bay LaSal cV \ ssassinatioii FRENCH OCCUPATION First Settlements 'I lie Mississippi Company ENGLISH RULE " Geu. Clark's Exploits ILLINOIS County of Mlinois NORTH\VESTERN I ERRI 1 ORY Ord nine ■ of 17-^" St. Clair Goveiiiorof N. W. Tor itory. ILLINOIS TERRITORY W AP OF ISl-J— I HE OU (BREAK Viass ere of Fort Dearborn Expeditious np tli • Mississippi ILLINOIS AS A STATE Or2;anization Deriyatiou of thij name " Illinois " . . . Stae B nk LiFayette'fi Visit Gramm ir aud Cook Contrasted 17 21 23 24 27 29 31 31 31 33 34 41 43 44 44 4.5 47 51 55 55 55 56 59 59 59 60 71 74 74 77 78 79 88 INDIAN TROUBLES .-.. 83 W'inne'iawi) War 8^ BLACK HAWK WAR 84 Siillmun's Ran 87 Batile of Bad Axe 90 Black Hawk Captured 91 Bio<,'ra .Iticiil Sketch of Biack H wk. . . 92 PROM 1-34 '10 1842 95 Inter !:al Improve me uts 95 Iliiioi-a d Michigan Canal 97 Mirtyr for Liberty 98 PRAIRIE PIRA I ES 102 MORMON WAR. .. 104 MEXICAN WAR 1)8 Battle ot Bnetia Vistn 119 THE WAR FOR THE UNION 125 States Seceding 126 The Fall ( f Sumpter 127 Cal! for Troops Promptly Answered. . . 128 The War Ended— The Uilion R^^t' red. 137 Schedule i.f Regiments 138 DUELS 141 DRESS AND MANNERS Ii9 PHYSICAL FEATURES OP ILLINOIS.. 154 AGRICULTURE 155 GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS 157 Licuiciinnt Go\eruors 160 S ate OfBcials ICl U. S. Se. 1.1 tors 162 Repres 'nt.itives in Congress 165 CHICAGO 170 The Great Fir 172 Commerce of Chicago 173 STATES OP THE UNION 177 CHAPTER 1. EARLY SETTLEMENT.. 191 Iniroductorv 191 Ante-Pioneer History. . 1H4 First Ai erican Settle- ment. 195 Original Pike County.. 195 First Settle 1 en; ol Pike County 199 Franklin and Shinn... 199 The Kosses 2'0 See ev, McGiffin and others 201 Sickly Season 202 Public Improvement. . . Crimi al Drowned 203 204 Col. Barney 206 James Ward Drowue 1. 210 1826 :.... 211 1827 O^.l 1828 212 1829 213 CHAPTER 11. EARLY' SETTLEMENT- CONTINUED '-'15 Big Snow "^15 First Negro Settlers . . . 216 NumerouB Settlers. . . . 217 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. Black HuwkW.ir 218 James W. Whitney 218 Prominent Cliara ters. 219 Mr. Hinmau's L tt< r.. 234 Mr. Garrison's Let(r.. 230 Couu y-SeU Removed. 231 The Beautiful Pnx'rics. 231 Pra rie Fires 233 Inrideuts of Pioneer Life 234 Tr de 235 Th- Gospel 237 Education 238 Miscellany 239 First Things 240 What tile Pioueer.s H.veDone 242 CHAPTER III. ORGANIC HISTORY 246 CHAPTER IV. IMPOR ANT LABORS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COITRT 253 First Meetinj 253 Tavern License 254 First .justice of the Peace 254 Living Out Roads. .. Various Proceedings 257- Difficulty in Selecting C unty-Seat County Divided into Townships.. Fearless Commission- ers Co :rt-Honse Comity-Seat Re-located The Clerk Resigns Ad Quod Damn iim First Coiirt-House at Pittsfield Pi-e-ont Court-House.. First Jail Last Meeting 256 260 263 264 264 265 267 268 269 269 269 272 273 CHAPTER V. GEOLOGY 274 CHAPTER VI. ZOOLOGY 282 CHAPTER VII. BOTANY 288 CHAPTERVIII. ARCHAEOLOGY 303 00NTENT8. CHAPTER iX. UOAKO OF SUPERVI- SORS 807 Couiily C'(inrt 307 Township Orj^aiiizdlloii :J07 .Inii :«!» Sup'Tvisors 310 I'HAPTERX. BLACK HAWK WAR 319 I roops Rnised 3)J0 The Siainpeile 332 CHAPTER XI. CRIMINAL RECORD.... S'H CHAPTER XI I. PIONEER LIFE *J1 CHAPTER XI 11 OLD SETTLERS' ASSO- CIATION 355 CHAPTER XIV. THE REBELLION 368 The First I dicationo of the Wiir 3*18 Fi 8l Ciill lor Troops... 371 MeetiugH Hel'l 371 Bounty 372 Pikii Count v's Soldiers 375 The Close.". 383 Starved Rock 25 An Iroquois (^hief 37 Gen. (ieo. R. Clark 49 G(!n. Arthur St. Cla r 58 Old Fort D arborn 61 01<1 Kiiizie Hi)iise. .. ... b!j Pontine 69 Black Hawk 85 Alkire. B. W 750 Angle, II. C 803 Biiruey, Beniami n 207 Bolin,.J. O." 469 Brakelie.d, James 527 Brewster. Charles 878 Brow n. H 635 Chenosveth, J. H 478 Clark, Samui'l 859 Conbny, J. H 587 Cnn all, E. A 8-i3 Davis, Samuel 814 Denm, D. \V 786 Dorsey. B V...i 487 .Kastmaii, Lycnrgus 538 (iiiy, James 615 Harrington, Mortin -JIX) Laws 919 Jurisdiction of Courts 919 Conntv Courts 9.0 Com r "of Highways 920 F'cnccB H22 Drainage 924 Trespass of Stock 924 Estrav-8 JI35 Horses 9. '6 Marks and Brands 9i7 ,\rtieles of Agreement 927 Notes »28 Judgment Note 929 Interi'St 929 Wills icn Descent 93.'; Deeds 93<) Mortgages and Trust Deeds 937 Trust Deeds 938 CHAPTER XV. PIKE ( 'OirNTV BAR 385 Pioneer Com ts 385 Circuit Judges 386 Prosecuting Attorn'-ys 390 T.io Bar 392 Bur of the P.ist 395 The Present Bar 401 CHAPTER XVI. TOWNSHIP HISTORIES Chamljersburg Flint Detroit Montezuma Pearl Perry Urigg-ville.. Newl)urg Hardin Sprin,' Creek P^airinuiiut New SahMii Pittsfleld Mirtin-burg Pleasant Hill Hadley Derry Atlas Ro^s B'lrrv Pleasant Vale 404 417 427 445 468 472 513 573 586 602 610 (i27 649 715 723 739 7.54 780 195 79fi 835 ILtUSTUATIONS. C. R. I. & P. R R. Dvot.. 99 Eye and Ea ■ Infl niary 111 D 'af and Dumb Insiiiuie.. 115 Sc.'ne on F.)x River 221 Lincoln .Monument 137 As\lum for Fe hi -Minded 143 Souther. 1 Normal Llniver- Kinderhook 8.53 Levee .- 868 CHAPTER XVII. COUNTY OFFICIALS... 870 CHAPTER XVIII. POLITICAL 873 Election Returns 875 CHAPTER XIX. THE PRESS 889 T eOld Flag 889 Pik' Countv Democrat 881 (Jriggsville Reflector.. 894 Barry .\flage 895 The Unic .rn (Green- back 896 Milton Beacon 899 Perrv Paragr iph 901 The In 'epL'ndent Press 902 Otier Pap ih. .. 905 ( HAPTER XX. MISCELLANEOUS 904 Railroads 9a ia 32 J« fS '/ 2P £f 3Z 1^ in fcf // ^^ 2r It /2 I 7 ICA] j^ ^-f ^■7 A ^^^1-^2^ J^^ --CSiO r:2?-- • • ^ftlMof^' -Pi' .='^' 'ASA]S f9 SO J/ /r 20 ss 30 36 { J/ 2tP to /f e/] 4^' JJ /* I.E I *■ sz 23 ^2^ f7 •^i^. 'hdt flr jJ^ I J/ ^^ fO 26 29 f3 2* £S //^ 30 J^i 3, ZO R. 4 h: n.3 ir li 2 ir 4 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. FORMER OCCUPANTS. MOUND-BUILDERS. The numerous and well-authenticated accounts of antiquities found in various parts of our country, clearly demonstrate that a people civilized, and even highly cultivated, occupied the broad surface of our continent before its possession by the present In- dians; but the date of their rule of the Western World is so re- mote that all traces of their history, their progress and u.v.«j\ lip buried in deepest obscurity. Nature, at the time the first Euro- peans came, had asserted her original dominion over the earth; the forests were all in their full luxuriance, the growth of many cen- turies; and naught existed to point out who and what they were who formerly lived, and loved, and labored, and died, on the conti- nent of America. This pre-historic race is known as the Mound- Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earth-works left by them. The remains of the works of this people form the most in- teresting class of antiquities discovered in the United States. Their character can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences and the peculiarities of the only remains left,— the mounds. They consist of remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure grounds, etc., etc. Their habitations must have been tents, struc tures of wood, or other perishable material; otherwise their remains would be numerous. If the Mound-Builders were not the ancestors of the Indians, who were they'^ The oblivion wliifli has closed over them is so complete that only conjecture can be given in answer to the question. Those who do not believe in the common parentage of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the West- ern hemisphere; others, with more plausibility, think they came from the East, and imagine they can see coincidences in the religion of the Hindoos and Southern Tartars and the supposed theology of 18 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. the Mound-Builders. They were, no doubt, idolators, and it has been conjectured that the sun was theobjectof their adoration. The mounds were generally built in a situation affording a view of the rising sun: when enclosed in walls their gateways were toward the east; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried always opened in the same direction; whenever a mound was partially en- closed by a serai-circular pavement, it was on the east side; when bodies were buried in graves, as was frequently the case, they were laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been found representing the sun and his rays of light. At what period they came to this country, is likewise a matter of speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among them, it has .been inferred that the time was very remote. Their axes were of stone. Their raiment, judging from fragments which have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven ,^ I tu leathers; and their military works were such as a people would erect who had just passed to the pastoral state of society from that dependent alone upon hunting and fishing. The mounds and other ancient earth-works constructed by this people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the bluffs which border the narrower valleys; so that when one finds him- self in such positions as to command the grandest views for river scenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon, or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the labors of an ancient people. GALENA MOUNDS. On the top of the high bluffs that skirt the west bank of the Mis- sissippi, about two and a half miles from Galena, are a number of these silent monuments of a pre-historic age. The spot is one of surpassing beauty. From that point may be obtained a view of a portion of three States, — Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. A hundred feet below, at the foot of the perpendicular cliffs, the trains of the Illinois Central Railroad thunder around the curve, tlie portage is in full view, and the " Father of Waters," with its numerous bayous HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. . 19 and islands, sketches a grand paraorania for miles above and below. Here, probably thousands of years ago, a race of men now extinct, and unknown even in the traditions of the Indians who inhabited that section for centuries before the discovery of America by Colum- bus, built these strangely wonderful and enigmatical mounds. At this point these mounds are circular and conical in form. The larg- est one is at least forty feet in diameter at the base, and not less than fifteen feet high, even yet, after it has been beaten by the storms of many centuries. On its top stands the large stump of an oak tree that was cut down about fifty years ago, and its annual rings indicate a growth of at least 200 years. One of the most sino^ular earth-works in the State was found on the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsinawa creek in the lead region. It resembled some huge animal, the head, ears, nose, legs and tail, and general outline of which being as perfect as if made by men versed in modern art. The ridge on which it was situated stands on the prairie, 300 yards wide, 100 feet in height, and rounded on the top by a deep deposit of clay. Centrally, along the line of its summit, and thrown up in the form of an embankment three feet high, extended the outline of a quadruped measuring 250 feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, anc^ having a width of IS feet at the center of the body. The head was 35 feet in length, the ears 10 feet, legs 60 and tail 75. The curvature in both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal lying on its side. The general outline of the figure most nearly resembled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megathe- rium. The question naturally arises, By whom and for what pur- pose was this earth figure raised? Some have conjectured that numbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over the prai- ries of Illinois when the Mound-Builders first made their appearance on the upper part of the Mississippi Valley, and that their wonder and admiration, excited by the colossal dimensions of these huge creatures, found some expression in the erection of this figure. The bones of some similar gigantic animals were exhumed on this stream about three miles from the same place. LARGE CITIES. Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the Western country in 1817, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom, says: "The great number and extremely large size of some of 20 lllSTOKV CM" ILLINOIS. them may be regarded as fnrnisliing, with other circumstances, evidences of their antiquity. 1 have sometimes been induced to think that at the period when they were constructed there was a population here as numerous as tliat wliich once animated the borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The most num- erous, as well as considerable, of these remains are f')und in pre- cisely those parts of the country where the traces of a numerous population might be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the Ohio on the east side of the Mississippi, to the Illinois river, and on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country." It must be admitted that whatever the uses of these mounds — whether as dwellings or burial places — these silent monumeuta were built, and the race who built them vanished from the face of the' earth, ages belbre the Indians occupied the land, but their date must probably forever baffle human skill and ingenuity. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the places of sepulture raised by the Mound-Builders from the more modern graves of the Indians. The tombs of the former were in general larger than those of the latter, and were used as receptacles for a greater number of bodies, and contained relics of art, evincinjj: a higher degree of civ- ilization than that attained by the Indians. The ancient earth- works of the Mound-Builders have occasionally been appropriated as burial places by the Indians, but the skeletons of the latter may be distinguished from the osteological remains of the former by their greater stature. What finally became of the Mound-Builders is another query which has been extensively discussed. The tact that their works extend into Mexico and Peru has induced the belief that it was their posterity that dwelt in these countries when they were first visited by the Spaniards. The Mexican and Peruvian works, with the exception of their greater magnitude, are similar. Relics com- mon to all of them have been occasionally found, and it is believed that the religimis uses which they subserved were the same. If, indeed, the Mexicans and Peruvians were the progeny of the more ancient Mound-Builders, Spanish rapacity for gold was the cause of their overthrow and final extermination. A thousand other queries naturally arise respecting these nations HISTOKV OF ILLINOIS. 21 which now repose under the ground, but the most searching investi- gation can give us only vagae speculations for answers. No histo- rian has preserved the names of their mighty chieftains, or given an account of their exploits, and even tradition is silent respecting them. INDIAjS"S. Following the Mound-Builders as inhabitants of North America, were, as it is su^^posed, the people who reared the magnificent cities the ruins of which are found in Central America. This peo- ple was far more civilized and advanced in the arts than were the Mound-Builders. The cities built by them, judging from the ruins of broken columns, fallen arches and crumbling walls of temples, palaces and pyramids, which in some places for miles bestrew the ground, must have been of great extent, magnificent and very pop- ulous. "When we consider the vast period of time necessary to erect such colossal structures, and, again, the time required to reduce them to their present ruined state, we can conceive something of their antiquity. These cities must have been old when many of the ancient cities of the Orient were being built. The third race inhabiting North America, distinct from the former tvvo in every particular, is the present Indians. They were, when visited by the early discoverers, without cultivation, refinement or literature, and far behind the Mound-Builders in the knowledge of the arts. The question of their origin has long interested archaeologists, and is the most difiicult they have been called upon to answer. Of their predecessors the Indian tribes knew nothing; they even had no traditions respecting them. It is quite certain that they were the successors of a race which had entirely passed away ages before the discovery of the New "World. One hypothesis is that the American Indians are an original race indigenous to the Western hemisphere. Those who entertain this view think their peculiarities of physical structure preclude the possibility of a common parentage with the rest of mankind. Prominent among those distinctive traits is the hair, which in the red man is round, in the white man oval, and in the black man fiat. A more common supposition, however, is that they are a derivative race, and sprang from one or more of the ancient peoples of Asia. In the absence of all authentic history, and when even tradition is 22 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. wanting, any attempt to point out the particular location of their origin must prove unsatisfactory. Though the exact place of origin may never be known, yet the striking coincidence of physical organization between the Oriental type of mankind and the Indians point unmistakably to some part of Asia as the place whence they emigrated, which was originally peopled to a great extent by the children of Shem. In this connection it has been claimed that the meeting of the Europeans, Indians and Africans on the continent of America, is the fulfillment of a prophecy as recorded in Gen- esis ix. 27: "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant." Assuming the theory to be true that the Indian tribes are of Shemitic origin, they were met on this continent in the fifteenth century by the Japhetic race, after the two stocks had passed around the globe by directly different routes. A few years afterward the Hamitic branch of the human family were brought from the coast of Africa. During the occupancy of the continent by the three distinct races, the children of Japheth have grown and prospered, while the called and not voluntary sons of Ham have endured a servitude in the wider stretchinsr vallevs of the tents of Shem. When Christopher Columbus had finally succeeded in demon- strating the truth of his theory that by sailing westward from Eu- rope land would be discovered, landing on the Island of Bermuda he supposed he had reached the East Indies. This was an error, but it led to the adoption of the name of " Indians " for the inhab- itants of the Island and the main land of America, by which name the red men of America have ever since been known. Of the several great branches of North American Indians the only ones entitled to consideration in Illinois history are the Algon- quins and Iroquois. At the time of the discovery of America the former occupied the Atlantic seaboard, while the home of the Iroquois was as an island in this vast area of Algonquin popula- tion. The latter great nation spread over a vast territory, and various tribes of Algonquin lineage sprung up over the country, adopting, in time, distinct tribal customs and laws. An almost continuous warfare was carried on between tribes; but later, on the entrance of the white man into their beloved homes, every foot of territory was fiercely disputed by the confederacy of many neighboring tribes. The Algonquins formed the most extensive alliance to resist the encroachment of the whites, especially the English. Such was the HISTORY OF ILLINIOS. 23 nature of King Philip's war. This King, with his Algonquin braves, spread terror and desolation throughout New England. With the Algonquins as the controlling spirit, a confederacy of conti- nental proportions was the result, embracing in its alliance the tribes of every name and lineage from the Northern lakes to the gulf. Pontiac, having breathed into them his implacable hate of the English intruders, ordered the conflict to commence, and all the British colonies trembled before the desolating fury of Indian vengeance. ILLINOIS CONFEDERACY. The Illinois confederacy, the various tribes of which comprised most of the Indians of Illinois at one time, was composed of five tribes: the Tamaroas, Michigans, Kaskaskias, Oahokas, and Peorias. The Illinois, Miamis and Delawares were of the same stock. As early as 1670 the priest Father Marquette mentions frequent visits made by individuals of this confederacy to the missionary station at St. Esprit, near the western extremity of Lake Superior. At that time they lived west of the Mississippi, in eight villages, whither they had been driven from the shores of Lake Michigan by the Iroquois. Shortly afterward they began to return to their old hunting ground, and most of them finally settled in Illinois. Joliet and Marquette, in 1673, met with a band of them on their famous voyage of discovery down the Mississippi. They were treated with the greatest hospitality by the principal chief. On their return voyage up the Illinois river they stopped at the principal town of the confederacy, situated on the banks of the river seven miles below the present town of Ottawa. It was then called Kas- kaskia. Marquette returned to the village in 1675 and established the mission of the Immaculate Conception, the oldest in Illinois. When, in 1679, LaSalle visited the town, it had greatly increase(3 numbering 460 lodges, and at the annual assembly of the difterent tribes, from 6,000 to 8,000 souls. In common with other western tribes, they became involved in the conspiracy of Pontiac, although displaying no very great warlike spirit. Pontiac lost his life by the hands of one of the braves of the Illinois tribe, which so enraged the nations that had followed him as their leader that they fell upon the Illinois to avenge his death, and almost annihilated them. STARVED ROCK. Tradition states that a band of this tribe, in order to escape the general slaugliter, took refuge upon the high rock on the Illinois 24 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, river since known as Starved Rock. Nature has made this one of tlie most formidable military fortresses in the world. From the waters which wash its base it rises to an altitude of 125 feet. Three of its sides it is impossible to scale, while the one next to the land may be climbed with difficulty. From its summit, almost as inac- cessible as an eagle's nest, the valley of the Illinois is seen as a landscape of exquisite beauty. The river near by struggles between a num-ber of wooded islands, while further below it quietly meanders through vast meadows till it disappears like a thread of light in the dim distance. On the summit of this rock the Illinois were besieged by a superior force of the Pottawatomies whom the great strength of their natural fortress enabled them to keep at bay. Hunger and thirst, however, soon accomplished what the enemy was unable to effect. Surrounded by a relentless foe, without food or water, they took a last look at their beautiful hunting grounds, and with true Indian fortitude lay down and died from starvation. Years afterward their bones were seen whitening in that place. At the beginning of the present century the remnants of this once powerful confederacy were forced into a small compass around Kaskaskia. A few years later they emigrated to the Southwest, and in 1850 they were in Indian Territory, and numbered but 8i persons. SACS AND FOXES. The Sacs and Foxes, who figured most conspicuously in the later history of Illinois, inhabited the northwestern portion of the State. By long residence together and intermarriage they had substan- tially become one people. Drake, in his "Life of Black Hawk," speaks of these tribes as follows: 'f The Sacs and Foxes fought their way from the waters of the St. Lawrence to Green Bay, and after teaching that place, not only sustained themselves against hostile tribes, but were the most active and courageous in the subjugation, or rather the extermination, of the numerous and powerful Illinois confederacy. They had many wars, offensive and defensive, with the Sioux, the Pawnees, the Osages, and other tribes, some of which are ranked among the most fierce and ferocious warriors of the whole continent; and it does not appear that in these conflicts, run- ning through a long period of years, they were found wanting in this, the greatest of all savage virtues. In the late war with Great Britain, a party of the Sacs and Foxes fought under the British HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 27 standard as a matter of choice; and in the recent contest between a fragment of these tribes and the United States, although defeated and literally cat to pieces by an overwhelming force, it is very questionable whether their reputation as braves would suffer by a comparison with that of their victors. It is believed that a careful review of their history, from the period when they tirst established themselves on the waters of the Mississippi down to the present time, will lead the inquirer to the conclusion that the Sacs and Foxes were truly a courageous people, shrewd, politic, and enter- prising, with no more ferocity and treachery of character than is common amona; the tribes bv whom thev were surrounded." These tribes at the time of the Black Hawk War were divided into twenty families, twelve of which were Sacs and eight Foxes. The follow- ing were other prominent tribes occupying Illinois: the Kickapoos, Shawnees, Mascoulins, Piaukishaws, Pottawatomies, Chippewas, and Ottawas. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but, like that of war, was a means of gratifying his love of distinction. The male children, as soon as they acquired sufficient age and strength, were furnished with a bow and arrow and taught to shoot birds and other small game. Success in killing large quadrupeds required years of careful study and practice, and the art was as sedulously inculcated in the minds of the rising generation as are the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic in the common schools of civilized communities. The mazes of the forest and the dense, tall grass of the prairies were the best fields for the exercise of the hunter's skill. No feet could be impressed in the vieldino' soil but that the tracks were the objects of the most searching scrutiny, and revealed at a glance the animal that made them, the direction it was pursuing, and the time that had elayised since it had passed. In a forest country lie selected the valleys, because they were most frequently the resort of game. The most easily taken, perhaps, of all the animals of the chase was the deer. It is endowed with a curiosity which prompts it to stop in its flight and look back at the approaching hunter, who always avails himself of this opportunity to let fly the fatal arrow. Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men. When in council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the 28 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. speaker, and each individual, notwithstandinor the fiery passions tliat rankled within, preserv^ed an exterior as immovable as if cast in bronze. Before commencing business a person appeared with the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After being lighted, it was first presented to heaven, secondly to the earth, thirdly to the presiding spirit, and lastly the several councilors, each of whom took a whiff. These .formalities were observed with as close exactness as state etiquette in civilized courts. The dwellings of the Indians were of the simplest and rudest character. On some pleasant spot by the bank of a river, or near au ever-running spring, they raised their groups of wigwams, con- structed of the bark of trees, and easily taken down and removed to another spot. The dwelling-places of the chiefs were sometimes more spacious, and constructed with greater care, but of the same materials. Skins taken in the chase served them for repose. Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, the uncertain supply from those sources led them to cultivate small patches of corn. Eveiy family did everything necessary within itself, commerce, or an interchange of articles, being almost unknown to them. In cases of dispute and dissension, each Indian relied upon himself f jr retaliation. Blood for blood was the rule, and the relatives of the slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge for his death. This principle gave rise, as a matter of course, to innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars of extermination where such were possible. War, indeed, rather than peace, was the Indian's glory and delight, — war, not conducted as civilization, but war where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and cruelty were prime requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the Indian would make great sacrifices, and display a patience and perseverance truly heroic; I)ut when the excitement was over, he sank back into a listless, un- occupied, well-nigh useless savage. During the intervals of his more exciting pursuits, the Indian employed his time in decorating liis person with all the refinement of paint and feathers, and in the manufacture of his arms and of canoes. These were constructed of bark, and so light that they could easily be carried on the shoulder from stream to stream. His amusements were the war-dance, ath- letic games, the narration of his exploits, and listening to the ora- tory of the chiefs; but during long periods of such existence he remained in a state of torpor, gazing listlessly upon the trees of the forests and the clouds that sailed above them ; and this vacancy HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 29^ imprinted an habitual gravity, and even melancholy, upon his gen- eral deportment. The main labor and drudgery of Indian communities fell upon the women. The planting, tending and gathering of the crops, making mats and baskets, carrying burdens, — in fact, all things of the kind were performed by them, thus making their condition but little better than that of slaves. Marriage was merely a matter of bargain and sale, the husband giving presents to the lather of the bride. In general they had but few children. They were sub- jected to many and severe attacks of sickness, and at times famine and pestilence swept away whole tribes. SINGLE-HANDED COMBAT WITH INDIANS. The most desperate single-handed combat with Indians ever fought on the soil of Illinois was that of Tom Higgins, August 21, 1814-. Higgins was 25 years old, of a muscular and compact build, not tall, but strong and active. In danger he possessed a quick and discerning judgment, and was without fear. He was a member of Journey's rangers, consisting of eleven men, stationed at Hill's Fort, eight miles southwest of the present Greenville, Put- nam county. Discovering Indian signs near the fort, the company, ear^y the following morning, started on the trail. . They had not gone far before they were in an ambuscade of a larger party. At the first fire their commander. Journey, and three men fell, and six retreated to the fort; but Higgins stopped to "have another pull at the red-skins,'' and, taking deliberate aim at a straggling savage, shot him down. Higgins' horse had been wounded at the first fire, as he supposed, mortally. Coming to, he was about to eflfect his escape, when the familiar voice of Burgess hailed him from the long grass, "Tom, don't leave me." Pliggins told him to come along, but Bui-gess replied that his leg was smashed. Hig- gins attempted to raise him on his horse, but the animal took fright and ran away. Higgins then directed Burgess to limp ofif as well as he could; and by crawling through the grass he reached the fort while the former loaded his gun and remained behind to protect him against the pursuing enemy. When Burgess was well out of the way, Higgins took another route, which led by a small thicket, to throw any wandering enemy off the trail. Here he was con- fronted by three savages approaching. He ran to a little ravine near for shelter, but in the efibrt discovered for the first time that 30 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. lie was badly wounded in the leg. lie was closely pressed by the largest, a powerful Indian, who lodged a ball in his thigh. He fell, but instantly rose again, only, however, to draw the fire of the other two, and again fell wounded. The Indians now advanced upon him with their tomahawks and scalping knives; but as he presented his gun first at one, then at another, from liis place in the ravine, each wavered in his purpose. Neither party had time to load, and the large Indian, supposingfinally that Higgins' gun was empty, rushed forward with uplifted tomahawk and a yell; but as he came near enough, was shot down. At this the others raised the war-whoop, and rushed upon the wounded Higgins, and now a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. They darted at him with their knives time and again, inflicting many ghastly flesh-wounds, which bled profusely. One of the assailants threw his tomahawk at him with such pre- cision as to sever his ear and lay bare his skull, knocking him down. They now rushed in on him, but he kicked them off", and grasping one of their spears thrust at him, was raised up by it. He quickly seized his gun, and by a powerful blow crushed in the skull of one, but broke his rifle. His remaining antagonist still kept up the^ con- test, making thrusts with his knife at the bleeding and exhausted Higgins, which he parried with his broken gun as well as he could. Most of this desperate engagement was in plain view of the fort; but the rangers, having been in one ambuscade, saw in this fight only a ruse to draw out the balance of the garrison. But a Mrs. Pursely, residing at the fort, no longer able to see so brave a man contend for his life unaided, seized a gun, mounted a horse, and started to his rescue. . At this the men took courage and hastened along. The Indian, seeing aid coming, fled. Higgins. being near- ly hacked to pieces, fainted from loss of blood. He was carried to the fort. Thei-e being no surgeon, his comrades cut two balls from his flesh; others remained in. For days his life was despaired of; but by tender nursing he ultimately regained his liealth, although badly crippled. He resided in Fayette county for many years after, and died in 1829. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 31 EARLY DISCOVERIES NICHOLAS PERROT. « The first white man who ever set foot on the soil embraced within the boundary of the present populous State of Illinois was ISTicli- olas Perrot, a Frenchman. He was sent to Chicago in the year 1671 by M. Talon, Intendant of Canada, for the purpose of inviting the "Western Indians to a great peace convention to be held at Green Bay. This convention had for its chief object the promulgation of a plan for the discovery of the Mississippi river. This great river had been discovered by De Soto, the Spanish explorer, nearly one hundred and fifty years previously, but his nation left the country a wilderness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in which condition it remained until the river was dis- covered by Joliet and Marquette in 1673. It was deemed a wise policy to secure, as far as possible, the friendship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon an enterprise whici their hostility might render disastrous. Thus the great con- vention was called. JOLIET AND MARQUETTE. Although Perrot was the first European to visit Illinois, he was not the first to make any important discoveries. This was left for Joliet and Marquette, which they accomplished two years thereafter. The former, Louis Joliet, was born at Quebec in 1645. He was educated for the clerical profession, but he abandoned it to engage in the fur trade. His companion, Father Jacques Mai'- quette, was a native of France, born in 1637. He was a Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and great zeal and devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the In- dians. He was sent to America in 1666 as a missionary. To con- vert the Indians he penetrated the wilderness a thousand miles in advance of civilization, and bv his kind attention in their afflic- tions he won their affections and made tliem his lasting friends. There were others, however, who visited Illinois even prior to the famous exploration of Joliet and Marquette. In 1672 the Jesuit 32 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. missionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard of the Cross tVuin their mission at Green Bay through western "Wisconsin and northern Illinois. According to the pre-arranged plan referred to above, at the Jes- uit mission on the Strait of Mackinaw, Joliet joined Marquette, and with five otlier Frenclimen and a simple outfit the daring ex- plorers on the 17th of May, 1673, set out on their perilous voyage to discover the Mississippi. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, they entered Green Bay, and passed thence np Fox river and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Muscatines and Miamis, where great interest was taken in the expedition by the natives. With guides they proceeded down the river. Arriving at the portage, they soon carried their liglit canoes and scanty bag- gage to the Wisconsin, about three miles distant. Their guides now refused to accompany them further, and endeavored, by re- citing the dangers incident to the voyage, to induce them to return. The}' stated that huge demons dwelt in the great river, whose voices could be heard a long distance, and who engulfed in the raging waters all who came within their reach. They also represented that if any of them should escape the dangers of the river, fierce tribes of Indians dwelt upon its banks ready to complete the work of de- strnction. They proceeded on their journey, however, and on the 17tli of June pushed their frail barks on the bosom of the stately Mississippi, down which they smoothly glided for nearly a hundred miles. Here Joliet and Marquette, leaving their canoes in charge of their men, went on the western shore, where they discovered an. Indian village, and were kindly treated. They journeyed on down the unknown river, passing the mouth of the Illinois, then run- ning: into the current of the rauddv Missouri, and afterwaid the waters of the Ohio joined with them on their journey southward. Near the mouth of the Arkansas they discovered Indians who showed signs of hostility; but when Marquette's mission of peace was made known to them, they were kindly received. After pro- ceeding up the Arkansas a short distance, at the advice of the natives they turned their faces northward to retrace their steps. Af- ter several weeks of hard toil they reached the Illinois, up which stream they proceeded to Lake Michigan. Following the western shore of the lake, they entered Green Bay the latter part of Sep- tember, having traveled a distance of 2,500 miles. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 33 On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in LaSalle county. The following year he returned and established among them the mission of the Im- maculate Yirgin Mary. This was the last act of his life. He died in Michigan, May 18, 1675. • lasalle's explorations. The first French occupation of Illinois was eifectetl by LaSalle, in 1680. Having constructed a vessel, the " Grifiin," above the falls of Niagara, he sailed to Green Bay, and passed thence in canoe to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, by which and the Kan- kakee he reached the Illinois in January, 1680; and on the 3d he entered the expansion of the river now called Peoria lake. Here, at the lower end of the lake, on its eastern bank, now in Tazewell county, he erected Fort Crevecoeur. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen just below the outlet of Peoria lake. It had, however, but a temporary existence. From this point LaSalle determined, at that time, to descend the Mississippi to its mouth. This he did not do, however, until two years later. Keturning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of getting material with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort at Peoria in charge of his lieutenant, Henri Tonti, an Italian, who had lost one of his hands by the explosion of a grenade in the Sicilian wars. Tonti had with him fifteen men, most of whom disliked LaSalle, and. were ripe for a revolt the first opportunity. Two men who had, previous to LaSalle's departure, been sent to look for the " Griffin " now returned and reported that the vessel was lost and that Fort Frontenac was in the hands of LaSalle's creditors. This disheartening intelligence had the effect to enkindle a spirit of mutiny among the garrison. Tonti had no sooner left the fort, with a few men, to fortify what was afterward known as Starved Kock, than the garrison at the fort refused longer to submit to authority. They destroyed the fort, seized the ammunition, provisions, and other portables of value, and fled. Only two of their number remained true. These hast- ened to apprise Tonti of what had occurred. He thereupon sent four of the men with him to inform LaSalle. Thus was Tonti in the midst of treacherous savages, with only five men, two of whom were the friars Eibourde and Membre. With these he immediately returned to the fort, collected what tools had not been destroyed, and conveyed them to the great town of the Illinois Indians. 34 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. By this voluntary display of confidence he hoped to remove the jealousy created in tlie minds of the Illinois by the enemies of La- Salle. .Here he awaited, unmolested, the return of LaSalle. GREAT BATTLE OF THE ILLINOIS. Neither Tonti nor liis wild associates suspected that hordes of Iro- quois were gathering preparatory to rushing down upon their country and reducing it to an uninhabited waste. Already these hell-hounds of the wilderness had destroyed the Hurous, Eries, and other natives on the lakes, and were now directing their attention to the Illinois for new victims. Five hundred Iroquois warriors set out for the home of the Illinois. All was fancied security and idle repose in the great town of this tribe, as the enemy stealthily approached. Suddenly as a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky the listless inhabitants were awakened from their lethargy. A Shawnee Indian, on his return home after a visit to the Illinois, first discovered the invaders. To save his friends from the im- pending danger, he hurriedly returned and apprised them of the coming enemy. This intelligence spread with lightning rapidity over the town, and each wigwam disgorged its boisterous and as- tounded inmates. Women snatched their children, and in a delirium of f.ight wandered aimlessly about, rending the air with their screams. The men, more self-possessed, seized their arms ready for the coming fray. Tonti, long an object of suspicion, was soon surrounded by an angry crowd of warriors, who accused him of be- ing an emissary of the enem}'. His inability to defend himself properly, in consequence of not fully understanding their language left them still inclined to believe him guilty, and they seized his eifects from the fort and threw them into the river. The women and children were sent down the river for safety, and the wairiors, not exceeding four hundred, as most of their young men were off hunting, returned to the village. Along the shores of the river they kindled huge bonfires, and spent the entire night in greasing their bodies, painting their faces, and performing the war-dance, to pi'epare for the approaching enemy. At early dawn the scouts who had been sent out returned, closely followed by the Iroquois. The scouts had seen a chief arrayed in French costume, and re- ported their suspicions that LaSalle was in the camp of the enemy, and Tonti again became an object of jealousy. A concourse of wildly gesticulating savages immediately gathered about him, de- HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 35 manding his life, and nothing saved him from their uplifted weap- ons but a promise that he and his men would go with them to meet the enemy. With their suspicions partly lulled, they hurriedly crossed the river and met the foe, when both commenced firing. Tonti, seeing that the Illinois were outnumbered and likely to be defeated, determined, at the imminent risk of his life, to stay the fight by an attempt at mediation. Presuming on the treaty of peace then existing between the French and Iroquois, he exchanged his gun for a belt of wampum and advanced to meet the savage 'multitude, attended by thre^ companions, who, being unnecessarily exposed to danger, were dismissed, and he proceeded alone. A short walk brought him in the midst of a pack of yelping devils, writhing and distorted with fiendish rage, and impatient to shed his blood. As the result of his swarthy Italian complexion and half-savage costume, he was at first taken for an Indian, and before the mistake was discovered a young warrior approached and stabbed at his heart. Fortunately the blade was turned aside bv comino- in contact with a rib, yet a large flesh wound was inflicted, which bled profusely. At this juncture a chief discovered his true char- acter, and he was led to the rear and efl'orts were made to staunch his wound. When sufficiently recovered, he declared the Illinois were under the protection of the French, and demanded, in consid- eration of the treaty between the latter and the Iroquois, that they should be suffered to remain without further molestation. Durino- this conference a young warrior snatched Tonti's hat, and, fleeino- with it to the front, held it aloft on the end of his gun in view of the Illinois. The latter, judging that Tonti had been killed, renewed the fight with great vigor. Simultaneously, intelligence was brought to the Iroquois that Frenchmen were assistino- their enemies in the fight, when the contest over Tonti was renewed with redoubled fury. Some declared that he should be immediately put to death, while others, friendly to LaSalle, with equal earnest- ness demanded that he should be set at liberty. Durino- their clamorous debate, his hair was several times lifted by a huo-e sav- age who stood at his back with a scalping knife ready for execution. Tonti at length turned the current of the angry controversy in his favor, by stating that the Illinois were 1,200 strong, and that there were 60 Frenchmen at the village ready to assist them. This state- ment obtained at least a partial credence, and his tormentors now 2g HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. determined to use him as an instrument to delude the I";""^ » pretended truco. The old warriors, therefore, advanced '« 'he fron and ordered the tiring to cease, while Tout,, d.zzy Irom the loss ol blood, was furnished with an emblem of peace and sent staggering a ros the plain to rejoin the Illinois. The two fr.ars who had just . .ned fVom a distlnt hut, whither they had repaired for prayer lud meditation, were the first to meet him and bless God for what they regarded as a miraculous deliveranee. With the assurance bronght by Tonti, the Illinois re-crossed the river to then- lodges, followed by the enemy as far as the opposite bank. Not long after Urge numbers of the latter, under the pretext of hunting also cross.^ the river and hung in threatening groups about the town. These hostile indications, and the well-known disregard which the Iroquo had always evinced for their pledges, soon convinced the Illinois that theif only safety was in flight. With this conviction they se tire to tlieir village, and while the vast volume of flames and smoke diverted the attention of the enemy, they quietly dropped down the river to join their women and children. As soon as the flames would permit, the Iroquois entrenched themselves on the site of the vil- lage Tonti and his men were ordered by the suspicious savages to leave their hut and take up their abode in the tort. At first the Iroquois were much elated at the discomfiture of the Illinois, but when two days afterward they discovered them recon- noitering their intrenchments, their courage greatly subsided. With fear they recalled the exaggerations of Tonti respecting their numbers, and concluded to send him with a hostage to make over tures of peace. He-and his hostage were received will delight by the Illinois, who readily assented to the proposal which he brought, and in turn sent back with him a hostage to the Iroquois. 0,i his return to the fort his life was again placed in jeopardy, and the treaty was with great difliculty ratified. The yonng and mexpe- rienced Illinois hostage betrayed to his crafty interviewers the nu- merical weakness of his tribe, and the savages immediately rushed upon Tonti, and charged him with having deprived them of the spoils and honors of victory. It now required all the tact of which he was master to escape. After much diflieulty however, the treaty was con- cluded, but the savages, to show their contempt for it, immediately commenced constructing canoes in which to descend the river and attack the Illinois. S^fi^"*^ AN IROQUOIS CHIEF. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 39 FRENCHMEN DRIVEN AWAY. Tonti managed to apprise the latter of their designs, and he and Membre were soon after summoned to attend a council of the Iro- quois, who still labored under a wholesome fear of Count Frontenac, and disliking to attack the Illinois in the presence of the French, they thought to try to induce them to leave the country. At the assembling of the council, six packages of beaver skins were intro- duced, and the savage orator, presenting them separately to Tonti, explained the nature of each. "The first two," said he, " were to de- clare that the children of Count Frontenac, that is, the Illinois, should not be eaten; the next was a plaster to heal the wounds of Tonti; the next was oil wherewith to anoint him and Membre, that they might not be fatigued in traveling; the next proclaimed that the sun was bright; and the sixth and last required them to decamp and go home," At the mention of going home, Tonti demanded of them when they intended to set the example by leaving the Illinois in the peaceable possession of their country, which they had so unjustly in- vaded. The council grew boisterous and angry at the idea that they should be demanded to do what they required of the French, and some of its members, forgetting their previous pledge, declared that ihey would "eat Illinois flesh before they departed." Tonti, in imitation of the Indians' manner of expressing scorn, indignantly kicked away the presents of fur, saying, since they intended to de- vour the children of Frontenac with cannibal ferocity, he would not accept their gifts. This stern rebuke resulted in the expulsion of Tonti and his companion from the council, and the next day the chiefs ordered them to leave the country. Tonti had now, at the great peril of his life, tried every expedient to prevent the slaughter of the Illinois. There was little to be ac- complished by longer remaining in the country, and as longer delay might imperil the lives of his own men, he determined to depart, not knowing where or when he would be able to rejoin LaSalle. With this object in view, the party, consisting of six persons, embarked in canoes, which soon proved leaky, and they were compelled to land for the purpose of making repairs. While thus employed, Father Ri- bourde, attracted by the beauty of the surrounding landscape, wan- dered forth among the groves for meditation and prayer. Kot return- ing in due time, Tonti became alarmed, and started with a compan- 40 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. ion to ascertain the cause of the long delay. They soon discovered tracks of Indians, by whom it was supposed he had been seized, and guns were fired to direct his return, in case he was alive. Seeing nothing of him during the day, at night they built fires along the bank of the river and retired to the opposite side, to see who might approach them. Near midnight a number of Indians were seen flitting about the light, by whom, no doubt, had been made the tracks seen the previous day. It was afterward learned that they were a band of^Kickapoos, who had for several days been hovering about the camp of the Iroquois in quest of scalps. They had fell in with the inoffensive old friar and scalped him. Thus, in the 65th 3'ear of his age, the only heir to a wealthy Burgundian house per- ished under the war-club of the savages for whose salvation he had renounced ease and affluence. INHUMAN BUTCHERY. During this tragedy a far more revolting one was being enacted in tbe great town of Illinois. The Iroquois were tearing open the graves of the dead, and wreaking their vengeance upon the bodies made hideous by putrefaction. At this desecration, it is said, they even ate portions of the dead bodies,. while subjecting them to every indignity that brutal hate could inflict. Still unsated by their hell- ish brutalities, and now unrestrained by the presence of the French, they started in pursuit of the retreating Illinois. Day after day they and the opposing forces moved in compact array down the river, neither being able to gain any advantage over the other. At length the Iroquois obtained by falsehood that which number and prowess denied them. They gave out that their object was to pos- sess the country, not by destroying, but by driving out its present inhabitants. Deceived by this false statement, the Illinois separa- ted, some descending the Mississippi and others crossing to the western shore. The Tamaroas, more credulous than the rest, re- mained near the mouth of the Illinois, and were suddenly attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy. The men fled in dismay, and the women and children, to the number of 700, fell into the hands of the ferocious enemy. Then followed the tortures, butch- eries and burnings which only the infuriated and imbruted Iroquois could perpetrate. LaSalle on his return discovered the half-charred bodies of women and children still bound to the stakes where they had sufi*ered all the torments hellish hate could devise. In addition HISTOBY OF ILLINOIS. 41 to those who had been burnt,* the mangled bodies of women and children thickly covered the ground, many of which bore marks of brutality too horrid for record. After the ravenous horde had sufficiently glutted their greed for carnage, they retired from the country. The Illinois returned and rebuilt their town. TONTI SAFE AT GREEN BAY. After the death of Ribourde, Tonti and his men again resumed their journey. Soon again their craft became disabled, when they abandoned it and started on foot for Lake Michigan. Tiieir supply of provisions soon became exhausted, and they were compelled to subsist in a great measure on roots and herbs. One of their companions wandered off in search of game, and lost his way, and several days elapsed before he rejoined them. In his absence he was without flints and bullets, yet contrived to shoot some turkeys by using slugs cut from a pewter porringer and afire- brand to discharge his gun. Tonti fell sick of a fever and greatly retarded the progress of the march. Kearing Green Bay, the cold increased and the means of subsistence decreased and the party would have perished had they not found a few ears of corn and some froz- en squashes in the fields of a deserted village. JSTear the close of JS^ovember they had reached the Pottawatomies, who warmly greet- ed them. Their chief was an ardent admirer of the French, and was accustomed to say: " There were but three great captains in the world, — himself, Tonti and LaSalle." For the above account of Tonti's encounter with the Iroquois, we are indebted to Davidson and Stuve's History of Illinois. lasalle's return. LaSalle returned to Peoria only to meet the hideous picture of devastation. Tonti had escaped, but LaSalle knew not whither. Pass- ing down the lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discov- ered that the fort had been destroyed ; but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still on the stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search he fastened to a tree a painting repre- senting himself and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the painting attached a letter addressed to Tonti. LaSalle was born in France in 1643, of wealthy parentage, and edu- cated in a college of the Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada, a poor man, in 1666. He was a man of daring genius, 42 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, and outstripped all his competitors in exploits of travel and com- merce with the Indians. He was granted a large tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fnr trade. In 1669 he visited the headquarters of the great Iroquois confederacy, at Onondaga, New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio river to the falls at Louisville. 'For many years previous, it must be remembered, missionaries and traders wereobliored to make their' way to the Northwest through Canada on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower lakes and Niagara river, which entirely closed this latter route to the upper lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, paddling them through Ottawa river to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the portage to French river, and descending that to Lake Huron. This being the route by which they reached the Northwest, we have an explana- tion of the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neighborhood of the upper lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening the route by Niagara river and the lower lakes to Canada commerce by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mex- ico. This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to have animated him in his wonderful achievements, and the matchless difliculties and hardships he surmounted. As the first step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the French crown, and a body of troops, by which he repulsed the Iroquois and opened passage to Niagara Falls. Hav- ing by this masterly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his next step, as we have seen, was to build a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was successful in this under- taking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a strange com- bination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them and united with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of his success in opening new channels of commerce. While they were plodding with their bark canoes through the Ottawa, he was con- structing sailing vessels to commaml the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans excited the jealousy and envy of HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 4^ small traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of his men, and finally led to the foul assassination bj which his great achievements were permanently ended. lasalle's assassination. Again visiting the Illinois in the year 1682, LaSalle de- scended the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. He erected a standard upon which he inscribed the arms of France, and took formal possession of the whole valley of this mighty river in the name of Louis XIY., then reigning, and in honor of whom he named the country Louisiana. LaSalle then returned to France, was appointed Governor, and returned with a fleet of immigrants for the purpose of planting a colony in Illinois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to find the mouth of the Missis- sippi, up which they intended to sail, his supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed rude huts and stockades on the shore for the protection of his followers, calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to find his colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel on foot to Illinois. With some twenty of his men they filed out of their fort on the 12th of January, 1687, and after the part- ing,— which was one of sighs, of tears, and of embraces, all seeming intuitively to know that they should see each other no more.— they started on their disastrous journey. Two of the party, Du Haut and Leotot, when on a hunting expedition in company with a nephew of LaSalle, assassinated him while asleep. The long absence of his nephew caused LaSalle to go in search of him. On approaching the murderers of his nephew, they fired upon him kill- ing him instantly. They then despoiled the body of its clothing, anc left it to be devoured by the wild beasts of the forest. Thus' at the age of 43, perished one whose exploits have so greatly enriched the history of the New World. To estimate aright the marvels of his patient fortitude, one must follow on his track through the vast scene of his interminable journeyings, those thou- sands of weary miles of forest, marsh and river, where, again and again, in the bitterness of baifled striving, the untiring pilgrim pushed onward toward the goal he never was to attain. America owes him an enduring memory; for in this masculine figure, cas/ ^4- HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. in iron, she sees the heroic pioneer who guided her to the possession of her richest heritage. , t„. • i Tonti who had been stationed at the fort on the Ilhnois, learning of LaSalle's unsuccessful voyage, immediately started down the Mississippi to his relief. Reaching the Gulf, he found no traces of the colony He then returned, leaving some of his men at the mouth of the Arkansas. These were discovered by the remnant of LaSalle's followers, who guided them to the fort on the Illinois where they reported that LaSalle was in Mexico. The little band left at Fort St. Louis were finally destroyed by the Indians, and the murderers of LaSalle were shot. Thus ends the sad chapter ot Eobert Cavalier de LaSalle's exploration. FRENCH OCCUPATION. FIRST SETTLEMENTS. The first mission in Illinois, as we have already seen, was com- menced by Marquette in April, 1675. He called the religious society which he established the " Mission of the Immaculate Con- ception," and the town Kaskaskia. The first military occupation of the country was at Fort Crevecoeur, erected in 1680; but there is no evidence that a settlement was commenced there, or at Peoria, on the lake above, at that early date. Th.e first settlement of which there is any authentic account was commenced with the building of l^ort St Louis on the Illinois river in 1682; but this was soon abandoned. The oldest permanent settlement, not only in Illinois, but m the val- ley of the Mississippi, is at Kaskaskia, situated six miles above the mouth of the Kaskaskia river. This was settled in 1690 by the removal of the mission from old Kaskaskia, or Ft. St. Louis, on the Illinois river. Cahokia was settled about the same time. The reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission, was probably because the dangerous and difiicult route by Lake Michi<^an and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and traders traveled down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. It was removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. Illinois came into possession ot the Irench in 1682, and was a dependency of Canada and a part of Louisiana. During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 45> probably never exceeded ten thousand. To the year 1730 the fol- lowing five distinct settlements were made in the territory of Illinois, numbering, in population, 140 French families, about 600 "converted " Indians, and many traders; Cahokia, near the mouth of Cahokia creek and about five miles below the present city of St. Louis; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia; Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia river six miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. Fort Chartres was built under the direction of the Mississippi Company in 1718, and was for a time the headquarters of the military commandants of the district of Illinois, and the most impregnable fortress in JSIorth America. It was also the center of wealth and fashion in the West. For about eighty years the French retained peaceable possession of Illinois. Their amiable disposition and tact of ingratiating them- selves with the Indians enabled them to escape almost entirely the broils which weakened and destroyed other colonies, "Whether exploring remote rivers or traversing hunting grounds in pursuit of game, in the social circle or as participants in the religious exer- cises of the church, the red men became their associates and were treated with the kindness and consideration of brothers. For more than a hundred years peace between the white man and the red was unbroken, and when at last this reign of harmony terminated it was not caused by the conciliatory Frenchman, but b}'- the blunt and sturdy Anglo-Saxon. During this century, or until the coun- try was occupied by the English, no regular court was ever held. When, in 1765, the country passed into the hands of the English,. many of the French, rather than submit to a change in their insti- tutions, preferred to leave their homes and seek a new abode. There are, however, at tlie present time a few remnants of the old French stock in the State, who still retain to a great extent the ancient habits and customs of their fathers. THE MISSISSIPPI COM PANT. During the earliest period of French occupation of this country, M. Tonti, LaSalle's attendant, was commander-in-chief of all the territory embraced between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, and extending east and west of the Mississippi as far as his ambition or imagination pleased to allow. He spent twenty-one years in estab- lishing forts and organizing the first settlements of Illinois. Sep- 46 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. teniber 14, 1712, the French government granted a monopoly of all the trade and commerce of the country to M. Crozat, a wealthy merchant of Paris, who established a trading company in Illinois, and it was by this means that the early settlements became perma- nent and others established. Crozat surrendered his charter in 1717, and the Company of the West, better known as the Missis- sippi Company, was organized, to aid and assist the banking system of John Law, the most famous speculator of modern times, and perhaps at one time the wealthiest private individual the world has ever known; but his treasure was transitory. LFnder the* Company of the West a branch was organized called the Company of St. Philip's, for the purpose of working the rich silver mines sup- posed to be in Illinois, and Philip Renault was appointed as its agent. In 1719 he sailed from France with two hundred miners, laborers and mechanics. During 1719 the Company of the AVest was by royal order united with the Royal Company of the Indies, and had the influence and support of the crown, who was deluded by the belief that immense wealth would flow into the empty treas- ury of France. This gigantic scheme, one of the most extensive and wonderful bubbles ever blown up to astonish, deceive and ruin thousands of people, was set in operation by the fertile brain of John Law. Law was born in Scotland in 1671, and so rapid had been his career that at the age of twenty-three he was a " bankrupt, an adulterer, a murderer and an exiled outlaw." But he possessed great financial ability, and by his agreeable and attractive manners, and his enthusiastic advocacy of his schemes, he succeeded in inflaming the imagination of the mercurial Frenchmen, whose greed for gain led them to adopt any plans for obtaining wealth. Law arrived in Paris with two and a half millions of francs, which he had gained at the gambling table, just at the right time. Louis XIY. had just died and left as a legacy empty coflers and an immense public debt. Every thing and everybody was taxed to the last penny to pay even the interest. All the sources of in- dustry were dried up; the very wind which wafted the barks of commerce seemed to have died away under the pressure of the time; trade stood still; the merchant, the trader, the artificer, once flourishins: in afilueuce, were transformed into clamorous bee:£:ars. The life-blood that animated the kingdom was stagnated in all its arteries, and tlie danger of an awful crisis became such that HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 47 the nation was on the verge of bankruptcy. At this critical junc- ture John Law arrived and proposed his grand scheme of the Mississippi Company; 200,000 shares of stock at 500 livres each were at first issued. This sold readily and great profits were realized. More stock was issued, speculation became rife, the fever seized everybody, and the wildest speculating frenzy pervaded the whole nation. Illinois was thought to contain vast and rich mines of minerals. Kaskaskia, then scarcely more than the settlement of a few savages, was spoken of as an emporium of the most extensive trafiic, and as rivaling some of the cities of Europe in refinement, fashion and religious culture. Law was in the zenith of his glory, and the people in the zenith of their infatuation. The high and the low, the rich and the poor, were at once filled with visions of untold wealth,andeveryage, set, rank and condition were buying and selling stocks. Law issued stock again and again, and readily sold until 2,235,000,000 livres were in circulation, equaling about $450,000,000. While confidence lasted an impetus was given to trade never before known. An illusory policy everywhere prevailed, and so dazzled the eye that none could see in the horizon the dark cloud announc- ing the approaching storm. Law at the time was the most influ- ential man in Europe. His house was beset from morning till night with eager applicants for stock. Dukes, marquises and counts, with their wives and daughters, waited for hours in the street below his door. Finding his residence too small, he changed it for the Place Yendome, whither the crowd followed him, and the spacious square had the appearance of a public market. The boule- vards and public gardens were forsaken, and the Place Vendome became the most fashionable place in Paris; and he was unable to wait upon even one-tenth part of his applicants. The bubble burst after a few years, scattering ruin and distress in every direction. Law, a short time previous the most popular man in Europe, fled to Brussels, and in 1729 died in Yenice, in obscurity and poverty. ENGLISH EULE. As early as 1750 there could be j^erceived the first throes of the revolution, which gave a new master and new institutions to Illi- nois. France claimed the whole valley of the Mississippi, and Eng- - land the right to extend her possessions westward as far as she might desire. Through colonial controversies the two mother 48 HISTORY OK ILLINOIS, countries were precipitated into a bloody war within the North- western Territory, (leorge Washinj^tou firing the first gun of the military struggle which resulted in the overthrow of the French not only in Illinois but in North America. The French evinced a determination to retain control of the territory bordering the Ohio and Mississippi from Canada to the Gulf, and so long as the En- glish colonies were confined to the sea-coast there was little reason for controversy. As the English, however, became acquaintcid with this beautiful and fertile portion of our country, they not only learned the value of the vast territory, but also resolved to set up a counter claim to the soil. The French established numerous mili- tary and trading posts from the frontiers of Canada to New Or- leans, and in order to establish also their claims to jurisdiction over the country they carved the lilies of France on the forest trees, or sunk plates of metal in the ground. These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explorations; and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only a question of tinie when the storm should burst upon the frontier settlement. The French based their claims upon discoveries, the English on grants of territory extending from ocean to ocean, but neither party paid the least attention to the prior claims of the Indians. From this posi- tion of affairs, it was evident that actual collision between the contending parties would not much longer be deferred. The En- glish Government, in anticipation of a war, urged the Governor of Virginia to lose no time in building two forts, which were equipped by arms from England. The French anticipated the English and gathered a considerable force to defend their possessions. The Governor determined to send a messenger to the nearest French post and demand an explanation. This resolution of the Governor brought into the history of our country for the first time the man of all others whom America most loves to honor, namely, George Washington. He was chosen, although not yet twenty- one years of age, as the one to perforin this delicate and difficult mission. With five companions he set out on Nov. 10, 1753, and after a per- ilous journey returned Jan. 6, 1754. The struggle commenced and continued long, and was bloody and fierce; but on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1765, the" ensign of France was replaced on the ramparts of Fort Chartres by the flag of Great Britain. This fort was the GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 51 •depot of supplies and the place of rendezvous for the united forces of the French. At this time the colonies of the Atlantic seaboard were assembled in preliminary congress at New York, dreaming of liberty and independence for the continent; and Washington, who led the expedition against the French for the English king, in less than ten years was commanding the forces opposed to the English tyrant. Illinois, besides being constructively a part of Florida for over one hundred years, during which time no Spaniard set foot upon her soil or rested his eyes upon her beautiful plains, for nearly ninety years had been in the actual occupation of the French, their puny settlements slumbering quietly in colonial dependence on the distant waters of the Kaskaskia, Illinois and Wabash. GEN. CLAEk's exploits. The JSTorthwest Territory was now entirely under Englisli rule, and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary war the British held every post of importance in the West. While the colonists of the East were maintaining a fierce struggle with the armies of England, their western frontiers were ravaged by merciless butcheries of In- dian warfare. The jealousy of the savage was aroused to action by the rapid extension of American settlement westward and the im- proper influence exerted by a number of military posts garrisoned by Eritir.li troops. To prevent indiscriminate slaughters arising from tliese causes, Illinois became the theater of some of the most daring exploits connected with American history. The hero of the achieve- ments by which this beautiful land was snatched as a gem from the British Crown, was George Rogers Clark, of Virginia. He had closely watched the movements of the British throughout the Northwest, and understood their vrhole plan; he also knew the Indians were not unanimously in accord with the Euirlish, and therefore was convinced that if the British could be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality. Having convinced himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlement might easily succeed, he repaired to the cap- ital of Virginia, arriving Nov. 6, 1777. While he was on his way, fortunately, Burgoyne was defeated (Oct. 17), and the spirits of the colonists were thereby greatly encouraged. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. After satisfying the Vii'ginia leaders of the feasibility of his project, he received two sets of instructions, — one secret, the 52 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. / other open. The latter authorized him to enlist seven companies- to go to Kentucky, and serve three months after tlieir arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburg, and to proceed at once to subjugate the countr3\ HE TAKES KASKASKIA. With these instructions Col. Clark repaired to Pittsburg, chooB- ino; rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. I>. Smith to Holstein and Captains Helm and Bowman to other localities to enlist men; but none of them succeeded in rais- ing the required number. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the expedition. With these companies and several private volunteers Clark commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the falls, where he took posses- sion of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present cities of Louisville, Kj- ., and New Albany, Ind. Here, after having completed his arrangements and announced to the men their real destination, he left a small garrison; and on the 24th of June, dur- ing a total eclipse of the sun, which to tliem augured no good, they floated down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to sur])rise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Yincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Mississippi river and cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received good items of information: one that an alliance had been formed between France and the United States, and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants at the various frontier posts had been leu by the British to believe that the " Long Knives," or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scal})ed a foe. With this impression on tlieir minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly, if treated with unexpected lenity. Tiie march to Kaskaskia was made through a hot July sun, they arriving on tlie evening of the 4th of July, 1778. They captured the fort near the village and soon after the village itself, by surprise, and without the loss of HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 53 a single man and without killing any of the enemy. After suffi- ciently working on the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the great conflict they would; also he would pro- tect them against any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect; and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked-for turn of affiiirs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms; and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered and gladly placed themselves under his protection. In the person of M. Gibault, priest of Kaskaskia, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain pos- session of the ISTorthwest and treat successfully with the Indians, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. St. Vin- cent, the post next in importance to Detroit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Yincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted this offer, and July 14th, in company with a fellow-townsman, Gibault started on his mission of peace. On the 1st of August he returned witl: the cheerful intelligence that everything was peaceably ad- justed at Vincennes in favor of the Americans. During the inter- val, Col. Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, and sent word to have a fort (which proved the germ of Louisville) erected at the falls of the Ohio. While the American commander was thus neofotiatino- with the Indians, Hamilton, the British Governor of Detroit, heard of Clark's invasion, and was greatly incensed because the countrv which he had in charge should be wrested from him by a few ragged militia. He therefore hurriedly collected a force, marched by wav of the Wabash, and appeared before the fort at Yincennes. The inhabi- tants made an effort to defend the town, and when Hamilton's forces arrived, Captain Helm and a man named Henry were the only Americans in the fort. These men had been sent by Clark. The latter charged a cannon and placed it in the open gateway, and the Captain stood by it with a lighted match and cried out, as Ham- ilton came in hailing distance, "Halt!" The British officer, not 54 IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. knowing the strength of the garrison, stopped, and demanded the surrender of tlie fort. Hehn exclaimed, " No man sliall enter here till I know the terms." Hamilton responded, " You shall have the honors of war." The entire garrison consisted of one officer and one private. VINCENNES CAPTURED. On taking Kaskaskia, Clark made a prisoner of Rocheblave, commander of the place, and got possession of all his written instructions for the conduct of the war. From these papers he received important information respecting the plans of Col. Ham- ilton, Governor at Detroit, who was intending to make a vigorous and concerted attack upon the frontier. After arriving at Vin- cennes, however, he gave up his intended campaign for the winter, and trusting to his distance from danger and to the difficulty of approaching him, sent off his Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, and to annoy the Americans in all ways. Thus he sat quietly down to pass the winter with only about eighty soldiers, but secure, as he thought, from molestation. But he evidently did not realize the character of the men with whom he was contendin Clark, although he could muster only one hundred and thirty men determined to take advantaije of Hamilton's weakness and securitv, and attack him as the onlj^ means of saving himself; for unless he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Accordingly, about the beginning of February, 1779, he dispatched a 6n:iall galley which he had fitted out, mounted with two four-pounders and four swivels and manned with a company of soldiers, and carrying stores for his men, with orders to force her way up the Wabash, to take her station a few miles below Vincennes, and to allow no person to pass her. He himself marched with his little band, and spent six- teen days in traversing the country from Kaskaskia to Vincennes, passing with incredible fatigue through woods and marshes. He was five days in crossing the bottom lands of the Wabash; and for five miles was frequently up to the breast in water. After over- coming difficulties which had been thought insurmountable, he appeared before the place and completely surprised it. The inhab- itants readily submitted, but Hamilton at first defended himself in the fort. Next day, however, he surrendered himself and his gar- rison prisoners-of-war. By his activity in encouraging the hostili- ties of the Indians and, by the revolting enormities perpetrated by g- HIBTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 00 those savages, Hamilton had rendered himself so obnoxious that he was thrown in prison and put in irons. During his command of the British frontier posts he offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of the Americans thej would bring him, and earned in con- sequence thereof the title, "Hair-Bujer General," by which he was ever afterward known. The services of Clark proved of essential advantage to his coun- trymen. They disconcerted the plans of Hamilton, and not only saved the western frontier from depredations by the savages, but also greatly cooled the ardor of the Indians for carrying on a contest in which they were not likely to be the gainers. Had it not been for this small army, a union of all the tribes from Maine to Georgia against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our historv changed. ILLINOIS. COUNTY OF ILLINOIS. In October, 1778, after the successful campaign of Col. Clark, the assembly of Virginia erected the conquered country, embracing all the territory northwest of the Ohio river, into the County of Illi- nois, which was doubtless the largest county in the world, exceeding in its dimensions the whole of Great Britian and Ireland, To speak more definitely, it contained the territory now embraced in the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. On the 12th of December, 1778, John Todd was appointed Lieutenant- Corainandant of this county by Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, and accordingly, also, the first of Illinois County. NOETHWESTERjST territoey. Illinois continued to form a part of Virginia until March 1, 1784, when that State ceded all the territory north of the Ohio to the United States. Immediately the general Government proceeded to establish a form of government for the settlers in the territories thus ceded. This form continued until the passage of the ordi- nance of 1787, for the government of the Northwestern Terri- tory. No man can study the secret history of this ordinance and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye the des- 56 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. tinies of these unborn States. American legislation has never achieved anything more admirable, as an internal government, than this comprehensive ordinance. Its provisions concerning the ditftribution of property, the principles of civil and religious liberty which it laid at the foundation of the communities since established, and the efficient and simple organization by which it created the first machinery of civil society, are worthy of all the praise that has ever been given them. ORDINANCE OF 1787. This ordinance has a marvelous and interesting history. Con- siderable controversy has been indulged in as to who is entitled to the credit for framing it. This belongs, undoubtedly, to Kathan Dane; and to Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belong the credit for suggesting the proviso contained in it against slavery, and also for aids to religion and knowledge, and for assuring for- ever the common use, without charge, of the great national high- ways of the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and their tributaries to all the citizens of the United States. To Thomas Jeflferson is also due much credit, as some features of this ordinance were embraced in his ordinance of 17S4. But the part taken by each in the long, laborious and eventful struggle which had so glorious a consum- mation in the ordinance, consecrating forever, by one imprescript- ible and uncliangeable monument, the very heart of our country to Freedom, Knowledge, and Union, will forever honor the names of those illustrious statesmen. Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government for the Northwestern Territory. He was an emancipationist and favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory, but the South voted him down every time he proposed a measure of this nature. In 17S7, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti- slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in session in New York. On July 5, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the Northwestern Territory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 57 once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the breath of the Ahiiighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale. He had studied and taken de- grees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He had published a scientific examination of the j)lants of New England. As a scientist in America his name stood second only to that of Franklin He was a courtly gentleman of the old style, a man of commanding presence and of inviting face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North. He came representing a Massachusetts company that desii-ed to purchase a tract of land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This company had collected enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made Dr. Cutler tlieir agent, which enabled him to represent a demand for 5,500,000 acres. As this would reduce the national debt, ai:d Jefferson's policy was to provide for the public credit, it presented a good opportunity to do something. Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the North- western region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspiration, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The entire South ral- lied around him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, be- cause many of the constituents of her members were interested personally in the "Western speculation. Thus Cutler, makino- friends in the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the lobby, was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convic- tions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from Jefierson the term "Articles of Compact," which preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred char- acter. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massa- chusetts, adopted tliree years before. Its most prominent points were : 1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a semi- nary and every section numbered 16 in each township; that is, one thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools. 3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or 58 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. the enactment of any law that ehould nullity pre-existing contracts. Beit forever remembered that this compact declared that "re- ligion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good govern- ment and the hajipiness of maidvind, schools and the means of edu- cation shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified dec- laration that it was that or nothing, — that unless they could make the land desirable they did not want it, — he took his horse and buggy and started fur the-constitntional convention at Philadelphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unani- mously adopted. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, a vast empire, were consecrated to free- dom, intelligence, and morality. Thus the great heart of the nation was prepared to save the union of States, for it was this act that was the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slaver3^ Soon the South saw their great blunder and tried to have the compact repealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which John Eandolph w'as chairman. He reported that this ordinance was a compact and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavei-y. SYMPATHY WITH SLAVERY. With all this timely aid it was, however, a most desperate and protracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. It ex- isted among the old French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. That portion was also settled from the slave States, and this popu- lation brought their laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections misunderstood and hated each other perfectl}'. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, tilling the country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The Northerner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt, and ignorance. These causes aided in making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French set- tlers to retain their slaves. Planters from tiie slave States might GEN. ARTHUR ST. CLAIR. HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 59 bring tlieir slaves if they would give them an opportunity to choose freedom or years of service and bondage for their cliildren till tliey should become thirty years of age. If they chose freedom tliey must leave the State within sixty days, or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses for which white men were fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous laws w^ere im- ported from the slave States, just as the laws for the inspection of flax and wool were imported w^lien there was neither in the State. ST. CLAIK, GOVERNOR OF NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY. On October 5, 17S7, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was, by Congress, elected Governor of this vast territory. St. Clair was born in Scot- land and emigrated to America in 1755. He served in the French and English war, and was major general in the Revolution. In 1786 he was elected to Congress and chosen President of that body. ILLINOIS TERRITORY. After the division of the Northwestern Territory Illinois became one of the counties of the Territory of Indiana, from which it was separated by an act of Congress Feb. 3, 1809, forming the Territory of Illinois, with a population estimated at 9,000, and then included the present State of Wisconsin. It was divided, at the time, into two counties, — St. Clair and Randolph. John Boyle, of Ken- tucky, was appointed Governor, by the President, James Madison, but declining, Ninian Edwards, of the same State, was then appointed and served with distinction; and after the organization of Illinois as a State he served in the same capacity, being its third Governor. WAR OF 1812. THE OUTBREAK. For some years previous to the war between the United States and England in 1812, considerable trouble was experienced with the Indians. Marauding bands of savages would attack small settle- ments and inhumanly butcher all the inhabitants, and mutilate their dead bodies. To protect themselves, the settlers organized companies of rangers, and erected block houses and stockades in every settlement. The largest, strongest and best one of these was Fort Russell, near the present village of Edwardsville. This stockade 60 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. was made the main rendezvous for troops and military stores, and Gov. Edwards, who^diiring the perilous times of 1812, when Indian hostilities threatened on every hand, assumed command of the Illi- nois forces, established his headquarters at this place. The Indians were incited to many of these depredations by English emissaries, who for years continued their dastardly work of "setting the red men, like dogs, upon the whites." In the summer of 1811 a peace convention was held with the Pottawatomies at Peoria, when they promised that peace should prevail; but their promises were soon broken. Tecumseh, the great warrior, and fit successor of Pontiac, started in the spring of 1811, to arouse the Southern Indians to war against the whites. The pur- pose of this chieftain was well known to Gov. Harrison, of Indiana Territory, who determined during Tecumseh's absence to strike and disperse the hostile forces collected at Tippecanoe. This he success- fully did on Nov. 7, winning the sobriquet of " Tippecanoe," by which he was afterwards commonly known. Several peace councils were held, at which the Indians promised good behavior, but only to deceive the whites. Almost all the savaa^es of the Northwest were thoroughly stirred up and did not desire peace. The British agents at various points, in anticipation of a war with the United States, sought to enlist the favor of the savages by distributing to them large supplies of arms, ammunition and other goods. The English continued their insults to our flag upon the high seas, and their government refusing to relinquish its otfensive course, all hopes of peace and safe commercial relations were abandoned, and Congress, on the 19th of June, 1812, formally declared war against Great Britain. In Illinois the threatened Indian troubles had already caused a more thorough organization of the militia and greater protection by the erection of forts. As intimated, the In- dians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the two civilized nations, committing great depredations, the most atrocious of which was the MASSACKE AT FORT DEARBORN. During the war of 1812 between the United States and England, the greatest, as well as the most revolting, massacre of whites that ever occurred in Illinois, was perpetrated by the Pottawatomie In- dian's, at Fort Dearborn. This fort was built bv the Government, in 1804, on the south side of the Chicago river, and was garrisoned HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Gi bj 64 men under command of Capt. Kathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm and Ensign Ronan; Dr. Voorhees, surgeon. Tlie residents at tlie post at that time were the wives of officers Heald and Hehu and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his familv, and a tew Canadians. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the^no8t friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, the prin- cipal tribes around them. On the Yth of August, 1812, arrived the order from Gen. Hull, at Detroit, to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and distribute all United States property to the Indians. Chicago was so deep in the wilderness OLD FORT DEARBORN. that this was the first intimation the garrison received of the dec- laration of war made on the 19th of June. The Indian chief who brought tlie dispatch advised Capt. Heald not to evacuate, and that it he should decide to do so, it be done immediately, and by forced marches ehide the concentration of the savages before the news could bs circulated among them. To this most' excellent ad- vice the Captain gave no heed, but on the 12th held a council with 02 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. the Indians, apprising them of the orders received, and offering a liberal reward for an escort of Pottawatomies to Fort Wayne. The Indians, with many professions of friendship, assented to all he proposed, and promised all he required. The remaining officers re- fused to join in the council, for they had been informed that treach- ery was designed, — that the Indians intended to murder those in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. The port holes were open, displaying cannons pointing directly upon the council. This action, it is supposed, prevented a massacre at that time. Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Capt. Ileald not to confide in their promises, or distribute the arms and ammu- nitions among them, for it would only put power in their hands to destroy the whites. This argument, true and excellent in itself, was now certainly inopportune, and would only incense the treach- erous foe. But the Captain resolved to follow it, and accordingly on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other property, the arms were broken, and the barrels of whisky, of which there was a large quantity, were rolled quietly through the sally-port, their heads knocked in and their contents emptied into the river. On that night the lurking red-skins crept near the fort and discovered tbe destruction of the promised booty going on within. The next morn- ing the powder was seen floating on the surface of the river, and the Indians asserted that such an abundance of " fire-water" had been emptied into the river as to make it taste " groggy." Many of them drank of it freely. On the 14th the desponding garrison was somewhat cheered by the arrival of Capt. TVells, with 15 friendly Miamis. Capt. Wells heard at Fort Wayne of the order to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and knowing the hostile intentions of the Indians, made a rapid march through the wilderness to protect, if possible, his niece, Mrs. Ileald, and the officers and the garrison from certain destruction. But he came too late. Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and arrangements were made for leaving the foi^t on the following morning. The fatal morning of the 16th at length dawned brightly on the- world. The sun shone in unclouded splendor upon the glassy waters of Lake Michigan. At 9 a. m., the party moved out of the south- ern gate of the fort, in military array. The band, feeling the solem- nity of the occasion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Capt. HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 63 • Wells, with his face blackened after the manner of the Indians, led the advance guard at the head of his friendly Miamis, the garrison with loaded arms, the baggage wagons with the sick, and the women and children following, while the Pottawatomie Indians, about 600 in number, who had pledged their honor to escort the whites in safety to Fort Wayne, brought up the rear. The party took the road along the lake shore. On reaching the range of sand-hills separating the beach from the prairie, about one mile and a half- from the fort, the Indians defiled to the right into the prairie, bring ing the sand-hills between them and the whites. This divergence was scarcely effected when Capt. Wells, who had kept in advance with his Indians, rode furiously back and exclaimed, "They are about to attack us. Form instantly and charge upon them!" These words were scarcely uttered before a volley of balls from Indian muskets was poured in upon them. The troops were hastily formed into line, and charged up the bank. One veteran of 70 fell as they ascended. The Indians were driven back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged by 54 soldiers, 12 civilians, and three or four women — the cowardly Miamis having fled at the outset — against 500 Indian warriors. The whites behaved gallantly, and sold their lives dearly. They fought desperately until two-thirds of their number were slain; the remaining 27 surrendered. And now the most sickening and heart-rending butchery of this calam- itous day was committed by a young savage, who assailed one of the baggage wagons containing 12 children, every one of which fell beneath his murderous tomahawk. When Capt. Wells, who with the others had become prisoner, beheld this scene at a distance, he exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be heard by the savages, " If this be your game, I can kill too;" and turning his horse, started for the place whei'e the Indians had left their squaws and children. The Indians hotly pursued, but he avoided their deadly bullets for a time. Soon his horse was killed and he severely wounded. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and re- serve him for torture. But an enraged warrior stabbed him in the back, and he fell dead. His heart was afterwards taken out, cut in pieces and distributed among the tribes. Billy Caldwell, a half- breed Wyandot, well-known in Chicago long afterward, buried his remains the next day. Wells street in Chicago, perpetuates his memory. 64: HISTOiiV OF ILLINOIS. In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. A wife of one of the soldiers, who had frequently heard that the Indians subjected their prisoners to tortures worse than death, resolved not to be taken alive, and continued tightiug until she was literally cut to ])ieces. Mrs. lleald was an excellent equestrian, and an expert in the use of the rifle. She fought bravely, receiving several wounds. Though faint from loss of blood, she managed to keep in her saddle. A savage raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, and with a sweet smile and gentle voice said, in his own language, " Surely you will not kill a squaw." The arm of of the savage fell, and the life of this heroic woman was saved. Mrs. Helm had an encounter with a stalwart Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same time slie seized the savage round the neck and endeavored to get his scalping-knife which hung in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling, she was dragged from his grasp by another and an older Indian. The latter bore her, struggling and resisting, to the lake and plunged her in. She soon ])erceived it was not liis intention to drown her, because he held her in such a position as to keep her head out of the water. She recognized him to be a celebrated chief called Black Partridge. When the firing ceased she was conducted up the sand-bank. SLAUGHTER OF PRISONERS. The prisoners were taken back to the Indian camp, when a new scene of horror was enacted. The wounded not beins; included in the terms of the surrender, as it was interpreted by the Indians, and the British general. Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for American scalps, nearly all the wounded were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was afterwards paid by the British general. In the stipulation of surrender, Capt. Ileald had not particularly mentioned the wounded. These helpless sufferers, on reaching the Indian camp, were therefore regarded by the brutal savages as fit subjects upon which to display their cruelty and satisfy' their desire for blood. Referring to the terrible butchery of the prisoners, in an account given by Mrs. Helm, she says: "An old squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends or excited by the sanguin- ary scenes around lier, seemed possessed of demoniac fury. Slie seized a stable-fork and assaulted one miserable victim, who lay HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Go groaning and writhing in the agonies of his wounds, aggravated by the scorching beams of the sun. With a delicacy of feeling, scarcely to have been expected under such circumstances, Wan-bee-nee-wan stretched a mat across two poles, between me and this dreadful scene. I was thus spared, in some degree, a view of its horrors, although I could not entirely close my ears to the cries of the sufferer. The following, night Hve more of the wounded prisoners were toma- KINZIE FAMILY SAVED. That evening, about sundown, a council of chiefs was held to decide the fate of the prisoners, and it was agreed to deliver them OLD KINZIE HOUSE. to the British commandei- at Detroit. After dark, many warriors from a distance came into camp, who were thirs^ng for blood, and were determined to murder the prisoners regardless of the terms of surrender. Black Partridge, with a few of his friends, surrounded Kinzie's house to protect the inmates from the tomahawks of the bloodthirsty savages. Soon a band of hostile warriors rushed by them into the house, and stood with tomahawks and scalping-knives, awaiting the signal from their chief to commence the work of death. 66 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kinzie: "We are doing everything in oiir power to save yon, bnt all is now lost; you and your friends, together with all the prisoners of the camp, will now be slain." At that moment a canoe was heard approaching the shore, when Black Partridge ran down to the river, trying in the darkness to make out the new comers, and at the same time shouted, "Who are you?" In the bow of the approaching canoe stood a tall, manly personage, with a rifle in his hand. He jumped ashore exclaiming, " I am Sau-ga-nash." "Then make all speed to the house; our friends are in danger, and you only can save them." It was Billy Caldwell, the half-breed Wyandot. He hurried forward, entered the house with a resolute step, deliberately removed his accouterments, placed his rifle behind the door, and saluted the Indians: " How now, my friends! a good day to you. I was told there were enemies here, but am glad to find only friends." Diverted by the coolness of his manner, they were ashamed to avow their murderous purpose, and simply asked for some cotton goods to wrap their dead, for burial. And thus, by his presence of mind, Caldwell averted the murder of the Kinzie family and the prisoners. The latter, with their wives and children, were dispersed among the Pottawatomie tribes along the Illinois, Rock and Wabash rivers, and some to Milwaukee. The most of them were ransomed at Detroit the following spring. A part of them, however, remained in captivity another year. EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS. By the middle of August, through the disgraceful surrender of Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and the evacuation of Fort Dearborn and massacre of its garrison, the British and Indians were in possession of the whole Northwest. The savages, emboldened by their successes, penetrated deeper into the settlements, committing great depre- dations. The activity and success of the enemy aroused the people to a realization of the great danger their homes and families were in. Gov. Edwards •collected a force of 350 men at Camp Russell, and Capt. Russell came from Vincennes with about 50 more. Being officered and equipped, they proceeded about the middle of October on horseback, currying with them 20 days' rations, to Peoria. Capt. Craig was sent with two boats up the Illinois, with provisions and tools to build a fort. The little army proceeded to Peoria Lake, where was located a Pottawatomie village. They arrived late HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 67 at night, within a few miles of the village, without their presence being known to the Indians. Four men were sent out that night to reconnoiter the position of the village. The four brave men who volunteered for this perilous service were Thomas Carlin (after- ward Governor), and Robert, Stephen and Davis Whiteside. Thej proceeded to the village, and explored it and the approaches to it thorou^^hlj, without starting an Indian or provoking the bark of a ■dog. The lov^r lands between the Indian village and the troops were covered with a rank growth of tall grass, eo high>nd dense as to readily conceal an Indian on horseback, until within a few feet of liim. The ground had become still more yielding by recent rains, rendering it almost impassable by mounted men. To prevent de- tection, the soldiers had camped without lighting the usual camp- fires. The men lay down in their cold and cheerless camp, with many misgivings. They well remembered how the skulking sav- ages fell upon Harrison's men at Tippecanoe during tlie night. To add to their fears, a gun in the hands of a soldier was carelessly discharged, raising great consternation in the camp. AN INDIAN KILLP:D. Through a dense fog which prevailed the'following morning, the army took up its line of march for the Indian town, Capt. Judy witli his corps of spies in advance. In the tall grass they came up with an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The Indian wanted to eurrender, but Judy observed that he "did not leave home to take prisoners,"' and instantly shot one of them. With the blood streaming from his mouth and nose, and in his agony " singing the death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally wounded a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired. Many guns were immediately discliarged at the other Indian, not then known to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her hus- band killed by her side, the agonizing wails of the squaw were heart-rending. She was taken prisoner, and afterwards restored to her nation. • * TOWN BUENED. On rearing the town a general charge was made, the Indians fleeing to the interior wilderness. Some of their warriors made a ■stand, when a sharp engagement occurred, but the Indians were Touted. In their flight they left behind all their winter's store of 68 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. provisions, which was taken, and their town burned. Some Indian children were found who had been left in ihe hurried tlight, also some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition and with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. lie is said to have been killed by a cowardly trooper straggling behind, after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian. About the time Gov. Edwards started with his little band against the Indians, Gen. Hopkins, with 2,000 Kentucky riflemen, left Vincennes to cross the prairies of Illinois and destroy the Indian villages along the Illinois river. Edwards, with his rangers, ex- pected to act in concert with Gen. Hopkins' riflemen. After marching 80 or 90 miles into the enemy's country, Gen. Hopkins' men became dissatisfied, and on Oct. 20 the entire army turned and retreated homeward before even a foe had' been met. After the victory of the Illinois rangers they heard nothing of Gen. Hopkins and his 2,000 mounted Kentucky riflemen ; and apprehensive that a large force of warriors would be speedily collected, it was deemed prudent not to protract their stay, and accordingly the retrograde march was commenced the very day of the attack. PEORIA BURNED. The force of Capt. Craig, in charge of the provision boats, was not idle during this time. They proceeded to Peoria, where they were fired on by ten Indians during the night, who immediately fled. Capt. Craig discovered, at daylight, their tracks leading up into the French town. He inquired of the French their where- abouts, who denied all knowledge of them, and said they " had heard or seen nothing; " but he took the entire number prisoners, burned and destroyed Peoria, and bore the captured inhabitants away on his boats to a point below the present city of Alton, where he landed and left them in the woods, — men, women, and children, — in the inclement month of November, without shelter, and without food other than the slender stores they had themselves gathered up before their departure. They found their way to St. Louis in an almost starving condition. The burning of Peoria and taking its- inhabitants prisoners, on the mere suspicion that they sympathized with the Indians, was generally regarded as a needless, if not wanton, act of military power. PONTIAC. THE OTTAWA CHIEF. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Tl SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS. In the early part of 1813, the country was put in as good defense as the sparse popuhition admitted. In spite of the precaution taken, numerous depredations and murders were committed by the In- dians, wliich again aroused the whites, and another expedition was sent against the foe, who had collected in large numbers in and around Peoria. This army was composed of about 900 men, collect- ed from both Illinois and Missouri, and under command of Gen. Howard. They marched across the broad prairies of Illinois to Peoria, where there was a small stockade in charge of United States troops. Two days previously the Indians ]nade an attack on the fort, but were repulsed. Being in the enemy's country, knowing their stealthy habits, and the troops at no time observing a high de- gree of discipline, many unnecessary night alarms occurred, yet the enemy were far aw^ay. The army marched up the lake to Cliili- cothe, burning on its way two deserted villages. At the present site of Peoria the troops remained in camp several weeks. While there they built a fort, which they named in honor of Gen. George Rogers Clark, who with his brave Virginians wrested Illinois from the English during the Revolutionary struggle. This fort was de- stroyed by fire in 1818. It gave a name to Peoria which it wore for several years. After the building of Fort Crevecoeur, in 1680, Peo- ria lake was very familiar to "Western travel and history; but there is no authentic account of a permanent European settlement there until 1778, when Laville de Meillet, named after its founder, was started. Owing to the quality of the water and its greater salu- brity, the location was changed to the present site of Peoria, and by 1796 the old had been entirely abandoned for the new^ village. After its destruction in 1812 it was not settled again until 1819, and then by American pioneers, though in 1813 Fort Clark was built there. t EXPEDITION UP THE MISSISSIPPI. The second campaign against the Indians at Peoria closed with- out an engagement, or even a sight of the enemy, yet great was the benefit derived from it. It showed to the Indians the power and resources of his white foe. Still the calendar of the horrible deeds of butchery of the following year is long and blood3^ A joint ex- pedition again moved against the Indians in ISli, under Gov. 72 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Clark of Missouri. This time tliej went up the Mississippi in l)arges, Prairie du Cliieu being tlie point of destination. There tliey found a small garrison of British troops, which, however, soon fled, as did the inhabitants, leaving Clark in full possession. He im- mediately set to work and erected Fort Shelby. The Governor returned to St. Louis, leaving his men in peaceable possession of the place, but a large force of British and Indians came down upon them, and the entire garrison surrendered. In the mean time Gen. Howard sent 108 men to strengthen the garrison. Of this number 66 were Illinois rangers, under Capts. Rector and Riggs, who oc- cupied two boats. The remainder were with Lieut. Campbell. A DESPERATE FIGHT. At Rock Island Campbell was warned to turn back, as an attack was contemplated. The other boats passed on up the river and were some two miles ahead when Campbell's barge was struck by a strong gale which forced it against a small island near the Illinois shore. Thinking it best to lie to till the wind abated, sentinels were stationed while the men went ashore to cook breakfast. At this time a large number of Indians on the main shore under Black Hawk commenced an attack. The savages in canoes passed rapidly to the island, and with a war-whoop rushed upon the men, who retreated and sought refuge in the barge. A battle of brisk musketry now ensued between the few regulars aboard the stranded barge and the hordes of Indians under cover of trees on the island, with severe loss to the former. Meanwhile Capt. Rector and Riggs, ahead with their barges, seeing the smoke of battle, attempted to return ; but in the sti*ong gale Riggs' boat became unmanageable and was stranded on the rapids. Rector, to avoid a similar disaster, let go his anchor. The rangers, however, opened with good aim and telling effect upon the savages. The unequal combat having raged for some time and about closing, the commander's barge, with many wounded and several dead on board, — among the former of whom, very badly, was Campbell himself, — was discovered to be on fire. Now Rector and his brave Illinois rangers, comprehending the horrid situation, performed, without delay, as cool and heroic a deed — and did it well — as ever imperiled the life of mortal man. In the howling gale, in full view of hundreds of infuriated savages, and within range of their rifles, they deliberately raised anchor. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. T3 liglitened their barge by casting overboard quantities of provisions, and guided it with the utmost labor down the swift current, to the windward of the burning barge, and under the galling fire of the enemy rescued all the survivors, and removed the wounded and dying to their vessel. This was a deed of noble daring and as heroic as any performed during the war in the West, Rector hur- ried with his over-crowded vessel to St. Louis. It was now feared that Riggs and his company were captured and sacrificed by the savages. Plis vessel, which was strong and well armed, was for a time surrounded by the Indians, but the whites on the inside were well sheltered. The wind becoming allayed in the e^T-ening, the boat, under cover of the night, glided safely down the river without the loss of a sinWe man. STILL ANOTHER EXPEDITION. Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of the two expedi- tions already sent out, during the year 1814, still another was pro- jected. It was under Maj. Zachary Taylor, afterward President. Rector and Whiteside, with the Illinoisan, were in command of boats. The expedition passed Rock Island unmolested, when it was learned the country was not only swarming with Indians, but that the English were there in command with a detachment of regu- lars and artillery. The advanced boats in command of Rector, White- side and Hempstead, turned about and began to descend the rapids, lighting with great gallantry the hordes of the enemy, who were pouring their fire into them from the shore at every step. Near the mouth of Rock river Maj. Taylor anchored his fleet out in the Mississippi. During the nig;ht the English planted a battery of six pieces down at the water's edge, to sink or disable the boats, and filled the islands with red-skins to butcher the whites, who might, unarmed, seek refuge there. But in this scheme they were frustrated. In the morning Taylor ordered all the force, except 20 boatmen on each vessel, to the upper island to dislodge the enemy. The order was executed with great gallantry, the island scoured, many of the savages killed, and the rest driven to the lower island. In the meantime the British cannon told with eflPect upon the fleet. The men rushed back and the boats were dropped down the stream out of range of the cannon. Capt. Rector was now ordered with his company to make a sortie on the lower island, which he did, 74 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. driving the Indians back among the willows ; but they being re-in- forced, in turn hurled Kector buck upon the sand-beach. A council of officers called by Taylor had by this time decided that their force was too small to contend with the enemy, who outnumbered them three to one, and the boats were in full retreat down the river. As Rector attempted to get under way his boat grounded, and the savages, with demoniac yells, surrounded it, when a most desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The gallant ranger, Samuel Whiteside, observing the imminent peril of his brave Illinois comrade, went immediately to his rescue, who but for his timely aid would undoubtedly have been overpowered, with all his force, and murdered. Thus ended the last, like the two previous expeditions up the Mississippi during the war of 1812, in defeat and disaster. The enemy was in undisputed posession of all the country north of the Illinois river, and tlie prospects respecting those territories boded nothing but gloom. With the approach of winter, however, Indian depredations. ceased to be committed, and the peace of Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, closed the war. ILLINOIS AS A STATE. ORGANIZATION. In January of 1818 the Territorial Legislature forwarded to Nathaniel Pope, delegate in Congress from Illinois, a petition pray- ing for admission into the national Union as a State. On April 18th of the same year Congress passed the enabling act, and Dec. 3, after the State government had been organized and Gov. Bond had signed the Constitution, Congress by a resolution declared Illi- nois to be "one of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects." The ordinance of 1787 declared that there should be at least three States carved out of the Northwestern Territory. The boundaries of the three, Olno, Indiana and Illinois, were fixed by this law. Congress reserved the power, however, of forming two other States out of the territory which lies north of an east and v/est line drawn through the southern boundary of Lake Michigan. It was generally conceded that this line would be the northern boundary of Illinois ; HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 75 but as this would give the State no coast on Lake Michigan; and rob her of the port of Chicago and the noithern terminus of the Illinois & Michigan canal which was then contemplated, Judge Pope had the northern boundary moved fifty miles further north. BOUNDARY CHANGED. Not only is Illinois indebted to Nathaniel Pope for the port where now enter and depart more vessels during the year than in any other port in the world, for the northern terminus of the Illinois & Micliigan canal, and for the lead mines at Galena, but the nation, the undivided Union, is largely indebted to him for its perpetuity. It was he, — his foresight, statesnjanship and energy, — that bound our confederated Union with bands of iron that can never be broken. The geographical position of Illinois, with her hundreds of miles of water-courses, is such as to make her the key to the grand arch of Northern and Southern States. Extending from the great chain of lakes on the north, with snow and ice of the arctic region, to the cotton-fields of Tennessee ; peopled, as it is, by almost all races, classes and conditions of the human familv : guided bv the various and diversified political, agricultural, religious and educational teachings common to both North and South, — Illinois can control, and has controlled, the destinies of our united and beloved republic. Pope seemingly foresaw that a struggle to dissolve the Union would be made. With a prophetic eye he looked down the stream of time for a half century and saw the great conflict between the South and North, caused by a determination to dissolve the confederation of States; and to preserve the Union, he gave to Illinois a lake coast. Gov. Ford, in his History of Illinois, written in 1847, while speaking of this change of boundary and its influence upon our nation, says: "What, then, was the duty of the national Government? Illinois was certain to be a great State, with any boundaries which that Government could give. Its great extent of territory, itis unrivaled fertility of soil and capacity for sustaining a dense population, together with its commanding position, would in course of time give the new State a verv controlling influence with her sister States situated upon the Western rivers, either in sustaining the federal Union as it is, or in dissolving it and establishing new gov- ernments. If left entirely upon the waters of these great rivers, it 76 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. was plain that, in case of threatened disruption, the interest of the new State would be to join a Southern and Western confederacy; but if a large portion of it could be made dependent upon the com- merce and navigation of the great nortiiern lakes, connected as they are with the Eastern States, a rival interest would be created to check the wish for a Western and Southern confederacy. "It therefore became the duty of the national Government not only to make Illinois strong, but to raise an interest inclining and binding her to the Eastern and Northern portions of the Union. This could be done only through an interest in the lakes. At that time the commerce on the lakes was small, but its increase was con- fidently expected, and, indeed, it has exceeded all anticij^ations, and is yet only in its infancy. To accomplish this object eft'ectually, it w^as not only necessary to give to Illinois the port of Chicago and a route for the canal, but a considerable coast on Lake Michigan, with a country back of it sufficiently extensive to contain a popu- lation capable of exerting a decided influence upon the councils of the State. "There would, therefore, be a large commerce of the north, west- ern and central portion of the State afloat on the lakes, for it was then foreseen that the canal would be made; and this alone would be like turning one of the many mouths of the Mississippi into Lake Michigan at Chicago. A very large commerce of the center and south would be found both upon the lakes and rivers. Asso- ciations in business, in interest, and of friendship would be formed, both with the Korth and the South. A State thus situated, having such a decided interest in the commerce, and in the preservation of the whole confederacy, can never consent to disunion; for the Union cannot be dissolved without a division and disruption of the State itself. These views, urged by Judge Pope, obtained the unquali- fied assent of the statesmen of 1818. " These facts and views are worthy to be recorded in history as a standing and ])erpetual call upon lUinoisans of every age to remember the great trust which has been reposed in them, as the peculiar champions and guardians of the Union by the great men and patriot sages who adorned and governed this country in the earlier and better days of the Republic." During the dark and trying days of the Ilebellion, well did she remember this sacred trust, to protect which two hundred thousand V HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, 77 of her sons went to the bloody field of battle, crowning their arms with the laurels of war, and keeping inviolate the solemn obliga- tions bequeathed to them by their fathers. FIRST CONSTITUTION. In July and August of 1818 a convention was held at Kaskaskia for the purpose of drafting a constitution. This constitution was not submitted to a vote of the people for their approval or rejection, it being well known that they would approve it. It was about the first organic law of any State in the Union to. abolish imprisonment for debt. The first election under the constitution was held on the third Thursday and the two succeeding days in September, 1818. Sliadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard Lieuten- ant Governor. Their term of office extended four years. At this time che State was divided into fifteen counties, the population being about 40,000. Of this number by far the larger portion were from the Southern States. The salary of the Governor was $1,000, v/hile that of the Treasurer was $500. The Legislature re-enacted, ver- batim, the Territorial Code, the penalties of which were unneces- sarily severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory were used for minor offenses, and for arson, rape, horse-stealing, etc., death by hanging was the penalty. These laws, however, were modified in 1821. The Legislature first convened at Kaskaskia, the ancient seat of empire for more than one hundred and fifty years, both for the French and Americans. Provisions were made, however, for the removal of the seat of government by this Legislature. A place in the wilderness on the Kaskaskia river was selected and named Yandalia. From Yandalia it was removed to Springfield in the year 1837. DERIVATION OF THE NAME ILLINOIS. The name of this beautiful "Prairie State" is derived from Illini, an Indian word signifying superior men. It has a French termination, and is a symbol of the manner in which the two races, the French and Indians, were intermixed during the early history of the country. Tiie appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabitants of the soil, whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were once a powerfnl confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile region in the great valley of the 78 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Mississippi, wliicli tlieir enemies coveted and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of war they were dimin- ished in number and finally destroyed. "Starved Rock," on the Illinois river, according to tradition, commemorates tlieir last trag- edy, where, it is said, the entire tribe stf.rved rather than surrender. The low cognomen of " Sucker," as applied to Illinoisans, is said to have had its origin at the Galena lead mines. In an early day, when these extensive mines were being worked, men would run up the Mississippi river in steamboats in the spring, work the lead mines, and in the fall return, thus establishing, as was supjiosed, asira- ilitude between their migratory habits and those of the fishy tribe called "Suckers." For this reason the Illinoisans have ever since been distinguished by the epithet " Suckers." Those who stayed at the mines over winter were mostlj'' from Wisconsin, and were called " Badgers." One spring the Missonrians poured into the mines in such numbers that the State was said to have taken a puke, and the oifensive appellation of " Pukes" was afterward applied to all Missonrians. The southern part of the State, known as " Egypt," received this appellation because, being older, better settled and cultiv^ited, grain was had in greater abundance than in the central and northern por- tion, and the immigrants of this region, after the manner of the children of Israel, went "thither to buy and to bring from thence that they might live and not die." STATE BANK. The Legislature, during the latter years of territorial existence, granted charters to several banks. The result was that paper money became very abundant, times flush, and credit unlimited; and every- bodv invested to the utmost limit 'of his credit, with confident expectation of realizing a handsome advance before the expiration of his credit, from the throng of immigrants then pouring into the countr3\ By 1819 it became apparent that a day of reckoning would approach before their dreams of fortune could be realized. Banks everywhere began to waver, paper money became depreci- ated, and gold and silver driven out of the country. The Leojisla- ture sought to bolster up the times by incorporating the '* Bank of Illinois," which, with several branches, was created by the ses- sion of 1821. This bank, being wholly supported by the credit of the State, was to issue one, two, three, five, ten and twenty-dollar HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 79 notes. It was the duty of the bank to advance, upon personal prop- erty, money to the amount of $100, and a larger amount upon real estate. All taxes and public salaries could be paid in such bills ; and if a creditor refused to take them, he had to wait three years longer before he could collect his debt. The people imagined that simply because the government had issued the notes, they would remain at par; and although this evidently could not be the case, they were yet so infatuated with their project as actually to request the United States government to receive them in payment for their public lands! Although there were not wanting men who, like John McLean, the Speaker of the House of Kepresentatives, fore- saw the dangers and evils likely to arise from the creation of such a bank, by far the greater part of the people were in favor of it. The new bank was therefore started. The new issue of bills by the bank of course only aggravated the evil, heretofore so grievously felt, of the absence of specie, so that the people were soon com- pelled to cut their bills in halves and quarters, in order to make small change in trade. Finally the paper currency so rapidly depre- ciated that three dollars in these bills were considered worth only one in specie, and the State not only did not increase its revenue, but lost full two-thirds of it, and expended three times tlie amount required to pay the expenses of the State government. Lafayette's visit. In the spring of 1825 the brave and generous LaFayette visited Illinois, accepting the earnest invitation of the General Assembly, and an affectionately written letter of Gov. Cole's, who had formed his personal acquaintance in France in 1817. The General in reply said: " It has been my eager desire, and it is now my earnest inten- tion, to visit the Western States, and particularly the State of Illi- nois. The feelings which jonr distant welcome could not fail to excite have increased that patriotic eagerness to admire on that blessed spot the happy and rapid results of republican institutions, public and domestic virtues. I shall, after the 22d of February (anniversary day), leave here for a journey to the Southern States, and from New Orleans to the Western States, so as to return to Boston on the 14th of June, when the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill monument is to be laid, — a ceremony sacred to the whole Union and in which I have been engaged to act a peculiar and honorable part." 80 HISTOUY (,'F ILLINOIS. General LaFayette and suite, attended bj a large delegation of prominent citizens of Missouri, made a visit by the steamer Natch- ez to the ancient town of Kaskaskia. No military parade was attempted, but a multitude of patriotic citizens made him welcome. A reception was held, Gov. Cole delivering a glowing address of welcome. During the progress of a grand ball held that night, a very interesting interview took place between the honored General and an Indian squaw whose father had served under him in the Revolutionary war. The squaw, learning that the great white chief was to be at Kaskaskia on that night, had ridden all day, from early dawn till sometime in the night, from her distant home, to see the man whose name had been so often on her father's tongue, and with which she was so familiar. In identification of her claim to his distinguished acquaintance, she brought with her an old, worn letter which the General had written to her father, and which the Indian chief had preserved with great care, and finally bequeathed on hia death-bed to his daughter as the most precious legacy he had to leave her. By 12 o'clock at night Gen. LaFayette returned to his boat and started South. The boat was chartered by the State. EARLY GOVERNORS. In the year 1822 the term of office of the first Governor, Shadracli Bond, expired. Two parties sprung up at this time, — one favorable, the other hostile, to the introduction of slavery, each proposing a candidate of its own for Governor. Both parties worked hard to secure the election of their respective candidates; but the people at large decided, as they ever have been at heart, in favor of a free State. Edward Coles, an anti-slavery man, was elected, although a majority of the Legislature were opposed to him. The subject of principal interest during his administration was to make Illinois a slave State. The greatest effort was made in 1824, and the propo- sition was defeated at the polls by a majority of 1,800. The aggre- gate vote polled was 11,612, being about 6,000 larger than at the previous State election. African slaves were first introduced into Illinois in 1720 by Renault, a Frenchman. Senator Duncan, afterward Governor, presented to the Legisla- ture of 1824-5 a bill for the support of schools bv a public tax; and William S. Hamilton presented another bill requiring a tax to be HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. §1 nsed for the purpose of constructing and repairing the roads.— both of which bills passed and became laws. But although these laws conferred an incalculable benefit upon the public, the verj name of a tax was so odious to the people that, rather than pay a tax of the smallest possible amount, thej preferred working as thej formerly did, five days during the year on the roads, and would allow their • children to grow up without any instruction at all. Consequently both laws were abolished in 1826. In the year 1826 the office of Governor became again vacant ^inian Edwards, Adolphus F. Hubbard and Thomas C. Sloe were candidates. Edwards, though the successful candidate, had made lumself many enemies by urging strict inquiries to be made into the corruption of the State bank, so that had it not been for his talents and noble personal appearance, he would most probably not liave been elected. Hubbard was a man of but little personal merit Ot hira tradition has preserved, among other curious sayino-s, a speech on a bill granting a bounty on wolf-scalps. This "speech delivered before the Legislature, is as follows: "Mr. Speaker I rise before the question is put on this bill, to say a word for my constit- uents. Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a wolf. I cannot say that I am very well acquainted with the nature and habits of wolves Mr. Speaker, I have said that I had never seen a wolf; but now I remember that once on a time, as Judge Brown and I were ridinc. across the Bonpas prairie, we looked over the prairie about three miles, and Judge Brown said, 'Hubbard, look! there goes a wolf- ' and I looked, and I looked, and I looked, and I said, 'Judge, whereV and he said, 'There! ' And I looked again, and this time in th'e edge of a hazel thicket, about three miles across the prairie, I think saw the wolf's tail. Mr. Speaker, if I did not see a wolf that time, I think I never saw one; but I haVe heard much, and read mor^ about this animal. I have studied his natural historv "By the bye, history is divided into two parts. There is first the history of the fabulous; and secondly, of the non-fabulous, or unknown age Mr. Speaker, from all these sources of information 1 learn that the wolf is a very noxious animal; tliat he goes prowl- ing about, seeking something to devour; that he rises up in the dead and secret hours of night, when all nature reposes in silent Oblivion, and then commits the most terrible devastation upon the nsmg generation of hogs and sheep. 82 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. " Mr. Speaker, I have done; and I returu my thanks to the house for tlieir kind attention to inj remarks." Gov. Edwards was a large and v/ell-made man, with a noble, princely appearance. Of him Gov. Ford says: "He never con- descended to the commbn low art of electioneering. Whenever he went out among the people he arrayed himself in the style of a gentleman of the olden time, dressed in fine broadcloth, with short breeches, long stockings, and high, fair-topped boots; was drawn in a fine carriage driven by a negro; and for success he relied upon his speeches, wliich were delivered in great pomp and in style of diffuse and florid eloquence. When he was inaugurated in 1826, he appeared before the General Assembly wearing a golden-laced cloak, and with great pomp pronounced his first message to the houses of the Legislature." GRAMMAR AND COOK CONTRASTED. Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar, who was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1816, and held the position for about twenty years, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, "If it succeeds, no one will ask who voted against it: if it proves a failure, he could quote its record." When first honored with a seat in the Assembly, it is said that he lacked the apparel necessary for a member of the Legislatui-e, and in order to procure them he and his sons gathered a large quantity of hazel-nuts, which were taken to the Ohio Saline and sold for cloth to make a coat and pantaloons. The cloth was the blue strouding commonly used by the Indians. The neighboring women assembled to make up the garments; the cloth was measured every way, — across, lengthwise, and from corner to corner, — and still was found to be scant. It was at last con- cluded to make a very short, bob-tailed coat and a long pair of leg- gins, which being finished, Mr. Grammar started for the State ca|)ital. In sharp contrast with Grammar Avas the character of D. P. Cook, in honor of whom Cook county was named. Such was his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a voung man and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Com- raittoe. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 83 Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson, Clay, Crawford and Adams. There being no choice by the people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so bal- anced that it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, elect- ing him. He then came home to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois. The first mail route in the State was established in 1805. This was from Vincennes to Cahokia. In 1824 there was a direct mail route from Yandalia to Springfield. Tlie first route from the central part of the State to Chicago was established in 1832, from Shelby- ville. The difliculties and dangers encountered by the early mail carriers, in time of Indian troubles, were very serious. The bravery and ingenious devices of Harry Milton are mentioned with special commendation. When a boy, in 1812, he conveyed the mail on a wild French pony from Shawneetowu to St. Louis, over swollen streams and through the enemy's country. So infrequent and irregular were the communications by mail a great part of the time, that to-day, even the remotest part of the United States is unable to appreciate it by example. The first newspaper published in Illinois was the Illinois Herald, established at Kaskaskia by Mathew Duncan, There is some va- riance as to the exact time of its establishment. Gov. Reynolds claimed it was started in 1809. Wm. H. Brown, afterwards its editor, gives the date as 1814. In 1831 the criminal code was first adapted to penitentiary pun- ishment, ever since which time the old system of whipping and pillory for the punishment of criminals has been disused. There was no legal rate of interest till 1830. Previously the rate often reached as high as 150 per cent., but was usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, then to 10, and lastly to 8 per cent. INDIAN TKOUBLES. WINNEBAGO "WAR. The Indians, who for some years were on peaceful terms with the whites, became troublesome in 1827. The Winuebagoes, Sacs and Foxes and other tribes had been at war for more than a hun- dred 3'ears. In the summer of 1827 a war party of the Winnebagoes surprised a party of Chippewas and killed eight of them. Four 84 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. of tlie inui-derers were arrested and delivered to the Chippewas, by whom they were immediately shot. This was the first irritation of the Winiiebaijoes. Red Bird, a chief of this tribe, in order to avenge the execution of the four warriors of his own people, attacked the Chippewas, but was defeated; and being determined to satisfy his thirst for revenge by some means, surprised and killed several white men. Upon receiving intelligence of these murders, the whites who were working the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena formed a body of volunteers, and, re-inforced by a company of United States troops, marched into the country of the Winnebagoes. To save their nation from the miseries of war, Red Bird and six other men of his nation voluntarily surrendered themselves. Some of the number were executed, some of them imprisoned and destined, like Red Bird, ingloriously to pine away within the narrow confines of a jail, when formerly the vast forests had proven too limited for them. JOHN REYNOLDS ELECTED GOVERNOK. In August, 1830, another gubernatorial election was held. The candidates were William Kinney, then Lieutenant Governor, and John Reynolds, formerly an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, both Jackson Democrats, The opposition brought forward no can- didate, as they were in a helpless minority. Reynolds was the successful candidate, and under his administration was the famous BLACK HAWK WAR. In the year of 180i a treaty was concluded between the United States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. One old chief of the Sacs, however, called Black Hawk, who had fought with great bravery in the service of Great Britain during the war of 1812, had always taken exceptions to this treaty, pronouncing it void. In 1831 he established himself, with a chosen band of warriors, upon the dis- puted territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The settlers complaining, Gov. Reynolds dispatched Gen. Gaines, with a company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers, to the scene of action. Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their villages and forced them to conclude a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east of the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of the river. Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into submission, which made him nmre than ever determined to be BLACK HAWK. THE SAC CHIEF, Bfir^ HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 87 avenged upoi: his enemies. Having rallied around him the warlike braves of the Sac and Fox nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1832. Upon hearing of the invasion, Gov. Reynolds hastily collectp'"' a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under the command oi iiiig-Gen. Samuel Whiteside. stillman's run. The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to ashes the Indian village known as ''Prophet's Town," proceeded for several miles up the river to Dixon, to join the regular forces under Gen. Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter the enemy. They advanced under command of Maj. Stillman, to a creek afterwards called "Stillman's run;" and while encamping there saw a party of mounted Indians at the distance of a mile. Several of Stillman's party mounted their horses and charged the Indians, killing three of them; but, attacked by the main body under Black Hawk, they were routed, and by their precipitate flight spread such a panic through the camp that the whole company ran off to Dixon as fast as their legs could carry them. On their arrival it was found that there had been eleven killed. The party came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, each squad positive that all who were left behind were massacred. It is said that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a loud voice, who was a colonel of the militia but a private with Stillman, upon his arrival in camp gave to Gen. Whiteside and the wondering multi- tude the followino^ glowino^ and bombastic account of the battle: "Sirs," said lie, "our detachment was encamped among some scat- tering timber on the north side of Old Man's creek, with the prairie from the north gently sloping down to our encampment. It was just after twilight, in the gloaming of the evening, when we dis- covered Black Hawk's army coming down upon us in solid column; they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prai- rie, and such accuracy and precision of military mov^ements were never witnessed Dy man; they were equal to the best troops of Wellington in Spain, j. have said that the Indians came down in solid columns, and displayed in the form of a crescent; and what was most wonderful, there were large squares of cavalry resting upon the points of the curve, which squares were supported again by 88 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. other columns fifteen deep, extending back tlirongh the woods and over a swamj) three-quarters of a mile, which again rested on the main body of Black Hawk's army bivouacked upon the banks of the Kishwakee. It was a terrible and a glorious sight to see the tawny warriors as they rode along our flanks attempting to outflank us, with the glittering moonbeams glistening from their polished blades and burnished spears. It was a sight well calculated to strike con- sternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and accordingly our men soon began to break in small squads, for tall timber. In a very little time the rout became general, the Indians were soon upon our flanks and threatened the destruction of our entire detach- ment. About this time Maj. Still man. Col. Stephenson, Maj. Perkins, Capt. Adams, Mr. llackelton, and myself, with some others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and pro- tect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell bravely fighting hand-to-hand with the savage enemy, and I alone was left upon the field of battle. About this time I discovered not far to the left a corps of horsemen which seemed to be in tolerable order. I immediately deployed to the left, when, leaning down and placing my body in a recumbent posture upon the mane of my horse so as to bring the heads of the horsemen between my eye and the horizon, I discovered by the light of the moon that they were gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which token I knew they were no friends of mine. I therefore made a retrogade movement and recovered my position, where I remained some time meditating what further I could do in the service of my country, when a ran- dom ball came whistling by my ear and plainly whispered to me, ' Stranger, you have no further business here.' Upon hearing this I followed the example of my companions in arras, and broke for tall timber, and the way I ran was not a little." For a long time afterward Maj. Stillnan and his men were sub- jects of ridicule and merriment, which was as undeserving as their expedition was disastrous. Stillman's defeat spread consternation throusrhout the State and nation. The number of Indians M-as greatly exaggerated, and the name of Black Ilawk carried with it associations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty. ASSAULT ON APPLE RIVER FORT. A regiment sent to spy out the country between Galena and Rock Island was surprised by a party of seventy Indians, and was on the HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 89 point of being thrown into disorder when Gen. Whiteside, then serving as a private, shouted out that he would shoot the first man who should turn his back to the enemy. Order being restored, the battle began. At its very outset Gen. Whiteside shot the leader of the Indians, who thereupon commenced a hasty retreat. In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of 150 warriors, attack- ed the Apple Eiver Fort, near Galena, defended by 25 men. This fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the miners. For fifteen consecutive hours the garrison had to sustain the assault of the savage enemy ; but knowing very well that no quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and des- peration that the Indians, after losing many of their best warriors, were compelled to retreat. Another party of eleven Indians murdered two men near Fort Hamilton. They were afterwards overtaken by a company of twenty men and every one of them was killed. EOCK RIVER EXPEDITION. A new regiment, under the command of Gen. Atkinson, assem- bled on the banks of the Illinois in the latter part of J une. Maj. Dement, with a small party, was sent out to reconnoiter the move- men ♦■s of a large body of Indians, whose endeavors to surround him made it advisable for him to retire. Upon hearing of this engage- ment. Gen. Atkinson sent a detachment to intercept the Indians, while he with the main body of his army, moved north to meet the Indians under Black Hawk. They moved siuwly and cautiously through the country, passed through Turtle village, and marched up along Rock river. On their arrival news was brought of the discovery of the main trail of the Indians. Considerable search was made, but they were unable to discover any vestige of Indians save two who had shot two soldiers the day previous. Hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock river, at the Manitou village, thej'^ resolved at once to advance upon the enemy; but in the execution of their design they met with opposition from their officers and men. The officers of Gen. Henry lianded to him a written protest; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered the officers to be arrested and escorted to Gen. Atkinson. Within a few minutes after the stern order was given, the officers all collected around the General's quarters, many of them with tears in their 90 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. eyes, pledging themselves that if forgiven they would return to duty and never do the like again. The General rescinded the order, and they at once resumed duty. THE BATTLE OF BAD-AXE. Gen. Henry marclied on the loth of July in pursuit of the Indians, reaching Rock river after three days' journey, where he learned Black Hawk was encamped further up the river. On July 19th the troops were ordered to commence their march. After havino- made tifty miles, they were overtaken by a terrible thunder- storm which lasted all night. Nothing cooled, however, in their courage and zeal, they marched again fifty miles the next day, encamping near the place where the Indians had encam])ed the m2 IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. tlie wliites, went in pursuit and captured and delivered tlietn to Gen. Street, the United States Indian agent. Among the prisoners were the son of Black Hawk and the i)ropliet of the tribe. These with Elack Ilawk were taken to Washington, D. C, and soon con- signed as prisoners at Fortress Monroe. At the interview Black Hawk had with the President, he closed his speech delivered on the occasion in the following words: " We did not expect to conquer the whites. They have too many houses, too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to re\ enge injuries which my people could no longer endure. Had I borne them longer without striking, my people would have said, ' Black Hawk is a woman; he is too old to be a chief; he is no Sac' These retlections caused me to raise the war-whoop. I say no more. It is known to you. Keokuk once was here; you took him by the hand, and when he wished to return to his home, you were willing. Black Hawk expects, like Keokuk, he shall be permitted to return too." BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH OF BLACK HAWK. Black Hawk, or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, was born in the prin- cipal Sac village, near the junction of Kock river with tlie Missis- sippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa. Black Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted to paint, and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783 he went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one of whom he killed and scalped; and for this deed of Indian brav^ery he was permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years afterward he, at the head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to avenije the murder of some women and children belono^ingr to his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce battle ensued in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them near the present city of St. Louis his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced him- self chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes and a hundred lowas, he waged war against the Osage HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 93 nation, and subdued it. For two years he battled successfully with other Indian tribes, all of which he conquered. The year following the treaty at St. Louis, in ISOi, the United States Government erected a fort near the head of Des Moines Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moines. The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties with the British Government arose about this time, and the war of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, induced them to remain hostile to the Ameri- cans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn massacre had a few days before been perpetrated. Of his con- nection with the British but little is known. In the early part of 1815, the Indians west of the Mississippi were notified that peace had been declared between the United States and England, and nearly all hostilities, had ceased. Black Hawk did not sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. From the time of signing this treaty, in 1816, until the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox Indians were urged to move to the west of the Mississippi. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which Black Hawk was leader. He strongly objected to the removal, and was induced to comply only after being threatened by the Govern- ment. This action, and various others on the part of the white settlers, provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his native village, now occupied by the whites. The war fol- lowed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been complied with at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would have been prevented. BLACK HAWK SET AT LIBERTY. Bj order of the President, Black Hawk and his companions, who were in confinement at Fortress Monroe, were set free on the 4th day of June, 1833. Before leaving the fort Black Hawk 94 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. made the following farewell speech to the commander, wliich is not only eloquent but shows that within his chest of steel there beat a heart keenly alive to the emotions of gratitude: " Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my companions, to bid you farewell. Our great father has at length been pleased to permit iis to return to our hunting grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of the rifle hereafter will only bring death to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them presents, and you have given them plenty to eat and drink. The memory of your friendship will remain till the Great Spirit says it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and j^nr young warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but the red man has a heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of his white brother. The Great Spirit has given us our hunting grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill there is his favorite, for its color is white, and this is the emblem of peace. This hunting dress and these feathers of the eagle are white. Accept them, my brother. I have given one like this to the White Otter. Accept it as a memorial of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will serve to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your children. Farewell." After their release from prison they were conducted, in charge of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that thev might witness the power of the United States and learn their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multitudes flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention paid them rendered their progress through the country a triumphal procession, instead of the transportation of prisoners by an officer. At E-ock Island the prisoners were given their liberty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In 1S38 Black Hawk built him a dwellino- near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be said that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 95 with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her up- ward of fortv years. BLACK hawk's DEATH AND BT]-RIAL. At all times when Black Hawk visited the whites he was received with marked attention. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' re-union in Lee county, Illinois, at some of their meetings and received many tokens of esteem. In September, 1838, while on his way to Ptock Island to receive his annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever, and terminated his life October 3. After his death, he was dressed in the uniform presented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. The body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side the cane given him by Henry Clay was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. Thus, after a long, adventurous and shifting life, Black Hawk was gathered to his fathers. FROM 1834 TO 1842. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. JSTo sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began rapidly to pour into the northern part of Illinois, now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had grown into a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. At the general election in 1834 Joseph Duncan was chosen Governor, by a handsome majority. His principal opponent was ex-Lieutenant Governor Kinney. A reckless and uncontrollable desire for internal public improvements seized the minds of the people. In his message to the Legislature, in 1835, Gov. Duncan said: " When we look abroad and see the extensive lines of inter- communication penetrating almost every section of our sister States ; when we see the canal boat and the locomotive bearing with seem- ing triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen and space, what patriot bosom does not beat liigh with a laudable ambition to give Illinois her full share of those advantages which are adoruing'lier 96 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. sister States, and which a magnificent Providence seems to invite by a wonderful adaptation of our whole country to such improve- ments?" STUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF IMPROVEMENTS INAUGURATED. The Legislature responded to the ardent words of the Govertior, and enacted a system of internal improvements without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the construction of 1,3()0 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There were a few counties not touched by railroad, or river or canal, and they were to be comforted and compensated by the free distribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond credence, it was ordered that work should commence on both ends of each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the same time. This provision, which has been called the crowning folly of the entire system, was the result of those jealous combinations ema- nating from the fear that advantages might accrue to one section over another in the commencement and completion of the works. We can appreciate better, perhaps, the magnitude of this grand system by reviewing a few figures. The debt authorized for these improvements in the first instance was $10,230,000. But this, as it was soon found, was based upon estimates at least too low by half. This, as we readily see, committed the State to a liability of over $20,000,000, equivalent to $200,000,000, at the present time, with over ten times the population and more than ten times the wealth. Such stupendous undertakings by the State naturally engendered the fever of speculation among individuals. That particular form known as the town-lot fever assumed the malignant type at first in Chicago, from whence it spead over the entire State and adjoining States. It was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms without regard to locality, and cut up the purses of the purchasers without regard to consequences. It was estimated that building lots enough were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the United States. Chicago, which in 1830 was a small trading-post, had within a few years grown into a city. This was the starting point of the wonderful and marvelous career of that city. Improvements, HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 97 unsurpassed by individual efforts in the annals of the world, were then begun and have been maintained to this day. Though visited by the terrible fire fiend and the accumulations of years swept away in a night, yet she has arisen, and to-day is the best built city in the world. Keports of the rapid advance of property in Chicago spread to the East, and thousands poured into her borders, bringing money, enterprise and industry. Every ship that left her port carried with it maps of splendidly situated towns and additions, and every vessel that returned was laden with immigrants. It was said at the time that the staple articles of Illinois export were town plots, and that there was danger of crowding the State with towns to the exclusion of land for agriculture. ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. The Illinois and Michigan canal again received attention. This enterprise is one of the most important in the early development of Illinois, on account of its magnitude and cost, and forming as it does the connecting link between the great chain of lakes and the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Gov. Bond, the first Governor, recommended in his first message the building of the canal. In 1831 the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. This work was performed by two young men, who estimated the cost at $600,000 or $700,000. It cost, however, when completed, $8,000,000. In 1825 a law was passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of Daniel P. Cook, Congressman from this State, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828 commis- sioners were appointed, and work commenced with a new survey and new estimates. In 1831:-5 the work was again pushed forward, and continued until 1848, when it was completed. PANIC — REPUDIATION ADVOCATED. Bonds of the State were recklessly disposed of both in the East and in Europe. Work was commenced on various lines of railroad, but none were ever completed. On the Northern Cross Railroad, from Meredosia east eight miles, the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel in the great valley of the Mississippi, was run. The date of this remarkable event was N"ov. 8, 1838. Large sums of money were being expended with no assurance of a revenue, 98 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. and consequently, in 1840, the Legislature repealed the improve- ment laws passed three years previously, nut, however, until the State had accumulated a debt of nearly $15,00(>,000. Thus fell, after a short but eventful life, by the hands of its creator, the most stupendous, extravagant and almost ruinous folly of a grand sys- tem of internal improvements that any civil community, perhaps, ever eno-a^-ed in. The State banks failed, specie was scarce, an enormous debt was accumulated, the interest of which could not be paid, people were disappointed in the accumulation of wealth, and real estate was worthless. All this had a tendency to create a desire to throw off the heavy burden of State debt by repudiation. This was boldly advocated by some leading men. The fair fame and name, however, of the State was not tarnished by repudiation. Men, true, honest, and able, were placed at the head of affairs; and thouofh the hours were dark and gloomv, and the times most try- ing, yet our grand old State was brought through and prospered, until to-day, after the expenditure of millions for public improve- ments and for carrying on the late war, she has, at present, a debt of only about $300,000. MARTYK FOR LIBERTY. The year 1837 is memorable for the death of the first martyr for liberty, and the abolishment of American slavery, in the State. Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot by a mob in Alton, on the night of the 7th of November of that year. lie was at the time editor of the Alton Ohisermr^ and advocated anti-slavery principles in its columns. For this practice three of his presses had been destroyed. On the arrival of the fourth the tragedy occurred which cost him his life. In anticipation of its arrival a series of meetings were held in which the friends of freedom and of slavery were represented. The object was to effect a compromise, but it was one in which liberty was to make concessions to oppression. In a speech made at one of these meetings, Lovejoy said: "Mr. Chairman, what have I to compromise? If freel}' to forgive those who have so greatly injured me; if to pray for their temporal and eternal happiness; if still to wish for the prosperity of your city and State, notwith- standing the indignities I have suffered in them, — if this be the compromise intended, then do I willingly make it. I do not admit that it is the business of any body of men to say whether I shall HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 101 or shall not publish a paper in this city. That right was given to me by my Creator, and is solemnly guaranteed W the Constitution of the United States and of this State. But if by compromise is meant that 1 shall cease from that which duty requires of me, I cannot make it, and the reason is, that I fear God more than man. It is also a very different question, whether 1 shall, voluntarily or at the request of my friends, yield up my position, or whether I shall forsake it at the hands of a mob. The former I am readv at all times to do when circumstances require it, as I will never put my personal wishes or interests in competition with the cause of that Master whose minister I am. But the latter, bo assured I never will do. You have, as lawyers say, made a false issue. There are no two parties between whom there can be a compromise. I plant myself down on my unquestionable rights, and the ques- tion to be decided is, whether I shall be protected in those rights. You may hang me, as the mob hung the individuals at Vicksburg; you may burn me at the stake, as they did old Mcintosh at St. Louis; or, you may tar and feather me, or throw me into the Mis- sissippi as you have threatened to do; but you cannot disgrace me. I, and I alone, can disgrace myself, and the deepest of all disgrace would be at a time like this to deny my Maker by forsaking his cause. He died for me, and I were most unworthy to bear his name should I refuse, if need be, to die for him.''^ IS^ot long afterward Mr. Lovejoy was shot. His brother Owen, being pres- ent on the occasion, kneeled down on the spot beside the corpse, and sent up to Cod, in the hearing of that very mob, one of the most eloquent prayers ever listened to by mortal ear. He was bold enough to pray to God to take signal vengeance on the infernal institution of slavery, and he then and there dedicated his life to the work of overthrowing it, and hoped to see the day when slavery existed no more in this nation. He died, March 24, 18G4, nearly three months after the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln took effect. Thus he lived to see his most earnest and devout prayer answered. But few men in the nation rendered bet- ter service in overthrowing the institution of slavery than Elijah P. and Owen Lovejoy. CARLIN ELECTED GOVERNOR. Thomas Carlin, Democrat, was elected Governor in 1838, over Cyrus Edwards, Whig. In 18-42 Adam W. "Snyder was nominated 102 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. for Governor on the Democratic ticket, but died before election. Thomas Ford was phiced in nomination, and was elected, ex-Gov- ernor Duncan being his opponent. PRAIRIE PIRATES. The northern part of the State also had its mob experiences, but of an entirely different nature from the one just recounted. There lias always hovered around the frontier of civilization bold, desper- ate men, who prey upon the unprotected settlers rather than gain a livelihood by honest toil. Theft, robbery and murder were car- ried on by regularly organized bands in Ogle, Lee, Winnebago and DeKalb counties. The leaders of these gangs of cut-throats were among the first settlers of that portion of the State, and conse- quently had the choice of location. Among the most prominent of the leaders were John Driscoll, William and David, his sons; John Brodie and three of his sons; Samuel Aikens and three of his sons; William K. Bridge and Norton B. Boyce. These were the representative characters, those who planned and controlled the movements of the combination, concealed them when danger threatened, nursed them when sick, rested them when worn by fatigue and forced marches, furnished hiding places for their stolen booty, shared in the spoils, and, under cover of darkness and intricate and devious ways of travel, known only to themselves and subordinates, transferred stolen horses from station to station; for it came to be known as a well-established fact that they had stations, and agents, and watchmen scattered throughout the coun- try at convenient distances, and signals and pass-words to assist and govern them in all their nefarious transactions. Ogle county, particularly, seemed to be a favorite and chosen field for the operations of these outlaws, who could not be convicted for their crimes. By getting some of their number on the juries, by producing hosts of w^itnesses to sustain their defense by per- jured evidence, and by changing the venue from one county to another, and by continuances from term to term, they nearly alwaj'S managed to be acquitted. At last these depredations became too common for longer endurance; patience ceased to be a virtue, and determined desperation seized the minds of honest men, and they resolved that if there were no statute laws that could protect them HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 103 against the ravages of thieves, robbers and counterfeiters, they would protect themselves. It was a desperate resolve, and desper- ately and bloodily executed. BURNING OF OGLE COUNTY COURT-HOUSE. At the Spring term of court, 1841, seven of the "Pirates of the Prairie," as they were called, were confined in the Ogle county jail to await trial. Preparatory to holding court, the judge and lawyers assembled at Oregon in their new court-house, which had just been completed. Near it stood the county jail in which were the prisoners. The "Pirates" assembled Sunday night and set the court-house on fire. In the hope that as the prisoners would have to be removed from the jail, they might, in the hurry and confusion of the people in attending to the fire, make their escape. The whole population were awakened that dark and stormy night, to see their new court edifice enwrapped in flames. Although the building was entirely consumed, none of the prisoners escaped. Three of them were tried, convicted and sent to the penitentiary for a year. They had, however, contrived to get one of their num- ber on the jury, who would not agree to a verdict until threatened to be lynched. The others obtained a change of venue and were not convicted, and finally they all broke jail and escaped. Thus it was that the law was inadequate to the protection of the people. The best citizens held a meeting and entered into a solemn compact with each other to rid the country of the desperadoes that infested it. They were regularly organized and known as " Regu- lators." They resolved to notify all suspected parties to leave the country within a given time; if they did not comply, they would be severely dealt with. Their first victim was a man named Hurl, who was suspected of having stolen his neighbor's horse. He was ordered to strip, his hands were tied, when thirty-six lashes of a raw-hide were applied to his bare back. The next was a man named Daggett, formerly a Baptist preacher. He was sentenced to receive five hundred lashes on his bare back. He was stripped, and all was ready, when his beautiful daughter rushed into the midst of the men, begging for mercy for her father. Her appeals, with Daggett's promise to leave the country immediately, secured his release. That night, new crimes having been discovered, he was taken out and whipped, after which he left the country, never again to be heard from. 104 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. The friends and comrades of the men who had been whipped were fearfully enra^^ed, and swore eternal and bloody vengeance Eighty of them assembled one night soon after, and laid plans to visit White Hock and murder every num, woman and child in that liamlet. They started on this bloody mission, but were prevailed upon by one of their number to disband. Their coming, however, had been anticipated, and every man and boy in the town was armed to protect himself and his family. CAMPBELL KILLED — THE MURDERERS SHOT. John Campbell, Captain of the '"Regulators," received a letter from William Driscoll, filled with most direful threats, — not only threatening Campbell's life, but the life of any one who should oppose their murderous, thieving operations. Soon after the re- ceipt of this letter, two hundred of the "Regulators" marched to Driscoll's and ordered him to leave the county within twenty days, but he refused to comply with the order. One Sunday evening, just after this, Campbell was shot down in his own door-yard by David Driscoll. He fell in the arms of his wife, at which time Taylor Driscoll raised his rifle and pointed it toward her, but low- ered it without firing. News of this terrible crime spread like wild-fire. The very air was filled with threats and vengeance, and nothing but the lives of the murderous gang would pay the penalty. Old John Driscoll was arrested, was told to bid his family good-bye, and then with his son went out to his death. The "Regulators," numbering 111, formed a large circle, and gave the Driscoll s a fair hearing. They were found guilty, and the "Regulators" divided into two "death divisions," — one, consisting of fifty-six, with rifles dispatched the father, the other fifty-five riddled and shattered the body of the son with balls from as many guns. The measures thus inaugu- rated to free the country from the dominion of outlaws was a last desperate resort, and proved effectual. MORMON WAR. In April, 1S40, the "Latter-Day Saints," or Mormons, came in large numbers to Illinois and purchased a tract of land on the east side of the Mississippi river, about ten miles above Keokuk. Here they commenced building the city of Nauvoo. A more picturesque or eligible site for a city could not have been selected. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 105 The origin, rapid development and prosperity of this religious sect are the most remarkable and instructive historical events of the present century. That an obscure individual, without money, education, or respectability, should persuade hundreds of thousands of people to believe him inspired of God, and cause a book, con- temptible as a literary production, to be received as a continuation of the sacred revelation, appears almost incredible; yet in less than half a century, the disciples of this obscure individual have in- creased to hundreds of thousands; have founded a State in the dis- tant wilderness, and compelled the Government of the United States to practically recognize them as an independent people. THE FOUNDER OF MORMONISM. ' The founder of Mormonism was Joseph Smith, a native of Ver- mont,* who emigrated while quite young with his father's family to western New York. Here his youth was spent in idle, vagabond life, roaming the woods, dreaming of buried treasures, and in en- deavoring to learn the art of finding them by the twisting of a forked stick in his hands, or by looking through enchanted stones. Both he and his father became famous as " water wizards," always ready to point out the spot where wells might be dug and water fomd. Such was the character of the young profligate when he made the acquaintance of Sidney Rigdon, a person of considerable talent and information, who had conceived the desio-n of founding a new religion. A religious romance, written by Mr. Spaulding, a Presbyterian preacher of Ohio, then dead, suggested the idea, and finding in Smith the requisite duplicity and cunning to reduce it to practice, it was agreed that he should act as prophet; and the two devised a story that gold plates had been found buried in the earth containing a record inscribed on them in unknown characters, which, when deciphered by the power of inspiration, gave the his- tory of the ten lost tribes of Israel. ATTEMPT TO ARREST JOE SMITH. After their settlement in and about Nauvoo, in Hancock county, great depredations were committed by them on the " Gentiles." The Mormons had been received from Missouri with arreat kind- ness by the people of this State, and every possible aid granted thera. The depredations committed, however, soon made them 106 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. odious, when the question of getting rid of them was agitated. In the fall of 1841, the Governor of Missouri made a demand on Gov. Carlin for the arrest and delivery of Joe Smith as a fugitive from justice. An executive warrant issued for that purpose was placed in the hands of an agent to be executed, but was returned without being complied with. Soon afterward the Governor handed tlie same writ to his agent, who this time succeeded in arresting Joe Smith. He was, however, discharged by Judge Douglas, upon the grounds that the writ upon which he had been arrested had been once returned before it was executed, and was fimotus officio. In 1842 Gov. Carlin again issued his writ, Joe Smith was arrested again, and again escaped. Thus it will be seen it was impossible to reach and putfish the leader of this people, who had been driven from Missouri because of their stealing, murdering and nnjust dealing, and came to Illinois but to continue their depredations. Emboldened by success, the Mormons became more arrogant and overbearing. Many people began to believe that they were about to set up a separate government for themselves in defiance of the laws of the State. Owners of property stolen in other counties made pursuit into Nauvoo, and were fined by the Mormon courts for daring to seek their property in the holy city. But that which made it more certain than anything else that the Mormons con- templated a separate government, was that about this time they petitioned Congress to establish a territorial government for them in Nauvoo. ORIGIN OF rOLYGAMY. To crown the whole folly of the Mormons, in the Spring of 1844 Joe Smith announced himself as a candidate for President of the United States, and many of his followers were confident he would be elected. He next caused himself to be anointed king and priest, and to give character to his pretensions, he declared his lineage in an unbroken line from Joseph, tlie son of Jacob, and that of his wife from some other important personage of the ancient Hebrews. To strengthen his political power he also instituted a body of police styled the " Danite band," who were sworn to \^vo- tect his person and obey his orders as the commands of God. A female order previously existing in the church, called " Spiritual wives," was modified so as to suit the licentiousness of the prophet. A doctrine was revealed that it was impossible for a woman to get HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 107 to heaven except as the wife of a Mormon elder; that each elder might marry as many women as he could maintain, and that any female mig-lit be sealed to eternal life by becoming their concubine. This licentiousness, the origin of polygam^'^ in that church, they endeavored to justify by an appeal to Abraham, Jacob and other favorites of God in former ages of the world. JOE SMITH AS A TYRANT. Smith soon began to play the tyrant over his people. Among the first acts of this sort was an attempt to take the wife of Wil- liam Law, one of his most talented disciples, and make her his spiritual wife. He established, without authority, a recorder's ofHce, and an office to issue marriage licenses. He proclaimed that none could deal in real estate or sell liquor but himself. He ordered a printing office demolished, and in many ways controlled the freedom and business of the Mormons. Not only did he stir up some of the Mormons, but by his reckless disregard for the laws of the land raised up opposition on every hand. It was believed that he instructed the Danite band, which he had chosen as the ministers of his vengeance, that no blood, except that of the church, was to be regarded as sacred, if it contravened the accomplishment of his object. It was asserted that he inculcated the legality of perjury and other crimes, if committed to advance the cause of true believ- ers; that God had given the world and all it contained to his saints, and since they were kept out of their rightful inheritance by force, it was no moral offense to get possession of it by stealing. It was reported that an establishment existed in Nauvoo for the manufac- ture of counterfeit money, and that a set of outlaws was maintained for the purpose of putting it in circulation. Statements were cir- culated to the effect that a reward was offered for the destruction of the Warsaw Signal, an anti-Mormon paper, and that Mormons dis- persed over the country threatened all persons who offered to assist the constable in the execution of the law, with the destruction of their property and the murder of their families. There were rumors also afloat that an alliance had been formed with the Western Indians, and in case of war they would be used in murdering their enemies. In short, if only one-half of these reports were true the Mormons must have been the most infamous people that ever ex- isted. 108 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. MILITARY FORCES ASSEMBLING. William Law, one of the proprietors of the printing-press destroyed by Smith, went to Carthage, the county-scat, and ol)tained warrants for the arrest of Smith and the members of the City Council, and others connected with the destruction of the press. Some of the parties having been arrested, but discharged by the authorities in Nauvoo, a convention of citizens assembled at Carthage and a])pointed a committee to wait upon the Governor for the purpose of procuring military assistance to enforce the law. The Governor visited Carthage in person. Previous to his arrival the militia had been called out and armed forces commenced assem- bling in Carthage and Warsaw to enforce the service of civil process. All of them, however, signified a willingness to co-operate with the Governor in preserving order. A constable and ten men were then sent to make the arrest. In the meantime, Smith declared martial law; his followers residing in the country were summoned to his assistance; the Legion was assembled and under arms, and the entire city was one great military encampment. THE SMITHS ARRESTED. The prophet, his brother Iliram, the members of the City Coun- cil and others, surrendered themselves at Carthage June 24, 1845, on the charge of riot. All entered into recognizance before a Jus- tice of the Peace to appear at court, and were discharged. A new writ, however, was immediately issued and served on the two Smiths, and both were arrested and thrown into prison. The citizens had assembled from Hancock, Schuyler and McDonough counties, armed and ready to avenge the outrages that had been committed by the Mormons. Great excitement prevailed at Car- thage. The force assembled at that place amounted to 1,200 men, and about 500 assembled at Warsaw. Nearly all were anxious to march into Nauvoo. This measure was supposed to be necessary to search for counterfeit money and the apparatus to make it, and also to strike a salutary terror into the Mormon people by an exhi- bition of the force of the State, and thereby prevent future out- rages, murders, robberies, burnings, and the like. The 27th of June was appointed for the march; but Gov. Ford, who at the time was in Carthage, apprehended trouble if the militia should attempt to invade Nauvoo, disbanded the troops, retaining only a guard to the jail. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 109 JOE SMITH AND HIS BROTHER KILLED. Gov. Ford went to Kauvoo on the 27th. The same morning about 200 men from Warsaw, manj being disguised, hastened to Carthage. On learning that one of the companies left as a guard had disbanded, and the other stationed 150 yards from the jail while eight men were left to guard the prisoners, a communication was soon established between the Warsaw troops and the guard; and it was arranged that the guard should have their guns charged with blank cartridges and hre at the assailants when they attempted to enter the jail. The conspirators came up, jumped the fence around the jail, were fired upon by the guard, which, according to arrange- ment, was overpowered, and the assailants entered the prison, to the door of the room where the two prisoners were confined. An attempt ;was made to break open the door; but Joe Smith, being armed with a pistol, fired several times as the door was bursted open, and three of the assailants were wounded. At the same time several shots were fired into the room, by some of which John Taylor, a friend of the Smiths, received four wounds, and Hiram Smith was instantly killed. Joe Smith, severely wounded, attempt- ed to escape by jumping out of a second-story window, but was so stunned by the fall that he was unable to rise. In this position he was dispatched by balls shot through his body. Thus fell Joe Smith, the most successful impostor of modern times. Totally ignor- ant of almost every fact in science, as well as in law, he made up in constructiveness and natural cunning whatever in him was want- ing of instruction. CONSTERNATION AT QUINCY. Great consternation prevailed among the anti-Mormons at Carthage, after the killing of the Smiths. They expected the Mor- mons would be so enraged on hearing of the death of their leaders that they would come down in a body, armed and equipped, to seek revenge upon the populace at Carthage. Messengers were dispatched to various places for help in case of an attack. The women and children were moved across the river for safety. A committee was sent to Quincy and early the following morning, at the rmging of the bells, a large concourse of people assembled to devise means of defense. At this meeting, it was reported that the Mormons attempted to rescue the Smiths; that a party of Mis- sourians and others had killed them to prevent their escape; that IIQ HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. the Governor and liis party were at ^Nauvoo at the time when intel- ligence of the fact was brought there; that they had been attacked by the Nauvoo Legion, and had retreated to a house where they were closely besieged; that the Governor had sent out word that he could maintain his position for two days, and would be certain to be massacred if assistance did not arrive by that time. It is unnecessary to say that this entire story was fabricated. It was put in circulation, as were many other stories, by the anti-Mormons, to influence the public mind and create a hatred for the Mormons. The effect of it, however, was that by 10 o'clock on the 28th, between two and three hundred men from Quincy, under command of Maj. Flood, went on board a steamboat for Nauvoo, to assist in raising the siege, as they honestly believed. VARIOUS DEPREDATIONS. It was thought by many, and indeed the circumstances seem to war- rant the conclusion, that the assassins of Smith had arranged that the murder should occur while the Governor was in Nauvoo; that the Mormons would naturally suppose he planned it, and in the first out- pouring of their indignation put him to death, as a means of retalia- tion. They thought that if they could have the Governor of the State assassinated by Mormons, the public excitement would be greatly increased against that people, and would cause their extermination, or at least their expulsion from the State. That it was a brutal and premeditated murder cannot be and is not denied at this day; but the desired effect of the murder was not attained, as the Mormons did not evacuate Nauvoo for two years afterward. In the meantime, the excitement and prejudice against this people were not allowed to die out. Ilorse-stealing was quite common, and every case that occurred was charged to the Mormons. That they were guilty of such thefts cannot be denied, but a great deal of this work done at that time was by organized bands of thieves, who knew they could carry on their nefarious business with more safety, as long as sus- picion could be placed upon the Mormons. In the summer and fall of 1845 were several occurrences of a nature to increase the irritation existing between the Mormons and their neighbors. A suit was instituted in the United States Circuit Court against one of the apostles, to recover a note, and a marshal sent to summons HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,. 113 the defendant, who refused to be served with the process. Indig- nation raeetins's were held bv the saints, and the marshal threat- ened for attempting to serve the writ. About this time, General Denning, sheriff, was assaulted by an anti-Mormon, whom he killed. Denning was friendly to the Mormons, and a great outburst of passion was occasioned among the friends of the dead man. INCENDIARISM. It was also discovered, in trying the rights of property at Lima, Adams county, that the Mormons had an institution connected with their church to secure their effects from execution. Incensed at this and other actions, the anti-Mormons of Lima and Green Plains, held a meeting to devise means for the expulsion of the Mormons from that part of the country. It was arranged that a number of their own party should fire on the building in which they were assembled, in such a manner as not to injure anyone, and then report that the Mormons had commenced the work of plunder and death. This plot was duly executed, and the startling intelligence soon called together a mob, which threatened the Mor- mons with iire and sword if they did not immediately leave. T.he Mormons refusing to depart, the mob at once executed their threats by burning' 125 houses and forcing the inmates to flee for their lives. The sheriff of Hancock county, a prominent Mormon armed several hundred Mormons and scoured the country, in search of the incendiaries, but they had fled to neighboring counties, and he was unable either to bring them to battle or make any arrests. One man, however, was killed without provocation; Smother attempting to escape was shot and afterwards hacked and muti- lated; and Franklin A. Worrell, who had charge of the jail when the Smiths were killed, was shot by some unknown person con- cealed in a thicket. The anti-Mormons committed one murder. A party of them set fire to a pile of straw, near the barn of an old Mormon, nearly ninety years of age, and when he appeared to ex- tinguish the flames, he was shot and killed. The anti-Mormons left their property exposed in their hurried retreat, after having burned the houses of the Mormons. Those who had been burned out sallied forth from Nauvooand plundered the whole country, taking whatever they could carry or drive away. By order of the Governor, Gen. Hardin raised a iorce of 350 men, checked the Mormon ravages, and recalled the fugitive anti-Mormons home. 214 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. MAKING rUEPARATION TO LEAVE. At this time a convention, consisting of delegates from eight of the adjoining counties, assembled >o concert measures for the expul- sion of the Mormons from the State. The Mormons seriously c n- templated emmio-ratiou westward, believing the times forboded evil ibr them. Accordingly, during the winter ot 18-to-'-i6, the most stupendous preparations were made by the Mormons tor removal All the principal dwellings, and even the temple, were converted into work-sliops, and before spring, 12,000 wagons were in readiness; and by the middle of February the leaders, with 2,000 of their followers, had crossed the Mississippi on the ice. Before the spring of 1846 the majority of the Mormons had left Nauvoo, but still a large number remained. , THE BATTLE OF NAUVOO. In September a writ was issued against several prominent Mor- mons, and placed in the hands of John Carlin, of Carthage, for execution. Carlin called out a posse to help make the arrest, which brought together quite a large force in the neighborhood of Nauvoo. Carlili, not being a military man, placed in command of the posse, first. Gen. Singleton, and afterward Col. Brockman, who proceeded to invest the city, erecting breastworks, and taking other means for defensive as well as offensive operations. What was then termed a battle next took place, resulting in the death of one Mormon and the woundin*'- of several others, and loss to the anti-Mormons ot three kflled Sid four wounded. At last, through the intervention of an anti-Mormon committee of one hundred, from Quincy, the Mormons and their allies were induced to submit to such terms as the posse chose to dictate, which were that the Mormons should immediatelv give up their arms to the Quincy committee, and re- move from th^e State. The trustees of the church and five ot their clerks were permitted to remain for the sale of Mormon property, and the posse were to march in unmolested, and leave a sufficient force to guarantee the performance of their stipulations. Accord- imrly, the constable's ])osse marched in with Brockman at their he'ad.' It consisted of about 800 armed men and GOO or TOO unarmed, who had assembled from all the country around, through motives of curiosity, to see the once proud city of Nauvoo hum- bled and delivered up to its enemies. They proceeded into the HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 117 city slowly and carefallj, examiuin,^ the way for fear of tlie explo- sion of a mine, many of which had been made by the Mormons, by burying kegs of powder in the ground, with a man stationed at a distance to pull a string communicating with the trigger of a percussion lock affixed to the keg. This kind of a contrivance was called by the Mormons " hell's half-acre." When the posse arrived in the city, the leaders of it erected themselves into a tri- bunal to decide who should be forced away and who remain. Parties were dispatched to hunt for fire-arms, and for Mormons, and to bring them to judgment. When brought, they received their doom from the mouth of Brockman, who sat a grim and unawed tyrant for the time. As a general rule, the Mormons were ordered to leave within an hour or two; and by rare grace some of them were allowed until next day, and in a few cases longer time was granted. MALTREATMENT OF NEW CITIZENS. Nothing was said in the treaty in regard to the new citizens, who had with the Mormons defended the city; but the posse no sooner had obtained possession than they commenced expelling them. Some of them were ducked in the river, and were in one or two instances actually baptized in the name of some of the leaders of the mob; others were forcibly driven into the ferry-boats to be taken over the river before the bayonets of armed ruffians. Many of these new settlers were strangers in the country from various parts of the United States, who were attracted there by the low price of property; and they knew but little of previous difficulties or the merits of the quarrel. They saw with their own eyes that the Mormons were industriously preparing to go away, and they knew " of their own knowledge " that any effort to expel them by force was gratuitous and unnecessary cruelty. They had been trained, by the States whence they came, to abhor mobs and to obey the law, and they volunteered their services under executive authority to defend their town and their property against mob violence, and, as they honestly believed, from destruction; but in this they were parti v mistaken; for although the mob leaders in the exercise of unbridled power were guilty of many injuries to the persons of individuals, although much personal property was stolen, yet they abstained from materially injuring houses and buildings. 116 IllSTOliV OF ILLINOIS. THE MORMONS KEACH SALT LAKE. The fugitives proceeded westward, takino^ the road throu^^h Mis- souri, but were forcibly ejected from that State and compelled to move indirectly through Iowa. After innumerable hardships the advance guard reached the Missouri river at Council Bluffs, when a United States officer presented a requisition for 500 men to serve in the war with Mexico. Compliance with this order so di- minished their number of effective men, that the expedition was again delayed and the remainder, consisting mostly of old men, women and children, hastily prepared habitations for winter. Their rudely constructed tents were hardly completed before winter set in with great severit}-, the bleak prairies being incessantly swept by piercing winds. While here cholera, fever and other diseases, aggravated by the previous hardships, the want of comfortable quarters and medical treatment, hurried many of them to prema- ture graves, yet, under the influence of religious fervor and fanati- cism, they looked death in the face with resignation and cheerful- ness, and even exhibited a gayety which manifested itself in music and dancing during the saddest hours of this sad winter. At length welcome spring made its appearance, and by April they were again organized for the journey; a pioneer party, con- sisting of Brigham Young and 140 others, was sent in advance to locate a home for the colonists. On the 21 of July, 18-i7, a day memorable in Mormon annals, the vanguard reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake, having been directed thither, according to their accounts, by the hand of the Almighty. Here in a distant wil- derness, midway between the settlements of the East and the Pacific, and at that time a thousand miles from the utmost verge of civili- zation, they commenced preparations for founding a colony, which has since grown into a mighty empire. MEXICAN WAR. During the month of May, 181:6, the President called for four regiments of volunteers from Illinois for the Mexican war. This was no sooner known in the State than nine regiments, numbering 8,370 men, answered the call, though only four of them, amounting to 3,720 men, could be taken. These regiments, as well as their officers, were everywhere foremost in the American ranks, and dis- HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 119 tingiiislied themselves by their matchless valor in the bloodiest battles of the war. Veterans never fought more nobly and effect- ively than did the volunteers from Illinois. At the bloody battle of Buena Yista they crowned their lives— many their death— with the laurels of war. Never did armies contend more bravely, determinedly and stubbornly tlian the American and Mexican forces at this famous battle; and as Illinois troops were ever in the van and on the blood- iest portions of the field, we believe a short sketch of the part they took in the fierce contest is due them, and will be read with no lit- tle interest. BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. General Santa Anna, with his army of 20,000, poured into the valley of Aqua Nueva early on the morning of the 22d of February, hoping to surprise our army, consisting of about 5,000 men, under Gen. Taylor and which had retreated to the "Narrows." They were hotly pursued by the Mexicans who, before attacking, sent Gen. Taylor a flag of truce demanding a surrender, and assuring him that if he refused he would be cut to pieces; but the demand was promptly refused. At this the enemy opened fire, and the con- flict began. In honor of the day the watchword with our soldiers was, " The memory of Washington." An irregular fire was kept up ■all day, and at night both armies bivouacked on the field, resting on their arms. Santa Anna that night made a spirited address to his men, and the stirring strains of his own band till late in the ni^ht were distinctly heard by our troops; but at last silence fell over the hosts that were to contend unto death in that narrow pass on the morrow. Early on the following morning the battle was resumed, and con- tinued without intermission until nightfall. The solid columns of the enemy were hurled against our forces all day lono-, but were met and held in check by the unerring fire of our musketry and ar- tillery. A portion of Gen. Lane's division was driven back by the enemy under Gen. Lombardini, who, joined by Gen. Pacheco's divis- ion, poured upon the main plateau in so formidable nuiribers as to appear irresistible. BRAVERY OF THE SECOND ILLINOIS. At this time the 2d Illinois, under Ool. Eissell, with a squadron of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery came handsomely into action 120 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. and i^allantly received the concentrated fire of the enemy, wliich they retnrned with deliberate aim and terrible effect; every dis- charge of the artillery seemed to tear a bloody path through the heavy columns of enemy. Says a writer: "The rapid mus- ketry of the gallant troops from Illinois poured a storm of lead into their serried ranks, which literally strewed the ground with the dead and dving." But, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy steadily advanced until our gallant regiment received fire from three sides. Still they maintained their position for a time with untlinching firmness against that immense host. At length, per- ceiving the danger of being entirely surrounded, it was determined to fall back to a ravine. Col. Bissel, with the coolness of ordinary drill, ordered the signal "cease firing" to be made; he then with tlie same deliberation gave the command, "Face to the rear, Bat- talion, about face; forward march," which was executed with the regularity of veterans to a point beyond the peril of being out- flanked. Again, in obedience to command these brave men halted- faced about, and under a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe. resumed their well-directed fire. The conduct of no troops could liave been more admirable; and, too, until that day they had never been under fire, when, within less than half an hour eighty of their comrades dropped by their sides. How difierent from the Arkansas regiment, which were ordered to the plateau, but after delivering their first volley gave way and dispersed. SADDEST EVENT OF THE BATTLE. But now we have to relate the saddest, and, for Illinois, the most mournful, event of that battle-worn day. We take the account from Colton's History of the battle of Buena Vista. "As the enemy on our left was moving in retreat along the head of the Plateau, our artillery was advanced until within range, and opened a heavy fire upon him, while Cols. Hardin, Bissell and McKec, with their Illinois and Kentucky troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pur- suit. A powerful reserve of the Mexican army was then just emerging from the ravine, where it had been organized, and advanced on the plateau, opposite the head of the southernmost gorge. Those who were giving way rallied quickly upon it; when the whole force, thus increased to over 12,000 men, came forward in a perfect blaze of fire. It was a single column, composed of the best soldiers of the i-epublic, having for its advanced battalions the SCENE ON FOX RIVER, HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 1'2'd^ veteran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops were soon obliged to give ground before it and seek the shelter of the second gorge. The enemy pressed on, arriving opposite the head of the second gorge. One-half of the column suddenly enveloped it, while the other half pressed on across the f)lateau, having for the moment nothing to resist them but the three guns in their front. The por- tion that was immediately opposed to the Kentucky and Illinois troops, ran down along each side of the gorge, in which they had sought shelter, and also circled around its head, leaving no possible way of escape for them except by its mouth, which opened up©n the road. Its sides, which were steep, — at least an angle of 45 degrees, — were covered with loose pebbles and stones, and con- verged to a point at the bottom. Down there were our poor fel- lows, nearly three regiments of them (1st and 2d Illinois and 2d Kentucky), with but little opportunity to load or lire a gun, being hardly able to keep their feet. Above the whole edge of the gorge, all the way around, was darkened by the serried masses of the enemy, and was bristling with muskets directed on the crowd beneath. It was no time to pause. Those who were not immedi- ately shot down rushed on toward the road, their number growing less and less as they went, Kentnckians and lUinoisans, officers and men, all mixed np in confusion, and all pressing on over the loose pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving, precipitous banks, and having lines and lines of the enemy tiring down from each side and rear as they went. Just then the enemy's cavalry, which had gone to the left of the reserve, had come over the spur that divides the mouth of the second gorge from that of the third, and were now closing up the only door through which there was the least shadow of a chance for their lives. Many of those ahead endeavored to force their way out, but few succeeded. The lancers were fully six to one, and their long weapons were already reeking with blood. It was at this time that those who wer«s still back in that dreadful gorge heard, above the din of the musketry and the shouts of the enemy around them, the roar of Washington's Bat- tery. No music could have been more grateful to their eai'S. A moment only, and the whole opening, where the lancers were busy, rang with the repeated explosions of spherical-case shot. They gave way. The gate, as it were, was clear, and out upon the road a stream of our poor fellows issued. They ran panting down 124 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. toward the battery, and directly under the light of iron then pas- sing over their heads, into the retreatinoj cavalry. Hardin, McKee, Clay, Willis, Zabriskie, Houghton — but why go on? It would be a sad task indeed to name over all who fell during this twenty minutes' slaughter. The whole gorge, from the plateau to its mouth, was strewed with our dead. All dead! 'No wounded there — not a man; for the infantry had rushed down the sides and com- pleted the work with the bayonet." VICTORY FOR OUR ARMY. The artillery on the plateau stubbornly maintained its position, The remnants of the 1st and 2d Illinois regiments, after issuing from the fated gorge, were formed and again brought into action, the former, after the fall of the noble Hardin, under Lieut. Col. Weatherford, the latter under Bissell. The enemy brought forth reinforcements and a brisk artillery duel was kept up; but gradually, as the shades of night began to cover the earth, the rattle of mus- ketry slackened, and when the pall of night was thrown over that bloody field it ceased altogether. Each army, after the fierce and long struggle, occupied much the same position as it did in the morning. However, early on the following morning, the glad tidings were heralded amidst our army that the enemy had retreated, thus again crowning the American banners with victory. OTHER HONORED NAMES OF THIS WAR. Other bright names from Illinois that shine as stars in thiei v^ar are those of Shields, Baker, Harris and Coffee, which are indissolubly connected with the glorious capture of Vera Cruz and the not less famous storming of Cerro Gordo. In this latter action, when, after the valiant Gen. Shields had been placed /tors de combat., the command of his force, consisting of three regiments, devoled upon Col. Baker. This officer, with his men, stormed with unheard-of prowess the last stronghold of the Mexicans, sweeping everything before them. Sucli indeed were the intrepid valor and daring: couraije exhibited bv Illinois volunteers during the Mexican war that their deeds should live in the memory of their countrymen until those latest times when the very name of America shall liave been forgotten. 125 THE WAR FOR THE UNIO]S\ On the fourth day of March, 1861, after the most exciting and momentous political campaign known in the history of this country, Abraham Lincoln — America's mart^'red President — was inaugu- rated Chief Magistrate of the United States. This fierce contest was principally sectional, and as the announcement was flashed over the telegraph wires that the Republican Presidential candidate had been elected, it was hailed by the South as a justifiable pretext for dissolving the Union. Said Jefferson Davis in a speech at Jackson, Miss., prior to the election, ''If an abolitionist be chosen Presi- dent of the United States you will have presented to you the question whether you will permit the government to pass into the hands of your avowed and implacable enemies. Without pausing for an answer, I will state my own position to be that such a result would be a species of revolution by which the purpose of the Government would be destroyed, and the obser- vances of its mere forms entitled to no respect. In that event, in such, manner as should be most expedient, I should deem it your duty to j^rovide for your safet}^ outside of the Union." Said another Southern politician, when speaking on the same sub- ject, "We shall fire the Southern heart, instruct the Southern mind, give courage to each, and at the proper moment, by one organized, concerted action, we can precipitate the Cotton States into a revolution." To disrupt the Union and form a government which recognized the absolute supremacy of the white population and the perpetual bondage of the black was what they deemed freedom from the galling yoke of a Republican administration. ABKAHAM LINCOLN DID NOT SEEK THE PEE8IDENCY. Hon, R. W. Miles, of Knox county, sat on the floor by the side of Abraham Lincoln in the Library room of the Capitol, in Spring- field, at the secret caucus meeting, held in January, 1859, w^hen Mr. Lincoln's name was first spoken of in caucus as candidate ior Pres-ident. When a gentleman, in making a short speech, said, " We are going to bring Abraham Lincoln out as a candidate for President," Mr. Lincoln at once arose to his feet, and exclaimed, "For God's sake, let me alone! I have suffered enough!" This was soon after he had been defeated in the Legislature for United States Senate by Stephen A. Douglas, and only those who are 126 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, intimate with that important and unparalleled contest can appre- ciate the full force and meaning of these expressive words of the martyred President. They were spontaneous, and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Abraham Lincoln did not seek the high posi- tion of President. Nor did he use any trickery or chicanery to obtain it. But his expressed wish was not to be complied with; our beloved country needed a savior and a martyr, and Fate had decreed that he should be tlie victim. After Mr. Lincoln was elected President, Mr. Miles sent him an eagle's quill, with which the chief magistrate wrote his first inaugural address. The letter written by Mr. Miles to the President, and sent with the quill, which was two feet in length, is such a jewel of eloquence and prophecy that it should be given a place in history: Persifer, December 21, 18G0. Hon. a. Ltncoi.n : Dear Sir : — Please accept the eagle quill I promised you, by the hand of our Represontntivc, A. A. Smith. The bird from whose wing the quill was taken, was shot by .lohu F. Dillon, in Persifer township, Knox Co., Ills., in Feb., 1857 Hav- ing heard that James Buchanan was furnished with an eagle quill to write his Inaugural with, and believing that in 1860, a Republican would be elected to take his place, I determined to save this quill and present it to the fortunate man, who- ever he might be. Reports tell us that the bird which furnished Buchanan's quill was a captured bird, — fit emblem of the man that used it ; but the bird from which this quill was taken, yielded the quill only with his life,— fit emblem of the man who is expec-ted to use it, for true Republicans believe that you would not think life worth th(! keeping after the surrender of principle. Great difficulties surround you ; traitors to their country have threatened your life ; and should you be called upon to surrender it at the post of duty, your memory will live for- ever in the heart of every freeman ; and that is a grander monument than can be built of brick or marljle. "For if hearts may not our memories keep, Obliviou liastn each vestige sweep, And let our memories end.'" Yours Truly, STATES SECEDING. R. W. Miles. At the time of President Lincoln's accession to power, several members of the Union claimed they had withdrawn froui it, and styling themselves the " Confederate States of America," organ- ized a separate government. The house was indeed divided against itself, but it should not fall, nor should it long continue divided, was the hearty, determined response of every loyal heart in the nation. The aqcursed institution of human slavery was the primary cause for this dissolution of the American Union. Doubtless other agencies served to intensify the hostile feel- ings which existed between the Korthern and Southern portions HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 127 of our country, but their remote origin conld be traced to this great national evil. Had Lincoln's predecessor put forth a timely, ener- getic effort, he miglit have prevented tlie bloody vt^ar our nation was called to pass through. On the other hand every aid was given the rebels; every advantage and all the power of the Grovernment was placed at their disposal, and when Illinois' honest son took the reins of the Republic he found Buchanan had been a traitor to his trust, and given over to the South all available means of war. THE FALL OF SUMTER. On the 12th day of April, 1861, the rebels, who for weeks had been erecting their batteries upon the shore, after demanding of Major Anderson a surrender, opened fire upon Fort Sumter. For thirtv-four hours an incessant cannonading was continued; the fort was being seriously injured; provisions were almost gone, and Major Anderson was compelled to haul down the stars and stripes. Tliat dear old flag which liad seldom been lowered to a foreign foe by rebel hands was now trailed in the dust. The first blow of the terrible conflict which summoned vast armies into the field, and moistened the soil of a nation in tVaternal blood and tears, had been struck. The gauntlet thus thrown down by the attack on Sumter by the traitors of the South was accepted — not, however, in the, spirit with which insolence meets insolence — but with a firm, determined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The dutv of the President was plain under the constitution and the laws, and above and beyond all, the people from whom all political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the Rebellion, and stood readv to sustain the authority of their representative and executive (»fficers. Promptly did the new President issue a proclamation calling for his countr3^men to join with him to defend their homes and their country, and vindicate her honor. This call was made April 14, two days after Sumter was first fired upon, and was for 75,000 men. On the 15th, the same day he was notified, Gov. Yates issued his proclamation convening the Legislature. He also ordered the organization of six regiments. Troops were in abund- ance, and the call was no sooner made than filled. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the M'orkshop, the oflice, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school-house, — every calling offered its best men, their lives and their fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity. 1'2S HISTOUV OV ILLINOIS. Bitter words spoken in moments of political lieat were forgotten and forgiven, and joining hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's soldier-statesman: " J3>/ the Great Eternal^ the Union must and shall he j^rt^st^ryec?." The honor, the very life and glory of the nation was committed to the stern arbitrament of the sword, and soon the tramp of armed men, the clash of musketrx' and the heavy boom of artillery reverberated throughout the continent; rivers of blood saddened by tears of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and sweethearts flowed from the lakes to the gulf, but a nation was saved. Tiie sacrifice was great, but the Union was preserved. CALL FOK TKOOrS PROMl'TLV ANSWERED. Simultaneously with the call for troops by the President, enlist- ments commenced in this State, and within ten days 10,000 volunteers offered service, and the sum of $1,000,000 was tendered by patriotic citizens. Of the volunteers who offered their services, only six regiments could be accepted under the quota of the State. But the time soon came when there was a place and a musket for every man. The six regiments raised were designated by numbers commencing with seven, as a mark of respect for the six regiments which liad served in the Mexican war. Another call was antici- pated, and the Legislature authorized ten additional regiments to be organized. Over two hundred companies were immediately raised from which were selected the required number. No sooner was this done than the President made another call for troops, six regiments were again our proportion, although by earnest solicita- tion the remaining four were accepted. There were a large number of men with a patriotic desire to enter the service who were denied this privilege. Many of them wept, while others joined regiments from other States. In May, June and July seventeen regiments of infantry and live of cavalry were raised, and in the latter month, when the President issued his first call for 500,000 volunteers, Illinois tendered thirteen regiments of infantry and three of cavalry, and so anxious were her sons to have the Kebellion crushed that the number could have been increased by thousands. At the close of 1861 Illinois had sent to the field nearly 50,000 men, and liad 17,000 in cam]) awaiting marching orders, thus exceeding her full quota by 15,000. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 129 A VAST ARMY RAISED IN ELEVEN DAYS. In July and August of 18G2 the President called for 600,000 men — our quota of which was 52,296 — and gave until August 18 as the limits in which the number might be raised by volunteering, after which a draft would be ordered. The State had already fur- nished 17,000 in excess of her quota, and it was first thought this number would be deducted from the present requisition, but that could not be done. But thirteen days were granted to enlist this vast army, which had to come from the farmers and mechanics. The former were in the midst of harvest, but, inspired by love of country, over 50,000 of tliem left their harvests ungathered, their tools and their benches, the plows in their furrows, turning their backs on their homes, and before eleven days had expired the demands of the Government were met and both quotas filled. The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the Free States to crush out and subdue the monstrous war traitors had inaugurated. But to every call for either men or money there was a willing and ready response. And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have oflered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar. On the 21st of December, 1864, the last call for troops was made. It was for 300,000. In consequence of an im- perfect enrollment of the men subject to military duty, it became evident, ere this call was made, that Illinois was furnishing thous- ands of men more than what her quota would have been, had it been correct. So glaring had this disproportion become, that under this call the quota of some districts exceeded the number of able-bodied men in them. A GENERAL SUMMARY, Following this sketch we give a schedule of all the volunteer troops organized from this State, from the commencement to the close of the war. It is taken from tlie Adjutant General's report. The number of the regiment, name of original Colonel, call under which recruited, date of organization and muster into the United States' service, place of muster, and aggregate strength of each organization, from which we find that Illinois put into her one hun- dred and eighty regiments 256,000 men, and into the United States 130 lUSTUKY OK ILLINOIS. army, through other States, enough to swell tlie number to 290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the Federal Goveniuieut in all the war of the Kevolution. Her total years of service were over 000,000. She enrolled men from eiixhteen to fortv-five years of a«re, when the law of Congress in ISG-t — the test time — only asked for those from twenty to forty-five. Her enrollments were otherwise excessive. Her people wanted to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment; thus the basis of fixing the quota was too great, and the quota itself, at least in the trying time, was far above any other State. The demand on some counties, as Monroe, for example, took every able-bodied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for one hundred days, for whom no credit was asked. She gave to the country 73,000 years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenth of the population of the loyal States, she sent regu- larly one-tenth of all the soldiers, and in the perils of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary, she sent one-eighth of all that were called for by her loved and honored son in the White House. Of the brave boys Illinois sent to the front, there were killed in action, 5,888; died of wounds, 3,032; of disease, 19,496; in prison, 967; lost at sea, 205; aggregate, 29,588. As upon every field and upon every page of the history of this war, Illinois bore her part of the suffering in the prison-pens of the South. More than 800 names make up the awful column of Illinois' brave sons M. who died in the rebel prison of Andersonville, Ga. Who can measure or imagine the atrocities which would be laid before the world were the panorama of sufferings and terrible trials of these frallant men but half unfolded to view? But this can never be done until new words of horror are invented, and new arts dis- covered by which demoniacal fiendishness cati be portrayed, and the intensest anguish of the human soul in ten thousand forms be painted. No troops ever fought more heroically, stubbornly, and with bet- ter effect, than did the boys from the " Prairie State." At Pea Pidge, Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, luka, Corinth, Stone River, Holly Springs, Jackson, Vicksburg, Chicamauga, Lookout Moun- tain, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Chattanooga, and on every other field where the clash of arms was heard, her sons. were foremost. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 131 CAPTUKE OF THE ST. LOUIS ARSENAL. Illinois was almost destitute of firearms at the beginning of the conflict, and none could be procured in the East. The traitorous Floyd had turned over to the South 300,000 arms, leaving most arsenals in the North empty. Grov. Yates, however, received an order on the St. Louis arsenal for 10,000 muskets, which he put in the hands of Captain Stokes, of Chicago. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by the Captain to pass through the large crowd of rebels which had gathered around the arsenal, suspecting an attempt to move the arms would be made. He at last succeeded in gaining admission to the arsenal, but was informed by the com- mander that the slightest attempt to move the arms would be dis- covered and bring an infuriated mob upon the garrison. This fear was well founded, for the follovring day Gov. Jackson ordered 2,000 armed men from Jefferson City down to capture the arsenal. Capt. Stokes telegraphed to Alton for a steamer to descend the river, and about midnight land opposite the arsenal, and proceeding to the same place with 700 men of the 7tli Illinois, commenced loading the vessel. To divert attention from his real purpose, he had 500 guns placed upon a different boat. As designed, this movement was discovered by the rabble, ar\d the shouts and excitement upon their seizure drew most of the crowd from the arsenal. Capt. Stokes not only took all the guns his requisition called for, but emptied the arsenal. When all was ready, and the signal giv^en to start, it was found that the immense weight had bound the bow of the boat to a rock, but after a few moments' delay the boat fell away from the shore and floated into deep water. "Which way?" said Capt. Mitchell, of the steamer. "Straight in the regular chaimel to Alton," replied Capt. Siokes. "What if we are attacked?" said Capt. Mitchell. "Then we will fight," was the reply of Capt. Stokes. "What if we are overpowered?" said Mitchell. " Run the boat to the deepest part of the river and sink her," replied Stokes. "I'll do it," was the heroic answer of Mitchell, and away they went past the secession battery, past the St. Louis levee, and in the regular channel on to Alton. When they touched the landing, Capt. Stokes, fearing pursuit, ran to the market house and rang the fire bell. The citizens came flocking pell-mell to the river, and soon men, women and children were tugging away at that vessel load of arms, whicli they soon had deposited in freight cars and oft* to Springfield, 132 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. LIBERALITY AS WELL AS PATRIOTISM. The people were liberal as well as patriotic; and while the men were busy enlisting, organizing and equipping companies, the ladies were no less active, and the noble, generous work performed by their tender, loving liands deserves mention along with the bravery, devotion and patriotism of their brothers upon the Southern fields of carnage. The continued need of money to obtain the comforts and neces- saries for the sick and wounded of our army suggested to the loyal women of the North many and various devices for the raising of funds. Every city, town and village had its ftiir, festival, picnic, excursion, concert, which netted more or less to the cause of hospital relief, according to the population of the place and the amount of energy and patriotism displa^-ed on such ottcasions. Especially was this characteristic of our own fair State, and scarcely a hamlet within its borders which did not send something from its stores to hospital or battlefield, and in the larger towns and cities were well-organized soldiers' aid societies, working systematically and continuously from the beginning of the war till its close. The great State Fair held in Chfcago in May, 1865, netted $250,000. Homes for traveling soldiers were established all over the State, in which were furnished lodging for GOO. 000 men, and meals valued at $2,500,000. Food, clothing, medicine, hospital delicacies, readino- matter, and thousands of other articles, were sent to the boys at the front. MESSAGES OF LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. Letters, messages of love and encouragement, were sent by noble women from many counties of the State to encourage the brave sons and brothers in the South. Below we give a copy of a printed letter sent from Knox county to the "boys in blue," as showinir the feelincrs of the women of the North. It was headed, " From the Women of Knox County to Their Brothers in the Field." It was a noble, soul -inspiring message, and kindled anew the intensest love for home, country, and a determination to crown the star& and stripes with victory : "You have gone out from our homes, but not from our hearts. Never for one moment are you forgotten. Through weary march and deadly conflict our prayers have ever followed you; your sufferings are our suflferings, your victories our great joy. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 133 "If tliere be one of you who knows not the dear home ties, for whom no mother prays, no sister watches, to him especially we speak. Let him feel that though he may not have one mother he has many; he is the adopted child and brother of all our hearts. Not one of you is beyond the reach of onr sympathies; no picket- station so lonely that it is not enveloped in the halo of our prayers. " During all the long, dark months since our country called you from us, your courage, your patient endurance, your fidelity, have awakened our keenest interest, and we have longed to give you an expression of that interest. "By the alacrity with which you sprang to arms, by the valor with which those arms have been wielded, you have placed our State in the front ranks; you have made her worthy to be the home of our noble President. For thus sustaining the honor of our State, dear to us as life, we thank yon. " Of your courage we need not speak. Fort Donelson, Pea Ridge, Sliiloh, Stone River, Vicksburg, speak with blood-bathed lips'of your heroism. The Army of the Southwest tights beneath no defeat-shadowed banner; to it, under God, the nation looks for deliverance. "But we, as women, have other cause for thanks. We will not speak of the debt we owe the defenders of our Government; that blood-sealed bond no words can cancel. But wo are your debtors in a way not often recognized. You have aroused us from the aimlessness into which too many of our lives had drifted, and have infused into those lives a noble pathos. We could not dream our time away while our brothers were dying for us. Even your suffer- ings have worked together for our good, by inciting us to labor for their alleviation, thus giving us a work worthy of our womanhood. Everything that we have been permitted to do for your comfort has filled our lives so much the fuller of all that makes life valua- ble. You have thus been the means of developing in us a nobler type of womanhood than without the example of your heroism we could ever have attained. For this our whole lives, made purer and nobler by the discrj^line, will thank you. "This w-ar will leave none of us as it found us. We cannot bufiet the raging wave and escape all trace of the salt sea's foam. Toward better or toward worse we are hurried with fearful 134 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. haste. If we at home feel this, what must it be to you! Our hearts throb with agony wheu we think of you wounded, suffering, dyinij; but the thought of no physical pain touches us half so deeply us the thought of the temptations which surround you. We could better give you up to die on the battle-field, true to your God and to your country, than to have you return to us with blasted, blackened souls. When temptations assail fiercely, you must let the tiiought that your mothers are praying for strength enable you to overcome them. But fighting for a worthy cause worthily ennobles one; herein is our confidence that you will return better men than you went away. "By all that is noble in your manhood; by all that is true in our womanhood; by all that is grand in patriotism; by all that is sacred in religion, we adjure you to be faithful to yourselves, to us, to your country, and to your God. Never were men permitted to fight in a cause more worthy of their blood. Were you fighting for mere conquest, or glory, we could not give you up; but to sus- tain & principle, the greatest to which human lips have ever given utterance, even 3'our dear lives are not too costly a sacrifice. Let that principle, the corner-stone of our independence, be prushed, and we are all slaves. Like the Suliote mothers, we might well clasp our children in our arms and leap down to death. "To the stern arbitrament of the sword is now committed the honor, the very life of this nation. You fight not for yourselves alone; the eyes of the whole world are on you; and if you fa!l our Xation^s death-wail will echo through all coming ages, moaning a requiem over the lost hopes of oppressed humanity. But you will not fail, so sure as there is a God in Heaven. He never meant this richest argosy of the nations, freighted with the fears of all the ^vorld's tyrants, with the hopes of all its oppressed ones, to flounder in darkness and death. Disasters may come, as they have come, but they will only be, as they have been, ministers of good. Each one has led the nation upward to a higher plane, from whence it has seen with a clearer eye. Success could not attend us at the West so long as we scorned the help of the black hand, which alone had power to open the gate of redemption; the God of battles would not vouchsafe a victory at the East till the very foot- prints of a McClellan were washed out in blood. "But now all things seem ready; we have accepted the aid of HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 135 that hand; those footsteps are obliterated. In his own good time we feel that God will give us the victory. Till that hour comes we bid you light on. Though we have not attained that heroism, or decision, which enables us togweyou up without a struggle, which can prevent our giving tears for your Uood, though many of us must own our hearts desolate 1;ill you return, still we bid you stay and jfight for our country, till from this fierce baptism of blood she shall be raised complete; the dust shaken from her garments puri- fied, a new Meninon sincring in the orreat Godli^ht." SHERMA.lSr"s MARCH TO THE SEA. On the 15th of November, 1861:, after the destruction of Atlanta, and the railroads behind him, Sherman, with his army, began his march to the sea-coast. The almost breathless anxiety with whicii his progress was watched by the loyal hearts of the nation, and the trembling apprehension with which it was regarded by all who hoped for rebel success, indicated this as one of the most remark- able events of the war; and so it proved. Of Sherman's array, 45 regiments of infantry, three companies of artillery, and one of cavalry were from this State. Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, "It is impossible; there is a mighty sight of fight jn 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 300 battle flags. The first United States flag that floated over Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to every field and hospital to care for her sick and v/ounded sons. Illinois gave the country the great general of the war, U. S. G-rant. CHARACTER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. One oth(;r name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all hearts, that must have the supreme place in this sketch of our glory and of our nation's .honor: that name is Abraham Lincoln. The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is diflicult on account of its symmetry. In tliis age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty; and well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length and breadth of our country, who knew him only as "Honest Old Abe," voted for him on that account; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could have carried us through the fearful night of war. When his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause too sub- 136 UISTOKV OF ILLINOIS. lime for our participation; when it was all night about us, and all dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us; when not one ray shone upon our cause; when traitors were haughty and exult- ant at the South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North; when the loyal men seemed almost in the minority; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest cheek paled; when generals were defeat- ing each other for place, and contractois were leeching out the very heart's blood of the republic; when everything else had failed us, we looked at this calm, patient man standing like a rock in the storm, and said, " Mr. Lincoln is honest, and we can trust him still." Holding to this single point with the energy of faith and despair, we held together, and under God he brought us through to victory. His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With puch certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his foresiglit of contingencies seemed almost prophetic. lie is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory will shed a glory upon this age that will fill the eyes of men as they look into history. (3ther men have excelled him in some points; but, taken at all points, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of 6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the perils of unparalleled civil war; a statesman, he justified his measures by their success; a philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to another; a moralist, he bowed from the sum- mit of human power to the foot of the cross; a mediator, he exer- cised mercy under the most absolute obedience to law; a leader, he was no partisan; a commander, he was untainted with blood; a ruler in desperate times, he was unsullied with crime; a man, he has left no word of passion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no purpose of selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming time the representative of the divine idea of free government. It i.s not too much to say that away down in the future, when the n-public has fsillen from its niche in the wall of time; when the great war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the horizon; when the Anglo-Saxon shall be spoken only by the tongue of the stranger, then the generations looking this way shall see the great President as the supreme figure in this vortex of history. IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 137 THE WAR ENDED THE UNION RESTORED. The rebellion was ended with the surrender of Lee and his army, and Johnson and his command in April, 1805. Our armies at the time were up to their maximum strength, never so formidable, never so invincible; and, until recruiting ceased by order of Sec- retary Stanton, were daily strengthening. The necessity, however, LINCOLN MONUMENT AT SPRINGFIELD. for 80 vast and formidable numbers ceased witl^ the disbanding of the rebel forces, which had for more than four years disputed the supremacy of the Government over its domain. And now the I'oyful and welcome news was to be borne to the victorious legions that their work was ended in triumph, and they were to be per- mitted "to see homes and friends once more." 138 HISTORY OK ILLINOIS. ScHBDiTLE— Showins; Btatement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the field, conimencini; April, IStil, and oudiu^ December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, nami; of original commanding otVicer, dale of organization and mnst/u' into United States' service, place of muster, and the agi,Tegate strength' of each organization. INFANTRY. Commanding oflficer at organiza- tion. ? 7 8 9 10 11 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 33 24 25 26 27 3S 29 31 33 33 34 35 38 37 :« 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 ■)!- -19 .W .^1 .53 53 hi 55 5C 57 08 5n 60 61 G3 63 64 «5 66 6; 6P 69 70 71 Col. John Cook " liichard J. Oglesby. " Kleazer A. Paine... " Ja.s. D. Morgan " W. II. L. Wallace... " John McArthur " John B. Wyman.... " John M. Palmer.... " Tho.s. .1 Turner " Robert F. Smith.... " Leonard P. Ros.s " Michael K. Lawler.. " John B. Turchin.... " Chas. C. Marsh " U!yR!*es S. Grant " Henry Dougherty — " Jas. A. Mulligan " p'rederick Heeker. .. " Wm. N. Coler '* John M. Loomis " Nap. B. Buford " A. K. Johnson " Jan. S. Rearden '• Philip B.Fouke " John A. Logan " John Logan " Chas. E.'llovey " Edward N. Kirk " Gus. A. Smith " Nich. Grciiael " Ju'ius White " Wm. P. Carl in " Austin Li^'ht " Steph. G. Hicks " Isaac C. Piigh " Wm.A. Webb.. " Julius Railh " Chas. NohlesdortT... " John K. Smith " John A. Davis "• John Bryner " Isham N. Ilaynie " Wm. R.Morrison... " Moses M. Bane '■ G. W. Cuinming " Isaac G. Wilson •' W. II. W. Cushman. •' Thos. W. Harris ■■ David Stuart " Robert Kirkham '• Silas D. Baldwin.... " Wm. ^^ Lynch " P. Sidney'Post " Silas C. Tolcr " Jacob Fry ^. " James M. True " Franc's Morn Lt. Col. I). I). Williams .. Col. Daniel Cameron .... " Patrick E. Burke.... " Roscll M. Hough... . •' Klias Stiiarl " Jos. H. Tucker " O T. Reeves " Othniel Gilbert Date of organization and muster into the United States service. July 25, 1861. May 2t, IS.'il. May 25, ]8ol. May 24, 1861. Place where mustered into the United States service. Cairo, Illinois. May 28, 1861. June i:i, 1861. June 15, 18(11. June 2.5, 1861. June 18, 1861. July 8, 1861. Oct. 31, ISf.l. \ug. 3, 1861 . July 27, 1861. Sept. 30, 1861. Sept. 8,1861.. Dec. 31, 1861. Aug. 15, 1861. Sept. 7, 1801. Sept. 2 5, 1861 8(!pt. 18,1361 Aug. 15, 1861. .. December, 1861.. .\ng. 10, 1S6I i\ug, 9, 1861 Sept. 17, 1861 Dec. 16, 1861 Sept. 13, 1861.... Dec. 2'i, l'-61. ... Dec. 2S. 1861 Oct. 1, 1861 Nov. 18, 1861.... , Dec. 31, 1861 Sept. 13, 1861... Dec. '61, F(!b. '62. Nov. HI, 1861 March. 1863 Feb. 18, 1862 Oct. 31,18 il Feb. 37, 1863 Dec. 26, 1861 Dec. 24, 1861 August. 1861 - Feb. 17, 1863 March 7, 1863.... \pril II), 1862 Dixon Jacksonville. Preejiort (^uiuey Peoria Anna Joliet . . . Mattoon... Belleville. Chicago.. . Chicago. . . Camp But'er. Camp Camp Camp Camp Camp Camp Camp Buller. Butler. But'er. Butler. Butler. Butler. Butler. Dec. 31, 1862. May 15, 1862. April, 1863... Juno 13, 1863. June 20, 1863. June 11, 1863. July 4. 1863.. July 26, 1863. A urora Chicago Camp Butler... Chicago •^alem Decatur Chicago Camp Butler... Chicago Catena Camp Duller. .. Peoria Cum]) Butler.. . Camp Butler. . Quincy Camp "Douglas. Geneva Ottawa .\nua Camp DouLilas Shawneetowu .. ("amp Douglas. Camp Douglas St. Louis, Mo.. .^nna Carrol lion .\nna Anna Camp Butler Camp iJouglas. St. Louis, Mo. . Camp Douglas. Camp Butler.. . O.nip Douslas. Camp Butler Camp Douglas. "go 5 2. 7'is- 1747 1853 1385 1759 1384 16; 5 1113 3015 31128 1833 l-.'59 2043 1''.95 1"!17 1266 1164 1983 989 1083 1603 1193 1939 1547 1878 1973 1711 1660 1558 1012 1.593 1157 1388 1807 1377 1311 1834 1903 1.513 1716 2015 2051 1874 1482 1761 1550 1519 lfc4 1730 1387 1180 i';54 2302 1762 1647 i:i85 17.% 1328 1624 1684 1694 979 889 913 1006 940 IIISTOPwY OF ILLINOIS. 139 Schedule— Showing etatemeat of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the field, commeuciug April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1805, w^th number of regiment name of original commanding officer, date of organization and miiPter into United States' eervice. place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization. INFANTRY. 72 7i 71 75 76 78 79 80 81 82 S3 84 85 86 87 89 90 91 92 98 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 IO3 IO4 IO5 106 lOr lOs lOq lib 111 112 11.3 114 Its 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 12s 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 Commanding officer at organiza- tion. Col. Frederick A. Starring., J as. F. Jaquess Jason Marsh George Ryan Alouzo W. Mack David P. Grier W. H. Benuison Lyman Guinnip Thos. G. Allen Jas. J. Dollius Frederick Hecker Abuer C. Harding Louis 11. Waters Robert S. Moore David D. Irons John E. Whiting F. T. Sherman John Christopher Timothy O'Mera Henry M. Day Smith D. Atsins Iloldeu Putnam Wm. W. Orme.. Lawr'n S. Church Thos. E. Champion. ... P. S. Rutherford J. J. Funkhouser G. W. K. liailoy Fred. A. Bartleson Chas. H. Fox Wm. McMurtry Amos C. Babcock Absalom B. Moore Daniel Dustiu Robert B. Latham Thomas Snell , John Warner Alex. J. Nimmo Thos. S Casey James S. Martin , T. J. Henderson Geo. B. Hoge James W. Judy Jesse H. Moore Nathan H. Tapper Risden M. Moore , John G. Fonda " Thos. J. Kenncy '■ George W. McKeaig .Vever organized Col. John I. Rinaker " James Moore " Thomas J. Sloan " Oscar F. Harmon " Jonathan Richmond " John VanArman " Robert M. Hudley " George P. Smith '* Nathaniel Niles " George W. Neejey " Thomas C. Pickett " Thad. Phillips " W. W McChesney " Johns. Wolfe Date of organization and muster into the United States service. Aug. 21,1862., Sept. 4. 18fi2... Sept. 2, 1863,. Aug. 22, 1R62. *Sept. 3, l«6i. Sept. 1, 18«2.. . Aug. 28, 1862. . Aug. 25, 1862... Aug. 26, 1862.. Aug. 21, 1862.. Sept. 1, 1862.. Aug. 27, 1862 Sept. 22, 1862. Aug. 27, 1862.. *Aug 25.181)'. Nov. 22, 1862.. Sept. 8, 1862 . Sept. 4, 1862... Oct. 13, 1862... Aug. 2 \ 1862.. Sept. 4, I8ii2.. Sept. 6, 1862.. Sept. 8, 183i.. Sept. 3, It 6 J .. Aug. 26, 1862. , Aug. 30, 1863. Sept. 2, 1862... Oct, 2, 1862. . . Aug. 27, 1862. Sept. 2, 186^. 17, 1862. 4,I86J.. 28, 1862. 11, 1861. Sept Sept Aug. Sept. Sept. 18, 1862. Sept. 12, 1862. Oct. 1,1862... Sept. 18, 1862. Sept. 13, 1S62., Sept. 30 1802.. Sept. 19, 1862.. Nov. 29. ].'!62. Oct. 7, 1862... Oct. 29, 1862... Sept. 4,1862.. Sept. 6 1862 . Sept. 10. 186J. Sept. 4. 1862.. *Sept. 5, 1862. Dec 18, 1862.. Sept. 8, 1862.. Oct. 25. 1865.. Nov. 13.1862.. Junel, 1864.. May 31,1864.. Place where mustered into the United States service. Camp Douglas Camp Butler Rockford Dixon Kankakee Peoria.., Quincy Danville Centralia .\nna Camp Butler Monmouth Quincy Peoria Peoria Shawneetown (yamp Dougli.s Camp Douglas Camp Douglas Camp Butler Rockford. ... .... Princeton and Chicago. Blooniington, Rockford Rockford Camp Butler Centralia Florence, Pike Co., Joliet Jacksonville Knoxville peoria Ottawa Chicago Lincoln Camp Butler Peoria Anna Anna Salem Peoria Camp Douglas.. Camp Butler Camp Butler Decatur Camp Butler Camp Butler Qnincy Camp Butler June 6,1864. Carliuville. .,.. Mattoon.. Camp Butler... Danvill^ Chicago Camp'Douclas. Camp Butler.. . Pontiac Camp Butler... Camp Massac. . Camp Fry Camp Butler. Camp Fry Mattoon S ® „ ■ O EJ 1471 968 98» 987 1110 lUJl 1028 974 928 Hb7 961 12Sd 956 95t) 99;i 994 907 1,85 958 1041 1265 1036 1091 1427 1206 1082 1078 936. 921 911 998 917 977 1001 1097 944. 927 967 873 994 1095 1258 990 960 953 995 1101 952 844 '934 1050 1130 933 998 957 866 1011 932 880 853 851 878 852 140 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Schedule— Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and Bcnt to the field, commencinK April, 1861, and ending December :51, 1865, with number of regiment, name of original comman' and Stall". C. M.Willard Ezra Taylor C. Hauglitalins Edward McMlister. A. C. Waterhouse.. John T. Cheney . . . Arthur O'Leary Axel Silversparr — Edward Ronton.. . A. Franklin John Rourke John B. Miller Recruits Oct. 31,1861. Jan. 14, "62.... Dec. 19, '61.... Feb. 25, '62... Feb. 28, '62 .. Feb. 20, '62... Feb. 15, '62... , Ian. 9, '62.... F ;.. 22, '62... Aug. 12, '62 . Chicago Chicago Ottawa Ptainlield Chicago Camp Butler. . Cairo Chicago Chicago Shawneetown Chicago Chicago . 7 168 204 175 141 148 1.59 113 147 169 C6 153 151 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 141 Schedule— Showing statement of volunteer troops orgnnized within the State, and sent to the field commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States service, place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization. LIGHT ARTILLERY. Commanding officer at organiza- tion. Date of organization and muster into the United States service. Place where mustered into the United States service. SECOND REGIMENT— ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. O ro ' 2 ^ is A B C 1) E F G H I K L M Capt. Peter Davidson Riley Madison Caleb Hopliins Jasper M. Dresser Adolph Schwartz John W. Powell .. . Charles J. Stolbrand.. Andrew Steinbeck — Charles W. Keith. ... Benjamin' F. Rogers.. William H. Bolton.... John C. Phillips June 6, '63. . . Field and Staft' { Recruits .•iug. 17, 3S6: June 2:), '61 . . . Aug. f), "61 ... . Dec. 17, '61... Feb. 1, '62..... Dec. 11, '61.... Dec. 31, '61.... Feb. 28, '62. Peoria . .. Springfield Cairo Cairo Cairo — Cape Girardeau, Mo. Camp Butler, Camp Butler, Camp Butler. Camp Butler Chicago Chicago 116 127 154 117 136 190 108 115 107 108 145 100 10 1171 INDEPENDENT BATTERIES. Board of TradejCapt. James S. Stokes. Springfield.. Mercantile .. Elgin Coggswell's. Henshaw's.. Bridges' .... Colvin's , Thomas P. Vaughn.. Charles G. Cooley... George W. Renwick. William Coggswell.. Ed. C, Henshaw Lyman Bridges John H. Colvin. Bueteed's iChicaso July 31, 1862. Aug. 21, '62.. Aug. 29, '62.. Nov. le, '62.. Sept 23, '61.. Oct. 15, '62. . . Jan. 1, 62.... Oct. 10, '63. . . Chicago Camp^Butler. .. Chicago Elgin. Camp Douglas. Ottawa Chicago Chicago RECAPITULATION. Infantry 185,941 Cavalrv 32 082 Artillerv 7,277 2.58 199 270 242 231 196 2.52 91 127 DUELS. Tho code of chivalry so common amonsr Sonthern srentlemen and so frequently brought into use in settling personal differences has also been called to settle the " affairs of honor " in our own State, however, but few times, and those in the earlier days. Several attempts at duels have occurred; before the disputants met in mortal combat the differences were amicably and satisfactorily settled; honor was maintained without the sacrifice of life. In 1810 a law was adopted to suppress the practice of dueling. This law held the fatal result of dueling to be murder, and, as it was intended, had the effect of making it odious and dishonorable. Prior to the constitution of 1848, parties would evade the law by 142 niSTOKV OF ILLIJUOIS. i^oing beyond the jurisdiction of tlie State to engage in their con- tests of honor. At that time they incorporated in the Constitution an oath of office, which was so broad as to cover tlie whole world. Any person who had ever fought a duel, ever sent or accepted a cludlenge or acted the part of second was disfranchised from holding office, even of minor importance. After this went into effi3ct, no other duel or attempt at a duel has been engaged in within the State of Illinois, save those fought by parties living outside of the State, who came here to settle their personal diiferences. THE FIRST DUEL. The first duel fought within the boundaries of this great State was between two young military officers, one of the French and the other of the English army, in the year 1765. It was at the time the British troops came to take possession of Fort Chartres, and a woman was the cause of it. The affair occurred early Sunday morning, near the old fort. They fought with swords, and in the combat one sacrificed his life. BOND AND JOXES. In 1809 the next duel occurred and was bloodless of itself, but out of it grew a quarrel which resulted in the assassination of one of the contestants. The jirincipals were Shadrach Bond, the fiist Governor, and Rice Jones, a bright young lawyer, who became quite a politician and the leader of his party. A personal difference arose between the two, which to settle, the parties met for mortal combat on an island in the Mississippi. The weapons selected were liair- trigger pistols. After taking their position Jones' weapon was prematurely discharged. Bond'^s second, Dunlapjuow claimed that accordinoj to the code Bond had the riij:ht to the next fire. But Bond Would not take so great advantage of his ojiponcut, and said it was an accident and would not fire. Such noble conduct touched the generous nature of Jones, and the difficulty was at once amicably settled. Dunlap, however, boi-e a deadly hatred for Jones, and one day while he was standing in the street in Kaskaskia, conversing with a lady, he cre)>t up behind liim and shot him dead in his tracks. Dunlap successfully escaped to Texas. RKOTOU AND BARPON. In 1812 the bloody code aixain brought two vouuii: men to the field of honor. They were Thomas Rector, a son of Capt. Stephen r-rV^ HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 145 Rector who bore such a noble part in the war of 1812, ana Joshua Barton. They liad espoused the quarrel of older brothers. The affair occurred on Bloody Island, in the Mississippi, but in the limits of Illinois. Tliis place was frequented so often by Missou- rians to settle personal difficulties, that it received the name of Bloody Island. Barton fell in this confUcL STEWART AND BENNETT. In 1819 occurred the first duel fought after the admission of the State into the Union. This took place in St. Clair county between Alpiionso Stewart and William Bennett. It was intended to be a sham duel, to turn ridicule against Bennett, the challenging party- Stewart was in the secret but Bennett was left to believe it a reality. Their guns were loaded with blank cartridges. Bennett, suspecting a trick, put a ball into his gun without the knowledge of his seconds. The word "fire" was given, and Stewart fell mortally wounded. Bennett made his escape but was subsequently captured, convicted of murder and suffered the penalty of the law by hanging. PEARSON AND BAKER. In 1840 a personal difference arose between two State Senators, Judge Pearson and E. D.. Baker. The latter, smarting under the epitnet of ''falsehood," threatened to chastise Pearson in the public streets, by a " fist fight. " Pearson declined making a "blackguard'' of himself but intimated a readiness to fight as gentlemen, accord- ing to the code of honor. The affair, however, was carried no further. HARDIN AND DODGE. The exciting debates in the Legislature in 1840-'41 were often bitter in personal "slings," and threats of combats were not infrequent. During these debates, in one of the speeches by the Hon. J. J. Hardin, Hon. A. R. Dodge thought he discovered a personal insult, took exceptions, and an " affair " seemed imminent. The controversy was referred to friends, however, and amicably settled. m'clernand and smith. Hon. John A. McClernand, a member of the House, in a speech delivered during the same session made charges against the Whig Judges of the Supreme Court. This broug'ht a note from Judge' 146 UISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. T. W. Smith, bj tlic liands of liis " friend '" Dr. Merriman, to McClernand. This was construed as a challenge, and promptly accepted, namintr the place of meeting to be Missouri; time, early; the weapons, rifles; and distance, 40 paces. At this critical junc- ture, the Attorney General had a warrant issued against the Judge, \v^iereupon he was arrested and ])laced under bonds to keep the peace. Thus ended this attempt to vindicate injured honor. LINCOLN AND SHIELDS. During the hard times subsequent to the failure of the State and other banks, in 1842, specie became scarce while State money was plentiful, but worthless. The State officers thereupon demanded specie payment for taxes. This was bitterly opposed, and so fiercely contested that the collection of taxes was suspended. During the period of the greatest indignation toward the State officials, under the nam de pluirie of " Rebecca," Abraham Lincoln had an article published in the Sangamo Journal^ entitled " Lost Township." In this article, written in the form of a dialogue, the officers of the State were roughly handled, and especially Auditor Shields. The name of the author was demaded from the editor by Mr. Shields, who was very indignant over the manner in which he was treated. The name of Abraham Lincoln was given as the author. It is claimed by some of his biographers, however, that the article was prepared by a lady, and that when the name of the author was demanded, in a spirit of gallantry, Mr. Lincoln gave his name. In company with Gen. Whiteside, Gen. Shields pur- sued Lincoln to Tremont, Tazewell county, where he was in attend- ance upon the court, and immediately sent him a note "requiring a full, positive and absolute retraction of all offensive allusions" made to him in relation to his "private character and standing as a man, or an apology for the insult conveyed." Lincoln had been forewarned, however, for William Butler and Dr. Merriman, of Springfield, had become acquainted with Shields' intentions and by riding all night arrived at Tremont ahead of Shields and informed Lincoln what he might expect. Lincoln answered Shields' note, refusing to offer any explanation, on the grounds that Shields' note assumed the fact of his (Lincoln's) authorship of the article, and not pointing out what the offensive part was, and accompanying the same with threats as to consequences. Mr. Shields answered this, disavowing all intention to menace; inquired if he was the author, HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 147 asked a retraction of that portion relating to his private character. Mr. Lincoln, still technical, returned this note with the verbal statement " that there could be no further negotiations until the lirst note was withdrawn." At this Shields named Gen, White- side as his " friend," when Lincoln reported Dr. Merriman as his "friend." These gentlemen secretly pledged themselves to agree upon some amicable terras, and compel their principals to accept them. The four went to Springfield, when Lincoln left for Jack- sonville, leaving the following instructions to guide his friend, Dr. Merriman: " In case Whiteside shall signify a wish to adjust this affair with- out further difficulty, let him know that if the present papers be withdrawn and a note from Mr. Shields, asking to know if I am tlie author of the articles of which he complains, and asking that I shall make him gentlemanly satisfiiction, if I am the author, and this without menace or dictation as to what that satisfaction shall be, a pledge is made that the following answer shall be given: I did write the "Lost Township" letter which appeared iu the Journal of the 2d inst., but had no participation, in any form, in any other article alluding to you. I wrote that wholly for political effect. I had no intention of injuring your personal or private character or standing, as a man or gentleman ; and I did not then think, and do not now think, that that article could produce or has pro- duced that effect against you; and, had I anticipated such an effect, would have foreborne to write it. And I will add that your conduct toward rae, so far as I know, had always been gentlemanly, and that I had no personal pique against you, and no cause for any. "If this should be done, I leave it to you to manage what shall and what shall not be published. If nothing like this is done, the preliminaries of the fight are to be: '• 1st. Weapons. — Cavalry broad swords of the largest size, pre- cisely equal in all respects, and such as are now used by the cavalry company at Jacksonville. " 2d. Position. — A plank ten feet long and from nine to twelve inches broad, to be firmly fixed on edge, on the ground, as a line between us which neither is to pass his foot over on forfeit of his life. Next a line drawn on the ground on either side of said plank, and parallel with it, each at the distance of the whole length of the sword, and three feet additional from the plank; and the passing of his own such line by either party during the fight, shall be deemed a surrender of the contest. 148 IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. ''3d. Time. — On Thursday evening at 5 o'clock, if you can get it so; but in no case to be at a greater distance of time than Friday even in cr at 5 o'clock. "4th. Place. — Within three miles of Alton, on the opposite side of the river, the particular spot to l.)e agreed on by you. "• Any preliminary details coming within the above rules, you are at liberty to make at your discretion, but you are in no case to swerve from these rules, or pass be^^ond their limits." Tiie position of the contestants, as prescribed by Lincoln, seems to have been such as both would have been free from coming in contact with the sword of the other, and the first impression is that it is nothing more than one of Lincoln's jokes. Ho possessed very long arms, however, and could reach his adversary at the stipulated distance. Not being amicably arranged, all parties repaired to the field of combat in Missouri. Gen. Hardin and Dr. English, as mutual friends of both Lincoln and Shields, arrived in the meantime, and after much correspondence at their earnest solicitation the affair was satisfactorily arranged, Lincoln making a statement similar to the one above referred to. SHIELDS AND BUTLER. William Butler, one of Lincoln's seconds, was dissatisfied with the bloodless termination of the Lincoln-Shields affair, and wrote an account of it for the Sangaino Journal. This article reflected dis- creditabl}' upon both the principals engaged in that controversy. Shields replied by the hands of his friend Gen. Whiteside, in a curt, menacing note, which was jn'omptly accepted as a challenge by Butler, and the inevitable Dr. Merriman named as his friend, who submitted the following as preliminaries of the fight: Time. — Sunrise on the following morning. Place. — Col. Allen's farm (about one mile north of State House.) Weapons. — Rifles. Distance. — One hundred yards. The parties to stand with their right sides toward each other— - the rifles to be held in both hands horizontally and cocked, arms extended downwards. Neither party to move his person or his rifle after being placed, before the word fire. The signal to be: "Are you ready? Fire! one — two — three!" about a second of HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 149 time intervening between eacli word. Neither party to fire before the word " fire," nor after the word " three." Gen. Wliiteside, in language curt and abrupt, addressed a note to Dr. Merriman declining to accept the terms. Gen. Shields, how- ever, addressed another note to Butler, explaining the feelings of his second, and ofifering to go out to a lonely place on the prairie to fight, where there would be no danger of being interrupted; or, if that did not suit, he would meet him on his own conditions, when and where lie pleased. Butler claimed the afiair was closed and declined the proposition. WHITESIDE AND MEKBIMAN. Now Gen. Whiteside and Dr. Merriman, who several times had acted in the capacity of friends or seconds, were to handle the deadly weapons as principals. While second in the Shields-Butler Jiasco, Whiteside declined the terms proposed by Butler, in curt and abrupt language, stating that the place of combat could not be dictated to him, for it was as much his right as Merriman's, who, if he was a gentleman, would recognize and concede it. To this Merriman replied by the hands of Capt. Lincoln. It will be remembered that Merriman had acted in the same capacity for Lin- coln. Whiteside then wrote to Merriman, asking to meet him at St. Louis, when he would hear from him further. To this Merri- man replied, denying hi« right to name place, but offered to meet in Louisiana, Mo. This Whiteside would not agree to, but later signified his desire to meet him there, but the affair being closed, the doctor declined to re-open it. PEATT''aND CAMPBELL. These two gentlemen were members of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1847, and both from Jo Davies county. A dispute arose which ended in a challenge to meet on the field of honor. They both repaired to St. Louis, but the authorities gaining knowledge of their bloody intentions, had both parties arrested, which ended this " affair." ♦. DRESS AND MANNERS. The dress, habits, etc., of a people throw so much light upon their conditions and limitations that in order better to show the circum- fetances surrounding the people of the State, we will give a short 150 UISTORY OF ILLINOIS. exposition of the manner of life of our Illinois people at different epochs. The Indians themselves are credited by Charlevoix with bein^ "very laborious," — raising poultry, spinning the veool of the buffalo and manufacturing garments therefrom. These must have been, however, more than usually favorable representatives of their race. ''The working and voyaging dress of the French masses," says Revnolds, "was simple and primitive. The French were like the lilies of the valley (the Old Ranger was not always exact in his quotations), — they neither spun nor wove any of their clothing, but purchased it from the merchants. The white blanket coat, known as the capot, was the universal and eternal coat for the winter with the masses. A cape was made of it that could be raised over the head in cold weather. " 111 the house, and in good weather, it hung behind, a cape to the blanket coat. The reason that I know these coats so well is, that I have worn many in my youth, and a working man never wore abetter jrarmcnt. Dressed deer-skins and blue cloth were worn commonly in the winter for pantaloons. The blue handkerchiel" and the deer-skin moccasins covered the head and feet generally of the French Creoles. In 1800, scarcely a man thought himself clothed unless he had a belt tied around his blanket coat, and on one side was hung the dressed skin of a pole-cat, tilled with tobacco, pipe, flint and steel. On the other side was fastened, under the belt, the the butcher-knife. A Creole in this dress felt like Tam O'Shanter tilled with usquebaugh; he could face the devil. Checked calico shirts were then common, but in winter flannel was frequently worn. In the summer the laboring men and the voyagers often took their shirts off in hard work and hot weather, and turned out tlie naked back to the air and sun." " Among the Americans," he adds, " home-made wool iiats were the common wear. Fur hats were not common, and scarcely a boot was seen. The covering of the feet in winter was chiefly moccasins made of deer-skins, and shoe packs of tanned leather. Some wore shoes, but not common in very early times. In the summer the greater portion of the young people, male and female, and many of the old, went barefoot. The substantial and universal outside wear was the blue linsey hunting-shirt. This is an excellent garment, and I have never felt so happy and healthy since I laid it off. It is o HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 153 made of wide sleeves, open before, with ample size so as to envelop the body almost twice around. Sometimes it had a large cape, which answers well to save the shoulders from the rain. A belt is mostly used to keep the garment close around the person, and, nevertheless, there is nothing tight about it to hamper the body. It is often fringed, and at times the fringe is composed of red, and other gay colors. The belt, frequently, is sewed to the hunting-shirt. The vest was mostly made of striped linsey. The colors were made often with alum, copperas and madder, boiled with the bark of trees, in such a manner and proportions as the old ladies prescribed. The pantaloons of the masses were generally made of deer-skin and linsey. Course blue cloth was sometimes made into pantaloons. " Linsey, neat and fine, manufactured at home, composed generally the outside garments of the females as well as the males.' The ladies had linsey colored and woven to suit their fancy. A bonnet, composed of calico, or some gay goods, was worn on the head when they were in the open air. Jewelry on the pioneer ladies was uncommon; a o;old rino; was an ornament not often seen." In 1820 a change of dress began to take place, and before 1830, according tu Ford, most of the pioneer costume had disappeared. "The blue linsey hunting-shirt, with red or white fringe, had given place to the cloth coat. [Jeans would be more like the fact.] The raccoon cap, with the tail of the animal dangling down behind, had been thrown aside for hats of wool or fur. Boots and shoes had supplied the deer-skin moccasins; and the leather breeches, strapped tight around the ankle, had disappeared before unmentionables of a more modern material. The female sex had made still greater pro- gress in dress. The old sort of cotton or woolen frocks, spun, woven and made with their own fair hands, and striped and cross-barred with blue dye and turkey red, had given place to gowns of silk and calico. The feet, before in a state of nudity, now charmed in shoes of calf-skin or slippers of kid; and the head, formerly unbonneted, but covered with a cottoi handkerchief, now displayed the charms of the female face under many forms of bonnets of straw, silk and leghorn. The young ladies, instead of walking a mile or two to cliurch on Sunday, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands until within a hundred yards of the place of worship, as formerly, now came forth arrayed complete in all the pride of dress, mounted on line horses and attended by their male admirers." 154 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. The last half century has doubtless witnessed changes quite as great as those set forth by our Illinois historian. The chronicler of to day, looking back to the golden days of 1830 to 1840, and comparing them with the present, must be struck with the tendency of an almost monotonous uniformity in dress and manners that comes from the easy inter communication afforded by steamer, rail- way, telegraph and news{)aper. Home manufacturers have been driven from the household by the lower-priced fabrics of distant mills. The Kentucky jeans, and the copperas-colored clothing of home manufacture, so familiar a few years ago, have given place to the cassimeres and cloths of noted factories. The ready-made- clothing stores, like a touch of nature, made the whole world kin- and may dra]>e the charcoal man in a dress-coat and a stove-pipe hat. The prints and silks of England and France give a variety of choice, and an assortment of colors and shades such as the pioneer women could hardly have dreamed of. Godey, and Demorest, and Harper's Bazar are found in our modern farm-houses, and the latest fashions of Paris are not uncommon. PHYSICAL FEATURES OF ILLINOIS. In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude from Maine to North Carolina. The climate varies from Portland to Richmond. It favors every product of the continent, including the tropics, with less than half a dozen exceptions. It produces every great food of the world except bananas and rice. It is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive spot known to civil- ization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full of minerals; with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel; with per- fect natural drainage, and abundant springs, and streams, and navi- gable rivers; half way between the forests of the North and the fruits of the South; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, copper, lead and zinc; and containing and controlling the great grain, cattle, pork and lumber Tiiarkets of the world, it is not strange that Illinois has the advantage of position. There are no mountains in Illinois; in the southern as well as in the northern part of the State there are a few hills; near the banks of the Illinois, Mississippi, and several other rivers, the ground is HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 155 elevated, forming the so-called blufl's, on which at the present day may be found, uuetfaced by the hand of Time, the marks and traces left by the water which was formerly much higher; whence it may be safe to conclude that, where now the fertile prairies of Illinois extend, and the rich soil of the country yields its golden harvests, must liave been a vast sheet of water, the mud deposited by which formed the soil, thus accounting for the present great fertility of the country. Illinois is a garden 400 miles long and 150 miles wide. Its soil is chiefly a black, sandy loam, from inches to GO feet thick. About the old French towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without rest or liclp. She leads all other States in the number of acres actuall}'^ under plow. Her mineral v/ealth is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, lead, zinc, copper, many varieties of building stone, marble, fire clay, cuma clay, common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint, — in fact, everything needed for a Ingli civilization. AGRICULTURE. If any State of the Union is adapted for agriculture, and the other branches of rural economj'- relating thereto, such as the raising of cattle and the culture of fruit trees, it is pre-eminently Illinois. Her extremely fertile prairies recompense the farmer at less trouble and expense than he would be obliged to incur elsewhere, in order to obtain the same results. Her rich soil, adapted by nature for immediate culture, only awaits the plow and the seed in order to mature, within a few months, a most bountiful harvest. A review of statistics will be quite interesting to the reader, as well as valuable, as showing the enormous quantities of the various cereals produced in our prairie State: In IS 76 there was raised in the State 130,000,000 of bushels of corn, — twice as much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United States. It would take 375,000 cars to transport this vast amount of corn 1o market, which would make 15,000 trains of 25 cars each. She harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one- tenth of all the hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, but it is true, that the hay crop of the country is worth more than Hie otton crop. The hay of Illinois equals tlie cotton of Louisiana- 156 HISTORY OF ILLIN*)I8. Go to Charleston, S. C, and see them peddling handfuls of hay or grass, almost as a cariosity, as we regard Chinese gods or the cryo- lite of Greenland; drink your coffee and condensed milk; and walk back from the coast for many a league through tlie sand and burs till you get up into the better atmosphere of the mountains, with- out seeing a waving meadow or a grazing herd; then you will begin to appreciate tlie meadows of the Prairie State. The value of her farm implements was, in 1876, $211,000,000, ixxid the value of live stock was only second to New York. The same year she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about one-half of all that were packed in the United States. She marketed $57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals, — more than any outlier State, and a seventh of all tlie States. Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles of postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the amount of lumber sold. Illinois was only second in many important matters, taking the reports of 1876. This sample list comprises a few of the more important: Permanent school fund; total income for educational purposes; number of publishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value of farm products and implements, and of live stock; in tons of coal mined. The shipping of Illinois was only second to New York. Out of one port during the business hours of the season of navigation she sent forth a vessel every nine minutes. This did not include canal- boats, which went one every five minutes. No wonder she was only second in number of bankers or in phy- sicians and sursreons. She was third in colleges, teachers and schools; also in cattle, lead, hay, flax, sorglinm and beeswax. She was fourth in j)opuiation, in children enrolled in public schools, in law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. She was fifth in value of real and personal property, in theologi- cal seminaries, and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. She was only seventh in the production of wood, while she was the twelfth in area. Surely that was well done for the Prairie State. She then had, in 1876, much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years before. HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 157 ^ few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactured mo 000,000 worth of goods, which placed her well up toward New' York and Pennsylvania. The number of her manutacturing establishments increased fron. 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent. ; capital employed increased 350 per cent.; and the amount of product in- creised 400 per cent. She issued 5,500,000 copies of -mmercial and financial newspapers, being only second to :N ew 1 ork. She had 6 759 miles of railroad, then leading all other States, worth_S6ob,- 458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a tram long- enough to cover one-tenth ol the entire roads ot tl- State^ H- stations were only five miles apart. She earned, in 18.6 lo,795 - 000 passengers an average of 36^ miles, or equal staking hei entii4 population twice across the State. More than two-tlurds of her land was within five miles of a railroad, and less than two per cent, was more than fifteen miles away , ^n- • n fvoi The State has a large financial interest m the II inois Cential railroad. The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State gave each alternate section for six miles on each side, and do.;^3 ed the price of the remaining land, so keeping herselt good. The load received 2,595,000 acres of land, and P^^ f . ^^^ ff ^^3^;^;^;^ I of the oross receipts. The State received in 187., $350,000, and had received up to that year in all about $7,000 000. It was prac- tically the people's road, and it had a most able and gentlemanly management. Add to the above amount the annual receipts trom the canal, $111,000, and a large per cent, of the State tax was pro- vided i'ow GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. Skadraeh Bond-W^s the first Governor of TlHnois. He was a native of Maryland and born in 1773; was raised on a farm; re- ceived a common English education, and came to Illinois in 1794. He served as a delegate in Congress from 1811 to I8I0, where he procured the right of pre-emption of public 1-. He was el^e^^^ Governor in 1818; was beaten for Congress in 1824 b> Daniel P. Cook He died at Kaskaskia, April 11, 1830. Ed^.ard Coles-^'^s born Dec. 15, 1786, in Virginia. His fa her was a slave-holder; gave his son a collegiate education, and left to Mm a large numbe? of slaves. These he liberated, giving each head of a family 160 acres of land and a considerable sum ot money. 158 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. He was President Madison's private secretary, lie came to Illinois in 1819, was elected Governor in 1822, on tiio anti-slavery ticket; moved to Philadelphia in 1833, and died in 18GS. JVinla/i Edwards. — In 1809, on the formation of the Territory of Illinois, Mr, Edwards was appointed Governor, which position he retained until the organization of the State, when he was sent to the United States Senate, lie was elected Governor in 1826. He was a native of Maryland and born in 1775; received a collegiate education; was Chief Justice of Kentucky, and a Ilej)ublican in ])olitics. John Reynolds — Was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, and came with his parents to Illinois in 1800, and in 1830 was elected Gov- ernor on the Democratic ticket, and afterwards served three terras in Congress. He received a classical education, yet was not polished. He was an ultra Democrat; attended the Charleston Convention'in 18G0, and urged the seizure of United States arsenals by the South. He died in 1865 at Belleville, childless. Jose/ph Duncan. — In 1831 Joseph Duncan \vas elected Governor by the Whigs, although formerly a Democrat. He had previously served four terms in Congress. He was born in Kentucky in 1794; had but a limited education; served with distinction in the war of 1812; conducted the campaii2:n of 1832 ao^ainst Black Hawk. He came to Illinois when quite young. Thomas Carlin — Was elected as a Democrat in 1838. He had but a meager education; held many minor offices, and was active both in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. He was born in Kentucky in 1789; came to Illinois in 1812, and died at Carrollton, Feb. 14, 1852. Thomas Ford — Was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1800; was brought by his widowed mother to Missouri m 1804, and shortly afterwards to Illinois. He receiv^ed a good education, studied law; was elected four times Judge, twice as Circuit Judge, Judge of Chicago and Judge of Supreme Court. He was elected Governor by the Democratic party in 1842; wrote iiis history of Illinois in 1847 and died in 1850. Augustus C. French — Was born in New Hampshire in 1808; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and shortly afterwards moved to Illinois when in 1846 he was elected Governor. On the adoption of the Constitution of 1848 he was again chosen, serving until 1853. He was a Democrat in ]K)litics. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 159 Joel A. Matteson — Was born in Jefferson count}', N. Y., in 1808. His father was a farmer, and gave his son only a common school education. He first entered upon active life as a small tradesman, but subsequently became a large contractor and manufacturer. He was a heavy contractor in building the Canal. He was elected Gov- ernor in 1852 upon the Democratic ticket. William H. Blssell — Was elected by the Republican party in 1856c He had previously served two terras in Congress; was colonel in the Mexican war and has held minor official positions. He was born in ^ew York State in 1811; received a common educa- tion; came to Illinois early in life and engaged in the medical pro- fession. This he changed for the law and became a noted orator, and the standard bearer of the Republican party in Illinois. He died in 1860 while Governor. Richard Yates — "The war Governor of Illinois," was born in Warsaw, Ky,, in 1818; came to Illinois in 1831: served two terms in Congress; in 1860 was elected Governor, and in 1865 United States Senator. He was a college graduate, and read law under J, J. Hardin. He rapidly rose in his chosen profession and charmed the people with oratory. He filled the gubernatorial chair during the trying days of the Rebellion, and by his energy and devotion won the title of " War Governor." He became addicted to strong drink, And died a drunkard. Richard J. Ogleshy — Was born in' 1824, in Kentucky; an orphan at the age of eight, came to Illinois when only 12 years old. He was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade; worked some at farming and read law occasionally. He enlisted in the Mexican War and was chosen First Lieutenant. After his return he aa^ain took up the law, but during the gold fever of 1849 went to Califor- nia; soon returned, and, in 1852, entered upon his illustrious political career. He raised the second regiment in the State, to suppress the Rebellion, and for gallantry was promoted to Major General. In 1864 he was elected Governor, and re-elected in 1872, and resigned for a seat in the United States Senate. He is a staunch Republican and resides at Decatur. Shelby M. Ciillom — Was born in Kentucky in 1828; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his profession in 1848; was elected to the State Legislature in 1856, and again in 1860. Served on the war commission at Cairo, 1862. 160 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. and was a member of the 39tli, 40tli and 41st Congress, in all of which he served with credit to his State. Hj was asrain elected to the State Legislature in 1872, and re-elected in 1874, and was elected Governor of Illinois in 1876, which office he still holds, and has administered with marked ability. LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS. Piei're Menard — Was the first Lieut. Gov. of Illinois. He was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1767. He came to Illinois in 1790 where he engaged in the Indian trade and became wealthy. He died in 1844. Menard county was named in his honor. Adolplius F. Iliibhard — Was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1822. Four years later he ran for Governor against Edwards, but was beaten. William Kinney — Was elected in 1826. He was a Baptist clergyman; was born in Kentucky in 1781 and came to Illinois in 1793. Zadock Casey — Although on the opposition ticket to Governor Reynolds, the successful Gubernatorial candidate, yet Casey was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1830. He subsequently served several terms in Congress. Alexander M. Jenkins — Was elected on ticket with Gov. Duncan in 1834 by a handsome majority. S. U. Anderso7i — Lieut. Gov. under Gov. Cariin, was chosen in 1838. He was a native of Tennessee. John Moore — Was born in England in 1793; came to Illinois in 1830; was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1842. He won the name of " Honest John Moore." Joseph B. Wells — Was chosen with Gov. French at his first election in 1816. William McMurtry. — In -1848 when Gov. French was again chosen Governor, William McMurtry of Knox county, was elected Lieut. Governor. Gustavus P. Koerner — Was elected in 1852. He was born in Germany in 1809. At the age of 22 came to Illinois. In 1872 he was a candidate for Governor on Liberal ticket, but was defeated. John Wood — Was elected in 1856, and on the death of Gov. Bissell became Governor. Francis A. Hoffman — Was chosen with Gov. Yates in 1860. He was born in Prussia in 1822, and came to Illinois in 1840. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 161 William Bross — Was born in New Jersey, came to Illinois in 1848, was elected to office in 1864. Johii Dougherty — Was elected in 1868. John L. Beveredge — Was chosen Lieut. Grov. in 18T2. In 1873 Oglesbj was elected to the U. S. Senate when Beveridge became Governor. Andrew Shuman—Was elected Nov. 7, 1876, and is the present incumbent. SDPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. Ninian W. Edward? 1854-56 Newton Bateman 1859-75 W. H. Powell 1857-58 Samuel M. Etter 1876 ATTORNEY GENERALS. Daniel P. Cook. 1819 William Mears 1820 Samuel D. Lockwood 1821-22 James Turney 1828-28 George Forquer 1829-R2 James Semple .1833-34 Nmian E.Edwards 1834-35 Jesse B. Thomas, Jr , . 1835 Walter B. Scales 1836 Asher F. Linder 1837 Geo. W. Olney 1838 Wickliffe Kitchell 1839 Josiah Lamborn 1841-42 James A. McDougall 1843-46 David B. Campbell 1846 [Office abolished and re-created in 1867] Robert G. Ingersoll 1867-68 Washington Bushnell 1869-72 James K. Edsall 1873-79 TREASURERS. John Thomas 1818-19 R. K. McLaughlin 1819-22 Ebner Field 1823-26 James Hall 1827-30 John Dement 183 1-36 Charles Gregory 1836 Jolin D. Whiteside 1837-40 M. Carpenter 1841-i8 John Moore 1848-56 James Miller 1857-60 William Butler 1861-62 Alexander Starne 1863-64 James H. Beveridge 1865-06 George W. Smith 1867-68 Erastus N. Bates 869-72 Edward Rutz 1873-75 Thomas S. Ridgeway 1876-77 Edward Rutz .1878-79 SECRETARIES OF STATE. Elias K. Kane 1818-22 Samuel D. Lockwood 1822-23 David Blackwell 1823-24 Morris Birkbeck 1824 George Forquer 1825-28 Alexander P. Field 1829-40 Stephen A. Douglas 1840 Lyman Trumbull 1841-42 Thompson Campbell 1843-46 Horace S. Cooley 1846-49 David L. Gregg 1850-52 Alexander Starne 1853-56 Ozias M. Hatch 1S57-C0 Sharon Tyndale 1865-68 Edward Rummel 1869-72 George H. Harlow 1873-79 162 IIISTOKY OK ILLINOIS. AUDITOIiS. Elijah C. Berry 181«-31 TliompMJU Campbtll 1B4G 1. T. B. StappT 1831-35 Jessu K. Dubois 1857-G4 LeviDavis 1835-40 Odin II. Miner 1865-68 James ShieUls 1841-42 Charles E. Lippeneott 18'?9-76 W. L. D. Ewing 1843-45 'JMiompson B. Needles 1877-79 UNlTKn STATES SENATORS. Ninlan Edwards. — On the organization of the State in 1818, Edwards, the popidar Territorial Governor, was chosen Senator for the short term, and in 1819 re-elected for full term. Jesse B. Thomas — One of the federal judges during the entire Territorial existence was chosen Senator on organization of the State, and re-elected in 1823, and served till 1829. John McLean — In 1824 Edwards resia^ned, and McLean was elected to fill his unexpired term. He was born in North Carolina in 1791, and came to Illinois in 1815; served one term in Congress, and in 1829 was elected to the U. S. Senate, but the following year died. He is said to have been the most gifted man of his period in Illinois. Ellas Kent Kane — Was elected Nov. 30, 1824, for the term be- ginning March 4, 1825. In 1830 he was re-elected, but died before the expiration of his term. He was a native of New York, and in 1814 came to Illinois. He was first Secretary of State, and after- wards State Senator. David Jewett Baker — Was appointed to fill the unexpired term of John McLean, in 1830, Nov. 12, but the Legislature refused to endorse the choice. Baker was a native of Connecticut, born in 1792, and died in Alton in 1869. John M. Rohinsoji. — Instead of Baker, the Governor's appointee, the Legislature chose Robinson, and in 1834 he was re-elected. In 1843 was elected Supreme Judge of the State, but within two months died. He was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois while quite young. William L. D. Ewing — Was elected in 1835, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Kane. He was a Kentuckian. Richard M. Young — Was elected in 1836, and held his seat from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1843, a full term. He was a HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, 1^3 native of Kentucky; was Circuit Judge before his election to the Senate, and Supreme Judge in 1842. He died in an insane asylum at Washington. Samuel MoRoherts — Tlie first native lUinoisian ever elevated to the high office of U. S. Senator from this State, was born in 1799, and died in 18-13 on his return home from Washington. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1824, and March 4, 1841, took his seat in' the U. S. Senate. Sidney Breese — Was elected to the U. S. Senate, Dec. 17, 1842, and served a full term. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y. He was Major in the Black Hawk war; Circuit Judge, and in 1841 was elected Supreme Judge. He served a full term in the U. S. Senate, beginning March 4, 1843, after which he was elected to the Legislature, again Circuit Judge, and, in 1857, to the Supreme Court, which position he held until his death in 1878. James Semple — Was the successor of Samuel McRoberts, and was appointed by Gov. Ford in 1843. He was afterwards elected Judge of the Supreme Court. Stephen A. Douglas — Was elected Dec. 14, 1846. He had pre- viously served three terras as Congressman, He became his own successor in 1853 and again in 1859. From his first entrance in the Senate he was acknowledged the peer of Clay, Webster and Cal- houn, with whom he served his first term. His famous contest with Abraham Lincoln for the Senate in 1858 is the most memor- able in the annals of our country. It was called the battle of the giants, and resulted in Douglas' election to the Senate, and Lincoln to the Presidency. He was born in Brandon, Vermont, April 23, 1813, and came to Illinois in 1833, and died in 1861. He was appointed Secretary of State by Gov. Carliu in 1840, and shortly afterward to the Supreme Bench. Jarnes Shields — Was elected and assumed his seat in the U. S. Senate in 1849, March 4. He was born in Ireland in 1810, came to the United States in 1827. He served in the Mexican army, was elected Senator from Wisconsin, and in 1879 from Missouri for a short term. Lyman Trumbull — Took his seat in the (J. S. Senate March 4, 1855, and became his own successor in 1861. He had previously served one term in the Lower House of Congress, and served on the Supreme Bench. He was born in Connecticut; studied law lG4r HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. and came to Illinois early in life, wliere for years he was actively engaged in politics. He resides in Chicago. Oi'tiill H. Browning — Was appointed U. S. Senator in 18G1, to fill the seat made vacant by the death of Stephen A. Douglas, until a Senator could be regularly elected, Mr. Browning was born in Harrison county, Kentucky; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and settled in Quincy, Illinois, where lie engaged in the practice of law, and was instrumental, with liis friend, Abraham Lincoln, in form- ino- tlie Kepublican party of Illinois at tlie Bloomington Conven- tion. He entered Johnson's cabinet as Secretary of the Interior, and in March, 1868, was designated by the President to ])erformthe duties of Attorney General, in addition to his own, as Secretary of the Interior Department. William A. Richardson — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1863, to fill the unexpired term of his friend, Stephen A Douglas. He was born in Fayette county, Ky., about 1810, studied law, and settled in Illinois; served as captain in the Mexican War, and, on the battle-field of Buena Yista, was promoted for bravt^ry, by a unanimous vote of his resfiment. He served in the Lower House of Congress from 1847 to 1856, continually, Richard Yates — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1865, serv- ing a full term of six years. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 27, 1873. John A. LoQan — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1871. He was born in Jackson county, 111., Feb, 0, 1826, received a common school education, and enlisted as a private in the Mexican War, where he rose to the rank of Regimental Quartermaster. On returning home he studied law, and came to the bar in 1852; was elected in 1858 a Representative to the 36th Congress and re-elected to the 37th Congress, resigning in 1861 to take part in the sup- pression of the Rebellion; served as Colonel and subsequently as a Major General, and commanded, with distinction, the armies of the Tennessee. He was again elected to the U. S, Senate in 1879 for six years. David Davis — AVas elected to the U. S. Senate in 1877 for a term of six years. He was born- in Cecil county, Md., March 9, 1815, graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, studied law, and removed to Illinois in 1835; was admitted to the bar and settled in Blooming- ton, where he has since resided and amassed a large fortune. He HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 165 was for many years the intimate friend and associate of Abraliam Lincoln, rode the circuit with him each year, and after Lincohi's election to the Presidency, was appointed by him to fill the position of Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. FIFTEENTH CONGRESS. NINETEENTH CONGRESS. John McLean 1818 Daniel P. Cook 1825-36 SIXTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTIETH CONGRESS. Daniel P. Cook. 1819-20 Joseph Duncan 1827-38 SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Daniel P. Cook 1831-23 Joseph Duncan 1829-30 EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS. Daniel P. Cook 1833-34 Joseph Duncan 1831-33 TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS. Joseph Duncan .1833-34 Zadock Casey 1833-34 TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Zadock Casey 1835-36 William L. May 1835-36 John Reynolds 1835-36 TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Zadock Casey 1837-38 William L. May 1837-38 John Reynolds 1837-38 TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Zadock Casey 1839-40 John T. Stuart 1839-40 John Reynolds 1839-40 TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. Zadock Casey : 1841^3 John T. Stuart 1841-42 John Reynolds 1841-43 TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. Robert Smith 1843^4 Joseph P. Hoge 1843-44 Orlando B. Finklin 1843-44 John J. Hardin 1843-44 Stephen A. Douglas 1843-44 John Wentworth 1843-44 John A. McClernand 1843-44 TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS. Robert Smith 1845^6 Joseph P. Hoge 1845-46 Stephen A. Douglas 1845-46 John A. McClernand 1845-46 Orlando B. Finklin 1845-46 John Wentworth 1845-46 John J. Hardin 1845 THIRTIETH CONGRESS. John Wentworth .1847-48 Orlando B. Finklin 1847-48 Thomas J. Turner. 1847 Robert Smith 1847^8 Abraham Lincoln 1847-48 William A. Richardson 1847-48 John A. McClernand 1847-48 166 HISTOKY OK ILLINOIS. THIRTY-FIUST CONGKE88. John A. McCiernand 1849-50 Edward D. Baker 1849-50 John AVonlworlh 1849-50 William II. Bissell 1849-50 Timothy R. Young 1849-50 Thomas L. Harris 1849 William A. Richardson 1849-50 TIIIUTY-SECOND CONGRESS. William A. Richardson 1851-52 Richard Yates 1851-52 Thompson Campbell 1851-52 Richard S. Malouey 1851-52 Orlando B. Finklin 1851-52 Willis 1851-53 John Wcntworth 1851-52 William H. Bissell 1851-52 ■ THIRTv-THIUD CONGRESS. William H. Bissell 1853-54 Thompson Campbell 1853-54 John C. Allen 1853-54 James Knox 1853-54 Willis 1853-54 Jesse O. Norton 1853-54 Elihu B. Washburue .1853-54 William A. Richardson 1863-54 Richard Yates 1853-54 THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS Elihu B. VVashburne 1855-56 Samuel S. Marshall 1855-56 Lyman Trumbull 1855-56 J. L. D. Morrison 1855-56 James 11. Wood worth .1855-56 John C. Allen 1855-56 James Knox 1855-56 Jesse O. Norton 1855-56 Thompson Campbell 1855-56 William A. Richardson 1855-56 TUIRTT-FIFTH CONGRESS. Elihu B. Washburne 1857-58 Samuel S. Marshall 1857-58 Charles D. Ilodges 1857-58 Isaac N. Morris 1857-58 William Kellogg 1857-58 Aaron Shaw 1857-58 Thompson Campbell 1857-58 Robert Smith 1857-58 John F. Farnsworth 1857-58 Thomas L. Harris 1857-58 Owen Lovcjoy 1857-58 THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Elihu B. Washburne 1859-60 John F. Farnsworth 1859-60 John A. Logan 1859-60 Philip B. Fouke 1859-60 Owen Lovejoy 1859-60 Thomas L. Harris 1859-60 John A. McCiernand 1859-60 William Kellogg 1859-60 Isaac N Morris 1859-60 James C. Robinson. 1859-60 THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. Elihu B. Washburne 1861-62 Isaac N. Arnold 1861-62 James C. Robinson 1801-62 Philip B. Fouke 1861-62 John A. Logan 1861-62 William Kellogg 1861-62 Owen Lovejoy 1861-62 Anthony L. Knapp 1861-62 John A. McCiernand 1861-62 William A. Richardson 1861-62 THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. Elihu B. Washburne 1803-64 William J. Allen 1863-64 J esse O. Norton 1803-64 Isaac N. Arnold 1863-64 James C. Robinson 1863-64 John R. Eden 1863-64 i:iite:?Ji;i;JSl!:i;|hsS"E... '■^ftKt CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, JACKSONVILLE. BaKER.-feg T^^- ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, CHAMPAIGN — FOUNDED BY THE STATE ENDOWED BY CONGRESS. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 169 Lewis W. Ross 1863-64 John T. Stuart 1863-64 Owen Lovejoy • • • .1863-64 William R. Morrison 1863-64 John C. Allen 1863-64 John F. Farnsworth 1863-64 Charles W. Morils 1863-64 Eben C. Ingersoll 1863-64 Antuony L. Knapp 1863-64 Elihu B. Washburne 1865-66 Anthony B. Thornton.' . . 1865-66 John Weutworth 1865-66 Abncr C. Hardin. 1865-66 Eben C. Ingersoll 18J5-66 Barton C. Cook 1865-66 Shelby M. Cullom 1865-66 THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS. Jonn F. Farnsworth 1865-66 Jehu Baker 1865-66 Henry P. H. Bromwell.. ..... .1865-66 Andrew Z. Kuykandall 1865-66 Samuel S. Marshall 1805-66 Samuel W. Moulton 1865-66 Lewis W. Ross 1865-66 Elihu B. Washburne 1867-68 Abner C. Hardin 1867-68 Eben C Ingersoll ■ 1867-68 Norman B. Judd 1867-68 Albert G. Burr 1867-68 Burton C. Cook 1867-68 Sheibv M. Oullora 1867-68 FORTIETH CONGRESS. John F. Farnsworth 1867-68 Jehu Baker 1867-68 Henry P. H. Bromwell 1887-68 John A. Logan 1867-68 Samuel S. Marshall 1867-68 Green B. Raum 1867-68 Lewis W. Ross 1867-68 Norman B. Judd 1869-70 John F. Farnsworth 1869-70 H. C. Burchard 1869-70 John B. Hawley 1869-70 Eben C Ingersoll 18(:9-70 Burton C. Cook 1869-70 Jesse H. Moore 1869-70 FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Shelby M. Cullom 1869-70 Thomas W. McNeely 1869-70 Albert G. Burr 1869-70 Samuel S. Marshall 1869-70 John B. Hay 1869-70 John M. Crebs 1869-70 John A. Logan 1869-70 Charles B. Farwell 1871-72 John F. Farnsworth 1871-73 Horatio C. Burchard 1871-72 John B. Hawley .1871-72 Bradford N. Stevens 1871-72 Henry Suapp 1871-72 FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS. James C. Robinson 1871-72 Thomas W. McNeely 1871-73 Edward Y. Rice 1871-73 Samuel S. Marshall 1871-72 John B. Hay 1871-72 John M. Crebs 1871-73 Jesse H. Moore 1871-73 John S. Beveredge 1871-72 FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. John B. Rice 1873-74 Jasper D. Ward 1873-74 Charles B. Farwell .1873-74 Stephen A. Hurlbut 1873-74 Horatio C. Burchard 1873-74 John B. Hawley 1873-74 Franklin Corwin 1873-74 Robert M. Knapp 1873-74 James C. Robinson 1873-74 John B. McNulta 1873-74 Joseph G. Cannon 1873-74 John R. Eden 1873-74 James S. Martin 1873-74 William R. Morrison 1873-74 170 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Grcenbury L. Fort 1873-74 Granville Barrcrc 1873-74 William II. Kay 1873-74 KOKTY-FOURTH CONGRESS Isaac Clements 1873-74 Samuel S. Marshall 1873-74 Hcrnard G. Caulfleld 1875-76 Carter H. Harrison 1875-76 Charles B. Farwell 1875-76 Stephen A. Ilurlbut 1875-76 Horatio C. Burchara 1875-76 Thomas J. Henderson 1875-76 Alexander Campbell 1875-76 Greeubury L. Fort 1875-'i6 Kichard H. Whiting 1875-76 John C. Bagby 1875-76 FORTY-FIFTH AVilliam Aldrich 1877-78 Carter II. Harrison 1877-78 Lorenzo Brentano 1877-78 William Lathrop 1877-78 Horatio C. Burchard 1877-78 Thomas J. Henderson 1877-78 Philip C. Hayes 1877-78 Greenbury L.Fort 1877-78 Thomas A. Boyd 1877-78 Benjamin F. Marsh 1877-78 FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Scott Wike 1875-76 William M. Springer 1875-76 Adlai E. Stevenson 1875-76 Joseph G. Cannon 18^5-76 John 11. Eden 1875-76 W. A. J. Sparks 1875-76 William R. Morrison 1875-76 William Hartzell 1875-76 William B. Anderson 1875-76 CONGRESS. Robert M. Rn^pp 1877-78 William M. Springer 1877-78 Thomas F. Tipton 1877-78 Joseph G. Cannon 1877-78 John R. Eden 1877-78 W. A. J. Sparks 1877-78 William R. Morrison 1877-78 William Hartzell 1877-78 Richard W. Townshend 1877-78 William Aldrich 1879-80 George R. Davis 1879-80 Hiram Barber 1870-80 John C Sherwin 1 879-80 R. M. A. Hawk 1879-80 Thomas J. Henderson 1879-80 Philip C. Hayes 1879-80 Grcenbury h. Fort 1879-80 Tliomas A. Boyd 1879-80 Benjamin F. Marsh 1879-80 James W. Singleton 1879-80 William M. Springer 1879-80 A. E. Stevenson 1879-80 Joseph G. Cannon 1879-80 Albert P. Forsythe 1879-80 W. A. J. Sparks 1879-80 William R. Morrison 1879-80 John R. Thomas 1879-80 R. W. Townshend 1879-80 CHICAGO. While we cannot, in the brief space we have, give more than a meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, yet we feel the historj of the State would be incomplete without speaking of its metropolis, the most wonderful city on the globe. In comparing Chicago as it was a few years since with Chicago of to-dav, we behold a change whose veritable existence we should HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 171 be inclined to doubt were it not a stern, indisputable fact. Kapid^ as is the customary development of places and things in the CTnited States, the growth of Chicago and her trade stands without a parallel. The city is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan at the- mouth of the Chicago river. It lies 14 feet above the lake, having been raised to that grade entirely by tlie energy of its citizens, its site having originally been on a dead level with the water of the lake. The city extends north and south along tlie lake about ten miles, and westward on the prairie from the lake five or six miles, embrac- ing an area of over 40 square miles. It is divided by the river into three distinct parts, known as the North, West and South Divisions, or "Sides," by which they are popularly and commonly known. These are connected by 33 bridges and two tunnels. The first settlement of Chicago was made in 1804, during whicli year Fort Dearborn was built. At the close of 1830 Chicago con- tained 12 houses, with a population of about 100. The town was organized in 1833, and incorporated as a city in 1837. The first frame building was erected in lSo2, and the first brick house in. 1833. The first vessel entered the harbor June 11, 1834; and at the first ofiicial census, taken July 1, 1837, the entire population was found to be 4,170. In 1850 the population had increased to 29,963; in 1860, to 112,172; in 1870, 298,977; and, according to the customary mode of reckoning from the number of names in the City Directory, the population of 1879 is over 500,000. Nicholas Perrot, a Frenchman, was the first white man to visit the site of Chicago. This he did in 1671, at the instigation of M.. Toulon, Governor of Canada. He was sent to invite the Western. Indians to a convention at Green Bay. It has been often remarked • that the first white man who became a resident of Chicago was a negro. His name was Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from tlie West Indies. He settled there in 1796 and built a rude cabin on the north bank of the main river, and laid claim to a tract of lan(i surrounding it. He disappeared from the scene, and his claim was "jumped" by a Frenchman named Le Mai, who commenced trad- ing with the Indians. A few years later he sold out to John Kin- zie, who was then an Indian trader in the country about St. Joseph, Mich., and agent for the American Fur Company, which- had traded at Chicago with the Indians for some time; and this 172 HISTORY OF ILLIN0I8, fact had, probably more tlian any other, to do with the determina- tion of the Government to establish a fort there. The Indians were growing numerous in that region, being attracted by the facilities for selling their wares, as well as being pressed northward by the tide of emigration setting in from the south. It was judged necessary to have some force near that point to keep theiti in check, as well as to protect the trading interests, Mr. Kinzie moved his family there the same year Fort Dearborn was built^ and converted the Jean Baptiste cabin into a tasteful dwelling. For about eight years things moved along smoothl3'. The garri- son was quiet, and the traders prosperous. Then the United States became involved in trouble with Great Britain. The Indians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the civilized nations, committing great depredations, the most atro- cious of which was the massacre of Fort Dearborn, an account of which may be found in this volnme under the heading of "The War of 1812." THE GREAT FIRE. From the year 1840 the onward march of the city of Chicago to the date of the great fire is well known. To recount its marvel- ous growth in population, wealth, internal resources and improve- ments and everything else that goes to make up a mighty city> would consume more space than we could devote, however interest- ing it might be. Its progress astonished the world, and its citizens stood almost appalled at the work of their own hands. She was happy, prosperous and great when time brought that terrible Octo- ber night (Oct. 9, 1871) and with it the great fire, memorable as ihe greatest fire ever occurring on earth. The sensation conveyed to the spectator of this unparalleled event, either through the eye, the ear, or other senses or sympathies, cannot be adequately described, and any attempt to do it but shows the poverty of lan- guage. As a spectacle it was beyond doubt the grandest as well as the most appalling ever offered to mortal eyes. From any elevated standpoint the appearance was that of a vast ocean of flame, sweeping in mile-long billows and breakers over the doomed city. Added to the spectacular elements of the conflagration — the intense and lurid light, the sea of red and black, and the spires and pyramids of flame shooting into the heavens — was its constant and HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 173 terrible roar, drowning even the voices of the shrieking multitude; and ever and anon — for a while as often as every half-minute — resounded far and wide the rapid detonations of explosions, or fall- ing walls. In short, all sights and sounds which terrify the weak and unnerve the strong; abounded. But they were only the accom- paniment which the orchestra of nature were furnishing to the terrible tragedy there being enacted. The total area burned over, including streets, was three and a third ^ square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was 17,450; persons rendered homeless, 98,500; persons killed, about 200. Not including depreciation of real estate, or loss of business, it is estimated that the total loss occasioned by the fire was $190,000,000, of which but $44,000,000 was recovered on insur- ance. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time; and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned district was rebuilt, and at present there is scarcely a trace of the terrible dis- aster, saVe in the improved character of the new buildings over those destroyed, and the general better appearance of the city — now the finest, in an architectural sense, in the world. One of the features of this great city worthy of mention is the Exposition, held annually. The smouldering ruins were yet smok- ing when the Exposition Building was erected, only ninety days being consumed in its construction. The accompanying engrav- ing of the building, the main part of which is 1,000 feet long, will give an idea of its magnitude. COMMEKCE OF CHICAGO. The trade of Chicago is co-extensive with the world. Every- where, in every country and in every port, the trade-marks of her merchants are seen. Everywhere, Chicago stands prominently identified with the commerce of the continent. A few years ago, grain was carted to the place in wagons; now more than 10,000 miles of railroad, with thousands of trains heavily ladened with the products of the land center there. The cash value of the produce handled during the year 1878 was $220,000,000, and its aggregate weight was 7,000,000 tons, or would make 700,000 car loads. Divided into trains, it would make 28,000 long, heavily ladened freight trains, wending their way from all parts of the United States toward our great metropolis. These trains, arranged in one con- 174 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. tirnuuis line, would stretch I'rotn London across tlie broad Atlantic to New York and on across our continent to San Francisco. In regard to the <^rain, lumber and stock trade, Ciiicago has sur- passed all rivals, and, indeed, not only is witliout a peer but excels any three or four cities in the Avorld in these branches. Of grain, the vast quantity of i;34,S51,10;'. bushels was received during the year 1878. This was about two-iifths more than ever received before in one year. It took 13,000 long freight trains to carry it fro^n the fields of the Northwest to Chicago. This would make a continuous train that would reach across the continent from New York to San Francisco. Speaking more in detail, we have of the various cereals received daring the year, 62,783,577 bushels of corn, 29,901,220 bushels of wlieat, 18,251,529 bushels of oats, 133,981,104 pounds of seed. The last item alone would fill about 7,000 freight cars. The lumber received during the year 1878 was, 1,171,364,000 feet, exceeded only in 1872, the year after the great fire. This vast amount of lumber would require 195,000 freight cars to transport it. It would buiid a fence, four boards high, four and one-half times around the globe. In the stock trade for the year 1878, the figures assume propor- tions almost incredible. They are, however, from reliable and trustworthy sources, and must be accepted as authentic. There were received during the year, 6,339,656 hogs, being 2,000,000 more than ever received before in one year. It required 129,916 stock cars to transport this vast number of hogs from the farms of the West and Northwest to the stock yards of Chicago. These hogs arranged in single file, would form a connecting link between Chicago and Pekin, China. Of the large number of hogs received, five millions of them were slaughtered in Ciiicago. The aggregate amount of product manu- lactured from these hogs was 918,000,000 pounds. The capacity of the houses engaged in slaughtering operations in Chicago is 60,000 hogs daily. The number of hands employed in these houses is from 6,000 to 8,000. The number of packages required in which to market the year's product is enormously large, aggregating 500,- 000 barrels, 800,000 tierces and 650,000 boxes. There has been within the stock yards of the city, during the year 1878, 1,036,066 cattle. These were gathered from the plains HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 175 of Oregon, Wyoming and Utah, and the grazing regions of Texas, as well as from all the Southern, Western and Northwestern States and Territories and from the East as far as Ohio. If these cattle were driven from Chicago southward, in single file, through the United States, Mexico, and the Central American States into South America, the foremost could graze on the plains of Brazil, ere the last one liad passed the limits of the great citj. Not only does Chicago attract to its great market the products of a continent, but from it is distributed throughout the world manu- factured goods. Every vessel and every train headed toward that city are heavily ladened with the crude products of the farm, of the forests, or of the bowels of the earth, and every ship that leaves her docks and every train that flies from her limits are filled with manufactured articles. These goods not only find their way all over our own country but into Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Mexico, and the Islands of the sea; indeed, every nook and corner of the globe, where there is a demand for her goods, her merchants are ready to supply. The wholesale trade for the year 1878 reached enormous fissures, aggregating $280,000,000. Divided among the leading lines, we find there were' sold of dry goods, S95,000,000 worth. The trade in grocerii3S amounted to $G6,000,000; hardware, $20,000,000; boots and shoes, $24,000,000; clothing, $17,000,000; carpets, $8,000,000; millinery, $7,000,000; hats and caps, $6,000,000; leather, $8,000,- 000; drugs, $6,000,000; jewelry, $4,500,000; musical instruments, $2,300,000. Chicago sold over $5,000,000 worth of fruit during the year, and for the same time her fish trade amounted to $1,400,- 000, and her oyster trade $4,500,000. The candy and other con- fectionery trade amounted to $1,534,900. This would fill all the Christmas stockings in the United States. In 1852, the commerce of the city reached the hopeful sum of $20,000,000; since then, the annual sales of one firm amount to that much. In 1870, it reached $400,000,000, and in 1878 it had grown so rapidly that the trade of the city amounted during that year to $650,000,000. Her manufacturing interests have likewise grown. In 1878, her manufactories employed in the neighborhood of 75,000 operators. The products manufactured during the year were valued at $230,000,000. In reviewing the shipping interests of Chicago, we find it equally enormous. ■ So considerable, indeed, is the 176 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. commercial navy of Chicago, that in the seasons of navigation, one vessel sails every nine minutes during the business hours; add to this the cunal-boats that leave, one every five minutes during the same time, and you will see something of the magnitude of her shipping. More vessels arriv'C and depart from this port during tlie season than enter or leave any other port in the world. In 1831, the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers and news he could find. As late as 1846, there was often but one mail a week, A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the postmaster nailed up old boot legs upon one side of his shop to serve as boxes. It has since grown to be the larirest receiving office in the United States. In IS-IJ:, the (j^uagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank roads. The wooden-block pavement appeared in 1857. In 1840, water was delivered by peddlers, in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five liorse power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Christian Association was orffauized in 1858. Street cars commenced running in 1854. The Museum was opened in 1863. The alarm telegraph adopted in 1SG4. The opera-house built in 1865. The telephone introduced in 1878. One of the most thoroughly interesting engineering exploits of the city is the tunnels and water- works system, the grandest and most iinique of any in the world; and the closest analysis fails to detect any impurities in the water furnished. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 gallons per day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long, running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 gallons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water mains. Chicago river is tunneled for the passage of pedestrians and vehi- cles from the South to the West and :North divisions. There is no grand scenery about Chicago except the two seas, one of water, the other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, a power, that soon makes it a place never to HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 177 be forsaken. Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one-fourth of the t'erritory of this great republic. The Atlantic sea-coast divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah, but Chicago has a dozen empires casting their treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery of the world for 500 centuries; in a garden that can feed the race by the tliousand years; at the head of the lakes that give lier a temperature as a summer resort equaled by no great city in the land; with a climate that insures the health of her citizens; surrounded by all the great deposits of natural wealth in mines and forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder of to-day, and will be the city of the future. STATES OF THE UNION. THEIR SETTLEMENT, ORIGIN OF NAME AND MEANING, COGNOMEN, MOT- TOES, ADMISSION INTO THE UNION, POPULATION, AREA, NUMBER OF SOLDIERS FDRNISHED DURING THE REBELLION, NUMBER OF REPRE- SENTATIVES IN CONGRESS, PRESENT GOVERNORS, P:TC., ETC., ETC. Alabama. — This State was first explored by LaSalle in 1684, and settled by tlie French at Mobile in 1711, and admitted as a State in 1817. Its name is Indian, and means " Here we rest." Has no motto. Population in 1860,964,201; in 1870,996,992. Furnished 2,576 soldiers for the Union army. Area 50,722 square miles. Montgomery is the capital. Has 8 Representatives and 10 Presi- dential electors. Rufus W. Cobb is Governor; salary, $3,000; politics. Democratic. Length of term, 2 years. Arkansas — Became a State in 1836. Population in 1860, 435,- 450; in 1870,484,471. Area 52,198 square miles. Little Rock, capital. Its motto is Regnant Populi — " The people rule." It has the Indian name of its principal river. Is called the " Bear State." Furnished 8,289 soldiers. She is entitled to 4 members in Congress, and 6 electoral votes. Governor, "W. R.Miller, Democrat; salary, $3,500; term, 2 years. California — Has a Greek motto. Eureka, which means " I have found it." It derived its name from the bay forming the peninsula of Lower California, and was first applied by Cortez. It was first visited by the Spaniards in 1542, and by the celebrated English 178 HISTORY OF ILLIIMOIS. navigator, Sir Francis Drake, in 1578. In 1846 Fremont took possession of it, defeating the Mexicans, in the name of the United States, and it was admitted as a State in 1850, Its gold mines from 1868 to 1878 jM-oduced over $800,000,000. Area 188,982 square miles. Topuhitiou in 1860, 379,994. In 1870, 560,247. She gave to defend the Union 15,225 soldiers. Sacramento is the capital. Has 4 Representatives in Congress. Is entitled to 6 Presidential electors. Present Governor is William Irwin, a Democrat; term, 4 years; salary, $6,000. Colorado — Contains 106,475 square miles, and had a population in 1860 of 34,277, and in 1870, 39,864. She furnished 4,903 soldiers. Was admitted as a State in 1876. It has a Latin motto, Nil sine Niiriiine, which means, " Nothing can be done without divine aid." It was named from its river. Denver is the capital. Has 1 member in Congress, and 3 electors. T. W. Pitkin is Gov- ernor; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years; politics, llepublican. Connecticut — Qui transtulit snstinet, " He who brought us over sustains us," is her motto. It was named from the Indian Quon- ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River." It is called the "Nutmeg State." Area 4,674 square miles. Population 1860, 460,147; in 1870, 537,454. Gave to the Union army 55,755 soldiers. Hart- ford is the capital. Has 4 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 6 Presidential electors. Salary of Governor $2,000; term, 2 y^ars. Delaware. — " Liberty and Independence," is the motto of this State. It was named after Lord De La Ware, an English states- man, and is called, " The Blue Hen," and the " Diamond State." It was first settled by the Swedes in 1638. It was one of the original thirteen States. Has an area of 2,120 square miles. Population in 1860. 112,216; in 1870, 125,015. She sent to the front to defend the Union, 12,265 soldi(;rs. Dover is the capital. Has but 1 mem- ber in Congress; entitled to 3 Presidential electors. John W. Hall, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $2,000; term, 2 years. Florida — Was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512, on Easter Sunday, called by the Spaniards, Pascua Florida, which, with the variety and beauty of the flowers at this early season caused him to name it Florida — which means in Spanish, flowery. Its motto is, " In God we trust." It was admitted into the Union in 1845. It has an area of 59,268 square miles. Population in 1860, 140,424; in HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 179 1870, 187,756. Its capital is Tallahassee. Has 2 members in Con- gress. Has 4 Presidential electors. George F. Drew, Democrat, Governor; term, 4 years; salary, $3,600. Georgia — Owes its name to George II., of England, who first established a colony there in 1732. Its motto is, " Wisdom, justice and moderation." It was one of the original States. Population in 1860, 1,057,286; 1870, 1,184,109. Capital, Atlanta. Area 58,- OuO square miles. Has 9 Representatives in Congress, and 11 Presidential electors. Her Governor is A. H. Colquitt, Democrat; term, 4 years; salary, $4,000. Illinois — Motto, "State Sovereignty, National Union." ISTame derived from the Indian word, Illini^ meaning, superior men. It is called the ''Prairie State," and its inhabitants, "Suckers." Was lirst explored by the French in 1673, and admitted into the Union in 1818. Area 55,410 square miles. Population, in 1860 1,711,951; in 1870, 2,539,871. She sent to the front to defend the Union, 258,162 soldiers. Capital, Springfield, Has 19 members in Congress, and 21 Presidential electors. Shelby M. Cullom, RejDiib. lican, is Governor; elected for 4 years; salary, $6,000. Indiana — Is called "Hoosier State." Was explored in 1682, and admitted as a State in 1816. Its name was suggested by its numerous Indian population. Area 33,809 square miles. Popu- latio:i in 1860, 1,350,428; in 1870, 1,680,637. She put into the Federal army, 194,363 men. Capital, Indianapolis. Has 13 mem- bers in Congress, and 15 Presidential electors. J. D. Williams Governor, Democrat; salary, $3,000; term, 4 year. Iowa — Is an Indian name and means "This is the land." Its motto is, "Our liberties we prize, our rights we will maintain." It is called the " Hawk Eye State." It was first visited by Marquette and Joliet in 1673; settled by New Englanders in 1833, and admitted into the Union in 1846. Des Moines is the capital. It has an area of 55,045, and a population in 1860 of 674,913, and in 1870 of 1,191,802. She sent to defend the Government, 75,793 soldiers. Has 9 members in Congress; 11 Presidential electors. John H. Gear, Republican, is Governor; salary, $2,500; term, 23'ears. Kansas — Was admitted into the Union in 1861, making the thirty-fourth State. Its motto is Ad astra per aspera, " To the stars through difiiculties." Its name means, " Smoky water," and 180 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. is derived from one of her rivers. Area 78,841 square miles. Population in 1860, 107,209; in 1870 was 3H2,812. She furnished 20,095 soldiers. Capital is Topeka. lias 3 Representatives in Con- gress, and 5 Presidential electors. John P. St. John, Governor; politics, Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years, Kentucky — Is the Indian name for "At the head of the rivers." Its motto is, '' United we stand, divided we fall." The sobriquet of "dark and bloody ground " is applied to this State. It was first settled in 1769, and admitted in 1792 as the fifteenth State. Area 37,680. Population in 1860, 1,155,684; in 1870, 1,321,000. She put into the Federal army 75,285 soldiers. Capital, Frankfort. Has 10 members in Congress ; 12 Electors. J. B. McCreary, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000 ; term, 4 years. Louisiana — Was called after Louis XIY., who at one time owned that section of the country. Its motto is " Union and Con- fidence." It is called "The Creole State." It was visited by La Salle in 1684, and admitted into the Union in 1812, making the eighteenth State. Population in 1860,708.002; in 1870, 732,731. Area 46,431 square miles. She put into the Federal army 5,224 soldiers. Capital, New Orleans. Has 6 Representatives and 8 Electors. F. T. Nichols, Governor, Democrat; salary, $8,000; term, 4 years. Maine. — This State was called after the province of Maine in France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. Its motto is Dirigo, meaning " I direct." It is called "The Pine Tree State." It was settled by the English in 1625. It was admitted as a State in 1820. Area 31,766 square miles. Population in 1860, 628,279; in 1870, 626,463; 69,738 sol- diers went from this State. Has 5 members in Congress, and 7 Electors. Selden Conner, Republican, Governor; term, 1 year; salary, $2,500. Miivijland — "Was named after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. of England. It has a Latin motto, Crecite et inultiplica- mini^ meaning " Increase and Multiply." It was settled in 1634, and was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 11,- 124 square miles. Population in 1860 was 687,049; in 1870, 780,- 806. This State furnished 46,053 soldiers. Capital, Annapolis. Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. J, H. Carroll, Democrat, Governoi-; salary, $4,500; term, 4 years. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 181 Massachusetts — Is the Indian for " The country around the great hills." It is called the "Bay State," from its numerous bays. Its motto is Ense petit p>l^Gidain sub libertate quietem, " By the sword she seeks placid rest in liberty." It was settled in 1620 at Plymouth by English Puritans. It was one of the original thirteen States, and was the first to take up arms against the English during tlic Kevolution. Area 7,800 square miles. Population in 1860, 1,231,- 066 ; in 18T0, 1,457,351. She gave to the Union army 146,467 sol- diers. Boston is the capital. Has 11 Representatives in Con- gress, and 13 Presidential electors. Thomas Talbot, Republican, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 1 year, Michigan — Latin motto, Luehor, and Si qiiceris yeninsulaiu amcBnam circu7nspice, '■'■ 1 will defend" — " If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you." The name is a contraction of two Indian words meaning " Great Lake." It was early explored by Jesuit missionaries, and in 1837 was admitted into the Union. It is known as the " Wolverine State." It contains 56,243 square miles. In 1860 it had a population of 749,173; in 1870, 1,184,059. She furnished 88,111 soldiers. Capital, Lansing. Has 9 Repre- sentatives and 11 Presidential electors. C. M. Croswell is Gov- ernor; politics, Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 2 years. Minnesota — Is an Indian name, meaning " Cloudy Water." It has a French motto, VEtoile du Nord — " The Star of the North." It was visited in 1680 by La Salle, settled in 1846, and admitted into the Union in 1858. It contains 83,531 square miles. In 1860 had a population of 172,023; in 1870, 439,511. She gave to the Union army 24;002 soldiers. St. Paul is the capital. Has 3 mem- bers in Congress, 5 Presidential electors. Governor, J. S, Pills- bury, Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years. Mississippi — Is an Indian name, meaning " Long River," and the State is named from the " Father of Waters." The State was first explored by De Sota in 1541; settled by the French at Natchez in 1716, and was admitted into the Union in 18.17. It has an area of 47,156 square miles. Population in 1860, 791,305; in 1870,827,- 922. She gave to suppress the Rebellion 545 soldiers. Jackson is the capital. Has 6 representatives in Congress, and 8 Presidential electors. J. M. Stone is Governor, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 4 years. Missouri — Is derived from the Indian word " muddy," which 182 HISTORY OF ILLIiNOIS. more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Its motto is Salus populi sajprema lex esto^ " Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law." The State was lirst settled by the French near Jeflerson City in 1719, and in 1S21 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of 67,380 square miles, equal to 43,123,200 acres. It had a population in 1800 of 1,182,012; in 1870, 1,721,- 000. She gave to defend the Union 108,102 soldiers. Capital, Jeflerson City. Its inhabitants are known by the ofiensive cogno- man of "' Pukes." Has 13 representatives in Congress, and 15 Presidential electors. J. S. Phelps is Governor; politics, Demo- cratic; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years. Nebraska — Has f^r its motto, " Equality before the law." Its name is derived from one of its rivers, meaning " broad and shal- low, or low." It was admitted into the Union in 1867. Its capital is Lincoln. It had a population in 1800 of 28,841, and in 1870, 123,993, and in 1875,240,280. It has an area of 75,995 square miles. She furnished to defend the Union 3,157 soldiers. Has but 1 Hepresentative and 3 Presidential electors. A. Nance, Repub- lican, is Governor; salar}-, $2,500; term, 2 years. Nevada — '' The Snowy Land " derived its name from the Span- ish. Its motto is Latin, Volens et 2>otens, and means " willing and able." It was settled in 1850, and admitted into the Union in 1804. Capital, Carson City. Its population in 1860 was 6,857; in 1870 it was 42,491. It has an area of 112,090 square miles. She furnished 1,080 soldiers to suppress the Pebellion. Has 1 Rep- resentative and 3 Electors. Governor, J. II. Kinjchead, Republican ; salary, $0,000; term, 4 years. New Tlamjyshire — Was first settled at Dover by the English in 1623. Was one of the original States. Has no motto. It is named from Hampshire county in England. It also bears the name of "The Old Granite State." It has an area of 9^280 miles, which equals 9,239,200 acres. It had a population in 1 860 of 326,- 073, and in 1870 of 318,300. She increased the Union army with 33,913 soldiers. Concord is the capital. Has 3 Representatives and 5 Presidential electors. N. Head, Republican, Governor; salary, $1,000; term, 1 year. Neio Jersey — Was named in honor of the Island of Jersey in the British channel. Its motto is " Liberty and Independence." It was first settled at Bergen by the Swedes in 1024. It is one of the orig- HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 183 inal thirteen States. It has an area of 8,320 square miles, or 5,324,- 800 acres. Population in 1860 was 672,035; in 1870 it was 906,096. She put into the Federal army 75,315 soldiers. Capital, Trenton. Has 7 Representatives and 9 Presidential electors. Governor, George B. McClelland, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 3 years. JVeio York. — The " Empire State " was named by the Duke of York, afterward King James II. of England. It has a Latin motto, Excelsior, which means " Still Higher." It was first settled by the Dutch in 1614 at Manhattan. It has an area of 47,000 square miles, or 30,080,000 acres. The population in 1860 was 3,880,735; in 1870 it was 4,332,759. It is one of the original thirteen States. Capital is Albany. It gave to defend our Government 445,959 men. Has 33 members in Congress, and 35 Presidential electors. Governor, L. Robinson, Democrat; salary, $10,000; term, 3 years. Nortli Carolina — Was named after Charles IX., King of France. It is called " The Old North," or " The Turpentine State." It was first visited in 1524 by a Florentine navigator, sent out by Francis I., King of France. It was settled at Albemarle in 1663. It was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 50,704 square miles, equal to 32,450,560 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 992,622, and in 1870, 1,071,361. Raleigh is the capital. She furnished 3,156 soldiers to put down the Rebellion. Has 8 mem- bers in Congress, and is entitled to 10 Presidential electors. Z. B. Vance, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years. Ohio — Took its name from the river on its Southern boundary, and means " Beautiful." Its motto is Imperium in Iinperio — '•An Empire in an Empire." It was first parmanently settled in 1783 at Marietta by New Englanders. It was admitted as a State in 1803. Its capital is Columbus. It contains 39,964 square miles, or 25,576, 960 acres. Population in 1860, 2,339,511; in 1870 it had 2.665,260. She sent to the front during the Rebellion 310,- 654 soldiers. Has 20 Representatives, and 22 Presidential electors. Governor, R. M. Bishop, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years. Oregon — Owes its Indian name to its principal river. Its motto is Mis volat propriis — " She flies with her own wings." It was first visited by the Spaniards in the sixteentli century. It was set- tled by the English in 1813, and admitted into the Union in 1859. Its capital is Salem. It has an area of 95,274 square miles, equal to 60,975,360 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 52,465; in 184 HISTORY CF ILLINOIS. 1870, 90,922. She furnished 1,810 soldiers. She is entitled to 1 member in Congress, and 3 Presidential electors. W. W. Thayer, Republican, is Governor; salary, $1,500 ; term, 4 years. Pennsylvania. — This is the '"Keystone State," and means "Penn's Woods," and was so called after William Penn, its original owner. Its motto is, " Yirtue, liberty and independence." A colony was established by Penn in 1682. The State was one of the original thirteen. It has an area of 46,000 square miles, equaling 29,440,- 000 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 2,906,215; and in 1870, 3,515,993. She gave to suppress the Rebellion, 338,155. Harris- burg is the capital. Has 27 Representatives and 29 electors. H. M. Iloyt, is Governor; salary, $10,000; politics, Republican; term of office, 3 years. Rhode Island. — This, the smallest of the States, owes its name to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble. Its motto is " Hope," and it is familiarly called, "Little Rliody." It was settled by Roger Williams in 1636. It was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 1,306 square miles, or 835,840 acres. Its population in 18G0 numbered 174,620; in 1870, 217,356. She gave to defend the Union, 23,248. Its capitals are Providence and Newport. Has 2 Representatives, and 4 Presidential electors. C. Yanzandt is Governor; politics. Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 1 year. South Carolina. — The Palmetto State wears the Latin name of Charles IX., of France (Carolus). Its motto is Latin, Animis opibiisque parati, " Ready in will and deed." The first permanent settlement was made at Port Royal in 1670, where the French Huguenots had failed three-quarters of a century before to found a settlement. It is one of the original thirteen States. Its capital is Columbia. It has an area of 29,385 square miles, or 18,^^06,400 acres, with a population in 1860 of 703,708; in 1870, 728,000. Has 5 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 7 Presidential electors. Salary of Governor, $3,500; term, 2 years. Tennessee — Is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e_ the Mississippi, which forms its western boundary. She is called "The Big Bend State." Her motto is, " Agriculture, Commerce." It was settled in 1757, and admitted into the Union in 1796, mak- ing the si.xteenth State, or the third admitted after the Revolution- ary War — Yermont being the first, and Kentucky the second. It HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 185 has an area of 45,600 square miles, or 29,184,000 acres. In 1860 its population numbered 1,109,801, and in 1870, 1,257,983. She furnished 31,092 soldiers to suppress the Eebellion. Nashville is the capital. Has 10 Representatives, and 12 Presidential electors. Governor, A. S. Marks, Democrat; salary, $4,000; terra, 2 years. Texas — Is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was known before it was ceded to the United States. It is known as " The Lone Star State." The first set- tlement was made by LaSalle in 1685. After the independence of Mexico in 1822, it remained a Mexican Province until 1836, when it gained its independence, and in 1845 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of 237,504 square miles, equal to 152,002,- 560 acres. Its population in 1860 was 604,215; in 1870, 818,579. She gave to put down the Rebelion 1,965 soldiers. Capital, Austin. Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. Governor, 0_ M. Roberts, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years. Vermont — Bears tlie French name of her mountains Verde Mont^ "Green Mountains." Its motto is "Freedom and Unity." It was settled in 1731, and admitted into the Union in 1791. Area 10,212 square miles. Population in 1860, 315,098; in 1870, 330,551- She gave to defend the Government, 33,272 soldiers. Capital, Mont- pelier. Has 3 Representatives, and 5 electors. Governor, H. Fair- banks, Republican; term, 2 years; salary, $1,000. Virginia. — The Old Dominion, as this State is called, is the oldest of the States. It w^as named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attenjpt to colonize that region. Its motto is Sic semper tyrannis, " So always with tyrants." It was first settled at James- town, in 1607, by the English, being the first settlement in the United States. It is one of original thirteen States, and had before its division in 1862, 61,352 square miles, but at present contains but 38,352 square miles, equal to 24,545,280 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 1,596,318, and in 1870 it was 1,224,830. Rich- mond is the capital. Has 9 Representatives, and 11 electors. Gov- ernor, F. W. M. Halliday, Democrat; salary, $5,500; term, 4 years. West Virgiiiia. — Motto, 31 onta?ii se7n-per liberi, " Mountaineers are always free." This is the only State ever formed, under the Constitution, by the division of an organized State. This was done in 1862, and in 1863 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of 186 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 23.000 square miles, or 14,720,000 acres. The population in 1860 was 376,000; in 1870 it numbered 445,616. She furnished 32,003. Capital, Wheeling. Has 3 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 5 Presidential electors. Tlie Governor is 11. M. Mathews, Democrat; term, 4 years; salary, $2,700. \Visconsi7i — Is an Indian name, and means "Wild-rushing channel." Its motto, C ivitatas successit harbarum. " The civilized man succeeds the barbarous." It is called " The Badger State." The State was visited by the French explorers in 1G65, and a settle- ment was made in 1669 at Green Bay. It was admitted into the Union in 1848. It has an area of 62,924 square miles, equal to 34,511,360 acres. In 1860 its population numbered 775,881; in 1870, 1,055,167. Madison is the capital. She furnished for the Union army 91,021 soldiers. Has 8 members in Congress, and is entitled to 10 Presidential electors. The Governor is W. E. Smith; politics. Republican; salary, $5,000; terra, 2 years. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. . 187 ILLINOIS INSTITUTE FOE DEAF AND DUMB. The first class of unfortunates to attract the notice of the legis- lature were the deaf mutes. The act establishino^ the institution for the education of these unfortunates was approved by Gov. Carlin, Feb. 23, 1839, the asylum to be located at Jacksonville. The original building, afterward called the south wing, was begun in 1842, and completed in 1819, at a cost of about $25,000. A small portion of the building was ready for occupancy in 181:6, and on the 26th day of January, of that year, the Institution was formally opened, with Mr. Thomas Officer as principal. The first term opened with but four pupils, which has increased from year to year, until the average attendance at the present time is about 250. ILLINOIS INSTITUTE FOE THE INSANE. In response to an appeal from the eminent philanthropist, Miss D. L. Dix, an act establishing the Illinois Hospital for the Insane, was approved by Gov. French, March 1, 1847. Nine trustees were appointed, with power to select a site, purchase land, and erect buildings to accommodate 250 patients. On the 1st of May the board agreed upon a site, 1^ miles from the court-house in Jacksonville. In 1851 two wards in the east wing were ready for occupancy, and the first patient was admitted Nov. 3, 1851. In 1869 the General Assembly passed two acts creating the northern asylum for the insane, and the southern asylum for the insane, which was approved by Gov. Palmer, April 16, 1869. Elgin was selected as a location for the former, and Anna for the latter. The estimated capacity of the three asylums is 1,200 patients. In addition to the State institu- tions for the insane, tliei-e are three other asylums for their benefit, one in Cook county, which will accommodate about 400 patients, and two private institutions, one at Batavia, and one at Jack- sonville. ASYLUM FOE FEEBLE-MINDED. The experimental school for feeble-minded children, the first institution of its kind in the North-west, was created by an act approved, Feb. 15, 1865. It was an outgrowth of the institution for deaf and dumb, to which idiots are frequently sent, under a mistaken impression on the part of parents, that their silence results from inability to hear. The selection of a site for the 1S8 IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. building was intrusted to seven commissioners, who, in July, 1875, agreed upon the town of Lincoln. The building was begun in 1875, and completed three years later, at a cost of $154,209. The averaire attendance in 1S78 was 22-1. THE CHICAGO CHARITABLE EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY. The association for founding this institution was organized in May, 1858, and Pearson street, Chicago, selected for the erection of the building. In 1805 the legislature granted the institution a special charter, and two years later made an appropriation of $5,000 a year for its maintenance, and in 1871 received it into the circle of State institutions; thereupon the name was changed by the substitution of the word Illinois for Chicago. The building was swept away by the great fire of 1871, and three years later the present building was completed, at a cost of $1:2,843. THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY' Is located at Carbondale. This University was opened in 1874, and occupies one of the finest school edifices in the United States. It includes, besides a normal department proper, a preparatory department and a model school. The model school is of an elementary grade; the preparatory department is of the grade of a high school, with a course of three years. The normal course of four years embraces two courses, a classical and a scientific course; both make the study of the English language and literature quite prominent. THE ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, Located at Urbana, was chartered in 1867. It has a corps of twen- ty-five instructors, including professors, lecturers and assistants, and has an attendance of over 400 pupils. It comprises four colleges (1) Agriculture, (2) Engineering, (3) Natural Science, (4) Literature and Science. These colleges embrace twelve subor- dinate schools and courses of instruction, in which are taught domestic science and art, commerce, military science, wood engrav- ing, printing, telegraphy, photographing and designing. This insti- tution is endowed with the national land grant, and the amount of its productive fund is about $320,000. The value of its grounds,, buildings, etc., is about $640,000. It is well supplied with appara- tus, and has a library of over 10,000 volumes. ,ft (0 o I (r D o o > z r) o o u Q. HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. CHAPTER I. EARLY SETTLEMENT. INTRODUCTORY. We now begin to chronicle the history of one of the largest and wealthiest, as well as the oldest, counties in the great State of Illi- nois. To say that our task is a most difficult one will only be expressing the sentiment of all who have attempted the compilation of local history. Only such persons can fully appreciate the em- barrassment arising from the multiplied perplexities that are continually crowding around the local historian. We shall seek to make this a record as detailed and accurate as accessible data will permit. Of course it will be impossible to gather up all of the frag- mentary facts of the three-score years of the county's history, of most which no written record was ever made, and many even important facts have slipped through the meshes of memory never to be recalled. Doubtless when the early pilgrim reads, or has read to him, historical items recorded in this volume, it will rekin- dle in memory recollections of kindred facts, not given us, and that otherwise would have been forever cast into the darkness of oblivion. Records of these items should be made as they are brought to lightj that the future historian may have the greater abundance of material from which to compile. Truth and accuracy will be our motto, yet that some errors will occur in names and dates, and even in statements, cannot be denied. Studious care will be taken, however, to avoid as many such inac- curacies as possible. The face of the country of this county, save that portion bordering on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, is mostly rich, rolling prairie, watered by Bay, McGee, Six Mile, Honey, Pigeon and McCraney's -j^92 HISTORY OF I'IKE COUNTY. 1 o „.;tl, tliPir numerous and small tributaries, along which are creeks, witli then nume ou^ ^ farmers have planted artificial extensive bodies ot timbe . Ji^'j^.f "^^^f/j^i/^,,, L,d the effect of Sow Z'rt'^he,, Ebene.er Franklin, with f ^ft-" 3^, "-^^^^ , . . , 1 1 rpi.^^ flipcp nrairies were a vast wiiuernt;&& of our national Government tor. ^^^^^':^^:^;i:Z lrwi;i;^v'ex:4TirWt'^'pe^^^^^^^^^ I'-ers ana townsmen, HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 193 busy in the affairs of domestic life. Thus yoiir historian has no startling tales to tell. " Still as the current of your own gentle river, Illinois, with a few swells in the stream of life, when wars waged beyond the lim- its of the present county called off our men to war, has been the life of your people. Industry has prevailed. Education has had its marked influence, and the holy gospel, taught in its beauty and simplicity, has pervaded every walk in life. Crime has, notwith- standing, been perpetrated, to be brought generally to condign punishment. Such is generally the end of those who violate the laws, human and divine. " This county, once embracing the fairest portion of the once Eden-like State of Illinois, yet retaining within her limits land beautiful to look upon, desirable to inhabit, and famed for her fair daughters, her gallant sons, prosperous farmers and mechanics, able professional men and legislators, her present territory equal yet almost to some of the old thirteen States, owes much, if not all, of this to the patriotism and foresight of the Revolutionary fathers. " Contemplate the vastness of Pike county as she was when organ- ized by the act of the Legislature of 1821, in these words: Section 1. — Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly, That all that tract of country within the following bounda- ries, to wit : beginning at the mouth of the Illinois river and running thence up the middle of said river to the fork of the same, thence up the south fork of said river until it strikes the State line of Indiana, thence north with said line to the north boundary line of this State, thence west with said line to the western bound- ary line of this State, and thence with said line to the place of beginning, shall constitute a separate county to be called Pike. " To repeat the extent of the boundaries: On the south, begin at the junction of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, then follow the Illinois to the fork of the same, meaning the Kankakee, thence to the line of the State of Indiana, thence north and west embracing the territory from Chicago, following on the line of Wisconsin to the Mississippi river, including the famed lead mines of Galena, and to the channel of the Mississippi, thence descending to the place of beginning. " First note the beautiful, still gliding river, the Illinois, then observe the majestic Father of Waters; traverse all this territory, great in extent, formerlj^ the home of savage tribes of Indians, the land marked by the tread of the buffalo and dotted over with the graves and mounds, the relics of extinct races, the fierce brute crea- tion and game and fish abounding, prairies illimitable, adorned with flowers of gorgeous hues, fruits delicious in profusion and great variety, forests of vast size filled with gigantic trees and of many species, rivers bounding unfettered by man's contrivances; then no locks and dams existed thereon, fish in myriads were the dwellers in those rivers, — and these all existed in 1821, when Pike county was struck off by name from the older settlements and the few counties then existing in Illinois. 194 HISTORY OF riKE COUNTY, "Pike county lias been the mother of States to the west of Illi- nois. Having a ]Moneer population of an enterprising turn, large numbers have emigrated together to Oregon, Texas and California and other remote points, following the star of empire. Many estima- ble farmers who once lived in Pike have gone further east in Illi- nois and settled in the prairie counties. •'The health of this county is almost invariably good excepting in lowlands where some malarious disease comes on at times. Lon- gevity exists, to a marked degree and children fairly swarm. Pros- perity and fine crops are the general results of industry." ANTE-riONEER HISTORY. Before proceeding further in detailing the immediate history of the county, we desire to mention a few important facts relative to the earliest history of this section of the State. In 1673 the great French exi)lorers, Marquette and Joliet, passed down the Missis- sippi and up the Illinois in their canoes, on their first famous voy- age down the great Father of Waters. Seven years later, Jan . 3, 1680, LaSalle, with his little band of Frenchmen, came down the Illinois river as far as Peoria lake, landed upon the opposite shore, and erected a fort — Fort Creve-coeur. This fort was soon evacuated and destroyed, yet the enterprising Frenchmen continued among the Indians as traders. They exerted no perceptible civilizing influ- ence, however, upon the red-skins: indeed, by life and inter-mar- riage among them, they became in all respects more and more like them, until their identity was almost lost. Year after year rolled by until almost a century and a half had passed since LaSalle stepped ashore from his skiff, before the abo- rigines who occupied the territory embraced within the present boundary of Pike county were molested by the encroachments of the white man. Generation after generation of natives appeared upon the wild scenes of savage life, .roamed the forest and prairie, and. glided over the beautiful, placid Illinois and Mississippi rivers in their log and bark canoes, and passed away. Still the advance of civilization, the steady westward tread of the Anglo-Saxon, disturbed them not. The buffalo, deer, bear and wolf roamed the prairie and woodland, the Indian their only enemy. But nature had destined better things for this fertile reg-ion. She had b'een too lavish in the distribution of natural advantages to leave it longer in the peaceable possession of those who had for centuries refused to develop, even in the slightest degree, any of her great resources. She accordingly directed hitherward the footsteps of the industrious, enterprising pioneer; and so fertile was the soil and so beautiful the flowers, so sparkling were the streams and shady the groves, that, in advance of all the surrounding country, the pioneers sought and settled the timber land and prairie of Pike county. The thrilling scenes through which the pioneer settlers passed in the settlement of this portion of Illinois must ever awaken emotions HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 195 of warmest regard for them. To pave the way for those who fol- lowed after them, to make their settlement in the West a pleasure, they bore the flood-tide wave of civilization; they endured all, suf- fered all. But few of these spirits now survive; they have passed away full of years and honors, leaving their cliildren, and children's children and strangers to succeed them and enjoy the fruits of the toil, privations and savings of their long and eventful lives. Life with them is o'er, their labors all are done, And others reap the harvest that they won. Too great honor cannot be accorded them, and we regret that we have not the data to speak more fully and definitely of them, their personal experiences, their lives and their characters. FIKST AMEEICAN SETTLEMENTS. Coming on down through the years for over a century, we wish to speak ot the first American settlements in the State, as an intro- ^^^f ^'•^^*^ ^^^^ more immediate history of the original Pike county ihe first settlement made within the borders of the great State of 11 mois by citizens of the United States was in ITStl, when a few families from Virginia founded a small colony or settlement near Bellefontaine, m Monroe county. The next American settlement was made in St. Clair county, two of which were made prior to the year 1800. ^ The first American settlers in Illinois were chiefly from Ken- tucky Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee and some from xMaryland. Some of these had served with Gen. Clark, who conquered the country from the British in 1778. This whole people did not number more than 12,000 in 1812, but with the aid of one company of regular soldiers defended themselves and their settle- ments against the numerous and powerful nations of Kickapoos, Sacs l^oxes, Pottawatomies and Shawnees, and even made hostile expeditions into the heart of their country, burning their villages and defeating and driving them from the territory. When the State was admitted in 1818 the settlements extended a little north of Edwardsville and Alton; south along the Missis- sippi to the mouth of the Ohio; east in the direction of Carlysle to the Wabash, and down the Wabash and Ohio to the conjunction of the Ohio and Mississippi. Such was the extent of the'settlement in Illinois when the Territory was clothed with State honors. There were but 15 organized counties represented in the conven- tion to frame the first Constitution. These were St. Clair, Ran- dolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, Edwards, White, Monroe, Pope Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington and Franklin. The last three were the youngest counties, and were formed in 1818. ORIGINAL PIKE COUNTY. Pike county was the first or second county organized after the btate was admitted into the Union. It was erected Jan. 31, 1821, 196 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. and -included all of the territory west and north of the Illinois river, and its south fork, now the Kankakee river. At the first election in Pike county after its organization only 35 votes were polled, even though it did extend over the entire northern part of the State, and out of which more than fiftv counties have since been organized. A " Gazetteer of Illinois and Wisconsin," published about 1822, says that the county " included a part of the lands appropriated by Congress for the ])aynient of military bounties. The lands con- stituting that tract are included within a ])eninsula of the Illinois and the Mississippi, and extend on the meridian line (-Ith), passing through the mouth of the Illinois, 162 miles north. Pike county will no doubt be divided into several counties; some of which will become very wealthy and important. It is probable that the sec- tion about Fort Clark (now Peuria) will be the most thickly settled. On the Mississippi river, above Rock river, lead ore is found in abundance. Pike county contains between 700 and 800 inhabi- tants. It is attached to the first judicial circuit, sends one mem- ber to the House of Representatives, and, with Greene, one to the Senate. The county-seat is Cole's Grove, a post town. It was laid out in 1821 and is situated in township 11 south, in range 2 west of the fourth principal meridian; v^ery little improvement has yet been made in this place or vicinity. The situation is high and healthy and bids fair to become a place of some importance." Thus the historian of three-score years ago speaks of Pike county as it was in its orio^inal masfiiitude and wildness. How chang-ed is the face of the country since then! Who could have foretold its future greatness with any deerree of knowledo^e or certaintv! We deem it within the province of this work to speak of the earliest settlement of all this vast region. Much of it was settled prior to that portion contained within the present boundaries of the county, and as it was for many years a ])art of Pike county it is proper we should refer to it, briefly, at least. The earliest history and the first occupation of the original Pike county are enshrouded in almost impenetrable obscurity. After the lapse of more than three-quarters of a centurv, the almost total absence of records, and the fact that the whites who visited or lived in this region prior to 1820 are all dead, render it iuipossible now to determine with any degree of certainty the name of him who is entitled to the honor of being recorded as "first settler." Perhaps the first man who sojourned within the Military Tract lived in what is now Calhoun county. He went there about 1801, and lived for years before any other settler came, and remained alone and unknown for a loTig time after the first pioneers moved into that section. His home was a cave dug out by himself, and was about a quarter of a mile from the Mississi])pi river. In 1850 the boards of his cave floor were dug up and the ground leveled. Who he was or where he came from was known only to himself, for he refused all intercourse with the settlers. HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 197 Tlie next settlers, perhaps, were French trappers and half-breeds who formed quite a large colony on the Illinois river near the Deer Plains Ferrj, Calhoun county. These remained there until the great high water of 1815 or 1818, which drove them away. Andrew Judy lived at this point at a very early day. Major Roberts settled in Calhoun county in June, 1811. He came from Ohio. John Shaw came into that county at a very early day and was one of the leading men in the organization of Pike county, and for some time was County Commissioner. lie settled at Gilead, the site of the original countj^-seat of Pike county. He was the most noted and influential man in his dav of all in all this region. He carried on farming, stock-raising, and conducted a store, and engaged in poli- tics very largely. His influence was so great that he was able to rule the county indirectly, which he did for many years. He was denominated the " Black Prince," on account of his having great sway over the community. It is said that he had control over a large band of half-breeds, with which and his numerous other hench- men he controlled the elections, and carried everj" measure he de- sired. He forged deeds, even by the quire, doctored poll books, etc. So great was his influence and at the same time so injurious to the settlers that the public issue was gotten up in its politics, of "Shaw," or "Anti-Shaw," and not until there was a great and united struggle that John Shaw lost his supremacy. There was a man by the name of Davison who was found living as a hermit a few miles above the mouth of Spoon viver on its banks by the first settlers in Fulton county. He was a physician and a man of culture and refinement. How long he had resided there before discovered by the whites is not known, but evidently for many years, as the shrubberj- and trees that he had planted had grown quite large. He was selected as one of the first grand jurors for the Circuit Court of Pike county. He refused all inter- course with the whites, and about 1824 put his effects in a canoe, paddled down Spoon I'iver and up the Illinois to Starved Kock, where he lived in obscurity until he died, which was a few years afterward. In 1778 the French made a settlement at the upper end of Peoria lake. The country in the vicinity of this lake was called by the Indians Phn-i-te-wi^ that is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the town of Laville de Meillet, named after its founder, was started. Within the next twenty years, however, the town was moved down to the lower end of the lake to the present site of Peoria. In 1812 the town was destroyed and the inhabi- tants carried away by Captain Craig. In 1813 Fort Clark was erected there by Illinois troops engaged in the war of 1812. Five years later it was destroyed by fire. Some American settlers, how- ever, early came into this neighborhood. These were mostly sol- diers of the war of 1812 who had been given bounty-land for their services and had come to possess it. An old veteran of that war by the name of Wm. Blanchard came to Peoria in 1819, soon 198 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. moved over tlie river into Tazewell county, and in 1830 moved just over the line into Woodford, and is still living there, perhaps the oldest livinof settler north of the mouth of the Illinois river. The first permanent settlement by the whites in all Northwestern Illinois, of which any record or reliable knowledge now remains, existed about 1820 on the banks of the river now known as the Galena. This river was then known as Feve, or Bean river. The Indian name for the river was Mah-cau-bee, the fever that blisters, and was named from the fact of the Indians having small-pox here. Hundreds of the natives died and they gave the names of Big Small-Pox river and Little Small-Pox river to the streams upon which they lived. The tormer was changed by the whites to the more pleasant name of Fever river; the smaller is still known as Small-Pox creek. Galena was known as " Fever River Settle- ment," and we find frequent mention of it in the old Commis- sioners' Court records. Jplin S. Miller, who was perhaps the first settler there, and Moses Meeker, perhaps the next, often applied to the court at Cole's Grove for licenses, recommendations to the Governor to be appointed Justice of the Peace, etc. Fever river was also known in an early day by the name of Bean river, from the French name. Riviere au Feve, given it by the early traders and adventurers. This section of country is referred to in the "Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri," a work published in 1822 and now very rare, as follows: ^^ Bean river (Riviere au Feve, Fr.), a navigable stream of Pike county, emptying into the Mississippi three miles below Cat-Fish creek, and 20 miles below Dubuque's mines, and about 70 above Rock river. Nine miles up this stream a small creek empties into it from the west. The banks of this creek, and the hills which hound its alluvium, are filled with lead ore of the best quality. Three miles below this on the banks of Bean river is the Traders' Village, consisting of ten or twelve houses or cabins. At this place the ore procured from the Indians is smelted and then sent in boats either to Canada or New Orleans. The lands on this stream are poor, and are only valuable on account of the immense quanti- ties of minerals which they contain." In "the same work Chicago is simply mentioned as "a village of Pike county, containing 12 or 15 houses and about 60 or TO inhab- itants." Fort Dearborn had been built there in 1804, but so far was it in the wilderness that when the massacre of the garrison in 1812 occurred many days elapsed before it was known to the near- est white settlement. There was also a fort and military garrison on the Mississippi river where Warsaw is now located. This was known as Fort Edwards, and the name also occurs frequently in the old records of Pike county. One of the main wagon-roads, and one upon which the Commissioners expended much -time and money, was known as the Fort Edwards road. By 1820 to 1825 many settlements had sprung up through Central Illinois, but scarcely before 1830 was there any considerable num- HISTORY OF PIKE. COUNTY. 199 ber of whites living north of the north line of the present bound- ary of Pike county. It is true, prior to that Adams, Fulton and Schuyler counties had been organized, but they were very thinly populated. By 1830 and after the close of the Black Hawk war in 1832 and the' expulsion of the Indians the northern part of the State settled up quite rapidly. THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF PIKE COUNTY AS IT IS AT PRESENT, We now come to a period in the history of the settlement of this county when we will restrict ourselves to the present boundaries of Pike "county. The few broken references to the settlement of the Military Tract and Northern Illinois we offer as a slight historic token to the grand old original Pike county — to Pike county as it was in its primitive days. They are brief and scattering, but, owing to the fact, as previously remarked, that there are no records extant, and that the earliest pioneers have passed away, it is impos- sible to give more, other than to elaborate and enlarge on the facts already stated, which we will not do for want of space. Prior to the coming of the first settler to Pike county there had often been French traders, hunters and travelers passing through the native forests and crossing the wild and beautiful prairies. They pitched their tent for the night, and amid the vast wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and the native red man, rested their weary limbs only to move at the early dawn. The first individual of whom we have account, and this is traditionary, that settled in Pike county as it is, or who made it his home for any considerable time, was J. B. Teboe (Tibault), a Canadian Frenchman. He came somewhere during the period between 1817 and 1819, and occupied a cabin on the banks of the Illinois river, situated on what is now section 33, Flint township. There is no doubt this man was in that locality prior to 1820. He lived as a hunter, and for a time we think ran a ferry, but whether he is entitled to the honor of being termed the "first settler" we very much doubt. He, it seems, tilled no land and made no permanent abode, nor had a family. He was killed at Milton in 184:4. FRANKLIN AND SHINN THE FIRST SETTLERS. The- man who may properly be denominated the first settler of Pike county was Ebenezer Franklin. He came to the county in March, 1820, and first stopped upon the northwest quarter of sec- tion 27, half a mile east from where Atlas was afterward located and up "Jockey Hollow." He brought with him his family, con- sisting of his wife, son and three daughters, besides a Mr. Israel Waters. This gentleman afterward moved to Adams county. When Franklin first came he found no neighbor with whom he could stop until he had reared his cabin. He was obliged to pitch his tent and gather his family around him in his tented mansion provided with the meager and rude furniture he brought with hira 200 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. and what he constructed after his arrival. There is no doubt the family suffered from the chilling winds of early spring, but they were sturdy pioneers and withstood the privations and hardships as became true pioneers. He resided in his tent until May, when he erected a rude log cabin. The next settler to come in after Franklin was Daniel Shinn. He came from Batavia, Ohio, and arrived about the last of A])ril, 1820. On his way here he stopped at Edwardsville, where he left most of his lai-ge famil3% which consisted of a wife and eight chil- dren: Benjamin, John, Eliza, Hannah, Mary, Phebe, Daniel and Nancy. John AVebb, now living five miles cast of Pittsfield, then only six years of age, came with them. Mr. Webb is now the oldest living settler in the county by four years, that is, he came to the county four years prior to any other man now living in the county. Mr. Shinn was the lirst man who brought a wagon into Pike county, probably the first to the Military Tract. He settled near Mr. Franklin, and the two lived in tents until May, when they both erected cabins, aiding one another in their labors. Mr. Shinn with two of his sons cleared a piece of ground and planted three acres of Corn. It took but comparatively little labor to raise grain, but to have it ground or prepared for food was a hard task. At this early ^ay there were no mills within reach of these early pilgrims. The first mill they had to go to was a horse-mill run by John Shaw in Calhoun county. Mr. Franklin erected his cabin upon the south- east quarter of section 22, Atlas township, or what is now Atlas, three-fourths of a mile from Atlas and about 150 yards north of where the road has since run. Many years ago, even, the place was covered with a spindling growth of young trees. Mr. Shinn located as a near neighbor to Mr. Franklin. He became a great wolf-hunter, prompted by the fact of his being una- ble to raise stock, owing to their ravages. He lost 200 pigs by that ra])acious animal, and resolved to make war upon them. He finall}^ succeeded in raising fine hogs by shutting them up in a close log stable from their earliest pighood. The Shinn family were originally from New Jersey. On their way West they stopped for awhile at Cincinnati, where they fol- lowed gardening. After a long and useful life Mr. Shinn died at a little over 70 years of age, while on a visit to his daughter at Pitts- field in 1852. He took an active part in the early history of the county. THE COMING OF THE ROSSES. In the year 1820 there also came, from Pittsfield, Mass., the Rosses: William (Col.), Clarendon, Leonard (Capt.), and Henry J. (Dr.); also Samuel Davis, Wm. Sprague and Joseph Cogswell, all settling in or near Atlas .Leonard had been Captain in the war of 1812, and William obtained his title afterward by having been ap- pointed Colonel of Illinois militia. Davis was a bee-hunter, who built fur himself and large family a log cabin on section 16. Two \ HISTOKY OF PIKE COUNTY. 201 years afterward he moved into Missouri. Most of these men brought their families to their new homes the following February, having previously left them at Alton. Mr. Cogswell was from Berkshire, Mass. The Rosses in coming West had a tedious journey. They came by flat-boats down the Alleghany and Ohio rivers, and by wagons from Shawneetown to Upper Alton, where at that time but one house existed, occupied by Major Hunter. Here they left their families, and coming northward, they found an Indian camp at the mouth of the Illinois river, where they split puncheons and laid them across two canoes and thus safely carried over their wagons. The horses were made to swim alongside. Continuing up the Mis- sissippi bottom they marked the trees as they went, for there were no roads and nothing to guide them but an occasional Indian trail. They arrived at section 27 in township 6 south and 5 west, "' at last," whence, according to tradition, the name "Atlas." Some wished to name the place '' Charlotte," after a certain lady in the company. This beautiful land of prairie and timber charmed the immigrants, and they at once set to work their energies and con- structed a camp to shelter themselves while preparing quarters for their families. They hurried up four rough log cabins, knowing that Indians were numerous and that probably not more than five white men were within 50 miles of them east of the Mississippi. SEBLEY, m'gIFFIN AND NEWMAN. James M. Seele^', father of Dr. Seeley, of Pittsiield, came to this county about this time. Charles McGiffin and Levi Newman set- tled on this side of the Mississippi river opposite Louisiana on a slough called " McGiffin's Slough," but not known by that name now; but they had no families. McGiffin died two years afterward and Newman moved over into Morgan county. JOHN AND JEREMIAH KOSS, BROWN, WOOD AND KEYES. In 1821, John and Jeremiah Ross, brothers of the preceding' Rufus ]3rown, John Wood (afterward State Governor) and Willard Keyes arrived at Atlas. Here Brown kept a tavern, but he and these two Rosses and Mr. Wood removed to_^dams county. When they first came to Pike county Wood and Keyes first settled on the 16th section just below New Canton and kept bachelor's hall on the bank of a creek, subsequently named "Keyes " creek, after one of these men. They had a few hogs, two yoke of oxen and a small iron plow, by which latter they broke up a piece of ground before building a cabin. In three or four years they sold out and went to Adams county, where Wood founded the city of Quincy. He was then a young man, vigorous and ambitious. One day he, with William Ross, the founder of Atlas, and Capt. Ross, the Sheriff" of Pike county, were traveling over the country north and west of this county, but then within its borders. When nearing the Mississippi 202 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. river he told his companions to follow him and he would show them where he was going to build a city. They went about a mile off the main trail when they reached the present site of the city of Quincy. The view presented to the trio of sturdy frontiersmen was a magnifi- cent one. The hand of the white man had never touched the soil, or disturbed the beautiful decorations of nature. Below them swept the Father of Waters yet unburdened by steam navigation. Mr, Wood tried to show his companions the advantages the location had, but Mr. Ross, thoroughly interested in building up his own town of Atlas and so sanguine of its future greatness, that the beau- tiful and excellent location selected by Mr, Wood was completely overshadowed by that enjoyed by his village. Mr, Wm. Ross con- gratulated his young friend and hoped he would make of his town a success, but he despaired of it ever amounting to much, for, as he remarked to the Governor, "It's too near Atlas." OTHER SETTLERS, In 1821 there also came to the county James McDonald, who settled opposite Louisiana, on Sny Island, and kept a ferry. He opened the first farm on the road between Atlas and Louisiana, but floods drowned him out. He was from Washington county, N. Y., and his family consisted of himself, wife and four daughters. The next spring he was found dead at his ferry, supposed to have been murdered. Joseph Jackson afterwtrd married his widow. In the summer of 1821, Garrett Yan Deusen came to the county ' and settled on the Illinois river near the old Griggsville Landing. He was the first settler on the east side of the county except two transient French families, who had located some distance below. He erected the second band-mill in the county, the first having been put up by Col. Ross, at Atlas. THE " SICKLY SEASON." The summer of 1821 sorely tried the hearts of the sturdy settlers in and about Atlas. That was a sickly season and scarcely a family but followed some of its members to the newly made cemetery, until over one-half the entire population were numbered with the dead. The prevailing cause of the visitation of such a calamity to the settlers was the malaria emanating from the vegetable decay of the newly broken prairie and the decomposition of immense quan- tities of lisli in tiie ponds below tlie town. The victims of this dreadful malady were laid in cofiins made from bass-wood puncheons, hollowed out and consigned to earth in a grave-yard near Franklin's first location, and about 400 yards west of Shinn's. The bones and dust of 80 persons now lie buried there, and at present there is not a stone or head-board, or any signs whatever of its being a cemetery. There was no physician nearer than Louisiana during this scourge, and with this fact, and taking into consideration the poor facilities the settlers had for providing for and nursing the sick, it remains no wonder that so many died. HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 203 During this year Col. Ross built a small brick house, the first in the countj. Two years afterward he erected a much larger brick structure adjoining it. FIRST PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. This year also the first court-house in the county was built. Daniel Shinn took the contract for cutting and hauling the logs, at $6, and for $26 he got out the puncheons and finished the building. It was completed without nails or iron in any shape. It was 16 by 18 feet in dimensions, with one door and two windows, the door on the east side, one window on the south side and another on the west side; desks made of puncheons; chimney outside; and the clap- boards of the roof held on with weight-poles and knees. There were no trees around the house, but plenty of hazel-brush in the vicinity. This year the first school was taught in the county, by John Jay Ross, son of Capt. Leonard Ross. It was kept in the court-house, and the names of his pupils were, so far as remembered, Orlando, Charlotte, Schuyler, Mary Emily and Elizabeth Ross, Benjamin, John, Eliza and Phoebe Shinn, John Webb, Frederick and Eliza Franklin, Jeremiah and William Tungate, James, Laura and Nancy Sprague. James W. Whitney taught the next school, which was also at Atlas. A FEW MORE OF THE EARLIEST PILGRIMS. About this time Dexter Wheelock and wife settled at Atlas, where for a time he kept a hotel and a general store. He had been a drummar in the war of 1812, and' was an active and generous man. He died many years ago, and his son, John G. Wheelock, has been a prominent citizen of the county. The spring of 1822 two brothers named Buchanan settled at "Big Spring." A Mr. Allen (father of Lewis) came to the county this year, and was probably the first settler in the neighborhood of Mil- ton. His wife was a sister of the celebrated Daniel Boone. An old gentleman named Clemmons also settled about this time near Milton, where his sons now reside. Joel Moore, now living two miles north of Pittsfield, on Bay creek, was the first settler on that stream. This year Mr. Franklin sold out his place near Atlas, to Col. Ross, for $30 or $40, and removed to a point a little south of Pitts- field, where Mr. Allen now lives; he sold out here again ere long to Mr. Groodin, and located near Milton, on a prairie called after him, " Franklin's Prairie;" and this home too he subsequently sold, removing this time to Perry. He died in Milton in 1878. Mr. Hoskins (father of John) came to the county soon after the Ross family. FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN THE COUNTY. The first white person born in this county was Nancy Ross, daughter of Col. Wm. Ross, born May 1, 1822! She died JSTov. 18 204 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. of the same year at Atlas. Some say, however, that there was a white person born in this county some time previous to this; liow true that is we cannot state authoritatively. TRIP TO LOUISIANA. The first settlers suffered much from want of provision, as well as from the loTieliness of their wilderness homes. Durini; the vear 1822, Franklin and Shinn, getting out of provisions, started to Lou- isiana for a supply. On arriving at the river they gave the cus- tomary signal for the ferryman to come over after tliem, but could not make him hear. Being strong and fearless they undertook to swim the great river, even with their clothing on. They buffeted the waves well for a time, and made good progress, but unfortu- nately Mr. Shinn took the cramp, and came near drowning, and would have drowned if it had not been for his companion's pres- ence of mind. Franklin, by beating him, got him out of the cramp.. In order to make further progress, however, they were compelled to divest themselves of their clothing. After a long, hard and dan- gerous struggle they finally landed upon the Missouri shore, about three-quarters of a mile below town, but void of clothing. They made their presence known, however, and were soon furnished with clothing. CRIMINAL DROWNED. During this same year (1822) a man by the name of Franklin, not Ebenezer, stole a gun from a Mr. Hume. In making away with it in his haste he was unfortunate enough to lose it while swimming McGee's creek. He was pursued, caught, and in a very summary trial before Col. Ross, Justice of the Peace, was sentenced to have 25 lashes laid upon his bare back. This punishment being inflicted (and we are told he bore it nobly), he was given his liberty. He soon committed another crime, however, was caught, but broke from custody. The pioneers were full of pluck, and when they set out to accomplish anything they generally did it, at whatever price. He was tracked to Fort Edwards (now Warsaw) and again captured. They had no jail or place to confine such a cunning fellow with any safety; so it was determined to send him to the jail at Edwardsville. Constable Farr and John Wood (ex-Governor) took ciiarge of him to convey him to Edwardsville. Knowing he would take advan- tage of every opportunity to escape, they lashed him to the back of a mule, by tying liis feet underneath. They came to a creek on their journey, and the young man thinking that an excellent oppor- tunity to escape, plunged in, even against the threatenings of his escort. Pie heeded them not, but yelled back that he would "go to h — 1 and kick the gate open for them. " The water was high and before the mule had reached the farther shore he went down be- neath the waves, carrying with him his rider. Both were drowned. Franklin's body was rescued and buried upon the bank of the creek. When Messrs. Farr and Wood returned to Atlas, Col. Ross asked HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 205 them where their prisoner was, they had returned so quickly. " Oh, we've drowned him," was their indifferent reply. " You have to account for him in some way according to law, you know," said CoL Koss. "Oh, yes," they as^ain replied, "we've drowned him." Franklin's bones were some time afterward taken up and wired to- gether by JDr. Yandeventer, and the skeleton is now in the posses- sion of his family at Yersailles, 111. BISSELL, HUSONG, NICH0LA.S AND MATTHEWS. In 1823 Alfred Bissell came to tlie county and located at -JSTew Hartford, or rather, "nearly a mile north of the present town. Mr. Bissell raised the first apples in Pike county. He finally sold out to a Mr. Brown, some of whose family still reside upon the place. Daniel Husong came to the county the same year, also an old man by the name of Nicholas, who was the first settler near High- land. Another gentleman, Mr. John Matthews, who was consid- erably advanced in life, the father of B. L. Matthews, and the grandfather of Col. Matthews, came and located north of Griggs ville. After this period settlers came in rapidly, and it is quite impos- sible for us to note the advent of each one. That will be done to a very great extent in our townsliip histories. FIRST FOURTH-OF-JULY CELEBRATION. The first Fourth-of-July celebration ever held in Pike county, and p-obably in the Military Tract, was held at Atlas in 1823. Col. Ross thus speaks of it in a letter written at the time to a friend in the East, which is still preserved: "July 4, 1823.— The first celebration of the Fourth of July was held in Atlas, Pike county, 111. Oration delivered by Nicholas Hanson, of Albany, N. Y. The Declaration of Independence was read. There was an audience of about fifty persons, who afterward partook of an excel- lent dinner prepared by Rufus Brown at his tavern. The audience marched in procession after dinner. A jolly good time was had drinking toasts, etc., and 'all went merry as a marriage belf;' this being the first celebration ever held in Pike county, or in this Mil- itary Tract." This Rufus Brown, spoken of, subsequently removed to Quincy, where he built a log house on the lot where the Quincy House now stands. After living in Quincy for a time, he pulled up and moved further We?t, and has since died. FIRST JAIL AND VISIT OF THE INDIANS. 1824. — This year the first jail at Atlas was built. Daniel Husong hewed the logs and Daniel Shinn did most of the work on the building. The door was four inches thick. Wrought spikes were used, and for hinges bars were employed which were as thick as a man's arm. The only window was a hole about the size of a 206 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. pane of glass. The logs were a foot square and " scotched " down, and the place for ushering in prisoners was in the roof. It was a food jail, however, — even better, some think, than the jail at 'ittsfield some years ago. The old Atlas jail building is still in existence, but has been removed to near the Levee and is consider- ably dilapidated. This year old Keokuk and 500 ot his men, on their way to fight Indians below St. Louis, stopped on the Sny near Atlas, over night, and had a war dance. They had sent to the whites at Atlas a notice in advance that they intended them no harm. Keokuk was a fine-looking man, it is said, while Black Hawk, who also fre- quently visited this region, was rather a small man, with one eye. FIRST MALE CHILD BORN IN THE COUNTY, Nov. 11, 1824, Marcellus Ross was born, a son to Col. Wm. Ross at Atlas, the first white male child born in Pike county. It is stated, liowever, in Mr. Grimshaw's historical sketch, that a son to Ebenezer Franklin was born before this, and still others say that a son was born before this date in the family of Mr. Ward. In the proceedings of the Old Settlers' Association it is stated that Rev. John Hopkins, of New Hartford, was born in Pike county May 30, 1822; that he attended school at Atlas when there were but five scholars, and that he bound after the first reaper in the county. In July, 1836, Col. William Ross and family removed to Pittsfield, where he remained until his death, and where Marcellus still resides. COL. BARNEY. In 1826 there came to Atlas, from Berkshire, Mass., that eminent man. Col. Benjamin Barney, who still survives, residing at Barry. He "was a man of great physical powers, of strong natural sense, benevolent, patriotic, not learned in book lore, but wise in that which made him a leader in trying times; was sober, industrious and always at his post. His tales of early adventure are marvelous, and yet undoubtedly true." — Grimshaw. He was born in Septem- ber, 1795, emigrated first to Sandusky, O., and afterward was one of the first five settlers in Seneca county in that State. In Ohio he married Minerva Harris, who died in 1849. He was the first blacksmith in Pike county, and probably the first in the whole Military Tract. He made the first plow ever made in this county, and was for a long time known as " the county blacksmith." He was induced to stop at Atlas mainly on account of his being offered the position of Deputy Sheriff by Capt. Ross, the newly elected Sheriff. Col. Barnej' bore a prominent part in the Black Hawk war, and his life has all along been so identified with the history of Pike county that his name will occur frequently in this volume. ^ t^/^ A-^^r^x-L-i) BARRY -] HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 209 COL. barney's trip to OARROLLTON. Daring this age of quick transit we often speak of mail " facili- ties," but for pioneer times it would be more appropriate to say mail " difficulties." It must be borne in mind that it cost 25 cents for the early pilgrims who came to this country to get a letter from their friends in the East or South, and then the mails came only at long intervals. Col. Barney relates a bit of experience as a mail- carrier in early day, which is quite thrilling. There had been no mail received at Atlas for about six weeks. The Illinois river was high, and filled with running ice so that it was impossible to cross it with any degree of safety. Capt. Ross was postmaster at Atlas, the only place in the county where there was a postoffice, and he as well as the other settlers were exceed- ingly anxious to get the mail from Carrollton, the point from which the Pike county mail was brought. Carrollton is on the east side of the river and 40 miles distant from Atlas. Postmaster Ross had made liberal offers to induce some one to go after the mail, but none had yet succeeded in getting it. The six dollars he had offered was a great motive, and at least three men at different times had attempted the trip, but could get no further than the Illinois river, and would return discoui-aged. At last, becoming exceedingly anxious to hear from the outside world, Mr. Ross made the very liberal offer of ten dollars to any one who would carry the mail to Carrollton and return with the mail from that point. This offer was made Saturday night, and Col. Barney resolved to attempt to win the prize. It must be remembered that in those primitive times ten dollars was considered a large amount of money; and the Colonel said, when he returned and got his money, that he felt as though he was rich enough to start a bank. Mr. Barney was up before day Sunday morning getting ready for the trip. His wife prepared a lunch of corn-cake and venison for him to take with him and eat upon the way; but unfortunately he forgot it when he left home. He had traveled but a few miles ere it began to snow. The large flakes began to fall thicker and faster, and the wind began to blow and soon the storming elements were raging around him with great fury. He quickened the pace of his horse and finally arrived at the Illinois river at a point where there had been a ferry and where he intended to cross. The man who had conducted the terry had recently died, leaving a family of wife and several small children. They lived in a rude cabin upon the western bank of the river; the widowed mother lay sick and near death's door; they were without medicine, food or care, and suffering untold misery. The Colonel put his horse in the smoke-house attached to the cabin, which was so small that the horse could not turn around in it. He then hired a lad who was there at this time to assist him over the river. After much difficulty he reached the eastern bank and started off on his trip to Carrollton on foot. 14 210 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. The Atlas mail was small, .yet he found .reat difficulty in making his vav through the deep snow. He at last_ reached his destina ton, ^t tlie mail^and started homeward. Before leav.ng Carro Iton Wver, he called upon the doctor and reported the comhtion if Te wo.nan at the ferry. The phys can said '^^ -^ .^^^^^ down to the river two or three times on his way to visit hei but CO Id not Ut over, and had concluded that she was dead He gave he ColonSl sonie'medicine for her and the l