fe. «* '^^m^^ w *; THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY 977.3(SI L-a9 mm is«cM vm^ '*m^ Vi'J .^> t:«|>#M ' #f»'»ti '■**\Mi '**^i^:. A^*- pir#% .'•^ iW- THE HTSTOEY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS CONTAINING A History of the County— its Cities, Towns, &c. ; a Directory of its Tax-Payers; War Record of its Volunteers in the late Re- bellion ; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men ; General and Local Siatistics; Map of Livingston County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, Ac, &e. IIJLTJSTI^^^TE^D > <»> » CHICAGO: WM. LE BARON, JR., & CO., 18G DEARBORN STREET. 1878. ^1 7.3^/ PREFACE TN presenting our History of Livingston County, we deem a few prefatory words necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement with our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have actjd up »n the principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires that the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the county. We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not be attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History of the County was compiled by 0. F. Pearre, Esq., of Pontiac ; and the Township His- tories by our historians, W. H. Perrin, H. H. Hill and A. A. (Iraham. Some of the Township Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interesting events. While fully recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has been prepared, believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work. THE PUBLISHEKS. CHIOAGO: CULVER, PAGE, HOTNK & CO., PRINTERS, IIB and 120 Monroe Street. CONTENTS. Page. HUtory Northwest Territory 19 Geographical 19 Early Exploration 20 discovery of the Ohio ■i'i English Explorations and Settle- ments 35 American Settlements 60 Division of the Northwest Terri- tory 66 Tecumseh and the war of 1812 70 Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War 74 HISTORICAI.. Paoe. I Other Indian Troubles 79 Present Condition nf the Northwest 87 Illinois 99 Indiana 101 Iowa 102 1 Michigan 103 Wisconsin 104 | Minnesota .106 Nebraska 107 History of Illinois 109 I Coal 125 I Compact of 1787 117 Paoe. History of Chicago 132 Early Discoveries 109 Early Settlements 115 Education 129 First French Occupation.... 112 Genius of La Salle 113 Material Resources 124 Massacre ol Fort Dearborn 141 Physical Features 121 Progress of Development 123 Religion and Morals 128 War Record of Illinois 130 Paoe. Source of the Mississippi 21 Mouth of the Mississippi 21 Wild Prairie «3 La Salle Landing on the Shore of Green Bay 25 Buffalo Hunt 27 Trapping 29 Hunting- 32 Iroquois Chief. 34 Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain 43 Indians Attacking Frontiersmen... 56 A Prairie Storm 59 A Pioneer Dwelling 61 Breaking Prairie 63 ILIiUSTRATIONS. I Paoe. Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chieftain... 69 Indians Attacking a Stockade 72 Black Hawk, the Sac (Chieftain 75 Big Eagle 80 Captain Jack, the Modoc Chieftain.. 83 Kinzic House 85 ! Village Residence 86 A Representative Pioneer 87 Lincoln Monument, Springfield, 111. 88 A Pioneer School House 89 Farm View in the Winter 90 High Bridge and Lake Bluflf 94 Great Iron Bridge of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, Cross- Paob. ing the River at Davenport. Iowa 96 A Western Dwelling 100 Hunting Prairie Wolves at an Early Day ......108 Starved Rock, on the Illinois River, La Salle County, 111 HO An Early Settlement lib Chicago in 1833 133 Old Fort Dearft-on in 1830 1S6 Present site of Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, in 1833 136 Pioneers' First Winter 142 View of the City of Chicago 144 Shabbona 149 l.IVIIIf«STO]¥ t'OirXTY IIISTORT. Page. General History of Livingston Co..223 Avoca Township 375 Amity " 404 Belle Prairie " 351 Broughton " 4.58 Chatsworth " 388 Charlotte ' 450 Dwigbt " 479 Eameu " 540 Eppard's Point" 512 Forreiit " 519 Paoe. Fayette Township 562 Germantown " 570 Indian Grove " 327 Long P.iint " ■''00 Newtown " 531 Nebraska " 468 Nevada " 428 Ortell " 3.58 Owego " 422 Pontiac " 291 Paoe* Pleasant Ridge Township 415 Pike " 461 RooksCi.-ek " 436 Round Grove '■ 445 Reading " ■'""* SHunemin " 397 Sullivan " 475 Sunlinry " 555 Union ■■ 506 Waldo " 464 LilTHOU K.\ HIIIC 1><»IM'RA 1 1 .S. IV. .ii r '. Burton, AIIh., A •.'75 Ib.M. S A /!••; N'' '■" I •• Bullurd, .1 T ■v. Ilol.lri.igr, K. 1 47:1 N.lxi.. Mm. Bn-liigh, W.C ^.">5 .leiikinn. W ii IM I', am- «>. K.. f illver, .I..He|.h K -.^21 Kraik, I. J 3ii .>tiii»ii 1. ■ .. (Uvanaiigh, J. A 54.'i Muidi.ck, I) L 2.57 Tiitllf. Z.pli.' riear.v. M 4:i7 M. Infantry.. Paoe. I 591 I ("avaliy. Paok. y I .\rlillery I'aOB. ...620 35051 ly CONTENTS. BIOGBAPHICAI. SKETCHRS. Page. [ Page. Avoca Township 7.31 Fayette Township 804 Amity " 698 Germantown Township 816 Belle Prairie Township 790 Broughton Chatsworth Charlotte Dwight Esmen Eppard's Point Forrest .817 .751 .800 .667 .726 .796 .763 Indian Grove Long Point Newtown Nebraska Nevada Odell Owego Pontiar .737 ,....720 ,....705 808 ....695 ....655 ....819 623 Page. Pike Township 810 Pleasant Kidge Township 820 Rook's Creek " 793 Bound Grove " 690 Beading " 715 Saunemin " 776 Sullivan " 784 Sunbury " 680 Union ' " 685 Waldo " 813 niRE<'IORY OF TAX-PAYEKS. I'AIJK. Avoca Township 876 Amity " 849 Belle Prairie Township 861 Broughton " 8.55 Chatsworth " 839 Charlotte " 880 Dwight " 8.36 Esmen " 882 Eppard's Point " 860 Forrest " 843 Fayette " 883 Germantown " 883 Indian Grove " 832 Page. LoLg Point Township 867 [ Newtown " 847' Nebraska " 869 Nevada " 875] Odell " 842 Owego " 881 t Pontiac •' 828 Pike " 865 Pleasant Bidge " 874 , Rook's Creek " 878 Round Grove " 862 I Reading " 846 | Page. Saunemin Township 856 Sullivan " 858 Suntiury " 864 Union " 853 Waldo " 871 Chatsworth Village 838 Cornell " 851 Dwight " 834 Fairbury " 829 Forrest " 845 Odell " 841 Pontiac City 826 ABSTRACT OF ILrEINOIS STATE L.A\VS. Page. Adoption of Children ..160 Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes 151 County Courts 155 (Conveyances 164 Church Organizations 189 Descent 151 Deeds and Mortgages 157 Drainage 163 Damages from Trespass..., 169 Definition of Commercial Terms 173 Exemptions from Forced Sale 156 Estrays 157 Fences 168 Forms : Articles of Agreement 175 Bills of Purchase 174 Bills of Sale 176 Bonds 176 Page. Chattel Mortgages 177 Codicil 189 Lease of Farm and Build- ings 179 Lease of House 180 Landlord's Agreement 180 Notes 174 Notice Tenant to Quit 181 Orders 174 Quit Claim Deed 185 Receipt 174 Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure Payment of Money 181 Release 186 Tenant's Agreement 180 Tenant's Notice to Quit 181 Warranty Deed 182 Will 187 Paoe Game 168 Interest 151 Jurisdiction of Courts 154 Limitation of Action 155 Landlord and Tenant 169 Liens 172 Married Women 156 Millers 159 Marks and Brands 159 Paupers 164 Roads and Bridges 161 Surveyors and Surveys 160 Suggestions to Persons Purchasing Books by Subscription 190 Taxes 164 Wills and Estates 152 Weights and Measures 158 Wolf Scalps 164 Page. Map of Livingston County Front Constitution of the U. S 192 Electors of President and Vice Pres- ident 206 Practical Rules for Every Day Use.207 U. S. Government Land Measure. ..210 Agricultural Productions of Illi- nois by Counties, 1870 210 Surveyors" Measure 211 How to Keep Accounts 211 Interest Table 212 Miscellaneous Tables 212 9IIS€EL.I.ABrv:OVS. Page. Names of the States of the Union and their Signification 213 Population of the United States 214 Population of Fifty Principal Cities of the United States 214 Population and Area of the United States 216 Population of the Principal Coun- tries in the World 215 Population of Illinois 216-217 State Laws Relating to Interest 218 State Laws Belating to Limitations of Actions 219 Paok. Productions of Agriculture of Illi- nois 220 Population of Livingston Co 622 Business Directory 885 Assessors' Report 898 Old Settlers' Association 583 Drainage 821 Illinois National Guards 589 Fairbury Zouave Cadets 690 Livingston County Court House 588 Geological Features 579 Agricultural Association 573 Errata 896 The Northwest Territory. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the " New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old " Northwestern Territory." In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of the entire population of the United States. Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe. For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States. (10) 20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. EARLY EXPLORATIONS. In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitnde. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlepaents, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advantage of these discoveries. In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron ; and in 1631:, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result ; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Ferrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac. During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied — as all others did then — that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 21 05 CO 03 « H O •0) as ^^ B H 3 O X 22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOxxY. request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- dition, prepared for the undertaking. On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Lidian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of ths Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, 23 Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand " reminded tliem of tlie castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. THE WILD PEAIRIE, On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a Avliite person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course 24 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, •' did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discovery— one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream — going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan — he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe. he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away -^hile at prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette. While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre- paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin. After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of those ages — a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor General of Canada, and laid before him the plan, dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis- tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also receivjcl from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. •25 alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded & fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the " Bale des Puans" of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY. started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men — thirty working men and three monks — and started again upon his great undertaking. By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The French pronounced it KiakiJd, which became corrupted to Kankakee. "Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi- nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment 26 THE NORTHWEST TEEBITOEY. no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs, took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi- ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, on the 4th day of January, 16S0, they came into a lake which must have been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Fim-i-te-ivi. that is, a place ichere there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were trvinf to disturb the srood feelinsr which existed, and some of his men were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. He called this fort '• Crevecceur" (broken-heart), a name expressive of the verv natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship, Gri£G.n. and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostihtyon the part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to teturn to Canada, raise new means and new men. and embark anew in the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour- ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and was successfully made, though over an almost u iknown route, and in a bad season of the year. He safely reached Cana ia, and set out again for the object of his search. Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecoeur on the last of February, 1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the icy stream as best he coidd, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen- nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy- age they found several beautiful lakes, and '• saw some charming prairies." Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas. a tribe of the Sioux nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May. when they reached some fails, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 27 in houor of his patron saint. Here they took the land, and traveling nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, BUTFALO HUNT. headed by one Seur de Luth. who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene- trated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with these fellow- countrvmen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the borders of civilized life in November. 1680, just after LaSalle had returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after wen: to France, where he published an account of his adventures. 28 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring, De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander- ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May died. His followers, reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them- selves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan- tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba. They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but, being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, and hardly had an intelligent idea of what they had passed through. To La Salle, the intrejDid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of €xj)lorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February, reached the banks of the Mississippi. On the 13th they,commenced their downward course, which they pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis- covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event : " We landed on the Imnk of the most western channel, about three leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They found the main outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription : Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvieme Avril, i632. The -whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi,'' the column was erected by M. de La Salle, who, standing near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis- sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 29 treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not accomplished until 1690, when D"Iberville, under the authority of the crown, discovered, on tlie second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth of the " Hidden River.*" This majestic stream was called by the natives ^^ 3Ialbouchia,^^ and Ijy the Spaniards, "/a Palissade,'^ from the great I J TRAPPING. number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western outlet, and returned to France. An avenue of trade was now opened out which Avas fully improved. In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo- nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by 30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He- had thrown open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ; had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one- settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu- ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them (unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecoeur,) it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored.'' The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil- lages, the other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de I'Lnmaculate Conception de la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712.." Soon after the founding of Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecoeur. This must have been about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, (pronounced Wri-ba, meaning summer cloud movbig swiftly) was estab- lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob- able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In Jul}^ 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta- tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle- ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law,, who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who Avith his. scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis- sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated • There is considerable dispute about this date, S)me asserting it was founded as late as 174^. AVlieu tlie new court Iiouse at Vincenues was erected, all authorities ou the subject were carefully examined, and iV02 fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engraved on the corner-stone of the court house. THE NORTHWEST TERRITOP.Y. 31 injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the ■attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, writihg from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid (Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem- ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty -five leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of tlie river traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to 32 THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. work them as they deserve." Father :Marest, writing from the post at Vinceniies in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada. Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large pieces are found in the streams." HUNTING. At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac, Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 33 and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for securing the great profits arising therefrom. The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. This " Beautiful " river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet and Marquette. While LaSalle w^as at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition. While conversing with some Senecas, he learned- of a river called the Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state- ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to the commerce of China and Japan. He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov- ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro- vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul- pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition, and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money^ the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for the outfit. ^ On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed. The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian 84 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence. On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving '^H.^3.^^_ IKOyUOlS CUliii?'. among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned from a Shawanee prisoner "that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume their journey ; but just as they were about to start thc}^ heard of the arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved to bs Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the lake region, together with an account of .the condition of the Indians in that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian. After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669. The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony- molis paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts , already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri- ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States of Indiana, Ohit>, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty 36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov- ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces- sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain to this unexplored wilderness. . England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat- ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord Howard, Gov- ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei- das, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations. They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of Virginia," for which the Indians received <£200 in gold and a like sum in goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa- nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a gram of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun- dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12tli of June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000 acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a /oothold in the West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 37 settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud- reuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build tradino- posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further secure the claim of the French to the West, be, in 1749, sent Louis Cel- eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which were inscribed the claims of France. These Avere heard of in 1752, and within the memory of residents now living along the "■ Oyo," as the beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society, among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He afterward spoke of it ,as very populous. From there he went down the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur- ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were bus}^ in preparing their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng- lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. (They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri- tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones Pickaweke." •• The following is a translation of the inscription on the plate: "In the year 1749, reign of Louis XV., King of France, we, Celeron, coniuiandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisoniere, com- mancler-ln-chief of New France, to establish tranquility in certain Indian villages of tliese cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin, this twenty-ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms auU treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapelle." gg THE NORTHWEST TERRITOEji. This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter- ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter- mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing- ton at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan- caster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban- doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour, the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manoeuvre each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con- tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni- tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Ohio left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when we wanted help, forsook us." At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng- lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts already begun, and would not abandon the field. Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then held considerable iftterest in Western lands. He was at this time just twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monon- Q-ahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol- lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to Venaneo, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the 11th of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddle's letter, received his answer, took his observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would not o-ive up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, and gathered their forces to be in readiness. The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation — which promised two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were 40 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. working Siwuy in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. " The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet, that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder- ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink — sixty batteaux and three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecoeur, and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with his men and tools, marched up the Monongahela." The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New- foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured, and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing- ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived. He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him- self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. The English Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755--6, and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those ..... NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 41 acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle of Monongahela, or '' Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence- ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre- tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one, under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt. The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor- able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain. On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum- moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post, Beletre, refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the 42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the purposes of the EngHsh in taking possession of the country. He was assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while on their journey home. Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com- mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. ■ The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe- trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He declared that no treaty had been made with them; no presents sent them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies. The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 13 PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN. 44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite in this enterprise. The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1768. Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, " scooped up in the hollow of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit. Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing the plot, the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out, however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764, continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went further south, living many years among the Illinois. He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed. Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly have been carried out. It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex- ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the chief, Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said : *' Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45 yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves! These lakes, these woods, these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after the English took possession of their countr3\ These feelings were no doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre- vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- tainl)leau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question. Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by France sold to the United States. In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecoeur by LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set- tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. Louis. By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England ; but they do not appear to have been taken possession of until 1765, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage, dated December 30, 176-4, which promised religious freedom to all Cath- olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that chieftain. By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle- 46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year 1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed- eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon- tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom he afterward lost his life. As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga- hela and along- the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing- ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Oapt. Crawford and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts- burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort. Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus- tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages. He found there about sixty-five resident families, and at Cahokia only forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main- tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy reach of Great Britain. The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother country ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow."' In accordance with this policy. Gov. Gage issued a proclamation in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set- tlements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they THE NQRTHWEST TERRITORY. 47 Strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 177-4, extend- ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern- ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side of the war for independence. In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the famous battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and driven across the Ohio. During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies and the perseverance of individuals, several settlements were firmly estab- lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773, an association of EngHsh traders, calling themselves the " Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer- chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com- panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the " United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made 48 THE NORTHWEST TEBIIITORY. strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all signally failed. When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor- ganized country, though there v^ere several settlements within her borders. In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time " Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in- habitants — the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con- tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " — when these observa- tions were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following extract is made : "Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There are also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philips, which is five miles further up the river." St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con- tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until ceded again to Spain, its original owner, Avho afterwards sold it and the country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to 1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated — the people being engaged in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here relate. It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width. As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house (near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn» and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had four gates — east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49 gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six- pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten to fifteen feet in width. At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two stories high, sufficient to contain ten oflBcers, and also barracks sufficient to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning between nine and ten o'clock. Each furnished four sentinels, who were relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who per- formed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at snnset; even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand- ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present ''new" town was laid out. On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, 60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway, burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. Ht saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vinceunes, Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British intended to penetrate the country from the north and south, and annihi- late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them. Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions — one secret, the other open — the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country. With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 51 ston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 2-J:th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by Avater as far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor- mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to believe by the British that the " Long Knives" or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati- tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per- fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab- itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlocked for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom- panied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus 62 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English into the possession of Virginia. In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun- daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken, St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville, erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of the Old Dominion through their Legislature. In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle- giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend- ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort. Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail- ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the force in the garrison. Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 53 and to annoy the Americans in oil ways, and sat quietly down to pass the Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4tli, having suffi- ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back- woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind- ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, and had earned in consequence thereof the title '' Hair-buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known. Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con- cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from the commencement, by the British. " But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern- ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in- Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde- pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the Ohio frontier. Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders, marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled to sue for peace. 6i THE XOETHWEST TERKITOEY. During this same rear (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the pubHc lands at forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent four Virsrinians westward to attend to the various claims, over manv of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These gentlemen opened their court on October 18. 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April 26. 17S0. when they adjourned, haAring decided three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who came in the person of Mr. George May. and assumed his duties on the lOrh day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year (1780) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States to be rejected. The American Government considered thev had a right to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle- ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur- ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the West in this young and enterpiising Commonwealth. The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both nations. The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the "Great Cold."' Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a j)arty of Canadians and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable manner, they fled the country in great haste. About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con- cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts THE 'SiMClMWEST TEESOOBK. and Conneefieiit. The a^iitalioii e wi r w HJii g tliB stAsedb Samify led Sc Toik, on the 19di of Fdnnny, 1780, to pens s lav giving: Id Hht gates ci tibat Slate in Coi^ie» tiie power to eede ber wcifeem lands fiv the benefit of the United Slates. Tlds law was laid befiore Coi^RaB dmiiig: the next montli, bat no steps wexe taken eoncendng it nntil S^- temba fiHi, wben a leadntion passed Ihat bo^calliag: i^on tdie Slates daindng westein lands to release tbeir daian in fii^vor of tlie whole bodj. This baas fomied the nnian,andwas tbefixstaflberadloCtbaBe legiftljlive measmes whi^ resolted in file ezeation of tiie Slates of OUo,In£anae TnifwiJR, "Mi cbigan, Wiamn^ amd IRitngsBni a- Li Deeenber of Ae ~:>.nT Tear, the plan of emqacnn^ Deizait aiZi'- Tbe eonqnesl: r hare easibr beoi effie^ed br Claik had - 1 ^^ -sid been fmn him. Nodm^ deeiare was dme, jet tl t jowrtmnent / ~ that the safetr of tbe Xurtbwest &?>!!!• ^ '' ~ in Ae Cii . and letenticm of tliat impoftant i-it:. i_ _ _r2ed one l_ : z leiiiloi w •»T - ~- _ rjiSrS t\t \ - -^-- -_-- ,T___T- -■- . - _ _ 7 _.- - :_- -^ jris also note — v - A: 1 --" :^ - -T T- r^edAmot- - '- ■■:---->_ -1^ :-;•-•-■: '-"- • 2d dav : : _ : ^. ii ::^1 - - ^ • " " «-.- ^-^-^-T.,, . - '. "'!i the str: - .-.„■..:_ . _ conseqiE"r~ - " : : little h^c . \* . - Fpontt ^"S^- -^efiisi - _ AwiPTtft _ j=^thaftof>!^ :: : of tbe wide^^ . i?5i«5eirr. "^ - liKJiaiMy son . - : : bv l4te i frontier serdeis. "^ ~ the mnrd^ : their ne.. -«tTai regant to hn^ttrLinnr, a deed ^ ^>e npon thor Bves. For thi^ iiuc- p«2€ ui uiie whites^ ihe TiMJMMfl^ etHnmit: hieh darfcen the Teaacs of 1771 and 17T2 in Dr. " _ - - ' " r '"' - Indian^ amd 56 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, was a terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc- INDIAXS ATTACKIXG FliOXTlEKSMEN. tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon- querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October preceding, and the liherty of America was assured. On the 19th of April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 57 proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalachicola River; down its center to its junc- tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts '■ were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by the proper treaty. To remedy this latter evil. Congress appointed commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set- tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- son ville, Indiana. While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do so^ settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in appearance. He says : " Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila- 58 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel." Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances, incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no entries were recorded until 1787. The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in 1784. That at Fort Mcintosh in 1785, and through these much land was gained. The Wabasti Indians, however, afterward refused to comply with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel their adherence to its provisions, force was used. Daring the year 1786, the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga- tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how- ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con- necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the companjr were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth rajige, and on the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservations. In addition to this. Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the resolutions of 1789 and 1790. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 69' While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. By this proposition, the Territory was to have been .divided into states A PRAIRIE STORM. by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten states, which were to have been named as follows — beginning at the northwest corner and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cher- sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Poly- potamia and Pelisipia. There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of names,— the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu- tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles. ^0 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir- ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed, and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com- pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book, and to it the reader is referred. The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Miamis. This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and, being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the 23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. . Six boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur- veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart- ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow as soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 8d of October, had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest. 'AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com- plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over the Alleghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 61 Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwsst, not having yet arrived, a set of Laws were passed, written out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer them. Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu- lated to promote the welfare of such a community." ^^^^mmmw^^^^P^ A PIONEER DAVELLING. On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new- born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the ''Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block -houses stood was called ^'Campus Martins ;"" square number 19, "■ Capitolium ;"" square number 61, '■'■ Cecilia T and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra Via.'" Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum, who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9, Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The act of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest, 62 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 2oth of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the 2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing ceremonies. The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com- mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb- ruary and June, 1788 — many of whom would have purchased of the "Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been ready to receive them. On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-third of this locality, he sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouth of which they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals "' : — " Mr. Filson, who had been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being interpreted, means : ville^ the town ; anti^ against or opposite to ; os, the mouth : L. of Licking.'' Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays- ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789 caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami, whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had THE NORTHWEST TEREITOBY. 63 been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr. Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of Xoyember, 1788, with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood of 1789. On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug- urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer, an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several \illages, but BREAKING PEAIKLE. was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. From this time till the close of 179-5. the principal events were the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796. General St. Clair was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians : but while he was encamped on a stream, the St. :Mary, a branch of the Maumee, he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. General Wavne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794, he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete victory. This success, followed bv vigorous measures, compelled the Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a lar^re tract of country was ceded to the United States. Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. Nearly aU of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the 64 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures* known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon- chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers quarters were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished. The whole were so plaj3ed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river, immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house, familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments of the Northwestern Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec- ulations were entered into by different persons, who hoped to obtain from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured. No sooner had the treat}^ of 1795 been ratified than settlements began to pour rapidly into the West. The great event of the year 1796 was the occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 65 quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle- town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Red- stone Paper Mill" — in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that part of the Northwest. > The election of representatives for the territory had taken place, and on the 4th of Februar}^ 1799, they convened at Losantiville — now known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and considered the capital of the Territory — to nominate persons from whom the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From tl^ose named the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg, of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 21:th the two houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President of the Council. The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of Gen. St. Clair. The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were passed, but received his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro- tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Brj'd to the office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day. ^6 THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. I DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain, and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that : "In the three western countries there has been but one court having cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim- inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist- ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * To minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States and Canada." The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri- tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these : " That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory." After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides : " That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the seat of government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River ; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the seat of government for the Indiana Territory." Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 67 was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year, the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province of Louisiana. In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char- tered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit- ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number, and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known, but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly within the territory of Indiana. Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode, the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the College Township in the district of Cincinnati. Before the close of the year. Gen. Harrison obtained additional grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the 68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. aborifrines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in and about Detroit. ' C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri- tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post : " The Town of Detroit. — The charter, which is for fifteen miles square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant." During this year. Congress granted a township of land for the sup- port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the domain of Gen. Harrison. On the 11th of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed, Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the chano-e to take effect on June 30. On the 11th of that month, a fire occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost every building in the place. When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild- ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built. While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at the battle of tlie Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, and his connection with this conflict. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 6if TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CPIIEFTAIN. TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. TECUMSEH, AND THE WAR OF 1812. This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa, was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum- seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In 1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), who had announced himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash Rivei', given them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chief comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age, was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally pleas- ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi- dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of* land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land could be made save by the consent of this confederation. He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; from the south to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect. Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move- ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh's plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to tlie cunning artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity. During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre- paring for the work. In that 3^ear, Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 71 as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any lands north and west of the Ohio River. Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict. Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten- tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans. Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned from the South, and was ready to visit the President as had at one time previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go as a chief, which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never made. In June of the follownig year, he visited the Indian agent at Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif- ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai- den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard. He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow- ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan- tonly murder the captive. In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood arouncUthe ruins of Mal- " den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand- wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen. McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. 72 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. Early in the engagement, Tecumseh wlio was at the head of the column of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief- tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in the Northwesto ' INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE. Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal. In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated and he was compelled to flee the country for safety. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 73 In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, however, all signally failed. In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and then began the events already narrated. While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the " monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the close of the first week of Januairy, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its downward trip. The' battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green- ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such, happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again restored in this part of the new world. On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennuigs was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, a.nd on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), was laid out January 1, 1825. 74 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches at different convenient points. Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col- umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State. Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable to redeem their currency, and were obliged to suspend. In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich- igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships l)egan to navigate the bosom of that inland sea. Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab- lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended, and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros- perity. BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR. This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians in this part of the United States. Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the principal Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ; his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one 1 I I THE NORTHWEST TERRITOBY. 76 BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN. 76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present Citv of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered. Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish Father," he declined to see an}^ of the Americans, alleging, as a reason, he did not want two fathers. The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre had a few days before occurred. Of liis connection with the British Government but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard was defeated. In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi were notified that peace had b^n declared between the United States and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog- nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 77 Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set- tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the (Capture of his native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his Avishes been acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would have been prevented. Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were finallv induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate amona- the lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the Avhites and urged the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were defeated. This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men was raised, and Gen. Scott hastened from the seaboard, by way of the lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri- can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of ■the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band, and defeated them near the Blue Mounds. Before this action. Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the 1 78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites. On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con- cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi-, sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons. The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe, "there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth- place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village where he was born, where he had so happily lived, and where he had hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer. On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and his lodge. His Avife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder of his jiays. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re- mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among the Indians, living with her upward of forty years. Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel- ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten- tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County, Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem. In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3. His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre- sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. " The THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 79 body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons." No sooner was the Black Hawk war' concluded than settlers began rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed, but did not take active form until two years later, when the State became a part of the Federal Union. The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in ISSf) was made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State was detached two years later. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as a State, Madison being made the capital. We have now traced the various divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances compelled its present division. OTHER INDIAN TROUBLES. Before leaving this part of the narrative, we will narrate briefly the Indian troubles in Minnesota and elsewhere by the Sioux Indians. In August, 1862, the Sioux Indians living on the western borders of Minnesota fell upon the unsuspecting settlers, and in a few hours mas- sacred ten or twelve hundred persons. A distressful panic was the immediate result, fully thirty thousand persons fleeing from their homes to districts supposed to be better protected. The military authorities at once took active measures to punish the savages, and a large number were killed and captured. About a year after, Little Crow, the chief, was killed by a Mr. Lampson near Scattered Lake. Of those captured, thirty were hung at Mankato, and the remainder, through fears of mob violence, were removed to Camp McClellan, on the outskirts of the City of Davenport. It was here that Big Eagle came into prominence and secured his release by the following order : 80 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. BIG EAGLE. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 81 "Special Order, No. 430. "War Department, " Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Dec. 3, 1864. " Big Eagle, an Indian now in confinement at Davenport, Io\va» will, upon the receipt of this order, be immediately released from confine- % ment and set at liberty. '' By order of the President of the United States. • " Official : " E. D. TowNSEND, Ass't Adft G-en. " Capt. James Vanderventer, Corny Sub. Vols. . "Through Com'g Gen'l, Washington, D. C." Another Indian who figures more prominently than Big Eagle, and who was more cowardly in his nature, with his band of Modoc Indians, is noted in the annals of the New Northwest: we refer to Captain Jack. This distinguished Indian, noted for his cowardly murder of Gen. Canby, was a chief of a Modoc tribe of Indians inhabiting the border lands between California and Oregon. This region of country comprises what is known as the " Lava Beds," a tract of land described as utterly impene- trable, save by those savages who had made it their home. The Modocs are kn9wn as an exceedingly fierce and treacherous race. They had, according to their own traditions, resided here for many generations, and at one time were exceedingly numerous and powerful. A famine carried off nearly half their numbers, and disease, indolence and the vices of the white man have reduced them to a poor, weak and insignificant tribe. Soon after the settlement of California and Oregon, complaints began to be heard of massacres of emigrant trains passing through the Modoc country. In 1847, an emigrant train, comprising eighteen souls, was en- tirely destroyed at a place since known as " Bloody Point." These occur- rences caused the United States Government to appoint a peace commission, who, after repeated attempts, in 1864, made a treaty with the Modocs, Snakes and Klamaths, in which it was agreed on their part to remove to a reservation set apart for them in the southern part of Oregon. With the exception of Captain Jack and a band of his followers, who remained at Clear Lake, about six miles from Klamath, ^ the Indians complied. The Modocs who went to the reservation were under chief Schonchin. Captain Jack remained at the lake without disturbance until 1869, when he was also induced to remove to the reservation. The Modocs and the Klamaths soon became involved in a quarrel, and Captain Jack and his band returned to the Lava Beds. Several attempts were made by the Indian Commissioners to induce them to return to the reservation, and finally becoming involved in a 1 82 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. difficulty with the commissioner and his military escort, a fight ensued, in which the chief and his Land were routed. They were greatly enraged, and on their retreat, before the day closed, killed eleven inoffensive whites. The nation was aroused and immediate action demanded. A com- mission was at once appointed by the Government to see what could be done. It comprised the following persons : Gen. E. R. S. Canby, Rev. Dr. E. Thomas, a leading Methodist divine of California ; Mr. A. B. Meacham, Judge Rosborough, of California, and a Mr. Dyer, of Oregon. After several interviews, in which the savages were always aggressive, often appearing with scalps in their belts. Bogus Charley came to the commission on the evening of April 10, 1873, and informed them that Capt. Jack and his band would have a " talk " to-morrow at a place near Clear Lake, about three miles distant. Here the Commissioners, accom- panied by Charle3% Riddle, the interpreter, and Boston Charley repaired. After the usual greeting the council proceedings commenced. On behalf of the Indians there were present : Capt. Jack, Black Jim, Schnac Nasty Jim, Ellen's Man, and Hooker Jim. They had no guns, but carried pis- tols. After short speeches by Mr. Meacham, Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, Chief Schonchin arose to speak. He had scarcely proceeded when, as if by a preconcerted arrangement, Capt. Jack drew his pistol and shot Gen. Canby dead. In less than a minute a dozen shots were fired b}^ the savages, and the massacre completed. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schon- chin, and Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped, being fired at twice. Riddle, the interpreter, and his squaw escaped. The troops rushed to the spot where they found Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas dead, and Mr. Meacham badly wounded. The savages had escaped to their impenetrable fastnesses and could not be pursued. The whole country Avas aroused by this brutal massacre ; but it was not until the following May that the murderers were brought to justice. At that time Boston Charley gave himself up, and offered to guide the troops to Capt. Jack's stronghold. This led to the capture of his entire gang, a number of whom were murdered by Oregon volunteers Avhile on their way to trial. The remaining Indians were held as prisoners until July when thttr trial occurred, which led to the conviction of Capt. Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One-Eyed Jim, and Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. These sentences were approved by the President, save in the case of Slotuck and Broncho whose sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life. The others were executed at Fort Klamath, October 3, 1873. These closed the Ijidian troubles for a time in the Northwest, and for several years the borders of civilization remained in peace. They were again involved in a conflict with the savages about the country of the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. sa CAPTAIN JACK, THE MODOC CHIEFTAIN. rf4 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Black Hills, in which war the gallant Gen. Custer lost his hfe. Just now the borders of Oregon and California are again in fear of hostilities ; but as the Government has learned how to deal with the Indians, they will be of short duration. The red man is fast passing away before the march of the white man, and a few more generations will read of the Indians as one of the nations of the past. The Northwest abounds in memorable places. We have generally noticed them in the narrative, but our space forbids their description in detail, save of the most important places.. Detroit, Cincinnati, Vincennes, Kaskaskia and their kindred towns have all been described. But ere we leave the narrative we will present our readers with an account of the Kinzie house, the old landmark of Chicago, and the discovery of the source of the Mississippi River, each of which may well find a place in the annals of the Northwest. Mr. John Kinzie, of the Kinzie house, represented in the illustra- tion, established a trading house at Fort Dearborn in 1804. The stockade had been erected the year previous, and named Fort Dearborn in honor of the Secretary of War. It had a block house at each of the two angles, on the southern side a sallyport, a covered way on the north side, that led down to the river, for the double purpose of providing means of escape, and of procuring water in the event of a siege. Fort Dearborn stood on the south bank of the Chicago River, about half a mile from its mouth. When Major Whistler built it, his soldiers hauled all the timber, for he had no oxen, and so economically did he work that the fort cost the Government only fifty dollars. For a while the garrison could get no grain, and W histler and his men subsisted on acorns. Now Chicago is the greatest grain center in the world. Mr. Kinzie bought the hut of the first settler, Jean Baptiste Point au Sable, on the site of which he erected his mansion. Within an inclosure in front he planted some Lombardy poplars, seen in the engraving, and in the rear he soon had a fine garden and growing orchard. In 1812 the Kinzie house and its surroundings became the theater of stirring events. The garrison of Fort Dearborn consisted of fifty-four men, under the charge of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Lenai T. Helm (son-in-law to Mrs. Kinzie), and Ensign Ronan. The suro-eon was Dr. Voorhees. The only residents at the post at that time were the wives of Capt. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyagers with their wives and children. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most friendly terms Avith the Pottawatomies and the Winnebagoes, the prin- cipal tribes around them, but they could not win them from their attach- ment to the British. THE NORTHWEST TERKTTORY. 85 After the battle of Tippecanoe it was observed that some of the lead- ing chiefs became sullen, for some of their people had perished in that conflict with American troops. One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing his violin and his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into the house pale with terror, and exclaiming, " The Indians ! the Indians I " " What? Where? " eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. " Up at Lee's, kilHng and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Burns, a newly-made mother, living not fni- oi¥. KINZIE HOUSE. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river in boats, and took refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Burns and her infant, not a day old, were conveyed in safety to the shelter of the guns of Fort Dearborn, and the rest of the white inhabitants fled. The Indians were a scalping party of Winnebagoes, who hovered around the fort some days, when they dis- appeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were not disturbed by alarms. Chicago was then so deep in the wilderness, that the news of the declaration of war against Great Britain, made on the 19th of June, 1812, did not reach the commander of the garrison at Fort Dearborn till the 7th of August. Now the fast mail train will carry a man from New York to Chicago in twenty-seven hours, and such a declaration might be sent, every word, by the telegraph in less than the same number of minutes. THE KOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 87 PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk • war, and we now turn to the contempLation of the growth and prosperity of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili- za-tian. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow A KEPRESKNTATIVE PIONEER. of 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the region distributed through the East by those who had participated in the Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then had a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables and clothing were largely, distributed through the regions adjoining the 88 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. I lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in Illinois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation, and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south- ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind Li:5ifC0LN MO^^^UMENT, SPKIXGFIELD, ILLINOIS. them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length, and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding in Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, altliough the southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The water courses of the lakes and rivers furnished transportation to the second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 89 from the effects of which the AVestern country had not fully recovered at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies fullv alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting ■/J -J o •H •^ J /J 'A .the vast armies of the Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, ann Gov. Morton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the campaign won Iby cujc Western troops is a needless task, except to mention the fact that Illinois p^ave co the nation the President who save'* 90 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. it, and sent out at the head of one of its regiments tne general who led its armies to the final victory at Appomattox. The struggle, on the FARM VIEW IN WINTER. whole, had a marked effect for the better on the new Northwest, g; ring it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have produced. In a large degree this prosperity was an inflated one, and with the rest of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefoi; l\v four THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. . 9S years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of fortune. To a less degree, however, than the manufacturing or mining regions has the West suffered during the prolonged panic now so near its end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has been quite prosperous through all these dark years, and the farmers have cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts and sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the seaboard dependent wholly on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture. At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving the nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid fair to dealalmost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies. T]ie lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates; but experienced navigators forecast the decav of the system in moving to the seaboard the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five years it has become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West Indies coino- throug^h from the second-class towns along the Mississippi and Missouri. As' to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly, and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union. More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward securing the removal of the Federal capitol to some more central location. Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertain- ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the principles which should govern the country. In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements of actualities that fill the columns of ephemeral publications. Time may bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of 94 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. LAKE BLUFF. The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, with one hnndred and seventy feet of gradual ascent. HIGH BRIDGE, LAKE BLrFF, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 95 the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the cattle raisins: districts of the southwest. Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a continued progress in agriculture and in railwa}^ building, and we must look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe, many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense. English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pro- gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the qualit}- of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest in the matter is on the increase. To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would be useless, so far have we surpassed ourselves in the quantity and quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving the world its first article of necessity — its food supply. An opportunity to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at the outbreak of the great panic of 1873, when Canadian purchasers, fearing the prostration of business might bring about an anarchical condition of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries, and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the government was able to reach hy its most intense efforts of legislation and compulsion. The hundreds of millions about to be disbursed for farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial 96 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. nations, set the wheels in motion, and will relieve us from the perils so long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone. " Manufacturing has attained in the chief cities a foothold which bids fair to render the North\Yest independent of the outside world. Nearly 1^ o )^ > < 3 > •Ji ■T. -J QQ O our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As to transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles except- food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and our facilities are yearly increasing beyond those of any other region. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 97 The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations. Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions, and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities. The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turning toward the northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre- gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul is its close rival in extent and importance. The three lines running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to Charleston, and the Chicago and Canada Southern, which Hue will con- nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines, and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches, and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the railways could hardly afford to use iron rails, and all our northwestern lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages. Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold 824,000,000 of - dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add seventy per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have placed here their distributing agents or their factories ; and in groceries 98 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages over New York. Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti- tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months, they are summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on behalf of home interests. It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision. ^'^iM^ U ^*^i &Gfi^ ILLINOIS. Length, 380 miles, mean width about 156 miles. Area, 55,410 square miles, or 35,462,400 acres. Illinois, as regards its surface, constitutes a table-land at a varying elevation ranging between 350 and 800 feet above the sea level ; composed of extensive and highly fertile prairies and plains. Much of the south division of the State, especially the river-bottoms, are thickly wooded. The prairies, too, have oasis-like clumps of trees scattered here and there at intervals. The chief rivers irrigating the State are the Mississippi — dividing it from Iowa and Missouri — the Ohio (forming its south barrier), the Illinois, Wabash, Kaskaskia, and San- gamon, with their numerous affluents. The total extent of navigable streams is calculated at 4,000 miles. Small lakes are scattered over vari- ous parts of the State. Illinois is extremely prolific in minerals, chiefly coal, iron, copper, and zinc ores, sulphur and limestone. The coal-field alone is estimated to absorb a full third of the entire coal-deposit of North America. Climate tolerably equable and healthy ; the mean temperature standing at about 51° Fahrenheit As an agricultural region, Illinois takes a competitive rank with neighboring States, the cereals, fruits, and root- crops yielding plentiful returns ; in fact, as a grain-growing State, Illinois may be deemed, in proportion to her size, to possess a greater area of lands suitable for its production than any other State in the Union. Stock- raising is also largely carried on, while her manufacturing interests in regard of woolen fabrics, etc., are on a very extensive and yearly expand- ino- scale. The lines of railroad in the State are among the most exten- sive of the Union. Inland water-carriage is facilitated by a canal connecting the Illinois River with Lake Michigan, and thence with the St. Lawrence and Atlantic. Illinois is divided into 102 counties ; the chief towns being Chicago, Springfield (capital), Alton, Quincy, Peoria, Galena, Bloomington, Rock Island, Vandalia, etc. By the new Consti- tution, established in 1870, the State Legislature consists of 51 Senators, elected for four years, and 153 Representatives, for two years ; which numbers were to be decennially increased thereafter to the number of six per every additional half-millicn of inhabitants. Religious and educational institutions are largely diffused throughout, and are in a ver}^ fiourishino: condition. Illinois has a State Lunatic and a Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Jacksonville ; a State Penitentiary at Joliet ; and a Home for (99) 100 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Soldiers' Orphans at Normal. On November 30, 1870, the public debt of the State was returned at $4,870,937, with a balance of $1,808,833 unprovided for. At the same period the value of assessed and equalized property presented the following totals : assessed, $840,031,703 ; equal- ized $480,664,058. The name of Illinois, through nearly the whole of the eighteenth century, embraced most of the known regions north and west of Ohio. French colonists established themselves in 1673, at Cahokia and Kaskaskia, and the territory of which these settlements formed the nucleus was, in 1763, ceded to Great Britain in conjunction with Canada, and ultimately resigned to the United States in 1787. Illinois entered the Union as a State, December 3, 1818; and now sends 19 Representatives to Congress. Population, 2,539,891, in 1870. ^ WESTERN DWELLING. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. lUl INDIANA The profile of Indiana forms a nearly exact parallelogram, occupy- ing one of the most fertile portions of the great Mississippi Valley. The greater extent of the surface embraced within its limits consists of gentle undulations rising into hilly tracts toward the Ohio bottom. The chief rivers of the State are the Ohio and Wabash, with their numerous affluents. The soil is highly productive of the cereals and grasses — most particularly so in the valleys of the Ohio, Wabash, Whitewater, and White Rivers. The northeast and central portions are well timbered with virgin forests, and the west section is notably rich in coal, constitut- ing an offshoot of the great Illinois carboniferous field. Iron, copper, marble, slate, gypsum, and various clays are also abundant. From an agricultural point of view, the staple products are maize and wheat, with the other cereals in lesser yields ; and besides these, flax, hemp, sorghum, hops, etc., are extensively raised. Indiana is divided into 92 counties, and counts among her principal cities and towns, those of Indianapolis Ctlie capital), Fort Wayne, Evansville, Terre Haute, Madison, Jefferson- ville, Columbus, Vincennes, South Bend, etc. The public institutions of the State are many and various, and on a scale of magnitude and efficiency commensurate with her important political and industrial status. Upward of two thousand miles of railroads permeate the State in all directions, and greatly conduce to the development of her expanding manufacturing interests. Statistics for the fiscal year terminating October 31, 1870, exhibited a total of receipts, $3, 896,541 as against dis- bursements, $3,532,406, leaving a balance, $364,135 in favor of the State Treasury. The entire public debt, January 5, 1871, $3,971,000. This State was first settled by Canadian voyageurs in 1702, who erected a fort at Vincennes ; in 1763 it passed into the hands of the English, and was by the latter ceded to the United States in 1783. From 1788 till 1791, an Indian ware fare prevailed. In 1800, all the region west and north of Ohio (then formed into a distinct territory) became merged in Indiana. In 1809, the present limits of the State were defined, Michigan and Illinois having previously been withdrawn. In 1811, Indiana was the theater of the Indian War of Tecumseh, ending with the decisive battle of Tippecanoe. In 1816 (December 11), Indiana became enrolled among the States of the American Union. In 1834, the State passed through a monetary crisis owing to its having become mixed up with railroad, f;anal, and other speculations on a gigantic scale, which ended, for the time being, in a general collapse of public credit, and consequent bank- ruptcy. Since that time, however, the greater number of the public 102 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. works which had brought about that imbroglio — especially the great Wabash and Erie Canal — have been completed, to the great benefit of the State, whose subsequent progress has year by year been marked by rapid strides in the paths of wealth, commerce, and general social and political prosperity. The constitution now in force was adopted in 1851. Population, 1,680,637. IOWA. In shape, Iowa presents an almost perfect parallelogram ; has a length, north to south, of about 300 miles, by a pretty even width of 208 miles, and embraces an area of 55,045 square miles, or 35,228,800 acres. The surface of the State is generally undulating, rising toward the middle into an elevated plateau which forms the "divide" of the Missouri and Mississippi basins. Rolling prairies, especially in the south section, constitute a regnant feature, and the river bottoms, belted with woodlands, present a soil of the richest alluvion. Iowa is well watered ; the principal rivers being the Mississippi and Missouri, which form respectively its east and west limits, and the Cedar, Iowa, and Des Moines, affluents of the first named. Mineralogically, Iowa is important as occupying a section of the great Northwest coal field, to the extent of an area estimated at 25,000 square miles. Lead, copper, zinc, and iron, are also mined in considerable quantities. The soil is well adapted to the production of wheat, maize, and the other cereals ; fruits, vegetables, and esculent roots; maize, wheat, and oats forming the chief staples. Wine, tobacco, hops, and wax, are other noticeable items of the agricul- tural yield. Cattle-raising, too, is a branch of rural industry largely engaged in. The climate is healthy, although liable to extremes of heat and cold. The annual gross product of the various manufactures carried on in this State approximate, in round numbers, a sum of $20,000,000. Iowa has an immense railroad system, besides over 500 miles of water- communication by means of its navigable rivers. The State is politically divided into 99 counties, with the following centers of population : Des Moines (capital), Iowa City (former capital), Dubuque, Davenport, Bur- lington, Council Bluffs, Keokuk, Muscatine, and Cedar Rapids. The State institutions of Iowa — religious, scholastic, and philanthropic — are on a par, as regards number and perfection of organization and operation, with those of her Northwest sister States, and education is especially well cared for, and largely diffused. Iowa formed a portion of the American territorial acquisitions from France, bv the so-called Louisiana purchase in 1 803, and was politically identified with Louisiana till 1812» THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 103 when it merged into the Missouri Territory; in 1834 it came under the Michigan organization, and, in 1836, under that of Wisconsin. Finally, after being constituted an independent Territory, it became a State of the Union, December 28, 1846. Population in 1860, 674,913 ; in 1870, 1,191,792, and in 1875, 1,353,118. MICHIGAN. United area, 56,243 square miles, or 35,995,520 acres. Extent of the Upper and smaller Peninsula — length, 316 miles; breadth, fluctuating between 36 and 120 miles. The south division is 416 miles long, by from 50 to 300 miles wide. Aggregate lake-shore line, 1,400 miles. The Upper, or North, Peninsula consists chiefly of an elevated j)lateau, expanding into the Porcupine mountain-system, attaining a maximum height of some 2,000 feet. Its shores along Lake Superior are eminently bold and picturesque, and its area is rich in minerals, its product of copper constituting an important source of industry. Both divisions are heavily wooded, and the South one, in addition, boasts of a deep, rich, loamy soil, throwing up excellent crops of cereals and other agricultural produce. The climate is generally mild and humid, though the Winter colds are severe. The chief staples of farm husbandry include the cereals, grasses, maple sugar, sorghum, tobacco, fruits, and dairj'-stuffs. In 1870, the acres of land in farms were : improved, 5,096,939 ; unimproved woodland, 4,080,146 ; other unimproved land, 842,057. The cash value of land was $398,240,578 ; of farming implements and machinery, $13,711,979. In 1869, there were shipped from the Lake Superior ports, 874,582 tons of iron ore, and 45,762 of smelted pig, along with 14,188 tons of copper (ore and ingot). Coal is another article largely mined. Inland communication is provided for by an admirably organized railroad system, and by the St. Mary's Ship Canal, connecting Lakes Huron and Superior. Michigan is politically divided into 78 counties ; its chief urban centers are Detroit, Lansing (capital), Ann Arbor, Marquette, Bay City, Niles, Ypsilanti, Grand Haven, etc. The Governor of the State is elected biennially. On November 30, 1870, the aggregate bonded debt of Michigan amounted to $2,385,028, and the assessed valuation of land to $266,929,278, representing an estimated cash value of $800,000,000. Education is largely diffused and most excellently conducted and pro- vided for. The State University at Ann Arbor, the colleges of Detroit and Kalamazoo, the Albion Female College, the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, and the State Agricultural College at Lansing, are chief among the academic institutions. Michigan (a term of Chippeway origin, and 104 THE NORXaWEST TERRITORY. signifying " Great Lake), was discovered and first settled by French Canadians, who, in 1670, founded Detroit, the pioneer of a series of trad- ing-posts on the Indian frontier. During the " Conspiracy of Pontiac," following the French loss of Canada, Michigan became the scene of a sanguinary struggle between the whites aijd aborigines. In 1796,. it became annexed to the United States, which incorporated this region with the Xorthwest Territory, and then with Indiana Territory, till 1803, when it became territorially independent. Michigan was the theater of warlike operations during the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and in 1819 was authorized to be represented by one delegate in Congress ; in 1837 she was admitted into the Union as a State, and in 1869 ratified the loth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Population, 1,181,039. WISCONSIN. It has a mean length of 260 miles, and a maximum breadth of 215. Land area, 53,921 square miles, or 34,511,860 acres. Wisconsin lies at a considerable altitude above sea-level, and consists for the most part of an upland plateau, the surface of which is undulating and very generally diversified. Numerous local eminences called mounds are interspersed over the State, and the Lake Michigan coast-line is in many parts char- acterized by lofty escarped cliffs, even as on the west side the banks of the Mississippi form a series of high and picturesque bluffs. A group of islands known as The Apostles lie off the extreme north point of the State in Lake Superior, and the great estuary of Green Bay, running far inland, gives formation to a long, narrow peninsula between its waters and those of Lake Michigan. The river-system of Wisconsin has three outlets — those of Lake Superior, Green Bay, and the Mississippi, which latter stream forms the entire southwest frontier, widening at one point into the large watery expanse called Lake Pepin. Lake Superior receives the St. Louis, Burnt Wood, and Montreal Rivers; Green Bay, the Menomouee, Peshtigo, Oconto, and Fox; while into the Mississippi empty the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black, Wisconsin, and Rock Rivers. The chief interior lakes are those of Winnebago, Horicon, and Court Oreilles. and smaller sheets of water stud a great part of the surface. The climate is healthful, with cold Winters and brief but very warm Summers. Mean annual rainfall 31 inches. The geological system represented by the State, embraces those rocks included between the primary and the Devonian series, the former containing extensive deposits of copper and iron ore. Besides these minerals, lead and zinc are found in great quantities, together with kaolin, plumbago, gypsum, ^4 THE NORTH^VEST TERRITORY. 105 and various clays. Mining, consequently, forms a prominent industry, and one of yearly increasing dimensions. The soil of Wisconsin is of varying quality, but fertile on the whole, and in the north parts of the State heavily timbered. The agricultural yield comprises the cereals, together with flax, hemp, tobacco, pulse, sorgum, and all kinds of vege- tables, and of the hardier fruits. In 1870, the State had a total number of 102,904 farms, occupying 11,715,321 acres, of which 5,899,343 con- sisted of improved land, and 3,437,442 were timbered. Cash value of farms, 8300,414,064 ; of farm implements and machinery, $14,239,364. Total estimated value of all farm products, including betterments and additions to stock, $78,027,032 ; of orchard and dairy stuffs, 81,045,933 ; of lumber, 81,327,618 ; of home manufactures, 8338,423 ; of all live-stock, 845,310,882. Number of manufacturing establishments, 7,136, employ- ing 39,055 hands, and turning out productions valued at 885,624,966. The political divisions of the State form 61 counties, and the chief places of wealth, trade, and population, are Madison (the capital), Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Prairie du Chien, Janesville, Portage City, Racine, Kenosha, and La Crosse. In 1870, the total assessed valuation reached 8333,209,838, as against a true valuation of both real and personal estate aggregating 8602,207,329. Treasury receipts during 1870, 8886,- 696 ; disbursements, 8906,329. Value of church property, 84,749,983. Education is amply provided for. Independently of the State University at Madison, and those of Galesville and of Lawrence at Appleton. and the colleges of Beloit, Racine, and Milton, there are Normal Schools at Platteville and Whitewater. The State is divided into 4,802 common school districts, maintained at a cost, in 1870, of 82,094,160. The chari- table institutions of Wisconsin include a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, an Institute for the Education of the Blind, and a Soldiers" Orphans* School. In January, 1870, the railroad system ramified throughout the State totalized 2,779 miles of track, including several lines far advanced toward completion. Immigration is successfully encouraged by the State author- ities, the larger number of yearly new-comers being of Scandinavian and German origin. The territory now occupied within the limits of the State of Wisconsin was explored by French missionaries and traders in 1639, and it remained under French jurisdiction until 1703. when it became annexed to the British North American possessions. In 1796, it reverted to the United States, the government of which latter admitted it within the limits of the Northwest Territory, and in 1809, attached it to that of Illinois, and to Michigan in 1818. Wisconsin became independ- ently territorially organized in 1836, and became a State of the L'nion, March 3, 1847. Population in 1870, 1,064,985, of which 2,113 were of the colored race, and 11,521 Indians. 1,206 of the latter being out of tribal relations. 106 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. MINNESOTA Its length, north to south, embraces an extent of 380 miles ; its breadth one of 250 miles at a maximum. Area, 84,000 square miles, or 54,760,000 acres. The surface of Minnesota, generally speaking, con- sists of a succession of gently undulating plains and prairies, drained by an admirable water-system, and with here and there heavil}^- timbered bottoms and belts of virgin forest. The soil, corresponding with such a superfices, is exceptionally rich, consisting for the most part of a dark, calcareous sandy drift intermixed with loam. A distinguishing physical feature of this State is its riverine ramifications, expanding in nearly every part of it into almost innumerable lakes — the whole presenting an aggregate of water-power having hardly a rival in the Union. Besides the Mississippi — which here has its rise, and drains a basin of 800 miles of country — the principal streams are the Minnesota (334 miles long), the Red River of the North, the St. Croix, St. Louis, and many others of lesser importance ; the chief lakes are those called Red, Cass, Leech, Mille Lacs, Vermillion, and WinibigoSh. Quite a concatenation of sheets of water fringe the frontier line where Minnesota joins British America, culminating in the Lake of the Woods. It has been estimated, that of an area of 1,200,000 acres of surface between the St. Croix and Mis- sissippi Rivers, not less than 73,000 acres are of lacustrine formation. In point of minerals, the resources of Minnesota have as yet been very imperfectly developed ; iron, copper, coal, lead — all these are known to exist in considerable deposits ; together with salt, hmestone, and potter's clay. The agricultural outlook of the State is in a high degree satis- factory ; wheat constitutes the leading cereal in cultivation, with Indian corn and oats in next order? Fruits and vegetables are grown in great plenty and of excellent quality. The lumber resources of Minnesota are important ; the pine forests in the north region alone occupying an area of some 21,000 square miles, which in 1870 produced a return of scaled logs amounting to 313,116,416 feet. The natural industrial advantages possessed by Minnesota are largely improved upon by a railroad system. The political divisions of this State number 78 counties ; of which the chief cities and towns are : St. Paul (the capital), Stillwater, Red Wing, St. Anthony, Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, and Mankato. Minnesota has already assumed an attitude of high importance as a manufacturing State ; this is mainly due to the wonderful command of water-power she pos- sesses, as before spoken of. Besides her timber-trade, the milling of flour, the distillation of whisky, and the tanning of leather, are prominent interests, which, in 1869, gave returns to the amount of $14,831,043. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 10' Education is notably provided for on a broad and catholic scale, the entire amount expended scholastically during the year 1870 being $851,' 816 ; while on November 30 of the preceding year the permanent school fund stood at $2,476,222. Besides a University and Agricultural College, Normal and Reform Schools flourish, and with these may be mentioned such various philanthropic and religious institutions as befit the needs of an intelligent and prosperous community. The finances of the State for the fiscal year terminating December 1, 1870, exhibited a balance on the right side to the amount of |136,164, being a gain of 144,000 over the previous year's figures. The earliest exploration of Minnesota by the whites was made in 1680 by a French Franciscan, Father Hennepin, who gave the name of St. Antony to the Great Falls on the Upper Missisippi. In 1763, the Treaty of Versailles ceded this region to England. Twenty years later, Minnesota formed part of the Northwest Territory transferred to the United States, and became herself territorialized inde- pendently in 1849. Indian cessions in 1851 enlarged her boundaries, and, May 11, 1857, Minnesota became a unit of the great American federation of States. Population, 439,706. NEBRASKA. Maximum length, 412 miles; extreme breadth, 208 miles. Area, 75,905 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres. The surface of this State is almost entirely undulating prairie, and forms part of the west slope of the great central basin of the North American Continent. In its west division, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, is a sandy belt of country, irregularly defined. In this part, too, are the " dunes," resem- bling a wavy sea of sandy billows, as well as the Mauvaises Terres. a tract of singular formation, produced by eccentric disintegrations and denuda- tions of the land. The chief rivers are the Missouri, constituting its en- tire east line of demarcation ; the Nebraska or Platte, the Niobrara, the Republican Fork of the Kansas, the Elkhorn, and the Loup Fork of the Platte. The soil is very various, but consisting chiefly of rich, bottomy loam, admirably adapted to the raising of heavy crops of cereals. All the vegetables and fruits of the temperate zone are produced in great size and plenty. For grazing purposes Nebraska is a State exceptionally well fitted, a region of not less than 23,000,000 acres being adaptable to this branch of husbandry. It is believed that the, as yet, comparatively infertile tracts of land found in various, parts of the State are susceptible of productivity by means of a properly conducted system of irrigation. Few minerals of moment have so far been found within the limits of -f 108 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Nebraska, if we may except important saline deposits at the head of Salt Creek in its southeast section. The State is divided into 67 counties, independent of the Pawnee and Winnebago Indians, and of unorganized territory in the northwest part. The principal towns are Omaha, Lincoln (State capital), Nebraska City, Columbus, Grand Island, etc. In 1870, the total assessed value of property amounted to $53,000,000, being an increase of $11,000,000 over the previous year's returns. The total amount received from the school-fund during the year 1869-70 was $77,999. Education is making great onward strides, the State University and an Agricultural College being far advanced toward completion. In the matter of railroad communication, Nebraska bids fair to soon place herself on a par with her neighbors to the east. Besides being inter- sected by the Union Pacific line, with its off-shoot, the Fremont and Blair, other tracks are in course of rapid construction. Organized by Con- gressional Act into a Territory, May 30, 1854, Nebraska entered the Union as a full State, March 1, 1867. Population, 122,993. HTTXTTXG PRATHIE WOLVES IX AX EAKLY DAY. Early History of Illinois. The name of this beautiful Prairie State is derived from Illim^ a Delaware word signifying Superior Men. It has a French termination^ and is a symbol of how the two races — the French and the Indians — were intermixed during the early history of the country. The appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabit- ants of the soil whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile region in the great Valley of the Mississippi, which their enemies, coveted and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of war they were diminished in numbers, and finally destroyed. " Starved Rock," on the Illinois River, according to tradition, commemorates their last tragedy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than sur- render. EARLY DISCOVERIES. The first European discoveries in Illinois date back over two hun- dred years. They are a part of that movement which, from the begin- ning to the middle of the seventeenth century, brought the French Canadian missionaries and fur traders into the Valley of the Mississippi, and which, at a later period, established the civil and ecclesiastical authority of France from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the foot-hills of the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains. The great river of the West had been discovered by DeSoto, the Spanish conqueror of Florida, three quarters of a century before the French founded Quebec in 1608, but the Spanish left the country a wil- derness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in which condition it remained until the Mississippi was discovered bj' the agents of the French Canadian governmeut, Joliet and Marquette, in 1673. These renowned explorers were not the first white visitors to Illinois. In 1671 — two vears in advance of them — came Nicholas Perrot to Chicago He had been sent by Talon as an agent of the Canadian government tc 109 110 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. ■■A < -ji < 'A A A a tr 'A HISTORY OF THE STATE OF HiLINOIS. Ill call a great peace convention of Western Indians at Green Bay, prepara- tory to the movement for the discovery of the Mississippi. It was deemed a good stroke of policy to secure, as far as possible, the friend- ship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous, and which their friendship and assistance would do so much to make successful ; and to this end Perrot was sent to call together in council the tribes throughout the Northwest, and to promise them the commerce and pro- tection of the French government. He accordingly arrived at Green Bay in 1671, and procuring an escort of Pottawattamies, proceeded in a bark canoe upon a visit to the Miamis, at Chicago. Perrot was there- fore the first European to set foot upon the soil of Illinois. Still there were others before Marquette. In 1672, the Jesuit mis- sionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin and northern Illinois, visiting the Foxes on Fox River, and the Masquo- tines and Kickapoos at the mouth of the Milwaukee. These missionaries penetrated on the route afterwards followed by Marquette as far as the Kickapoo village at the head of Lake Winnebago, where Marquette, in his journey, secured guides across the portage to the Wisconsin. The oft-repeated story of Marquette and Joliet is well known. They were the agents employed by the Canadian government to discover the Mississippi. Marquette was a native of France, born in 1637, a Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and of great zeal and devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the Indians. Arriving in Canada in 1666, he was sent as a missionary to the far Northwest, and, in 1668, founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. The following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake Superior, where he instructed a branch of the Hurons till 1670, when he removed south, and founded the mission at St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. Here he remained, devoting a portion of his time to the study of the Illinois language under a native teacher who had accompanied him to the mission from La Pointe, till he was joined by Joliet in the Spring of 1673. By the way of Green Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, they entered the Mississippi, which they explored to the mouth of the Arkansas, and returned by the way of the Illinois and Chicago Rivers to Lake Michigan. On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the great village of the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in the county of LaSalle. The following year he returned and established among them the mission of the Imm'aculate Virgin Mary, which was the first Jesuit mission founded in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. The intervening winter he had spent in a hut which his companions erected on the Chicago River, a few leagues from its mouth. The founding of this mission was the last 112 HISTORl OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. act of Marquette's life. He died in Michigan, on his way back to GreeD Bay, May 18, 1675. FIRST FRENCH OCCUPATION. The first French occupation of the territory now embraced in Illi- nois was effected by LaSalle in 1680, seven years after the time of Mar- quette and Joliet. LaSalle, having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin,'* above the falls of Niagara, which he sailed to Green Bay, and having passed thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by which and the Kankakee he reached the Illinois, in January, 1680, erected Fort Crevecoeur^ at the lower end of Peoria Lake, where the city of Peoria is. now situated. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen just below the outlet of Peoria Lake. It was destined, however, to a. temporary existence. From this point, LaSalle determined to descend the Mississippi to its mouth, but did not accomplish this purpose till two years later — in 1682. Returning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of getting materials with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort in charge of Touti, his lieutenant, who during his absence was driven off by the Iro- quois Indians. These savages had made a raid upon the settlement of the Illinois, and had left nothing in their track but ruin and desolation. Mr. Davidson, in his History of Illinois, gives the following graphic account of the picture that met the eyes of LaSalle and his companions on their return : " At the great town of the Illinois they were appalled at the scene which opened to their view. No hunter appeared to break its death-like silence with a salutatory whoop ot welcome. The plain on which the town had stood was now strewn with charred fragments of lodges, which had so recently swarmed with savage life and hilarity. To render more hideous the picture of desolation, large numbers of skulls had been placed on the upper extremities of lodge-poles which had escaped the devouring flames. In the midst of these horrors was the rude fort of the spoilers, rendered frightful by the same ghastly relics. A near approach showed that the graves had been robbed of their bodies, and swarms of buzzards were discovered glutting their loathsome stomachs on the reeking corruption. To complete the work of destruction, the growing corn of the village had been cut down and burned, while the pits containing the products of previous years, had been rifled and their contents scattered with wanton waste. It was evident the suspected blow of the Iroquois had fallen with relentless fury." Tonti had escaped LaSalle knew not whither. Passing down the lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discovered that the fort had been destroyed, but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still I HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 113 on the stocks, and but slightly mjured. After further fruitless search, failing to find Tonti, he fastened to a tree a painting representing himself iind party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the paint- ing attached a letter addressed to Tonti. Tonti had escaped, and, after untold privations, taken shelter among the Pottawattamies near Green Bay. These were friendly to the French. One of their old chiefs used to say, " Th^re were but three great cap- tains in the world, himself, Tonti and LaSalle." GENIUS OF LaSALLE. We must now return to LaSalle, whose exploits stand out in such bold relief. He was born in Rouen, France, in 1643. His father was wealthy, but he renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man in 1666. The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a brother, were then the proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus of which was a seminary or con- vent founded by that order. The Superior granted to LaSalle a large tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his competitors in exploits of travel and commerce with the Indians. In 1669, he visited the headquarters of the great Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the heart of New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio River to the falls at Louisville. In order to understand the genius of LaSalle, it must be remembered that for many years prior to his time the missionaries and traders were obliged to make their way to the Northwest by the Ottawa River (of Canada) on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this latter route to the Upper Lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, pad- dling them through the Ottawa to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the portage to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. This being the route by which they reached the Northwest, accounts for the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neis'hbor- hood of the Upper Lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening the route by Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to have animated him in all his wonderful achievements and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present 114 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. city of Kingston, Canada. Here be obtained a grant of land from the French crown and a body of troops by which he beat back the invading Iroquois and cleared the passage to Niagara Falls. Having by this mas- terly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his next step, as we have seen, was to advance to the Falls with all his outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was success- ful in this undertaking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a strange combination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them and co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of his superior success in opening new channels of commerce. At LaChine he had taken the trade of Lake Ontario, which but for his presence there would have gone to Quebec. While they were plodding with their barK canoes through the Ottawa he was constructing sailing vessels to com- mand the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans excited the jealousy and envy of the small traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of his own companions, and finally led to the foul assassination by Avhich his great achievements were prematurely ended. In 1682, LaSalle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, descended the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico. Erecting a standard on which he inscribed the arms of France, he took formal pos- session of the whole valley of the mighty river, in the name of Louis XIV., then reigning, in honor of whom he named the country Louisiana. LaSalle then went to France, was appointed Governor, and returned with a fleet and immigrants, for the purpose of planting a colony in Illi- nois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to find the mouth of the Mississippi, up which LaSalle intended to sail, his supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed a stockade and rude huts on the shore for the protection of the immigrants, calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico, in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to find his little colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel on foot to Illinois, and, starting with his companions, had reached the valley of the Colorado, near the mouth of Trinity river, when he was shot by one of his men. This occurred on the 19th of March, 1687. Dr. J. W. Foster remarks of him : " Thus fell, not far from the banks of the Trinity, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, one of the grandest charac- ters that ever figured in American history — a man capable of originating the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment capable of carrying them to successful results. Had ample facilities been placed by the King of France at his disposal, the result of the colonization of this continent might have been far different from what we now behold." HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 115 EARLY SETTLEMENTS. • A temporary settlement was made at Fort St. Louis, or the old Kas- kaskia village, on the Illinois River, in what is now LaSalle County, in 1682. In 1690, this was removed, with the mission connected with it, to Kaskaskia, on the river of that name, emptying into the lower Mississippi in St. Clair County. Cahokia was settled about the same time, or at least, both of these settlements began in the year 1690, though it is now pretty well settled that Cahokia is the older place, and ranks as the oldest permanent settlement in Illinuite', as well as in the Mississippi Valley. The reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission, was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michigan and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and traders passed down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin River route. They removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population prob- ably never exceeded ten thousand, including whites and blacks. Within that portion of it now included in Indiana, trading posts were established at the principal Miami villages wliich stood on the head waters of the Maumee, the Wea villages situated at Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and the Piankeshaw villages at Post Vincennes ; all of which were probably visited by French traders and missionaries before the close of the seven- teenth century. In the vast territory ckiimed by the French, many settlements of considerable importance had sprung up. Biloxi, on Mobile Bay, had been founded by D'Iberville, in 1699; Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac had founded Detroit in 1701 ; and New Orleans had been founded by Bien- ville, under the auspices of the Mississippi Company, in 1718. In Illi- nois also, considerable settlements had been made, so that in 1730 they embraced one hundred and forty French families, about six hundred " con- verted Indians," and many traders and voyageurs. In that i3ortion of the country, on the east side of the Mississippi, there were five distinct set- tlements, with their respective villages, viz. : Cahokia, near the mouth of Cahokia Creek and about five miles below the present city of St. Louis ; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia, and four miles above Fort Chartres ; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia ; Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia River, five miles above its conflu- ence with the Mississippi ; and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. To these must be added St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the west side of the Mississippi. These, with the exception of St. Louis, are among 116 HISTORY Of the state of ilijnois. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 117 the oldest French towns in the Mississippi Valley. Kaskaskia, in its best days, was a town of some two or three thousand inhabitants. After it passed from the crown of France its population for many 3'ears did not exceed fifteen hundred. Under British rule, in 1773, the population had decreased to four hundred and fifty. As early as 1721, the Jesuits had established a college and a monastery in Kaskaskia. Fort Chartres was first built under the direction of the Mississippi Company, in 1718, by M. de Boisbraint. a military officer, under command of Bienville. It stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, about eighteen miles below Kaskaskia, and was for some time the headquarters of the military commandants of the district of Illinois. In the CentenniabOration of Dr. Fowler, delivered at Philadelphia, by appointment of Gov. Beveridge, we find some interesting facts with regard to the State of Illinois, which we appropriate in this history: In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown, a depend- ency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 the English flag was run up on old Fort Chartres, and Illinois was counted among the treas- ures of Great Britain. In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George Rogers Clark. This man was resolute in nature, wise in council, prudent in policy, bold in action, and heroic in danger. Few men who have figured in the his- tory of America are more deserving than this colonel. Nothing short of first-class ability could have rescued Vincens and all Illinois from the English. And it is not possible to over-estimate the influence of this achievement upon the republic. In 1779 Illinois became a part of Vir- ginia. It was soon known as Illinois County. In 1784 Virginia ceded all this territory to the general government, to be cut into States, to be republican in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom, and independence as the other States." In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legislation found in any merely human records. No man can study the secret history of THE "COMPACT OF 1787," • and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye these unborn States. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally became the incor- porating act, has a most marvelous history. Jefferson had vainlj^ tried to secure a system of government for the northwestern territory. He was an emancipationist of that day, and favored the exclusion of slaverv from the territory Virginia had ceded to the general government; but the South voted him down as often as it came up. In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti-slaTery clause was pending. This concession to the South was expected to carr}- it. Congress was in 118 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. session in New York City. On July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the northwestern terri- tory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state, of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale — received his A.M. from Harvard, and his D.D. from Yale. He had studied and taken degrees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He had thus America's best indorsement. He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New England. His name stood second only to that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly gentle- man of the old style, a man of commanding presence, and of inviting face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North. He came representing a compan}' that desired to purchase a tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected enough to pur- chase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made Dr. Cutler their agent (lobbyist). On the 12th he represented a demand for 5,500,000 acres. This would reduce the national debt. Jefferson and Virginia were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the public credit, and this was a good opportunity to do something. Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the northwestern region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspira- tion, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The English minister invited him to dine with some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the center of interest. The entire South rallied round him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, because many of the constituents of her members were interested -personally in the western speculation. Thus Cutler, making friends with the South, and, doubtless, using all the arts of the lobby, was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convictions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise states- manship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," which, preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred character. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted three years before. Its most marked points were : 1. The exclusion of slaveiy from the territory forever. 2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 119 and every section numbered 16 in each township ; that is, one-thiriy-sixth of all the land, for public schools. 3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " Rehgion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing— that unless they could make the land desirable they did not want it — he took his horse and buggy, and started for the constitutional convention in Phila- delphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unanimously adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voting against it. But as the States voted as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact was put beyond repeal. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- consin — a vast empire, the heart of the great valley — were consecrated to freedom, intelligence, and honesty. Thus the great heart of the nation was prepared for a year and a day and an hour. In the light of these eighty- nine years I affirm that this act was the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon the South saw their great blunder, and tried to repeal the compact. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock, in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. With all this timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and pro- tracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. It existed among the old French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. The southern part of the State was settled from the slave States, and this population brought their laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, fiUing the country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The North- erner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt and ignorance. These causes aided in making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French settlers to retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might bring their 120 HISTORY OF THE STATE 0¥ ILLINOIS. slaves, if they would give them a chance to choose freedom or years of service and bondage for their children till they should become thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State in sixty days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses for which \Yhite men are fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous laws were imported from the slave States just as they imported laws foi the inspection of flax and wool when there was neither in the State. These Black Laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was made to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1817. It barely failed. It was renewed in 1825, when a convention was asked to make a new constitution. After a hard fight the convention was defeated. But slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850. There were mobs and murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added to the list of martyrs — a sort of first-fruits of that long life of immortal heroes who saw freedom as the one supreme desire of their souls, and were so enamored of her that they preferred to die rather than survive her. The jDopulation of 12,282 that occupied the territory in A.D. 1800, increased to 45,000 in A.D. 1818, when the State Constitution was adoj)ted, and Illinois took her place in the Union, with a star on the flag and two votes in the Senate. Shadrach Bond was the first Governor, and in his first message he recommended the construction of the Illinois and Michis^an Canal. The simple economy in those days is seen in the fact that the entire bill for stationery for the first Legislature was only $13.50. Yet this simple body actually enacted a very superior code. There was no money in the territory before the war of 1812. Deer skins and coon skins were the circulating medium. In 1821' the Legis- lature ordained a State Bank on the credit of the State. It issued notes in the likeness of bank bills. These notes were made a legal tender for every thing, and the bank was ordered to loan to the people $100 on per- sonal security, and more on mortgages. They actually passed a resolu- tion requesting tli£ Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to receive these notes for land. The old French Lieutenant Governor, Col. Menard, put the resolution as follows: " Gentlemen of the Senate : It is moved and seconded dat de notes of dis bank be made land-office money. All in favor of dat motion say aye ; all against it sa}^ no. It is decided in de affirmative. Now% gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollar he never be land-office money ! " Hard sense, like hard money, is always above par. This old Frenchman presents a fine figure up against the dark back- ground of most of his nation. They made no progress. They clung to their earliest and simplest implements. They never wore hats or cap? HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 121 They pulled their blankets over their heads in the winter like the Indians, with whom they freely intermingled. Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar (only in name), elected to the Territorial and State Legislatures of 1816 and 1836, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, " If it succeeds, no one will ask Avho voted against it. If it proves a failure, he could quote its record." In sharp contrast with Grammar was the char- acter of D. P. Cook, after whom the county containing Chicago was named. Such was his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man, and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson, Clay, Crawford, and John Quincy Adams. There being no choice by the people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so balanced that it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, electing him ; then went home to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois. It cost him all but character and greatness. It is a suggestive comment on the times, that there was no legal interest till 1830. It often reached 150 per cent., usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, and now to 10 per cent. PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PRAIRIE STATE. In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude from Maine to North Carolina. It embraces wide variety of climate. It is tempered on the north by the great inland, saltless, tideless sea, which keeps the thermometer from either extreme. Being a table land, from 600 to 1,600 feet above the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the health maps, prepared by the general government, an almost clean and perfect record. In freedom from feve"r and malarial diseases and consumptions, the three deadly enemies of the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State, stands without a superior. She furnishes one of the essential conditions of a great people — sound bodies. I suspect that this fact lies back of that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men. The great battles of history that have been determinative of dynas- ties and destinies have b.een strategical battles, chiefly the question of position. Thermopylae has been the war-cry of freemen for twenty -four centuries. It only tells how much there may be in position. All this advantage belongs to Illinois. It is in the heart of the greatest valley in the world, the vast region between the mountains- — a valley that could 122 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. feed mankind for one thousand years. It is well on toward the center of the continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have been found nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history. It has sixty-five miles of froiitage on the head of the lake. With the Mississippi forming the western and southern boundary, with the Ohio running along the southeastern line, with the Illinois River and Canal dividing the State diagonally from the lake to the Lower Mississippi, and with the Rock and Wabash Rivers furnishing altogether 2,000 miles of water-front, con- necting with, and running through, in all about 12,000 miles of navi- gable water. But this is not all. These waters are made most available by the fact that the lake and the State lie on the ridge running into the great valley from the east. Within cannon-shot of the lake the water runs away from the lake to the Gulf. The lake now empties at both ends, one into the Atlantic and one into the Gulf of Mexico. The lake thus seems to hang over the land. This makes the dockage most serviceable ; there are no steep banks to damage it. Both lake and river are made for use. The climate varies from Portland to Richmond ; it favors every pro- duct of the continent, including the tropics, with less than half a dozen exceptions. It produces every great nutriment of the world except ban- anas and rice. It is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive spot known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full of minerals ; with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel ; with perfect natural drainage, and abundant springs and streams and navigable rivers ; half way between the forests of the North and the fruits of the South ; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, cop- per, lead, and zinc ; containing and controlling the great grain, cattle, pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is not strange that Illinois has the advantage of position. This advantage has been supplemented by the character of the popu- lation. In the early days when Illinois was first admitted to the Union, her population were chiefly from Kentucky and Virginia. But, in the conflict of ideas concerning slavery, a strong tide of emigration came in from the East, and soon changed this composition. In 1870 her non- native population were from colder soils. New York furnished 133,290; Ohio gave 102,623; Pennsylvania sent on 98,352; the entire South gave us only 206,734. In all her cities, and in all her German and Scandina- vian and other foreign colonies, Illinois has only about one-fifth of her people of foreign birth. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 123 PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT. One of the greatest elements in the early development of Illinois is the I'llinois and Michigan Canal, connecting the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers with the lakes. It was of the utmost importance to the State. It was recommended by Gov. Bond, the first governor, in his first message. In 1821, the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. Two bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost at $600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In 1825, a law was passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of Cook, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828, another law — commissioners appointed, and work commenced with new survey and new estimates. In 1834—35, George Farquhar made an able report on the whole matter. This was, doubtless, the ablest report ever made to a western legislature, and it became the model for subsequent reports and action. From this the work went on till it was finished in 1848. It cost the State a large amount of money ; but it gave to the industries of the State an impetus that pushed it up into the first rank of greatness. It was not built as a speculation any more than a doctor is employed on a speculation. But it has paid into the Treasary of the State an average annual net sum of over $111,000. ' Pending the construction of the canal, the land and town-lot fever broke out in the State, in 1834-35. It took on the malignant type in Chicago, lifting the town up into a city. The disease spread over the entire State and adjoining States, It was epidemic. It cut up men's farms without regard to locality, and Jut up the purses of the purchasers • without regard to consequences. It is estimated that building lots enough were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the United States. Towns and cities were exported to the Eastern market by the ship- load. There was no lack of buyers. Ever/ up-ship came freighted with speculators and their money. This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 1836-37, and left not one to tell the tale. They enacted a system of internal improvement without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the construction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all direc- tions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or river or canal, and those were to be comforted and compensated by the free dis- tribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond cre- dence it was ordered that work should be commenced on both ejids of 124 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the same time. The api^ropriations for these vast improvements were over !|12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow the money on the credit of the State. Remember that all this was in the early days of railroading, when railroads were luxuries ; that the State had whole counties with scarcely a cabin ; and that the population of the State was less than 400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with which these brave men undertook the work of making a great State. In the light of history I am compelled to say that this was only a premature throb of the power that actually slumbered in the soil of the State. It was Hercules in the cradle. At this juncture the State Bank loaned its funds largely to Godfrey Gilman & Co., and to other leading houses, for the purpose of drawing trade from St. Louis to Alton. Soon they failed, and took down the bank with them. In 1840, all hope seemed gone. A population of 480,000 were loaded with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities, really only towns, namely : Chicago, Alton, Springfield, Quincy, Galena, Nauvoo. This debt was to be cared for when there was not a dollar in the treas- ury, and when the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when there was not good money enough in the hands of all the people to pay the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet, in the presence of all these difficulties, the young State steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. Ford took hold of the problem and solved it, bringing the State through in triumph. Having touched lightly upon some of the more distinctive points in the history of the development of Illinois, let us next briefly consider the MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. It is a garden four hundred miles long and one hundred and fifty miles wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy loam, from six inches to sixty feet thick. On the American bottoms it has been cultivated for one hundred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without rest or help. It produces nearly everything green in the temperate and tropical zones. She leads all other States in the number of acres actually under plow. Her products from 25,000,000 of acres are incalculable. Her mineral wealth is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone, fire clay, cuma clay, common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint — every thing needed for a high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elements of all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an appreciative HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 125 handling in figures. We can handle it in general terms like algebraical signs, but long before we get up into the millions and billions the human mind drops down from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension. When I tell you that nearly four-fifths of the entire State is under- laid with a deposit of coal more than forty feet thick on the average (now estimated, by recent surveys, at seventy feet thick), you can get some idea of its amount, as you do of the amount of the national debt. There it is ! 41,000 square miles — one vast mine into which you could put any of the States ; in which you could bury scores of European and ancient empires, and have room enough all round to work without know- ing that they had been sepulchered there. Put this vast coal-bed down by the other great coal deposits of the world, and its importance becomes manifest. Great Britain has 12,000 square miles of coal; Spain, 3,000; France, 1,719 ; Belgium, 578 ; Ilhnois about twice as many square miles as all combined. Virginia has 20,000 square miles ;• Pennsylvania, 16,000; Ohio, 12,000. Illinois has 41,000 square miles. One-seventh of all the known coal on this continent is in Illinois. Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh of one cent a ton it would pay the national debt. Converted into power, even with the wastage in our common engines, it would do more work than could be done by the entire race, beginning at Adam's wedding and working ten hours a day through all the centuries till the present time, and right on into the future at the same rate for the next 600,000 years. Great Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give to each man, woman, and child in the kingdom the help and service of nineteen untirino- servants. No wonder she has leisure and luxuries. No wonder the home of the common artisan has in it more luxuries than could be found in the palace of good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive of it, of the vast army of servants that slumber in the soil of Illinois, impatiently awaiting the call of Genius to come forth to minister to our comfort. At the present rate of consumption England's coal supply will be exhausted in 250 years. When this is gone she must transfer her dominion either to the Indies, or to British America, which I would not resist ; or to some other people, which I would regret as a loss to civilization. COAL IS KING. At the same rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) the deposit of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. And her kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom. Let us turn now from this reserve power to the annual products of 126 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. the State. We shall not be humiliated in this field. Here we strike the secret of our national credit. Nature provides a market in the constant appetite of the race. Men must eat, and if we can furnish the provisions we can command the treasure. All that a man hath will he give for his life. According to the last census Illinois produced 30,000,000 of bushels of wheat. That is more wheat than was rai§ed by any other State in the Union. She raised In 1875, 130,000,000 of bushels of corn — twice as much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United States. She harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one-tenth of all the hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, but it is true, that the hay crop of the country is worth more than the cotton crop. The hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana. Go to Charleston, S. C, and see them peddling handfuls of hay or grass, almost as a curiosity, as we regard Chinese gods or the cryolite of Greenland ; drink your coffee and condensed milk ; and walk back from the coast for many a league through the sand and burs till you get up into the better atmos- phere of the mountains, without seeing a waving meadow or a grazing herd ; then you will begin to appreciate the meadows of the Prairie State, where the grass often grows sixteen feet high. The value of her farm implements is $211,000,000, and the value of her live stock is only second to the great State of New York. in 1875 she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,815, about one-half of all that were packed in the United States. This is no insignificant item. Pork is a growing demand of the old world. Since the laborers of Europe have gotten a taste of our bacon, and we have learned how to pack it dry in boxes, like dry goods, the world has become the market. The hog is on the march into the future. His nose is ordained to uncover the secrets of dominion, and his feet shall be guided by the star of empire. Illinois marketed $57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals — more than any other State, and a seventh of all the States. Be patient with me, and pardon my pride, and I will give you a list of some of the things in which Illinois excels all other States. Depth and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ; acres of improved land ; large farms — some farms contain from 40,000 to 60,000 acres of cultivated land, 40,000 acres of corn on a single farm ; number of farmers ; amount of wheat, corn, oats and honey produced ; value of ani- mals for slaughter ; number of hogs ; amount of pork ; number of horses — three times as many as Kentucky, the horse State. Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles of postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the amount of lumber sold in her markets. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 127 Illinois is only second in many important matters. This sample list comprises a few of the more important : Permanent school fund (good for a young state) ; total income for educational purposes ; number of pub- lishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value of farm products and imple- ments, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined. The shipping of Illinois is only second to New York. Out of one port during the business hours of the season of navigation she sends forth a vessel every ten minutes. This does not include canal boats, which go one every five minutes. No wonder she is only second in number of bankers and brokers or in physicians and surgeons. She is third in colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead, hay, flax, sorghum and beeswax. She is fourth in population, ^'n children enrolled in public schools, in law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theological eeminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is the twelfth in area. Surely that is well done for the Prairie State. She now has much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years ago. A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactures $205,000,000 worth of goods, which places her well up toward New York and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing establishments increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent.; capital employed increased 350 per cent., and the amount of product increased 100 per cent. She issued 5.500,000 copies of commercial and financial newspapers— only second to New York. She has 6,759 miles of railroad, thus leading all other States, worth $636,458,000, using 3,215 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train long enough to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her stations are only five miles apart. She carried last year 15,795,000 passen- gers, an average of 36|- miles, or equal to taking her entire population twice across the State. More than two-thirds of her land is within five miles of a railroad, and less than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away. The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central railroad. The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State gave each alternate sec- tion for six miles on each side, and doubled the price of the remaining land, so keeping herself good. The road received 2,595,000 acres of land, and pays to the State one-seventh of the gross receipts. The State ■ receives this year $350,000, and has received in all about $7,000,000. It is practically the people's road, and it has a most able and gentlemanly management. Add to this the annual receipts from the canal, $111,000, and a large per cent, of the State tax is provided for. 128 . HISTORY OF THE STATE 01^' ILLINOiS. THE RELIGION AND MORALS of the State keep step with her productions and growth. She was born of the missionary spirit. It was a minister who secured for her tlie ordi- nance of 1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance, and dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congregation in Randolph County, petitioned the Constitutional Convention of 1818 to recognize Jesus Christ as king, and the Scriptures as the only necessary guide and book of law. The convention did not act in the case, and the old Cove- nanters refused to accept citizenship. They never voted until 1824, when the slavery question was submitted to the people ; then they all voted against it and cast the determining votes. Conscience has predominated whenever a great moral question has been submitted to the people. But little mob violence has ever been felt in the State. In 1817 regulators disposed of a band of horse-thieves that infested the territory. The Mormon indignities finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also the scene of a pro-slavery mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law supreme, and gives to tlie State unruffled peace. With $22,300,000 in church property, and 4,298 church organizations, the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of moral ideas, that alone is able to secure perfect safety. Conscience takes the knife from the assassin's hand and the bludgeon from the grasp of the highwayman. We sleep in safety, not because we are behind bolts and bars — these only fence against the innocent ; not because a lone officer drowses oaa distant corner of a street; not because a sheriff may call his posse from a remote part of the county ; but because conscience guards the very portals of the air and stirs in the deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues within the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and receives still more from without. Thus the crime of the State is only one-fourth that of New York and one-half that of Pennsylvania. Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. In Belle- ville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett arranged to vindi- cate injured honor. The seconds agreed to make it a sham, and make them shoot blanks. Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted some- thing, and, unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed Stewart. He then fled the State. After two years he was caught, tried, convicted, and, in spite of friends and political aid, was hung. This fixed the code of honor on a Christian basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. The early preachers were ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent according to the strength of their voices. But they set the style for all public speakers. Lawyers and political speakers followed this rule. Gov. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLmOIS. l"^9 Ford says: "Nevertheless, these first preachers were of incalculable benefit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality. To them are we indebted for the first Christian character of the Protestant portion of the people." In education Illinois surpasses her material resources. The ordinance of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to common schools, and the law of 1818, the first law that went upon her statutes, gave three per cent, of all the rest to EDUCATION. The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its yoking morality and intelligence it precludes the legal interference with the Bible in the public schools. With such a start it is natural that we should have 11,050 schools, and that our illiteracy should be less than New York or Pennsylvania, and only about one-half of Massachusetts. We are not to blame for not having more than one-half as many idiots as the great States. These public schools soon made colleges inevitable. The first college, still flourishing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by the M. E. church, and named after Bishop McKendree. Illinois College, at Jackson- ville, supported by the Presbyterians, followed in 1830. In 1832 the Bap- tists built Shurtleff College, at Alton. Then the Presbyterians built Knox College, at Galesburg, in 1838, and the Episcopalians built Jubilee College, at Peoria, in 1847. After these early years colleges have rained down. A settler could hardly encamp on the prairie but a college would spring up by his wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and equipped university, namely, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, with six colleges, ninety instructors, over 1,000 students, and $1,500,000 endow- ment. Rev. J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister m tne State. He settled at Rock Spring, in St. Clair County, 1820, and left his impress on the State. Before 1837 only party papers were published, but Mr. Peck published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, of Bluffdale, published essays and tales showing genius. Judge James Hall published The Illinois Monthly Magazine with great ability, and an annual called The Western Souvenir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the United States. From these beginnings Illinois has gone on till she has more volumes in public libaaries even than Massachusetts, and of the 44,500,000 volumes in all the public libraries of the United States, she has one-thirteenth. In newspapers she stands fourth. Her increase is marvelous. In 1850 she issued 5,000,000 copies ; in 1860, 27,590,000 ; in 1870, 113,140,000. In 1860 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries ; in 1870 she had eighty. That is a grand advance for the war decade. This brings us to a record unsurpassed in the history of any age, 180 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. THE WAR RECORD OF ILLINOIS. I hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or what to say. 1 can at best give you only a broken synopsis of her deeds, and you must put them in the order of glory for yourself. Her sons have always been foremost on fields of danger. In 1832-33, at the call of Gov. Reynolds, her sons drove Blackhawk over the Mississippi. When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men offered them- selves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The fields of Buena Vista and Vera Cruz, and the storming of Cerro Gordo, will carry the glory of Illinois soldiers along after the infamy of the cause they served has l^een forgotten. But it was reserved till our day for her sons to find a field and cause and foemen that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. Illinois put into her own regiments for the United States government 256,000 men, and into the army through other States enough to swell the number to 290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in all the war of the revolution. Her total years of service were over 600,000. She enrolled men from eighteen to forty -five years of age when the law of Congress in 1864 — the test time — only asked for those from twenty to forty-five. Her enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. Thus the basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then the quota itself, at least in the trying time, was far above any other State. Thus the demand on some counties, as Monroe, for example, took every able-bodied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred days, for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's attention was called to the inequality of the quota compared with other States, he replied, " The country needs the sacrifice. We must put the whip on the free horse." In spite of all these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 73,000 years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenth of the popu- lation of the loyal States, she sent regularly one-tenth of all the soldiers, and in the peril of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary, she then sent one-eighth of all that were called for by her loved and hon- ored son in the white house. Her mothers and daughters went into the fields to raise the grain and keep the children together, while the fathers and older sons went to the harvest fields of the world. I knew a father and four sons who agreed that one of them must stay at home ; and they pulled straws from a stack to see who might go. The father was left. The next day he came into the camp, saying : " Mother says she can get the crops in, and I am going, too." I know large Methodist churches from which every male member went to the army. Do you want to know HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 1'61 what these heroes from Illinois did in the field ? Ask any soldier with a good record of his own, who is thus able to judge, and he will tell you that the Illinois men went in to win. It is common history that the greater victories were won in the West. When everything else looked dark Illi- nois was gaining victories all down the river, a'nd dividing the confederacy. Sherman took with him on his great march forty-five regiments of Illinois infantry, three companies of artillery, and one company of cavalry. He could not avoid GOING TO THE SEA. If he had been killed, I doubt not the men would have gone right on. Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible ; there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 300 battle-flags. The first United States flag that floated over Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to every field and hospital, to care for her sick and wounded sons. She said, '• These suffering ones are my sons, and I will care for them." When individuals had given all, then cities and towns came forward with their credit to the extent of many millions, to aid these men and their families. Illinois gave the country the great general of the war — Ulysses S. Grant — since honored with two terms of the Presidency of the United States. One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all hearts, that must have the supreme place in this story of our glory and of our nation's honor ; that name is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its symmetry. In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty. And well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length and breadth of our country who knew him only as " Honest Old Abe," voted for him on that account ; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could have carried us through the fearful night of the war. When his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause too sublime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us ; when not one ray shone upon our cause ; when traitors were haughty and exultant at the South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North ; when the loyal men here "seemed almost in the minority ; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest cheek paled ; when generals were defeating each other for place, and contractors were leeching out the very heart's blood of the prostrate republic : when every thing else had failed us, we looked at this calm, patient man standing like a rock in the storm, and said : " Mr. l^incoln 132 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. is honest, and we can trust him still.'" Holding to this single point with the energy of faith and despair we held together, and, under God, he brought us through to victory. His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic. He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory shall shed a glory upon this age that shall fill the eyes of men as they look into his- tory. Other men have excelled him in some point, but, taken at all points, all in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of 6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the perils of unparalleled civil war. A statesman, he justified his measures by their success. A philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to another. A moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he exercised mercy under the most absolute abeyance to law. A leader, he was -no partisan. A commander, he was untainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, he was unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of passion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no purpose of selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model, and without a peer, he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming time the representative of the divine idea of free government. It is not too much to say that away down in the future, when the republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time ; when the great war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the horizon ; when the Anglo-Saxon language shall be spoken only by the tongue of the stranger ; then the generations looking this way shall see the great president as the supreme figure in this vortex of historv CHICAGO. It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the Prairie State. This mysterious, majestic, mighty city, born first of water, and next of fire ; sown in weakness, and raised in power ; planted among the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains ; sleeping on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea , the youngest city of the world, and still the eye of the prairie, as Damas- cus, the oldest .city of the world, is the eye of the desert. With a com- merce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to the East ; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thou- sand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the Tiber ; HIiSTORY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 188 CO CO CO o a '■J 134 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens : with liberties more con- spicuous than those of the old republics ; with a heroism equal to the first Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem — set your thoughts on all this, hfted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of its growth, illuminated by the flame of its fall, and transfigured by the divinity of its resurrection, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossi- bility of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her importance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized world. When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all lands. There was scarcely a town in the civilized world that did not shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes red- dened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. All eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suffered amid the scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylae, or Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill. Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common property of mankind. The early history of the city is full of interest, just as the early his- tory of such a man as Washington or Lincoln becomes public property, and is cherished by every patriot. Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it embraced and occupied 23,000 acres in 1869, and, having now a population of more than 500,000, it com- mands general attention. The first settler — Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the West Indies — came and began trade with the Indians in 1796. John Kinzie became his successor in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was erected. A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time of the Blackhawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the set- tlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve voting for it and one against it. Four years later it*was incorporated as a city, and embraced 560 acres. The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first exportation by way of experiment was in 1889. Exports exceeded imports first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the wagon-load in the street. I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 135 line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of business had to cease with the day of small things. Now out elevators will hold 15,000,000 bushels of grain. The cash value of the produce handled in a year is $215,000,000, and the produce weighs 7,000,000 tons or 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and a half ton each minute, all the year round. One tenth of all the wheat in the United States is handled in Chicago. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in 1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain markets in Europe. The manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In 1873 manufactories employed 45,000 operatives ; in 1876, 60,000. The manufactured product in 1875 was worth 8177,000,000. No estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Before they came thundering along our streets canals were the hope of our country. But who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets ? In June, 1852, there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The old Galena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elgin. But now, who can count the trains and measure the roads that seek a terminus or connection in this city ? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering in to this center all the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads, you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world, as New York is the commercial city of this continent ; and, second, that the railroad lines form the iron spokes of a great wheel whose hub is this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections. Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior regions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left, swinging around Green Bay for iron and copper and silver, twelve months in the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural belt and isothermal line traversed by the Northern Pacific. Another branch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State. Another pushing lower down the Mississippi — all these make many con- nections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of 136 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. OLD PORT DEARBORN, 1830. PRESENT SITE OF LAKE STREET BRIDGE, CHICAGO, IN 1833. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 137 branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River. I can only mention the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, our Illinois Central, described elsewhere, and the Chicago & Rock Island. Further around we come to the lines connecting us with all the eastern cities. The Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Cen- tral and Great Western, give us many highwa3^s to the seaboard. Thus we reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gulf itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pitts- burgh and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that stretch from ocean to ocean. This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce must pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their Avealth in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural order of events, they will not be easily diverted. There is still another showing to all this. The connection between New York and San Francisco is by the middle route. This passes inevit- ably through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne. But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav- ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota, Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chi- cago. But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city. Their names are all that is necessary to give. Chicago & St. Paul, look- ing up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago, Atlantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State Line ; the Baltimore & Ohio; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes; the Chicago & LaSalle Rail- road ; the Chicago, Pittsburgh & Cincinnati ; the Chicago and' Canada Southern ; the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad. These, with their connections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not less than $1,000,000,000. 138 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine minutes of the business hours of the season of navigation ; add, also, the canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time — and you will see something of the business of the city. THE COMMERCE OF THIS CITY has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum of 820,000,000. In 1870 it reached 1400,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed up above 1450,000,000. And in 1875 it touched nearly double that. One-half of our imported goods come directly to Chicago. Grain enough is exported directly from our docks to the old world to employ a semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean vessels will continue to control the trade. The banking capital of Chicago is $24,431,000. Total exchange in 1875, $659,000,000. Her wholesale business in 1875 was $294,000,000. The rate of taxes is less than in any other great city. The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a popu- lation of 300,000 there were only 186 persons between the ages of six and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record. In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers and news he could find. As late as 1846 there was often only one mail a week. A post-ofi&ce was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post- master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shop to serve as boxes for the nabobs and literary men. It is an interesting fact in the growth of the young city that in the active life of the business men of that day the mail matter has grown to a daily average of over 6,500 pounds. It speaks equally well for the intelligence of the people and the commercial importance of the place, that the mail matter distributed to the territory immediately tributary to Chicago is seven times greater than that distributed to the territory immediately tributary to St. Louis. The improvements that have characterized the city are as startling as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the river, and put himself under bonds to carry all the citizens free for the privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridges and two tunnels. In 1833 the government expended $30,000 on the harbor. Then commenced that series of manoeuvers with the river that has made it one HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 15^ of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the lower end of the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the foot of Madison street. They took it up and put it down where it now is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts had to go up through the willows and cat's tails to the point near Lake street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough in which to turn around. In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank roads, which acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you out of the mud, they compromised by squirting the mud over you. The wooden-block pavements came to Chicago in 1857. In 1840 water was delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five horse- power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Chris- tian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them to their work in 1859. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm telegraph adopted in 1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The city grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834, the taxes amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed $60 more for opening and improving streets. In 1835, the legislature authorized a loan of $2,000, and the treasurer and street commissioners resigned rather than plunge the town into such a gulf. Now the city embraces 36 square miles of territory, and has 30 miles of water front, besides the outside harbor of refuge, of 400 acres, inclosed by a crib sea-wall. One-third of the city has been raised up an average of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The closest analy- sis fails to detect any impurities, and, received 35 feet below the surface, it is always clear and cold. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per dav. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles lonsf, running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gal- lons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water- mains. The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, without interrupting the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the old abominations, and making decency possible. They redound about 140 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and to the healtli of the city. That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul, the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been touched. In meeting strangei's, one is often surprised how some homely women marry so well. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awk- ward, their complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatch- ed, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire them. But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new pro- portions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power. They have ability to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city. There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, a power, that soon makes it a place never to be forsaken. One soon ceases to believe in impossibilities. Balaams are the only prophets that are disappointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all tke capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation. The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are, first, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities. They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both these laws help Chicago. The tide of trade is eastward — not up or down the map, but across the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 500 miles to gather in the business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year, and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the great region west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rocky dis- tricts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati, instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room, — farther off than Paris is from London, — and yet they are near enough to prevent the springing up of any other great city between them. St. Louis will be helped by the opening of the Mississippi, but also hurt. That will put New Orleans on her feet, and with a railroad running over into Texas and so West, she will tap the streams that now crawl up the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a sea- port at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis. Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one- HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 141 fourth of the territory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah, or some other great port to be created for the South in the next decade. But Chicago has a dozen empires casting their treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery of the world for 500 centuries ; in a garden that can feed the race by the thousand years; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a summer resort equaled by no great city in the land ; with a climate that insures the health of her citizens ; surrounded by all the great deposits of natural wealth in mines aud forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder of to-day, and will be the city of the future. MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN. During the war of 1812, Fort Dearborn became the theater of stirring <3vents. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs. Kinzie) and Ensign Ronan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only resi- dents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieu- tenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyageurs, with their wives and children. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawattamies and Winnebagos, the principal tribes around' them, but they could not win them from their attachment to the British. One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into the house, pale with terror, and exclaiming : " The Indians ! the Indians!" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. "Up at Lee's, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined) living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river and took refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day old were safely conveyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagos, who hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed. On the 7th of' August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United States property to the Indians in the neighborhood — a most insane order. The Pottawattamie chief, who brought the dispatch, had more wisdom than the commanding general. He advised Captain Heald not to make the distribution. Said he : " Leave the fort and stores as they are, and let the Indians make distribution for themselves ; and while they are engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne." hmi:'''^'^- o IS n a g tti HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 143 Captain Heald held a council with the Indians on the afternoon ot the 12th, in which his officers refused to join, for they had been informed that treachery was designed — that the Indians intended to murder the white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displaying a cannon pointing directly upon the council, and by that means saved his life. Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well» begged Captain Heald not to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arras and munitions among them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites. Actino- upon this advice, Heald resolved to withhold the munitions of war ; and on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors were thrown into the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed. Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald, and said : " Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day : be careful on the march you are going to take." On that dark night vigilant Indians had crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty o-oino- on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud com- plaints and threats. On the following day when preparations were making to leave the fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impend- ing danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon the Indian trail among the sand-hills on the borders of the lake, not far distant, with a band of mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief, having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior, Little Turtle. When news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late. Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the morning of the 15th. It was a warm bright morning in the middle of August. Indications were positive that the savages intended to murder the white people ; and when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occa- sion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Capt. Heald, with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event or his death. 144 HISTOIiY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOifa. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 1-io The procession moved slowly along the lake shore till they reached the sand-hills between the prairie and the beach, when the Pottawattamie escort, under the leadership of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those hills between them and the white people. Wells, with his Miamis, had kept in the advance. They suddenly came rushing back, Wells exclaim- ing, " They are about to attack us ; form instantly." These words were quickly followed by a storm of bullets, which came whistling over the little hills which the treacherous savages had made the covert for their murderous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged between fifty- four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors. The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest coolness and courage. He said to her, " We have not the slightest chance for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you." And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and tomahawk them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your o-ame, butchering women and children, I will kill too." He spurred his horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent bullets whistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and reserve him for torture. He resolved not to be made a captive, and by the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a squaw, when the enraged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel with savage delight ! In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald was an excellent equestrian and an expert in the use of the rifle. She fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though faint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language, '* Surely you will not kill a squaw ! " The arm of the savage fell, and the life of the heroic woman was saved. Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with a stout Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing blow oh her shoulder, and at the same instant 146 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. seized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling she was dragged from her antagonist by anothei powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margin of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by him so that she would not drown, and she soon perceived that she was in the hands of the friendly Black Partridge, who had saved her life. The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and powerful woman, behaved as bravely as an Amazon. She rode a fine, high-spirited horse, which the Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their guns, for the purpose of dismounting her ; but she used the sword which she had snatched from her disabled husband so skillfully that she foiled them ; and, suddenly wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie, followed by the savages shouting, " The brave woman ! the brave woman ! Don't hurt her ! " They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting them in front, a powerful savage came up behind her, seized her by the neck and dragged her to the ground. Horse and woman were made captives. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but was afterwards ransomed. In this sharp conflict two-thirds of the white people were slain and wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians rendered furious by the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the prairie near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness on the part of the whites to renew the fight ; and so Capt. Heald went for- ward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of surrender were soon agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become prisoners of war, to be exchanged for ransoms as soon as practicable. With this understanding captives and captors started for the Indian camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and suffering b}^ Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned that her husband was safe. A new scene of horror was now opened at the Indian camp. The wounded, not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was inter- preted by the Indians, and the British general, Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the wounded men were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was afterwards paid by the British government. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 149 SHABBONA. [This was engraved from a daguerreotype, taken when Shabbona was 83 years old.] This celebrated Indian chief, whose portrait appears in this work, deserves more than a passing notice. Although Shabbona was not so conspicuous as Tecuraseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either of them. Shabbona was born at an Indian village on the Kankakee River, now in Will County, about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the band, and went to Shabbona Grove, now DeKalb County, where they were found in the early settlement of the county. In the war of 1812, Shabbona, with his warriors, joined Tecumseh, was 150 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. aid to that great chief, and stood hy liis side when he fell at the battle of the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost every village among the Pottawatomies, and by his persuasive arguments prevented them from taking part in the Avar. Hy request of the citizens of Chicago, Shabbona, accompanied bj Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the whites. Here Shabbona was taken prisoner by Big Foot, and his life threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time the Indians (through reproach) styled him " the white man's friend," and many times his life was endangered. Before the Black Hawk war, Shabbona met in council at two differ- ent times, and by his influence j^jrevented his people from taking part with the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine, no chief among the Pottawatomies exerted so much influence as Shabbona. Black Hawk, aware of this influence, visited him at two different times, in order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk was a prisoner at Jefferson Barracks, he said, had it not been for Shabbona the whole Pottawatomie nation would have joined his standard, and he could have continued the war for years. To Shabbona many of the early settlers of Illinois owe the pres- ervation of their lives, for it is a well-known fact, had he not notified the people of their danger, a large portion of them would have fallen victims to the tomahawk of savages. B}^ saving the lives of whites he endangered his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast. Shabbona had a reservation of two sections of land at his Grove, but by leaving it and going west for a short time, the Government declared the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. On Shabbona's return, and finding his possessions gone, he was very sad and broken down in spirit, and left the Grove for ever. The citizens of Ottawa raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois River, above Seneca, in Grundy County, on which they built a house, and supplied him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred on the 17th of July, 1859, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was buried with great pomp in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw, Pokanoka, was drowned in Mazen Creek, Grundy County, on the 30th of November, 1864, and was buried by his side. In 1861 subscriptions were taken up in many of the river towns, to erect a monument over the remains of Shabbona, but the war breaking out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the resting-place of this friend of the white man. Abstract of Illinois State Laws. BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES. No promissory note, check, draft, hill of exchange, order, or note, nego- tiahle instrument payable at sight, or on demand, or on presentment, shall be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of exchange, drafts or notes are .entitled to three days of grace. All the above mentioned paper falling due on Sunday, New Years' Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed as due on the day previous, and should two or more of these days come together, then such instrument shall be treated as due on the didij i^revious to the first of said days. No defense can be made against a negotiable instrument (^assigned before due} in the hands of .the assignee without notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, due diligence must be used by suit, in collecting of the maker, unless suit would have been unavailing. Notes payable to person 7iamed or to order, in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment unless otherwise expressed. In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month shall be considered a calendar ynonth or twelfth of a year, and for less than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes only bear interest when so expressed, but after due they draw the legal interest, even if not stated. INTEREST. The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in writ- ing on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater than ten per cent, is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of the whole of said interest, and only the principal can be recovered. , DESCENT. When no will is made, the property of a deceased person is distrib- uted as follows : 152 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. First. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts ; the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of their deceased parents in equal parts among them. Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers and sisters of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts, the surviving J parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion ; and if there is no parent living, then to' the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their descendants. Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the real estate and the whole of the personal estate shall descend to such widow or surviving husband, absolutely, and the other half of the real estate shall descend as in other cases where there is no child or children or descendants of the same. Fourth. When there is a widow or surviving husband and also a child or children, or descendants of the latter, then one third of all the personal estate to the widow or surviving husband absolutely. Fifth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, then in equal parts to the next of kin to the intestate in equal degree. Collaterals shall not be represented except with the descendants of brothers and sisters of the intestate, and there shall be no distinction between kindred of the whole and the half blood. Sixth. If any intestate leaves a ividoiv or surviving husband and 7io kindred, then to such ividoiv or surviving husband ; and if there is no such widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and vest in the county where the same, or the greater portion thereof, is situated. WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS. No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and eYery female of the age of eighteen years, of sound 7nind and memory, can make a valid will ; it must be in writing, signed by the testator or by some one in his or her presence and by his or her direction, and attested by two or more credible ivitnesse's. Care should be taken that the loitnesses are not inter- ested in the will. Persons knowing themselves to have been named in the will or appointed executor, must within thirty days of the death of deceased cause the will to be proved and recorded in the proper county, or present it, and refuse to accept ; on failure to do so are liable to forfeit the sum of twenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made by executor or administrator within three months from date of letters testamentary or ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 153 of administration. Executors' and administrators' compensation not to exceed six per cent, on amount of personal estate, and three per cent, on money realized from real estate, with such additional allowance as shall be reasonable for extra services. Appraisers compensation $2 pei day. Notice requiring all claims to be presented against the estate shall b^^ given by the executor or administrator within six months of being quali- fied. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the time fixed by said notice is required to have summons issued notifying the executor or administrator of his having filed his claim in court ; in such cases the costs have to be paid by the claimant. Claims should be filed within two gears from the time administration is granted on an estate, as after that time they 2iVQ forever barred, unless other estate is found that was not in- ventoried. Married women, infants, persons insane, imprisoned or without the United States, in the employment of the United States, or of this State, have two years after their disabilities are removed to file claims. Olaims are classified and j^cii-d out of the estate in the following manner : First. Funeral expenses. Second. The widow's aivard, if there is a widow ; or children if there are children, and no widotv. Third. Expenses attending the last illness, not including physician's bill. Fourth. Debts due the common school or township fund . Fifth. All expenses of proving the ivill and taking out letters testa- mentary or administration, and settlement of the estate, and the physi- cian's bill in the last illness of deceased. Sixth. Where the deceased has received money in trust for any pur- pose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate the amount received and not accounted for. Seventh. All other debts and demands of whatsoever kind, without regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court within two years from the granting of letters. Award to Widow and Children, exclusive of debts and legacies or be- quests, except funeral expenses : First. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and ornaments of herself and minor children. Second. School books and the family library of the value of $100. Third. One sewing machine. Fourth. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and family. Fifth. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary cooking utensils, or in case they have none, $50 in money. Sixth. Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $100. Seventh. One milch cow and calf for every four members of her family. 154 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Eighth. Two sheep for each member of her family, and the fleeces taken from the same, and one horse^ saddle and bridle. Niiith. Provisions for herself and family for one year. Tenth. Food for the stock above specified for six months. Eleventh. Fuel for herself and family for three months. Twelfth. One hundred dollars ivorth of other property suited to her condition in life, to be selected by the tvidow. The tvidow if she elects may have in lieu of the said award, the same personal property or money in place thereof as is or may be exempt from execution or attachment against the head of a family. TAXES. The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of May in each year, are liable for the taxes thereon. Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in June., at which time the town board of review meets to examine assessments, hear objections., and make such changes as ought to be made. The county board have also power to correct or change assessments. The tax books are placed in the hands of the town collector on or before the tenth day of December, who retains them until the tenth day of March following, when he is required to return them to the county treasurer, who then. collects all delinquent taxes. No costs accrue on real estate taxes till advertised^ which takes place the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required before judg- ment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of land, and ten cents each lot. Judgment is usually obtained at May term of County Court. Costs six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale takes place in June. Costs in addition to those before mentioned, twenty-eiglit cents each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each town lot. Real estate sold for taxes may be redeemed any time before the expi- ration of two years from the date of sale, hj payment to the County Qlerk of the amount for which it was sold and twenty-five per cent, thereon if redeemed within six months, fifty per cent, if between six and twelve months, if between twelve and eighteen months seventy-five per cent., and if between eighteen months and two years one hundred per cent., and in addition, all subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per cent, interest thereon, also one dollar each tract if notice is given by the purchaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to the clerk for his certificate. JURISDICTION OF COURTS. Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the recovery of moneys for damages for injury to real property, or taking, detaining, or ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 155 injuring personal property ; for rent; for all cases to recover damages done real or personal property by railroad companies, in actions of replevin^ and in actions for damages for fraud in the sale, purchase, or exchange of per- sonal property, when the amount claimed as due is not over $200. They have also jurisdiction in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, toivns or villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a private person to arrest any one committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense. He also upon complaint can issue his warrant for the arrest of any person accused of having committed a crime, and have him brought before him for examination. COUNTY COURTS Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties havino- a population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement of estates of deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle- ment of their accounts ; all matters relating to apprentices ; proceedings for the collection of taxes and assessments, and in proceedings of executors, administrators, guardians and conservators for the sale of real estate. In law cases they have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in all cases wlrere justices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have, jurisdiction when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000, and in all criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the peni- tentiary, or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of the peace and police magistrates; excepting when the county judge is sitting as a justice of the peace. Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction. LIMITATION OF ACTION. Accounts jive years. Notes and written contracts ten years. Judg- ments twenty years. Partial payments or new promise in writing, within or after said period, will revive the debt. Absence from the State deducted, and when the cause of action is barred by the law of another State, it has the same effect here. Slander and libel, one year. Personal injuries, two years. To recover land or make entry thereon, tiventy years. Action to foreclose mortgage or trust deed, or make a sale, within ten years. All persons in possession of land, and paying taxes for seven consecu- tive years, with color of title, and all persons paying taxes for seven con- secutive years, with color of title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the legal owners to the extent of their paper title. MARRIED WOMEN May sue and be sued. Husband and wife not liable for each other's debts, either before or after marriage, but both are liable for expenses and edu- cation of the family. 4 156 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. She may contract the same as if unmarried^ except that in a partner- ship business she can not, without consent of her husband, unless he has abandoned or deserted her, or is idiotic or insane, or confined in peniten- tiary ; she is entitled and can recover her own earnings, but neither hus- band nor wife is entitled to compensation for any services rendered for the other. At the death of the husband, in addition to widow's award, a married woman has a dower interest (one-third) in all real estate owned by her husband after their marriage, and which has not been released by her, and the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife at her death. EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALE. Home worth $1,000, and the following Personal Property : Lot of ground and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the debtor, being a house- holder and having a family, to the value of -f 1,000. Exemption continues after the death of the householder for the benefit of widow and family, some one of them occupying the homestead until youngest child shall become tiventy-one years of age, and until death of widoiv. There is no exemption from sale for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase or improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption is valid, unless in writing, and subscribed by such householder and wife (if he have one), and acknowledged as conveyancesof real estate are required to be acknowledged. The folloioing articles of personal property owned by the debtor, are exempt from execution, ivrit of attachment, and distress for rent : The necessary ivearing apparel. Bibles, school books and family pictures of every person ; and, 2d, one hundred dollars worth of other property to be selected by the debtor, and, in addition, when the debtor is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dollars worth of other property to be selected by the debtor ; provided that such selection and exemption shall not be made by the debtor or allowed to him or her from any money, salary or wages due him or her from any person or persons or corporations whatever. When the head of a family shall die, desert or not reside with the same, the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv- ileges which are by this act conferred upon the head of a family residing with the same. No personal property is exempt from execution when judgment is obtained for the wages of laborers or servants. Wages of a laborer who is the head of a family can not be garnisheed, except the sum due him be in excess of $25. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 157 DEEDS AND MORTGAGES. To he valid there must he a valid consideration. Special care should be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered, and properly acknowl- edged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not required. The acknoivledgement must be made in this state, before Master in Chancery, Notary Puhlic, United States Commissioner, Circuit or County Clerk, Justice of Peace, or any Court of Record having a seal, or any Judge, Justice, or Clerk of any such Court. When taken before a Notary Puhlic, or United States Commissioner, the same shall be attested by his official seal, when taken before a Court or the Clerk thereof, the same shall be attested by the seal of such Court, and when taken before a Justice of the Peace resid- ing out of the county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall be added a certificate of the County Clerk under his seal of office, that he was a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking the same. A deed is good without such certificate attached, but can not be used in evidence unless such a certificate is produced or other competent evidence introduced. Acknowledgements made out of the state must either be executed according to the laws of this state, or there should be attached a certificate that it is in conformity with the laws of the state or country where executed. Where this is not done the same may be proved by any other legal way. Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to be waived must state as follows : " Including the release and waiver of the right of homestead." ^ Notaries Puhlic can take acknowledgements any where in the state. Sheriffs, if authorized by the mortgagor of real or personal property in his mortgage, may sell the property mortgaged. In the case of the death of grantor or holder of the equity of redemp- tion of real estate mortgaged, or conveyed by deed of trust where equity of redemption is waived, and it contains power of sale, must be foreclosed in the same manner as a common mortgage in court. ESTRAYS. Morses, mules, asses, neat cattle, swine, sheep, or goats found straying at any time during the year, in counties where such animals are not allowed to run at large, or between the last day of October and the 15th day of April in other counties, the oivner thereof heing unknown, may he taken up as e strays. No person not a householder in the county where estray is found can lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or ahout his farm or place of residence. Estray s should not he used hefore advertised, except animals giving milk, which may be milked for their benefit. 158 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Notices must be posted up within five (5) days in three (3) of the most public places in the town or precinct in whicli estray was found, giv- ing the residence of the taker up, and a particular description of the estray, its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, and stating before what justice of the peace in such town or precinct, and at what time, not less than ten (10) nor more than fifteen (15) days from the time of post- ing such notices, he will apply to have the estray appraised. \ A copy of such notice should be filed by the taker up with the totvn clerk, whose duty it is to enter the same at large, in a book kept l^y him for that purpose. If the otvner of estray shall not have appeared and proved ownership^ and taken the same away, first paying the taker up his reasonable charges for taking up, keeping, and advertising the same, the taker up shall appear before the justice of the peace mentioned in above mentioned notice, and make an affidavit as required by law. As the affidavit has to be made before the justice, and all other steps as to appraisement, etc., are before him, who is familiar therewith, they are therefore omitted here. Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. Ordinary diligence is required in taking care of estrays, but in case they die or get away the taker is not liable for the same. ^ GAME. It is unlawful for any person to kill, or attempt to kill or destroy, in any manner, any prairie hen or chicken or woodcock between the 15th day of January and the 1st day of September ; or any deer, fawn, wild-turkey, partridge or pheasant between the 1st day of February and the 1st day of October ; or any quail between the 1st day of February and 1st day of November ; or any wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl between the 1st day of May and 15th day of August in each year. Penalty : Fine not less than $5 nor more than $25, for each bird or animal, and costs of suit, and stand committed to county jail until fine is • paid, but not exceeding ten days. It is unlawful to hunt with gun, dog or net within the inclosed grounds or lands of another without permission. Penalty: Fine not less than $3 nor more than $100, to be paid into school fund. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit : ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 159 Pounds. Pounds. Stone Coal, - 80 Buckwheat, - - 52 Un slack eel Lime, - 80 Coarse Salt, - 50 Corn in the ear, - 70 Barley, - - - - 48 Wheat, - 60 Corn Meal, - 48 Irish Potatoes, - 60 Castor Beans, - 46 White Beans, - 60 Timothy Seed, - - 45 Clover Seed, - - 60 Hemp Seed, - - • - 44 Onions, - = ' - 57 Malt, - - - - - 38 Shelled Corn, - b^ Dried Peaches, - 33 Rye, - - - - - 56 Oats, - - - - - 32 ^lax Seed, - 56 Dried Apples, - 24 Sweet Potatoes, - 55 Bran, - - - - - 20 Turnips, • - 55 Blue Grass Seed, - - 14 Fine Salt, - - - 55 Hair (plastering). 8 I Penalty for giving less than the above standard is double the amount of property wrongfully not given, and ten dollars addition thereto. MILLERS. The owner or occupant of every public grist mill in this state shall o-rind all ffrain brouo-ht to his mill in its turn. The toll for both steam and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting ivheat, rye, or other grain, one eighth part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, harley and huekivheat not required to be bolted, one seventh part; iox grinding malt, and chopping aW kinds of grain, one eighth part. It is the duty of every miller when his mill is in repair, to aid and assist in loading and unloading all grain brought to him to be ground, and he is also required to keep an accurate half bushel measure, and an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing the grain. The penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is $5, to the use of any person to sue for the same, to be recovered before any justice of the peace of the county where penalty is incurred. Millers are accountable for the safe keeping of all grain left in his mill for the purpose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same (except it results from unavoidable accidents), provided that such bags or casks are distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name. MARKS AND BRANDS. Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats may have one ear mark and one brand, but which shall be different from his neighbor's, and may be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which such property is kept. The/ee for such record is fifteen cents. The record of such shall be open to examination free of charge. In cases of disputes as to marks or brands, such record is nrima facie evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats that may have been branded by the former owner. 160 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. may be re-branded in presence of one or more of his neighbors, who shall certify to the facts of the marking or branding being done, when done, and in what brand or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which certificate may also be recorded as before stated. ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. Children may be adopted by any resident of this state, by filing a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which he resides, asking leave to do so, and if desired may ask that the name of the child be changed. Such petition, if made by a person having a husband oi* wife, will not be granted, unless the husband or wife joins therein, as the adoption must be by them jointly. The petition shall state name, sex, and age of the child, and the new name, if it is desired to change the name. Also the name and residence of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, if any, and whether the parents or guardians consent to the adoption. The court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of the ehild^ or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family or such child for one year next preceding the application, or if neither are living, the guardian ; if no guardian, the next of kin in this state capable of giving consent, has had notice of the presentation of the petition and consents to such adoption. If the child is of the age of fourteen years or upwards, the adoption can not be made ivithout its consent. SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS. There is in every county elected a surveyor known as county sur- veyor, who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is responsible. It is the duty of the county surveyor, either by himself or his deputy, to make all surveys that he may be called upon to make within his county as soon as may be after application is made. The necessary chainmen and other assistance must be employed by the person requiring the same to be done, and to be by him paid, unless otherwise agreed ; but the chainmen must be disinterested persons and approved by the surveyor and sworn by him to measure justly and impartially. The County Board in each county is required by law to provide a copy of the United States field notes and plats of their surveys of the lands in the coiinty to be kept in the recorder's office subject to examination by the public, and the county surveyor is required to make his surveys in conformity to said notes, plats and the laws of the United States gov- erning such matters. The surveyor is also required to keep a record of all surveys made by him, which shall be subject to inspection by any one interested, and shall be delivered up to his successor in office. A ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 161 certified copy of the said surveyor's record shall be prima facie evidence of its contents. The fees of county surveyors are six dollars per day. The county surveyor is also ex officio inspector of mines, and as such, assisted by some practical miner selected by him, shall once each year inspect all the mines in the county, for which they shall each receive such compensa- tion as may be fixed by the County Board, not exceeding $5 a day, to be paid out of the county treasury. ROADS AND BRIDGES. Where practicable from the nature of the ground, persons traveling in any kind of vehicle, must turn to the right of the center of the road, so as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering with each other. The penalty/ for a violation of this provision is $5 for every offense, to be recovered by the partT/ injured; but to recover, there must have occurred some injury to person or property resulting from the violation. The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State for the conveyance of passengers who shall employ or continue in his employment as driver any person who is addicted to drunkenness, or the excessive use of spiritous liquors, after he has had notice of the same, shall forfeit, at the rate of $5 per day, and if any driver while actually engaged in driving any such carriage, shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to endanger the safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on receiving written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and certified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such owner shall have such driver in his employ within three months after such notice, he is liable for |5 per day for the time he shall keep said driver in his employment after receiving such notice. Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohibited from running their horses upon any occasion under a penalty of a fine not exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days, at the discre- I tion of the court. Horses attached to any carriage used to convey passen- I gers for hire must be properly hitched or the lines placed in the hands of ' some other person before the driver leaves them for any purpose. For violation of this provision each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be recovered by action, to be commenced within six months. It is under- stood by the term carriage herein to mean any carriage or vehicle used for the transportation of passengers or goods or either of them. The commissioners of highways in the different tov/ns have the care and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have all the powers necessary to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads^ build and repair bridges. In addition to the above, it is their duty to erect and keep in repair at the forks or crossing-place of the most 162 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. important roads post and guide boards with plain inscriptions, giving directions and distances to the most noted places to which such road may- lead; also to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, and cockle burrs, mustard, yellow dock, Indian mallow and jimson weed from seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent all rank growth of vegetation on the public highways so far as the same may obstruct public travel, and it is in their discretion to erect watering places for public use for \Vatering teams at such points as may be deemed advisable. The Commissioners, on or before the 1st day of May of each year, shall make out and deliver to their treasurer a list of all able-bodied men in their town, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, and such others as are exempt by law, and assess against each the sum of two dollars as a poll tax for highway purposes. Within thirty days after such list is delivered they shall cause a written or printed notice to be given to each person so assessed, notifying him of the time when and place where such tax must be paid, or its equivalent in labor performed ; they may contract with persons owing such poll tax to perform a certain amount of labor on any road or bridge in payment of the same, and if such tax is not paid nor labor performed by the first Monday of July of such year, or within ten days after notice is given after that time, they shall bring suit therefor against such person before a justice of the peace, who shall hear and determine the case according to law for the offense complained of, and shall forthwith issue an execution, directed to any constable of the county where the delinquent shall reside, who shall forthwith collect the moneys therein mentioned. The Commissioners of Highways of each town shall annually ascer- tain, as near as practicable, how much money must be raised by tax on real and personal property for the making and repairing of roads, only, to any amount they may deem necessar}^, not exceeding forty cents on each one hundred dollars' worth, as valued on the assessment roll of the previous year. The tax so levied on property lying within an incorporated village, town or city, shall be paid over to the corporate authorities of such town, village or city. Commissioners shall receive $1.50 for each day neces- sarily employed in the discharge of their duty. Overseers. At the first meeting the Commissioners shall choose one of their number to act General Overseer of Highways in their township, whose duty it shall be to take charge of and safely keep all tools, imple- ments and machinery belonging to said town, and shall, by the direction of the Board, have general supervision of all roads and bridges in their town. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 163 As all township and county officers are familiar with their duties, it is only intended to give the points of the law that the public should be familiar with. The manner of laying out, altering or vacating roads, etc., will not be here stated, as it would require more space than is contem- plated in a work of this kind. It is sufficient to state that, the first stej) is by petition, addressed to the Commissioners, setting out what is prayed for, giving the names of the owners of lands if known, if not known so state, over which the road is to pass, giving the general course, its place of beginning, and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve freeholders residing within three miles of the road who shall sign the petition. Public roads must not be less than fifty feet wide, nor more than sixty feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if peti- tioned for, may be laid out, not less than forty feet. Private roads for private and public use, may be laid out of the width of three rods, on petition of the person directly interested ; the damage occasioned thereby shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the road is opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be considered rescinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit persons who live on or have private roads, to work out their road tax thereon. Public roads must be opened in five days from date of filing order of location, or be deemed vacated. DRAINAGE. Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to construct I drain or ditch across the land of others for agricultural^ sanitary or mining purposes, the proceedings are as follows : File a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which the proposed ditch or drain is to be constructed, setting forth the neces- sity for the same, with a description of its proposed starting point, route and terminus, and if it shall be necessary for the drainage of the land or coal mines or for sanitary purposes, that a drain, ditch, levee or similar work be constructed, a description of the same. It shall also set forth the names of all persons owning the land over which such drain or ditch shall be constructed, or if unknown stating that fact. No private property shall be taken or damaged for the purpose of constructing a ditch, drain or levee, without compensation, if claimed by the owner, the same to be ascertained by a jury ; but if the construction of such ditch, drain or levee shall be a benefit to the owner, the same shall be a set off against such compensation. If the proceedings seek to affect the property of a minor, lunatic or married woman, the guardian, conservator or husband of the same shall be made party defendant. The petition may be amended and parties made defendants at any time when it is necessary^ to a fair trial. 164 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. When the petition is presented to the judge, he shall note there ^n when he will hear the same, and order the issuance of summonses aad the publication of notice to each non-resident or unknown defendant. The petition may be heard by such judge in vacation as well as in term time. Upon the trial, the jury shall ascertain the just compensation to each owner of the property sought to be damaged by the construction of such ditch, drain or levee, and truly report the same. As it is only contemplated in a work of this kind to give an abstract of the laws, and as the parties who have in charge the execution of the further proceedings are likely to be familiar with the requirements of the statute, the necessary details are not here inserted. WOLF SCALPS. The County Board of any county in this State may hereafter alluiv such bounty on tvolf scalps as the board may deem reasonable. Any person claiming a bounty shall produce the scalp or scalps with the ears thereon, within sixty days after the wolf or wolves shall have been caught, to the Clerk of the County Board, who shall administer to said person the following oath or affirmation, to-wit: "You do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the scalp or scalps here pro- duced by you was taken from a wolf or wolves killed and first captured by yourself within the limits of this county, and within the sixty days last past." CONVEYANCES. When the reversion expectant on a lease of any tenements or here- ditaments of any tenure shall be surrendered or merged, the estate which shall for the time being confer as against the tenant under the same lease the next vested right to the same tenements or hereditaments, shall, to the extent and for the purpose of preserving such incidents to and obli- gations on the same reversion, as but for the surrender or merger thereof, would have subsisted, be deemed the reversion expectant on the same lease. PAUPERS. Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in conse- quence ot any bodily infirmity^ idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable cause, shall be supported by the father, grand-father, mother, grand-mother, children, grand-children, brothers or sisters of such poor person, if they or either of them be of sufficient ability ; but if any of such dependent class shall have become so from intemperance or other bad conduct, they shall not be entitled to support from any relation except parent or child. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 167 The children shall first be called on to support their parents, if they are able ; but if not, the parents of such poor person shall then be called on, if of sufficient ability ; and if there be no parents or children able, then the brothers and sisters of such dependent person shall be called upon ; and if there be no brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the grand-children of such person shall next be called on ; and if they are not able, then the grand-parents. Married females, while their husbands live, shall not be liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations except out of their separate property. It is the duty of the state's (county) attorney, to make complaint to the County Court of his county against all the relatives of such paupers in this state liable to his support and prosecute the same. In case the state's attorney neglects, or refuses, to complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor to do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least ten days' notice of such application by summons. The court has the power to determine the kind of support, depending upon the circumstances of the parties, and may also order two or more of the different degrees to main- tain such poor person, and prescribe the proportion of each, according to their ability. The court may specify the time for which the relative shall contribute — in fact has control over the entire subject matter, with power to enforce its orders. Every county (except those in which the poor are supported by the towns, and in such cases the towns are liable) is required to relieve and support all poor and indigent persons laufuUy resident therein. Residence means the actual residence of the party, or the place where he was employed ; or in case he was in no employment, then it shall be the place where he made his home. When any person becomes chargeable as a pauper in any county or town who did not reside at the commencement of six months immediately preceding his becoming so, but did at that time reside in some other county or town in this state, then the county or town, as the case may be, becomes liable for the expense of taking care of such person until removed, and it is the duty of the overseer to notify the proper authorities of the fact. If any person shall bring and leave any pauper in any county in this state where such pauper had no legal residence, knowing him to be such, he is liable to a fine of $100. In counties under township organization, the supervisors in each town are ex-officio overseers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act under the directions of the County Board in taking care of the poor and granting of temporary relief; also, providing for non-resident persons not paupers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and in case of death cause such person to be decently buried. The residence of the inmates of poorhouses and other charitable institutions for voting purposes is their former place of abode. 168 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. FENCES. In counties under township organization, the toton assessor and com- missioner of highways are the fence-viewers in their respective towns. In other counties the County Board appoints three in each precinct annu- ally. A Imvful fence is four and one-half feet high, in good repair, con- sisting of rails, timber, boards, stone, hedges, or whatever the fence- viewers of the town or precinct where the same shall lie, shall consider equivalent thereto, but in counties under township organization the annual town meeting may establish any other kind of fence as such, or the County Board in other counties may do the same. Division fences shall be made and maintained in just proportion by the adjoining owners, except when the owner shall choose to let his land lie open, but after a division fence is built by agreement or otherwise, neither party can remove his part of such fence so long as he may crop or use such land for farm purposes, or without giving the other party ojie year's notice in writing of his intention to remove his portion. When any person shall enclose his land upon the enclosure of another, he shall refund the owner of the adjoining lands a just pro- portion of the value at that time of such fence. The value of fence and the just proportion to be paid or built and maintained by each is to be ascertained by two fence-viewers in the town or precinct. Such fence- viewers have power to settle all disputes between different owners as to fences built or to be built, as well as to repairs to be made. Each party chooses one of the viewers, but if the other party neglects, after eight days' notice in writing, to make his choice, then the other party ma} select both. It is sufficient to notify the tenant or party in possession, when the owner is not a resident of the town or precinct. The two fence-viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the state- ments of the parties , in case they can't agree, they shall select another . fence-viewer to act with them, and the decision of any two of them is final. The decision must be reduced to writing, and should plainly set out description of fence and all matters settled by them, and must be filed in the office of the town clerk in counties under township organiza- tion, and in other counties with the county clerk. Where any person is liable to contribute to the erection or the repairing of a division fence, neglects or refuses so to do, the party injured, after giving sixty days notice in writing when a fence is to be erected, or ten days when it is only repairs, may proceed to have the work done at the expense of the party whose duty it is to do it, to be recovered from him with costs of suit, and the party so neglecting shall also be liable to the party injured for all damages accruing from such neglect or refusal, to be determined by any two fence-viewers selected as before provided, the appraisement to be reduced to writing and signed. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 169 Where a person shall conclude to remove his part of a division fence, and let his land lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the adjoining owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by fence-vi^wers as before provided, and on payment or tender of the amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal. A party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the damages accruing thereby. Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mis- take, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and material within oix months after the division line has been ascertained. Where the materiul to build such a fence has been taken from the land on which it was built, then before it can be removed, the person claiming must first pay for such material to the owner of the land from which it was taken, nor shall tiuch a fence be removed at a time when the removal will throw open or expose the crops of the other party ; a reasonable time must be given beyond the .six months to remove crops. The compensation of fence-viewers is one dollar and fifty cents a day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them, but in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence-viewers, must be paid equally b}^ the parties, except in cases where a party neglects or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of a division fence, when the party in default shall pay them. DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS. Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's enclosure, the fence being good and sufficient, the owner is liable for the damage done ; but where the damage is done by stock running at large, contrary to law, the owner is liable where th«ire is not such a fence. Where stock is found trespassing on the enclosure of another as aforesaid, the owner oi occupier of the premises may take possession of such stock and keep the same until damages, with reasonable charges for keeping and feeding and all costs of suit, are paid. Any person taking or rescuing such stock so held without his consent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three nor more than five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered b}^ suit before a justice of the peace for the use of the school fund. Within twenty-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per- son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known, or if unknown, notices must be posted in some public place near the premises. LANDLORD AND TENANT. The owner of lands, or his legal representatives, can sue for and recover rent therefor, in any of the following cases : First. When rent is due and in arrears on a lease for life or lives. 170 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Second. When lands are held and occupied by any person without any special agreement for rent. Third. When possession is obtained under an agreement, written or verbal, for the purchase of the premises and before deed given, the right to possession is terminated by forfeiture on con-compliance with the agreement, and possession is wrongfully refused or neglected to be given upon demand made in writing by the party entitled thereto. Provided that all payments made by the vendee or his representatives or assigns, may be set off against the rent. Fourth. When land has been sold upon a judgment or a decree of court, when the party to such judgment or decree, or person holding under him, wrongfully refuses, or neglects, to surrender possession of the same, after demand in writing hj the person entitled to the possession. Fifth. When the lands have been sold upon a mortgage or trust deed, and the mortgagor or grantor or person holding under him, wrong- fully refuses or neglects to surrender possession of the same, after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession. If any tenant, or any person who shall come into possession from or under or by collusion with such tenant, shall willfully hold over any lands, etc., after the expiration the term of their lease, and after demand made in writing for the possession thereof, is liable to pay double rent. A tenancy from year to year requires sixty days notice in writing, to termi- nate the same at the end of the year ; such notice can be given at any time within four months preceding the last sixty days of the year. A tenancy by the month, or less tlian a year, where the tenant holds over without any special agreement, the landlord may terminate the tenancy, by thirty days notice in writing. When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the tenant, stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than five days, his lease will be terminated ; if the rent is not paid, the landlord may consider the lease ended. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it shall not be necessary to give more than ten days notice to quit or of the termination of such tenanc}^ ; and the same may be terminated on giving such notice to quit, at any time after such default in any of the terms of such lease ; which notice may be substantially in the following form, viz: To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your default in (here insert the character of the default), of the premises now occupied by you, being etc. (here .describe the premises), I have elected to deter- mine your lease, and you are hereby notified to quit and deliver up pos- session of the same to me within ten days of this date (dated, etc.) The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other notice or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessary. Demand may be made, or notice served, by delivering a written or ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 171 pnnted, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the same with some person above the age of twelve years residing on or in posses- sion of the premises ; and in case no one is in the actual possession of the said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. When the tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires by the terms of the lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender possession, and no notice to quit or demand of possession is necessary. Distress for rent. — In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by himself, his agent or attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of his tenant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides ; the property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not liable. An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of the amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some justice of the peace, if not over $200 ; and if above that sum, with the clerk of a court of record of competent jurisdiction. Property may be released, by the party executing a satisfactory bond for double the amount. The landlord may distrain for rent, any time within six months after the expiration of the term of the lease, or when terminated. In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the lease assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce lien against such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant to whom the pre- mises were rented. When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part thereof, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, may seize upon any grain or other crops grown or growing upon the premises, or part thereof so abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such grain, or other crops, or any part thereof, is not fully grown or matured, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, shall cause the same to be properly cultivated, harvested or gathered, and may sell the same, and from the proceeds pay all his . labor, expenses and rent. The tenant may, before the sale of such pro- perty, redeem the same by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation for work done, or he may replevy the same. Exemption. — The same articles of personal property which are bylaw exempt from execution, except the crops as above stated, is also exempt from distress for rent. If any tenant is about to or shall permit or attempt to sell and remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, such portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien of the land- lord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord to distress before rent is due. 112 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. LIENS. Any person who shall by contract, express or implied, or partly both, with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish labor or material, or- services as an architect or superintendent, in building, altering, repairing or ornamenting any house or other building or appurtenance thereto on such lot, or upon any street or alley, and connected with such improve- ments, shall have a lien upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and upon such house or building and appurtenances, for the amount due to him for such labor, material or services. If the contract is expressed, and the time for the completion of the work is heyond three years from the com- mencement thereof ; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year from the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no lien exists. If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless the work be done or material is furnished within one year from the commencement of the work or delivery of the materials. As between different creditors having liens, no preference is given to the one whose contract was first made ; but each shares j)ro-rata. Incumbrances existing on the lot or tract of the land at the time the contract is made, do not operate on the improvements, and are only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of making the contract. The above lien can not be enforced unless suit is commenced within six months after the last payment for labor or materials shall have become due and payable. Sub-contractors, mechanics, workmen and other persons furnishing any material, or performing any labor for a contractor as before specified, have a lien to the extent of the amount due the contractor at the time the following notice is served upon the owner of the land who made the contract : To , You are hereby notified, that I have been employed by- (here state whether to labor or furnish material, and substantially the nature of the demand) upon your (here state in general terms description and situation of building), and that I shall hold the (building, or as the case may be), and your interest in the ground, liable for the amount that may (is or may become) due me on account thereof. Signature, Date, •If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-contractor, a copy of it should be served with above notice, and said notice must be served within forty days from the completion of such sub-contract, if there is one ; if not, then from the time payment should have been made to the person performing the labor or furnishing the material. If the owner is not a resident of the county, or can not be found therein, then the above notice must be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty cents, and a copy of said notice must be published in a newspaper pub- lished in the county, for four successive weeks. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 173 When the owner or agent is notified as above, he can retain any money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim ; if more than one claim, and not enough to i3ay all, they are to be paid pro rata. The owner has the right to demand in writing, a statement of the contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the work progresses, and on his failure to comply, forfeits to the owner |50 for every offense. The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for hie, for years, or any other interest which the owner may have. To enforce the lien of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced within three months from the time of the performance of the sub-contract, or during the Avork or furnishing materials. Eotel, inn and boarding-house keepers, have a lien upon the baggage and other valuables of their guests or boarders, brought into such hotel, inn or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders, for the proper charges due from such guests or boarders for their accommodation, board and lodgings, and such extras as are furnished at their request. Slable-keejJers and other persons have a lien upon the horses, car- riages and harness kept by them, for the proper charges due for the keep- ing thereof and expenses bestowed thereon at the request of the owner or the person having the possession of the same. Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others), and persons keeping, yarding, feeding or pasturing domestic animals, shall have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or fed, for the proper charges due for such service. All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this state with fuel, ties, material, supplies or any other article or thing necessary for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of its road by con- tract, or may perform work or labor on the same, is entitled to be paid as* part of the current expenses of the road, and have a lien upon all its pro- perty. Sub-contractors or laborers have also a lien. The conditions and limitations both as to contractors and sub-contractors, are about the same as herein stated as to general liens. DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. $ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now,^ United States Currency. <£ means pounds, English money. (fr stands for at or to. it) for jjound, and bbl. for barrel; '^ tor per or by the. Thus, Butter sells at 20@30c ^ lb, and Flour at $8@12 f bbl. yo for per cent and f for number. May 1.— Wheat sells at .|1.20@1.25, "seller June." Seller June 174 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of June. Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling "short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed " bears." Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The "longs" are termed "bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to "toss" the prices upward as much as possible. NOTES. Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the amount and time of payment are mentioned. 1100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876. Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown, or order. One Hundred dollars, for value received. L. D. LowRY. A note to be payable in any thing else than mone}^ needs only the facts substituted for money in the above form. ORDERS. Orders should be worded simply, thus : Mr. F. H. Coats: Cliicago, Sept. 15, 1876. Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to F. D. SiLVA. RECEIPTS. Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus : $100. Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account. Thomas Brady. If receipt is in full it should be so stated. BILLS OF PURCHASE. W. N. Mason, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876. Bought of A. A. Graham. 4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at $1.50 - - - - $6.00 2 Seamless Sacks " .30 - - .60 Received payment, $6.60, A. A. Grahajvi. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 1T6 ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain thing in a certain time for a stipulated sura. Good business men always reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder- standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a reasonable consideration. GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement, made the Second day of October, 1876, between John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part, and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part — WITNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the month of November, of this year. One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty- five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty -first, and the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of November. And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the other, One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages. Id witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and year first above written. John Jones, Thomas Whiteside. AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. This Agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County of Cook, State of lUinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of .Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part — WITNESSETH, that Said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili- gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation ; X7(j ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. durincT which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects as directed and desired by the said Stone. In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said Barclay. Witness our hands. Reuben Stone. George Barclay. BILLS OF SALE. A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider- ation to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale. COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. Know all Men by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton, Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows, belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, against all and every person whatsoever. In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. Louis Clay. BONDS. A bond is a written admission on the part of the maker in which he pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 177 COMMON FORM OF BOND. Know all Men by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of Watseka, Iro(Xuois Count}- , State of Illinois, ara firmly bound unto Peter Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sura of five hundred dollars, to be paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this instrument. Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ; otherwise to be in full force and valid. Sealed and delivered in presence of George Edgerton. [l.s.] William Turner. CHATTEL MORTGAGES. A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct where the mortgagee resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be recorded in the recorder's office of the county. GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE. This Indenture, made and entered into this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Henshaw, of the same town, county, and State, party of the second part. Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider- ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, conve}^, and confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit : Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ. No. 987, one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one Home Comfort cooking stove. No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green rep, with lounge corresponding with same .in style and color of upholstery, now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. 4 Prairie Ave., Geneseo, 111.; 178 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Together with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto l3elong- ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever. Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis- trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con- tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods and chattels; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid, shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul Ranslow, or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns. And provided, also, that if default in pa^-ment as aforesaid, by said party of the first part, shall be made, or if said party of the second part shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wherever they may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the highest bidder for cash in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat- tels to be sold, by at least four advertisements, posted up in public places in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason- able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ;'and if there shall be any overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first part, or his legal representatives. In testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Theodore Lottinville. [l.s.] Samuel J. Tilden. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 179 LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. This Indenture, made this second day of June, 1875, between David Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John Doyle of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept, and performed, hath let, and by these presents doth grant, demise, and let, unto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, all that parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described as follows, to wit : [^Here describe the land.^ Together with all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have and to hold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as long as said buildings are in good tenantable condition. And the said Doj-le, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and other fences ; (the said David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra- tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for such repairs.) Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord- ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises. That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twenty acres yearly of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land now in grass, and hitherto unbroken. It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then and in that case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the non-performance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter- mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators, chosen as follows: Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one, 180 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. and the two so chosen to select a third ; the decision of said arbitrators to be final. In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals. Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of David Patton. [l.s.] James Waldron. John Doyle. [l.s.] FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE. This Instrument, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, liath rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay- able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence of said Aaron Young. At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest agrees to give the said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling, in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted. In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year aforesaid. Signed, sealed and delivered Amos Griest. [l.s.] in presence of NiCKOLAS SCHUTZ, AARON YoUNG. [l.S.] Notary Public. LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT. This certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January, 1876, unto Jacob Schmidt, ray house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable. Peter Funk. TENANT'S AGREEMENT. This certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his house and lot. No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi- nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or other causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield said premises one year from this first day of January 1876, in as good condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted. Given under my hand this day. Jacob ScHJvnDT. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 181 NOTICE TO QUIT. To F. W. Aelen, Sir : Please observe that the term of one year, for which the house and. land, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied b}' you, were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required to vacate the same. Respectfully Yours, P. T. Baknum. Lincoln, Neb., October 4, 1875. TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING. Dear Sir : The premises I now occupy as your tenant, at No. 6 Indiana Street, I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take notice accordingly. Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. Arlen. To P, T. Barnum, Esq. REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY. This Indenture, made this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and 011a, his wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part. Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said party of the second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith) the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois, with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventj'^-four. Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid, with interest thereon, according to the tenor and effect of the said two promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur- ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec- ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land, situate, etc. \_Descrihing the premises.^ To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto 182 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. belono'ing or in any wise appertaining. And also, all the estate, interest, and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper use, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and 011a, his wife, party of the first part, hereby expressly waive, relinquish, release, and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state per- taining to the exemption of homesteads. Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis- trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore- said sums of money, with such interest thereon, at the time and in the manner specified in the above mentioned promissory notes, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void. In witness whereof, the said part)'- of the first part hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of James Whitehead, William Stocker. [l.s.] Fred. Samuels. Olla Stocker. [l.s.] WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS. This Indenture, made this sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Belle, his wife, of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol- lowing described loi, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law- rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit: [^Sere describe the property/.'] Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of the said party of the nrst part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to the ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 185 above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par- ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of homesteads. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power, and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and convey the same, in manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party of tlie first part shall and will warrant and forever defend. In testimony whereof, the said parties of the. first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Henry Best, [l.s.] Jerry Linklater. Belle Best. [l.s.] QUIT-CLAIM DEED. This Indenture, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour, of Piano, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera- tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec- ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised, released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does remise, release, sell, convey, and quit-claim, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest, 18(5 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. claim, and demand, whicli the said party of the first part has in and to the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit : \_nere describe the land.'] To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there- unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above written. Signed, sealed and delivered David Tour, [l.s.] in presence of Thomas Ashley. The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made equally valid by the laws of this state. WARRANTY DEED. The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveys and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names) the following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . QUIT CLAIM DEED. The grantor (here iYisert grantor's name or names and place of resi- dence), for the consideration of (here insert consideration) convey and quit-claim to (here insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . MORTGAGE. The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the payment of (here recite the nature and amount of indebtedness, showing when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by note or other- wise), the following described real estate (here insert description thereof), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . RELEASE. Know all Men by these presents, that I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago, of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera- ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 187 tions, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed, do hereby grant, bargain, remise, convey, release, and quit-claim unto Joseph Carlin of Chicago, of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, all the right, title, interest, claim, or demand whatsoever, I may have acquired in, through, or by a certain Indenture or Mortgage Deed, bearing date the second day of Jan- uary, A. D. 1871, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said county, in book A of Deeds, page 46, to the premises therein described, and which said Deed was made to secure one certain promissory note, bearing even date with said deed, for the sum of Three Hundred dollars. Witness my hand and seal, this seaond day of November, A. D. 1874. Peter Ahlund. [l.s.] State of Illinois, } Cook County. ] ' I, George Saxton, a Notary Public in and for said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that Peter Ahlund, personally known to me as the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Release, appeared before me this day in [ "^szIl!^^ ] person, and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and delivered the said instrument of writing as his free a.id voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth. Giv^n under my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. George Saxton, N. P. GENERAL FOh-iVI OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. I, Charles Mansfield, of the Town of Salem, County of Jackson, State of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner following, to wit: First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my oldest son, Sidney H. Mansfield, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, cf bank stock, now in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself in the Town of Buskirk, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with all the houses, tenements, and improvements thereunto belonging ; to have and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assiguv, forever. Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters, Anna Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand dollars in bank stock, in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and also each one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situated in the Town of Lake, Illinois, and recorded in mv name in the Recorder's offic«! in the county where such land is located. The north one hundred and sixty acres of said half section is devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise. 6 188 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank Alfred Mans- field, Five shares of Railroad stock in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and my one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw mill thereon, situ- ated in Manistee, Michigan, with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the county where situated. Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all ray household furniture, goods, chattels, 'and personal property, about my home, not hitherto disposed of, including Eight Thousand dollars of bank stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifteen shares in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, pos- session, and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live, in lieu of dower, to which she is entitled by law ; said farm being my present place of residence. Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the income from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson Street, Chicago, Illinois, during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- with to revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportion, upon the demise of my said father. Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. And lastly. I nominate and appoint as executors of this my last will and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, Sidney H. Mansfield. I further direct that iiiy debts and necessary funeral expenses shaJ be paid from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Salem, the residue of such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, for her use forever. In witness whereof, 1, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. Signed, sealed, and declared by Charles Mansfield, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have sub- V scribed our names hereunto as witnesses thereof. Peter A. Schenck, Sycamore, Ills. Frank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] > ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 18U CODICIL Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testa- ment, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof. Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna Louise, has deceased November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now christened Richard Albert Mansfield, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, and all ri'-ht, interest, and title in lands and bank stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter, Anna Louise, in the body of this will. In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth dav of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Signed, sealed, published, and declared to' us by the testator, Charles Mansfield, as and for a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament. And we, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have sub- scribed our names as witnesses thereto, at the date hereof. Frank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. John C. Shay, Salem, Ills. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS May be legally made by electing or apjjointing, according to the usages or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting held for that purpose, two or more of its members as trustees, wardens or vestrymen, and may adopt a corporate name. The chairman or secretary of such meeting shall, as soon as possible, make and file in the office of the recorder of deeds of the county, an affidavit substantially in the following form : State of Illinois, ] • County. \ I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that at a meeting of the members of the (here insert the name of the church, society or congregation as known before organization), held at (here insert place of meeting), in the County of , and State of Illinois, on the day of , A.D. 18 — , for that purpose, the fol- lowing persons were elected (or appointed) \Jiere insert their name8~\ trustees, wardens, vestrymen, (or officers by wliatever name they may choose to adopt, with powers similar to trustees) according to the rules and usages of such (church, society or congregation), and said 190 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. adopted as its corporate name (here insert name), and at said meeting this affiant acted as (chairman or secretary, as the case may be). Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of , A.D. 18—. Name of Affiant which affidavit must be recorded by the recorder, and shall be, or a certi- fied copy made by the recorder, received as evidence of such an incorpo- ration. No certificate of election after the first need he filed for record. The term of office of the trustees and the general government of the society can be determined by the rules or by-laws adopted. Failure to elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dissolution, but the old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may be removed, in the same manner by the society as elections are held by a meeting called for that purpose. The property of the society vests in the corporation. The corporation may hold, or acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not exceeding ten acres, for the purpose of the society. The trustees have the care, custody and control of the property of the corporation, and can, ivhen directed by the 'society, erect houses or improvements, and repair and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate belonging to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the name of such corporation. But they are prohibited by law from encumbering or inter- fering with any property so as to destroy the effect of any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the corporation ; but such gifts, grants, devises or bequests, must in all cases be used so as to carry out the object intended by the persons making the same. Existing societies may organize in the manner herein set forth, and have all the advantages thereof. SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. The business of publishing books by subscription having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher ; in order to prevent that as much as possi- ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- lowino- statement is made : A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pUy a certain sum for the work described ; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described in the prospectus and by the sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, ABSTRACT OF ll^LINOIS STATE LAWS. 191 and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent^ who is merdy employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that such conditions or changes are stated over or in connection with his signa- ture, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as to written contracts is^ that they can not be varied, altered or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contem- plating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract. Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their buisness. It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- ment, would examine carefully what it is ; if they can not read themselves, should call on some one disinterested who can. 6 192 (JUNSTITOTION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS AMENDMENTS. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity/, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Article I. Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- eral states which may be included within this Union, according to theii respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse- quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such enumeration shall be made the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations one, Connecticut five, New York six. New Jersey four, Pennsylva- nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten. North Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- AJH) ITS A]VIEND]MENTS. 193 tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacajcies. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, w^hen elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, iu the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- lature thereof; but the Congress mav at anv time bv law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may. in their judgment, require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in ail cases, except treason, 194 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place. No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office. Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President . the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the tjnited States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim- itations prescribed in the case of a bill. Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power — To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States ; To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several Str.tes, and with the Indian tribes ; To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States ; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures ; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States; To establish post offices and post roads ; AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 195 To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, for ^'mited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries ; To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations ; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water ; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for n longer term than two years ; To provide and maintain a navy ; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces ; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions ; To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci' pline prescribed by Congress ; To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings ; and To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart- ment or officer thereof. Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. 196 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. Sec. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder- ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. Akticle II. Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress ; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. [ * The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The Pres- ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma- jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, • This clause between .brackets has been superseded and annulled by the Twelfth amendment. AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 197 the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-Presi- dent.] The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-Piiesident, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inabil- ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis- ability be removed, or a President shall be elected. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of them. Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- lowing oath or affirmation: " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Sec. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have powei- to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses against the United States, ex-cept in cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con- cur; ai)d he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea- sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary 198 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree- ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive amlDassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. Sec. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con- viction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Article III. Section I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ; between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ- ent states ; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in' which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shali have been committed ; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted. Article IV. Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And AND ITS AMENDMENTS. l--^ the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. Sec. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdicf.on of the crime. No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged .from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. Sec. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the C6ngress. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu- tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- lence. Article V. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati- fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con- ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi- cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eiofht shall in anv manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. Article VI. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop- tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 7 200 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi- cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Article VII. The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same. Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. GEO. WASHINGTON, President and Deputy fro^n Virginia. New Hampshire. John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman. Massachusetts. Nathaniel Gorham, RuFus King. Connecticut. Wm. Sam'l Johnson, Roger Sherman. New York. Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey. WiL. Livingston, Wm. Paterson, David Brearley, JoNA. Dayton. Pennsylvania. B. Franklin, RoBT. Morris, Thos. Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Thos. Mifflin, Geo. Clymer, Jared Ingersoll, Gouv. Morris. Delaivare. Geo. Read, John Dickinson, Jaco. Broom, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Richard Bassett. Maryland. James M' Henry, Danl. Carroll, Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. Virginia. John Blair, James Madison, Jr. North Carolina. Wm. Blount, Hu. Williamson, Rich'd Dobbs Spaight. South Carolina. J. Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia. William Few, Abr. Baldwin. WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. ASD ITS AJVIENDMENTS. 203 Articles in Addition to and Amendatory op the Constitution OF THE United States of America. Proposed hy Congress and ratified hy the Legislatures of the several states, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. Article I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Article II. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Article III. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre- scribed by law. Article IV. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects Against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. Article V. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Article VI. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor ; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Article VII. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 204 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. Article VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Article IX. The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Article X. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Artici-e XI. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub- jects of any foreign state. Article XII. The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi- dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major- I AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 205 ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. Article XIII. Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- diction. Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- priate legislation. Article XIV. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed ; but when the right to vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice- President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu- tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num- ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ- ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu- tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress mav by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. £06 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions 'of this act. Article XV. Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- priate legislation. ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. November T, 1876. COUNTIES. Adams Alexander Bond Boone Brown Bureau Calhoun Carroll Cass Champaign Christian Clark Clav Clinton Coles Cook Crawford Cumberland... DeKalb DeWitt Douglas DuPage Edgar Edwards Effingham Fayrtte Fora Franklin Fulton Gallatin Greene Grundy Hamilton Hancock Hardin Henderson Henry Iroquois Jackson Jasper Jefferson Jersey Jo Daviess Johnson Kane Kankakee Kendall Knox Lake La Salle Lawrence Lee ' a> Q - (ss -X- c — c = £.2 X u I c COUNTIES. 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Schuyler Scott Shelby Stark St. Clair Stephenson... Tazewell Union Vermilion Wabash Warren Wasliington.. Wavne White . Whiteside Will Williamson... Winnebago... Woodford .... •c c '^^ H c c^zn S^S II Is £5 a.— •"0 ._ o 3550 2788 3120 3567 4554 2009 1553 1566 1231 2952 3465 6363 1115 2209 845 2486 3069 1245 3833 4665 1319 1541 1807 3055 1043 646 2357 1410 3912 980 4851 1522 910 2069 1140 4708 3198 2850 978 4372 650 2795 1911 1570 1297 3851 4770 1672 4505 1733 2134 2595 2782 4076 4730 2444 1430 1939 793 2811 1874 4410 1657 1428 1651 3013 3174 1672 1921 5443 800 1383 1316 4040 772 459 2589 1552 2838 1081 5847 1804 1269 3553 786 5891 2758 3171 2155 3031 936 1984 1671 1751 2066 2131 3999 1644 1568 2105 Total 275958|257099 16951 130 157 1170 37 268 114 39 209 135 86 20 347 34 518 10 16 "i ■3 ■'8 ■i "i "i 7 90 7 201 109 28 104 95 5 48 117 35 "i 3 "s "a ""a 14 2 55 27 641 29 115 .... .... 182 341 96 99 26 44 288 207 138 39 482 469 133 677 41 70 237 ■■'2 "8 ■13 1 "i 3 2 "9 ■ "i "4 1 "2 4 Practical Rules for Every Day Use. How to find the gain or loss per cent, zvhen the cost and selling price are given. Rule. — Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which will be the gain or loss. Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent. Hoiv to change gold into currency. Rule. — Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold. Hoiv to change currency into gold. Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold. How to find each partner's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership business. Rule. — Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo- tient will be the gain or loss per cent. Multipl}' each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be each one's share of the gain or loss.- How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. A short and simple method for finding the net iveight, or price of hogs^ when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa. Note.— It is generally assumed tliat the gross weight of Hogs dimini^ihed by 1-5 or 20 iit-r cent, of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by K or 25 per cent, of itself equals the tcross weight. To find the net weight or gross price. Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.) To find the gross weight or net price. Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or ivagon-bed. Rule. — Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, and point off one decimal place — the result will be the correct answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel. For only an approximate ansioer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and point off one decimal place. How to find the contents of a corn-crib. Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or (207) 208 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. by 4i ordinary method, and point off one decimal place— the result wili be the answer in bushels. NOTE -In estimating corn in the ear, the quality and the time it has been cribbed must be taken into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. Tins rule generally holdi good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided It is sound and clean. How to find the contents of a cistern or tank. Rule. — Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all . in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off one decimal place — the result will be the contents in barrels of 31i gallons. Hoiv to find the contents of a barrel or cask. " Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length (all in inches) in reversed order, so that its units will fall under the TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. ^^ How to measure boards. % Rule. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and divide the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet. How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc. RuLE.-^Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together (the width and thickness in inches, and 'the length in feet), and divide the product by 12 — the result will be square feet. How to find the number of acres in a body of land. Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. How to find the number of square yards in a floor or tvall. Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. Hoiv to find the number of bricks required in a building. Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22^. The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height and thickness (in feet) together. Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. Hoiv to find the number of shingles required in a roof. Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the shingles are exposed 4^ inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches. To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by twice the length of the rafters. MISCELLANEOUS INFOKISIATION. 209 To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at one-third pitch, by .6 (tenths) ; at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at one-half pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration. NOTE.— By X or ]4 pitch is meant tliat the apex or comb of thereof is to be X or )^ the widtli of the building liigfher than the walls or base of the rafters. Mow to reckon the cost of hay. Rule. — Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and remove the decimal point three places to the left. How to measure grain. * Rule. — Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to the left. Note.— Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by multiplying the number of bushels by 8. If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of eai corn to make 1 of shelled corn. Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square 3'ards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres. The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk- ing, keep these objects constantly in line. Farmers and others hy adopting the folloiving simple and ingenious con- trivance, may always carry ivith them the scale to construct a correct yard measure. Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. To find hoiv many rods in length loill make an acre., the width being given. Rule. — Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 210 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of roda being given. Rule. — Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, and remove the decimal point two places to the left. The diameter being given, to find the circumference. Rule. — Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7. How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given. Rule. — Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. To find hotv many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- ness throughout will contain tvhen squared. Rule. — Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. Rule. — Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. Rule. — Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1-10 to 1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. Howard s new rule for computing interest. Rule. — The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left ; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left ; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left. Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. Note.— The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting: the rate ; thus 3 per cent, per month, in- verted, becomes 3i of a month, or 10 daj's. When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1, three ones. Rule for converting English into American currency. Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. A township — 36 sections each a mile square. A section — 640 acres. A quarter section, half a mile square — 160 acres. An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide — 80 acres. A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square — 40 acres. jVnSCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 211 The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner. The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- scription of a forty acre lot would read : The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet lonsrer than the common mile. o SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 25 links '^ 1 rod. 4rods '* 1 chain. 80 chains '• 1 mile. Note. — A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- corn ; three of which made an inch. Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches — called a hand. In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches. The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. A fathom is equal to 6 feet. A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league. In cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches. An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic man- ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunitj' of ac- quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers. 212 MISCELLA]SIEOUS INFORMATION. 1875. A. H. .TACKSON. Dr Cr. Jan. Feb. March it April May (( July 10 17 4 4 8 8 13 O'V 'ii 9 9 6 24 To 7 bushels Wheat at 81.25 By shoeing span of Horses To 14 bushels Oats at $ .45 To 5 lbs. Butter at .25 By new Harrow .- By sharpening 2 Plows By new Double-Tree To Cow and Calf. To half ton of Hay By Cash - By repairing Corn-Planter To one Sow with Pigs By Cash, to balance account 88 75 12 G 30 1 25 18 2 48 00 6 25 25 4 17 50 35 $88 $88 05 50 00 40 25 00 75 15 05 1875. CASS A MASON, Dr. Cr ATflrch 21 21 23 1 1 19 26 10 29 12 12 1 Bv 3 davs' labor . .... . - at $1.25 $6 8 10 2 2 20 18 00 10 00 75 70 00 20 S3 25 12 IS 9 $67 75 a t( May To 2 Shoats To 18 bushels Corn. By 1 month's Labor. at .3.00 at .45 00 To Cash June Bv 8 davs' Mowins: at $1.50 00 ii To 50 lbs. Flour July Aug. To 27 lbs. Meat at $ .10 By 9 days' Harvesting By 6 days' Labor . . . - To Cash . . . '. - at 2.00 at 1.50 00 00 Sept. To Cash to balance account ' $67 75 75 INTEPtEST TABLE. A Simple Rule for AccPRATKLr Computing Interest at Length of Time. Any Given Per Cent, for Any Multiplytlie jjridcipa! (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the gitofif (It ol)tainpd by dividing 360 'the number of days in the interest year) by the per cf (it. of interest, andt/ic qxiotient thus obtained will Ije the required interest. illustration. Solution. RequiretheinterestofS463.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An S462.50 interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. S4b2.50 multi- .48 plied bv .48 gives S222 0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest; gives 60, and • $22-2.0600 divided by 60 will give you the exaf't interest, which is 33.70. If the rate of 370000 interest in the above e.xample were 13 per cent., we would divide the S222.0000 by 30 6)360 \ 18.5000 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per ... ..... ■ _ . „^y cent., by 45: and in like manner for any otber per cent. 60 > $222.0000(53.70 180 420 420 "oo MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 12 units, or things, 1 Dozen. 12 dozen, 1 Gross. 20 things, 1 Score. 196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour. 200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork. 56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter. 24 sheets of paper. 1 Quire. 20 quires paper 1 Ream. 4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 213 NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. Virginia. — The oldest of the States, was so called in lionor of Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region. Florida. — Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or "• Feast of Flowers." Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country. Alalama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River." Arkansas^ from Kansas, the Indian word for " smoky water." Its prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow." The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," after Charles the Ninth of France. Georgia owes its name to George the Second of Engla^ad, who first established a colony there in 1732. Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary. Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river." Ohio means " beautiful ; " loiva, " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota., " cloudy water," and Wisconsin., " wild-rushing channel." Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying "tribe of men." Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. Cortes named California. Massachusetts is, the Indian for " The country around the great hills." Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying " Long River." Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of England. New York was named by the Duke of York. Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its orignal owner. 214 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. Delaware after Lord De La Ware. New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel. Maine was called after the province of Maine in France, in compli- ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green Mountain. New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was formerly called Laconia. The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble. Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. STATES AND TEHRITORIES. Alal)aina Arkansas Calif uriiia Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraslia Nevada New Hampshire. New Jersey New York North Carolina .. Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina... Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Total States., Arizona Colorada Dakota District of Columbia. Idaho Montana New Mexico Utah WaeMington Wyoming Total Population. Total Territories,. Total United States 38.555,983 996. 484. 5t>(), 537. Vio. 187, 1.184 2,539 1,680 1,191, 364, 1,321, 726. 626 780. 1,457 1,184 439, 827. 1,721 122 42 318 906. 4,382. 1,071, 2,665. 90, 3,521, 217, 705, 1,258, 818. 330, 1,225. 442. 1,054 992 471 247 454 015 748 109 891 637 792 399 Oil 915 915 894 351 059 06 922 295 993 491 300 096 759 361 260 923 791 353 606 520 579 551 163 014 670 38.113,253 9,658 39,864 14,181 131.700 14,999 20,595 91,874 86,786 23,955 9,118 442,730 POPULATION OF FIFTY PRINCIPAL CITIES. Cities. New York. N. Y Philadelphia, Pa Brooklyn, N. Y St. Louis, Mo Chicago, 111 JSaltimore, Md ISoston, Mass Ciiicinnati, Ohio New Orleans, La. ... San Fninclsco, cal. . . Buffalo, N. Y AVashlngton, D. C... Newark, N. J Louisville, Ky Cleveland, Ohio Pittsburg, Pa Jersey City, N. J Detroit, Mich Milwaukee, Wis Albany, N. Y Providence, R. I Rochester, N. Y Allegheny, Pa Richmond, Va New Haven, Conn... Charleston, S. C Indianapolis, Ind Troy, N. Y Syracuse, N. Y Worcester, Mass Lowell. Mass Memphis, Tenn Cambridge, Mass Hartford, Conn Scranton, Pa Reading, Pa Paterson, N. J Kansas City, Mo Mobile, Ala Toledo. Ohio Portland, Me Columbus, Ohio Wilmington, Del Dayton, Ohio Lawrence, Mass Utica, N. Y (Jharlestown, Mass. Savannah, Ga Lvnn. Mass Fall River, Mass Aggregate Population. 942, 674, 396, 310, 298, 267 250, 216, 191, 149. 117, 109, 105, 100, 92, 86 82 79, 71 69, 68. 62. 53. 51. 50 48 48, 46, 43, 41, 40. 40 39. 37 35 33. 33 32 32 31 31 31 30 30 28 28 28. 2a 28, 26 292 022 099 864 977 354 526 239 418 473 714 199 059 753 829 076 546 577 440 422 904 386 180 038 840 956 244 465 051 105 928 226 634 180 092 930 .579 ,260 ,034 .584 ,413 ,274 841 473 .921 804 ,323 235 233 766 &USCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 21^ POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. States and Territories. States. Alabama Arkansas.. California Connerticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts... Michigan* Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire. New Jersey New York North Carolina. . Ohio Oregon .\rea in sfiuare Miles. 50, 53, 188, 4. 2, 59, 58, 55, 33, 55, 81, 37, 41, 31, 11, 7, 56, 83, 47, 65, 75, 112, 9, 8, 47, 50, 39, 95, 722 198 981 674 120 268 000 410 809 045 318 600 346 776 184 800 451 531 .156 350 995 090 280 320 000 704 964 244 POPI'LATTOX, 1870. 996,992 484,471 560,247 537.454 125,015 187.748 184,109 539,891 680,637 191.792 364,399 321,011 726.915 626.915 780.894 ,457,351 ,184,059 439.706 827.922 ,721.295 123.993 42,491 318,300 906,096 ,382,759 ,071,361 ,665,360 90,923 1875. 1,3.50. .544 528,349 857,039 1.651,912 1,334.031 598,429 246,280 52,540 1.036. .502 4,705.208 Miles R. R. 1872. 1,671 25 1,013 820 227 466 2.108 5,904 3.529 3.160 1,760 1,123 539 871 820 1.606 2.235 1,612 990 2,580 828 593 790 1.265 4.470 1.190 3,740 lo9 Last Census of Michigan taken in 1874. State.s aud Territories. States. Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina... Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Total States Territories. Arizona Colorado Dakota Dist. of Columbia. Idaho Montana New Mexico Utah Washington Wyoming Total Territories. Area in square Miles. 46,000 1,306 29.385 45,600 237,504 10.212 40.904 33,000 53,934 1,950,171 113,916 104.500 147,490 60 90.932 143,776 121.201 80.056 69,944 93.107 965,032 Population. 1870. 3,531,791 217,353 70.'). 606 1,258,520 818.579 .330,551 1,225,163 442,014 1,054,670 38,113,253 9,658 39,864 14.181 131,700 14,999 20,595 91.874 86,786 23,955 9,118 442,730 1875. 5,113 258,239 925,145 136 1,301 1,520 865 675 1,490 485 1,236.729 1.725 59,587 392 « 375 498 1,265 Miles R. R. 1872. Aggregate of U. S.. 2,915,203 38,555,983 60.852 • Included in the Railroad Mileage of Maryland. PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD I'OPULATION AND AeEA. Countries. Population. China British Empire Russia United States with Alaska. France Austria and Hungary Japan Great Britain and Ireland. German Empire Italy Spain Brazil Turkey Mexico Sweden and Norway Persia Belgium Bavaria Portugal Holland New Grenada Chili Switzerland Peru Bolivia Argentine Republic Wurtemburg Denmark Venezuela Baden Greece Guatemala Ecuador Paraguay Hesse Liberia San Salvador Hayti Nicaragua Uruguay Honduras San Domingo Costa Rica Hawaii 446,500,000 236,817,108 81.925,400 38,925,600 36,469,800 35.904,400 34.785.300 31.817,100 29,906,092 27,439,921 16,642,1)00 10.000.000 16,463.000 9,173.000 5,921,500 5.000.000 5.021,300 4,861,400 3,995,200 3,688.300 3.0O0.000 2,000,000 3,669.100 3,500,000 2,000,000 1,812.000 1,818.500 1.784.700 1,500,000 1,461,400 1,457,900 1,180,000 1,300,000 1,000.000 823,138 718,000 600,000 572.000 350.000 300.000 350,000 136.000 165.000 62.9.50 Date of Census. 1871 1871 1871 1870 1866 1869 1871 1871 1871 1871 1867 1869 1870 1870 1869 1871 1868 1870 1870 1869 1870 1871 '1869 1871 1870 'isii 1870 1871 '1871 ■1871 1871 'isii 1871 1871 isio Area in Square Miles. 3,741.846 4.677.432 8.00.3.778 2,603,884 204.091 240,348 149,399 121,315 160,207 118,847 195,775 3,253,029 672,621 761.526 292.871 635.964 11,373 39,393 34,494 12,680 357,157 132,616 15,992 471,838 497,321 871,848 7,533 14,753 368,238 5,912 19,353 40,879 218,928 63,787 2,969 9,576 7,335 10,205 58,171 66,722 47.092 17.827 21.505 7.633 Inhabitants to Square Mile. 119.3 48.6 10.2 7.78 178.7 149.4 232.8 262.3 187. 230.9 85. 3.07 24.4 20. 7.8 441.5 165.9 115.8 290.9 8.4 15.1 166.9 5.3 4. 2.1 241.4 120.9 4.2 247. 75.3 28,9 5.9 15.6 277. 74.9 81.8 56. 6. 6.5 7.4 7.6 7.7 80. Capitals. Pekin London St. Petersburg. , Washington Paris Vienna Yeddo London Berlin , Rome Madrid Rio Janeiro Constantinople Mexico Stockholm Teheran , Brussels Munich Lisbon Hague Bogota Santiago Berne Lima Chuquisaca Buenos Ayres.. .Stuttgart Copenhagen Caraccas Carlsruhe Athens Guatemala Quito Asuncion Darmstadt Monrovia Sal Salvador... Port au Prince Managua Monte Video... Comayagua San Domingo... San Jose Honolulu Population. 1,648,800 3,251,800 667,000 109,199 1,825,300 833.900 1.554.900 3,251,800 82.5,400 244,484 332.000 420.000 1,075,000 210.300 136,900 120.000 314.100 169.500 224.063 90,100 45.000 115.400 36,000 160,100 25,000 177.800 91.600 162,042 47.000 36,600 43,400 40,000 70,000 48,000 30.000 3.000 15.000 20.000 10.000 44.500 12.000 20,000 2.000 7,633 216 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION POPUIATION OF ILLINOIS, By Counties. COUNTIES. Adams Alexander. . Bond Boone Brown Bureau Calhoun Carroll Cass Champaign . Christian . . Clark Clay Clinton Coles Cook Crawford Cumberland . De Kalb De Witt Douglas Du Page Edgar Edwards Effingham Fayette Ford . - Franklin Fulton Gallatin Greene Grundy Hamilton Hancock Hardin Henderson .. Henry Iroquois Jackson Jasper Jefferson Jersey Jo Daviess.. Johnson Kane Kankakee. .. Kendall Knox Lake La Salle Lawrence Lee Livingston . Logan AGGREGATE. 1870. 56362 10564 I3152 12942 12205 32415 6562 16705 II580 32737 20363 18719 15875 16285 25235 349966 138S9 12223 23265 14768 13484 16685 21450 7565 15653 19638 9103 12652 38291 III34 20277 14938 13014 35935 5113 12582 35506 25782 19634 1 1234 17864 15054 27820 11248 39091 24352 12399 39522 21014 60792 12533 27171 31471 23053 1860. 41323 4707 9815 I1678 9938 26426 5144 II733 II325 14629 10492 14987 9336 1 094 1 14203 144954 II55I 831I 19086 10820 7140 I4701 16925 5454 7816 1 1 189 1979 9393 33338 8055 16093 10379 9915 29061 3759 9501 20660 12325 9589 8364 12965 12051 27325 9342 30062 15412 13074 28663 18257 48332 9214 17651 11637 14272 1850. 1840. 26508 2484 6144 7624 7198 8841 3231 4586 ■ 7253 2649 3203 9532 4289 5139 9335 43385 7135 3718 7540 5002 9290 10692 3524 3799 8075 5681 22508 5448 12429 3023 6362 14652 2887 4612 3807 4149 5862 3220 8109 7354 18604 4114 16703 7730 13279 14226 17815 6121 5292 1553 5128 14476 3313 5060 1705 4183 3067 1741 1023 2981 1475 1878 7453 3228 3718 9616 10201 4422 1697 3247 3535 8225 3070 1675 6328 1830. 1820. 3682 13142 10760 II951 3945 9946 1378 1260 1695 3566 1472 5762 4535 6t8o 3626 6501 7060 2634 9348 7092 2035 759 2333 2186 1390 3124 1090 3940 755 2330 3"7 4071 1649 2704 4083 1841 7405 7674 2616 483 41 1828 2555 2111 1596 274 '3668 626 2931 931 *23 2999 3444 1763 3155 1542 691 843 MISCELLANEOUS INFOKMATION. 217 POPULATION OF ILLINOIS— Concluded. COUNTIES. Macon Macoupin... Madison Marion Marshall — Mason Massac McDonough. Mc Henry ... McLean Menard Mercer Monroe Montgomery Morgan Moultrie Ogle Peoria Perry Piatt Pike - Pope. Pulaski Putnam Randolph.. Richland .. Rock Island Saline Sangamon ., Schuyler Scott Shelby Stark St. Clair Stephenson. Tazewell Union Vermilion. . Wabash Warren Washington Wayne White Whitesides . Will Williamson. Winnebago - Woodford.. Total-. A(}ORKQATE. 1870. 1860. 1850. 1840. 1830. 1820 26481 32726 4413I 20622 16950 16184 9581 26509 23762 53988 II735 18769 12982 25314 2S463 10385 27492 47540 13723 10953 30708 II437 8752 6280 20859 12803 29783 12714 46352 17419 10530 25476 I0751 51068 30608 27903 16518 30388 8841 23174 17599 19758 16846 27503 43013 17329 29301 18956 253989' 13738 24602 31251 12739 13437 1093 1 6213 20069 22089 28772 9584 15042 12832 13979 22II2 6385 2288S 36601 9552 6127 27249 6742 3943 5587 17205 9711 21005 9331 32274 14684 9069 14613 9004 37694 25112 21470 11181 19800 7313 18336 13731 12223 12403 18737 29321 12205 24491 13282 1711951 3988 12355 20441 6720 5180 5921 4092 7616 14978 10163 6349 5246 7679 6277 16064 3234 10020 17547 5278 1606 18S19 3975 2265 3924 1 1079 4012 6937 5588 19228 10573 7914 7807 3710 20180 1 1666 12052 7615 1 1492 4690 8176 6953 6825 8925 5361 16703 7216 11773 4415 851470 3039 7926 14433 4742 1849 5308 2578 6565 4431 2352 4481 4490 19547 3479 6153 3222 1172S 4094 2131 7944 2610 14716 6972 6215 6659 1573 13631 2800 7221 5524 9303 4240 6739 4810 5133 7919 2514 10167 4457 4609 476183 1122 1990 6221 2125 (^) 26 2000 2953 12714 1215 2396 3316 4429 12960 <^2959 2972 7078 4716 3239 5836 2710 308 1675 2553 6091 1574-15 13550 *2I I516. 2610 3492 *5 5248 2362 1517 1114 4828 =^49 55162 218 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. STATE LAWS Relating to Rates of Interest and Penalties for Usury. States and Territories. Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Dakota Delaware District of Columbia ... Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi ■ Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Ontario, Canada Oregon Pennsylvania Quebec, Canada Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Territory West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Legal 1 Rate al- Rate of lowed by Interest. Contract. per cent 8 lo 6 lo lO 7 7 6 6 8 7 lO 6 6 6 8 6 5 6 6 6 7 7 6 6 lO lO lO 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 lO 6 6 6 7 6 8 lO 6 6 lO 6 7 12 Penalties for Usury. per cent. 8 Any rate lO Any rate. Any rate 7 12 6 lO Any rate 12 24 lo lO lO 12 8 8 Any rate. 6 Any rate. lo 12 lo lo Any rate. 12 Any rate. 6 7 Any rate. 7 8 8 Any rate, 12 Any rate. Any rate, Any rate. Any rate. lO 12 Any rate 6 6* Any rate 6* lo Any rate Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of principal and interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of principal. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Fine and imprisonment. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 12 pei cent. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 7 per cent. No Usury Law in this State. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of thrice the excess and costs. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of contract. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess above 6 per cent. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. * Except in cases defined by statutes of the State. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 219 STATE LAWS Relating to Limitations of Actions : Showing Limit of Time in which Action may be Brought on the following : States and Tbrbitories. Alabama Arkansas — California,... Colorado Connecticut. Dakota Delaware District ot Columbia , Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky. Louisiana. Maine Maryland Massachusetts . Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire. New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina... Ohio Ontario (U. Canada). Oregon. Pennsylvania Quebec (L. Canada). Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Assault slander, &c. virgmia Washington Territory. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyommg Years. I I I I 3 2 I I 2 I 2 I I 2 I 2 2 2 I 2 2 I 2 2 2 I 2 3 I 2 2 I I I 2 I I I 2 I 2 I 2 I Open Accts. Years. 3 3 2 6 6 6 3 4 4 2 5 6 5 3 2 3 6 -> o 6 6 6 3 5 5 4 2 6 6 6 6 3 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 3 5 6 6 Notes. Years. 6 5 4 6 6 6 6 3 5 6 4 lO 20 lO 5 5 20 3 20 6 6 6 lo lO 5 4 6 6 lo 6 3 15 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 4 4 4 5 6 10 6 15 Judg- ments. Sealed and witnessed Instru- ments. Years. 20 10 5 3 20 20 20 12 20 7 5 20 2o 20 5 15 10 20 12 20 6 10 7 20 10 5 5 20 20 ic^ 20 10 15 20 10 20 30 20 20 10 10 5 8 10 6 10 20 15 Years. 10 10 5 3 17 20 20 12 20 20 5 10 20 10 15 15 20 20 12 20 10 6 7 10 10 10 4 20 16 10 20 10 15 20 20 20 30 20 20 6 S 7 8 20 6 10 20 15 PRODUCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE, STATE OF ILLINOIS, BY C0UNT1ES.-I870. JOUNTIES. Total .. ImiJioveil Land. WootU'iid Number. 19. 329. 952 OClieruii- inproved Nuinliei. X .5,061. 5?S 1 umber. .491.331 Spring Wheat. Jiusliel.s. io.i33.2n'; Winter Wlieat. IJiisliels. lUisnels 19 99.5.198 2 45K.5r8 Rye. Induiu Corn. Oats. Adaius Alexander Bond Boone , Brown Bureau Oallioun Carroll Cass Champaign... Christian Clark Clay Clinton Coles Cook Crawford Cumuerlaud. Delvalb DeWitt Douglas BuPage Kdgar Edwards Effingham — Fayette Ford Franklin Fulton Gallatin Greene Grundy Hamilton Hancock Hardin Henderson. . Henry Iroquois. . .. Jackson Jasper .. .. Jefferson Jersey JoDaviess .. ■Johnson . .. Kane Kankakee.... Kendall Knox .. Lake LaSalle Lawrence . . . Lee Livingston... Logan Macon Macoupin Madison Marion Marshall Mason Massac McDonough.. McHenry McLean Menard Mercer Monroe Montgomery. Morgan Moultrie Ogle Peoria Perry Piatt Pike Pope Pulaski Putnam Randolph Richland Rock Island. . Saline Sangamon Schuyler Scott Shelby Stark.. St. Clair Stephenson.. Tazewell Union Vermilion Wabash AVarren Washington. Wayne White.. Whitosides... AVill Williamson.. AVinnebago... V/oodford..., 287.92(3 13.83t) 145,045 137,307 57,062 398,611 37,684 186,864 92.902 419,368 241.472 118,594 146,922 150,177 208,337 348,824 105,505 75,342 334,502 168,539 147,63a 364,874 58.91 120,343 187,196 141,228 80,749 228,132 49,572 175,408 193,999 88.996 311.517 2S.11T 140,954 26.5,904 322.510 78,548 90,867 118,951 94,147 156.51'. 57,820 240,120 312,18:i 164.004 330,829 207,77if 533,724 87,8:^8 322,212 377,505 321,709 205,259 231.059 257,032 173,081 166,057 209,453 25,151 261,635 230.566 494,978 134.173 222.809 92,810 276,682 293,450 144,220 316,883 170.729 93,754 94,454 233.785 55.980 19,319 37,271 140,764 75,079 155,214 72,309 421,748 96,195 85,331 310,179 138,129 231,117 254,857 229,126 75,832 360,251 54,063 266,18 177.592 147.3.52 92,398 289.809 419.442 128.448 241,373 22.5,504 112,576 17,761 42,613 29,886 35,491 41,866 63,443 29,793 33,493 16,789 19,803 102,201 80,612 48.868 45,214 19,635 78,350 40,334 17,722 29,548 11,897 17,243 66,803 57,585 56.330 93,460 2,996 3,994 123,823 68,750 93,242 6,256 93,878 43.385 44.771 34,705 12,620 22.478 87,642 67,023 94.888 51,427 82,07t 3 34,646 10,978 14,244 41,566 21,072 48,lli 72,738 12.071 12.46-.i 17,394 18,153 81,224 89,450 61,579 28,261' 31,739 3.3.391 52,54. 53,290 40,36t 34,931 45,97'; 83,369 47,804 60,217 24,783 43,643 48,666 68,470 5,978 128,953 87,754 12,51b 17,184 162.274 50,618 31,239 70,393 51,085 62,477 44,633; 74,908; 12,375 76,591' 43.167i 45.268i 83,606 53,078 37,558 27 294 55.852 146,794 78.167 21.823 24,261 116,949 37,238 25,21' 19,370 ■"i',91.5 2,658 25.608 15,803 2,754 33,302 6,604 58,502 19,173 5,420 5,225 8,722 3,274 17,337 27,185 5,604 6,551 17,633' 7,316; 3,851 14,282! 830 26,206 16,786 63.976 86,710 4,076 2.565 29.653 4,505 3,343 18.480 107 14,243 31,459 63.498 5.991 12,250 778 1,363 45,779 79,141 399 10,598 2,283 2.5,155 24.399 2.356 3,273 7,409 41,78b 408 9,115 7,343 13,67o 4.142 2,976 31.013 311 14,035 57,998 49,087 13,9.52 22,588 666 8,495 1,376 1.3,1 r-i 14,913 2,516 220 13,897 9,302 4.174 1,170 2 025 20,755 809 19,9.32 21,294 1,610 9,314 2,783 2,016 13,701 14,846 5,300 31,122 509 14,583 1.931 10,486 869 37.310 6,335 1,648 15,237 23,135 16,1911 ■■■■"too 241,042 13,276 465,236 75 418,073 12.165 102 577 18,360 1,894 500 2,651 144,296 60 550 398,059 106,493 7,683 106,096 13 283 77 "'42,571 365 193,669 21,700 129 181,378 13 161,112 462,379 57,160 890 282,758 188,82h 10.3,466 90.681 267,764 168,914 271,181 ■■45(V.79:- 120,20t 198,056 55,239 160 550 ■ l66,i^29 73,261 273,871 401,790 211,801 36,152 289,291 59 18,196 17,128 497,038 92,361 ■"26,382 130 28,137 450 ■243,54i 200 89,304 56,221 18 15,526 124,630 2,550 527,394 132,417 "44; 806 ■'l86i290 266 "457,455 195,286 176 408,606 178,139 947 616 42,658 368.625 599 11 7. .502 724 221,298 260 127.054 123.091 504.041 195 118 85,737 6111,888 154,485 4,904 212,924 84,697 19(1 11,695 65.461 693 247,360 122,703 195,716 351,310 1,008 111.324 223.930 83,093 577,400 1511 92.347 232,7.5(1 32.306 69,062 445 10.48(1 329,036 87.K08 100.553 558,367 555 92,191 325 480 1,249 7,654 221 2,193 264,134 2,260 1,339 40,96;i 196,613 861,39b 1,207,181 173,65:; 90(1 125,628 72,316 36,146 270 10,95.T 45.793 13,2(13 651,767 744,891 357,523 196,436 ,5,580 31.843 350,446 39.762 1.057,497 70,457 44,922 79t 1,031,022 150,268 2.27!< 83.011 247.65S 165.724 266.105 452,015 ■l,'562'62i 2,118 72,410 180,231 249,558 202.201 5,712 672,486 164.689 184,321 264 1.996 170,787 2,468 108,307 20,989 30 6,240 35,871 4,742 43,811 186 25,721 2.772 45,752 10,722 7,308 3,221 1,619 8,825 20,171 15,497 14,798 21,018 11 540 9,017 7,532 37,508 528 19,759 25.328 11,577 5,195 131,711 512 415 4,931 11.672 133,533 86.^ 96,43t 35,76( 23,25i- 52-i 9,16.' 5,93h ■■"7.'i85 2,46^ 2.3,618 12,93.T 5.16: 113.547 5.871 48,-iiOI- 1,121 14,82fc 26,16 37.232 29,22:-. 2.404 3.68.'^; 1-4,517 36.135 49,18:^ 54") 52.401 29,26" :i9.824 4.28 40.77*- 1.42t 3,29f 5, 53.' 6.670 157,504 99.50i 1,0U 9.24S 2.5,303 2.30t .^.). 7.707 3,23J :i.401 20,00:: 56)- 23,07:- 20,841 930 23,686 :10.534 1,008 135,362 59,027 1,737 52,476 ■"7r2;212 2,576 8,665 418 31.658 8,030 6,228 137.985 20,426 Hushels. Bushels. 129.921.395 42.780.851 759,074 21,627 461,097 579,127 70,852 987,426 26.234 775,10c 168,784 721,375 38:i,821 212.628 269.945 446.324 315.954 1,584,225 136,255 171,880 1,087,074 216,756 225,074 860,809 290,679 129,152 386,073 497,395 154.589 222,426 261,390 27,164 64,029 269.332 203,464 579.599 26,991 229,286 668,367 430,746 149,931 149,214 28.5,949 71.770 874,016 74,525 785.608 772.408 468,890 787,952 699,069 1, .509,642 131,386 90:3,197 659,300 490,226 454,648 459,417 475,2.52 389,446 362,604 272,660 22,097 280,717 910.397 911,127 2:i5,091 452,889 152,251 668,424 198,724 26:j.992 141,540 334,892 338,760 i:iO,610 161,419 67,886 16,511 86,519 414,487 204,634 276,575 69,793 397,718 119.35S 13.462 637,812 316,726 476.851 960.620 505,841 124,473 436.051 110,793 601.054 533.398 404,482 119.653 880.8:38 1,868.682 180.986 868.903 744,581 1,4.52,905 244,220 1,064,052 466,985 337.769 3,030.404 234.041 1.367 965 l,14r).980 :3, 924, 720 1,883,336 614,582 1,019,994 813.257 2,13:3,111 570,427 581.964 403.075 1,02:3,849 1,311,635 1,680,225 331,981 2,107.615 352,371 620,247 962,525 56,5,671 65:3,209 1,508,763 509,491 1,051,313 295,971 735,25-J 1,510.401 172.651 1,712.901 2.541,683 799,811 611,951 461,34.= 887,981 519,121 1,286,321 34:3,29t- 674,33:: 637,395 681,267 2.708,319 517,353 ;3,077,02!- 656,36:: l,656,97^ l,182,69t 4,221, 64( 2,214,468 1,051, 54-^ 2.127,.549 1.034,05' 1,182,90:; 2,648,721 13:3,126 1,362,49(1 1,14.5,005 3.72:3.379 1.97:3.88( 2,054,962 54:3,718 1, .527.898 :3,198,835 1,75:3.141 1,787,066 969,224 384,446 1,029.725 1,399,188 315,95!- 195.735 334,259 510.081 482. 59-) 1.459,65:: 531, 5U 4,388,76:^, 440,975 ' 7.52.771 2,082.578 1,149 878 1,423 121 1.615,679 2,062,053 679.753 2,818.027 421,361 2,982,853 836.115 1,179.291 870.521 2,162,943 1,131,458 655,710 1,237,406 2,154,185 -^^4' /^ PONTIAC .<^inMNf| HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. A PERIOD of time which would be considered remote in the records of the civilization of Central Illinois, would be regarded as recent in the annals of the Eastern or Southern States ; and in the history of a county which, less than fifty years ago, was inhabited only by the aborigines, it will not be expected that an undue flavor of antiquity will pervade the pages ; still, the pages of few histories, either ancient or modern, furnish more instructive lessons than are to b* found in the record of the pluck, perseverance and success of the early set- tlers of this county. The facts pertaining to the early settlement of the county have been gleaned from the few old pioneers who still survive ; and the writer desires especially to acknowledge his indebtedness to Hon. Woodford G. McDowell, who came to the Territory and settled in what is now Livingston County, forty-six years ago, for much valuable information, without which it would have been impossible to record some of the most interesting facts and incidents in the history of the county. Of the colony which settled in Avoca Township, in the year 1832, Judge McDowell, his brother; John and James, and a sister, Mrs. Joel Tucker, still survive and are living in this county. It is fortunate for the historian that the colony reckoned the McDowell brothers among its numbers ; for they were not only fully competent to do so, but did take a deep interest in preserving the more interesting details of the progress and development of the county. The work of writing this history has been begun none too soon ; as, by far, the greater number of the early settlers have passed away ; and age and decrep- itude are clouding the memories of some who remain ; and, had the work been deferred for a few years, a considerable portion of the history would have been lost. This work is not written for the purpose of recording panegyrics on any ^ man or set of men ; and, if an individual receives prominent mention, it is because his history is interwoven with the history of the county, in such a manner as to render it necessai'y. So far as writing up the official and political portion of the work is con- cerned, care has been taken to follow the official records, so far as there were records to follow ; but, beyond that, the writer has been forced to hunt his facts wherever he could find them throughout the countv. 224 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. SETTLEMENT AND POPULATION, AND AVHENCE DERIVED. Livingston County contains 1,035 square miles of territory, extending west from the north part of Grand Prairie, and having most of the characteristics of that district ; and it was among the last counties of the State to attract immi- gration. For many years after the first settlers located, our broad prairies failed to induce c^eneral settlement, as immigrants seemed to prefer the more rolling lands, of the northern and western counties, or the timbered regions farther south. It was not until the building of the Illinois Central Railroad, which passed through many miles of similar country, and brought its peculiar characteristics into favorable notice, and the construction of the Chicago & Mississippi Road, which passed directly through the county, that immigrants generally began to discover the value of the lands of this hitherto neglected region. Much of the land donated by the Government to the State, and, by the State transferred to the Central Railroad Company, lay in this county, and was put upon the market. This land rapidly found purchasers and occupants ; and the building of these roads, together with the construction of the Toledo, Peoria Warsaw Road, made it possible for producers to market their grain, and greatly enhanced the value of the land ; and the real settlement of the county dates from this era. The historv of the county naturally divides itself into three epochs : First, the occupation by the Indians, from the discovery of the prairie country by the French, to the first white settlement, in the Fall of 1829. Second, from the first settlement of the whites to the building of the railroads, in 1854. Third, from that period to the present time. But, before the subject is treated in this order, a short statement of the derivation of our population will be given, and, also, the topography and geology of the county will receive attention. The earlier settlers came, principally, from Indiana and Ohio, with only a few from the States further east and south, while a large portion of those who, during the third epoch, reduced the virgin soil to cultivation, were immigrants from foreign lands, or from the older and more populous counties of this State. These last mentioned Avere attracted hither by cheaper lands and by a wider range of pasturage. Nearly all of these were men of small pecuniary means, but possessed of courage, industry and thrift, and found themselves benefited by their change of locality. The older counties of La Salle, 'Bureau, Peoria, Knox, Fulton, Tazewell and Woodford have sent us not a few of their young and active men. Many of our most esteemed and Avorthy citizens are natives of Ireland, Germany, Norway and Demark. England has contributed her share, and many freedmen are settled in the county. But it is not to immigration alone, active and constant as it has been, that our great and rapid increase of population is to be attributed. There are no statistics to shoAv the number of births in the county previous to the present year, and speculation must be left to others than the historian. Fortunately, however, HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 225 the law which requires the registration of births and deaths has been in force lono- enoucrli to give a few figures. Registration commenced in December, 1877, but it was not until late in January, 1878, that the full statistics could be ob- tained. In four months, 318 births have been recorded, and it is believed that many others have occurred which, for various reasons, have not been reported. But this would make the number of births in this county (which contains a popula- tion of 40,000) about one thousand per year, or two and one half per cent, per annum. The number of deaths registered during the same period is seventy- six, showing that the natural increase does not vary much from two per cent, during the year. The number of marriage licenses issued during this period is 140. TOPOGRAPHY. The county is bounded on the north by La Salle and Grundy Counties ; on the east by Kankakee and Ford ; on the south by Ford and McLean ; on the west by McLean, Woodford and La Salle Counties. It embraces Ranges from o to 8, east of the Third Principal Meridian ; and Townships from 25 to 30, north of the base line of the State, being thirty-six miles from cast to west, and twenty-four from north to south, with an addition of eighteen by nine and three- fourths miles, lying south of the eastern half of the county. It contains twenty- seven full Congressional Townships, namely: Reading, Newtown, Sunbury, Nevada, Dwight, Round Grove, Long Point, Amity, Esmen, Odell, Lnion, Broughton, Nebraska, Rook's Creek, Pontiac, Owego, Saunemin, Sullivan, Waldo, Pike, Eppard's Point, Avoca, Pleasant Ridge, Charlotte, Indian Grove, Forrest and Chatsworth ; and three fractional townships, to wit. Belle Prairie, Fayette and GermantoAvn. In size, it is the fourth largest county in the State, being exceeded only by La Salle, McLean and Iroquois. It is principally prairie land ; but timber is found along the Vermilion River and its branches, and also in some fine groves of native timber, in various parts of the county. Round Grove, near the north- eastern corner, originally contained 80 acres ; Oliver's Grove about 800 acres, situated near the southeastern corner; Indian Grove, near the soutliwestern corner, about 800 acres; and Babcock's Grove embraces 100 acres, standing on high ground near the center of the county ; Packwood's Grove, near this point, contains 20 acres ; and Five Mile Grove, near the head of the north branch of the Vermilion, closes the list. Each of these, with the exception of Round Grove, which is on a branch of the Mazon, stands at the head of a small stream' which, on leaving the timber, flows through the open prairie and empties into the Vermilion. The timber land does not exceed six per cent, of the area. The different varieties of oak, elm, maple and walnut predominate, while ash, Cottonwood, white- wood and some other varieties are not uncommon, and a few cedars are found on the banks of the Vermilion. 226 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. The Vermilion River has its rise in the extreme southeastern portion of the county, and has the following tributaries : South Branch, Indian Creek, Turtle Creek, Wolf Creek, Rook's Creek, Mud Creek, Long Point and Scattering Point Creeks, most of which have their rise in the county. All of these streams are living water, fed by springs, affording ample Avater for stock, and splendid drainage for all parts of the county. The Vermilion and the larger branches are well stocked with fish, of which the pickerel, bass and cat-fish are the predominant varieties. The Vermilion affords water-power for a few mills, the best point being at Pontiac, where Thomas Williams' fine grist-mill and saw-mill are located. This river has thus been noticed by a local writer : THE VERMILION. Vermilion is no classic stream, She is not named in song or story ; No mighty deed or poet's dream Have placed her on the page of glory ; And yet her banks are just as fair As those of classic rivers are. The Rubicon with all its fame, When sifted down is but a sham ; Vermilion is a longer name, And quite as wide above the dam, And as for Ctvsar riding through it — Why, any half-baked fool could do it. Some men go out to see the Nile, Because they think 'tis great and manly; And one stayed out there such a while. He had to be looked up by Stanley. It really did him no more good Than paddling up Vermilion would. Burns sang the praise of Bonnie Doon, Because a song he must deliver ; Had he lived here he would as soon Have sung thy praise, Vermilion River. Buck's springs would then as famous be As the castle of Montgomery. Flow on, Vermilion, gently flow, And turn the wheels of AVilliams' mill; Still on thy way rejoicing go — A river is a river still. And all the rivers known to fame Are made of water just the same. The soil is principally the deep, black alluvial, common in this State. The surface is gently undulating, with broader stretches of level land than are found in the northern and western counties. The lands lying south, southwest and northwest of the center of the county are, for the most part, level, while north, east and southeast of the center, the land is more rolling, yet not so uneven as to receive any ill eifects from washing, while under the plow. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 227 The chief advantage which land of this character has over a more rolling and broken surface is that, for many years to come, there can be no perceptible loss in its fertility, from washing while under cultivation. GEOLOGY. The geological formations are not unlike those common to the Grand Prairie district, with the important diiference that, in this county, coal and stone are found in abundance. For some years after the first settlement, and during the second epoch, the people lived in ignorance of the vast coal fields of the county. All residents then lived in or upon the skirts of the timber, and no fuel was needed, other than the forest supplied. It is true that the outcroppings of coal along the banks of the river, in the northwestern part of the county, were discovered and commented upon ; but the pioneer had no means of utilizing it, and considered it of no value. About the year 18G0, Henry L. Marsh, who owned a large tract of land near Fairbury, had his attention called to the fact that the rapidly increasing popu- lation must necessarily require a more abundant supply and a cheaper fuel. There was not timber enough in the county to supply it for ten years, at the rate it was being consumed ; and, from his knowledge of coal formation. Marsh believed that it could here be obtained, by going to a sufficient depth. At that day, coal mining, by deep, perpendicular shafts, was unknown in this bituminous district. La Salle, Peoria and Morris were sending out the few tons they were called upon to supply, and Coalville supplied a meager local trade. The Wilmington coal fields were not yet discovered, and Streator, which now, from its various shafts, sends up its thousands of tons per day, was unknown to the Avorthy man whose name it bears ; and for a decade after Marsh's pioneer labors, the place was known only by the name of " Hard- scrabble." To a man of less force, will-power and energy than Marsh, the idea of mining coal on the open prairie of Livingston County would have remained an idea, or it might have grown into a desire ; but he was made of the right material to push a gigantic enterprise to completion. He at once set about an investigation of the facts in the case, and, under his investigation, the possibilities steadily grew into a reality. The story of his struggles with adverse fortune, his heavy losses, his trials and failures, and his final success, would make an interesting and instruct- ive chapter of history. Water, at various depths, so flooded his work and damaged it in various ways, that his friends and backers deemed the scheme impracticable ; but he was not discouraged, and, in the last extremity, he com- pleted an invention of his own, by which the difficulty was overcome. At a depth of 180 feet, he struck a paying vein of excellent coal. The success attending Marsh's efforts incited others to like enterprises, and, in 1865, a shaft was sunk at Pontiac, another shaft at Fairbury in 1808, one near Streator in 228 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 1872, one at Cornell in 1875, and one at Cayuga in 1878. ■ Cayuga, which is distant five miles from the river, is, thus far, the farthest point from the Ver- milion at which a paying vein of coal has been reached in the county. The efforts to find coal at Odell and Dwight have thus far proved failures. The mining at Coalville is carried on by horizontal entries, and is not so expensive to the operators. The capital invested in coal mining in Livingston will not fall short of a quarter of a million dollars, and, thus far, the enterprise has proved far more profitable to purchasers than to the proprietors of the mines. Ledges of limestone, suitable for building purposes, are found along the banks of the Vermilion ; and at Pontiac and in the vicinity, inexhaustible quar- ries of calcareo-silicious stone are found. In sinking the coal shafts at Fair- bury, a fine dark sandstone of peculiar color and quality was discovered. This stone is easily dressed, and is a superior stone for building purposes. INDIAN HISTORY. When the white settlers first began to locate in the territory out of which Livingston County was formed, they found it in the possession of the Kickapoo and Pottawatomie Indians. These tribes claimed the country by right of conquest, and their eventful history demands a far more extended notice than can be given to it in these pages. The final and decisive battle between the Kickapoos and the Pottawato- mies on the one hand, and the Miamis on the other, finds no parallel in history, except it be the battle of "Chevy Chase" between the followers of Douglas and Percy. This " duel of the tribes," as it is called, will again be referred to. The " mini " Avcre the first inhabitants of which history gives any authentic account. This name means " Superior men " and did not apply to a tribe, but to a confederation of tribes, composed of the Peorias, Moinquienas, Kas-kas-kias, Tamaroas and Cahokias. In 1872, this powerful confederation had dwindled to forty souls, and these were living on a reservation southwest of the land assigned by the Government to the Quapaws. Chicago was their great chief in the days of their glory. In 1700, this chief went to France, and was treated with distinguished honors. His son, of the same name, was also a powerful chief to the time of his death, in 1754. Against this confederation, the Kickapoos, PottaAvatomies and Miamis com- bined for a war of extermination. After a long and bloody struggle, the Illini made their last stand at Starved Rock, in La Salle County, in the year 1774. The Illini suffered a disastrous defeat, and left their enemies in undisputed possession of the territory. But when the victorious tribes came to divide the domain among themselves, fresh difficulty arose, and they again resorted to arms. In this struggle, the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies combined their forces, and made common cause against the Miamis. The war which followed was HISTORV OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 229 not of long duration ; but it was exceedingly bloody and fatal to the participants. In the year 1774, less than twelve months from the time that they had con- quered the Illini, it was agreed that the Miamis should select three hundred warriors, and the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies a like number, and that these SIX hundred men should meet in combat and decide the (quarrel. The opposing forces met on the banks of Sugar Creek and fought from the rising to the setting of the sun, and at the close of the day there remained only- twelve men who were not killed or mortally wounded ; and of these, five were Miamis and seven Kickapoos and Pottawatomies. The ballad of "Chevy Chase." with which every student of historv is familiar, and which records the only parallel of this conflict to be found in history, tells us that " The fight did last from break of day Till setting of the sun : for when they rung tlie evening bell, The battle scatce was done. "And the Lord Maxwell, in likewise, Did with Earl Douglas die ; Of twenty hundred Scottish spears, Scarce fifty-five did fly. " Of fifteen hundred Englishmen, Went home but fifty-three ; The rest were slain at Chevy Chase. Under the greenwood tree." But this people had no written language, and many of their deeds of noble •daring will perish with them ; but it would require but little imairination to quote further from the records of Chevy Chase, and apply it to this'conflict : " Next day, did many widows come, Their husbands to bewail ; They washed their wounds in briny tears, But all could not prevail. " Their bodies, bathed in purple blood, They bore with them away ; They kissed them, dead, a thousand times Ere they were clad in clay." In this battle, the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies were declared the victors, and the Miamis retired to the east side of the AYabash River, leaving them in possession of the territory. The victorious tribes then divided the land between them, and the Indian trail passing near Oliver's Grove marked the dividing line. East and southeast of this line belonged to the Kickapoos, and the remainder to the Pottawatomies. Hon. Perry A. Armstrong, a gentleman of culture and natural talent, who resides at Morris, in Grundy County, has made the study of the history of these Indian tribes a specialty for the past twenty-five years ; and it is to him that the writer is indebted for valuable dates in this connection. 230 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Armstrong says, in speaking of the Indian trail referred to : " It was very distinct when I last saw it, in 1845 ; and Avhen I first saw it, in 1831, it was, on an average, eight inches deep by fifteen inches wide." This trail was the- dividing line between the two tribes up to the year 1835, when the Government moved them west of the Mississippi. When the boundary line was established, the Pottawatomies retired to the- vicinitv of Fox River, while the Kickapoos established their headquarters on Salt Creek, near where the town of LeRoy now stands ; and the vicinity was^ known to the first settlers by the name of Old Town Timber. The Pottawato- mies would come up as far as Rook's Creek, on their hunting excursions, and' they frequently camped on the Vermilion River, in the vicinity of the present residence of Emsley Pope, in Newtown ; but the boundary line was respected,, and the two tribes remained on friendly terms. In the Spring of 1828, the Kickapoos removed their headquarters within the present bounds of Livingston County. They erected a council house and built a villao-e on the east side of Indian Grove, and the tribe at that time num- bered about 700 souls. They possessed all the ordinary characteristics of the typical American Indian — the copper complexion, black, straight hair, well-pro- portioned limbs and keen, black eyes. The women Avere far more attractive in personal appearance than the gener- ality of squaws, notwithstanding the fact that upon them devolved all the drudg- ery of domestic life ; and, while they remained at Indian Grove, the women cultivated the land, after a rude fiishion, and raised corn, beans and potatoes, Avhile the men devoted themselves to hunting and fishing, but the squaws were expected to dress all game after it was brought home. In the Spring of 1830, they removed to Oliver's Grove, then known as Kickapoo Grove, where they erected a large and permanent council house, ninety-seven wigwams and several small encampments. It was here that an exact census of them Avas taken, and they numbered — men, women and children — 630 souls. In the year of 1832, a pioneer Methodist preacher by the name of William Walker, who resided at Ottawa, 111., visited them and established a Mission. Father Walker was at the time an old man, and the journey was a long one for him to make ; but, under his ministrations, several of the tribe were converted to Christianity, among the number being a young man whom Walker ordained, and who held regular service every Sabbath when Walker could not attend- They soon came to have great respect for 'the Sabbath, and, at whatever dis- tance from home they might be hunting during the Aveek, they ahvays returned to camp on Saturday night, so as to be in attendance at church on Sunday morning. Their prayer books consisted of Avalnut boards, on Avhich were carved char- acters representing the ideas intended to be impressed upon the mind. At the top of the board Avas a picture of a AvigAvam. I HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 231 These boards were quite uniform in size and appearance, and were held very sacred, and were protected with the utmost care ; no Indian thought of retiring for the night without first consulting his board. Each Sabbath they had a public dinner, of which the whole community partook. In the center of the ground in which their religious meetings were held, a fire was kindled, and over this the camp kettles were hung in a line. The men were grouped on one side of this line and the women on the other; at one end gathered the children, and at the other end stood the preacher. Two men stood near the children to see that perfect order was preserved; and no congregation, even in the days of the Puritan fixthers, was more decorous than were these newly Christianized Kickapoos. While the minister preached,, the dinner cooked ; and when the religious services were over, the kettles were removed from the fire, and the dinner was served out into Avooden bowls and trenchers, with ladles and spoons of the same material. The dinner generally consisted of venison, coon, opossum, turtle, fish, or any other animal food they coukf obtain, together with corn, beans and potatoes, all boiled together. Hon. Woodford (x. McDowell, on whom we have largely drawn for infor- mation, says that a dinner of this kind "generally left a quantity of soup, which was highly flavored and quite nutritious." It is natural to suppose that such would be the case. The Kickapoos remained at this point until September, 1832, when they- were removed by the Government to their lands west of the city of St. Louis. Shabbona, the friend of the whites, with whom many of the earliest settlers were acquainted, was neither a Kickapoo nor a Pottawatomie, but an Ottawa Indian. After the death of Pontiac, after whom the county seat of Livings- ton County is named, the Ottawa tribe became merged into the Pottawatomies ; but many individual members of the tribe clung to the old name, and cherished with pride the history of their descent from this superior stock. Of this num- ber was Shabbona, who was very sensitive on the question of his origin. If he was called a Pottawatomie, says Armstrong, he would immediately and invari- ably reply: "Me Ottawa Indian ; me no Pottawatomie." The history of the great chief Pontiac is interwoven with the history of the nation ; yet it has remained for Hon. Perry A. Armstrong, of Morris, to give to the world a reliable account of his last days. The last event recorded in his career, in the commonly received history, is his attack on Capt. Dalzell, who, at the head of three hundred men, was march- ing to the relief of Detroit, about the last of July, 1763. Says the national historian : "Subsequent to this period, we have no reliable history of the Great Sachem of the Ottawas." Armstrong says : " He was a great brave, who had enemies and rivals, who finally caused him to be assassinated. He was invited to a war dance on a dark night, solely for this purpose. He was warned to stay away, or if he attended to take with him a strong force of braves ; but aspir- ing to be the leader of all, he knew that if he showed fear on this occasion 232 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. he would be forever disgraced; he started alone, and was waylaid and mur- dered before he reached his destination." This event occurred is 1772, near where East St. Louis stands, EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCIDENTS. V. M. Darnall and Frederick Rook were the first white men to locate in the territory now embraced in Livingston County. Darnall erected his cabin in the southern part of the timber known as Indian Grove, in the Fall of 1829, soon after the Kickapoo Indians had exchanged this locality for Oliver's Grove. At or about the time that Darnall made his settlement at Indian Grove, Frederick Rook located five miles west of Pontiac, on the creek which still bears his name ; and, soon after, Isaac Jordan selected his location. Rook removed to Missouri at an early day, and the exact date of his settlement here cannot be obtained. These three men, Avith their fiimilies, Avere the only white persons, in this locality, who saw the " great snow " Avhich fell in the Winter of 1830-31. This fall of snow was phenomenal, and its like, probably, had never occurred before, and certainly has not since within the limits of the State. In a dead calm, it fell to the depth of four feet. This was followed by a drizzling rain, which soon turned to sleet. Then the weather became intensely cold, and the whole face of the country was covered with a sheet of ice, overlying a field of snow that was four feet deep on the level. This storm was very destructive to game of all kinds, and it was several years before it again became abundant. Deer, by the hundred, starved to death, and birds, such as grouse and quail, perished in great numbers. Squire L. Payne, of Eppard's Point, who at that time resided near Danville, informs ihe writer that deer, showing no signs of fear, would stand and eat the branches from a fallen tree while the woodman was chopping and splitting the body of the same. He further says that, after the snow had continued for some time, the deer were not molested, as they were so emaciated as to be unfit for food, and were only occasionally killed for their skins. At this period, the Kickapoo Indians had a village at Oliver's Grove, and they, as Avell as the few white settlers, suifered severely from the intense cold and scarcity of food. During the continuance of the snow, they used their largo council house as a common kitchen for all. Their camp kettles were kept constantly boiling, and into them were thrown such animal food as they could procure. A starved deer was a welcome addition to their larder, and, when •other supplies failed, a pony was sacrificed, and horse soup dished out. Frederick Rook and Isaac Jordan found their stock of provisions failing, and thev conceived the idea of manufacturino; snow-shoes from boards and going to Mackinaw for supplies, for it was impossible for them to travel with a horse. They accomplished the journey on their snow-shoes, and Avhen they reached that, to them, Egyptian storehouse, they were so fortunate as to receive, each, a bushel and a half of corn. They placed this on hand-sleds and drcAv it home, HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 233 arriving there on the evening of the fourth day. This corn they pounded into meal, and, by careful husbanding, made it last them till further supplies could be obtained. When the snow began to fall, jNIajor Darnall was over on the Mackinaw, his wife and four small children being at home in Indian Grove, with a scanty sup- ply of prodsions. He waited during the night for the storm to abate ; but, at the early dawn, he mounted his horse, which Avas an excellent one, and taking the half of a deer before him, without guide or compass, he started across the trackless snow-field for his distant home. It was a perilous undertaking and, at times, it seemed useless to ti-y to proceed, as the horse would sink to his saddle- girths in the snow ; but horse and rider persevered, and, just as the sun was setting, he espied the smoke curling from the chimney of his little cabin, which was half buried in the snow. Imagination can paint the blissful meeting of husband and wife on this occasion ; and there have been few happier family meetings than the one gathered around Major Darnall's hearthstone on that memorable evening. Major Darnall still resides in the vicinity of Fairbury, possessed of a com- petence, honored and respected ; and it is worth something to hear him recount the history of the early days of Livj ^-ston County. Durins: the vear 1830, Andrew/ »IcMillan and Garret M. Blue located on Rook's Creek, and their descendant - are numerous. Blue's name and those of his sons frequently appear in the political annals of the county. Jacob Moon came to Moon's Point in the same year, and his progeny are among the most wealthy and respected in the county. On the 5th day of May, 1832, William McDowell, i"rom Sciota County, Ohio, with his five sons, John, Hiram, Woodford G., Joseph and James, and his two daughters, Betty and Hannah, settled in what is now Avoca Township, on the Little Vermilion. Their nearest white neighbor on the south was one Philip Cook ; but they could call around on Frederick Rook, Isaac Jordan or William Popejoy, almost any time, by going a distance of from five to fifteen miles. The elder McDowell displayed excellent judgment in selecting this location, for after forty-five years' continual farming, the soil is still rich and productive. The McDowells at once proceeded to erect their cabin. The principal tool used in its construction Avas an axe. They brought with them a few panes of glass for a window, and, in this particular, they had the advantage of their neighbors. The boards which furnished the material for the door and window casing of this primitive dwelling, were purchased of the Kickapoo Indians, and were brought from Oliver's Grove with an ox team. The Indians had hewn them out for some purpose of their own, but were induced to part with them for a small s.upply of ammunition. The Black Hawk war Avas then in active operation, and this settlement Avas within a short march of the headcpiarters of this terrible chief. This same year, Wm. Popejoy, John Hanneman and Franklin Oliver located, and soon took an act- 234 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. ive part m the affairs of the settlement. Black Hawk maintained his position, and the situation of the settlers became alarming, as it was not known what attitude the Kickapoo Indians (numbering 030) at Oliver's Grove, would assume ; and, on the 20th of May, they were waited upon by a deputation of whites for the pur- pose of ascertaining their intentions. At this meeting, the venerable Franklin Oliver presided. On their return from the council, the members of the deputation stopped at the McDowell cabm and took dinner, and they advised the settlers either to abandon their homes or proceed to erect fortifications. The latter scheme was impracticable, for the reason that there were but two rifles in the whole settlement, and very little ammunition. On the 27th of May, all the white men in the settlement held a council, and it Avas then and there decided that the best thing that could be done, under the circumstances, was to retire to the white settlements in Indiana ; and, on the evening of the 28th, the entire white population camped in and around the McDowell cabin, preparatory to a march the next morning. This company consisted of the McDowell family, and William Popejoy, Abner Johnson, Uriah Blue, Isaac Jordan and John Hanneman, and their fam- ilies — thirty-one souls in all. In speaking of this party, Hon. Woodford G. McDowell, who was one of the number, says : "I feel sure, if the entire outfit ^ had been required to raise twenty-five dollars among them, or be scalped by the Indians, they would have been compelled to throw up the sponge — they could not have raised the money." On the morning of the 29th of May, the whole company of seven families, in six wagons, took up the line of march and left the embryo county in posses- sion of the Indians. Darnall must have retreated some time previous, as his name is not mentioned in this exodus ; and as far as Oliver is concerned, he came and went among the Indians at his own pleasure, and without fear of molestation. He thoroughly understood their character, and was accounted a favorite among them ; and, in fact, an Indian chief was called after his name. Durin^r the march to Indiana, several interesting incidents transpired. The more timid were in hourly anticipation of an attack from Black Hawk, and could scarcely be persuaded to regulate their pace with the ox teams which drew the women and children. On the second day of their march, the Avife of Isaac Jordan presented him with an infant daughter ; and James McDowell, then a young man of 17 years, together with another youth, walked to a grove of timber four miles distant to procure wood enough to build a camp fire. On their return, they found the camp in great commotion. A couple of Indians had been seen on a ridge overlooking the camp, and then to disappear in the tall grass. Women and children were crying, and even some of the men were badly frightened, and counseled an immediate flight, as they supposed the Indians they had seen were scouts sent out by Black Hawk. Others were less excited, and proceeded to light the camp fire and prepare their supper, the elder McDowell remarking, as he held his frying-pan over the fire, that " he did not HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 235 propose to be scalped on an empty stomach." It was soon ascertained, how- ever, that the Indians Avere two friendly Kickapoos, who had come to bid their white friends farewell ; but the incident proved the different material of which the company was composed, and had not a little to do with the estimate in which they subsequently held each other's character. The next day, the mother and child were left at the house of Philip Cook, before mentioned, as this Avas considered sufficiently remote from the seat of war to be safe ; and the remainder of the party pushed on to Indiana. A. B. Phil- lips and James Spence, with their families, had taken refuge within a fortifica- tion on the Mackinaw. But, in the Fall of the same year, nearly all of the persons mentioned in the exodus returned to their claims. We have seen how near the daughter of Isaac Jordan came to being born in the limits of the county, but the first white child actually born within the bor- ders of Livingston, Avas a son of A. B. Phillips. He grew to manhood, and when the hour of his country's peril came, he was one of the first to answer her call, and he gave his life to maintain her honor. Thus the county literally gave her " first born for a sacrifice." All honor to such men ! " On fame's eternal camping ground Their silent tents are spread, And glory guards, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead." The second birth in the county was J. W. Darnall, noAV 47 years old, and a worthy and respected citizen. When the settlers returned from Indiana, Avith them came Nathan Popejoy, and located a fcAv miles east of Pontiac. At this period. Judge McDoAvell informs us that there Avere but tAvo young ladies within a distance of fifty miles up and doAvn the Vermilion, but this condition of thino-s did not long exist, for the year 1833 saAV a considerable influx of new families. In this year. Dr. John DaAis settled near the present residence of Philip Rollins. He Avas the first physician in the county, and had the medical practice, without a rival, for some time. About the same time came Daniel RockAvood and the Weeds, Henry, E. F. and James, also John Recob, John Johnson, the Murry family, Squire Hayes, John Chew, Daniel Barackman, John DoAvney, Joseph Reynolds and his brothers. The Government had just removed the last Kickapoo Avest of the Mississippi, and Franklin Oliver, this year, permanently located at Kickapoo Grove, Avhich, since that date, has borne his name. The Indian trouble Avas now forever settled, so far as this county Avas concerned, the hardest trials were past and a brighter day was daAvning ; but the old settler never groAvs weary of talking about this period, and of recount- ing his trials and exploits. Among the number Avhose recollection is perfectly unimpaired, is John Johnson, of Rook's Creek. He Avas born in Ontario County, NcAv York, and came to ShaAvneetoAvn, in this State, as early as 1821. There Avere only some fifty Avhite persons in the county Avhen Johnson settled here, and he kncAv them all. He calculates that he and his sons have killed 236 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. over a thousand deer within the limits of the county. In the Fall hunt of 1834, they killed seventy-five and took the skins and hams to Ottawa, and received for them the sum of sixty dollars — a large amount of money in those days. Franklin Oliver, although in his ninety-second year, still retains his faculties in a wonderful degree, and is a walking encyclpp?edia of facts pertaining to the early settlement ; also Emsley Pope (whose history will receive further mention), together with James and Woodford G. McDowell and Major Darnall are still with us, their minds and memories unimpaired. Frederick Rook, the old pioneer, after whom Rook's Creek Township is named, is described by James- McDowell, as a well-made, fat-faced, easy natured and accommodating German? and not at all such a character as has been described in later days. He had a wife and family, and, at the date of his departure, his eldest daughter, Mary, w'as seventeen years old. He frequently deplored the lack of facilities for giv- ing his children an education, and it is stated that this was the cause of his removing from the county at an early day. He was a capital sliot, a generous provider for his family, and altogether a worthy man ; and the aspersions cast upon his character are without any foundation in fact, and may be considered as false. The nearest post office at this time was at Bloomington ; but, as James McDowell says, they did not take a daily paper or write many love letters in those days ; they managed to live with a post office even at that distance. They took their grain fifty miles, with an ox team, to a mill owned and run by John Green, on the other side of Ottawa ; and, after hauling it that distance, they frequently had to wait a day or two for their turn, and it never happened that a man went to mill, called round by the post office and returned home on the same day. Among some of the earliest settlers were Truman Rutherford, John Foster, James Holman, William K. Brown, .Judge Breckenridge, Amos Edwards and Andrew McDowell, of Long Point ; Walter Cornell, Andrew Sprague, Joel B. Anderson, H. Steers, Isaac Burgit, John Darnall, John Travis, J. W. Reynolds, Charles Jones, Philip Rollins, John Marks, James Demoss, Benjamin Hie- ronymous and the Garner brothers. It was several years before the pioneers erected a church edifice, but they were not heathens. For miles around, the community would, on a Sunday^ assemble at the house of John Terhune, who possessed a book of sermons, and who would read to them on these occasions. Terhune was a man of education^ who quietly came among these pioneers, and, after remaining a few years, departed as he came. His destination was not known, and the date of his departure is not fixed ; and, as he was of a retiring and unobtrusive disposition, but few facts concerning him can be obtained. In 1884, William Royle, a Methodist preacher, established a mission in this locality ; but, as his circuit embraced such distant points as Waupansee, Ottawa and Mazoii, he could only hold service here on a week day ; yei men w^ould HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 23T leave their work and come ten and even fifteen miles to attend religious service. In the Fall of the year, the whole community — men, women and children — - would yoke ujx their ox teams and go over to Mackinaw to attend camp meeting. This was considered the event of the year, and was eagerly anticipated by the young people, who had not many opportunities of enjoying each other's society and forming new acquaintances. Joseph C. Morrison, of Avoca Township, and now one of the wealthiest and most respected citizens of the county, was, at this period, one of the rising young men of the community. He says that the enjoyment of these trips could only be appreciated by a community placed in like circumstances. Yet these pioneers were not without their amusements and recreations ; but; they generally contrived to combine business with pleasure. James ]McDowell came twelve miles, with his father, to assist in raising the first cabin that was erected in Pontiac ; and he remembers it as a day given to pleasure. Another popular amusement was to assemble the community for the " grand circular hunt." Having selected the territory, which embraced as large a tract as the number of hunters could command, they placed themselves in a circle, on the outside, and drove the game toward a common center. The gams thus encir- cled consisted mainly of wolves and deer, which were always captured or killed in great numbers. The hunt, and especially the closing up of the circle, wa& exciting in the extreme, and no small amount of skill was displayed in the man- ner of disposing of the animals as they attempted to break through the lines of their persecutors. The State paid a bounty for wolf scalps in those days, and this Avas a source of revenue to the settlers. On one occasion, while Nicholas Hefi"ner was both Sheriff and Tax Collect- or for the county, and Washington Boyer was School Commissioner, Heff- ner was taken sick, and requested James McDowell to go to Springfield for him and make a settlement with the State, and the School Commissioner^ learning that he was about to make the trip, called on him and requested that he should bring back with him, from Springfield, the amount due the county from the State school fund. McDowell mounted his horse and, taking a huge bag of legal tender, in the shape of wolf scalps, before him, set out on his journey, and, arrived at the State Capital, he not only paid the entire amount due the State in wolf scalps, but exchanged a sufficient number of the remainder with the State Treasurer, to cover the amount coming to the county from th3 school fund. Notwithstanding this remarkable instance of the profit derived from rearing wolves, their propa- gation is now entirely neglected in this county, and a wolf found occasionally iS' viewed as an object of curiosity. James McDowell still flourishes in his pristine vigor, though upward of 60 years old. He owns over 2,100 acres of choice farming land in the vicinity where he first located, and is enjoying the competence he has so justly earned. ^38 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. It is a matter of wonder to many now living in the county, how the pioneers managed to live and rear large families where there was no money in the country, •and no market for produce. In the first place, they did not go in debt, for they .could not do so ; then game was abundant, and if it Avould not bring a price, it .filled a very important place in the household economy. They raised their own .coffee, which was prepared from parched corn ; they made their own sugar, and :as for store tea, that was dispensed with. Then, again, a dealer from some of the •earlier settled portions of the State, would occasionally ride through this region on horseback, and purchase a few steers at a very low price, but a little money went a great way with the fathers. Deer skins and the skins and furs of smaller animals always brought cash when they could be got to market, and occasionally a pioneer would collect these and push through to some distant point and, disposing of them, return with their value in money. The introduction of a few sheep by Maj. Darnall helped matters very much. Tlie carding, spinning and weaving Avere done at home, and cost no money. This industry was first introduced into the community by the good wives of Maj. Darnall and A. B. Phillips, and was soon copie(J by other matrons. Taxes swere very low ; and if a settler of this period received from all sources an income of §15 or $20 per annum, he had sufiicient to pay his cash expenses. The amount of money now paid for a new bonnet, or a Spring overcoat, would .have sufiiced to support a family at that time for six months." There were few schools for the children, and they were required to help carry on the farm work, .and everything was made to count for what it was worth. But what was already a difficult financial problem was made doubly so by the general crash which the year 1887 brought to all business and monetary affairs. During the very year that saw our county legally organized, the State Legislature passed the bill for internal improvement at public expense ; and on the passage of this suicidal law, near ten millions of dollars Avere appro- priated for building a network of railroads all over the State, and work was actually commenced on them at various points. The scheme bankrupted the State, and, for nineteen years, Illinois paid neither principal nor interest on her indebtedness. Emigrants avoided a State thus incumbered ; and one cliief source of ready money (that brought by new comers) Avas denied to us. But the pioneers of Livingston, in this extremity, showed pluck and energy worthy of record. There being no market for anything in the interior of the State, they, with their ox-teams, hauled their produce to Chicago, and even drove their hogs across the pathless prairie to that point. Joseph C. Morrison, who frequently made the trip with a drove of hogs, tells us that it Avas accomplished in the foUoAving manner : A number of farmers Avould collect their hogs and start on the journey, agreeing to feed the hogs at night by tarns, each in succession returning to his home for a load of corn, .^ f "i -is-^S,'^- W PONTIAC ^ AfNlVtiv^i I I iiuib HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 241 from which the hogs were fed upon his again coining up with the drove ; and thus, by relieving each other, they accomplished wliat would otherwise have been an impossible task. When the slaughter house was reached, the hogs were dressed for the offal, and the dressed hogs were put upon the market : tliose weighing 200 and oveV generally selling at $1.50 per hundred, and those weighing less at $1.00 per hundred. A farmer made but one such trip during the year, and brought home with him the absolute necessaries of life. The first mill erected in the county was run by horse power. It was built by Garrett M. Blue, near his residence, in Rook's Creek Township, This was justly considered by the early settlers, as a most valuable acquisition to the institutions of the county. The bolting was done by tacking a yard of fine muslin on a frame, and through this was rubbed, by the hand, small portions of the crushed wheat. In 1838, the saw-mill at Pontiac was erected by C. H. Perry and James McKee, but a grist-mill was not attached for some years. John Foster, who resides with his son Robert, at Pontiac, is the oldest set- tler in that part of the county. He reached that point from Cayuga County, New York, in 1836. Two deserted cabins were then the only buildings on the site of the now^ flourishing city. The land was then considered too low and swampy to be habitable. Foster saAv the toAvn laid out, and took the contract for building the first Court House, the price agreed upon being $800. The building is still standing near the M. E. Church, and is owned by Jacob Strea- mer and leased to the city for various purposes. Foster also kept the first hotel, and, in the early days, he entertained the Judge, attorneys, juries and litigants to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. In order to maintain his reputation as a landlord, he would, when a term of the Circuit Coui't was approaching, go out into the country and borrow bed- steads, beds and bedding, and what crockery there was to loan. This manner of procedure worked very well for a time, but on one occasion, the portly Judge David Davis, who had perhaps retired to rest with a heavy case on his mind, occupied one of the borrowed bedsteads, and he quashed it. The Judge was rescued from the debris by friendly hands ; but the bedstead, as a bedstead, had lost its usefulness, and thereafter Foster found some difficulty in inducing his neighbors to loan furniture. Foster, on these occasions, entertained Douglas, Lincoln, and other distin- guished lawyers, for the attorneys follow'ed the judge from county to county. Lincoln, during one term of court paid his hotel bill by attending to a suit, in which Foster, as Constable, was concerned in the replevin of some goods "taken on execution. Lincoln gained the case, and Uncle John formed a high opinion of his new boarder. Foster's recollections of these early days are vivid and interesting. The amounts of revenue levied and collected during the first four vears of the county's existence, commencing with the year 1837, are as follows : First 242 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. year, $113.71 ; second year, $109.80 ; third year, $180.56 ; and the fourth year, $166.26. When it is recorded that the levy in the county for the year 1877 is about $400,000, the figures in the former years are as astonishing as the fig- ures in the latter year are astounding. The first post office was that established in Pontiac, in 1837, and Cornelius W. Reynolds was the first Postmaster. Letter postage was then twenty-five cents, payable either on mailing the let- ter or at the office where it was received. No inconsiderable number of letters came to the office unpaid, and such was the scarcity of money that some of them would remain in the office for weeks and even months, before they could be taken out and paid for. Martin A. Newman was the first Route Agent. He traveled on horseback from OttaAva to Bloomington, by way of Pontiac and Lexington, and made a trip in two weeks. The first Court House was erected in 1839-40, by Henry Weed, Lucius Young and Seth W. Young. It Avas accepted from them, and a bond of $3,000 surrendered, in which they had stipulated to erect the house at their own expense, provided the county seat was located on the land selected by them. The second Court House was erected under the county judgeship of Billings P. Babcock, and was as good a building as could be erected at that time for the money expended. Judge Babcock gave the same particular care to every item of its material and construction that he displays in his own financial affairs. The previous year. Judge Henry Jones erected, at Pontiac, the first brick building ever erected in the county. It is the one that has recently been remod- eled, and is now occupied as a residence by Joseph P. Turner. The brick of which it was composed were purchased at Bloomington and hauled to Pontiac ; and, in stipulating with the contractors, Judge Babcock required the brick to be of as good quality as the material used in the building of this house. This opened up a new industry, and the first bricks were made during the same year. The building was two stories high, having offices for the Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Sheriff and Treasurer on the first floor, and the court room and jury room on the second floor. In 1871, a fire-proof vault, in an added wing, was completed. On the 4th day of July, 1874, this building was destroyed by fire, together with Union Block and the Phoenix Hotel. The present Court House was erected the following year, and was com- pleted in the month of December, and dedicated by the first Old Settlers' meet- ing. This structure is one of the finest in the State. J. C. Cochrane, of Chi- cago, was the architect, and the contract for building Avas awarded to Colvin, Clark & Co., of Ottawa. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 243 To the Building Committee of the Board of Supervisors is due an honora- ble mention for the honest and satisfactory manner in which they discharged their duty, in this connection. The names of these gentlemen Avere Jar^es E. Morrow. Edson Wilder, Jacob Phillips, E. G. Greenwood, Wm. S. Sims and J. B. Parsons. The entire cost of the building and furniture Avas |75,000. The first jail was built at Pontiac in 1866. Previous to that time, the pris- oners of the county were kept at Joliet, Ottawa or Blooraington, where such conveniences of civilization existed. In that year, a good substantial stone jail was erected at a cost of $18,000. The first county election was at the residence of Andrew McMillan, a mile northwest from Budd's Mill, on the north bank of the Vermilion. The first County Commissioners and the first Sheriff" performed the duties of their offices without any authority from the State, and, as they are all dead, the manner in which they obtained any authority to act will, perhaps, remain a mystery The ancient archives of the county contain no certificate of election or other evidence that they held their offices by virtue of either election or appointment. The records of the Secretary of State, have also been ransacked to discover, if possible, a clue to the matter ; but nothing appears to indicate that either these or any other officers, previous to 18oS, were legally qualified to act. In this year, Nicholas Hefner was duly elected and qualified to act as Sheriff". It is known, however, that the form of an election had been observed, and that Joseph Reynolds had been declared Sheriff", and the Board of Commission- ers had appointed him Collector of Taxes ; and as no one desired to hold office in those days, no investigating committee inquired into the irregularity. The first marriage license issued in the county was made out by H. W. Beard, Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, and it was, no doubt, intended to authorize Mr. Williamson Spence and Miss Mary Darnall to solemnize a marriage ; but so far as the record goes, it only authorized the marriage of Williamson to Miss Mary Darnall ; so that, so far as the record has anything to do with the matter, the descendants of Spence are all Williamsons. It is not improlxxble that this clerk — H. W. Beard — was an old bachelor, and took delight in mutilating mar- riage licenses ; for the next license authorized Simeon Mad, instead of Simeon Madden, to marry Elizabeth Rutherford. Since' that period, 6,000 marriages have been authorized by the various County Clerks. Samuel C. Ladd came to Pontiac from Connecticut in October, 1842. Only two houses remain in Pontiac, which had been erected previous to his coming. One of these, is the old Court House, and the other is the building now occupied ■ by Samuel Mossholder as a dwelling. Seth W. Young Avas the fii'st man to erect a house on the site of the city of Pontiac. He died at this place, as also did his brother, Lucius Young. They were interested with Henry Weed in securing the location of the county seat at this point, and after their death, C H. Perry, Henry Stephens, Samuel C. Ladd and some others became interested 244 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. C. H. Perry brought the first stock of goods to the county, b^ before he was established in business, S. C. Ladd bought him out. About this time, Mr. Ladd entered into partnership with Willet Gray, and they purchased James McKee's interest in the mill. Their store stood on the banks of the river near where Robert Aerl's feed yard noAv is. Ladd soon after erected a frame business building on the present site of Gunsul's livery stable; and, for several years, he and Gray, were the only resident merchants of the county. These mer- chants secured the services of John A. Fellows as salesman, and he was so popular that it was said of him that "he drew all the trade of the Vermilion Valley, and would have drawn more if the valley had been longer." C. H. Perry was then the capitalist. He brought to the place the first piano, the first "store carpet " and the first looking glass. His residence was a log cabin, and it used to be told how a horse once walked in at the open door, and stood surveying himself in Perry's looking glass, while he fought flies with his natural protector. The piano remained the only musical instrument of its kind in the county until Perry removed to Iowa and took it with him, and it was many years before its place was filled. Samuel C. Ladd was, at once, an able and popular man. He has held the offices of Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Recorder and Postmaster ; and, in later years, he was appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue and filled the office accept- ably, from 1863 to 1869. Emsley Pope, the pioneer of Newtown, was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, in the year 1797, and removed with his farther to Champaign County, Ohio, in 1810. His father enlisted in the war of 1812, but was prevented from serving by sickness. Young Pope, then but 15 years of age, begged permission to go as his father's substitute, and, permission being given, he shouldered his musket and served during the war. When peace was restored, he resided with his father until 1836, when he was married and came to this State, and located upon the identical piece of ground upon which he has ever since resided. His house, a double log cabin, erected forty-three years ago, still serves him for a residence ; and, with the exception of repairs to the roof, it has remained without alteration from the date of its erection to the present time. The only tools used in its construction were an axe, a saw and an auger. The boards composing the roof are held in place by logs upon them, through Avhich wooden pins are passed into the raft- ers. The flooring is also secured by wooden pins, as are also the door and win- dow frames. The flooring and ceiling were hewn out ; and the chimney was built of stone taken from the stream near by. Pope's Spring, from which hundreds of red men have slaked their thirst, furnishes the family with an abundant supply of excellent Avater. For a number of years after his arrival, his family, together with the families of Daniel Barrackman, Samuel Brumfield and Amos Lundy constituted the entire community. Their market was Chicago. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 245 In the Fall of the year, Pope, Brumfield, Barrackraan and Lundy would form a company for mutual benefit and protection ; and each man, with his rifle and ox-team drawing a load of corn, would start for this distant market, making calculations to be absent from home for ten or twelve days. On the route, the company camped where night overtook them, and they never slept under a roof from the time of their departure to the time of their return. There was at that time not even an Indian trail leading from that point to Chicago, but these pioneers took their way over the unbroken prairie, guided by signs and indica- tions which never led them astray. Thirty bushels of corn was their average load; and for this, on their arrival at market, they received 12| cents per bushel, and only on one or two occasions did they receive as high as 15 cents. They rarely made more than two such trips in a year ; and the $6, $8 or $10 which they thus received was all the money they handled during the year, and most of this was spent in purchasing supplies in Chicago. Pope was intimately acquainted with old Shabbona, the Pattawatomie chief, and holds his memory in great respect, and says that no white man was more welcome at his cabin than this Indian. This kindly feeling was doubtless reciprocated on the part of the red man, for he frequently pitched his tent near Pope's cabin, on his hunting excursions along the banks of the Vermilion. Wild turkevs and deer abounded, and when Chief Shabbona was successful in the chase, the spoils were generously divided with his white friend ; and his coming was looked forAvard to with pleasant anticipations of a good time, and his departure was regretted. On one of these occasions, Shabbona and the twelve Indian hunters who accompanied him, killed fifty deer, within a circuit of three miles, taking Pope's cabin as a center. This Chief must have been, in many respects, a remarkable man, as every pioneer who Avas acquainted with him bears witness to his char- acter for upright and lionorable dealing. This speaks volumes for Shabbona, as the whites at this time were not disposed to regard the Indians with a favorable eye. Pope is still a hale and active old man, and will tell you, in speaking of the early period, that the pioneers enjoyed themselves fully as well as people do at the present day. His early friends and neighbors have long since passed away, while he remains, a link connecting the present with the past. He is cheerful, hopeful and perfectly contented with his lot. He is the father of four- teen children, many of whom are living and are honorable members of societ3\ Pope is much i-espected in his neighborhood, and he will doubtless spend the remainder of his days in the county which he has seen transformed from a wil- d(rness to one of the finest agricultural districts in the State. Martin A. Newman, of Newtown, justly claims to be the pioneer merchant of the county. He was born in Vermilion County in 1818, and removed to Ottawa in 1838. In the year 1847, he made a tour of discovery through Livingston County, and found that there was not a store of any kind within its borders. He returned' 246 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. to Ottawa and fitted up a peddling wagon, filling it with a great variety of merchandise, from a needle to a wash tub, and, with this traveling establishment, he visited every family in the county, once in every month of the year. In exchange for his goods, he took from his customers deer-skins, mink-skins, ginseng root, feathers and many other articles. He was a great favorite, and soon built up an extensive and lucrative business. When he was on his rounds, couriers would be sent out to ascertain when he would be at a particular point, so that the products of the country might be gathered, in readiness for exchange. In the Fall of 1847, he purchased of John and Theodore Popejoy the skins of fifty-four deer, which they had killed in Avoca Townshij). In July of the same year, Joseph C. Morrison, who has before been mentioned, and who was the young man of the period and the leader of fashion, gave Newman an order to bring him, from Ottawa, a full suit of real linen clothes. It was strictly stipulated that the clothes should be delivered by the 3d, as there was to be a grand ball in Avoca on the 4th, and the dress suit was ordered for that occasion. Newman made the trip, executed the commission, and duly arrived in Pontiac on the 3d, Morrison was so well pleased with the fit and the price that he gave Newman an invitation to the ball ; and his attendance was most opportune, for the violinist hired for the occasion got tired, and Newman had to fill his place, which he did, to the satisfaction of all parties. When Newman now meets one of his old customers, it is pleasant to see the kindly look and hearty hand- shake that passes between them as the recollections of the past are called up. There is much that might be added concerning many others who helped to develop this great county, which is necessarily omitted. There was Nelson Buck, who loved his profession as he did his life ; and Jacob Streamer, who has long been a resident, and is well known throughout the county. He has collected all local statistics and incidents sufficient to fill a volume. 0. B. Wheeler commenced business by buying a steer for |5, taking it to Chicago, dressing it and selling the meat for |7.50. This started him in business, and he is now one of the wealthy men of the county. The mention of Morgan L. Payne must not be omitted, as he was an old and well known resident. He was Captain of a company in the Black Hawk war, and performed distinguished service. He was a Texas Ranger when the war between Mexico and this Government was declared, and was in the first battle under Gen. Taylor, on the Rio Grande. When the time of his enlist- ment as a ranger expired, he returned to Greenboro, Indiana, and raised a company of militia ; and returning to Mexico, he served during the war. He was at the taking of Monterey, and the battle of the City of Mexico. He received an honorable discharge, and afterward filled many positions of public trust. When the war of the Rebellion was inaugurated, he raised a company of men in this county, was again elected and commissioned Captain, and served l)js country faithfully. This hero. of three wars died at Pontiac, of cancer, in HISTORV OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 247 1878. He was a man of fiery and impetuous energy that overcame all obstacles with which he came in contact. He had many warm personal friends, who cherish his memory. Isaac Wilson, who is still living, is distinguished as one of the litigants in the first law suit in the Circuit Court. William Strawn, who resides at Odell was a personal friend of Old John Brown, whose " soul goes marching on." Strawn fought by his side in Kansas. He was one of the charter members of the "underground railroad" through Livingston County, over which many a negro traveled on his way to Canada. Pontiac has grown to be a beautiful city of near four thousand inhabitants. A few of her old stagers still remain, but, in the course of nature, they must soon pass away. Their view of the present situation is best expressed by the following : OLD STAGER'S SOLILO(jUY. A good many strangers are coming here now, As I told Eli Davis to-day ; New forms and new faces will make us think how We old ones are passing away. The town is improving, and growing so fast Old landmarks are fading from view. And whichever way my glances I cast. My old eyes can see something new. The churches, six of them, with carpets and pews, With paid preachers to manage the works ! Elder Stubbles, in them days, preached the glad news 'Till he gave the people the "jerks." And the Phrenix, all brick and three stories high, With basement — it cuts such a swell ; As I think of the days forever passed by. When Willet Gray kept a hotel. And the Post Office, too, is wonderful now, With drawers and lock boxes and that ; Why, I can remember distinctly just how Jerome carried the thing in his hat. And them Indian signs where they sell the cigars, Lord ! once we were thankful for pipes, When we heard not the rumble of railroad cars. And Ladd went hunting for snipes. And fancy saloons, with wine, rum and gin, And little back rooms all so snug ; Why, once we were glad to take our whisky in From the neck of a little brown jug. And croquet and billiards and such games as these Have banished the old games from sight ; Then, on boxes and kegs, we sat at our ease And played good old poker all night. 248 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. A good many strangers are coming here now, As I told Eli Davis to-day ; ^ New forms and new faces will make us think how We old ones are passing away. The fifth verse of the above requires the following explanation : Jerome Garner was the second Postmaster at Pontiac, and when he received his appoint- ment he purchased a bell-crowned stove-pipe hat, and in it he kept all mail matter which arrived at this point. He was extremely fond of fishing ; and when any one was desirous of mailing a letter or expecting to receive one, it was necessary to seek for Jerome up or down the Vermilion until he was found, when he would take off his hat, perform his official duties, and then return it to his head. HISTORY OF THE COURT HOUSE BELL. In Troy, New York, the bell was bought ; "Out West," to Chicago, the bell was brought. In "Eighteen Sixty" the bell came down, For the Methodist Church in our little town. A Methodist bell, its voice rang out With a martial ring and a joyous shout, As high it hung in the belfry there, Calling the people to sermon and prayer. Till the church grew small for the growing throng, Who came at the call of its bold, "ding dong." Then the house was sold to " The Band and Gown," And the bell from the belfry was handed down, And placed on high in the Court House steeple. Then sold to the county— a bell for the people. As of yore, it did its duty well, In its new position of " Court House bell." It called the lawyers to wordy fray— They came to spout, and remained to P^ey. It startled the ear of the Court House rats, As it summoned the Supervisor cats ; Saying, "Walk to your Council Chamber, please. And examine the state of the public cheese." It spoke when political hacks came by, To preach for truth some ancient lie. It rang for joy, when the first glad ray In the east proclaimed our Natal Day. It shrieked aloud when the tire fiend came. And called the people to fight the flame. Solemn and slow was its measured toll, As it rang the knell of the parting soul. Slow and solemn its measured beat. When funeral pall and marching feet HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 249 Went by with the dead, and the last farewell Was heard from the throat of the sobbing bell. But July the Fourth of •'Seventy-Four,'" It rang at noon to ring no more. And the tones that came from the quivering bell Were the tones of its own funeral knell. For Union Block, our city's pride, Was bathed in a fiercely rolling tide Of lurid, hungry flames, that clasped The city's heart within its grasp ; And a fiend that lay in the doomed hotel. Glared hot and fierce on the Court House bell. With a tiger" s spring and a tongue of flame, Across the chasm the fire fiend came. On the Court House roof, with fiery claws, He sprang as the springing lion draws His prey to the earth, then clasped the bell. To his fiery breast, till it, tottering, fell To the earth below, with burning beam, And blazing rafter, till a stream Of molten metal came out to tell The end of the Pontiac Court House bell. OLD settlers' ASSOCIATION. In the year 1875, when the new Court House was completed, it was deter- mined by the old settlers throughout the county that a grand re-union should be held and the new building properly dedicated. A preliminary meeting was called at the fair ground early in the Fall of the year, at which C. B. Ostrander presided, and John A. Fellows was appointed Secretary. The 30th of December was the day fixed upon for the re-union, and com- mittees of arrangements were appointed in every township in the county. On the day appointed, the old settlers turned out en masse. Tables, capable of seating fifteen hundred people, had been prepared by the citizens of Pontiac, and these were all filled. James McDowell was President of the day, and John A. Fellows, Secretary. An address of welcome was delivered by Nathan- iel J. Pillsbury. Letters were read from Judge Treat, who held the first term of court in Pontiac, and from Hon. David Davis and Jesse W. Fell. 0. F. Pearre, who had been requested to furnish a poem for the occasion, read the following ADDRESS TO THE OLD SETTLERS OF LIVINGSTON: One hundred years ago to-day. The British troops in Boston lay ; Our sires then hardly thought that they Would found a Nation Whose ships would whiten many seas, Whose flag should float on every breeze, Whose armies could maintain with ease Her lofty station. 250 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. And in that hundred years ago. The deer, the wolf, the butfalo, - « At will went roaming to and fro Where now our county Spreads out one vast and fertile plain Of golden corn and waving grain, Rejoicing 'neath a constant rain Of Heaven's bounty. Yea, men now sitting in this hall In mem'ry can the time recall When nature brooded over all ; When was unbroken The solitude that wrapped the land Where now our smiling cities stand, When silence reigned on every hand, ^ And gave no token. Save by the hooting of the owl. The clangor of the water fowl, The red deer's signal or the howl Of gray wolf, weary In searching for his scanty food, Save where, perhaps, some cabin rude Seemed on the lonely scene to brood, And served to point the solitude So lone and dreary. Oliver, Cummings, these can tell, Wilson, McDowell and Darnell ; John Johnson knows the story well, The quaint old story : How Chief Shabbona and his band Kindled their camp fires on the strand Of fair Vermilion, when the land Stood robed by virgin Nature's hand In pristine glory. Peace to thy shade ; Shabbona, rest; A warm, true heart beat in thy breast ; The white man's friend you stood confessed. Among the bravest, truest, best. Of those we mention. Thy name deserves a worthy place. Brave chieftain of a warlike race, Hist'ry accords thee little space ; I would more worthy pen could trace^ Thy fame, and, with befitting grace. Thy virtues mention. But, ah : what mighty change has passed Since the brave Chief Shabbona last Upon the stage his vision cast. What grandeur looming HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Is this through which Vermilion flows From early morn to evening's close : Through towns and farms the tra\'ler goes, Where fifty thousand souls repose ; The desert blossoms like the Rose Of Sharon blooming. Not Homer in his valiant crew Could mention more good men and true ; McMillen, Breckenridge and Blue, McDowell and Tuttle, Campbell, too, And other worthies not a few. Ye pioneers, it is to you The debt of gratitude is due ; Ye builded wiser than ye knew The broad foundation On which our superstructure stands ; Your strong right arms ami willing hands, Your earnest eflFort still commands Our veneration ! And you, who yet upon the shore Of Time remain, strike hands once more. To-day recount your trials o'er. Repeat to us, from out your s»ore, The legions and the early lore. Repeating The name of Ruramery, he who found That famous railroad under ground ; Then pass the name of Corey round, Cornell and Sprague, their praises sound ; Ladd, Dehner, Fellows, Fyfe, profound On finance, Spafford, such names sound In greeting. We point to you, old friends, and say The heat and burden of the day You bore, and in an earnest way We meet you. Well pleased, indeed, to see you stand. On this glad day, a gallant band. Whose hands have wrought, whose brains have planned Such vast improvement in the land ; With beating heart and open hand. We greet you ! 251 After these exercises, various old settlers made short addresses, and the day was spent in relating incidents and anecdotes of the early days, and a regular Old Settlers' Association was formed. The second meeting was held on the fair grounds in September, 1876. The third meeting was held at Fairbury, September 4, 1877, and was largely attended. The meeting was called to order by the President, James McDowell, and Dr. Fraley delivered an address of welcome. Hon. Woodford G. McDow- 252 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. ell delivered a historical address, and letters from various distingnislied persons, who visited the county in an early day, were read. The officers elected for the following year, were : President, Walter Cornell; Secretary, John A. Fellows ; Scribe, David Murdock ; Chaplain, Rev. James Parcells. The village of Cornell Avas chosen for its next point of meeting. CHURCHES. The first religious organizations and buildings Avere, of course, as in all our new countries, by that glorious band of pious pioneer preachers, the Methodists. There is something so natural in their doctrines and so artless in their way of advancing them, that the history must be blind to one of the brightest lights which fails to give these plain privates their proper place in its pages. From here and there in the log school houses, where earnest worshipers rdternately wept, sung and clapped their hands, have grown the full fruition of all those early hopes and prayers. The churches at present organized Avithin the county are : Methodist (by Conference Report of 1877)— Fairbury, Fairbury Circuit (2), Forrest, Chats- worth, Avoca (2), Pontiac, Saunemin, Rook's Creek (2), Waldo and Nebraska (3), Reading (2), Cornell and Newtown (2), Odell, Nevada, Dwight ; total, 14 charges, 21 churches, 2,561 members. Value of houses of worship, $83,900. Number of Sunday schools, 34 ; scholars, 3,243. Presbyterian— Pontiac, Cayuga, Dwight, Union, Fairbury, Reading, Chats- worth ; total, 7. Membership, 560. Value of church edifices (estimated), $40,000. Baptist— Pontiac (2), Dwight (2), Odell, Nebraska, Fairbury, Ocoya ; total, 8. Membership estimated at about 450. There are six Christian churches, with an estimated membership of 400. There are four Congregational churches, with about 300 members. There are eight Roman Catholic churches in the county : Pontiac, Nebraska, Odell, Union (German), Dwight, Broughton, Fairbury, Chatsworth, and a station at Cornell, embracing, in the aggregate, 1,135 families, Avith probably not less than 3,500 communicants Avho have received confirmation. There are a few other scattering churches, or bare organizations, of which statistics cannot be found. SOCIETIES. There are Odd Fellows' Lodges at Cornell, Pontiac, Odell, Dwight, Fair- bury, Forrest and Chatsworth, eight in all, with a membership of 400, and three Encampments, with 100 members. There are Lodges of Master Masons at Pontiac, 84 members ; Odell, 63 ; Dwight, 55; Fairbury, 101; Forrest, 40; Chatsworth, 37; Ancona, 28; Cor- nell, 14; Sullivan, 19. Total, 441. There are Chapters of Royal Arch Masons at Fairbury and at Odell ; and at Fairbury is a Commandery of the Knight Templars. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 253 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Number of public schools sustained 250 Number of persons between the ages of 6 and 21 13,612 Number of male pupils enrolled 5,715 Number of female pupils enrolled 5,346 Number of male teachers 188 Number of female teachers 289 Number of graded schools *' Whole amount received by School Treasurers |152,619 54 Estimated value of school property 204,8(5 00 Principal of Township School Fund 207,732 31 Witli the exception of Cook County, Livingston has the kxrgest township school fund of any county in the State. POLITICAL AND OFFICIAL ANNALS. COUNTY ORGANIZATION. The territory which is now Livingston County was, in the first division of the State, a portion of Cook County. After that, it became a portion of Ver- milion County, and hence the name of the river which flows through it, which had no other reason for its name, either in the color of its water or its surround- ings. Subsequently, in the organization of those counties, nearly all of it became portions of McLean and La Salle, though a portion remained attached to Vermilion until this organization. By act of the Legislature, approved and in force, February 27, 1837, Livingston was created a county with its present boundaries. Its name was suggested by Jesse W. Fell, and was due to the popular esteem in which Edward Livingston was held, in consequence of his being the reputed author of President Jackson's famous proclamation to the South Carolina nullifiers, in their first unseccessful attempt to disrupt the L^nion. In the act of organization, James W. Piatt, of Macon County ; William B. Peck, of Will County, and Thompson S. Flint, of Tazewell County, were appointed Commissioners to locate the permanent seat of justice; and they were to take into consideration the convenience of the people, and the situations of the settlements, with an eye to the future population. Edward Livingston was a native of New York, and one of the prominent Livingston family of that State. He removed to New Orleans on account of his health, and became a leading lawyer of that city. He was appointed, by President Jackson, Minister to England, and was recalled to take the position of Secretary of State, when Jackson re-organized his Cabinet, in consequence of his quarrel with Calhoun. He was popularly credited with being the author . of the proclamation which "Old Hickory " sent out against the South Caroli- nians, when they adopted the ordinance of nullification. No more worthy name could have been selected for this great county than the one popularly iden- tified with Jackson's stern determination to maintain this Union under all circumstances. 254 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. At this date, there were no settlements to receive the commission kindly vouchsafed in the enabling act, except those along the river from Indian Grove to La Salle County ; and the entire population did not exceed 450. They were to meet at the house of Andrew McMillan, on the Vermilion River, about four miles northwest of Avhere Pontiac now stands, on the first Monday in June, and proceed to examine and determine upon a place for the permanent seat of justice. The county seat was to be located on government land, or if upon private land, then the owners thereof should be required to donate twenty acres, or the sum of three thousand dollars, the proceeds of the land, or the money in lieu thereof, to be used in erecting county buildings. The Commissioners met and selected the ground, and accepted the offer of Henry Weed, Lucius and Seth M. Young, who, as proprietors of the land, proposed to give three thousand dollars, a block of land two hundred feet square on which to put the Court House, and an acre of land not more than thirty rods distant from the Court House block, on which a jail was to be built, and an estray pen, and agreed, further, to build a good and substantial wagon bridge across the Ver- milion River at that point. They gave their bond, signed by themselves as principals, and C. H. Perry, Avho was the first merchant in the county, James McKee, who Avas interested in the water privilege at Pontiac, and J. W. Fell, as sureties for the faithful performance of the contract. By the enabling act, an election was to be held at the house of Andrew McMillan, on the second Monday in May, for a Sheriff, Coroner, Recorder, County Surveyor and three County Commissioners, to serve until the next regular election in August, 1838. This election was held, and officers were duly elected to launch the new county on the stormy sea of political existence : Joseph Reynolds, Sheriff; Robert Breckenridge, Jonathan Moore and Daniel Rockwood, County Commissioners, who met May 18, and organized, appoint- ing Abram W. Beard, Clerk. That there was the usual amuount of log-rolling and managing to secure the location of the county seat is more than probable, as at the next session of the Legislature held after the location was made, an act was passed providing for an election in the new county to determine whether the county seat should be changed from its location. The County Commissioners for a time held their meetings at McMillan's. There were three voting precincts in the county ; the upper was called Indian Grove ; the middle one Center, and the one in the northwestern portion of the county Bayou. The Commissioners, at their first meeting, ordered that ''All horses over three years old, and all horned cattle over three years old, all sheep over one year old, all wagons, carriages, clocks, watches, jacks, jennies, mules, etc., are considered as being taxable property, upon which there shall be a tax of ^ per cent." The Court also ordered that an election should be held in the several precincts for the election of Justices of the Peace and Constables, on the 24th of June, and appointed John Recob, Treasurer, who gave bond in $1,000. At HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 255 the session of the Court July 11th, Cornelius W. Reynolds was granted a license to keep a store for a year on payment of $5. Sept. 4th, Court appoint- ed Matthias I. Ross, Clerk. Dec. 4th, James C. McMillan was appointed first School Commissioner. The Sheriff having failed to receive his commission, the Court appointed Joseph W. Reynolds, Collector of Taxes. At the March term, 1838, the Court prepared the first list of grand and petit jurors, which embraced such well known names as Darnall, Spence, Moore, Isaac Wilson, Popejoy, Blue, McMillan, Edgington, Barrackman, Boyer, Nor- ton, Moon, Steere and Donah o, who, or their representatives, still remain with us. It is not known that these juries performed any duty, as, by the records of the Circuit Court, no term of Court was held until October, 1839, at which Court there was no Clerk and no grand or petit jury, the Clerk, Henry Weed, having removed from the county. Joseph Reynolds, Sheriff, presented at this term his settlement with the Treasurer, and presented a receipt for ^68.71. For the following year, the Court added to the taxable property "All town lots, hogs over one year old, stock in trade, fiirm and household utensils, money loaned, houses, mills and factories." The first general election held in the county was the State election, the first Monday in August, 1838. At that election there were cast for Governor: For Cyrus Edwards, 45 ; for Thomas Carliji, 59. For Member of Congress — S. A. Douglas, 62; J. T. Stewart, 46. For county officers, the votes were: For County Commissioner — Uriah Springer, 90 : Albert Moon, 60 ; William Popejoy, 59 ; Robert Breckenridge, 41 ; Robert Smith, 29. For Sheriff — Nicholas Hefner, 65 ; Joseph Reynolds, 31. For Coronor — Simeon Mead, 45 ; Ambrose Sprague, 17. For Clerk — James S. Munson, 58 ; Matthias Ross, 34. For Recorder — James S. Munson, 60 ; Truman Rutherford, 34. For Surveyor — Isaac Whitaker, 59 ; Franklin Oliver, 41. The county formed a legiflative district with Kane, De Kalb, La Salle and Iroquois Counties. Joseph H. Churchill and Wm. Stadden were elected Rep- resentatives at that election. John T. Stewart was elected to Congress from this district, which embraced all the State north of Springfield, the " Little Giant"' being for the time defeated. In drawing for seats by the County Com- missioners, L'riah Springer, Avho was absent, drew the three years term, Albert Moon two years and Wm. Popejoy one year. This Court had more bills to pay than its predecessor. Among them was one to Henry Weed for "^4.12| for paper, sand and ink, used by him as Circuit Clerk up to this time." Just how much of it was for sand, the bill fails to mention ; but it should be remembered in honor of Livingston County, that it paid for the sand its first Circuit Clerk used. April 9, 1839, the Court appointed the first Assessors, one for each precinct — Robert Smith for Indian Grove Precinct, Andrew McMillan for Center, and John Dermey for Bayou — and ordered that seventy cents on $100 be levied and collected on certain property, among which is this singular item : " Slaves and servants of color." It is not generally known that the laws of 256 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. this State at that time, or at any time, recognized property in human chat- tels, but such was the revenue law of 1839. Robert Smith was appointed School Commissioner. At the general election in August, 1839, Truman Rutherford was elected Probate Justice of the Peace, an office which had jurisdiction in all probate business ; Lemuel White, County Commissioner ; C. W. Reynolds, Recorder and County Court Clerk ; Jacob Moon, Treasurer ; Isaac Burgit, Coroner ; Franklin Oliver, Surveyor ; W. G. Hubbard and J. C. McMillan, Justices of the Peace. Eighty-one votes were given for and fifty -six votes against removing county seat. Seventy-eight votes were given for removing to the location ofi'ered by Rockwood, Hubbard and Weed, at a point about four or five miles up the river from Pontiac, Avhere fiftv acres of land were ofi'ered ; the bond for the donation having been approved by the court. This vote was taken by virtue of an act passed March 1, 1839, directing a vote to be taken at the August election, for and against re-locating the county seat, by which it was provided that, if two-thirds of all the votes cast were for removal, and a majority were for removal to any place named, then the county seat should be removed. It lacked a few votes of the required two-thirds, though a majority favored Rockwood 's. On the 3d day of December, 1839, the County Commissioners entered into a contract with the proprietor of the town for the erection of a Court House, to be 22x30 feet, two stories high ; to be built and completed within twelve months after " there is sufficient rise in the Vermilion River to allow the proprietors of the saw-mill to put said mill in operation." When completed, the Commission- ers were to cancel and deliver up the bond which had been given for the loca- tion of the county seat. At the general election held in August, 1840. the following vote was cast : For State Senator — John Moore, 62 ; David Davis, 38. For Representative, Welcom P. Brown, 62 : I. T. Gildersleeve, 61 ; Asahel Gridley, 38 ; Isaac Funk, 38; A. R. Dodge, 14; L. W. Leek, 32. For Sheriff"— Garrett M. Blue, 66 ; John Foster, 29. Davis M. Pendell was elected Coroner ; Andrew Mc- Millan and Nicholas Hefner, County Commissioners. There is no record of the vote at Presidential or Congressional election. John W. Reynolds was appointed School Commissioner, and qualified under a bond for $12,000. The Court extended the time for building the Court House to May 1, 1841; and John Foster received an order for $5.00, for use of his room for holding Circuit Court. Robert Smith and John Blue were appointed Assessors. In 1841, Daniel Barrackman was elected County Commissioner ; Samuel Boyer, School Commissioner; S. S. jNIead, Assessor; W. G. McDowell w&s appointed Collector, and D. S. Ebersol was appointed Clerk of the Court. if W^" o<^ / i/flU^^'C STATES ATTORNEY, FAIRBURY HH^V^^ >H0\« HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUIITY. 259 At a meeting of the County Court, July 23, 1842, the Court House was accepted and occupied. After the census of 1840, the State was re-apportioned for Congressional Representatives, giving seven Representatives instead of three, as heretofore. This county was in the Fourth District, which first elected John Wentworth to Congress. He remained our Representative as long as we remained in that District. Previous to this, John T. Stewart, of Springfield, had been our Representative. At the election held in 1843, the following vote was cast : For. Congress — John Wentworth, 111; Giles Spring, (}6. For County Commissioner — Charles Jones, 84; Augustus Fellows, 50. For County Clerk, D. S. Ebersol, 122; Wm. K. Brown, 28. For School Commissioner — Samuel Boyer, 136. For Recorder — D. S. Ebersol, 121 ; S. C. Ladd, 16. For Probate Justice — Truman Rutherford, 82 ; Wm. K. Brown, 49. For Treasurer— Truman Rutherford, 92 ; Lyman Bergit, 45. For Surveyor — Amos Edwards, 67 ; Orin Phelps, 39 ; Franklin Oliver, 38. At a special election held in November, the following votes were cast : For Probate Justice — Andrew McMillan, 46 ; Augustus Fellows, 37 ; S. S. Mead. 5. For County Treasurer and Assessor — McMillan, 46 ; Fellows, 37 ; Mead, 5. At the August Election in 1844, for Member of Congress, John Wentworth received 110 ; B. S. Morris, 61. For State Senator, S. G. Nesbitt received 106; G. W. Powers, 66. For Representative, James Robinson received 106 ; E. B. Myers, 63. For County Commissioner, Andrew McDowell received 104; Walter Cornell, 65. For Sheriff, R. P. Breckenndge received 97 ; Thomas Sawyer, 71. For Coroner, John Blue, 113. At the Presidential election in November, James K. Polk received 109 ; Henry Clay, 66. Birney did not receive any votes in the county. On the 2d day of December, the following minute is entered of record : " This day comes Andrew McMillan, Treasurer of Livingston County, and makes settlement with the Court, and pays over to the Court $13.00 in county orders and 20 cents in specie, it being the whole amount of funds received by him." It is hardly necessary to add that McMillan did not default to the county during his term. In 1845, the same Treasurer reported and turned over without default, 20 cents in silver. There is no record of what his commissions amounted to. At the March Term, 1845, Hugh Taylor was rented the jury room, for a store, and the court room for three months, on paying $3.00 per month. Andrew McMillan was appointed to take the census for that year. . At the June Term of the County Court, D. S. Ebersol resigned the Clerk- ship, and S. C. Ladd was appointed Clerk. At the regular election in August, Murrell Breckenridge was elected County Commissioner; Augustus Fellows, School Commissioner; S. C. Ladd, Clerk; S. S. Mead, Coroner. And at a special election in December, S. C. Ladd was elected Recorder. c 260 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. And again, Hugh Taylor appears of record in the following : Ordered That Hugh Taylor & Co. remove their goods, chattels, etc., out of the Court House by the 1st day of November next ; and if they should fail to do so, then they shall pay additional rent As they were already paying the sum of $3.00 a month, this seemed like a threat to ruin their business. At the regular election held in August, 1846, A. C. French, for Governor, received 124 votes; T. M. Kilpatrick, 60. John Wentworth, for Congress, received 124 votes ; John Kerr, 58. James Robinson, for Representative, received 122 votes ; Bissell Chubbuck, 42. R. P. Breckenridge was elected Sheriff; Charles Jones, County Commissioner, and John Blue, Coroner. In 1847, Isaac Hodgson was elected Commissioner ; S. C. Ladd, Clerk. In September, the County Court contracted with Henry Jones, J. H. De- moss and Philip Rollings to build the bridge over the river at Pontiac, for |450. An election was held in March, 1848, to vote upon the new Constitution and the separate articles. The vote was, for the Constitution, 71 ; against it, 25. For the separate article in relation to colored people, there were 8^ votes ; against it, 12. For the two-mill tax, which was intended to pay off the long past due State debt, 71 votes ; against it, 35. At the regular election in August, the vote for Governor was : For A. C. French, 135. For Congress, John Wentworth, 108 ; John Y. Scammon, 62. For Senator, Wm. Reddick, 131. Murrell Breckenridge was elected Sheriff; Henry Jones, County Commissioner, and John Blue, Coroner. At the judicial election in September under the new constitution, John D. Caton received eighty votes for Supreme Court Judge; Lorenzo Leland, seventy- seven votes for Clerk of the Supreme Court; B. F. Fridgley, sixty-three votes for Judge of the Ninth Circuit ; T. Lyle Dickey, forty-seven for Judge ; Bur- ton C. Cook, eighty votes for State's Attorney, and S. C. Ladd, eighty votea for Circuit Clerk. At this election, Dickey was elected Judge, and was for some years our Cir- cuit Judge. At the Presidential election, Cass received 130 votes; Taylor, 82 votes ; and for the first time in our history as a county, the third party received a vote. Four votes were cast for the Van Buren electoral ticket, upon which were the names of such veteran Abolitionists as President Jonathan Blanchard. For the first time also, the vote indicates a healthy increase of population in the county. Up to this year, the vote had been very nearly uniform, "In March, 1849, tlie bridge which had just been completed and accepted bv the court was carried away by a freshet, and Rollings and Demoss were ordered to save what they could of it, and report what portion of it could be used. At the election May 20th, M. B. Patty and L. E. Rhoades were elected County Commissioners At the November election, J. C. McMillan received HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 261 161 votes for County Judge; S. Miller, 2. S. C. Ladd, 137 for Clerk; Jason Tuttle, 8. James Bradley, 114 for County Justice of the Peace; Philip Rollings, 95 for same ; W. G. McDowell, 55. Franklin Oliver, 73 votes for Surveyor ; Amos Edwards, 53. Walter Cornell was elected School Commis- sioner, and J. D. Garner. Coroner. 55 votes were given for township organiza- tion out of a total of 164 votes cast ; not a majority. That all the offices were not vastly remunerative is evidenced by the following order at the October term of the Commissioners' Court : " Ordered, that Andrew McMillan be allowed ten dollars ($10) for services as County Treasurer for two years." The County Court under the new Constitution organized December 31. 1849. J. C. McMillan, County Judge ; Philip Rollings and James Bradley, County Justices, and S. C. Ladd, Clerk. At this time first appeared the constitutional clause in the oath of office : " I do solemnly swear that I have not fought a duel, nor sent or accepted a chal- lenge to fight a duel, the probable issue of which might have been the death of either party, nor been a second to either party, nor in any way aided or assisted in such duel, nor been knowingly the bearer of such challenge since the adop- tion of the Constitution, nor will be engaged in such duel during my continuance in office." That our foremost citizens earned their bread in those days is drawn from the following recorded order : " Ordered, that John A. FelloAvs be allowed sixty two and one-half cents for chopping wood for county." It does not appear Avhether his services, like McMillan's, were of two years' duration. Murrell Breckenridge was elected County Judge at a special election in Sep- tember, 1850. Henry Loveless was elected Sheriff, and Joseph Springer Coro- ner, in November. At the regular election in 1852, the vote for Secretary of State was for Alexander Starne, Democrat, 209; B. S. Morris, Whig, 161; Erastus Wright, Anti-slavery, 11. For State's Attorney, D. P. Jenkins, 158 votes; M. E. Hollister, 85 ; W. H. L. Wallace, 22. For State Senator, Burton C. Cook, 207; William Paul, 10. For Representatives, C. I. Starlech, 207 votes ; C. R. Patton, 203 ; A. A. Fisher, 159 ; George M. Radcliffe, 156 ; William Strawn, 26. Strawn was on the Anti-slavery or Abolition ticket. The four Anti-slavery votes of 1848 seem to have grown into eleven this year, Mr. Wallace, notwithstanding his small vote for State's Attorney in the ".ounty, was elected, and proved a very acceptable officer. He was a son-in-law of Judge Dickey, and went with him into the army, where he yielded up his life at Shiloh. He is spoken of as a brilliant lawyer and a very popular man. No record of the Presidential and Congressional vote of that year is found ; but it must have been about the same as above — Democratic, 208 votes ; Whig, 160; Abolition, 11. Total 379, indicating a population of about 2,000. 262 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. In 1853, the number of voting precincts had been increased by addition of Reading, New Michigan, Mud Creek and Avoca Precincts. Any inhabitant of the county will recognize these localities, although the precincts are known to the law no longer. The vote at that election was : For County Judge — Billings P. Babcock, 243 votes; John Hoobler, 133. For Clerk, George W. Boyer, 221 ; 0. Chubbuck. 118. For Associate Justice, D. Mcintosh, 4 ; J. P. Garner, 74 ; Eli Myer, 278 ; John Darnall, 228. For Treasurer and Assessor, Walter Cornell, 272 ; Philip Rollings, 94. County Surveyor — James Stout, 156 ; Charles Hustin, 73; Amos Edwards, 48 ; Nelson Buck, 58; E. B.Oliver, 21. For School Commissioner — Joseph A. Hews, 118 ; Eli Meyer, 103 ; H. H. Hin- man, 134. This list, together with those elected to the minor offices at this election, embraces many names new to the records of the county, but which are now familiar as household words. The Breckenridges, the McMillans and other old families seem to have given way all at once to such new blood and new material as B. P. Babcock, James Stout, Louderback, Hinman, Boyer. Chub- buck and Mcintosh, although Darnall seems to have have retained a place in official life. New life was coming into the county. The first dash of the tidal wave of immigration was reaching us. The Chicago k Mississippi and Illinois Central Railroads were being built. Of the men whose names appear above, whose lives are well remembered, are B. P. Babcock, who, after a faithful term as County Judge, where he displayed the same clear, cautious and honest care in public which has always marked his private affairs, is now one of the largest farmers in the county, owning two splendid sections of land, upon which is Babcocks Grove, of which Isaac Funk once said, that "next to Elkhart Grove, he thought nature had made this the handsomest spot in this whole glorious State." Geo. W. Bover, as his records in the different offices of this countv show, was a singularly neat and efficient Clerk. Orlando Chubbuck, after having served an apprenticeship as an honest farmer and faithful citizen, read law, and now practices the same in La Salle County. David Mcintosh, among many other, perhaps, as honorable things, has once faithfully served us in the Legislature. Jerome Garner was one of the first local attorneys at law. Eli Myer has passed away, leaving an honored name, which is kept alive by a large family of descendants. Walter Cornell still upholds the faith that has led him thus far, an honored, esteemed and beloved old man. Rollins is still with us, though he long since eschewed politics and office holding. Nelson Buck, after several terms of official service, and many years of active life, received an appointment to survey in Western Nebraska, and was, in 1869, massacred by the Sioux. H. H. Hinman still faithfully serves his day and generation as a missionary, after having lived many years in Africa. He now represents the Anti-Secret- Society Association in its crusade against Masonry and kindred clans. He was HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 263 one of the first to espouse Abolition sentiments in the county, and never let his light be hid under a bushel, or anything else. James Stout — no one living in the county from '55 to "70 but knows the intrepid, earnest, positive, lively, jagged and, perhaps, "sassy " Jim Stout. In early life, he had tried teaching school in Kentucky, but gave more attention to teaching the negroes the ety- mology of the word "freedom " than his employers approved of, and he left town between two days, without calling around to get his Avages, and believes to this day that blood-hounds were on his track until he forded the Ohio River. With a not very passive nature, the little experience he had there set every drop of blood in him on fire, and he became the fiery champion of down-trodden Africa from that hour. He was possessed of a vast fund of indignation, and never failed to surround all his efforts with the glitter of attraction which that gave. At one time he helped "steal a nigger," as the phrase went, the story of which must have a place here. A fugitive slave had been taken and was before the court at Ottawa, to have his case legally determined. Stout, with some other Abolitionists, was in attendance. With most of them, it was probably their first experience, and no well developed plan was agreed upon how they might best help the slave. After as patient a hearing as could be given under the great excitement, the Court decided that the fugitive must be sent back to his master. While the opinion of the Court was being delivered, a breathless silence reigned in the court room. The Abolitionists, embracing many who hardly accepted that title, were undecided. The crisis had arrived, and Stout, carried away with excitement, sprang upon a table and shouted, " I move we form ourselves into a committee of the whole, to carry this poor slave back to slavery and bondage ! " The entire room was at once in an uproar which passes all description. While attention was thus called to the mover of this resolution, the slave was spirited out of the window, put into a close carriage and, quicker than it can bs told, was on his way to Canada. The parties engaged in this rescue were arrested and tried for the crime, for it was a crime to help a fugitive away. Stout refused to employ any counsel, refused the aid of the Court, who nffered to assign him a legal adviser, and persisted in defending his own case, and by his quick, sharp wit, he was cleared. All that could certaiily be proved against him was his motion. His line of defense was that he had only proposed to carry the fugitive back to slavery and bondage, but the prosecution endeavored to show by the witness, Judge Caton of the State Court, before whom the former hearing had been had, that Stout, the defendant, did not mean what he said when he proposed to carry the slave back to bondage. The question was asked Judge Caton, ''What is your opinion of the intent of the defendant in making that remark?" "I object! " shouted Stout. In the course of the discussion which followed, in regard to the right of an answer to the question. Stout sprang to his feet and demanded " a subpoena for God Almighty ! He is the only one who knows my intent." Defendants were not then competent witnesses. The Sherift' jocularly remarked tliat he would find it ;. A. Campbell L. G. Goodspeed L. G. Goodspeed J. H. Smith James H. Campbell... John Egan John Egan S. Mossholder S. Mossholder Vote. 179 200 121 208 262 237 186 214 292 259 387 378 427 458 462 424 454 520 537 636 648 In addition to the last named, completing the list of township officers elect, are the following : Township School Tre:isurer, D. M. Lyon ; Justices of the Peace, J. VV. Woodrow, M. I. Brower and Henry Hill ; Constables, John Gib- bons, Charles Watson, John Egan ; Road Commissioners, John Wallace, Arthur Marsh and N. W. Kellogg. It will be noticed that, while there has been no sudden increasings of the vote (which is a fair indication of the population), there has been gradual and decided growth in that respect. Whatever falling off there may have been at any time can be easily accounted for by temporary causes ; and the next elec- tion will show a corresponding addition. In 1862, the poll was 262. The next year, quite a number of the voting population were " off to the war," and the vote decreased to 237. The next year, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment took nearly a hundred voters from Pontiac and vicinity, and a corres- ponding lack is noticed in the poll. In 1866 the war had ended, and the soldiers, whose lives were spared, had returned, and from that time forward the usual increase is noticed. Though Pontiac Township was considered, for some years, a little backward in the attention paid to the education of the youth, in later years, ample amends HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. J09 have been made, and Pontiac Township has expended moi*e money in the last dozen years, for school purposes, than any other in the county. Not until 1858 was there more than one school house. In 1856, but one school was supported, and that at an expense of but $100. There were in attendance but fifty-eight scholars, though there were one hundred and sixty-seven in the town- ship. The highest wages paid to the teacher that year was $20.00 per month. The following table will show at a glance, better than a page of sentences,, the growth of the school system for this locality : DATE. 1856. 186G. 187S. 1877. Schools. Teachers. ScholarH. 1 1 58 6 12 421 10 23 931 9 23 994 Children Be- iHighest wages: tween 6 and 21. | paid teachers 167 672 1051 1137 $ 20 00 100 00 100 00 112 00 Total paid to Teachers. I 100 00 3220 00 4208 00 6710 00 The most encouraging feature of the foregoing table is the evidence, not only of increase in per cent, of persons in school, but the present proportion of those of school age, who receive the benefits offered by the public school system. While the attendance is not as general as that attained in States where a com- pulsory law is in force, it is still much greater than in most other States, and, as compared with other portions of Illinois, stands much higher in this regard than the average. In the late war, this township took no unimportant part. Several almost entire companies were raised here, and this is one of the few townships that raised their full quota without being drafted. Notably, the M. E. Church of Pontiac sent, with the exception of two, all of its male members, including the Pastor, with the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment ; and a remarkable fact may be added that, though engaged in many and fierce battles, every one returned alive. Of those who thus took their lives in their hands, as it were, to fight their country's battles, seventy-two either died on the field in actual conflict, of wounds or of disease contracted while in the service. A full list of all these, together with all soldiers and officers who enlisted from this township, will be found on another page. The township of Pontiac is described in the survey as Congressional Town 28 north, Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is one township west of the center of the county, and twenty-nine miles from the farthest corner. The land is quite level, but not so much so as to render any part of it unfit for cultivation. Formerly, some portions were Hat and marshy ; but, by good drainage, have become tillable, and prove to be of the best quality for agricul- tural purposes. At present, there is scarcely an acre in the whole township, except what is occupied by the bed of the Vermilion River, that is not well adapted to farming. The Vermilion River flows through the township, from the southeast to the northwest, dividing it into two nearly equal parts. Wolf Creek runs through 310 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. the northern part, and empties into the Vermilion after leaving the township. These furnish an abundance of excellent stock water to the farms near which they pass, and Vermilion River affords good water-power for the mill located at Pontiac. Fish, in some variety, abound. The timber at this point is mostly oak, walnut, maple and linn, and covers the larger part of Section 7 and small portions of 17, 25 and 36. Building stone, suitable for foundations, is found in the western part ; and on Sections 25 and 36, gravel, of a good quality for building roads, is obtained. The Chicago & Alton Railroad, from the northeast to the southwest, and the Chicago & Paducah, from northwest to southeast, cross each other and the Ver- milion River at Pontiac. CITY OF PONTIAC. The village of Pontiac was incorporated under the general law of the State, February 12,^ 1856, by the election of a Board of Trustees, consisting of Nel- son Buck, J. W. Strevelle, S. C. Ladd, Z. H. Nettleton and H. Jones — the first named being chosen Chairman or President. Under this organization the town continued for nine years. During the time much discussion arose, and much bitter feeling was engendered, in regard to the sale of intoxicating liquors. Indeed, the local politics of the town con- sisted almost wholly in this question ; and, upon this, the two parties were almost evenly divided. Sometimes the license party elected the Board, and sometimes the anti-license party succeeded. At last, in 1865, an attempt was made, by way of legislation, to set the question at rest by obtaining a special charter, which prohibited, not only the sale of liquors, but restrained the Trustees from granting any authority Avhat- ever to saloon keepers to vend such article. The charter, however, was satis- factory to its friends only in so far as they were enabled to elect Trusetes who would enforce its provisions in accordance Avith their views of its merits ; and the temperance question was not fully settled. The other provisions of the charter were much the same as those in effect in other towns of like size; but on account of this peculiarity, it was obnoxious to a portion of the inhabitants. Attempts were therefore made to obtain a new special charter, but Avithout effect ; and the Princeton Charter, as it was denom- inated, continued in force until 1872. In 1870, the people of the State, at a general election, adopted a new Con- stitution, in which was a clause prohibiting " class legislation ; " and under this Constitution, the Legislature passed a general law in regard to the government of cities and towns, in the Winter of 1870-71. On the 11th of September, 1872, the city of Pontiac was organized under the new law, by the election of R. W. Babcock as first Mayor ; F. C. Brown, W. H. Clelland, Martin Dolde, L. E. Kent. William Perry and Charles Gross as Aldermen : and A. W. Cowan as Clerk. 'I ^% / C/ ^1^ Number of male teachers employed ~ Number of female teachers employed 13 Total 20 Amount paid male teachers $2,142 08 Amount paid female teachers 3,307 44 Total IM49 52 Estimated value of school property $12,000 00 Principal of school fund of township $7,198 39 The township has nine school districts and ten good, comfortable school houses, all of which are frame buildings. None but first-class teachers are employed, and the schools of the entire town are in a most flourishing state. Indian Grove, as an election precinct, embraced that portion of the county lying east of the mouth of the Little Vermilion River ; or, more properly speak- ing, east of the old village of Avoca, in Avoca Township. In the days of Whigs and Democrats, it was largely Democratic, and very ultra in its polit- ical opinions. The first newspaper ever taken in what is now Indian Grove Township was the Chicago Journal, then a Whig paper. It had been subscribed for by John and Jesse Moore, who had done so without inquiring into the color of its politi- cal faith. When it came, and the Rev. Mr. Darnall found out that it was a Whig paper, he set his veto on it and would not let it be read in the neighbor- hood. It was when Avoca was the only post office in all the country round, and so great was the faith of the Moores in Mr. Darnall's opinions, that they HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 335 refused to take the papers out of the office,and there they accumulated until the subscription expired. Political principles have undergone a great change since those early times. At least two-thirds of the vote is now Republican, and large Republican major- ities are rolled up on all occasions where party lines are drawn. There are, liowever, a few old true-blue Democrats who still stand by their old party and principles, and think that Long John Wentworth has backslidden beyond hope, since he has turned over to the Republican Party. The war record of the township is given in the history of the village of Fairbury. Indian Grove takes its name from the Indian settlement or camp once in the fine forest along Indian Creek, which receives its name from the same cause. Pre- vious to the Indians locating at Kickapoo Town, they had their wigwams or lodges in the timber, now in Indian Grove Township, They had left the place before the settlement of the county by the whites, or at least before there were settlements made in this immediate neighborhood. A large number of Indians were living at the Kickapoo town, not far distant ; but we have no account of their ever molesting their pale-face neigh- bors, though Black Hawk made every effort to stir them up to mischief, and some of the settlers, in another part of the grove, took fright during the excite- ments of the Black Hawk war, and fled to the frontier settlements ; but those who remained were left undisturbed. Soon after the close of this war, the Indi- ans were removed to reservations and hunting-grounds beyond the '" Great Father of Waters," and our settlements here were no more disturbed by their war-whoop. This township has the benefit of two lines of railway, the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw and the Chicago & Paducah Roads. The former is more fully noticed in the history of Fairbury. The Chicago & Paducah Railroad was completed through this town in 1872, since which time it has been in active operation. The people of this section seem to have awakened to the necessity of extended railroad facilities since the building of the T., P. & W., as it, we were informed, encountered much opposition from the very inception of the enterprise, until its success and energy won for it a degree of independence ; while the Chicago & Paducah received a hearty and substantial support, and a stock subscription from the township of $50,000. The benefit of these roads to this section of the county is almost incalcula- ble, and the amount of grain and stock shipped over them annually is immense. When the county adopted township organization, in 1857, in the process of naming, this town was called Worth ; but discovering that there wag a Worth Township in the adjoining county of Woodford, it was found necessary to look up a new name for this. Francis J. Moore, a prominent citizen and one of the early settlers of the township, suggested Indian Grove, which was adopted. At the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors, we fii)d the township rep- resented by John Crumpton, as Supervisor. 33d history of LIVINGSTON COUNTY. The present township officers are as follows: H. Kingman, Supervisor; 0. J. Dimmick, R. B. Hanna and 0. P. Ross, Justices of the Peace ; T. T. Bab- eock, Assessor ; N. Shepherd, Collector ; N. A. Souars, Town Clerk. Indian Grove Township is bounded on the west by McLean County; on the north by Avoca Township ; on the east by Forrest, and on the south by Belle Prairie. It is about one-fourth timber to three-fourths prairie, and is drained by Indian Creek, which flows through it from the southwest to north- east, and empties into the Little Vermilion River, just beyond its borders. Corn is the main crop, and the immense quantities grown in the township would prob- ably equal the entire crops of the Nile-washed lands of Egypt. THE VILLAGE OF FAIRBURY. Fairbury was laid out in 1857, by Caleb L. Patton and Octave Chenute. The former owned the land on which the village stands, and in return for the influence exercised by Chenute — who was one of the Civil Engineers of the Peoria & Oquawka* Railroad Company — with the stockholders of the road, in getting a station at this point, he received from Patton one-half of the town lots. He it was that planned the town and named it, and superintended the laying of it ofi". Isaac R. Clark, County Surveyor at the time, surveyed it, and made the plat on file in the Recorder's office, and from which we find that the village of Fair- bury originally embraced only the southeast quarter of Section 3, and a part of the northeast quarter of Section 10, in Township 26 north, Range 6 east, and is dated November 10, 1857. Since it was first surveyed and laid out, several additions have been made to it, as follows : By Patton, Cropsey and Chenute, August 9, 1859 ; by H. L. Marsli, August 9, 1859, July 27 and December 17, 1868 ; by C. L. Patton, February 4, 1864, and July 9, 1869 ; by — Atkeins, May 8, 9 and 10, 1865, January 25, 1865, and April 30, 1868 ; by Isaac P. McDowell, July 12, 1865, and May 14, 1867, and by G. W. Suber, May 14, 1870. A space of 200x870 feet was reserved by the railroad in the center of the original village for depot buildings. The first house in the village of Fairbury was built by John Coomer, who came here from Vermont, the old Green Mountain State, in 1857. The house stands on the corner, just across the street from the Fairbury Hotel, and is a good, comfortable residence at the present day. Coomer finished his house and moved into it on the last day of the year ; says he came very near not getting into it in 1857 any way. The first store house was built by A. L. Pogue, David Thomas and R. B. Amsbury, Avho opened a store in it in the early part of 1858, and for a number of years did an extensive business. At length Thomas sold out, and went to Missouri, but the remaining partners continued in the business some time longer, when they finally dissolved, Amsbury going to the gold regions. William Mitchell built a store about the same time of the one just mentioned, in which he opened a small stock of goods and groceries. The first brick store 'The former title of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 337 liouse was built by Franklin Elliott in 1864, and occupied as a store by his brother as soon as completed. The store house alluded to, as put up by Wm. Mitchell, is at present a part of the Fairbury House, and with many additions and changes, internally and externally, since the first part of the building was put up in 1857, it has become, as stated, the Fairbury House. With all the improvements and additions made to it, together with the original outlay, it has •cost about $6,000, and is now kept by S. S. Rogers, who owns the building, and has made a first-class hotel of it. The first tavern in the village was, built by Geo. W. Morris in 1 858, and kept by him for some time, when it changed hands and S. S. Rogers became the proprietor. It was finally moved away from its original location, and became the Central House, a name it still bears. The first post office was established in the early part of 1858, and H. H. McKee was the first Postmaster. The mail was then carried on horseback from Pontiac to Lexington, and a round trip made each week. After many changes in the administration of its affairs, the office has passed into the hands of John Virgin, who is the present Postmaster. The first blacksmith shop in Fairbury was kept by 0. S. Mason and Michael Gately, two young men, who commenced the lousiness about 1858, when the village was rushing ahead at a breakneck speed. In 1859, a large flouring-mill was built in the village, where Coomer's lum- her office now stands. It was built or commenced by parties for whom Judge McDowell endorsed, and upon their failure, he became the owner of the property, and completed the building. It was a frame edifice three stories high, thirty by fifty feet in size, with three run of buhrs, and cost upward of f8,000. The building was burned in 1872, and has never been rebuilt. Ben Walton built his first mill in Fairbury in 1866, at a cost of |25,000. It was a frame build- ing thirty by sixty feet, with three run of buhrs, and was burned in August, 1868. He at once commenced to rebuild, and the result was his present mag- nificent mill, which is forty-eight by sixty feet in size, four and a half stories high, and cost $35,000. It has six run of buhrs, and a capacity for making 175 barrels of fiour per day. In connection with his mill is a grain elevator, with storage for 20,000 bushels, and cribbing room for 75,000 bushels. He landles annually over 300,000 bushels of grain, the most of which is sold on the track to buyers who ship principally to the East. When his mill was burned, in 1868, in twelve days after the fire he was buying grain in a tempo- rary building, and by the next February,* liad bought and handled nearly 300,000 bushels. Fairbury is a fine grain center, and it is generally conceded that it is one of the best grain markets in the county. There are at present two large steam elevators,. besides the one mentioned with Walton's Mill, and several very fine ones have been burned in the numerous conflagrations that have at difterent times visited the ill-fated village. The best one ever built was by Hogue & Bartlett. and the first one was built in the Fall and Winter of 1858, by Fitch •His mill was burned on the 12th of August. 338 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, & Van Eman, who were the first men to buy grain in Fairbury. They bought and piled it up in sacks by the railroad, until shipped. This one, as well as that built by Hogue & Bartlett, were burned. One of the steam elevators above mentioned, and tnown as the Union Elevator, was built by H. M. Gillette, and the other by Amsbury & Jones, all of whom have formerly been extensive grain dealers. As already stated, several additions were made to the village of Fairbury after the laying out of the original place. One of the largest of these Avas made by H. L. Marsh, who, it seems, has always been one of the wide-awake citizens of the town. He built a large and elegant hotel and depot in the west end of the village, which, at the time of its building (1866) cost $17,000. But this, too, " went up " in one of the destructive fires before alluded to. Although Fairbury was laid out about the time the railroad was completed through this section, and it grew rapidly, as new railroad villages generally do, yet it was- not until 1864 that it was organized under village laws and charter. At an election held on the 8th day of August, 1864, after due notice had been given, we find, upon examination of the records, that John Coomer was chosen Presi- dent, and C. C. Bartlett, Clerk. At this election, there were " eighty votes given in favor of incorporation and twenty-six votes against incorporation." Where- upon it was declared that the town of Fairbury was incorporated under act of the Legislature, by more than a two-thirds vote." The first Board of Trustees elected were H. L. Marsh, E. T. Joy, I. P. McDowell, J. H. Van Eman and Delos Wright. The Board organized by electing H. L. Marsh, President, and W. G. McDowell, Clerk. John Coomer was elected Police Magistrate, but refused to qualify, and R. W. McKee was elected in his place. The village Board at present is J. F. Fraley, H. Kingman, L. B. Dominy, George Kin- near and Jesse Hanna. J. F. Fraley is President of the Board, and L. B. Dominy, Clerk. H. Kingman is Treasurer, Nathan Shepherd, Police Magis- trate, and John Allum, Town Marshal. The first school taught in the village of Fairbury was by Alonzo Straight, in a little frame building on the'south side of the T., P. & W. Railroad, but had originally been devoted to some other use. The first house built for school purposes was in 1860, and is situated on the north side of the railroad, and is still in use as a school house. It is a frame building, two stories high, and cost $2,500. The first teacher to occupy the new building was Smith Olney, who taught in it as soon as completed. The " South Side School House," as it is called, was built in 1868. It is also a frame building, two stories, and cost $3,500. Fairbury is somewhat behind other towns and villages of its preten- tions, in the quality of its school buildings, which have quite a dingy, weather- beaten appearance. Though uncomely in exterior, they are substantial in struc- ture and comfortable inside, and the village, it is said, supports most excellent schools. The Principal and corps of Teachers for the school year just closed, are as follows : Prof. C. H. Rew. Principal of High School Department ; Miss HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. SSO- M. M. Daly, Assistant in High School Department ; Miss Ella B. Erwin^ Teacher of Second Grammar Department ; Philip Hutchinson, Teacher of First Grammar Department ; Miss Delia Chesebrough, Teacher of Second Interme- diate ; Miss Cynthia E. Earnhart, Teacher of First Intermediate ; Miss Laura Colvin, Teacher of Second Primary ; Miss Anna E. McDowell, Teacher of South Primary ; Mrs. S. M. Hempstead, Teacher of North Primary ; Miss Mary Kilbury, Teacher of West Primary and Intermediate School. For thc^ coming year, some few changes are made, but most of the old teachers remain. The following is the roster : Prof. C. H, Rew, Superintendent and Principal of High School Department ; Miss Delia Chesebrough, Assistant in High School Department ; T. W. Gore, Teacher in First Grammar Department ; Miss Ella B. Erwin, Teacher in Second Grammar Department : Miss Cynthia E. Earnhart, Teacher in First Intermediate ; Miss Mary Kilbury, Teacher in Second Intermediate ; Mrs. S. M. Hempstead, Teacher in First Primary, North Side ; Miss Anna E. McDowell, Teacher in First Primary, South Side ; Miss Flora Potter, Teacher in Second Primary, South Side ; Miss Ellen Vanover, Teacher in Second Primary, North Side. The attendance during the school year averages about 500 pupils for the tAvo schools. Both of these schools are under the supervision of one Principal, Mr. Rew. They are graded, and have what is termed a High School Department, though not High Schools in the strict acceptation of the term. The first church societies organized in Fairbury were the Methodist and Presbyterian. The Methodist Church was organized in July, 1858, under the ministerial labors of Rev. J. W. Stubbles, with the following members ; Francis J. Moore, Garrison Bowen, Rachel Bowen, Busey, Nancy Busey, Dr. L. Beech, Edith Beech, John Kring, Rachel Kring, Catherine Kring and John Potter. But few of these are members still, viz. : Francis J. Moore, Dr. L. Beech, John Kring, Catherine Kring, Rachel Kring and John Potter, The others are either dead or have moved away. The first church building was erected in the Fall of 1858, and was a frame, 32x55 feet, dedicated, in the latter part of the year, by Rev. J. W. Flowers, Presiding Elder. It was enlarged in 1866, under the pastorate of Rev. J. E. Rutledge. In the Spring of 1874, Dr. L. Beech, a zealous member of the church and a man of broad and liberal benevolence, headed a subscription for a new church edifice, to cost from ten ta twelve thousand dollars. Dr. Beech subscribed $2,000 ; others put down .their names for liberal amounts, and thus several thousand dollars were raised. Nothing was done, however, until the Summer of 1876, when the Trustees deter- mined to put up a substantial brick, 45x75 feet, one full story and a basement. The basement was finished in the Fall of 1876, and was dedicated by Rev. R. G. Pierce, R. B. Williams, Pastor. It was intended, in the following Fall, to have the audience room on the second floor completed, but, on the 2d day ot July, 1877, a fearful tornado passed over the village, and the church was laid in ruins. In the Fall of 1877, Rev. J. Wilkinson was appointed Pastor, and S40 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. the society, though somewhat discouraged, had determined to rebuild. Largely through the generosity of Ben Walton, an elegant brick church was erected on the foundation of the old one, and was dedicated January 20, 187b, by Rev. W. H. H. Adams, D. D., of Bloomington. The present membership of the church is 280. The first Methodist Sunday school was organized in the Spring of 1859, •with Jacob Hunt as Superintendent. It is in a flourishing condition at present, and an average of about 300 children attend. The Presbyterian society was organized July 25, 1858, with 10 original members. The first Pastor was Rev. Benjamin B. Drake. The church was built in 1862, and is a frame, 25x40 feet, costing $750. It was dedicated, when completed, by Rev. A. Eddy. The present Pastor is Rev. T. Hemp- stead, and his church numbers 88 members. A Sunday school was organized in 1863, with William Mitchell as Superintendent. With the periods of lan- guishing, usual to such organizations, it still exists, and is in quite a flourishing condition at this time. A few years after the organization of the Presbyterina Church, it divided into the Old and New Schools, and the latter branch built a church similar to that worshiped in by the other ; but, re-uniting again in a short time, the New School church was sold to the Ormish society, who still occupy it, having preaching regularly, a flourishing membership and a large congregation. The Baptist Church was erected in 1865, but the society was organized several years previous. It is a brick edifice, 38x50 feet, costing $3,000, and was dedicated by Rev. J. Cairns, at the time its Pastor. At present, it has a large membership, and Rev. C. D. Merritt is Pastor. Its Sunday school was organized in 1864, the year before the building of the church. William Car- penter is the Superintendent, and about 140 children attend on an average. The Roman Catholic congregation Avas organized about 1857, and was visited from that time, semi-annually, by Rev. B. Lonergan, of Wilmington, until 1867, when the mission was attached to Pontiac, a resident priest having been appointed there. This priest, whose name was O'Neill, was one of the oldest priests in America, the first Irish priest who ever came west of the Alle- ghanies, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Quigley, now of Henry. 111. The congregation, however, had not assumed any permanent organization until 1868, when, under the leadership of Rev. John A. Fanning, the present Pas- tor, a fiame church was built, 33x60 feet, to which important additions have been made, at a total cost, up to the present time, of about $4,000. The original membership consisted of some thirty families, and has since then increased to about one hundred and twenty-five families. The church edifice was dedicated on the 24th of June, to St. John the Baptist, by Rev. C. Gonaut, of Chebanse, assisted by the Pastor and other clergymen. The Sun- day school of this church was organized cotemporaneously with the congrega- tion. Its first Superintendent was Owen McKay, now of Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 341 As early as 1862, movements were made here toward developing the coal fields, believed to exist sufficiently near the surfjica to be reached with light expense. In the Fall of this year, H. L. Marsh commenced to sink the west shaft, and at the distance of 216 feet, struck the first vein of coal, which varies from four and a half to five feet in thickness, and produces a very fair quality of coal. At a distance of 180 feet below this vein another was found, but not of sufficient thickness to warrant its being profitably worked. It is the best coal, however, in any of the neighboring shafts, but^ to quote the slang of the day, it is "too thin" — to be valuable. To sink this shaft and equip it for work has cost altogether about $30,000 ; the works have a capacity for taking out at least five hundi-ed tons daily, but the demand has never required it to run to the full extent of its ability. Some years ago, it passed into the hands of Eastern capitalists, who leased it to Knight & Gibb, of Fairbury, for two and a half years, which term, we believe, has expired, and the mine is at present idle, except in keeping the water pumped out. This was the first shaft sunk between Braidwood and x\lton, where more than a hundred now perforate the ground. It for some time proved an expen- sive affair on account of so much water, and the third shaft was sunk before one could be secured against overflow. The east shaft was commenced in April, 1867, and struck a profitable vein of coal at a depth of one hundred and sixty feet. This shaft was originally begun by a stock company, consisting of Jones, Amsbury, Darnall, Gribb, Atkins and Archer. Amsbury and Jones were the principal business men, and Gibb the Superintendent. The sinking of the shaft at that time cost about $15,000, but could be done for, perhaps, half the amount now. A few years after the opening of the shaft, Gibb leased it from the company, and has been operating it advantageously for the past four years. Mr. Gibb is a native of Scotland, and has been in this country since 1852. He thoroughly under- stands coal mining, and under his supervision this shaft yields on an average seventy-five tons daily, the year round. At present, they supply the railroad companies 1,000 tons per month, while the remainder is mostly disposed of to the local trade. The different foi*mations passed through in reaching coal were yellow clay immediately after the soil, then quite a thickness of blue clay, after which a considerable stratum of soft stone — usually called soapstone^-and then a vein of lime rock, followed by a shelly sandstone, with thin layers of sand between the layers of rock, when coal was struck. A peculiarity of the country here is the diflerence in the formations passed through in these shafts, which are not more than two miles apart. In the west end shaft, the clay is about the same as in the other, but much more water; after passing through the clay, two strata of lime ledges were met with ; then a stratum of red fire-clay, and after it about eighty feet of shelly lime rock, followed by thirty feet of soap- stone, underlying which was the first vein of coal. In the new shaft, sunk the present season, about midway between the other two. a very soft, red rock was 342 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. found in large quantities, and Avhich is supposed to contain mineral properties that may be converted into something valuable. This vein, or bed of stone, was found at a depth of about eighty feet, and is seven feet in thickness. Speaking of it at the time, the Independent Blade said : The stone is strongly impregnated with mineral, mostly iron In color it is gray and dark brown. It also has an oily substance, that shows itself very plainly when immersed in water, the oil rising to the surface. Experiments have been made with this stone ground to powder and mixed with oil for painting purposes, and to all appearances it makes an excellent article. We have samples of this paint in this office, which may be seen. Further tests will be made, and should it turn out as is now anticipated, there is a mine of wealth in it, and the manufac- ture of mineral paint may be commenced at once in this city. This shaft is owned by Knight, Gibb & Co. They bought six acres of Mr. Marsh, with the privilege of mining under seventy acres more, belonging to the same party. They reached coal — a vein four and a half feet thick — at a depth of 176 feet, and at an expenditure of about $10,000. This is the third shaft that has been successfully sunk in the environs of Fairbury, and, next to grain, coal mining is the most extensive line of business engaged in by its citizens. Aside from the amount furnished the railroads, the trade is of a local character, mostly, and very extensive of that kind. The first bank was established in Fairbury by Judge McDowell and Nathan E. Lyman, in 1864, and was known as the Fairbury Bank. In 1867, Jno. J.. Taylor was admitted a partner, and it finally developed into the First National Bank, and was organized as such in 1874, with Isaac P. McDowell as President, and Nathan E, Lyman (now of Rockford, 111.) as Cashier. I. P. McDowell is still President, and T. S. 0. McDowell is Cashier. Bartlett, Beech & Dominy commenced the banking business June 15, 1874, and still conduct it in all its branches. A woolen-mill was built here about the year 1867-68, by three brothers from New York, named Barnard. It was supposed at one time that sheep raising would prove a very profitable business in this section of the country, and a number of farmers embarked in it extensively. A man named Hiner, living a little west of Fairbury, had at one time over 1,300 head of sheep, but after considerable experimenting, it was found to be a failure. Owing to the wet nature of so much of the land, the disease called " foot rot " prevailed to an extent to render the raising of sheep not only expensive, but entirely profitless^ and it was finally abandoned altogether. From this fact, the woolen-mill proved a failure, and the parties owning it took out the machinery and moved it to Los Angelos, Cal., where sheep are a spontaneous growth and are cultivated to an extent calculated to make a mill of its caliber profitable. The Chicago & Paducah Railroad Company purchased the old building, after the machinery had been removed, with the intention of converting it into a grain elevator, but the partial failure of crops for the past year or two has prevented, and it still stands an empty shell, a monument of misplaced investment. The Fairbury Union Agricultuial Board was incorporated under legislative act in 1876. The certificate of organization is signed by Geo. H. Harlow, Secre- HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 843 tary of State, under the great seal, and is dated January 19, 1870. It was organ- ized and officers duly elected March 2r)th, as follows : John Virgin, President ; John G. Steers, Vice President ; C. C. Bartlett, Treasurer, and Smith Olney, Secretary. The first Board of Directors were Jacob B. Bally, Stephen Herr, Henry Kingman, John F. Myers, Henry Skinner and George W. Myers, whose terms expire in 1877 ; and Robert Elmore, J. F. Earnhart, Owen Finegan, D. L. Murdock, R. E. Norman, D. R. Potter and Benjamin Cumpston, whose terms expire in 1878. Their grounds consist of about twenty-one acres of land, pur- <-hased at an aggregate cost of $2,800, and are located just south of the village and are excellently adapted to the purpose for which they are used. They are well improved and enclosed with a substantial fence and have large and com- modious buildings. The first exhibition of the association was held in September, 1870, and con- tinued four days. The last election of officers resulted as follows: John Virgin, President ; Joel Strawn, Vice President ; C. C. Bartlett, Treasurer, and H. L. Bruce, Secretary. It is a Union Association of Livingston and McLean Coun- ties ; is in a flourishing condition and is patronized and supported by both counties in a liberal manner. The Masonic and Odd Fellows' societies are well represented in the village of Fairbury, by all the grades of those honorable bodies. Tarbolton Lodge, No. Sol, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered October 3, 1800, and the document authorizing its existence as a body was signed by D. C Cre- gier. Grand Master of Illinois at that time, and J. H. Miles, Grand Secretary. Charter members — Aaron Weider, L. H. Nash, R. Rumbold, J. B. Hulsey, 0. P. Ross, S. C. Roberts, H. Remington and some others, of whom 0. P. Ross and H. Remington alone are now members. Aaron Weider was the first Worshipful Master. At present. Smith Olney is Master ; T. W. Duftey, Sec- retary, and 104 members are on the records. The Lodge Hall was burned March 29, 1875, and the loss in paraphernalia, furniture, etc., was about |2,000. The hall did not belong to them, but was rented for Lodge purposes, so that the loss of the building did not fall on them. The Lodge was originally organized in Remington's parlor, and continued to meet there until other rooms were pro- cured. Fairbury Chapter, No. 99, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered October 5, 1800, and their charter signed by J. A. DeLancey, Grand High Priest of the State, and J. H. Miles. Grand Secretary. The first High Priest was J. W. Peck, and H. Remington was the first Secretary. At present, W. H. Allen is High Priest, and Smith Olney, Secretary, with a present membership of 83. Fairbury Council, No. 30, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered January 11, 1808, and J. W. Peck was the first T.-. I.-. G.\ M.\, and M. Osman the first Recorder. By a joint act of the Grand Chapter and the Grand Council of Illinois, the degrees of the latter are now conferred in the Chapter, and the Council, as a body, is discontinued. 344 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. St. Paul Commandery, No. 36, Knight Templars, was chartered Oct. 26^ 1870. Sir D. C. Cregier was then Grand Commander of the State, and as such signed the charter authorizing its organization. The first Eminent Com- mander was Sir J. J. Wright, and Sir John Zimmerman, Recorder. There are at present 56 members upon the books, and Sir John Zimmerman is Com- mander, and Sir Demas Elliott, Recorder. Livingston Lodge, No. 290, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized under dispensation August 15, 1860, and chartered Oct. 12th of the same year. The charter members were J. F. Blackburn, John J. Young, W. H. Strevelle, John T. Bowen and John Zimmerman. Of these, there are still living Blackburn and Zimmerman, but the latter only is still a member of the body. The present Noble Grand is J. F. Earnhart, and J. M. Thornton is Sec- retary, with 44 members. Fairbury Encampment, No. 71. I. 0. 0. F., was chartered Oct. 8, 1867, and has a large membership. At present, Benj. P. Lightfoot is Chief Patriarch; T. W. Gore, Scribe. The history of the press extends back but a dozen years in this little city. In 1866, H. S. Decker commenced the publication of a paper called the Journal, in Fairbury, but soon sold out to I. P. McDowell, who, after a short time, sold it to a man named Eastman, and he continued to publish it until 1873. In 1871, the Dimmicks commenced the publication of the Independent, and in 1876, C. B. Holmes commenced the Blade. These papers were pub- lished in the interests of the east and west ends of the village for a time, when J. S. Scibird, formerly of Bloomington, purchased the two, and consolidated them, upon the principle that "in union there is strength," and from the com- bination brought forth a kind of journalistic Siamese twins, known as the Independent-Blade. It is independent in politics, well and ably edited, and is one of the flourishing newspapers of the county. John Virgin, J. C. Morrison and Decatur Veach formed a company, some years ago, for the purpose of importing Norman horses. In 1870, Virgin was sent out and brought the first lot across the Atlantic to this county. Their partnership was soon dissolved by the death of Veach, but Virgin still continues in the business, and has imported some very fine specimens of this popular breed. The most extensive manufacturing of any kind in the village is George W. Kring's. He commenced, in 1866, the manufacture of cultivators, a business he is still engaged in. Lately, he has added the manufacture of check-rowers, which he makes a specialty. The village of Fairbury makes no pretensions to wholesale business, or to extensive manufacturing, but is merely a retail place, and as such every line of business is well represented. Many large mercantile firms, whose bases no financial storms can shake, are doing a heavy but safe business. As noted in another place, this village and township have the advantage of two railroads. The Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, formerly known as the Peoria HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 345 & Oquawka Railroad, in the early period of its existence had a hard struggle for life. It was poor and moneyless, and, as is usually the ease under such circum- stances, every one gave it a kick down the hill. No stock was taken in it in this immediate vicinity, except a little toward building a station. Owing to their straitened circumstances, and their inability to pay their obligations, the bitterest enmity arose between the road and the town, and attachments were made against everything in the way of property belonging to the road, liable to such process, and even freight bills were garnisheed before they could be collected. Every occasion was sought to annoy each other, and they did not always stop at annoyance, but did considerable injury. A train passed through the town one very dry, windy day at full speed, with fires and steam at a high stage, and emitting from its smoke-stack great blazing cinders, which caught in some combustible matter, communicated to the town, and a destructive confla- gration was the result. When the train arrived at Forrest, the next station, the engineer looked back and saw the dense smoke, then remarked that he set the town of Fairbury on fire as he came through. The road, how- ever, lived and prospered, and grew out of its financial troubles, and is to-day one of the prosperous roads in the country. Its name was changed from Peoria & Oquawka to Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway, and it is a great trunk line between East and West. It was finished through here in 1857, and there are few roads at the present time in the State of Illinois that are doing a heavier business. The Chicago & Paducah Road is a valuable addition to this section of the county, as it unites it by rail with the county seat, and also gives competi- tion in the shipment of freights, which are extremely heavy from this point — as much, perhaps, as from any other in Livingston County. As an illustra- tion of its importance, we give some statistical facts, kindly furnished by Mr, Winters, of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, and Mr. Rogers, of the Chicago & Paducah. which are as follows for the year 1877 : TOLEDO, PEORIA & WARSAW RAILROAD. Freight forwarded 600 car loads in bulk. Freight forwarded 60 car loads stock. Freight forwarded 300 car loads of coal. Total freight forwarded for the year about 960 car loads. Amount received on freight for year 1877, about ^24,000 00 Amount of ticket sales for year 1877 12,(i00 00 CHICAGO & PADUCAH RAILROAD. Freight forwarded — total grain, stock and coal H17 car loads. Amount received on freight for 1877 $17,617 84 Amount ticket sales for 1877 7,990 20 Fairbury has been a most unfortunate town in the way of fires, and it would be rather difficult, perhaps, to find another place of its size that has been so often and so disastrously visited by the "fire fiend." The first great fire occur- red in October. 1868, and is the one already alluded to as catching from a pass- 346 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. ing locomotive, on the T., P. k W. R. R. It commenced in the Dresser Warehouse, located in East End, and communicated to a row of wooden build- ings on the north side of Locust street. Eighteen stores were burned, little of the contents saved, and the loss estimated at $75,000. Two other serious fires ■occurred in 1869, though neither was quite as destructive as the one just men- tioned. In the month of February, a fire broke out in a frame store building on the corner of Locust and Fourth streets, belonging to I. P. McDowell, and communicated to a row of wooden buildings adjoining on the west. Ten buildings were burned, some goods saved, and loss estimated at |20,000. Another fire occurred this year. It originated in a wagon shop, owned by N. S. McDonald, in the West End, and simultaneously in Elliott's jewelry store, in East End, as though by a preconcerted arrangement of incendiaries to burn and plunder the entire town. Seven buildings were totally destroyed, with a loss of about $12,500. In addition to the hostile feelings mentioned as existing between the vil- lage and the T., P. & W. Railway, for years, quite a kindred feeling existed between the east and west ends of the village, and mutterings, " deep and dire,'' were often indulged in between the sections, which bade fair, at times, to burst out like some of their own conflagrations. As this is an unpleasant part of our work, however, we will draw the veil over these human frailties, with a Bible admonition to the citizens, to " dwell together in unity." The village has provided itself with a pretty good and efficient fire depart- ment, and organized volunteer companies. In 1874, they purchased a couple <»f hand engines, at a cost of about $1,800, and the village government allowed them $100 for keeping their fire tackle in good working order, while the remain- der of their services is gratuitous. One of the most interesting and exciting little incidents that has ever occurred in this village, perhaps, was the first exercising of the rights of fran- chise by a member of the " Fifteenth Amendment." Richard Quarles, known nearly all over McLean and Livingston Counties as " Side Hill Dick," on account of one leg being several inches shorter than the other, was the first colored man to cast a ballot at an election in Fairbury. The occasion was the ^lection of township officers, in the Spring of 1870, and called out nearly as many people, to witness the performance, as would a circus. But no one chal- lenged or contested his right to vote, and it passed off all in good humor. There are living in and around Fairbury about 100 negroes. They came mostly from Mr. Sullivant's, in Ford County, who imported them to work on his large farm ; but as times grew hard and dull, he would get rid of his col- ored help, and they would wander toward Fairbury, where they found homes. They have always conducted themselves in an orderly manner, with a disposi- tion to work and get along in the world. The Supervisor says he has given less charity to negroes, in proportion, than to whites ; and, taken all together, nothing can truthfully be said to their disadvantage. They have a church, of ..,r>;^*^^v ^- r^^i^.^ ^^C^^L CHATSWORTH ll^iVtKSi^ » **' tWi-JKU.J HISTORY OF LIVINGSTOX COUNTY. 349 the Methodist Episcopal denomination, with a regular Pastor, Rev. Aaron Ward, of Pontiac, and a local preacher, also, Rev. Washington Farrer. A Sunday school is in full operation at their church, under the superintendence of James Allen, which is Avell attended. Their children go to the common schools, and share all the advantages of education equallv with white chil- dren. The village has a very handsome little cemetery, which was surveyed by Isaac R. Clarke, August 30, 1855, and was originally one-fourth of northwest quarter of Section 2, and has had an addition made to it since it was laid out, of about six acres of ground. It is well improved and set in trees and shrub- bery, and much respect shown by the living to the dead. The first burial in this cemetery was a Mrs. Hughes, wife of David Hughes, and was interred soon after the grounds were laid out. Fairbury was originally called South Avoca, but was changed by Chenute, as noted in another place. It is situated at the crossing of the Toledo, Peoria k Warsaw and the Chicago & Paducah Railroads, twelve miles from Pontiac and 103 miles from Chicago. Though claiming a population variously estimated at from 2,500 to 3,000, it is still under village organization. The bar is repre- sented here by Hon. D. L. Murdock, State's Attorney, Jiidge W. G. McDowell, A. J. Clarke, R. T. Perry and J. D. Fraley, all of whom are menof ability. There are other able men in the place, but space forbids the mention of the names of all who have distinguished themselves, but will give only the followino-, who were identified with the army during the late war : Jo. H. Scibird, Major of the Seventieth Illinois Infantry ; John W. Morris, Captain of Company C, Srxty-eighth Illinois Infmtry ; J. M. Wright, Lieutenant in Second Illinois Cavalry ; John Zimmerman, Lieutenant in Third Illinois Cavalry ; H. H. Staf- ford, First Lieutenant Company H, Seventy-second Indiana Infantry, livino- at present in Fairbury. Tlie following went into the army from Fairbury, but are now residing in other places : Rev. A. J. Cropsey, a Methodist preacher, Major of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and since the war has represented his district in the Lower House of the State Legislature. He at present lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. B. E. Robinson, First Lieutenant Company I, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served a full term in Andersonville prison, with all its horrors. He has served three terms as Sheriff of Livincfston County, havino- been elected in 1872, 1874 and 1876, and is a candidate again for re-election. No man has ever held the office three terms in succession, since township organization. Byron Phelps, a son of Orin Phelps, mentioned as one of the early settlers of Forrest Township, was a Lieutenant in the Third Illinois Cav- alry, and after the close of the war was elected County Clerk, an office he filled satisfactorily for four years, and at present lives in Decatur, 111. Aaron Weidcr was an officer in the Third Cavalry, and after the war was Treasurer of the county for four years. W. H. H. McDowell was Second Lieutenant in 350 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. the One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Illinois Infantry, and lives now in Pontiac. As to those who carried muskets, their names and regiments will be found in the general war record, on another page of this work. Henry H. Rogers, a son of S. S. Rogers, of Fairbury, was educated at the Naval Academy at Annapo- lis, Md. ; and when he graduated last Summer (1877), was appointed a inidship- man on board of the U. S. steamer Pensacola, and is at present stationed at Mare Island, near San Francisco. The medical fraternity of the village is as follows: Drs. S. M. & H. E. W. Barnes, J. F. Fraley, D. Brewer and James Pearson ; Dr. J. R. Rayburn, dentist. Fairbury Guards, Company C, Tenth Battalion of the Illinois State Guards, with regimental headquarters at Dwight, 111., was organized in October, 1877, with the following officers : J. L. Sacriste, Captain ; J. M. Wright, First Lieutenant ; J. W. Morris, Second Lieutenant ; and J. S. DeWolf, Orderly Sergeant. Last but not least in the history of the village of Fairbury, we would men- tion in the most complimentary terms the Scibird Zouave Cadets, a company of small boys from 10 to 14 yeai'S old, and but recently organized into a military company. They have now forty members, and are being drilled in genuine military style by J. H. Scibird, Major of the Seventieth Illinois In- fantry, during the late war. Their uniform consists of red pants, blue shirts, red caps with blue top, white stockings and shoes. They have toy guns made under the direction of Maj. Scibird, and are pine stocks with tin barrels. Maj. Scibird takes great pride in drilling the little fellows, and, in justice to them, we must say that they do honor to their drill-master. Their evolutions are per- formed with perfect military precision, and older soldiers might learn much from their maneuvers. The country need fear no danger from enemies at home, or from foes abroad, which produces such manly and soldierly little boys as the Zouave Cadets. The following are their officers: Joe H. Scibird, Captain;* Thomas Baker, First Lieutenant ; Willie Van Doom, Second Lieutenant ; Charley Rettenmayer, First Sergeant ; Herman Gillett, Second Sergeant ; Fred Baker, Third Sergeant; Frank Duell, Fourth Sergeant; Fred Wright, Fifth Sergeant ; Grant McDowell, First Corporal ; George Decker, Second Corporal ; Clarence Murdock, Third Corporal ; Eddie Smith, Fourth Corporal ; Thomas Langabeer, Fifth Corporal ; Henry Sweet, Sixth Corporal ; Bruce Amsbury, Seventh Corporal ; Robby Mack, Eighth Corporal. And perhaps Napoleon, Wellington, Washington or Lee never wore their official greatness with more dignity than do these embryo generals. But we leave them with a w^ord of encouragement, and a kind Avish for their future happiness : " There's a page in their s(ory, too bright to be lost ! May souls so heroic win laurels and praises Eternal, beyond where the dark stream is crossed.'' *The boys insisted on Maj. Scibird, who had organized and drilled them, being their Captain, and so unanimously elected him. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 351 BELLE PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. Belle Prairie is known as Township 25 north, Range 6 east of the 3d Prin- cipal Meridian, and is fractional, containing only about half the amount of ter- ritory embraced in a regular Congressional Township. It lies in the extreme southern part of the county, bounded on the south and west by Ford and Mc- Lean Counties ; on the east by Fayette Township ; on the north by Indian Grove, and is all prairie land, except a small body, comprising but a section or so, adjoining the latter township. Tlie land is rolling, or gently undulating, affording good drainage, and the soil is rich and very productive. It is entirely devoted to farming and stock-raising, and contains no cities or villages, nor even a post office or store. However, the people are not deprived of these accom- paniments of civilization. There are plenty of them within easy reach, and several situated on the territorial limits, are liberally patronized and supported by the citizens of Belle Prairie. This township is noted for being the scene of the first permanent settlement in Livingston County. In the Fall of 1830, a single emigrant wagon drew up at the head of the grove of timber, afterward named by the whites Indian Grove, and the owner of the w\agon, or "prairie schooner," as the big "cov- ered wagons " of the emigrants were sometimes called, proceeded to pitch his tent on the banks of Indian Creek, which has its source in this vicinity. This early pioneer was Valentine Martin Darnall, recognized as the first actual set- tler of the county. He w^as born in Virginia, and, when a mere child, his parents removed to Kentucky, and settled in Boone County, one and a quarter miles from Boonesboro, the site of the first settlement made in the '' Dark and Bloody Ground " by the " pale face," and where Daniel Boone, the pioneer, built a fort more than a century ago. His parents died there while he was yet quite young, and some years after attaining his manhood, and having taken to himself a life partner, he came to Illinois, arriving in the settlement above Pleasant Hill, on the Mackinaw River, in October, 1830. He had three brothers-in-law living at that place, and he left his wagon and family with them Avhile he came over to Indian Grove on a prospecting tour. After deciding upon his location, he borrowed a wagon from a brother-in-law to avoid unloading, and again loading his own, and having procured some grain, went over on the San- gamon River, eight miles from Springfield, to mill,* as he could not live, he says, even in a wilderness, without something to eat. He was gone fourteen days, as the miller couldn't or wouldn't grind for him sooner, nor hire him the mill to grind it for himself. On the 26th of October, he got back to the settle- ment, and on the 27th came over to the spot destined to be his home for many years. The first thing after pitching his tent, and getting " a bite to eat," was to cut down a " board tree" and " chop off a cut " — he had no saw — which he cut eight feet long and quartered, in order that he might " rive " boards by fire- *The mill was owned by a man named Archie. 352 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. light. He informed us that he would cut house logs during the day and make boards at night, and that on the 1st day of November he raised his first cabin. His help came from the settlement at Mackinaw, a distance of ten or twelve miles, raised the house, covered it, and a portion of them went home the same day. There were no nails in this country then, and where they were needed wooden pins were used. This ancient relic, perhaps the first cabin built in Livingston Coun.ty, has long ago crumbled into ruins, but a "smoke house" built the next Spring by Mr. Darnall is still standing and in a good state of preservation. It is built of red elm logs, and the original door, which is a model of architectural genius, is still, to it and doing duty as such. It was made without a nail, and the frame is a small forked sapling, one prong being straight, the other standing out at an angle of about forty. five degrees, with a cross piece "let in " at the top of the straight one, and to these unique " bat- tens " heavy slabs are fastened with wooden pins. This style of door was quite fashionable in this section of the country forty odd years ago. The Winter of the deep snow was the first after his settlement here. The snow commenced falling in the latter part of December and continued until it was four feet deep on the level. He had gone to Mackinaw with a wagon and two horses, for his Winter's pork, which he had bought in that settlement. And there the great snow storm caught him. Finding it impossible to get back with his team, he left his wagon and one horse at the settlement, and, wrapping him- self up securely to keep from freezing, mounted the other horse, and, with half a hog before him to live on while the snow might last, started for home. His route lay across the open prairie, and without compass or any mark for a guide, save the direction the snow was drifted by the wind, he struggled against the storm. The wind was blowing and the air filled with snow, so that at times he could see but a few yards distant. With sad forebodings of Avhat might be the fate of his wife and little children through the short wintry day that seemed to him very long, he toiled on through the snow, which, he informed us, on an average, came to his knees, as his noble beast waded through it. As the shades of evening began to gather around him, and when almost ready to give up as lost on the prairie, the sun, just before setting, burst from the clouds that had shrouded his face all day, and, as his last lingering rays reflected across the great fields of snow, they tinged with gold the tops of the trees which he knew surrounded his cabin. He says that his feelings just then may be imagined, but not easily described. But his own precarious situation had caused little of his uneasiness. He had been absent four days, and for the first time in his married life, had failed to reach home at the time he had promised his wife that he would return, and he knew not but that he would find them frozen to death. Anxious as he was, however, to learn their fate, yet knowing that if the snow remained on the ground all Winter, they could not (if his family was alive) get alono- without something to eat, he went out of his way, after discovering the grove of timber, to see four wild hogs that he had been trying some time to tame HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 353 They "were so hungry that they followed him as far as the creek without trouble. He found his family as comfortably situated as could be expected under the cir- cumstances. The snow, where the wind had whirled it around his cabin, was in places eight feet deep. When he left home, he had three young calves in a rail pen in the yard, and, after the snow came, his wife succeeded in getting them out of the pen, and into their cabin by the fire to prevent their freezing. She had dressed herself in a pair of her husband's trousers, to the better enable her to get through the snow, and had cleared it away from the calf and sheep pens. Mr. Darnall, the next day after his return home, went back and suc- ceeded in getting his wild hogs home, two of which found their way into his scanty larder during the Winter. Through the period that the snow remained, he cut timber enough to make 3,000 rails. He would cut down a tree, then tramp a road to it through the snow, so that his cattle and sheep could get to it and •■' browse " off the branches. It was thus, together with a very small allow- ance of dry corn, that he wintered nine head of cattle and fifteen sheep without losing a single one. There was a plum thicket near liis cabin, where the snow had drifted up eight or ten feet deep, and after a crust had formed on it, the sheep would go up and browse off the tops of the bushes. When the snow melted away, the tops of the plum trees were sticking full of wool plucked from the sheep during the Winter. Of four horses he had when he settled here, three of them died the first year Avith the milk sickness, and he was forced to use oxen for sometime afterward. It was two months, lacking three days, from the time he had left the settlement on the Mackinaw, before he saw a human beins;, except his own family, and his friends there were wholly ignorant and power- less to learn whether he had reached home or perished in the snow. When, at the expiration of the time mentioned (two months), his brother- in-laAv came over to learn the fate of him and his family, he was rejoiced to find them all well and enjoying life to the utmost. As already stated, this is pronounced the first permanent settlement in Livingston County, as well as the first in Belle Prairie Township. And we would mention, in this connection, that Mr. Darnall is still living, a hearty and vigorous old man, considering that he has borne the sun- shine and storms of eighty years. But his good wife, the companion of his early toils and privations, left him in September, 1872, for a home up beyond the blue skies, where the weary find rest. The next settlement w^as made in this township by William Spence,* in 1831. He was a son of Malachi Spence, one of the early settlers of Indian Grove Township. He came from Indiana to this settlement, but was originally from Kentucky, where all the Spences and Darnalls came from. .In 1834, Jeremiah Travis, James Cooper and Hugh Steers made claims in the settlement, upon which tliey located. The two former were from Tennessee, and the latter from Kentucky. Travis was the first white man to strike a fire on the west side of Indian Grove timber, a fact of which he was always (juite * Williamson Spence, though usually calk-il William. 354 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. proud. He died upon his original settlement, in 1844. James Cooper remained in the settlement, a good citizen, until 1865, Avhen he died. Steers died in a few years after coming to the country. Spencer Kates, Benjamin Hieronymous and Decatur A^each are from Ken- tucky. Kates settled here in 1835-6, where he remained until about the year 1864, when he sold out and removed to Oregon. Hieronymous came to the settlement in 1838, and made a claim, on which he still lives, a highly-respected citizen. He informed us that he had hauled grain to Chicago when they had to go around by Naperville ; that he had hauled peaches and other fruits there — had teamed it to that city, in fact, almost constantly for twenty-five years, before the day of railroads. Veach is among the early settlers of this township, and is said to have been the first Abolitionist in Livingston County. Charles Jones and his son, Thomas Jones, and Orin Phelps came from New Jersey and settled, first, in what comprises at the present day Forrest Town- ship, in the history of Avhich further mention is made of them. Thomas Jones settled in Belle Prairie at an early day, having remained in Forrest but a few years. After farming successfully for a number of years, he rented out his farm, which is one of the finest in Belle Prairie, and removed to Fairbury, where he engaged extensively in the grain business, but has recently quit it, and is at present superintending his farm. The foregoing names comprise all the early settlers in this township of whom we have been able to obtain any definite information, and these settled in and around the small body of timber at the head of Indian Grove ; and it was a number of years before a settlement was made out on the prairie. Mr. Dar- nall says that, when he settled in the country, he entertained not the remotest idea of ever living to see a settlement made on the prairie. Benjamin Walton was the first to venture out beyond the shelter of the timber. He was the first permanent settler on the prairie in this township, and was generally pronounced a lunatic for building a house away out on what was termed a "barren waste." He came from the old Quaker State, though stoutly denies being a Pennsyl- vania Dutchman, and settled here in 1854, buying a claim from a man named De Board, who had made a little opening on the prairie, but soon got disgusted and left it. The whole broad prairies in this section were then unbroken save by the beaten paths of wild beasts, or the neighbors' stock which grazed upon them uninterruptedly. Mr. Walton was one of the first men in the country to advocate a stock law, and resolutions on the subject, offered by him at the county fair at Pontiac, went the rounds of the press and circulated extensively over the Western States. He argued the question on all occasions, and the debates of him and Rev. John Darnall, who lived in Indian Grove Township and took ground against the proposed measure, are quite voluminous, and, if printed, would make a rather in- teresting volume. Another enterprise of his was the putting up of stone corners to each section of land in the township. He made the move, and, after encounter- HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 355 ing considerable opposition, succeeded in carrying; the point, and, to-day, every section of land in Belle Prairie Township has stones, weighing not less than two hundred pounds, at each corner. Walton is a zealous temperance man, and has published a pamphlet in the interests of the cause, in which his views are ably given. Some years ago, he removed to Fairbury, where he still lives, an enterprising business man. R, B. Harrington came from New York, and is another of the early settlers on the prairie. While not fully ranking as an old settler, he was a man of much prominence, and deserves special mention. He was the second Super- visor of the township, and through his popularity and good business qualities was elected County Clerk in 1861 on the Republican ticket. In 1865, he was re-elected to the office, and served another four years. During his services as County Clerk, he is said to have been one of the most popular leaders of the party it has ever had in the county. He at present lives in Nebraska, where he holds some important office in the government. Other settlers soon located on the prairie lands, and at the present time it is the most valuable and productive in the county. As already stated. Belle Prairie had originally but a very small body of native timber. Since the commencement of settlements on the prairie, tree- planting has been extensively engaged in by the farmers, and with considerable success. Walnut is the favorite timber thus cultivated, and many fine groves are found throughout the township. The nuts are planted in rows, and though a rather slow growth, the walnut is hardy and well adapted to this climate. The first white child born in the settlement is supposed to have been Will- iam Steers, a son of Hugh Steers, and was born in 1834. The first wedding was that of William Spence and Miss Mary Darnall, and the license authorizing the solemnization of their nuptials was the first issued from the Clerk's office of Livingston County after its formation. They were married by Rev. John Darnall, in 1837. Benjamin Hieronymous and a Miss Darnall, sister to the bride just mentioned, were married soon after, and were probably the second marriage in the township. Apropos of weddings ; when a son of Mr. Hierony- mous was married, some years ago, to a Miss Post, of Pontiac, a local poet thus rhapsodized the event : " Hieronymous stood by his Post — The brave young Dick Hieronymus : Said he, my dear, I feel almost As if I was some blessed ghost. Said she, I feel synonymous." Who was the first 'to enter the dark valley of the shadow of death in this town- ship we were unable learn. But few settlements were made until a very late 356 HISTORY OF LITIXGSTOX COUNTF. dav. and of the few early settlers, none now living can tell who was the first to pas5 away. The first Justice of the Peace in Belle Prairie Township was Spencer Kates, and was commissioneii as such about the vear 184r0, while this town was vet a part of Indian Grove Precinct. Jeremiah Travis was the first blacksmith, and plied his vocation from his first senlement. so fer as the few scattering settlei"s required his services. He was als<-^ a chair maker, and many of his mak^ are still to be found in this and surrounding neighborhoods. Who the first practicing physician was is a question involved in some doubt, but was. perhaps. Dr. Ostrander. mentioned elsewhere as one of the first physicians in this part of the county, and who practiced his profession in early times, all through this entire section. The first church and the only one that has ever been built in this settlement is the Metho^iist Episcopal Church, in the southern part of the township. It is a good frame building, and was erected in 1865. at a cost of §1.500. and was dedic-ated. on its c-ompletion. by Rev. Mr. Rh<3des, then Presiding Elder of the district. Rev. Mr. Sanders is the present Pastor : his church is in a flourishing con*> No. of males attending school : 112 No. of females attending school- '0^ Total 218 No. of male teachers employed- 4 No. of female teachers employed 10 Total 14 Amoont paid male teachers 1 fSOO 00 Amount paid female teachers 1.360 00 Total §2-160 00 Estimated ralne of school property 4,000 W Amount of tax lery for support of^hools 2,-541 00 Principal of township fond 5,772 00 Politically. Belle Prairie was very strongly Democratic, in the days of Whigs and Locofocos. but. at the present time, it is more evenly contesteil on the political issues of the day ; though still giving small Democratic majorities. \vhen the party lines are closely drawn. While on this theme, a little episode which occurred at the village of Potosi, just over the border in McLean County. but with some of its suburban residences extending into Belle Prairie, may not be inappropriate. Just after the close of the war. and while Hon. R. J. Oglesby was Governor of Illinois, the Democrats around Potosi, both in Livingston and McLean Counties, raised a pole at a political gathering in the village, and which some imprudent Democrat denominated a ** secesh " pole. The Republi- cans swore that the pole should not stand, while the Democrats swore that it should, and in pure defiance had run up a string of butternuts on it. Excite- ment was at a white heat : the war had just ended, and the " bloody chasm " still yawneii between the parties. Serious apprehensions were entertained by the more conservative of both sides that the affair would end in blood, when some "blessed peacemaker" proposed to telegraph the circumstances to Gov. Oglesby. a man whose loyalty none dared ijuestion. and abide his decision. It was agreed to by both parties ; the despatch was sent, and quick on the lightning's wing flashed back Oglesby's answer: "Let the Republicans go home and behave themselves, and let the Democrats take down their pole and save their nuts." This despatch created a laugh, and put the crowd in a good humor : all shook hands across the chasm, and went home in peace and quiet. It is said that the obnoxious butternuts were sent to Oglesbv as a memento of c 858 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. liis timely and successful interference in their little broil, and that he has them care- fully laid away in his oflfice ; that he frequentl}^ takes them out of their resting place, relates the story to his friends, and enjoys a hearty laugh at the recollection. Belle Prairie was set off from Indian Grove at the time of township organi- zation, and from that time until about the year 1871, embraced Fayette Town- ship within its limits. When the county was organized into townships, the first Supervisor of Belle Prairie was V. M. Darnall, its first settler. Its pres- ent officers are as follows : Supervisor, P. 0. Abbey ; D. S. Crum and Wm. Younger, Magistrates ; Ira C. Pratt, Assessor ; Richard Smith, Collector, and J. R. Spence, Town Clerk. The name Belle Prairie was given to the township by R. B. Harrington, mentioned in another page, who seems to have been imbued with a keen sense of the glorious and beautiful. The country to which he gave the poetical name is fine and magnificent almost beyond description, and the name is as beautiful as the sweet wild flowers of its own prairies. The name provoked quite a dis- cussion among those who wanted one more practical and suggestive of every (lay life, but the other was finally adopted. Thefe is not a village, posf office or store in the township, but the majority of the inhabitants receive their mail at Potosi, just over the line in McLean County. Indeed, a part of the village is in Belle Prairie, but the store and post office are across the line. The record of Belle Prairie was good durino; the late war. Notwith- standing it was usually termed a Copperhead stronghold, but one draft occurred during the war, and it was for but a half-dozen men. Through the energy and enterprise of Ben Walton, then one of the leading spirits of the town, substi- tutes were procured in three days for those drafted, and at lower figures than any neighboring town had to pay for the same kind of material. While the township claims no Major Generals, or very noted or distinguished officers of any rank, it does feel proud of its brave boys who went in at the beginning and fought it out on that line. 'O ODELL TOWNSHIP. Perhaps but few better illustrations of what resolution, energy and industry will accomplish can be found than that displayed by the rise and progress of the town of Odell. But a quarter of a century has passed since the first stroke was made which has proved to be the foundation of what is now, in intelligence, wealth and thrift, one of the foremost in the county. Twenty-five years, when looked at retrospectively, seems but a short period of time ; but the changes which it has brought, not only to this community but to the country in general, are remark- able. A quarter of a century has seen what was literally "a desert waste" changed into a series of well-cultivated farms and gardens. Where then roamed the wild deer by the hundred, and skulked the wolf, unscared, now graze the less romantic ox and the more* practical pig and other domestic animals. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 359 Where now stands the prosperous and beautiful little city, with its well-built and tasty residences, its lines of stores and shops, its churches and school houses, and tall trees, shading its well-kept streets, was then — simply nothing but the tall grass ; not even enough more to fill out a well-rounded sentence. The history of Odell and the township dates back no further than to the completion of the Chicago, Alton k St. Louis Railroad. In fact, we may say the railroad is, in eveisy sense of the word, the foundation of the town and its sur- roundings. Not only so, but that the whole country through which it passes owes its development to this enterprise is a fact acknowledged and accepted by every one acquainted with the circumstances. In 1854, with the exception of a few small and unthrifty villages, there was scarcely a human habitation between Joliet and Bloomington. Further west, the Illinois River had attracted many immigrants, and the smaller streams, with their belts of timber, had begun to show signs of settlement ; but on account of the scarcity of fuel and lumber, none dared or even seemed to think of locat- ing on the prairie. But when the road was completed, these, together with all kinds of conveniences common to the oldest settlements, appeared at once, and there was nothing that money or produce could buy but was immediately fur- nished. When we reflect that all of these houses, all of the stone, brick and lumber of which they are composed, all of the fences, all of the orchards in their pri- mary state, all of the agricultural and mechanical implements, together with their equivalents in the shape of grain, cattle, hogs, butter, eggs and poultry, have been transferred bv a single line of road, and remember that this is onlv a single point out of several hundreds, we begin to realize the extent and impor- tance of this grand scheme. In 1847, the Legislature of the State of Illinois passed an act authorizing the building of a railroad from Alton to Springfield, to be called the Alton k Sangamon Raih'oad; and, in 1851, the charter was so amended as to include a line to Bloomington, to which place it was completed the following year. Also, in 1851, the Legislature granted a charter for the building of what was known as the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad, extending from Chicago, by way of Joliet, to Bloomington, thus completing a through line from Chicago to St. Louis. The road was finished through this county in 1854, and the first train passed through on the 4th day of July. The road, in its early years, suflFered many reverses and drawbacks ; but, under its later management, by steady and enduring perseverance and a liberal course toward its patrons, thus gaining their hearty co-operation, the line has become the most important and wealthy in the State, being placed alone by the Railroad Commissioners, in their apportionment, in Class A. As soon as it was definitely known that a town was to be located here, settle- ments began immediately to be made, not only with a view of being within the limits of the village, but, also, of opening farms. Indeed, the prospect of the 360 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. • road had been a sufficient incentive to speculation ; and the charter had no more than been obtained when crowds of speculators were attracted hither, and within the three years 1852—5, almost all of the land of this township was entered. Scarcely a whole section was taken Avitli a view to improvement, but was entered and held for a rise in the market, which was sure to follow the comple- tion of the railroad. In this the speculators were not mistaken ; and the town- ship of Odell is to-day represented by but few persons who were the original purchasers of the land. As the immediate point of attraction for this vicinity was the station, so the first settlements were made, quite naturally, as close to it as circumstances would allow. The land on which the town of Odell has subsequently been built was owned, primarily, by James C. Spencer and Henry A. Gardner. They purchased the land of the Government May 4, 1853, exactly a quarter of a century previous to this writing. Spencer owned the north half of the quar- ter section, and Gardner the south half Of this, Spencer sold, September 3, 1853, his land to William H. Odell, after whom the town of Odell was named, and who subsequently became one of the joint proprietors of the town. On the 7th of June, 1855, Gardner and Odell exchanged deeds of their undivided half interests in their respective pieces of land, and thus became equal partners in the northwest quarter of Section 10, which embraced all of the original town of Odell. A short time after this, June 26, 1855, S. S. Morgan, who has, per- haps, had more to do with the early growth and development of the town and township than any other man, purchased the interest of Odell ; and by Morgan, and for him and Henry A. Gardner, the plat of the town was made. The town was surveyed and platted by Thomas F. Norton, Deputy County Surveyor, August 10, 1856, the proprietors having previously conveyed to the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad Company fifty feet on each side of the railroad track, extending through the whole quarter section. Thus was the town firmly fixed, and the attention of emigrants consequently turned to this quarter. For a year after the switch was located, the only inhabitants of the place were the few employes of the road who attended the station and the water tank and who were engaged in keeping the track in order. Of these, Daniel Smith, from New York, was the first agent ; and, as a post office was established about this time, he received the appointment of Postmaster. Mr. Morgan, thougli at the time a resident of Joliet, alternated between that point and this ; and when Smith was superseded by J. H. Link (formerly of Canada) as Station Agent, Morgan was appointed, by James Buchanan, as Postmaster. Though Morgan was principal, yet Link, acting as deputy, had charge of the mails ; and he also brought on a few goods and kept them for sale in the station house. In the meantime, David Williams, from the town of New Michigan, had come to the place and erected a little shanty and displayed a few basketfuls of groceries and notions. He was, however, a chronic grumbler and chronically sick, and stayed but a few months and returned to New Michigan. HISTORY' OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 361 About the time of Williams' exit, S. W. Cuitiss, of Kendall County, estab- lished a general store in the warehouse that been erected by the Railroad Com- pany. Curtiss did not make this his home, but employed S. P. Lundgren, of the same county, and known to the people of Odell as " Peter," to take charge. Link, having become disgusted with the store business, and also with the annoyance from the care of the mails, was anxious to turn these two branches of business over to other parties, and in this connection, the following incident is related : Lundgren says that when he stepped off the train, on his first arrival in the Winter of 1856-7, he was eyed sharply by Link (much after the manner of other lynx), who asked him if he was not the man Avho was to have the post office. Lundgren replied that he was an entire stranger, and that he was cer- tain that no such arrangement had been made. He Avas then questioned as to Avliat his business was at the place. Lundgren acknowledged that he had come to take charge of business for S. W. Curtiss, but had not yet had any instruc- tion as to the location of the store. Link then turned to the station house, and, taking the bag in which .he had just received the mail, began crowding into its open mouth, indiscriminately, papers, books, letters and everything pertaining to the office, remarking the while that he knew this was the man, and, having com- pleted his packing, handed him the bag. Lundgren, however, protested that he was neither appointed nor qualified, and that he could not accept it; upon which, Link gently pushed him from the door, throwing the post office after him, and no amount of argument or persuasion could induce him to again permit it to be placed in his possession. Lundgren says that, in this instance, he verily felt that the " office was seeking the man " with a vengeance. After deliberatino- upon the matter a few minutes, and concludino; that there could be nothino- criminal in caring for that which was in a fair way of being lost or destroyed, Lundgren picked up the office and, with it on his shoulder, proceeded to hunt up his other mission, which, in due course of time, he found. A few days after installing himself as manager of the store — there being no Justice of the Peace or other officer qualified to administer an oath in the neighborhood — he pro- ceeded to Mud Creek, where resided one of those worthies, and took the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and, as Deputy Postmaster, to transact the business of the office according to the rules and edicts of the head of the department. At this time, there v^'ere, besides those already mentioned, but four families. Thomas Lyons was an employe of the railroad company, and pumped water for the tank. One night, while in the performance of his duty, he discovered a colored fugitive concealing himself in the building. The fellow had evidently mistaken the newly built railroad for a branch of the "underground," and this point as one of the "stations." Lyon reported the discovery to S. S. Morgan, who says that he found the poor fellow in a bad plight. He was ragged and sore, and his feet were torn and lacerated, and were bound up with some old rags tied on with strips of hickory bark, and he looked as though he were more aWS m^CKT \ii^ iiTEBissr.^^ .-• yiT- *jirpaiii£ i. laur 'C «a»iwf lasi ^ :ji: Ilhl vi:i fr«r»i. irldbk fee «»• 5»r» ffreei :3aK: :aii Ir-sjjnaai. -"Tli: s:!-*:*: -jxit :ii* r:i^»i Jk ay p e Maacg *af tike licmi. mssi -. Id J GBSk ice :3m- «3e ni Lxm. -w-x.: -^ T- 't WTkaiiiir TiBtjf T a^rea^ i.. les. ^ t» tlbe TiHaj^. hm » -0:1^ hrn^iii^ u^ 0.. fx {ii4ai} 11" lie- 5WTL- a» ke- 'Sinij-t ^s: siea. is tvooM. one iiiBEaSaai wti^ -^ T»gTifflHr "* I. -a' >: i tflur; iasie a^CQC aad. dim^ &e- Bm&beE & ^wmomde n^ -±Le- Moaieer m. idiac Use. ^ fieBS BiclAfii Ksdim^ in *&& sncxaB vi^ft. vaMxa. !& 2a& •itiE ui& BffWft and (OseseiA aewsa^ _ "~ '"I'lL ~f>Ts ana. tisf^ rsf tad %ai. at "^ ^-^ Ife. li«rgpn -*-.:*^ _a^ i_ -ri^imEr:. i*vfis^u: -h^ ' - 'l£ ri rmt in. _:- . AEfll &as fteai awmiffff tp- ,_^; :_~ ir TuSrs^ MT^ t: ^amTHii ami Ckdis^ ISA w mo A. X £. I . _. W.DLT, Z- -: - . : ~ ,^_ - _ tEWBiL ¥. J. 'Ih nr iiu J Z -, Z .-til »n«|p-«» -ir loiCE^ as •TTmTrr lOiL SEv^aai. _L 'iH- - >i TO T- T!tfi .;—--'- ^ - -- - - T.,.- ^raefr ac cfte- soEBre- jl . . . ~ _ --. . ctiS --asc iiiti Tie _ - - jfiflfis : JottiL HJi«isoiu A:_ Z VDL IL BirowtL^ _ .-imnics^intssi C's^^r Dew»«ramt Si... Z.^- siMs rf tfte P^H^i IT. Bl F- HsAssg- • , ->2^ it .e. ^ t&B tone. UtuaoL Xavndl^ iK&ieiL "vas ::n^tHL one ~ »b£b£ la- ■Hinne - q» » iseparaa^ ojc^utDBKaBU 'We*! wrci O^ielL ami snne jt -im 3n»~ vaaiSn^ maifew Tdking m{9a> ais«nMBUc si» iiaDi&«r'i£ ji .^ ;.:a~s ami iftftao^ 364 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. of the town, this was a large amount to appropriate for that purpose, but it proved to be only the beginning of a very extensive scheme for making the liighways of tlnis township the best in the county. During the year, petitions were presented and granted, for the laying out of thirty-eight miles of new road; and, almost every year since, large appropriations have been made for their construction and improvement. In some instances, as much as $5,000 has been appropriated for that purpose. As a result of this wise course, Odell is the greatest grain market in the county ; and, with two or three exceptions, the greatest on the road. The following table shows the number of votes cast, and the names of the succeeding Supervisors and Clerks to the present time: DATE. 1858. 18o9. 1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. VOTES. CLERK. SUPERVISOR. 23 A. A. Streator. S. S. Morgan. 32 A. A. Streator. John Harbison. 38 A. A. Streator. Samuel Hoke. 53 A. A. Streator. H. F. Hamlin. 63 E. Williams. A. Aerl. 76 J. D. Curtiss. B. F. Hotciikiss. 58 .1. D. Curtiss. B. F. Hotchkiss. 1 ^^ S. H. Penny. B. F. Hotchkiss. 131 S. H. Penny. B. F. Hotchkiss. 160 S. H. Penny. B. F. Hotchkiss. 1 154 .John Keeder. B. F. Hotchkiss. ! 212 John Reeder. B. F. Hotchkiss. 1 268 B. F. Pound. Stephen Wooley. 212 B. F. Pound. Stephen Wooley. 301 B. F. Pound. John McWilliams. 130 B. F. Pound. L. G. Green. V30 B. F. Pound. Michael Cleary. 292 B. F. Pound. Michael Cleary. 340 C. A. Vincent. Michael Cleary. 881 C. A. Vincent. Michael Cleary. 238 C. A. Vincent. Michael Clearv. The names of the balance of the officers for 1878 are : A. G. Goodspeed, for this and the last eleven years. Assessor; G. W. Abbaduska, Collector; C. N. Coe and J. D. Pound, Justices of the Peace ; T. D. Thompson and E. Debraie, Constables ; Z. Supplee, School Treasurer : S. S. Morgan, J. JST. Moore and C. W. Barber, Road Commissioners. It will doubtless be noticed that "rotation in office," "third term" and like phrases could not have entered largely into politics in this town, the main ques- tion being the fitness of the man for the position. B. F. Hotchkiss, whose name appears seven times as Supervisor, Avas a man eminently qualified for such a position, and so highly was he appreciated by the Board, that, while he con- tinued in office, he was honored as their presiding officer. A. G. Goodspeed has been Assessor so long, and knows so well what everybody is possessed of, that he can almost perform the duties without leaving his office. S. S. Morgan, who has had much to do with building the fine roads in this and adjoining townships, has held the office of Road Commissioner for nineteen years. ■^ ■^^^\ I - m '\ .^ J / -'; ^UNTY TREASURER PONTIAC imiVEftiiii «»ttu HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 367 The first grain was shipped from the station in 1855. by James Henry. This grain was not handled bv anv dealer, but was loaded from the wagons directly into the cars, and this continued to be the principal method of disposing of the products of the farm until 1861. when L. E. Kent, of Pontiac, built the elevator now occupied by C. A. Vincent. Prior to this, the only convenience for handling grain, beside the direct transfer from the wagon to the car, was a small board shanty that had been in use by various persons and for various purposes, and the Kent elevator was considered a fine addition to the business facilities of the place. A. Aerl, who had come from Pontiac two years before, was placed in charge of the elevator, and continued in the grain business for some years. J. B. Curtiss also built, about the same time, the elevator occu- pied until recently by Z. Supplee. In 1866, J. tfc W. Hossack erected their fine elevator, which, for capacity and convenience for handling grain, has few superiors in the State. The cost of the building was 823.000; it is sixty feet in Avidth and ninety in length, and has a capacity of 60.000 bu.shels. Messrs. J. k W. Hossack buy annually 700,000 bushels, and have handled, some years, over 1.000,000 bushels. The first school taught in the township was organized in the dwelling house of Joseph French, in 1857. The school was taught by Mrs. H. H. Robinson, and consisted of seven pupils. By the next year, 1858, there were two schools in the township, and the number of scholars in both was twenty-eight. That the reader may be able to lealize the growth of the system in the township, a few statistics are presented : * No. of Children under 21 years. No. of Scholars in attendance. No. of Schools. 1858 65 486 968 24 150 490 o 1860 1877 3 The following additional items will prove interesting, ^s indicating more fully the state of schools at the present time : Number of schools f» Number of scholars enrolled 400 Number of persons between 6 and 21 637 Number of persons under 21 968 Number of teachers in the township 15 Whole amount paid for teachers' wages $4,191 00 Amount raised for school purposes by special tax .'..... 4.840 00 Principal of township fund 7,184 00 From the above it will be seen that the schools have kept pace with the other enterprises. VILLAGE OF ODELL. After the survej'ing and platting of the village, alluded to on another page, the lots were offered for sale, and many of the best were purchased for S20 to 368 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. |30 each. The business lots, first sold, almost all went at the former price. At first, the east side of the square seemed to be the favorite place for business, and the first respectable sized store building erected was the one into whicli Curtiss & Dewey moved their goods after leaving the warehouse. This buildino- still stands on the corner, just south of Hossack's ofiice, and is occupied as a saloon. But gradually the west side of the square built up ; and as the newer buildings, owing to a demand for more commodiousstore rooms, were larger and better, the east side, to some extent, fell behind, its smaller buildings serving the purpose of shops and the smaller class of trade. Espe- ciallv was this noticeable when, in 1867, Wm. Strawn erected the hotel, Avith a number of convenient store rooms. At the time of its erection, it was consid- ered, as it really was, the finest hotel in the county. The hotel drew about it, at once, a number of business men ; and, ever since, the west side has had the lead. We left the post office on the hands, or rather on the shoulders, of Peter Lundo-ren. S. S. Morgan was, at that time. Postmaster ; but, as soon as the duties of the office became such as to need careful attention, he, too, turned it over to other parties. His successors have been as follows : John Williams, A. A. Streator, S. H. Putnam, H. G. Challis, S. H. Putnam and the present effi- cient incumbent, S. H. Hunt, who was appointed in 1869, and has held the office continuously ever since. As already intimated, Rev. I. T. Whittemore held the first church service in the town. After a few services had been held in the station, a carpenter shop was erected by Seyftiour & Ni(*liols, who, by the way, were the first resident carpenters in the place ; and in their shop services were conducted for a while. The people all worshiped together, and sect and denomination Avere scarcely thought of, but all were glad of the privilege of hearing the Gospel preached, even in a carpenter shop. When, in 1858, the school house was built, they were more comfortably situated. Mr. Whittemore continued to minister to the people, and with such acceptance that, in 1862, the Congregational Society was organized. Among the original members Avere Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hotch- kiss, Mary P. Camp, Mrs. A. R. Morgan, Mrs. Polly Robinson, Mrs. Sarah Lucas, Mrs. S. C. Putnam. In 1866, the society, having increased very considerably in numbers and Avealth, and being desirous of possessing a house of Avorship which they might feel was their "religious home," erected their present neat and substantial church building. The house is thirty-eight feet in Avidth and sixty in length, and cost the society ^8,000. At the time of its erection. Rev. L. Leonard was Pastor of the congregation. He Avas a man of much energy and influence, and it was largely due to his zeal and management that the enterprise was begun. The society is in quite a healthy condition, and is increasing in numbers and influence. Rev. J. Allen is the present Pastor. The history of the Methodist Church of Odell is very similar, in many respects, to that of the Congregational just given. The tAvo societies — or HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 369 rather the two peoples — worshiped together in the depot, in the carpenter shop, and in the school house. Both organized about the same time, and held ser- vices alternately in the scliool house, and both built their houses of worship the same year. The Rev. Thomas Cotton, a man whose influence in social and religious matters in Livingston County has, perhaps, been as great as that of any other man of like profession who ever resided in its limits, organ- ized the church in 1860. The prosperity of the society has been (juite marked. Beginning Avith a very few, they have grown in numbers until at present the church consists of 130 members ; and, though laboring under the disadvantages of hard times, high material and expensive labor, erected, in 1866-67, their present tasty and commodious house of worship. It is fifty-six feet in length and thirty-six in width, and cost $6,000. The present Pastor is Rev. W. P. Graves. In connection with the church is a very flourishing Sunday School, under the supervision of M. Torabaugh. The Catholics of this place, in 18T5, completed a very large house of wor- ship. It is forty feet in width by eighty-six in length, and cost $5,300. The society consists of about 120 families. The parish is in charge of Rev. Ber- nard Boylan. The citizens of Odell justly pride themselves on their excellent schools. In the selection of teachers, they have always been very successful ; and during the eight years ending with 1873, the Odell school, with one exception, pre- pared more teachers than any other school in the county. The Board of School Directors, as now constituted, are : S. S. Morgan, T. 0. Bannister and James Funk. Teachers : W. W. Lockwood and Misses Craw- ford, Graves, Pound and Bell. The society of A., F. & A. M. was constituted as Odell Lodge, No. 401, Oct. 5th, 1864. The charter members were L. H. Cordry, E. G. Putnam, Z. Supplee, who were the first three principal officers. The charter was granted by Thomas J. Turner, Grand Master. The Lodge numbers at present sixty members. Odell Chapter was chartered by John M. Pearson, High Priest, Oct. 7, 1870. The charter was granted to Z. Supplee, A. E. Gammon, John E. Williams, A. B. Dunlap, A. P. Wright, J. Martin, C. H. Ellenwood, R. G. Morton, J. Ford, Charles Finefield, E. Williams, A. G. Goodspeed, J. B. Garwood, H. H. Hill and R. B. Harrington. Elisha Williams was first High Priest; Z. Supplee, King, and J. E. Williams, Scribe. The present principal officers are: R. G. Morton, High Priest; D. A. Walden, King; Joel Kidder, Scribe : J. F. Trowbridge, Secretary, and J. A. Hunter, Treasurer. Company B, Tenth Regiment Illinois National Guards, regimental head- quarters at Dwight, was organized June 25, 1876. J. F. Trowbridge is Captain ; E. M. Vaughn, First Lieutenant ; J. L. Trowbridge, Second Lieutenant : Wm. T. Angell, Orderly. The company, as now constituted, contains, besides the officers, fifty-three enlisted men, fully equipped, uniformed and armed with needle guns. 370 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Odell Lodge, No. 464, I. 0. 0. F., was chartered by Thomas B. Needles, Grand Master, Oct. 10, 1871, and instituted by N. J. Pillsbury, Deputy Grand. Master. The charter members were J. A. Hunter, W. Dalley, E. P. Utley, Jerry Clay and I. H. Scovell. B. F. Pound was installed first N. G.; N. E. Wright, V. G.; A. P.Wright, Rec. Sec; J. A. Hunter, Treas. The present officers are : I. H. Scovell, N. G.; E. DeBriae, Y. G.; J. M. Beck, Rec. Sec: T. 0. Bannister, Per. Sec; G. Z. T. Kenyon, Treas. Several attempts have been made to establish a newspaper at this point, but with indifierent success. Owing to various circumstances, previous to 1877, enterprises of this kind have failed. But, during the year named, J. H. Warner, realizing that the time had come when a paper was really needed, established the Odell Herald, which bids fair to become one of the popular publications of the county. Merchants and other business men are beginning to realize that, to succeed in business, they must let their patrons know what they are doing, and, consequently, must invest in printer's ink. A TRUE STORY OF CHARLEY ROSS. Though but little given to sensations, the town of Odell has had enacted within its limits a little drama which, at the time, created the most intense excitement ; and to this time, by many of the citizens who had the most ample means of knowing the facts, it is confidently believed that some of the persons connected with the Charley Ross abduction, together with the child in question, were the persons who figure in the folloAving story : During the Summer of 1874, a woman, giving her name as Hannah Cole, arrived at Odell, bringing with her a child of five or six years of age, and Avhom she called Jimmy Hen- derson. She was a stranger to the people of Odell ; but subsequent events proved her to be a relative of George W. Murkins, who lived just south of town, and with whom she took up her residence for a time. A few weeks later, another stranger, calling himself Lewis Dungan, arrived from Philadelphia, bringing another little boy, who, as afterward remembered, very much resem- bled the descriptions given of the abducted Charley Ross. Dungan also went to Murkins' to reside. This, as will be remembered, was just after the abduction had occurred, and the $20,000 reward had been oifered for the return of the missing child. Some of the children at Murkins' had heard the older ones of the family speak of $20,000 that Dungan was expecting to get from the East ; and this item, which soon became known to some of the neighbors, together Avith certain other suspicious movements, excited apprehensions which led to a quiet investigation of the matter. The inquiry, though conducted quietly, was evidently not unobserved by Dungan, for he seemed to take alarm, and procuring a close carriage, and tying the child up in a bag, and placing him under the seat, started at dark for Ottawa. Near Streator, they are known to have stopped and camped in the woods until near morning, when they again pursued their journey to Ottawa. Here Dungan is known to have stopped HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 371 Avith a man by the name of Tarr, who. as has since been ascertained, was an ex-convict of the Pennsylvania penitentiary, and a former confederate of the notorious Mosher who was shot in New York and who asserted that his accom- plice in that last burglary was one of the abductors of Charley Ross. It is believed that Dungan transferred the child to Tarr, and that he took him to St. Louis, where he was lost sight of It is known that, immediately on Dungan's arrival at Tarr's, he (Tarr) left Ottawa, having expi'essed his baggage to Peoria, in care of Mrs. Ellen Webster, and from there the baggage was expressed to Bloomington, in care of Madame Webster, and thence to St. Louis, in care of Mrs. Webster. While the baggage was at the express office in St. Louis, a party appeared, desiring to open one of the trunks. Procuring therefrom a suit of child's clothing, the party stated that the trunks would be taken away in a few days; but they were never removed, by the owners, from the office. Another circumstance Avhich the detectives hoped would lead to a clue to the mysterious movements (»f the parties was a personal, which appeared in the St. Louis HepuhUeari, which read as follows: "To Christian Ross, Philadelphia — Charley will be given up for- $'),000. Answer." Mr. Ross did answer, accepting the proposition ; but here again, either from the departure of the persons connected with the matter, or from appre- hension that thev were being; closelv shadowed, the thread was broken ; and, Dungan (avIio, in the mean time, had been arrested and put in jail), having had his trial and being released, the detectives gave up the pursuit. Reverting to Dungan. after he returned from Ottawa he was arrested and, on a prelimi- nary examination, was held for b»il, which being unable to give, he was placed in jail to aAvait trial. A few days later, he was tried, but no positive evidence appearing, he was released. He subse(|uently sued S. H. Penny. Solomon Bishop. Henry Curtis. E. F. Bolter. Reese Jones, C. N. Coe, J. J. Halm, Carlos Putnam, A. S. Wisner and L. Putnam, for ^50,000, for trespass and false imprisonment. The jury found the first three parties guilty of trespass and allowed the plaintiff damages in the sum of one cent ! Though not marvelous for a Western town, the growth and prosperity of Odell has been not only satisfactory, but much more rapid than ordinary. From a population of about one hundred in 1858, the town has grown in twenty years to a real little city, containing at least 1,000 inhabitants, thus showing an increase, in this respect, of nearly 100 per cent, every six years. From a few loads of grain, which were bought on the track, we now find about 1,500,000 bushels forwarded during a single year. As indicating the amount of business done at this place during the 3'ear end- ing January 1, 1877, the following items have been kindly furnished by Mr. N. S. Hill. Agent of the C, A. & St. L. R. R., at this place : Amount received from freights forwarded $30,647.73 Amount received from freights received 14,638.26 Amount received from sales of tickets 4.863.80 Total $50,149.79 •e^a flissoKr «riiTi: * .XMrSTT- XW fisst 'rwM>> «,. «c swiBfr 'ic ti)^ sititSk s&aeaa ami aoccfGai^ ow ~ rcrs ikat laxv' erer $«n:y4 flf-nock -Oit oiHPCT «f L . « Ins reaam i» fed yw«i JaiBcs H. F«!&:k pn«¥^ - ^^ 9 ie m «d r_ uii c^aUe Stt» s Atsvner. Mr. Fnk. Iw a ^w r — •- ~*aciiraiig a saaafl iliw— iij se^oel as a Mea^' «f svpfMtn^ xias&sk; ^-" * ^> ~ ^c sa^ Ae re ^ aj ii g aa^ pi i ijiu lf m^ick aaide ioK a. _ - - . — : J-<«B ham a flaot aiwg Ae fes< in Us pves««t jreSesEtam^ — jg iwntT tmi j«dy fw y Jar C«— qr li jiqiiaae adei rf M- TfiB^H^^ i» afa» a daamem «f tfciK {liaee. CiRiM- ius skiDfel JBve- ^le scMufe «f LgrinifflT— I CMnor ]ka«e Ices Iwwaskt keaivr t» ««%F m 1^ kdesBiy sf die oocr ^e^ kai Wa. R F. H«id&ki^ »iW «A» of GgmoT __ be ■-i--^-r~il Ar-t :' c -Jai^v;* aa^ 1^ iMaifn&aei ef tvo msfwrnw or uwi5is^!m9 axyrt, t*t a hu w ae. t» ~T«a4 «r 9^ beo. aleu w&oritr. ^sbl. vae ' S i i i w» rfrt ii i iii ii i n| i lljr iifciii' i iiii ,. lik^iu Is wae koi iic: \j T^HHiwtf f. ISortsB. Co^Btjr Sarse^vr. &sai SeOHB ^1. fir Cht^ih Wig^eti. ^ie Mcl^m iSBdrr. 1x v3 be ■■iii ii li ikae. ^ a saoal dhsr vl_"V a»«»'j> — lo-^r^^H^? : a ^■■**»*'» «f tern mr iwelve sAs afavt laxve ^aa. ^ . :3ti«e- .^^ . - ^ _ ■_ iT« bcea ■limit mvandkhr les iia ti iiifiiB CotaiaH' n» adia- TsmsB^ att ^ vbj Oaj^a TJniH as6 kave n fccte l nget i e^adk^ -wal^ m^ep ism^ss- ai«ic ~':i -^s~ i& dser pnsBmasy t» an ahcaifc' esia: - ^raPTrg ^iteilc ^ TW Sist «««deE5 ia ifae THawrr ^f 3ii& :TtitnM ave ^vbe a$ aa a i&ly 5a. s^ ir^H- m addeh i^gy tamt ■• Ae fiace as tarn ^mr W lOBen&ierei : Eichna amd Tiirr ClofiBaB caoae fi«aa fiiiribmai,. » ilt5§ S'anF- 3. ritf TiZ re 1>5ql TWt apcre ca i B ^jat i uj L> aad, agwiaR - " ^^91. thrr ^obo- on^ s- 3idaei J. H. CWl fi«H 3fe«^ T«^ »idid kese ia i^ Fal af 1^»^ si 4i«»i a frna «■ tke swrtfc 3db «f Ae fivam. aiai icnkd ^n^ani 1:PCS. abe« W icwmsi «• Da^L &na n tke apa«. Savae «f ^ fist tan» JaEtkes «£ Ae Feaer «letni ia ^e avas^^ ^ Se bis lai^ A« ceaaarr. Clade« ss9 fives m. -At ai.i!j.Mnia^ii»iiL &nt rhn^i i. Vas laeatiea ia «ke vet safe 4f d» vi!^i^. F.J. eWrekcHaetWaen^var. a^ a;^ a finaer. I« «&i w« Wr ] raatedL fer a fe«^ T«&r^ xx^ i*f ^r&$ laaiiiMaiiJ FaaaaaM er aovi 374 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Agent, which positions he held for a number of years. C. N. Coe, brother of J. H., was the first Station Agent, being appointed in the yeat 1856. He also bought the first grain shipped from this place, during the same year. Grain was handled in a small warehouse which had been built by Weed, the original proprietor of the town. Eli Pearson, from Ohio, came in the Fall of 1855, and opened a fiirm just east of the village. He has since removed to the township of Esmen, where he still resides. Hanford Kerr and family, from the same State, came about the same date. Moses Pearson arrived a few months later, and opened a farm east of the town. In 1856, the Fish brothers, C, U. Udell and Dr. B. J. Bettleheim arrived. The last named was an eminent scholar and a learned and successful physician. He traveled extensively in China, Japan and other countries. In 1858, he gave a series of lectures at Pontiac on his Eastern travels, and on vai-ious relig- ious subjects, which were interesting and instructive in the extreme. In 1857, Wm. Skinner, Wm. J. Murphy and a few others settled in the neighborhood. Skinner opened the farm just north of the village, where he still resides. Murphy started a broom factory. Mr. Murphy was also a preacher, and subsequently removed to Pontiac, Avhere he took charge, for a time, of the Presbyterian Church. While at Pontiac, he opened the nursery where A. W. Kellogg now resides. In 1858, Augustus Coleman, from Troy, Ohio, came in. Coleman was a graduate of West Point, and, on the breaking out of the rebellion, returned to Ohio, organized a regiment and took the field. He was afterward promoted to the oflfice of Brigadier General, but was killed at the battle of Antietam. David J. Evans opened the first store in 1857, which he continued about a year, when he closed out and was succeeded in the business by John F. Pickering. In 1862, D. Hunt built the first warehouse, now owned and operated by C. N. Coe. In 1868. L. E. Kent, of Pontiac, erected the one now operated by him. Though the village compai-es but poorly with many other towns of the county, the business done here is, by no means inconsiderable as will be seen by the following items, as given by the obliging agent of the Chicago, Alton k St. Louis Railroad, Edwin Chapman : Amount received on freight forwarded, 1877 | 23,^0'J 00 Amount received on freight received, 1877 1,644 74 Amount received on tickets sold, 1877 '527 62 Total receipts , • ^ 25,:^81 36 DESCRIPTION OF ODELL TOWNSHIP. Odell Township is situated north of the center of the county. It is exactly six miles square and embraces a full congressional town, and is described as Town 29 north. Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is cut almost HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 375 diagonally, from northeast to southwest, by the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, which divides it into two nearly equal portions. With the exception of a branch of Deer Creek, which takes its rise and flows through the south- western portion of the township in the vicinity of Cayuga, the township is des- titute of ruwning streams, and, with the exception of the little groves, here and there, planted by the owners of the land, is also destitute of timber. The soil is of a very rich and fertile character, and well adapted to the raising of corn, immense quantities of which are produced. AVOCA TOWNSHIP. This township is situated in the southern part of the county, or south of the center, and is bounded on the north by Owego, on the east by Pleasant Ridge, on the south by Indian Grove, and on the west by Eppard's Point Township. About three-fourths is prairie to one-fourth of timbered land, while the surface is gently undulating, and better adapted to agricultural pursuits than many other portions of the county. It is drained by the Vermilion River ; the con- fluence of the north and south branches is near the center of the township, and their margins and bottoms afford an abundance of excellent timber for all farm and building purposes. Avoca is known as Township 27 north, Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian. The first settlement was made in Avoca Township in 1830. In December of that year, Isaac Jourdan made a claim here, upon which he settled, but a few days before the commencement of the "deep snow." He came from Brown County, Illinois, but whether that was his native place or not we were unable to learn. His wife was the first white woman in this township. William Popejoy, John liannaman and their families settled in this neighborhood on Christmas Day of the same year, and but a week or two after Jourdan. These latter were from Ohio, and became permanent citizens. This constituted the settlements in this section vq) to 1832, when William McDowell came to the county and made a claim upon which he settled in May, which was the Spring of the Black HaAvk war. He left his old home in Ohio in 1828, and stopped at La Fayette, Ind., on account of school facilities, as Illinois (or this portion of it) Avas then beyond the confines of civilization. He remained there four years, when he came to Livingston County and settled in what is now Avoca Town- ship, as noted above, in the Spring of the Black. Hawk war. His family con- sisted of five sons — John, Woodford G., James, Hiram and Joseph B. McDowell, and one daughter, who married a Mr. Tucker. They, together with John McDowell, still live in Avoca ; Woodford G. and James live in Fairbury, Hiram is in Kansas, and Joseph is Register of the Land Office at Lincoln, Nebraska. Soon after the settlement of the McDowells, vague rumors began to circulate through the sparsely settled community in regard to the Black Hawk war, which was raging north of their settlement. But there was no mail nearer .376 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. than Bloomington, no railroad or telegraph lines, and news facilities were restricted within the nari'owest limits. In illustration of the disadvantages under which they lived regarding the reception of news, several weeks after the McDowells had settled in their new home, a man named Phillips, living but a mile or tAVO distant, in what is now Indian Grove Township, was out hunting some hogs that had stra3'ed away from him, when he came suddenly upon the McDowell encampment, and the astonishment he displayed in having neighbors of whose proximity he was ignorant was almost equal to that exhibited by Rob- inson Crusoe when he discovered the footprints on his lonely island. Rumors becoming more rife of the Indians and Indian outrages, Mr. McDowell and some of his neighbors went to the Kickapoo town, one Sunday, to church,* Avhere there were several hundred Indians, and their suspicions were aroused at the absence of all warriors from the Indian camp. The Kickapoos informed them that the Sacs had threatened "to come and kill them if they did not join them in the war," and advised the whites, with whom they were on the most friendly terms, to return to the settlements further east. This so alarmed the little colony that, after considering the matter, they decided to return to the Wabash, and on the 29th of May, 1832, they commenced their retreat toward the rising sun. Though this retreat never became so famed in history as that of Bonaparte from Moscow, yet an event occurred upon the route worthy of record in these pages. The first night after their departure, Mrs. Jourdan, who was in a delicate condition, was taken sick, and, notwithstanding their haste and fright, the party agreed to stop a day or two, on her account. But, the next morning, their alarm Avas much heightened by discovering a couple of Indians ride up and take a survey of their camp froni a distant elevation. Believing that an attack would be made, and notwithstanding their arms consisted of but two old fowling pieces, they nobly resolved to stand by the Jourdans. Mrs. Jourdan. however, with a courage and resolution worthy of a Spartan mother, made up her mind to travel, and the cavalcade moved on. The McDowells, who had a large "old Pennsylvania wagon-bed," surrendered it to the ladies, and they converted it into a kind of hospital for Mrs. Jourdan, and all through the long day that heroic woman bore her suffering and pain without a murmur. The next morning, and the second after starting for the east, she was delivered of a daughter, which, here be it said, grew up and made a most estimable lady. Without further incident worthy of note, they arrived at the Indiana settlement in safety. In the Fall of 1832, after the storms of war had passed by, and the sun of Black Hawk had forever set on the plains of Illinois, the little colony returned to their claims on the Vermilion River, where they made permanent settlements. The mode of making a claim in those days was by "blazing" it out in the timber or staking it off on the prairie. The land was not surveyed until 1833, and every man squatted where it suited his inclination, providing no one else had preceded him. * A missionary had established a cliurch in tlie Indian town. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 377 Of these few early pioneers, who came here before the Black Hawk war and who sought safety in flio;ht, we would say, before passing to other and subse- • juent scenes, that Jourdan remained in the settlement for several years, then sold out his claim and returned to the southern part of the State, from whence he came. Popejoy and Hanneman both died in the neighborhood, the Jatter soon after his return in the Fall of 1832, and Avas the first death in the new settlement. Mi-. McDowell, the old patriarch of all the McDowells, died here in 1834. His widow remained on the homestead ; filled the place of both father and mother toward her children, and died in 1858 at an advanced age. Before the close of the year 1832, the little settlement was increased by the arrival of Charles Brooks, John Wright and his sister, Mary Ann Wright, who came fiom Indiana. Brooks was related to Popejoy and Hannaman, and came our perhaps through their influence. M. B. Miller, from Cazenovia, N. Y., came in the Spring of 1833, and bought the claim of Charles Brooks, upon which he remained for a few years, when he sold out and removed to Ottawa. In the Fall of the same year, Piatt Thorn, from Western New York, settled in this section, but he, too, after a time, sold out and went to Ottawa. About the same time, Isaac Burgit came from New York to this settlement, and, like the other New Y^orkers, finally sold out and likewise removed to Ottawa. A young man named Richard L. Ball, ver^^ worthy and liighly respected, came out with Burgit. After remaining in the settlement some ten or twelve years, he returned to his home in New York, where he committed suicide, from what cause was never known. David Terhune and a man named Dean came from New Y^ork in 1834. Terhune bought a claim from Hanneman, upon which he settled, while Dean settled near by. Elijah Thompson came from Indiana, in 18'33, and made a claim in this section. Perhaps no man Avho had settled here received so warm and hearty a welcome as did Thompson ; and all on account of his having in his family three very accomplished and buxom daughters, who were the first marriageable young ladies in the settlement, and of course great belles. One of them is noticed elsewhere, as the first marriage in Avoca Township. Thompson settled on what, after the lands were surveyed, turned out to be the school section., and, after the survey was made, sold out his improvements and removed " over on Kankakee," where, so far as we know, he still lives. Harrison Flesher came from the Mackinaw settlement, in 1834, and made a claim in this township. Thomas G. McDowell, a younger brother of Wra. McDowell, came to Illi- nois in 1848. He settled out on the prairie, about half a mile from the timber, and Avas the first actual settlement made outside of the timber. It was spoken 378 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. of in considerable wonderment, and the people used to say that '" Uncle Tommy McDowell had settled away out on the prairie," which was looked upon then as equivalent to being " out of creation." He states that when he came to Avoca there were but three settlements between the Wabash country and this place. The people did their milling at Green's mill, on the Fox River, and their "store trading" at OttaAva. His first trip to mill was to the one above mentioned, and he was four days in making it. He contracted to take twenty- five bushels of grain to mill and have it ground for a man in the neighborhood, for which he Avas to receive fifty bushels of corn, worth then the enormous sum of ten cents per bushel. Nathan Popejoy, James Blake and Col. George Johnson came from Ohio. Popejoy first settled in Pontiac Township, where he remained but a short time, when he removed to this section and made a permanent settlement. Blake settled here in the Spring of 1836, and in 1852 moved to Iowa. Col. John- son settled in Avoca in 1835, and died in 1859. He had served in the War of 1812, though not as a Colonel, which title was more honorary than otherwise. He took quite an interest in fighting his battles over again, and imitating "noble war" in drilling the militia, and thus obtained the military title. Isaac Wilson and James Demoss were from Indiana. Wilson settled in this section in 1837, where he resided until 1853, when lie removed into Pleasant Ridge Township. He was one of the first lot of Justices of the Peace elected after the formation of the county, and has served as such ten years, altogether. He is still living in Pleasant Ridge. Demoss was originally from Ohio, but had lived for some years in Indiana before settling in Avoca Township. He came to the toAvn in 1844, which date scarcely admits of his being termed an '"old settler" in this neighborhood, where settlements extend back to 1830; but his numerous descendants, who number some of the very best families in this section, it seems meet that they should receive notice in these pages. The old gentleman himself is dead, but has left behind him a number of honorable sons, whose honesty and integrity are above reproach. James Glennin came from Ireland, in 1845, and, like the last mentioned, hardly ranks as an old settler. He was said to have been a man of sterling integrity, and his word, in all cases, was his bond. His family, too, were as conscientious as himself. The first white child born in what is now Avoca ToAvnship was Charles A. Brooks, a son of Charles Brooks, one of the early settlers of the place, and was born on the 1st day of July, 1833. But for the fright occasioned by the Black Hawk war, which drove the few pioneers from this section back to the Indiana settlements. Master Brooks would have been preceded some thirteen months by the little Miss Jourdan, Avho made her first appearance on the way back to civilization, as already noticed, and which event prevented her being born in the township. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 379 The first marriage was that of Harvey Rounsaville and Miss Ann Thomp- son, who were married in September, 1833. " Will you trust me, Anna dear? Walk beside me, without tear? May I carry, if I will, All youi burdens up the hill?" And she answered, with a lanprh, " No, but you may can-y half." They were married by William McDowell, a Justice of the Peace, who had been elected but a few weeks before, and this was his first official act in tying matrimonial knots. Judge McDowell informed us that his father was very much troubled about a form of ceremony to use on the momentous occasion, and did not know Avhat to do about it. But his Avife came to his rescue. She was an ardent Methodist, and, of course, possessed a Discipline, which she presented to her husband. From this book he committed to memory the entire marriage ceremony of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and used it to unite these two loving hearts. John Hannaman died in the Fall of 1832, just after the return of the set- tlers from Indiana, where they had gone to escape the perils of the Indian war. This is one of the first deaths in the county, as well as the first that occurred in this township. His coffin was made of lumber, split out of a walnut tree, and hewed as smooth as possible with an a.xe. Some say that a tree was cut down, a "• cut " split open and the halves dug out like a trough, in which he was put as a coffin. There was no such thing then in this section of the country as sawed lumber. The first sermon preached in Avoca Townshi}) was at the house of 'Squire McDowell, and was preached by Rev. James Eckels in the Spring of 1833. The first religious society was organized at his house in the following Fall, by ''Father Royle," as he was called, and one of the pioneer Methodist preachers of Illinois. It was a kind of mission, and was embraced in the old preacher's circuit, which extended from the Illinois River to the State line, and from Ottawa to the Mackinaw River. When the weather was favorable, he would make his round in four weeks ; but in bad weather was delayed, sometimes, in reaching his appointments on time. McDowell's was tlie only preaching place in the settlement until the era of school houses. Judge McDowell informed us that, although his mother was blind for twenty yeax's previous to her death, yet in all that time she never failed to have her house put in order for church. Indeed, from all accounts to be had, Mrs. McDowell seems to have been an extraordinary woman. Her husband died in 1834, and left her in an almost unbroken wilderness, with a family on her hands. But she never shrank from her trust, or sunk down in despondency. She kept her family together until all were settled in life, and her work finished. The first church in the township owes its erection principally to her and her family. It was built in 1857, and as it was the first church in this part <)f the country, it was named by Mrs. 380 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. McDowell the "Pioneer Methodist Church," a name it bears to this day. The edifice is 32x50 feet, sixteen feet to the ceiling, a good frame, and cost two thousand dollars. It has quite an interesting history. After it was framed and put up, and two sides "weather-boarded" in, "the winds blew and the floods came and beat upon that house, and it fell." Literally speaking, we presume it was not founded upon a rock, but upon the sand — or soil. Any way, it w^as blown down, and not one stone or stick Avas left upon another. They Avent to Avork, howcA^er, with rencAved vigor. A subscription of several hundred dollars had been made, and after the disaster. Judge Mc- Dowell was appointed Superintendent of the work, and directed to push it for- ward to completion. He had but little of the money that had been subscribed, and but little of his own, as he informed us, yet it so happened that never was there a bill presented to him, for Avork or material for the church, but lie had money enough on hand at the time to pay it. When the building was finished and dedicated, they OAved not a dollar, except to him, and to him their indebt- edness Avas $1,400, on Avhich they agreed to pay him interest until the debt was discharged. The financial crisis of '57 followed, and the amount, prin- cipal and interest, finally reached $1,900. The Trustees concluded they must have a deed for the property, and came to McDowell, who noAV lived in Fairbury, to know what sum he AA^ould take and give them a deed. He told them to go back and collect all the money they could, and then come and see him again. They did so, and finally returned and told him that $200 was all they could raise. He took the amount and gave them a deed to the church, leaving the amount of his subscription to the edifice, inchiding interest, about $1,700. The first preacher in charge of the church after it Avas completed Avas Rev. James Watson. It was dedicated by Rev. Z. Hall, of Woodford County, another of the old pioneer Methodist preachers of Central Illinois. The pres- ent Pastor of the Church is Rev. Mr. Underbill, and, all things considered, it is in quite a flourishing condition. It being the oldest church in this part of the country, many others have been formed, which drcAv on its membership, and thus its numbers are not so large as when it Avas the only house of Avorship for miles around. This church is the final result of the little mission established at McDoAvell's in 1833, by Father Royle, as already noticed. The first post office Avas established in 1840, and Avas called Avoca. Nicholas Hefner Avas the first Postmaster. The petition for this post office Avas Avritten by Abraham Beard, a schoolmaster of the neigl>borhood, and Avhen sent on to headquarters, was found to be addressed to the " Speaker of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois," instead of to the Post- master General of the United States. Education Avas not so thorough in those days as noAV, and many had signed the petition Avithout reading it, Avhile many others had signed it with a X Avho could not have read it if they would. The office was where the village of Avoca Avas afterward located, and was on the mail route between Danville and Ottawa. It continued in active operation until HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 381 1864, when, there being others more conveniently situated, the office at Avoca was suspended. The first store in the town was kept by W. G. and James McDowell, and was opened in 1854. The first physician who practiced in this section was Dr. John Davis, of Pontiac, and noticed elsewhere as the first physician in the county. Dr. C. B. Ostrander was the first located physician, and still resides on his farm near Lodeniia station. In early times, when his practice extended over a circuit of many miles, he never sufllered any trivial excuse to keep him from the bedside of his patients. We were informed by a reliable party, who had the story from the Doctor's own lips, that he was going to see a patient one day, who had sent for him in a great hurry, and crossing Indian Creek, stopped a moment for his horse to take a fcAv sips of water, when one end of the fore axle of his buggy dropped to the gi-ound. Looking to see the cause, he found that one fore wheel was gone, and he had driven so fast the axle hadn't time to drop doAvn until he stopped. On going back to find the missing wheel, he met his dog, who always followed him, coming on, dragging the wheel in his mouth. He has a fine orchard and devotes a good deal of attention to the cultivation of fruits. It is said that he has shipped gooseberries to Chicago by the car load, and boasts of having raised as much as 800 bushels of cherries in a single season. Harrison Flesher Avas the first blacksmith in the town, and opened a shop on his claim late in the Winter of 1834. In 1854, Judge McDowell and his brothers built a steam saw-mill in Avoca Township, to which was attached one run of stones for grinding corn, but the main business of the mill was sawing. In 1860, he moved the mill to Nebraska, where it Avas chiefly instrumental in locating the county seat of Jefferson County, at the village of Fah'bury, named by the Judge for the town in which he lives. He succeeded in getting a post office and blacksmith shop at the place, then moved his mill there, and after interesting the County Commissioners, they located the county seat at his village. This was the first and only mill ever in this town, except perhaps occasionally a portable saw-mill. In the early times, most of the people of this section did their milling at Green's Mill, on Fox River, near Ottawa. This was the principal mill until one was built at Wilmington. Judge McDowell informed us that he once went on horseback to Blue's horse mill down on Rock Creek, and on his return the Vermilion was too high to cross, and he put his '' turn of meal ' on a raft and ferried it over, and swam his horse by the side of it. At another time, he and his brother-in-law, Hefner, went to Green's Mill, and both of their horses died with the milk sickness before they could get back home. The first public road through Avoca Township was the State road from Danville to Ottawa, and extending on to the Rock River country. The mail ^as carried along this route on horseback, and was Uncle Sam's first trip through here, except when his armed legions pursued the fugitive Black Hawk 382 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. and his warriors. The road from Lafayette to Hennepin was also an early liighway of travel through this country. The first ferry we have any account of in the neighborhood was at the crossing of these roads over the Vermilion River, and consisted of a raft of red elm logs, which, when seasoned, are extremely light. When the river was too high to ford, they would put the wagons and freight on the raft and take it across, while the horses were forced to swim themselves over. One day in the Winter or early Spring, a man came along in a wagon drawn by two horses and was very anxious to get over. The river had been frozen for some time and was just breaking up. The man con- cluded to try to cross on the ice, and taking out his horses led them on to a large cake of ice which broke in tAvo after he had gotten them on it, leaving their fore feet on one piece and their hind feet on the other. With the greatest care he finally managed to get them on one piece and paddled them over in safety. He then recrossed and got his wagon on another ice cake and ferried it over without accident, hitched up his team and went on his way. Tlie ]\IcDowells and some of the neighbors had a canoe in partnership, which was used for neighborhood convenience. Finally, some of the stock- liolders in this enterprise got at loggerheads, and to end the strife and hard feelings, Judge McDowell and his brotherr James went down one day and measured oif their own part of the canoe, and sawed it in two, and carried their half away, and left the other half floating in the river, cabled to the bank. When the McDowells came to Avoca, they brought with them some young cattle belonging to a friend in Indiana, and which they proposed to "break to Avork " for him. After they had become Avell "broke," Woodford G. and John McDoAvell took them back to Indiana, and returned tlicm to the owner; and as a kind of coincidence, Judge McDowell related to us an anecdote on the 26th of June, precisely forty-six years after he and his brother started with the young cattle for Indiana. There was not a house, at the time, for forty-five miles after leaving the settlement. For the purpose of riding, and as a protec- tion against the rays of a June sun, they had built them a sled, to which they had added a top, and with a good stock of provisions, they started for the classic land of Hoosier. The trail of emigrant wagons had made two tracks, Avith a kind of unbroken middle. While moving on, one day, they discovered, settled on a wild crab-apple bush between these tracks, a SAvarm of bees. In passing each side of them, the oxen struck their legs against tli« mass, knock- ing them off, and when the young men discovered them, they AA^ere rising around their team in an angry cloud. They whipped up their cattle and ran out from amongst them without serious results. Some distance beyond, they found a man ploAving corn, to whom they related the occurrence. He went back and "hived" them, and on their return told them that their bees were "working " well. The first bridge in Avoca was built over the south branch of the Vermilion, in 1844. Isaac Burgit, Road Supervisor on the west side of the river, and Judge ,;jf '.V*/>^s .. ^;%-^:^:;:?f^^. £^z-^k^n^^^y IRCUIT COURT PONTIAC f»N!VOt: HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 385 McDowell on the east side, called out the road labor and built the bridore. It was all hewed out of the neighboring forest, and was a substantial structure. The village of Avoca was laid out in 1854, by Judge W. G. McDowell, who owned the land on which it was located. It was surveyed by Amos Edwards, then County Surveyor. The first store in it was opened just before it was laid out as a village, by the McDowells, as noticed in the preceding pages, and for several years it was a flourishing business place. But on the laying out of Fairbury, the sun of Avoca began to decline. Many of the houses were removed to tlie latter place, and the Judge at last got it vacated and discontinued by a special act of the Legislature. Avoca Cemetery, across the creek from the village, was laid off' by the elder McDowell. He and those of his family who have departed this life are buried there. Susan Philips was the first one to occupy the place, and was buried in it in August, 1833. Moore Cemetery is a private bur^- ing ground on the west side of the Grove. Jonathan Moore was the first buried in it, and was interred there in 1839. Nothing now remains to show where once stood a thriving vilhiffe but the '■ Pioneer Methodist Church," which has already been noticed. McDowell village is on the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, about six miles south of Pontiac, and has between fifty and one hundred inhabitants. It was laid out as a village in 1873, by Judge McDowell, who owns the land, and it is named for him. Chas. HeAvitson surveyed it. The first house was put up by McDowell before the village was laid out, and was used as a dwelling. The first ])Ost office was kept by John Cottrell, and was established in 1872. Hugli T. Pound is the present Postmaster. The first store was built and occupied by Ben Walton, now of Fairbury. The village has two stores at present, one kept by R. B. Phillips and the other by Chas. Danforth ; two blacksmith and wagon shops, the one by Henshaw, and the other by Jacob Schide. Frank ]5. Bregga is an extensive grain dealer, but the village has no elevator or grain warehouse. One of the principal features of the place is the stone quarry, (jwned by McDowell, which yields a very good quality of lime rock, quite valuable for foundations, and which makes also an excellent quality of lime. A large kiln is in full operation at present, which turns out about 300 bushels at a burning. Lodemia Station is on the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, a short distance soutli of McDowell. It contains nothing but a post office and church. Has no depot, but is merely a shipping point, with switch and side track. The post office was established in August, 1877, with Dr. C. B. Ostrander as Postmaster. It k kept at the parsonage, and the minister, Mr. Underbill, attends to the duties. The church, which belongs to the Methodists, was built here in 1876, and is a very neat little frame edifice, which cost 1^2,800. The society was organized in 1858, in the school house, under the pastoral charge of Rev. John W. Stubbles, and the church, when completed in 1876, was dedicated by Rev. 386 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Robert G. Pearce, Presiding Elder of the District at the time. Their present preacher is Rev. Mr. Underbill, and the congregation is large and flourishing J for a country church. I Champlin is also a station, or rather a shipping point in this township, and is just south of Lodemia : makes no pretensions beyond a side track for shipping grain and stock. The first school taught in Avoca Township was by Samuel Breese, com- mencing in the Fall of 1835 and continuing until the next Spring. Mrs. McDowell, the widow of William McDowell, Nathan Popejoy, who first settled in Pontiac Township, and James Blake, built the first school house. It was a little log cabin, 16x18 feet, having a big wood fire-place that would take in a stick ten feet long ; and in this cabin Breese taught the first school as noted above. James McDowell held the office of School Treasurer for twenty-seven years in succession. Lyman Burgit was the first Treasurer, but died soon after his appointment to the office, when McDowell was elected to succeed him, and held the position until his removal into Indian Grove Township. When he was first elected Treasurer, there was but one school district and it embraced the entire township, and the school fund consisted of what was termed the '' College and Academy Fund, "" from which this township drew annually about ^30. The first Board of Trustees were Isaac Burgit, W. G. McDowell and N, Hefner. When McDowell resigned the office of School Treasurer, the fund was about $1,500. At present, R. B. Foster is Treasurer; and from his last report to the County Superintendent of Schools we extract the following : Number of males in township under 21 200 Number of females in township under 21 210 Total : 410 Number of males in township between 6 and 21 153 Number of females in township between 6 and 21 163 Total : 316 Number of males attending gchool , 86 Number of females attending school 114 Total 200 Number of male teachers employed 8 Number of female teachers employed 10 Total 18 Amount paid male teachers $1,061 30 Amount paid female teachers 1,303 00 Total $2,364 30 Estimated value of school property $4,006 00 Amount of tax levy for support of schools 2,053 87 Principal of township fund 5,366 49 There are eight school districts in the township containing good, substantial school houses, in which schools are taught for the usual number of months in each year. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 387 The county adopted township organization in 1857, when this town took the name of Avoca, from the village and post office which bore the same, and had been given by Nicholas Hefner, who was the first Postmaster. It is an Indian name, but what its signification is, we are unable to say. The first Supervisor was Wm. Fugate, and the first Town Clerk, Isaac R. Clark. Gideon Hutchin- son is at present Supervisor, and J. W. McDowell, Town Clerk. Formerly, this and Indian Grove Township composed one election precinct. At that time, it was largely Democratic and contained, it is said, but seven Whig votes. But in the revolution of political parties, things have changed in Avoca Township, as well as elsewhere, and it now goes as largely Republican as it did Democratic in the old times. In the "eternal fitness of things," it is the Whig sections that have generally turned out to be the strongest Republican, and not often that a Democratic stronghold has made a change of this kind. During the late .war, its record was as good as that of any township in Livingston County, according to the number of its population, and it turned out many brave sol- diers to battle for the Union. So far as can be obtained, their names are given in the general war record of this work : their deeds are engraved upon the hearts of their countrymen, and need no commendations hei'e. Judo;e McDowell was Collector of Revenues in 1844, when Avoca and Indian Grove were all one district, and at that time, as we were informed, there was a premium on wolf scalps. A man who had killed a wolf could go before a Jus- tice of the Peace and make affidavit to that effect, when he would receive a State warrant or order for one dollar, which was good for State taxes, and on presenting this document to the County Auditor, would get an order, which was current for all county taxes. The Judge says he collected almost the en- tire revenue that year in county orders and wolf scalps, not getting money enough to pay his own per centage on collecting it. The Chicago & Paducah Railroad was built through this township in 1872, and has been of paramount importance and benefit in uniting this part of the county with the seat of justice. The township of Avoca took f 10,000 stock in the road, and has always shown the greatest interest in the enterprise and its success. There is but one regular station and depot in the town — McDowell — with two other shipping points, viz. : Lodemia and Champlin. These have switches and side tracks, but at present are not provided with depot buildings and telegraph offices. The only representative of the legal fraternity in Avoca Township was Judge McDowell, who lived in this town, where he practiced, as occasion required, until 1800, when he removed to the village of Fairbury. In 1859, he was elected County Judge, an office he filled with credit. He was Recording Stew ard of the Methodist Church at Avoca for twenty-five years in succession. 388 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, CHATSWORTH TOWNSHIP. Cliatsworth is in the eastern tier of townships, and is known as Town 26 north, Range 8 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is fine rolling prairie, with the exception of Oliver's Grove in the southern part, a grove of, perhaps, as fine natural timber as Livingston County can furnish. Like all the prairie country, the people have devoted a great deal of attention to the plant- ing and cultivation of trees, until beautiful groves of timber are to be found on every section of land in the township. Originally, Chatsworth embraced For- rest and Germantown, and was known as Oliver's Grove Township. But many of the citizens disliking a compound name, petitioned the Board of Supervisors for a change, at their annual meeting, the second year of township organization. William H. Jones, who was the Supervisor at the time, gave it the name of Chatsworth, which it has ever since borne. The name is said to have been taken from an English story he had read, in which "Lord Chatsworth" figures as a principal character. The first settlement made in what is now Chatsworth Township was bj Franklin C Oliver, wlio, at the age of 92 years, still occupies his original claim. " The ghostly shade of a man he seemed ; His teeth were white as milk ; And the long, white hair on his forehead gleamed Like skeins of tangled silk." He came from the State of New Jersey in 1832, and settled here among the Indians, with whom he ever remained on the most friendly terms. When other white people in the surrounding settlements, becoming frightened at the warlike reports of the Black Hawk campaign, retreated toward the Wabash settlements, Oliver remained upon his claim, and "went in and out" among the red men without molestation. His father, he informed us, was a Quartermaster in the Revolutionary war, and man}'^ of the old soldier's ofiicial papers were in his possession until some years ago, when his house was burned and they met the fate of much of his household property. Many of these papers, he said, were rather quaint, and would present a marked contrast, doubtless, to the ponderous accounts and vouchers of a Quartermaster in our late Avar. Mr. Oliver and his family were the only white people in the township for many years. A number of settlements Avere made in Indian Grove and other timbered localities, but not till away up in the "fifties" were other settle- ments made in Chatsworth. In 1855, Job H. and George S. Megquier settled in this township. They were from Maine, and the former now lives in the village of Chatsworth ; the latter died in 1871. David Stewart came here from the State of New York in 1856. He bought land and settled in the town, where he remained for a number of years, when his wife died and he became dissatisfied, sold out and moved away. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 389 Romanzo Miller was a Vermonter, and settled here in 1855. He finally sold his land and removed to Iowa, where he still remained, at last accounts of him. John Snyder and Trueman Brockway were from New York, the Empire State of the Union. Snyder came in 1856 and made a settlement, upon which he died about 1868. Brockway had settled in El Paso in 1855, but came here in 1857. He was a single man when he came to Chatsworth, but after per- manently locating, went back to New York, married and brought his wife here to share his Western home. Addison Holmes came from Indiana in 1855. After remaining for several years, he sold out and removed to Champaign County, in this State, where he still resides. John P. Hart was from the blue-grass of Kentucky, and came in 1856. A young man named James Greenwood came with him, and worked on his farm as long as he remained here. Hart owned a laro;e tract of land, but finally sold it and removed to Arkansas. Peter Van Weir came from the "Faderland"' on the banks of the Rhine. He settled here in 1858, but had lived for a while in Panola, Woodford County, before coming to this settlement. He finally removed into Charlotte Township. Wm. H. Jones came here from La Salle County in the Fall of 1857. His family still reside here, but he, at present, is doing business at Burr O^k Station, in Ford County. The first birth and death are supposed to have occurred in Mr. Oliver's family, as he was here so long before any other white people settled in the town. The first marriage particularly remembered was Samuel Patton and Miss Nellie Desmond in 1861, and they were married by the Baptist minister, sta- tioned, at that time, in Fairbury. The first birth among the more modern settlers, was a child born to Trueman Brockway. The first death also occurred in his family in 1861. A man — a stranger that no one knew — was struck by lightning soon after the death of Brockway's child. He came to the village of Chatsworth, looking for work, and had been down on the prairie, where his . efforts had failed, had come back, and wliile walking near the railroad track, Avas killed by lightning, not far from Avhere Felker's store noAV stands. The first blacksmith shop in the town was opened by Samuel Patton in 1859. It was then the only shop between Fairbury and Gilman. William H. Jones was the first Justice of the Peace in the town, and held the office when Forrest and Germantown Avere included in ChatSAVorth. Dr. D. W. Hunt Avas the first resident physician. He came here, and still resides in the village of ChatsAvorth, and practices his pi-ofession in the township. From the school records, we find the first meeting Avas held at the house of John R. Snyder, the 12th of April, 1858, Avhen the toAvn Avas still calleil Oliver's Grove. The folloAvinji Board of Trustees were elected: Franklin Oliver. J. H. Megquier and Franklin Foot. On the 20th of the same month, 390 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. the Trustees held a meeting and elected Wm. H. Jones, School Treasurer. In the Summer of this year, the first school was taught in the township, by Miss Jennie Adams. At present, there are seven school districts, with good, substan- tial frame houses in each district. The office of Treasurer was held by Jones until 1872, when J. T. Bullard was elected and still has the office. The follow- ing facts are taken from his last report to the Superintendent of Schools : Number of males in township under 21 years of ago, 491 ; females, 444 ; total, 935 ; number of males attending school, 198 ; females, 208 ; total, 406 ; number of male teachers employed, 5 ; female teachers, 11, total teachers employed, 16 ; estimated value of school property, f 15,600 ; estimated value of school appa- ratus, $225 ; principal of township fund, $8,133.01 ; tax levy for the support of schools, $3,365 ; highest monthly wages paid teacher, $110 ; lowest monthly wages paid teachei', $25; average monthly wages paid male teachers, $66.88 ; average monthly wages paid female teachers, $37.50 ; whole amount paid teach- ers, $4,751.25. The present Board of Trustees are J. M. Roberts, President : L. T. Stoutraeyer and S. T. Compton. The schools of Chatsworth Township are in a flourishing condition, and compare favorably with those of any other section of the county. The first township meeting was held at the house of Franklin Oliver on the 6th of April, 1858, and officers elected for thg year for the " Town of Oliver's Grove." The first election resulted as follows: James G. Meredith, Super- visor ; W. H. Jones and J. G. Harper, Justices of the Peace ; C. Hart and B. Harbert, Constables ; John Towner, Assessor ; J. B. Snyder, Collector, and "Charles Cranford, Town Clerk. At the next election. April 1, 1859, William H. Jones was elected Supervisor : Charles Cranford, Town Clerk and Assessor also, and R. R. Miller, Collector. At the meeting of April 3, 1860. Jones and Cranford were re-elected Supervisor and Town Clerk ; I. J. Krack. Assessor, and J. G. Meredith, Collector. The officers of the Township at pres- ent are as follows : G. W. Cline, Supervisor ; J. H. Meg(iuier and Peter Shroyer, Justices of the Peace ; Charles Weinland, Assessor ; Charles Reiss, Collector, and Thomas Nash, Town Clerk. As already stated, Chatsworth, at the time of township organization, em- braced the town of Forrest and the fractional town of German town. iVt the meeting of the Board of Supervisors in 1861, Forrest, on petition, was set ott", and became a separate and distinct township, and at the September meeting of Supervisors for 1867, Germantown petitioned for separation, and was set off at this meeting, since which time it has been a separate town. Since these divi- sions and separations, Chatsworth remains still a complete Congressional town- ship of thirty-six sections. When the settling up of the town began, about 1855, deer and prairie wolves were the almost undisputed possessors of the soil. In portions of Oliver's Grove, there are still deer to be occasionally seen, but they are becom- ing very scarce, and will soon all be gone, while the wolf, the natural foe of the settler, is almost if not wholly exterminated. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 391 The first preacher to proclaim the Word of God in this section was Old Father Walker, as he was called, of Ottawa, who in 1832 established a mission among the Indians, whose lodges were then spread in Oliver's Grove. The following extract is from an address delivered before the Old Settlers' Society by Judge McDowell, of Fairbury, at the annual meeting in 1877 : ^' The early footprints of Methodism began in this part of the country in 1832, Old Father Walker, who established a mission at the Kickapoo town (now Oliver's Grove), where there was, at that time, a village of ninety-seven wigwams, one large council house, several small encampments, and 630 Indians in all, men, women and children. Father Walker came out occasionally and held meetings with them, appointed and ordained a missionary minister of their own tribe, who always held services on the Sabbath, when Father Walker was not tlicre. Their prayer book was a walnut board, on which were characters carved with a knife, and at the fop an engraving. They had a great respect for the Sab- bath, and no Indian thought of retiring at night Avithout consulting his board." These ministrations of Father Walker were the first we have any account of in this section, and were probably the first in Livingston County. As there are no church buildings in the township, outside of the village of Chatsworth, this part of our history will be again alluded to in connection with the villao-e. The old Indian trail that marked the dividing line between the Kickapoo and Pottawatomie tribes was plainly visible through this town, long after settle- ments were made and the pale-faces had become numerous. And there are still settlers living here who can point out the line along which the trail led. The Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway was completed through the township, and trains commenced running regularly in 1857. This broudit immiia-ants to the neighborhood, and was the means of the rapid settling up of this town and the surrounding country. The amount of grain and stock shipped from Chatsworth Township over this road is truly wonderful. The Kankakee k SouthAvestern Railroad, projected to run from Kankakee City, through Chats- worth Township, tapping the Gilman, Clinton k Springfield, at Gibson City, will probably be in process of construction in a short time, ft is supposed that the Illinois Central is the ''power behind the throne" in this new road, and will push it forward to completion, in order to open to them (the Illinois Central) a more direct route between Chicago and St. Louis. The new Company only ask the right of way through Second street, in the village of Chatsworth, which has been unanimously given. Politically, Chatsworth is pretty evenly divided on national (juestions. prob- ably Republican by a few votes. Its record during the late war was good for so" thinly a populated section as this was at that time. N. C. Kenyon, the present Postmaster of Chatsworth village, was Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of the brave regiments of Illinois, that it is said, did as much hard fighting during the war as any regiment from the State. Conrad Heppe, a resident at present of the village, has served nine years in the 392 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. United States army, mostly in New Mexico. Many other brave fellows sh