Class _Jl_5Lfl_ Book 'o (o^(f> Copyright N^_J_ a -HI. COPYRIGHT DEPOSm A STUDENT'S HISTORY OF ILLINOIS BY ^J?v GEORGE W. SMITH, M. A., Department of History and Civics, State Normal School, Carbondale, Illinois. Member Board of Directors The Illinois State Historical Society FOURTH REVISED EDITION HALL & McCREARY COMPANY CHICAGO Copyright 1906, 1816, 1917, 1920 By George W. Smith ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©aA576587 StP -7 1920 TO THE MEMORY OF My Father and Mother, STEPHEN SMITH and SALLIE M. SMITH, Pioneers in this Great Commonwealth, This Volume is Affectionately DEDICATED, PREFACE TO THE FOURTH REVISED EDITION In 1906 the author put out the first edition of "A Student's History of Illinois." For the ensuing ten years the book was extensively used as a text in the public schools. Then to meet the needs of an over-crowded school course, the book was reduced in volume. In re- ducing it, it was thoroughly revised and great care was exercised to avoid the omission of essential facts of the state's history. Further, in the publication of each sub- sequent edition, the book has been brought up to date. The author's experience of many years of teaching? Illinois history justifies the belief that he knows wdiat may be omitted and what should be included in a good text on the subject, and in the revised edition will be found the advantage of his knowledge and experience. Maps and illustrations in history texts are valuable in proportion to what they reveal of the historic movement. In this age of illustrations in all forms of current litera- ture, the need of pictures in history texts has greatly de- creased. This theory is the justification for the omission of many of the pictures which appeared in the first edition. '^The Great World War" is a matter of history and Ave are now living in the period of re-construction. The re-construction plans call not only for a physical, but also a moral and spiritual readjustment. Illinois' part in the war is faithfully recorded in this revised edition. In the great and wonderful times which are before us, Illinois citizens Avill, we are sure, do nobly their share in the world's readjustment. CHAPTER I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. xxw. CONTENTS PAGE Illinois — Its Resources and Its People 4 The French in the Valley of the St. Lawrence. 14 Discovery of the Mississippi by Marquette and Joliet 18 The Triumphs of Chevalier De La Salle 23 Permanent Settlements in Illinois 29 Illinois a Royal Province 35 The British in the Illinois Country 40 George Rogers Clark Captures Kaskaskia 44 The British Flag Lowered at Cahokia and Vin- CENNES 51 Clark's Capture of Vincennes 55 Illinois County, Virginia — The Northwest Ter- ritory 61 Illinois a Part of the Indiana Territory 68 Illinois Territory 72 Prepared for Statehood 77 Illinois a State 80 A Retrospect 85 Administration of Governor Bond 93 Administration of Governor Coles — A Great Struggle 101 Administration of Governor Edwards " 113 John Reynolds — The Black Hawk War 117 Governor Duncan — State Banking 125 A Pioneer Industry 132 Collapse of Improvement System 137 Another Short Retrospect 144 Couloils CHAPTER PAGE XXV. Troublesome Questions ]57 XXVI. The Second Constitution 162 XXVII. The Illinois Central Railroad 168 XXVIII. The Public School 173 XXIX. A Republican Governor 179 XXX. A Son of Illinois 187 XXXI. Governor Richard Yates — Illinois in the Civil War 193 XXXII. Governor Richard Oglesby — Close of the Civil War 204 XXXIII. Some Phases of the Civil War 210 XXXIV. Administration of Governor John M. Palmer.. 217 XXXV. Governor John L. Beveridge — A Period op Unrest 221 XXXVI. Administration of Governor Cullom 225 XXXVII. Governor John M. Hamilton 228 XXXVIII. Governor Richard J. Oglesby 230 XXXIX. Joseph W. Fifer, Governor 232 XL. Governor John P. Altgeld 237 XLI. Governor John R. Tanner 242 XLII. Some Good Legislation 246 XLIII. Governor Charles S. Deneen 249 XLIV. Some Recent Legislation 252 XL V. Governor Frank O. Lowden 255 The Centennial Year 260 A General Survey 263 A STUDENT'S HISTORY OF ILLINOIS INTRODUCTORY The richest heritage which shall ever come into our possession is the simple story of the struggles, the sacri- fices, and the triumphs of the men and women — our fore- parents — who planted in this western wilderness the home, the school, the church, and the State. We shall never know that story in all its fullness and completeness. For the noble men and women who opened ip the way for civilization in all this western country, have long since gone to their reward, and they have left meager accounts of all the vicissitudes through which they passed when ' 'wilderness was king." We shall never realize, fully, what it meant for the men and women of a century or more ago to leave com- fortable homes, devoted . friends and relatives, the asso- ciations of childhood, aye, the graves of their dead, and take up their weary march over mountains, across streams, through trackless forests, to plant new homes in a wilderness inhabited by wild beasts and wilder men. It is the purpose of this little volume to reveal a por- tion of that story to our people, and especially to the boys and girls while they are yet free from the cares of the graver responsibilities of life. If these young people shall ever come into possession of their inheritance, we need have no fear for the future of our homes nor for the destiny of the State. The tendency of those who gather up the history of a state or of a nation is to put much stress upon the political movements and greatly to neglect the other phases of a people's life. As individuals and as a people we do not have very definite notions of the march of progress in the social life of our people; nor of the industri.nl move- 2 .4 Student's History of Illinois meiit which has revolutionized all kinds of labor. Like- wise ^ve find it difficult to formulate definite notions of, our religious and educational advancement. But it ought not so to be. We ought to be as deepl}^ interested in the unfolding of our industrial life as in the evolution of our political history. What could be more profitable, and what more charming than the story of the l)rogressive steps by which our home life has moved away from the one room log cabin with its chinks and daub, its puncheon floor, its open fireplace, its stick chimney, its whitewashed Avails, and its ei-eaky door upon its wooden hinges ? To the writer it has seemed not inapi3ropriate to at- tempt to gather up and put into convenient form this simple story of our Avonderful groAvth and development. His parents were immigrants in the early '30 's, and the story of the life of those days as it came from father and mother is a blessed memory. This traditional knowledge lias been supplemented by a limited amount of original investigation, but the chief reliance has been placed in Spinning Wheel, Spool Frame, and Warping Bars. A Students History of Illinois the published histories to which the writer has had access. It has been the aim of the author to portray as ac- curately as possible the life of the people of Illinois since the planting of the first permanent settlements. It is greatly to be regretted that the crude implements, utensils, tools, and machines used by our forebears are fast disappearing. Without an acquaintance with these agencies of their economic life, we shall be unable clearly to understand the problems of pioneer days. May we not, therefore, hope that wherever these re- mains of our pioneer life may be found, some means may be devised for their preservation ? A Home-made Loom Used in Weaving Carpets. d Student's History of Illinois CHx\PTER I. ILLINOIS— ITS RESOURCES AND ITS PEOPLE. 1. Boundary.— The constitutional boundary as given in the enabUng act is as follows : Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river; thence up the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the northwest corner of said State; thence east with the line of the same State to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence north along the middle of said lake, to north latitude 42 degrees 30 minutes; thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river; and thence down along the middle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio river; and thence up the latter river along its northwestern shore, to the beginning. 2. Area and Surface. — The area, of Illinois is 56,650 square miles. In comparison with other states of the Union, it is smaller than the average. Illinois lies in w^hat geographers call the great central plain. Its surface is quite uniform in elevation. The lowest point is Cairo whose low-w^ater mark is 268 feet above sea level ; the highest point, Charles Mound, is 1257 feet in elevation and is found in Jo Daviess county. The general slope of the land is toward the south and southwest, the rivers all flowdng in that general direction. Through the State in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, there runs a water-shed which separates the rivers which flow into the Mississippi from those flowing into the Wabash and the Ohio. 3. Glaciated and Unglaciated Areas. — The surface for- mation is known as glaciated and unglaciated. There is a southern unglaciated area. This region includes all south of a line drawn from Chester in Randolph county .1 Student's History of lUuiois 5 southeasterly and tlien northeasterly through the counties of Randolph, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, GaUatin, and White. In the northwestern part of the State there is a second unglaciated area in the counties of Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Stephenson. There are also traces in Pike and Cal- houn of another such area. All the rest of the State is known as the glaciated area. 4. Soils. — There are two kinds of soil in this State. First we have what is called the residuary soil. This is the soil that resulted from the decay of the original rock layers. It has never been greatly disturbed, and is occupy- ing the place formerly occupied by the rocks from which it was made. Another kind is that which came from the ice-sheet. This ice-sheet brought into the State very great quantities of waste material from the regions around and beyond the Lakes. This was left scattered over the State cover- ing the residuary soil several feet in depth. This deposit of glacial drift soon weathered and with the addition of humus made a black and rich prairie soil. 5. Timber Areas. — Illinois is called the Prairie State. From this we are not to conclude that there is or was no timber in the State, for in many counties there yet remain large areas of timbered land. When Illinois was first seen by the white men more than one-fourth of the State was covered with forests. The timber area is now about 17% of the whole area. Throughout all the counties bordering the rivers there have been cut large quantities of timber. The early settlers found ''board trees" in sufficient abundance to furnish clapboards for the roofs of their houses; and often the weather-boarding and the lathing w^re rived out of oak trees. Among the forest trees we find oak, maple, black- 6 A Student's History of Illinois walnut, ash, sycamore, hickory, hackberry, ehn, gum, birch, chestnut, pecan, locust, wild cherry, cottonwood, poplar, basswood, mulberry, etc. Considerable interest has been shown in recent years in the cultivation of timber and despite the fact that there has been a great waste of our forest trees, there now remain twenty-three counties in the northern part of the State with 7 per cent of wood lands; twenty-one counties along the Illinois river with 15 per cent ; seventeen coun- ties toward the eastern part of the State wdth 6 per cent; seventeen counties with 24 per cent; thirteen counties in the Kaskaskia district with 21 per cent; and the remain- ing eleven counties with 27 per cent of wood lands. This gives an average of 17 per cent for the entire State which is a loss of about 8 per cent since the coming of the whites to the State. 6. Prairie Areas. — Illinois did not present to the early settlers an unbroken expanse of prairie land; and while 75 per cent of its area Avas known as prairie, yet it was found in smaller areas partially surrounded by timber which followed the streams up to their sources and often projected out into the prairie portions. "Grand Prairie" often mentioned was the largest area of timberless land. Peck's Gazetteer published in 1837 says of this region : It does not consist of one vast tract, boundless to the vision, and uninhabitable for want of timber; but is made up of con- tinuous tracts, with points of timber projecting inward, and long arms of prairie extending between the creeks and small streams. ... No portion of it is more than six or eight miles distant from timber, and coal in abundance is found in various parts. Settlements and small prairies often took the same name. To illustrate we may mention Allen's Prairie, in Greene county, a settlement, ten miles northeast of Car- rollton ; Barney's Prairie, a settlement in Wabash county ; A Student's History of Illinois 7 Bear Prairie in Wayne ; Canton Prairie in Fulton ; Diamond Grove Prairie in Morgan; Four Mile Prairie in Perry ; Fourteen Mile Prairie in Elfingliam ; Long Prairie in Jefferson; Ogle's Prairie in St. Clair; Salt Creek Settle- ment (Prairie) in Mason; Sand Prairie in Tazewell; Seven Mile Prairie in White; Wait's Settlement (Prairie) in Bond, etc. So also settlements, and points of timber which projected into the prairies frequently took on the same name. A few examples will suffice. Bailey's Point, a settlement in LaSalle county fourteen miles southeast of Ottawa ; Blue Point in Effingham ; Muddy Point in Coles ; Piper's Point in Greene ; Vancil's Point in ]\Iacoupin ; Brown's Point in Morgan. 7. Coal. — Illinois lies in one of the greatest coal fields on the continent. About 37,000 square miles of the State are underlaid with a rich deposit of bituminous coal. In the extreme north, west, and south, there is little if any coal. The remainder of the State is abundantly supplied. The deposits are found in horizontal layers of varying thickness from a few inches to 15 feet. In many places these layers of coal crop out along bluffs or streams, but usually the coal is taken from veins which lie from 50 to 500 feet below the surface. 8. Lead. — As early as 1700, a French trader, discovered lead in what is now Jo Daviess county. By 1825, 100 miners were taking out ore. From this date to the Civil War the industry was actively carried on, but when the Avar came on the mining industry was greatly crippled. It is estimated that the entire output of lead ore up to the close of the last century, taken from the mines in Jo Daviess county was worth $40,000,000. 9. Clay. — Clay for the manufacture of common brick is found everywhere in the State. But fire clay and potter's clay while found in large quantities are restricted 8 A Student's History of Illinois to a few loctalities. At Monmouth in Warren county, at White Hall in Greene county, and at Macomb in McDon- ough county, are large deposits. Several large factories are in operation at these points for the manufacture of potter's ware, drain tile, sewer pipe, and fire brick. 10. Kaolin. — This highly valuable mineral is found in several localities in Union county. Large quantities have been shipped east and probably to Europe. It has been analyzed and found to contain the following elements: Silicic acid 51.71 Titanic acid trace Alumina 32.75 Oxide of iron 1.93 Lime 0.53 Magnesia 0,19 Potash 0.96 Soda 0.24 Water and organic matter 11.69 Total 100 per cent. Previous to the World's Fair at Chicago, a sample of the Union county kaolin was sent to Stockholm, Sweden, where it was analyzed as given above. The Hon. Robert Almstrom, Director of the Rorstrand Porcelain Works of the above city, manufactured from this kaolin beautiful dishes of white and decorated designs. These articles are said to be the only white table-ware ever made from Illinois materials. 11. Fluor Spar. — This rare and valuable substance is found in abundance in Hardin county, and probably on the borders of Pope. The mine at Rosiclare on the Ohio river in Hardin county is said to be the only place where the mineral is found in North America. Large compa- nies are now organized for the purpose of putting this product of the mines on the market. The business has already proved very remunerative and Rosiclare has truly A Student's History of Illinois 9 tlie air of a prosperou,^ western mining town. The spar has beautiful bluish and pinkish tints and is s«id to be of a very high grade. 12- Iron. — Iron exists in paying quantities in several of the counties of southeastern Illinois along the Ohio river. In 1837 an extensive reducing plant was erected in Hardin county and pig-iron was produced in large quan- tities till about 1860. Since that time the industry has languished and today nothing is being done along that line, but companies are being organized for the purpose of renewing the iron industry. 13. Petroleum. — Oil w^as early discovered in the south half of the State, but no effort has been made until within recent years to produce oil in paying quantities. At the present time, however, there are hundreds of wells w^hich are very productive in the counties adjacent to the Wabash river, while borings are being made in several interior counties in that section w^ith good prospects of oil in abundance. Natural gas also is found in the south end of the State but the wells are not to be depended on for con- stant supply. 14. Building Stone. — Illinois is w^ell supplied with building stone. The chief kinds are limestone and sand- stone. There is a great variety of limestone. Extensive quarries have been w^orked at Alton, Chester, Grafton, eloliet, Nauvoo, and at other points in the State. Sandstone is found throughout the region of the Ozarks and is of an excellent quality for building purposes. 15. Water- Ways. — No state in the Union has a more magnificent system of water-ways than has Illinois. The Mississippi river marks its western boundary. The entire length of the Mississippi river bordering the State is about 550 miles; the Ohio and Wabash furnish nearly 300 miles of river front ; ^vhile Lake Michigan bathes 60 miles of the northeastern shore. Within tb.'^ State we have quite 10 A Student's History of Illinois ;i number of streams which though not furnishing naviga- tion are yet streams of considerable value. We have flowing into the Mississippi river, out of the Htate of Illinois, the Rock river, the Illinois, the Kaskaskia, and the Big Muddy. Into the Wabash and the Oliio there flow the Big Vermilion, the Embarras, the Little Wabash, the Saline, and the Cache. In the future all these streams may be serviceable for navigation. 16. Agriculture. — A state with such fertile soil, abun- dant rainfall, perfect drainage, equable climate, etc., is destined to be a great agricultural region. In 1910 nearly the entire State, excepting the timbered areas, was in cultivation. The value of all farm property w^as $3,905,321,075. The chief crops for that year were wheat, oats, corn, hay, rye, and barley. 17. Production of Coal. — ^As has been previously stated between thirty and forty thousand square miles of the sur- face of the State are underlaid with coal. Its deposit so near the surface and the excellent transportation facilities make it easy for Illinois to rank second in the production of soft coal. 18. Commerce. — A State so rich in agricultural produc- tions and in mineral resources must of necessity have good commercial facilities. Great crops of food products must be moved from the agricultural districts to those sections of the country where the production is much below the consumption. So also the great output of coal must find the furnaces and the great factories of the country. Again a great population engaged in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing must be supplied with products from other regions of the earth. We are not disappointed therefore when we turn our attention to the transportation facilities of this State. No state in the Union presents such slight obstacles to rail- road building as does the "Prairie State." A Student's History of Illinois 11 The Illinois Central railroad is said to have cost but $20,000 per mile. This is very greatly below tlie average cost of railroad building in the United States. The State is now checkered with railroads, there being above 12,000 miles within the State. The commercial facilities offered by the railroads are supplemented by many hundreds of miles of navigable rivers to which we must add all the advantages which the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence river offer. 19. Indians. — There were several Indian tribes in Illinois when the first whites came. The most important tribe was a large one called the Illinois Indians or the Illinois confederacy. The Illinois confederacy included the Michigamies, Kaskaskias, the Kahokias, the Peorias, and the Tamaroas. There were beside these tribes the Sacs and Foxes, the Winnebagoes, the Kickapoos, the Piankishaws, the Pottowatomies, and the Shawnees. The Illinois had possession of the upper parts of the river by that name ; the Sacs and Foxes were in the northern part of the State ; the Pottowatomies, to the west of Lake Michi- gan ; the Winnebagoes, in the north part of the State ; the Miamis and Piankishaws, in the eastern, along the Wabash. 20. Prehistoric. — Few states are richer in the remains of a long continued prehistoric occupation than Illinois. Among the evidences of Indians who probably greatly antedated those whom the French found here in 1663, are stone implements, various kinds of pottery, pictures on rocks and bluffs, and mounds, forts, etc. Many of our people have made very fine collections of all kinds of stone tools, such as stone axes, hammers, dress- ing tools, ornaments, and ceremonial stones, and stone implements used in games and in war. Stone idols, pipes, and other objects are found in the State. Simple copper ornaments are also found. 12 ./ Student's History of lU'uiois But i)r()l)ably llie most marked objects wliicli point to ;i forgotten people are the mounds which are to be found Hi. the State. The most noted are those m the American Bottom near the city of East St. Louis; however, similar mounds are found elsewhere within the State. In these mounds have been found pottery, cloth, cords, seeds, ears of corn, copper ornaments, etc. 21. The People. — The most valuable asset of any com- monwealth is its people. The soil may be fertile, the rain- fall abundant, the temperature equable, but if the people have not been cast in the right kind of mould then the commonwealth is poor indeed. The first whites — the French — added very little to the sum total of the institu- tional life in Illinois. There is not a single great civil or l)usiness enterprise in the State which the French founded ; everything about our political and civil institu- tions savors of the Anglo-Saxon. After the French, the first whites to come into the State were the soldiers who came with George Rogers Clark. Many of these were from the Carolinas and Virginia, with short residences in Tennessee and Kentucky. Not a few of these eventually settled in the territory which their valor and sacrifice had won. In addition, there were among Clark's soldiers a few people from the middle Atlantic States. Later immi- grants came from all the Atlantic states. Following the war of 1812, large numbers of immi- grants from England came to this country, and not a few of these finally reached the rich prairies of Illinois. Ger- mans came in groups large enough to constitute neigh- borhoods of those sturdy people. From 1836 to the Civil War there was a great demand in Illinois for laborers, for great improvements were in progress in those years. This demand was met by the coming of large numbers of English, Irish, Scotch, Dutch, Germans, and a few Scandinavians. A Student's History of Illinois 13 It is out of these elements that we have produced the mini — the real men. To this end everything has con- tributed — earth, and air, and sky, and parent stock. It is the story of these ''real men" which we wish to sketch. It is not only the story of battle field, and senate chamber, and commercial Avorld, and letters, and courts, and inven- tion, we wish to tell, but the story as well of the humbler people in the humbler walks of a fast fading' ])i()neer life. A Gusher in Crawford County. 14 A Studoit's History of Illinois CHAPTER II. THE FRENCH IN THE VALLEY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 22. French Fishermen, 1504. — It will now be neces- sary to give some account of the explorations and settle- ments of the French in the valley of the St. Lawrence river, and in the lake region, inasmuch as the early his- tory of Illinois is inseparably connected with French occupancy in North America. French fishermen visited the regions around Newfound- land as early as 1504, but probably no French explorers were here before the coming of Verrazano in 1524. 23. Cartier. — In 1534 James Cartier sailed into the mouth of the St. Lawrence. The next year he sailed up the river as far as Quebec and from there proceeded inland to the present city of Montreal. Cartier returned to France wdth a very attractive description of the country, but nothing was done toward colonization till 1541. At this time there was a great demand for sailors and fisher- men, and it was with great difficulty that Cartier could get enough sailors for his expedition. It seems also that it was not easy to induce a better class of people to come as colonists. Those who did come are said to have been criminals, spendthrifts, bankrupts, debtors, etc. The colonists suffered severely in the Canadian winters. Large numbers died, and by 1543 all had returned to France. 24. Work of Champlain. — Nothing more was done by France to settle the St. Lawrence region till the opening of the next century. As early as 1603 Samuel Champlain visited the region of the St. Lawrence; and in the summer of 1608 he founded a permanent settlement w^here Quebec .J Student's History of Illinois 15 now stands. In the winter following many suffered from the extreme cold. Twenty out of twenty-eight died before the middle of April, 1609. Fresh colonists arrived in June, 1609, and the prospects brightened. 25. Discovery of Lake Champlain. — June 18, 1609, Champlain, accompanied by representatives from the Canadian Indians, together with two French soldiers, moved up the Sorel river, and explored Lake Champlain. They were about ready to return to Quebec, when Mohawk Indians, the deadly foe of the Indians with Champlain, appeared ready for battle. A battle ensued in which Champlain and the two French soldiers used firearms. This greatly demoralized the Mohawks and they fled leav- ing dead and wounded to the mercy of the Canadian Indians. The fur trade was becoming very profitable to the French and explorations w^ere made by Champlain into the surrounding country. On one of these trips he went far up the Ottawa river. A trading post was established at Montreal and everything seemed quite favorable to the French. 26. Early French Settlers. — The French colonists, if we may call them such, who came to the St. Lawrence valley in the early part of the seventeenth century, were very different from the settlers who came to the rich valleys of Virginia, Maryland, New York, or even those who came to the rocky hillsides of New England. The English settlers were agriculturists — they were home makers. The French cared nothing for such interests. There were perhaps three dominant ideas which gave direction to the energy of the French in the valley of the St. Lawrence. They cared little for freedom in Church or State and they never became attached to the soil of the New World as did the Anglo-Saxons of the Atlantic coast. 16 A Student's History of Illinois The three ideas which gave direction to the work of the French were: 1. The love of dominion. The Frenchman loved hit- country. The Lilies of France must be planted upon every available foot of unoccupied soil. 2. The conversion of the Indian. This was a consum- ing passion of the priests wdio came to New France. For the accomplishment of this end these missionary priests suffered as no other people suffered. They toiled when there seemed to others little hope, and sacrificed all when others were full of the greed of gain. 3. The monopoly of the fur trade. For the amassing of a fortune, no gold mine in those times could in any way compare with the monopoly of the fur trade. 27. Death of Champlain, 1635. — Champlain died at Que- bec December 25, 1635. lie had led a very active life in New France. His death seems to have retarded the pro- gress of the explorations. But there was another cause. The Iroquois Indians of New York Avere making war on the French and Indians of Canada. With such vigor did the Iroquois strike terror into the hearts of the Huron and Algonquin Indians that explor- ation and trade in the Ottawa country were paralyzed. This explains the lack of French activity around tlie lakes from 1635 to about 1654. In the latter year the French and the Iroquois effected a treaty of peace, and quiet and safety were restored. .Vfter peace was restored, the work of exploration and trade was renewed. 28. Explorations Resumed. — Two French traders know^n in the history as Groseillier and Radisson, visited the Lake Superior region in the years 1659-60 and spent considerable time in the region southwest of the western end of Lake Superior. At this time the Huron s lived in this locality and from them the two traders learned nuich concerninu' the countrv. Thev returned to Montreal in xl Student's History of Illinois \7 1660 with a rich cargo of beaver skins and other furs. As soon as they sold out the furs, they oroanized another expedition to tlie Lake Superior region. 29. Congress at Sault Ste. Marie. — About the year 1670 the French began to hear that the Enghsh were in the Hudson Bay region. The intendant of Canada, wishing to hold the fur trade for New France, commis- sioned St. Lusson to hold a congress of Indian chiefs in the vicinity of Lake Superior for the purpose of form- ing a treaty by which the fur trade around the lakes might be secured for the French posts on the St. Lawrence. On June 14, 1671, fourteen Indian tribes sent representatives to this congress, and with much ceremony St. Lusson announced that the King of France had taken possession of all the region around the Great Lakes and that thenceforth the King of France would regard the Indians as children of his especial care. 30. Count Frontenac. — Courcelles, the French governor of Canada, returned to France on account of ill health and his place was filled by the appointment of Count Frontenac as governor. The new governor arrived in the fall of 1672 and commenced with energy to push the work of explorations. Among these undertakings was one which resulted in the discovery of the Mississippi river. All the traders and explorers who had mingled with the Indians to the west had heard of the great river, and of the people who lived along its borders. Wonderful stories had come to the officials in Canada of the river, the peo- ple, and the country through which the river ran. To find this river, discover into what it flowed, and to turn to the cause of France the people along its course, was therefore the first work of the new governor. 18 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER III. DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI BY MARQUETTE AND JOLIET. 31. Frontenac Names Joliet. — For the purpose of car- rying out his predecessor's design of discovering the great river, Frontenac appointed Louis Joliet to go in search of the Mississippi river. Joliet was a native of Canada, having been born near Quebec in 1645. His education had been received under the direction of the Jesuits. At the age of 24 he was dispatched to the Lake Superior regions to search for copper. About the year 1666 Father Marquette arrived from France, and went into the mis- sion fields in the region of Lake Superior. He later founded the mission of St. Ignace where Mackinaw now stands. Joliet was directed by Frontenac to proceed to Mack- inaw where he would be joined by Father Marquette who would represent the church on the expedition while Joliet would represent the government. The preparations were indeed very simple. Their food consisted of Indian corn and dried meat. They left St. Ignace with two bark canoes and five French voyageurs, May 17, 1673. The expedition reached Green Bay about the first of June, 1673. Here Father Marquette preached to the Indians. These Indians tried to dissuade him from his undertaking, but nothing would now turn him from his purpose of visiting the Illinois country. 32. The Father of Waters.— On June 10, 1673, Mar- A Student's History of Illinois 19 quette, Joliet, and the five Frenchmen, and two Indian guides began the journey across the Wisconsin portage. They carried their two canoes as well as their provisions and other supplies. The portage is a short one, Marquette says three leagues long. It was full of small lakes and marshes. The portage crossed, they sailed down the Wis- consin river and on June the 17th their canoes shot out into the broad Mississippi. The voyagers were filled with a joy unspeakable. The journey now began down the stream without any ceremony. Marquette made accurate observations of the lay of the land, the vegetation, and the animals. As they moved southward the bluffs became quite a marked feature of the general landscape. After passing the mouth of the Illinois river, they came to unusually high bluffs on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. At a point about six miles above the present city of Alton, they discovered on the high smooth-faced bluffs a very strange object which afterwards came to be known as the Piasa Bird. It was supposed to be a painting of a great bird which had killed many Indians in that locality. \ '^^ pr^ ■ • f^Tfn ' Photograph loaned by Mr. Geo. R. Adams, White Hall, 111. The Piasa Monster as Described by Marquette. 20 .1 Student's History of Illinois 33. Grand Tower. — As Marquette and Joliet proceeded down the river they passed the mouth of the Missouri, and when considerably below the mouth of the Kaskaskia. river they came to a very noted object — at least the Indians had many stories about it. This is what we know today as the Grand Tower, a great rock in the Mississippi which causes a great commotion in the water of the river and probably was destructive of canoes in those days. On they go down the river past the mouth of the Ohio, into the region of semi-tropical sun and vegetation. Near Memphis they held councils with the Indians, who told the travellers that it was not more than ten days' journey to the mouth of the river. They proceeded on down the river till they reached Choctaw Bend, in latitude 33 degrees and 40 minutes. Here they stopped, held a con- ference, and decided to go no further. 34. The Return.— On the 17th of July, 1673, they turned their faces homeward. They had been just two months, from May 17, to July 17, on their journey. They had traveled more than a thousand miles. They had faced all forms of danger and had undergone all manner of hardships. Their provisions had been obtained en route. France owed them a debt of gratitude which could never be fully paid. Indeed not only France, but the world is their debtor. When they reached the mouth of the Illinois river, they Avere told by some Indians that there was a much shorter route to Green Bay than by way of the upper Mississippi and the Wisconsin and Fox portage. This shorter route was up the Illinois river over the Chicago portage and then along I.akc ^Michigan to Green Bay. 35. Kaskaskia. — Marquette and Joliet proceeded up the Illinois river. They halted at the village of the Peoria Indians for three days. When in the vicinity of LaSalle, thev came to a village of the Kaskaskia Indians. Mar- A Student's History of Illinois 21 quette says there were seventy-four cabins in the village and that the Indians received them kindly. They tarried but a short time and were escorted from this point up the Illinois and over the Chicago portage by one of the Kaskaskia chiefs and several young warriors. Marquette and Joliet reached Green Bay in the month of September, 1673. In the summer of 1674, Joliet returned to Quebec to make his report to the governor. 36. Mission of the Immaculate Conception. — While in the village of the Kaskaskias, Marquette told the story of the Cross to the natives, and they were so well pleased with it that they made him promise to return to teach them more about Jesus. Father Marquette remained in the mission of St. Francois Xavier through the summer of 1674, and late in the fall started on his journey back to Kaskaskia. The escort consisted of two Frenchmen and some Indians. At the Chicago portage they spent the winter because of the ill health of Marquette. By the last of March he was able to travel. He reached the Kaskaskia village Monday, April 8, 1675. He was received with great joy by the Indians. He estab- lished the mission of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. Seeing he could not possibly live long, he returned by way of the Kankakee portage. He never lived to reach Mackinaw. He died the 18th of May, 1675, near what is now Ludington, ^lichigan. 37. The Result. — This expedition by Marquette • and Joliet had carried the Lilies of France nearly to the Gulf of Mexico. The Indians in the great plains between the Great Lakes and the Gulf had been visited and the resources of the country noted. There remained but a slight strip of territory near the mouth of the Mississippi over which the banner of France had not floated. If this short distance were occupied, then the French govern- 22 A Student's History of Illinois ment would have completely surrounded the English colonies in North America. This is the next movement for the French as we shall see. Paten, Chalice and Records from the Mission of the Immaculate Conception. A Student's History of Illinois 23 CHAPTER IV. THE TRIUMPHS OF CHEVALIER DE LA SALLE. 38. Fort Frontenac. — Chevalier de La Salle came to America in the year 1667. Shortly after arriving in this country he established himself as a fur trader at a trading post called La Chine, on the island of Montreal. Here he came in contact with the Indians from the far west. Within two years he had departed on an exploration. For the next two or three years he had probably visited the Ohio river and had become quite familiar with the coun- try to the south and west of the Great Lakes. Count Frontenac built a fort on the shore of Lake Ontario where the lake empties into the St. Lawrence river. La Salle was put in charge of this fort. He named it Fort Frontenac. In 1674 La Salle went to France and while there was raised to the rank of a noble. The King was greatly pleased with the plans of La Salle and readily granted him the control of Fort Frontenac, together with a large quantity of land. For all this La Salle promised to keep the fort in repair, to maintain a garrison, to clear the land, put it in a state of cultivation, and continually to keep arms, ammunition, and artillery in the fort, and to do all for the ultimate purpose of furthering the interests of the French government. 39. Second Visit to France.— The summer of 1678 found La Salle again in France with a request that the King grant him permission to explore the western part of New France and if possible find the mouth of the Mississippi river. La Salle had matured plans by which New France was to be connected with the Gulf of Mexico 24 A Student's History of Illinois by a line of strong fortifications. Fort Frontenac was the first step in this plan. He there explained how easy it would be to reach the region of the Great Lakes by the St. Lawrence route or by the Mississippi. There is no doubt that both Frontenac and La Salle wished to trans- fer the emphasis from the conversion of the Indians to that of conquest of territory for France, and to the more profitable business, as they saw it, of commerce. Fronte- nac had therefore strongly endorsed La Salle and his plans. The King, Louis XIV, issued a charter to La Salle granting him control of all the interior of what is now the United States for a period of five years. The governor of New France and all royal officers Avere ordered to assist La Salle in his work of exploration. While in France La Salle met Henri de Tonty, an Italian who had just won distinction in the French army. He had lost a hand in one of the campaigns, but he was nevertheless a man of great energy, and destined to win for himself an honored name in the New World. La Salle returned from France in the fall of 1678, bringing with him about thirty craftsmen and mariners,, together with a large supply of military and naval stores. It can readily be seen that La Salle would be opposed by the merchants and politicians in the region of Quebec and Montreal, for his plans would greatly interfere with the profitable fur trade which they then controlled. 40. The Griffin.— Late in the fall of 1678, probably in December he sent Captain La^Iotte, and sixteen men to select a suitable site for the building of a vessel with which to navigate the upper lakes. The boat was built probably at the mouth of Tonawanda creek just above Niagara Falls. Tonty had charge of the building of the vessel. It was launched in May, 1679, and was christened the Griffin. It was of forty-five to fifty tons burden and car- ried a complement of five small cannon. A Student's History of Illinois 25 An expedition of traders had been dispatched into the lUinois country for the purpose of traffic, in the fall of 1678. The Griffin weighed anchor August 7, 1679, amid the booming of cannon and the chanting of the Te Deum. The vessel reached Mackinaw on the 27th of August. Here La Salle found some of the men whom he had dis- patched the year before to traffic with the Indians. He found they had been dissuaded from proceeding to the Illinois country by the report that La Salle was visionary and that his ship would never reach Mackinaw. Tonty was given the task of getting these men together, and while he was thus engaged, La Salle sailed in the Griffin for Green Bay. Green Bay had been for several years a meeting place between white traders and explorers, and the Indians. When La Salle reached the point, he found some of the traders whom he had sent ahead the year before. These traders had collected from the Pottowatomies large quanti- ties of furs. For these furs La Salle exchanged a large stock of European goods and it is said that he made a large sum of money in this transaction. The Griffin was loaded with these furs and made ready to return to the warehouses at Niagara. 4L The Griffin Is Lost.— On September the 18th, the Griffin, in charge of a trusted pilot, and five sailors, started on the return voyage. La Salle on the 19th of September, 1679, with a company of fourteen persons, in birch bark canoes, loaded w^ith a blacksmith's forge, carpenter's tools, merchandise, arms, provision, etc., started on his journey for the Illinois country. He coasted along the w^estern and southern shore of Lake Michigan, and reached the mouth of the St. Joseph river November 1, 1679. La Salle was anxious to get to the Illinois country, but he also desired the help of Tonty, and as the latter had not yet arrived, La Salle occupied the time of his men in building 26 A Student's History of Illinois a palisade fort which he luinied Fort Miami. Near by. he erected a bark chapel for the use of the priests, and also a storehouse for the goods which the Griffin was to bring from Niagara on its return. But the Griffin was never heard from after it left Green Bay. 42. Journey Resumed. — La Salle was now impatient to proceed. He ascended the St. Joseph in search of the portage between the Kankakee and the St. Joseph. This point is supposed to have been near the present city of South Bend, Indiana. Here La Salle was joined by Tonti, and their tw^o parties crossed the portage of three or four miles under great difficulties, dragging their canoes and their burdens on sledges. The ice was getting thick and a heavy snow storm was raging. By the 6th of December, 1679, they were afloat on the Kankakee. They passed the present site of Ottawa, Starved Rock, and reached the Indian Village of Kaskaskia, near the present city of Peru. After religious services they departed and reached the present city of Peoria. Here they found several tribes of Indians with whom they stayed several days. 43. Fort Crevecoeur. — La SallC; fearing the influence upon his men of the stories spread among the Indians, by his enemies, decided to separate from them and go further down the river w^here he could construct a fort and build a boat. On a projection from the bluffs he built with considerable labor a fort which received the name of Crevecoeur. This was the fourth of the great chain of forts which La Salle had constructed, namely: Fort Frontenac at the outlet of Lake Ontario ; Fort Niagara on the Niagara river ; Fort Miami at the mouth of St. Joseph river; and Crevecceur below Lake Peoria on the Illinois river. In addition to the building of the fort La Salle began the construction of a vessel with which to complete his A Student's History of Illinois 27 journey to the mouth of the Mississippi river. The keel was 42 feet long, and the beam was 12 feet. While this work was in progress the Indians from the upper Missis- sippi brought tempting descriptions of routes to the west- ern sea and also the wealth of beaver with which their country abounded. 44. The Final Expedition.— La Salle made a trip to Canada for supplies and upon his return he found Crevecoeur abandoned. He returned to Green Bay and thence to Mackinaw. Here he got together another expe- dition and returned to Crevecoeur. Final preparations were made, and the journey down the Mississippi river begun. The mouth of the river was reached, and on the 9th of April, 1682, La Salle erected a cross, nailed the Coat of Arms of France to' a post, and proclaimed the Mississippi and all the land it drains the property of his King. 45. The Return.— On the 10th of April, 1682, the party began the return journey. La Salle visited each fort on his return trip. At Starved Rock he later built Fort St. Louis and put Tonti in control while he went to France to report to the King. In France he organized an expedition to come to the Louisiana territory by way of the Mississippi river. He failed to find the mouth of the river, and Avas landed on the coast of Texas, where he was later killed by one of his own men. Tonti remained at Fort St. Louis till about 1700. The French had now begun settlements about Mobile. He then aban- doned Fort St. Louis and went to the new settlements near the mouth of the great river. Here he lived some three or four years, when he died. Tonti, next to La Salle, had been the most conspicuous figure in the history of the Illinois country since the days of Marquette and Joliet. 28 A Student's History of Illinois 2. ThohTreal 4-FT.nig qarcK 5 FtDuCr^- iana. The officers for Louisiana were a governor, an intendant, and a royal council, all appointed by the King. The governor of Louisiana was to appoint the command- ant over the Illinois dependency. Shortly after the territory of Louisiana became a royal province, the Chickasaw Indians who lived in the region of northern Mississippi became very troublesome. These Indians opposed the encroachment of the settlements of the French upon their territory, and so long as they con- trolled the Mississippi river, navigation was dangerous. After several years of wasting war, the Chickasaws, the chief tribe on the lower Mississippi, made peace with the French, and later the commerce between the Illinois coun- try and the settlements at the mouth of the river grew to large proportions. 60. French in the Ohio Valley. — The French were by 1750, well settled in Canada, Illinois, and on the lower ^lississippi. They had never occupied the Ohio valley, but in 1749, Celeron De Bienville was sent from Canada to lay claim to the Ohio region by depositing lead plates in numerous places along that river. A map was made of til is expedition and public notice given to the English, not to allow English traders in this valley. The next year 36 A Student's History of lUinols Christopher Gist, an agent of the Ohio Land Company, was sent into the same territory to make some preparation for English settlements. It was now seen that there would be a conflict between the English and French for the possession of the Ohio valley, and as a matter of preparation the French began renewed activity in the building of forts and repairing of old ones. To so great an extent was this preparation made by the French that a complete line of forts was built between the mouth of the St. Lawrence by way of the Great Lakes and the Illinois country, to the mouth of the Mississippi river. 61. Fort Chartres. — At no place in all the French pos- sessions was there so much stress put upon fort-building as in the Illinois country. Chevalier de Macarty came to Fort Chartres as commandant in 1751. He was a major of engineers, and he brought with him instruction from the King to rebuild Fort Chartres. The first fort had been constructed originally of timbers, the new fort was built of stone quarried from the bluffs not far from the The Old Powder Magazine in Old Fort Chartres. A Portion of the Foundation of the East Wall of the Fort May Be Seen to the Right of the Old Building. A Student's History of Illinois Z7 pret^ent town of Prairie du Rocher, sonic tlirec and a half miles east of the site of the fort. Captain Philip Pittman of the Royal Engineers (English) visited the fort in 1766 or '68 and gives the following description of it : The form is an irregular quadrangle, the sides of the exterior polygon are four hundred and ninety feet; it is built of stone and plastered over . . . the ditch has never been finished; the entrance to the fort is through a very handsome rustic gate; within the wall is a small banquette raised three feet for the men to stand on when they fire through the loopholes. The buildings within the fort are, the commandant's and the com- missary's houses, the magazine of stores, corps de garde, and two barracks; these occupy the square. Within the gorges of the bastions are, a powder magazine, a bake house, a prison, in the lower floor of which are four dungeons, and in the upper floor two rooms, and an outhouse belonging to the commandant. 62. French and Indian War. — Illinois took a very active part in the war between England and France from 1755 to 1763. The story of Washington's jonrney to warn the French off of territory claimed for the Ohio Company is no doubt familiar to all. Washington returned to Vir- ginia and gathered up a few soldiers and started to the ''forks of the Ohio," to protect some workmen sent there to construct a fort. A detachment of French under com- mand of Jumonville de Villiers was sent out to intercept AVashington. This little detachment was attacked by Washington on May 28, 1754, and Jumonville de Villiers was killed and all but one of his party captured. Washington retreated to Fort Necessity. Coulon de Vil- liers at Fort Duquesne hearing of the death of his brother Jumonville was determined to avenge it. Another brother Capt. Neyon de Villiers was at this time stationed at Fort Chartres, the new fortress on the Mississippi. There were at this time 1,000 soldiers stationed at Fort Chartres. Capt. Neyon de Villiers was ordered to proceed with all dispatch with his company of grenadiers to assist in the destruction of "Monsieur de Wachenston." 38 ^i Student's History of Illuwis The two l)rotbert^, Neyoii de Villicrs aiul Couloii de Vil- liers, with 1,500 soldiers left Fort Duquesne the latter part of June, 1754, and on tlie od of July, attacked ''Monsieur Wachenston" who surrendered to the two brothers on the 4tli of July, 1754. Thus Illinois has the distinction of furnishing a part of the army which captured the Father of his country. Not only did Fort Chartres furnish large numbers of soldiers in the defense of Fort Duquesne and the Ohio val- ley, but the inhabitants of the American Bottom furnished large quantities of j^rovisions. Captain Neyon de Villiers was engaged in transporting these supplies from Fort Chartres to the fort at the forks of the Ohio. 63. The Treaty of Peace. — But the end came. The French King having lost Quebec, signed a treaty by which the Province of New France, and all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi river was ceded to Great Britain. This was the treaty of Paris of 1763. 64. The Surrender. — The British wer^ slow about tak- ing possession of their newly acquired territory. And this can be explained by the fact that the Indians led by Pontiac were not satisfied to see the British take the posts so long held by their friends, the French, and so they presented all kinds of obstructions to the British who were sent to take the posts of Fort Chartres, Vincennes, and other stations. St. Ange, the last French commandant at Fort Chartres, persuaded Pontiac to withdraw his oppo- sition to the British, and Captain Stirling of the 42d Highlanders received the surrender of the fort on Octo- ber 2, 1765. 65. St. Louis Founded. — In the winter of 1763-4, Pierre Laclede, a rich merchant representing a large fur trading company of New Orleans, arrived at Fort Chartres with the intention of planting a colony of traders. But on A Student's History of Illinois 3^ reaching the fort and finding that the Illinois country Jiad been ceded to the British, and supposing that France still held the territory west of the Mississippi, he sought a good point on that side of the river for a trading station, and thus was Saint Louis founded, February, 1764. A Bird's-Eye View of the Village of Prairie du Rocher as It Appears Today. The Oldest Town in Illinois. 40 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER VII. THE BRITISH IN THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY. 66. A Brief Survey. — Reynolds in his Pioneer History says that the French villages, at the close of the French and Indian ^Yar, enjoyed the greatest prosj)erity which they ever attained. Kaskaskia was now a city of 2,500 people and was the center of business, wealth, and culture. Indeed it was called the Paris of the West. All these French villages or settlements had been granted com- mons ; besides, many private grants had been made. The crops were raised in the common field. This field had a fence about it but there were no fences around the individual's crops within. The farming implements were A^ery crude. The plows were wooden with a piece of iron fastened to the point. The settlers plowed with oxen, fastening the yoke to the horns instead of over the neck as we have been accustomed to see. The carts or wagons were constructed wholly of wood, while the harness was made of rawhide. The houses were low, one story buildings. They were made by setting posts up endwise and filling in between with mud, stone, and grasses. The outside and inside were usually whitewashed. This gave the homes a neat appearance. The roofs were thatched with long prairie grasses, and are said to have lasted longer than those made of shingles. There were a few glass windows, but all were hung on hinges like doors. In the days of French ascendancy in the Illinois, the styles and fashions of Paris found their way to Kaskaskia by way of New Orleans without much delay. The French A Student's History of Illinois 41 people were naturally gay in their spirit and tliey enjoyed the fashionable things from the mother country. Hunting was not only a sport hut in some sense a busi- ness. The hunters had trails from Kaskaskia to all the points across the State. There were trails from Kaskaskia to Vincennes, to Fort Massac, to Cahokia, and possibly to the saltworks near Shawneetown. Buffaloes were plenti- ful and furnished much food, while small game was also taken in large quantities. In the earliest part of the eighteenth century there was little use for money. All exchange was of the articles themselves. Beaver skins were current money wherever one person owed another. Later the coins of France and Spain circulated freely. Paper money was plentiful dur- ing the supremacy of the Company of the West but later the coins came into use. There were few skilled laborers, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, and masons. The most desirable mechanic was the gunsmith. Stone was extensively used, large quanti- ties being found in the ^'bluffs" near. Some lime was burned and stone masons were often in demand. 67. The Proclamation of 1763. — The treaty of peace by which the Illinois country was transferred to Great Britain was signed February 10, 1763. By this treaty there came into the possession of the British government East and West Florida, New France, and all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi river excepting the Isle of Orleans. On Octo- ber 7, 1763, King George III. put forth a proclamation which had for its purpose a designation of provinces and the manner of their government. What is now the State of Illinois fell in the Indian country. The proclamation forbade the King's governors east of the Alleghanies to allow any colonists to settle west of the mountains. It also provided that the French al- 42 - / Stuilcnt's History of Illinois ready in the Illinois country must take the oath oi' allegiance to the British government or leave the territory. 68. The British Flag.— Upon the arrival at Fort Chartres of Captain Stirling, the Lilies of France were taken down and the English banner was run up on the fort. The sight of the British ensign was a new one for the inhabitants of the Illinois country. They had, accord- ing to the treaty, eighteen months to decide what they would do — stay or go. Many of them took their de- parture, taking their personal property including their slaves. Nearly the entire village of New Chartres, number- ing forty families, left in a body. Only one man was left at St. Phillipe. Thus one-third of the French inhabitants left the Illinois country. 69. The English Commandants. — The officer in com- mand of the post at Fort Chartres was known as the com- mandant of the Illinois territory. The following is a list of those British officers who served in that capacity: Captain Thomas Stirling 1765 Major Robert Farmer Fraser 1765-1766 Colonel Edward Cole 1766-1768 Colonel John Reed 1768-1768 Lieut. Col. John Wilkins 1768-1771 Captain Hugh Lord 1771-1775 Captain Matthew Johnson 1775-1776 Chevalier de Rocheblave 1776-1778 70. Civil Government. — There w^ere eight different English officers in command of the Illinois country from 1765 to 1778. They were primarily military command- ants, but they exercised all the governmental authority that was in force in the territory — or at least the earlier commandants did so. The inhabitants were very loud in their condemnation of the oppressions of the military commandants, and they frequently made complaints to those in authority but with no relief. These complaints must have eventually borne fruit, for upon the coming A Student's History of Illinois 43 of Colonel AVilkins as coniinandaiit in 17G8, lie broiighl an order from his superior for the establishment of a (•ivil court. He appointed seven judges who should hold court for the adjustment of civil cases. The hiw in force was the common law of England. Trial by jury was one feature of the administration of justice. The French in- habitants had never been accustomed to this system and they complained long and loud about the jury system. 71. Fort Chartres Abandoned.— In 1772 the Missis- sippi flooded the l)ottom lands and did much damage. Among other things the current of the main channel came so near Fort Chartres that one end of the structure was undermined. The commandant shortly after moved his garrison to Kaskaskia and left the fortress to the bats and owls, the snakes and creeping vines. It was never afterwards used for military purposes. Captain Lord who was in conmiand at Kaskaskia when the Revolutionary war began was ordered in 1775 or 1776 to proceed with all his troops to Detroit. He seems to have turned the control of the British interest in the Illi- nois country over to one Philip Francois de Rastel, Chevalier de Rocheblave. This gentleman was, as his name indicates, a Frenchman. He had been a prominent character in the Illinois country. On the coming of the British in 1765, he took the oath of allegiance and was now a full fledged British subject. Kow that there were no British troops left, the defense of the country must depend upon the militia. There were fairly well organized militia companies in all the villages. This was the state of affairs in 1778 when George Rogers Clark made his appearance in the French village of Kaskaskia. 44 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER VIII. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK CAPTURES KASKASKIA. 72. Early Kentucky Settlers. — In spite of the British proclamation of 1763, which warned American colonists against settling in the Illinois country, bold pioneers pushed their way into the country to the west of the Gen. George Rogers Clark, Alleghanies. These hardy settlers came from Georgia., the Carolinas, Virginia and some from the middle states. Daniel Boone and others explored the central portion of Kentucky as early as 1769, though it is stated the first home built was a log cabin in the town of Harrodsburg A Student's History of Illinois 45 in 1774. It is also affirmed that the first fort was built b.y Daniel Boone at Boonesboro in 1775. Evidently there Avere more settlers in the country than these two state- ments would indicate. George Rogers Clark first came to Kentucky in the early part of 1775. At a meeting of all the settlers at Harrodstown June 6, 1776, George Rogers Clark and Gabriel Jones were elected delegates to the Virginia legislature. They started imme- diately for Williamsburg, but the session had closed before they reached the capital. Clark proceeded alone, and found Governor Patrick Henry sick at his home. 73. Help from Virginia. — Clark laid before Governor Henry the necessity of making some proivsion for the de- fense of the Kentucky people against the Indians. The matter was placed before the Governor's council and it was decided to "lend" Clark 500 pounds of powder. Clark remained in Williamsburg for the fall sitting of the legis- lature and succeeded in getting Kentucky organized as a county in Virginia. He then returned to Kentucky, in 1777, and was now convinced that the attitude of the In- dians toAvard the western settlers was largely the result of the influence of the British at Detroit, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia; so he conceived the bold undertaking of capturing these posts and thus relieve the Kentucky set- tlers of this menace. Preparatory to a final movement he sent two spies, Benjamin Linn and Samuel Moore, to Kaskaskia to determine the condition of the defenses, the attitude of the French people toward the Americans, and the part the Indians were taking in the conflict. The spies returned with an abundance of information. 74. Clark's Plans.— In October, 1777, Clark laid his plans before the Governor of Virginia and a few confi- dential friends, among whom were George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson. All were enthusiastic for carrying out 46 ^l Student's History of Illinois the plans, and the necessary measures were pushed through the legislature. Clark was commissioned a, Lieutenant Colonel, and having received 1,200 pounds in depreciated currency, proceeded immediately to Pittsburg, from which point his expedition was to start, February 4, 1778. Enough troops were to be enlisted to cope with any force the British might have in the Illinois country. While Clark was trying to recruit troops around Pitts- burg, word came to him that Kentucky was succeeding admirably in raising troops for the defense of their homes. Clark left Pittsburg with three companies. He arrived at Corn Island opposite Louisville, without incident. Here he halted and built a fort, and was joined by some of the companies from out of Kentucky. A por- tion of these deserted him when they discovered the real object of his expedition. 75. The Army.— On the 24th of June, 1778, he left his little fort on the Island and shot the rapids of the Ohio while the sun was in a total eclipse. Clark had now only four companies with him. They were commanded by Captains John Montgomery, Joseph Bowman, Leonard Helm, and Wm. Harrod. The force probably did not ex- ceed 180 men. Colonel Clark was disappointed in the size of his army and was forced to change his plans. It was his intention to attack Vincennes first, but on account of the fact that he had fewer than half as many soldiers as he expected, he concluded to attack Kaskaskia. 76. Clark Lands Near Fort Massac. — Clark reached the mouth of the Tennessee the latter part of June. Here he captured one John Duff and a party of hunters, who had lately come from Kaskaskia. These hunters professed a desire to go with Clark on this campaign. Clark proceeded to the mouth of a small creek, or as he calls it a ^'gully" a short distance above Fort Massac and there diseinbni'kod. A Slitdcnl's Jlislory of Illinois 47 His men provided tlioiiisclves willi four dayn' rations, but it was a six days' journey, and Captain Bowman says they inarched two days without any sustenance, and Clark says that game was scarce. 77. The Route to Kaskaskia. — There is considerable local intere^ as to the route Clark took from Fort Massac to Kaskaskia. The distance on a straight line is less than 100 miles. But by any route which Clark could have taken the distance was not less than 110 or 120 miles. Without doubt Clark's army went northwest from Fort Massac, keeping between the ponds and swamps which drain into Big Bay creek on the right and those which border the Cache river on the left. This route passed out of Massac county at the extreme northwestern corner, in Sec. 5, Town 14 S., R. 3 E. It probably led over the hill upon which Indian Point is situated (An old road long since abandoned can be seen here). From Indian Point the route ran about tw^o miles west of Vienna, Johnson county, a couple of miles east of the thriving village of Buncombe, thence over the Ozarks through Buffalo Gap which is at least 150 feet lower than the rest of the Ozarks, on through Goreville leaving Marion to the right and joining the Golconda route at Bainbridge 3l^ miles west of Marion, Williamson county. 78. Lost in a Prairie. — Clark's memoirs state that the third day from Fort Massac the guides got lost and there were some who thought they had turned traitor to their trust. Clark told the principal guide, one John Saunders, that if he did not find the "Hunter's Eoad" which led into Kaskaskia from the east that he would have him put to death. This probably meant that Clark knew they ought to reach the Golconda road at the end of the third day. The guide found the road and the army w^as probably soon encamped the third night out, near the town of Bain- bridge. The first night the cam])ing ground was probal)ly 48 A Student's History of Illinois Based on map in Vol. 8, Historic Highways. Courtesy and permission of the Arthur H. Clark Co., Publishers, Cleveland, Ohio. Map Showing Gen. Clark's Route from Fort Massac to Kaskaskia and from Kaskaskia to Vincennes. on Indian Point, eighteen miles from Fort Massac. The second night's camp was at a spring two miles north of Pulley's Mill, and twenty miles north of Indian Point. The third day, owing to getting lost they did not make more than twelve miles of progress. On the fourth day the little army moved west and a little north and crossed Crab Orchard creek northeast of Carbondale three miles. Big Muddy was crossed at the northwest corner of Town 9 S., R.l.W. — four miles due east of Murphysboro. From the crossing of Big Muddy to Ava, thence to Campbell Hill in the northwest corner of Jackson countv. From here bv Shiloh Hill, and Wine A Student's History of Illinois 49 Hill, crossing St. Mary's river at Bremen Station, all in Randolph. The fourth night out they probably camped six or eight miles northwest of Murphysboro, and the fifth night at St. Mary's river. The next day which was the 4th of July, was their sixth day out. They reached the outskirts of Kaskaskia early in the evening. 79. The Surprise. — As soon as night came on the army moved west and reached the Kaskaskia river about a mile above the town. On the east side of the river they found a farm house in which was a large family. From this family it was learned that the militia had been called out the day before but finding no cause for alarm, they had dispersed. Boats w^ere secured and the army rowed to the west side of the Kaskaskia. Clark says this took two hours. It was now as late as ten or eleven o'clock in the ni-ght. Clark divided his army into two divisions, one of which was to scatter through the town and keep the people in their houses, and the other, which Clark himself com- manded, was to capture the commander. Chevalier de Rocheblave, who was asleep in the old monastery then used as the Commandant's headquarters. In a very short time the task was finished and the people disarmed. The Virginians and Kentuckians were in the meantime keep- ing up an unearthly yelling, for the people of Kaskaskia had understood that Virginians were more savage than the Indians had ever been, and Clark was desirous that they should retain this impression. The French of Kas- kaskia called the Virginians ^'Long Knives." 80. Confusion. — On the morning of the 5th, the princi- pal citizens were put in irons. Shortly after this Father Gibault and a few aged men came to Clark and begged the privilege of holding services in the church, that they might bid one another good bye before they were separated. Clark gave his permission. The church bell rang and immediately every one who could get to the church did so. 50 .1 Student's History of Illinois At the close of the service Father Gibault came again with some old men to beg that families might not be sepa- rated and that they might be privileged to take some of their personal effects with them for their support. Clark then explained to the priest that Americans did not make war on women and children, but that it was only to pro- tect their own wdves and children that they had come to this stronghold of British and Indian barbarity. He went further and told them that the French King and the Americans had just made a treaty of alliance, and that it was the desire of the King that the French in Illinois should join their interests with the Americans. This had a wonderfully conciliatory effect upon the French. And now Clark told them they were at perfect liberty to con- duct themselves as usual. His influence had been so powerful that they were all induced to take the oath of allegiance to the State of Virginia. Their arms were given back to them and a volunteer company of French militia- men was formed. Starved Rock. The Site of Old Fort St. Louis. A Student's History of Illinois 51 CHAPTER TX. THE BRITISH FLAG LOWERED AT CAHOKIA AND VINCENNES. 81. Capture of Cahokia. — Kaskaskia was captured on eTuly 4, 1778. On the 5th of July, an expedition was planned for the capture of Cahokia. Captain Bowman with his company and a detachment of the French miUtia under French officers together with a number of Kaskaskia citizens made up the army. The distance was sixty miles and the trip Avas made by the afternoon of the 6th. x\t first the people of Cahokia were greatly agitated and cried '^Long Knives!" ''Long Knives!" But the Kaskaskia citizens soon quieted them and explained what had hap- pened at Kaskaskia only two days before. The oath of allegiance was administered to the people and the citizens returned to Kaskaskia. 82. Father Gibault. — For the first few days Clark and his men talked about the fort at the Falls of the Ohio and of a detachment of soldiers they were expecting from there every day. This was done for the purpose of making an impression upon the people of Kaskaskia. Clark was a shrew^d diplomatist as w^ell as a good soldier. By con- versation Clark learned that the priest was the regular shepherd of the flock at Vincennes. Clark therefore talked of his expedition against Vincennes from the fort at the Falls of the Ohio. Father Gibault then told Clark that while the post at Vincennes w^as a very strong one and that there w^ere usually many Indians about that place, that just at this time, the Lieutenant Governor or com- mandant, Fdward Abbot, was not at Vincennes but was in Detroit. He also told Clark that there were no soldiers 52 A Student's History of Illinois there except probably a few citizen-officers and that he had no doubt if the people there knew the real nature of the conflict between England and the colonies, and that France had joined against the hated British, there would be no opposition to Clark. The priest further suggested that he himself would head an embassy to Post Vincennes for the purpose of attempting to secure the allegiance of the people there to the American cause. An expedition was immediately planned. The priest was accompanied by a citizen of Kaskaskia, Doctor John Baptiste Lafont. The two gentlemen were accompanied by several attendants, among whom was a spy who had secret instructions from Clark. They departed the 14th of July, and reached Vincennes safely. The priest had no difficulty in making it clear to the people that France was on the side of the Americans ; and the Vincennes villagers all took the oath of allegiance to Virginia. They also organized a militia company and took possession of the fort over which the flag of Vir- ginia floated much to the wonder of the Indians. On August 1, Father Gibault and his companions returned to Kaskaskia and reported the success of their mission. 83. Reorganization of the Army. — Clark w^as busy just then reorganizing his little army. The term of enlistment of the soldiers was drawing to a close. He succeeded in re-enlisting about a hundred of his little army while the rest were to be mustered out at the Falls of the Ohio, their places being filled with enlistments from the French militia. 84. County of Illinois. — The People of Virginia were soon aware of the success of the Clark expedition. The common people were of course greatly surprised, and the officials who had stood back of the enterprise were greatly relieved and delisfhted. A Student's History of Illinois 53 In October, 1778, the legislature of Virginia created the County of "Illinois" which included all the territory north and west of the Ohio river. In accordance with the provisions of the law creating the county of Illinois west of the Ohio river, the Governor of Virginia; Patrick Henry, appointed John Todd, Esq., a judge of the Kentucky court, as county lieutenant or commander-in-chief of the newly created county. 85. Vote of Thanks. — The ''house of delegates," which was the lower branch of the legislature, shortly after the creation of the county of Illinois took the following action : In the House of Delegates. Monday, the 23d Nov.. 1778. Whereas, authentic information has been received that Lieu- tenant Colonel George Rogers Clark, with a body of Virginia militia, has reduced the British posts in the western part of this commonwealth on the river Mississippi and its branches, where- by great advantage may accrue to the common cause of Amer^ ica, as well as to this commonwealth in particular: Resolved, That the thanks of this house are justly due to the said Colonel Clark and the brave officers and men under his command, for their extraordinary resolution and perseverance in 80 hazardous an enterprise, and for their important services to their country. B. Randolph. Attest: C. H. D. 86. Loss of Vincennes. — Captain Helm was sent to take possession of Vincennes about the middle of August. By November or earlier, word had reached Detroit that Captain Helm was in possession of the fort at Vincennes. An expedition was planned under the command of Lieu- tenant Governor Henry Hamilton, to retake the fort. He reached Vincennes December 18, 1778. Captain Helm surrendered the fort without any effort at defense because the French militiamen deserted him upon the approach of Col. Hamilton's army. 87. Services of Vigo. — AVord soon reached Colonel Clark of the loss of Vincennes, and he now felt himself in a very 54 A Student's History of Illinois perilous situation. Vincennes was lost, Virginia had not sent him a dollar with which to purchase supplies, the money he had Avas of no value, the Indians from the Canadian border were making their appearance round Cahokia and Kaskaskia, and discouragement stared him in the face. In this extremity a real patriot came upon the scene. This man was Colonel Francis Vigo, a rich merchant of St. Louis. Colonel Vigo proffered to go to Vincennes to see what the situation w^as. He was captured and would liave been severely punished by Hamilton if it had not been for fear of the French, Indians, and Spanish, all of whom were great friends to Vigo. He w^as released and returned to St. Louis, and immediately came to Kaskaskia to inform Colonel Clark of the true situation. This was that Hamilton had a strong detachment of soldiers at Fort Sackville with cannon and plenty of munitions of w-ar. Vigo also reported that the French inhabitants were quite favorable to the American cause and would render any assistance they could. And again Vigo reported that just as soon as the spring season opened that Colonel Hamilton was intending to attack Colonel Clark at Kaskaskia. A conference ^vas called of all the officers then around Kaskaskia. Captain Bowman came from Cahokia with his small force of soldiers and the first impulse was to get ready for a siege if Colonel Hamilton should attack. This plan was finally abandoned, for Colonel Clark said — "If I do not take Hamilton he will take me." A Student's History of Illinois 55 CHAPTER X. CLARK'S CAPTURE OF VINCENNES. 88. Preparation. — A^igo reported to Colonel Clark on the 29th of January. Clark was ready to move by the 6th of February, 1779. Everything in the village of Kas- kaskia was activity. '^The whole country took fire with alarm ; and every order was executed with cheerfulness by every description of the inhabitants — preparing provisions, encouraging volunteers, etc., and as we had plenty of stores, every man was completely rigged with what he could desire to withstand the cold weather. To convey our artillery and stores, it was concluded to send a vessel round by water, so strong that she might force her way. A large Mississippi (keel) boat was immediately purchased, and completely fitted out as a galley, mounting two four- pounders and four large swivels. She was manned by forty-six men under command of Capt. John Rogers." This vessel, 'The Willing," was to sail down the Missis- sippi, up the Ohio, and thence up the Wabash as far as the mouth of the White river and there wait for word from the overland expedition. The little army consisted of 170 men. One company of French militiamen from Cahokia was in charge of Captain McCarty. Another French company from Kaskaskia was commanded by Captain Charleville. Captains Bowman, Williams, and Worthington com- manded the Virginians. The route they took is said to have been the old trail from Kaskaskia to Vincennes. Reynolds says it was laid out by the Indians nearly a hundred vears before Clark made use of it. 56 ^i Student's History of Illinois 89. The Route. — The route, as laid down in volume 8 of ''Historic Highways," starts from Kaskaskia and goes northeast to Diamond Point, some four or five miles from Kaskaskia. From Diamond Point northeasterly to Sparta in Randolph county. Thence to the southeast of Coulterville about a mile, thence to Nashville in Wash- ington county. From here the trail ran easterly and crossed the Illinois Central within a mile north of Rich- view. The corner of Jefferson was crossed and Walnut Hill in the southw^estern corner of Marion was passed. From Walnut Hill in a nearly straight line to Xenia, Clay county. From here the route follows almost exactly the Balti- more and Ohio Southwestern Railroad to Lawrenceville, leaving Olney to the north probably two miles. From Lawrenceville the army turned south and followed the Embarras river on the southwest side, crossing the Wabash about two miles south of St. Francisville. From here the route went east bearing toward the north till they reached Chimney Rock or what Clark called the Second Mamelle, now called Chimney Pier. From here nearly due north to the village of Vincennes. (See map of Clark's routes.) 90. An Unparalleled Story. — The story of the hardships, and the extreme suffering from cold and hunger which this little army endured, will ever be a tale with which to stir the patriotic blood of all loyal Illinoisans. When they reached the Little Wabash they found the river greatly swollen by recent rains. The overflowed lands w^ere three miles wide. Here they built a crude boat in which they ferried their baggage across the stream. Colonel Clark in telling about this incident says: This (flood) would have been enough to have stopped any set of men not in the same temper that we were. But in three days we contrived to cross by building a large canoe, ferried across the two channels; the rest of the way we waded build- .1 Student's History of Illinois • 57 ing scaffolds at each side to lodge our baggage on until the horses crossed to take them. On the 16th of February the army crossed Fox river which runs southward just a mile or so west of Olney. They pushed forward through rain and mud and reached the Embarras river in the afternoon of the 17th. Here the}^ were within about eight or nine miles of Vincennes but all the lowland between the Embarras river and the A¥abash was flooded and no boats could be /ound in which to cross. Here the army turned south and traveled along the west side of the Embarras hunting a dry spot on which to camp. Captain Bowman says they "traveled till 8 o'clock in mud and water" before a camping spot could be found. "18th — At daybreak heard Hamilton's morn- ing gun. (They were then ten miles southwest from Vincennes). Set off and marched down the river (Embarras) , saw some fine land. About two o'clock came to the bank of the Wabash." Here they spent the next three days building rafts, digging canoes, and trying to cross the Wabash. The food was all gone. On the 21st the army was ferried over. They landed on the east side of the Wabash and rested on a little knob called "The Mamelle." Fj:om here they plunged into the water and made toward the next "Mamelle" about three miles eastward. Here the little army stayed over night and on the morning of the 22nd of February, they moved northward through water to their waists and even to their shoulders. Clark says — "Getting about the middle of the plain, the water about mid-deep, I found myself sensibly failing, and as there were no trees nor bushes for the men to support them- selves by, I feared that many of the most weak would be drowned . . . Getting to the woods where the men expected land, the water was up to my shoulders, but gain- ing the woods was of great consequence; all of the low 58 A Student's History of Illinois men and the weakly hung to the trees, and floated on old logs, until they were taken off by the canoes. The strong and tall got ashore and built fires. Many would reach the shore and fall with their bodies half in the water not being able to support themselves without it." 91. Attacking tlve Fort. — After two or three days the little army came to the town and attacked the fort. Colonel Clark asked Hamilton to surrender but received this reply : "Governor Pamilton begs leave to acquaint Colonel Clark, that he and his garrison are not to be awed into any action unworthy British subjects." The firing was renewed so vigorously that Hamilton surrendered the afternoon of the 25th of February, 1779. Much provisions and muni- tions fell into Clark's hands. The British officers were sent to Virginia as prisoners, while the soldiers were returned to Canada. 92. Clark's Future. — Colonel Clark desired very much to attack Detroit, but after considerable delay he decided to return to Kaskaskia. Before leaving Vincennes he made treaties with the neighboring Indians. He appointed Captain Helm as civil commandant. Lieutenant Brashear was made military commander at the fort, and was given forty soldiers for that duty. Colonel Clark and the remainder of his army departed March 20, 1779, for Kaskaskia on the galley the "Willing," accompanied by an armed flotilla of seven vessels. The trip down the Wabash and Ohio and up the Mississippi to Kaskaskia was without incident. Clark reached Kaskaskia about the latter part of March. Clark returned to Vincennes in July of the same year expecting to find troops from Kentucky and Virginia for the Detroit expedition. He was disappointed. He attempted to recruit soldiers for the Detroit campaign in the region of the Ohio but a letter from Jefferson who was now governor of Virginia requested him to construct A Student's History of Illinois 59 a fort below the mouth of the Ohio. Accordingly he undertook this enterprise and by June, 1780, Fort Jef- ferson, a few miles below^ the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side, was completed. It is said that some of the cannon were removed there from the abandoned forti- fications of Fort Chartres. The ruins of Fort Jefferson, just below the town of Wycliffe, Ky., may be seen today. In the fall of 1780, Clark was at Fort Pitt trying to fit out his expedition for Detroit. In January, 1781, we find Colonel Clark acting in conjunction with Baron Steuben in repelling the attacks of Benedict Arnold upon Virginia. In December, 1781, Clark was at the Falls of the Ohio with an army of 750 men. Later he was engaged in an expedition against the Indians on the Miami river. He never led his expedition against Detroit. In the sum- mer of 1783, he received the following communication: 93. Dismissed. — In Council, July 2, 1783. Sir: — The conclusion of the war, and the distressed situation of the State, with regard to its finances, call on us to adopt the most prudent economy. It is for this reason alone, I have come to a determination to give over all thought, for the present, of carrying on an offensive war against the Indians, which, you will easily perceive, will render the services of a general officer in that quarter unnecessary, and will, therefore consider your- self out of command. But, before I take leave of you, I feel myself called upon, in the most forcible manner, to return you my thanks, and those of my council, for the very great and singular service you have rendered your country, in wresting so great and valuable a territory from the hands of the British enemy; repelling the attacks of their savage allies, and carry- ing on a successful war in the heart of their country. This tribute of praise and thanks so justly due, I am happy to com- municate to you, as the united voice of the Executive. I am, with respect, sir, Yours, etc., Benjamin Hakrison. "He was no longer the same man as the conqueror of Kaskaskia, and the captor of Vincennes. His mind was 60 A Student's History of Illinois wounded by the neglect of the government of A^irginia to settle his accounts. Private suits were brought again.^t him for j)ublic supplies, Avhich ultimately swept away his fortune, and wdth this injustice the spirit of the hero fell, and the general never recovered the energies which stamped him as one of nature's noblemen." He spent the later years of his life near Louisville. Kentucky. He was comj)letely broken in his bodily frame as a result of years of hard exposure. Rheumatism which ended with paralysis terminated his life in 1818. He was buried at Locust Grove near Louisville. A View of Old Fort Massac. A Student's History of Illinois 6) CTTAPI^EK XI. ILLINOIS COUNTY, VIRGINIA— THE NORTH WEST TERRITORY. 94. John Todd, County Lieutenant. — By virtue of the authority of the act of the Virginia legislature of October, 1778, Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia, and by virtue of that position the first governor of Illinois, appointed Colonel John Todd lieutenant-commandant of the county of Illinois. Colonel Todd did not come to Illinois county till May, 1779. Clark had returned from his campaign, and cap- ture of Vincennes. It is stated that Colonel Todd was received with great joy by the citizens of Kaskaskia. He was no stranger to many about the village for he had come with Clark in the campaign of 1778, when the Illinois country was captured from the British. On June 15, 1779, he ordered that no more settlements should be made in the bottom lands, and further that each person to whom grants had been made must report his claim to the proper officer and have his land recorded. 95. Todd's Instruction. — Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia, made out Colonel Todd's commission and in addition gave him a lengthy letter of instructions. Todd was directed — To cultivate the affection of the French and Indians. To impress the people with the value of liberty. To guarantee an improved jurisprudence. To consult and advise with the most intelligent and upright persons who might fall in his way. 62 A Student's History of Illinois To hold the property of the Indians, particularly the land, inviolable. To cultivate the good will and confidence of the Spanish commandant and his people at St. Louis. To see that the wife of Chevalier de Rocheblave should have restored to her the property of which she was bereft when her husband was sent a prisoner to Williamsburg. To subordinate the military to the civil authority. To encourage trade. And to carry out the above principles with "unwearied diligence." 96. Executing the Law. — Colonel Todd found enough work to keep him busy and it is doubtful if it was all as pleasant as he might have wished. The records which he kept, show that severe penalties were inflicted in those days. On page 18 of the records of his office we find the following: Illinois to-wit: to Richard Winston, Esq., Sheriff-in-Chief of the District of Kaskaskia. Negro Manuel, a Slave in your custody, is condemned by the court of Kaskaskia, after having made honorable Fine at the door of the church, to be chained to a post at the Water Side, and there to be burnt alive and his ashes scattered, as appears to me by Record. This sentence you are hereby required to put in execution on Tuesday next at 9 o'clock in the morning, and this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia the 13th day of June (1779) in the third year of the commonwealth. Jno. Todd. 97. Todd's Death. — In August, 1782, he was tempo- rarily in Lexington, Ky., when an attack was made on the town by Indians. The retreating redskins were pur- sued, and at the Battle of Blue Licks, fought August 18, 1782, Todd was killed. There was a deputy county-lieutenant or deputy-com- mandant in each village, and when Colonel Todd Avas A Student's History of Illinois 63 absent, the reins of government were in the hands of one of these deputies. On the occasion of his absence at the time of his death he had left, it seems, Timothy Demount- brun as county lieutenant. This man seems to have been the only one authorized to rule, till the coming of St. Clair in 1790. 98. Ordinance of 1787. — The territory north and west of the Ohio river was after 1778 called Illinois county, Virginia. By a deed of cession Virginia transferred this land to the general government. In 1787 the old Con- federation congress passed what is known as The Ordi- nance of 1787. This document provided for the estab- lishment of civil government in the territory above men- tioned — the Northwest Territory. Illinois as a future state was a part of this Northwest Territory. This Ordinance provided three stages of government. The first stage should have a governor, three judges, and a secretary. This form should hold till there were 5,000 voters, when the territory should pass into the second stage. The second stage should have in addition to the governor, three judges, and secretary, a legislature of two houses. This stage should hold till a previously desig- nated division should have 60,000 inhabitants, when it could be admitted as a state. 99. Organizing the Government. — Following the pas- sage of the Ordinance of 1787, July 13, congress appointed the officials as follow^s: Governor, General Arthur St. Clair; secretary, Winthrop Sargent; judges, Samuel Holden Parsons, James M. Varnum, and John Cleves Symmes. The governor arrived at Marietta, July 9, 1788. On the 15th of July Governor St. Clair created Wash- ington county, Northwest Territory. In September the Governor and judges adopted a code ot laws for the territorv. 64 A Student's History of Illinois In January these officials came to Cincinnati. Here they created the county of Hamilton. This point was made the seat of government. The governor and secretary reached Kaskaskia on the 5th of March, 1790. Here they created the county of St. Clair. Later, on their journey back toward the seat of government, the county of Knox was organized. There were thus four counties and four county seats in this Northwest Territory — Washington county, Marietta the county seat; Hamilton county, Cincinnati the county seat; St. Clair county, Cahokia the county seat; Knox county, Vincennes the county seat. 100. Conditions in Illinois. — Let us now recall the con- dition in which we left the Illinois country. Colonel Todd served the people of Illinois but a short time. He was the civil commandant up to the day of his death, August 18, 1782. But from the day he left in the sum- mer of 1780, the good order and quiet ongoing began to decline. There was constant decrease of the population; there were no courts; there was no money in circulation. There were only sixty-five Americans who could bear arms in 1791, and only 300 militia of all nationalities. There were probably not more than a thousand souls in the Illi- nois country at this time. A few people were coming into this region. 101. St. Clair County. — When Governor St. Clair and Winthrop Sargent reached Kaskaskia, they must have been greatly disappointed in the condition and character of the people, for Governor St. Clair writing from Cahokia to the secretary of war says — 'They are the most igno- rant people in the world; there is not a 50th man that can either read or write." They were all poor. They had contributed to Clark's needs more liberally than they were able, and the certificates which Clark issued in pay- A Student's History of Illinois 65 MAP OF ILLINOIS SHOWING COUNTY BOUNDARIES 1790 (N.W. TERRITORY.) Map of St. Clair County as Laid off by Gov. St. Clair, April 27, 1790. 66 ^l Student's History of Illinois iiiciit for supplies were still held by these poor settlers. In addition to all this there had been three recent inundations of the Mississippi bottoms. Not only had crops been washed away but the planting had been prevented and much distress had resulted. It is probable that little official w^ork was done by the officers whom St. Clair left in St. Clair county. The courts seldom convened, and the militia men are said to have refused to serve. There was not much difference between the condition of things before and after St. Clair's coming. In 1795, Judge Turner, one of the three federal judges, divided St. Clair into two counties by a line running due east and west through New Design. The north half was called St. Clair county with Cahokia for the county seat, while the south half was called Randolph county with Kaskaskia as the county seat. 102. Indians and Spaniards. — There were two sources of annoyance to the people of Illinois between 1785 and 1800. These were the Indian troubles, and the conduct of Spain in relation to the use of the lower Mississippi. The Kickapoo Indians were quite active in marauding campaigns into Illinois. There does not seem to have been any real military campaigns, and the work on the part of the whites consisted chiefly in defending their homes against the Indian attacks. Block houses were built wherever there were settlers and in many instances stockades were provided for the safety of stock as well as of the people. A number of people were killed in the Illinois country. AVilliam Biggs, afterward the sheriff of St. Clair county, was captured by a band of Kickapoos on the 28th of March, 1788. He was taken to an Indian village and after being held for several weeks was released and came home. In 1826 he wrote out and published the entire story of his capture which is very interesting. A Student's History of Illinois 67 The other matter referred to was the Spaniards' refusal of the use of the lower Mississippi. Spain held New Orleans from 1763 till its recession to France, 1800. Dur- ing a part. of that time Spain refused to allow our river boats to land our produce on the wharf of that city for re-shipment. But in 1795 a treaty w^as made wdth that country by which w^e secured the privilege of the right of "deposit." From this time till the purchase of Louisiana we had free access to the Port of New Orleans. 103. Local Government. — The Ordinance of 1787 pro- vided that w^hen there should be 5,000 free male whites of the age of twenty-one years in the Northwest Territory ihej might organize a legislature on the basis of one repre- sentative for each 500 whites of the age of twenty-one. This was done in the year 1798. Shadrach Bond was elected to represent St. Clair, county and John Edgar to represent Randolph county. The legislature met at Cin- cinnati on the 4th of February, 1799. There were twenty- two members in the lower house, representing eleven coun- ties. William H. Harrison who had succeeded Sargent as secretary was elected a delegate to congress. In the session of congress in the winter of 1799-1800, the proposition to divide the Northwest Territory into two territories was referred to a committee of which Harrison was chairman. The report was favorably received by congress and on the 7th of May, 1800, an act was passed dividing the North- west Territory by a line running from the Ohio to Fort Recovery and thence north to the line separating the terri- tory from Canada. The eastern part was still called the Northwest Terri- tory, Avhile the w^estern portion was to be known as the Indiana Territory. This territory included what is now the states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. 68 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XII. ILLINOIS A PART OF THE INDIANA TERRITORY. 104. Governor Harrison. — The weste'rn part of the old Northwest Territory was, in 1800, organized as the Indiana Territory. It became a territory of the first class, witli Wm. Henry Harrison as territorial governor. The seat of government was placed at Vincennes on the Wabash river. Very naturally the movement of immigration westward would stop in the territory of the states of Ohio and Indiana, hence these two sections were ready for statehood before Illinois. By the census of 1800 what is now Illinois had 2,500 inhabitants. The history of Illinois and that of Indiana are closely blended from 1800 to 1809, when the territory was divided and the Illinois territory was organized as a territory of the first class. 105. Slavery. — It has already been shown that slavery had been introduced into the Illinois country by Philip Renault in 1721. General Gage in a proclamation to the people of the Illinois country in 1763 stated among other things, ''That those who choose to retain their lands and l)ecome subjects of his majesty, shall enjoy the same rights and privileges, the same 'security for their persons and effects and the liberty of trade, as the old subjects of the King." So there was slavery in Illinois as a Britisli |)ossession just as when it was French territory. In 178^ Great Britain transferred this same territory to the United States. The United States in turn agreed to guarantee to the people security for pei'sons and effects. Thus slavery was recognized. Again wlien Virginia ceded her territory A Student's History of Illtuois 09 west of the Alleghany mountains she incorporated in her deed of cession the following — ''Be it enacted — That the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kaskaskia, St. A^incents, and the neighboring villages, who have professed themselves citizens of Virginia shall have their possessions and titles confirmed to them, and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties." 106. Interpretation. — A problem now arose. The treaties confirmed the ownership of slaves in the Indiana territory. The Ordinance of 1787 said there should be no slavery in this territory. This provision in the Ordinance is known as the 6th Article. AVhen Governor St. Clair arrived in the Illinois country in 1790 he put an interpretation upon the 6th article which quieted the slave holder very much. He gave it as his interpretation that the 6th article meant that no more slaves could be brought into the territory, but that the slaves that w^ere already there w^ere not to be disturbed. This was the construction i3ut upon the article for the next several years. 107. Indenture System. — The people of the Indiana territory were very anxious to bring in slaves from the older states and several efforts were made to get Congress to annul the 6th Article of the Ordinance. The refusal of congress to grant the request roused the people to take the matter into their own hands. The Governor and judges acting as a legislative body on September 22, 1803, passed ''A Law^ Concerning Servants." It provided that a person coming into the Territory ''under contract to serve another in any trade or occupation shall be compelled to perform such contract during the term thereof.'' By this law, usually called the ''indenture law," a man living in Kentucky could bring his slaves into the Indiana Territory and hold them here under this contract system. 70 A Student's History of Illinois In this way hundreds of slaves were held in various parts of what is now Indiana and Illinois. 108. Louisiana. — After the purchase of the Louisiana territory in 1803, that region was placed under the man- agement and control of Governor Harrison. In 1805 Louisiana was separated from Indiana. Shortly after- wards Aaron Burr visited Vincennes and Kaskaskia on his way down the Ohio and the Mississippi and it is said secured followers from each of these towns. Governor Harrison was superintendent of Indian affairs in this w^estern region and between 1803 and 1809 made a number of treaties with Indian tribes by which large tracts of land in Indiana and Illinois were ceded to the United States. 109. Indiana Territory Divided. — Indiana Territory became a territory of the second class January 3, 1805. The seat of government was still Vincennes, and General Harrison was governor. The members of the legislature from the counties of St. Clair and Randolph were Pierre Menard, John Hay, Dr. George Fisher, Shadrach Bond, and Wm. Biggs. The Illinois people complained that it was a great incon- venience to go so far to the seat of government. In a petition to congress the Illinois people complained that the road to Vincennes was a hundred and eighty miles through an uninhabited country which it was really dangerous to travel. Another argument was that the governor, Wm. H. Har- rison, appointed only friends to office and that all impor- tant places were filled with the governor's Indiana friends. A third argument in favor of the division was that the people in the Illinois region were favorable to slavery while the Indiana people were quite indifferent to the sub- ject of introducing slavery. A Student's History of Illinois 71 There was organized in and about Kaskaskia a bitter opposition to the separation of Illinois from Indiana. Petitions were sent to Congress praying that body not to separate the two regions. The controversy grew intensely bitter and resulted in the murder of one of the advocates of separation. The advocates of division carried their point and on February 3, 1809, Congress passed an act separating the Indiana Territory, by a line running north from Vincennes to Canada, into the two territories of Indiana and Illinois. St. Clair County's First Court House, Still Standing in a Park in Chicago. 72 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XIII. ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 110. First Class. — The seat of government for the lUi- nois Territory was fixed at Kaslvaskia; Ninian Edwards was made Governor of the new territory, and Nathaniel Pope was made Secretary. The territory was to be of the first class. Governor Edwards was a man of unusual parts. He had a collegiate training and was a man of wonderful resources. He arrived in June, 1809, and immediately called a legislative session of the governor and judges. The laws first provided were those previously in force in the Indiana Territory. The government of the Illinois Territory was now com- pletely organized and the people realized what was for many years a buoyant hope. They said in favor of divi- sion, that it would increase immigration and bring pros- perity to a lagging and unremunerative industrial life. They argued that towns would spring up, farms would be opened, and that commerce would be greatly augmented. Their prophecy was soon fulfilled. 111. Land Offices. — By a law of congress, passed March 26, 1804, there were established three land offices — one at Kaskaskia, one at Vincennes, and one at Detroit. When the United States came into possession of the public domain, there was no thought of attempting to dispose of it in smaller tracts than many thousands of acres. It was supposed that large companies and wealthy indi- viduals would buy these large tracts and then go into the retail business. When Mr. Harrison was a delegate .] Student's History of Illinois 73 ill congress, lie got a bill through which reduced the tracts to one square mile — 640 acres. The price fixed was $2.00 per acre, one-fourth to be paid in cash and three-fourths on credit. Later the size of the tract was reduced ; so also was the price. The establishing of the land office at Kaskaskia in 1804, greatly increased the immigration to the Illinois country. So much so that the population of Illinois grew from 2,500 in 1800 to 12,282 in 1810, by the census of those dates. 112. Extent of Settlements. — When Governor Edwards came to take charge of affairs in the Illinois Territory, or shortly thereafter, in addition to the number of settle- ments in the two counties of Randolph and St. Clair, there were settlements in the territory composing the present counties of Jackson, Union, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Gal- latin, Monroe. In spite of the drawbacks of the undivided territory prior to 1809, there had been a great increase in population, in industries, in home-making, and in all the activities which were destined eventually to make Illi- nois a great State. But shortly after Governor Edwards arrived in the new territory, the peace and safety of the ten thousand inhabi- tants were threatened. Tecumseh and the Prophet were busy inciting the Indians to deeds of violence, and as a result the battle of Tippecanoe was fought on the 6th of November, 1811 ; and while Illinois had no military organization in the battle, yet there were individuals from around the Salt Works and Shawneetown who took part in the engagement. Colonel Isaac White of Shawneetown, a lessee of the Salt Works, was a personal friend of Gov- ernor Harrison. He took part in the campaign and was killed in the battle above referred to. 113. The War of 1812.— In 1811, Governor Edwards took a very active part in putting his territory in a state of defense and is said to have expended large sums of 74 ^i Student's History of Illinois money from his private purse for the equipment of the miHtia. Congress also organized a regiment of rangers in the west. It was put in command of CoL Wm. Russell, of Kentucky. Block houses were built everywhere. Probably as many as twenty-five blockhouses and crude forts Avere constructed in what is now called Southern Illinois. Reynolds says that often four blockhouses wei'e arranged in the form of a square, one at each corner, prob- ably a hundred feet apart. In between was a palisade of logs set on end ten or fifteen feet high. Into these stockades the neighbors brought all their stock and other movables. They would remain in these enclosures for several days. The timber or other obstruction was removed for several yards around in all directions, thus enabling the occupants to give the Indians a warm recep- tion. In these crudely constructed defenses, they had the usual neighborhood ^ ^scraps," while on Sundays they always had their regular religious service. In case of attacks by the Indians there was an immediate proclama- tion of martial law. The women made bullets and in other ways assisted in the defense of the fort. 114. Fort Dearborn Massacre. — War was declared June 19, 1812, and on the 15th of August General Hull sur- rendered Detroit. This misfortune to the American cause aroused general activity among the Indians, and the mas- sacre of the garrison at Fort Dearborn followed. This was one of the greatest calamities that had ever befallen the Illinois country. This fort was in charge of Capt. Heald who had fewer than one hundred men in the fort. He was advised to abandon the fort and seek safety at Fort Wayne in Indiana. He made an agreement with the Indians to turn over the fort to them if they would give him a safe escort to Fort Wavne. A Student's History of Illinois 75 Old Fort Dearborn, Built in the Year 1803. On the iiiorniiig of tlie 15th of August the little army was ready to depart for Fort Wayne. Each soldier was given twenty-five rounds of ammunition. The baggage wagons, the ambulance, and the little army proceeded on their fatal journey. When a mile and a half from the fort they discovered Indians hidden behind sand hills, ready to attack. The soldiers were fired upon and returned the fire. The con- flict then became general and lasted for some time. Fin- ally after nearly half of the soldiers had been killed, the remnant surrendered. In the agreement to surrender no stipulation was made as to the treatment of the wounded, and it is said by eye witnesses that their treatment by the infuriated Indians beggars all description. Twenty-six regulars, twelve militia, two w^omen and twelve children were left dead on the field of conflict. The prisoners were scattered here and there but were flnallv ransomed. 76 A Student's History of Illinois 115. Illinois Campaigns. — Wlieii news of this dreadful affair reached Kaskaskia, Governor Edwards decided to take immediate steps for the protection of his people. Fort Russell was built one and a half miles northwest of Edwardsville. This was made headquarters. Here Avere collected soldiers, munitions, and provisions. Two expeditions w^ere planned against the Indians of the Illinois river region in 1813, but both were barren of results. Still other expeditions went into the northern part of Illinois from the south end of the State; in one of these, Major Zachary Taylor, a future president of the United States was in command. From the beginning to the end of this struggle there were probably two or- three thousand citizens enrolled in the service. Scores of lives Avere lost — most of them near their homes, by bands of prowding Indians. Block-houses and Stockade Such as Were Built in the War of 1812. A St lid rut's History of lUijwls 77 -CHAPTER XIV. PREPARED ¥OK STATEHOOD. 116. Illinois Second Class. — While the war of 1S12 was going on, Illinois became a territory of the second class. There were now five counties. The two old ones were St. Clair and RandoliDh, and the three new ones were Madi- son, Gallatin, and Johnson. An election was ordered in these five counties for five members of the legislative council, and for seven members of the house of repre- sentatives, and for a delegate in congress. This Territorial Assembly met at Kaskaskia November 25, 1812, and proceeded to organize by choosing Pierre Menard, president of the council and George Fisher speaker of the house. Reynolds says the whole of the assembly boarded at one house and slept in one room. The work before this first session was to re-enact the laws for the territory which served while the territory was of the first class, to adopt military measures for the defense of the people against the Indians, and to provide revenue for the maintenance of the territorial government. 117. Some Early Laws. — The laws which w^ere in force in Illinois as a first class territory were all taken from the laws of some older state. Those passed by the legislature w^hile the territory was in the second grade were usually of the same nature as those in use under the first grade. It will be very interesting as well as quite instructive for us to know some of these laws. A few are given in substance : For burglary, larceny, horse stealing, and bigamy, the punisliment was from 25 to 100 laslies Children and 7S ./ Student's History of Illinois servants could be Avliipped by i)eriiiissi()ii of tbe court. If a man were fined and could not pay, his time could be sold by the sheriff. Standing in the pillory was a common mode of punishment. Branding was authorized in extreme cases. ^'For reveling, quarreling, fighting, profanely cursing, disorderly behavior at divine worship, and hunting on the Sabbath, penalties by fines were prescribed." The laws providing for the collection of debts were all quite favorable to the creditor. No property, real or per- sonal, was exempt from judgment and execution; and if the property did not satisfy a debt, the debtor could be cast into prison. 118. Pre-emption Law. — Shadrach Bond was the first delegate from Illinois to sit in congress. He was elected in 1812. During his term as delegate in congress he secured the enactment of the first pre-emption law ever put upon the stutute books in the United States. This law will be better appreciated when we understand some of tlie practices of frontier life. It often happened that the surveyed land was not placed on the market for a number of years. The settler usually selected his lands and made improvements with the expectation that he would buy the land when it came on the market. Unprincipled men would watch and would often step in ahead of the settler at the land office and buy the improved land at government prices. This often resulted in violence and bloodshed. Bond's pre-emption law recognized the settler^s equity in the improvements, and prevented anyone else from buying the land without the consent of the one who had improved it. This was legislating in the interest of the pioneers who had borne the burden and the heat of the dav. A Student's History of Illinois 7§ 119. Immigration. — There was a rapid increase in the population of the Territory of Illinois from the day it became a territory of the second grade. New counties were added to the five previously named. The new ones were — Edwards and White in 1815; Monroe, Crawford, Jackson, Pope, Bond, in 1816; Union, Franklin, and Washington in 1818. Illinois Territory now had fifteen counties. It should be kept in mind that some of these counties were organized with very few people. However the popu- lation was greatly multiplying, for by 1818 there were nearly 40,000 people within the State. There were at least five factors which favored an increase in population. 1. The pre-emption law" above noted. 2. The modes of travel had improved. 3. The policy of organizing counties was a far-sighted one. 4. The treaties made with the Indians. 5. The close of the war of 1812-15 marked the move- ment of large immigrations into the west. 120. Banks and Banking. — Our neighboring states of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri had each a system of banking which furnished an abundance of money; indeed very much of this money found its way into Illinois. The territorial legislature of 1816 passed a law chartering banks at Shawneetown, Kaskaskia, and Edwardsville. We shall speak of these more fully in a later chapter. There was also a charter issued by the legislature of 1817 incorporating the City and Bank of Cairo. At that time there was nothing in the nature of a town or city where Cairo now stands. The bank was opened in Kaskaskia in a brick building adjacent to the land office. 80 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XV. ILLINOIS A STATE. 121. Services of Nathaniel Pope. — The territorial legis- lature in the spring of 1818 sent a petition to the delegate in congress, Mr. Nathaniel Pope, praying congress for the passage of an act which would permit the people of Illinois Territory to form a constitution and apply for admission into the Union. Mr. Pope presented the petition on the 16th of January, 1818, and it w^as referred to the committee on territories of which he was a member. Mr. Pope being a representa- tive of the people making the petition, the committee requested him to draw the bill for the enabling act. This he did and in due course of time the committee was ready to report. On April 7, 1818, the committee reported the bill which had been drawn. The report was now referred to the committee of the whole in which the bill was taken up April 13. Mr. Pope had placed the northern boundary at 41 degrees and 39 minutes. But in the committee of the whole he asked to have it moved north to 42 degrees and 30 minutes. The committee of the whole agreed to this. As a consequence Illinois secured the city of Chicago and the two northern tiers of counties in the state. The Enab- ling Act thus amended was passed by the congress April 18, 1818, and it became a law. 122. The Enabling Act. — The act has seven sections. First. The people of the Territory of Illinois were authorized to form a constitution. Second. The boundarv of the state v»^as fixed. A Student's History of lUino'is 81 Third. This section stated the quahfications of those who should vote for inembers of tlio constitutional con- vention. It also named the fifteen c'/Uiiti(^s which should send representatives to the said convention as follows: Bond, Madison. St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Jackson, Johnson, Pope. (uiUatin, White, Edwards, Crawford, Union, Washington, and Franklin. The election day was set for the first Monday in July (6) and the two follow- ing days. The number of delegates to the convention was fixed two for each county except Madison, St. Clair, and Gallatin, which should have three each — thirty-three in all. Fourth. The day for the meeting of the convention was fixed for the first Monday in August. The form of govern- ment must be Republican, and there must be 40,000 inhabitants before the territory could be admitted as a State. Fifth. The State when admitted shall be entitled to one representative in congress. Sixth. The following propositions were offered to tho convention : 1. Section number 16 in each township, which should be for the benefit of the schools of that township. 2. The gift of all salt springs within the State together with the lands reserved for them. These salt springs and land to be held by the legislature for the benefit of the State. The lands could not be sold, nor rented for a longer period than ten years at any one time. 3. The State was offered five per cent of the net proceeds of the sale of public lands within the State. 4. The State was offered a township of land to be used to found a seminary of learning. Seventh. All territory north of the north line of Indiana and north of the north line of Illinois should be attached to the Michigan territory for purposes of govern- ment. 82 . / Student's History of Illinois 123. Constitutional Convention. — As has been said, the EnabHng Act became a law the 18th of April, 1818. The election of delegates to the constitutional convention was fixed for the first Monday in July, and the constitutional convention w^as to convene the first Monday in August. But the first thing to do w^as to take the census of the territory, and if it did not have the 40,000 then there would be no need for the convention. It Avas soon evident that the territory did not have the required number. The story is told that the marshal stationed his enumer- ators on the public highways and counted the travellers and immigrants, regardless of their destination. Not only this, but it is asserted that often the same traveller or immigrant was counted twice or even thrice. At last the enumerators returned 40,000 inhabitants, but as the returns were afterward footed up there were really only 34,620 people in the proposed State. The delegates were duly elected and assembled at Kaskaskia. on the first Mon- day in August. There w^ere two subjects which were dis- cussed in the canvass for delegates to the convention ; one was the question of w^iether the constituency ought to have the right of instruction, and the other was the ques- tion of slavery. The following is a list of those w^ho assembled as delegates : St. Clair county — Jesse B. Thomas, John Messenger, James Lemen, Jr. Randolph — George Fisher, Elias Kent Kane. Madison — Benjamin Stephenson, Joseph Borough, Abraham Prickett. Gallatin — Michael Jones, Leonard White, Adolgtius Frederick Hubbard. Johnson — Hezekiah West, Wm. McFatridge. Edwards — Seth Gard, Levi Compton. White — Willis Hargrave, Wm. McHenry. Monroe — Caldwell Cams, Enoch Moore. A Student's History of Illinois [ Pope — Samuel O'Melveny. Hamlet Ferguson. Jackson — Conrad Will, James Hall, Jr. Crawford — Joseph Kltchell, Edward N. Cullom. Bond — Thomas Kirkpatrick, Samuel J. Morse. Union — ^Wm. Eckols, John Whittaker. Washington — Andrew Bankson (other delegate died during convention). Franklin — Isham Harrison, Thomas Roberts. The convention met August 3, 1818, and finished its labors and adjourned August 26. Jesse B. Thomas from St. Clair county was elected chairman, and Wm. C. Greenup was made secretary. Up to within the past 10 years no one knew of a copy of the proceedings of the con- vention, but a copy has been found and is in the possession of the Illinois State Historical Library. The constitution was not submitted to the people for ratification and the only officers which the people might elect were: Governor, lieutenant governor, members of the general assembly, sheriffs, and coroners. The offices which were filled by appointment of either the governor or the general assembly were : Judges of the supreme, cir- cuit and probate courts; prosecuting attorney, county clerk, circuit clerk, recorder, justice of the peace, auditor of public accounts, attorney general, secretary of state. 124. The Constitution of 1818.— Before taking up the elections under the constitution, let us make a brief study of the document. Article one provides that all governmental power shall be exercised through three departments, namely: The legislative, the executive, the judicial. Article two vests the legislative authority in a general assembly which shall consist of a senate and a house of representatives. It also fixes qualifications of members of the two houses, states the modes by which bills may become laws. Section 27 reads — "In all elections all white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years, hav- 84 A Stuihvit's History of Illinois iiig resided in the State hix juoiitlis next preceding the election, shall enjoy the right of an elector; but no person shall be entitled to vote except in the county or district in which he shall actually reside at the time of the election.'' Article three vests the executive authority in a governor and other officers and defines their duties. Article four locates the judicial power in one supreme court and in such inferior courts as the legislature may from time to time ordain and establish. Article five creates and organizes the militia. Article six has three sections which treat of the whole subject of slavery — slaves, identured servants, negroes and mulattoes. Article seven provides for the amending of the consti- tution. Article eight contains a bill of rights. The bill con- tains tw^enty-three sections and covers all imaginable claims to protection which the individual might ever need. The schedule is a miscellaneous collection of provisions which could not easily be classified elsewhere. 125. The First Election. — The day fixed by the consti- tion for the election of the officers provided for, was the third Thursday (the 17th) in September and the two suc- ceeding days — Friday and Saturday. At this election Shadrach Bond was chosen governor, Pierre Menard was elected lieutenant governor, and John McLean Avas elected the representative in congress. There were also elected fourteen senators and twenty-nine repre- sentative to the state legislature. It will be noticed that this election was held, and these officers chosen before the constitution was accepted by congress. But it was almost a certainty the constitution would be accepted, and so the people felt justified in doing this preliminary work. The constitution was accepted and the state admitted, December 3, 1818. .J Student's History of JUiiwis 85 CHAPTER XVI. A RETROSPECT. 126. A Growing Country. — The year 1818 was a not- able one in the history of IlKnois. In this year was reaHzed an event which many had looked forward to with great interest; this was the year when the State became of age. Its history reached back to the discovery by ^larqnette and Joliet, nearly a hundred and fifty years. It had actually been settled by whites for one hundred and eighteen years. Its people had lived successively under three govern- ments — the French, the English, and the American. Immigration had reached it from three sources — the north, the south, and the east. Each of the three quarters brought its own peculiar people. No other district of equal area created such widespread interest in Europe as the Illinois country. The fame of its rich soil, its noble rivers, its wide stretching lake, its abundance of wild game, its famous wealth of mines, and its geographical situation was spread abroad by every traveller who chanced to traverse its boundless prairies or to thread its silvery streams. For a century after the planting of the first permanent settlement the growth of institutional life was very slow. The people for a large part, were unambitious, thriftless, and lived without purpose. Those who were responsible for the continuous ongoing of the settlements looked upon them as a means only to an end, which end was not within the grasp of those who were building more wisely than they knew. The French settlements on the 86 .] Student's History of IHiuo'is Mississippi could never have lived through the century following their founding, had it not been for the strong arm of the royal government, and the equally strong sup- port of the church. How different from the Anglo-Saxon settlements on the Atlantic coast which prospered in spite of both royalty and ecclesiasticism. At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were probably fewer than 3,000 souls in the territory. They were distributed chiefly along the Mississippi, a few being on the Ohio, and a few along the Wabash river. 127. The Industries. — The chief lines of industrial life were farming, commerce, trading, manufacturing, lum- bering, fishing, etc. Wheat was raised in large quantities in the American Bottom. The harvesting was done with the old fashioned sickle. Reynolds savs there were no Ruins of a Grist Steam Mill built by the side of the Pax Pagi Mill near Kaskaskia. The two buhr-stones seen in the ruins were brought from France and used in the Pax Pagi Mill. Many of the tiniTbers seen are as much as twelve inches square. .i Student's History of Illinois 87 cradles in those days. The wheat was threshed with flail or tramped out by means of horses. The wheat was ground at water mills or horse mills. Corn was raised but not so extensively as wheat. Hogs were fattened by allowing them to feed upon the mast which in that early day was abundant. The corn was used to make ^^lye hominy" and ^^samp" ; whiskey was distilled by some of the settlers who had come from Ten- nessee, Kentucky, or the mountainous districts of Vir- ginia. Considerable whiskey was drunk, especially on public days. Fruits were plentifully grown. The French villagers usually had a few fruit trees in their back yards. Flax was grown in considerable quantities. Half of the population made their living by the chase, as coureur du bois, or by keel boating. The lead mines in the northwest part of the State and in southwestern Wis- consin furnished an excellent market for the surplus food products of the Illinois settlements. The transportation of this provision to the mines and the return with lead down the river, gave work for a large contingent of river men. Lumber was not extensively used. But there were a few mills for making lumber. The whip saw was the chief dependence for sawing boards, but in about 1800 a water mill for both sawing and grinding was erected on Horse creek. Lumber was used quite largely in building flat boats for the river trade. Some of it, of course, was used in the construction of houses. Among the limited kinds of manufacturing, the mak- ing of flour was perhaps the most general. This flour was marketed in St. Louis, in the lead mines, in New Orleans, in the eastern states, and some of it is said to have been shipped to Europe. Salt was made at the Salines, in what is now Gallatin county, also in Jackson county on Big Muddy, in Monroe, 7 or 8 miles west of Waterloo, m 88 ./ Student's History of Illinois Bond, and possibl}^ in other localities. There were few tanneries. It is said that the French women did not take kindly to such work as making butter, spinning, weaving, etc. Blacksmiths were scarce, and so the wagons of those early days were made chiefly of wood, as were also the l^lows. 128. Education. — Schools w^ere scarce. It is said that the Jesuits had a school in Kaskaskia in the middle of the eighteenth century. Samuel J. Seely is said to have been the first American school teacher in Illinois. He taught school in New Design. He came here as early as 1783 and taught in an abandoned squatter's cabin. The school w^as continued the next year by Francis Clark, and he was follow^ed by an Irishman named Halfpenny. Halfpenny was called the ^'School Master General of Illi- nois," because he taught in so many localities. He built a Avater mill on Fountaine creek, not far from Waterloo, in 1795. ^Monroe had schools as early at 1800. Randolph had a school as early as 1790. The teacher was John Doyle, a soldier wdth Colonel Clark in 1778. A Mr. Davis, an old sailor, taught in the fort in Baldwin precinct in Randolph county in 1816. John Bradsbury, ^^faithful but not learned,'' taught a school in Madison county near Collinsville as early as 1804. John Atwater opened a school near Edwardsville in 1807. St. Clair county had for a pioneer teacher John Messenger, who was also a surveyor. Schools w^ere opened at Turkey Hill in 1808 by John Bradley, and at Shiloh in 1811. 129. The Catholics. — In an earlier day the Catholic church was the only religous organization. At Kaskaskia was the mission of the Immaculate Conception. This mission is said to have been founded by Father Marquette «is early as 1675 near the present town of Utica. It w^as moved to Ka;.kaskia about 1700. About the same time A Student's History of Illinois 89 a mission was founded at Cahokia, and later one at Fort Chartres. The value of these early missionary efforts from the point of view of the' conversion of the Indians, has prob- ably been over estimated. Marquette reports only the baptizing of a dying infant at the end of three days hard preaching among the Kaskaskia Indians. But it must not be thought that the work of the Catholic church in the Illinois country was w^holly fruitless. The godly life of the priests exerted its influence upon the savages whenever the two came in contact. 130. The Baptists. — There were three leading protes- tant churches represented in Illinois prior to the admis- sion of the State into the Union. These w^ere in order of their coming the Baptists, the Methodists, and the Presby- terians. The Baptists w^ere represented in Illinois as early as 1787. In that year the Rev. James Smith, from Lin- coln county, Kentucky, came to the New Design settle- ment and engaged in evangelistic work. Smith was fol- lowed by the Rev. John K. Simpson and his son, they by Rev. Smith, who had previously returned to Kentucky. The Rev. David Badgley organized the first Baptist church in the Illinois territory in the summer of 1796. The greatest representative of the Baptist faith in the early days of the State was Rev. John M. Peck, but he did not arrive till 1817 and we shall speak of his labors later. 131. The Methodists.— The Methodists came into the territory as early as 1793. They were first represented by the Rev. Joseph Lillard, w^ho came from Kentucky. He was a circuit rider in that state. He organized a church at New Design and appointed Joseph Ogle as class leader. Probably the most noted of the early Methodist preach- ers was the Rev. Jesse Walker, who came from Kentucky 90 A Student's History of Illinois by appointment from the ''Western Conference.'' The Western Conference, held in 1806, appointed Jesse Walker circuit rider for the Illinois circuit which at that time was one of eight circuits of the Cumberland District. The Kev. Wm. McKendree, afterwards Bishop McKendree, was the Presiding Eider of the Cumberland District, and so earnest was he that Jesse Walker should get started that lie came with him to the Illinois territory. They swam their horses across seven different streams, camped out at night and cooked their own meals. They finally arrived at the Turkey Hill settlement near the present city of Belleville. The winter of 1806-7 the Rev. Walker preached in the homes of the people in and around New Design. In the summer of 1808 he held a campmeeting which was doubtless the first effort of the kind ever made in the State. Walker soon had 218 members in the Illinois cir- cuit. He afterwards established a church in St. Louis. 132. The Presbyterians. — The first Presbyterian preacher to visit the Illinois territory was the Rev. John Evans Finley. He reached Kaskaskia in a keel boat from Pittsburg in 1797. ''He preached and catechised, also bap- tized several of the redmen." Although the Rev. Mr. Finley fully intended to settle in the Illinois Territory, he and his companions decided to leave when they learned they would be obliged to do military duty. ''In the Illinois Territory, containing more than 12,000 people, there is no Presbyterian or Congregational minister. There are a number of good people in the Territory who would be glad to have such ministers among them.'' These facts were reported in 1812. No Presbyterian preacher was settled or preached for any length of time before the coming of the Rev. James McGready in 1816. He organ- ized the Sharon church, in what is now White county, in September of that year. A reverend gentleman by the name of Samuel Wylie had a very prosperous congrega- A Student's History of lUinois 91 tion of Covenanters in Randolph connty in 1817. He and his people became very noted throughout Southern Illinois. 133. Society. — The social life of Illinois prior to 1818 was certainly not of a very high order. We do not mean there were no good people and that there were not those of culture and refinement, for indeed many of the people who became permanent settlers w^ere from localities in the older states where the agencies of culture, learning, and religion were abundant. However, in any newly settled region there is always found a very rough class of people, and while not necessarily in the majority in numbers, to the casual observer they stand out promi- nently and give character to the community at large. In dress the early pioneers were content with the home- made product. The men often wearing breeches and shirt of the tanned hide of wild animals, and the cap of fox hide or of raccoon skin. This gave them a very rough appearance. Their homes were very crude and not always comfortable. The household utensils were such as could be manufactured by each head of the family. There were no stoves, cooking being done on the fire- place hearth. Swapping work was quite common. The particular kinds of work referred to w^ere w^ood chopping, corn gath- ering, harvesting, house-raising, and road-making. Some of these gatherings were very enjoyable to the pioneers for they would often spread their meals upon the ground and gather about in modern picnic style. Dancing was a very common amusement and since there were very few preachers, there were few others to object. The French settlers especially were fond of dancing. Horse-racing was another very common recreation. The horse-races usually came off on Saturdays or on public days. Race tracks were common features of many localities. At these 92 A Student's History of Illinois races other amusements were indulged in ; fighting was no unusual thing. The ^ 'bully" was a man of notoriety. Swearing of the hardest sort was heard and while there were laws against it, still the people indulged. ''Swear- ing by the name of God, Christ Jesus, or the Holy Ghost," as well as Sabbath breaking, was finable from 50 cents to $2. Perhaps one of the most characteristic customs, and one that still lingers in many localities, was the ^'shooting match." A farmer's wife who had been quite lucky in raising turkeys, would dispose of them in the fall by means of the shooting match. If the turkey was to bring $1 then ten privileges to shoot must be bought at 10 cents each. When the necessary number of chances was taken then a mark was put up at a certain distance and the contest began. The marksman who made the best shot got the turkey. Among these frontiersmen "tak- ing a rest" was a confession of lack of skill. ^' /: ^ Wolf Point, the Junction of the North and South Branches of the Chicago River, 1832. A Student's History of Illinois 93 GOVERNOR SHADRACH BOND. 1818-1822. Shadrach Bond was a native of Maryland. He was born Novem- ber 24, 1778. He was brought up on a farm. His education was limited. He came with his father to Illinois in 1794, and settled near New Design, in what is now Monroe county. Mr. Bond served in the legislature of the Indiana Territory and in congress, and was for a while receiver of public moneys at Kaskaskia. He was the only candidate for Governor in 1818. He favored making Illinois a slave State. Governor Bond ran for congress after serving as the chief executive, but was defeated by Daniel P. Cook. He died In 1832. His body lies buried in the cemetery in Chester. CHAPTER XVII. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BOND. 134. Extra Session of the Legislature. — Governor Bond convened the legislature in extra session on the 4th day of January, 1819. It was in session till March 31, 1819. The work of the legislature in the spring of 1819 was along four lines, as follows: 94 A Student's History of Illinois 1. The adoption of a body of laws, taken largely from the laws of the neighboring states. 2. Revenue laws were enacted by means of wliicli the taxes were to be raised. 3. Salaries of State officers were fixed. 4. The passing of a law providing for the removal of the State capital. 135. —The Black Code.— The ''Black Code"' was a por- tion of the body of laws provided by the General Assembly. The "Code" was approved March 30, 1819. There were 25 sections, but only a synopsis can be given. These law^s provided that free negroes and mulattoes com- ing into the State must bring a certificate of freedom which must be recorded in the clerk's office. Negroes and mulattoes who failed to comply with the law would be removed by the overseers of the poor of the county. It was against the law^ to bring in slaves for the pur- pose of freeing them; however, one might do so if he woidd give $1,000 bond for each slave's good behavior. For failure to comply with this provision a fine of $200 could be assessed. Free negroes in the State, upon passage of the act, must file with the clerk a description of themselves with evidence of freedom. They were then given a certificate of their freedom. Persons hiring negroes without these certificates were finable at the rate of $1.50 per day for the oftense. PTarboring a slave or preventing his capture by his owner was a felony. Free negroes without certificates of freedom might be arrested and upon being advertised might be sold for one year. Servants or slaves could l^e whipped for laziness. A free negro could own or hold by indenture another negro A Student's History of lUinois 95 but not a white person. Slaves mid servants could not enter into any business transaction. Slaves and servants were not allowed to assemble for carousals or dancing, and any person who permitted it on his place was subject to a fine of $10. 136. Revenues. — The laws provided for the raising of the money with which the government of the State was to be carried on. The tax on lands of resident owners was used for county purposes. The State tax was raised upon lands owned by non-residents. In 1824 the State revenue was about $25,000. The third group of laws provided for the salaries of the officers. The following were the salaries: Governor, $1,000; lieutenant governor, $6 per day during the ses- sion of the legislature; secretary of state $1,100, and $300 for clerk hire; auditor, $800; treasurer, $800; adjutant general, $100; supreme judges, $800; circuit judges, $750; attorney general, $350 and fees; six State's attor- neys $250 each and fees ; agent for saline lands, $200, etc. Nearly all the county officers received no set salaries, but were content to serve for the fees which came into the offices. 137. Removal of the Capital. — Among the laws passed was one which provided for the removal of the capital of the State from Kaskaskia. Section 13 of the schedule attached to the constitution, provided for the removal of the capital at any time the general assembly so deter- mined. It also provided that at the first session of the legislature held under the constitution that body should jDetition congress for a gift of not more than four sections of land nor less than one section upon which the new capital city should be located., 138. The Gift from Congress. — Congress was very will- ing to make the gift, which it did on March 3, 1819, and the commission proceeded to locate the new capital. 96 A Shident's History of Illinois Old State House in Kaskaskia. The State probably never owned a capitol building in Kaskaskia, but rented rooms for use of the Territorial and State legislatures. Mr. Gustavus Pape, now living in Chester, came to Kaskaskia in 1832, and he says the above building was known as the Old State House. It recently fell into the river. The new city was located about three miles south of where the 38th degree of north latitude crosses the Kaskaskia river. It was in the midst of a forest with a good spring near. There were large areas of excellent farming land in that vicinity. The new capital was called Vandalia. A wooden building was erected and the State records removed to the capitol in December, 1820. A wagon road had to be opened a part of the distance from Kaskaskia to Vandalia. 139. Second General Assembly. — ^The times were very hard. Prices were very low, and money extremely scarce. There was no specie in the country. The banks of Ohio and Kentucky had failed, also the bank in St. Louis, and those in Illinois under the law of 1816. Most of the immigrants were poor, there was no commerce to bring money into the State, and ruin stared every one in the face. A Student's History of Illinois 97 Under these circumstances the people naturally looked to the legislature to remedy the evils of the time. A bill was introduced to create a State Bank. This bank was to have a capital of $500,000. The board of directors to manage this large financial venture was composed of a body of men — one from each county — selected by the legislature. There was to be a sort of parent bank at Vandalia, with branch banks at Edw^ardsville, Browns- ville (in Jackson county), Shawneetown, and at (Albion) the county seat of Edwards county. There was not ^ dollar of capital for this bank, the State simply pledged its credit and honor for the redemption of the circulation. The bill was vetoed but the legislature passed it over Edwardsville Bank Bill. This bill bears date 1821, and was issued to the grandfather of Miss Anna Cameron of Upper Alton, who kindly loaned it to the author. the veto. This paper money fell rapidly in value till it was worth not more than tw^enty-five cents on the dollar. Good money such as gold, silver, and United States Bank notes disappeared, and only the worthless State Bank bills remained. 140. Price of Land Reduced. — A part of the distress of the times came from the indebtedness of the people for 98 .1 Student's History of Illinois (heir lands. In 1800 when the lands \yere put upon the market in smaller quantities, the price was fixed at $2 per acre. One-fourth of this amount or fifty cents per acre, must be paid in cash, and on the other three-fourths, a credit of several years was given, or if the purchaser l^referred he could pay all cash at once in which case the price was $1.64 per acre. Most people preferred to ])uy on time and such people were careless about making the deferred payments. The government became lenient and few ever suffered for their negligence in making their final payments. By 1820 there was supposed to be owing TO tlio general government more than $20,000,000 for lands bought on credit. Congress Avas memorialized to bring some sort of relief to the people. Senator Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky introduced a bill which was enacted into law providing that those indebted to the government for lands might rehnquish enough land to pay the debt and thus receive a clear title to the rest of their land. The law also provided that hereafter the price of government land should be $1.25 per acre — cash. 141. Growth of the State. — The cheaper price of land l)rought new settlers and eleven new counties were laid out and organized. The new counties were Alexander, Clark, Jefferson, Wayne, Greene, Fayette, Montgomery, Lawrence, Hamilton, Sangamon, and Pike — making now twenty-six counties in the State. The population by the census of 1820 was 55,211. It was less than 40,000 in 1818. This influx of population was very largely from the southern states. The State's income for 1819 was less than $8,000, and a loan of $25,000 was negotiated. There were no schools, people were poor, and there was much disorder and violation of law. The governor was not obliged to live at the capital and so the new capital, Vandalia. was rleserted at the close of the legislative session A Student's History of Illinois 99 of 1821. It took on new life, however, at the assembling of the legislature in December, 1822, when there was begun the hard fight to make Illinois a slave state. ^.~™ Capitol at Vandalia. The first capitol at Vandalia was a small wooden struc- ture two stories high. It burned December 9, 1823, and another building was erected at a cost of about $15,000. This was torn down in 1836, and the above building erected. It now serves Fayette County as a county court house. 100 A Student's History of Illinois From "Washburne's Life of Edward Col,es." Courtesy and permission of A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago. GOVERNOR EDWARD COLES. 1822-1826. Edward Coles was born in Virginia, December 17, 1786. He re- ceived some college training though he did not graduate. His father was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and was personally associated with Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and other patriots and istatesmen. Young Coles served as private sec- retary to President James Madison. He went as special ambassador to Russia in 1817. On his return trip he visited La Fayette in France. He came to Illinois in the spring of 1819. On his way to Illinois he freed some twenty or more negro .slaves, but brought them on into Illinois and helped them to get started in the world. He was a pronounced anti-slavery man. He was registrar of the land office in Edwardsville at thQ time of his election as governor. After the election on the slavery question in 1824, Mr. Coles was sued and fined $2,000, for bringing free negroes into the state. His fine was remitted by the legislature. In 1833 he moved to Phila- delphia where he lived to the ripe old age of 82 years. A Student's History of Illinois 101 CHAPTER XVIII. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR COLES— A GREAT STRUGGLE. 142. Elected Governor. — Mr. Coles was comparatively a newcomer in Illinois when the canvass began for governor in 1822. It is said, however, that he was a very successful electioneerer. He was always well dressed, courteous, and dignified. It was understood that Coles was an anti-slavery man, while his chief opponent, Mr. Justice Phillips, was in favor of that ' 'peculiar institu- tion." The slavery party elected the lieutenant governor as well as a majority in both branches of the general assembly, 143. Inaugural. — The legislature convened at Vandalia the first Monday in December, 1822, This was on the sec- ond, and on the fifth the newly elected governor gave his inaugural address. This speech by the governor recom- mended — First, that the legislature foster the agricultural society which was then in its infancy. Second, he sug- gested that a subject of prime importance was the finan- cial problem. Third, he was hopeful that the State might soon see its way clear to take steps to connect the Missis- sippi river with Lake Michigan by means of a canal. Fourth, he was very deeply impressed with the injustice of slavery, and recommended the freeing of the slaves in this State. He also called attention to the need of revis- ing the laws on kidnapping, and the black laws. This speech very greatly disturbed the legislature, as well as the people of the State. Nearly all the people had come from slave-holding states and whether they ever had 102 -i Student's History of Illinois ])een slave owners or not they were easily touched on this subject. 144. Slavery Sentiment. — That portion of the gover- nor's address which related to slavery was referred to a committee which brought in a report and a resolution. The report reviewed the history of slavery in Illinois up to the admission of the State, and advised the calling of i\ constitutional convention. Following this report th(! legislature took action as follows: ''Resolved, That the general assembly of the State of Illinois (two-thirds thereof concurring therein), do recommend to the electors at the next election for the members of the general assembly to vote for or against a convention, agreeably to the seventh article of the constitution." It was known that in the senate the resolution would easily pass, but in the house one vote was lacking to give the constitu- tional two-thirds majority. To secure this one vote, Nicholas Hansen, an anti- slavery member was unseated, and John Shaw a pro- slavery man was seated in his stead. The vote was then taken, and the call for a convention passed amid great rejoicing. 145. A Bitter Campaign. — And now began one of tlie most important campaigns, because so far-reaching in its consequences, that was ever waged in this country. The slavery party had become intoxicated with its success. So far, the supporters of slavery had succeeded by mere brute force and unscrupulous scheming, but now the final vic- tory could not be so won. They must go before the people and show the advantages of slavery, if it have any. It was now a question to be solved by the Christian conscience of the people. 146. The Means.— Both parties to the struggle selected the same means for the accomplishment of their ends. Among these we may mention : A Student's History of Illinois 103 1. Public appeals through posters, hand bills, and pamphlets. 2. Public addresses given before audiences wherever assembled. 3. Secret societies organized in various parts of the State. 4. Newspapers. 147. Public Appeals. — Among these public "appeals," there were hundreds of jDamphlets, tracts, hand bills, and flaming posters scattered broadcast over the countr}^ It is said some of these pamphlets, bills, etc., were very inflammatory. The authors of much of this literature, as well as the names of those Avho distributed it, Avere not known to the general public. But it must not be thought that everything of this kind was done in the dark for many on both sides were very bold in their work. Perhaps no one man by means of his pen, did more to bring about the final and triumphant defeat of the slavery party than did Morris Birkbeck, of Wanborough, Edwards county. His WTitings were published in the Shawneetown Gazette, edited by Henry Eddy. He also published pamphlets which were scattered throughout the State. The articles published in the Shawneetown Gazette were signed Jonathan Freeman, and were widely copied. 148. Public Speaking. — The second means was the pub- lic addresses which the orators delivered w^herever and whenever they had opportunity. The attractiveness of a personal explanation of the value of slavery or of the curse of it, drew to the public gatherings vast multitudes of people. The county seats were the centers of the agita- tion. On all public occasions there was some one ready with a speech upon the question of convention or no convention. 149. Secret Societies. — The third agency enumerated above, in carrying on the anti-convention campaign, was 104 A Student's History of Illinois a kind of secret society. These organizations merely got together the people of any locality for consideration of the plans of work and for the hearing of reports, and for the encouragement of those who might get disheartened. There was a sort of parent society in St. Clair county, and in other counties thirteen other societies were organized. To counteract the work of these societies, the conven- tion people organized what they called ^^executive com- mittees'' of ten members each. Vandalia was the head- quarters for the work of the ^'executive committees." Henry Eddy. Mr. Eddy edited the "Illinois Emigrant" in Shawneetown, and did valiant service in the Slavery Struggle of 1824. 150. Newspapers. — The fourth agency in this great struggle was the newspapers. As soon as it was seen that the struggle would have to be settled by the people there was an unconscious turning of the people to the news- papers for direction and information. tD yi Student's History of Illinois 105 There were five papers in Illinois at ilint tinic. These were : The Edwardsville Spectator, Eclwardsville. The Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia. The Illinois Gazette, Shawneetown. The Republican Advocate, Kaskaskia. The Republican, Edwardsville. The first three were against the convention, while the last two named favored the convention. 151. The Vote. — On the first Monday in August, 1824, the general election was held and it was in this eneral election that this question must be settled. It was an eventful day. The cause of freedom was on trial. The jury was the 11,612 voters who had the decision in their hands. The result was the occasion of great rejoic- ing. The following is the vote for and against the con- vention : Counties — For Against Counties — For Against Alexander 75 51 Lawrence 158 261 Bond 63 240 Madison 351 563 Clark 31 116 Marion 45 52 Crawford 134 262 Monroe 141 196 Edgar 3 234 Montgomery 74 90 Edwards 189 391 Morgan 42 432 Fayette 125 121 Pike 19 165 Franklin 170 113 Pope 273 124 Fulton 5 60 Randolph 357 284 Gallatin 597 133 Sangamon 153 722 Greene 164 379 St. Clair 408 506 Hamilton 173 85 Union 213 240 Jackson 180 93 Washington 112 173 Jefferson 99 43 Wayne 189 111 Johnson 74 74 White 355 326 4972 6640 Majority against the convention, 1668. Some notion may he had of the interest in the con- vention question by noting the votes for presidential 106 A Student's History of Illinois The Black Counties went for Slavery, while the White Counties were for Freedom. Johnson County was a tie. (Map sliows coTuifies ar, tliey were in 1824.) yi Student's History of Illinois 107 electors compared with the vote on the convention ques- tion. Pope cast 397 votes on the convention proposition, while her total vote for electors was 84. Gallatin cast on convention question 780 votes, on electors 315. St. Clair on convention question 914, on electors 399. The total vote cast on "the convention was 11,612, while the total vote for presidential electors at election in Novem- ber of the same year in the thirty counties, was but 4,671. 152. The Explanation. — Many explanations have been offered of the vote on the convention. There were at least four distinct elements in the population as regards this question. 1. The remnant of the old French settlers who held slaves by reason of the treaties of 1763, and 1783, and of Virginia's deed of session of 1784. 2. The pro-slavery instincts of the immigrants from the slave-holding states. 3. The anti-slavery views of the immigrants from the free states, 4. The intense feeling against slavery held by the English settlers in the eastern part of the State, as well as that of other European settlers. The first named class lived chiefly in Randolph county, St. Clair and Madison. These three counties cast 1,116 votes for the convention. The second class had settled in White, Gallatin, and Pope counties. These cast 1,225 votes for the convention. The result of the vote in Edgar, Clark, Morgan, Sanga- mon, and Fulton shows the character of the settlers. They voted very largely against the convention. The vote in these five counties stood 284 for and 1,464 votes against the convention. The influence of the English settlers may be seen in the vote in Edwards countv. Rut there were Irish, 108 A Student's History of Illinois Scotch, and Germans scattered throughout the State and their votes were against slavery. 153. The Sangamon Country. — The constitution re- quired the census of IlHnois to be taken every five years, and although the contest over slavery had checked immi- gration during 1823 and 1824, yet in the latter part of 1824 and in 1825 streams of population poured into the State from the older settled parts of the Union. Travellers who had visited this State carried into the east and even into Europe marvellous stories of the Sangamon country. This Sangamon region was settled by immigrants from all the older states but probably those from the northern states predominated. More than 200 families had settled in the "Sangamon Country" before the land was sur- veyed. In the vote on the convention question, Sangamon county cast 875 votes — 153 for and 722 against the con- vention. This would show a population of over 4,000 in 1824. It also means that these settlers were from the free states chiefly. 154. Invitation to LaFayette. — ^^The summer of 1825 was a memorable one for tlie new State, for in the earlier days of this summer, a notable guest was entertained by the young commonwealth. The guest was none other than General LaFayette, soldier, statesman, and patriot. The congress of -the United States had invited General LaFayette to visit the scenes of his early military achieve- ment and to mingle once more with the thinning ranks of the Revolutionary heroes. He arrived at New York August 15, and was received by Joseph Bonaparte, a brother to the great Napoleon, then a resident of Bordentown, New Jersey, amid the roar of cannon and the strains of martial music. Everywhere the same profound respect and triumphant welcome awaited the nation's 2n.iest. 4 Student's History of Illinois 109 155. Invitation to Illinois. — Early in the session of the general assembly in December, 1824, that body extended a cordial invitation to. General LaFayette t(j visit Illinois. General LaFayette as he appeared at the time of his visit to Kaskaskia and Shawneetown. He was then 68 years old. This invitation was supplemented by a very affectionate letter from Governor Coles. On the 12th of April, 1825, LaFayette wrote to Gover- nor Coles from New Orleans saying he would reach Illi- nois about the end of the month of April. On April 28, the steamboat Natchez arrived at the old French village of Carondolet, below St. Louis, with General LaFayette and his party. The next day he was royally welcomed by Governor Clark of Missouri in the young city of St. Louis. 156. Visits Kaskaskia. — On the morning of April 30, Saturday the Natchez conveyed LaFayette and a distin- guished party to Kaskaskia, the old seat of French empire in the west. A vast throng of patriotic citizens bade him 110 A Stud cut's History of Illinois wi'lcume. ^V reception WcKs held at the home of General John Edgar. Governor Coles delivered a glowing addre.ss of welcome to which LaFayette responded with consider- ahle feeling. A few old llevolutionary soldiers wIkj Jiad foiiglit with LaFayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, were presented. The scene was very affecting. The party now repaired to tlie hotel kept hy Colonel ooa 3 O C8-Q >» to « o 58 2 A Student's History of Illinois 111 Sweet, where a banquet was spread. This hotel had been profusely decorated by the patriotic ladies of the town. Laurel -wreaths, roses, and wild flowers filled all available space. The ladies had also brought the provision with which the tables were loaded. Col. Pierre Menard sat at LaFayette's right, while the priest. Father Olivier, sat at the left. The banquet was followed by a grand ball, after w^hich LaFayette started on his return to the east by way of the Ohio river. At Shawn eetow^n he w^as received and wel- comed with great enthusiasm. 157. The Election of 1826. — The canvass for the gover- norship which took place in the summer of 1826 was a long and interesting contest. There w^ere three candidates, Ninian Edwards, Thomas Sloo, and Adolphus Frederick Hubbard. It is said of Edwards that he dressed faultlessly, and was a ''man with a noble, princely appearance." He made his canvass of the State in all the circumstance of a A^irginia planter — broadcloth suit, ruffled shirt, high topped boots, carriage, and colored servants. He w^as bold in his attack upon the State Bank management and made little or no effort to hold his former friends to his cause. The opposition argued that Edwards was old, and that he and his family and near kin had been holding office since the territory was organized. But wdien election day came Ninian Edwards was elected governor for four years. 112 A Sttfdcnfs History of Illinois GOVERNOR NINIAN EDWARDS. 1826—1830. Ninian Edwarcls was born in Maryland, March 17, 1775. He was graduated from college at the age of 19 and moved to Kentucky where he rose rapidly in the profession of law. In 1809 he was Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals. Madison appointed him governor of Illinois Territory in that year. He served as governor till 1818, and was then elected U. S. senator which he held till 1825. He was appointed minister to Mexico, but on account of some trouble with the national administration he resigned that position and was a candidate for governor of Illinois in 1826. He served as governor from Dec, 1826 to Dec, 1830. He was a candidate for congress but was defeated. He died in 1833 in Belleville of cholera, having contracted the disease while ministering to others suffering with this dread malady. He was held in high esteem by people through- out the state. A Student's History of Illinois 113 CHAPTER XIX. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR EDWARDS. 158. Inauguration. — Ninian Edwards was inaugurated governor in December, 1826. He delivered his message to the legislature in a plain speech in which he took strong ground against the State Bank and its management. He also discussed taxation, and expenditures. In the inaugural message he seems not to have made specific charges against the management of the bank; but in a later message, he charged that loans of more than $1,000 were made on real estate security which, according to the terms of the charter, was unlawful. 159. Management of the Bank. — It was shown that a loan for $2,000 was made on real estate security, and when the mortgage was foreclosed and the land sold, the bank realized only $491.83. It was also shown that another loan of $6,625 was secured by real estate valued at only $3,140.71. The governor further showed that this loan was made to three prominent advocates of the conven- tion for the purpose of founding a pro-slavery newspaper at Edwardsville in 1824. Further, the governor showed that the officers had loaned themselves money greatly in excess of the amounts permitted by law. The governor kept persistently at the task of exposing the corruption and illegality in the management of the bank and the legislature was finally forced to appoint a committee of investigation. A committee of seven took a large amount of testimony and reported eventually to the house, and from that report 114 // Stitdcfif's History of Illinois that body "Resolved, That nothing lias been proved against the late president, directors, and cashier of the branch bank at Edwardsville, which would justify the belief that they had acted corruptly and in bad faith in the manaoement of the affairs of the said bank." To Governor Edwards and his friends this looked like a case of 'Svhitewashing." 160. First Penitentiary. — Another very important ac- tion taken by this legislature was that of providing a peni- tentiary. John Reynolds, who was afterwards governor of the State, is to be given credit for this movement which resulted in the penitentiary. Governor Reynolds in speak- ing of this says: ^'I had reflected upon the subject of punishment of criminals, and had reached the conclusion that the criminal law should be changed, and that the ancient barbarous system of whipping, cropping, and branding for crime should be abolished and the pentiten- tiary substituted. This ancient practice had been in oper- ation for ages, and it was difficult to change it. But the age required the old barbarous system of the pil- lory, the whipping post, and the gallows to be cast away, and a more Christian and enlightened mode of punish- ment adopted." 161. Selling the Salt Reservation. — Governor Reynolds' proposition met with favor, but when the question was asked where is the money to come from, no one seemed to know. Governor Reynolds was equal to the emergency. He proposed to get the consent of congress to sell the lands included in the salt reserv^ations in the State which amounted to considerably over 100,000 acres. Congress readily consented to the sale, and 40,000 acres were put on the market. One-half of the receipts was put into the penitentiary, and the other half into improving the roads, and clearing the rivers for navigation, in the eastern part ./ Student's History of Illinois 115 of the State. At the suggestion of Mr. Reynolds the peni- tentiary was located at 'Alton. 162. School Legislation. — The Enabling Act provided that section numbered 1() in each township, or one of equal value, should be granted the State for the use of the schools of that township. Again three per cent of the net proceeds of the sale of public lands in Illinois was given by the general government '^for the encouragement of learning of which one-sixth part shall be exclusively bestoAved on a college or university." Some legislation in 1821 provided for the opening of schools and the establishing of other educational agencies. In 1825 Senator Duncan from Jackson county, and afterwards governor of the State, secured the passage of a law which provided for a school system very much like the one we have today. Taxes were to be levied and col- lected on the property of the people in the district. There was a board of directors who were to have control of the school, buildings, examine the teachers, and have general oversight of the whole subject. In 1826-7 the legislature provided for better securities from those who were borrowing the money for which the school lands had been sold. But in 1829, the legislature repealed the part of the Duncan law of 1825 which gave two per cent of the net revenue of the State to the schools. Every commendable feature of the Duncan law was later repealed and the schools lay prostrate till 1855. 163. The Winnebago War. — In the latter part of Gov- ernor Edwards' terms there were indications of trouble wdth the Indians in the northwest part of the State. The lead mines in that region drew large numbers of people to the northern part of the State and there were conflicts between these newcomers and the Indians, and some deaths resulted. Governor Edwards was appealed to and innnediately 116 A Student's History of Illinois dispatched a regiment of iiiiliiia from Sangamon and Morgan counties under connnand of Col. T. M. Neale. General Atkinson, of the United States army, with 600 regulars appeared upon the scene and quieted the dis- turbance without any bloodshed. Several prominent Indians were arrested and tried, those found guilty of murder were executed, the others turned loose. Black Hawk was among those liberated. 164. The Campaign. — Governor Edwards closed his term as chief executive of Illinois amid expressions of satisfaction from the people. He turned over the office to his successor in December, 1830, and retired to his home in Belleville where he died in 1833. His life had been indeed a very active one, he having held political (office nearly a quarter of a century. In ^he ^^ampaign for governor John Reynolds, who alrcfccdy had served a term on the supreme bench and one term in the legislature was the leading candidate. His opponent was a Rev. Wm. Kinney. From the descrip- tion of the campaign as given by Ford there was not a very great difference between the campaign methods ol those days and those of today. Mr. Reynolds was elected. A Student's History of Illinois 117 GOVERNOR JOHN REYNOLDS. 1830—1834. John Reynolds, the fourth governor of Illinois, was born in Penn- sylvania, in 1789. He migrated west reaching Kaskaskia, by way of Tennessee, in 1800. Received some schooling in the crude schools of those days, and attended a college in Knoxville, Tenn. He was a lawyer. He fought as a "Ranger" in the War of 1812. Was elected a member of the supreme court when that court was or- ganized, and later served in the legislature. Following his term as governor, he sat in congress one term. He was a prominent citizen of the state till his death in 1865. He wrote a "Pioneer History of Illinois," "My Life and Times," and "Sketches and Travels." CHAPTER XX. JOHN REYNOLDS— THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 165, The New Governor. — The seventh general as- sembly met December 6,, 1830, and organized. The new governor began his term under very favorable circum- stances In his message he formally discussed the follow- 118 .i Student's History of Illinois iiig subjects as being those upon which he hoped the gen- eral assembly might legislate. Education. "In the whole circle of your legislation, there is no subject that has a greater claim upon your attention or calls louder for your aid than that of education." Internal Improvement. "There cannot be an appropria- tion of money within the exercise of your legislative powers that will be more richly paid to the citizens than that for the improvement of the country." The Penitentiary. He reported that the work had pro- gressed quite satisfactorily and that twenty-five cells were nearing completion, and he hoped the legislature would take such action as would carry the enterprise to completion. The Salines. The State had had charge of the Salines since 1818 and very little income had been realized from them. He was very desirous that they should be so man- aged as to result in a source of income to the State. 166. The Deep Snow. — The winter of 1830-1 was long remembered as "the winter of the deep snow." It is said that the winter was a mild one till Christmas. During the Christmas holidays a snow storm began and for nine weeks, almost every day, it snowed. The snow melted little or none and Avas found to be more than three feet on an average. It was, however, drifted very badly in some places. The old fashioned "stake and rider" fences were buried in many places with the drifted snow. The long country lanes were covered over so that no sign of the road was left. On top of this snow, fell rain and sleet and formed such a crust that people and stock might walk on top of the snow. The birds and small game suffered very much for want of food, while larger wild game became verv tame. A Student's History of Illinois 119 167. The State Bank. — The charter incorporating the State bank of IlHnois was passed in 1821, and expired January 1, 1831. The end of the bank came therefore in Eeynolds' term as governor. The State had lost about $100,000 in this banking business, and must in some way meet this indebtedness. Finally, a loan was obtained of a Mr. Wiggins, of Cincinnati, Ohio, of $100,000 and the affairs of the bank wound up. This was known as ''the Wiggins loan" and was for many years a great torment to the legislators who authorized it. Reproduced by courtesy and permission of McClure, Phillips & Co. from Ida M. Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. Black Hawk. 120 .] Student's History of Jllinois 168. Saukenuk.— In the fall of 1830 the Sac and Fox Indians left their village, Saukenuk, at the mouth of Rock River for their winter hunt. Whites came in and occupied the empty huts. The Indians returned in the spring of 1831 and attempted to occupy their village. This brought on trouble between the whites and the Indians. A compromise was agreed to and quiet was temporarily restored. But trouble soon arose and the governor ordered out the militia. The regulars to the number of 600 came to the village. Black Hawk, who led the Indians, agreed to move to the west side of the Mississippi and to remain there. 169. The Invasion. — Black Hawk and his followers remained on the west side of the Mississippi till the spring of 1832. In the early spring of this year, April 6, he and his braves crossed to the east side of the river and proceeded up the Rock river as if to join the Winnebagoes where he said he wished to raise a crop in conjunction with that tribe. This movement on the part of Black Hawk created consternation among the whites all along the northern frontier from the Mississippi to Chicago, and the people hastily left their homes and took refuge farther south where the population was numerous, and means of defense ample. Many fled to Fort Dearborn and remained there till the war closed. Governor Reynolds having been notified of Black Hawk's movements decided to take precautionary meas- ures. He also received a request from General Atkinson for troops, and on the 16th of April the governor issued a call for a large body of troops. They were to assemble at Beardstown on the 22d of April. From here they pro- ceeded to the mouth of Rock river when they were joined bv the regulars from St. Louis. A Student's History of Illinois 121 The Stillman Valley Monument erected by the State to commemorate the death of Twelve Soldiers Massacred by Indians at that place. 170. Stillman's Defeat. — From Saukenuk the two armies marched to Dixon on the Rock river. Here the army halted. A reconnoitering party of a couple of hundred militiamen under Major Stillman was ambushed near the present village of Stillman's Valley and twelve of its number killed. Other conflicts occurred in the vicinity of Kellogg's Grove where other militiamen were killed. Black Hawk was worsted in these later engage- ments and hastily moved northward. He retreated with all his people to the hills of southern Wisconsin. General Atldnson followed with nearly 4,000 men. Upon reaching Burnt Village the army halted. Here there seemed so much indecision and lack of plan in the campaign that the volunteers became much dis- 122 A Student's History of Illinois Courtesy and permission of Mr. Frank Stevens, Author of "The Black Hawk War." Indian Creek Monument, erected to commemorate the death of Fifteen People Massacred on Indian Creek, about fifteen miles northeast of Ottawa. couraged. Food became scarce and desertions were quite the order of the day. 171. Battle of Wisconsin River. — On the bluffs of the Wisconsin river about twent^^-five miles northwest of Madison the Indians were overtaken. A desperate stand was made by Black Hawk but at the end of the day's fighting he crossed the river leaving 68 of his braves dead upon the field of battle, and twenty-five more were found dead between the Wisconsin and the Mississippi. .i Student's History of Illinois 123 The Indians all gathered on the east side of the Missis- sippi in the region of the mouth of Bad Axe Creek where they were attacked by the soldiers. A few escaped into Iowa, many were drowned, many killed, and the balance captured, Black Hawk being among the prisoners. 172. The End. — The war was now considered ended and the Illinois soldiers were marched to Dixon, where they were mustered out and thence returned to their homes. Gen. Winfield Scott had been ordered from Fortress Mon- roe and arrived on the 7th of August, 1832, to assist in the restoration of order and in the punishment of the insolent savages. In the summer of 1834 there was another congressional election. And although Reynolds' time as governor would not be out till December, 1834, yet he announced himself a candidate for congress and was elected. The lieutenant governor, Zadoc Casey, had resigned two years before to go to congress and now Reynolds resigned as governor and the burden and honors of the chief magis- tracy fell upon the shoulders of Gen. W. L. D. Ewing, who served as governor fifteen days until the inauguration of Governor Duncan. 124 1 Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR WM. L. D. EWING. Chief Executive from Nov. 17, 1834, to Dec. 3, 1834. Governor Ewing was a Kentuckian. He came to Illinois prior to 1820, and held a federal appointment in this State under Presi- dent Monroe; served in the legislature, and as brigadier general of the "Spy Battalion" in the Black Hawk war. He was elected president pro tem of the senate in the ninth general assembly and thus became the constitutional successor of Governor Reynolds upon the latter's resignation. Governor Ewing later served in congress as representative and as senator. He also held the ofCice of auditor. He died in 1846. 173. The Campaign. — Mr. Joseph Duncan, member of congress, announced his candidacy for governor. He was a prominent figure in Illinois and the people were pleased to have him make the race for this office. He was opposed by Mr. Wm. Kinney. Mr. Duncan did not come to Illi- nois to carry on his campaign but depended on his friends, and on personal correspondence from Washington. He was elected. A Student's History of Illinois 125 GOVERNOR JOSEPH DUNCAN. 1834—1838. Joseph Duncan was born in Paris, Ky., February 22, 1794. He served with distinction in the War of 1812. He received a sword and a vote of thanks from congress for his gallantry in the defense of Fort Stephenson in this war. He came to Illinois in 1818, and settled in Jackson county, near the famous Fountain Bluff. He ivas a member of the lower house of the general assembly in 1825. He was the author of the first free school law in this state. He served in congress from 1827 to 1834, when he was elected governor. He erected the first frame house in Jacksonville and was a great friend of Illinois College, He died in Jacksonville in 1844. CHAPTER XXI. GOVERNOR DUNCAN— STATE BANKING. 174. Message. — There were Iayo important subjects upon which he recommended legislation — one was bank- ing, the other internal improvement. On the latter sub- ject he recommended the laying out of roads now, before the country was settled, so that they might run on the 126 A Student's History of Illinois most direct line from one point to another. In response to this suggestion the legislature authorized the establish- ment of forty-two State roads and at a later special session forty more. In addition, a law was passed authorizing county commissioners to establish roads within the limits of their counties. This public road legislation was only an earnest of what was in store for the State within the next few years. 175. Banking. — We have in previous chapters followed the financial legislation up to the year 1831, the expiration of the charter of the State bank. And we have seen that the project ended very disastrously for the State. The last act in this ten-year drama was to borrow $100,000 to redeem the outstanding issue of the defunct bank. The legislature readily agreed with the governor on the value of banks when he said ''banks may be made useful in society." It should be remembered that the members of the general assembly were not elected with any idea that such a subject w^ould be before them. It was there- fore quite a surprise to the members of the legislature, as Avell as to the people, when they found themselves creating another great banking system. The period from 1834 to 1838 covers the national financial crisis of 1837. The financial story of Illinois at this time is too difficult to l)e easily understood and it is therefore not discussed except in a very meager way. The paper money issued by these Illinois banks soon fell very low in relative value, and steps were taken in 1843 to close out these banks but they struggled along till the passage of the ''Free Banking Law" in 1853. 176. Special Session. — A special session of the general assembly was held in December, 1835, to redistrict the State into legislative districts following the State census of 1835. The governor brought before the legislature the matter of internal improvements. The sum of $100,000 A Student's History of Illinois \27 was borrowed to further the work on the proposed canal joining Lake Michigan and the upper waters of the IIH- nois river. There was also some bank legislation. 177. Illinois and Michigan Canal. — The value of a canal joining the Illinois river and Lake Michigan was very early recognized. Nathaniel Pope explained its impor- tance in his argument for the extension of the northern boundary of the State from 41 degrees and 39 minutes to 42 degrees and 30 minutes. Governors Bond, Coles, Edwards, and Duncan had all urged the building of this canal. In 1836 a commission of three men was appointed to begin work on the canal. On July 4, 1836, work was begun. Congress had granted the right of way from Lake Michigan to the Illinois river. Town lots were to be sold from this grant in Chicago, and at Ottawa. These lots were eagerly sought and labor, as well as food products, reached a high price. From the day the canal was begun, July 4th, 1836, till it was fin- ished in 1848, the State kept steadily at the task although at times the work was greatly hampered by reason of financial stringency. The total cost was $6,500,000. 178. A Special Message. — In December, 1835, Governor Duncan said in his message to the special session of the legislature ^'When we look abroad and see the extensive lines of inter-communication penetrating almost every sec- tion of our western states, when we see the canal boat and the locomotive bearing, with seeming triumph, the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen, and space, what pat- riotic bosom does not beat high with laudable ambition to give Illinois her full share of those advantages which are adorning her sister states and which her magnificent providence seems to invite by the wonderful adaptation 128 A Student's History of lll'uiols of the whole country to such improvements." xVnd then, as if fearful that this oratory would overcome their con- servatism, he adds: '^ While I would urge the most liberal support of all such measures as tending with perfect cer- tainty to increase the wealth and prosperity of the State, I would at the same time most respectfully suggest the propriety of leaving the construction of all such works wherein it can be done consistently with the general inter- est, to individual enterprise." This was indeed wholesome advice and had it been taken the State would have greatly profited thereby. But internal improvement was in the air. The subject was receiving unusual interest in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. In 1835 there were twenty-two railroads in operation in the United States, two of which were w^est of the Alleghanies. In addition there were several canals, besides the great Erie canal. 179. Crystallizing Sentiment. — It was argued that Illi- nois was unsurpassed in fertility of soil, in variety of climate, and agricultural products: timber was plentiful, all that was needed was the means of distribution. Her situation relative to the Lakes and the Mississippi w^as superior to that of any other State west of the Alleghanies. All that was needed was more people and more enterprises. Public meetings were held in which all these facts were discussed. A move was eventually set on foot for a State conven- tion which was appointed to meet in Vandalia at the time of the meeting of the legislature early in December, 1836. Delegates were appointed from the several counties and much interest was manifested. 180. Improvement Convention. — The delegates who had been selected to attend the improvement convention assembled in Vandalia several days prior to the opening of the legislature. A Student's History of Illinois 13) Many ineiubers of the legislature took ])art in Hi*' deliberations of the internal improvement convention. This convention soon finished its business and adjourned. The results of its deliberations were, first, a bill which it was expected some friend would introduce into the legis- lature; and second, a memorial or plea setting forth the advantages, costs, incomes, etc., of this improvement ven- ture. In addition, the convention selected a lobbying committee that should remain in Vandalia during the session and see that timid members did not fail to do their duty. 181. Governor's Message.— The legislature assembled early in December, 1836. The governor's message was a conservative document for such times. He was heartily in favor of the idea of internal improvements, but was quite doubtful as to the advisability of the State's under- taking the entire financial obligation. He was willing that the State should assume a third or a half of the responsibility but was not favorable to the assumption of the whole burden by the State. After the session was fairly open, the bill prepared by the convention and the accompanjdng memorial were pre- sented to the house. Resolutions were introduced by Stephen A. Douglas favoring State ownership. The sub- ject was referred to the committee on internal improve- ment, the chairman of which was Edward Smith, of Wabash county. 182. Appropriations. — The bill which had been kindly prepared by the convention and presented to the legisla- ture, for its endorsement and modification by the house, provided for the following internal improvements, and set aside the amounts opposite for the carrying out of the same: 130 A Student's History of Illinois Improvement of the Wabash, the Illinois, Rock river, Kaskaskia, and Little Wabash, and Western Mail Route $ 400,000 Railroad, Vincennes to St. Louis 250,000 Railroad, Cairo to Galena 3,500,000 Railroad, Alton to Mt. Carmel 1,600,000 Railroad, Quincy to Indiana line 1,800,000 Railroad, Shelby ville to Terrc Haute 650,000 Railroad, Peoria to Warsaw 700,000 Railroad, Alton to Central Railroad 600,000 Railroad, Belleville to Mt. Carmel 150,000 Railroad, Bloomington to Pekin 350,000 To pacify disappointed counties 200,000 Total $10,200,000 This bill which provided for the construction of so many railroads, was sent to the governor, who, together with the council of revision, vetoed the measure. But when it came baclv to the general assembly it was speedily passed over the veto. This bill was not the only measure of importance before the legislature. There was a bill to increase the capital stock of the State Bank $2,000,000, and that of the Shawneetown Bank $1,400,000 ; a proposi- tion to re-locate the State capital ; and also a proposition to enlarge the issue of bonds for the completion of the Illinois and Michigan canal. 183. Moving the Capital. — Mr. Abraham Lincoln had been elected a member of the lower branch of the legisla- ture from the Springfield district, and charged with the task of securing the removal of the capital from Vandalia to Sprinfield. A bill was introduced providing for such removal and after considerable '^log rolling," Mr. Lin- coln secured the passage of the bill locating the capital of the State at Springfield. Bonds were issued and sold and the money placed at the disposal of the Board of Public Works which began A Student's History of Illinois 131 the construction of the raih^oads provided for" in the Improvement Act. 184. State Election. — V^ery naturally the most pressing question hefore the people in the campaign of 1838 was the one of ^^Internal Improvement." Thomas Carlin, the Democratic candidate for governor, was not pronounced either for or against the system of internal improvement ; Cyrus Edwards, the Whig candidate, came out strongly for the svstem. Oarlin was elected. The Old Shawneetown Bank Building, erected in 1840 at a cost of $80,000. This was without doubt the best banking institution in Illinois prior to the inauguration of the National Banks. / Siiiclciit's Hisforv of Illinois CHAPTER XXII. A PIONEER INDUSTRY. 185. The Government Surveys. — Wlien the states ('laiming land west of the Alleghany mountains ceded their claims in 1781-4, the goveriunent passed the Ordi- nance of 1785 which provided a system of surveys for the territory north of the Ohio. The work of surveying began at the western side of Pennsylvania and proceeded slowly westward. As reports of these surveyors came to the gov- ernment from time to time, more and more was learned of the unexplored country. Among other reports which came in were those which mentioned the finding of salt Hcks and salt springs. On the 18th of May, 1796, congress ordered that the surveyors be instructed ''to observe closely for mines, salt springs, salt licks, and mill-seats." In 1799-1800, Wm. Plenry Harrison was a delegate in congress from the Northwest Territory and was a member of the committee on territories. In one of his reports he says : Upon inquiry we find tliat salt springs and salt licks on the east of the Muskingum and near the great Miami are operated by individuals and timber is being wasted; Therefore, we recom- mend that salt springs and salt licks, property of the United States in the Territory of Ohio, ought to be leased for a term of years. Tliis l)ecame the policy of the government relative In lliis resource in the Northwest Territory. 186. Salt Springs Leased. — Wm. Henry Harrison bo- came o-overnor of the Indiana Territorv in 1800. 1 le made A Stiident's History of Illinois 133 treaties with the Indians with the view of getting posses- sion of all the lands which had salt springs or salt licks. On the Saline river which rises in Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson, and empties into the Ohio in Gallatin county, was found one of the greatest salt licks which is to be found in the United States. There was also in the immediate vicinity salt springs of strongly impregnated water. This lick is within a half mile of the town of lM|nality. (lallatin county, the spring is down the Saline river about three miles. There are evidences tliat this lick and the spring and wells had been used by the Indians for 100 years before the coming of the whites. Above the spring on a bluff and also in the vicinity of the lick are vast quantities of a ,*«:f m^^^m HRIK^^'^S W^y.i mfi- i ^ it' iA Ab.^ ' '"'""mm: fv^Vi si llf^;^^'.;. ^li l^^mg^- : -ll*'"' m la IhUhI ^^^^^^^^^^1 BhBHHI HHRHh^H HB Old Capitol in Springfield, now used as the Sangamon County Court House. 1842. The income was not as large as the expense and in the course of a year or so the engine was taken off and the road was leased and run by mule powder for several years. It was eventually sold for $100,000, which was paid for in State bonds which were worth twenty-one cents on the dollar. In 1840 our indebtedness w^as more than $14,000,000. 197. The New Capitol. — The special session of the legislature held in ISoO met in Springfield, the new capi- A Student's History of Illinois 141 tal. Chiirclics were used by the house, the senate, and the supreme court. . The new building which was under con- struction was to be a very elegant and commodious build- ing, located in the center of the square, and was 123 feet long, 89 feet wide, and 44 feet high. It was constructed from native stone quarried only a few miles from the town. At the north and south ends very large round pillars supported a projecting portico, and the whole was surmounted by a dome of proper proportion. It is still standing and has been extensively repaired, and enlarged by putting an extra story between the basement and what Avas formerly the first story. It is now the court house for Sangamon county. 198. Great Orators. — The great "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" campaign of 1S40 was warmly contested in Illinois. It was in this campaign that the wonderful powers of Lincoln and Douglas as public orators became known through the State and the nation. The Whigs planned a large meeting in Springfield in June, 1840. Lincoln was one of the five presidential electors and he was very anxious not to be defeated. To this meeting came 20,000, some said 50,000, people. They came from as far north as Chicago. It took fourteen teams to bring the Chicago delegation and they were three weeks on the journey. They brought a two-masted ship with a band of music and a six pound cannon. Delegations came from all directions. A log cabin was drawn in the procession by thirty yoke of oxen, and in a hickory tree planted by the side of this cabin live coons were playing ; a barrel of hard cider stood near the door. Lincoln made a great speech, possibly several during the day, from a wagon. Thou- sands of people crowded around him. He was then only thirty-one years old, but was rapidly coming into public favor. The Democrats held enthusiastic gatherings throughout 142 A Student's History of Illinois tlie State at which eloquent speakers praised the virtues of ''httle A'an." The Democrats carried Illinois by a majority of 1,939. 199. Repudiation. — There was some talk in the years of 1839-4041, of repudiating the State's great debt. This is usually considered a very unpatriotic proceeding. A state may, however, repudiate its debt and there were those who were favorable to such action. Of course few public men talked of repudiation openly, but privately many were favorable to it. Governor Ford, in his history, says: ^'It is my solemn belief that when I came into office, I had the power to make Illinois a repudiating State." Governor Ford means that all the people needed was a bold leader. But no legislative action was ever taken which looked toward repudiation. The State's indebted- ness was eventually paid and the honor of the State saved. 200. Conventions. — Conventions for the nomination of candidates were a part of the party machinery by 1842. It appears also that people in those days believed in long drawn out campaigns, for as early as December, 1841, the Democratic State convention was held in Springfield for the nomination of candidates for State offices. The honors fell upon Adam W. Snyder, of St. Clair county, for governor. In the spring of 1842 ex-Governor Duncan became the Whig candidate for governor. The campaign promised to be a very interesting one because of the Mor- mon problem which was just then attracting attention. The Mormons had made liberal requests upon the legisla- ture and it appears that Mr. Snyder, who was a member of that body, had been quite active in assisting them to secure what they desired. This fact was used against him and would probably have seriously hindered him in his canvass. But in the earlv summer Mr. Snvder died and A Student's History of Illinois 143 it was necessary for tlie party to put forward another standard bearer. 201. Thomas Ford. — A democratic caucus was called at Springfield in June, and Thomas Ford, a judge on the supreme bench, was selected as the candidate. Judge Ford was an ideal candidate for office — he was not an office seeker. The times were indeed in need of a wise counselor and a courageous leader and no one was better fitted to save the State from the impending dishonor of repudiation. 202. The Canvass. — The canvass w^as spirited, the chief topics being the Mormons, the canal, the banks, and the claims of Wisconsin to the fourteen counties in the north- ern part of the State. Duncan had the advantage of pre- vious campaigning and was, besides, a strong candidate. Judge Ford no doubt thought it wise not to express too freely his views upon the troublesome questions — for they were all troublesome — and so was accused by Duncan of keeping from the people his real position on the questions of the day. When the ballots were counted Ford had beaten Duncan by over 8,000 votes. 144 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XXIV. ANOTHER SHORT RETRQSPECT. 203. Signs of Growth. — The wonderfully rapid advance in the State up to 1840 may be shown in many ways, but in none better than by that of the growth in population, towns, counties, and industries. By the end of 1840 there were eighty-eight counties organized. The population of the State by the census of 1840 was 476,183. In 1830 it was only 157,445. Of course this wonderful increase in population came chiefly from immigration. This came from the northeast, and found its way into the northern counties. These immigrants brought with them some money; this, together with that being distributed by the con- tractors on the railroads and the canal, made money quite plentiful. However, this money did not last long for people in the flush .of good times were buying greatly beyond their needs. The growth of towns was not the least mark of progress visible from 1830 to 1840. At the time of the moving of the capital from Vandalia to Springfield the latter town had a population of some 1,500, and while everything about the town was prosperous, it was crude. The roads, were frequently impassable, the houses were such as are usually found in a new tow^n, but the people were energetic and full of hope. The new State House had been commenced in 1837. Jacksonville, Chicago, Alton, Quincy, Galena, and Nauvoo were large towns, most of them chartered cities. The county seat was usually the largest town in the county, A Student's History of lUniois \-'rj and was marked by a good courthouse and a fairly good jail. Hotels were becoming differentiated from resi- dences, and churches were being erected in all large towns. 204. Newspapers.— We have already made mention of the five newspapers that took part in the convention struggle. The increase in numbers was not very marked before 1830, but from that date on there was a very rapid growth in the establishing of newspapers. The news- papers which were established in the county seats were owned, or at least controlled, by the politicians. There was no great demand for new^spapers on the part of the merchants or professional men and only those deeply interested in politics got much from their perusal. There were no dailjr papers in Illinois till 1847, when the Gazette at Galena was begun, June 1.' "The old time editor was one of nature's most perfect composites. In the office he w^as type-setter, job-printer, pressman, book- keeper, business manager, and editor. He was prominent in every movement that w^as for the benefit of his town. He was secretary for his party conventions and commit- tees. Sometimes he was the leader in the church and superintendent of the Sunday School, and sometimes he did a great deal more than his share towards raising the government revenue." 205. Religion. — Godly men and women everywhere were active in the work of the church. In the earlier days the preaching was done in private houses, in vacant build- ings, or in groves. Before 1840 churches were erected in many rural communities. These were at first constructed of logs, but later frame buildings were erected. There are such buildings now standing in some parts of Illinois which were erected as early as 1840. However, school houses w^ere often used for religious purposes. Rural bury- ing grounds were frequently located near the neighbor- hood church and both were usually placed near the public 146 / Studenfs History of Illinois Places and Things of Interest. A Student's History of Illinois 147 road. ]h\t church building was much more active in the towns than in the country. Chicago had a Presbyterian church house as early as 1834. The same year the Epis- copal church was organized but it was 1835 before they erected what afterward came to be known as St. James' chapel, a modest brick building. It cannot be affirmed that the preachers of these early days were always men of culture and education. But it can be truthfully said that they were men full of zeal and of self-sacrifice. They were physically strong and morally courageous. Theirs was a work requiring great physical endurance. A large part of their time was spent on horse- back in going from one appointment to another. This gave excellent opportunity for reflection. In addition to the regular preaching service which might be held in the home, the vacant house, or the church, there was a form of religious meeting in these early days known as the campmeeting. 206. The Campmeeting. — Possibly the first campmeet- ing in Illinois was held hv the Rev. Jesse Walker, a Methodist circuit rider, about 1807. In the summer of that year he held two campmeetings, one at Shiloh, in St. Clair county, six miles northeast of Belleville, and one in Madison county, a few miles south of Edwardsville. The plan was to select a site where there w^as plenty of shade and good water. All the friends were invited to come and assist in clearing up the ground, building seats, and put- ting up tents. When things w^ere in readiness the place was dedicated with a season of prayer. To this place people came for miles. They camped and stayed for sev- eral days. There was an early morning service before the breakfast was eaten, another about ten in the forenoon, one at about three in the afternoon, and a fourth one at night. This latter was the chief service of the day. Lights w^ere hung about the grove, and men acted as 148 .i Student's History of Illinois watchmen to guard property and to keep order. The con- gregation joined in singing — ahvays from memory, — prayers were offered, and experiences given. The preacher then launched into a two hours' exposition of the scrip- ture, dwelling particularly and forcibly on the certainty of eternal damnation for those who should die in their sins. The weird situation in the stillness of the forest, the apparent authority with which the minister denounced their sins, and the singing, shouting, and praying of the Rev. Peter Cartwright. vast multitude was enough to bring the hardest sinners to a serious consideration of their lost condition. This form of religious revival continued to be popular till the middle of the last century. 207. Peter Cartwright. — The most noted pioneer preacher in Illinois was the Rev. Peter Cartwright. He came into Illinois in 1824, after a residence of several years in Kentucky. From the date of his coming to this A St iide fit's History of Illinois 149 State till the year of his death he was intimately identified with the work of spreading the gospel in nearly every sec- tion of the State. He served in the legislature and was otherwise interested in politics. Many stories are told of his power as a preacher, and his vigorous opposition to wrong doing wherever he found it. He was a warm friend of education and says himself that he was instrumental in putting ten thousand dollars worth of books into the homes of the pioneers of Illinois. He was a member of the Methodist church. 208. Churches in Chicago.- — The Rev. Jeremiah Porter, who organized ^'The First Presbyterian Church of Chi- cago/"' was a sort of chaplain to the army at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in the autumn of 1831. While here he heard of the building of the first lighthouse in Chicago, and of the making of a port of entry at the mouth of the Chicago river. In 1832 considerable interest was created concerning the village of Chicago on account of the Black Hawk war, and the cholera in General Scott's army at that point. In May, 1833, Mr. Porter moved to Chicago. He says that when he arrived in Chicago there were at that place probably 800 people including two companies in the fort. There was no building except the log school house in which the people could worship. A young man by the name of Philo Carpenter had been conducting a sort of Sunday School with a few Christians. Here Mr. Porter met an old schoolmate, Mr. John Wright, who was deeply interested in religious work. Methodist circuit riders had preached in Chicago. The Rev. Jesse Walker preached monthly in the log school house. There was no church nearer than Princeton. Mr. Porter says that two officers, three wives of officers, and ten soldiers of the fort were Christians. With these religious people of the fort, to- 150 .] Student's History of Illinois gether with a few people of the village, the Rev. Porter organized the first Presbyterian church in Chicago, June, 1833. 209. Baptists. — The Baptists soon after organized a church in a log school house with the Rev. Allen B. Free- man as pastor. The first church was built by the Rev. Porter at the cost of $600. It was dedicated January 4, 1 834. The Baptists and Presbyterians worshiped together till this building was completed. In December, 1834, the Baptist pastor, the Rev. Freeman, died. There were four preachers present at the funeral, Rev. J. W. Hallam, of the Episcopal church ; Rev. John Mitchell, of the Metho- dist church; Reverend Ambrose, of the Baptist church, and the Reverend Porter. 210. Other Churches. — Mr. J. H. Kinzie, who laid out the town, was instrumental in establishing an Episcopal church. This was done with the Reverend Dyer as pastor, in the fall of 1834. The Methodists built a church and school house as early as 1834 and had a pastor, Rev. John Mitchell, a graduate of Illinois College. The Catholics had in Col. J. Baptiste Beaubien, post- trader for the American Fur Company, and in his family staunch supporters. A house of worship for Catholics was built as early as 1834. It was a frame house and stood on ^ladison street near Wabash avenue. The first priest was Father St. Cry. The only brick church was the one built by the Episcopal Congregation. 211. Education.— The cause of education had not pros- pered greatly prior to 1840. From 1829 to 1855 there was no free public school system such as we have today. Schools were maintained by subscriptions from those send- ing to them, supplemented by the distribution of a small fund to the teachers of the township in proportion to their A Student's History of lUinois 151 attendance of pui3ils. In spite of this discouraging situa- tion the people maintained schools quite generally. 212. Shurtleff College.— Without doubt the Rev. J. M. Peck, without whose life work the history of Illinois would be incomplete, Avas the first person to take definite action looking toward the establishment of a seminary or college. On New Year's Day, 1826, he invited all who were interested in a seminary to meet at his home, and at this meetins; it was decided to found "The Theoloa-ical I''"*' T>*^Mogical Seminary and High School. First College in Illinois. k 152 A Student's History of Illinois Seminary and High School.'' Mr. Peck lived at Rock Springs, a village eight and a half miles northeast of Belleville, St. Clair county. Here the seminary was to be located. Dr. Peck had already solicited funds for such a school and to these funds additional ones were now added. The board of trustees elected the Rev. Joshua Bradley, ])rincipal, Dr. J. M. Peck, professor of Christian theology, :uid John Messenger, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. There were enrolled the first year more than a hundred students. The school flourished, and in 1831 it was transferred to Alton where it became the foundation of Shurtleff College. 213. McKendree College. — At the meeting of the lUi- nois Conference of tlie M. E. church in Mt. Carmel in September, 1827, a petition from Greene county prayed for the establishment of a seminary of learning to be under the control of the conference. A committee was appointed to take the matter under advisement. The people of White Hall, Greene county, had actually com- menced buildings, but in February, 1828, the people of Lebanon had taken action and had begun to build a seminary. The conference of 1828 suggested to unite the two and locate the schol at Lebanon. This w^as done, and the school opened in an old public school building on November 24, 1828. E. R. Ames, afterward bishop in the M. E. church, was principal, and a Miss McMurphy was assistant. They enrolled seventy-two students. The income w^as $464.41, of which the principal got $115 and Miss McMurphy got $83.33 for the first term of five months. This was the humble beginning of McKendree College. 214. Illinois College. — The Presbyterians were also deeply interested in the cause of education. One of their ministers, the Rev. John M. Ellis, seemed to bear a load of responsibility for the founding of a college. He soli- A Student's History of Illinois 153 cited funds for that purpose. In 1828 he was on a trip to the Sangamon country and passed through Jackson- ville. He liked the country very much, and immediately decided to found here a college or seminary. He bought eighty acres of ground about one mile north of the cele- brated Diamond Grove, and here Illinois College was founded. The school w^as opened in small buildings Jan- uary 1, 1830. Dr. Edward Beecher was made president. Prof. John Russell, of Bluff dale, Greene county, delivered the inaugural address. It was delivered in Latin, greatly to the edification of the scholarly gentlemen present. Pro- fessor Russell had served as teacher in Shurtleff College one year and was the most finished scholar in the west at that time. 215. Jubilee College.— Philander Chase was made bishop of Illinois (Episcopal) in 1835. He visited Eng- land and solicited funds with which to found a college in Illinois. This college was located near Peoria in 1838. A tract of land of 3,910 acres originally belonged to the college. The college buildings were very extensive for those days. On this immense tract of land there were farms, stock, a sawmill, etc. All profits from the land w^ent to the college. 216. Jonesboro College. — This college was chartered in the Omnibus Bill of 1835. The school was to be founded by the Christian church, but it seems no progress was ever made in the matter of collecting funds, and the school was never opened. The friends to higher education in Illinois prior to the year 1840 were found chiefly among the zealous religious workers. Nearly all the agitation concerning education was by preachers and missionaries; and all the practical beginnings were fostered by the friends of the church. This brief survev is sufficient to show that there was no 154 A Student's History of Illinois lack of appreciation of the advantage of a liberal educa- tion among our pioneer fathers. 217. Society. — The social side of life was improving. Towns, churches, and schools greatly added to the tone of social life. Lincoln wrote to Miss Mary Owen about 1838-40: ^'I am afraid you would not be satisfied. There is a great deal of flourishing about in carriages here (Springfield) which it would be your doom to see with- out sharing it. You would have to be poor without the means of hiding it." ^'We used to eat altogether but about this time, 1838, some one came along and told the people they ought not do so — and then the hired folks ate in the kitchen." There was some attention given to social mat- ters in all the towns of any size, but in the country 'tis true the social standard was quite low. In some of the northern counties the lands were not on the market by 1840. But settlers had selected their claims and had made improvements on them expecting just as soon as the land came into the market to enter the tract they had improved. There was a sort of unwritten law that all settlers were to stand by one another as against a speculator or what was known as ^^claim jumpers." There were in some of the northern counties bands of rogues, thieves, and toughs generally, who made life miser- able and property insecure. They dominated the courts in large measure and in various ways kept free from punishment. A new courthouse just finished in Oregon, Ogle county, in 1841, was burned by friends of seven out- laws who were then in jail, in the hope that the prisoners would make their escape from the jail near by. The good people were forced to form themselves into companies of regulators for the safety of life and property. A very noted family were known to be very hardened criminals, and they were ordered to leave the neighborhood. A Cap- tain Campbell, of the regulators, was shot in cold blood A Student's History of Illinois 155 by some one of this family. A mob caught two of the members, father and son, and after a regulator's trial, sen- tenced them to be shot, the whole company of regu- lators firing at once upon the two culprits as they knelt blindfolded before their executioners. This reads like a vigorous remedy, but it may have been the only one which this early people could find that was effective. A School House of the Early Days. But lawlessness was not confined to the northern part of the State. The murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy in Alton in 1837 reveals the unsettled state of society. Mr. Lovejoy was a young man who came from Maine to the new w^est in 1828. He taught school some, but eventually took up newspaper work in St. Louis. He was outspoken against slavery and as a result his press was damaged by a mob and his life threatened. 156 A Student's History of Illinois He decided to move his press to Alton, Illinois. The press was broken to pieces and thrown into the river when it was landed on the wharf. Another was bought but shortly destroyed by a mob. Two more presses were destroyed — making four in all. In his efforts to defend his fourth press he was shot to death by the mob. He was buried by his brother, Owen Lovejoy, who took a vow of enmity against slavery which he kept through a long and honorable career. The State has erected a beautiful monument at his grave. Lovejoy Monument erected at a cost of $30,000, the State appropriating $25,000. A Student's History of Illinois 157 GOVERNOR THOMAS FORD. 1842-1846. Thomas Ford was boin in Pennsylvania in the year 1800. His father was killed by the Indians in 1802. Young Ford's inother came west in 1804. She seems to have been very desirous that her children do well. Thomas first learned carpentry and later studied law. He filled many public offices before he became gov- ernor. Governor Ford was a quiet, dignified, and honest man. He wrote a history of Illinois covering the period from the admis- sion of the state into the union to the end of his term as governor in 1846. He died in Peoria in 1850. CTTAPTER XXV. TROUBLESOME QUESTIONS. 218. Depression. — Governor ForcVs inaugural mepsage was full of vigorous suggestions for the legislature. He was in favor of paying every dollar f)f the State's indehted- 158 ./ Student's History of Illinois ness, he favored iinisliiiig the canal, and declared the banks should resume specie payment or suffer their busi- ness to be wound up by the State. He found the annual expense of carrying on the State government $170,000 per year, while the receipts were only $140,000, leaving a deficit of $30,000 each year. In this way a floating debt had grown to $313,000. Auditor's warrants on the State treasury were selling for fifty cents on the dollar, while the internal improvement bonds were worth but fourteen cents on the dollar. No one seemed to know just what to do; all were appalled by a bonded indebtedness of some- thing near $15,000,000. Many were in favor of public repudiation though not openly announcing their views. 219. Canal Plan.— Mr. Justin Butterfield, of Chicago, a lawyer of eminent ability, and withal a patriotic man, brought forward a scheme for the completion of the canal. This was a proposition to the holders of the canal bonds to advance $160,000, the amount thought necessary to fin- ish the canal, and to take a lien on the canal and all its ])roperty together with its income. This loan and all bonds held by those who would advance this money were to become a sort of preferred claim against the canal and its interests. This, after considerable investigation and consideration was agreed to and the completion of tlie canal assured. 220. The Banks. — The next thing in which the gov- ernor was interested was the State Bank. He drew a bill himself wliich ])rovided that the banks, which held more than $3,000,000 of bonds, auditor's warrants, etc., against the State, should turn them over to the State, while the State should surrender a like amount of bank stock, dollar for dollar. This arrangement with the two banks reduced the State's indebtedness over $3,000,000. 221. A Brighter Outlook. — A resolution was passed by tlie general asseml)ly wliicli pledged the State to the ]^ay- A Student's History of Illinois 159 ment of every dollar of indebtedness which had been con- tracted in the internal improvement venture. All that was done by this legislature under the guidance of Gov- ernor Ford seems to have been safe and sane. At least it w^as so regarded at the time, for auditor's warrants rose from fifty cents on the dollar, at the beginning of Ford's term, to ninety cents and above. State bonds were four- teen cents on the dollar at the beginning of the administra- tion and before Ford went out of office they were fifty cents. It is also said that as much as $5,000,000 of the debt was canceled by the increase in the value of the lands and appurtenances of the canal and railroad. Again, at the close of Governor Ford's term the floating debt was $31,212 instead of $313,000 as at the beginning. In many ways there was a restoration of confidence. Immi- gration was renewed and the population reached three quarters of a million. 222. The Mormons. — The body of religious people known as Mormons, had its origin in western New York about 1823. These people moved through Ohio to Mis- souri and settled near Kansas City. They were driven from Missouri and fled to Illinois settling on the Mis- sissippi river in Hancock county. Here they built a thriv- ing city which they named Nauvoo. Among the things of interest in this city was their temple, a structure some 128 feet long and 88 feet wide and four stories high. These people secured from the legislature a charter for their city which gave extraordinary powers to the officers thereof. They also secured the right to organize a body of militia of two or three companies which the State pro- vided with guns, cannon, and munitions. The city court could grant the writ of habeas corpus and in this way the oflicers of the law in the rest of the State could be defied. Tho voters entered politics and could thereby hold the 160 A Student's History of Illinois balance of power between the Whigs and the Democrats. Their religious beliefs, so it was claimed, led them to do many things which were contrary to the standards of other good people, and the Mormons and Gentiles were soon at swords points. Joseph Smith, their leader, was accused of certain crimes for which he was arrested and lodged in the Hancock county jail. Here he was set upon by a mob and killed. Shortly thereafter his followers decided to move west and after a year of preparation they departed. They eventually settled near the great Salt Lake, where they built the present city of Salt Lake. Many individual families rejected certain doctrines and practices held by their leaders and when the main body moved to Salt Lake City these remained in Illinois, Iowa, or Missouri. This explains probably the presence of Mor- ^T^Mt^^Km roblem. Some of these had been in proc- ess of solution for several years while others wore com- paratively new. 226. Internal Improvement. — The internal improve- ment problem was in process of solution. The incomes of the State were not sufficient to pay the current expenses though the deficits were decreasing from year to year. Governor French recommended to the legislature that all the debts of the State, including bonds, scrip, and interest, be funded and that the new bonds be registered. In this way the people would know just exactly how much they owed and who held the bonds, and counterfeiting, which had come to be a very common thing, would be prevented. As a means of increasing taxes the State petitioned con- gress to abrogate the clause in the enabling act by which the State promised to exempt from taxation for five years after sale, all government land. Congress having com- plied with the request, the legislature provided for the taxation of all lands. This greatly aided in meeting the current expenses, especially as considerable land was bought in Illinois following the ^lexican war. 227. Mexican War. — On May 13, 1846, congress passed an act declaring that Mexico, by the shedding of American blood upon American soil, had declared war against the United States. The President was authorized to accept 50,000 volunteers, and congress appropriated $10,000,000 to carry on the war. In distributing the 50,000 volunteers among the states, Illinois was to fur- nish three regiments. They were to serve twelve months. An additional regiment was organized by Col. E. D. Baker, congressman from the Springfield district. In 1847 two more regiments were organized. Besides these there were some independent companies. 228. Buena Vista. — Col. John J. Hardin, of Jackson- 164 A Student's History of Illinois ville, was in command of the 1st regiment; Col. William H. Bissell, afterwards governor of the State, of the 2d; CoL Ferris Foreman, of the 3d; Col. E. D. Baker, after- wards killed at Ball's Bluff, of the 4th regiment; Col. Edward W. B. Newby, of the 5th; Col. James Collins, of the 6th regiment. The first and second regiments were engaged Avith General Taylor in the battle of Buena Vista. In this battle 4,500 Americans held their ground against 20,000 Mexicans. Colonel Hardin was killed at the close of the day. He was esteemed very highly and his death was a severe loss to the State. His body was brought home and buried in Jacksonville. All the Illinois troops acquitted themselves with great credit. They received the highest praise from the com- manding officers, and so high did they stand in the State that to have been an Illinois soldier in the Mexican war was a sure passport to political position in the State for many years. Quite a number of the officers came to be prominent in the State and nation in later years. 229. Constitution of 1848. — The attempt to rewrite the constitution in 1824 was defeated. In 1841 another effort was made to call a constitutional convention, but it also failed. In 1845 the legislature passed an act calling on the people to vote on the question of a convention at the general election in August, 1846. The proposition was strongly urged upon the people by the Democratic press and it was not very generally opposed, so at the election in August, 1846, the question carried. The next step was to pass an act to provide for the convention. This act determined the number of delegates which should sit in the constitutional convention, the date of the election, which was fixed for the third ]\Ionday in April, 1847, and the date of the meeting of the dele- gates in the convention, the first Monday in June, 1847. When the members came together June 7, 1847, it was A Student's History of Illinois 105 found that the Whigs and Democrats were about evenly divided. The convention organized by electing Newton Cloud president, and Henry W. Moore secretary. There were 1 62 delegates in this body. The session lasted from June 7 to August 31, 1847. 230. Ratification. — It w^as provided that if this constitu- tion should be ratified by the people, the governor, secre- tary of state, etc., were to be elected on Tuesday after the first ^londay in November, 1848. The governor should take his office the second Monday in January following the election and serve four years. The constitution was completed on August 31, 1847. On March 6, 1848, it was submitted to the people for rati- fication. The vote on the constitution stood nearly 60,000 for, and nearly 16,000 against. It was declared in force April 1, 1848. By the terms of the document itself an election should be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1848, for governor and other executive officers, as well as for members of the legislature. In com- pliance therewith an election was held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1848, at which election Governor French w^as re-elected governor for four years from January 1, 1849. Some provisions in the new constitution were as follows : The legislature was prohibited from involving the State in the banking business. The power of the State to borrow money was limited to $60,000, unless in case of war, rebellion, or invasion, without a vote of the people. The right to vote was restricted to white male citizens, thus disfranchising unnaturalized foreigners. The governor was given the veto power. The election of many officers was taken from the legis- lature and given to the people. The State elections which had been held in August 166 ^i Student's History of Illinois were placed in November, the governor being elected on the same date as the election of the president. Two other provisions were township organization and a homestead law which will be more fully considered. 231. Township Organization. — The new constitution authorized the legislature to provide for township organi- zation. In pursuance thereof a law was passed in 1849 which allowed counties, when authorized by a vote of the people, to organize under this new system. This new system of county organization is distinctly a New England product, and was therefore championed by the northern counties which had been largely settled by immigrants from New England and the middle states. The legisla- ture on February 12, 1849, passed a general law govern- ing all counties under township organization. This first law was somewhat imperfect, and has therefore been sub- ject to amendments up till the present time. The general provisions may be briefly stated as follows : The three commissioners under the county system have been superseded by a board of supervisors — usually one from each township — more properly town. Each town elects its own assessor, collector, supervisor, highway commissioners, justices, constables, poundmaster, and clerk. These officers perform such services for the town as similar officers do for the county under county organization. The board of supervisors has charge of the public property of the county, fixes salaries, and audits the books and reports of all count}^ officers. 232. Homestead Law. — An important law which was enacted in Governor French's term was known as the ''Homestead Exemption Law." The principle involved in this act is very old in English law. Up to 1851 the only exemption was on personal property, and then only to the extent of $60. The debtor who might be permitted by this law to hold a yoke of oxen against a creditor might A Student's History of I Hi no is 167 have no land to till and his oxen might be a burden to him. But the exemption law of 1851 provides that a householder may hold land to the value of $1,000 against the creditor, besides $400 worth of personal property. Such laws are still on our statute books and are seen to be very much to the advantage of the poor man who has unfortunately become involved and cannot pay his debts. View of Kaskaskia in 1893. There is not a house left— all swallowed up by the Mississippi River. 168 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XXVII. THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. 233. Earliest Railroads. — Railroads made their advent into England in the year 1822. George Stephenson was the engineer of the first road. In 1825 a wooden rail track was first used in America for the removal of exca- vated earth on the Delaware-Chesapeake canal. On Jan- uary 28, 1831, the general assembly of Illinois chartered a canal or railroad in St. Clair county. This is the first legislation on railroads in this State. On February 15, 1831, a bill providing for the substitution of a railroad for the canal from Chicago to the Illinois river was passed by the legislature. From this time forward the legislature was very liberal in granting charters for railroads. But nothing w^as actually done until in 1837. In that year a railroad was actually put in running order in Illinois. Governor Reynolds says in his history, "My Own Times," that he was defeated for congress in 1836 and not having anything else to do, conceived the idea of building a railroad from the bluffs in St. Clair county to a point on the river opposite St. Louis, for the purpose of trans- porting coal to the market. The road w^as about six miles long. The engineer named a certain sum of money as the cost, but Reynolds says it cost twice as much. The road was completed in one season. The motive power wa? horses. The road was not chartered till 1841. 234. Origin of the Illinois Central Railroad. — Just who ought to have credit for originating the idea of a railroad from the junction of the Ohio with the Mississippi to the head of navigation of the Illinois river, is not easy to A Student's History of Illinois 169 determine. It is stated that Senator Alexander M. Jen- kins, of Jackson county, proposed a survey of a route for a central railroad from Cairo to Peru, in the State senate in 1832. On October 16, 1835, Sidney Breese, afterwards a noted jurist of this State, addressed to Mr. John Y. Sawyer, a prominent gentleman of Edwardsville, a letter in which he suggested the building of a road from Cairo to the north end of the State. This letter dealt with the location, cost, and benefits of such a road. Judge Breese afterwards said that the matter was suggested to him by a friend of Bond county. In the internal improvement scheme of 1836 there were planned many railroads in the State. Among the more important was a road from Cairo to the northern part of the State. Much work was done on this road but not a mile of it was finished. Every one recognized the value of a railroad joining the junction of the Ohio and the Mississippi with Chicago. Nothing was done toward com- pleting this road till 1850. 235. Government Grants Land. — Judge Breese and Stephen A. Douglas were in the United States Senate in 1847 ; and Douglas introduced a bill for a grant of land to Illinois which was endorsed by Breese and passed the senate, but failed in the house. On September 20, 1850, congress gave to the State of Illinois a grant of land with which* to build a road from Cairo to the northern part of the State. The law granted the right of way through the public lands between Cairo and the northern part of the State. The right of way should be 200 feet wide. Congress granted to the State every unentered, even-numbered section for a space of six miles on each side of the right of way; and when the even-numbered section had been entered or preempted then the State 170 A Student's History of Illinois might choose even-numbered sections in equal amounts anywhere on either side of the right of way to the distance of fifteen miles. The road was to be begun at opposite ends at the same time, and be completed within ten years. The total grant contained 2,595,000 acres. The gift was made to the State, and the legislature might dispose of it anyway it chose, provided it be used to construct the railroad. The government reserved the right to use the road as a public highway for the trans- mission of armies, munitions, and other government prop- erty, free of charge forever. When the legislature met in January, 1851, there were all kinds of propositions presented for the construction of the Central Railroad. But a proposition made by a company of men from New York and Boston attracted the attention of the legislature. This company pledged themselves to build the road and have it ready for operation by the 4th of July, 1854. The road should be as well built as the road running from Boston to Albany. They agreed to pay into the treasury of the State annually per cent of their gross earnings, provided the State would transfer to the company the lands granted by congress for the construction of the road. This proposition became the basis of the agreement between the State and the company afterwards known as the Illinois Central Railroad Company. The rate per cent of the gross earnings of the road which should be paid over to the State was fixed so that it should be ''at least" seven per cent. The road was completed on time and immediately became a source of income to the State. The first semi- annual payment made by the road was October 31, 1855, when $29,751.59 was turned into the State treasury. Ever &ince that datft tho road has made seini-nnnual pay- .'] Students History of Illinois 171 iiieiits; the annual sum has now reached over one million dollars. 236. A New Banking System. — The experience of Illi- nois in the banking business, had been so unfortunate that there was inserted in the constitution of 1848, Article X., Section 5, this provision: "No act of the general assembly, authorizing corporations or associations with banking powers, shall go into effect or in any manner be enforced, unless the same shall be submitted to the people at the general election next succeeding the passage of the same, and be approved by a majority of all the votes cast at such election for and against such law." Section 4, of the same article provided that all stockholders in bank- ing associations issuing bank notes, should be individually responsible proportionately to the stock held by each, for all liabilities of the corporation or association. 237. New York Plan.— In 1838, the legislature of New York passed a law which created a system of banking quite different from anything before tried in this coutnry. This bill provided the following plan, briefly outlined : 1. Persons might deposit with the comptroller of the State a certain amount of United States bonds, state bonds, or mort- gages to be approved by that officer, as security. 2. The comptroller issued to such persons bank bills which when properly signed by the bank officers might be put into circulation as money. 3. Said notes when put in circulation were to be redeemed by the bank when presented for redemption by the holder within a limited time, or 4. The comptroller could sell the bonds deposited with him and redeem said bank notes. Following the ratification of the constitution of 1848, there began almost immediately an agitation for banks of issue in Illinois. In the session of 1851 the legislature passed a banking law modeled upon the New York law outlined above. Tliis law could not o'o into effect until 172 A Student's History of Illinois ratified b}^ the majority of the votes cast at a general elec- tion. The general election was provided for in November, 1851, and the vote stood — for the law, 37,626; against the law, 31,405 — a very light vote. This law was called the 'Tree Banking Law," because anyone could go into the banking business. That is one did not have to have a specially enacted charter. The securities were to be deposited with the auditor of public accounts, and might consist of United States bonds, Illi- nois state bonds, other state bonds. 238. Wild Cat Banks. — These banks were know^n as Wild Cat Banks. The name is said to have originated from the picture of a wild cat engraved on the bills of one of these irresponsible banks in Michigan. However, they may have been named from the fact that the word wild cat was often applied to any irresponsible venture or scheme. The one hundred and fifteen banks which were in operation in Illinois just prior to the Civil war, issued nearly a thousand different kinds of bank bills. Because of the large number of kinds of bills, counterfeiting was easy, and it is said that much of the money in circula- tion was counterfeit. Bankers received reports as to the condition of the banks over the state daily. One never knew when he presented a bill in payment of a debt, whether or not it was of any value. Often the merchant would accept this paper money only when heavily dis- counted. 239. Campaign of 1852. — Governor French served six years as governor, two years under the constitution of 1818, and four years under that of 1848. For the office of governor, the Democrats nominated in April, 1852, Joel A. Matteson, of Will county. The Whigs put for- ward Edwin B. Webb, of AYhite county; while the Aboli- tionists or Free Soilers nominated Dexter A. Knowlton. A Student's History of Illinois 173 GOVERNOR JOEL A. MATTESON. 1853—1857. Joel A. Matteson was a native of Watertown, N. Y. He was born in 1808. He early became a teacher, and later he became engaged in railroad building. He was a contractor on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. He served in the Legislature. In 1853 he became governor. At the close of his term he retired to private life, but was soon accused of irregularity in connection with the bonds of the canal, and to satisfy the demands of the state he turned over property valued at a quarter of a million dollars. He traveled in Europe. Died in Chicago in 1873. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. 240. Legislation. — Governor Matteson showed in his first message that he was a practical man. He recom- mendpd a public school system, a liberal policy toward 174 A Student's History of Illinois the granting of charters to corporations to build raih'oads, and the building of a penitentiary in the northern part of the State. Some of the legislation of the session of 1853, dealt with the temperance question, with free negroes, building an executive mansion, besides the sub- jects referred to in the governor's message. Ex-Governor John Reynolds was elected to this legislature and was chosen speaker of the house. He had served on the supreme bench, in the legislature, as governor, congress- man, and now came back to serve in the legislature. Stephen A. Douglas was elected to another term in the United States senate. 241. Prosperity. — Everything pointed to a very pros- perous future for the State, and although the debt was apparently appalling yet those who had clear financial vision could see the dawning of better days. The debt at this time, January 1, 1853, according to the report of the governor was $17,398,985. But the State was now to receive an income from the canal and soon from the Illi- nois Central Railroad ; besides the general taxes were now assessed upon a valuation of more than $200,000,000. 242. Slavery Agitation. — During the years of Mr. Matteson's administration, there was great agitation in Illinois on the slavery question. The constitution of 1848, had abolished slavery, but there were in the State quite a number of free negroes. The '^underground rail- road" was in active operation and had been since 1835. The fugitive slave law passed by congress in 1850 was very obnoxious to many people and the underground rail- way was liberally patronized in the years '51, '52, and '53. On February 12, 1853, the legislature passed a law con- cerning free negroes and mulattoes. This law made it a crime to bring into the State a negro. Again if a negro came into the State and remained ten days, he was liable to arrest, and to be fined $50 If he could not pay the A Student's History of Illinois 175 (inc he was sold to anyone who would pay the cost of tlie arrest and trial. This law was intended to serve two purposes; first to make it a crime to assist negroes into the State and in making their escape, and second to enable the southern slave catcher to get possession of his slave at the actual cost of arrest and trial. 243. A National Question. — Nor was the slave question at all paciiied by the passage of the law repealing the Mis- An Underground Railroad Station in St. Clair County. souri Compromise. Mr. Douglas was the champion of the bill in congress and when he returned to Illinois he found many of his neighbors and friends actively and even bitterly opposed to the measure. All over the State there were speeches, conventions, and resolutions denounc- ing it. An active newspaper w^ar was everywhere waged against the measure. The bill was passed in May, 1854, and the congressional canvass was carried on through the 176 A Student's History of Illinois summer months following. Douglas attempted to explain his action but in many places he was treated with scant courtesy by the disappointed people. There was a great disturbance in political parties and new parties were being formed. These shall have our attention presently. 244. Free School System. — One of the most far-reach- ing measures enacted into law during Governor Matte- son's term was the bill which ushered in our free public school system. Between 1830 and 1855 nothing of any special merit was done by the legislature affecting the school system. Common schools were conducted in nearly every neighborhood but only for a few months in the year. In 1833 the legislature passed a law which provided that the teacher should keep a schedule of the daily attendance, and upon this attendance as a proportionate part of the total attendance in that township his share of the school fund depended. In 1833, February 13, an educational convention was held in Vandalia. This meeting was the first of its kind in the State. Judge James Hall made an address. The purpose seemed to have been to gather and disseminate information of the educational progress in the State. 245. Slow Growth. — The very excellent school law passed in 1825 was repealed by 1830. The people were then free to have any kind of school they chose. The secret of the delay in getting a school system in Illinois seems to have been this, — all plans or systems were introduced and urged by the Yankee portion of the settlers while a majority of the legislature and perhaps of the population was from the slave states where they had little use for free schools. The school men and others kept up the fight for a free school system. A school journal was published as early as 1837. It was called 'The Common School Advocate." A Student's History of Illinois \77 and was published in Jacksonville by E. T. and E. Goudy. Among those who kept alive the spirit of free public schools were Rev. John F. Brooks, Prof. J. B. Turner, Rev. John M. Peck, Hon. Cyrus Edwards, John 8. Wright and a score of others. County institutes were held in those days at which reports were made, lectures given, and resolutions passed. 246. Farmers' Convention. — In 1851, at Granville, Put- nam county, was held a ^'Farmers' Convention'' at which steps were taken that resulted in founding the State Uni- versity. The legislature, at the session of 1854, con- sidered a bill to incorporate the "Trustees of Illinois Uni- versity." The objects were stated to be: 1. To establish a normal department; 2. To establish an agricultural department; and 3. A mechanical department. The bill did not become a law. Congress, in 1850, granted the states all the swamp lands in them yet remaining unsold. Illinois received about 1,500,000 acres. The legislature provided for the sale of this land for the purpose of securing funds for draining the remainder of the land. And if any should be left after the drainage expense had been met, it should be diverted into the school fund. Some half million dol- lars or more was thus added to the township and county school funds. ''The State Teachers' Institute of Illinois" was chartered in 1855, and in 1857 the charter name was changed to ''The Illinois State Teachers' Association." This is now a very important factor in educational progress in Illinois. It holds its annual meetings at Springfield during the Christmas holidays. 247. Campaign of 1856. — National politics entered into the campaign of 1856. The old Whig party was giving way to another and more vigorous organization — the Anti- Nebraska party. This new party later came to be called 178 .i Stiidcufs History of Illinois the Republican party. The Democratic party put out its candidates at a convention held in Springfield May 1st, 1856. The Hon. W. A. Anderson was named as candi- date for governor. The Anti-Nebraska party nominated Colonel Wm. H. Bissell. The canvass was full of interest. The Republicans or Anti-Nebraskans looked hopefully forward to success, while the Democrats saw that their only chance was to keep their opponents from fusing their interests. The Anti-Nebraska people, or the Republicans as they were beginning to be called, were bitterly denounced as ''Black Republicans,'' and as Abolitionists. Lincoln made about fifty speeches. The Republicans made very little headway in the south end of the State. Buchanan carried the electoral vote but the Republicans elected four of the nine congressmen, besides the State ticket. The legislature was Democratic. 4 Student's Jfistory of Illinois 179 GOVERNOR WM. H. BISSELL. 1857-1860. Governor Bissell was a native of New York. His education was limited, though he finished a course In medicine and practiced that profession in Monroe county before he was 30 years of age. Ho did not regard the practice of medicine as his life work and drifted Into law and politics. He is said to have been a charming public speaker. He was colonel of a regiment in the Mexican War, served in congress, and practiced law. He was challenged to fight a duel by Jefferson Davis, but friends prevented them from engaging in this criminal act. He died in March, 1860 — ten months before the end of his term as governor. CHAPTER XXIX. A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. 248. Inaugurated.— The inauguration of a Republican governor in Illinois was an event of no ordinary interest. The Democratic party had furnished all the governors 180 A Student's History of Illinois ,^ince the days of Shadrach Bond. The new party was less than four years old, yet it held within its ranks in IlUnois men who became famous in the halls of legislation, in high executive stations, on the bench as honored jurists, and as heroes upon the field of battle. Governor Bissell was inaugurated January 13, 1857. He won the disfavor of his political opponents by dis- cussing vigorously the slavery question in his first mes- sage to the legislature. They immediately attacked his elligibility to the office of governor on account of his hav- ing accepted the challenge from Jefferson Davis to fight a duel. The constitution of 1848 made such an act a dis- qualification to hold office under said constitution. After a very bitter contest in the legislature the matter was dropped. 249. Normal School. — Without doubt the most impor- tant legislation of this session was the passage of the act creating the normal school at Normal. This act was approved February 18, 1857. Another very creditable bit of legislation was the establishment of a penitentiary in the northern part of the State, at Joliet. 250. State Apportionment. — The constitution of 1848 provided that the census of the State should be taken every fifth year, and that the State should be redistricted follow- ing the taking of the census. One matter therefore for the legislature of 1857 was to make the State apportion- ment based upon the census of 1855. The Democrats were in the majority slightly in each house. Their meas- ure for reapportionment was vetoed by Gov. Bissell, and l)arty feeling ran so high that little progress could be made and the legislature adjourned. 251. Lincoln-Douglas Debate. — By the summer 'of 1858 Tincoln had become the recognized leader of the RepubHcan party in Illinois while Douglas had for some time beld that honor in the Democratic party. The A Student's History of Illinois 181 slavery question was rapidly becoming the absorbing ques- tion in national politics and was now assuming large pro- portions in Illinois politics. In 1854 Mr. Douglas had pushed the Nebraska bill, or the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, through congress. Mr. Lincoln wished to succeed Mr. Douglas as United States senator. The elec- tion would occur at the meeting of the legislature in Janu- ary, 1859. This legislature was to be elected at the Novem- ber election in 1858. Mr. Douglas returned from Washington to make his canvass for re-election in July, 1858. After considerable correspondence Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas agreed to a joint discusion before the voters of Illinois. There were to be seven joint meetings — two districts, the one in which Chicago lay, and the one in which Springfield was situated, had already had joint discussions. The places agreed upon and the dates were as follows : Ottawa, La Salle county, August 21, 1858. Freeport, Stephenson county, August 27, 1858. Jonesboro, Union county, September 15, 1858. Charleston, Coles county, September 18, 1858. Galesburg, Knox county, October 7, 1858. Quincy, Adams county, October 13, 1858. Alton, Madison county, October 15, 1858. 252. Squatter Sovereignty. — To understand the real significance of this contest it will be necessary to give attention to some questions that do not fall strictly within the limits of Illinois history. In the repeal of the Mis- souri Compromise it had been expressly stated in the bill itself, section 21, — "First. That all questions pertaining to slavery in the territories, and in the new states to be formed therefrom, are to be left to the decisions of the people residing therein, through their appropriate repre- sentatives." This was the doctrine of "Squatter Sovereignty." 182 ^1 Student's History of Illinois 253. Questions. — In the first debate at Ottawa, Douglas asked Lincoln eight questions which the latter did not answer, at least fully, till the joint meeting at Freeport. Lincoln then answered Douglas' eight questions, and in turn asked Douglas four, holding four in reserve. Tlie second question asked by Lincoln was one which all of his friends said would lose him the senatorship. It is reported that at !Mendota the night before the speech at Freeport the next day, after midnight, a large gathering of Lin- coln's friends called on him at the hotel, and to them Lincoln read question number two. They all with one accord told him it was the height of folly as it would cer- tainly be at the cost of the senatorship. Lincoln is said to have responded: ^'Gentlemen, I am killing larger game ; if Douglas answers, he can never be president, and the battle of 1860 is worth a hundred of this." The question Avas: '^No. 2. Can the people of a United States Territory in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizens of the United States, exclude slavery from its limit prior to the formation of a state constitution?" If Mr. Douglas wishes still to uphold the doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty he will be forced to say, ''Yes." If he says, ''No," then his doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty has burst as a bubble. If Douglas answers in the affirmative he runs counter to the decision of the supreme court which has so greatly delighted the slave holders of the south. If he says, ''Yes," every pro-slavery southerner will be ready to read him out of the Democratic party. If he says, "No," he will lose the senatorship, for those that are jDleading Douglas' cause argue that Douglas ought to be sustained because he stands for abiding by the will of the people as expressed in regularly constitntod means for such ex])r(>s 254. Freeport Doctrine. — Douglas was truly midway between two great dangers, but summoning all his native skill in the art of debate he answered: ^'I answer em- phaticall}^, as Mr. Lincoln has heard me answer a hun- dred times from every stump in Illinois, that, in my opin- ion the people of the territory can by lawful means, exclude slavery from their limits prior to the formation of a State constitution. . . . The people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it, as they please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day, or an hour, any- where, unless it is supported by local police regulation." 255. Douglas Splits His Party. — This Free])()rt doc- trine greath^ pleased the people of the north where they believed in squatter sovereignty as a cardinal principle of democracy. But in the south the leaders were very bitter toward Douglas because this Freeport doctrine was counter to the Dred Scott decision. Judah P. Benjamin, United States senator from Louisiana denounced Douglas in the United States senate. Douglas was deposed from the chair- manship of the committee on territories, w^hich he had held for eleven years, and the party was split into Buchanan Democrats and Douglas Democrats. 256. The Final Result. — The contest came to a close on the 2d of November and resulted in the election of a majority of members of the legislature pledged to the support of Douglas for senator. In the election of the treasurer and state superintendent of public instruction, the Republicans were successful. The legislature convened on January 3, 1859, and a few days later in jonit session elected Douglas senator for six years from March 4, 1859. The ballot stood — Lincoln 46, and Douglas 54. The contest between Douglas and Lincoln had attracted the attention of the entire country, north and scaith, east and west. Mr. Lincoln was defeated but not cast down. 184 A Student's History of Illinois It was only one short year till the national canvass would demand attention of the whole people. Lincoln wrote to a friend shortly after the November election as follows: ''The fight must go on. The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end of one or one hundred defeats. Douglas had the ingenuity to be supported in the late contest, both as the best means to break down and to uphold the slave interest. No ingenuity can keep these antagonistic elements in harmony long. Another explo- sion will soon come." Douglas naturally felt proud of his victory. After a short rest following the close of the campaign, he made a tour of the southern states; but nothing he could say or do could pacify the administration. 257. Death of Governor Bissell. — Governor Bissell was almost incapacitated for the duties of his office during most of his term. In the latter part of 1859 and first of 1860, he became greatly afflicted and died in office, March, 1860. Lieutenant Governor Wood assumed the duties of the office and served till succeeded by Richard Yates in January, 1861. A Student's History of Illinois 185 GOVERNOR JOHN WOOD. 1860—1861. John Wood, who became the chief executive upon the death of Governor Bissell, was the son of a Revolutionary soldier. He was born in New York in 1798 and settled in Pike county in 1820. In 1822, he bought a quarter-section of land and upon it built the first house — a log cabin — in the future city of Quincy. He was in- strumental in securing the organization of Pike county and was, for sixty years, identified with the history of our State. Governor Wood acted as quartermaster general for the State dur- ing the earlier years of the Civil war, and in 1864 raised the 137th regiment of Illinois troop.s — 100-day men — and saw active service in the south. During the executive term of Bissell and Wood, the public debt was reduced more than $3,000,000. Governor Wood died in Quincy, June 11, 1880, at the ripe age of eighty-two years. 258. Election of I860.— It was early seen that the great struggle of 1858 was to be continued in the state and national elections of 1860. Richard Yates of Jacksonville was the Republican candidate for governor. James C. Allen of Crawford county was the standard bearer for tlie Democratic party. Mr. Yates was elected by a small 186 A Student's History of Illinois majorit3^ The Republicans carried both branches of the legislature. No previous national election was ever so vital to the perpetuity of Democratic institutions as was the one of 1860. The Democratic party was divided. One wini»; staked its fortune on the justice in human slavery and the right of secession. The other wing rested its cause on squatter sovereignty which was the chief doctrine advanced in the Kansas-Nebraska bill. The Republican party denied the right of congress to establish slavery in any territory, denounced the Dred Scott decision, and demanded the admission of Kansas as a free state. The slave states put out John C. Breckenridge, the regular Democratic nominee was Stephen A. Douglas, while the Republicans named Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln was elected. A Student's History of Illinois 187 Courtesy and permission of McClure, Phil- lips & Co. From Ida M. Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. Abraham Lincoln. CHAPTEPx XXX. A SON OF ILLINOIS. 259. Birth and Youth. — Abraham Lincohi was born three miles from Hodgensville, in La Rue county, Ken- tucky, February 12, 1809. When he was about four years old his parents moved to Knob Creek, sixteen miles away from his birthplace. Here he began his education. Mr. Lincoln says he thinks six months would cover all the time he ever went to school. 188 J Sfitdoit's History of Illinois 260. Moves to Indiana. — In 1816, his father moved to Spencer county, Indiana. Abraham was now seven years old. The home is described as a "half-face camp." The furnishings were very meager. AVild game was plentiful in the thick woods about them. It has been said that Thomas Lincoln neglected his wife and children Avhile here. Abraham says that these were "pretty pinching times." Abraham's mother died in 1818, and then, no doubt the Lincoln home was desolate indeed. Courtesy and permission of McClure. Phillips & Co. From Ida M. Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. Lincoln's Birthplace. In 1819, Thomas Lincoln returned to Kentucky and married KSally Bush Johnston, a widow with three children. Mrs. Johnston and Thomas had been lovers in their younger days. The new mother brought quite a few comforts to the forlorn home in Indiana. 26L Moves to Illinois. — In 1830 the Lincoln family moved to Illinois and settled near Decatur, some ten miles west. Here is where Lincoln made the historic rails. The Lincolns fenced ten acres of ground, broke it, and planted it in corn. Lincoln was twenty-one years old A Stiuiciit's History of Illinois 189 February 12, 1830, and this Avas the last work he hel])efl his father do. 262. Trip to New Orleans. — In the winter of "the deep snow.'' Lincoln with others engaged to take a flat boat to New Orleans. Lincoln helped to build the boat at San- gamon town (New Salem), and the trip was made to New Orleans in the spring of 1831. It was while in the city of New Orleans that he saw a mulatto girl offered for sale from the auction block in a slave market. The con- Courtesy and permission of McClure, Philliyjs & Co. From Ida M. Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. The Home of Lincoln's Parents near Charleston, duct of the auctioneer and the bidders was so revolting that Lincoln is said to have remarked to his companions, John Hanks and John D. Johnston, ^'Boys, let's get away from this. If I ever get a chance to hit that thing (slavery), I will hit it hard." 263. Store Keeper. — On his return he engaged to keep store in New Salem for Denton Offutt. Here Lincoln spent the next few years of his life. It was indeed a 190 A Student's History of Illinois .-trenuous one. He studied, read, wrestled, and courted. In 1832 he offered himself as a candidate for the legisla- ture. He had hardly announced himself, when in April, 1832, word came to New Salem of the call for troops to go to the Black Hawk war. 264. A Soldier. — Abraham Lincoln was captain of one of the four companies which constituted the fourth regi- ment. When the armj^ was mustered out. May 27, 1832, Lincoln re-enlistecl as a private in Captain lies' company for twent}' days. When his time was up for this enlist- ment, he re-enlisted in Capt. Jacob M. Early's company. When he was mAistered out, he and a companion walked across country to Ottawa, came to Havana in a canoe, and walked to New Salem. He was defeated in the fall of LS82 for the legislature, but was elected the fall of 1834. 265. As a Legislator. — He served in the legislature from December, 1834, to December, 1842. He repre- sented the Springfield district in congress from December, 1847-1849. In 1855 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the LTnited States senate. In 1856 he was active in the campaign in which Bissell was a candidate for gover- nor. In 1858 he was candidate for the United States sen- ate and engaged in the great debate with Douglas. In 1 860 was elected to the presidency. 266. Farewell. — As the time approached for his de- parture for Washington, he settled up all his private busi- ness affairs. One of the most significant incidents of the closing days of his life as a private citizen was his visit to his step-mother, who lived in Coles county — near Charleston. He spent a day with her, and, accompanied by her, he visited the grave of his father. ^Mr. Lincoln loved his step-mother very tenderlj^ and it must indeed have been very touching to see this sad parting, for his mother told him she never expected to see him again. She A Student's History of Illinois 191 was now seventy-three yearn old. She died December 10, 1869. Mr. Lincoln left Springfield for Washington, February 11, 1861. To a great concourse of friends and neighbors who had gathered about the station he addressed a very touching farewell. He said: My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kind- ness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an af- fectionate farewell. He reached Washington safely on the morning of the 4th of March, 1861, and was ready for the inaugural exercises. 267. Inaugurated. — Shortly before noon the retiring President, Mr. Buchanan, called for Mr. Lincoln and escorted him to the senate chamber. From here they passed out upon a large platform erected upon the east side of the capitol where he delivered his inaugural in the presence of senators, representatives, judges, foreign min- isters, and other public dignitaries. When the distinguished party came upon the platform and were seated, Senator Edward Baker, arose and intro- duced Mr. Lincoln, and as he came forward a few steps with his cane in his hand, together mth his manuscript and his tall silk hat, he was embarrassed for want of a place to put his hat. Just then Senator Douglas saw the embarrassment, stepped forward and took the President's 192 - / Student's History of Illinois hat., and stepping back and holding it in his hand, said to a cousin of Mrs. Lincoln, ''If I can't be President, I can at least hold his hat." In the inaugural speech he said, ''I have no purpose, directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Just near the close, as he was addressing his ''dis- saitsfied countrymen," he showed them wherein he had the advantage of them. "You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while I have the most solemn one to preserve, protect, and defend it." 268. Douglas a Patriot. — Within a few days, on April 18, after the fall of Sumter, Stephen A. Douglas called on President Lincoln and assured him of his heartiest support, and on the 25th of April he was in Springfield, and here upon invitation of the legislature which had met in special session he addressed that body. The speech of April 25 was a vigorous arraignment of secession and a patriotic appeal to all to defend the constitution and the flag. From here Douglas went to Chicago, where he spoke in a similar strain in the 'Svigwam," where Lincoln was nominated. Douglas was taken sick almost immediateh^ after this 'Svigwam" speech and was confined to his room in the Tremont House, where he died the 3d of June, 1861. It was very unfortunate for the cause of the Union that Douglas died so early in the great struggle. Had he lived he would surely have been a valuable friend of President Lincoln. He had no sympathy with secession. A Student's History of J 11 in o is 193 GOVERNOR RICHARD YATES, 1861-1865. SR. Richard Yates was a Kentuckian. His parents removed to Illinois when Richard was a lad of 15 years. His father was a staunch anti-slavery man. Young- Yates read law with Gen. John J. Hardin, who was killed at Buena Vista. Mr. Yates was a great campaigner, and made friends with the common people. He was the only Whig congressman elected in Illinois in the election of 1850. He was reelected in 1852. He took an active part in the famous Blooming- ton convention of 1856, and was the Republican nominee for gov- ernor in 1860. He was inaugurated as governor in January, 1861. He was a great friend of Lincoln and was known as "Illinois' War Governor." He served as United States Senator from 1865 to 1871 He died in the latter year. CHAPTER XXXT. GOVERNOR RICHARD YATES— ILLINOIS IN THE CIVIL WAR. 269. Yates Inaugurated. — Richard Yates was inaugu- rated ooveriior on the 14th of January, 1861. His inaugu- 194 A Student's History of Illinois ral was full of earnest words relative to the duty of every patriot. It is interesting to note at a time when political feeling was so high that so many matters of purely local interest should receive attention. Some of the acts passed by this legislature were: To encourage mining ; to foster public schools ; to provide for discharging the State debt; to prevent illegal voting, and to call a convention to amend or revise the State consti- tution, 270. The Flag Fired Upon.— The winter of 1860-1 was one of great political activity in the national capital. Senators and representatives from the southern states were resigning their seats in congress and making farewell speeches in that body. President Buchanan was doing nothing to check the spirit of secession. The military movements of the south were as rapid and dramatic as had been the political events in the national capital. Forts, arsenals, and munitions passed rapidly from the control of the national government to that of the seceded states. On the 12th of April, the secessionists opened fire on Fort Sumter. The morning of the 14th, Major Anderson marched out of the fort, and the flag of South Carolina was run up. On Monday morning, April 15, 1861, President Lin- coln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers for three months, '*in order to suppress said combination and to cause the laws to be duly executed." All loyal citizens were called upon to aid ''this effort to maintain the honor, integrity and the existence of our National Union." 271. Extra Session of the Legislature. — The regular session of the legislature had just recently adjourned when Note. — In following the events of the Civil War it is not the purpose to give anything like a connected account of the military operations; but to discover as nearly as we may Illinois' part in the war, and the effect of the war upon Illinois. A Student's History of Illinois 195 Fort Sumter was fired on. On the 15th of April, Governor Yates was notified by the Secretary of War of the call for troops. He immediately issued a call for an extra session of the legislature to meet on the 23d. The special session which Governor Yates had called was in session but ten days. It had been called to '^per- fect the organization and equipment of the militia of the State and placing the same on the best footing to render assistance to the general government in preserving the union, enforcing the laws, and protecting the property and rights of the people." 272. Call for Troops. — Illinois was asked to raise six regiments for the suppression of the rebellion in certain states. There was activity in every town and hamlet. Everywhere the flag was flung to the breeze as the na- tional emblem. Now developed a feature of the war Avhich is not always well understood. Up to this time the whole population of Illinois, with the exception of a very few people, was divided into Republicans and Douglas Democrats. There had been a strong sympathy between the Douglas Democrats and the Southern Democrats, and almost as strong a hatred for the Eepublicans. The Re- publicans were called ^ 'black abolitionists." Douglas him- self persisted in calling Lincoln's friends the Black Repub- licans in the debates of 1858. But when the flag was fired on Democrats and Republicans forgot any differences which they may have had and rallied to the defense of the flag. 273. Cairo Occupied.— On the 19th of April, the Sec- retary of War telegraphed to Governor Yates to occupy Cairo as a precaution. By the 21st General Swift of Chicago, was on his way to Cairo with four pieces of artillery and six companies of soldiers, and by the 22d, three more companies were en route. The six regiments were made into the first brigade of Illinois. Gen. Benjamin Prentiss 196 - 1 Studivit's History of Illinois proceeded to Cairo and took command at that point. Other calls came for troops and by the end of the year there were in the camps and in the field nearly 70.000 Illinois soldiers. 274. The Silent Man. — Sometime in the latter part of April or the first part of ^lay, there came from Galena to Springfield a company of soldiers who offered their services and were eventnally put into the eleventh regi- ment. Along with this company there came the silent Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. man — Ulysses S. Grant. He remained in Springfield till the Galena boys were properly located, and was about io depart when Governor Yates invited him to assist tlie adjutant general in his duties. Through the early sum- mer he m.ustered in regiments and did other service. The governor appointed Grant colonel of the 21st regi- ment. This regiment was enlisted and mustered at Mat- A Student's History of Illinois 197 toon June 15, but later came to Springfield. Grant was ordered, with his regiment, to Quincy. But on the march to that point orders changed his destination and he went into eastern Missouri, where he remained without special incident till he was made a brigadier general, August 23. On September 4, Grant took up his headquarters in Cairo and relieved Col. Richard Ogiesby. Within a few days he had occupied Paducah and Smithland. On the 7th of November he broke up a large camp of confederates at Belmont, Mo., and captured and destroyed large quan- tities of stores. But the enemy being heavily reinforced from Columbus, were able to drive Grant to his boats with a loss of 485 killed, wounded, and missing. Grant re- turned to Cairo, where he remained till the expedition was sent up the Tennessee in February, 1862. 275. The Constitutional Convention. — In pursuance of the action taken in the legislatures of 1859 and 1861, a convention w^as held in the early part of 1862 to revise the constitution of the State. When the new constitu- tion was submitted to the people its ratification was de- feated by over 16,000. 276. Pittsburg Landing. — The early days in February, 1862, found Grant making preparations for the first real steps toward the opening of the Mississippi river. With a very large army on transports accompanied by numer- ous vessels of the gunboat class, Grant proceeded to the reduction of Forts Henry and Donelson. He later con- centrated his troops on the Tennessee where on the morn- ing of the sixth of April, 1862, was begun the battle of Pittsburg Landing which lasted two days. Governor Yates was especially active in the work of caring for our own boys in the field. When the battle of Pittsburg Landing began on Sunday morning, the 6th of April, the governor was tendered a steamboat by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company. 198 A Student's History of Illinois :'^-'^^pP^ .^^ 1 1 WM ^(^^^ '- 0P^,^||B ]^^> Monument marking the spot where Gen. Grant spent the night of April 6th, 1862 — now a part of the grounds of the Shiloh National Cemetery, Pittsburg Landing, Tenn The boat was quickly provisioned, and with an excellent medical staff under the direction of an eminent surgeon, Doctor Daniel Brainard, president of Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago, the vessel quickly reached Cairo. Here it was detained by reason of military regulations, but was soon on its way. The cargo was not all sight-seers. There Avere doctors, nurses, helpers, boxes of dainty food, pack- ages of bandages and lint, stretchers, medicine, and every- thing which could minister to the relief of those in distress. 277. More Illinois Soldiers. — The summer months of 1862 revealed the great need of additional soldiers in the field and during July and August 600,000 additional troops w^ere asked for. Of this large number, Illinois was to furnish 52,000. She had already furnished more than her quota, but the government was insistent and Illinois must furnish the 52,000 men. The governor immediately set to work to comply with the demands of the general government. In an incredibly short time not only the 52,000, but over 68,000 troops were tendered. Thus by the end of 1862 Illinois had organized and sent to the country's sei-vice 131 regiments of infantry, 13 regiments. A Student's History of Illinois 199 of cavalry, besides artillery and other arms of the service. 278. Legislature Democratic. — The legislature met January 5, 1863. Its attitude toward the national and State administrations was quickly revealed. The newly elected speaker of the house, in his address to that body, used the words: ^^I trust that you will feel it your duty to enter the solemn protest of the people of the State of Illinois against the impolicy and imbecility which, after such heroic and long continued sacrifices, still leaves this unholy rebellion not only not subdued but without any immediate prospect of termination, and I trust that your action may have a potent influence in restoring to our distracted country the peace and union of bygone days." Governor Yates delivered his inaugural message which was full of patriotism and hope. He said: ^The rebel- lion, which was designed to perpetuate slavery and plant it upon an enduring basis, is now, under a righteous Providence, being made the instrument to destroy it." 279. With Grant and Sherman. — The Illinois troops were occupied with the opening of the Mississippi river and with Sherman in his march to the sea. Few of them found service east of the Alleghanies. Many regiments much depleted marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the Grand Review. The chief battles in which Illinois troops took part are as follows: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Franklin, Siege of Vicksburg, Chickamauga, around Chattanooga, March to the Sea. The total loss of life among the Illinois soldiers was, killed in battle, 5,874; died of wounds, 4,020; died of disease, 22,786; died from other causes, 2,154; total deaths, 84,834. 280. Illinois* Sons in the War. — There is no place Avhere men so quickly earn renown as in fighting the battles of their countr^^ The world has alwavs honored 200 A Student's History of Illinois her great military leaders. Illinois ought to be proud of the record her soldiers made in this conflict. The youtli of our great State ought to become familiar with the stories of the lives of at least a dozen of the gTeat names which Illinois is proud to honor. First, of all those whose names should be familiar, is Abraham Lincoln. He was commander-in-chief of tlie army and navy for more than four years. The next name is that of Ulvsses S. rrrant. He becan in the humble Artillery of Grant's last line, Sunday evening, April 6th, showing the only earth works thrown up during the battle, Shiloh National Military Park, Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. capacity of a clerk. He was next the colonel of the 21st regiment. Then a brigade commander and later a major general. He then became the real commander-in-chief of all the Union forces in the field and won undying fame as the Great Commander. John A. Logan was a member of congress when the con- flict began. He raised a legiment, the 31st, and became its colonel, and afterwards rose to the rank of major gen- eral. He has been called the greatest volunteer soldier, never having had previous military training. A Student's History of. Illinois 201 John M. Palmer went into the service as colonel of the 14th regiment as early as May, 1861. He rose rapidly to the position of major general. John A. McClernand was, in his early days, a citizen of Shawneetown, but later lived in Springfield. He was in congress at the opening of the war. He became a noted major general. Richard J. Oglesby became a major general and after- Monument in the National Cemet»!ry at Mound City. 202 A Stittlcut's History of Illinois wards served two terms as governor. Other men from Illinois who became major generals were John Pope, Stephen A. Hurlbut, Benjamin M. Prentiss, John M. Sco- field, Napoleon B. Buford, Wesley Merritt, Giles A. Smith, and Benjamin H. Grierson. 281. Campaign of 1864. — This was a very bitter cam- paign. The national parties put out Mr. Lincoln and Gen. Geo. B. McClellan for president. The platforms dealt almost wholly with the political phases of the war. The state candidates and their jDlatforms affirmed the doc- General John A, Logan. trines of the national parties. Gen. Richard J. Oglesby was the candidate for governor on the Republican ticket, and James C. Robinson w^as the Democratic candidate. The State was thoroughly canvassed by famous speakers. The election occurred in November, 1864, and the Repub- lican party carried the State by about 30,000 majority. Mr. Lincoln was elected over Gen. McClellan, A Student's History of Illinois 203 ?ifc' ' k H^^^HK' ^"''^^ " K™> "iPi ^ L ^ Grant's Home in Galena in 1861. Flag Carried in Washington's Army. Brought to Shawneetown by Gen. Alexander Posey. 204 d Student's History of lllmois GOVERNOR RICHARD J. OGLESBY. 1865—1869. Governor Oglesby was a Kentuckian. He came to Decatur with his uncle in 1836. Here he worked as a common laborer, studying law at odd times. Was admitted to the bar in 1845. He was a lieutenant in Col. Baker's regiment in the Mexican war. Was elected to the legislature in 1860, but resigned to accept a colonel's commission of the 8th Illinois Volunteers. He was elected three times, as governor of the State, and served as United States Sen- ator. Died in 1899. CHAPTER XXXII. GOVERNOR RICHARD OGLESBY— CLOSE OP THE CIVIL WAR. 282. Important Legislation. — The new governor was not inducted into office till January 17. Governor Oglesby was a man who was seldom moderate in anything political. His views were ver}^ radical and his language A Student's History of I/linois 205 often very liarsh. The people of the State came to know him better as time went on, and his kindliness of nature won him many very warm friends. One of the very important acts of the legislature was the ratification of the thirteenth amendment to the con- stitution. This amendment was passed by congress and signed by the President February 1, 1865. Senator ^rrumbull telegraphed the news to Governor Oglesby and tlie legislature was officially notified of the fact by the governor in a very earnest message, and on the same day of its signature by President Lincoln it was ratified by the legislature of Illinois. Thus Illinois was the first State to ratify the thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. The notorious ''Black Laws," which had disgraced the statute books for several decades were repealed at this session. The school for feeble minded children was estab- lished, and also a home for the children of deceased soldiers. Other matters to receive legislative sanction : Registry of voters; improvement of the Illinois and Michigan Canal; office of adjutant general created; shipment of grain and stock in the order of its delivery to the shipping station. 283. Lincoln Assassinated. — On the evening of the 14th of April, while Mr. Lincoln was attending a the- atrical performance at Ford's Theatre in the city of Wash- ington, he was shot by John Wilkes Booth, an actor. Mr. Lincoln died from the effects of the wound on the morn- ing of the next day. As the sad news reached the remote corners of the Union, there was universal and sincere mourning. Mr. Lincoln was shot on Friday night, and on the following Tuesday morning the White House was opened and thousands of people passed silently by the bier 206 A Stitdoit's History of Illinois of their l)eloved President. On Wednesday funeral serv- ices were held by Bishop Simpson, of the M. E. Church, assited by Dr. Gurley, Mr. Lincoln's pastor. On Thurs- day, the body lay in state in the capitol, and on Friday, the 21st, it was placed in Mr. Lincoln's private car and began its long and tedious journey from Washington to Springfield. Memorial Meeting in Bloomington upon the Death of President Lincoln. The funeral train reached Springfield May 3. The remains lay in the rotunda of the State House on the 3d and 4th, and on the afternoon of the latter day were deposited in a receiving vault in the city cemetery, beau- tiful Oakland cemetery. Here they rested until they were removed into the base of the magnificent monument erected by a grateful and loving people. 284. Legislation. — Both branches of the legislature were Republican by large majorities. The delegation in congress stood eleven Republicans and three Democrats. The legislature met January 7, 1867. The governor's A Student's History of Illinois 207 message was full of the spirit of devotion to the Union. He praised without stint the services of the soldiers and congratulated a soldiery who could return from the field of carnage and be absorbed into the employments of indus- trial life. The message expressed the universal love and esteem in which the late President was held by all the people. At this session of the legislature what came to be the State University was founded. The general government had in July, 1862, made gifts of land to all states in pro- portion to their representation in congress for the encour- agement of higher education. Illinois received as her share of the land 480,000 acres. The University was lo- cated at Urbana, Champaign county. 285. New State House. — Another interesting bit of leg- islation by this general assembly was the steps taken toward building a new State House. When this question came up efforts were made to move the capital, but these efforts were unsuccessful and Springfield was assured of the permanency of the capital on February 2-5, 1867, when a bill became law which appropriated $3,000,000 for a new capitol building. The corner stone was laid October 5, 1868, and the building was accepted in 1888, twenty years later. The building when finished cost about $4,500,000. It is one of the most imposing state capitols in the Union. It is 379 feet north and south, and 368 feet east and west. The top of the flag staff rises 450 feet into the air; the building was, when constructed, said to be the highest public building in the United States. The interior is adorned with beautiful statuary, bas-relief, and paintings. It is a building of which every citizen of the State may justly be proud, and one which every boy and girl ought to visit. 208 A Student's History of lUiiiois 286. A Resourceful State. — Although the war had taken more than 200,000 able-bodied men from the State, there had been great advancement in all lines of mate- rial growth. The census of 1865 showed a population of 2,141,540, an increase of 25 per cent over the figures of 1860. Much of this increase was the result of immigra- tion. In the first two years of the war money was scarce and prices low, but by 1863 money became plentiful and State House, Springfield. prices for all forms of labor and its products rose rapidly. A farm of 80 acres sold for $60 per acre about the year 1864. The new owner raised a fine crop of wheat which he marketed at a big price. He paid for his farm with the proceeds. 287. The Election.— The summer of 1868 witnessed another State and national campaign. The Republicans put out Gen. .John M. Palmer for governor and instructed A Student's History of Illinois 209 for General Grant for president. The Democrats named John R. Eden for governor and favored George H. Pendle- ton, of Ohio, for president. The platforms followed previ- ous declarations of principles. The national parties held their conventions — the Republicans in Chicago, May 21, 1868, nominated Gen. U. S. Grant for president, and Schuyler Colfax for vice-president. The Democrats met in New York City and nominated Horatio Seymour, of New York, and Frank P. Blair, of Missouri, for president and vice-president, respectively. The campaign centered upon the policy of reconstruction. The Republicans uni- formly supported the congressional theory, while the Democrats as uniformly opposed that legislation. Palmer was elected governor for the term 1869-73. The legis- lature was also Republican. 210 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XXXIII. SOME PHASES OF THE CIVIL WAR. 28-8. The War Governors. — The relation between the general government and the State government is so vital that neither could carry on what is regarded as its legiti- mate work without the aid of the other. Especially is this true of their relationship in time of war. The President is commander-in-chief of the army and navy and of the militia when called into the service of the general govern- ment. But practically the President is dependent upon the state machinery for the enlisting and organizing of the militia. Thus it happened that from 1861 to the end of the war, the President called on the loyal governors to raise troops for service in the Union army. In 1861, when the first call for troops w^as made, many of the governors did not pay any attention to the request of the President. It soon developed that certain of the governors of the states were not to be depended on for any help of any sort, while others were ready at all times to do all in their power to assist the president in the prosecution of the war. Those governors who loyally supported the President soon came to be known as the ^War Governors." Among those who thus recevied this honorable title were: Richard Yates, of Illinois. Nathaniel S. Berry, of New Hampshire. Andrew G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania. David Tod, of Ohio. Francis H. Pierpont, of Virginia. John A. Andrew, of Massachusetts. Augustus W. Bradford, of Maryland. A Student's History of lUinois 211 Austin Blair, of Michigan. William Sprague, of Rhode Island. Samuel J. Kirkwood, of Iowa- Edward Salomon, of Wisconsin. 289. The Draft.~In July, 1862, the President called for 300,000 troops, and on the 4th of August, he called for 800,000 more. The reply of the various states was not as prompt as it was hoped, and the draft of the militia was resorted to in some of the states. A bill for enrolling and calling out the national forces ,vas introduced into congress which, after bitter opposition from anti-administration members, was made into law ihe 3d of March, 1863. It provided for a provost-marshal general, who was to have charge of this bureau in the war department. The states were divided into districts corresponding to the con- gressional districts over each of which was a provost- marshal, assisted by a commissioner, and a surgeon. This board divided its district into sub-districts with an enroll- ing officer who should enroll all able bodied men in the •^ub-district, usually a county. In this way the total reserve force could be accurately determined. By dividing the "call" for troops, let us say 500,000, by the reserve force of the nation which we may call 2,500,000, we get the proportion of the reserve in any county which that county must furnish. In this problem we get 20 per cent ; that is, 20 per cent of the able bodied men who have been enrolled in any area must answer to the call. If in any county, as Morgan, the enrollment of able bodied men is 1,000, then one-fifth of them, or 200 must go to the front. If within a limited time there are not 200 volunteers, then the provost-marshal will draw from the names of the 1,000 able bodied men, 200 names. These men are said to be "drafted" and must go to the front or furnish a "substitute." However, the law at first 212 - / Studcufs History of lUino'is provided that the drafted man might pay $:i()0, and he released. In many cities, townships, and counties enough money was raised by popular subscription to exempt that particular county or other district from the draft. On July 4, 1864, this commutation plan was repealed. So that from that date each drafted man must go to the front or furnish a substitute. The draft was not run in Illinois till 1864. In that year the State was behind its quota, 3,538. This number was raised by drafting. \ cousin of the writer was drafted and paid $1^200 for a "substitute." 290. Sanitary and Christian Commissions. — We have already spoken of the visit of Governor Yates to the battle- field of Shiloh. All through the later years of the war there were at w^ork all sorts of organizations intended to relieve the suffering of the soldiers in camp and upon battlefield. A sanitary commission was organized by Governor Yates. The head of this commission was Col. John Williams. There was also a board of directors. Under the direction of this board there were organized auxiliary commissions in every locality where there were public spirited, patriotic women. The work done by these commissions was to gather together and forward to the front every species of clothing, food, medicine, needles, pins, scissors, buttons, writing paper, envelopes, in fact anything a soldier at the front would find comfort in. Fairs and suppers and othe^' means of raising money were resorted to. The writer remembers attending an all-day gathering of women and men at the Bethel church, five miles east of Roodhouse, Greene county, where they tore sheets and pillow cases into strips about as wide as the four fingers. These were rolled up into compact rolls and packed away in a box. He also remembers that several women had old fashioned caseknives which were kept sharpened, and with these they scraped "lint" from old A Student's History of Illinois 213 table cloths. The Unt was carefully packed away, and when asked by an inquisitive boy what it was for, they said it was '^to stop the flow of blood." The Christian commission's work was not very different in spirit at least from that of the sanitary commission. However, its work was confined to the relief of those who were bereft of fathers and brothers, and to the care of the returned soldiers. It was all a labor of love. During the war more than a million dollars in money was raised by these commissions and expended in the various channels of relief. 291. The Knights of the Golden Circle. — There were during the war individuals and organizations in the north- ern states who earnestly desired the success of the rebellion. One of these organizations came to be known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. This organization was made up of sympathizers with secession. However, now and then a loyal man would join, not knowing the exact purposes and workings of the order. They had a sort of ritual, and opened and closed the order in some such man- ner as the secret orders of the present time. They met in school houses or in halls, and in one instance the writer remembers they took possession of a country church. Guards were posted, usually four, at a distance of thirty or forty feet from the building. These guards who were armed had ''beats" and easily kept boys and loafers at a safe distance. The meetings were held chiefly at night. One line of work which the order carried on was to dis- suade soldiers, home on furlough, from returning to their regiments at the end of their leave of absence. 292. Caring for the Widows.— The Civil War occurred over a half century ago, and it will be with no little diffi- culty that young people of today picture accurately the social and economic conditions of that date. In the south- ern counties of Illinois the settlers were formerlv from the 214 ^ / Student's History of lll'uiois soutliern states and lived not very differently from the people in the sections from which they came. Usually the fuel, wood in those days, was provided as it was used. Corn and fodder seldom lasted through the winter, unless it was fed very sparingly. Spinning and weaving, cutting and making, were all carried on in the same room and by the same woman. The meat was fattened in the fall and ^ ^butchered" in the cold weather, salted, and smoked ready for the summer's use. It turned out that when the war came on many a husband and father volunteered and went to the front, only on condition that the neighbors would look after his wife and children till he should return. They solemnly promised and as sacredly fulfilled the promise. Every fall parties of the old men and larger boys went from place to place in the neighborhood doing up the fall work for the families whose fathers and older brothers were in the south-land. Wood-choppings, corn- huskings, and hog-killings were common in all the loyal neighborhoods. Nor was it an uncommon thing to see women doing the work of men. They often chopped the wood, gathered the corn, milked the cows, fed the stock, and in summer time helped to tend the crop. The rebel- lion could not have been crushed had it not been for the loyal women of the land. 293. Disturbances in Illinois. — No battles were fought on Illinois soil. But we cannot say that no blood was shed within her territory during the Civil War. The public mind was much disquieted. The bitterest feelings often existed between neighbors who, previous to the outbreak of hostilities, were the best of friends. It was no uncom- mon thing to see people attend public gatherings armed with large revolvers. A young man who had been arrested by some soldiers was lodged in a detention camp in Spring- field, and after nearly a year's confinement died of the measles. His ])<)dv ^vas sent home and funeral services A Student's history of Illinois 215 held at the homestead. As the hearse drove away from the home, neighbors to the number of prubably a couple of dozen carried revolvers buckled on the outside of their clothing. It was a strange sight. The Knights of the Golden Circle influenced some of the soldiers home on furlough not to return, and the provost-marshal was not able to gather up all these de- linquents. They often resisted the marshal and small bodies of delinquents and Knights would often scour the country usually at night and threaten the loyal people with death for informing on them. In Scott and Greene counties the threats, and open defiance of law became un- bearable, and Governor Yates was asked to send a company of soldiers to restore a semblance of loyalty to the govern- ment. A company under Captain King of a Michigan regiment landed at Manchester, Scott county, in the sum- mer of 1863. They soon found plenty of good horses, saddles, and bridles, greatly to the amazement of certain farmers who were Knights of the Golden Circle. They had little trouble in finding forage and meals. These soldiers soon restored order in Greene, for they captured, one autumn morning, a camp of Knights and hurried them aw^ay to Springfield for safe keeping. Many soldiers whose furloughs had expired were captured by Captain King's soldiers. These delinquents were court- martialed and sent to the Dry Tortugas Islands, w^here they suffered very greatly. At a place on Panther's creek, in the northwest corner of Macoupin county. Knights and de- linquent soldiers gathered to the extent of two or three hundred. The}'' had large quantities of arms, munitions, and provisions and presented a formidable appearance. A man by the name of Steely, who had been a sort of outlaw, was killed on the streets of Scottsville, Macoupin county, by the provost-marshal, Doce Hackney, of White Hall. Tlie soldiers soon dispersed all opposition. 216 I Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR JOHN M. PALMER. 1869—1873. Governor Palmer was a native of Kentucky where he was born in 1817. He came to Illinois in 1831, and settled with his father upon a farm. His early school advantages were poor indeed, but shortly after settling in Illinois he attended Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, for a short time. He afterwards taught school. He also studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1839, when only twenty-two years old. He served in the legislature and was recognized as a man of great strength of character. He was in his earlier years a con- sistent Democrat, but after the repeal of the Missouri Compromise he left that party and helped to organize the Republican party. He won distinction in the Civil War and was made a major general. Governor Palmer was somewhat pronounced in his views on the subject of State rights. In 1872 he supported Greeley for presi- dent and thenceforth allied himself with the Democratic party. He was United States Senator from 1891 to 1897. He revolted against "free silver" in 1896 and was the Democratic candidate for the presidency, on a sound money platform, in 1896. He died in Spring- field, Sept. 25, 1900. A Student's History of Illinois 217 CHAPTER XXXIV. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR JOHN M. PALMER. 294. Some Laws. — Among the laws enacted in Pal- mer's administration were those providing for the organi- zation of a board of public charities; to further provide for the insane patients by establishing another asylum at Elgin; to establish a State Normal School at Carbondale. Another law, creating general interest, w^as one ceding to the city of Chicago, about thirty acres of the submerged lands on the lake front in Chicago; and also granting to the Illinois Central and Michigan Central railroads cer- tain submerged lands for the use of tracks, warehouses, depots, etc. Considerable litigation followed and eventually the law was repealed. 295. Revision of the Constitution. — In 1867, a law was passed which permitted the people to vote w^hether or not they wished the constitution revised. The vote was taken in November, 1868, and carried. In the legislature of 1869 an election was ordered for eighty-five delegates to a State convention to meet December 13, 1869. The body of men composing the convention contained some of the most prominent in the State and it is admitted that the constitution, the result of their labors, is a docu- ment of great merit. Two features may be mentioned as of special interest. First, the legislature was forbidden to pass special legislation upon twenty-four general sub- jects; and second, the constitution is mandatory upon the legislature to provide legislation upon a large number of subjects. Liberal provisions Avere made for salaries and for the maintenance of government. 218 A Student's History of Illinois The constitution prohibits municipahties from sub- scribing for any stock in any raih'oad or private corpora- tion ; limits the rate of taxation and amount of indebted- ness that may be incurred; prohibits special legislation; declares elevators and warehouses public utilities and pro- vides for their inspection ; enjoins upon the legislature the maintenance of an efficient public school system; pro- hibits any appropriation of money for any sectarian pur- iasS5gg^^«aoaagFiaimiBgeHii»igiMaii«WH«i — U MlgaM !SSg^MiiaaaEagi°iinnmi»BB»a«i«i«i— ilg^HM iSliliDQiaHi ifias!!!!! iiiBasii!9aaaL5«»"i"" ia9«iiiiiEic.kk»Siiii»i m -m\ Map of the Burned District, Chicago. poses whatever; appellate courts are authorized; and salaries of State officers are fixed by legislative action. 296. The Chicago Fire.— On Sunday night about 9 :30 o'clock, October 8, 1871, a fire started in the stable or sheds in the rear of 137 De Koven street. This locality was, at that time, in the poorer part of the city. There were many poor people living, in this section of the city in the old wooden buildings which had stood for many years. There were planing mills near, and the poor peo- ple had their sheds and out-buildings full of shavings to A Student's History of Illinois 219 be used as kindling. The wind was brisk and it seemed everything pointed to the doom of the city. When the flames spread to the better part of the city, the elegant stone, and brick, and granite buildings melted as if they had been of wood. All day on Monday the fire raged. The water tower was consumed, hotels, depots, ware-houses, churches, theatres, and palatial homes were burned. Men early ceased their labors to save the city, and gave their atten- tion toward saving people and some personal effects. Believing the militia, deputy sheriffs, and the police- men were not equal to the task of guarding property and lifC; the mayor asked Lieut. Gen. Philip Sheridan to assist the regularly constituted authorities. General Sheridan was at that time stationed above the city on Lake Michi- gan. This request General Sheridan complied with. Gov- ernor Palmer insisted that the mayor should not have called upon the federal authorities for help so long as there was help under the control of the State which might have been had for the asking. 297. Campaign of 72. — Many prominent Republicans in the nation had become alienated from the Republican party and there was rapidly coming to the public notice a third party which took the name of the Liberal Repub- lican Party. This party was joined by some very promi- nent Illinois Republicans, some of whom were David Davis, Lyman Trumbull, Governor Palmer, John Went- worth, and many others. The national convention for this party met at Cincinnati May 1, 1872, and nominated Horace Greely and B. Gratz Brown for president and vice- president. The Democratic national convention met in Balti- more and endorsed the Liberal Party's ' candidates and platform . The Republican party held its national convention in 220 -I Student's History of Illinois Philadelphia and nominated General Grant for president for a second term and Henry Wilson for vice-president. The Republicans of Illinois nominated General Oglesby for governor, and General John L. Beveridge for lieuten- ant governor. The Democrats named Gustavus Koerner for governor and Gen. John C. Black for lieutenant governor. The campaign was bitter. Greely had been a stanch supporter of Lincoln and the war, and had said some harsh and uncomplimentary things of the Democratic party and its doctrines, and many old line Democrats found it very difficult to support him. Grant was severely criticized by some of the best men in the Republican party as formerly organized. But after a long canvass the Republicans were victorious in State and nation. The First Court House in Chicago. A Student's History of Illinois 221 GOVERNOR JOHN L. BEVERIDGE. 1873—1877. John L. Beveridge was born in New York in 1824. In 1842 he came to Illinois. He received an academy education, taught school, and studied law. When the war of the rebellion broke out he helped to organize the 8th regiment. He later became the colonel of this regiment. At the close of the war he was breveted Brig- adier-General. He served in congress, was elected Lieut.-Governor with General Oglesby. He held the position of assistant United States Treasurer in Chicago for a number of years. CHAPTER XXX\\ GOVERNOR JOHN L. BEVERIDGE— A PERIOD OF UNREST. 298. Senatorship. — Gov. Richard J. Oglesby was inaug- urated as governor of Illinois for the second time, January 13, 1873. The legislature which had convened a few days 222 A Siiulciit's History of Illinois previously must elect a United States senator to succeed the Hon. Lyman Trumbull, whose third term would close March 4, 1873. The legislature, being largely Republi- can, selected a man of that party to succeed Trumbull. Governor Oglesby was the one agreed upon and he was elected. 299. An Independent Party. — By the early spring and summer of 1874, it was seen that a new factor had entered State politics. This new factor was known as the Granger Movement. The National Grange or Patrons of Hus- bandry was organized in 1869, and had for its object the uniting of all agriculturists for the better securing of their rights as producers and shippers and for the social, moral, and educational uplift of the sons and daughters of the farmers. It entered politics and weis joined by the Democratic party, and other opponents of the Republican party. These forces were thus able to defeat the Republi- can candidate for superintendent of public instruction Avhile in many smaller divisions of the State fusion can- didates were elected. 300. Legislation.— Few laws were passed by the legisla- ture which met January, 1873. The farmers secured a law to organize agricultural societies. A million dollars was appropriated toward the completion of the new state house. The farmers and shippers secured a law regulating the charges for the transportation of passengers and freight. The other laws passed by the legislature of 1875 were few and of comparatively slight importance. Ten thousand dol- lars was appropriated for the expense of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of American independence. The legislature was regarded as a very economical body. SOL Campaign of 76. — The secession of a large body of prominent leaders from the Republican party in 1872, and the rise of the Greenback party, and the Granger party made it a little doubtful whether the Republicans A Student's History of Ill'uiois 223 would be able to carry the next State and national elec- tions. The State Republican ticket was, for governor, Shelby M. Cullom. The Democrats namedj for governor, Lewis Stewart, the nominee of the Greenback and Reform party. Shelby M. Cullom and other other Republican nominees for State offices were elected. Governor Beveridge had made a very conservative executive. The finances of the State were well managed, the debt having been reduced more than half a million dollars. His parting message was a very thoughtful con- sideration of the affairs of the State. He also advised moderation in the trying ordeal through which the nation at that time was passing. 224 A Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR SHELBY M. CULLOM. 1877—1883. Gov. Shelby M. Cullom was a native of Kentucky, having been born in Wayne county, that state, November 22, 1829. He came to Tazewell county, Illinois, when about two years old. Governor Cullom was brought up on a farm and learned the lessons of hard and honest toil, and also those of sacrifice and lack of opportunity. However, through perseverance and constant toil he secured a fairly good education at the Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, Illinois. He afterward became a lawyer. He served in the State legislature and also in congress. He was twice elected governor of Illinois — in 1876, 1880. He served from 1883 to 1913 in the United States senate. No man was more genuinely admired as a public servant by the people of Illinois. For many years he was chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the most honored position in the senate. At the close of his term as senator, March 4, 1913, he was appointed resident commissioner of the National Lincoln Memorial, a great two million dollar structure to be built in Wash- ington in honor of the great president. He died in Washington, January 28, 1914. He was buried in Springfield with great honor. A Student's History of Illinois 225 CHAPTER XXXVI. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR CULLOM. 302. David Davis. — The first thing for the legislature was the election of a successor of General Logan to the United States senate. The Republicans lacked a few votes of having a majority of all the votes in both houses. ,« * Mii i^ ii p i i ipp The Home of John A. Logan in Benton, Franklin County. Logan was supported by the Republicans. Palmer by the Democrats, with about fifteen votes scattered. These inde- pendent votes could not be brought to either of the old parties, so after many ballots in joint session David Davis was elected. He was at this time on the supreme bench^ 22G A Student's History of Illinois which place he resigned to take the seat in the United States senate to which he had just been elected. The legislature passed among other laws a measure creating the state appellate court. This court is just below the supreme court and was intended to relieve the over- crowded condition of the supreme court. It is still a part of the state judicial system and has greatly relieved the higher court. 303. Railroad Strike. — In the summer of 1877 a gen- eral railroad strike was ordered. And inasmuch as Illi- nois had many thousands of miles of railroads, this State became the scene of much disorder, and destruction of property. The militia was called into service; and the governor asked the general government to allow a small detachment of regulars, on its way from the west to the east, to stop in Chicago and assist in preserving order, which it did. Much rioting, and destruction of property occurred in East St. Louis and at other points as at Peoria, Galesburg, Decatur, Braidwood, etc. Several lives were lost and much bitter feeling engendered. 304. Senator Logan. — Governor Oglesby^s term as United States senator expired March 4, 1879, and he desired to be returned, but John A. Logan got the endorse- ment of the Republican caucus. Logan was elected, the Democrats voting for Gen. John C. Black. The legislative session was a very busy one and passed some really valuable laws. Among them may be men- tioned — a law on banking, one reducing the interest rate, a law creating houses of correction, and revising the law relating to roads and bridges. 305. Reelected. — The campaign of 1880 was a hard fought battle in both State and nation. Governor Cullom was a candidate for re-election. He was opposed by Judge Lyman Trumbull, the Democratic candidate. The Repub- licans were successful in national and State election. A Student's History of Illinois 227 306. Out of Debt. — The legislature met January 5, 1881, and on the 7th the governor sent his message to the general assembly. He said the debt of the fState had, vir- tually, all been paid. At this time the total value of five grains, — corn, wheat, rye, oats,, and barley, raised the past 3^ear in IlHnois was $301,217,545.00; while the total value of manufactured products was $346,454,393.00. The assessed valuation of all personal and real property in the State was $786,616,394.00. 307. Elected Senator. — The congressional elections oc- curred in the fall of 1882. Gen. John C. Smith, the Republican candidate for treasurer, was elected over his Democratic opponent, Mr. Alfred Orendorff, while Henry Raab, the Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction was elected over his Republican oppon- ent, Mr. Charles T. Stratton. The legislature organized and proceeded to the election of a successor to David Davis as United States senator. Governor Cullom was elected to this post of honor, over his opponent. Gen. John M. Palmer. Governor Cullom resigned his office of governor and the lieutenant governor was promoted to the office of chief executive. 228 A Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR JOHN M. HAMILTON. 1883—1885. John M. Hamilton was a native of Ohio. When a mere lad his father's family moved to Marshall county, this state. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Vol- unteers for 100 days. After the war was over he attended the Wesleyan University in Ohio from which he graduated. He later became a Professor of Languages in the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, this state. He later was admitted to the bar, served in the legislature, was elected Lieut.-Governor in 1880, and by the election of Gov. Cullom to the United States senate, he became governor of the istate. CHAPTEH XXXVTT. GOVERNOR JOHN M. HAMILTON. 308. High License. — The legislature, at the session of 1883, enacted what is usually called the Harper High License Law. This law raised the license of dram shops A Student's History of Illinois 229 to not less than $500. The discussion which this legisla- tion created tended greatly to the dissemination of a knowledge of the iniquity of the dram shops; and much good was done by this discussion in that it lessened the number of low '^dives" in large cities and also awakened people to a realization of the dreadful consequences of the dram shop business. A compulsory education law was passed, and also a law creating training schools for boys. Riots occurred in the mining regions in the south part of the State, and the militia was called out. The disturb- ance was easily quieted after the militia got once in the disturbed territory. Some lives were lost. The presidential election of 1884 absorbed the entire political life of the people of Illinois. The Republicans of the State were enthusiastic for John A. Logan for President of the United States. But when the convention was held James G. Blaine was named for the first place and Gen. Logan accepted the second place on the national ticket. The Democrats were enthusiastic for their ticket which included Grover Cleveland for President and Thomas A. Hendricks for vice-president. The Democrats won the national election but lost Illi- nois to the Republicans. Gen. Richard J. Oglesby was for the third time elected governor of Illinois. 230 A Student's History of Illinois CHAPTER XXXVIII. GOVERNOR RICHARD J. OGLESBY. 1885-1889. 309. Dead Lock. — Governor Oglesby was inaugurated January 30, 1885. This was the third time he had beei; inducted into the office of governor of IlHnois. This was a rare instance, probably few other governors were ever elected and inaugurated the third time. The legislature stood, 102 Republicans on joint ballot with 102 in opposition. Three deaths occurred among the members of the legislature — two Democrats and one Republican. Two Republicans and one Democrat were elected to fill the vacancies and this gave the Republicans 103 votes on joint ballot and Gen. Logan was elected U. S. Senator. 310. Legislation.— This contest over the senatorship had so absorbed the legislative mind that no general legisla- tion was had till the contest was over. The appropriations were then passed, including a half million to complete the State House. A soldiers' and sailors' home was pro- vided at Quincy, a primary law to apply to political parties was passed. Another important and far reaching action was taken. An amendment to the constitution was proposed and carried at the election providing that convicts could no longer be hired out to contractors. The session of the legislature which met in January, 1887, passed comparatively few laws. Out of a total of 1285 bills introduced into the le.gislature only 218 became laws. This session of the legislature set apart February /] Student's History of Illinois 231 22 as a day upon which joint memorial services should be had in honor of ''our deceased, distinguished citizens, Gen. John A. Logan and Judge David Davis." 311. Hay Market Riots. — In the same summer oc- curred the ''Hay Market" riots in Chicago. A public meet- ing was held in the open air on Halsted street, late one afternoon. The participants were all or mostly all for- eigners, and probably had little conception of what it meant to be engaged in a conspiracy against authority. Quite a body of police arrived just about the time the riot- ers were wrought up to a high pitch by reason of some incendiary speeches. Bombs were thrown in among the police and seven policemen killed outright while about sixty were wounded. Vigorous civil prosecutions fol- lowed. Four of the rioters were hanged and two were imprisoned for life, and one committed suicide. 312. Campaign of 1888.— The campaign of 1888 re- sulted in the selection of Joseph W. Fifer, the Republican candidate for governor, over his opponent, John M. Palmer, the Democratic nominee. This was also the presi- dential year, and the race for President was between Grover Cleveland and Gen. Benjamin Harrison. Harri- son was elected. 232 A Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR JOSEPH W. FIFER. 1889—1893. Joseph W. Fifer was a Virginian. His father was a stone and brick mason. Young Fifer worked at these trades with his father in McLean county, 111. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Joseph entered the service in the Thirty-third Regiment. He was shot through the lungs at the attack on Jackson, Miss., in 1863. At the close of the war he attended the Wesleyan College at Bloomington, where he was graduated in 1868. He studied law, served in the legislature., and was elected governor in the campaign of 1888. He Is still living (1917) and is an honored citizen of Illinois. CHAPTER XXXIX. JOSEPH W. FIFER, GOVERNOR. 313. Private Joe. — The heroes of the Civil War who had previously served as governors were officers of high rankj but in the case of Mr. Fifer the people had elevated a private to this exalted station, and so he was familiarly A Student's History of Illinois 233 called "Private Joe." He was inaugurated on the 14th of January, 1889. His inaugural address was pitched upon the high plane of political purity, and acquiescence in the will of the majority. He also showed himself a friend to the laborer and to the cause of education. 314. Drainage Canal.— The general assembly, on May 29, 1889, created what was called the ''Sanitary District Chicago Drainage Canal, near Lockport. Here the canal was cut out of solid rock. of Chicago."' Tlii,< law provided for the removal of obstruc- tions from the Des Plaines and Illinois rivers, and the opening of a channel from Lake Michigan to the Des Plaines so as to cause a flow of water from the lake to the head waters of the Illinois river. AVork was begun September 3, 1892, and completed in January. 1900. The canal proper begins six miles up the Chicago river and runs twenty-eight miles southwest 234 A Student's History of Illinois to the Des Plaines at Lockport. The canal is on an aver- age about 175 feet wide and sustains a depth of water twenty-two feet. The current is less than two miles per hour but this is sufficient to carry away all the sewerage of the city and thus purify the waters of Lake Michigan. This great canal cost nearly $37,000,000. It is in- tended to serve two great purposes, first the sanitation of the city of Chicago, and second as a portion of a deep water way from the Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. 315. Origin of the World's Fair. — The Chicago Inter- State Exposition, an organization of the city of Chicago, first suggested the holding of a World's Fair in Chicago to celebrate the discovery of America. The enterprise met with favor throughout the country. Senator Cullom suc- ceeded in getting a bill through congress locating the Fair in Chicago, and also an appropriation of a large sum for an exhibit. A corporation was formed in Chicago with a capital of $10,000,000. This was a great exposition. Nearly every civilized niinois Building, World's Fair, 1893. A Student's History of Illinois 235 country on the globe sent commissioners and exhibits. IlHnois had a most magnificent exhibit in a spacious building of wonderfully beautiful architectural design. Nearly a million dollars was expended by the State in the building and exhibits. The Fair was a great means of advertising the State and particularly the city of Chicago. The AVhite City by the lake will remain a vision of beauty and a joy forever in the minds of all who beheld its classic proportions. In the session of the legislature which convened in 1891, there was a number of laws passed which were really meritorious. Among them may be mentioned — the set- ting aside of the first Monday in September as Labor Day, a legal holiday; reducing the rate of interest to five per cent with seven per cent as the maximum by contract; providing for registration of voters every two years. Kaskaskia Monument. 316. Old Kaskaskia. — For several years prior to 1891. the Mississippi river had been cutting across the peninsula 236 A Student's History of Illinois and finally reached the Kaskaskia. It then began to encroach upon the town. The north and east parts of the village began to disappear in the river. The cemetery would soon be engulfed. The legislature of the year 1891 appropriated $10,000 for the purpose of securing a new burying ground and for moving the bodies to the new site. About 3,000 bodies were removed in 1892-3, the new cemetery which is near old Fort Gage on the east side of the river. A large monument was erected in the new cemetery bearing this inscription : THOSE WHO SLEEP HERE WERE FIRST BURIED AT KASKASKIA, AND AFTERWARDS REMOVED TO THIS CEMETERY. THEY AVERE THE EARLY PIONEERS OF THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THEY PLANTED FREE INSTITUTIONS IN A WILDERNESS, AND WERE THE FOUNDERS OF A GREAT COMMON- WEALTH. IN MEMORY OF THEIR SACRIFICES, ILLINOIS GRATEFULLY ERECTS THIS MONUMENT. 1892 Nothing is now left of Old Kaskaskia the once proud center of fashion and power. As one stands near the old site he is carried back over a period of one hundred and fifty years to the thriving, bustling capital of the "Illinois Country/'' to Kaskaskia, the largest city west of the Alleghany mountains. 317. Landslide.— The State government had been ad- ministered by the Republican party for so many years that some may have thought the party could not be dis- lodged. But if many held such views, their minds were disabused in the fall of 1892; for John P. Altgeld, the Democratic candidate for governor, was elected. A Student's History of lUhio'is 237 GOVERNOR JOHN P. ALTGELD. 1893—1897. John P. Altgeld was born in Prussia in 1848. Shortly after this date his parents came to America and settled in Ohio. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the 164th Ohio Infantry. After the war he studied law, and practiced his profession in Chicago. He was elected a judge of the Superior Court of Cook County in 1886. He was elected governor of the state in the election of 1892. He was a candidate for reelection in 1896 but was defeated by John R. Tan- ner, the Republican candidate. Governor Altgeld was what we are so proud of in this country, "a self made man," CHAPTER XL. GOVERNOR JOHN P. ALTGELD. 318, An Author. — Governor Altgeld was born in Ger- many, and this may partly explain his strong convictions on some pnblic questions. He had given some of the 238 A Student's History of Illinois lime of a very busy lawyer's life to the study of how to deal with criminals. He wrote two books — one entitled, ''Our Penal Machinery and its Victims;" the other, ''Live Questions/' and later he wrote a third volume. When ^Ir. Altgeld came to the governor's otfice, among all the perplexing questions which presented themselves to him, there was one which he did not shrink from answering as he thought it ought to be answered. This was a request for the pardon of the so-called "anarchists" who had been implicated in the Hay Market riots in Chi- cago. These men were serving life sentences in the peni- tentiary. The governor pardoned them in spite of the protests of his friends and foes. Ex-Vice-President Adlai E. Stevenson. 319. Vice-President.— The national contest of 1892 was between Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, and Grover Cleveland, of New York. In Illinois, previous legislation on compulsory school attendance had alienated a large A Student's History of Illinois 230 Republican vole from the Republican party, while the Prohibitionists and Greenbackers polled nearly 50,000 votes, many of which came from the Republican ranks. However, the Democratic party was w^ell organized and w^ere determined. lUinois was highly honored in fur- nishing the vice-president, who served with Mr. Cleveland from 1893 to 1897— the Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson no doubt greatly strengthened the ticket in the west and especially in Illinois. Mr. Stevenson resided in Bloomington and was a highly respected citizen of the commonwealth. 320. The Chicago Strike. — In the session of the legisla- ture of 1893 the usual number of laws was enacted. Among these laws we may mention the compulsory educa- tion law, establishing homes for juvenile offenders, estab- lishing a naval-militia, anti-sweat shop laws, etc. The World's Columbian Exposition occurred in Gov- ernor Altgeld's administration. The irrespressible conflict between capital and labor was renewed in 1894. The American Railway Union refused to agree to a reduction of wages in the Pullman shops at Chicago, and a general strike was precipitated. This strike presented the occasion for disorderly and vicious persons to ply their vocations, and by the middle of the summer great confusion reigned in the city of Chi- cago. Trains were derailed, perishable property was block- aded, the United State's mails were interfered Avith, and destruction of property was the regular order of the day. The courts issued injunctions which the marshals and fed- eral attorneys certified they could not enforce. The Presi- dent, Mr. Cleveland, ordered the United States troops from Fort Sheridan to the city to enforce the orders of the fed- eral courts. Governor Altgeld protested vigorously against the pres- ence of federal troops in the city, and upon the request of 240 A Student's History of IlUno'is the mayor sent four regiments of State troops. Order was subsequently restored. More than half a million dollars worth of property was destroyed, twelve lives lost, and a bad name attached to the strikers which they probably did not deserve. 321. Altgeld Architecture. — Quite a number of public buildings were constructed during the four years of Mr. Altgeld's term. In the session of the legislature of 1895, two new normal schools were authorized. One was located at Charleston, the other at DeKalb. Governor Altgeld was deeply interested in the wise expenditure of the people's money, as well as in the kinds of buildings erected. He so impressed his ideas upon the architects and building committees that we may now see scattered over the State a peculiar type of public buildings which is known as the Altgeld style of architecture. Altgeld Architecture — The Science Building, Normal University. Carbondale. A Student's History of JU'iiio'is 241 322. Election of 1896.— The campaign of 1896 will long be remembered by our people. Great issues were at stake and great men were the standard bearers. The national issues were the free and unlimited coinage of silver versus the gold standard, and the ever troublesome question of the tariff. The Democrats, in a wonderfully enthusiastic national convention in Chicago, nominated Wm. J. Bryan, who was born and brought up in Salem, Marion county, this state, but then a citizen of Nebraska. He championed free silver and a tariff' for revenue only. The Republicans nominated Wm. McKinley of Ohio who championed the gold standard and a protective tariff. Governor Altgeld was renominated by the Democrats for governor, while the Republicans named John R. Tanner as their candi- date for that office. After a whirlwind campaign the Republicans were successful in electing their state and national tickets. Bryan's Old Home in Salem, 111. 242 A Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR JOHN R. TANNER. 1897—1901. Mr. Tanner was hailed as an "Egyptian," being a resident of Clay county, thoug-h born in Indiana. His education was obtained in the common schools. He enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteers at the age of nineteen. His father and three brothers were all enlisted in defense of the Union. Governor Tanner was a successful farmer as well as a shrewd politician. He held the offices of Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, State Senator, United States Marshal, State Treasurer, Railroad and "Warehouse Commissioner, Assistant United States Sub-treasurer, and Governor. He was intensely loyal to his friends. He was not a candidate for reelection and died shortly after the close of his term of office. CHAPTER XLI. GOVERNOR JOHN R. TANNER. 323. Some Legislation. — At the first session or the legislature an act was passed creating the A Student's History of Illinois 243 board of i)ardons. The constitution placed the pardoning power in the hands of the governor with a provision that the legislature might regulate the manner of applying for pardon. A board of pardon was created consisting of three members, whose duty is to receive all applications for pardon and report their decisions to the governor. The board sits quarterly, but special sessions may ])e held. The second ''Torren's Land Act," a law for securing a better system of transferring land, was also passed. This law also provides for the confirming of land titles against which titles no prior claims to the lands are of any value. The system originated in Germany and is more than six hundred years old. It is in operation in Cook county in this State. It may be adopted in any county by a vote of the people. Other legislation pertained to the primary elections, the revenue laws, juvenile courts, pure food, preserving the game, and creating the Western Normal. 324. Spanish American War. — When war broke out ])etween the United States and Spain, following the, destruction of the Maine, the old time war spirit showed itself everywhere in the United States, but nowhere more than in Illinois. The State furnished nine regiments, one of which was colored. 325. Lincoln Monument. — The Lincoln monument was transferred from the original Lincoln Monument Association to the State in May, 1895. AVhen Mr. Tanner came into office it w^as found that the structure, which cost a quarter of a million of dollars, was settling to one side and otherwise disintegrating. An appropriation of $100,000 was made for repairs which were made under the direction of a state board consisting of the governor, superintendent of public instruction, and state treasurer. 326. Protection of Game.— Laws for the preservation of our o-ame, animals and birds, have been on our statute 244 A Student's History of Illinois Lincoln Monument at Springfield. books for many years, but in 1899 the law provided for a state game commissioner with a game warden for each congressional district and deputies for each county. These officers are very diligent inasmuch as their pay depends upon the fines collected for violations of the law. All expenses of this work are paid out of the fines collected and a balance is usually left to the credit of the State treasury. 327. Factory Inspection. — In Governor Tanner's term the laws governing juvenile labor were greatly strength- ened as well as the laws of sanitation in factories generally. The laAv provides that children under fourteen years may A Student's History of Illinois 245 not be employed in certain factories, and those between fourteen and sixteen only when the management has on file permits from the parent. Great good has resulted from this law. The hours have been shortened, juveniles have been taken out of extremely hazardous places in the factories, sanitation improved, and responsibility increased. 328. Election of 1900.— The Republican State conven- tion met in Peoria in May, 1900. Here Mr. Richard Yates was nominated for governor. The Democrats nominated a very popular gentleman for the same office, Mr. Samuel Alschuler, of Aurora. The campaign was vigorously con- tested, both candidates being unusually good speakers. The State went Republican by a large majority. 246 A Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR RICHARD YATES, JR. 1901—1905. Richard Yates, Jr., is a native of Illinois. He was born in Jack- sonville, December 12, 1860. His father moved into the executive mansion in Springfield about the first of January, 1861. While yet a boy of less than five years, he was in the midst of the stirring times of the great civil strife. His father was the most prominent figure in the west during that critical period. Richard, junior, was educated in the public schools, Whipple Academy, Illinois College, and Michigan University. He took up the practice of law, and was city attorney of Jacksonville six years; county judge three years, and internal revenue collector two years. His campaign for the nomination for governor was quite dramatic. He made a tour of some of the counties accompanied by a "bugler," who had no trouble in drawing a crowd. Mr. Yates was inaugurated in January, 1901. Governor Yates took with him into the executive mansion, his mother, who forty years previously had entered that same mansion with Dick Yates, a baby only a few weeks old. CHAPTER XLII. SOME GOOD LEGISLATION. 329. Farmers' Institute. — Probably the most far reach- ing legislation in Governor Yates' term was the law creat- A Student's History of Illinois 247 ing the Illinois Farmers' Institute. The following is the enacting clause: Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the general assembly, That to assist and en- courage useful education among the farmers, and for develop- ing the agricultural resources of the State, that an organiza- tion under the name and style of "Illinois Farmers' Institute" is hereby created, and declared a public corporation of the State. The directors of this organization are the superintendent of public instruction, professor of agriculture of the Uni- versity of Illinois, president of the state board of agricul- ture, president of the state horticulture society, and presi- dent of the state dairymen's association. There are congressional and county organizations. A great Avork is being done through the local meetings which are held in every county once a year. The public schools are heartily co-operating with the Farmers' Institute. The State University is also co-operating and in a large meas- ure leading the way. The dawning of a brighter day for the farmer and the rural school is at hand. 330. A World's Fair.— The people in the states of the "Louisiana Purchase" were desirous of commemorating that purchase by the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary. The federal government was induced to assist in the matter, and a great World's Exposition was held in St. Louis in 1904. Illinois was greatly interested in this exposition and the legislature was very liberal in appropriating a sum of money for a state exhibit. A beautiful and spacious building was erected and creditable exhibits installed. These displays were along- all the lines of our material resources — coal, hay, wheat, oats, corn, fruits and vegetables, stock, and manufactured articles. Our educational and other interests were also represented. Among the exhibits from Illinois was a great collection of articles associated with the life of Abraham 248 .1 Student's History of Illinois Lincoln. This exhibit was furnished by the Illinois His- torical Library Association. 331. Campaign of 1904. — Governor Yates was very de- sirous of the renomination for governor, but after a long hard convention struggle lasting several weeks Charles S. Deneen of Chicago was nominated. The Democrats named Hon. Lawrence B. Stringer of Lincoln. Mr. Deneen was elected. it '^ ^^■HiK.:. ^^ ^^^™^;- Executive Mansion at Springfield. A Student's History of Illinois 249 GOVERNOR CHARLES S. DENEEN. 1905—1913. Mr. Deneen was a native of southern Illinois, having been born in Edwardsville, Illinois, May 4, 1863. He was educated in Mc- Kendree College, and in the law school of Northwestern University. While getting started in the law business in Chicago he taught night school to support himself. He had held the position of representa- tive in the general assembly, attorney for the Chicago sanitary board, state's attorney for Cook county, besides positions of trust in his party. He served as governor two terms and was the candi- date of his party for the office in the campaign of 1912, but was defeated in the election by Judge Edward F. Dunne, the Democratic nominee. Mr. Deneen is engaged in the practice of law in Chicago. CHAPTER XLIII. GOVERNOR CHARLES S. DENEEN. 332. Inaugural. — Governor Deneen was inaugurated on January 9^ 1905. His inaugural message was a timely 250 A Student's History of Illinois discussion of the merit system in public service, a primary election law, and economy in public expenditures. Gov- ernor Deneen had previously said on a public occasion : ''The office of governor is a high and honorable one Its occupant embodies for the time being the collective conscience and will of the whole people . . . Efficient service is the test of merit." 333. Legislation.— The first session of the general assem- bly placed two very important laws upon the statute books. One was a Civil Service Law. This law provides that most places of employment in the State institutions shall be filled by appointment from an eligible list made up of those who have successfully passed a State civil service examination. The other law was a Primary Elec- tion Law. This was declared unconstitutional and the legislature was called in extra session April 10, 1906, to enact another primary law. 334. Back Taxes.— Another thing Governor Deneen was deeply interested in was collecting from the Illinois Central Railroad Company what was claimed to be a large unpaid tax covering the past thirty or forty years. Suits were also begun against several ex-treasurers and ex-auditors for large sums said to be in their hands as unpaid balances due the State. These suits were all pushed vigorously and the claims of the State were made good in the courts. In 1907 the rate for passenger fare on all railroads Avholly in Illinois was reduced from three cents to two cents per mile. 335. Local Option. — A most far reaching law was passed in the session of the legislature in 1907. It was what is called the Local Option law. This law permits townships, or precincts in counties not under township organization, to exclude the legal sale of intoxicating liquors, by popular vote. Many hundred saloons have been voted out in Illinois under this law. A Student's History of Illinois 251 336. Reelected. — In 1908 Governor Deneen was re- nominated by the Republican party for the governorship. He was opposed by Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson, ex-Vice- President of the United States. Mr. Stevenson made a very fine race against Mr. Deneen but the latter was elected by a small majority and was inaugurated in the early part of 1909. 337. Deep Waterway. — In Governor Deneen's second term the usual amount of legislation w^as enacted ; but the one thing w^hich stood out above others w^as the movement for a deep waterway connecting the southerly end of the Chicago Drainage Canal and the head of navigation of the Illinois river. Governor Deneen secured the passage of a law^ which provided for an election on the question of issuing bonds to the extent of twenty millions of dollars for the construction of this canal. In the face of deter- mined opposition the vote was favorable to the issue of the bonds. The construction of this canal was contingent upon the action of the general government in rendering certain assistance and the delay was so extended that no definite action had been taken at the end of Mr. Deneen's second term. 338. Landslide of 1912. — The rupture of the national Republican party in 1912 divided also the State Republi- can party, and there were three prominent men running for governor in that year. Mr. Deneen w^as the nominee of the Republican party, Judge Dunne of Chicago w^as the Democratic candidate, while Mr. Frank Funk of Bloomington was the standard bearer of the Progressives. Judge Dunne was elected by a handsome plurality and assumed the duties of his office January, 1913. 252 A Student's History of Illinois GOVERNOR EDWARD F. DUNNE. 1913—1917. Edward F. Dunne, twenty-fifth governor, resident of Cook County, was born at Waterville, Connecticut, October 12, 1853. Was edu- cated in the public grammar and high schools of Peoria, 111., and in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1S77. In the practice of law, he has been associated in partnership with Judg-e Scates, and with Congressman William J. Hynes. In 1892 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and twice re-elected Judge of the same Court. Resigned from the bench in 1905, when elected Mayor of the city of Chicago. In the year 1912, he received the Democratic nomination for gov- ernor and was elected in November of that year by a plurality of 124,651 votes. He is a very genial gentleman and has many warm friends. He was a candidate for re-election as governor in 1916. CHAPTER XLIV. SOME RECENT LEGISLATION. 339. Inauguration Delayed. — Because of the fact that there were three tickets in the field in 1912 there was no A Student's History of Illinois 253 majority party in the legislature. The election of a Speaker was delayed some weeks. The governor cannot be sworn in till the House and Senate are organized. Finally the Speaker w^as chosen and the organization was quickly completed and the governor sworn in. The governor's programme of legislation was compre- liensive and wise. His recommendations could not be enacted into law as Democratic measures since that party could not control a majority vote in either house. But considerable progress was made by combining all the inter- ests in all three parties, of those who really desired good laws. 340. Good Roads — Probably no law enacted in Gov- ernor Dunne's term will do mare lasting good than the legislation on ''good roads.'' The State tax assessed against automobiles goes into a "good roads" fund. This fund is then distributed over the State as "State aid" for the im- provement of the roads. In connection with this good roads legislation there is a commission which furnishes engineers to any road unit that desires their aid. Many miles of roads have been permanently improved under these laws. 341. Deep Waterway. — In Governor Deneen's term of office a move was set on foot for the opening of a deep waterway from the south terminal of the Chicago drainage canal to some point on the Illinois river in the vicinity of LaSalle or Utica. The people voted to issue bonds for $20,000,000, for the construction of this waterway, but the improvement was never begun, owing to some opposi- tion by the federal government. Governor Dunne secured the enactment of another law appropriating $5,000,000, for this enterprise, but the federal government has witli- held its consent. 342. Public Welfare. — The spirit of the times seems to be to direct public expenditures and legislative and 254 A Student's History of Illinois executive activity toward the improvement of the condi- tion of the great body of people. Larger appropriations have been made for all forms of public education. School authorities must provide sanitary buildings for the public schools. Factories likewise are under strict oversight as to the health and safety of employees. The pure food laws and game laws are very strict and courts are exacting as to violations. Great advance has been made in safety appliance in and about mines. Mine rescue stations are located in coal mining- centers and schools are maintained to instruct groups of miners how to carry on rescue work. A public utilities commission has oversight of public utilities and regulates prices and settles differences between the public and serv- ice corporations. 343. Foot and Mouth Disease. — In the latter part of Governor Dunne's term a destructive disease was preva- lent among the stock of Illinois. This was known as the ''foot and mouth disease." Several herds of fine cattle, chiefly in the north part of the state, were slaughtered by order of the State in order to stamp out the disease. Money to pay for the loss of these herds was appropri- ated from the public treasury. The plague was stamped out, but not until it had taxed the scientific skill of the State. 344. On the Border. — In the summer of 1916 the conditions on the Mexican border were such that the Presi- dent called out the national guard of the several states to assist the regular soldiers in maintaining order and secur- ing life and property. Illinois sent several regiments to the Rio Grande where they were encamped awaiting devel- opments between the two countries. A Stiideni's History of Illinois 255 GOVERNOR FRANK O. LOWDEN. 1917— Frank O. Lowden was born in Minnesota in 1861. At the age of 8 years he, with his family, moved to Iowa. Here he was schooled. In 1885 he was graduated from the State University and was valedictorian of his class. In 1887 he was graduated from the Union College of Law (Northwestern). He practiced in Chicago and taught law in North- western University Law School. He was married to Miss Florence Pullman in 1896. Was lieutenant-colonel of the First Regiment, Illi- nois National Guard. In 1904 he was a prominent candidate for the Republican nomination for governor. The honor went to Charles S. Deneen. In 1906 he was elected to Congress from the Thirteenth Dis- trict, where he served till 1913. In 1900 he purchased a large tract of land near Oregon, Ogle County, which he christened "Sinnissippi Farm." Here he has engaged in agriculture, giving especial attention to dairying, stock-breeding, tree culture, and general farming. Gov- ernor Lowden is known as a prosperous farmer as well as a successful politician. He is a man of very generous impulses. He was a prominent candidate for the Republican nomination for President in the summer of 1920. CHAPTER XLV. GOVERNOR FRANK O. LOWDEN. 345. A Noted Campaign. — Mr. Lowden, the candidate of the Republican party, carried on a very vigorous cam- paign against Governor Dunne, the Democratic candidate, 256 A Student's History oj Illinois and was elected by a majority of 200,000. Mr. Lowden's platform was as follows : Business methods in State affairs. — Practical men in State posi- tions. — Ten departments in place of one hundred. — A revision of our tax laws. — Fewer State jobs and lower taxes. — Development of farms and live stock interests. — Protection of our industrial workers. — Enforcement of the civil service law. — Full suffrage for women. 346. Progressive Legislation. — The General Assembly Avhich was elected in the fall of 1916 was Republican in both houses, and in sympathy with the policy which Mr. Lowden had championed. The four measures which give character to the work of the session are : A law placing private banks under State supervision. — Provision for the construction of 4,400 miles of hard roads within the State. — Submission of vote on constitutional convention. — Code bill consoli- dating over one hundred commissions into nine departments, as fol- lows: Finance, Agriculture, Labor, Mines and Minerals, Public Works and Buildings. Public ^^'elfare, Public Health, Trade and Commerce, Registration and Education. The appropriation for the Biennium was $50,581,101.00. 347. Race Riots. — In the latter part of May, 1917, a race riot broke out in East St. Louis. Before order was restored some lives were lost and a number of persons were seriously injured. In the early morning hours of July 2nd, the police were called into the section of the city occupied by the colored people. In attempting to disperse a large crowd of armed negroes, one policeman was killed and others wounded. In a few hours the populace were unmanageable and the Governor was called on for pro- tection by the National Guard. All through the day dis- order and death reigned. That night fires broke out and large areas of the city lay in ashes. The Governor visited the city on the 3rd and ordered the soldiers to load with ball and powder and shoot as a last resort. Order was soon restored. The situation w^as the outgrowth of economic, social, and political conditions which have long prevailed in the city. A Student's History of Illinois 257 348. Two Stricken Cities. — On the afternoon of Satur- day, May 26, 1917, the cities of Mattoon and Charleston were visited by one of the most destructive cyclones which has ever crossed our State. The northern section of the city of Mattoon was almost entirely swept away. This was the manufacturing section of the city and the home of the laboring people. Scores of lives were lost and many hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of property destroyed. The city of Charleston, twelve miles east, was almost as severely dealt with. Relief commit- tees and the Red Cross Society provided for the imme- diate needs of the unfortunate people by furnishing food, clothing, and temporary shelter. The National Guard preserved order. The General Assembly appropriated the sum of $275,000.00 for the needs of the stricken people. 349. The Great World War. — What is known as ^'The Great World War" began July 28, 1914. The immediate cause of the war was the refusal of Servia to comply with certain demands made by Austria. Germany declared war on Russia August 1, 1914. Soon France, England and Belgium were involved. For more than two years only European countries were directly involved in the great conflict. But as time passed on it was seen that it would be difficult for the United States to keep out of the war. On April 6, 1917, the Congress of the United States declared war on Germany, and in Decem- ber of that year declared war on Austria. The United States had always prided itself upon being a peace-loving country. As a result of that policy, there had been no military preparation for Avar. There was a small standing army supplemented by fairly well organ- ized militia organizations in the several states. Congress passed what was called a "selective draft law." This provided for the registration, examination, 258 A Student's History of Illinois and selection of an army of untrained men. Only young- men between the ages of 21 and 31 were called in this selective draft. Ten million young men were registered. Out of this number an army of some four million was available. The State of Illinois registered about 600,000 young men. Something like one-half of these entered some form of military service. A reserve officers' training camp was established at Fort Sheridan, some twenty-five miles north of Chicago. Here several thousand young men were trained and commissioned as officers. Then the government began to mobilize the selectives for military training. An im- mense mobilization camp was located a few miles from Rockford. As the young men finished their training in this camp they were hurried toward the ports of de- parture and continually landed in England or France, and from the landing ports to the various fronts for active service. 350. The American Legion. — Many thousands of our Illinois boys v/ere transported to the battle front. Many were held in the various camps and centers of mobiliza- tion and never reached France or Belgium. Thousands made the *' supreme sacrifice.'' But the great majority have returned to engage in the wonderful activities of their beloved State. The ex-service men throughout the United States have organized themselves into a patriotic band called the ''American Legion." The Legion button of bronze and blue and gold is the passport to the sympathy, affection, and good will of all good people in our great State. SSL The Constitutional Convention. — Illinois entered the Union in 1818. Its constitution, made that year, was a very brief document. It served its purpose until 1848, A Student's History of Illinois 259 when the second constitution was adopted. In 1870 a third constitution was written and accepted by the people. For many years public men have felt the need of a thorough revision of the constitution of 1870. In 1917 the General Assembly passed a law submitting the question of ''for" or "against" a constitutional con- vention. The proposition carried, and in 1919 delegates were elected to the constitutional convention. Two dele- gates were chosen from each of the fifty-one senatorial districts, making one hundred and two delegates. 352. The Prohibition Amendment. — A long, hard struggle for prohibition had been waged in the United States. The conflict for and against prohibition was car- ried into the United States Congress. On the 17th of December, 1917, a resolution submitting a prohibitory amendment to the states for ratification was passed by the Congress. The requisite three-fourths majority of the Legislatures having ratified, it Avas declared a part of the constitution, the eighteenth amendment, January 29, 1919. This action was highly gratifying to the people of the State of Illinois, for prior to the submission of the amendment the State was almost wholly dry under the State Local Option law. 260 A Student's History of lUinois CHAPTER XLVI. 1918, THE CENTENNIAL YEAR, 353. The State's Centennial. — Illinois was admitted to the Union December 3, 1818, and the year 1918 will therefore be the Centennial year. Several years ago public spirited citizens began to think of the propriety of observing the centennial of the State in some appropriate manner. The matter was considered in the annual meetings of the State Historical Society. Prior to the admission of Illinois into the Union there had been created by territorial authority fifteen counties within the present limits of the State. Each of these would therefore have its centennial before the State could have hers. Two of these counties, Lladison and St. Clair, celebrated their centennial quite in keeping with their importance among the counties of the State. Other coun- ties also have held celebrations. 354. First Official Action. — It was generally agreed that the State's 100th anniversary should be of such a character as to justify the laying of large plans and the expenditure of generous sums of money. It was therefore thought advisable that the State should take the initiative. In the session of the General Assembly in the spring of 1913, steps were taken resulting in the appointing of a commission of fifteen whose duty it should be to prepare for the celebration of the State's centennial. Plans were laid and considerable progress made. By reason of some legal defect in the first law, another law was passed and a new commission appointed. The general plan is explained in the next four topics. A Students History of Illinois 261 355. Local Celebrations. — The commission advised that local celebrations be held in various localities, usually at the county seat. That these celebrations should take the form of public speaking, singing, reminiscent talks, pageants, etc. That committees should be appointed and plans matured so that the exercises might be interesting, pi'ofitable, and dignified. The public schools participated largely in these exercises. 356. State Celebration. — There was held in Spring- iield 1 Ames, Bishop 152 Anarchists 238 Anti-Nebraskans 178 Appropriations 127 Area of State 4 Architecture, Altgeld 240 Assembly, Territorial 11 Atkinson, General 120 Bad Axe, Battle of 123 Back Taxes 250 Baker, Colonel 163, 191 Bank, State 97, 119 Bank, mismanaged 113 Banks and banking 79, 126, 158 Banking system, new 171 Baptists 89, 150 Barter 41 Battles of Civil War 199 Beardstown 120 Beveridge, Governor 221 Bienville, Governor 30 Bissell, Governor 164, 179, 184 Black Hawk 120 Black Hawk war 117 Black code 94 Black laws repealed 205 Black Republicans 187 Block houses 74 Boisbriant, Lieutenant 30 Bond, Governor 84, 93 Boone, Daniel 44 Border, on the 254 Boundary of state 4 Bowman, Captain 47 Bradley, Joshua 152 Breckenridge, John C 186 Breese, Judge 169 Bryan, W. J 241 Buena Vista 163 Burr, Aaron 70 Butterfield, Justin 158 Page Cahokia 51, 56 Cairo 4, 195 Calhoun County 5 Call for troops 175 Campmeeting 147 Campaign of 1846 161 Campaign of 1834 123 Campaign bitter 102 Campaign of 1852 172 Campaign of 1856 178 Campaign of 1872 219 Canal 158 Capital removed 93, 130 Cartier, James 14 Carroll County 5 Cartwright, Peter 148 Carlin, Governor 131 Casey, Zadoc 123 Champlain, work of 14, 16 Charles Mound 4 Charter I. C. R. R 170 Chester 4 Chicago strike 239 Chicago fire 218 Chickasaw Indians 35 Choctaw Bend 20, 29 Christian Commission 212 Churches in Chicago 149 Civil service 250 Clapboards 5 Clark, Colonel 44,46, 59 Clay 7 Coal 7, 10 College, Illinois 152 College, Shurtleff 151 College, McKendree 152 College, Jonesboro 153 College, Jubilee 153 Collins, Colonel 164 Commandants 42 Commerce 10 Congress of Indians 17 Constitutions 164, 217 Conventions 82, 128. 197, 229 Corn Island 46 274 Index Page Counterfeiting 63 Counties 77, 9S. 100, 144 Counties, the fifteen 81 Courcelles 17 Crozat, grant to 29 Cullom, Governor 224 Customs 40, 91 Davis, David 225 Dead-lock 230 Debt in 1839 139 Debt, out of 226 Debt, floating 159 Deep snow 118 Deep waterway 251, 253 Delegates to convention 83 Deneen, Governor 229, 251 Diamond Grove 153 Disloyalty 214 Douglas, Stephen A.. 169, 175, 192 Duncan, Governor 125, 143 Draft, the 211 Drainage canal 232, 251 Drift, glacial 5 Duel 180 Dunne, Governor 252 Edwards, Governor 73, 112 Editors 145 Education 33. 88, 150 Election of 1826 Ill Election of 1838 131 Election of 1860 185 Election of 1868 209 Election of 1896 241 Election of 1900 245 Ellis, Rev 152 Enabling Act 81 Ewing, Governor 124 Factory legislation 244 Farmers' convention 177 Farmers' institute 247 Fifer, Governor 232 Fishermen, French 14 Flag fired on 194 Fluor spar 8 Ford, Governor 117, 143, 157 Fort Chartres 30, 36 Fort Crevecoeur 26 Fort Duquesne 38 Fort Dearborn massacre 74 Fort Donelson 197 Fort Gage 235 Fort Frontenac 23 Page Fort Slieridan 239 Fort Rwssell 76 Fort Massac 41, 46 French, Governor 162 Free school 176 Freeport Doctrine 183 French in Ohio Valley 36 Frontenac, Count 17 Gallatin County 5 Game laws 243 Gas, natural 9 Gazeteer, Peck's 6 Gibault, Father 5 Gifts to Illinois 81, 134 Glaciated areas 4, 5 Good roads 253 Grand Tower 20 Grand Prairie 6 Granger movement 222 Greeley, Horace 219 Green Bay 25 Greenback Party 223 Griffin, the 24 Hamilton, Governor 228 Hamilton County 63 Hamilton, Colonel 53 Hall, Judge James 17€ Hardin, Colonel 163 Harrison, Governor 57, 67 Harrodstown 45 Henry, Governor Patrick 45 Heald, Captain 74 Helm, Captain 53 High license 228 Homestead law 166 Humus 5 Hunters' road 47 Icarians 161 Ice sheet 5 Ideas, three French 16 mini 13 Illinois Central R. R 11, 168 Illinois County 52 Illinois' Sons 200 Illinois Territory 72, 77 Illinois — A State 80 Illinois and Michigan Canal... 127, 138 Immaculate Conception 21, 29 Immigration 78 Improvement, Internal. . . .163, 173 Independent Party 222 Index 275 Page Indians, the Illinois 11 Indian Point 47 Indiana Territory divided 70 Indebtedness, vState 158 Industries 86 Iron 9 Jackson County 5 Jenkins, Lieutenant Governor. . 169 Jo Daviess County 4, 3 Joliet, Louis 18 Kankakee 26 Kaskaskia 20, 49, 235 Kaolin 8 Kellogg's Grove 121 King, Captain 215 Kilpatrick, Thomas 161 Kinney, William 124 Knights of the Golden Circle.. 213 Knox County 64 Labor Day 235 La Fayette 108 Land office 72, 133 Land grant 169 Landslide 236, 251 La Salle .' . 23 Law, John 30 Laws, territorial 77, 78 Lead 7 Legislature Democratic 199 Legislation 207, 230 Lincoln biography 87 Lincoln-Douglas debate 180 Lincoln's farewell 191 Lincoln assassinated 205 Lincoln's monument 243 Local option 250 Lockport 233 Logan, Senator 226 Long knives 51 Loss in war 199 Mackinaw 25 Making salt 134 Matteson, Governor 173 Marquette, Father 18, 21 McClelland, Gen 202 Message, Gov, Reynold's 118 Message, Gov. Duncan's. .. 125, 128 Methodists 89, 150 Mexican War 161 Mississippi discovered 19 Missouri compromise 175 Mobile Bay 29 Pagb Money 126, 174 Montreal 16 Mormons 142, 159 Nauvoo 159 Newby, Col 164 New Capitol 144 New design 66 New Orleans 32 New Salem 189 Newspapers 104, 145 New York plan 171 Normal schools 180, 217. 240 Northern Cross R. R 140 Oglesby, Gov 204, 197, 230 Ohio Company 37 Ordinance 1787 62 Orendorff, Gen 227 Outlaws 154 Outlook 158. 174 Ozarks 9 Palmer, Gov 216 Panther Creek 215 Peck, Rev. John 152 Penitentiary, First 114 People, Composition of the.... 12 Petroleum 9 Peoria 26 Pipe Line 135 Pioneer Industry 132 Pittsburg Landing . 197 Popular Science 133 Pope, Nathaniel 80 Policy Reversed 139 Pope County 5 Points, Timber 7 Prairie areas 6 Prentiss, Gen 195 Presbyterians 90 Pre-emption law 78 Prehistoric 11 Primary law 250 Price of land 98 Preachers 147 Provisions in const 165 Proclamation 1763 41 Public welfare 253 Public schools 174 Railroad, First 168 Railroad strike 226 Randolph County 5 Religion 145 Republican governor, First 179 276 Index Page Retrospect, A «5. 144 Repudiation 1 -*" Report by Harrison 132 Reservations 11-+. 1^3 Revenues 95 Reservations 133 Renault 31 Residuary soil 5 Riots, Haymarket 231 Rivers 10 Rosiclare 9 Route to Vincennes 56 Route to Kaskaskia 47 Royal Province 34, 35 Russell, Prof 153 Sanitary Commission 212 Salt 87 Saline County 5 Sangamon Country 108 Sankenuk 120 Sac and Fox Indians 120 Salt Springs 132 Salt Licks 133, 136 School legislation 115 Scott, Gen 123 Settlers, French 15 Secret societies 103 Session, Special. .102, 126, 139, 195 Sheridan, Gen 219 Silent Man, The 196 Smith, Gen 227 Smith, Joseph 160 Slavery 68, 174 Snyder, Adam 142 Soils 5 Society 91, 154 Spies 45 Squatter sovereignty 182 Starved Rock 26 State aid 253 State bank 130 State house, New 207 State's resources 208 St. Clair, Gov 63, 69 St. Clair County 4 St. Phillipe 42 St. Francis' Mission 21 St. Louis, Fort 27, 39 St. Joseph 25 Stevenson, A. E 239 Stillman's defeat 121 Page Stringer, L. B 248 Substitute 212 Surface 4 Survey 40, 132 Tanner, Gov 242 Taylor, Gen 76, 164 Teachers, Early 88 Teachers' Institute 177 Tecumseh 73 Timber areas 5 Tippecanoe, Battle of 141 Todd, Col 61 Tonty, Henri de 24 Township organization 166 Trades 41 Torrens land law 243 Trees, Kinds of 6 Treaty 1763 38 Underground R. R 174 Unglaciated areas 4, 5 University of Illinois 177, 207 Vandalia 96, 176 \'igo, Col 53 Villages, Six French 32 Villiers 27 Vincennes 52, 55, 57 Volunteers 194 Vote of thanks 53 Vote on slavery 105 War of 1812 73 War governors 210 War widows 213 Washington County 63 Watershed 4 Western Company 43 Whigs 144 White City 235 White County 5 White, Col 73 Wiggins loan 119 Wigwam Speech 192 Wild cat banks 72 Wilkins, Col 43 Willing, The 55 Winnebagoes 12 Winnebago war 115 Wisconsin River, Rattle of. . . . 122 Wood, Gov 184 World's Fair 234, 247 Yates, Jr., Gov 246 Yates, Sen., Gov 193, 197 Illinois By C. H. 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