LI E> RAR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
 91 7 . 73 
 
 P33g 
 cop. 2 
 
 I .H.S.
 
 GAZETTEER OF ILLINOIS, 
 
 THREE PARTS: 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE; A GENERAL 
 VIEW OF EACH COUNTY; 
 
 A. PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF EACH TOWN, SETTLEMENT. 
 STREAM, PRAIRIE, BOTTOM, BLUFF, ETC. ALPHA- 
 BETICALLY ARRANGED. 
 
 BY J. M. PECK, 
 
 AUTHOR OF A GUIDE FOR. EMIGRANTS, ETC. 
 
 JACKSONVILLE: 
 PUBLISHED BY R. GOUDY, 
 
 1 834.
 
 ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 
 1834, by J. M. PECK, in the Clerk's office of the Dis- 
 trict Court of Illinois. 
 
 C. GOUDY, PRINTER,
 
 7 f 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 THE utility and importance of an accurate Gazeteer of Illinois to 
 
 every class of citizens within the state, and to all other persons who 
 
 desire full and particular information, are too obvious to need proof. 
 
 This work was undertaken by the author nearly two years since, 
 
 at the suggestion and request of many of his fellow citizens, some of 
 
 ^whom fill distinguished posts of honor in the state and nation. 
 
 No state in the "Great West" has attracted so much attention, and 
 ^ elicited so many enquiries from those who desire to avail themselves 
 T~ of the advantages of a settlement in a new and rising country, as that 
 of Illinois; and none is filling up so rapidly with an emigrating po- 
 pulation from all parts of the United States, and several kingdoms of 
 ' Europe. Consequently, the call for correct information of all por- 
 
 Jtions of the state has become pressing. 
 In preparing this work with special reference to this call, the author 
 has kept one point constantly in view. Accuracy of description, or a 
 registry of facts and things as they actually exist in every part of the 
 state, has been a paramount object. How far he has succeeded will 
 oe submitted to the judgment of his fellow citizens in each county. 
 That no imperfections or inaccuracies exist in the work, the author is 
 . not vain enough to imagine ; but that as a whole, or as to its parts, it 
 is sufficiently accurate for all useful purposes, will appear on refer- 
 ence to the labor bestowed to obtain correct information of every spot 
 he attempts to describe.
 
 IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To the facts and observations of many years' residence in the state, 
 and traveling in all the older settlements, of which record was made 
 for his own use, and that of his immediate friends, may be added v i e 
 following facilities for gaining correct topographical and historical 
 formation. 
 
 In the winter of 1832, '33, the author spent several weeks at Van- 
 dalia,during the session of the legislature, where the principal part of 
 the work was written. Access was had, through the polite attention 
 of the governor, secretary of state, auditor, and other public officers, to 
 all the public documents, state records, and journals. Both houses of 
 the legislature, with equal liberality, granted a copy of the laws and 
 journals of that body, and likewise, (if duplicates existed,) copies ot 
 all preceding laws, journals, and printed documents, of the territorial 
 and state governments. These were carefully examined, and from 
 them much valuable information obtained. 
 
 Personal intercourse was also had with the members of the legisla- 
 ture and other gentlemen, from each county, and from that source ma- 
 ny of the facts in the general description of the counties in Part Se- 
 cond, and the particulars of each place in Part Third, were obtained. 
 The course of the author was, to spend two or three hours each even- 
 ing with gentlemen from a county, who were well acquainted with 
 every part, and write a brief sketch of the same. 
 
 These were drawn off in proper order the next day, and, in many in- 
 stances, submitted to the same persons for inspection and revision. 
 All the items for one county were thus finished before entering upon a 
 survey of another. 
 
 By this method, no creek, prairie, or settlement, known by name 
 amongst the people, would escape notice, and accuracy of description 
 would be attained. 
 
 These accounts were then collated with the statements received from 
 other sources, and from the author's own notes of observation. Hav- 
 ing thus prepared the main portion of the work, the publication was
 
 INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 postponed one year purposely to afford opportunity for a personal exa- 
 tiou of much of the state. 
 
 The employment of Superintending Agent of Sunday School af- 
 fairs in Illinois, which commenced immediately after the close of the 
 author's labors at Vandalia, furnished this opportunity. Thus, tho 
 means were afforded, by a careful observation through many counties 
 in the state, to uetect any errors, and to give further particulars. 
 
 No small pains have been taken to obtain the latest information, 
 especially from the recently organized counties in the north, where 
 new settlements are made every month, and villages spring up as the 
 growth of a summer. Still, some settlements, planted within the pre- 
 sent year, may not have come to the author's knowledge. 
 
 It would be rather invidious to name individuals from whom the 
 author has received aid in this work, and to whom he is desirous of re- 
 turning his humble and grateful acknowledgements. To the officers 
 of state, the members of the last legislature, many post masters, and 
 other citizens, his thanks are due. Much of the real value of the work 
 is from information they imparted, or from documents and records 
 over which they had legal control. 
 
 The general description, and estimates of the population of the 
 counties, in the second part, and number of families in settlements, are 
 ail from facts collected during the session of the last legislature. In 
 many of the counties, the estimate of population, as given in the table 
 in the appendix, will vary considerably from that in the description of 
 the county, but this difference will show the supposed ratio of increase 
 in a period of about one year and nine months. 
 
 The delay of the work after it went to press, from unforeseen causes, 
 has enabled the publisher to give a column in one of the tables of the 
 appendix, showing the votes returned from the polls of each county 
 at the election on the first Monday in August, this year.
 
 Vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Supposing every eighth person to have voted would make the popu- 
 lation of the state in August, 272,816 allowing every seventh person 
 to have voted, the result would be 238,714. 
 
 That table, which was constructed previous to the election, and es- 
 timating the population at 250,000, is but a moderate estimate, and 
 when conapared with the census of 1830, which was 161,000, will fur- 
 nish an index of the rapid growth of the state. Business, and improve- 
 ments of every description, have kept pace with the increase of popu- 
 lation. Much of the emigration that now enters the state exceeds 
 that of former years in wealth, enterprize, and intelligence. 
 
 Some changes have been made in the state since the work went to 
 press. Iroquois county has been organized by authority of the judge 
 of that circuit, consequently it must have more than three hundred and 
 fifty inhabitants. Estimating its population by the number of votes 
 at the last election, and it must contain nearly five hundred inhabi- 
 tants. 
 
 Two new Lanrl Districts were made in Illinois at the last session of 
 congress, called North West and North East Land Districts. 
 
 North West District is in ihr north western portion of the state, and 
 bounded south by the line between townships twelve and thirteen 
 north, on the military tract, and oast by the line between ranges three 
 and four east of the third principal meridian, and north by the northern 
 boundaiy of the state. 
 
 North East District is in the north east poriion of the state, and 
 bounded south by the line between townships thirty and thirty-one, on 
 the third principal meridian, east by lake Michigan, and north by the 
 boundary of the state. 
 
 That portion of the Wisconsin territory which lies between the 
 northern boundary of Illinois, and the Wisconsin river and Green bay, 
 has been formed into two land districts. The one on the west side is 
 called Wisconsin, and the other Green Bay. The dividing line is 
 the range line next west from Fort Winnebago.
 
 INTRODUCTION. VH 
 
 In some instances the publication of weekly papers have been sus- 
 pended. 
 
 The population of Springfield and of Jacksonville is given accord- 
 ing to the estimate of citizens in each place in September. 
 
 The author has not hesitated to avail himself of the labors of those 
 who have gone before him, in descriptions of this state. A Gazetteer 
 of Missouri and Illinois, by Lewis C. Back, M. D. and published in 
 1823, was a valuable and meritorious work in its day. The same ge- 
 neral plan has been followed in this work. 
 
 Judge Hall, in his Magazine, has done much to exhibit the charac- 
 teristics of the state, and reference has baen had to his "Notes on Illi- 
 nois." 
 
 It has caused the author no small trouble to decide upon the ortho- 
 graphy of proper names. Many of those found in this work have never 
 been published to any extent, so as to become settled in orthography. 
 In offering new names to the public it is desirable that the spelling 
 conform to the pronunciation. While the author does not feel autho- 
 rized to make innovations upon established usages, he is willing to con- 
 tribute his humble mite to improve the orthography of the language: 
 where custom has not fixed it. 
 
 Many aboriginal names in the west were first written in French, and 
 after by persons of very inferior literary attainments. Some of these 
 have already undergone changes. Thus we have VV abash for Ou-. 
 bache, Washitau for Ouchitta ; and for similar reasons we ought to 
 write Wisconsin for Ouisconsin, Mackinau for Michilimacinac, 
 Meredosha for Marais d'Ogee, etc. 
 
 Such aboriginal names as have not been printed, the author has 
 spelled according to the pronunciation, and for the correctness of this 
 he has relied upon information of persons accustomed to hear the 
 sounds expressed by natives. 
 
 After all, several discrepancies will be discovered in different parts 
 of the work.
 
 Vlii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In such names as have the French or broad sound of a, he has pre- 
 Terred the termination of au to aw. The exceptions are in Wabash 
 and a few others, where the a is sanctioned by custom, and the sound 
 generally understood. 
 
 A table of errata has been given to correct the more prominent er- 
 rors of the press. Had the author possessed leisure, and resided at the 
 place of publication so as to have inspected the proof sheets, this table 
 would have been spared. But in composing more than one thousand 
 proper names, many of which are not commonly found in print, the 
 most skilful and accurate compositors and proof readers would neces- 
 sarily commit mistakes. 
 
 Rock Spring, (/.) October, 1834.
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 
 
 SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AND EXTENT, FACE OF THE 
 
 COUNTRY, AND QUALITIES OF SOIL, RIVERS AND LAKES, 
 
 MINERAL, ANIMAL, AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS, 
 
 MANUFACTURES, NATURAL CURIOSITIES, AND ANTIQUI- 
 TIES, CLIMATE AND HEALTH, CIVIL DIVISIONS, GOV- 
 ERNMENT, EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS, 
 
 PUBLIC LANDS, PLANS OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, 
 
 HISTORY, MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. 
 
 SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AND EXTENT. 
 
 THE State of Illinois is situated between 37 and 42 
 degrees, 30 minutes, north latitude, and between 10 
 degrees, 25 minutes, and 14 degrees, 30 minutes, west 
 longitude from Washington city. It is bounded on the 
 north by Wisconsin territory, north east by lake Mi- 
 chigan, east by Indiana, south east and south by Ken- 
 tucky, and west by the state and territory of Missouri. 
 
 Its extreme length is 380 miles, and its extreme width, 
 220 miles; its average width, 150 miles. The area of 
 the whole state, including the portion of lake Michigan 
 within its boundaries, is 59,300 square miles. 
 1
 
 ' 
 
 up 
 
 2 A GAZETTEER 
 
 This resuit has been obtained after a careful estimate 
 of the surveyed portions in the land districts, and calcu- 
 lating the remainder by its medium length and breadth. 
 The exact length of its northern portion is now ascer- 
 tained from the continuation of the fourth principal 
 meridian, from the vicinity of Rock river to the north- 
 ern boundary. The exact length of the northern bound- 
 ary from the Mississippi at the north western corner of 
 the state, to lake Michigan, is 144i miles. The eastern 
 boundary leaves the Wabash river at a point about 60 
 miles north of Vincennes, and continues due north to 
 the northern boundary of Indiana. The only difficulty in 
 ascertaining the area of this section is from the piece 
 of water extending north and east of the northern 
 boundary of Indiana, which has been estimated from 
 ascertaining the probable width of the lake at this 
 part, from persons best acquainted with it. The north- 
 ern boundary line extends into the middle of lake Mi- 
 chigan. 
 
 The act of congress authorising the people of Illinois 
 to form a state government, and the convention in fra- 
 ming the constitution, described the following as the 
 boundaries of the state: 
 ^"Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river, thence 
 
 the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the north 
 western 'corner of said state; thence east with the line of 
 the same state, to the middle of lake Michigan; thence north 
 along the middle of said lake, to north latitude 42 degrees 
 and 30 minutes; thence west to the middle of the Mis- 
 sippi river; and thence down along the middle of that 
 river to its confluence with the Ohio river; and thence
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 3 
 
 up the latter river along its north western shore to the 
 beginning." 
 
 Within these described boundaries, allowing for the 
 curves of the rivers, are not less than 59,300 square miles, 
 or 37,952,000 acres. 
 
 The water area of the state is computed at 3,750square 
 miles as follows: 
 
 Square Miles. 
 
 Lake Michigan 2,750 
 
 One half of the Mississippi, for 700 miles, in- 
 cluding its meanderings, at the ordinary 
 
 stage of water 350 
 
 Half of the Wabash river 50 
 
 Estimates for small lakes, ponds, and rivers 
 
 within the state 600 
 
 3,750 
 
 With this, deduct 5,550 square miles for irreclaimable 
 waste*, and there is left, in Illinois, 50,000 square miles 
 or 32 millions of acres of arable land. In this estimate, 
 inundated lands, submerged by high waters, but which 
 may be reclaimed at a moderate expense, are included. 
 
 FACE OF THE COUNTRY, AND QUALITIES OF SOIL. 
 
 THE general surface is level, or moderately undu- 
 lating; the northern and southern portions are broken, 
 and somewhat hilly, but no portion of the state is tra- 
 versed with ranges of hills or mountains. At the verge 
 of the alluvial soil on the margins of rivers, there are 
 ranges of "bluffs" intersected with ravitfes. The bluffs 
 are usually from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet high,
 
 4 A GAZETTEER 
 
 where an extended surface of table land commences, 
 covered with prairies and forests of various shapes and 
 sizes. 
 
 When examined minutely, there are several varieties 
 in the surface of this state which will be briefly specified 
 and described. 
 
 1. Inundated Lands. I apply this term to all those 
 portions, which, for some part of the year, are under 
 water. These include portions of the river bottoms, and 
 portions of the interior of large prairies, with the lakes 
 and ponds which, for half the year or more, are without 
 water. The term "bottom," is used throughout the west 
 to denote the alluvialsoil on the margin of rivers, usually 
 called "intervals," in New England. Portions of this 
 description of land are flowed for a longer or shorter 
 period, when the rivers are full. Probably one eighth of 
 the bottom lands are of this description; for though the 
 water may not stand for any length of time, it wholly 
 prevents settlement and cultivation, though it does not 
 interrupt the growth of timber and vegetation. These 
 tracts are on the bottoms of the Wabash, Ohio, Missis- 
 sippi, Illinois, and all the interior rivers. 
 
 When the rivers rise above their ordinary height, the 
 waters of 'the smaller streams, which are backed up by 
 the freshets of the former, break over their banks, and 
 coverall the low grounds. Here they stand for a few 
 days, or for many weeks, especially towards the blufls; 
 for it is a striking fact in the geology of the western 
 country, that all the river bottoms are higher on the 
 margins of the streams than at some distance back. 
 Whenever increase of population shall create a demand
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 5 
 
 for this species of soil, the most of it can be reclaimed 
 at comparatively small expense. Its fertility will be 
 inexhaustible, and if the waters from the rivers could be 
 shut out by dykes or levees, the soil would be perfectly 
 dry. Most of the small lakes on the American bottom 
 disappear in the summer, and leave a deposit of vege- 
 table matter undergoing decomposition, or a luxuriant 
 coat of weeds and grass. 
 
 As our prairies mostly lie between the streams that 
 drain the country, the interior of the large ones are 
 usually level. Here are formed ponds and lakes after 
 the winter and spring rains, which remain to be drawn 
 off by evaporation, or absorbed by an adhesive soil. 
 Hence the middle of our large, level prairies are wet, 
 and for several weeks portions of them are covered with 
 water. To remedy this inconvenience completely, and 
 render all this portion of soil dry and productive, only 
 requires a ditch or drain of two or three feet deep to be 
 cut into the nearest ravine. In many instances a single 
 furrow with the plough, would drain many acres. At 
 present this species of inundated land offers no incon- 
 venience to the people, except in the production of 
 miasm, and even that, perhaps, becomes too much di- 
 luted with the atmosphere to produce mischief before it 
 reaches the settlements on the borders of the prairie. 
 Hence the inference is correct that our inundated lands 
 present fewer obstacles to the settlement and growth 
 of the country, and can be reclaimed at much less ex- 
 pense, than the swamps and salt marshes of the Atlantic 
 states. tV
 
 6 A GAZETTEER 
 
 RIVER BOTTOMS, OR ALLUVION. 
 
 THE surface of our alluvial bottoms is not entirely 
 level. In some places it resembles alternate waves of 
 the ocean, and looks as though the waters had left their 
 deposit in ridges, and retired. 
 
 The portion of bottom land capable of present cultiva- 
 tion, and on which the waters never stand, if, at an 
 extreme freshet, it is covered, is a soil of exhaustless 
 fertility; a soil that for ages past has been gradually de- 
 posited by the annual floods. Its average depth on the 
 American bottom is from twenty to twenty-five feet. 
 Logs of wood, and other indications, are found at that 
 depth. The soil dug from wells on these bottoms, pro- 
 duces luxuriantly the first year. 
 
 The most extensive and fertile tract, of this descrip- 
 tion of soil, in this state, is the American Bottom, a name 
 it received when it constituted the western boundary of 
 the United States, and which it has retained ever since. 
 It commences at the mouth of the Kaskaskia river, five 
 miles below the town of Kaskaskia, and extends north- 
 wardly along the Mississippi to the bluffs at Alton, a 
 distance of ninety miles. Its average width is five miles, 
 and contains about 450 square miles, or 238,000 acres. 
 Opposite St. Louis, in St. Clair county, the bluffs are 
 seven miles from the river, and filled with inexhaustible 
 beds of coal. The soil of this bottom is an argillaceous 
 orasilecious loam, accordingly as clay or sand happens 
 to predominate in its formation. 
 
 On the margin of the river, and of some of its lakes, is 
 a strip of heavy timber, with a thick undergrowth, which
 
 OF ILLINOIS. / 
 
 extends from half a mile to two miles in width, but from 
 thence to the bluffs, it is principally prairie. It is inter- 
 spersed with sloughs, lakes, and ponds, the most of 
 which become dry in the fall season* 
 
 The soil of the American bottom is inexhaustibly rich. 
 About the French towns it has been cultivated, and 
 produced corn in succession for more than a century, 
 without exhausting its fertilizing powers. The only 
 objection that can be offered to this tract is its unhealthy 
 character. This, however, has diminished considerably 
 within eight or ten years. The geological feature no- 
 ticed in the last article that all our bottoms are higher 
 on the margin of the stream than towards the bluffs, 
 explains the cause why so much standing water is on 
 the bottom land, which, during the summer stagnates 
 and throws off noxious effluvia. These lakes are usually 
 full of vegetable matter undergoing decomposition, and 
 which produces large quantities of miasm. Some of the 
 lakes are clear and of a sandy bottom, but the most are 
 of a different character. The French settled near a 
 lake or a river, apparently in the most unhealthy places, 
 and yet their constitutions are little affected, and they 
 usually enjoy good health, though dwarfish and shrivelled 
 in their form and features. 
 
 "The villages of Kaskaskia, Prairie du Rocher, and 
 Cahokia, were built up by their industry in places where 
 Americans would have perished. Cultivation has, no 
 doubt, rendered this tract more salubrious than formerly; 
 and an increase of it, together with the construction of 
 drains and canals, will make it one of the most eligible 
 in the states. The old inhabitants advise the emigrants
 
 8 A GAZETTEER 
 
 not to plant corn in the immediate vicinity of their 
 dwellings, as its rich and massy foliage prevents the , 
 sun from dispelling the deleterious vapours."* 
 
 These lakes and ponds could be drained at a small 
 expense, and the soil would be susceptible of cultivation. 
 The early settlements of the Americans were either on 
 this bottom, or the contiguous bluffs. 
 
 Besides the American bottom, there are others that 
 resemble it in its general character, but not in extent. 
 In Union county there is an extensive bottom on the 
 borders of the Mississippi. Above the mouth of the 
 Illinois, and along the borders of the counties of Cal- 
 houn, Pike, and Adams, there are a series of bottoms, 
 with much good and elevated land, but the inundated 
 grounds around, present objections to a dense population 
 at present. 
 
 The bottoms of Illinois, where not inundated, are 
 equal in fertility, and the soil is less adhesive than most 
 parts of the American bottom. This is likewise the 
 character of the bottoms in the northern parts of the 
 state. 
 
 The bottoms of the Kaskaskia are generally covered 
 with a heavy growth of timber, and in many places inun- 
 dated when the river is at its highest floods. 
 
 The extensive prairies adjoining will create a demand 
 for all this timber. The bottom lands on the Wabash 
 are of various qualities. Near the mouth, much of it is 
 inundated. Higher up it overflows in high freshets. 
 
 These bottoms, especially the American, are the best 
 
 *Beck.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 9 
 
 regions in the United States for raising stock, particu- 
 larly horses, cattle, and swine. Seventy-five bushels of 
 corn to the acre is an ordinary crop. The roots and 
 worms of the soil, the acorns and other fruits from the 
 trees, and the fish pf the lakes, accelerate the growth of 
 swine. Horses and cattle find exhaustless supplies of 
 grass in the prairies; and pea vines, buffalo grass, wild 
 oats, and other herbage in the timber, for summer range; 
 and often throughout most of the winter. In all the 
 rush bottoms, they fatten during the severe weather on 
 rushes. The bottom soil is not so well adapted to the 
 production of small grain, as of maize or Indian corn, on 
 account of its rank growth, and being more subject 
 to blast, or fall down before harvest, than on the up- 
 lands. 
 
 3. Prairies. A large part, probably two thirds of the 
 surface of the state, is covered with prairies. A com- 
 mon error has prevailed abroad that our prairie land is 
 wet. Much of it is undulating and entirely dry. Prairie 
 is a French word, signifying meadow, and is applied to 
 any description of surface, that is destitute of timber 
 and brushwood, and clothed with grass. Wet, dry, level, 
 and undulating, are terms of description merely, and 
 apply to prairies in the same sense as they do to forest 
 lands. 
 
 Level prairie is often wet; the water not running off 
 freely is left to be absorbed by the soil, or evaporated by 
 the sun. Crawfish throw up their hillocks in this soil, 
 and the farmer who cultivates it, will find his labors 
 impeded by the water. 
 
 In the southern part, that is, south of the national
 
 10 A GAZETTEER 
 
 road leading from Terre Haute to tbe Mississippi, the 
 prairies are comparatively small, varying in size from 
 those of several miles in width, to those which contain 
 only a few acres. As we go northward, they widen and 
 extend on the more elevated ground between the water 
 courses to a vast distance, and are frequently from six 
 to twelve miles in width. Their borders are by no means 
 uniform. Long points of timber project into the prai- 
 ries, and line the banks of the streams, and points of 
 prairie project into the timber between these streams. 
 In many instances are copses and groves of timber, 
 from one hundred to two thousand acres, in the midst of 
 prairies, like islands in the ocean. This is a common 
 feature in the country between the Sangamon river and 
 lake Michigan, and in the northern parts of the state. 
 The lead mine region, both in this state and the Wis- 
 consin territory,. abounds with these groves. 
 
 The origin of these prairies has caused much specula- 
 tion. We might as well dispute about the origin of 
 forests, upon the assumption that the natural covering 
 of the earth was grass. Probably one half of the earth's' 
 surface, in a state of nature, was prairies or barrens. 
 Much of it, like our western prairies, was covered with 
 a luxuriant coat of grass and herbage. The steppes of 
 Tartary, the pampas of South America, the savannas 
 of the southern, and the prairies of the western states, 
 designate similar tracts of country. Mesopotamia, Syria, 
 and Judea had their ancient prairies, on which the pa- 
 triarchs fed their flocks. Missionaries in Burmah, and 
 travellers in the interior of Africa, mention the same 
 description of country. Where the tough sward of the
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 1 1 
 
 prairie is once formed, timber will not take root. De- 
 stroy this by the plough, or by any other method, and it 
 is soon converted into forest land, There are large 
 tracts of country in the older settlements, where, thirty 
 or forty years since, the farmers mowed their hay, that 
 are now covered with a forest of young timber of rapid 
 growth. 
 
 The fire annually sweeps over the prairies, destroying 
 the grass and herbage, blackening the surface, and leav- 
 ing a deposit of ashes to enrich the soil. 
 
 4. Barrens. This term, in the western dialect, does 
 not indicatepoor land, but a species of surface of a mixed 
 character, uniting forest and prairie. 
 
 The timber is generally scattering, of a rough and 
 stunted appearance, interspersed with patches of hazle 
 and brushwood, ad where the contest between the fire 
 and timber is kept up, each striving for the mastery. 
 
 In the early settlements of Kentucky, much of the 
 country below and south of Green river presented a 
 dwarfish and stunted growth of timber, scattered over 
 the surface, or collected in clumps, with hazle and shrub- 
 bery intermixed. This appearance led the first ex- 
 plorers to the inference that the soil itself must neces- 
 sarily be poor, to produce so scanty a growth of timber, 
 and they gave the name of barrens to the whole tract of 
 country. Long since it has been ascertained that this 
 description of land is amongst the most productive soil 
 in the state. The term barren has since received a very 
 extensive application throughout the west. Like all 
 other tracts of country, the barrens present a consider- 
 able diversity of soil. In general, however, the surface
 
 12 A GAZETTEER 
 
 is more uneven or rolling than the prairies, and sooner 
 degenerates into ravines and sink-holes. Wherever 
 timber barely sufficient for present purposes can be 
 found, a person need not hesitate to settle in the bar- 
 rens. These tracts are almost invariably healthy; they 
 possess a greater abundance of pure springs of water, 
 and the soil is better adapted for all kinds of produce, 
 and all descriptions of seasons, wet and dry, than the 
 deeper and richer mould of the bottoms and prairies. 
 
 When the fires are stopped, these barrens produce 
 timber, at a rate of which no northern emigrant can have 
 any just conception. Dwarfish shrubs and small trees of 
 oak and hickory are scattered over the surface, where 
 for years they have contended with the fires for a pre- 
 carious existence, while a mass of roots, sufficient for 
 the support of large trees, have accumulated in the 
 earth. Soon as they are protected from the ravages of 
 the annual fires, the more thrifty sprouts shoot forth, 
 and in ten years are large enough for corn cribs and 
 s.tables. 
 
 As the fires on the prairies become stopped by the sur- 
 rounding settlements, and the wild grass is eaten out 
 and trodden down by the stock, they begin to assume 
 the character of barrens; first hazle and other shrubs, 
 and finally a thicket of young timber, covers the sur- 
 face. 
 
 5. Forest, or timbered land. In general, Illinois is 
 abundantly supplied with timber, and were it equally 
 distributed through the state there would be no part 
 wanting. The apparent scarcity of timber where the 
 prairie predominates, is not so great an obstacle to the
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 13 
 
 settlement as has been supposed. For many of the pur- 
 poses to which limber is applied, substitutes are found. 
 The rapidity with which the young growth pushes itself 
 forward, without a single effort on the part of man to 
 accelerate it, and the readiness with which the prairie 
 becomes converted into thickets, and then into a forest 
 of young timber, shows that, in another generation, 
 timber will not be wanting in any part of Illinois. 
 
 The kinds of timber most abundant are oaks of vari- 
 ous species, black and white walnut, ash of several 
 kinds, elm, sugar maple, honey locust, hackberry, lin- 
 den, hickory, cotton wood, pecan, mulberry, buckeye, 
 sycamore, wild cherry, box elder, sassafras, and persim- 
 mon. In the southern and eastern parts of the state 
 are yellow poplar, and beech; near the Ohio are cypress, 
 and in several counties are clumps of yellow pine and 
 cedar. On the Calamick, near the south end of lake 
 Michigan, is a small forest of white pine. The under- 
 growth are redbud, papaw, sumach, plum, crab apple, 
 grape vines, dogwood, spice bush, green brier, hazle, &c. 
 
 The alluvial soil of the rivers produces cotton wood 
 and sycamore timber of amazing size. 
 
 For ordinary purposes there is now timber enough in 
 most parts of the state, to say nothing about the arti- 
 ficial production of timber, which may be effected with 
 little trouble and expense. The black locust, a native 
 of Ohio and Kentucky, may be raised from the seed, 
 with less labor than a nursery of apple trees. It is of 
 rapid growth, and, as a valuable and lasting timber, 
 claims the attention of our farmers. It forms one of 
 the cleanliest and most beautiful shades, and when in
 
 14 A GAZETTEER 
 
 blossom, gives a rich prospect, and sends abroad a de- 
 licious fragrance. 
 
 Knobs, Bluffs, Ravines, and Siiik-hcfles. Under these 
 heads are included tracts of uneven country found in 
 various parts of the state. 
 
 Knobs are ridges of flint limestone, intermingled and 
 covered with earth, and elevated one or two hundred 
 feet above the common surface. This species of land 
 is of little value for cultivation, and usually has a 
 sprinkling of dwarfish, stunted timber, like the barrens. 
 
 The steep hills and natural mounds that border the 
 alluvions have obtained the name of bluffs. Some are 
 in long, parallel ridges, others are in the form of cones 
 and pyramids. In some places precipices of limestone 
 rock, from fifty to one or two hundred feet high, form 
 these bluffs. 
 
 Ravines are formed amongst the bluffs, and often near 
 the borders of prairies, which lead down to the streams. 
 
 Sink-holes are circular depressions in the surface like 
 a basin. They are of various sizes, from ten to fifty feet 
 deep, and from ten to one or two hundred yards in cir- 
 cumference. Frequently they contain an outlet for the 
 water received by the rains. Their existence shows 
 that the substratum is secondary limestone, abounding 
 in subterraneous cavities. 
 
 There are but few tracts of stony ground in the state; 
 that is, where loose stones are scattered over the sur- 
 face, and irr.bedded in the soil. Towards the northern 
 part of the state, tracts of stony ground exist. Qruar- 
 ries of stone exist in the bluffs, and in the banks of the 
 streams and ravines throughout the state.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 15 
 
 The soil is porous, easy to cultivate, and exceedingly 
 productive. A strong team is required to break up the 
 prairies, on account of the firm,- grassy sward which 
 covers them. But when subdued they become fine, 
 arable lands. 
 
 RIVERS AND LAKES. 
 
 This state is bounded on three sides by the Missis- 
 sippi, Ohio, and Wabash rivers. The Illinois, Kas- 
 kaskia, Sangamon, and many smaller streams are en- 
 tirely within its boundaries. Others, as the Kankakee, 
 Rock river, and Vermilion of the Wabash, run part of 
 their course within the state. 
 
 The Mississippi, which, in its meanderings, runs about 
 700 miles along its western border, takes its rise in 
 Cedar lake, in latitude 45 degrees north. 
 
 From this to the falls of St. Anthony, a distance of 
 about five hundred miles, it runs a devious course, first 
 south east; then south west; and, finally, south east 
 again; which last it continues without much deviation, 
 till it reaches the Missouri. From thence its course is 
 a few degrees east of south to the mouth of the Ohio. 
 
 The appearance and character of the Mississippi, 
 above and below the mouth of the Missouri, are so dis- 
 tinctly marked as to lead to the general opinion that 
 the former is but a branch of the latter. The average 
 width of the Mississippi proper, is from one half to one 
 milej and its current generally is from two to four miles 
 an hour, varying according to the height and volume of 
 the water. The mean descent of this river is about six
 
 16 A GAZETTEER 
 
 inches per mile. Its sources are estimated by Mr. 
 Schoolcraft to be 1,3:-!0 feet above the level of tide water 
 at the gulf of Mexico; the distance being computed 
 at 3,000 miles. Below the mouth of the Missouri, the 
 water of the Mississippi has the turbid appearance of 
 the Missouri, and was formerly obstructed with snags 
 and sawyers. These obstructions to the navigation have 
 been partially removed by the enterprising Captain 
 Shreve and his snag boat, in the employment of the 
 general government, and the trees that form these ob- 
 structions have been cut away from its banks. 
 
 The principal tributaries of the Mississippi, within 
 the state of Illinois, are Rock, Illinois, Kaskaskia and 
 Muddy rivers. The aboriginal name, (of which the an- 
 cient sound and spelling in French appears to have been 
 J\Ieate-Chassippi,} is said to signify "Father of waters" or 
 " Great waters." 
 
 The Ohio river, which washes the southern boundary 
 of Illinois, is formed by the junction of the Allegheny 
 and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh, and after run- 
 <y>ing a southwestern course 1,100 miles, unites with the 
 Mississippi at the extreme south end of the state. At 
 the confluence of these rivers, as is the case with most 
 other rivers in the west, there is an extensive and re- 
 cently formed alluvion, which is annually inundated, and 
 which cannot, without much expense, be made a town 
 site. Below the mouth of the Wabash, no large streams 
 enter the Ohio from Illinois. Saline, Big Bay, and 
 Cash, are the largest. 
 
 The Wabsh river rises in the northeastern part of In- 
 diana, and running first a south western, and then a
 
 or ILLINOIS. 17 
 
 south course, it enters the Ohio about 200 miles above 
 its mouth. It is a beautiful stream, and at high water 
 is navigated by steam boats as far as Logansport in In- 
 diana. Its head waters approach within a short dis- 
 tance of the waters of the Maumee of lake Erie, with 
 which a canal navigation is now being constructed 
 under the authority of the state of Indiana. 
 
 About twenty miles below Vincennes, and near the 
 junction of White river, are considerable rapids, which 
 obstruct the navigation in low water. Funds in part 
 have been provided and measures are in train by the 
 two states to improve the navigation at this place. The 
 character of the lands and soil bordering on the Wabash 
 does not differ materially from that on the Ohio and 
 Mississippi; only there is more sandy soil, and its bot- 
 toms are more subject to inundation. In this region, 
 and especially in Lawrence and Crawford counties, 
 there are some swamps, called by travelers purgatories. 
 
 The principal tributaries of the Wabash within the 
 state of Illinois, are the Vermilion, Embarrass, and 
 Little Wabash rivers. 
 
 The Illinois, Kaskaskia, Rock, and other rivers within 
 the state will be described under their respective 
 names in the third part of this work. Lake Michigan 
 is the only lake deserving of special notice. There are 
 several other lakes in different parts of the state, but 
 they are small and unimportant, and rather deserve the 
 name of ponds. A portion of lake Michigan is included 
 within the boundaries of the state, and affords a medium 
 of communication with the northern states and Canada. 
 It is about 280 miles long and its medium width is about 
 2
 
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 r_r: L. ir.ir :::i_i~: 
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 -.;::-:- :f ii-= >ii ni- i^rt;a iia:^f* 
 riTerandtheWiso 
 iUte, isi WiwaKiM territory. Sone f these i%- 
 
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 Creek, 
 
 01 Apple Creek, Phttswdle, 
 
 GJLLKX& aji vicnity,
 
 20 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Cave Diggings, Madden's, 
 
 Buncombe, Mineral Point, 
 
 Natches, Dodgevilie, 
 
 Hardscrabble, Worke's Diggings, 
 
 New Diggings, Brisbos, 
 
 Gratiot's Grove, Blue Mound, 
 
 Spulburg, Prairie Springs, 
 
 W. S. Hamilton's, Hammett & Campbell's, 
 
 Cottle's, Morrison's. 
 Me Nutt's. 
 
 AMOUNT OF LEAD MANUFACTURED. 
 
 For many years the Indians, and some of the French 
 hunters and traders, had been accustomed to dig lead in 
 these regions. They never penetrated much below the 
 surface, but obtained considerable quantities of the ore, 
 which they sold to the traders. 
 
 In 1821, the late Col. James Johnson, of Great Cross- 
 ings, Ky. and brother to the Hon. R. M. Johnson, ob- 
 tained a lease of the United States government, and 
 made arrangements to prosecute the business of smelt- 
 ing, with considerable force, which he did the following 
 season. This attracted the attention of enterprising 
 men in Illinois, Missouri, and other states. Some went 
 on in 1826, more followed in 1827, and in 1828 the coun- 
 try was almost literally filled with miners, smelters, 
 merchants, speculators, gamblers, and every description 
 of character. Intelligence, enterprise, and virtue, were 
 thrown in the midst of dissipation, gaming, and every 
 species of vice. Such was the crowd of adventurers in 
 1S2Q, to this hitherto almost unknown and desolate re-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 21 
 
 gion, that the lead business was greatly overdone, and 
 the market for awhile nearly destroyed. Fortunes were 
 made almost upon a turn of the spade, and lost with 
 qual facility. The business is now reviving, and pro- 
 bably will be prosecuted in future more in proportion to 
 the demand for lead. Exhaustless quantities of mine- 
 ral exists here, over a tract of country two hundred 
 miles in extent. 
 
 The, following table shows the amount of lead made 
 annually at these diggings, from 1821, to Sept. 30, 1833. 
 
 Lbs. of lead made from 1821, to Sept. 
 
 1823, 335,130 
 
 Do. for the 
 
 year ending Sept. 30, 
 
 1824, 175,220 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1825, 664,530 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1826, 958,842 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1827, 5,182,1SO 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1828, 11,105,810 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1829, 13,344,150 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1830, 8,323,998 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1831, 6,381,900 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1832, 4,281,876 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 1833, 7,941,792 
 
 Total 58,694,488 
 
 The total amount of rent accruing to government for 
 the above period, is 5,246,839 pounds. 
 
 The government formerly received 10 per cent, in lead 
 for rent. It is nowneduced to six per cent. These lands 
 will soon be surveyed, and probably sold, which will add 
 greatly to the stability and prosperity of the mining 
 business.
 
 22 A GAZETTEER 
 
 CoaL I have already mentioned that stone coal a- 
 bounds in Illinois. It may be seen frequently in the 
 ravines and gullies, and in the points of bluffs. Ex- 
 haustless beds of this article exist in the bluffs of St. 
 Clair county, bordering on the American bottom, of 
 which large quantities are transported to St. Louis for 
 fuel. It sells in St. Louis from ten to twelve and a half 
 cents per bushel. About twenty large ox wagons are 
 employed most of the year in hauling it to market, the 
 distance of seven miles across the American bottom. 
 One hundred and fifty thousand bushels were hauled to 
 this market in 1833. There is scarcely a county in the 
 state, but what can furnish coal in reasonable quantities. 
 Large beds are said to exist near the Vermilion of the 
 Illinois, and in the vicinity of the rapids of the latter. 
 
 Agatizcd Wood. A petrified tree, of black walnut, 
 was found in the bed of the river Des Plaines, about forty 
 rods above its junction with the Kankakee, imbedded in 
 a horizontal position, in a stratum of sandstone. There 
 is fifty- one and a half feet of the trunk visible eighteen 
 inches in diameter at its smallest end, and probably three 
 feet at the other end. 
 
 Muriate of Soda, or common salt. This is found in 
 various parts of the state, held in solution in the springs. 
 The manufacture of salt by boiling and evaporation is 
 carried on in Gallatin county, twelve miles west north 
 west from Shawneetown; in Jackson county, near 
 Brownsville; and in Vermilion county, near Danville. 
 The springs and land are owned by the state, and 
 the works leased. A more specific description will be 
 given under the head of manufactures.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 23 
 
 A coarse freestone, much used in building, is dug from 
 quarries near Alton, on the Mississippi, where large 
 bodies exist. 
 
 Scattered over the surface of our prairies, are large 
 masses of rock, of granitic formation, roundish in form, 
 usually called by the people l( lost rocks." They will 
 weigh from one thousand to ten or twelve thousand 
 pounds, and are entirely detached, and frequently are 
 found several miles distant from any quarry. Nor has 
 there ever been a quarry of granite discovered in the 
 state. These stones are denominated boulders in mine- 
 ralogy. That they exist in various parts of Illinois is an 
 undoubted truth; and that they are of a species of gra- 
 nite is equally true, as I have specimens to show. They 
 usually lie on the surface, or are partially imbedded in 
 the soil of our prairies, which is unquestionably of dilu- 
 vial formation. How they came here is a question of diffi- 
 cult solution. 
 
 Medicinal Waters, are found in different parts of the 
 state. These are chiefly sulphur springs and chalybeate 
 waters. There is said to be one well in the southern 
 part of the state strongly impregnated with the sulphate 
 of magnesia, or Epsom salts, from which considerable 
 quantities have been made for sale, by simply evapo- 
 rating the water, in a kettle, over a common fire. 
 
 There are several sulphur springs in Jefferson county, 
 to which persons resort for health. 
 
 Vegetable Productions. The principal trees and shrubs 
 of Illinois have been noticed under the head of "Forest 
 or timbered land." Of oaks there are several species, as 
 overcup, burr oak, swamp or water oak, white oak, red
 
 24 A GAZETTEER 
 
 or Spanish oak, post oak, and black oak of several va- 
 rieties, with the black jack, a dwarfish, knarled looking 
 tree, excellent for fuel, but good for nothing else. 
 
 The black walnut is much used for building materials 
 and cabinet work, and sustains a fine polish. 
 
 In most parts of the state, grape vines, indigenous to 
 the country, are abundant, which yield grapes which 
 might advantageously be made into excellent wine. 
 Foreign vines are susceptible of easy cultivation. These 
 are cultivated to a considerable extent at Vevay, Swit- 
 zerland county, Indiana, and at New Harmony on the 
 Wabash. The indigenous vines are prolific, and produce 
 excellent fruit. They are found in every variety of 
 soil; interwoven in every thicket in the prairies and 
 barrens; and climbing to the tops of the very highest 
 trees on the bottoms. The French in early times made 
 so much wine as to export some to France; upon which 
 the proper authorities prohibited the introduction of 
 wine from Illinois, lest it might injure the sale of that 
 staple article of the kingdom. I have not the document 
 at hand that will attest this fact, but of its truth there 
 is no doubt, and I think the act was passed by the board 
 of trade, in 1774. 
 
 The editor of the Illinois Magazine remarks, "We 
 know one gentleman who made twenty-seven barrels of 
 wine in a single season, from the grapes gathered with 
 but little labor, in his immediate neighborhood." 
 
 The wild plum is found in every part of the state; but 
 in most instances the fruit is too sour for use, unless 
 for preserves. Crab apples are equally prolific, and 
 make fine preserves with about double their bulk of su-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 25 
 
 gar. Wild cherries are equally productive. The persim- 
 mon is a delicious fruit, after the frost has destroyed its 
 astringent properties. The black mulberry grows in 
 most parts, and is used for the feeding of silk worms 
 with success. They appear to thrive and spin as well as 
 on the Italian mulberry. The gooseberry, strawberry, 
 and blackberry grow wild and in great profusion. Of our 
 nuts, the hickory, black walnut, and pecan deserve 
 notice. The last is an oblong, thin shelled, delicious 
 nut, that grows on a large tree, a species of the hickory, 
 (the Carya olivce formis of Nuttall.) The papaw grows 
 in the bottoms, and rich, timbered uplands, and pro- 
 duces a large, pulpy, and luscious fruit. Of domestic 
 fruits, the apple and peach are chiefly cultivated. Pears 
 are tolerably plenty in the French settlements, and 
 quinces are cultivated with success by some Americans. 
 Apples are easily cultivated, and are very productive. 
 They can be made to bear fruit to considerable advan- 
 tage in seven years from the seed. Many varieties are 
 of fine flavor, and grow to a large size. I have mea- 
 sured apples, the growth of St. Glair county, that ex- 
 ceeded thirteen inches in circumference. Some of the 
 early American settlers provided orchards. They now 
 reap the advantages. But a large proportion of the 
 population of the frontiers are content without this 
 indispensable article in the comforts of a yankee far- 
 mer. Cider is made in small quantities in the old 
 settlements. In a few years a supply of this beverage 
 can be had in most parts of Illinois. 
 
 Peach trees grow with great rapidity, and decay pro- 
 portionably soon. From ten to fifteen years may be
 
 26 A GAZETTEER 
 
 considered the life of this tree. Our peaches are deli- 
 cious, but they sometimes fail by being destroyed in 
 the germ by winter frosts. The bud swells prematurely. 
 In the severity of the winter of 1830-31 most of the 
 young buds, and in some instanc es the limbs of the trees, 
 were destroyed. 
 
 Garden Vegetables can be produced here in vast pro- 
 fusion, and of excellent quality. 
 
 That we have few of the elegant and well dressed gar- 
 dens of gentlemen in the old states, is admitted; which 
 is not owing to climate, or Soil, but to the want of 
 leisure and means. 
 
 Our Irish potatoes, pumpkins and squashes are infe- 
 rior, but not our cabbages, peas, beets, or onions. 
 
 The following remarks from the Illinois Magazine, 
 and from the pen of the editor, will furnish all necessa- 
 ry information on this subject. 
 
 "Soil and climate are the most important agents in 
 rearing fine vegetables; but these luxuries are, after 
 all, mainly produced by the wealth, the labor, and the 
 ingenuity of man. In new countries, therefore, they 
 are not to be expected. Few persons here, we might 
 say none, have money and leisure to expend on matters 
 of taste and luxury. Farmers, especially, are apt to 
 commit this department to the females of their house- 
 hold, whese other cares allow them to devote to it but 
 little care. We plead guilty, then, as a general fact 
 of having bad gardens. But we by no means admit that 
 our vegetables are deficient, either in abundance or 
 quality, when proper care is paid to their culture. We 
 know that the contrary is true. The simple fact is,
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 27 
 
 that our country teems with the bounties of nature in 
 such rich profusion, that people not being obliged to 
 labor to supply their tables, are apt to grow careless. 
 They put their seed in the ground, and trust to Provi- 
 dence to give the increase. Their garden grounds are 
 not only badly prepared, and as badly attended, but the 
 seeds are selected without any care. The reason, 
 therefore, why, as a general fact, the art of horticulture 
 lias been brought to but little perfection at the west, is 
 evident. 
 
 "But when it is said that the vegetables of this coun- 
 try are inferior in quality, we come to another question, 
 to decide which, it is proper to refer to the cases in 
 which they have been subjected to a sufficient degree of 
 culture. Almost every farmer here raises cabbages, 
 and we are sure that we have never seen larger or bet- 
 ter. A hundred heads are sold at Vandalia for a dollar 
 and fifty cents. The parsnips and carrots of this coun- 
 try are remarkable for their size, sweetness, and flavor; 
 the former, especially, have a richness which we have 
 never noticed elsewhere. Our beets are as delicate and 
 sweet as possible; and we only forbear stating a fact with 
 regard to their size, which has come to our knowledge, 
 from the fear of startling the credulity of our readers. 
 Peas are excellent, and very prolific. We had a radish 
 on our table a few days ago, [November] which was three 
 inches in thickness, and perfectly solid, mild, and'crisp. 
 Our lettuce, if well dressed, (there is a great deal in 
 that,) is capital. The tomato is common all through 
 this country. It is only necessary to plant it once, 
 after which it comes up every year spontaneously, and
 
 28 A GAZETTEER 
 
 bears abundantly from the middle of the summer, till 
 nipped by the frost. Thousands of bushels of onions 
 have been raised with no other labor than sowing the 
 seed broadcast, in new ground; and as to their quality, 
 it would do the heart of a Wethersfield lady good to look 
 at them. That goodly town of Connecticut would be 
 depopulated, if its worthy inhabitants could see the 
 onion fields of Morgan county and the Military tract. 
 We might enumerate other articles; but it is enough to 
 say that, in general, the vegetables suited to our cli- 
 mate, are produced in their greatest perfection. It 
 would, indeed, be an anomaly in the economy of nature, 
 if garden plants did not flourish vigorously in a soil of 
 unrivalled depth, fertility, and freshness. 
 
 " While we are on the subject of gardening," continues 
 Judge Hall, "it may not be amiss to publish some memo- 
 randums, which we made last spring, [1830,] and which 
 will give some idea of the forwardness of our seasons. 
 April 1. Peach trees in bloom. 
 
 2. Asparagus fit for the table. 
 
 3. Peas, beans, and onions planted. 
 
 6. Heart's ease and violets in bloom. 
 
 7. Beets, carrots, parsnips, and other roots 
 
 planted. 
 10. Spring had completely opened; and the 
 
 prairies were green. Gooseberry and 
 
 currant bushes in bloom. 
 15. Cabbage plants transplanted. 
 
 18. Lilac and strawberries in bloom. 
 
 19. A great variety of wild flowers in full 
 
 bloom.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 29 
 
 April 20. Nearly all our garden seeds had been 
 
 planted. 
 
 25. Raspberries in bloom. 
 27. Lettuce, radishes, and pepper grass fit 
 
 for use. 
 
 30. Roses and honey suckles in full bloom. 
 None of the above articles were injured by frost." 
 A cabbage head three feet in diameter or nine feet 
 in circumference, is no wonder on this soil. Beets 
 often exceed twelve inches in circumference. Pars- 
 nips will penetrate our light, porous soil, to the depth of 
 two or three feet. 
 
 The cultivated vegetable productions in the fteld, are 
 maize or Indian corn, wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, 
 Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, rye for horse 
 feed and distilleries, tobacco, cotton, hemp, flax, the 
 castor bean, and every other production common to the 
 middle states. 
 
 Maize is a staple production. No farmer can live 
 without it, and hundreds raise little else. This is 
 chiefly owing to the ease with which i^^cultivated. 
 Its average yield is fifty bushels to the acre. I have 
 oftentimes seen it produce seventy-five bushels to the 
 acre, and in a few instances, exceed one hundred. 
 
 Wheat yields a good and sure crop, especially in the 
 counties bordering on the Illinois river. It weighs 
 upwards of 60 pounds per bushel, and flour from this 
 region has preference in the New Orleans market, and 
 passes better inspection than the same article from 
 Ohio or Kentucky. 
 
 In 1925, the weavel, for the first time, made its ap-
 
 30 A GAZETTEER 
 
 pearance in St. Clair and the adjacent counties, and 
 has occasionally renewed its visits since. Within the 
 two last seasons, some fields have been, injured by 
 the fly. 
 
 A common but slovenly practice amongst our far- 
 mers, is, to sow wheat amongst the standing corn, in 
 September, and cover it by running a few furrows with 
 the plough between the rows of corn. The dry stalks 
 are then cut down in the spring, and left on the ground. 
 Even by this imperfect mode, fifteen or twenty bushels 
 of wheat to the acre are produced. But where the 
 ground is duly prepared by fallowing, and the seed put 
 in at the proper time, a good crop, averaging from twen- 
 ty-five to thirty-five bushels per acre, rarely fails to be 
 procured. 
 
 The average price of wheat is fifty cents per bushel, 
 varying a little according to the competition of mills 
 and facilities to market. In many instances a single 
 crop of wheat will pay the expenses of purchasing the 
 land, fencing, breaking the prairie, seed, putting in the 
 crop, harvesting, threshing, and taking it to market. 
 Wheat is now frequently sown on the prairie land as a 
 first crop, and a r . v?d yield obtained. 
 
 Flouring mills are now in operation in many of the 
 wheat growing counties. Steam power is getting into 
 extensive use both for sawing and manufacturing flour. 
 
 It is to be regretted that so few of our farmers have 
 erected barns for the security of their crops. No ar- 
 ticle is more profitable, and really more indispensable 
 to a farmer, than a large barn. 
 
 Oats have not been much raised till lately. They are
 
 OP ILLINOIS. 31 
 
 very productive, often yielding from forty to fifty bushels 
 on the acre, and usually sell from seventeen to twenty- 
 five cents the bushel. The demand for the use of stage 
 and travelers' horses is increasing-. 
 
 Hemp is an indigenous plant in the southern part of 
 this state, as it is in Missouri. It has not been exten- 
 sively cultivated, but wherever tried, is found very pro- 
 ductive, and of an excellent quality. It might be made 
 a staple of the country. 
 
 Tobacco, though a filthy and noxious weed, which no 
 human being ought ever to use, can be produced in any 
 quantity, and of the first quality, in Illinois. "From 
 the county of Wayne, a good many hogsheads have been 
 annually exported for some years past; and the result of 
 the experiment has been altogether satisfactory. It 
 has been raised to some extent throughout the southern 
 counties. A few hogsheads, which were sent from Ran- 
 dolph county to New Orleans, some years since, were 
 pronounced by the inspector to be the best ever brought 
 to that market. We could not adduce a stronger proof 
 than this in favor of our soil and climate. The tobacco 
 plant, although coarse in its appearance, is one of the 
 most delicate in the vegetable kingdom. It thrives 
 only in a rich, light, and warm soil. It requires to be 
 planted early in the spring, and it is gathered late in 
 autumn. In every stage of its growth it needs culture 
 and attention, and is, at all times, sensitive to cold, and 
 easily destroyed by frost. When we say, therefore, as 
 we are authorised by repeated experiments, that ours is 
 one of the best tobacco countries in the world, we pro-
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 duce the strongest evidence of the fertility of our soil, 
 and the mildness of our climate."* 
 
 Cotton, for many years, has been successfully culti- 
 vated in this state for domestic use, and some for ex- 
 portation. Two or three spinning factories are in 
 operation, and produce cotton yarn from the growth of 
 the country with promising success. This branch of 
 business admits of enlargement, and invites the attention 
 of eastern manufacturers with small capital. Much of 
 the cloth made in families who have emigrated from 
 states south of the Ohio is from the cotton of the country. 
 
 Flax is produced, and of a tolerable quality, but not 
 equal to that of the northern states. It is said to be 
 productive and good in the northern counties. There 
 is an oil mill to manufacture oil from the seed, in Sanga- 
 nion county. 
 
 Barley is raised in St. Clair county for the St. Louis 
 breweries. It yields well, is a sure crop, and sells in 
 8t. Louis from thirty seven and a half to fifty cents per 
 bushel. 
 
 The palma christi, or castor oil bean, is produced iu 
 considerable quantities in Madison, Randolph, and other 
 counties, and large quantities of oil are expressed and 
 sent abroad. About twelve thousand gallons have been 
 made in Edwardsville in a season. The bean is a more 
 profitable crop to the farmer than corn, finds a ready 
 market, and sells from seventy-five cents to one dollar 
 per bushel. 
 
 Sweet Potatoes area delicious root, and yield abundant- 
 
 *Illinois Magazine, p. 127.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 33 
 
 ly, especially on the American bottom, and rich sandy 
 prairies. A- 
 
 But little has been done to introduce cultivated 
 grasses. The prairie grass looks coarse and unsavory, 
 and yet our horses and cattle will thrive well on it. It 
 is already known to the reader that this grass disappears 
 when the settlements extend round a prairie, and the 
 cattle eat off the young growth in the spring. Conse- 
 quently in a few years, the natural grass no longer 
 exists. This, however, can be preserved by fencing in 
 a tract of fresh prairie, and mowing it regularly every 
 season, or burning it over in the fall. In this way, ex- 
 cellent meadows can be kept forever. Jt is thought by 
 some that the seed might be gathered in the fall, sown 
 on land that had been kept free from weeds, and by 
 these means, meadows of the natural grass of the coun- 
 try might be formed. 
 
 It is to btf regretted that so few have thought of pro- 
 viding themselves with natural meadows of fifty or more 
 acres to each plantation, by a process so cheap as that 
 of fencing in the prairie, before the cattle had subdued 
 the natural grass, and preserving it with a very little 
 care, in a perfectly natural state. 
 
 Timothy grass begins to be cultivated with success. 
 For the first three or four years of my residence in this 
 country, it was doubtful whether clover, timothy, or any 
 other cultivated grasses could be made profitable for 
 meadows in this rich soil and dry climate. I observed 
 that in attempts to make meadows, the weeds soon over- 
 run the grass. But this notion was entirely incorrect. 
 To produce timothy with success, the ground must be 
 3
 
 34 A GAZETTEER 
 
 well cultivated in the summer, either by an early crop, or 
 by fallowing, and the seed-sown about the 20th of Sep- 
 tember, at the rate of teitw twelve quarts of clean seed to 
 the acre, and lightly brushed in. 
 
 If the season is in any way favorable, it will get a 
 rapid start before winter. By the last week in June, 
 it will produce two tons per acre, of the finest of hay. 
 It then requires a dressing of stable or yard manure, 
 and occasionally the turf may be scratched with a har- 
 row, to prevent the roots from binding too hard. By 
 this process, timothy meadows may be made and pre- 
 served. There are meadows in St. Clair county, which 
 have yielded heavy crops of hay in succession, for seve- 
 ral years, and bid fair to continue for an indefinite 
 period. Cattle, and especially horses, should never be 
 permitted to run in meadows in Illinois. The fall grass 
 may be cropped down by calves and colts. There is 
 but a little more labor required to produce a crop of 
 timothy, than a crop of oats, and as there is not a stone 
 or a pebble to interrupt, the soil may be turned up every 
 third or fourth year for corn, and afterwards laid down 
 to grass again. 
 
 A species of blue grass is cultivated by some farmers 
 for pastures. If well set, and not eaten down in sum- 
 mer, blue grass pastures may be kept green and fresh 
 till late in autumn, or even in the winter. The English 
 spire grass has been cultivated with success in the 
 Wabash country. 
 
 Of the trefoil, or clover, there is but little cultivated. 
 A prejudice exists against it, as it is imagined to injure 
 horses by affecting the glands of the mouth> and causing
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 35 
 
 them to slaver. It grows luxuriantly, and may be cut for 
 hay early in June. The white clover comes in naturally, 
 where the ground has been cultivated, and thrown by, 
 or along the sides of old roads and paths. Clover pas- 
 tures would be excellent for swine. 
 
 Animals. Of wild animals there are several species. 
 The buffalo is not found on this side the Mississippi, nor 
 within several hundred miles of St. Louis. This animal 
 once roamed at large over the prairies of Illinois, and 
 was found in plenty thirty years since. Wolves, panthers, 
 and wild cats are still numerous on the frontiers, and 
 through the unsettled portions of the country. Wolves 
 harbor in almost every county, and annoy the farmer by 
 destroying his sheep and pigs. There are three species 
 found in Illinois: 
 
 1. The large grey wolf, or cam's lupus of Linneus, is 
 not very plenty, and not commonly found in the older 
 settlements. 
 
 2. The black wolf, or cards lycaon of Linneus, is 
 scarce. Occasionally they are killed by our hunters. 
 
 3. The cam's latrans of Say, or common prairie wolf, 
 is the most common, and found in considerable numbers. 
 This mischievous animal is but little larger than the 
 common fox, burrows in the prairies, and comes forth in 
 the night to attack sheep, pigs, poultry, &c. Many of 
 the settlers keep hounds to guard against the depreda- 
 tions of this animal. 
 
 Panthers and wild cats are less common, but occa- 
 sionally do mischief. 
 
 Deer are also very numerous, and are valuable, par- 
 ticularly to that class of our population which has been
 
 36 A GAZETTEER 
 
 raised to frontier habits; the flesh affording them food, 
 and the skins, clothing. Fresh venison hams usuall} 
 sell for twenty-five cents each, and when properly cured, 
 are a delicious article. Many of the frontier people dress 
 their skins, and make them into pantaloons and hunting 
 shirts. These articles are indispensable to all who have 
 occasion to travel in viewing land, or for any other 
 purpose beyond the settlements, as cloth garments, in 
 the shrubs and vines, would soon be in strings. 
 
 It is a novel and pleasant sight to a stranger, to see 
 the deer in flocks of eight, ten, or fifteen in number, 
 feeding on the grass of the prairies, or bounding away at 
 the sight of a traveler. 
 
 The brown bear is also an inhabitant of this state, 
 although he is continually retreating before the advance 
 of civilization. 
 
 Foxes, racoons, opossums, gophars, and squirrels, 
 are also numerous, as are muskrats, otters, and occa- 
 sionally beaver, about our rivers and lakes. Racoons 
 are very common, and frequently do mischief in the fall 
 to our corn. Opossums sometimes trouble the poultry. 
 I have a few facts reported to me from sources entitled 
 to great credit, that the production of the young of this 
 singular and extraordinary animal, is different from the 
 ordinary process of generation in viviparous animals. 
 The foetus is found adhering to the teat, within the false 
 belly, at the very first stage of existence. 
 
 The gophar is a singular little animal, about the size 
 <*f a squirrel. It burrows in the ground, is seldom seen, 
 but its works make it known. It labors during the 
 night, in digging subterranean passages in the rich soil
 
 OF ILLINOIS. -37 
 
 of the prairies, and throws up hillocks of fresh earth, 
 within a few feet distance from each other, and from 
 twelve to eighteen inches in height. I have seen a 
 dozen of these hillocks, the production of one night's 
 labor, and apparently from a single gophar. The pas- 
 sages are formed in such a labyrinth, that it is a difficult 
 matter to find the animal by digging. 
 
 The grey and fox squirrels often do mischief in the 
 corn fields, and the hunting of them makes fine sport for 
 the boys. It is a rule amongst the Kentucky riflemen 
 to shoot a squirrel only through his eyes, and that from 
 the tops of the highest trees of the forest. It is evi- 
 dence of a bad marksman, for a hunter to hit one in any 
 other part. 
 
 Common rabbits exist in every thicket. These ani- 
 mals annoy nurseries and young orchards exceedingly. 
 The fence around a nursery must always be so close as 
 to shut out rabbits; and young apple trees must be 
 secured at the approach of winter, by tying straw or 
 corn stalks around their bodies, for two or three feet 
 in height, or the bark will be stripped off by these mis- 
 chievous animals. 
 
 Wild horses are found ranging the prairies and forests 
 in some parts of the state. They are small in size, of 
 the Indian or Canadian breed, and very hardy. They 
 are caught in .pens, or with ropes having nooses at- 
 tached to them, and broken to the saddle and harness. 
 The French, who monopolize the business of catching, 
 and breaking these horses, make them an article of 
 traffic; their common price is from fifteen to thirty 
 dollars. They are found chiefly in the' lower end of
 
 38 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the American Bottom, near the junction of the Kas- 
 kaskia and Mississiopi rivers, called the Point. They 
 are the offspring of the horses brought there by the first 
 settlers, and which were suffered to run at large. The 
 Indians of the West have many such horses, which are 
 commonly called Indian ponies. 
 
 Domestic Animals. These are the same as are found 
 in other portions of the United States. But little has 
 been done to improve the breed of horses amongst us. 
 Our common riding or working horses average about 
 fifteen hands in height. Horses are much more used 
 here than in the eastern states, and many a farmer keeps 
 half a dozen or more. Much of the traveling through- 
 out the western country, both by men and women, is 
 performed on horseback; and a large proportion of the 
 land carriage is by means of large wagons, with from 
 four to six stout horses for a team. A great proportion 
 of the ploughing is performed by horse labor. Horses 
 are more subject to diseases in this country than in the 
 old states, which is thought to be occasioned by bad 
 management, rather than by the climate. A good farm 
 horse can be purchased for fifty dollars. Riding, or 
 carriage horses, of a superior quality, cost about seven- 
 ty-five or eighty dollars. Breeding mares are profitable 
 stock for every farmer to keep, as their annual ex- 
 pense in keeping is but trifling, their labor is always 
 needed, and their colts, when grown, find a ready mar- 
 ket. Some farmers keep a stallion, and eight or ten 
 brood mares. 
 
 Mules are brought into Missouri, and find their way to 
 Illinois, from the Mexican dominions. They are a
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 39 
 
 hardy animal, grow to a good size, and are used by some 
 both for labor and riding. 
 
 Our neat cattle are usually inferior in size to those of the 
 old states. This is owing entirely to bad management. 
 Our cows are not penned up in pasture fields, but suf- 
 fered to run at large over the commons. Hence all the 
 calves are preserved, without respect to quality, to 
 entice the cows homeward at evening. They are kept 
 up through the day, and oftentimes without much pasture, 
 and turned to the cows for a few minutes at night, and 
 then permitted to graze through the night over the short 
 and withered grass around the plantation. 
 
 In autumn their food is very scanty, and during the 
 winter they are permitted to pick up a precarious sub- 
 sistence amongst fifty or a hundred head of cattle. 
 With such management, is it surprising that our cows 
 and steers are much inferior to those of the old states? 
 
 And yet, with due deference to the opinions of Mr. 
 Flint, whom I have once before controverted, our beef 
 is the finest in^the world. It bears the best inspection 
 of any in the New Orleans market. By the first of 
 June, and often by the middle of May, our young cattle 
 on the prairies are fit for market. They do not yield 
 large quantities of tallow, but the fat is well propor- 
 tioned throughout the carcase, and the meat tender and 
 delicious. By inferiority, then, I mean the size of our 
 cattle in general, and the quantity and quality of the 
 milk of cows. 
 
 Common cows, if suffered to lose their milk in August, 
 become sufficiently fat for table use by October. Far- 
 row heifers and steers, are good beef, and fit for the
 
 40 A GAZETTEER 
 
 knife at any period after the middle of May. Nothing 
 is more common than for an Illinois farmer to go among 
 his stock, select, shoot down, and dress a fine beef, 
 whenever fresh meat is needed. This is often divided 
 out amongst the neighbors, who in turn, kill and share 
 likewise. It is common at camp and other large meet- 
 ings, to kill a beef and three or four hogs for the sub- 
 sistence of friends from a distance. 
 
 Steers from three years old or more, have been pur- 
 chased in great numbers in Illinois, by drovers from 
 Ohio. They usually have sold from nine to twelve dol- 
 lars per head. They are driven early in the spring to 
 the Miami and Scioto country, in Ohio, fed in pastures 
 through the summer, and in autumn drove to Pensyl- 
 vania, and turned over to the graziers there, to stall- 
 feed for the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. Cat- 
 tle are sometimes sent in flat boats down the Mississippi 
 and Ohio, for the New Orleans market. 
 
 We can hardly place limits upon the amount of beef 
 cattle that Illinois is capable of producing. A farmer 
 calls himself poor, with a hundred head of horned cattle 
 around him. A cow in the spring is worth from seven 
 to ten dollars. Some of the best quality will sell higher. 
 And let it be distinctly understood, once for all, that a 
 poor man can always purchase horses, cattle, hogs, and 
 provisions, for labor, either by the day, month, or job. 
 
 Cows, in general, do not produce the same amount of 
 milk, nor of as rich a quality as in older states. Some- 
 thing is to be attributed to the nature of our pastures, 
 and the warmth of our climate, but more to causes al- 
 ready assigned. If ever a land was characterized
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 41 
 
 justly, as "flowing with milk and honey," it is Illinois 
 and the adjacent states. From the springing of the 
 grass till September, butter is made in great profusion. 
 It sells at that season in market for about ten cents, 
 and in the interior of the state for six and a quarter 
 cents per pound. With proper care it can be preserved 
 in tolerable sweetness for winter's use. Late in autumn 
 and early in the winter, sometimes butter is not plenty. 
 The feed becomes dry, the cows range further off, and 
 do not come up readily for milking, and dry up. A 
 very little trouble would enable a farmer to keep three 
 or four good cows in fresh milk at the season most 
 needed. 
 
 Cheese is made by many families, especially in the 
 counties bordering on the Illinois river. Good cheese 
 sells for eight and sometimes ten cents, and finds a 
 ready market. The most important arrangement for 
 the dairy business in Illinois, and especially for cheese 
 making, is to persuade a few thousand families, from the 
 dairy regions of New England, to emigrate, and con- 
 tinue their industrious habits after settling here. 
 
 Swine. This species of stock may be called a staple 
 in the provision of Illinois. Thousands of hogs are 
 raised without any expense, except a few breeders to 
 start with, and a little attention in hunting them on the 
 range, and keeping them tame. 
 
 In Macoupin county, and about twenty-five miles 
 from Edwardsville, one of our Illinois frontier men, 
 Mr. F. settled himself on congress land seven years 
 since, with four or five sows for breeders, worth as many 
 dollars. In 1829, he drove forty-two fat hogs to mar-
 
 42 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ket, which he sold for one hundred and thirty-five dol- 
 lars. The amount of corn given to the whole, before he 
 drove them, did not exceed one bushel. They lived on 
 the range, and grew fat on mast; the fruit of oak, hick- 
 ory, &c. Of the proceeds, one hundred dollars was ap- 
 plied to pay for eighty acres of land on which he had 
 settled. The remainder served to pay some small debts , 
 and purchase his salt, iron, and groceries, for the ensu- 
 ing year. This is not mentioned as an extraordinary 
 occurrence, but as a circumstance that excited no 
 special notice in Illinois. This kind of pork is by no 
 means equal to that raised and fatted on corn, and in 
 a domestic way. It is soft, oily, and will not bear in- 
 spection, at New Orleans. It usually sells for two dol- 
 lars per hundred. 
 
 Pork that is made in a domestic way and fatted on 
 corn, will sell from three to four dollars, according to 
 size, quality, and the time when it is delivered. With 
 a pasture of clover or blue grass, a well-filled corn crib, 
 a dairy, and slop barrel, and the usual care that a New 
 Englander bestows on his pigs, pork may be raised from 
 the sow, fatted, and killed, and weigh from two hundred 
 to two hundred and fifty, within twelve months, and 
 this method of raising pork would be profitable. 
 
 Few families in the west and south put up their pork 
 in salt pickle. Their method is to salt it sufiicienly to 
 prepare it for smoking, and then make bacon of hams, 
 shoulders, and middlings or broadsides. The price of 
 bacon, taking the hog round, is about six and seven 
 cents. Good hams command eight and ten cents in th,e 
 St. Louis market. Stock hogs, weighing from sixty to
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 43 
 
 one hundred pounds, alive, usually sell from one dollar 
 to one dollar and fifty cents per head. Families con- 
 sume much more meat in Illinois, in proportion to num- 
 bers, than in the old states. 
 
 Sheep do very well in this country, especially in the 
 older settlements, where the grass has becomeshort,and 
 they are less molested by wolves. But few are kept. 
 The people from the south are more accustomed to cot- 
 ton for clothing than wool. This article, when manu- 
 factured into rolls, sells for fifty cents per pound. 
 Common wool is worth thirty-seven and a half cents in 
 the fleece, Little is said or done to improve the breed 
 of sheep, or introduce the Merino, or Saxony breed. 
 
 Poultry are raised in great profusion and large num- 
 bers of fowls taken to market. It is no uncommon 
 thing for some farmer's wives to raise three or four hun- 
 dred fowls, besides geese, ducks, and turkies, in a 
 a season. Young fowls, butter, and eggs, are the three- 
 articles usually mustered from every farm in the coun-' 
 ties adjacent to St. Louis, for that marlfet. By these 
 means, many families provide their coffee, sugar, tea', 
 and various articles of apparel. 
 
 Eggs , when plenty, as at the close of winter and spring , 
 sell for six and eight cents per dozen. 
 
 In noticing poultry, I ought not to pass over some of 
 our wild fowl. 
 
 Ducks, geese, swans, and many other aquatic birds, 
 visit our waters in the spring. The small lakes and 
 sloughs are often literally covered with them. Ducks, 
 and some of the rest, frequently stay through the sum- 
 mer and breed.
 
 44 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The prairie fowl is seen in great numbers on the prai- 
 ries in the summer, and about the cornfields in the win- 
 ter. This is the grouse of the New York market. They 
 are easily taken in the winter. 
 
 Partridges, (the quail of New England) are taken with 
 nets, in the winter, by hundreds in a day, and furnish 
 no trifling item in the luxuries of the city market. 
 
 Bees. This laborious and useful insect is to be found 
 in the trees of every forest. Many of the frontier 
 people make it a prominent business after the frost has 
 killed the vegetation, to hunt them for the honey and 
 wax, both of which find a ready market. Bees are pro - 
 fitable stock for the farmer, and are kept to a consider- 
 able extent. 
 
 Silkworms are raised by a few persons. They are 
 capable of being produced to any extent, and fed on the 
 common black mulberry of the country. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 In the infancy of a state, little can be expected in 
 machinery and manufactures. And in a region so much 
 deficient in water power as some parts of Illinois is, still 
 less may be looked for. Yet Illinois is not entirely 
 deficient in manufacturing enterprise. 
 
 Salt. The principal salines of this state have been 
 mentioned under the head of minerals. 
 
 The principal works are at the Gallatin, Big Muddy, 
 and Vermilion salines. 
 
 At the Gallatin salines there are nine furnaces, of 
 sixty kettles each, usually in operation, which make up-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 45 
 
 
 
 wards of 3000 bushels per week, averaging about 130,000 
 bushels annually, after deducting for lost time. The 
 works are carried on by Messrs. White, Davis, Cren- 
 shaw, Weed, and Guard. Salt sells at the works from 
 thirty-seven and a half to fifty cents per bushel, of fifty 
 pounds weight. About one half of the salt manufactured 
 here is exchanged for corn, meal, flour, beef, pork, po- 
 tatoes, and every article of -produce that can be raised 
 in the country. Thus the farmers are supplied with 
 salt at a cheap rate, and find a market for their produce 
 at home. 
 
 The Big Muddy salines are in the vicinity of Browns- 
 ville, in Jackson county. Two manufactories are esta- 
 blished, one by Conrad Will, Esq., who has followed the 
 business for many years, the other by Messrs. Neilsons. 
 Mr. Will's works produce from one hundred to one hun- 
 dred and fifty bushels of salt per week. His water is 
 strong and has been obtained by boring 203 fee't. A 
 copper tube has been placed in this well. 
 
 The Neilsons have their works one mile below Browns- 
 ville, and have bored upwards of 400 feet. Their fur- 
 nace is calculated to manufacture from fifty to sixty 
 bushels in twenty-four hours. 
 
 This company obtained a charter of incorporation at 
 the last legislature, under the name of "The Illinois 
 Manufacturing, Mining, and Exporting Company ," with a 
 capital of two hundred thousand dollars. Their inten- 
 tion is to manufacture cotton, woollen and hempen goods, 
 and to dig and export coal from their mines. These 
 mines are four miles above Brownsville, and are inex-
 
 '10 A GAZETTEER 
 
 liaustible. They contemplate sending off from fifty to 
 one hundred flat boats, loaded with coal, to New Or- 
 leans annually, averaging one thousand bushels to each 
 boat. They have erected a large steam mill for sawing 
 lumber and grinding grain, and contemplate erecting 
 other works for manufacturing purposes, at Mount Car- 
 bon, on the Muddy river, four miles above Brownsville. 
 The Vermilion salines have been worked for several 
 ears with considerable success. They are on the Salt 
 fork of the Vermilion a few miles west of Danville. 
 
 About three thousand bushels of salt are made annu- 
 ally. There is one furnace in operation. The works 
 are valuable to the surrounding country. 
 
 Steam Mills for flouring and sawing are becoming very 
 common, and in general are profitable. Some are now 
 in operation with four run of stones, and which manu- 
 facture one hundred barrels of flour in a day. Mills 
 propelled by steam, water, and animal power, are con- 
 stantly increasing. Steam mills will become numerous, 
 particulary in the southern and middle portions of the 
 state, and it is deserving remark that while these por- 
 tions are not well supplied with durable water power, 
 they contain, in the timber of the forest, and the inex- 
 haustible bodies of bituminous coal, abundant supplies 
 of fuel, while the northern portion, though deficient in 
 fuel, has abundant water power. 
 
 A good steam saw-mill with two saws can be built for 
 1,500 dollars; and a steam flouring mill with two run of 
 stones, elevators and other apparatus complete, and of 
 sufficient force to turn out forty or fifty barrels of flour 
 per day, may be built for from 3,500 to 5000 dollars.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 47 
 
 Ox mills on an inclined plane, and horse mills by 
 draught, are common through the county. 
 
 Castor Oil. Considerable quantities of this article 
 have been manufactured in Illinois from the palma 
 christi, or castor bean. One'bushel of the beans will 
 make nearly two gallons of the oil. There are five or 
 six castor oil presses in the state, in Madison, Randolph, 
 Edwards, and perhaps in other counties. Mr. Adams ot 
 Edwardsville, in 1825, made 500 gallons, which then sold 
 at the rate of two dollars fifty cents per gallon. In 1S26 
 he made 800 gallons: in 1827, 1 000 gallons: the price then 
 one dollar seventy-five cents: in 1828, 1800 gallons; price 
 one dollar in 1830 he started two presses and made up- 
 wards of 10,000 gallons, which sold for from seventy- 
 five to eighty-seven cents per gallon: in 1831 about the 
 same quantity. That and the following season being 
 unfavourable for the production of the bean there has 
 been a falling off in the quantity. The amount manu- 
 factured in other parts of the state has probably ex- 
 ceeded that made by Mr. Adams. 
 
 Cotton Goods. A few factories for spinning cotton 
 yarn have been put into operation in several counties on 
 a small scale of from one hundred to two hundred spiu- 
 dles each. They are carried by animal power on the 
 inclined plane. 
 
 Coarse clothing from cotton is manufactured in the 
 southern portion of the state, where the article is 
 raised in small quantities. Woollen cloth, and jeans, 
 a mixture of wool and cotton, is made for ordinary wear, 
 as is cloth from flax. 
 
 Lead. In Jo Daviess county are eight or ten fur-
 
 48 A GAZETTEER 
 
 naces for smelting lead. The amount of this article 
 made annually at the mines of the Upper Mississippi, 
 has been given under the head of minerals. 
 
 Boat Building will soon become a branch of business, 
 in this state. Some steam boats, have been constructed 
 already within this state, along the Mississippi. It is 
 thought that Alton and Chicago are convenient sites 
 for this business. 
 
 There is in this state, as in all the western states, a 
 large amount of domestic manufactures made by families. 
 All the trades, needful to a new country, are in exist- 
 ence. Carpenters, wagon makers, cabinet makers, 
 blacksmiths, tanneries, etc. may be found in every 
 county and town. At Mount Carmel there is an iron 
 foundry for castings. 
 
 There has been a considerable falling off in the manu- 
 facture of whiskey within a few years, and it is sin- 
 cerely hoped by thousands of citizens that this branch 
 of business, so decidedly injurious to the morals and 
 happiness of community and individuals, will entirely 
 decline. 
 
 Manufacturing Incorporations. At the last session of 
 the legislature, in 1832, 33, several charters were 
 granted to companies, as an encouragement to the va- 
 rious branches of manufacturing industry. I have 
 noticed already the "Illinois Manufacturing, Mining, and 
 Exporting .Company." 
 
 The "Alton Manufacturing Company " with a capital 
 stock of fifty thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred 
 dollars each, and power to increase the stock to one 
 hundred thousand dollars, has gone into operation. The
 
 OF ILLINOIS. ' 49 
 
 purposes specified are the manufacture of cotton and 
 woollen goods, hemp, flax, grain, lumber, and machinery. 
 A large steam mill for manufacturing flour and meal, 
 with four run of French buhr stones, has been put into 
 operation, and that will turn out one hundred barrels of 
 flour daily. 
 
 The t( Quincy Manufacturing Company ,' J for similar 
 purposes, with a capital of 20,000 dollars, which may be 
 increased to 50,000, has a large steam mill at Quincy, 
 and bids fair to be a useful establishment to the commu- 
 nity in that quarter. 
 
 The "North Western Company for Manufacturing pur- 
 poses," for "manufacturing cotton and woollen goods, 
 hemp, flax, grain, lumber, and machinery," was incorpo- 
 rated the same session. I have no knowledge that it 
 has commenced business. The conditions were that the 
 company should commence the manufacture of woollen 
 goods, at some point north of the mouth of the Illinois 
 river, within two years from the first day of May, 1833. 
 
 Another incorporation granted "for the purpose of 
 manufacturing cotton and woollen goods, hemp, flax, and 
 for converting into manufactured products, any articles 
 of the growth and production of this state, whether ani- 
 mal, vegetable, or fossil, and for the digging and ex- 
 porting of stone," is under the name of "The Graflon 
 Manufacturing Company." Mr. James Mason is the 
 proprietor of Grafton, a own site on the Mississippi, a 
 short distance below the mouth of the Illinois river, and 
 from the wealth and enterprise o this gentlemen, it is 
 expected some of these branches of business will go for-
 
 50 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ward. The capital stock is not to exceed one hundred 
 thousand dollars. 
 
 E. Bayles and J. M. Strode of Galena were also con- 
 stituted a body corporate by the name of the "Illinois 
 Paper Manufacturing- Company." Paper, cotton, wool, 
 corn, wheat, and timber, or either of them separately, 
 the articles proposed to be manufactured by this com- 
 pany. Capital stock proposed twenty-five thousand 
 dollars with the privilege of increasing it to one hundred 
 thousand dollars. The company also may deal in mer- 
 chandize, and loan money, but not emit bills of credit 
 nor have banking powers. I have no knowledge of its 
 going into operation. 
 
 The " Coles Manufacturing Company" is another cor- 
 porate body, for the manufacture of various products of 
 the soil, granted to Joseph Barbour and William C, 
 Greenup, to be located in Coles county. This corpora- 
 tion, it is believed, has not gone into operation. 
 
 NATURAL CURIOSITIES AND ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 On the banks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and 
 the bluffs that overhang the alluvions, are many singular 
 appearances. These consist of ledges of rock, which 
 exhibit the most fanciful forms, and in many places are 
 penetrated by caverns of various dimensions. Of these 
 the "Cave in Rock" on the Ohio will be described under 
 its own name. The "Devil's Anvil," "Grand Tower," 
 "Starved Rock," "Buffaloe Rock," "Mount Joliet," and 
 many other singular appearances will be found under 
 their respective names, in the third part of this work.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 51 
 
 The Fossil Tree of the Des Plaines and to which allu- 
 sion has been made already, is fully described by Mr. 
 Schoolcraft, in a memoir read before the American 
 Geological Society, in 1821. 
 
 It lies in ahorizontal position, imbedded in a stratum 
 if flcetz sandstone, of a grey color and close grain. The 
 middle portion of the trunk is fifty-one feet six inches in 
 length, and is eighteen inches in diameter at the small- 
 est end. It is a species of the juglans nigra, or black 
 walnut, a tree common to the Illinois, and completely 
 petrified. It lies in the bed of the Des Plaines about 
 forty rods above its junction with the Kankakee. 
 
 Petrifactions are very common in Illinois. The "lost 
 rocks, "or boulders scattered over a surface, of an evi- 
 dent diluvial deposit, are a curiosity. They are in 
 great numbers towards the heads of the Kaskas"kia and 
 Sangamon rivers, and become more numerous and are " 
 found at various depths in the soil, as the traveler passes 
 northward along the great prairies. Indeed, the geo- 
 logical formation of the whole state, presents a rich 
 field for investigation in that science. 
 
 The antiquities of Illinois are similar to those of other 
 western states. Indian graves are common, especially 
 along the bluffs. Fragments of bones, and not unfre- 
 quently whole skeletons, in a tolerable state of preser- 
 vation, are found deposited from two to three feet be- 
 low the surface. In not a few instances they are found 
 enclosed with stone slabs, undressed, and obtained 
 from the neighboring cliffs. There are no proofs of a 
 pigmy race of aborigines in the western states. Graves 
 are not unfrequent where the length from the hesyl jH^/i
 
 52 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the foot stone, does not exceed four feet, and yet con- 
 tain the skeleton of an adult of full stature. In such 
 instances it will be found upon careful examination of 
 the position of the bones, that the leg and thigh bones 
 lie parallel, and that the corpse was inhumed with the 
 knees bent into that position. Some bones of unusual 
 size have been discovered, but I am not acquainted with 
 facts to justify the supposition of a race of giants. Bones 
 of a huge animal, but different from the Mammoth, have 
 been recently found in St. Clair county. 
 
 About the Gallatin and Big Muddy salines, large 
 fragments of earthenware, are very frequently found, 
 under the surface of the earth. They appear to have 
 been portions of large kettles, used, probably, by the 
 natives for obtaining salt. Small fragments of earthen- 
 ware, arrow and spear heads, stone axes and mallets, and 
 other antiquities, are found in various parts of the state. . 
 Silver coins of ancient origin have been found at Kas- 
 kaskia. They were probably brought there by the 
 Jesuits, or the early French emigrants. 
 
 Of one thing the writer is satisfied, that very imper- 
 fect and incorrect data have been relied upon and very 
 erroneous conclusions drawn, upon western antiquities. 
 Whoever has time and patience, and is in other respects 
 qualified to explore this field of science, and will use his 
 spade and eyes together, and restrain his imagination 
 from running riot amongst mounds, fortifications, horse- 
 shoes, medals, and whole cabinets of relics of the "olden 
 time," will find very little more than the indications of 
 rude savages, the ancestors of the present race of 
 Indians.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 53 
 
 Of ancient military works, I have long been convinced 
 that not half a dozen such structures ever existed in 
 the west before the visits of Europeans. Enclosures of 
 various sizes, and perhaps for different purposes, with 
 an embankment of earth, three or four feet high, and 
 a trifling ditch out of which the earth was dug, un- 
 doubtedly were formed. In all probability some of 
 these embankments enclosed their villages; others the 
 residence of their chiefs or head men. But what people, 
 savage, barbarous, civilized, or enlightened, ever con- 
 structed a fortification around five or six hundred acres, 
 with a ditch in the inside! Or what military people made 
 twenty or thirty such forts, within two or three miles! 
 At any rate I am confident these immense armies of 
 military heroes never visited Illinois. 
 
 The remains of Fort Chartres, commenced by the 
 French in 1720, to defend their infant settlements 
 against the Spaniards and Indians, is probably the most 
 ancient military work within this state, of which any 
 portion now remains. 
 
 Those who are particularly desirous of information 
 concerning the millions of warriors, and the bloody 
 battles in which more were slain than ever fell in all the 
 wars of Alexander, Cagsar, or Napoleon, with a particu- 
 lar description of their military works, would do well to 
 read the "Book of Mormon," made out of the "golden 
 plates" of that distinguished antiquarian Joe Smith! 
 
 It is far superior to some modern productions on 
 western antiquities, because it furnishes us with the 
 names and biography of the principal men who were 
 concerned in these enterprises, with many of the par-
 
 54 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ticulars of their wars for several centuries. But, seri- 
 ously, the attention of scientific men is invited to this 
 subject. 
 
 And as a starting question to such an investigation, it 
 ought to be first settled how long human bones will re- 
 tain their form and solidity without decomposition, when 
 exposed to the air, earth, water, and other causes of de- 
 cay, interred two or three feet deep in the earth. Will 
 they preserve their form and soundness over two, or at 
 the most, three hundred years. Are not the relics of 
 the early pilgrims -of New England, and the first settlers 
 of Jamestown, mouldered entirely to dust ] Will 
 any one say that human skeletons, entombed as those 
 are in the mounds of Illinois, but two or three feet 
 below the surface, remain in a state of preservation five 
 or six hundred years? A sober investigation of these 
 questions would result in an entire overthrow of the 
 hypothesis of existing races of men prior to the Indians, 
 founded upon such remains. 
 
 The existence of tf Mounds" in this, and other western 
 states, has been assumed as substantial proof, amounting 
 to demonstration, of a race of men of enterprising habits, 
 and far more civilized than the present race of ab- 
 origines. But it is now seriously questioned whether 
 these mounds are the work of art. I know not that any 
 writer ever ventured to attack this supposition till John 
 Russell, esq. sent forth his essay in the Illinois Maga- 
 zine, of March, 1831. Mr. Russell is a citizen of this 
 state, and well known as a writer of considerable ta- 
 lents and literary acquirements. He has had opportu- 
 nity of examining for himself, many of those mounds, of
 
 OF ILLINOIS, 55 
 
 various dimensions. He maintains they are not artifi- 
 cial, and offers objections to their being productions of 
 human art, not easily obviated. 
 
 But there are many mounds in the west, that exactly 
 correspond in shape with these supposed antiquities, and 
 yet from their size most evidently were not made by 
 man. 
 
 Monk hill, in the American bottom, near the road from 
 St. Louis to Edwardsville, is of the following dimen- 
 sions. The circumference of its base is about eight 
 hundred yards, its height 90 feet, its shape that of a 
 parallelogram. 
 
 Mr. Flint, who has written some fine romances and 
 considerable "History and Geography of the Western 
 States," describes one in Ohio, between thirty and 
 forty reds in circumference, and seventy feet high. It 
 would be well to calculate, upon the ordinary labor of ex- 
 cavating canals, how many hands, with spades, wheel- 
 barrows, and other necessary implements, it would take 
 to throw up suclfc a mound within any given time. 
 
 Mount Joliet on the Des Plaines, is about one mile in 
 circumference, and 150 feet high, rising like a pyramid 
 of sand. In the north western part of Illinois, and in 
 the Wisconsin territory, are mounds of much larger di- 
 mensions, and compared to which Monk-hill is but a 
 mole hill. Mount Charles, Sinsinewa, and the Blue 
 Mounds are on a grand scale. The latter range is three 
 or four hundred feet high, and has an area of several 
 hundred acres of table land on its summit. Springs of 
 water gush from its sides. Mr. Brigham has an elegant 
 farm on one of these mounds. West of the Arkansas
 
 56 A GAZETTEER 
 
 territory, in the Osage country, and near Clermont's 
 village, are a number of large, regularly formed mounds, 
 two hundred feet high, ranging with each other, and 
 extending in a line for ten or twelve miles. They are 
 level on the top, and contain from two to five acres of 
 table land, and the sides are so steep as to be inacces- 
 sable excepting in one or two places. The country 
 around is an immense prairie, nearly level. 
 
 These large mounds are of the same shape and propor- 
 tions as the smaller ones. Who supposes these to be 
 works of human art? Who will place these among the 
 antiquities of a country? 
 
 If any one will account for the formation of these stu- 
 pendous works of nature, in a country of unquestionably 
 diluvial formation, there are men who make no preten- 
 sions to the rank of western antiquarians, who will ac- 
 count for the formation of the smaller ones, of a few 
 feet elevation, without the aid of an extinguished race 
 of men. Until further evidence of their being the work 
 of men's hands, I shall class them amon^jthe natural cu- 
 riosities of the country. 
 
 CLIMATE AND HEALTH. 
 
 The state of Illinois, extending as it does, through 
 five and half degrees of latitude, must possess some va- 
 riety in its climate. Its extensive prairies, and its 
 level surface, give greater scope to the winds, especially 
 in winter. Snow frequently falls, ^but seldom lies long, 
 during the three winter months, in the southern portion 
 of the state. In the northern portion, the winters are
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 57 
 
 nearly as severe as in the same parallel of latitude in the 
 Atlantic states. The Mississippi at St. Louis is fre- 
 quently frozen over and is passed on the ice, and occa- 
 sionally for several weeks. The hot season is longer, 
 though not more intense, than occasionally for a day or 
 two in New England. 
 
 During the years 1817-18-19, the rev. Mr. Giddings, 
 at St. Louis, made a series of observations upon Faren- 
 heit's thermometer. 
 
 Deg. Hund. 
 
 Mean temperature for 1817, 55 52 
 
 Do. do. from the beginning 
 
 of May, 1818, to the end of April, 
 
 1819 56 98 
 
 Mean temperature for 1820 56 18 
 
 The mean of these results is about fifty-six degrees 
 and a quarter. 
 
 The mean temperature of each month during the 
 above years, is as follows: 
 
 Deg. Hund. 
 
 January 30 62 
 
 February 38 65 
 
 March 43 13 
 
 April 58 47 
 
 May 62 66 
 
 June 74 47 
 
 July 78 66 
 
 August . . . . : 72 88 
 
 September . . 70 10 
 
 October 59 00 
 
 November 53 13 
 
 December . 34 33
 
 58 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The mean temperature of the different seasons is as 
 follows. 
 
 Winter, 34. 53 Spring, 54.74 Summer, 74.34 Au- 
 tumn, 60.77. 
 
 The greatest extremes of heat and cold during my 
 residence in the county of seventeen years, in the 
 vicinity of St. Louis, is as follows; 
 
 Greatest heat in July 1820, and July 1833, 100 degrees. 
 Greatest cold January 3rd, 1834, 18 degrees below 
 zero. 
 
 The foregoing facts will doubtless apply to about one 
 half of Illinois. This climate also is subject to sudden 
 changes from heat to cold; from wet to dry, especially 
 from November to May. The heat of the summer below 
 the 40th degree of latitude is more enervating, and the 
 system becomes more easily debilitated than in the 
 bracing atmosphere of a more northerly region. 
 
 The putting forth of vegetation in the spring, furnishes 
 data for the most correct conclusions concerning the 
 climate of a country. Some facts, gathered from the 
 observations of a series of seasons, will be presented in 
 the appendix. 
 
 Winds. South westerly winds prevail during the 
 spring, summer and autumn, at least south of the forty- 
 first 'degree of latitude. In the spring, and during the 
 rise of the Missouri, they are from a more westerly 
 direction, and rains are usually more frequent. During 
 the latter part of summer and autumn the air is dry and 
 elastic. In the months of December and January north 
 west and northerly winds often prevail. North east M 
 storms, are extremely rare, unless towards lake Michi- 
 gan.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 59, 
 
 
 
 Weather. There are a great proportion of clear, 
 pleasant days throughout the year. Dr. Beck, who re- 
 sided at St. Louis during the year 1820, made observa- 
 tions upon the. changes of the weather, and produced 
 the following results. 
 
 Clear days, 245. Cloudy, including all the variable 
 days, 110. 
 
 The results of my own observations, kept for twelve 
 years, with the exception of 1826, and with some irregu- 
 larity, from travelling into different parts of Illinois 
 and Missouri during the time, do not vary in any ma- 
 terial degree from the above statement. 
 
 Diseases. The more common diseases of Illinois are 
 intermittents, frequently accompanied with bilious 
 symptoms. Those which prove fatal in sickly seasons 
 are bilious remittents. More than one half of the sick- 
 ness endured by the people is caused by imprudence, 
 bad management, and the want of proper nursing. 
 Emigrants from the northern states, or from Europe, 
 will find it advantageous to protect themselves from the 
 cool and humid atmosphere at night, to provide close 
 dwellings, yet, when the atmosphere is clear, to have 
 their rooms, and especially their sleeping rooms, well 
 ventilated, and invariably wear thin clothing in the 
 day, and put on thicker apparel at night or when ex- 
 posed to wet. 
 
 Families are seldom sick who live in comfortable 
 
 houses with tight floors and well ventilated rooms, and 
 
 who, upon a change of weather, and especially in a time 
 
 : of rain, make a little fire in the chimney, though it may 
 
 be in the midst of summer.
 
 60 A GAZETTEER 
 
 I have seen but few cases of genuine consumption. 
 Affection of the liver is more common. Pleurisies, and 
 other inflammatory diseases, prevail in the winter and 
 spring. Opthalmia prevails at some seasons. Dysentery 
 is not uncommon. Fewer die in infancy than in the old 
 states. 
 
 A venerable couple of my acquaintance, the one of 
 the age of 63, the other 62 years, have had nine children, 
 forty-three grand children (of which nine are deceased) 
 and eight great grand children. Another couple, one 
 of which is now deceased, emigrated to Illinois in 1786, 
 had eleven children of which eight are still living, seven- 
 ty-one grand children, and eight great grand children. 
 The widow and mother of all this posterity is active 
 and in good health aged 64 years. These are not given 
 as singular cases, but as specimens of many of the fa- 
 milies of the early American emigrants. 
 
 Finally, I am prepared to speak decidedly in favor of 
 the general health of Illinois. 
 
 CIVIL DIVISIONS. 
 
 There are sixty counties within the state, in fty-six 
 of which courts are held. In the others the judge of 
 the circuit where they lie, is authorized to organize 
 them by appointing an election for county officers when- 
 ever in his opinion there are three hundred and fifty 
 inhabitants within their boundaries. Their names, 
 dates of formation, number of square miles, estimated 
 population at the commencement of 1834, and seats of 
 justice, are given in the appendix.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 61 
 
 For the purpose of electing representatives to con- 
 gress, the state is divided into three districts, each of 
 which sends one representative. 
 
 The first district is composed of the counties of Gal- 
 latin, Pope, Johnson, Alexander, Union, Jackson, Frank- 
 lin, Perry, Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Washington, 
 Clinton, Bond, Madison, and Macoupen. 
 
 The second district includes the counties of White, 
 Hamilton, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Law- 
 rence, Clay, Marion, Fayette, Montgomery, Shelby, 
 Vermilion, Champaign, Edgar, Coles, Clark, Iroquois, 
 Crawford, Effingham and Jasper. 
 
 The third district is composed of the following coun- 
 ties: Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, Macon, 
 McLean, La Salle, Cook, Putnam, Peoria, Henry, Jo 
 Daviess, Rock Island, Mercer, Warren, Hancock, Me 
 Donough, Fulton, Knox, Schuyler, Adams, Pike and 
 Calhoun. 
 
 For judiciary purposes the state is divided into five, 
 circuits, in four of which the judges of the supreme 
 court perform circuit duties. To the fifth circuit a 
 circuit judge has been appointed. 
 
 The first judicial circuit embraces the counties of Pike, 
 Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, Ma- 
 con, Me Lean, and Macoupen. 
 
 The second judicial circuit includes the counties of 
 Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Washington, 
 Clinton, Bond, Shelby, Fayette, and Montgomery. 
 
 The third judicial circuit, includes the counties of Gal- 
 latin, Pope, Johnson, Alexander, Union, Jackson, Perry, 
 Franklin, Marion, Jefferson, and Hamilton.
 
 62 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The fourth judicial circuit embraces the counties of 
 White, Edwards, W abash, Lawrence, Wayne, Clark, 
 Crawford , Edgar, Vermilion , Iroquois , Champaign , Coles , 
 Jasper, Effiingham, and Clay. 
 
 The fifth judiciary circuit embraces the counties of 
 Cook, La Salle, Putnam, Peoria, Fulton, Schuyler, 
 Adams, Hancock, Me Donough, Knox, Warren, Jo Da- 
 viess, Mercer, Rock Island, and Henry. 
 
 Provision is made by law for the holding of courts in 
 all these counties excepting Jasper, Iroquois, Henry, 
 and Mercer, which are attached to adjacent counties 
 for judicial purposes. 
 
 It is very probable the next legislature will make 
 some changes; perhaps organize new circuits. 
 
 Counties are not subdivided into townships as in In- 
 diana, Ohio, and the more eastern states. For the 
 convenience of holding elections, the county commis- 
 sioner's court is required to divide the county into 
 "precincts" and designate the house or place in each 
 precinct where the polls shall be opened. 
 
 Electors throughout the county vote at which pre- 
 cinct they please. 
 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The constitution of Illinois was formed by a conven- 
 tion held at Kaskaskia, in August, 1818. It provides 
 for the distribution of the powers of government into 
 three distinct departments. The legislative, executive, 
 and judiciary. The legislative authority is vested in a 
 general assembly, consisting of a senate and house of
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 63 
 
 representatives. Elections are held biennially, as are 
 the ordinary sessions of the legislature. Senators are 
 elected for four years. 
 
 The executive power is vested in the governor, who 
 is chosen every fourth year by the electors for repre- 
 sentatives, but the same person is ineligible for the 
 next succeeding four years. The lieutenant governor 
 is also chosen every four years. 
 
 The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, and 
 such inferior courts as the general assembly from time 
 to time shall establish. The supreme court consists of 
 a chief justice and three associate judges. 
 
 The governor and judges of the supreme court con- 
 stitute a council of revision, to which all bills that have 
 passed the assembly must be submitted. If objected to 
 by the council of revision, the same may become a law 
 by the vote of a majority of all the members elected to 
 both houses. 
 
 The following synopsis of the public officers, terms of 
 service, manner of appointment, and compensation, (with a 
 few alterations,) is copied from the "Illinois Monthly 
 Magazine" by James Hall, esq. vol. 2. page 8. 
 
 "Governor Elected by the people, for four years; 
 salary, $100; eligible for one term only in succession; 
 salary cannot be diminished during his continuance in 
 office. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor elected by the people, for four 
 years; paid per day during the session of the legislature; 
 $5 per day during the Jast session, He is speaker of
 
 64 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the senate, and becomes governor in case of a vacancy 
 in the latter office. 
 
 Secretary of State appointed by the governor and 
 senate during pleasure; salary $1000 to include clerk 
 hire, with fees of office. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 ' Auditor of Public Accounts elected by the legislature 
 biennially; salary $1,400 including clerk hire; with 
 121 cents for each copy of deeds. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Treasurer elected by the legislature biennially; sa- 
 lary $800 and two clerks of $400 each. Office at Van- 
 dalia. 
 
 State Recorder, for deeds of non-residents, &c. Office 
 abolished June 1st, 1833. Deeds are now to be recorded 
 in thetounty where the land is situated. 
 
 Adjutant General appointed by the governor during 
 pleasure; salary $100. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Supreme Judges elected by the legislature during 
 good behavior; salary $800, extra services for circiut 
 duties, $200. 
 
 Clerk of the Supreme Court appointed by the court 
 during good behavior; fees. Office at Vandalia. 
 
 Clerks of the Circuit Courts appointed by the courts, 
 during good behavior; fees. Offices at the respective 
 seats of justice. 
 
 One Circuit Judge elected by the legislature, during 
 good behavior; salary $900. 
 
 Attorney General elected by the legislature, bienni- 
 ally; salary $350 and fees. Office to be kept at Van- 
 dalia. 
 
 Four Stales' Attorneys appointed by the governor and 
 senate for four years; salary $250, and fees.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 65 
 
 Superintendent of the Gallatin county Salines felected 
 by the legislature, for four years; salary $350. 
 
 Commissioner for the sale of Saline Lands elected by 
 the legislature biennially; salary $400. 
 
 Canal Commissioners office abolished. 
 
 Warden of the Penitentiary elected by the legislature 
 for four years; salary $300. Three Inspectors of the same, 
 appointed by the governor and senate biennially; com- 
 pensation, $2 per day, but not to exceed $50 per annum. 
 General Assembly. 
 
 Number of Senators, 26 elected for four years. 
 
 Number of Representatives, 55 elected biennially; 
 compensation regulated by law each session; $3 per 
 day last session. 
 
 Officers of the General Assembly. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor, (Speaker of the Senate,} pay last 
 session, $5 per day. 
 
 Secretary of the Senate pay at last session, $5 per 
 day, and $250 for furnishing a copy of his journal for 
 the press. 
 
 Assistant Secretary of the Senate pay at last session, 
 $3 50 cents per day. 
 
 Enrolling and Engrossing 1 Clerk of the Senate pay at 
 last session, $4 per day. 
 
 Door-keeper of the Senate pay at last session $3 
 per day. 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives pay at last 
 session, 5 per day. x 
 
 Principal Clerk of the H. of .R.pay at the last ses- 
 sion, 5 per day, and $250 for preparing his journal for 
 the press.
 
 66 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Assistant Clerk of the H. of R. pay at last session, 
 S3 50 per day. 
 
 Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the H> of R. pay at 
 last session, S4 per day. 
 
 Door-keeper of the H. of R. pay at last session, $3 
 per day. 
 
 There is a little variation in compensation each ses- 
 sion. The above synopsis gives about the ordinary 
 amount. The legislature usually sits biennially from 
 60 to 90 days. Last session continued 91 days. Con- 
 siderable time was occupied by the senate as a high 
 court of impeachment in case of one of the judges, and 
 by the assembly in revising the laws. The whole amount 
 of the salaries of officers is about $13,500 annually. 
 
 The amount of the pay of the legislature, with the 
 present number of members, at a session of seventy- 
 five days, at three dollars per day, $18,225. 
 
 Officers and clerks of the legislature, $3,350. 
 
 Contingent expenses per session, for fuel, stationary, 
 repair of the state house, furniture, etc. ,$2,500. 
 
 Making the biennial expenses for legislation, about 
 $23,775, or say $24,000, or $12,000 per annum. 
 
 The ordinary disbursements of the contingent fund 
 are about $6,000 annually; making the whole ordinary 
 annual expenditures of the state about $31,500. 
 
 The revenue of the state is derived principally from 
 land taxes, rents of salines, and sale of Vandalia lots. 
 Its amount is about fifty thousand dollars per annum. 
 The excess over the expenditures is expended in paying 
 debts and interest, and in special appropriations for a 
 variety of incidental purposes.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 67 
 
 County Officers. 
 
 Judges of Probate elected by the legislature, during 
 good behavior; fees. 
 
 Sheriff's elected by the people, biennially; fees. 
 
 Coroners-delected by the people, biennially; fees. 
 
 County Commissioners three in each county, to man- 
 age county concerns; elected by the people biennially; 
 1 50 per day while employed in court. Sessions, first 
 Mondays in March, June, September, and December. 
 
 County Clerk appointed by the county commissioners 
 during good behavior; fees, and per diem allowance du- 
 ring sessions of court. 
 
 County Treasurer appointed by the county commis- 
 sioners annually; per centage and per diem allowance, 
 on moneys received and services performed. 
 
 County Surveyors appointed by the legislature during 
 good behavior; fees. 
 
 Justices of the Peace elected by the people every 
 four years; fees. 
 
 Constables elected by the people every four years; 
 fees. 
 
 Notaries Public appointed by the governor and 
 senate, during good behavior; fees. 
 
 . Supervisors of Roads appointed by the county com- 
 missioners annually; exempt from militia duty and serv- 
 ing on juries, but receive no other compensation. 
 
 Public Administrator appointed by the governor and 
 senate, term indefinite; fees. 
 
 Commissioner of the school funds arising from the sale 
 of the sections numbered sixteen; appointed by the 
 county commissioners, who fix his compensation.
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The right of suffrage is universal. All white male in- 
 habitants, twenty-one years of age, who have resided 
 within the state six months next preceding the elections , 
 enjoy the right of electors. 
 
 Votes are given viva vocc. The introduction of slave- 
 ry is prohibited. The constitution can be altered only 
 by a convention. 
 
 PLANS OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 The project of uniting the navigable waters of the 
 Illinois river and lake Michigan was conceived soon 
 after the commencement of the grand canal of New 
 York. Accordingly the legislature, in February, 1S2J3, 
 appointed a board of commissioners to survey the route 
 and estimate the cost, and make report to the next 
 legislature, which was done. 'These commissioners em- 
 ployed Col. Post, and Col. Paul of Missouri as engineers. 
 They examined five different routes for a portion of the 
 distance, and estimated the expense of each route. They 
 varied from about $640,000, to $716,000. The estimate 
 of the fifth route was upon the project of using lake Michi- 
 gan alone fora feeder by directing a portion of its waters 
 to the Illinois river, and was a fraction short of $690,000. 
 
 Upon the report of these surveys the legislature passed 
 a bill to incorporate the "Illinois and Michigan Canal 
 Company," in January, 1825. No stock having been 
 taken, the legislature, at a special session, the next 
 winter, repealed the law chartering the company. 
 
 The. embarrassments of the state in its finances, 
 growing out of the ruinous policy of a state toank with-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 69 
 
 out capital, prevented anything further from being done 
 until January, 1829, when the legislature passed an act 
 to organize a board of commissioners, with power to 
 employ agents, engineers, surveyors, draftsmen, and 
 other persons, to explore, examine, fix and determine 
 the route of the canal. 
 
 The congress of the United States had made provision 
 by an act passed March 2nd, 1827, to give the state each 
 alternate section of land, within five miles of the con- 
 templated canal. 
 
 The commissioners were authorised to sell this land, 
 to lay off town sites and sell lots, and apply the funds. 
 
 Accordingly they laid off Chicago near the lake, and 
 Ottawa, at the junction of Fox river and the Illinois. 
 Town lots and tracts of land were sold, a skillful en- 
 gineer employed, surveys were made with more particu- 
 larity, the surface of the earth perforated, the waters 
 at a low stage examined, and estimates of the expense 
 made. It was now ascertained that a supply of water 
 in dry seasons, from the streams on its route, was 
 doubtful, and that the rock approached so near the sur- 
 face on the summit level between the Chicago, and the 
 Des Plaines, as to present a serious obstacle to using- 
 the lake for a feeder. 
 
 The subsequent legislature authorised a re-examina- 
 tion to be made with a view to a railway, and to ascer- 
 tain whether the waters of the Calamic could not be 
 obtained in sufficient quantities for a feeder. 
 
 The result was in the report of the engineer to the 
 commissioners, and by them to the legislature, decidedly
 
 70 A GAZETTEER 
 
 in favor of a railway. To this project congress Las 
 given its assent. 
 
 Two estimates of the expense of a canal were sub- 
 mitted. The first was on the plan of following the sum- 
 mit ten feet above the level of lake Michigan and de- 
 pend on streams for feeders. 
 
 Total cost of the entire line of 95| miles $1,601,965 83. 
 Cost on the same location by obtaining a supply of water 
 from lake Michigan, by cutting through the dividing 
 ridge between the lake and the head waters of the Illi- 
 nois river, much of it rock excavation, $4,043,056 50. 
 
 The estimated cost of a railway with a single track 
 laid, distance 96 miles, is $1,052,423 19. 
 
 During the summer of 1832, the late Mr. Pugh, visited 
 New York to obtain information of the relative cost and 
 value of canals and railways, and to ascertain whether 
 funds could be obtained, and on what terms, to com- 
 plete this work. 
 
 The canal lands now belonging to the state are re- 
 ported to be about 304,709 acres, worth at least one 
 dollar per acre. Of this quantity one fifth is reported 
 to be timber, the remainder prairie. 
 ; The state not having means at its disposal, and the 
 session having drawn towards a close, the whole business 
 was postponed, by abolishing the office of canal commis- 
 sioners; but the expectation is that the business will be 
 resumed and something definitely done next session cf 
 the legislature. 
 
 During the last year, the project of opening a steam- 
 boat navigation from the lake to the navigable part of 
 the Illinois river, has been seriously agitated in Penn-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 71 
 
 sylvania, and elsewhere. The project as a national en- 
 terprise is practicable, but it is questionable, even if 
 the general government could be induced to take hold 
 of it, whether the immense cost would justify the under- 
 taking, and whether a railway would not on the whole 
 be preferable. The latter could be used the whole year, 
 whereas a canal would not be in use more than eight 
 months. 
 
 An estimate was made by the engineer of the cost of 
 a McAdamized turnpike, from which it appears that 
 it would much exceed that of a rail way with a single 
 track, while the facilities of transportation would be in 
 favor of the latter as ten to one. 
 
 The importance of opening a communication between 
 Chicago, and the foot of the rapids of Illinois, cannot 
 be placed in too strong a light. It must be done, and 
 whatever must be, will be done. 
 
 Already commerce, in no small extent, is passing 
 along that line. Merchants from St. Louis, from along 
 the Illinois river, from Galena and the Wisconsin ter- 
 ritory, and especially from the Wabash riv$r as far 
 south as Terre Haute, bring their goods that way. 
 
 Were a communication opened between the navigable 
 waters, the distance from New York to St. Louis would 
 be passed in from sixteen to twenty days. 
 
 The following result is founded upon information 
 gathered by the commissioners. 
 
 From New York to Buffalo, 5 days. From Buffalo 
 to Chicago, by steamboats fitted for lake navigation, 8 
 days. From Chicago to the foot of the rapids, on the 
 railway, estimating the speed at 10 miles an hour, 10
 
 72 A GAZETTEER 
 
 hours. -From the foot of the rapids to St. Louis, In 
 steamboats, 49 hours. 
 
 Allowing 14 hours for delays, the whole distance is 
 passed over in sixteen days. But giving four days ad- 
 ditional time, and the transportation on this route is 
 made in twenty days. 
 
 The shipments through Chicago in 1832, amounted to 
 300,000 dollars. In 1833, from April 8 to Sept. 10, 
 70 schooners and 2 steamboats had discharged their 
 cargoes. 
 
 The charges per hundred pounds on freight from New 
 York to Chicago is from one dollar forty to one dollar 
 fifty cents. When the harbor at the latter place is com- 
 pleted, the charges will be still less. 
 
 The project has been started of connecting the navi- 
 gable waters of the Illinois with those of the Wabash 
 and Erie canal in Indiana, by a railway, and, possibly 
 such a communication may be made in time, but it 
 ought to have no bearing upon the contemplated com- 
 munication with lake Michigan. The latter project 
 must go forward, and the sooner it is accomplished, the 
 better will it be for the interests of the state. In such 
 a work no local feelings or partial interests ought to be 
 allowed to operate. Every portion of the state ought 
 to feel interested m the concern. Indeed the com- 
 mercial, and consequently the agricultural interests of 
 the whole valley of the Mississippi are concerned in the 
 result of this enterprise. For whatever produce is 
 thrown off through this channel to the Canadas and Neu 
 York, increases the advantages of a market for the 
 commerce that floats down the Mississippi. And Missou-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. /3 
 
 ri and the Wisconsin territory are no less interested in 
 opening this communication. In accepting the donation 
 of land made by the general government, the honor and 
 credit of Illinois is really pledged for the success of this 
 enterprise. There is then no ground for retreat. 
 
 I regret the prescribed limits of this work, will not 
 permit me to exhibit the important bearing that the 
 success of this project will have upon the fur business, 
 the lead manufacture, the Indian trade, the rapid settle- 
 ment and improvement of all the northern portion of the 
 state, and the adjacent territory, and upon the pros- 
 perity of the farming community throughout our whole 
 interior. 
 
 It ought to be noticed that a project is now in agita- 
 tion in Michigan to construct a railway across the 
 peninsula from Detroit to the mouth of the St. Joseph's 
 river, which enters lake Michigan nearly opposite and 
 east from Chicago. This would save the circuitous 
 route by water, and greatly lessen the distance and risk. 
 
 The improvement of the navigation of the Wabash 
 river, especially at the rapids, is another enterprise in 
 which the state is concerned alike with Indiana, and 
 for which some means are already provided, from the 
 sale of saline lands in Gallatin county. 
 
 In 1823, Thomas S. Hinde of Illinois, and William 
 Polkc of Indiana, as joint commissioners of these states, 
 made an examination of the Wabash river, especially 
 about the grand rapids, near Mount Carmel, and for 15 
 miles above and below. 
 
 They reported that but few obstructions exist from 
 the mouth to the source of this river, excepting the
 
 74 A GAZETTEER 
 
 rapids. "Coffee island ripple," and "Little rock ripple," 
 were the extreme points of examination. 
 
 J. L. Smith, a United States engineer, by authority 
 of the engineering department of government, surveyed 
 the Wabash river in 1830. He specifies three kinds of 
 obstructions. 1. Rock bars. 2. Sand bars. 3. Snags 
 and sunken logs. He mentions rock bars as extending 
 from the mouth of Eel river to Deer creek, near Delphi, 
 in Cass and Carroll counties, Indiana, about 20 miles 
 above Lafayette. Again rock bars commence at 
 Little rock rapids, 15 miles above Vincennes, and ex- 
 tend to the mouth of Patoka creek, and again below 
 Mount Carmel. Mr. Smith gives the decided preference 
 to improving the rapids by dams and wing dams of 
 round logs, and crib work filled with stones, and covered 
 with plank on the upper side. He estimates the cost of 
 improving the rapids below Vincennes at 11,033 
 
 Extras 3,545 
 
 $14,579 
 
 Cost of removing all the sand bars in the river 37,333 
 32 obstructions of sunken logs and snags, viz: 
 21 do of snags in deep water, 
 
 2 do of snags in shallow water, 
 
 6 do of sunken logs in deep water, 
 
 3 do of sunken logs in shallow water. 
 Cost of removing all those which obstruct the 
 
 navigation, at 200 dollars each , . . . 5,200 
 
 Cost of clamming, excavating, and removing 
 the ripples both in Carroll county, and 
 those at White river 16,552
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 75 
 
 Cost of improving the whole W abash river 
 
 to the head of navigation 73,630 
 
 Cost of improving that portion of l^he river 
 with which Illinois has joint interest with 
 Indiana . . . ' 31,130 
 
 Half expense for Illinois 15,565 
 
 Of this amount, this state has appropriated 12,000 
 dollars from the sale of saline lands, and appointed a 
 commissioner to superintend the work. This step on 
 the part of Illinois has been met by a corresponding' 
 one on the part of Indiana, at the late session of its 
 legislature, which has appropriated ^12,000 and author- 
 ised the governor to appoint a commissioner to co-ope- 
 rate with the one from Illinois. Thus 24,000 dollars is 
 to be applied speedily in removing the obstructions to 
 the navigation of the Wabash so far as the two states 
 have concurrent jurisdiction. 
 
 Some appropriations have been made for a survey 
 and improvement of the Kaskaskia river, which has 
 been partially effected by an examination of the ob- 
 structions, removal of trees, etc. It is thought that a 
 slack water navigation of this river may be effected at 
 moderate expense. 
 
 The improvement of the Illinois river below the ra- 
 pids , is certainly an object of great importance, especial- 
 ly to the interests of those counties which lie along its 
 borders. The chief obstructions are sand bars at low 
 water, which may be deepened at an expense scarcely 
 worth naming when compared to the interests concerned. 
 
 Other works, and some on an extensive scale -have
 
 76 A GAZETTEER 
 
 been the theme of conversation and newspaper dis- 
 cussion. It is thought by some that a canal or railway, 
 to connect the navigable waters of the Illinois with those 
 of the Wabash, and by that communication with lake 
 Erie, claims the attention of the citizens of Illinois, and 
 and the states which would receive the trade of this 
 route. 
 
 Another project, is a great railway from the Hudson 
 river in New York, across to the valley of the Dela- 
 ware, thence to the Susquehanna and across to the Alle- 
 gheny river, thence along the rich counties of Ohio bor- 
 deringon lake Erie, passing through Indiana towards its 
 northern boundary, and to the head of steamboat navi- 
 gation on the Illinois river, and touching the Mississippi 
 near the foot of the Des Moines rapids. 
 
 The improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi 
 should be regarded and urged as strictly a national work. 
 There are two rapids in the Mississippi river, which in 
 times of low water, impede the progress of steamboats. 
 One is near the mouth of the Des Moines, and adjoining 
 Hancock county, where the water descends over sand 
 rocks 25 feet 5 inches in about 11 miles. The other 
 commences at Rock Island and extends about fifteen 
 miles. The descent of the water in that distance is 21 
 feet 10 inches. In both of these rapids there are ledges 
 of rocks, with intervals of deep water, extending across 
 the river. 
 
 Rock river, which is navigable a considerable part o* 
 the year for 150 miles, has a ripple near its mouth, and 
 one or two more some distance up, which will require 
 removal.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 77 
 
 The harbor at Chicago, now in progress, by the gene- 
 ral government will be of immense benefit to that place 
 and all the northern portion of the state. When this 
 is completed it will form one of the finest harbors in all 
 the northern lake country. And the rise of the branches 
 of the Chicago, at the breaking up of winter, has cut 
 through the bar at the mouth, so as to leave a channel of 
 8 or 10 feet deep, and permit small vessels to enter the 
 river. 
 
 The National Road is in progress through this state, 
 and considerable improvement has been made on that 
 portion which lies between Yandalia and the boundary 
 of Indiana. This road enters Illinois at the northeast 
 corner of Clark county, and passes diagonally through 
 Coles and Effingham counties in a southwesterly course 
 to Vandalia, a distance of 90 miles. The road is esta- 
 blished 80 feet wide, the central part, 30 feet wide, 
 raised above standing water, and not to exceed three 
 degrees from a level. The base of all the abutments of 
 bridges must be equal in thickness to one third of the 
 height of the abutment. 
 
 This work has been suspended during the last year, 
 while some investigations of the quality of the work 
 heretofore performed were making. 
 
 Upwards of 90,000 dollars of former appropriations 
 remain unexpended. The road is not yet placed in a 
 traveling condition. The line of the road is nearly di- 
 rect, the loss in 90 miles being only the 88th part of 
 one per cent. Between Vandalia and Ewington, for23 
 miles it does -not deviate in the least from a direct line. 
 
 From Vandalia westward, the road is not yet located,
 
 78 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and whether it will strike the Mississippi at St. Louis, 
 Alton, or some other point above the mouth of the Mis- 
 souri river, is undetermined. 
 
 It is understood, however, that a new survey, with 
 reference to this decision, will be made this year. 
 
 A bill is now before congress, making an appropriation 
 of 90,000 dollars to improve the principal mail route 
 from Louisville, Ky. to St. Louis, Mo., one half to be 
 applied within Illinois. Should this bill pass it would 
 prove of essential benefit to the country. 
 
 Appropriations to a limited extent have been made by 
 the legislature of the state, for roads and bridges. 
 Surveys and locations of roads have been made, in many 
 instances upon state authority, but their improvement 
 has been left to the counties through which they pass. 
 
 The general features of the country afford facilities 
 for traveling with convenience a considerable portion 
 of the year without much expense in artificial roads, 
 but it is to be hoped the time is not far distant when 
 railways will be constructed to form lines of intercom- 
 munication with the most important points. 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 The congress of the United States, in the act of 
 admitting the state of Illinois into the Union upon equal 
 footing with the other western states, granted to it the 
 section numberedm^eeTiin every township, or one thirty- 
 sixth part of all the public lands within the state, for the 
 use of schools. The avails of this section is understood 
 to constitute a fund for the special benefit of the families
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 79 
 
 living 1 within the surveyed township, and not the portion 
 of a common fund to be applied by the state for the 
 general purposes of education. 
 
 Three per cent of the net proceeds of all the public 
 lands, lying, within this state, which shall be sold after 
 the 1st of January, 1819, is to be paid over by the gene- 
 ral government, and constityte a common fund for edu- 
 cation, under the direction of the state authority. One 
 sixth of this three per cent, fund, is to be exclusively 
 bestowed upon a'college or university. 
 
 Two entire townships, or 46,080 acres selected from 
 choice portions of the public lands, have likewise been 
 given to education. Part of this land has been sold by 
 state authority and the avails funded at six per cent, 
 interest. 
 
 The amount of funds realized from these sources, and 
 under charge of the state, (independent of the sixteenth 
 sections,) is $108,843 56, for the use of which, the state 
 pays six per cent, interest, which is to be added annually 
 to the principal. 
 
 It will be kept in mind that the income of three per 
 cent, for sale of public lands will continue as long as 
 lands are sold within the state, by the authorities of 
 the general government, and that more than the amount 
 of one entire township of seminary land still remains 
 unsold, the value of which ought to be estimated at not 
 less than 40,000 dollars. 
 
 The unsold lands in this state belonging to the gene- 
 ral government, are not less than 25,000,000 acres. 
 Were this sold at the present minimum price, it would 
 produce 31,222,222 dollars, of which three per cent, 
 would be 936,666 dollars.
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 But it is highly probable that this immense domain 
 v/ili not all be sold at its present price; we will place 
 the average value at 75 cents per acre, or 18,777,77^ 
 dollars of which three per cent, belonging to the state 
 wottld be 563,333 dollars for education purposes. 
 
 The amount of the sections numbered sixteen, and 
 reserved for schools in the respective townships, was 
 estimated by the commissioner of public lands, and re- 
 ported to congress in April, 1932, at 977,457 acres in 
 Illinois. 
 
 If this section is not valuable it may be relinquished 
 and other public lands selected in its stead. It is not 
 usually sold until the township has received considera- 
 ble population, and consequently will command a higher 
 price than other public lands. The section immediate- 
 ly adjacent to Chicago was sold last autumn, (after re- 
 serving twelve acres) for $38,705, or j61 63 per acre. 
 Other tracts have been sold in settled portiops of the 
 state from five to six dollars per acre. Estimating 
 the whole at the present minimum price of public 
 lands, the value is $1,211,933. 
 
 Present fund at interest, $108,843 
 
 Value of seminary lands unsold .... 40,000 
 
 Value of sections numbered sixteen . . 1,211,933 
 Estimate of the 3 per cent, fund on all pub- 
 lic land now unsold in the state at 75 
 
 cents per acre 563,333 
 
 1,924,109
 
 x OF ILLINOIS. 81 
 
 Hence the funds and claims of Illinois for education 
 purposes may be estimated at not less than two millions 
 of dollars. 
 
 But it is sincerely and ardently hoped that the patri- 
 otism, foresight, intelligence, and liberality of congress, 
 after reducing the price of the public lands to the aq- 
 tual settler and cultivator, will be manifested in apply- 
 ing all future proceeds to the object of common schools, 
 by some equitable appointment amongst the several 
 states of the Union. Hitherto these lands have been 
 pledged for the payment of the national debt. That 
 being now accomplished, I cannot but hope this question 
 will be settled, to the entire satisfaction of all parties, 
 by a consecration of the net proceeds to the noble, be- 
 nificent, and truly national purpose of educating every 
 child in the Union. Such a disposition of the public 
 domain would reflect more honor on this nation, and 
 tend more to its aggrandizement, than a hundred wars or 
 a thousand victories. It would provide for a triumphant 
 conquest of human ignorance, and carry joy and glad- 
 ness to millions of hearts. 
 
 Notwithstanding the liberal provision in funds and 
 lands for education, little has yet been done by the legis- 
 lature in providing a system for common schools. A 
 law was framed in 1825, providing for school districts to 
 become incorporated, by the action of the county com- 
 missioners' courts, upon a petition of a majority of the 
 qualified voters of any settlement. The voters in each 
 district, by a majority of votes, could levy a tax not ex- 
 ceeding one half per centum on property, and appoint 
 trustees and other officers to manage the business, 
 6 

 
 82 A GAZETTEER 
 
 This feature of the law was soon made unpopular, and 
 a subsequent legislature repealed that portion that 
 authorized the levying of a tax, and made other modifica- 
 tions, by which it remains on the statute book as a mat- 
 ter of very little value. 
 
 The preamble to this law establishes beyond contro- 
 versy, the great principles for legislative authority and 
 aid for common schools. It reads thus : 
 
 "To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must under- 
 stand them; their security and protection ought to be 
 the first object of a free people; and it is a well estab- 
 lished fact that no nation has ever continued long in the 
 enjoyment of civil and political freedom, which was 
 not both virtuous and enlightened ; and believing that 
 the advancement of literature always has been, and ever 
 will be the means of developing more fully the rights of 
 man; that, the mind of every citizen of every republic, 
 is the common property of society, and constitutes the 
 basis of its strength and happiness ; it is considered 
 the peculiar duty of a free government, like ours, to en- 
 courage and extend the improvement and cultivation of 
 the intellectual energies of the whole: Therefore, 
 
 "Be it enacted, etc." 
 
 Provision now exists by law for the people to organize 
 themselves into school districts, and tax themselves 
 by consent, and to conduct the affairs of the school in 
 a corporate capacity by trustees, but they can derive 
 no aid from public funds under control of the state. 
 
 Upon petition from the inhabitants of a township, the 
 section numbered sixteen can be sold, and the proceeds 
 funded, the interest of which may be applied, annually
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 83 
 
 to the teachers of such schools within the township as 
 conform to the requisites of the law. To some extent, 
 the people have availed themselves of these provisions 
 and receive the interest of the fund. 
 
 A material defect in all the laws that have been fram- 
 ed in this state, on this subject, has been in not requi- 
 ring the necessary qualifications on the part of teachers, 
 and a previous examination before a competent board or 
 committee. 
 
 Without such a provision no school law will be of much 
 real service. The people have suffered much already, 
 and common school education has been greatly retarded 
 by the imposition of unqualified and worthless persons 
 under the name of school teachers; and were funds ever 
 so liberally bestowed, they would prove of little real 
 service, without the requisites of sobriety, morality, and 
 sufficient ability to teach well on the part of those who 
 get the pay. 
 
 A complete common school system must be organized, 
 sooner or later, and will be sustained by the people. 
 The lands, education funds, and wants of the country, 
 call for it. 
 
 Many good primary schools now exist without a legis- 
 lative system, and where three or four of the leading 
 families unite and exert their influence in favor of the 
 measure, it is not difficult to have a good school. 
 
 Several seminaries, and institutions for colleges, have 
 been established and promise success. 
 
 Illinois College. This institution is located in the vi- 
 cinity of Jacksonville, and one mile west of the town. 
 Its situation is on a delightful eminence, fronting the
 
 84 A GAZETTEER 
 
 east, and overlooking the town, and a vast extent of 
 beautiful prairie country, now covered with well culti^ 
 vated farms. 
 
 This institution owes its existence and prosperity, 
 under God, to the pious enterprise of several young men , 
 formerly members of Yale College, Connecticut. Most 
 of its funds have been realized from the generous dona- 
 tions of the liberal and philanthropic abroad. 
 
 The buildings are as follows: a brick edifice, 104 feet 
 in length, 40 feet in width, five stories high, including 
 the basement; containing 32 apartments for the accom- 
 modation of officers and students. Each apartment con- 
 sists of a sitting room, or study, 14 feet by 12, two bed 
 rooms, each eight feet square, two dress closets, and one 
 wood closet. The basement story embraces a boarding 
 hall, kitchen, store rooms, etc. for the general accommo- 
 .dation. 
 
 To this main building are attached two wings, each 
 38 feet long, and 28 feet wide, three stories high, inclu- 
 ding the basement; for the accommodation of the fami- 
 lies of the Faculty. 
 
 The chapel is a separate building, 65 feet long, and 36 
 feet wide, tuo stories high, including rooms for public 
 worship, lectures, recitations, library, etc. and eight 
 rooms for students. 
 
 There are also upon the premises a farm house, barn, 
 bakehouse, workshops for students who wish to perform 
 manual labor, and other out buildings. 
 
 The farm consists of 300 acres of land, all under fence. 
 The improvements and stock on the farm are valued at 
 four or five thousand dollars. The stock consists of 100
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 85 
 
 head of cattle, several horses, etc. estimated per invoice 
 at $1196 50. 
 
 Students who choese are allowed to employ a portion 
 of each day in manual labor, either upon the farm or in 
 the workshop. The amount of such ^abor, performed last 
 year was $912. Some individuals earned $150 each du- 
 ring the year. 
 
 The library consistsof about l,500volumes,onethird of 
 which have been added the past year,,and it is continual- 
 ly increasing. There is also a valuable chemical appa- 
 ratus. 
 
 Th year is divided into two terms, of twenty weeks 
 each. The first term commences eight weeks after the 
 third Wednesday in September. The second term com- 
 mences on the Wednesday previous to the 5th of May; 
 leaving eight weeks vacation in the fall and four in the 
 spring. 
 
 There are 16 students connected with the college 
 classes, and 66 students in the preparatory department. 
 Of this number, ten are beneficiaries, who are aided by 
 education societies, with a view to the gospel ministry. 
 A considerable number more are pious. 
 
 The trustees of the college are Rev. Edward Beecher, 
 President, Hon. Samuel D. Lockwood, John P. Wilkin- 
 son, Esq., William C. Posey, Esq., Rev. Messrs. Theron 
 Baldwin, John F. Brooks, Elisha Jenney, William Kir- 
 by, Asa Turner, John G. Bergen, and John Tillson, Esq. 
 John P. Wilkinson is treasurer, Joel Catlin, agent, and 
 Abraham Clark steward.
 
 86 A GAZETTEER 
 
 FACULTY. 
 
 REV. EDWARD BEECHER, A. M. President. 
 
 REV. JULIAN M. STURTEVANT, A. M. Professor of Mathe- 
 matics and Natural Philosophy. 
 
 TRUMAN M. POST, A. M. Professor of Languages. 
 
 JONATHAN B. TURNER, A. B. Professor of Rhetoric and 
 Belles Lettres. 
 
 ERASTUS COLTON, A. B. Instructor in the Preparatory De- 
 partment. 
 
 HENRY JONES, M. D. Lecturer on Chemistry. 
 
 Jilton Seminary, intended as the foundation of a college, 
 is pleasantly situated at Upper Alton, and immediately 
 adjoining the town. This institution is in fact the con- 
 tinuation of one gotten up at Rock Spring, in 1827. 
 The school commenced under its present form, and in 
 the seminary building, the first of the present year, 
 under charge of Rev. HubbelLoomis, and John Russell, 
 Esq. both of whom are known as able and experienced 
 instructors, and contained, in April, between fifty and 
 sixty students. 
 
 The building is of brick, three stories high, including 
 abasement of stone; forty feet long and thirty-two feet 
 wide, including a public hall, library room, and rooms 
 for students. Preparations are now making to erect a 
 commodious boarding house, and workshop, where stu- 
 dents can perform manual labor. Three hundred and 
 sixty acres of valuable land, chiefly timber, are attached 
 to the premises. A library of several hundred volumes, 
 globes, maps, orrery, a complete chemical, and some 
 other philosophical apparatus are provided.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 37 
 
 Three objects in particular are kept in view by the 
 projectors of this institution. 
 
 First, the education of the students of any grade, in 
 the best manner possible, and especially those whose 
 resources are limited. 
 
 Secondly, the education of teachers for common 
 schools, and by this means to extend the blessing of a 
 good primary education to others, by aiding those who 
 wish to become well qualified to teach primary schools. 
 
 Thirdly, furnishing better facilities for the education 
 of such brethren in the ministry as the churches may ap- 
 prove, than has been heretofore enjoyed in this country. 
 
 The trustees of this institution are, Rev. Hubbel 
 Loomis, President, Enoch Long, B. F. Edwards, Will- 
 iam Manning, Stephen Griggs, Cyrus Edwards, George 
 Smith, J. M. Peck, Justus Rider, and James Lemen. 
 
 Union College, is the name of an institution which ob- 
 tained corporate powers at the last session of the legis- 
 lature. Its location is at Columbia, on the borders of 
 the Flat Prairie, in the eastern part of Randolph coun- 
 ty. Whether it has gone into operation or not is un- 
 known. 
 
 Lebanon Seminary. This institution has been gotten 
 up, and will be sustained by the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. It is under the supervision of the Illinois con- 
 ference. The building is situated on elevated ground 
 in St. Clair county, near Lebanon, and presents a hand- 
 some view from the St. Louis and Vincennes road. It 
 is a frame, forty feet by thirty-six, two stories, with 
 wings on each side, fourteen by sixteen feet, making a 
 front of sixty-eight feet. It has a commodious chapel.
 
 88 A GAZETTEER - 
 
 or recitation hall, a separate hall for a female depart- 
 ment, and several rooms for students. The school open 4 
 ed the first of April, 1834, under the superintendence 
 of the Rev. Peter Akers, with about fifty-five students. 
 Other instructors will be provided as the wants of the 
 institution require. It is designed as the foundation of 
 a college. 
 
 The price of tuition at these institutions varies from 
 twelve to twenty dollars per annum, according to the 
 branches taught. At Alton and Lebanon seminaries, 
 classical students are charged sixteen dollars per an- 
 num. Boarding per week is from one dollar to one dol- 
 lar and fifty cents. 
 
 A Select Boarding School) in the vicinity of Belleville 
 has been taught for a number of years by John H. Den- 
 nis, Esq. Charges for board and tuition, seventy-five 
 dollars per annum. 
 
 A common and classical school is also taught in Belle- 
 ville by Rev. John F. Brooks and lady. 
 
 Female Academies under excellent regulations, and 
 where all the useful, and many of the ornamental 
 branches are taught by able preceptresses, are esta- 
 blished at Edwardsville and Jacksonville. Each has a 
 commodious building and other accommodations. 
 
 There are several other schools where more advanced 
 studies, than is usual in primary schools can be pursued. 
 An academy has been established at Chicago, that bids 
 fair to become an important institution. 
 
 Several associations for the promotion of education 
 and the encouragement of common schools, have been 
 organized id the state.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. S 
 
 The "Illinois Branch of the American Education Socie- 
 ty," was organized at a meeting of the Illinois Presby- 
 tery, in October, 1830. Its object is "to educate pious, 
 indigent young men for the gospel ministry." 
 
 Several beneficiaries, connected with the Illinois col- 
 lege, are under its charge. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal denomination are forming- 
 societies to build up and sustain the Lebanon Seminary. 
 
 A society was organized in February, 1833, under the 
 came of the "Illinois Institute of Education." The object 
 is to advance education, especially in common or prima- 
 ry schools, and to arouse the attention of the people to 
 this subject. 
 
 Sunday School operations are carried on in this state 
 to a considerable extent and in a systematic manner. 
 The" Illinois Sunday School Union," is composed of mem- 
 bers of three religious denominations. About 375 Sim- 
 day schools, including 2,000 teachers, 17,000 scholars, 
 and 20,000 volumes in their libraries, exist in the state, 
 
 RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal denomination is the most nu- 
 merous. The Illinois conference, which embraces the 
 whole state,(including some settlements in the Wiscon- 
 sin territory,) has five districts, fifty-six circuit preach- 
 ers, about twice th,e number of local preachers, and 
 13,421 members of the classes. They sustain preach- 
 ing in every county, and in a large number of the settle- 
 ments. 
 
 The Baptist denomination includes nineteen associa-
 
 90 A GAZETTEER 
 
 tions, one hundred and ninety-five associated, and five 
 unassociated churches, one hundred and forty-six preach- 
 ers, and 5,635 communicants. Eight hundred and sixty- 
 five persons were baptised and united with these church- 
 es in 1833. It is generally known that this denomina- 
 tion do not receive into their churches any but those 
 who profess to have obtained evidence of their spiritual 
 adoption into the Redeemer's family. Their preachers 
 usually follow some occupation for a livelihood, and 
 preach on Sabbaths and such other occasions only as 
 their circumstances admit. 
 
 The Presbyterian denomination will stand next in point 
 of numbers. They have one synod, five presbyteries, 
 fifty churches, and thirty-four preachers. The presby- 
 teries are located as follows : 
 
 1. Illinois Presbytery includes the counties of Morgan, 
 Green, and Macoupin, and has ten preachers, and nine 
 churches. 
 
 2. Sangamon Presbytery comprises all the country 
 above Morgan and east of the Illinois river, and west of 
 the Kaskaskia river, and has five preachers, and eight 
 churches. 
 
 3. Kaskaskia Presbytery takes in all the state south of 
 the northern boundary of Madison, Bond, and Fayette 
 counties, except Edwards and Wabash counties, and 
 has nine preachers, and nineteen churches. 
 
 4. Palestine Presbytery, (a new one) embraces all the 
 eastern side of the state, and north of White county, 
 and has four preachers, and nine churches. 
 
 5. Schuylcr Presbytery, (a new one) includes all the 
 country between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 91 
 
 to the northern boundary of the state. It has six preach- 
 ers, and five churches. I have not the means of know- 
 ing the exact number of the communicants in the Pres- 
 byterian connection. Their increase has been consi- 
 derable the last year, and they number probably more 
 than 1,500. 
 
 There are three or four Congregational churches orga- 
 nized in Illinois. 
 
 The Cumberland Presbyterians would come next by 
 numbers, but I am not able to give their exact number. 
 They have two or three presbyteries, twelve or fifteen 
 preachers, and several hundred communicants. 
 
 The Methodist Protestant denomination is increasing in 
 Illinois. There are three circuit and several local 
 preachers in the state. 
 
 The Cambellites, or "Reformers," as they usually term 
 themselves, have several large, and a number of smaller 
 societies. They have several traveling, and a number 
 of stationary preachers, and probably several hundred 
 members including the Christian body with which they 
 are in union. They immerse all who profess to believe 
 in Christ for the remission of sins, but differ widely 
 in doctrinal principles from the orthodox Baptists. 
 
 There are several societies of Seceders, and also of 
 Covenanters in Randolph, Perry, and Jefferson counties. 
 
 In McLean county is a society of United Brethren or 
 as some call them, Dutch Methodists. 
 
 The Dunkards have five or six societies and some 
 preachers in the state. 
 
 There are two or three Lutheran congregations, with 
 preachers.
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 There is also a small society of J\Iormons in Greeri 
 county. There are small societies of Friends or Qua* 
 kers in Tazewell and in Crawford counties. 
 
 The Roman Catholics are not numerous. Small con- 
 gregations exist about the old French villages, and in 
 some other parts of the state. 
 
 There is considerable expression of good feeling 
 amongst the different religious denominations, and the 
 members frequently hear the preachers of each other, 
 as there are but few congregations that are supplied 
 every Sabbath. The qualifications of the clergymen 
 are various. A number of them are men of talents, 
 learning, influence, and unblemished piety. Others have 
 had but few advantages in acquiring either literary or 
 theological information, and yet are good speakers and 
 useful men. 
 
 Some are very illiterate, and make utter confusion of 
 the word of God. Such persons are usually proud, con- 
 ceited, fanatical, and influenced by a spirit far removed 
 from the meek, docile, benevolent, and charitable spirit 
 of the gospel. 
 
 In general there are as many professors of religion, 
 of some description, in proportion to population, as in 
 most of the states. The number will not vary far from 
 35,000, or the proportion of one to eight. 
 
 PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 In all the new states and territories, the lands which 
 are owned by the general government, are surveyed and 
 sold under one general system. In the surveys, "men- 
 dian" lines are first established, running north from the
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 93 
 
 mouth of some noted river. These are intersected with 
 "base" lines. 
 
 There are five principal meridians in the land surveys 
 in the west. 
 
 The "First Principal Meridian" is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Miami. 
 
 The "Second Principal Meridian" is a line due north 
 from the mouth of Little Blue river, in Indiana. 
 
 The "Third Principal Meridian" is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Ohio. 
 
 The "Fourth Principal Meridian" is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Illinois. 
 
 The "Fi/lh Principal Meridian" is a line due north 
 from the mouth of the Arkansas. Each of these meri- 
 dians has its own base line. 
 
 The surveys connected with the third and fourth me 
 ridians, and a small portion of the second, embrace the 
 state of Illinois. 
 
 The base line for both the second and third principal 
 meridians commences at Diamond Island, in the Ohio, 
 opposite Indiana, and runs due west till it strikes the 
 Mississippi, a fetf miles below St. Louis. 
 
 All the townships in Illinois, south and east of the Illi- 
 nois river are numbered from this base line either north 
 or south. 
 
 The third principal meridian terminates with'the 
 northern boundary of the state. 
 
 The fourth principal meridian commences in the cen- 
 tre of the channel, and at the mouth of the Illinois river, 
 but immediately crosses to the east shore, and passes up 
 on that side, (and at one place nearly fourteen miles
 
 94 A GAZETTEER 
 
 distant,) to a point in the channel of the river, seventy- 
 two miles from its mouth. Here its base line com- 
 mences and extends across the peninsula to the Missis- 
 sippi, a short distance above Q,uincy. The fourth prin- 
 cipal meridian is continued northward through the mili- 
 tary tract, and across Rock river, to a curve in the 
 Mississippi at the upper rapids, in township eighteen 
 north,'^and about twelve or fifteen miles above Rock 
 Island. It here crosses and passes up the west side of 
 the Mississippi river fifty-three miles, and recrosses 
 mto Illinois, and passes through the town of Galena to 
 the northern boundary of the state. It is thence con- 
 tinued to the Wisconsin river and made the principal 
 meridian for the surveys of the territory, while the 
 northern boundary line of the state is constituted its 
 base line for that region. 
 
 Having formed a principal meridian with its corres- 
 ponding base line, for a district of country, the next 
 operation of the surveyor is to divide this into tracts of 
 six miles square, called "townships." 
 
 In numbering the townships east or west from a prin- 
 cipal meridian, they are called "ranges" meaning a 
 range of townships; but in numbering north or south 
 from a base line, they are called "townships." Thus a 
 tract of land is said to be situated in township four north, 
 in range three east, from the third principal meridian; 
 or as the case maybe. 
 
 Townships are subdivided into square miles, or tracts 
 of 640 acres each, called "sections." If near timber, trees 
 are marked and numbered with the section, township, 
 and range, near each sectional corner. If in a large
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 95 
 
 prairie, a mound is raised to designate the corner, and a 
 billet of charred wood buried, if no rock is near. Sec- 
 tions are divided into halves by a line north and south, 
 and into quarters by a transverse line. In sales, under 
 certain conditions, quarters are sold in equal subdivi- 
 sions of forty acres each, at one dollar and twenty-five 
 cents per acre. Any person, whether a native born ci- 
 tizen, or a foreigner, may puschase forty acres of the 
 richest soil, and receive an indisputable title, for fifty 
 dollars. 
 
 Ranges are townships counted either east or west from 
 meridians. 
 
 Townships are counted either north or south from their 
 respective base lines. 
 
 Fractions, are parts of quarter sections intersected 
 by streams or confirmed claims. 
 
 The parts of townships, sections, quarters, etc. made 
 at the lines of either townships or meridians are>called 
 excesses or deficiencies. 
 
 Sections, or miles square are numbered, beginning ID 
 the northeast corner of the township, progressively west 
 to the range line, and then progressively east to the 
 range line, alternately, terminating at the southeast 
 corner of the township, from, one to thirty-six, as in the 
 following diagram:
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 17 
 
 16* 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 30 
 
 29 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 
 26 
 
 25 
 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 I have been thus particular in this account of the 
 surveys of public lands, to exhibit the simplicity of a 
 system, that to strangers, unacquainted with the method 
 of numbering the sections, and the various subdivisions, 
 appears perplexing and confused. 
 
 A large tract of country in the north, and north east- 
 ern portion of this state is yet unsurveyed. This does 
 not prevent the hardy pioneers of the west from taking 
 possession, where the Indian title is extinct, as it is 
 
 Appropriated for schools in the township.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 97 
 
 now to all lands within this state. They risk the chance 
 of purchasing it when brought into market. 
 
 Land Offices and Districts. There, are eight land of- 
 fices in Illinois, in as many districts, open for the sale or 
 entry of public lands. 
 
 The Land District of Shawneetown, embraces that por- 
 tion of the state, bounded north by the base line, east 
 and south by the boundaries of the state, and west by 
 the third principal meridian. 
 
 Office for the entry and sale of lands at Shawneetown. 
 
 The Land District of Kaskaskia, is bounded north by 
 the base line, and comprehends all that part of the state 
 that lies between the third principal meridian and the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 Land office at Kaskaskia. 
 
 The Land District of Edwardsville, extends south to 
 the base line, east to the third principal meridian, north 
 to the line that separates the thirteenth and fourteenth 
 townships north, and west to the Mississippi. 
 
 Land office at Edwardsville. 
 
 The Land District of Vandalia, extends south to the 
 base line, east to the line between ranges eight and 
 nine, east of the third principal meridian, north to the 
 south line of Springfield district, and west to the third 
 principal meridian* 
 
 Land office at Vandalia. 
 
 The Land District of Palestine, extends south to the 
 northern boundary of the Shawneetown district, west 
 to the eastern boundary of Vandalia district, north to 
 the dividing line between townships sixteen and seven- 
 teen north, and east to the boundary of Indiana. 
 7
 
 93 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The Land District of Springfield, extends south to Ed- 
 wardsville district, east to the Palestine and Danville 
 districts, and north and west to the Illinois river. 
 
 The Land District of Quincy, embraces all the tract 
 of country between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, 
 and west of the third principal meridian. 
 
 The Land District of Danville includes that part of the 
 state to its northern boundary, which lies north of Pa- 
 lestine, and east of Springfield districts. 
 
 The officers in each land district are a register and 
 receiver, appointed by the president and senate, and 
 paid by the general government. 
 
 The land, by proclamation of the president, is first 
 offered for sale at auction, by half quarter sections. li 
 no one bids for it at one dollar and twenty-five cents 
 per acre or upwards, it is subject to private entry at 
 any time after, upon payment at the time of entry. No 
 credit is allowed. 
 
 In special cases congress has granted pre-emption 
 rights, where settlements and improvements have been 
 made on public lands previous to the public sale. 
 
 Pre-emption Rights confer the privilege only of pur- 
 chasing the tract containing improvements at one dollar 
 and twenty-five cents per acre, by the possessor, without 
 the risk of a public sale. 
 
 All lands in this state, purchased of the general go- 
 vernment, are exempted from taxation for five years 
 after purchase. 
 
 All lands owned by private citizens or corporate bo- 
 dies, and not exempted as above, are divided by law into 
 two classes for taxation, called ( [first and second rates. .''
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 First rate lands are taxed three dollars and twenty 
 cents per quarter section of one hundred and sixty 
 acres, per annum. Second rate lands are taxed two 
 dollars and forty cents per quarter section. Resident 
 and non resident land holders are taxed equally. 
 
 Residents owning lands in the different counties may 
 list the same and pay taxes in the counties where they 
 reside, or in the auditor's office, at their option. 
 
 Non residents must list their lands in the auditors 
 office. 
 
 Taxes of non residents are required to be paid into 
 the state treasury, annually, on or before the first o;' 
 September. If not paid at that time, a delinquent list 
 of all lands owned by non residents, on which taxes have 
 not been paid, is sent to the clerk of the county com- 
 missioners' court of the county where the land lies, and 
 a transcript of this list is to be published in some news- 
 paper, printed within the -state, at least sixty days pre- 
 vious to sale. 
 
 If the taxes are not paid to the clerk of the county 
 by the first Monday in March, so much of the land, as is 
 necessary to pay taxes and costs, is sold at the seat of 
 justice of the county. 
 
 Lands sold for taxes may be redeemed within two 
 years from the time of sale, by paying to the clerk of 
 the county for the use of the purchaser, double the 
 amount of taxes, interest, and costs for which the same 
 may have been sold. 
 
 Lands belonging to minor heirs may be redeemed at 
 any time before the expiration of one year from the 
 time the youngest of said heirs shall become of law- 
 ful age.
 
 100 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Military Bounty Lands. The lands which constitute 
 the Illinois military tract, given as a bounty to the sol- 
 diers in the last war with Great Britain, are included 
 within the peninsula of the Illinois and Mississippi 
 rivers, and extend on the fourth principal meridian, 
 from the mouth of the Illinois, one hundred and sixty 
 miles north. This tract embraces the counties of Cal- 
 hoim, Pike, Adams, Schuyler, McDonough, Warren. 
 Mercer, Knox, Henry, Fulton, Peoria, and a portion of 
 Putnam. 
 
 For a particular description, reference may be had to 
 each of these counties in part second. 
 
 In general terms however, this tract contains as much 
 good land, both timber and prairie, as any portion of 
 the state of equal extent. About three fifths of the 
 quarter sections have been appropriated as military 
 bounties. The remainder is to be disposed of in the 
 same 1 manner as other public lands. South of the base 
 line, which, passes across the tract through Schuyler 
 and Adams counties, the public lands have been offered 
 for sale. North of that line there is much excellent 
 (and yet for sale. 
 
 The disposition of so much of this fine country for 
 military purposes has very much retarded its settlement. 
 Most of the titles have long since departed from the 
 soldiers for whose benefit the donations were made. 
 Many thousand quarter sections have been sold by the 
 state for taxes, and are past redemption. Much of it 
 is in the hands of non residents, who hold it at prices 
 too exhorbitant to command sale. Some offer quit claim 
 deeds for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, but
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 101 
 
 many thousand acres may be purchased at fifty cents per 
 acre, the purchaser risking the security of his title. 
 Some have doubted the legality of these sales at auc- 
 tion for taxes, but able lawyers, and those who have in- 
 vestigated the business, have expressed, the opinion, 
 that "tax titles," are valid. Within the last two years 
 the military tract has received a great accession to its 
 population. 
 
 The following particulars may be of use to non resi- 
 dent landholders : 
 
 1. If persons have held lands in the military tract, or 
 in the state, and have not attended to paying the taxes 
 for more than two years, the land is sold and past re- 
 demption, unless there are minor heirs. 
 
 2. Every non resident land holder should employ an 
 agent within the state to pay his taxes, and take the 
 oversight of his property. 
 
 3. All deeds, conveyances, mortgages, or title papers 
 whatsoever, must be recorded in the "recorder's office," 
 in the county where the land is situated. Deeds and 
 title papers are not in force until filed in the recorder's 
 office. 
 
 4. The words "grant, bargain, and sell," whatever may 
 be the specific form of the instrument in other respects, 
 convey a full and bona fide title, to warrant and defend, 
 unless express provision is made to the contrary in the 
 instrument. 
 
 [See revised laws of Illinois, of 1833, art. "recorder," 
 page 510.1
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 HISTORY. 
 
 About 1670, the notion prevailed amongst the French 
 that visited Canada, that a western passage to the Paci- 
 fic ocean existed. They learned from the Indians that 
 far in the west there was a great river; but of its course 
 or termination they could learn nothing. They sup- 
 posed that this river communicated with the western 
 ocean. 
 
 To investigate this question, P. Marquette, a Jesuit, 
 and Joliet, were appointed by M. Talon, the intendant 
 of New France. Marquette was well acquainted with 
 the Canadas, and had great influence with the Indian 
 tribes. They conducted an expedition through the 
 lakes, up Green bay and Fox river, to the Portage, 
 where it approaches the Wisconsin, to which they pass- 
 ed, and descended that river to the Mississippi, which 
 they reached the 17th of June, 167.3. These were the 
 first Europeans that ever visited the "father of waters/' 
 They found a river much larger and deeper than it had 
 been represented by the Indians. Their regular jour- 
 nal was lost on their return to Canada, but from the ac- 
 count afterwards given by Joliet, they found the natives 
 friendly, and that a tradition existed amongst them of 
 the residence of a "Mon-e-to," or spirit, near the mouth 
 of the Missouri, which they could not pass. They turn- 
 ed their course up the Illinois, and were highly delight- 
 ed with the placid stream, and the woodlands and prai- 
 ries through which it flowed. They were hospitally re- 
 ceived and kindly treated by the Illinois, a numerous 
 nation of Indians who were destitute of the cruelty of
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 103 
 
 savages. The word "Illinois," or "Illini," is said by 
 Hennepin, to signify a "full grown man" This nation, 
 appears to have orignally possessed the Illinois country, 
 and also a portion west of the Mississippi. The nation 
 was made up of seven tribes: the Miamies, Michiga- 
 mies, Mascotins, Kaskaskias, Kahokias, Peorias, and 
 Tamarweds. 
 
 Marquette continued amongst these Indians with a 
 view to Christianize them; but Joliet returned to Ca- 
 nada and reported the discoveries he had made. 
 
 Several years elapsed before any one attempted to 
 follow up the discoveries of Marquette and Joliet. M. 
 de La Salle, a native of Normandy, but who had resided 
 many years in Canada, was the first to extend these 
 early discoveries. He was a man of intelligence, talents, 
 enterprise, and perseverance. After obtaining the 
 sanction of the king of France, he set out on his pro- 
 jected expedition, in 1678, from Frontenac, with Che- 
 valier Fonti, his lieutenant, and father Hennepin, a Je- 
 suit missionary, and thirty or forty men. 
 
 He spent about one year in exploring the country 
 bordering on the lakes, and in selecting positions for 
 forts and trading posts, to secure the Indian trade to 
 the French. After he had built a fort at Niagara, and 
 fitted out a small vessel, he sailed through the lakes to 
 Green -bay, then called the "Bay of Puants." From 
 thence he proceeded with his men in canoes toward* the 
 south end of lake Michigan, and arrived at the mouth of 
 the "river of the Miamis" in November, 1679. This is 
 thought to be Chicago. Here he built a fort, left eight 
 or ten men, and passed with the rest of his company
 
 104 A GAZETTEER 
 
 across the country to the waters of the Illinois river, 
 and descended that river a considerable distance, when 
 he was stopped for want of supplies. This was occa- 
 sioned by the loss of a boat which had been sent from 
 his post on Green bay. He was now compelled by ne- 
 cessity to build a fort, which, on account of the anxiety 
 of mind he experienced, was called Creve-cceur, or bro- 
 ken heart. 
 
 The position of this fort cannot now be ascertained, 
 but from some appearances, it is thought to have been 
 near Spring bay, in the north east part of Tazewell 
 county. 
 
 At this period the Illinois were engaged in a war with 
 the Iroquois, a numerous, warlike, and cruel nation, 
 with whom La Salle had traded, while on the borders 
 of Canada. The former, according to Indian notions 
 of friendship, expected assistance from the French; 
 but the interests and safety of La Salle depended upon 
 terminating this warfare, and to this object he directed 
 his strenuous efforts. The suspicious Illinois construed 
 this into treachery, which was strengthened by the ma- 
 licious and perfidious conduct of some of his own men, 
 and pronounced upon him the sentence of death. Im- 
 mediately he formed and executed the bold and hazard- 
 ous project of going alone and unarmed to the camp of 
 the Illinois, and vindicating his conduct. He declared 
 his innocence of the charges, and demanded the author. 
 He urged that the war should be terminated, and that 
 the hostile nations should live in peace. 
 
 The coolness, bravery, and eloquence of La Salle filled 
 the Indians with astonishment, and entirely changed
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 105 
 
 their purposes. The calmut was smoked, presents mu- 
 tually exchanged, and a treaty of amity concluded. 
 
 The original project of discovery was now pursued. 
 Father Hennepin started on the 23th of February, 1680, 
 and having passed down the Illinois, ascended the Mis- 
 sissippi to the falls of St. Anthony. Here he was taken 
 prisoner, robbed, and carried to the Indian villages, 
 from which he made his escape, returned to Canada by 
 the way of the Wisconsin, and from thence to France, 
 where he published an account of his travels. 
 
 La Salle visited Canada to obtain supplies, returned 
 to Creve-co3ur, and shortly after descended the Illinois, 
 and then the Mississippi, where he built one or two forts 
 on its banks, and took possession of the country in the 
 name of the king of France, and in honor of him called 
 it Louisiana. 
 
 One of these forts is thought to have been built on the 
 west side of the river, between St. Louis and Carondalet. 
 
 After descending the Mississippi to its mouth, he re- 
 turned to the Illinois, and on his way back left some of 
 his companions to occupy the country. This is supposed* 
 to have been the commencement of the villages of Kas- 
 kaskia and Cahokia, in 1633. La Salle went to France, 
 fitted out an expedition to form a colony at the mouth 
 of the Mississippi, sailed to the gulph of Mexico, but not 
 being able to find the mouths of that river, he commenced 
 an overland journey to his fort on the Illinois. On this 
 journey he was basely assassinated by two of his own 
 men.* 
 
 * La Salle appears to have discovered the Bay of St.
 
 106 A GAZETTEER 
 
 After the death of La Salle, no attempts to discover 
 the mouth of the Mississippi, were made till about 1699; 
 but the settlements in the Illinois country were gra- 
 dually increased by emigrants from Canada. 
 
 In 1712, the king of France, by letters patent, gave 
 the whole country of Louisiana to JM. Crosat, with the 
 commerceofthe country, with the profits of all the mines, 
 reserving for his own use one fifth of the gold and silver. 
 After expending large sums in digging and exploring for 
 the precious metals without success, Crosat gave up his 
 privilege to the king, in 1717. Soon after, the colony 
 was granted to the Mississippi company, projected by 
 Mr. Law, which took possession of Louisiana, and ap- 
 pointed M. Bienville governor. In 1719, La Harp com- 
 manded a fort with French troops not far from the mouth 
 of the Missouri river. 
 
 Shortly after, several forts were built within the pre- 
 sent limits of Illinois, of which fort Chartres was the 
 most considerable. By these means a chain of commu- 
 nication was formed from Canada to the mouth of the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 The oldest record or document in the state is at Kas- 
 kaskia, dated 1725. It is a petition to Louis XV. king 
 of France, asking a grant of common fields, commons, 
 etc.; stating their great sufferings the preceding year, 
 [1724] from the great flood which swept away all their 
 
 Bernard, and formed a settlement on the western side 
 of the Colarado, in 1635. 
 
 See J, Q. Adamses Correspondence with Don Onis. Pub. 
 Doc. firsf session 15th Congress, 1S18.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 107 
 
 improvements, and obliged the people to flee to the bluffs 
 opposite the village, and across the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 At the termination of hostilities between the French 
 and English, in 1763, the Illinois country, with Canada- 
 was ceded to the British government, and in 1765, capt.. 
 Sterling, of the royal Highlanders, took possession of Il- 
 linois. He was succeeded by major Farmer, who was 
 relieved by col. Reed, in 1766. The principal military 
 post and seat of government during these changes, was 
 at fort Chartres. The administration of col. Reed was 
 extremely unpopular with the inhabitants, and is said to 
 have been a course of military oppression. 1763 he was 
 succeeded by lieut. col. Wilkins, who established a 
 court of justice amongst the people, and appointed seven 
 judges to settle all matters relating to debts and pro- 
 perty. 
 
 They met for the first time at fort Chartres in De- 
 cember following, and continued to meet for business 
 monthly. Still the people were dissatisfied, and de- 
 manded the right of trial by jury, which was denied 
 them. 
 
 Affairs continued in this posture till the revolutionary 
 war, when the Virginia militia, under command of gen. 
 George Rodgers Clarke, made an excursion through the 
 Indian country, subjugated fort Chartres, Kaskaskia. 
 and other posts on the Mississippi, and then conducted 
 a successful expedition against Port Vincent, now Vin- 
 cennes. This was in 1778. 
 
 The same year the legislature of Virginia organized a 
 county in this remote region, called "Illinois" and ap- 
 pointed a magistrate over it with extensive powers
 
 103 A GAZETTEER 
 
 styled lieutenant governor. Timothy Demonbrun was 
 appointed to this office. 
 
 This territory was afterwards ceded by Virginia to 
 the United States, and formed a portion of the North 
 western territory, by whose authority the county of Il- 
 linois was divided, and the names of St. Clair and Ran- 
 dolph given. In 1800, it was included within the limits 
 of Indiana territory, and at that time the country that 
 forms the present state of Illinois contained about 3,000 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Many of the officers and soldiers that accompanied 
 general Clarke in his expedition, became enamored with 
 the country, returned with their families and formed the 
 early American settlements. Other persons settled in 
 Kaskaskia about the same time, to engage in the In- 
 dian trade. 
 
 In 1786, the Kickapoo, and other bands of Indians, 
 commenced their predatory warfare, which greatly har- 
 rassed the American settlers for the succeeding ten 
 years. 
 
 After 1800, the population increased considerably from 
 emigration. In 1809, a territorial government was form- 
 ed, and the population the next year amounted to 12,232. 
 
 During the last war between Great Britain and the 
 United States, Illinois, in common with other frontier 
 districts, felt the calamities of warfare. The defence 
 of the long line of frontier from the mouth of the Mis- 
 souri, across the territory to Shawncetown, depended 
 upon the energy and vigilance of the citizens, under the 
 able and indefatigable governor, the late Ninian Ed- 
 wards.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 109 
 
 In 1812, the territory, which had been under the go- 
 vernment of the governor and judges, entered upon the 
 second grade of territorial government, with a legisla- 
 ture, and a delegate in congress. 
 
 In 1818, the constitution was framed and Illinois was 
 received into the Union as the twenty-second state. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. 
 
 1. This state presents many inducements to those who 
 are emigrating to the west. It is now receiving large 
 accessions from the north, the south, and from Europe. 
 Many Germans have already entered it, and many more 
 are shortly expected. An English colony was formed 
 at Albion, in Edwards county, by Messrs. Birbeck and 
 Flowers, in 1818. 
 
 Morgan county contains many English families, who 
 came three or four years, since. In general they have 
 purchased lands, and are doing well. 
 
 Emigrants from New England, New York, Pennsyl- 
 vania, and Ohio, pour into the middle and northern 
 counties. 
 
 From the southern states there are hundreds visiting 
 Illinois monthly, to find convenient residences, and a 
 retreat from the inconveniences of slaveholding. 
 
 2. Farms, partially cultivated may be purchased, at 
 a reasonable price, in almost every county. The prices 
 vary from local situation, or factitious circumstances. 
 From two to ten dollars per acre, including improve- 
 ments, is the common range of prices.
 
 UO A GAZETTEER 
 
 3. In no part of the United States can uncultivated 
 land be rnade into farms with less labor than in Illinois, 
 An emigrant may purchase a quarter section for $200, 
 a proportionate supply of timbered and prairie land, 
 and have a large farm under cultivation in a short time. 
 His cattle, horses, and hogs will run upon the range 
 around him, and find feed nine months in the year, and 
 a small amount of labor will provide a supply of winter 
 food. Hundreds of families, who have not the means to 
 purchase, settle on public lands, make their farms and 
 live unmolested. Any laboring man, with reasonable 
 industry and economy, with a family, may arrive here 
 without any capital, and in a half a dozen years be the 
 owner of a good farm, with stock in abundance. The 
 prairies and woodland would furnish range until his 
 farm was made. 
 
 Those who have one or two thousand dollars to com- 
 mence with, have peculiar advantages. 
 
 4. Mechanics of every description, for the ordinary 
 purposes of life, find abundant encouragement. 
 
 I could name common mechanics, whom I knew when 
 apprentices, and who commenced business without a 
 cent of capital, but who now own property valued from 
 ten to twenty thousand dollars. They have gained it 
 by steady, persevering industry. And yet, no one 
 makes money rapidly, and grows rich suddenly. The 
 great secret of the accumulation of property in any 
 part of the "west," consists in the gradual rise of pro- 
 perty, by the advantageous application of manual labor. As 
 a general principle, with exceptions to particular places.
 
 Of ILLINOIS. 1 1 I 
 
 this rise of property in Illinois, the last ten years, hay 
 equalled from twenty-five to thirty per cent, per annum. 
 
 The following prices of articles and of labor in Illi- 
 nois, is the average of various parts: Brick, $4 per 
 thousand; laying do. and finding materials, $8 do. Pine 
 boards, seasoned in the vicinity of St. Louis and Alton, 
 from $25 to $30 per thousand feet; flooring boards at 
 the sawmills, li inch thick, $1 25 to $ I 50 per hundred; 
 weatherboards, from 80 to 100 cents; walnut boards, 
 for ceiling and furniture, $1 50; linden do. $1 25; 
 roofing, 75 cents. Nails, from 8 to 10 cents per Ib. 
 Glass, $5 and $6 per hundred square feet. 
 
 Common tradesmen usually receive $1 per day and 
 board. Framing buildings, from $1 25 to $1 75 per 
 square. Laying floors, rough, per square, 75 cents to 
 $1. Do. jointed, $1 50. Do. jointed and grooved, $o. 
 Do. jointed, grooved, and planed, $4 to $4 50 per square. 
 Making doors, 50 cents per pannel; window sash, 6 cents 
 per light. Putting on three coats of plaister, where ma- 
 terials are found, including hands to carry mortar, and 
 board, 12i cents per square yard. Oil costs by the 
 gallon $1. Common laborers on a farm receive about 
 $10 per month, or 50 cents per day. 
 
 5. Good school teachers, who will follow the employ- 
 ment, are much needed. The usual method is to pay 
 by the scholar per quarter. Prices for ordinary bran- 
 ches in the country settlements, including board, $2 and 
 $2 50 per scholar. Female teachers, for schools, are 
 enquired after. 
 
 6. The people of the west, and of Illinois, have much
 
 112 A GAZETTEER 
 
 plain, blunt, but sincere hospitality. Emigrants who 
 come amongst them with a disposition to be pleased 
 with the people and country, to make no invidious com- 
 parisons, to assume no airs of distinction, but to be- 
 come amalgamated with the people, where, of course, 
 erery thing is different to what they have been accus- 
 tomed, will be welcome.
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 GENERAL VIEW OF EACH COUNTY IN THE 
 STATE OF ILLINOIS, 
 
 ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 
 
 ADAMS COUNTY. 
 
 Adams County was organized from Pike county, in 
 1825, and is thirty miles long, with an average width 
 of twenty-eight miles, containing about 820 square 
 miles. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Hancock; east, by Schuyler 
 and a corner of Pike; south, by Pike; and west, by the 
 Mississippi river. 
 
 Its streams are Bear creek and branches, Cedar, Ty- 
 rer, Mill, Fall, and Pigeon creeks, on the western; and 
 the north and west forks of McKee's creek on its east- 
 ern border. 
 
 For quality of soil, well proportioned into timber and 
 prairie, it is second to none in the state. Few tracts of 
 country are equal, and none superior to the one on Bear 
 creek. 
 
 Its productions are similar to other counties in the 
 military district. The people in general are enterpri- 
 8
 
 114 A GAZETTEER 
 
 sing and industrious farmers. The population is about 
 4,200. Adams county is attached to the fifth judicial 
 circuit, and in connection with Hancock and Pike 3 sends 
 one senator and two representatives to the legislature. 
 The seat of justice is Quincy. 
 
 ALEXANDER COUNTY. 
 
 Alexander County lies at the south end of the state, 
 in the forks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which 
 wash its western, southern, and a portion of its eastern 
 borders. More than sixty miles of its western side are 
 along the curves and windings of the latter river. It has 
 a fertile soil, covered with a heavy growth of timber, 
 amongst which are oaks of various kinds, especially 
 white oak, cypress, poplar, walnut, hickory, some cher- 
 ry, elm, etc. and a tract of yellow pine in the north wes- 
 tern part. A reef of rocks of lime stone, intermixed with 
 sand stone, forming the grand chain of the Ohio, six miles 
 above America, is supposed to extend across this coun- 
 ty, (below the surface of the earth,) to the Mississippi 
 river. At least one third of the county is alluvion. 
 On Cash river, and near the mouth of the Ohio, the land 
 is inundated in times of Ligh water. Along the Missis- 
 sippi is an extensive tract of alluvial land, entirely 
 above high water. 
 
 The streams in this county are Cash river and branch- 
 es, Sexton's creek, and Clear creek. Cash river enter= 
 it at the north eastern part, passes in a circuitous course 
 through it, and enters the Ohio six miles above its mouth, 
 at Trinity. 
 
 Alexander county is about twenty-four miles long r
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 115 
 
 and upon an average width of eighteen miles, contain- 
 ing about 375 square miles. 
 
 Alexander county is attached to the third judicial 
 circuit, and sends one member to the house of represen- 
 tatives, and, with Union county, one member to the sen- 
 ate. Population about 1,680. It was formed from 
 Union county, in 1819. 
 
 The seat of justice is Unity. 
 
 BOND COUNTY. 
 
 Bond County was organized from Madison, in 1817. It 
 then embraced an extensive district of country, but 
 has since been reduced to an area of twenty miles long, 
 and eighteen miles wide, or 360 square miles. It has 
 Montgomery on the north, Fayette east, Clinton south, 
 and Madison on the west. 
 
 Shoal creek and its branches pass through the mid- 
 dle, and Hurricane fork waters the eastern portion of 
 this county. 
 
 It is duly proportioned into timber and prairie. In 
 some parts the latter is rather too level for convenience, 
 but is good, second rate land. The population generally 
 are industrious, frugal, and intelligent farmers. 
 
 Bond county sends one member to the house of repre- 
 sentatives, and, with Montgomery and Macoupen, one 
 to the senate. It belongs to the second judicial circuit* 
 Population about 3,930. 
 
 The seat of justice is Greenville,
 
 H6 A GAZETTEER 
 
 CALHOUN COUNTY. 
 
 Calhoun County was organized from Pike county, in 
 1825. It is a long and narrow strip of country lying in 
 the forks of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. It is 
 bounded on three sides by those rivers, and on the north- 
 ern end, by Pike county, and is thirty-seven and a half 
 miles long, and from three to ten miles in width from 
 one river to the other, making about 260 square miles. 
 The mouth of Bay creek is in the northern part of this 
 county, which affords a harbor and navigation for steam 
 boats seven miles. There are no other creeks worth 
 naming. Several fine prairies lie at the foot of the bluffs 
 on both sides of the county, amongst which are Illinois, 
 Salt, Belleview. On the rivers considerable tracts are 
 subject to inundation, and in the interior are bluffs, ra- 
 vines and sink holes. Still there are considerable tracts 
 of good land unoccupied, 
 
 The bottoms furnish excellent range for stock. Cat- 
 tle, beef, pork, corn, honey, and beeswax are its exports. 
 
 Formerly honey from the trees was obtained in pro- 
 fuse quantities. It grows more scarce as the popula- 
 tion increases. Calhoun belongs to the first judicial 
 circuit, and is connected with Mercer, McDonough, and 
 Warren, in electing a representative, and with the same 
 counties, with the addition of Schuyler, Fulton, Knox, 
 and Henry, in electing a senator. Population about 
 1,300. 
 
 Surrounded by rivers and low bottoms, Calhoun coun- 
 ty is less healthy than others on the military tract. 
 
 Coal, in large bodies, is found on the Mississippi in the 
 south part of the county. The seat of justice is Gilead-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 117 
 
 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 
 
 Champaign County was organized from the attached 
 part of Vermilion county, in February, 1833. It is 
 bounded, on the north, by a strip of country not belong, 
 ing- to any county; on the east, by Vermilion; on the 
 south, by Coles; and on the west, by Macon and McLean 
 counties. It is forty-eight miles square, and contains 
 sixty-four townships, or 2,304 square miles. The 
 streams., are the Salt Fork of the Vermilion of the Wa- 
 bash; the Vermilion of the Illinois; the Kaskaskia; and 
 the North Fork of the Sangamon; all of which take 
 their rise in this county and run in opposite directions. 
 Here are extensive prairies, indented with beautiful 
 groves of fine timber, of which Big grove, at the head of 
 Salt Fork, is the largest. Around these groves the prai- 
 ries are undulating, and very rich soil. 
 
 The settlements are not yet extensive. As an inte- 
 rior county, it will be further from market than 
 those situated either on the Wabash or Illinois, but is 
 well adapted to the growth of stock, and will be un- 
 doubtedly a healthy region. 
 
 Champaign county belongs to the fourth judicial cir- 
 cuit, and, with Vermilion county, sends one senator and 
 two representatives to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Urbanna. 
 
 CLARK COUNTY. 
 
 Clark County was formed from Crawford, county, in 
 1819; and is bounded on the north, by Edgar; on the east,
 
 118 A GAZETTEER 
 
 by Indiana and the Wabash river; south, by Crawford; 
 and west, by Coles. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles long, east and west; and twen- 
 ty-one miles broad, containing about 500 square miles. 
 
 Its streams are, the North Fork of the Embarras, 
 which crosses the north western part of the county; Mill 
 creek, and Big creek, which cross its north eastern part. 
 
 Walnut, Union, Dolson, and Parker's prairies are 
 found in this county. 
 
 At York, in the south eastern corner of the county, is 
 a steam saw and flouring mill. 
 
 Its exports are corn, pork, and beef cattle. From 
 45,000 to 60,000 bushels of corn are sent out annually. 
 
 Clark county has 4,000 inhabitants, sends one mem- 
 ber to the house of representatives, and, with Edgar, 
 one member to the senate. It belongs to the fourth 
 judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Darwin. 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 Clay County was formed from portions of Wayne, 
 Lawrence, Crawford, and Fayette, in 1824. 
 
 It is bounded, on the north, by Effingham and Jasper; 
 east, by Lawrence; south, by Wayne, and a corner of 
 Edwards; west, by Marion, and a corner of Fayette. 
 
 Its medium length is thirty miles; width, twenty-one 
 miles, containing about 620 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Little Wabash, and branches. 
 
 Probably two thirds of the surface is prairie of an in- 
 ferior quality. The streams usually overflow their 
 banks in freshets.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 119 
 
 Glay county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and 
 unites with Marion in sending one member to the house 
 of representatives, and also with Fayette in sending a 
 member to the senate. 
 
 Population, at the last census, 751; increase since, 
 probably about twenty per cent. 
 
 Its seat of justice is Maysmlle. 
 
 CLINTON COUNTY. 
 
 Clinton County was formed from Washington and a 
 portion of Bond, in December, 1824. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Bond; east, by Marion; south, 
 by Washington; and west, by St. Clair, and a corner of 
 Madison. 
 
 It is thirty miles long, and from fifteen to eighteen, 
 miles wide, containing about fourteen townships, or 500 
 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Kaskaskia river, which passes 
 through it, and its tributaries, Crooked, Shoal, and 
 Sugar creeks; and is about equally proportioned into 
 timber and prairie. 
 
 Much of the land in this and the adjacent counties is 
 not equal in quality to that further north. This is true 
 especially of the prairies. The soil is thinner, the sur- 
 face is less undulating, and farmers are subjected to 
 greater inconvenience from wet seasons. 
 
 The timber, where it abounds, is generally of a good 
 quality. 
 
 Clinton county belongs to the second judicial circuit.
 
 120 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and, with Monroe, one to the senate. 
 
 Population about 3,000. 
 
 The seat of justice is Carlyle. 
 
 COLES COUNTY. 
 
 Coles County was organized, in 1330, from Clark and 
 Edgar counties. 
 
 It lies in the eastern part of the state, and is bounde d 
 north, .by Champaign; east, by Edgar and Clark; south., 
 by Jasper, and a corner of Effingham; and west, by 
 Shelby and Macon counties. It i forty-eight miles 
 long, from north to south; and twenty six-miles wide on 
 a medium.-; containing about 1,248 square miles. 
 
 The Kaskaskia river passes through four townships 
 in its north western part; the Embarras runs its whole 
 length, with several branches; and the heads of the Lit- 
 tle Wabash afford fine mill streams, and settlements, in 
 its south western portion. 
 
 This county contains much excellent land, equal in 
 quality to the country on the Illinois river. 
 
 The northern, and a tract through the middle portions 
 of the county are prairies of considerable extent; but 
 the other parts are duly proportioned into timber and 
 prairie. 
 
 The timber is similar to the borders of the Kaskaskia; 
 and much of the prairie land is moderately undulating. 
 The south eastern part is rather wet or broken. 
 
 The streams are not large; they generally run over a 
 bed of sand, and afford many good mill seats. 
 
 Most of the settlements are of recent formation, but
 
 H 
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 121 
 
 its agricultural productions soon must exceed those of 
 any other county near the Wabash, and will find their 
 way to that river for market. 
 
 It belongs to the fourth judicial district, and sends 
 one member to the house of representatives, and, with 
 Clark and Edgar, one to the senate. 
 
 In 1S30, the population was about 1,200; now it is 
 equal to 4,000. 
 
 Pork, beef, cattle, and horses, will be the staple pro- 
 ductions. 
 
 The seat of justice is Charleston. 
 
 COOK COUNTY. 
 
 Cook County was organized January 15th, 1831, and is 
 bounded north, by the Wisconsin territory; east, by 
 lake Michigan; south, by Iroquois county; and west, by 
 La Salle. 
 
 It embraces a large tract of country, and doubtless 
 will be divided next legislature. Exclusive of the por- 
 tion of the lake, this county is about seventy miles long, 
 and forty miles wide. 
 
 It is watered by the Des Plaines, the north and south 
 branches of the Chicago, the Du Page, Au Sable, Hic- 
 kory creek, a portion of Fox river, and some smaller 
 streams. 
 
 Its surface is tolerably level, of a rich soil, with large 
 prairies, and the timber in groves. There is a fine body 
 of timber near the mouth of the Kankakee; and another 
 excellent body on the north fork of the Chicago, and 
 along the lake shore. 
 
 This county, and those adjacent, differ in several re-
 
 122 A GAZETTEER 
 
 spects from the country below. The small streams run 
 perennially, over rocky and gravelly beds, through the 
 prairies. The timber is not confined to the banks of the 
 streams, but exists in groves and strips, often on the di- 
 viding ridges between the water courses. The summers 
 are comparatively cooler, and the winters longer and 
 more severe. 
 
 Cook county is rapidly settling, chiefly by emigrants 
 from the northern states; and will be both a stock and 
 grain growing region. Its market will be through the 
 lakes to New York and Canada. 
 
 This county belongs to the fifth judicial district, and, 
 with Jo Daviess, Peoria, Putnam, and La Salle, sends 
 one senator and one representative to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Chicago. 
 
 CRAWFORD COUNTY. 
 
 Crawford County was formed, in 1316, and lies north 
 of Lawrence, east of Jasper, which, for judicial pur- 
 poses, is attached to it; south of Clark, and west of the 
 Wabash river, that separates it from Indiana. 
 
 It is twenty-one miles long* and eighteen miles broad, 
 containing 378 square miles. 
 
 Racoon, Hudson, Sugar, and La Motte creeks, are 
 small streams, that rise in this county, and run east into 
 the Wabash; its western border is watered by branches 
 of the Embarras. 
 
 La Motte prairie is a level and rich tract, admirably 
 adapted to the growth of corn. Its exports are similar 
 to other counties along the Wabash, consisting chiefly 
 of corn, beef, pork, and cattle.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 123 
 
 Crawford county sends one member to the house of 
 representatives, and, with Lawrence, one to the senate. 
 It is attached to the fourth judicial district. 
 
 A settlement of Friends, or Quakers, is found on the 
 western side of the county, near the Embarras. 
 
 The seat of justice is Palestine. 
 
 EDGAR COUNTY. 
 
 Edgar County was formed from Clark, in 1823, and is 
 bounded north, by Vermilion; east, by the state of In- 
 diana; south, by Clark; and west, by Coles county. 
 
 It is twenty-seven miles long, from north to south; 
 and twenty-four miles wide, from east to west, con- 
 taining eighteen townships, or about 648 square miles. 
 
 Edgar county is, watered by Big, Clear, and Bru- 
 lette's creeks, which are small streams, and enter the 
 Wabash. Little Embarras heads in the western and 
 south western part of this county, and runs south west 
 into Coles. 
 
 The south and east sides of this county are well tim- 
 bered with all the varieties found on the eastern side of 
 the state, including poplar. 
 
 The soil in general is rich, adapted to the various pro- 
 ductions of this state. Pork and beef, especially the 
 former, are its chief exports, which find a ready mar- 
 ket at Terre Haute and Clinton, Indiana. 
 
 At the census, in 1830, it had three water grist mills, 
 three water saw mills, three inclined plane ox mills, six 
 draught mills, three steam and three copper distilleries, 
 four tanneries, three spinning machines, one carding 
 machine, one pottery, twelve schools, eight stores, three
 
 ' A GAZETTEER 
 
 physicians, one lawyer, and a proportionate number of 
 mechanics. 
 
 It belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and sends one 
 member to the house of representatives, and, with Clark 
 and Coles, one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Paris. 
 
 EDWARDS COUNTY. 
 
 Edwards County was organized from Gallatin, in 1814. 
 It lies on the Little Wabash river, and has Lawrence 
 county on the noYth; Wabash county' east; White coun- 
 ty south; and Wayne county west. 
 
 It is twenty-two miles long, from north to south; and 
 an average width of seventeen miles, containing about 
 370 square miles, proportionably divided into timber and 
 prairie. 
 
 The prairies are small, high, undulating, and bound- 
 ed by heavy timber. The English settlement formed 
 by Messrs. Birbeck and Flowers is in this county. 
 
 Edwards county is watered by the Little Wabash 
 river, which runs along its western border; and the 
 Bon Pas, which forms its eastern boundary, and their 
 branches. 
 
 Its prairies are Boltenhouse, Burnt, Long, Bon Pas, 
 Village, Bush, and Mills, in all of which are flourishing 
 settlements. A settlement of about 60 families is in 
 the timbered country, in the south end of this county. 
 
 Edwards county is attached to the fourth judicial cir- 
 cuit; sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and, with Wabash and Wayne, one member to the se- 
 nate. The seat of justice is Albion.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 1:25 
 
 EFFINGHAM COUNTY. 
 
 EJfingham County was laid off by the legislature from 
 Fayette county, in 1831, but did not become organized 
 by the election of officers and the possession of countjr 
 privileges till the commencement of 1833. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Shelby, and a corner of Coles; 
 east, by Jasper; south, by Clay , and a corner of Fayette; 
 and west, by Fayette. It is twenty-four miles long, and 
 about twenty-one broad, containing 486. square miles. 
 It is watered by the Little Wabash river and its branch- 
 es, and contains good second rate land, tolerably level. 
 The bottom lands on the Little Wabash are rich, and 
 heavily timbered, but are inundated for a day, when 
 the river rises so as to overflow its banks. 
 
 Elfingham county, in union with Fayette, sends one 
 member to the house of representatives, and, with Fay- 
 ette, Marion, and Clay, one to the senate. It belongs 
 to the fourth judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Ewington. 
 
 FAYETTE COUNTY. 
 
 Fayette County was formed from Bond, Edwards, Craw- 
 ford, and Clark* in 1821, embracing a large extent of 
 territory, extending northward to the Illinois river, 
 which has since been formed into several counties. It 
 is situated on the Kaskaskia river, and is bounded north, 
 by Shelby; east, by Effingham; south, by Marion, and a 
 corner of Clinton; and west, by Bond and Montgomery. 
 It is about twenty-seven miles long, and twenty-four 
 broad, with an additional township at the south east
 
 i 26 A GAZETTEER 
 
 corner, and contains about 694 square miles. Van- 
 dalia the present seat of government for the state, is 
 situated towards the south western part. Besides the 
 Kaskaskia river, which passes through Fayette, it is 
 watered by Hurricane fork, Higgin's, Ramsey's, and 
 Beck's creeks on the west, and by Big and Hickory 
 creeks on the east. There is a heavy growth of timber 
 in several parts of this county, especially along the 
 Kaskaskia, and the Hurricane fork. Besides some prai- 
 ries of convenient size, intersected with points of tim- 
 ber, about twelve miles in width of the eastern side of 
 Fayette is in the Grand prairie. 
 
 The bottom lands of the Kaskaskia are low, subject 
 to inundation, and contain many small lakes and ponds. 
 The country around Vandalia is undulating and well 
 timbered, and the soil is second rate. 
 
 The principal settlements in Fayette are Hurri- 
 cane, Seminary township, Buckmaster'SjHall'sjBrown's, 
 Wakefield's, Haley's, and Big creek. 
 
 There are several grist mills propelled by water power 
 in the county, and a valuable steam saw mill at Van- 
 dalia. Fayette belongs to the second judicial circuit; 
 and, with Effingham, sends one member to the house of 
 representatives, and with Effingham, Marion, and Clay, 
 one to the senate. The population is estimated at 3,750. 
 
 The scat of justice is Vandalia. 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 Franklin Comity was formed out of Gallatin, White, 
 and an attached part of Jackson county, in 1818, and is 
 situated in the southern part of the state. It is boun-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 12? 
 
 ded north, by Jefferson county; east, by Hamilton and 
 Gallatin; south, by Johnson and Union; and west, by 
 Jackson and a corner of Perry counties. It is thirty- 
 six miles long and twenty- four miles wide; making 864 
 square miles. Franklin county is watered by Big- Mud- 
 dy river and branches, and the south fork of Saline 
 creek. The prairies are generally small and fertile, 
 but rather too level; the timber is good and in abund- 
 ance; the soil rather sandy. Its products are similar 
 to those counties adjoining > and it is capable of being- 
 made a rich agricultural county. 
 
 Franklin and Washington counties jointly send two 
 members to the house of representatives, and with Jack- 
 son county, one member to the senate. It is attached 
 to the third judicial circuit. 
 
 The county seat is Frankfort. 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 Fulton County was formed from Pike county, in 1825, 
 and is bounded north, by Knox, and a corner of Peoria; 
 east, by Peoria, and the Illinois river; south, by the Illi- 
 nois river, and Schuyler county; and west, by Schuyler 
 and McDonough counties. 
 
 The Illinois washes its south eastern side, and give* 
 it an irregular shape. The Spoon river passes through 
 it; and Otter creek waters the south western, and Co- 
 peras creek the north eastern portions. 
 
 It is from twenty-four to thirty miles long, from north 
 to south; and from twelve to twenty-eight miles broad, 
 containing about sixteen and a half townships, or 590 
 square miles,
 
 128 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Nearly one half of Fulton county is heavily timbered 
 with the varieties that abound on the military tract; and 
 much, both of its prairie and timbered land, is of an ex- 
 cellent quality. It is in general well watered; the 
 streams usually flow over a gravelly bottom, and furnish 
 many good mill seats. 
 
 Its productions are and will continue to be similar to 
 this region of country; and the Illinois and Spoon rivers 
 will afford facilities to market. This whole region on 
 the Illinois must shortly become a wealthy agricultural 
 country. 
 
 Fulton county belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, 
 and, with Knox and Henry, sends one member to the 
 house of representatives, and unites with five other 
 counties in sending one member to the senate. Popu- 
 lation about 1,700. 
 
 County seat, Lewiston. 
 
 GALLATIN COUNT V. 
 
 Gallalin County joins the Wabash and the Ohio, in the 
 southeastern co'rnerof the state, and was organized, in 
 1912. It is bounded north, by White county; east, by 
 the states of Indiana and Kentucky; south, by Pope 
 county; and west, by Pope and Franklin counties. 
 
 It is from twenty-four to thirty miles long, and with a 
 medium width of twenty-four miles, containing about 
 880 square miles. 
 
 Its eastern boundary is washed by the Wabash and 
 Ohio rivers, and the interior watered by the Saline 
 creek and its tributaries. 
 
 Sand predominates in the soil of this part of the state.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 129 
 
 The basis rock generally is sand stone, lying probably 
 upon a stratum of clay slate. 
 
 This county is mostly covered with timber, amongst 
 which are various kinds of oak, walnut, poplar, mulber- 
 ry, hickory, beech, cypress, and the other kinds found in 
 this part of the state. 
 
 The salines, in the vicinity of Equality, are sources 
 of inexhaustible wealth; and, besides the home con- 
 sumption, furnish large quantities of salt for exporta- 
 tion. 
 
 Other articles of export, are horses, beef, pork, cat- 
 tle, lumber, some tobacco, etc. About one half of the 
 salt manufactured at the salines is exchanged for corn, 
 corn meal, flour, beef, pork, potatoes, and every species 
 of produce raised in the country, to support the esta- 
 blishment. 
 
 This part of the state is well adapted to the growth of 
 stock. 
 
 Gallatin county contains about 7,800 inhabitants. It 
 is attached to the third judicial circuit, and sends two 
 members to the house of representatives, and one mem- 
 ber to the senate. 
 
 Shawneetown is an important commercial town on 
 the Ohio. 
 
 The seat of justice is Equality. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 Greene County was formed from Madison, in January, 
 1821; and is bounded on the north, by Morgan; east, by 
 Macoupen; south, by Madison and the Mississippi river; 
 9
 
 130 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and west by the Illinois river, which separates it from 
 Calhoun and Pike counties. 
 
 Its medium length is thirty-eight miles ; width, twen- 
 ty-four miles; superficial contents 912 square miles. 
 The Illinois and Mississippi washes its western and a 
 portion of its southern borders ; Apple and Macoupen 
 creeks pass through it. 
 
 The banks of the Mississippi in the southerly parts of 
 this county are generally composed of perpendicular 
 cliffs, varying in height from 80 to 200 feet, consisting 
 of horizontal strata of lime and sand stone ; frequent- 
 ly imbedded with coal. The latter does not show itself 
 at the face of the cliffs, but is found in great abundance 
 a short distance from it. These cliffs commence at Al- 
 ton, and extend along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers 
 to the northern part of the county; sometimes, however, 
 receding several miles east, leaving a low and fertile 
 alluvion which is usually timbered on the banks of the 
 river, and a prairie surface towards the bluffs. 
 
 Greene county has much excellent land, both timber 
 and prairie ; the surface approaches nearer to a level 
 than the counties further north, with proportionate 
 quantities of timber and prairie. The population at the 
 last census was 7,871 ; the increase since would make 
 the present number about 10,000. 
 
 Greene county is attached to the first judicial circuit, 
 and sends three members to the house of representa- 
 tives, and one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Carrollton.
 
 'OF ILLINOIS. 131 
 
 HAMILTON COUNTY. 
 
 Hamilton County was formed from White county, in 
 1821, and is bounded north, by Wayne ; east, by White ; 
 south, by Gallatin ; and west, by Franklin and Jefferson 
 counties. It is twenty-one miles long, and eighteen 
 broad, area 378 square miles. 
 
 This county is watered by branches of the Saline 
 creek, and Little Wabash river, and contains a large, 
 proportion of timbered land. The soil generally is se- 
 cond and third rate, with a considerable tract of swamp 
 in the northern part of the county. 
 
 Hamilton county belongs to the third judicial circuit ; 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Jefferson county, one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is JWcLeansboro'. 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY. 
 
 Hancock County was formed from Pike county, in 1825. 
 It is thirty miles in length, and from twenty-four to 
 thirty-two miles broad, containing about 775 square 
 miles. 
 
 It lies north of Adams, west of McDonough, south of 
 Warren, and is washed by the Mississippi on. its west- 
 ern side. 
 
 Hancock prairie, from twelve to twenty miles in width , 
 runs from south to north through this county. On the 
 east, it is watered by the branches of Crooked creek; 
 and on the south west, by Bear; and on the north west, 
 by Camp creek. This county in the aggregate is defi- 
 cient ia timber. The banks of Bear creek furnish a
 
 132 A GAZETTEER 
 
 supply for that portion of the county. A strip lines the 
 bank of the Mississippi, in some places of considerable 
 width and of excellent quality in other places narrow 
 and of inferior quality. A tolerably dense settlement 
 extends along the line of this timber. Crooked creek 
 furnishes a due proportion of timber and prairie, and a 
 body of excellent land. 
 
 Hancock county belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, 
 and in connection with Adams and Pike counties, sends 
 one senator and two representatives to the legislature. 
 
 The county seat is Carthage. 
 
 HENRY COUNTY. 
 
 The boundaries of this county hare been designated, 
 but fpr judicial purposes it is attached to Knox county. 
 Its population is small, amounting, perhaps, to fifty 
 families. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Rock river, which separates it 
 from Jo Daviess county; east, by Jo Daviess and Put- 
 nam counties, south, by Knox; and west, by Mercer and 
 Rock Island counties. It is thirty miles long east and 
 west, and about twenty-eight miles broad, area 800 
 square miles. It is watered by Edwards, and some of 
 the head branches of Spoon river, Rock river, and the 
 Winnebago swamp and outlet. 
 
 About the Big grove, Fraker's settlement, and on Ed- 
 wards river is considerable good land, but in general 
 Henry county is not equal to the counties contiguous. 
 The Winnebago swamp spreads along its northern side ; 
 and there is considerable level, wet, swampy land be-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 133 
 
 tween the waters that fall into Mississippi and those 
 that flow to the Illinois. 
 
 There is good land enough within its borders to make 
 a respectable county, and it will be organized by an or- 
 der of court as soon as 350 inhabitants are within its 
 boundaries. 
 
 IROQUOIS COUNTY. 
 
 This county was laid off by the legislature, in 1833, 
 but for judicial purposes is attached to Vermilion coun- 
 ty. It is bounded on the north, by Cook county ; east, 
 by the state of Indiana; south, by Vermilion county ; 
 and west, by an irregular strip of country, left out of 
 the jurisdiction of any county. 
 
 It is about sixty miles long and thirty-six broad, 
 containing about 2,160 square miles. 
 
 Kankakee, Iroquois, and Sugar creeks are its large 
 water courses. A large proportion of this county is 
 prairie; the timber is in groves, and strips along the 
 streams. 
 
 Settlements have been formed to some extent on Iro- 
 quois and Sugar creeks. There are many sand ridges 
 and plains in this region, but considerable portions of 
 prairie are very rich. It will be organized by order of 
 court when evidence is presented that there are 350 
 inhabitants within its boundaries. 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 Jackson County was formed from Randolph and John- 
 son, in 1816. It is situated on the Mississippi, and has 
 Randoloh cotmtv on the north. Franklin east. Union
 
 134 A GAZETTEER 
 
 south, and the Mississippi river and a portion of Ran- 
 dolph west. It is twenty-four miles from north to south, 
 and from eighteen to twenty-eight miles from east to 
 west, its area is about 576 square miles. This county 
 is watered by Muddy river and its tributaries. 
 
 On this stream, near Brownsville, is a saline where 
 considerable quantities of salt are manufactured. 
 
 Jackson county is generally a timbered tract of coun- 
 try, except towards its north eastern part where are 
 some fine prairies. The timber in this county and 
 along the Muddy, is of the various kinds common to this 
 portion of the state, as oaks of several species, hickory, 
 elm, poplar, walnut, sugar maple, etc. 
 
 Its exports are salt, coal, pork, beef, horses, etc. 
 The salt and coal business of this county are noticed 
 under the head of manufactures. 
 
 Jackson county belongs to the third judicial circuit, 
 and sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and, with Franklin and Washington, one member to the 
 senate. Population about 2,500. 
 
 County seat Brownsville. 
 
 JASPER COUNTY. 
 
 Jasper County was formed out of Crawford, and small 
 portions of Lawrence and Clay, in 1831, but never yet 
 has been organized. For judicial purposes it has been 
 attached to Crawford, to become organized by the order 
 of the judge of that circuit, when the population shall 
 amount to 350. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Coles ; east, by Crawford ; 
 south, by Lawrence and Clay; and west, by a corner
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 135 
 
 of Clay, and Effingham. It is twenty-three miles long, 
 and twenty-one wide, and contains about 488 square 
 miles. The Embarras runs through it, and the Muddy 
 Fork of the Little Wabash waters its western side. 
 Much of the prairie and timbered land of this county 
 is level, wet, and of an inferior quality. The settle- 
 ments are small, amounting to fifty or sixty families. 
 
 On the North Fork and the main Embarras are some 
 good tracts of fertile soil. 
 
 The county seat when selected and located, will be 
 called Newton. 
 
 JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
 
 Jejferson County was organized from Edwards and 
 White counties, in 1819. It is bounded on the north, 
 by Marion; east, by Wayne and Hamilton; south, by 
 Franklin; and west, by Perry and Washington. It is 
 twenty-four miles long and the same in width, contain- 
 ing 576 square miles. 
 
 Jefferson county is watered by several branches of 
 the Big Muddy, which head in this county, and a small 
 branch of the Little Wabash. 
 
 The soil is tolerable second rate land, about one third 
 prairie; the timbered land is covered with various kinds 
 of oak, hickory, elm, sugar tree, etc. 
 
 Its productions find their market either at Shawnee- 
 town or St. Louis. Its prairies, all of which contain 
 good settlements, are Casey's, Jordon's, Moore's, Wal- 
 nut Hill, Arm of Grand, and Long prairie. Its streams 
 are East, Middle, and West Forks of Big Muddy river, 
 and Adams's branch of Skillet Fork.
 
 136 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Jefferson county is attached to the third judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and, with Hamilton county, one member to the 
 senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Mount Vernon. 
 
 JO DAVIESS COUNTY. 
 
 Jo Damess County was formed in 1827, and embraces 
 an extensive tract in the north western part of the 
 state, including that portion of the lead mine region 
 which lies within the boundaries of Illinois. 
 
 It has Iowa county, of the Wisconsin territory, on the 
 north; Rock river, which divides it from the northern 
 portions of La Salle and Cook counties, on the east; 
 Putnam, Henry, and Rock Island counties, on the south: 
 and the Mississippi river west. 
 
 It is watered by Fever river, Apple, Rush, and Plum 
 creeks, Pee-ka-ton-o'kee, and some smaller streams. 
 
 This county is rich, both for agricultural and mining 
 purposes. Lead and copper are in abundance here. Like 
 all the northern part of Illinois, timber is scarce. The 
 surface is undulating in some places hilly well water- 
 ed, both with springs and mill streams. 
 
 The timber is in groves, and upon the margins of the 
 streams. This must be eventually a rich and flourishing 
 portion of Illinois, and will doutless be formed into seve- 
 ral counties, when it becomes spread over with a suffi- 
 cient population. 
 
 The county was named in honor of the late general 
 Joseph H. Daviess, of Kentucky, who gallantly fell, in 
 the disastrous battle of Tippacanoe, in 1811. It was
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 137 
 
 bad taste, however, in the legislature, to affix the ap- 
 pellation of Jo to a name that has received marked re- 
 spect in the western states. 
 
 The chief export of this region is lead; but it is a fine 
 country for both grain and stock. 
 
 Jo Daviess county is attached to the fifth judicial dis- 
 trict, and, with Peoria, Putnam, La Salle, and Cook, 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and 
 one member to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Galena. 
 
 JOHNSON COUNTY. 
 
 Johnson Comity was organized from Randolph, in 1812, 
 and is situated in the southern part of the state. It is 
 bounded north, by Franklin; east, by Pope; south, by the 
 Ohio river; and west, by Union and Alexander counties. 
 
 It is from twenty-five to thirty miles long; breadth, 
 eighteen; its area, about 486 square miles. 
 
 The interior of the county is watered by Cash river 
 and Big Bay creek. Between these streams and ten or 
 or twelve miles from the Ohio river, which washes its 
 southern boundary, are a line of ponds, interspersed 
 with ridges and islands of rich land; and at high water, 
 a large current passes out of Big Bay into Cash river. 
 
 On the south side of these ponds is very rich land, 
 with a string of settlements; but an unhealthy region. 
 Between this tract and the Ohio river, is a tract of bar- 
 rens and timber, with a tolerably good soil, but not 
 much population. A line of settlements contiguous to 
 the Ohio river extend through the county. 
 
 Johnson county contains considerable quantities of
 
 138 A GAZETTEER 
 
 good land, tolerably level, well timbered, and inclining 
 to a sandy soil. The principal timber in this region, is 
 cypress, sugar maple, oaks of various species, hickory, 
 sweet gum, with some poplar, elm, walnut, and cedar. 
 
 Johnson county sends one member to the house of re- 
 presentatives, and, with Pope, one to the senate. It 
 belongs to the third judicial district. 
 
 The seat of justice is Vienna. 
 
 KNOX COUNTY. 
 
 Knox County is bounded north, by Henry; east, byPeo- 
 ria, and a corner of Putnam; south, by Fulton; and west, 
 by Warren. 
 
 It is thirty miles long, and from twenty-four to thirty 
 miles broad, containing 792 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Henderson and Spoon rivers, and 
 their tributaries. 
 
 The prairies in this county are large and generally of 
 the best quality; and there are several large and excel- 
 lent tracts of timber on the water courses. The soil in 
 general is of the first quality. 
 
 Knox county was laid off by the legislature in a gene- 
 ral distribution of counties on the military tract, in Ja- 
 nuary, 1825, though not organized for judicial purposes 
 till about five years after. 
 
 In representation it is attached to several other coun- 
 ties in this part of the state, and belongs to the fifth ju- 
 dicial circuit. Population, about 1 5 000. 
 
 County seat, Knoxville.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 139 
 
 LA SALLE COUNTY. 
 
 La Salle County was formed in 1831. It lies west of 
 Cook; north of McLean; and east of Putnam, embra- 
 cing a fine tract of country on both sides of the Illinois 
 river about the rapids. 
 
 It is forty-eight miles in extent, containing 2,304 
 square miles. 
 
 Besides the Illinois river, which passes through it, 
 Fox river, Big and Little Vermilion, Crow creek, An 
 Sable, Indian creek, Mason, Tomahawk, and several 
 smaller streams water this county. In general, the 
 streams in this part of the state run over a rock or gra- 
 velly bed, and have but few alluvial bottoms near them. 
 
 Like the adjacent counties, La Salle is deficient in 
 timber; but contains abundance of rich, undulating, dry 
 prairie, fine mill streams, extensive coal beds, and must 
 eventually become a rich county. Its situation will 
 enable the population to send off their produce either by 
 the Illinois river to a southern market, or by the lakes 
 to the north. 
 
 La Salle county belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, 
 and, with Jo Daviess, Putnam, Peoria, and Cook, sends 
 one senator and one representative to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Ottawa. 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 Lawrence County was formed in 1821, from a part of 
 Edwards and Crawford, and is situated on the eastern 
 side of the state, opposite Vincennes. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Crawford, and a corner of Jas-
 
 140 A GAZETTEER 
 
 per; east, by the Wabash river; south, by Wabash and 
 Edwards counties; and west, by Clay. 
 
 It is twenty miles across, north and south, and a me- 
 dium length of twenty-eight miles, containing about 
 560 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Embarras river, and Racoon 
 creek, which pass through it, and Fox river on its west- 
 ern border. The banks of these streams are low and 
 subject to inundation. 
 
 In the low prairies, near the Wabash, are swamps 
 and slovs, known by the name of "purgatory," which, 
 in a wet season, are miry, and extremely unpleasant to 
 the traveler. Over some of these, bridges and levees 
 are now constructed. In a dry season, the water evapo- 
 rates, and the ground becomes firm. 
 
 Lawrence county contains about an equal proportion 
 of timber and prairie, some of which is inferior land, and 
 other portions of an excellent quality. 
 
 Its exports are corn, beef, pork, cattle, etc. much of 
 which is sent down the big Wabash in flat boats to New 
 Orleans. 
 
 This county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Crawford, one to the senate. 
 
 The county seat is Lawrencemlle. 
 
 MACON COUNTY. 
 
 Jtfacon County was formed from the attached part of 
 Shelby , in 1829, and is bounded north, by McLean; east, 
 by Champaign and Coles; south, by Shelby; and west, 
 by Sangamon.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 141 
 
 It is thirty-nine miles long, and thirty-six broad, 
 containing 1,404 square miles. 
 
 The south eastern portion is watered by the Kaskaskia 
 and its tributaries; the middle and northern portions by 
 the North Fork of the Sangamon; and the north western 
 part by Salt creek. 
 
 There is much first rate land in Macon county. Some 
 of the prairies are large, and, in the interior, level and 
 wet; but generally dry, rich, and undulating near the 
 timber. 
 
 Macon county is attached to the first judicial circuit, 
 and is united with Shelby county in its representation. 
 The population is estimated at 1,500. 
 
 The county seat is Decatur. 
 
 MADISON COUNTY. 
 
 Madison County was organized from St. Clair county, 
 in 1812, and then embraced a large portion of the state. 
 It is now bounded north, by Greene, Macoupen, and a 
 corner of Montgomery counties; east, by Bond, and a 
 corner of Clinton; south, by St. Clair; and west, by the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles from north to south; and from 
 twenty-eight to thirty-six miles from east to west, and 
 contains about 750 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Silver and Cahokia creeks, and Wood 
 river, and their branches. 
 
 A portion of this county lies in the American bottom, 
 but much of it is high, undulating, and proportionably di- 
 vided into timber and prairie.
 
 142 
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Settlements were formed in this county about thirty 
 vears since. Coal, and building stone, are abundant. 
 Around Alton, and along Wood river, andCahokia creek, 
 is one of the finest bodies of timber in this part of 
 
 state. 
 
 ' The prairies are very advantageously situated for set- 
 tlements, and will soon be covered with well cultivated 
 farms. Wheat, corn, beef, pork, horses, cattle, and a 
 most every production of Illinois, are raised 
 county, and find a ready market. 
 
 Madison county belongs to the second judicial circuit 
 and sends one senator and two representatives t 
 legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Edwardsville. 
 
 MACOUPEN COUNTY. 
 
 Jtocoupen County was organized from the attached por- 
 tion of Greene county, in 1329. It is bounded north, by 
 Sangarnon and Morgan; east, by Montgomery; south, by 
 Madison; and west, by Greene. It is thirty-six mile 
 long, from north to south; and twenty-four miles broad, 
 containing 864 square miles. 
 
 The Macoupen creek and its branches water the mid 
 die and western parts, the Cahokia creek the south east- 
 ern, and the heads of Wood river and Piasau, the 
 western parts of the county. 
 
 Some of the prairies on the eastern side are large, le 
 vel, and wet; but a large portion of the county is , 
 lent soil, and well proportioned into timber and prai 
 and rapidly settling. About one third of the county u 
 timbered land. It is an excellent agricultural county,
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 143 
 
 and will soon produce large quantities of pork, beef 
 wheat, etc. which will naturally reach the market at 
 Alton. 
 
 Macoupen county sends one member to the house of 
 representatives, and, with Bond and Montgomery one 
 to the senate. The county seat is Carlinville. 
 
 MARION COUNTY. 
 
 Marion County lies in the interior of the state, and is 
 bounded north, by Fayette; east, by Clay, and a corner 
 of Wayne; south, by Jefferson; and west, by Clinton, 
 and a corner of Fayette. 
 
 It was formed from Jefferson and Fayette counties 
 in 1823, is twenty-four miles in extent, and contains' 
 576 square miles. 
 
 ^ Marion county embraces the southern part of the 
 Grand prairie, and is watered by Crooked creek, and 
 the East Fork of the Kaskaskia, on its western, and 
 Skillet Fork on its eastern side. 
 
 It has considerable land of second quality; about one 
 third timber, and the rest, prairie. Considerable post 
 oak timber is found in this county. 
 
 Marion county is attached to the third judicial cir- 
 cuit, sends one member to the house of representatives 
 and, with Fayette and Clay, one member to the senate. 
 The county seat is Salem. 
 Increase of population, fifteen per cent. 
 
 McDONOUGH COUNTY. 
 
 McDonough County was formed from Pike county, in 
 1825, but not organized till 1829. It is situated in the
 
 144 A GAZETTEER 
 
 centre of the military tract; is bounded north, by War- 
 ren; east, by Fulton; south, by Schuyler; and west, by 
 Hancock. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles square, with an area of six- 
 teen townships, 576 square miles, and 368,640 acres. 
 
 Crooked creek and its branches water most of this 
 tract. The eastern side of McDonough county for eight 
 or ten miles in width is prairie; the remainder is suita- 
 bly proportioned into timber and prairie, of the richest 
 quality. A tract of country, fifteen or twenty miles 
 square, taken from the eastern side of Hancock and the 
 western half of McDonough, is not excelled for agricul- 
 tural purposes by any portion of the great valley. 
 
 Most of the streams have good mill seats for a portion 
 of the year. 
 
 McDonough county is attached to the fifth judicial cir- 
 cuit, and is united with several other counties in its re- 
 presentation. 
 
 The population is rapidly increasing. 
 
 The seat of justice is Macomb. 
 
 MCLEAN COUNTY. 
 
 McLean County has La Salle on the north; an irregu- 
 lar strip of country, and a corner of Champaign county, 
 east; Macon, south; Sangamon touches it on the south 
 west; and Tazeweli lies west. 
 
 It is forty-eight miles long, and forty-two broad, 
 having fifty-six townships, or 1,916 square miles. 
 
 One third of the eastern, and a portion of the north- 
 ern side of this county is one vast prairie, and yet it has
 
 or ILLINOIS. 145 
 
 large tracts of the finest timbered land in the state. 
 The timber is beautifully arranged in groves of various 
 shapes and sizes, from those of fifteen or eighteen square 
 miles, down to those of a few acres. 
 
 McLean county is watered by the Mackinaw, Kicka- 
 poo, Sugar creek, and Salt creek, all which take their 
 rise in the prairies of this county. The heads of the 
 Vermilion river of the Illinois are found in the north 
 eastern corner, and those of Sangamon are on the east- 
 ern skirts. These streams furnish good mill seats when 
 the water is not too low. 
 
 The country is elevated, moderately undulating, and 
 of a rich soil. Where timber exists it is usually of ex- 
 cellent quality. Here are to be found oak of various 
 species,walnut,hickory,ash, sugar maple, elm,hackber- 
 ry, linden, cherry, and many other kinds. Papaw is 
 frequently amongst the smaller growth. 
 
 Of the minerals, limestone is found on the branches of 
 the Vermilion. Granite, in detached masses, or bould- 
 ers, called by the settlers "lost rocks," and used for 
 mill stones, are plentifully scattered over the country. 
 Coal is found in several settlements. 
 
 McLean county belongs to the first judicial circuit^ 
 and with Tazewell county, sends one member to each 
 branch of the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Bloomington. 
 
 MERCER COUNTY. 
 
 Mercer County lies north of Warren; west of Henry; 
 and south of Rock Island counties, and has the Missis- 
 sippi on its western side. 
 
 10
 
 146 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is watered by Pope and Edwards rivers, along which 
 are excellent tracts of land and some fine timber. Along 
 the Mississippi, and the borders of its rivers there IB 
 plenty of timber; but its middle and eastern portions 
 have extensive tracts of prairie. 
 
 Owing to the late Indian war, the population is limit- 
 ed to a few families. Doubtless it will contain the re- 
 quisite number, in a year or two to become organized. 
 It is said by those who have resided in this and the ad- 
 joining counties, that the seasons are more uniform than 
 in the counties further south. Winter is more uniform 
 and severe; but the frosts of spring and autumn do not 
 interrupt the labor of the husbandman as much as in the 
 region of St. Louis. 
 
 MONROE COUNTY. 
 
 Monroe County was formed out of Randolph and St.- 
 Clair counties, in 1816. It is bounded north, by St. Clair 
 east, by St. Clair and Randolph; south, by Randolph; and 
 west by the Mississippi. Its shape is quite irregular^ 
 its average length is twenty miles; average width eigh- 
 teen miles, containing about 360 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Horse, Prairie de Long, and Eagle 
 creeks. The American bottom, uhich is alluvion, runs 
 through the county adjacent to the Mississippi, and is 
 divided into timber and prairie. On the bluffs, the 
 country is hilly and broken, with sink holes. Around 
 Waterloo, and New Design, and on the eastern border 
 of the county, is considerable good land, and a mixture 
 of timber and prairie. 
 Monroe county is attached to the second judicial cir-
 
 OP ILLINOIS. 147 
 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and, with Clinton county, one to the senate . 
 The seat of justice is Waterloo. 
 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 
 
 Montgomery County was formed from Bond, in 1921. It 
 is bounded north, by Sangamon; east, by Shelby and 
 Fayette; south, by Bond; and west, by Madison and Ma- 
 coupen counties. 
 
 It is thirty-four miles long, with an average width of 
 twenty-seven miles, and has about 960 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by Shoabcreek and its branches, some of 
 the heads of the Maooupen, a branch of the Stmth Fork of 
 the Sangamon, and the Hurricane Fork, and is propor- 
 tionably divided into timber and prairie. The surface 
 is generally high and undulating. 
 
 Montgomery county belongs to the second judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and, in connection with Bond and Macoupen, one 
 to the senate. \ 
 
 The seat of justice is Hillsboro', 
 
 MORGAN COUNTY. 
 
 Morgan County , one of the most flourishing counties ia 
 the state, lying on the east side of the Illinois river, was 
 formed from the attached part of Greene, in January, 
 1823. 
 
 It is bounded north, and east, by Sangamon; south, by 
 Macoupen and Greene; and west, by the Illinois river, 
 which separates it from Pike and Schuyler. It is thirty"
 
 148 A GAZETTEER 
 
 six miles long; medium width, thirty; area, 1,114 square 
 miles. 
 
 The Illinois river washes its western border; Indian, 
 Mauvaiseterre, Apple, Sandy, and several smaller creeks 
 rise within its borders, and pass through it, furnishing 
 many good mill seats. 
 
 Morgan county is destined to become one of the rich- 
 est agricultural counties in the state. In 1821, the 
 tract of country embraced within the limits of this 
 county, contained only twenty families. In 1625, its 
 population was 4,052; in 1830, it was 13,281; and now, 
 [Feb. 1834] is estimated at 25,000. 
 
 It is well proportioned into timber and prairie, well 
 watered, and contains many extensive and well culti- 
 vated farms. In this county are more than thirty mills 
 for sawing and grinding, propelled by animal or water 
 power. Seven large steam mills are in operation, and 
 two mere have been commenced, and will be finished 
 the present year.- 
 
 Improved farms, in the populous parts of the county, 
 sell for from eight to fifteen dollars per acre; several 
 towns and villages have been commenced besides Jack- 
 sonville, which are in a thriving condition. 
 
 Emigration, attended with industry and enterprise, 
 in a few fleeting years, has changed a region that we 
 have seen in all the wildness of uncultivated nature, into 
 smiling villages and luxuriant fields, and rendered it the 
 happy abode of intelligence and virtue. 
 
 Morgan county is in the advance of other counties in 
 those enterprises which tend to form, habits of virtue*
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 149 
 
 and ennoble the deathless mind. It has a vigorous Bible 
 Society, with branches in several settlements; a Sun- 
 day School Union, with about seventy Sabbath schools. 
 An equal number of common schools are taught a portion 
 of the year during the week. Temperance societies 
 exert an influence in many settlements. The "Illinios 
 college" is noticed in its proper place. 
 
 Morgan county belongs to the first judicial circuit, 
 sends four members to the house of representatives, and 
 two to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Jacksonville. 
 
 PEORIA COUNTY. 
 
 Peoria County lies on the west side of the Illinois 
 river, about two hundred miles by water, and a hundred 
 and fifty by land, above the junction of the Mississippi. 
 This county contains considerable tracts of excellent 
 land. 
 
 Its principal settlements are Peoria, Kickapoo creek, 
 La Salle prairie, Senatchwine, Prince's and Harkness' 
 settlements. 
 
 It is watered by the Kickapoo, the heads of Spoon 
 river, Copperas creek, and the Senatchwine. On the 
 Kickapoo, and on the shore of Peoria lake, for several 
 miles, the timber is good, but the prairie predominates. 
 
 Peoria county was formed from Pike county, in 1825, 
 and is bounded north, by Putnam; east, by Tazewell; 
 south, by Fulton; and west, by Knox. It is about twenty- 
 seven miles long, and has an average width of twenty- 
 four miles, containing about 648 square miles.
 
 150 A GAZETTEER 
 
 One of the principal roads to Galena passes through 
 this county. 
 
 The surface of the land is moderately rolling; on the 
 Kickapoo it degenerates into bluffs and ravines. In 
 the western and north western portion there is a scarci- 
 ty of timber. Between Peoria and La Salle prairie is 
 heavy timber, from two to five miles in width, and in 
 places beyond the bluffs. In the bottom land, adjoining 
 the lake, are spots that overflow; but in general, it is fit 
 for cultivation. The bottom timber consists of oaks of 
 various species, white and black walnut, ash, hackberry, 
 locust, and some hickory, buckeye, coffee nut, and grape 
 vines. 
 
 Peoria county belongs to the fifth judicial district, 
 and, in connection with Jo Daviess, Putnam, La Salle, 
 and Cook, sends one member to each branch of the le- 
 gislature.. 
 
 The seat of justice is Peoria. 
 
 PERRY COUNTY. 
 
 Perry County was organized from Randolph and Jack- 
 son counties, in 1827, and is bounded north, by Washing- 
 ton; east, by Jefferson and Franklin; south, by Jack- 
 son; and west, by Randolph. It is twenty-four miles 
 long, from east to west, and eighteen miles wide, con- 
 taining 432 square miles. 
 
 The Big Beaucoup and its tributaries run through the 
 middle of this county, from north to south, and the Lit- 
 tle Muddy touches its eastern border. 
 
 About one third of Perry county is prairie, tolerably
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 151 
 
 level, good soil, and susceptible of immediate cultiva- 
 tion. 
 
 Its productions are corn, beef cattle, pork, tobacco, 
 and some cotton. This little county has sent to mar- 
 ket not less than 500 fat steers, and 1000 fat hogs per. 
 annum, for two or three years past. 
 
 Perry and Randolph counties jointly send two mem- 
 bers to the house of representatives, and one member 
 Co the senate. It belongs to the third judicial district. 
 
 Pinckneyvilleis the seat of justice. 
 
 PIKE COUNTY. 
 
 Pike County is the oldest county on the military tract, 
 and was erected from Madison and other counties, in 
 1821. It then embraced the whole country north and 
 west of the Illinois river; but by the subsequent forma- 
 tion of new counties, it is now reduced to ordinary size, 
 containing about twenty-two townships, or SCO square 
 miles. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Adams; east, by Schuyler, and 
 the Illinois river; south, by that river andCalhoun; and 
 west, by the Mississippi. 
 
 Besides the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, which wash 
 two sides, it has the Snycartee slough running the whole 
 length of its western border, which affords steam boat 
 navigation to Atlas at a full stage of water. Pike coun- 
 ty is watered by the Pigeon, Hadley, Keys, Black, Dutch 
 Church, Six Mile, and Bay creeks, which fall into the 
 Mississippi; and Big and Little Blue, and the North and 
 West forks of McKee's creeks, which enter the Illinois. 
 Good mill seats are furnished by these streams.
 
 152 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The land is various. The section of country, or rather 
 island, between the Snycartee slough and the Mississip- 
 pi, is a sandy soil, but mostly inundated land at the 
 spring floods. It furnishes a great summer and winter 
 range for stock, affording considerable open prairie; 
 with skirts of heavy bottom timber near the streams. 
 Along the bluffs, and for two or three miles back, tb,e 
 land is chiefly timbered but cut up with ravines, and 
 quite rolling. In the interior, and towards Schuyler 
 county, excellent prairie and timbered uplands are 
 found, especially about the Blue rivers and McKee's 
 creek. This must eventually become a rich and popu- 
 lous county. 
 
 In Pleasant Vale, on Key's creek, is a salt spring, 
 twenty feet in diameter, which boils from the earth, and 
 throws off a stream of some size forming a salt pond in 
 its vicinity. Salt has been made here, though not in 
 great quantities. 
 
 In the county are seven water saw mills, four grist 
 mills, one carding machine, five stores, and a horse fer- 
 ry boat that crosses the Mississippi to Louisiana. 
 
 Pike county is connected with Adams and Hancock 
 in its representation to the legislature, and belongs to 
 the first judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Pittsfield. 
 
 POPE COUNTY. 
 
 Pope County was formed from Gallatin and Johnson 
 counties, and is situated in the southern part of the 
 state, and is bounded north, by Gallatin; east and south, 
 by the Ohio river; and west, by Johnson county.
 
 Of ILLINOIS. 153 
 
 It was organized as a county, in 1816, by the territo- 
 rial government; and, after having been subsequently 
 reduced, is now thirty-six miles long, with a medium 
 width of about sixteen miles, and an area 576 square 
 miles. 
 
 The Ohio makes a bend so as to wash its eastern and 
 southern sides, and project into the interior. Big Bay 
 creek rises towards its north western corner, and, after 
 entering Johnson county, turns again into Pope, and 
 runs a southeastern course to the Ohio. Lusk's creek, 
 and some smaller streams, give it the character of a well 
 watered county. It is generally well timbered with the 
 varieties that abound on that side of the state; the sur- 
 face is tolerably level; the soil of a good quality, but 
 rather sandy. 
 
 Corn, beef, pork, oats, potatoes, horses, etc. are ar- 
 ticles of exportation in considerable quantities. 
 
 Pope county sends one member to the house of repre- 
 sentatives, and, with Johnson, one to the senate. It 
 belongs to the third judicial circuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Golconda. 
 
 PUTNAM COUNTY. 
 
 Putnam County was formed from Pike county in 1825, 
 but not organized for judicial purposes till 1831, when 
 the boundaries were altered. 
 
 It is now situated on both sides of the Illinois river, 
 and is bounded north, by the attached portion of Jo Da- 
 viess county; east, by La Sa.lle; south, by Tazewell and 
 Peoria; and west, by Henry and a portion of Knox 
 counties.
 
 154 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It is thirty-six miles long, and thirty-six miles broad, 
 besides a fractional portion in its south eastern part, 
 and contains about 1,840 square miles. 
 
 The Illinois river enters this county on its eastern 
 border, makes a large bend and passes out at its south- 
 ern side. The Brerean, Crow, and some smaller streams 
 enter the Illinois within this county, and Spoon river 
 waters its western border. 
 
 Some of the finest lands in the state are in this coun- 
 ty; beautiful groves of timber, and rich, undulating, and 
 dry prairies. 
 
 There are a number of large settlements of industri- 
 ous and thrifty farmers, amongst which are Burcan 
 Grove, Ox Bow Prairie, Knox's settlement, Spoon river, 
 settlement, and Strawn's settlement. Population about 
 1,500. 
 
 There are many fine springs in the county, and excel- 
 lent mill seats on the streams. 
 
 Besides oaks of several species, there are most of the 
 varieties of timber common to the state, as black and 
 white walnut, sugar maple, blue, white, and hoop ash, 
 elm, cherry, aspen, iron wood, buckeye, linden, locust, 
 mulberry, etc. 
 
 Lime stone, sand stone, free stone, and bituminous 
 coal, are its principal mineral productions, and in suf- 
 ficient quantities. 
 
 Produce will be sent down the Illinois river in steam 
 boats from Hennepin. 
 
 A few tracts of prairie in this county are level and 
 wet, and there are some small ponds and swamps in the 
 northern part.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 155 
 
 In this county are two Presbyterian, one congrega- 
 tional, and three or four Methodist societies, a county 
 Bible society that has twice supplied all the destitute 
 with Bibles, a temperance society, a county Sunday 
 School Union, ten Sunday schools, a county lyceum,and 
 several other philanthropic societies. 
 
 Putnam county belongs to the fifth judicial circuit., 
 and with Peoria, Jo Daviess, La Salle,and Cook, seeds. 
 one representative to the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Hennepin. 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 Randolph County was formed before the organization 
 of the territory of Illinois, and is the oldest county, ex- 
 cept St. Clair, in the state. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Monroe, St. Glair, and Wash- 
 ington counties; east, by Perry; south, by the Mississip- 
 pi river and a corner of Jackson county; and west, by 
 the Mississippi. 
 
 Its medium length and breadth is about twenty-four 
 miles; though from curvatures of the Mississippi, it con- 
 tains but about 540 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Kaskaskia river, and St. Mary, 
 Horse, and some smaller creeks. The soil is of various 
 kinds; from first rate to indifferent, and has a diversity 
 of surface, from the low alluvion, and the undulating 
 prairie, to the rugged bluffs and abrupt precipices. 
 
 Randolph county belongs to the second judicial cir- 
 cuit, and with Perry sends two members to the house of 
 representatives and one to the senate. 
 
 County seat, Kaskaskia.
 
 6 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ROCK ISLAND. 
 
 Rock Island is a small irregularly shaped county, form- 
 ed from portions of Mercer and Jo Daviess counties, in 
 1831, but subsequently organized by the judge of the 
 fifth judicial circuit. The boundaries of this county, as 
 defined by law, begin " at the middle of the main chan- 
 nel of the Mississippi, where the north line of township 
 fifteen north intersects the same; thence east, to the 
 fourth principal meridian; thence north, with said me- 
 ridian, to the middle of the main channel of Rock river; 
 thence up said channel to the confluence of the Marais 
 d'Ogee slough or creek; thence along said slough to 
 the middlo. of the Mississippi river, and down that chan- 
 nel to the place of beginning." 
 
 Rock river, and some minor streams, water this coun- 
 ty. Rock Island, in the Mississippi, is included in this 
 county. The soil along the Mississippi for twenty-five 
 miles is alluvion, sandy, and rich, including the site of 
 the old Sauk village. There is much good land in the 
 interior of the county, between the rivers, with some 
 bluffs, knobs, ravines, and sink holes. South of Rock 
 river, a portion of the county is rather inferior, with 
 some wet prairie and swamps. 
 
 This county elects a senator and representative in 
 conjunction with Jo Daviess. 
 
 The county seat is not permanently located. 
 
 SANGAMON COUNTY. 
 
 Sangamon County is one of the largest and most flour- 
 ishing, and is the most populous county in the state. It
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 157 
 
 is bounded on the north, by Tazewell; east, by Macon; 
 south, by Montgomery and Macoupen; and west, by 
 Morgan county. The north western corner runs down 
 between the Sangamon river, which separates it from 
 Morgan county, and Tazewell county, to the Illinois 
 river. 
 
 It is forty-eight miles long, besides the corner men- 
 tioned, and forty-five miles wide, containing, in the 
 whole, an area of about 1,270 square miles. 
 
 Sangamon county is watered by the Sangamon river 
 and its numerous branches. Those which take their 
 rise within the limits of the county are Clary's, Rock, 
 Richland, Prairie, Spring, Lick, Sugar, Horse, and 
 Brush creeks, on the south side, proceeding upward in. 
 the arrangement; and Crane, Indian, Cantrill's, Fancy, 
 Wolf, and Clear creeks, which enter from the opposite 
 side. Those branches which rise without the county, 
 and yet run considerable distance within it, are salt 
 creek and branches, North Fork, and South Fork. 
 These streams not only furnish this county with an 
 abundance of excellent water, and a number of good 
 mill seats, but are lined with extensive tracts of first 
 rate timbered land. 
 
 Here are oaks of various species, walnut, sugar maple, 
 elm, linden, hickory, ash, hackberry, honey locust, mul- 
 berry, sycamore, cotton wood, sassafras, etc. together 
 with the various shrubs, common to the country. 
 
 The size of the prairies in Sangamon county is seized 
 upon as an objection, by persons who are not accustom- 
 ed to a prairie country. But were the timber a little 
 more equally distributed with prairie surface, its sup-
 
 158 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ply would be abundant. The prairies vary in width, 
 from one to eight or ten miles, and somewhat indefinite 
 in length, being connected at the heads of the streams. 
 
 Much of the soil in this county is of the richest qua- 
 lity, being an argillaceous loam, from one to three feet 
 deep, intermixed with fine sand. The point of land that 
 lies between the Sangamon and the Illinois rivers, which 
 is chiefly prairie, is divided betwixt inundated land, dry 
 prairie, and sand ridges. A stranger to observations 
 upon the surface of Illinois, upon first sight, v.'ould pro- 
 aounce most parts of Sangamon county a level or plane. 
 It is not so. With the exception of the creek bottoms 
 and the interior of large prairies, it has an undulating 1 
 surface, quite sufficient to render it one of the finest 
 agricultural districts in the United States. These re- 
 marks areMiot meant exclusively for Sangamon. They 
 apply with equal propriety to many other counties on 
 both sides of the Illinois river. What has been hereto- 
 fore known to persons abroad as the Sangamon country, 
 may now be included in a large district, containing a. 
 number of large and populous counties. 
 
 The first settlement on the waters of the Sangamon, 
 made by white people for a permanent abode, was in 
 1819; the county was organized in 1821, and then em- 
 braced a tract of country 125 miles fang, and seventy- 
 five broad. > 
 
 The public lands were first offered for sale in Novem- 
 ber, 1823, by which time, however, farms of considerable 
 ble size, even to 100 acres of cultivated land had beeu 
 made. 
 
 At the present time, the borders of the prairies are
 
 or ILLINOIS. 159 
 
 covered with hundreds of smiling farms, and the interior 
 animated with thousands of domestic animals. The 
 rough and unseemly cabin is giving place to comfortable 
 framed or brick tenements, and plenty every where 
 smiles upon the labors of the husbandman. 
 
 This county is in the geographical centre of the state, 
 and will eventually be in the centre of population. 
 
 Its river market and deposit is Beardstown; but much 
 of its imports will be received and its exports sent off 
 by its own river, which has aready been navigated by 
 steam to the vicinity of Springfield, and when some of 
 its obstructions are removed, will afford convenient na- 
 vigation for steam boats of the smaller class. Its ex- 
 ports now are beef cattle, pork, wheat, flour, corn meal, 
 butter, cheese, etc. and soon will include almost every 
 article of a rich, agricultural country. 
 
 Sangamon county belongs to the first judicial district, 
 sends four members to the house of representatives, and 
 two members to the senate. 
 
 Its population at the last census, was 1^,793; its num- 
 ber now would exceed 25,000. 
 
 Villages and towns are springing' tip, some of which 
 may become places of note, as Athens, New Salei 7 
 Richland, Salisbury, Greenfield > Rochester, etc. 
 The seat of justice is 
 
 SCHUYLER COUNTY. 
 
 Schuyler County was formed from Pike county, in 18!<J5j 
 and lies on the Illinois river, opposite Morgan county. 
 It is bounded north, by McDonough, and a corner of 
 Fulton; east, by Fulton, and the Illinois river; south,
 
 160 A GAZETTEER 
 
 by the Illinois river, and Pike; and west, by Adams and 
 a corner of Hancock. 
 
 The south eastern side is washed by the Illinois, the 
 interior is watered by Crooked and Crane creeks, the 
 south western by McKee's creek, and the north eastern 
 part by Sugar creek. ' 
 
 Schuyler county is of an irregular shape, thirty miles 
 long, and from eighteen to thirty broad, containing 
 about 864 square miles. 
 
 Along the Illinois river is considerable land inunda- 
 led at high floods, generally heavily timbered, as is more 
 than one half of the county. The middle and northern 
 portions are divided into timber and prairie of an ex- 
 celleat quality. Along Crooked creek is an extensive 
 body of fine timber. Sugar creek also furnishes another 
 body of timber eight or ten miles wide. 
 
 Schuyi^r county is attached to the fifth judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one member to the house of representa- 
 tives, and unites with Fulton, Knox, Henry, Calhoun, 
 Mercer, McDoaough, and Warren, in electing one mem- 
 ber to the senatt. 
 
 Rushmlle is the county seat. 
 
 SHlLBY COUNTY. 
 
 Shelby County was forced from Fayette, in 1827, and 
 is bounded on the north, b) Macon; east, by Coles; south, 
 by Effingham and Fayette, and west, by Montgomery, 
 and a corner of Sangamon. 
 
 It is thirty-six miles long and thirty broad, area, 
 1,080 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Kaskaskia and tributaries.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 161 
 
 Shelby county contains a large amount of excellent 
 land, both timber and prairie, and is one of the best in- 
 land agricultural counties in the state. 
 
 Shelby and Macon united, send one member to the 
 house of representatives, and one to the senate. It 
 belongs to the second judicial circuit. The population 
 is about 3,500. 
 
 The seat of justice is Shelbyville, 
 
 ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 
 
 St. Clair County is the oldest county in the state, and 
 was formed by the legislature of the North Western ter- 
 ritory in 1794 or '95, and then included all the settle- 
 ments on the eastern side of the Mississippi. It now 
 lies on that river opposite St. Louis, and is bounded 
 north, by Madison county; east, by Clinton and Wash- 
 ington; and south, by Randolph and Monroe counties: 
 containing 1,030 square miles. 
 
 The land is various, much of which is good first and 
 second rate soil, and is proportionably divided into tim- 
 ber, prairie, and barrens. The prairies are distinguish- 
 ed as Looking Glass, Twelve Mile, Ogle's, Ridge, Bot- 
 tom, and du Pont prairies. 
 
 The streams are Cahokia, Prairie du Pont, Ogle's 
 creek, Silver creek, Richland creek, Prairie de Long, 
 and the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 Its timber comprises.the varieties found on the west- 
 ern side of the state. 
 
 The exports are beef, park, flour, and all the varieties 
 in the St. Louis market. 
 
 Extensive coal banks exist in this county, along the 
 11
 
 162 A GAZETTEER 
 
 bluffs, from which St. Louis is partially supplied with 
 fuel. The quantity hauled there in waggons, in 1833, 
 amounted to about 150,000 bushels. 
 
 There are five steam mills in this county, besides a 
 number propelled by water and animal power. Belle- 
 ville and Lebanon are its principal towns. Cahokia and 
 Illinois are small villages. The people of this county 
 are a mixture of Americans, French, and Germans, 
 about 9,500 in number. 
 
 St. Glair county belongs to the second judicial cir- 
 cuit, and sends one senator and two representatives to 
 the legislature. 
 
 The seat of justice is Belleville. 
 
 TAZEWELL COUNTY. 
 
 Tazewell County was formed from Peoria county, in 
 1827. It is bounded north, by Putnam; east, by McLean; 
 south, by Sangamon; and has the Illinois river along 
 its north western border, which gives it a triangular 
 form. 
 
 Its extreme length is forty-eight miles, and its ex- 
 treme width forty-two miles, containing about 1,130 
 square miles. 
 
 It is watered by the Illinois river, which extends the 
 whole length of its northwestern side, Mackinaw, and 
 its branches, Ten Mile, Farm, and Blue creeks, all 
 which enter the Illinois, with some of the head branch- 
 es of the Sangamon. 
 
 A strip of this county, consisting mostly of sandy 
 prairies, puts down the Illinois river, and between that 
 and Sangamon county. On the bluffs of Mackinaw and
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 163 
 
 the other streams, the land is broken, and the timber 
 chiefly oak; in other portions of the county it has an un- 
 dulating appearance and has much good land. 
 
 Below Pekin, and towards Havanna, are swamps, 
 ponds, and sand ridges. The south eastern portion of 
 the county is watered by Sugar creek and its branches. 
 
 This will soon be a rich agricultural county. Pleas- 
 ant Grove and the adjacent country, is delightful. 
 
 Tazewell county belongs to the first judicial circuit, 
 and is connected with McLean county in sending one 
 senator and one representative to the legislature. 
 
 The county seat is Pekin. 
 
 UNION COUNTY. 
 
 Union county was formed from Johnson county, in 1818, 
 and is bounded north, by Jackson; east, by Franklin; 
 south, by Alexander; and west, by the Mississippi river. 
 
 It is twenty-four miles long, and from twenty to 
 twenty-six miles broad, containing about 396 square 
 miles, and is watered by Clear creek, some of the south 
 branches of Big Muddy, and the heads of Cash river. 
 A large bend of the Big Muddy projects a few miles into 
 the county towards its north western portion, and 
 some sloughs and ponds are found on the Mississippi bot- 
 tom. Much of this county is high, rolling, timbered 
 land. Here are found oaks of various kinds, hickory, 
 white and black walnut, poplar, some beech, and other 
 species of timber common to the country. There is 
 considerable German population in this county. 
 
 Union county belongs to the third judicial circuit, and
 
 164 A GAZETTEER 
 
 sends one member to the house of representatives, and, 
 with Alexander, one to the senate. 
 
 The exports from this county are corn, beef, pork, 
 horses, etc. Large quantities of produce from this 
 county go down the river to New Orleans in flat boats. 
 
 The county seat is Jonesboro" 1 
 
 VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 Vermilion County was formed from Edgar, in 1826, and 
 lies north of Edgar and Coles, east of Champaign, south 
 of Iroquois, and west of the state of Indiana. 
 
 It is thirty-six miles long and twenty-eight miles 
 wide, containing about 1,000 square miles. 
 
 Vermilion county is watered by the Big and Little 
 Vermilion rivers, and tributaries, and contains large 
 bodies of excellent land. In the eastern part of the 
 county the timber predominates, amongst which is the 
 poplar and beech. Along the streams are oaks of va- 
 rious species, hickory, walnut, linden, hackberry, ash, 
 elm, and various other kinds common to Illinois. The 
 soil of the prairies is an argillaceous loam, from one to 
 three feet deep. Their surface is generally dry and 
 undulating. N 
 
 The exports are pork, beef, corn, salt, etc. which find 
 a convenient market at the towns on the Wabash, and 
 down that river to New Orleans. In due time much 
 of the produce of the Vermilion country will pass by the 
 way of Chicago and the lakes; and up the Wabash, and 
 through a canal to Lake Erie. It would be no difficult 
 matter to open a water communication between the 
 and Illinois rivers, and thus furnish an outlet
 
 OF ILLINOIS. lb'3 
 
 for the productions of this part of the state in every di- 
 rection. 
 
 At the census of 1830, Vermilion county contained 
 6,389 inhabitants. The annual increase has not been 
 less than thirty per cent. It is attached to the fourth 
 judicial circuit, and sends two members to the house of 
 representatives, and one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Danville. 
 
 WABASH COUNTY. 
 
 Wabash County was formed from Edwards county, in 
 1824, and is bounded north, by Lawrence; east, by the 
 Wabash river; south, it terminates in a point between 
 the Bon Pas which divides it from Edwards county, and 
 Wabash river; and west, by Edwards county. 
 
 This is the smallest county in the state, being eigh- 
 teen miles long, and from ten to fifteen miles broad, 
 with the eastern side irregularly curvated by the Wa- 
 bash river. It has about 180 square miles. 
 
 Wabash county is watered by the Wabash river on its 
 eastern, and Bon Pas creek on its western border, and 
 Crawfish, Jordan, and Coffee creeks, from its interior. 
 
 It contains considerable good land, both timber and 
 prairie, and a full proportion of industrious and thriving 
 farmers. This county sends one member to the house 
 of representatives, and, with Edwards and Wayne, one 
 to the senate. It belongs to the fourth judicial cir- 
 cuit. 
 
 The seat of justice is Mount Carmel.
 
 166 A GAZETTEER 
 
 WARREN COUNTS. 
 
 Warren County was formed from Pike county, in 1825 V 
 but not organized till 1830. It contains extensive tracts 
 of first rate land, and several fine settlements. It lies 
 on the Mississippi, north of Hancock and McDonough, 
 west of Knox, and south of Mercer. 
 
 Its prominent stream is Henderson river and branches: 
 Ellison, Honey, and Camp creeks are in Warren. The 
 land on these streams is generally a little undulating, 
 rich, and where timber exists, it is excellent. A num- 
 ber of good mill seats exist. 
 
 Much of the bottom/ in this county that lies on the 
 river is low, subject to inundation, and has a series of 
 sand ridges back of it, with bold and pointed bluffs fur- 
 ther in the rear. 
 
 North of Henderson river is an extensive prairie, 
 which divides it from Pope, and Edwards river. 
 
 Warren county is about thirty miles in extent, and 
 contains about 900 square miles. It belongs to the fifth 
 judicial circuit, and is connected with Calhoun, McDo- 
 nough, and Mercer, in electing a representative; and- 
 with Schuyler, Fulton, Knox, Henry, Calhoun, McDo- 
 nough, and Mercer, in electing a senator. 
 
 The seat of justice is Monmouth. 
 
 WASHINGTON COUNTY. 
 
 Washington County was formed from St. Clair, in Ja- 
 nuary, 1818, and is bounded north, by Clinton; east, by 
 Jefferson; south, by Perry, and a corner of Randolph; 
 and west, by St. Clair. It is thirty miles long and from
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 167 
 
 fifteen to twenty miles broad, containing about 656 
 square miles. 
 
 The Kaskaskia river runs along the north western side 
 for eighteen miles, Elkhorn creek waters its western, 
 Beaucoup, and Little Muddy its south eastern, and 
 Crooked creek, and some smaller streams, its northern 
 portions. Considerable prairie, especially the southern 
 points of tte Grand prairie, is found in this county, some 
 of which is rather level and wet, and of an inferior qua- 
 lity. A large body of timber lines the banks of the 
 Kaskaskia river. 
 
 The produce of this county is pork, beef cattle, and 
 other articles common to the adjacent parts. The tim- 
 ber is otk of various kinds, hickory, elm, ash, and the 
 timber common to the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 Wasiington county is attached to the second judicial 
 circuit, and unites with Franklin in sending two mem- 
 bers ti> the house of representatives, and also with Jack- 
 son in sending one to the senate. 
 
 The county seat is Nashville. 
 
 WAYNE COUNTY. 
 
 Wayne County was formed from Edwards, in 1819, and 
 is situated in the south eastern part of the state, and is 
 bounded on the north, by Clay; east, by Edwards; south, 
 by Hamilton, and a corner of White; and west, by Jeffer- 
 son and Marion. 
 
 It is twenty four miles square, and contains 576 square 
 miles. 
 
 The Little Wabash passes through its eastern part, 
 and Elm river and Skillet fork water the other por-
 
 168 A GAZETTEER 
 
 tions of the county. It is proportionally interspersed 
 with prairie and woodland, generally of a second quali- 
 ty. The productions of this county for exportation are 
 beef, pork, cattle, and some peltry, which are sent down 
 the Little Wabash in flat boats to New Orleans, or find 
 a market over land to Shawneetown. 
 
 Wayne county belongs to the ,fourth judicial circuit, 
 and sends one member to the house of representatives, 
 and with Edwards and Wabash, one member to the 
 senate. 
 
 County seat, Fairfield. 
 
 WHITE COUNTY. 
 
 White County was organized from Gallatin county, in 
 1815. It is situated in the south eastern side of the 
 state. Its form is nearly square, about twenty-two 
 miles in extent, containing an area of neatly 480 
 square miles. 
 
 It is bounded north, by Wabash, Edwards, and 
 Wayne counties; e^st, by the big Wabash river; south, 
 by Gallatin, and west, by Hamilton counties. 
 
 The eastern side of this county is washed by the big 
 Wabash, along which is a low bottom, subject to inun- 
 dation; the interior is watered by the Little Wabash 
 and its tributaries. The banks of these streams are 
 heavily timbered, among which are oaks of several spe- 
 cies, hickory, walnut, hackberry, elm, ash, and poplar. 
 Between the streams are fine prairies most of which are 
 cultivated; the principal of which are Big, Burnt, and 
 Seren Mile. 
 
 The exports of White county are pork, beef, and
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 169 
 
 beef cattle, corn, flour, venison hams, horses, and some 
 tobacco. Horses and cattle are sent in droves to the 
 south, and produce descends the river to New Orleans 
 from this and the adjacent counties, in large quantities. 
 
 There are three water mills in this county for flour- 
 ing and sawing, which do good business. 
 
 White county is attached to the fourth judicial circuit, 
 has a population of between six and seven thousand in- 
 habitants, and sends two members to the house of re- 
 presentatives, and one to the senate. 
 
 The seat of justice is Carmi.
 
 PART THIRD. 
 
 CONTAINING A PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION 
 
 OF EACH TOWN, SETTLEMENT, STREAM, PRAIRIE, 
 BOTTOM, BLUFF, &c. 
 
 ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. 
 
 Abbakishee Grove, in LaSalle county, lies three miles 
 north of Holderman's grove. 
 
 Adams's Ferry is on the Illinois river, in La Salle 
 county, near the mouth of Little Vermilion. 
 
 Adams's Fork, a branch of the Skillet fork of the Lit- 
 tle Wabash. It rises in the prairies of Marion county, 
 passes south east, across the corner of Jefferson, and en- 
 ters the Skillet fork in Wayne. The land is well tim- 
 bered and of a good quality. 
 
 Alabama Settlement, in the north eastern part of Union 
 county, of about thirty families. The timber, chiefly 
 whiteoak, with a thin soil. 
 
 ALBION, the seat of justice for Edwards county, situa- 
 ted on section two, of township two south, in range ten, 
 east of the third principal meridian. It was laid out by 
 Messrs. Birbeck and Flowers, in 1819, and settled prin- 
 cipally by English emigrants. The situation is high and
 
 172 A GAZETTEER 
 
 healthy. It contains three stores, three houses of en- 
 tertainment, an ox flouring mill, a cotton gin, and thir- 
 y or forty families. The court house is of brick, forty- 
 four feet square, two stories, and finished. Albion is 
 forty miles south west of Vincennes. 
 
 Allen's Prairie and Settlement, in Greene county, 
 twelve miles north easterly from Carrollton. The land 
 is good, the prairie large, with good timber on the water 
 courses. 
 
 Allenton, a town site and ferry, at the head of Peoria 
 lake, eighteen miles above Peoria, on section twenty- 
 nine, eleven north, nine east, and on the east side of 
 La Salle prairie. 
 
 Allison's Prairie, (sometimes improperly spelt Ellison] 
 in Lawrence county, five miles northeast from Law - 
 renceville. It is ten miles long, and five broad. The 
 eastern part, towards the Wabash, contains some wet 
 land and purgatory swamps, but the principal part is a 
 dry, sandy, and very rich soil, covered with well culti- 
 vated farms. Few tracts in Illinois are better adapted 
 to corn than this. The population equals 200 families. 
 This prairie was settled in 1816 and '17, by emigrants 
 from Ohio and Kentucky, and mostly of the religious 
 sect known in the west by the name of Christians, and 
 the settlement is sometimes called by that name. In a 
 few years death had thinned their numbers. The pur- 
 gatory swamps, as they are called, around the prairie, 
 had a deleterious influence, and retarded the progress 
 <3f population. In later years but little sickness has 
 existed, and this settlement furnishes one of many evi- 
 dences that upon the subjugation of the luxuriant ve-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 173 
 
 gelation with which our rich prairies are clothed, and 
 the cultivation of the soil, sickly places will he changed 
 to healthy ones. 
 
 Alton (Lower] an incorporated town on the bank of the 
 Mississippi, is thought by many to possess advantages 
 for commerce superior to any in the state. It is situa- 
 ted on fractional sections thirteen and fourteen, in 
 township five north, in range ten west of the third 
 principal meridian. 
 
 It is two and a half miles above the mouth of the Mis- 
 souri, and at the place where the curve of the Mississip- 
 pi penetrates the furthest into Illinois, eighteen miles 
 below the mouth of the Illinois river, and at the point 
 where the commerce and business of the wide spread re- 
 gions of the north east, north, and north west must ar- 
 rive. 
 
 The legislature of Illinois have memorialized congress 
 repeatedly to have the great national road, now con- 
 structing through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, cross the 
 Mississippi at this place, and sanguine hopes are enter- 
 tained that the rights of Illinois in this particular will 
 be duly regarded. 
 
 Lower Alton has the best landing for steamboats on 
 the east bank of the Mississippi, having a rock of level 
 surface, of suitable height, forming a natural wharf. 
 The state penitentiary has been established here, and 
 many are sanguine that it will be the future seat of go- 
 vernment. 
 
 One of the finest bodies of timber in the state sur- 
 rounds it for several miles in extent, from which vast 
 quantities of lumber may be produced. Bituminous coal
 
 174 A GAZETTEER 
 
 exists in great abundance but a short distance from 
 the town. Inexhaustible beds of limestone for build- 
 ing purposes, and easily quarried, are within its pre- 
 cincts. A species of free stone, easily dressed and used 
 for monuments and architectural purposes, and that pe- 
 culiar species of lime, used for water cement, are found 
 in great abundance in the vicinity. 
 
 The corporate bounds extend two miles along the 
 river, and half a mile back. The town plat is laid out 
 by the proprietors upon a liberal scale. 
 
 There are five squares reserved for public -purposes, 
 a large reservation is made on the river for a public 
 landiugand promenade. Market street is 150feet wide, 
 other streets are one hundred, eighty, and sixty feet, 
 according to the situation and public accommodation. 
 
 Lower Alton now contains [July, 1834] sixteen stores, 
 several of which do large wholesale business,' two pub- 
 lic houses, and several private boarding houses, mecha- 
 nics of various kinds, an extensive steam flouring mill, 
 with four run of stones, owned by an incorporated com- 
 pany, and which cost $25,000; a steam saw mill in ope- 
 ration, and another projected; a boat yard contemplated 
 rmd a dock for the repair of steamboats, and about one 
 thousand inhabitants. There is also a printing office 
 which -publishes weekly the ''Alton Spectator;" a post 
 office; two lawyers, three physicians, one settled minis- 
 ter of the gospel, and preaching by Presbyterians, Epis- 
 copal Methodists, Protestant Methodists, and Baptists, 
 each of which have churches organized. 
 
 The public buildings are the Penitentiary. It has the 
 warden's house, guard house, twenty-four cells, and a
 
 OF ILLINOIS* 175 
 
 portion of the wall erected, and the other parts of the 
 work are in progress. A large stone meeting house with 
 a handsome spire, has been erected, and will soon be 
 finished for the Presbyterian church; the Protestant 
 Methodists have erected a small but neat stone chapel; 
 and the Baptist church have just commenced building a 
 convenient house of worship. A week day school, un- 
 der good regulation, and a large Sabbath school are 
 taught here. 
 
 Landed property, in and near the town has risen in 
 value two and three hundred per cent, within three 
 years. Eligible lots have been recently sold for several 
 hundred dollars, and lots on the bluffs back have ex- 
 ceeded one hundred dollars. 
 
 The facilities for business of various kinds will draw 
 men of capital and enterprise to this place. The build- 
 ing and repair of steamboats may be made an extensive 
 business; and no place on the western waters offers 
 equal advantages. With this object in view, a foundry 
 for casting and making all kinds of machinery is con- 
 templated. Large quantities of provisions will be pack- 
 ed here, and business of every description must increase 
 to an indefinite extent. 
 
 Notwithstanding, Lower Alton has its disadvantages. 
 These, in impartial justice, I have no wish to conceal. 
 The uneven, abrupt, and hilly surface of a portion of the 
 town site, the confined and low situation of another 
 portion, which will prevent the circulation of a pure and 
 healthy atmosphere, the extensive and low bottom on 
 the opposite side of the Mississippi, that stretches along 
 the Missouri, the powerful rival in trade and com-
 
 176 A GAZETTEER 
 
 merce to be found in St. Louis, twenty-four miles dis- 
 tant, a place admirably situated, and of great business. 
 are amongst the draw backs to the rapid and exten- 
 sive growth of Alton, and make it quite problematical 
 whether it will ever become the great commercial em- 
 porium of the upper valley of the Mississippi. That it 
 will soon become the commercial depot for an extensive 
 back country, now rapidly filling up with enterprising- 
 farmers, and a place of extensive business, there cannot 
 be a doubt. 
 
 We close this article with the following extract from 
 Beck's Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri, written in 
 1821. 
 
 "Alton, although yet small, possesses natural advan- 
 tages rarely equalled. Situated as it is, at the junction 
 of three large and navigable rivers; possessing a fine, 
 commodious harbor, and landing for boats at all seasons 
 of the year; surrounded by a fertile country, rapidly set- 
 tling, it bids fair to become a populous, wealthy, and 
 commercial town." 
 
 Note. The post office here is distinguished from that 
 of Upper Alton by the name "Lower Alton." 
 
 Alton (Upper,] a pleasantly situated town on elevated 
 ground, two and a half miles back from the river and 
 Lower Alton, on section seven, township five north, 
 nine west. The situation of the town is high and healthy. 
 The country around was originally timbered land, and 
 is undulating; the prevailing growth is oaks of various 
 species, hickory, and walnut. 
 
 There are two stores, one house of entertainment, 
 three physicians, various mechanics, amongst which is 3
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 177 
 
 pottery, a commodious brick school house for town pur- 
 poses, a steam flouring mill now building-, ?io grocery, 
 or whiskey shop, and about sixty families. The Alton 
 seminary has been noticed, and its buildings described, 
 in Part I. under the head of EDUCATION. 
 
 Upper Alton is improving; the society is good, and it 
 is a desirable place for family residence, out of the bustle 
 of business. The post office is distinguished as "Alton." 
 
 Upper Alton was laid off by the proprietor, in 1316, 
 and incorporated by the legislature, under the govern- 
 ment of trustees, in 1821, when it contained seventy or 
 eighty families. In 1827, it had dwindled down to se- 
 ven families. It was reduced from several causes, but 
 especially from several conflicting claims to the soil, 
 which have been happily terminated by a decision of the 
 court of chancery, according to the mutual agreement 
 of all the claimants. Hereafter no doubt but this town 
 will experience a regular and rapid growth. The Bap- 
 tists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, hold worship re- 
 gularly here. 
 
 America, the former county seat of Alexander county, 
 situated on the west bank of the Ohio, on the first high 
 land, and twelve miles above its mouth. The landing 
 at this place is much injured by a sand bar. If this 
 could be removed, and a good harbor provided for steam 
 boats, it would soon become a place of considerable im- 
 portance. A small stream, called Humphrey's creek, 
 runs through the town site, from which it has been con- 
 templated to cut a canal, at some future day, into the 
 Ohio, and thus secure a good harbor. The village con- 
 tains two stores, two taverns, and a dozen families. 
 12
 
 178 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Arcadia, a settlement and post office, in Morgan coun- 
 ty, twelve miles north westerly from Jacksonville. All 
 this part of Morgan county contains excellent land, 
 with a due proportion of timber and prairie. 
 
 Arm of the Grand Prairie, in Jefferson county, lies 
 eight miles north west from Mount Vernon. The soil 
 is tolerably good, and the settlement contains about 
 fifty families. 
 
 Apple Creek, rises near the borders of Sangamon coun- 
 ty, runs a south western course through the south east- 
 ern part of Morgan into Greene county, and enters the 
 Illinois river in section thirty -six, fractional township 
 eleven north, fourteen west. It has several tributaries, 
 which are noticed under their respective names, and 
 which water a valuable tract of country, with a large 
 population. 
 
 It has a number of mills on its waters. 
 Apple Creek Prairie, in Greene county, lies north of 
 Apple creek, to the left of the road from Carrollton to 
 Jacksonville. It is ten miles long, and from two to four 
 miles wide, of good quality, and spread over with large 
 farms, and populous settlements. 
 
 Apple River, in Jo Daviess county, rises near the 
 boundary line, where its branches interlock with the 
 waters of the Pee-ka-ton-o'kee, runs a south western 
 course about forty-five miles, and enters the Mississippi 
 twenty miles below Galena. It is a rocky and rapid 
 stream, with good mill seats, and fifty yards wide at 
 its mouth. The bottoms are excellent land. The up- 
 lands hilly and broken. Large bodies of timber are on 
 its banks. Towards its heads is a fine, undulating 
 country.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 179 
 
 Ashmore's Settlement, in Coles county, fifteen miles 
 north of Charleston, and on the east side of the Embar- 
 ras. Timber and prairie good, and the population 
 about fifty families. 
 
 Athens, a village in Sangamon county, on the east 
 side, and four miles from the Sangamon river, and fif- 
 teen miles north from Springfield. It has four stores, 
 one steam mill for sawing and flouring, and about forty 
 families. It has the timber of the Sangamon on the 
 west, and the prairies east, with a large settlement 
 around 
 
 This has been called Rodger's settlement. 
 
 Aiherton's Settlement, in Alexander county, on the 
 eas tside of Cash river, and five miles north west from 
 America, containing eighty or ninety families. The 
 upland is tolerably good. 
 
 Jltlas a small town in Pike county situated on the 
 north west quarter of section twenty^seven, six south, 
 five west. 
 
 It is under the bluffs, on a handsome sloping tract of 
 ground, half a mile from the Snicartee slough, which is 
 navigable with steam boats to this place, except in low 
 water. Atlas contains two stores, one grocery, two 
 physicians, one lawyer, and one school with thirty ave- 
 rage scholars. Two miles above, on the Snicartee, 
 William Ross, esq. has erected a large saw and grist 
 mill, thirty by forty feet, four stories, calculated for 
 three run of stones, and for doing a large business. 
 
 Aubuchon, a passage from the Mississippi to the Kas- 
 kaskia river, about four miles above the town of Kas-
 
 1 80 A GAZETTEER 
 
 kaskia. At high water, a strong current passes from 
 one river to the other. 
 
 Augusta Post Office is in the south east corner of Han- 
 cock county, in three north, five west, on the road from 
 Rushville to Carthage. 
 
 Au Sable, [Fr. sandy gravelly,] a small stream in the 
 eastern part of La Salle county. It rises near the west 
 fork of du Page, runs south mostly through prairie, and 
 enters the Illinois three miles below the junction of the 
 Des Plaines, and Kankakee. 
 
 Au Sable Grove is in the north eastern part of La Salle 
 county, at the heads of the Au Sable creek. Here is a 
 fine body of timber surrounded with an extensive and 
 rich prairie. 
 
 Badgley's Settlement, in St. Clair county, five miles 
 north westerly from Belleville, one of the oldest Ameri- 
 can settlements in the county. 
 
 Bailey's Point, a branch of the Vermilion, and a set- 
 tlement in La Salle county, fourteen miles south west 
 from Ottawa. Here is asmall tract of excellent timber, 
 surrounded with the choicest prairie. The settlement 
 contains about twenty families. 
 
 Bankstone's Fork, in Gallatin county, rises in the in- 
 terior, runs a south eastern course, and enters the South 
 Fork of Saline creek, fourteen miles above Equality. 
 
 It has a fine country on its borders, and a large set- 
 tlement. 
 
 Banting 11 s Settlement, in Shelby county, near the Kas- 
 kaskia river, twelve miles south of Shelbyville. The 
 land is good, and plenty of timber and prairie.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 181 
 
 The bottom on the opposite site of the river is over- 
 flowed in high water. 
 
 Barney's Prairie, in Wabash county, seven miles north 
 of Mount Carmel, is a good tract of land well cultivated. 
 
 Barbee's Settlement, seven miles northwest of Pales- 
 tine, in Crawford county, with timber and prairie. 
 
 Bartlett's Settlement, in the south western part of Mc- 
 Donough county, on Crooked creek, fifteen miles from 
 Macomb. The land is good, and the settlement exten- 
 sive. 
 
 Bay Creek rises in the prairies towards the eastern 
 part of Pike county, and running westward, enters Cal- 
 houn county, and forms a kind of bay at its mouth, which 
 is navigable for some miles. 
 
 The land on its borders is generally good, except 
 about the bluffs, where it is broken. 
 
 Beardstown, is situated on the Illinois river, in Mor- 
 gan county, twenty-five miles north east from Jackson- 
 ville, on fractional township eighteen north, and twelve 
 west. It is on elevated ground, sandy soil, and entire- 
 ly above the highest floods. 
 
 It has one steam flouring mill, with four run of stones, 
 one do. with two run of stones, an ox mill for grinding 
 corn, a distillery, nine stores and groceries three of 
 which are commission and forwarding, two taverns, 
 three physicians, a printing office, which publishes week- 
 ly the "Beardstown Chronicle," with a proportionate 
 number of mechanics. 
 
 The poulation of the town is about 700. 
 
 Beardstown is situated on the great road from Terre 
 Haute, by Paris, Decatur, and Springfield, to Rushville 
 andQuincy.
 
 182 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Sear Creek, a small branch of the Macoupen, twelve 
 miles west from Carlinville. 
 
 Bear Creek heads in String prairie, and enters Apple 
 creek, in Greene county. A considerable settlement is 
 on its borders. 
 
 Bear Creek, a small stream and branch of the middle 
 fork of Shoal creek, and a settlement in Montgomery 
 county. The land is rather level, and inclined to be wet, 
 but fertile. 
 
 Bear Creek, a small stream in the south eastern part 
 of Sangamon county, with a considerable settlement. It 
 enters the South Fork of Sangamon from the south side. 
 
 Bear Creek, a small stream that rises in the north 
 part of Gallatin county, runs south, and enters the North 
 Fork of Saline creek, ten miles above Equality. Here 
 is much good land, and a large settlement. 
 
 Bear Creek, is a fine stream in Adams county, with 
 two principal forks. South Fork rises in one north, six 
 west. North Fork rises in five north, seven west, in 
 Hancock county, and interlocks with the western branch 
 of Crooked creek. They unite in section thirteen, two 
 north, eight west. After passing through the bluffs into 
 the Mississippi bottom, this stream divides into two 
 prongs; one runs a north west course and enters the 
 Mississippi the other prong bears a little south of west, 
 receiving several small streams, and enters Boston Bay, 
 one mile above Quincy. 
 
 This stream is about forty yards wide, at its separa- 
 tion, and has a number of mill seats. Few bodies of 
 land in the state equal that which lines its banks. 
 
 Large settlements extend along its timber.
 
 ' OF ILLINOIS. 183 
 
 Bear Prairie is a small tract in Wayne county, five 
 miles east of Fairfield, with twenty families. 
 
 Beaucoup is a large settlement on Beaucoup creek, 
 in Washington county, south of New Nashville. The 
 land is a mixture of timber and prairie, and good second 
 rate soil. 
 
 Beaucoup Settlement is in Jackson county, twelve miles 
 north east from Brownsville, between the Big Beaucoup 
 creek and Big Muddy river. The land is rich, heavily 
 timbered, with a considerable settlement. 
 
 Beaver Creek, called also stinking creek, rises in Bond 
 county, runs south into Clinton county, crosses the Vin- 
 cennes and St. Louis road, four miles west of Carlyle, 
 and empties into Shoal creek, in the north eastern part 
 of township one north, four west. It is about twenty-five 
 miles in length, is a sluggish, muddy, stream, and wa- 
 ters a fine tract of country. * 
 
 The settlement extends its whole length. 
 
 Beck's Creek heads in the western part of Shelby 
 county, runs southeast, and enters the Kaskaskiain the 
 northern part of Fayette, eighteen miles above^Vanda- 
 lia. It is a mill stream, has much good land on its banks, 
 and dry, rolling prairie adjoining. 
 
 The timber is oak of various kinds, walnut, locust, 
 coffee nut, cherry, elm, etc. 
 
 Begg^s Settlement, in the south east part of Union coun- 
 ty, on the waters of Cash river. It is a fine, undulating, 
 timbered region, and contains about 120 families. 
 
 Bellpfountaine , a large spring and settlement in Mon- 
 roe county, four miles north of Waterloo. In the vici- 
 nity of this place, several attacks were made by the
 
 184 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Indians, forty years since; some of the inhabitants were 
 killed, and others taken prisoners. 
 
 Bell's Settlement, in St. Clair county, eleven miles 
 north easterly from Belleville. 
 
 BELLEVILLE, the seat of justice for St. Clair county, is 
 situated on sections twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty- 
 seven, and twenty-eight, of township one north, in range 
 eight west of the third principal meridian. It is a neat 
 flourishing village, on high ground, six miles from the 
 American bottom, and thirteen miles east south east 
 from St. Louis. The public buildings are a handsome 
 court house of brick, finished in a superior stile, a brick 
 jail, a public hall belonging to a library company, and a 
 framed Methodist house of worship. It has two select 
 schools; one for boarders half a mile distant. 
 
 Here are two steam flouring mills, three taverns, four 
 stores, two groceries, mechanics of various kinds, and 
 about eighty or ninety families. 
 
 It is surrounded with a rich and extensive agricultu- 
 ral settlement, and a fine body of timber. Belleville 
 contains a printing office, which issues th.e"S/. Clair Ga- 
 zette" and is a place of considerable business. 
 
 Bellevue Prairie, is a rich, dry, prairie, at the foot of 
 the bluffs, in Calhoun county. It is six miles long, and 
 three fourths of a mile wide, with a gradual descent 
 from the bluffs. Bellevue post office, is in this settle- 
 ment, which contains about forty families. 
 
 Bernards Mill, and settlement, on Apple creek, in 
 Greene county, seven miles north west fromCarrollton. 
 
 Berlin,*, town site and post office, inSangamon coun- 
 ty, on the west side of Island Grove, seventeen miles 
 west from Springfield, on the main road to Jacksonville.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 185 
 
 Bemfs Settlement is in the forks of Crooked creek, in 
 Clinton county, eight miles southeasterly fromCarlyle. 
 
 Bethel) a populous settlement in St. Clair county, ten 
 miles north of Belleville. Here is a Baptist meeting; 
 house and congregation, and a moral, religious society 
 of industrious farmers. 
 
 Big Bay Creek, a smaU stream that rises in the north 
 eastern part of Johnson county. It takes a south east- 
 ern direction, receiving Cedar creek in that county, and 
 Little Bay creek in Pope county, and enters the Ohio 
 about six miles below Golconda. Its bottoms are wide, 
 and the bluffs rather broken; and towards the Ohio the 
 bottom land produces large quantities of cypress with 
 other growth. 
 
 Big Bottom is a settlement in the north west corner of 
 Alexander county, on Clear creek. The soil is first rate 
 alluvion. 
 
 Big Beaucoup Creek, one of the four heads of Big Mud- 
 dy river. It rises in the south eastern part of Washing- 
 ton county, township three south, in range two west. 
 runs a south course through Perry county and enters the 
 Big Muddy in section thirty-five, eight south, two west, 
 eight miles above Brownsville. It has much good land 
 on its borders, some excellent prairies, and fine timber, 
 consisting of oak, hickory, ash, poplar, elm, walnut , etc. 
 The bottom land is rather wet. Big Beaucoup is navi- 
 gable for flat boats. 
 
 Big- Creek, in Pope county, rises in the northern part 
 of the county, runs south, and enters the Ohio, fifteen 
 miles above Golconda.
 
 186 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Big Creek, in Crawford county, a small stream that en- 
 ters the Embarras in the south western part of the 
 county. 
 
 Big Creek is a small stream that rises on the Grand 
 Prairie, in Edgar county, runs a southeast direction, 
 passes through a corner of Clark, and enters the Wa- 
 bash near the point at which the dividing line of the 
 two states leaves that river. The land through which it 
 passes is good, well timbered, and densely settled with 
 a farming population. 
 
 Big Creek, in Effingham county, a branch of the Little 
 Wabash, running a south east course through Brockett's 
 settlement to that river. 
 
 Big Creek, in Macon county, a branch of the North 
 Fork of Sangamon. It is formed from Long creek, and 
 Findley's fork. 
 
 Big Creek, a stream in Fayette county, which rises in 
 the Grand prairie, north east from Vandalia, crosses the 
 national road twelve miles east of that place, runs south 
 west, and enters the Kaskaskia in the lower part of the 
 county. 
 
 Big Creek, in the western part of Crawford county, 
 runs south and enters the Embarras. 
 
 Big Creek, in Fulton county, a small stream that rises 
 near Canton, runs south west, and enters Spoon river 
 one mile above the road from Rushville to Lewistown. 
 A considerable settlement and good land towards its 
 head. 
 
 Big Grove, in Champaign county, is on a branch of the 
 Halt Fork of the Vermilion river, and is about the cen- 
 tre of the connty. It is a body of heavy timbered, rich
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 18? 
 
 land, twelve miles long, and of an average of three miles 
 in width. The country around is most delightful, the 
 prairie is elevated, dry, and of a very rich soil, the water 
 is good, and the country very healthy. The population 
 at Big grove must now exceed 100 families. 
 
 Urbanna, the seat of justice for Champaign county, is 
 supposed to be on this grove. 
 
 Big" Grove, in La Salle county, twenty miles north east 
 from Ottawa, is about three miles in diameter. The 
 land in the timber is wet, but the surrounding prairie, 
 is dry, undulating and rich. 
 
 Big Grove, a timbered tract, or rather severa groves, 
 connected, for twelve miles in length, in the south west- 
 ern part of McLean county, on the third principal meri- 
 dian, and township twenty-one north. It is a fine tract 
 of country, rich in soil and well timbered, on the Kicka- 
 poo creek. Bloomington, the county seat, is eighteen 
 miles from the heart of the settlement, which contains 
 from one hundred and fifty to two hundred families. 
 
 Big Grove, a beautiful, high, undulating, and rich 
 tract of timber, near some of the heads of Spoon river, 
 in Henry county. It is twelve or fifteen miles long, and 
 about three miles wide, surrounded with extensive and 
 rather level prairies. 
 
 Big Mound Prairie, in Wayne county, is five miles 
 west from Fairfield, three miles in extent, undulating 
 surface, thin soil, and has about fifty families. 
 A large mound gives the name to this prairie. 
 Big Muddy river, (called by the French who discover- 
 ed it, Riviere au Vase, or P^aseux) a considerable stream 
 in the south western part of the state.
 
 188 A GAZETTEER 
 
 It has four principal heads, which, rising in Washing- 
 ton, Jefferson, and Hamilton counties, and uniting in 
 Jackson county, form the main stream. 
 
 They are the Beaucoup, Little Muddy, and Middle 
 Fork. The general course of the stream is south west, 
 and it is navigable some distance above Brownsville. Be- 
 low Brownsville it turns south to the county line, makes 
 a short bend into Union county, and enters the Missis- 
 sippi near the north eastern corner of township eleven 
 south, in range three west of the third principal meri- 
 dian. 
 
 Its bluffs generally are abrubt, the land along its bor- 
 ders and branches is undulating, and for most of its 
 length well timbered. Valuable salines exist on its 
 banks, and are worked about Brownsville, where there 
 is an inexhaustible bed of bituminous coal. Native cop- 
 per has been found on its banks in detached masses. 
 It runs through a fine agricultural and grazing country. 
 
 Big Neck, is a settlement in one south, six west, at 
 the head of the South Fork of Bear creek, in Adams 
 county: a tract of good land. 
 
 Big Prairie, in White county, between the Little 
 and Big Wabash, about three miles in diameter, and 
 nearly all in a state of cultivation. The soil is sandy, 
 but of great fertility. 
 
 Big Woods, is a large tract of timbered land on Fox 
 river, from twenty-five to fifty miles above Ottawa. It 
 is about twenty-five miles long and from one to four 
 miles wide, undulating in some parts, but level and wet 
 in others. The timber consists of oaks of various spe- 
 cies, walnut, linden, sugar maple, elm, cherry, etc.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 189 
 
 The prairie adjoining, in general, is undulating and 
 rich. This country is rapidly settling. 
 
 Birch Creek, is a small stream that rises in Morgan 
 county, and enters Apple creek in Greene county. The 
 settlement contains about twenty-five families. 
 
 Black Creek is an insignificant stream, in Pike coun- 
 ty, that enters the Snicartee. 
 
 Black Partridge Creek, a small stream in the upper 
 part of Tazewell county, that enters the Illinois river. 
 
 Bloomfield, a post office in Edgar county. (See Bru- 
 lette's creek.) 
 
 Blooming' Grove, a tract of timbered land and a large 
 settlement, in McLean county, adjoining Bloomington. 
 It is about six miles long from north west to south east 
 and varying in width from one to four miles, containing 
 about twelve square miles of beautiful timber, with a 
 large settlement of industrious farmers around it. Near- 
 ly all the land is already occupied with settlers, a ma- 
 jority of whom are from Ohio. Both timbered land and 
 prairie are first rate. 
 
 BLOOMINGTON, is the seat of justice for McLean coun- 
 ty, and a promising village. 
 
 It is situated on the north side of Blooming Gro 
 on section four, twenty-three north, two east, on a' 
 beautiful and elevated spot, in a dry and rich prairie. 
 Bloomington was surveyed in April, 1831; the first lots 
 were sold July 4th, and improvements commenced in the 
 autumn of the same year. Notwithstanding the retard- 
 ing influence of the Indian war upon our northern Bor- 
 ders, this town site has advanced rapidly into a village. 
 It has five stores, two groceries, one tavern and about 
 200 inhabitants.
 
 I frrt 
 
 190 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The citizens of Bloomington have learned the secret 
 hso difficult to be understood in our western villages, that 
 framed tenements are more economical and convenient 
 than misshapen piles of logs. All their houses are neat 
 frames. This town, though not the geographical centre 
 of the county, is the centre of the population. 
 
 Block-House, a name given to an American settlement 
 formed about forty years since, in the American bottom, 
 in the south western part of St, Clair county. At the 
 foot of the bluffs, near this is a spring that regularly 
 ebbs and flows, once in twenty-four hours. 
 
 Blue Creek, in the upper part of Tazewell county, 
 rises in the prairie, runs west, and enters the Illinois 
 below Spring bay. 
 
 Bluffdale, a settlement in Greene county, ten miles 
 west of Carrollton, and under the bluffs that overhang 
 the Illinois bottom. The land is rich, dry, and beauti- 
 fully situated for six miles in extent, under overhanging 
 bluffs and precipices from which springs of "crystal wa- 
 ters" gush forth. The settlement is generally arranged 
 along the bluffs from Apple creek to the Macoupen, from 
 three to four miles from the Illinois river, and consists 
 of fifty or sixty families. 
 
 Blue Point, a point of timber projecting into the 
 prairie, in Effingham county, five miles north west of 
 Ewington. 
 
 Blue River. There are two small streams of this name 
 in Pike county distinguished as Big and Little Blue. They 
 rise in the middle of the county, run a south east course 
 and enter the Illinois, in three south, two west, about 
 six miles apart. The land through which they pass is 
 
 rtile, and much of it is yet owned by governmen
 
 OP ILLINOIS. 191 
 
 Bolive, a town site in the forks of Sangamon river, 
 ten miles south east from Springfield, surrounded with 
 a large and nourishing settlement. 
 
 Boliinghouse Prairie, lies south of Albion, in Edwards 
 county. It is about four miles long and three broad, 
 dry, undulating surface, and good soil. 
 
 Bum Pas, (Bumpau,) a small village near the creek of 
 the same name in the north east part of White county. 
 Bon Pas, a creek that divides Wabash and Edwards 
 counties. It rises near the Vincennes road, fifteen 
 miles west of Lawrenceville and taking a south easterly 
 course, enters the Wabash river in section fourteen, 
 township three south, range fourteen west of the se- 
 cond principal meridian, at the corner of Wabash and 
 White counties. Its banks are low and swampy. 
 
 Bon Pas Pyairie, four miles north east from Albion, 
 in Edwards county, and about two miles in diameter, 
 It contains good land, and a settlement. 
 
 Bon Pas Settlement, near the south east corner of Ed- 
 wards county, between the Bon Pas creek and Little 
 Wabash river. It is a timbered tract, good land, and 
 contains about sixty families. 
 
 Boston Bay is an arm of the Mississippi, above Q,uin- 
 cy, in Adams county, which at a tolerable stage of 
 water, furnishes a fine harbor for boats. 
 
 Boston, a town site in Canaan settlement, Shelby 
 county, twelve miles north of Shelbyville, township 
 thirteen north, four east, on the west fork of the Kas- 
 kaskia. 
 
 Boston, a town site laid off by Hindman and others, on 
 Crooked creek, in Schuyler county, on section eleven,
 
 192 A GAZETTEER 
 
 one south, two west, nine miles south from Rushviile. 
 Crooked creek may be rendered navigable to this place 
 at a trifling expense. 
 
 Bostwick's Settlement is three miles north east from 
 Hillsboro', in Montgomery county, a dry, rolling, fertile 
 prairie. 
 
 Bottom Settlement, commences in the north western 
 part of Union county, and extends down the Mississippi. 
 This bottom is timbered, and is from three to four miles 
 wide, but part of it is wet and inundated. 
 
 The settlement lies chiefly along the bank of the 
 river. 
 
 Bottom Settlement, in Alexander county, lies along the 
 Mississippi, on rich alluvial land, heavily timbered, and 
 contains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 Bradley's Settlement is at the head of Kincaid creek, 
 in the north part of Jackson county. It is a timbered 
 region, tolerable land, and has twenty-five or thirty 
 families. 
 
 Brattlemlle, a post office in Carter's settlement, in Mc- 
 Donough county, twelve miles south of Macomb, and on 
 the mail road to Rushviile. 
 
 Bridge's Settlement, in Johnson county, ten miles west 
 from Vienna, contains some tolerably good land. Pop- 
 ulation about sixty families. 
 
 Broad Run, a small stream in Coles county. It rises 
 in the Grand prairie, and runs south west into the Kas- 
 kaskia. Settlement small. 
 
 Brocket's Settlement on the west side of the Little Wa- 
 bash, eight miles southwesterly from Ewington, in Ef-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 193 
 
 fingham county. The surface is tolerably level and the 
 settlement contains forty or fifty families. 
 
 Brown's Point, a settlement at the head of timber in a 
 large prairie in Morgan county, ten miles south of Jack- 
 sonville. 
 
 Brown's Prairie^ in the corner of Macoupen and Greene 
 counties and extending into Madison county, between 
 Wood river and the Piasau. It is rich, dry soil, and is 
 about twelve miles east from Alton. 
 
 BROWNSVILLE, the seat of justice for Jackson county, is 
 situated on the north side of Big Muddy river, on sec- 
 tion two, nine south, and three west of the third princi- 
 pal meridian. It is twelve miles by land, and twenty- 
 five by water from the Mississippi, and is surrounded by 
 hills. 
 
 The Big Muddy Salines and coal banks are near this 
 place. The population is about twenty families. 
 
 Brulelfs Creek rises in the north part of Edgar coun- 
 ty, and runs eastward across a portion of Indiana into 
 the Wabash. The timber on Us banks is chiefly oak. 
 The settlement is in the forks, and along the north 
 fork of the creek. The land is good. Prairie predomi- 
 nates over the timbered land. The post office is called 
 Bloomfield. 
 
 Brush Creek rises in the east part of Shelby county, 
 runs a south west course, and empties into the Kaskas- 
 kia river, in the south part of the county. The timber 
 is indifferent, and the prairies are level and wet. 
 
 Brush Creek, rises in the prairies in the south part of 
 Sangamon county, runs north and enters Horse creek, 
 a little above its junction with the Sangamon. 
 13
 
 194 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Brushy Fork, a small branch of the Embarras on the 
 east side, and in the northern p^xrt of Lawrence county. 
 It runs a south course, and enters the main stream six 
 miles above Lawrencevillc. 
 
 The settlement is new, containing twenty-five or thir- 
 ty families, and a portion of the country barrens. 
 
 brushy Fork, a small stream that rises in the prairie, 
 near the borders of Edgar county, and taking a south 
 west course, enters the Embarras in Coles county, four- 
 teen miles aboveCharleston. On the east side the land is 
 rolling and fertile, and there is asettlement of fifteen or 
 twenty families; on the west side the land is level and 
 rather wet. 
 
 Brushy Hill, a post office and settlement in the east- 
 ern part of St. Clair county, fifteen miles east from 
 Belleville. 
 
 Brushy Prairie, on the east side of the Lil tie Wabash, 
 in Wayne county, eleven miles east of Fairfield, and 
 contains about fifty families. 
 
 B':ci-c-he.arl Prairie, in Fulton county, is north east 
 from Lewistown, and joins Canton Prairie. It is six or 
 eight miles in extent, and has a considerable settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Bnck-hcarl Creek rises near the South Fork of the 
 Sangamon river, runs north west, and enters the North 
 Fork. It has a considerable settlement. 
 
 I. i cl: -heart Grove, at the head of Buck-heart creek, in 
 Sangamon county, fifteen or twenty miles south east 
 from Springfield. It is a fine tract of timber, about 
 1000 acres, surrounded with high prairie and settle- 
 ment.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 195 
 
 Buck Prairie lies in Edwards county, six miles north 
 east from Albion, and is about two miles and a half 
 across. 
 
 B:ick-horn Prairie is in Morgan county, six or eight 
 miles south of Jacksonville. The soil is rich, but its 
 surface is rather level and wet. 
 
 Buckle's Grove, at the head of the north branch of 
 Salt creek, in McLean county, contains about twelve 
 sections of timbered land, surrounded with rich prairie. 
 It is in twenty-two north, four east, and is about six or 
 eight miles east from Bloomington. Population about 
 fifty families. 
 
 Timher principally oak, with some sugar maple, and 
 the land around it rather level. 
 
 Buffalo? Grove, in Jo Daviess county, twelve miles 
 north of Dixon's ferry, and on the road to Galena. It 
 contains four or five sections of timber, surrounded with 
 the richest prairie. 
 
 Buff aloe- ke art Grove- lies in Sangamon county, four- 
 teen miles north east from Springfield, and six miles 
 south easterly from Elk-heart grove, which it resem- 
 bles. It is about three miles long and one mile and a 
 half wide, containing about four sections of timber, and 
 twenty-five or thirty families. The rushes, which cover 
 the prairies around, furnish winter food for cat tie. 
 
 Buffaloe Rock, a singular promontory on the north 
 sideof the Illinois river, in La Salle county, six miles be- 
 low Ottawa. It rises fifty or sixty feet nearly perpen- 
 dicular on three sides, and contains on its surface about 
 six hundred acres of timber and prairie. 
 
 Bullzrd's Prairie, sometimes called Gardner's prairie,
 
 196 A GAZETTEER 
 
 in, the western part of Lawrence county, sixteen milea 
 from Lawrenceville. It is eight or ten miles long, and 
 two miles wide, second rate soil, and has considerable 
 settlements on its borders. 
 
 Buncombe Settlement, in Johnson county, eight miles 
 north west from Vienna, contains forty families; soil ra- 
 ther broken, thin, and rocky. 
 
 Bureau Creek rises in the northern part of Putnam 
 county, runs south west, receives Little Bureau, turns 
 thence south east, and enters the Illinois river nearly 
 opposite Hennepin. It is a fine mill stream, with a bold 
 current, rock, gravel, and sand in its bottom, and re- 
 ceives a number of branches. About the bluffs of the 
 Illinois the surface of the land is broken, but in gene- 
 ral it is excellent the whole length of the stream. Be- 
 tween its branches are fine prairies, undulating, rich, 
 and dry, and along its borders is much excellent timber. 
 
 Burnside's Settlement, in Clinton county, five miles 
 north of Carlye, called by some the Irish settlement. 
 
 Burnt Prairie, in the north western part of White, and 
 extending into Wayne county, is about two miles in di- 
 ameter, contains some good land and a dense settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Burnt Prairie, in Edwards county, four miles north 
 west from Albion. It is about six miles long and two 
 miles wide, interspersed with small groves and points 
 of timber. The soil is good, and the population dense. 
 Here is a windmill erected by a Mr. Clark, an English 
 gentleman, which does good business as a grist mill. 
 
 CadwelVs Branch, a small branch of the Mauvaiseterre, 
 whicn it enters from the south, ten miles below Jack- 
 sonville. It is a mill stream and rocky.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 197 
 
 Cahohia, an old French village, and one of the earliest 
 in Illinois, situated in the American bottom, in St. 
 Clair county, five miles south of Wiggin r s Ferry, and ten 
 miles north of west from Belleville. 
 
 The Cahokias,(or according to the orthography of the 
 early French explorers, the Caoqit.ias,}one of the tribes of 
 the great nation of Illini, had made this a resting place 
 for a long time previous to the discovery of the Missis- 
 sippi, probably on account of the game which abounded 
 in the vicinity. It is probable that the first settlement 
 was made here by the French, shortly after La Salle de- 
 scended the Mississippi, m 1633. 
 
 Charlevoix, who visited the place in 1721, expresses 
 his atonishment that his countrymen had pitched upon 
 so inconvenient a situation, being "half a league" from 
 the river. He says, however, the people told him that 
 the Mississippi ouce washed the foot of the village, but 
 that in three years it had receded half a leauge, and that 
 the people were talking of removing to a more eligible 
 situation. 
 
 In 1766, it contained forty familes; and at the com- 
 mencement of the revolutionary war they had increased 
 to fifty. This is about their present number. It was 
 once the seat of a cons : derahle fur trade. 
 
 Both the Spanish and French governments, in form- 
 ing settlements on the Mississippi, had special regard to. 
 convenience of social intercourse, and protection from 
 the Indians. All their settlements were required to be 
 in the form of villages or towns, and lots of a conven- 
 ient size fcr a door yard, garden, and stable yard were 
 provided for each family. To each village were granted
 
 198 A GAZETTEER 
 
 two tracts of land at convenient distances, for "com- 
 mon fields," and "commons" 
 
 A common fit Id is a tract of land of several hundred 
 acres, enclosed in common by the villagers, each person 
 furnishing his proportion of labor, and each family pos- 
 sessing individual interest in a portion of the field, mark- 
 ed off, and bounded from the rest. Ordinances were 
 made to regulate the repairs of fences, the time of ex- 
 cluding cattle in the spring, and the time of gathering 
 the crop and opening the field for the range of cattle in 
 the fall. Each plat of ground in the common field was 
 owned in fee simple by the person to whom granted, sub- 
 ject to sale and conveyance, the same as any landed pro- 
 perly. 
 
 A common is a tract of land granted to the town for 
 wood and pasturage, in which each owner of a village lot 
 has a common, but not an individual right. In some cases 
 this tract embraced t-everal thousand acres. The ''com- 
 mon" attached to Cahokia, extends up the prairie oppo- 
 site St. Louis. 
 
 Cahokia Creek, rises'* in Macoupen county, runs in a 
 south westerly direction through Madison into St. Clair 
 county, and empties into the Mississippi two miles be- 
 low the ferry at St. Louis. Through the American bot- 
 tom the course of this stream is very slugglish, and 
 meanders greatly. A mill dam backs up the water fif- 
 teen miles. Near its borders are several lakes and 
 ponds rendering this portion of the American bottom 
 unhealthy. 
 
 Formerly this creek passed Cahokia village, and en- 
 tered the Mississippi further down, but a mischievous
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 199 
 
 Frenchman, from some pique against the village, cut a 
 channel from the creek to the river, and formed its 
 present outlet. Along its borders are sixty or seventy 
 mounds of various shapes and sizes. 
 
 Calamic, a stream at the south end of lake Michigan. 
 It rises in Indiana runs westward into Illinois, turns 
 north, snd enters the lake. Much of the country near 
 the lake is low and swampy. Further up are rapids and 
 falls in the stream. 
 
 Caledonia, a town laid offon the bluffs of the Ohio, in 
 in Alexander county, three miles above America. A 
 wharf is here constructing to secure a good landing for 
 boats which is wanted at America. 
 
 It has two or three stores, a dozen families, and is 
 thought to be an important site for business. An ap- 
 propriation of $4600 has been made by the present con- 
 gress to erect a hospital at this place for boatmen on the 
 Ohio and Mississippi waters. 
 
 Camden, a town site at the mouth of the Illinois river, 
 in the south west part of Greene county. 
 
 Cameron's Settlement, in Fulton county, eight miles 
 north west from Lewistown, is in a tract of good land, a 
 mixture of timber and prairie, with a considerable popu- 
 lation. 
 
 Campbell's Island, in the Mississippi, ten miles above 
 Rock Island, in the upper rapids of the Mississippi. 
 
 Camp Creek, a small stream in Randolph county, that 
 enters the Kaskaskia river on the west side, in five 
 south, eight west. 
 
 Camp Creek is an insignificant stream that rises in 
 the prairies which divide Hancock from Warren coun- 
 ties, and runs west into the Mississippi.
 
 200 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Camp Fbrk, a branch of Crooked creek, in McDonongh 
 county, rises in Hickory grove, on the north side of se- 
 ven north two west, runs south, and unites with Drown- 
 ing fork. The land on all these creeks is of the first 
 quality. 
 
 Cnnaan, is a rich settlement in Shelby county, twelve 
 miles north of Shelby ville: a very superior tract. 
 
 Cantet.il Creek rises in Ridge prairie, in the south part 
 of Madison county, runs a western course, and enters 
 the Cahokia creek in the American bottom. Little 
 Canteen creek rises in St. Clair county, and enters the 
 m?.in creek about the bluffs. 
 
 Canteen Settlement, in Madison county, about six miles 
 south of Edwardsville. 
 
 Canton, a pleasant town in Fulton county, on the bor- 
 ders of a large prairie, fifteen miles north of Lewistown, 
 on section twenty-seven, seven north, four east. 
 
 It has two stores, one tavern, a post office, fifteen or 
 twenty families, and is surrounded with large and well 
 cultivated farms. One person has about 600 acres under 
 cultivation. The country around is high, undulating, 
 fertile, and healthy, with a mixture of timber and prai- 
 rie. 
 
 Canton Prairie, in Fulton county, commences near 
 Spoon river and runs northward, dividing the waters 
 that fall into Spoon river on the left, from those that 
 enter the Illinois on the ri^ht, till it becomes lost in the 
 interminable prairies on Rock river. At Canton it is 
 from two to three miles in width, dry, undulating, and 
 inexhaustibly rich. Further north it becomes inferior. 
 
 CantriWs Creek rises on the eastern side of Sangamon
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 201 
 
 county, runs west, and enters Sangamon river about fif- 
 teen miles above Salt Fork. The land on thicreek is 
 rather level, the soil rich, and about equally divided inte 
 timber and prairie. 
 
 Cape an Gris. A small French settlement of this 
 name, (which means Cape of Grit or Grindstone, from the 
 rocks -near,) was formed on the Mississippi, above the 
 mouthof the Illinois, at the most southern bend of the ri- 
 ver in Calhoun county, about forty years since. In 1311, 
 it consisted of about twenty families, who had a village 
 on the bank of the river, and cultivated a common field 
 of about five hundred acres in the prairie, one mile from 
 the river. They were driven off by the Indians during 
 the last war with Great Britain. The American popu- 
 lation began to enter this county, in 1813. 
 
 CARLINVII.LK, the seat of justice of Macoupen county, 
 is situated on the north side of the Lake Fork of the 
 Macoupen, in a beautiful prairie. 
 
 It is on section twenty-eight, ten north, seven west of 
 the third principal meridian. 
 
 Cariinville has two stores, one grocery, two lawyers, 
 two physicians, and about forty families, and is improv- 
 ing rapidly. The state roads from Vandalia to Carroll- 
 ton, and from Springfield to Alton, intersect at this 
 place. 
 
 It is fifty-five miles north west from Vandalia, forty- 
 five miles south east from Jacksonville, forty-five miles 
 south west from Springfield, thirty-five east of Carroll- 
 ton, thirty-five miles north from Kdwardsville, and thir- 
 ty-five north east from Alton. The country around Car- 
 iinville is proportionably divided into timber and prairie.
 
 202 A GAZETTEER 
 
 CAHLYLE, the scat of justice for Clinton county, is si- 
 tuated on the west side of the Kaskaskia river, '215 miles 
 by water above its mouth, and on (he Vincennes and St. 
 Louis read. 
 
 It was laid out as a town site, in ISIS, on- section eigh- 
 teen, two north, two west, on elevated ground, on the 
 border oft a large prairie. The intersection of several 
 public roads from different parts of the stale, gives it an 
 appearance of life and business, rnrely to be seen in a 
 place so remote from commercial advantages. 
 
 Carlyle contains five stores, two taverns, a grist and 
 saw mill by water power, and thirty-five or forty fami- 
 lies. The court house is of wood. 
 
 CAKMT, the seat of justice of White county, situated 
 on the west bank of the Little Wabash, and nearly in 
 the centre of the county. It is surrounded by lands of 
 a good quality, and an extensive settlement, and is in 
 latitude thirty-eight degrees five minutes north, eighty 
 miles south east of Vandalia. It is now in an improv- 
 ing condition, has four stores, a saw and flouring mill, 
 and a neat brick court house, forty feet square, with a 
 cupola, the whole painted and neatly finished. 
 
 Carrni has many good framed houses, and about forty 
 families. 
 
 Caroltts, a post office in Vermilion county, about twen- 
 ty milts from Danville, west of south, and on the mail 
 route from Vincennes to Chicago. 
 
 CAKRCLLTON, the seat ofjustice for Greene county, is 
 a flourishing and pleasant village, situated on the bor- 
 ders of Suii g prairie, nearly cqui-distant from Macou- 
 pen and Apple creeks, and on the dividing line of sec-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 203 
 
 tions twenty-two and twenty-three, ten north, and 
 twelve west. 
 
 It has six stores, one grocery, a variety of mechanics, 
 and about one hundred families. 
 
 The court house is neatly built of brick, forty-four by 
 forty-six feet, two stories, with a handsome spire. 
 
 Around Carrollton is a beautiful country, tolerably 
 level, rich soil, suitably proportioned into timber and 
 prairie, and densely populated with industrious and 
 thriving farmers. 
 
 There arc three lawyers, three physicians, a female 
 seminary, a good English school, a Sunday school and 
 Bible class, conducted on union principles, and public 
 worship held by one or more denominations every Sab- 
 bath. Here arc Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist 
 societies, and a new sect recently organized by a union 
 of'Ileformed Baptists" and ''Christians," who call them- 
 selves "Disciples." The last society outnumbers the 
 rest. 
 
 Houses of worship for the Baptists, Disciples, and Me- 
 thodists arc erected, and the Presbyterians are prepar- 
 ing to build. 
 
 Improved farms around Carrollton sell for eight or ten 
 dollars per acre. The houses mostly are framed, or of 
 brick, built in a plain but convenient style- 
 
 Curler's Settlement, near the south part of McDonough 
 county, twelve miles from Macomb, on the road to Rush- 
 ville. The land is gently undulating, soil rich, timber 
 and prairie proportioned, and an extensive settlement. 
 
 It is in the south part of four north, two west, be- 
 tween the heads of Sugar creek and Grindstone fork. 
 This is the oldest settlement in the county.
 
 204 A GAZETTEER 
 
 CARTHAGE, the seat of justice for Hancock county, is 
 situated in the prairie, one mile from timber, between 
 the head waters of Bear and Long creeks, and nine 
 miles from the Mississippi, on the north west quarter 
 of section nineteen, township five north, in range six 
 west. The town was laid off by commissioners in March, 
 1S33, and about one hundred lots sold the following 
 June; averaging about thirty dollars each. It now con- 
 tains three stores, one grocery, three carpenters, one 
 blacksmith, two cabinet makers, one wheel wright, one 
 tavern, one brick maker, one physician, but no lawyer. 
 
 The adjoining prairie is dry, and beautifully undula- 
 ting. The timber adjacent is excellent. Good water 
 in all this region is obtained by digging wells from fif- 
 teen to twenty-five feet deep. Coal is near and in abun- 
 dance. Since the sale of lots, property has risen in 
 value about fifty per cent. 
 
 Casey^s Grove is fifteen miles north east from Jack- 
 sonville, on the road to Beardstown. It is a small grove 
 of from five to six hundred acres on Clay creek. 
 
 Casey's Prairie, in Jefferson county, adjoining Mount 
 Vernon, is five miles long and two miles broad; surface 
 tolerably level, soil second rate, and the population con- 
 sists of about 1>:0 families. 
 
 Cask River, a stream in the southern part of the state, 
 which is formed from several branches, and a scries of 
 ponds that exist in Union and Johnson counties. These 
 unite in Alexander county, through which the main 
 stream follows a devious course, at one time approach- 
 ing within a mile and a half of the Mississippi, and again 
 approaching near the Ohio, till it empties its waters
 
 OP ILLINOIS. 205 
 
 into the latter river, at Trinity, six miles above its 
 mouth. 
 
 One of its principal branches rises in Union county, 
 and forms the "Scatters of Cash," which see. 
 
 Another source of its waters is in Johnson county, in 
 a series of ponds which are connected with the waters 
 of Big Bay creek, in Pope county. The outlet of these 
 ponds is known by the name of Pond Slough. 
 
 The alluvions of Cash river, where not inundated, are 
 wide, of a rich soil, and heavily timbered. 
 
 Cat Tail Swamp, is in the south part of Jo Daviess 
 county, and connected with the Marais d'Ogee. 
 
 Cave in Hock. This natural curiosity, well known to 
 all the navigators of the Ohio river, is situated on the 
 bank of the Ohio, where the dividing line between Pope 
 and Gailatin counties strikes the river. Such caves and 
 piles of rock, as are described in the following sketch, are 
 called by the Indians Mon-e-to; a name spelled Man-i- 
 leau, by the French, 4 and sometimes Mon-it-to by other 
 authors. It signifies "the residence of a spirit," either 
 gopd or bad. 
 
 There are several Mon-e-toes in Illinois, Missouri, and 
 other western states. One is at the precipices of the 
 Mississippi adjoining Lower Alton. Two more that give 
 names to streams in Boone and Coles counties, Missouri. 
 The Indians relate so ae wild and ; xtravagant legends 
 of the freaks of thes- imaginary beings at their resi- 
 dences" and tney usually propitiate the favor of the 
 Mon-p. t0j ky liberal offerings, and the firing of guns, as 
 Viey pass his habitation. 
 
 The pne at the head of this article, known to Ameri-
 
 206 A GAZETTEER 
 
 cans by the name, Cave -in -rock, was long the rendez- 
 vous of a class of beings, far more formidable and dan- 
 gerous to the whites, than the Indian Mon-e-toes. 
 
 In 1797, it was the place of resort and security to Ma- 
 son and his gang of robbers, who plundered and murder- 
 ed the crews of boats, while descending the Ohio. It 
 still answers as a temporary residence for those who need 
 shelter while on the river. The rock is limestone 
 abounding with shells. 
 
 The following description of this cave is given by 
 Thaddeus M. Harris, an English tourist, made in the 
 spring of 1 S 03, a writer who has done justice to the west 
 in his descriptions generally. 
 
 "For about three or four miles before you come to 
 this place, you are presented with ascene truly roman- 
 tic. On the Illinois side of the river, you see large, 
 ponderous rocks piled one upon another, of different co- 
 lors, shapes and sizes. Some appear to have gone through 
 the hands of the most skilful artist; some represent the 
 ruins of ancient edifices; others thrown promiscuously 
 in and out of the river, as if nature intended to show us 
 with what e.ise she could handle those moun tains of solid 
 rock. In some places, you see purling streams wind' 
 ingtheir course down their rugged front; while in others, 
 the rocks project so far, that thtyseern almost disposed 
 to leave their doubtful situation!. After a short relief 
 from this scene, you come to a second, which is some- 
 thing similar to the first; and here, with strict scrutiny, 
 you can discover the cave. 
 
 "Before its mouth stands a delightful grove of cypress 
 trees, arranged inruediately on the bank of the river.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 207 
 
 They have a fine appearance, and add much to the cheer- 
 fulness of the place. 
 
 "The mouth of the cave is but a few feet above the or- 
 dinary level of the river, and is formed by a serni circu- 
 lar arch of about eighty feet at its base, and twenty-five 
 feet ia height, the top projecting considerably over, 
 forming a regular concave. From the entrance to the 
 extremity, which is about ISO feet, it has a regular and 
 gradual ascent. On either side is a solid bench of rock; 
 the arch coming to a point about the middle of the cave, 
 where you discover an opening sufficiently large to re- 
 ceive the body of a man, through which comes a small 
 stream of fine water, made use of by those who visit 
 this place. From this hole, a second cave is discovered 
 whose dimensions, form, etc. are not known. The rock 
 is of lime stone. The sides of the cave are covered 
 with inscriptions, names of persons, dates ; etc."* 
 
 The trees have been cut down and the entrance into 
 the cave exposed to view. 
 
 Cedar Creek, in Adams county, which rises in one 
 south, eight west, runs west, and enters Boston bay. 
 
 A sa.v and grist mill has been erected on this stream 
 and the land contiguous is good. 
 
 Cedar Crcc!., ia Johnson county, rises in the north 
 eastern part, xns -south, and enters Big Bay creek. It 
 has large, abriipi birds, covered with cedar, and a settle- 
 ment near it. 
 
 Ce.dur Creel:, a branch of Big Muddy river, in Jackson 
 county, rises in Union county, and runs first north, and 
 
 * Harris's Tour, etc. Boston, 1805.
 
 203 A GAZETTEER 
 
 then a western course, and enters Muddy river twelve 
 miles above its mouth. This creek has high bluffs to- 
 wards its mouth, which abound with cedar. 
 
 The country is broken, timbered, well watered with 
 springs, and contains about one hundred families. The 
 main settlement is six miles from Brownsville. 
 
 Cedar Fork, a branch of Crooked creek, in the north 
 west corner of Schuyler county, runs through a dry and 
 rather hilly tract of country. 
 
 Cedar Fork of Henderson river-rises in the great prai- 
 rie between Henderson and Spoon rivers, and takiug a 
 north western course, enters the main Henderson. The 
 land along its borders is first rate, and begins to receive 
 ^cultivation from an industrious settlement. 
 
 Cetiterville, called also "Virginia Centerville," a set- 
 tlement at the intersection of the base line of the 
 fourth principal meridian, with the boundary line be- 
 twixt A.dams and Schuyler counties. Excellent prai- 
 rie and timbered land, undulating, healthy, and watered 
 :by the head branches of McKee's and crooked creeks. 
 
 A post office is here called Daviston, within Schuyler 
 ounty, twenty-five miles from Rushville. 
 
 Centcrville, a post office, and the former seat of gov- 
 ernment for Wabash county, situated five miles north 
 west from Mount Carmel. 
 
 CHARLESTON, the seat of justice for Coles county, 
 is situated on the border of the Grand prairie, two and 
 a half miles from, and on the west side of the Embarras 
 river, on section eleven, township twelve north, nine 
 east. The surface around is tolerably level, the soil 
 fertile, and the settlements already considerable will
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 209 
 
 will soon be extensive. It has three stores, three gro- 
 ceries, and about twenty-five families. It was laid out 
 in 1831, and the first sale of lots took place in that 
 year. 
 
 Cheney's Grove, a settlement near the head waters of 
 the Sangamon, on the east side of McLean county, 
 twenty-three north, six east. This timber is an island 
 in the great prairie, of three or four square miles, twen- 
 ty-five miles east of Bloomington, and on the road to 
 Danville. The population is small. 
 
 Cherry Grove, a settlement in St. Clair county, eight 
 miles north easterly from Belleville, with a dense popu- 
 lation. 
 
 CHICAGO, the seat of justice for Cook county, is situa- 
 ted on a river or bay of the same name, at the junction 
 of North and South branches, and from one half mile to 
 a mile from lake Michigan. The town is beautifully 
 situated on level ground, but sufficiently elevated above 
 the highest floods, and on both sides of the river. 
 
 It contains three houses for public worship, an acade- 
 my, an infant and other schools, twenty-five or thirty 
 stores, many of them doing large business, several ta- 
 verns, mechanics of various kinds, a printing office, 
 which publishes the " Chicago Democrat ," and ten or 
 twelve hundred inhabitants. 
 
 Its growth, even for western towns, has been unusual- 
 ly rapid, as two years since it contained five stores, and 
 about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. 
 
 The United States government is constructing a har- 
 bor at the mouth of the Chicago, by cutting a wide and 
 deep channel thcough a sand bar at its mouth, and con- 
 14
 
 210 A GAZETTEER 
 
 structing piers to extend into the lake beyond the ac- 
 tion of the winds and waves upon the bar. 25,000 
 were expended last year for this purpose, and the pre- 
 sent congress has appropriated an additional sum of 
 $32,801, which, added to the previous appropriation, 
 makes the sum of the original estimate. 
 
 When this work is completed, the Chicago will form 
 one of the best harbors for steam boats, schooners, and 
 other craft in all the lake regions. Steam boats and 
 schooners will pass along a deep natural canal through 
 the centre of the upper part of the town, with the great- 
 est convenience. 
 
 These facilities, the natural position of the place, the 
 enterprise and capital that will concentrate here, with 
 favorable prospects for health, must soon make this place 
 the emporium of trade and business for all the northern 
 country. 
 
 Back of the town, towards the Des Plaines, is a fer- 
 tile prairie, and for the first three or four miles, eleva- 
 ted and dry. 
 
 Along the north branch of the Chicago, and the lake 
 shore, are extensive bodies of fine timber. White pine, 
 in small quantities, is obtained on the Calamic, at the 
 south end of the lake, fifteen miles distant. Large 
 quantities exist in the regions towards Green bay, from 
 which lumber in any quantities is obtained and convey- 
 ed by shipping to Chicago. Yellow poplar boards and 
 plank are brought across the lake from the St. Joseph's 
 river. 
 
 The mail, in post coaches from Detroit, arrives here 
 semi weekly, and departs for Galena, for Springfield, 
 Alton, and St. Louis, and for Danville, and Vincennes.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 21 I 
 
 The linked States government owns a strip of ele- 
 vated ground between the town and lake, about half a 
 mile in width, on which Fort Dearborn and the liglit 
 house are situated. Here are stationed about one hun- 
 dred United States troops, including officers, as a check 
 upon the Indians in the adjacent territory. As the title 
 to the Indian lands in the northern part of Illinois and 
 the adjoining territory, as far as Green bay, is extin- 
 guished by the treaty of September, 1883, and the In- 
 dians are to be removed west of the Mississippi, this 
 garrison will soon be broken up, and the town be ex- 
 tended to the lake shore. 
 
 Such was the eagerness to obtain property in this 
 place that the school section adjacent to the town plat, 
 after reserving twelve acres, was sold in small lots last 
 October, for $38,705. 
 
 The money was loaned out at ten and twelve per 
 cent, interest, and the avails applied to the support of 
 schools in the town. 
 
 Chicago is situated on section nine, township thirty- 
 iiine north, in range fourteen east of the third principal 
 meridian. 
 
 Chicago, the stream or bay on which the town of Chi- 
 cago is situated. It is made by North and South branch- 
 es, which form a junction in the upper part of the town, 
 about three fourths of a mile from the lake. The Chi- 
 cago resembles a vast canal, from fifty to seventy-five 
 yards wide, and from fifteen to twenty-five feet deep. 
 Northerly and easterly storms throw the cool waters of 
 the lake into this channel, and raise it about three feet. 
 
 North Branch, which is the largest, rises a short dis-
 
 212 A GAZETTEER 
 
 tance above the boundary line, and near the lake, and 
 runs parallel with the lake shore a southerly course, and 
 is navigable for small boats. Its banks are well timber- 
 ed, and the land fertile. 
 
 In spring floods, its waters, in one or two places, flow- 
 across the prairie and commingle with those of Des 
 Plaines. 
 
 South Branch rises in an opposite direction, in the 
 prairies towards the Saganaskee swamp, runs a north- 
 ern direction about twenty miles, and forms a junction 
 with the North branch, in the town of Chicago. The 
 timber is rather scarce on South branch. 
 
 Chateau's Island is in the Mississippi river, in the 
 south western part of Madison county. It is four miles 
 long, and a mile and a half wide, and has several fami- 
 lies and farms on it. In extreme high floods the water 
 of the river nearly covers it. 
 
 Christian Settlement, .see Allison's Prairie. 
 
 Christy's Prairie, called sometimes Lewis's Prairie, is 
 in Lawrence county, ten miles west of Lawrenceville, 
 moderately rolling, and good second rate land. Popula" 
 tion 150 families. 
 
 Clary's Grove is a beautiful tract of timber and flour- 
 ishing settlement, in Sangamon county, eighteen miles 
 north west from Springfield, and surrounded with ex- 
 cellent prairie. The timber is three or four miles in di- 
 ameter, consisting of oaks, sugar maple, walaut, hicko- 
 ry, linden, elm, locust, and various other species. Cla- 
 v ry's creek issues from this grove, runs ncrth westerly, 
 and enters the Sangamon river near the corner of Mor- 
 gan county.
 
 \ 
 OF ILLINOIS. 213 
 
 Little Grove is a smaller tract contiguous to Clary's 
 grove; timber and prairie of the same quality. 
 
 Clay Creek rises in the prairies in the north eastern 
 part of Morgan county, passes through two lakes in the 
 bottom, and enters the Illinois river below Beardstown. 
 
 Clay Lick, a branch of Cedar creek, in Union county . 
 The land is hilly, and heavily timbered. 
 
 Clay Prairie, in Clark county, lies west from Union 
 Prairie^ and eight miles south west from Darwin. It 
 contains a largo settlement. 
 
 Clear Creek, a small stream that rises in the prairies 
 near Paris, Edgar county, and leaving the county at its 
 south east corner, passes across a strip of Indiana, and 
 enters the Wabash. It is a mill stream, and the land on 
 each side is good. 
 
 Clear Creek, a small stream in Putnam county, ten 
 miles south of Hennepin. Along its banks are fine tim- 
 ber, and the adjoining prairies are excellent. 
 
 Clear Creek, a stream that rises in Union county, runs 
 south, and enters the Mississippi in the north western 
 part of Alexander county. One branch rises in the 
 northern part of Union, the other in the neighborhood 
 of Jonesboro'. 
 
 Clear Creek, in Sangamon county, rises in the prairies 
 between Salt creek and the North Fork, runs a south 
 western course, and enters the Sangamon river near the 
 junction of the North and South Forks. This is a good 
 mill stream; the country on its borders rather level, 
 timber good, considerable prairie, and a population of 
 200 or 300 families. 
 
 Clear Creek, a small stream in Morgan county, that
 
 214 A GAZETTEER 
 
 passes through the narrows and enters the Illinois river 
 below Beardstown. 
 
 Clear Lake, an expansion of water in the American 
 bottom, St. Glair county, about ten miles westerly from 
 Belleville. 
 
 Clendening's Settlement, in Greene county, six miles 
 south west of Carrollton. 
 
 Clifton, on the bank of the Mississippi, four miles 
 above Alton. Here is a landing 1 , a steam saw mill, an 
 excellent free stone quarry, and a quarry of water ce- 
 ment lime stone. 
 
 Clinton Hill is three miles north of Belleville, in St. 
 Clair county, and the residence of John Messenger, esq. 
 It is an elevated timbered tract, containing some ex- 
 cellent springs, and a valuable stone quarry. The Rich- 
 land Baptist church have their house of worship here. 
 
 Coal Banks, in the bluffs of St. Clair county, east side 
 of the American bottom, and seven miles from St. Louis 
 ferry. 
 
 Several beds have been opened along the bluffs, with- 
 in three miles. The coal is bituminous, burns well, and 
 appears to be inexhaustible. About 150,000 bushels are 
 now taken to St. Louis annually, and the demand for it 
 is rapidly increasing. 
 
 Coal Creek, in Schuyler county, heads near Crane 
 creek, runs east, and enters the Illinois, four miles 
 above Beardstown. 
 
 Cochra/i's Grove, a post office and settlement in Shel- 
 by county, ten miles east of Shelbyville. 
 
 Coffee Creek, an inconsiderable stream in Wabash 
 county, that enters the Wabash river, six miles below
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 215 
 
 Mount Carmel. A settlement of the same name is 
 along; its course. It is a timbered country, undulating, 
 and broken. 
 
 Cold Prairie is in the American bottom, in St. Clair 
 county, on the road from St. Louis to Belleville. 
 
 Cold Spring Settlement and post office, is in Shelby 
 county, on the road from Vandalia to Shelbyville, 
 twelve miles south of the latter place. The land is se- 
 cond rate, and proportioned into timber and prairie. 
 ^This was formerly called Wakefield'' s Settlement. 
 
 CollinsvUle, a village, post office, and settlement, in 
 the south part of Madison county. 
 
 Here is a store, a large mill for sawing and grinding, 
 and several mechanics. A meeting house and Presby- 
 terian church of fifty members, a large Sabbath school, 
 and a body of sober, moral, and industrious citizens, 
 render this an interesting settlement. 
 
 Columbia, a town site on the east bank of the Illinois 
 river, in Putnam county, twenty miles below Hennepin, 
 adjoining ^trawn's settlement. 
 
 Columbo creek rises in Perry county, runs a south east 
 course, and enters Big Beaucoup, in Jackson county. 
 
 Columbus, .a. town site in Randolph county, near the 
 Flat prairie, eighteen miles east of Kaskaskia, on sec- 
 tion one, five south, six west. Here is an academy, in- 
 tended as the foundation of Union college, which was 
 incorporated at the last session of the legislature. 
 
 The post office is called "Shannon's Store." 
 Compton's Prairie, in Wabash county, twelve miles 
 west of Mount Carmel. This is a small, rich, level prai- 
 rie, inclined to be wet, and has twenty-five or thirty 
 families.
 
 216 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Concord, a post office and settlement, sometimes call- 
 ed "Slocumb's," in White county, between the Little 
 and big Wabash, below Big prairie. 
 
 Coonsville, a small creek and settlement, on the south 
 side of Apple creek, in Greene county, and six miles 
 north west from Carrollton. 
 
 Coop's creek, a branch of the Macoupen, in Macoupen 
 county. It rises in the prairies towards the head of Ca- 
 hokia creek, runs a north westerly course, and enters 
 the main stream below the forks. Timber and prairie, 
 undulating and rich. 
 
 Copperas creek, in Fulton county, towards the eastern 
 part. It rises near Canton, runs a south eastern course, 
 and enters the Illinois river in six north, five east. 
 Much of it is a timbered tract; some good prairie, and 
 a large settlement. 
 
 Cottonberger's Settlement, on Salt creek, in the north 
 west part of Macon county, eighteen miles north from 
 Decatur. 
 
 Cotton Hill Prairie, is in Sangamon county, between 
 South Fork and -Horse creek, twelve miles south of 
 Springfield. 
 
 Court creek runs through Knox county, from north 
 west to south east, and enters Spoon river. 
 
 Comngton was formerly the seat of justice of Wash- 
 ington county, but after its division in forming Clinton, 
 this place was left in the north west corner of the coun- 
 ty, and now contains half a dozen families. It is situa- 
 ted on the left bank of the Kaskaskia river, in section 
 thirty-three, township one north, three west. Should 
 the contemplated improvements of the Kaskaskia river
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 217 
 
 be carried forward so as to be navigated by steam, Co- 
 vington may become a place of some importance. 
 
 It is fourteen miles from Nashville. 
 
 Cownover's Branch, in Morgan county, rises at the 
 head of Jersey prairie, and enters Indian creek near 
 Smart's mill. 
 
 Cox's Grove, a small body of timber on the line of Mor- 
 gan and Sangamon counties. 
 
 Cox's Prairie, north east of Brownsville, in Jackson 
 county, near Big Beaucoup, contains about four sections 
 of good rolling land. 
 
 Crab Orchard, a small creek that rises in the south 
 part of Franklin county, passes into Jackson, and en- 
 ters the Big Muddy, fifteen miles above Brownsville. 
 The country adjoining is level and good, and the settle- 
 ment has forty or fifty families. 
 
 Crawfish creek, a small stream in Wabash county, that 
 enters the Wabash river six miles above Mount Carmel. 
 The adjacent country is sterile and broken. 
 
 Crawford's creek is an insignificant, stream in Adams 
 county, containing excellent land and timber. It en- 
 ters the south prong of Bear creek. 
 
 Crane creek, a small stream in Schuyler county, which 
 rises near Rushville, runs south through a timbered re- 
 gion, and enters the Illinois a few yards above the 
 mouth of Crooked creek. 
 
 Crane creek, a trifling stream that enters the Sanga- 
 mon river from the north side, below Miller's ferry. 
 
 Crane creek* in Jo Daviess county, rises near the 
 south fork of Plum creek, runs west, then south, and 
 enters Rock river fifteen or twenty miles below Dixon's
 
 218 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ferry, near the foot of the second rapids. Its length is 
 about twenty-five miles. The timber near^it is in groves , 
 and the country generally the finest for farming pur- 
 poses. It is a good mill stream. 
 
 Crooked creek, on the military tract, from its size, 
 length, and number of its branches, should be called a 
 river: but it is not our province to make or alternames. 
 The term "creek" is applied to this stream on the 
 maps, and in the vocabulary of the country. It rises 
 m numerous branches in -McDonough and Hancock 
 counties, and near the borders of Warren, runs a south- 
 ern course through McDonough and Schuyler counties, 
 and enters the Illinois in section thirteen, one south, 
 one west, six miles below Beardstown. It can easily 
 be made navigable some distance. No better land can 
 be found in Illinois than the country in general watered 
 by this stream; and the many small tributaries empty- 
 ing into it from the east and west not only afford many 
 mill seats, but apportion the timber and prairie so near- 
 ly equal as to reader almost every tract capable of im- 
 mediate settlement. It is to be regretted that much of 
 the land in this section of the country is owned by non 
 residents, and that it is held at prices much too high to 
 suit the circumstances of settlers, on the relative value 
 of land in this state. 
 
 The country generally on Crooked creek is gently 
 undulating, dry soil, inexhaustibly rich, and where tim- 
 ber exists it is of excellent quality. Here are found 
 oaks of different species, walnut, sugar maple, linden, 
 hackberry, hickory, cherry, honey locust, mulberry, 
 elm, ash, and various other growth common to the state.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 219 
 
 The soil is an argillaceous mould, from one to four feet 
 deep. Near the mouth of Crooked creek is an extensive 
 bottom on the Illinois, inundated in high water, hut af 
 fording,an extensive range for stock during the great- 
 est part of the year. 
 
 Bituminous coal is found in great abundance alom>; 
 this stream and its tributaries, with several quarries of 
 free stone. 
 
 Crooked Creek, in Marion county, rises in the Grand 
 prairie near Salem, runs a south westerly course, and 
 enters the Kaskaskia river above Covington. 
 
 Crooked Creek, an insignificant stream and branch of 
 the Little W abash, in White county, eight miles above 
 Carmi. 
 
 It is a timbered region, and the settlement is large. 
 
 Crosiers Landing, on the Illinois river, in La Sallo 
 county, one mile below the foot of the rapids. 
 
 Crow Creek rises in the north part of McLean coun- 
 ty, passes through the southwestern part of La Salle, 
 and enters the Illinois river in Putnam county belo'.v 
 Hennepin. 
 
 There is a fine skirt of timber and much good prairie 
 along its borders. 
 
 Crow Creek, a small stream in Putnam county that en- 
 ters the Illinois river from the west side. It rises in 
 Crow grove, (Boyd's) and runs an east course. 
 
 Crow Grove, or-Boyd's settlement, forty miles above 
 Peoria, on the stage road to Galena. It is a beautiful 
 tract of country, in fourteen north, eight east from the 
 fourth principal meridian, and thirteen miles west of 
 Hennepin.
 
 220 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Crow Prairie lies near the Illinois river, in Putnam 
 county, on the east side, twelve miles below Hennepin. 
 It is six miles long and three miles wide, good soil, and 
 timber around it. 
 
 Crow Prairie is in Putnam county, en the west side of 
 the Illinois river. It is twelve miles long, four miles 
 wide, and dry, rich, farming land. 
 
 Cutler's Settlement, in Coles county, eight miles north 
 east from Charleston, on the east side of the Embarras. 
 The soil, both of the timbered land and prairie, is good, 
 and the settlement contains from forty to fifty families. 
 
 Cypress, a sluggish creek in Gallatin county, between 
 Equality and Shawneetown, which runs into the Saline 
 creek. 
 
 The land in the vicinity is generally good and heavily 
 timbered. 
 
 DANVILLE, the seat of justice for Vermilion county, is 
 situated near the Vermilion river of the \A r abash, on 
 section eight, in township nineteen north, and in range 
 eleven west from the second principal meridian. 
 
 It is on a dry, sandy, and elevated surface, surround- 
 ed with heavy timber on the east, north, and west, but 
 open to the prairie on the south. 
 
 It has six stores, three groceries, two taverns, three 
 lawyers, two physicians, various mechanics, a public 
 land office for this district, and a printing office from 
 which issues weekly the "Danville Enquirer." 
 
 The Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterians each have 
 congregations. There are about fifty or sixty families. 
 The country around is populous, and rich land. 
 
 DARWIN, the seat of justice of Clark county. It is sit-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 221 
 
 uated on the Wabash, in section twenty-seven, ten nortb, 
 eleven west from the second principal meridian, adjoin- 
 ing Walnut prairie, and contains about twenty families. 
 
 Daviston Post Office is at the place where the base 
 line of the fourth principal meridian crosses the dividing 
 line of Adams and Schuyler counties, twenty-five miles 
 south of west from Rushville on the road to Quincy. 
 
 Dawson's Grove, called sometimes "Old Town Timber," 
 in McLean county, twelve miles east from Bloomington, 
 and at the heads of Kickapoo and Salt creek, in twenty- 
 three north, and three and four east. The road from 
 Pekin to Danville passes through this grove. It is long, 
 and intersected with some barrens. Timber princi- 
 pally oak with some sugar maple. The prairie around it 
 is very rich. 
 
 Dead Man's Grove, in Coles county, six miles west of 
 Charleston. It is almost circular, about two miles in 
 diameter, and contains three or four sections of indif- 
 ferent timber, surrounded with a rich and undulating 
 prairie, and is monopolized by two or three families. It 
 receives its name from the circumstance of a man pe- 
 rishing here with cold several years since. The old 
 Kickapoo towns were adjoining this grove. 
 
 Deaton's Mill, one of the first settlements in Morgan 
 county, on the Mauvaiseterre, three miles north west 
 from Jacksonville. Here is a steam mill, and a large 
 and flourishing settlement. 
 
 Deausaix, a trifling stream, and branch of the Kas- 
 kaskia river, in the south eastern part of St. Clair 
 county. 
 
 Decker's Prairie, a small tract of second rate, undnla-
 
 222 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ling land, in Wabash county, twelve miles north east 
 from Mount Carmel, with about twenty-five families. 
 
 DECATCR, the seat of justice for Macon county, is situ- 
 ated on the west side of the North Fork of Sangamon 
 'river, and on the borders of an extensive prairie. 1 1 is 
 on the north east quarter of section fifteen, in sixteen 
 north, two east from the third principal meridian. It 
 is dry, elevated, and bids fair for health. The country 
 around is elevated, rich, and has a fine settlement. 
 
 Decatur has three stores, several mechanics and 
 about thirty families. 
 
 JJes Plaines River [Riviere des Plaines, Fr.] rises in 
 the Wisconsin territory, a few miles above the bounda- 
 ry line of Illinois, and about six miles from lake Michi- 
 gan. It runs a south course, generally over a bed of 
 iime stone rock, and forms one of the prominent branch- 
 es of the Illinois river, by its junction with the Kanka- 
 kee. 
 
 Groves of timber are found on its banks, and inter- 
 spersed through the vast "prairie region. The country 
 along its borders is rapidly populating, notwithstanding 
 the apparent deficiency of timber. 
 
 In many places along the Des Plaines rock may be 
 easily obtained both for fencing and building. The 
 country is well watered, the streams perennial, and the 
 soil rich, and covered with luxuriant herbage. It is fre- 
 quently written and pronounced Aux Plaines t or Anglice 
 O'P/ane. 
 
 Devil's Anvil is a singular rock, of considerable ele- 
 vation, and the top jutting over its base, near the road 
 from Equality to Golconda. The surrounding country is
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 223 
 
 very hilly, with rocky precipices, and exhibits all the 
 desolation and wildness of a mountainous region. 
 
 Devil's Oveiiis a singular promontory of sand rock that 
 projects into the Mississippi, in Jackson county, one 
 mile above the Grand Tower. It has a cave resembling 
 the mouth of a mammoth oven, to be seen from the river. 
 
 Diamond Grove, a most beautiful tract of timber in 
 Morgan county, two miles southwest from Jacksonville, 
 It is elevated above the surrounding prairie, and con- 
 tains 700 or 800 acres, and surrounded with beautiful 
 
 farms. 
 
 Diamond Grove Prairie, in Morgan county, south, and 
 adjacent to Jacksonville. It is four miles in extent, 
 rich soil, undulating, dry surface, and mostly covered 
 over with fine farms. 
 
 Dickerson's Lake is in the Illinois bottom, in Morgan 
 county, near the bluffs. 
 
 Dillard's is a large settlement in Gallatin county, 
 eight miles north west of Shawneetown. The land ge- 
 nerally is good. 
 
 Dixon's Ferry and post office, on Rock river, on the 
 stage road from Peoria to Galena. 
 
 The country around is excellent, but there is a defi- 
 ciency of timber fordense settlements. Formerly call- 
 ed O' Gee's Ferry. 
 
 Dolson's Prairie is on the west side of Clark county, 
 six miles wide, and twice as long, level, considerably 
 wet, and a rather thin and clay soil. 
 
 Donohue's Settlement is in the north east corner of Jef- 
 ferson county, on Adams's creek, ten miles from Mount 
 Vernon. It is mostly a timbered tract, and has twenty 
 or thirty families.
 
 224 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Downing^ Settlement, in Bond county, nine miles south 
 of Greenville. It is on the waters of Beaver creek, and 
 is well furnished with timber and prairie. 
 
 Drewry's Creek, a branch of Crab Orchard. It rises 
 in Union county, runs a devious course north easterly 
 into Jackson county, and has a settlement of fifteen or 
 twenty families. The land timbered, and second rate 
 soil. 
 
 Driftwood, a post office in Iroquois county, on the 
 road from Danville to Chicago. 
 
 Drowning Fork, in McDonough county. It rises in 
 the prairies six north, one west, runs a south western 
 course, and uniting with other branches, forms Crooked 
 creek. It has a large body of excellent timber, sur- 
 rounded with extensive prairies. 
 
 Dry Fork, a small stream in Macoupen, county. It 
 rises towards Cahokia creek, runs a north westerly 
 course, and enters the Macoupen above the forks. 
 
 Dry Fork, a branch of Shoal creek, in the north west 
 part of Bond county. 
 
 Dry Grove is a timbered tract in McLean county, in 
 twenty-four north, one east, six miles north of west 
 from Bloomington, and lies at the head of Sugar creek. 
 It is about ten miles long, from east to west, high, dry, 
 and undulating, and contains a settlement of about fifty 
 families. 
 
 Dry Point, a small branch of Lake Fork of the Ma- 
 coupen. The head of the timber is well known on the 
 old road from Edwardsville to Springfield, and is in nine 
 north, six west, nine miles south east from Carlinville. 
 
 Duck Grove, a small body of timber north of Holder- 
 man's grove, in La Salle county.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 225 
 
 Dudley's Settlement, in Coles county, seven or eight 
 miles east from Charleston. 
 
 Including RichwoocTs, a fine body of timber south, it is 
 an excellent tract of country, and contains more than 
 120 families. 
 
 Duncanton, a post office in Mantua settlement, in the 
 south western part of White county, on the mail road 
 from McLeansboro' to Shawneetown. 
 
 Dunwoody's Mill is on Indian creek, Morgan county, 
 eight miles north of Jacksonville. 
 
 Du Page, [Riviere du Page, Fr.] a beautiful stream in 
 Cook county. It rises in two forks, which unite in the 
 settlement of Fountaindale. One fork rises near the 
 Des Plaines, and runs a western course, and forms a 
 junction with the other fork, which rises towards Fox 
 river. After the junction it runs a south western course 
 through groves and prairies, and enters the Des Plains 
 three miles above its junction with the Kankakee. 
 There are large settlements on this stream at Walker's 
 grove and Fountaindale. 
 
 Dutch Church Creek, in Pike county, takes its name 
 from a bluff of a singular shape resembling one of the 
 antiquated buildings of New York in Knickerbocker's 
 days. It rises in the interior, and enters Snicartee, 
 
 Dutchman's Creek, a small branch of Cash river, in 
 Johnson county. The land on this creek is excellent, 
 and the settlement extensive. 
 
 Dutch Hill, a settlement in the south east part of St. 
 Clair county, and east of the Kaskaskia river. The 
 land is good, and a mixture of timber and prairie. 
 Dutch Settlement, in Union county, lies south and in 
 15
 
 226 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the vicinity of Jonesboro'. The land is good, rolling 
 and well timbered. The settlement contains probably 
 200 families and is watered by Clear creek. 
 
 Eaton's Mill is noticed as the name of a settlement in 
 Jasper county, near Crawford, on the west side of the 
 North Fork of the Embarras. 
 
 Eagle Creek, a small stream in Gallatin county. It 
 rises in the interior, runs south, and enters the Saline 
 creek near its mouth. Some broken, and some good 
 land, and a large settlement are on this stream. 
 
 Eagle Creek, or L'Aigle creek, in Monroe county; see 
 Fountain creek. 
 
 East Fork of Cash River rises in Johnsoa county, 
 twelve south, three east, runs south by Vincennes, and 
 enters the main stream below the "Scatters of Cash.''' 
 The land on this stream is excellent. The timber con- 
 sists of cypress, cedar, walnut, oaks of various species, 
 etc- 
 
 East Fork ofKaskaskia River rises en the north side of 
 Marion county, near the waters of the Little Wabash, 
 runs west along the north part of Marion, crosses the 
 north east corner of Clinton, and enters the Kaskaskia, 
 in the south west corner of Fayette county. It has a 
 heavy body of excellent timber on its banks; the prai- 
 ries adjoining are undulating and rich, and the settle- 
 ments along this water course are extensive. 
 
 East Fork of Shoal Creek, a stream and a settlement in 
 the eastern part of Montgomery county. The stream 
 rises in a large prairie in the northern portion of the 
 county, runs south westwardly, and enters the main 
 creek near the south, side of JBond county. The settle-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 227 
 
 merit extends along the timber which lines its banks, 
 and the land is tolerably level and fertile. 
 
 East Fork of Silver Creek rises in the north eastern 
 part of Madison county, and unites with the West or 
 main fork a short distance below the Marine settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Edmondson's Prairie, in McDonough county, six miles 
 south west from Macomb, is from one to two miles wide, 
 ten miles long, and contains twenty-five or thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 EDWARDSVILLE, the seat of justice for Madison coun- 
 ty, is situated on sections two, three, and eleven, cf 
 township four north, in range eight west of the third 
 principal meridian, twenty-one miles north east from 
 St. Louis, on the Springfield road, and twelve miles 
 south east from Alton. It has a court house and jail of 
 brick, aland office for Edwardsville district, four stores, 
 two taverns, two physicians, four lawyers, a castor oil 
 factory, various mechanics, and about seventy families. 
 Here is also a female academy taught by a lady, and a 
 commodious building. The Baptists and Methodists 
 each have houses of worship. The inhabitants are ge- 
 nerally industrious, intelligent, moral, and a large pro- 
 portion professors of religion. 
 
 The location of Edwardsville is pleasant, on high 
 ground, healthy, and in the centre of a fertile, well wa- 
 tered, and well timbered country, settled with enter- 
 prising farmers. It is in latitude thirty-eight degrees 
 forty-five minutes north. 
 
 Edwards's Settlement is in the north part of Pike coun- 
 ty, on McRaney's creek.
 
 228 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Edwards's River rises in the prairies of Henry county, 
 fifteen north, four east, runs west through Mercer coun- 
 ty, where it turns south and enters the Mississippi near 
 the Upper Yellow Banks. The country on this river is 
 undulating, the timber in skirts and groves, the prairies 
 large, and a supply of good water. 
 
 Eight Mile Prairie, in the south west corner of Frank- 
 lin county, eighteen miles south west from Frankfort, 
 level, and has a dense population. It is from one to two 
 miles in diameter. 
 
 Ellis's Mill) on Spoon river, in Fulton county, in sec- 
 tion thirty-two, eight north, two east. 
 , A large prairie lies west. The land on the river is 
 rather broken and timbered. 
 
 Situation twenty miles north west from Lewistown. 
 
 Ellison, a small stream that rises in the prairies of 
 Warren county, runs west, and enters the Mississippi 
 six miles below Henderson river. It has a fine settle- 
 ment, and a rich body of land on its banks. 
 
 Elkheart Grove, in Sangamon county, north of San- 
 gamon river, and about twenty miles north east from 
 Springfield, in eighteen north, three west. It is a beau- 
 tiful grove of timber, containing six or seven hundred 
 acres, on the right hand of the great road leading to 
 Peoria, Ottawa, and Chicago. The timber is oalf, wal- 
 nut, linden, hickory, sugar tree, etc. 
 
 The prairie adjoining is rich soil, rather wet, and fur- 
 nishes fine summer and winter range for Cattle. 
 
 Several families are settled here. 
 
 Elkhorn, a stream that rises in Washington county, 
 south of Nashville, runs north west, and enters the Kas-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 229 
 
 kaskia river. The country on its borders is tolerably 
 level, and has a large settlement. 
 
 Elkhorn Grove is in, Jo Daviess county, west of Buf- 
 falo grove. It is nine miles long, and from one to three 
 miles wide* A beautiful prairie surrounds it, and Elk- 
 horn creek passes through it. 
 
 Elkhorn Creek, in Jo Daviess county. It rises near 
 Red Oak grove, passes through Elkhorn grove, runs 
 south west, and enters Rock river twenty miles below 
 Dixon's ferry. 
 
 Here is a beautiful country, and the timber in groves. 
 
 Elk Prairie lies between the little Muddy and Beau- 
 coup creeks, in Perry county, and is about five miles in 
 extent. It is dry and tolerably level; soil second rate, 
 and the settlement contains about twenty-five families. 
 
 Elm River, a branch of the Little Wabash. It rises 
 in two heads, in the Twelve Mile prairie, in Clay coun- 
 ty, north of the Vincennes road, and taking a south 
 eastern direction, enters the Little Wabash in Wayne 
 county. The west branch of Elm river bears the name 
 of Racoon creek. 
 
 Embarras River, (pronounced Embroy in Fr.) a con- 
 siderable stream in the eastern part of the state. It 
 rises in Champaign county, eighteen north, nine east, 
 near the sources of the Kaskaskia, the two Vermilions, 
 and the Sangamon rivers. It runs south through Coles 
 county, receives several smaller streams, enters Jas- 
 per, turns south east across a corner of Crawford, 
 passes through Lawrence county, and enters the big 
 Wabash about six miles below Vincennes. The coun- 
 try on the Embarras is various, though there is much
 
 30 A GAZETTEER 
 
 good land. Towards its head the prairie greatly predo 
 minates, the timber being in groves, and narrow strips, 
 along its banks. In Coles county, north of Charleston , 
 the timber is from two to six miles wide. Below that 
 place it gradually widens to the distance of eight or ten 
 miles. 
 
 It consists of the various qualities common on this 
 side of the state. Generally the prairies through which 
 it flows are second rate for more than half its length 
 from its mouth. Its bottoms are inundated in very high 
 floods. The main stream and its branches afford many 
 good mill seats. From the vicinity of Lawrenceville to 
 Vincennes, in high freshets, the Embarras and big Wa- 
 bash unite their waters and spread over the country for 
 seven or eight miles in extent. Hence, from this oc- 
 casional obstruction to traveling on the old " Vincennes 
 trace" as the obscure path through the prairies to Kas- 
 kaskia was then called, the early French explorers 
 gave the name "jEw&arras" to this stream. 
 
 Embarras^ a town site in Coles county, one half mile 
 east of the Embarras river, at the junction of the na- 
 tional road and the road from Palestine to Shelbyville, 
 twenty miles south of Charleston, and fifty-two miles 
 east of Vandalia. Good springs of water, high,frich, 
 undulating prairie, and abundance of fine timber are 
 said to belong to the conveniences of this location. 
 
 Embarras Settlement, in Coles county. I have given 
 this name to an extensive tract of country thinly popu- 
 lated, extending along the west side of the Embarras, 
 and north of Charleston. The quality of the land is on 
 a. medium with the rest of Coles county. South of
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 231 
 
 Charleston, and on the same side, the country is thinly 
 settled. 
 
 English Settlement is in Morgan county, west of Jack- 
 sonville, on Cad well's, Walnut, and Plum creeks. There 
 are about one hundred families, mostly from Yorkshire, 
 England, and farmers. Theyappear to be well pleased 
 with the country, and to be accumulating property. 
 
 English Settlement, in the east part of Monroe county, 
 is on Prairie de Long creek, in township three south, 
 eight west. It contains about forty families, amongst 
 whom are a number of English Catholics. 
 
 EQUALITY, the seat of justice for Gallatin county, si- 
 tuated on the east side of Saline creek, on section fif- 
 teen, liine south, eight east. It has nine stores, four 
 groceries, two taverns, a brick court house forty feet 
 square, two stories high, and neatly finished, a number 
 of mechanics of different trades, and about seventy or 
 eighty families. It is situated in the vicinity of the salt 
 manufactories, fourteen miles south of Shawneetown. 
 
 The adjacent country south and west is broken and 
 rough; north and east is much good land. 
 
 Elvira Settlement, in Johnson county, on Lick creek, a 
 branch of Cash river. It is about fifteen miles north 
 west from Vienna, and contains thirty or forty families. 
 The land is rich and level. 
 
 Essex's Settlement, in the forks of Spoon river, in tihe 
 western part of Putnam county, townships twelve and 
 thirteen north, in range six east from the fourth princi- 
 pal meridian. The surface is undulating, excellent 
 timber, rich prairie, good water, stone quarries, a saw 
 and grist mill, and about fifty families. The post office 
 is called Spoon-river,
 
 232 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Estes's Prairie, in Franklin county, fourteeen miles 
 north of Frankfort, is level, dry, and has a thin popula- 
 tion on its border^. 
 
 Evan's Settlement, on the north side, and near the head 
 of Cash river, and on the eastern border of Union coun- 
 ty. It has about forty families. 
 
 EWINGTON, the seat of justice of Effingham county, is 
 situated on the national road, twenty-nine miles from 
 Vandalia, in a north eastern direction, on the west bank 
 of the Little Wabash river, and on section five, seven 
 north, five east. The site is elevated, and surrounded 
 with timber. Opposite is the bottom land of the Little 
 Wabash, about one fourth of a mile wide, and in high 
 floods occasionally inundated. Ewington will probably 
 become a pleasant village, though but little improve- 
 ment is yet made. 
 
 Swing's Fork, a branch of the Middle Fork of the 
 Big Muddy river, in Franklin county. 
 
 Exeter, a town site and post office on the Mauvaise- 
 terre, in Morgan county, fourteen miles west of Jack- 
 sonville. It has a large flouring mill, two or three 
 stores, and about fifteen families, and is surrounded 
 with a large settlement. 
 
 Eyman's Settlement, in St. Clair county, four miles 
 south west of Belleville, a mixture of timber and 
 prairie. 
 
 F AIRFIELD, the seat of justice for Wayne county, is on 
 the border of Hargrave's prairie, on section six, town- 
 ship two south, range eight east. It contains three 
 stores, one tavern, a handsome brick court house, and 
 about twenty-five families. Large quantities of castor
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 233 
 
 oil are manufactured at a press located here, belonging 
 to Messrs. Leech & Turney. 
 
 Fairfield is a small but pleasant settlement in the 
 north western part of Hancock county, in seven north, 
 eight west. 
 
 Fair Mount, a pleasant situation in the Macoupen 
 prairie, Greene county^ sixteen miles a little west of 
 south from Carrollton. 
 
 Fall Creek is a small stream in Adams county, eight 
 miles long, which enters the Mississippi a few miles be- 
 low Quincy. 
 
 Fancy Creek, a small branch of the Sangamon river. 
 It rises in the prairies, takes a westerly course, and 
 enters the river below the junction of the North and 
 South Forks. The country is level, and the population 
 considerable. 
 
 Fanning^ Creek, a small branch of Apple creek, eight 
 or ten miles long, in Morgan county, and has a dense 
 population of about two hundred families. 
 
 Farm Creek, a small stream in Tazewell county, that 
 runs west and enters the Illinois river opposite Peoria. 
 Its bottoms are rich, bluffs broken, with white oak tim- 
 ber, and occasionally cedar. It is a mill stream. 
 
 Fever River, in Jo Daviess county, rises near the 
 Platte Mounds in two branches the East and West 
 forks, runs a south westerly course past Galena, and 
 enters the Mississippi seven miles south of that place. 
 It is navigable at all times to Galena by steam boats of 
 any size, and in high water, two miles above. For this 
 distance it is deep and sluggish. 
 
 The stream above Galena runs with a swift current
 
 234 A GAZETTEER 
 
 over a rocky and gravelly bottom, is full of fine fish, and, 
 li,ke all the streams in this region, it is fed with peren- 
 nial springs. 
 
 In the East Fork settlement which is twelve miles east 
 from Galena, the timber is scarce, but there is much 
 excellent prairie, and the lead mines are the best in Il- 
 linois. Population of farmers and miners about fifty 
 families. 
 
 On the West Fork or main creek is a considerable 
 settlement, and some good farms. The alluvion on the 
 stream is fine, and a tolerable supply of timber. This 
 settlement is eight miles in a direct course, and twelve 
 miles the traveled way, north east from Galena. 
 
 Fever river has been incorrectly called Bean river 
 (Riviere au Feve, Fr.) We have given its proper name 
 from two traditionary accounts. 
 
 The first is, that in early times the Indians were car- 
 ried off by a mortal sickness, supposed to be the small 
 pox. This circumstance gave rise to the name of another 
 creek now called Small Pox. The other tradition, and 
 the correct one is, that it derived its name from a French 
 trader by the name of Le Fevre, who settled near its 
 mouth. 
 
 Finches Settlement is on a branch of the South Fork of 
 Spoon Fiver, in the south western part'of Knox county. 
 
 Five Mile Grove is in the south part of Cook county, 
 on the road from Hickory creek to Kankakee and Dan- 
 ville. 
 
 Flag River, a branch of the Des Piaines, in Cook 
 county. It rises above the Du Page, runs an eastern 
 course, and enters the main stream above the road from 
 Chicosro to Galena.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 235 
 
 Flat Branch rises in Shelby county, runs northward, 
 and empties into the South fork of Sanganion, in the 
 north west corner of the county. The country prairie 
 and timber, and a settlement of seventy or eighty fami- 
 lies. The bed of the stream is rocky. 
 
 Flat Prairie, a well cultivated prairie and large set- 
 tlement in Randolph county, twenty miles east of Kas- 
 kaskia, settled chiefly by Reformed Presbyterians, or 
 Covenanters, who have a resident minister and a re- 
 spectable society. 
 
 Ford's Ferry) in Gallatin county, on the Ohio, twenty 
 miles below Shawneetown, and twenty-five miles south 
 of Equality. It is on the great road from the southern 
 parts of Kentucky and Tennessee to Illinois and Mis- 
 souri. 
 
 Forks of Sangamon is the name given to the settle- 
 ment near the junction, and between the North and 
 South forks of the Sangamon river. It is eight or ten 
 miles south of Springfield. The surface is rather wet, 
 level, considerable prairie land, with large bodies of 
 timber on both streams. Here is a large settlement, 
 and a town has been laid off, called Belive. 
 
 Fork 'Prairie , in Bond county, between the forks of 
 Shoal creek, and from two to eight miles north of 
 Greenville. It is gently undulating, and surrounded 
 with settlements. 
 
 Fork Settlement, in Clinton county, between Shoal 
 creek and the Kaskaskia river, twelve miles south west- 
 erly from Carlyle. 
 
 Forks of Spoon River. These are two principal 
 branches that form the heads of this stream, and which 
 for distinction I shall call the East and West forks.
 
 236 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The East fork rises in fifteen north, six east, runs 
 south, through townships fourteen, thirteen, and twelve, 
 of the same range, where it turns west, and meets the 
 West fork, receiving in its course a number of smaller 
 streams. There is much excellent land on this fork and 
 its branches; prairie predominates, but it is generally 
 dry and rich, with groves and points of timber, and ma- 
 ny fine springs. 
 
 The West fork rises in the south east part of Henry 
 county, in township fourteen north, five east, runs a 
 south easterly course, and unites with the East fork 
 near the township line between four and five east. The 
 country adjoining is similar to that on the East fork, ex- 
 cept that the surface is more undulating. The timber is 
 good, and in considerable bodies. Near the junction of 
 these streams is much excellent timber, with a strip of 
 fertile prairie between. Here is a considerable settle- 
 ment, a grist and saw mill, and a post office. It is some- 
 times called Essex's Settlement. 
 
 Fort Chartres was a large stone fort, built by the 
 French, while in possession of Illinois. It is situated 
 half a mile from the ^Mississippi, and three miles from 
 Prairie du Rocher, in the north western part of Ran- 
 dolph county. 
 
 It was originally built by the French in 1720, to de- 
 fend themselves against the Spaniards, who were then 
 taking possession of the country on the Mississippi. It 
 was rebuilt in 1756. The circumstances, character, 
 form, and history of this fort are interesting, but I have 
 not room in this place to give them. Once it was a most 
 formidable piece of masonry, the materials of which were
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 237 
 
 brought three or four miles from the bluffs. It was ori- 
 ginally an irregular quadrangle, the exterior sides of 
 ;vhich were 490 feet in circumference. Within the 
 trails were the commandant's and commissary's houses, 
 i magazine for stores, barracks, powder magazine, bake 
 house, guard house, and prison. 
 
 This prodigious military work is now a heap of ruins. 
 Many of the Hewn stone have been removed by the peo- 
 ple to Kaskaskia. A slough from the Mississippi ap- 
 proached and undermined the wall on one side in 1772. 
 Over the whole fort is a considerable growth of trees, 
 and most of its walls and buildings have fallen down and 
 lie in one promiscuous ruin. 
 
 Fort Edwards is situated on the Mississippi in the 
 southern part of Hancock county, five miles below the 
 foot of the Lower rapids, and directly opposite the 
 mouth of the river Des Moines. This was a military 
 post till within a few years past, situated on a high 
 rocky bluff of sand stone, which does not show itself on 
 the surface. 
 
 The country back is well timbered for a short distance, 
 is of good soil and is now partially settled. Native 
 alum is said to be found in considerable quantities near 
 this site. Opposite, the water is deep, the current gen- 
 tle, and affords a good landing. When the river is low 
 this will be the place to which the produce of the inte- 
 rior will be brought. A town called Warsaw is laid off 
 near this place. 
 
 FortMassar, formerly a military post, situated on the 
 Ohio river, on the dividing line of Johnson and Pope 
 counties, eight miles below Paducah at the month of
 
 >38 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the Tennessee. "A fort was erected here by the French 
 when in possession of the western country. The Indi. 
 ans, then at war with them laid a curious stratagem to 
 take it. A number of them appeared in the day time 
 on the opposite side of the river, each of whom was co- 
 vered with a bear skin and walked on all fours. Suppo- 
 sing them to be bears, a party of the French crossed the 
 river in pursuit of them. The remainder of the troops 
 left their quarters, to see the sport. 
 
 "In the mean time a large body of warriors, who were 
 concealed in the woods near by, came silently behind 
 the fort, entered it without oppositon, and very few of 
 the French escaped the massacre. They afterwards 
 built another fort on the same ground and called it Jttas- 
 sac, in memory of this disasterous event." * 
 
 In 1750, they abandoned the position. After the re- 
 volutionary war the Americans repaired or rebuilt it, 
 and kept a garrison here for several years. The build- 
 ings are now destroyed. According to Ellicott, the lat- 
 itude of Fort Massac is 37 degrees 15 minutes north. 
 
 Fort Wdbourn, on the Illinois river, at the foot of the 
 rapids, and one mile below the mouth of Little Vermilion' 
 la the Black Hawk war of 1832, it was occupied as a 
 depot for military stores and provisions. 
 
 Foster's Settlement, in the southeast corner ofMcDo- 
 nough county, on the head of Sugar creek. 
 
 Foster's Settlement, of sixty or seventy families, lies on 
 Mounse's creek, five miles south of Decatur. 
 
 * See Beck's Gazetteer, Art. Fort Massac; and Stod- 
 dard's Sketches of Louisiana.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 Fountain Creek, a small stream in Monroe county. It 
 rises in New Design settlement, running first north east, 
 then north west, and finally bending round to the south 
 west, it enters the Mississippi river in section seven, 
 three south, eleven west. It is also called Eagle, and 
 by the early French explorers,Z,\/4%-ife creek. 
 
 Fountain Bluff, frequently called the "Big &2K," in 
 Jackson county. It is a singularly formed eminence, or 
 rocky bluff on the Mississippi, six miles above the mouth' 
 of the Big Muddy river. It is of an oval shape, eight 
 miles in circumference, and with an elevation of 300 
 feet. The western side is on the river, and the top is 
 broken, full of sink holes, with shrubs and scattering 
 timber. The north side is nearly perpendicular rock, 
 but the south side is sloping, and ends in a fine rich 
 tract of soil covered with farms. East is an extensive 
 and low bottom with lakes and swamps. 
 
 Fine springs of limpid water gush out from the foot of 
 this bluff on all sides. 
 
 North, and along the bank of the Mississippi is dry 
 and rich alluvion with a line of farms, known by the 
 name of the "Settlement under the Bluff/' 
 
 Fountaindale, a flourishing settlement, in the forks of 
 the Du Page, Cook county, thirty miles west of Chicago. 
 Here are perennial springs, beautiful timber, rich soil, 
 extensive prairies, and good society of industrious and 
 enterprising farmers. The Methodist and Presbyteri- 
 ans have congregations and constant preaching. 
 
 Four Mile Prairie, in Perry county, adjoining Pinck- 
 neyville, is seven miles long, and four miles wide. It is 
 an elevated, dry, undulating, and fertile tract, with a
 
 240 A GAZETTEER 
 
 dense settlement, and lies between the Big Beaucoup 
 and Little Elm creeks. 
 
 Fourteen Mile Prairie, in Effingham county, receives its 
 name from its distance along the national road. It lies 
 east of Ewington, is generally level, but has some dry 
 land and good points of timber. 
 
 Fox River, one of the principal branches of the Illinois. 
 It rises in the Winsconsin territory, passes through a 
 series of small lakes about the boundary line, and enters 
 the Illinois river at Ottawa. 
 
 Its general course is south. At the boundary line its 
 width is forty-five yards. 
 
 Several fine bodies of timber line its banks, especially 
 about the mouth of Indian creek, and the Big- Woods. At 
 the rapids five miles, above its mouth, are most extensive 
 water privileges. 
 
 Here the river is from eighty to one hundred yards 
 wide, with the bed and banks of coarse grained sand 
 stone. The rapids are sixteen feet descent, and both 
 sides of the river will admit of mills and machinery for 
 three fourths of a mile, with inexhaustible supplies of 
 water. 
 
 The deficiency of timber near this spot is the' only 
 drawback upon it; but inexhaustible bodies of coal are to 
 be found but a few miles distant. 
 
 Fox River, a tributary of the Little Wabash, dividing 
 
 ,the counties of Clay and Lawrence. It rises in Jasper 
 
 county, runs south, and enters the Little Wabash near 
 
 the line of Edwards county. The land along its course 
 
 is about second quality for this portion of the state. 
 
 Fox River, in the north eastern part of White county.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 241 
 
 It is a bayou that puts out from the big Wabash, runs a 
 few miles, and again enters that river. The late Mor- 
 ris Birbeck, esq., known as one of the English emi- 
 grants to Edwards county, and author of "Letters from 
 Illinois ," was unfortunately drowned in attempting to 
 swim this stream on horse back. 
 
 Fraker's, a small settlement between the forks of 
 Spoon river, and the borders of Henry county, thirteen 
 north, four east. 
 
 FRANKFORT is the seat of justice for Franklin county, 
 on section twenty, seven south, three east of the third 
 principal meridian. 
 
 It is situated on elevated ground, and has two stores, 
 two groceries, two taverns, with a blacksmith, wagon 
 maker, saddler, and tanyard, together with ahorse mill, 
 a distillery, and fifteen families. 
 
 Frasier's Creek rises near the base line, in Adams 
 county, runs west, and falls into the south prong of Bear 
 creek. Along it are fine farms and a beautiful country. 
 
 Free's Settlement is on the borders of a handsome prai- 
 rie, in the south eastern part of St. Clair county, be- 
 tween the two Mud creeks, eighteen miles from Belle- 
 ville. 
 
 French Grove, a small settlement in the north west- 
 ern part of Peoria county, on the branches of Spoon 
 river. It contains three or four sections of excellent 
 timber in groves, with abundance of rich, dry, rollin 
 prairie around it. 
 
 French Settlement, in the south eastern part of Law- 
 rence county, ten miles from Lawrenceville, is a tim- 
 bered tract, and rather broken. Of the population, 
 16
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 which consists of sixty families, about one half ar/? 
 French. 
 
 French Village, in St. Glair county, called formerly 
 Little French Village, was formed by settlers from Ca- 
 hokia about forty years since. It lies on the bovtorn. 
 near the bluffs, on the road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
 and contains fifteen or twenty families. 
 
 Friend's Creek, a branch of the North fork of San- 
 gamon, in Macon county, sixteen miles north east from 
 Decatur. The land is good, and the settlement large. 
 Funk's Grove, a settlement in McLean county, twelve 
 miles south west from Bloomington. The grove is round- 
 ish in form, contains about eight square miles, and lies 
 on the main brancli of Sugar creek. It has an excel- 
 lent soil, fine water, and is monopolized by a family con- 
 nection of the name of Funk, from Ohio, uho raise large 
 numbers of cattle. 
 
 Fulfee's Creek, near the south border of Effingham 
 county, enters the Little Wabash below Brc-ckett's set- 
 tlement. There is a considerable quantity of good 
 land on its banks, and a settlement of twelve or fifteen 
 families. 
 
 Gagnie, a sluggish stream that runs south west into 
 the Mississippi, and forms the boundary line between 
 Randolph and Jackson counties. 
 
 GALENA is the seat of justice for Jo Daviess county, 
 and the principal town in the lead mine country. It is 
 pleasantly situated on Fever river, and on the fourth 
 principal meridian. It has eighteen or twenty stores, 
 a dozen groceries, four taverns and hotels, a printing 
 office that publishes the " Galenian," a weekly paper.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 243 
 
 four lawyers, three physicians, two schools, two preach- 
 ers, a pipe and sheet lead manufactory, a flour and saw 
 mill, a gunsmith, silversmith, saddler, tailor, several 
 carpenters, blacksmiths, brick and stone masons, etc. 
 There are about three hundred families and ten or 
 twelve hundred'inhabitants. Fever river is navigable 
 for steam boats to the town. 
 
 Garden Prairie, between Richland and Rock creeks, 
 in Sangamon county, is a level, rich, beautiful prairie, 
 two miles wide, and six or eight miles long, fourteen 
 miles north westerly from Springfield, and contains a 
 population of one hundred and fifty families. 
 
 Germany, a settlement of Pennsylvania Germans, in 
 Sangamon county, four miles north east from Spring- 
 field, and near the mouth of Sugar creek. 
 
 Geneva is a post office and town site in Morgan coun- 
 ty, about ten miles south west from Jacksonville. 
 
 George's Creek heads in the interior of Johnson coun- 
 ty, runs south, and enters the ponds between the Big 
 Bay creek and Cash river. The land is tolerably rich, 
 and the settlement contains twenty-five or thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Georgetown,, a post town and village, containing about 
 twenty families and three stores, situated on the north 
 side of the Little Vermilion, in eighteen north, eleven 
 west, in Vermilion county, ten miles south of Danville. 
 A fine country, and flourishing settlements surround it. 
 Georgetown, a town site in Sangamon county, twenty 
 miles north east from Springfield, between Lake fork 
 and Salt creek, in section nineteen, eighteen north 
 two west.
 
 244 A GAZETTEER 
 
 GILEA.D, the seat of justice of Calhoun county, is si- 
 tuated at the foot of the bluffs, three fourths of a mile 
 from the mouth of Salt Prairie slough, on section eight, 
 eleven south, two west. 
 
 It has two stores, and a dozen families. The court 
 house is of brick, two stories, thirty feet square, and 
 finished outside. 
 
 Gilham's Settlement is in Bond county, nine miles east 
 of north from Greenville. 
 
 The land is of inferior quality, consisting of both tim- 
 ber and prairie. 
 
 Gilmore^s Settlement is on Crooked creek, in Clinton 
 county, on the road to Shawneetown, twelve miles south- 
 east of Carlyle. 
 
 GOLCONDA is situated on the south side of Lusk's creek 
 and north bank of the Ohio. It is the county seat of 
 Pope, and has three stores, one grocery, two taverns, 
 and about twenty dwelling houses, chiefly framed and 
 brick. The court house is of brick, thirty-six feet 
 square, two stories, with a neat cupola. It is situated 
 on the fractional township thirteen south, in range 'se- 
 ven east of the third principal meridian. 
 
 Goose Creek enters the North fork of Sangamon, in 
 Macon county, twenty-five miles north east from Deca- 
 tur. 
 
 Goshen is the oldest settlement in Madison county, 
 along the bluffs, west and south west of Edwards ville. 
 
 Grable^s Settlement, in Gallatin county, is sixteen 
 miles west from Equality, on the road to Frankfort. 
 
 It is a large settlement, with considerable tracts of 
 good farming land.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 245 
 
 Graham's Settlement, in Alexander county, on the 
 north side, twenty-five miles north west from America. 
 The upland is thin soil, but there is a rich bottom on a 
 branch of Cash river, which runs through this settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Grafton is a town recently laid off, two miles below 
 the mouth of the Illinois, in Greene county. It is si- 
 tuated on a strip of elevated land, under the bluffs, and 
 on the banks of the Mississippi, and has a good landing. 
 It is on fractional section fifteen, township eight north, 
 in range twelve west from the third principal meri- 
 dian. 
 
 Several islands in the Mississippi make this point the 
 real junction of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, as to 
 navigation. 
 
 The country a few miles back is rich, and becoming 
 densely populated. 
 
 Grafton is twenty-four miles from Carrollton, and ten 
 miles from (St. Charles, in Missouri, and must soon be- 
 come a thoroughfare for traveling from the Sangamon 
 country across the Mississippi to St. Charles, and the 
 regions along the Missouri river. It has a post office, 
 one store, one tavern, and a number of families. 
 
 Grand Cote, an eminence in a large prairie, in the 
 eastern part of Randolph county. 
 
 Grand Marais, called also Clear Lake, in St. Clair 
 county, in the bottom, between the French Village and 
 Cahokia. 
 
 Grand Passe, two lakes in the Illinois bottom, at the 
 south west corner of Greene county, so called by the 
 French explorers of lllnois, from the successive flocks
 
 246 A GAZETTEER 
 
 of geese seen flying frosi tie cue to the other. They 
 ure connected with Apple cretk by a stream called 
 Fishing creek. 
 
 Grand Point, asm;ill stream and settlement in Wash- 
 ington county, six miles norlh east from New Nashville, 
 and contains about twenty families. The creek runs 
 north and enters Crooked creek. 
 
 Grand Prairie. Under this general name is embraced 
 the prairie country lying between the waters which fall 
 into the Mississippi, and those which enter the Wabash 
 rivers. It does not consist of one vast tract, lioundless 
 to the vision, and uninhabitable for want of timber: but 
 is made up of continuous tracts, with points of timber 
 projecting inward, and long arms of prairie extending 
 between the creeks and smaller streams. The southern 
 points of the Grand prairie are formed in the north east- 
 ern parts of Jackson county, and extend in a north 
 eastern course between the streams of various widths. 
 from one to ten or twelve miles, through Perry 1 Wash- 
 ington, Jefferson, Marion, the eastern part of Fayette, 
 Effingham, through the western portion of Coles, into 
 Champaign and Iroquois counties, where it becomes con- 
 nected with the prairies that project eastward from the 
 Illinois river and its tributaries. A large arm lies in 
 Marion county, between the waters of Crocked creek 
 and the East fork of the Kaskuskia river, where the 
 Vincennes road passes through in its longest direction. 
 This is frequently called the Grand prairie. 
 
 Much the largest part of the Grand prairie is gently 
 undulating; but of the southern portion considerable 
 tracts are flat, and cf rather inferior soil. No insur-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 247 
 
 mountablc obstacle exits to its future population. No 
 portion of it is more than six or eight miles distant from 
 timber, arid coal in abundance is found in various parts. 
 Those who have witnessed the changes produced upon a 
 prairie surface within twenty or thirty years, consider 
 these extensive prairies as offering no serious impedi- 
 ment to the future growth of the state. 
 
 Grand Prairie, in Crawford county. The tract of 
 prairie between the Embarras and Wabash rivers, com- 
 mencing in Crawford county, and running northward 
 through Clark and Edgar into Vermilion counties, is 
 called Grand prairie, by the citizens of those counties. 
 It is cot of great width, interspersed with long points of 
 timber on the streams, and frequently throwing out arms 
 of prairie land between those streams. 
 
 The prairie soil in this region is not equal in quality 
 to that further north and west. With the exception of 
 the sand prairies along the Wabash, the soil is thinner, 
 less undulating, and more inclined to be wet. 
 
 Grand Tower, a perpendicular sand rock, rising from 
 the bed of the Mississippi, near the Missouri side, and a 
 short distance above the mouth of Big Muddy river. 
 The top is level, seventy or eighty feet high, and sup- 
 ports a stratum of soil on which are found a few stunted 
 cedars and shrubs. Here are indications that a barrier 
 of rock once extended across the Mississippi, and form- 
 ed a grand cataract. The bed of the river, at a-low stage 
 of water still exhibits a chain of sunken rocks. The 
 "DeviVs Tea Table," "Back Bone" etc. are names given 
 by the boatmen of the Mississippi to the singularly
 
 248 A GAZETTEER 
 
 formed, abrupt, and romantic precipices that line the 
 banks of that river in the vicinity of the Grand Tower. 
 
 Grand J^iew, a small village in the south western part 
 of Edgar county, ten miles from Paris, and on the state 
 road to Vandalia. It is on, and surrounded by a beauti- 
 ful, rolling, rich, prairie, near the head waters of Big 
 creek. A post office is here called Sutherland. 
 
 Graysville,a. town of fifteen or'twenty families, and a 
 convenient landing on the big Wabash, in the north east 
 corner of White county, and at the mouth of the Bon 
 Pas creek. 
 
 This is a convenient place of deposite for Edwards 
 county. 
 
 Gregory^s Settlement, in Clinton county, fifteen miles 
 north west of Carlyle. 
 
 Greenfield, a. town site near Lick creek, in Sangamon 
 county, fifteen miles south westerly from Springfield, 
 on sections three and ten, fourteen north, seven west. 
 Hereditlrs mills are in the vicinity. 
 
 GREENVILLE, the seat of justice for Bond county, is a 
 pleasant village on the East fork of Shoal creek, on sec- 
 tion ten, township five north, in range three west of the 
 third principal meridian. 
 
 It has three taverns, three stores, a cotton factory, 
 various mechanics, and about thirty families. The court 
 house is a two story framed building, unfinished. 
 
 Green's Settlement, in Bond county, seven miles south 
 west from Greenville. The country around is propor- 
 tioned into timber and prairie. 
 
 Griggsvillc, a town site and post office in Pike coun-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. -249 
 
 ty, eight miles north east from Pittsfield, on sections fif- 
 teen and twenty-two, four south, three west. It is four 
 miles west of Phillip's ferry, on the Illinois river, on 
 high ground, and on the border of a large, undulating 
 prairie, and surrounded with good settlements. 
 
 Grindstone Fork, a branch of Crooked creek, in the 
 south part of McDonough county. 
 
 Griswold's Post Office is in Lockwood's settlement, 
 Hamilton county. 
 
 Gros Point is a promontory that puts into lake Mi- 
 chigan, twelve miles above Chicago. It is twenty feet 
 high, projects two hundred yards into the lake, rich, 
 timbered land, and settled around. 
 
 Guilford, a settlement on Bear creek, Adams county. 
 Many of the inhabitants are from Connecticut. 
 
 Gum's Fort. See Henderson's Settlement, Knox county. 
 
 Gun Prairie, in Jefferson county, six miles south of 
 Mount Vernon, two miles long, and one mile wide. The 
 land, is good, and the settlement contains twenty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Hadleifs Creek rises in the north part of Pike county, 
 in four south, three west, and enters the Snicartee 
 slough. The land is undulating but good. 
 
 Hamburg, a landing on the Mississippi, in Calhoun 
 Bounty, and the residence of John Shaw, esq. ten miles 
 north west of Gilead. The landing is said to be good, 
 and the bank high. Here is a post office of the same 
 name. 
 
 Hammcfs Settlement, in Coles county, on the east side 
 of the Embarras, twenty two miles north of Charleston.
 
 250 A GAZETTEER' 
 
 The land is good, generally rolling, and the settlement 
 has twelve or fifteen families. 
 
 Hancock Prairie commences above Bear creek in Ad- 
 ams county. This is an extensive tract of rich prairie, 
 tolerably level, which runs through Hancock county, 
 enters Warren, and stretches between Henderson and 
 Spoon rivers indefinitely north. Its width is various, 
 being from ten to twenty miles. 
 
 A principal road to Rock river and northward passes 
 through this prairie. 
 
 Hardens Settlement^ in the south east part of Hancock 
 county, on the head and along the North fork of Bear 
 creek. The land is excellent and well watered, with a 
 tolerable supply of good timber. 
 
 Hargrave's Prairie, in Wayne county, adjoining Fair- 
 field. It is about seven miles long and two wide; rolling, 
 and thin soil. Population about one hundred families. 
 
 Harkness' Settlement is on the west side of Peoria coun- 
 ty, adjoining Fulton, twelve miles west from Peoria. 
 
 Harris's Creek rises in the bluffs of the Ohio river, in 
 Gallatin county, runs a north course, and enters Salii-e 
 creek fifteen miles below Equality. Much of the laud 
 on its borders is rough and broken, interspersed with 
 tracts of good soil. 
 
 Harrisonville, the former seat of justice of Monroe 
 (.Tinnty, situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, 
 and nearly opposite Herculatieurn. It is a place of very 
 little account, having not more than half a dozen fa- 
 milies. 
 
 Havanna, a town site and landing on the Illinois river, 
 directly opposite the mouth oi Spoon river.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 251 
 
 It has an eligible situation on a high sand ridgCj fifty 
 feet above the highest floods of the river. It is on sec- 
 tion one, township twenty-one north, in range nine 
 west of the third principal meridian. 
 
 Havanua is well situated to receive the produce, and 
 direct the trade of a pretty extensive country on both 
 sides of the Illinois river, and is on the great thorough- 
 fare from Indiana, by Danville and Bloomington to the 
 counties that lie to the west and north. Ossian M. Ross 
 is the proprietor, who has an extensive ware house, 
 store, tavern, and ferry. 
 
 Haw Creek is a branch of Spoon river, twenty miles 
 long, that rises in the middle part of Knox county, runs 
 east, and enters Spoon river. 
 
 The country on its borders is first rate for settle- 
 ments, which are forming fast. 
 
 It has some good mill seats. 
 
 Hawk-ill's Prairie, in Greene county, on the south side 
 of the Macoupen, and nine miles east of south from Car- 
 rollton. 
 
 Hazel's Settlement is in Pope county,' on the road to Vi- 
 enna. 
 
 Head of Apple Cre.'?.V, is an extensive settlement in the 
 south eastern part of Morgan county, eighteen miles from 
 Jacksonville. 
 
 It is a fertile tract, tolerably level, and has about three 
 hundred families. 
 
 Head of Apple River, is a settlement in Jo Daviess 
 county, south east of Galena. 
 
 Head of Richland , is a fine settlement of fifty or sixty 
 families in Sangamon county, seventeen north, seven
 
 :J52 A GAZETTEER 
 
 west, on Richland creek, fourteen miles northwest from 
 Springfield. 
 
 The land is highj dry, undulating and rich. 
 
 Here is an excellent flouring mill by ox power, an oil 
 mill for making linseed oil, the only one in the state, 
 and a carding machine and clothier's works, for dress- 
 ing cloth. 
 
 Head of Silver Creek, a settlement in the north eastern 
 part of Madison county, surrounded with large prairies. 
 
 Head of Wood River, a settlement in the south part of 
 Macoupen county. It is a good tract of land, and the 
 settlement is considerable. 
 
 Henderson River rises in Knox county, takes a south 
 western course through Warren, and after receiving se- 
 veral branches, enters the Mississippi in ten north, five 
 west, through a low and inundated bottom. 
 
 It is a beautiful stream, furnishes somegood miil seats, 
 and has a fine body of timber on its banks. The country 
 on Henderson is considered one of the finest bodies of 
 land in Illinois. 
 
 Its principal branches arc South fork, and Cedar fork. 
 The timber is oaks of various species, hickory, walnut, 
 ash, elm, sugar maple, linden, etc. 
 
 South fork of Henderson river rises in ten north, five 
 west, runs through an excellent body of land and fine 
 settlements in Warren county. The heads of all the 
 streams in this part of the state are in dry and rich land. 
 
 Henderson Settlement lies in Knox county, on Hender- 
 son river, ten miles north of west from Knoxville. Here 
 is a large body of rich timbered land, surrounded with 
 dry, fertile, first rate prairies. The settlement is some- 
 times called Gum's fort.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 253 
 
 Henderson's Creek, in Greene county, a small stream 
 that rises near the line of Morgan county, runs a south 
 course, and empties into Apple creek. 
 Henderson's Stand, [see Macoiipen Point.] 
 
 HENNEPIN, the seat of justice for Putnam county, is 
 situated in the great bend, and on the east bank of the 
 Illinois river, and the border of De Prue prairie, on sec- 
 tion nine, township thirty-two north, in range two west 
 of the third principal meridian. Its situation is eleva- 
 ted, the surface gently ascending from the river, with an 
 extensive body of rich land adjacent. 
 
 The bottom opposite is about one mile and a half wide, 
 and overflowed in high water. 
 
 This town was laid off in 1831, and contains six stores, 
 one tavern, about fifty families, and is improving. Steam 
 boats ascend to this place at a moderate stage of water 
 
 Herren's Prairie is in the south western part of Frank- 
 lin county. 
 
 Herringtori* s Prairie, eleven miles north west from 
 Fairfield, in Wayne county, is eight miles long, from two 
 to four miles wide, surface rolling, soil second rate, and 
 has a settlement of fifty families. 
 
 SKggins's Creek, a small stream in Fayette county, 
 that enters the Kaskaskia from the west, three miles 
 above Yandalia. 
 
 Higgins's Settlement , in Crawford county, is five miles 
 south of Palestine. 
 
 High Prairie, a beautiful prairie and fine settlement in 
 St Clair county, eight miles south of Belleviille. 
 
 Highsmith's Settlement, in Crawford county, ten miles 
 south of Palestine. Here are considerable barrens, the
 
 r j54 A GAZETTEER 
 
 timber is oak, hickory, etc., the soil a medium quality, 
 the population twenty or twenty-five families. 
 
 HiLLSBORo',the seat of justice for Montgomery county, 
 is situated twenty-eight miles north west from Vandalia. 
 It has six stores, four taverns, three blacksmiths, three 
 carpenters, one cabinet maker, two physicians, two tan- 
 neries, one shoemaker, two tailors, one tinner, a post of- 
 fice, land agency office by John Tillson, jun. esq., fifty 
 families, and about 250 inhabitants. 
 
 It is situated in an elevated region, near middle fork 
 of Shoal creek. 
 
 The Presbyterian society in this place has built a neat 
 brick edifice, in the modern style, for a house of worship. 
 Hillsboro' is a hdalthy and flourishing town. The prin- 
 cipal road from Vandalia to Springfield, and another 
 from Shelbyville to Alton, pass through this place. 
 
 Hickory Creek, in Coles county, rises in the Grand 
 prairie, runs south east, and enters the Embarras five 
 miles below Charleston. It is a good mill stream, and 
 the land through which it passes is undulating and rich; 
 the settlements contain 120 families. 
 
 Hickory Creek rises in Cook county, runs a westerly 
 course, and enters the Des Plaines nearly opposite Mount 
 Joliet. On its banks are large bodies of excellent tim- 
 ber, intermixed with good prairie land. The settlements 
 are extensive- 
 
 Hickory Creek, a small stream in Fayctte county. It 
 xises about nine miles east of Vandalia in the prairies, 
 runs south west, and enters the Kaskaskia five miles 
 below Vandalia. The soil is thin, timber post and other 
 species of oak.
 
 OF ILLINOIS, 255 
 
 Hickory Hill Settlement, in Wayne county, eighteen 
 miles west of Fair field, and on the west side of the Skil- 
 let fork. It is a mixture of timber and prairie, soil se- 
 cond quality, and population about fifty families. 
 
 Hickory Grove, a post office, and large settlement, on 
 the borders of Shoal creek prairie, in Bond county, nine 
 miles south of west from Greenville. The prairie is large 
 undulating, and rich. The timber adjoining is excellent 
 and abundant. The settlement contains seventy or 
 eighty families and a store. Many European Germans 
 are settling in the prairie. 
 
 Hickory Grove, a settlement near a point of timber in 
 the Macoupen prairie, Greene county, twelve miles south 
 of Carrollton, and on the road to Alton. The settlement 
 is spreading over a fine, rich, prairie, moderately undu- 
 lating. 
 
 Hickory Grove, in McDonongh county, in seven north, 
 two west, is a small and beautiful tract of timber, on the 
 head of Camp fork. This is sometimes called Walnut 
 grove. The prairie around it is undulating and rich- 
 
 Hodge^s Creek, in Greene county, rises in Pratts's prai- 
 rie, runs south westerly, and enters Grand Passe. It is 
 also called Hurricane 
 
 Hodge's Fork, a branch of the Macoupen from the n,orth 
 side, which unites with the main stream twelve miles 
 east from Carrollton, and naar the line of Greene county. 
 Towards its head it is called Otter creek. See North 
 fork of the Macoupen. 
 
 Hog Prairie is in Hamilton county, a few miles west 
 of McLeansboro'. It is about two miles in diameter, 
 level, and rather wet.
 
 256 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Holderman's Grove, in La Salle county, is sixteen miles 
 north east from Ottawa, containing about 500 acres of 
 timber, and a settlement of several families. 
 
 Holland's Grove, a settlement on Farm creek, in Taze- 
 weil county. The timber and prairie are first rate. It 
 adjoins Peoria lake. 
 
 Honey Creek is a stream that rises in the prairies of 
 Warren county, runs west twenty miles, giving name 
 to alow bottom, and enters the Mississippi, below Ellison. 
 
 Horse Creek rises near the centre of Monroe county, 
 runs a south easterly course into Randolph county, and 
 enters the Kaskaskia river, in five south, eight west; 
 several settlements lie along this creek where there is 
 good timber and prairie land. 
 
 Horse Creek, in Sangamon county, rises in the prairies 
 torwards the head of Macoupen, and enters the South 
 fork of Sangamon about section twenty, fifteen north, 
 four west. 
 
 Horse Prairie, in Randolph county, on Horse creek, 
 a rich, undulating tract,^and contains forty or fifty fam- 
 ilies. 
 
 Horse Shoe Lake, in Alexander county, eight or ten 
 miles long, and from half a mile to one mile wide. Its 
 name indicates its form, and its outlet is into Cash river. 
 
 Howard's Settlement, in Pope county, on Big creek, 
 fifteen miles northeast from Golconda, comprises excel- 
 lent land, and about seventy or eighty families. 
 
 Howard's Settlement, in Madison county, on the borders 
 of the Looking Glass prairie, thirteen miles south easf 
 erly from Edwardsville. 
 
 Howard's Settlement, near Potatoe creek, in Fulton
 
 OF ILLINOIS, 257 
 
 county, twelve miles south of west from Levvistovvn. The 
 soil is good, of the description called barrens. 
 
 Iloxey's Settlement, in Madison county, on the West fork 
 of Silver creek, nine miles north east from Edwards- 
 ville. The prairie is undulating and rich. 
 
 Hudson's Creek is a small stream in Crawford county, 
 that empties itself into the Wabash. 
 
 Huey's Settlement, on the west side of the Grand prai- 
 rie, in Clinton county, three miles east of Carlyle. A 
 rich tract of prairie, bordered with heavy timber. 
 
 Hugh's Settlement, in Alexander county, on the west 
 side of Cash river, seventeen miles north from America. 
 Mill creek, a branch of Cash river, runs through it. 
 
 The bottom and the upland are both good, and the set- 
 tlement has forty or fifty families. 
 
 Hurricane Settlement, in the eastern part of Montgome- 
 ry, and western part of Fayette counties. It extends 
 along the timber of Hurricane fork, has a rolling sur- 
 face, which is broken near the creek; the timber is post 
 oak, and the soil rather thin. 
 
 Hurricane, an extensive settlement along the creek 
 of that namo and on the eastern side of Bond county 
 The prairie is rather wet,'the timber excellent, and in 
 large bodies. 
 
 Hurricane Post Office is in Hurricane settlement, 
 Montgomery county, on the road from Vandalia to Hills - 
 boro', and equi distant from these places. 
 
 Hurricane Fork, a branch of the Kaskaskia river, 
 
 rises near the line of Montgomery and Shelby counties, 
 
 "runs south near the western line of Fayette county, 
 
 and enters the Kaskaskia on the right side, twelve? 
 
 17
 
 258 A GAZETTEER 
 
 miles below Vandalia. The banks of this stream are- 
 well timbered, and the low bottoms occasionally inun- 
 dated. 
 
 Hutchetis^s Creek, a branch of Clear creek, in Union 
 county, ten miles from Jonesboro'. 
 
 Hutchens's Settlement, in Perry county, five miles north 
 of Pinckneyville. The surface is undulating, the soil 
 of a middling quality, and the settlement small. 
 , Illinois Prairie, formerly called Wolf prairie, com- 
 mences near the mouth of the Illinois river, in Calhoun 
 county, and extends twenty miles along the foot of the 
 bluffs, adjoining the alluvion of the Illinois. Its ave- 
 rage width is one mile and a half, the soil is good, and 
 thirty families are settled here. 
 
 Illinois River, a beautiful stream of water that passes 
 diagonally through the state, and enters the Mississip- 
 pi twenty miles above the mouth of the Missouri. 
 
 It commences under its proper name at the junction 
 of the Kankakee and Des Plaines. From thence it 
 runs nearly a west course, (receiving Fox river at Ot- 
 tawa, and Vermilion near the foot of the rapids,) to 
 Hennepin, in township thirty-three north, and in range 
 two west of the third principal meridian. Here it 
 curves to the south, and then to the south west, receiv- 
 ing a number of tributaries, the largest of which are 
 Spoon and Sangamon rivers, till it reaches Naples. 
 Here it bends gradually to the south, and continues 
 that course till within six miles of the Mississippi, when 
 it curves to the south east, and finally nearly to an east 
 course. Its length, (without reckoning the windings of 
 the channel in navigation,) is about 260 miles. It is
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 259 
 
 navigable at a moderate stage of water to the foot of 
 the rapids. 210 miles; and to Ottawa, nine miles further, 
 in high water, for steam boats. 
 
 In going up the river at a low stage of water the fol- 
 lowing bars and impediments to the navigation exist: 
 
 1. French bar, gravel, twenty miles above the mouth, 
 near Smith's ferry, three feet deep at low water. 
 
 2. A bar fourteen miles further up, channel close to 
 an island^ two and a half feet at low stage. 
 
 3. At Hodge's warehouse, seven miles above the mouth 
 of Apple creek, there is difficulty in getting a point, 
 but no bar. 
 
 4. Six miles below Naples is a centre bar, channel 
 near the side of the river. 
 
 5. At Meredosha, is a narrow channel on the opposite 
 side, but no getting to the landing at very low water. 
 
 6. Three fourths of a mile below Beardstown is a bar, 
 extending, like a wing dam, nearly across the river, 
 excepting a narrow passage near the west shore. Any 
 boat that can pass this bar will reach the port of the 
 rapids. 
 
 From this imperfect sketch of the obstructions to the 
 navigation of this river at low water, it will be seen that, 
 with comparatively trifling expense, which the legisla- 
 ture ought to provide immediately the navigation of the 
 Illinois may be made good at all stages of water. 
 
 At high floods this river overflows its banks and covers 
 its bottoms for a considerable extent. The Mississippi, 
 at extreme high water, backs up the Illinois about se- 
 venty miles, to the mouth of the Mauvaiseterre. 
 
 Besides several villages and commercial towns, which
 
 260 A GAZETTEER 
 
 are springing up on the banks of the Illinois, there are 
 many landings for goods, and deposits for produce, 
 where temporary warehouses have been erected. 
 
 I have not been able to collect data the present sea- 
 son, upon which to calculate the amount of trade and 
 commerce upon this river. Three or four light draught 
 steam boats are constantly employed in its trade. 
 
 The following account of arrivals of steam boats at 
 Naples, from 1828 to 1831, will show the increase during 
 those years. Since 1831 the commerce and business of 
 the river must have increased three or four hundred per 
 cent. 
 
 1828, the first year of steam boat 
 
 navigation 1 9 arrivals 
 
 1829 . . -3 " 
 
 1830 ' . . 24 
 
 1831 188 
 
 1332, from March 4, to June 19, 108 arrivals by 
 nineteen different boats. 
 
 Illinois Town, a small village of a dozen families, in St . 
 Clair county, on Cahokia creek, opposite St- Louis. 
 Here is an extensive establishment for killing and 
 packing beef and pork by Messrs. Cole &. Sons. 
 
 In the fall of 1833 they paid the farmers about $17,000 
 for beef and pork, chiefly for the former. 
 
 Indian Creek, a branch of Fox river from the north 
 west. It enters the main stream ten miles above Otta- 
 wa, and five miles above the rapids. 
 
 Large bodies of fine timber lie on this stream; the sur- 
 face of the country is undulating, and the soil good.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 261 
 
 Oa the 20th of May, 1832, fifteen persons belonging 1 to 
 the families of Messrs. Hall, Daviess, and Pettigrew, 
 were barbarously massacred by the Indians near this 
 creek. Two young ladies, Misses Halls, were taken 
 prisoners, and afterwards redeemed, and two young lads 
 made their escape. 
 
 The bodies of men, women, and children were shock- 
 ingly mutilated, the houses of the settlers burned, their 
 furniture destroyed, and their cattle killed all in day- 
 light, and within twenty miles of a large force of the 
 militia! This was done by the Indians under the infa- 
 mous Black Hawk! A portion of that band were exter- 
 minated during the same season by the combined forces 
 of U. S. troops and Illinois militia, and the remainder 
 dispersed over the prairies west of the Mississippi. 
 
 Settlements are now rapidly forming on Indian creek 
 and Fox river, and much excellent country remains to 
 be possessed in that quarter. 
 
 Indian Creek, a stream in Morgan county, near the 
 borders of Sangamon, runs a westerly course, passes 
 through a string of lakes in the Illinois bottom, until its 
 waters mingle with the Illinois, near the corner of the 
 base line and the fourth principal meridian. 
 
 It passes through a beautiful and fertile country, di- 
 versified with timber and prairie. 
 
 The French explorers called it La Balance. 
 
 Indian Creek, in Lawrence county, rises in the prai- 
 ries west, runs south east, and enters the Embarras five 
 miles below Lawrehceville. It has much good land in 
 its vicinity, both timber and prairie, and a settlement 
 of 150 families.
 
 262 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Indian Creek, a small stream in Madison county, be- 
 tween Edwardsville and Alton, that enters Cahokia 
 creek. 
 
 Indian Creek, a small stream that rises in the east part 
 of Sangamon county, and enters the Sangamon river 
 above Salt creek. The timber adjoining is excellent, 
 and the prairie is undulating and rich- 
 
 Fndian Creek, a small stream in the northern part of 
 Bond county. It runs west and enters Shoal creek. 
 
 Indian Creek, in Coles county, and a branch of the 
 Embarras. It rises in the Grand prairie, runs south 
 east, and enters the principal stream eight miles below 
 Charleston. The land is good, both timber and prairie, 
 and the population forty or fifty families. 
 
 Indian Prairie, in Wayne county lies ten miles north 
 westerly from Fairfield; surface level, soil of an infe- 
 rior quality, with a scattering settlement of fifteen or 
 twenty families. 
 
 Irish Grove, in Sangamon county, on the road from 
 Springfield to Peoria, eighteen miles from the former 
 place. It is two miles from Salt creek, and is three miles 
 long and one mile and a half wide, and contains a settle- 
 ment of about fifty families. Thft, land is good, and 
 the timber is chiefly oak of various kinds. 
 
 Irish Settlement, in Randolph county, six miles north 
 east of Kaskaskia, on Plum creek. 
 
 Irish Settlement, on the Ohio river, in Pope county, about 
 fifteen miles above Golconda, is on a rich alluvial soil, 
 and contains about one hundred families. 
 
 Irvin's Settlement lies in the western part of Hamilton 
 county. The surface is undulating, the soil second rate. 
 and timbered.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 263 
 
 Irvin's Settlement lies in the western part of Hamilton 
 county. The surface is undulating, the soil second rate, 
 and timbered. 
 
 Island GrovCi a large body of excellent timber, sur- 
 rounded with rich, prairie, in Sangamon county, sixteen 
 miles west of Springfield, and on the road to Jackson- 
 ville. 
 
 Iroquois (Riviere des Iroq uois, Fr.) a considerable river 
 which rises in the 'north western part of Indiana, and 
 taking a north west course, empties into the Kankakee 
 river, and thus forms one of the heads of the Illinois. 
 It received its name from the circumstance of a large 
 party of the Iroquois Indians being surprised and mas- 
 sacred on its banks by the Illinois nation.* The Kicka- 
 poos called it Mocabella. Others have called it Canawa- 
 ga. It is probably the same stream that the Commission- 
 ers for settling the boundary between Illinois and India- 
 na called Pickaminck. It crosses the boundary line in 
 township twenty-seven north, where its width is 175 
 links. The country through which it passes will soon 
 be covered with settlements, the surface being fine and 
 undulating, the soil rather inclined to sand, dry and rich, 
 and the timber abundant. Sugar creek is a principal 
 branch. 
 
 Island Grove, a body of timber near the west side of 
 Montgomery county, containing about 600 acres. 
 
 Jackson's Grove, a post office in Fulton county, on the 
 road from Lewistown to Canton, equi distant from the 
 two places. Here is a considerable tract of barrens. 
 
 * Charlevoix.
 
 264 , A GAZETTEER 
 
 JACKSONVILLE is one of the largest inland towns in the 
 state, and the seat of justice for Morgan county. It is 
 situated on elevated ground, in the midst of a most de- 
 lightful prairie, on sections twenty and twenty-one, 
 township fifteen north, in range ten west of the third 
 principal meridian. 
 
 The plat of this town was laid off in 1825, but its ra- 
 pid growth did not commence in three or four years. 
 
 Few towns exhibit a finer prospect than does Jack- 
 sonville, from whatever side the traveler approaches. 
 The surrounding prairie country, now in a state of cul- 
 tivation, is beautifully undulating, and uncommonly rich. 
 The timber in sight is either in groves, or spread along 
 the waters of the Mauvaiseterre and Sandy. 
 
 Jacksonville has sixteen stores, six groceries, two 
 druggist's shops, two taverns or hotels, several respect- 
 able boarding houses, one baker, two saddlers, three hat- 
 ters, one silversmith, one watch maker, two tinners, 
 three cabinet makers, one machinist, one house and 
 sign painter, six tailors, two cordwainers, four black- 
 smiths, three chair makers, one coach maker, one wa- 
 gon maker, one wheel wright, eleven lawyers, and ten 
 physicians. 
 
 It has one steam flour and one saw mill, a manufacto- 
 ry for cotton yarn, a distillery, two oil mills, two card- 
 ing factories, a tannery, and three brick yards, with a 
 proportion of various mechanics in the building line, 
 and other trades. 
 
 The public buildings are, a spacious court house, of 
 brick, a neat framed building for the Presbyterian 
 house of worship, a large brick building for the Metho- 
 dist society, and a handsome edifice, also of brick, for
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 265 
 
 the Episcopalian denomination,* a female academy, a 
 brick market house, and a county jail. The college edi- 
 fices are one mile west from the town. 
 
 There are two printing offices that publish weekly 
 papers, the "Patriot," and the "Gazette,*' n.nd also a book 
 and job printing office, with a book bindery attached. 
 
 The present population of Jacksonville is about 1,800, 
 exclusive of the college students. 
 
 Situated near the centre of the county, and in the 
 midst of one of the finest tracts of land, densely popu- 
 lated with industrious and enterprising farmers, with 
 the advantages of good water, health, and good society, 
 Jacksonville must continue to prosper, and doubtless 
 will attract many emigrants, who are seeking an agree- 
 able home in the ''far west." 
 
 Jacksonville, a settlement in St. Clair county, on the 
 bluffs, eight miles north west from Belleville. 
 
 Jar-vis's Settlement is near the head of Ellison, in War- 
 ren county. Here are about two townships of valua- 
 ble timber, surrounded with immense tracts of fertile 
 prairie. 
 
 Jersey Prairie is a beautiful and rich prairie, in Mor- 
 gan county, ten miles northerly from Jacksonville. 
 
 The land is* rich, the timber adjoining excellent, the 
 
 The Episcopalian denomination was acci- 
 dentally omitted in the enumeration of the religious 
 denominations of Illinois, given in a previous portion of 
 this work. In addition to the society at Jacksonville, 
 two others have been recently organized, viz: at Ilush- 
 ville and at Galena. [Pun.
 
 266 A GAZETTEER 
 
 people moral and industrious, the settlement exten- 
 sive and populous, and decidedly healthy. 
 
 Job's Creek is a small stream in the north eastern part 
 of Morgan county, runs north, passes through several 
 small lakes into Sangamon river. 
 
 Job's Settlement, called also jVeic Hope, in the north 
 west part of McDonough county, in townships six and 
 seven north, range four west. The timbered land in the 
 several forks of Crooked creek, and the intervening 
 tracts of prairie, are all of first rate quality. Hou- 
 ston's, Bagsby's, and Dicken's forks, are small stre'ams 
 north of Job's fork, and are heads of Crooked creek. 
 
 Johnson's Creek, a small stream in the south part of 
 Jo Daviess county. Its head is towards Rock river, its 
 course west, and it enters the Mississippi, thirteen 
 miles above the Marais d'Ogee, and twenty-five miles 
 below Plum river. The land towards its mouth is low 
 and marshy; towards its head it is gently undulating, 
 occasional groves of timber, and well adapted to farm- 
 ing. 
 
 Johnson's Settlement, on Sugar creek, in Clinton coun- 
 ty, twenty miles south of west from Carlyle. 
 
 Jonathan's Creek is a tributary of the Kaskaskia, in 
 Shelby county. 
 
 JONESBORO', the seat of justice for Union county, is 
 situated on section thirty, twelve south, one west, in a 
 high, rolling tract of country, nine miles from the Mis- 
 sissippi, twenty-five miles south south east from Browns- 
 ville, in latitude thirty-seven degrees, twenty-five mi- 
 nutes north. It has about twenty-five families, four 
 stores, and several mechanics. The court house is a
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 267 
 
 framed building 1 , two stories high, and finished. The 
 surrounding country is undulating 1 and healthy, and 
 contains several good settlements. 
 
 Jordan Creek rises in the interior of Wabash county, 
 and enters Bon Pas creek near the north western cor- 
 ner of the county. It passes through a fertile tract, 
 both timbered and prairie, and has a considerable set- 
 tlement ten or twelve miles north west from Mount 
 Carmel. 
 
 Jordan's Prairie, in Jefferson county, six miles north 
 of Mount Vernon, is five miles long, and one mile and a 
 half wide. The land is second rate, and the settlement 
 contains about fifty families. 
 
 Jordan's Settlement, in Jasper county, on the west side 
 of the Embarras river. In the centre of this settlement 
 is the contemplated county seat. 
 
 Kane Post Office, in Macoupen settlement, Greene 
 county, eight miles south of Carrollton. 
 
 Kankakee, one of the principal streams that form the 
 Illinois river. It rises in the northern part of Indiana, 
 near the south bend of the St. Joseph's river, runs a 
 westerly course into Illinois, where it receives the Iro- 
 quois, and forms a junction with the Des Plaines, in sec- 
 tion thirty-five, township thirty-four north, and in range 
 eight east from the third principal meridian. Here is 
 a large body of fine timber, but along the Kankakee 
 there is very little timber. It runs swiftly, and has a 
 lime stone bed. 
 
 At the ford of the Vincennes and Chicago road it is 
 two hundred yards wide. This is 178 miles north of Vin- 
 cennes, and forty-seven miles south of Chicago. The 
 prairie country through which it passes is generally of
 
 '268 A GAZETTEER 
 
 good soil, gently undulating, and interspersed with sand 
 ridges. Navigation for small craft can be effected 
 through the Kankakee and St. Joseph. 
 
 This river was discovered by the French at a very 
 early period, and was one of the principal routes to the 
 Illinois country. Its aboriginal name was Theakiki, or 
 as pronounced in French, Te-au-kee-kee, which, by the 
 fatality attendant upon many of the aboriginal names 
 carried through French into English, has become fixed 
 in the sound and orthography of Kan-ka-kee. 
 
 KASKASKIA, the seat of justice for Randolph county, 
 and formerly the seat of government of the territory of 
 Illinois. It is situated on the right bank of the Kaskas- 
 kia river, seven miles above its junction with the Mis- 
 sissippi. 
 
 The early French explorers made one of their first 
 settlements at this spot, shortly after the visit of La 
 Salle, in 1633; and so long as the French continued in 
 possession of the Illinois country, Kaskaskia was its ca- 
 pital, and was flourishing and populous. In 1721, when 
 Charlevoix visited it, there existed a Jesuit college. Its 
 ruins are now scarcely visible, la 1763, when the coun- 
 try east of the Mississippi was ceded by France to Great 
 Britain, it contained about one hundred families. Of 
 late years its population and trade has been much re- 
 duced. It numbers now about fifty or sixty families, a 
 majority of whom are French. 
 
 The.court house is of brick. A Roman Catholic cha- 
 pel, and a nunnery and female boarding school are here. 
 Kaskaskia is the location of the land office for this dis- 
 trict. 
 
 Kaskcukia River, a large and navigable stream. It
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 269 
 
 rises in Champaign county, in township twenty north, 
 range eight east, near the waters of the Sangamon and 
 the Vermilion of the Wabash, and running in a south 
 western direction through Coles, Shelby, Fayette, Clia- 
 ton, St. Clair, and Randolph counties, enters the Mis- 
 sissippi, in sections fourteen and fifteen, nine south, 
 seven west, about 120 miles above the mouth of the 
 Ohio. 
 
 It is four hundred miles in length, following its mean- 
 derings, and receives a large number of tributaries, 
 which are noticed under their respective names. An 
 extensive body of timber, from two to ten miles wide, 
 is found along this stream, generally of a good quali- 
 ty, consisting of oaks of various kinds, as over cup. 
 burr, water, white, black, red or Spanish, and post oak, 
 walnut, hickory, ash, hackberryj.elm, white and sugar 
 maple, honey locust, cotton wood, sycamore, pecan, mul- 
 berry, sassafras, box elder, etc. The country through 
 which it passes is undulating, and fertile, adapted to 
 the growth of corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, and some cot- 
 ton. The latter is not a sure crop in all seasons; but 
 with proper care, a sufficient quantity may be raised for 
 home consumption. The bottoms of this stream are 
 from half a mile to two or three miles in width, and sub- 
 ject to inundation in high floods. 
 
 Kellogg^s Grove, in Jo Daviess county, thirty-five 
 miles east south east from Galena, and on the road from 
 Dixon's ferry. It is a small grove of three or four hun- 
 dred acres, with several small groves near it. 
 
 Kellogg's Grove, a small tract of timber in La Salle 
 county, seventeen miles north east from Ottawa.
 
 270 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Keltner's Fork, in Morgan county, is a small branch of 
 Indian creek. It rises near Jersey prairie. 
 
 Keys's Creek rises in the interior of Pike county, and 
 enters the Snicartee slough. The bottom is excellent 
 land proportioned into timber and prairie. About the 
 bluffs very ;meven, towards the head of the creek mo- 
 derately undulating. 
 
 Keokuck, is a town site and contemplated place for 
 business, in the Missouri territory, four miles above the 
 mouth of Des Moines, and at the foot of the lower ra- 
 pids. It is introduced here from its proximity to Illinois, 
 and received its name from the celebrated Sank chief. 
 
 Kickapoo, a stream that rises near Spoon river in two 
 forks denominated East and West forks. 
 
 East fork rises in sections eleven and twelve, eleven 
 north, seven east, runs a south western course. 
 
 West fork rises in ten north, four east, runs a south 
 easterly course and unites with the east fork in section 
 thirty-four, ten north, six east. 
 
 The Kickapoo then takes a southern course, and en. 
 ters the Illinois river two miles below Peoria. On the 
 forks there is much excellent land, with groves and points 
 of timber, interspersed with barrens. The country bor- 
 dering on the main creek has considerable bodies of fine 
 timber, but the land is generally too uneven for con- 
 venient cultivation. 
 
 Kickapoo, a branch of Salt creek in Sangamon county. 
 It rises in Dawson's grove, McLean county, in twenty- 
 three north, foureast,runs a southern course.and enters 
 Saltcreek in Sangamon county? in thenorth part of nine- 
 teen north, three west, It furnishes good mill seats,
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 271 
 
 when the water is not too low; and the soil and timberon 
 each side of the creek are first rate. 
 
 Kincaid Creek, is a small branch of Big Muddy river, 
 which heads in Randolph county, runs south east, and 
 enters that stream twenty-four miles from its mouth, 
 The land along this creek is rocky, broken, heavily tim- 
 bered with poplar, oak, etc. and the settlement is small. 
 ' Lewis's Creek, a trifling stream in Jackson county., > 
 enters Big Muddy near the coal banks, four miles east of 
 Brownsville. 
 
 KinsawVs Settlement, near the northern side of Gallatio 
 county, on the road from Carmi to Equality. The land 
 is rather inferior, and the settlement considerable. 
 
 Knight's Prairie lies west of McLeansboro', in Hamil- 
 ton county, with asettlement around it. 
 
 Knob Prairie, fifteen miles north east from Frankfort, 
 in the corner of Franklin county, is low and wet, and 
 has a small settlement. 
 
 KNOXVILLE is the county seat of Knox county, and 
 is pleasantly situated on an elevated and rich prairie on 
 the north side, and adjoining the timber of Haw creek. 
 It is on section twenty-eight, eleven north, and two 
 east of the fouth principal meridian. It was laid off 
 about two years since, contains now fifteen or twenty 
 families and bids fair to become a thriving inland town. 
 The surrounding country is rich and settling fast with in- 
 dustrious farmers. 
 
 Knox Settlement, in Putnam county, on Sandy,^thirteen 
 miles south east from Hennepin, is a large and flourish- 
 ing settlement. 
 
 Lake Fork, a main branch of Macoupen creek, -which
 
 ^72 A GAZETTEER 
 
 rises in the prairie between the heads of Shoal creek, 
 and Sangamon waters, and near Macoup6n point, which 
 see. Below the point it passes through a small lake, or 
 pond. 
 
 Lake Fork, a branch of Shoal creek, that rises in 
 seven north, five west, runs a north eastern direction, 
 and enters the west fork of Shoal creek in Montgo- 
 mery county. 
 
 Lake Fork of Salt Creek, is formed by a long lake in 
 the north eastern part of Sangamon county, runs a north 
 course and forms one of the heads of Salt creek. It is 
 in township seventeen north, and range two and three 
 west. 
 
 Lamaster's Settlement, is in Schuyler county, on Crane 
 creek, four miles south of Rushville. 
 
 Lamotle Creek, rises in the interior of Crawford county, 
 runs east and enters the W abash below Palestine. 
 
 Lamotte Prairie, is a sandy and rich tract of prairie, in 
 Crawford county, eight miles long, and from one to five 
 miles broad. The soil is well adapted to the growth of 
 corn. 
 
 La Salle Prairie, a prairie and large settlement in 
 Peoria county, adjoining Peoria lake. The southern 
 part is sandy, rich, and undulating; the northern portion 
 is a mixtu re of clay and sand, elevated in the middle. 
 
 La Salle prairie is an elevated bottom, above the high- 
 est floods, ten miles long, and from three to four miles 
 wide. At the shore of the lake the water is deep, and 
 the landing good. 
 
 The settlement contains about 100 families and is 
 fifteen miles distant from the county seat.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 273 
 
 Lavghlon's, an old trading- house and settlement on the 
 Des Plaines, in Cook county, twelve miles west of Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 LAWRENCEVILLE, the county seat of Lawrence county. 
 It is situated on the west bank of the Embarras river, 
 nine miles from Vincennes, on the St. Louis road, and 
 on an elevated ridge. It contains three stores, two 
 groceries, two taverns, and sixty or seventy families. 
 
 The court house is of brick, and is a respectable 
 building. A saw and grist mill is on the Embarras, ad- 
 joining. 
 
 Lebanon, a beautifully situated village, in St. Clair 
 county, twelve miles north east from Belleville, and one 
 mile east of Silver creek. 
 
 It is on elevated grpund, surrounded with a beauti- 
 ful, populous, and well cultivated district of country, 
 and on the Vincennes and St. Louis stage road. 
 
 Lebanon has two steam mills, one for sawing lumber, 
 and the other for manufacturing grain, an ox mill for 
 flouring, on an inclined plane, a post office, two public 
 houses, five stores, one grocery, three physicians, me- 
 chanics' shops of various kinds, and about fifty families. 
 The Methodist seminary, located in the immediate vi- 
 cinity of Lebanon, has been noticed under the head of 
 "EDUCATION," in the first part of this work. 
 
 The Methodist society embraces the largest propor- 
 tion of the religious community about Lebanon. There 
 is a large society of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
 and a small society of the Methodist Protestant church. 
 
 Lemarde Prairie, in Wayne county, seven milas north 
 18
 
 274 
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 west from Fair-field, about six miles long, and threr 
 wide, of inferior quality, with a small population. 
 
 Lewis's Settlement, in the southern part of Pope county, 
 above and opposite the mouth of Cumberland river. 
 This is the oldest settlement in this part of the state, 
 and contains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 LEWISTOWN, the seat of justice for Fulton county, si- 
 tuated on section twenty-two, five north, three east, 
 four miles east of Spoon river, and twelve miles from 
 the Illinois. 
 
 It has three stores, two taverns, a framed court house, 
 painted white, and about thirty families. Lewistown is 
 surrounded with a heavy body of timber, chiefly of white 
 and other oaks; the soil rather thin, and surface 
 broken. 
 
 Lick Creek, a branch of Sugar creek, of Sangamon 
 county. It rises on the western side of the county, 
 takes an easterly course through a rich and populous 
 tract, with good timber, and enters Sugar creek a short 
 distance above its mouth. The settlements extend its 
 whole length, and the borders of the prairie adjoining 
 are well populated. 
 
 Lick Run is a branch of Indian creek, in Morgan 
 county, near the bluffs of the Illinois. 
 
 Lincoln, a post office and town site in Macoupen coun- 
 ty, near the head of Wood river, and on the road from 
 Edwardsville to Springfield. It is thought to be an eli- 
 gible situation, and will soon be surrounded by a large 
 settlement. 
 
 Linden Bottom, in Greene county, south of the Macou- 
 pen, called also the "Richwoods," It is a fine tract of
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 275 
 
 timbered land, elevated and rich, yet in appearance its 
 surface resembles alluvion. 
 
 It has a large settlement extending from the Macou- 
 pen river to Otter creek. 
 
 Linden Grove, a small body of excellent timber in the 
 north east part of Morgan county, surrounded with rich, 
 undulating prairie. , 
 
 Lynnmlle, a town site in Morgan county, seven miles 
 south west from Jacksonville. 
 
 It is a new place, in the prairie, at the head of Wal- 
 nut creek, has a few houses, and is settled chiefly by 
 English people. 
 
 Little Beaucoup Creek, a small stream in Perry coun- 
 ty, and a branch of Big Beaucoup creek, between that 
 stream and Little Muddy. 
 
 Little Crooked Creek rises in Washington county, 
 near Nashville, runs a north course, and enters Crooked 
 creek near its mouth. Land good, surface undulating, 
 and a mixture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Little Indian Creek, in Morgan county, rises in Silvan 
 grove, runs south west, and enters Indian creek. 
 
 Little Mackinau is a stream in Tazewell county, that 
 runs westward, and enters into the Mackinau. The 
 settlement here is extensive. 
 
 Little Missouri Creek, a branch of Crooked creek, in 
 the western part of Schuyler county and eastern part 
 of Adams county, twelve miles from Rushville. Green's 
 settlement is on the southern, and Brown's settlement on 
 the northern side of this creek. The country is a mix- 
 ture of timber and prairie.
 
 276 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Little Jlount Prairie is in Wayne county, three miles 
 south west from Fairfield, about two miles long and one 
 wide. 
 
 Here is a small but high mound, covered over with 
 the graves of an aboriginal people. 
 
 Little Muddy is one of the four heads of the Big Mud- 
 dy river. It rises in the south eastern corner of Wash- 
 ington county, crosses the line into Jefferson, then into 
 Franklin, and finally into Jackson, where it enters the 
 parent stream, on the right side, in section thirteen, 
 eight south, one west. 
 
 It has good timber and prairie on both sides. 
 
 Little Piasau, called also Cave Spring branch, rises in 
 a large spring among the bluffs of Lower Alton, and 
 passes through the town into the Mississippi. 
 
 Little Saline, in Gallatin county, rises in the bluffs of 
 the Ohio river, runs a north course, and enters the 
 8outh fork of the Saline creek, eighteen miles above 
 Equality. It waters a tolerably good country, with a 
 Scattering population* 
 
 Little Sandy, a small creek that heads in Sweet's prai- 
 rie, in the south part of Morgan county, and enters San- 
 ly creek, about the bluffs of the Illinois, A large tract 
 of timbered land is on it. 
 
 Little Silver Creek rises in the Looking Glass prairie, 
 in the north eastern part of St.Clair county, runs south 
 west past Lebanon, and enters Silver creek two miles 
 below that village. 
 
 Little Vermilion rises in the prairies west of Fox river, 
 runs south, and enters the Illinois near the foot of the
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 277 
 
 rapids. By some, the high ground near its mouth is 
 thought to be an eligible town site. Its Indian name is 
 Citm-sauk-in, or Tomahawk. 
 
 Little Wabash River rises in 1 township eleven north, 
 range six east, in the large prairies towards the head 
 waters of the Kaskaskia, and running south through the 
 counties of Coles, Effingham, Clay, Wayne, Edwards, 
 and White, enters the big Wabash, in the north east 
 corner of Gallatin county, seven south, ten east. It is 
 about one hundred and ten miles in a direct line from 
 its heads to its mouth, though about one hundred and 
 fifty miles to follow its meanderirtgs. 
 
 Its principal tributaries are Skillet fork. Fox, and 
 Muddy. It is navigable for flat boats and small craft, 
 at a full stage of water, about forty of the former leav- 
 ing it annually, from Wayne and White counties, n-ith 
 beef, pork, corn, cattle, and some tobacco, for the New 
 Orleans market. 
 
 The timber upon the banks of the Little Wabash is 
 generally heavy, and of a good quality, and is several 
 miles in width. In Clay county is some poplar. 
 
 The country adjoining is generally fertile, but the 
 bottoms are subject to inundation at high floods. The 
 country between the Little Wabash and the Skillet 
 fork, is generally flat, and in some places inclined to 
 be wet. 
 
 Several valuable mills have been erected on this 
 stream in White county. 
 
 Little Woods is a tract of timber on Fox river, above 
 the "Big Woods." The land of excellent quality, hut 
 swampy in places.
 
 273 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Livingston, a village on the national road, in Clark 
 county. It is in the timber of Big 1 creek, fourteen miles 
 from Terre Haute ; in Indiana, and ten miles west of 
 north from Darwin. Contains several families. 
 
 Lockwood's 'Settlement, near the South fork of Spoon 
 river, on the border of Warren county, township ten 
 north, range one west. An excellent tract of country. 
 
 Lockwood's Settlement is in the south part of Hamilton 
 county. The surface is rolling, timbered, and the soil 
 second rate. 
 
 Locust Creek, a branch of Elkhorn creek, in Wash- 
 ington county, and has a settlement on it three miles 
 south of Nashville; country chiefly prairie. 
 
 Locust Grove, a post office and settlement in Shelby 
 county, five miles east of Shelbyville. 
 
 Logan's Settlement is in a good tract of country, in Gal- 
 latin county, eighteen miles north west from Shawnee- 
 town. 
 
 Lollard's Settlement is ten miles north west from Shaw- 
 neetown, in Gallatin county, and contains much good 
 land. . 
 
 Long Creek, a branch of Big creek, in Macon county. 
 
 Long Grove lies west of Au Sable grove, in the east- 
 ern part of La Salle county. 
 
 Long Prairie, thirteen miles north west from Mount 
 Carmel, in W abash county, is undulating, second rate 
 land, with twenty-five or thirty families. 
 
 Long Prairie, in Edwards county, north of Albion, 
 nine miles long, and from one mile to one and a half 
 wide, interspersed with groves and points of timber. 
 
 Long Prairie, a branch of the Twelve Mile prairie of
 
 or ILLINOIS. 279 
 
 Clay county, projecting into Wayne. It is eight or ten 
 miles long, three miles wide, level, poor soil, and has a 
 poulation of twenty-five or thirty families. 
 
 Long Prairie, in Jefferson county, five miles west of 
 Mount Vernon, is four miles long, and one mile and a 
 half wide. 
 
 It lies between the Middle and West forks of Big 
 Muddy river, is tolerably good land, and contains a set- 
 tlement of forty families. 
 
 Looking Glass Prairie, a large, rich, beautiful, and 
 undulating prairie, lying between Silver and Sugar 
 creeks, and on the eastern border of St. Glair county. 
 It commences near the base line, in range six west, 
 and extends northward about twenty miles into Madi- 
 son county, and is from six to ten miles in width. Few 
 prairies in the state present more eligible situations for 
 farms than this. 
 
 Extensive settlements are on its borders, and project 
 into its interior. 
 
 Lortoii's Prairie, on the north side of Apple creek, in 
 the upper part of Greene county. It is a tract of excel- 
 lent land, has good timber, and contains about eighty 
 families. 
 
 Lost Creek, in Marion county, rises in the Grand 
 prairie, runs south west, and enters the Kaskaskia 
 river, near the mouth of Crooked creek. 
 
 Lost Prairie, in Perry county, seven miles west of 
 Pinckneyville, is three miles long, and one mile and a 
 half wide. It has a rich soil, high, undulating surface, 
 and a good settlement. There are two prairies between 
 this and Pinckneyville, called Eaton and Conant prai- 
 ries.
 
 280 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Loup Creek, an insignificant branch of Silver creek, 
 in St. Clair county, in township one south, range seven 
 west. 
 
 Lul:eii's Prairie is on the south side of Lawrence 
 county, with a settlement of fifty or sixty families. 
 
 Lusk's Creek, a small stream, running southwardly 
 through Pope county, and entering the Ohio at Gol- 
 conda. 
 
 Mackinau ) (Michilimacinac) a navigable stream in 
 Tazewell county. It rises in the prairie near the cen- 
 tre of .JcLean county, and after receiving several'small 
 branches, runs south westwardly through TazeweJl coun- 
 ty, and enters the Illinois three miles below Pekin. 
 
 It is a clear stream, and has Little Mackinau, Rock, 
 Walnut, and Panther creeks, for its branches. The 
 Mackinau bottoms are rich, but its bluffs are very 
 broken, thin soil, from one to two miles in width, and 
 the timber chiefly white oak, and some cedar. The 
 prairies adjoining are rolling, dry, and tolerably good. 
 Towards its head the land is less broken, timber va- 
 rious, and soil rich. It has a number of mill seats. 
 
 JIackinaii, a small village, and formerly the county 
 seat of Tazewell. It is situated on the Mackioau creek, 
 in twenty-four north, two west, sixteen miles north of 
 east from Pekin, surrounded with a large settlement. 
 It is located in the prairie, on the south east side of 
 Mackinau. 
 
 Macon County Prairie, an extensive tract, from twelve 
 to twenty miles in width, lying north of Decatur, and 
 betwixt the North fork of the Sangamon and Salt creek. 
 Some parts are level and wet. other portions dry and 
 undulating.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 28 I 
 
 JJacoupiu Creek, a considerable stream that rises in 
 the north part of Macon county; runs soutn westerly, 
 passes through Greene county, and enters the Illinois 
 river twenty-six miles above its junction with the ?,Iis- 
 sissippi, in section twenty-four, eight north, fourteen 
 west of the third principal meridian. 
 
 Its branches are PhilPs, Dry fork, Bear, and Hodge's 
 creeks, and Lake fork. 
 
 The country along its banks is generally fertile, suit- 
 ably proportioned into timber and prairie, and has a line 
 of settlements through Macoupin and Greene counties., 
 
 Macoupen is aboriginal, and in all the French authors, 
 spelled Jfu-qua-pin, but it has become legalized on the 
 statute books of the state in the uncouth form Driven at 
 the head of this article, and usually pronounced by the 
 people, Jla-goo-pin. 
 
 This word is said to be the Indian name of a vegetable 
 with a large round leaf, growing in the lakes and ponds 
 of Illinois, called by some people "splatter-dock," and 
 found plentifully near this stream. 
 
 The large roots of this plant, if eaten raw, are very 
 deleterious. The Indians, in early times, dug holes in 
 the earth, which they walled with stone, and after heat- 
 ing them with large fires, put in the roots, covered them 
 with earth, and in two days, the rank, poisonous taste 
 was gone. They were then put on polls, and dried for 
 food. In this foriii they was eaten by the natives.* 
 
 Jlacoupen Prairie, a large prairie in Greene county, 
 between the Piasau and Macoupen, moderately undula- 
 
 *See Charlevoix's voyage to North America, 1721.
 
 282 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ting, rich, and rapidly settling. The road from Alton to 
 Carrollton passes through this prairie. 
 
 Towards the Illinois river, on the west, and the Ma- 
 coupen creek on the east, are extensive bodies of fine 
 timber. Emigrants from Vermont, and other northern 
 and eastern states are covering over this part of the 
 county with fine farms. The settlement in the south 
 part of this prairie is sometimes called South Greene. 
 
 Macoupen, Settlement lies near the timber bordering 
 upon the Macoupen creek and prairie, in Greene coun- 
 ty, nine miles south of Carrollton. This settlement 
 was commenced in December, 1S16, by Daniel Allen, 
 and John and Paul Harriford, and was then the most 
 northern white settlement in the Illinois territory. The 
 prairie land is rich, but rather level, and the timber ad- 
 joining good. Kane post office is in this settlement. 
 
 Jlacoupen Point, a noted stand at the junction of the 
 roads from Edwardsville to Springfield, and from Hills- 
 boro' to Morgan county and Beardstown, sometimes 
 called Henderson's stand. 
 
 It is in the north west corner of Montgomery county, 
 at the head of the timber, on the South fork of the Ma- 
 coupen. South, along the roads to Edwardsville and 
 Hillsboro', the surface of the prairie is flat and wet. 
 North, towards Sugar creek, it is dry, and undulating. 
 
 .Maddux Settlement is in Clinton county, near the 
 mouth of Crooked creek, eight miles south of Carlyle. 
 
 .Manchester, a post town in Morgan county, on section 
 twenty-eight, thirteen north, eleven west of the third 
 principal meridian. It is on the main road leading from 
 Carrollton' to Jacksonville, eighteen miles from each
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 283 
 
 place, on the north side of Mark's prairie, and surround- 
 ed with a body of excellent timbered and prairie land. 
 
 Mantua, a large settlement in a timbered tract, in the 
 south western part of White county, ten miles from 
 Carmi. Duncanton is the post office. 
 
 Marais d'Ogee [Mah-re-do-she] is a sluggish stream, and 
 a series of swamps, extending from Rock river to the 
 Mississippi, and constituting the present boundary be- 
 tween the counties of Rock Island and Jo Daviess. 
 
 It is about twenty miles long, and in some places one 
 rnile r and in other places twenty or thirty yards wide. 
 Near the Mississippi, where the road crosses, it is a 
 clear stream of water, twenty yards wide, and sandy 
 bottom. It is supposed that a canal might be cut, at 
 very little expense, through this swamp into Rock river. 
 
 Marchanfs Settlement, on the north side of Fulton coun- 
 ty, twenty-four miles east of north from Lewistown. 
 
 Marine Settlement, a flourishing settlement in Madison 
 county . between the east and west forks of Silver creek, 
 and twelve miles east of Edwardsville. 
 
 This settlement was commenced by Captains Bl'ake- 
 man and Allen, in 1819. The settlement is large, and 
 spread over an undulating, rich, and beautiful prairie, 
 and is healthy and well watered. 
 
 Markham's Settlement, in Macoupen county, on Taylor's 
 creek, twelve or fifteen miles west of Carlinville. 
 
 The land is good, surface undulating, and equally di- 
 vided into timber and prairie. 
 
 Marrow Bone, a small creek in the north part of Shel- 
 by county. It rises in Macon county, runs south east
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Through Bone's settlement, into the West fork of the 
 Kaskaskia. 
 
 JlarshaWa Prairie, north of Cox's prairie, fourteen 
 miles north east of Brownsville, in Jackson county, is 
 rich, undulating land, and the settlement contains a 
 dozen families. 
 
 .Martin's Creek, and Settlement, in Wayne county, on 
 Elm river, five miles north of F airfield. The settlement 
 consists of fifty or sixty families, and the creek is a 
 branch of Elm river. 
 
 JIartinsvillc,a. town site on the national road, in Clark 
 county. 
 
 JIason, a small stream that enters the Illinois river 
 from the south, twelve miles below the junction of the 
 Kankakee with the Des Plaiaes. 
 
 >ii Grave, in La Salle county, lies eighteen miles 
 norlh easterly from Ottawa. It lies on the Little Ma- 
 sou, is five miles long, and one mile wide, a tract of 
 excellent land. It is called also Virginia Grove. 
 
 ^lason's Prairie and settlement is in the south west- 
 ern part of Lawrence county, from twenty to twenty- 
 five miles from Lawrenceville, with seventy or eighty 
 families. 
 
 Jttauvaiseterre, a stream in Morgan county, that rises 
 in the prairie on the borders of Sangamon county, in se- 
 veral branches, runs a west course near Jacksonville, 
 arid empties itself into the Illinois river two miles be- 
 low Naples. 
 
 Above Jacksonville, it is divided into North, South, 
 and Brier or Middle forks.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 For beauty of situation, fertility of soil, salubrity of 
 climate, a due proportion of timber and prairie, good 
 water, and almost every other advantage for agricultu- 
 ral purposes, no country in the wide spread valley bf the 
 west exceeds this, and yet, by a most singular misno- 
 mer, the French, who explored the Illinois river, called 
 it "Mauvaise terre" poor land. 
 
 MAYSVILLE, the seat of justice for Clay county, is si 
 tuated on the borders cf the Twelve Mile prairie, and 
 near the Little Wabash river, on the stage road to Vin- 
 cennes. 
 
 It has three taverns, three stores, and about twenty 
 families. The adjacent prairie is undulating, and se- 
 cond rate. 
 
 v}IcAda.m*s Settlement is in Bond county, four miles 
 south of Greenville; the land level, and tolerably good, 
 and the settlement large. 
 
 MACOMB, the seat of justice of McDonough county, is 
 situated on elevated ground, in a delightful prairie, be- 
 tween Drowning fork and Town fork, near the centre 
 of the county. It is on the south west quarter of sec- 
 tion thirty-one, six north, two west, and was laid off in 
 1831. In 1832 it contained three stores, one grocery, 
 about twenty families, and promises soon to become a 
 pleasant inland village, with a considerable population 
 around it. 
 
 JIcCorcTs Settlement, in Bond county, on the east side 
 of the West fork of Shoal creek, eight miles north west 
 of Greenville. 
 
 The land is good, and there is a due proportion of 
 timber and prairie.
 
 286 A GAZETTEER 
 
 JlcCormack's Settlement, lies towards the south west- 
 ern part of Pope county. 
 
 JlcCreery's Settlement, in Franklin county, ten miles 
 east of Frankfort, in a timbered tract of country. The 
 timber consists of oaks of different kinds, hickory, some 
 poplar, and other varieties. The soil is good, rather 
 undulating, and the settlement large. 
 
 ^IcEaver^s Settlement is six miles south east of Carlyle, 
 in Clinton county, on the waters of Crooked creek. 
 
 ^IcFatridge^s Settlement, in Johnson county, eight miles 
 north east from Vienna, on the old road from Golconda 
 to Kaskaskia, and on the waters of Cedar creek. The 
 surface is rather broken, the soil thin, and the settle- 
 ment contains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 McKee's Creek, in the military tract, enters the Il- 
 linois river, in the north east part of Pike county, in 
 township three south, in range two west of the fourth 
 principal meridian. It is made up of three principal 
 branches, known by the names of North, Middle, and 
 West forks. 
 
 North Fork, which is the longest branch, rises in Ad- 
 ams county, near the base line, in range five west, runs 
 a devious course into Schuyler county, and receives a 
 number of small tributaries. Its general course to the 
 Illinois river is south east. 
 
 JJiddle Fork originates near the boundary of Pike and 
 Schuyler counties, and enters the west fork a few miles 
 above its junction with the main stream. 
 
 West Fork rises in the northern part of Pike county, 
 where it interlocks with the waters that fall into the 
 Mississippi, and after running an eastern course, joins
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 the main stream a few miles above its mouth. The land 
 on McKee's creek and branches is excellent, suitably 
 proportioned into timber and prairie, which is gently 
 undulating and rich. The settlements already are large, 
 and population is increasing from emigration. The same 
 obstruction to rapid settlement exists here as in all por- 
 tions of the military tract. 3Iuch good land is held by 
 non residents. Could the land all be had at a reasonable 
 price, this tract of country would soon be overspread 
 with large farms. 
 
 JIcKee's Branch, a fork of Sugar cr^ek, in Schuyler 
 county, is a mill stream, three miles north of Rushville, 
 
 McLEANSBORo', the county seat of Hamilton county, 
 situated on high ground, in township five south, and in 
 range seven east from the third principal meridian. The 
 settlement around is pretty extensive, and the town 
 contains twenty or twenty-five families. 
 
 J\IcRaney's Creek is a small stream that heads in Adams 
 county, passes into Pike, and enters the Snicartee slough- 
 The land is proportionably divided into timber and prai- 
 rie, and of a good quality. 
 
 Jlcacham's Settlement, on the head of Flag river, in Cook 
 county. 
 
 Mechanic sburg, a town site in the prairie near Clear 
 creek, fifteen miles east of Springfield, on the road to 
 Decatur. 
 
 Menomone, a stream in the north west corner of the 
 state. It rises in Iowa county, Wisconsin territory, 
 runs south west, and empties into the Mississippi three 
 miles below the boundary line. The surface near its 
 mouth is broken, and towards its head are rich prairies,
 
 288 A GAZETTEER 
 
 and rich mines of lead. The timber is scarce, in grove* 
 and patches for six or eight miles up. Length about 
 .fifteen or twenty miles. 
 
 Jfercdosha, a town site, landing, and place of consider 
 able business on the Illinois river in Morgan county, 
 six miles above Naples. It is situated on an elevated 
 sand ridge, with a good landing when the water is not 
 too low. Here are two steam mills, several stores, and 
 thirty or forty families. 
 
 Meredosha can be approached from the bluffs and table 
 land, without crossing any lakes or sloughs, which is not 
 the case with other towns on the river in Morgan county. 
 Much of the mercantile business of Jacksonville passes 
 through this place. Above the town is a singular bayou, 
 from whence its name, which, in French orthography, 
 would be, Jllarais d' Ogee. 
 
 Meredosha Z?ay, is a body of water connected with the 
 Illinois river, above Meredosha. It is seven miles Iong5 
 its width varies from one half to one mile. 
 
 .Middle Fork of Big Muddy River ^ one of the four heads 
 of Big Muddy river, in Franklin county. It rises on the 
 borders of Hamilton county, runs asouth western course, 
 and enters the main stream a few miles west of Frank- 
 fort. The country along its borders is divided into tim- 
 ber and prairie; the surface tolerably level, and the soil 
 good second rate. 
 
 Middle Fork Settlement, in Jefferson county, lies be- 
 tween Mount Vernon and Long prairie; a timbered 
 tract, good sugar tree groves, and apleasantsettlement 
 
 Middle Fork of Shoal Creek rises in the prairies of 
 Montgomery county, eight north, four west, passes Hills-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 289 
 
 boro', and enters Shoal creek about four miles above 
 Bond county line. 
 
 Middle Fork of Silver Creek rises in the prairies north 
 east of the Marine settlement, in Madison county, runs 
 south and enters the East fork 
 
 Jliddltton's Ferry, on the Raskaskia river, twenty 
 miles east of Belleville, and fourteen miles south east- 
 erly of Lebanon. 
 
 Middletown, in Sangramon county, is laid off in theprai- 
 rje, between the timber of Salt creek and Irish grove, 
 near Musick's station. It has one store, and may be- 
 come a village. 
 
 JUiers's Settlement is in Bond county, on the west sido 
 of Beaver creek, and two miles south of Greenville. 
 
 Mill Creek, a small stream that rises in the south west- 
 ern part of Edgar county, .runs diagonally through Clark, 
 and enters the Wabas'h near York. 
 
 Jtfill Creek, a small mill stream in Randolph county. 
 It enters the Kaskaskia river on the east side, one mile 
 above the town of Kaskaskia. 
 
 Miller's Settlement adjoins the Mississippi, on the 
 wst side of Alexander county. Here is some bottom, 
 and rolling upland, generally good. Population about 
 thirty families. 
 
 J\filler's Settlement, in Macon county, four miles west 
 of Decatur, in the south side of Macon county prairie. 
 Soil rich, with good timber adjoining 
 
 Miller^ Ferry, or ford, on Sangamon river, is thirty 
 
 miles west of north from Springfield, on one of the roads 
 
 to Havanna and the mouth of Spoon river. The country 
 
 on the south side of the river, and between this place and 
 
 19
 
 290 A GAZETTEER 
 
 New Salem, is made up with alternate strips of prairie 
 and timber, of about equal proportions, and of an excel- 
 lent quality. It contains a large settlement 
 
 Mills 's Prairie, in Edwards county, eleven miles north 
 east from Albion, four miles long, and two and a half 
 wide a fine and well settled tract. 
 
 Milton was once a town site, situated on Wood river, 
 in Madison county, two miles south east of Alton. 
 
 MitchelVs Settlement, in St. Clair county, six miles east 
 of Belleville, a fine tract of country. 
 
 Monk Hill is situated on the American bottom, in the 
 borders of Madison county, eight miles north easterly 
 from St. Louis. 
 
 The circumference, at the base, is about six hundred 
 yards, and its height about ninety feet. On the south 
 side, about half way down, is a broad step, or apron, 
 about fifteen feet wide. 
 
 This hill, or mount, was the residence, for several 
 years, of the monks of the order of La Trappe, the most 
 rigid and austere of all the monkish orders. 
 
 Their monastery was originally situated in the pro- 
 vince of Perche, in France, in one of the most lonely 
 spots that could be chosen. They fled from the com- 
 motions of that kingdom to America, lived for a time in 
 Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1806 or '07, and set- 
 tled on this mound. 
 
 They cultivated a garden, repaired watches, and tra- 
 ded with the people, but were generally filthy in their 
 habits, and extremely severe in their penances and dis- 
 cipline. In 1813, they sold off their personal property? 
 and left the country, for France.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. '291 
 
 MONMOUTH, the seat of justice for Warren county, is 
 in the prairie, and on the south side of the timber of 
 Henderson river. It is located on section twenty-nine, 
 eleven north, two west; has a flourishing settlement, 
 and a first rate tract of country around it. Having beee 
 recently laid out, it contains but few families, but must 
 soon become a flourishing village. 
 
 Montebello is a settlement in Hancock county, on the 
 bluffs of the Mississippi, one and a half miles above the 
 foot of the Lower rapids. 
 
 There is a considerable settlement along the river, 
 the whole length of the rapids. 
 
 Moore's Prairie, in Jefferson county, is eight miles 
 long, from two to three miles wide, and from six to 
 twelve miles south east of Mount Vei*non. 
 
 Some portions are flat and wet, other parts dry and 
 gently undulating, and the settlement along i'ts borders 
 consists of seventy-five families. 
 
 Moore's Prairie, in St. Clair county, is five miles east 
 of Belleville, and about the same in extent. It is tole- 
 rably level, of good soil, and spread over with fine farms. 
 
 Moore's Settlement, in Monroe county, near Waterloo, 
 is an extensive settlement. 
 
 Moss's Settlement, in Pope county, near the heads of Big 
 Bay aad Lusk's creeks, twenty miles from Golconda. 
 It is a good tract of country. 
 
 Mounse's Creek, a small stream, 'and branch of the 
 North fork of Sangamon, in Foster's settlement, Macon 
 county. 
 
 Mount Carbon, a coal bank on Muddy river, four miles 
 above Brownsville, in Jackson county. Large quanti-
 
 292 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ties are exported from this place down the river. Here 
 is a large steam saw and grist mill, and it will soon be- 
 come a place of much importance, as one of the princi- 
 pal points of operation for the "Illinois Jlanvfactvrwg, 
 Jlniing, and Exporting- Company." See art. MANUFAC- 
 TURES, Part First. 
 
 MOUNT CARMEL, the seat of justice for W abash coun- 
 ty, is situated on highg round, on theWabash river, and 
 on section twenty, in fractional township one south, and 
 in range twelve west from the second principal meri- 
 dian. 
 
 This town was laid off in 1818, by Rev. Thomas S. 
 Hinde, of Ohio, on the project of establishing a moral, 
 temperate, and industrious village. 
 
 The prospective improvement of the rapids of the Wa- 
 bash near this place, is thought to give it peculiar im- 
 portance as a place of business. The country around 
 is high, undulating, healthy, and contains an extensive 
 settlement of industrious farmers. The court house 
 and jail are brick. The Methodist society, which is 
 large, has a house of worship. 
 
 Mount Carmel has one lawyer, two physicians, half a 
 a dozen stores, mechanics of various kinds, a steam 
 saw and grist mill, two mills by animal power, an iron 
 foundry, and about 7CO inhabitants. 
 
 Mount Jolict, a motmd situated on the west bank of the 
 Des Plaines, about sixteen miles above its junction with 
 the Kankakee. It is in the south western part of Cook 
 county, in township thirty-five north, in range ten east 
 from the third principal meridian. It is in the midst of 
 a large plain, covered in summer with short, thin grass.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 293' 
 
 and which bears striking marks of having been once in- 
 undated. 
 
 Its size is-variously estimated. Beck, in his Gazet- 
 teer, states, "It is three or four hundred yards in length, 
 north and south, and two or three hundred in breadth, 
 east and west. It is in the form of a pyramid, and is 
 evidently the work of art." 
 
 To the last position I entirely dissent. From all facts 
 I have gathered from those who have visited it, I have 
 no doubt, but like similar eminences in every part of 
 the globe, it is a natural production. Several gentle- 
 men, who have passed this mound without stopping par- 
 ticularly to measure it, have estimated its length one 
 mile, its breadth, at the base, half a mile, and its height 
 one hundred and fifty feet. It appears to be an im- 
 mense pile of sand, similar to the sand ridges along the 
 Illinois river. 
 
 The name was given by the companions of Joliet, 
 who visited this country in 1673. 
 
 Mount Pleasant, in St. Clair county, and four miles 
 north east of Belleville, the residence of William Kin- 
 ney, a former lieutenant governor of the state. 
 
 Mount Pleasant, a post office in Union county, east of 
 Jonesboro", on the road to Vienna. (See Stokes's Set- 
 tlement.) 
 
 Mount Sterling, a post office and town site in Sixes's 
 prairie, Schuyler county, seventeen miles west of Rush- 
 ville, on the mail road to Quincy. 
 
 Mount St. Charles, in Jo Daviess county, twelve miles 
 east of Galena. The surrounding country becomes ele- 
 vated to the height of seven or eight hundred feet above
 
 294 A GAZETTEER 
 
 the mining country generally- This mount, like a py- 
 ramid, rises from the centre of this elevation one hun- 
 dred and fifty feet. The base of the whole mount in- 
 cludes two or three square miles; the base of the pyra- 
 mid is one fourth of a mile in length, and two hundred 
 and fifty yards in breadth. Its top is long, and quite 
 narrow. The whole mound, as is the case with smaller 
 ones, is a natural formation. 
 
 MOUNT VERNON, the seat of justice for Jefferson coun- 
 ty, situated on the stage road from St. Louis, by Carlyle, 
 to Shawneetown, on section twenty-nine, township two 
 south, in range three east of the third principal meri- 
 dian, and near the centre of the county. 
 
 It contains five stores, and about twenty families, 
 and is pleasantly situated on the north side of Casey's 
 prairie, and surrounded with a considerable settlement. 
 It is in latitude thirty-eight degrees twenty minutes 
 north, forty-seven and a half miles a! little east of south 
 from Vandalia. 
 
 Mouth of Ohio. The importance of a good town site, at 
 the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, has, for 
 many years, excited the attention of the enterprising. It 
 is a feature in our western rivers, with few exceptions, 
 that at and near their junction, the land is alluvion, of 
 a recent formation, and at the high annual floods, usual- 
 ly inundated to the depth of several feet. This is the 
 case, particularly, at the mouth of the Ohio. For twelve 
 miles along that river, above its mouth, and a farther 
 distance along the Mississippi, and across the point to 
 Casii river, the country is subject to annual inunda- 
 tions. H^d the author of nature formed here an eleva-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 295 
 
 ted situation, nothing could have prevented this spot 
 from becoming the central commercial emporium of the 
 great western valley. The immense trade of the Ohio 
 and Mississippi, at some future day, will warrant the 
 expense of forming a site here for a commercial town. 
 
 The point of junction is owned by Thompson, Bird, 
 & Co. who have a store, ware house, and tavern, and 
 who are raising a plat of ground to reach above all high 
 water. They intend eventually to enclose and raise 
 several acres. I have no doubt but in due time, art, 
 enterprise, and perseverance will triumph over nature 
 at this place, and a large commercial town will exist 
 where now the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi an- 
 nually spread. 
 
 Mud Prairie is on Mud creek, a small branch of Big 
 Beaucoup creek. It lies in Washington and Perry coun- 
 ties, fourteen miles north east from Pinckneyville, and 
 is level and rather wet. 
 
 Mud Creek, a small stream in the southwestern part of 
 Washington and south east part of &t. Clair counties. It 
 rises in the northwestern part of Perry county, takes a 
 north western direction, and enters the Kaskaskia 
 riveropposite an island in township two south, six west. 
 A smaller creek, in the same region, is called Little Mud 
 creek. 
 
 J\Iuddy, a small stream and branch of the Embarras, in 
 Lawrence county, ten miles west from Lawrenceville. 
 
 Muddy, a branch of the Little Wabash that emties into 
 it on its eastern side, in Clay county, just below the Vin- 
 cennes road. Between the two streams for some dis- 
 tance, is a swamp, which overflows in high water.
 
 296 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Muddy Creek., in Lawrence county, rises in the prairie, 
 runs north of east, and enters the Embarras five miles 
 above Lawrenceville. Land second rate; population 
 forty or fifty families. 
 
 Muddy Print) in the south western part of Coles county, 
 and one of the heads of the Little Wabash. The timber is 
 excellent, prairie adjoining is rolling and rich, and the 
 settlement consists of eighty or one hundred families. 
 
 Jllud Prairie, in Wayne county, eight miles north west 
 from Fairfield, is a low, wet tract, rightly named. 
 
 Mulberry Grove, a small grove at the head of Apple 
 creek, near the boundary line of Morgan and Sangamon 
 counties. 
 
 Jttuskeeto Creek rises in the large prairie of Macon 
 county, and enters the North fork of Sangamon, in San- 
 gamon .county. 
 
 Muscooten Bay, a large body of water in the north 
 west part of Morgan county, that unites with the Illi- 
 nois river just above Beardstown. In high water it be- 
 comes connected with the Sangamon river. 
 
 Naples, a commercial town in Morgan county, situa- 
 ted on the Illinois river, two miles above the mouth of 
 the Mauvaiseterre, on section twelve, township fifteen 
 north, in range fourteen west from the third principal 
 meridian. 
 
 It is laid off on a level prairie, at the foot of a sand 
 ridge, and above ordinary high water. Very occasional- 
 ly, extreme floods will come over a portion of the town 
 site. 
 
 Here are several stores, two taverns, a medical and 

 
 OF ILLINOIS. 297 
 
 drug shop, two physicians, a number of mechanics, three 
 steam mills, and fifty or sixty families. 
 
 Adjoining the upper end of the town, and on the bor- 
 ders of the sand ridge, are the landing, store, extensive 
 steam mill, and residence of Messrs. A. M. & F. Collins, 
 who conduct a large business with great enterprise. 
 
 Naples is twenty-four miles west from Jacksonville, 
 
 Narrows, a place so called, on Peoria lake, five miles 
 above Peoria. The bluffs from the west side here touch 
 the lake, and the Galena road runs at the foot. 
 
 Narrows. Two places in Morgan county bear this 
 name. One is now Sweet's Settlement, five miles east of 
 Jacksonville. The other is on the road from Springfield 
 to Beardstown, ten miles from the latter place. Here 
 is a fine settlement, good prairie, with points and groves 
 of timber. The settlement receives its name from two 
 points of timber approaching. 
 
 NASHVILLE, the seat of justice for Washington coun- 
 ty, is situated on a beautiful and elevated prairie, near 
 the head of Little Crooked creek, and two and a half 
 miles south of east from the centre of the county. 
 
 It is situated on section twenty-four, township two 
 south, range three west of the third principal meridian. 
 It contains two stores, several mechanics, and fifteen 
 or twenty families. It is on the borders of an arm of the 
 Grand prairie, elevated, rich, and undulating, 
 
 Nettle Creek) a trifling stream in Morgan county, near 
 Winchester. The settlement contains one hundred fa- 
 milies. 
 
 New Design is in Monroe county, four miles south of 
 Waterloo. This is one of the oldest American settle-
 
 298 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ments in Illinois. The land was originally a mixture of 
 limber and prairie. 
 
 JVf'w? Haven, a post town, two miles above the mouth 
 of the Little Wabash, on the line between Gallatin and 
 White counties. Here is a large saw and flouring mill, 
 with several stores, and about fifteen or twenty fa- 
 milies. 
 
 J\"ew Lexington, a town site and post office, eight miles 
 north westerly from Jacksonville, in Morgan county. 
 It has two stores, two groceries, and fifteen or twenty 
 families. 
 
 Newlin's Settlement, in Crawford county, ten miles 
 north west from Palestine, on the borders of a prairie, 
 with fifty or sixty families. 
 
 Newman's Branch, a trifling stream, in Morgan county, 
 that runs south west, and enters the Mauvaiseterre 
 north of Jacksonville. 
 
 New Salem, a post office and town, located in Sangamon 
 county, on the south west side of Sangamon river, on 
 a bluff, and surrounded with a large settlement. It has 
 three or four stores, and thirty families. A grist and 
 saw mill is here, erected on Sangamon river. 
 
 It is on section twenty-five, eighteen north, seven 
 west. 
 
 NEWTON, the anticipated seat of justice for Jasper 
 county, situated on the west side of the Embarras, 
 on the road from Palestine to Vandalia, and about the 
 centre of the county. 
 
 JVctc Virginia, a settlement and tract of country in 
 Bond ccT!-ty, two miles east of Greenville, and on the
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 299 
 
 the head waters of Beaver creek. Here are several fine 
 groves, and good prairie. 
 
 Nine Mile Creek, in Randolph county. It rises north 
 east of Kaskaskia, takes a western direction, and en~ 
 ters the Kaskaskia river ten or twelve miles above the 
 town. 
 
 A branch of it is called Little Nine Mile creek. 
 
 Nine Mile Prairie, in Perry county, lies ten miles east 
 of Pinckneyville. 
 
 It is about nine miles in diameter, tolerably level, and 
 considerable population around it. 
 
 North Arm, a prairie and a settlement, in Edgar coun- 
 ty, six miles east of Paris. The prairie is good land , 
 about three miles wide. Its east end runs to the state 
 line, and its west end unites with the Grand prairie. 
 The settlement is large and dense. 
 
 North ji.eld t a post office in Vermilion county, twelve 
 miles west of Danville, on the Middle fork of the Big 
 Vermilion., 
 
 North Fork of the Embarras rises in the south west 
 part of Clark county, runs south near the line between 
 Crawford and Jasper, and enters the Embarras at the 
 south east corner of the latter county. The country is 
 a level, timbered tract, in some places rather wet. 
 
 North Fork of the Maconpea. This stream is the same 
 as Hodges's or Otter creek, but the settlement, which 
 is extensive and flourishing, is known by the name of 
 North fork. 
 
 North Fork of Salt Creek. It rises in McLean coun- 
 ty, and, with Lake fork, forms the head of one of the 
 principal branches of the Sangamon river.
 
 300 A GAZETTEER 
 
 North Grove, in Morgan county, is at the head of Clca r 
 creek, fifteen miles north east of Jacksonville. It has 
 fine timber. 
 
 North Prairie., in Morgan county, twelve miles north 
 easterly from Jacksonville, is a delightful tract of rich, 
 dry, undulating prairie. A large settlement surrounds 
 it, and several families from Virginia have recently made 
 locations in it. 
 
 North Prairie, on the south side of the Mauvaiseterre, 
 in Morgan county, and adjoining Walnut creek. It is 
 level. 
 
 Norris's Settlement, in Greene county, twelve miles 
 north easterly from Carrollton, with a proportion of tim- 
 ber and prairie, rather level, but good soil. 
 
 Ogle's Creek, a small stream in St. Clair county, that 
 rises in the west end of Ogle's prairie, runs a north east 
 course, and enters Silver creek. 
 
 Ogle's Prairie, a beautiful, undulating prairie, in St. < 
 Clair county, five miles north of Belleville. It is five 
 miles long, and from one to two miles wide, surrounded, 
 aud partly covered, with a flourishing settlement and 
 fine farms. 
 
 The public road from Vincennes to St. Louis, and the 
 road from Belleville to Edwardsville, intersect in the 
 iiiiddle of this prairie. 
 
 O'Harra, a post office and settlement in the north part 
 of Randolph county, about twelve miles north of Kas- 
 kaskia. Here is a small settlement. 
 
 Ohio Settlement, in Fork prairie, Bond county, five 
 miles north of Greenville, is of considerable extent. 
 The land is second rate.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 301 
 
 Okau, (An Kas, Fr.) a name frequently given to the 
 Kaskaskia river. 
 
 It appears to have been originally a contraction, using 
 the first syllable for the whole name, and prefixing the 
 article, a practice common among the early settlers 
 and explorers of Illinois. 
 
 Okau Settlement, in the south eastern part of Macon 
 county, twenty miles from Decatur, lies on the West 
 fork of the Kaskaskia, and contains twenty or thirty 
 families. 
 
 Olmsted's Mound, an eminence in the prairie in Mor- 
 gan county, eight miles south of west from Jacksonville. 
 It was the temporary seat of justice for this county 
 previous to 1825. 
 
 Oldmaiis Creek , a small stream in the country at- 
 tached to La Salle county, that enters Rock river eigh- 
 teen miles above Dixon's ferry. 
 
 Oliver's, sometimes called Allen's Prairie, in the cor- 
 ners of Hancock, Adams, and Schuyler counties. It is 
 twelve miles long, and from two to fourmiles broad. 
 Old Town Timber. [See Daivson's Groue.] 
 O'NeaVs Creek is a branch of Crooked creek, in 
 Schuyler county, ten miles from Rushville. 
 
 Orendorff"'s Mill and settlement is on Sugar creek, in 
 the south part of Tazewell county. The settlement is 
 large, and the land good. 
 
 OTTAWA, the seat of justice for La Salle county, was 
 laid off by the canal commissioners, in 1830, at the junc- 
 tion of Fox river with the Illinois, and is thought by 
 many to be an important location for business. 
 
 It is laid off on both sides of the Illinois river, on the
 
 302 A GAZETTEER 
 
 ontire section numbered eleven, and in township thirty- 
 three north, in range three east of the third principal 
 meridian. 
 
 At the town site, the water of the Illinois is deep, and 
 the lauding convenient. Steam boats reach this place 
 in the spring, and at other seasons when the water is 
 high. 
 
 Below, for the distance of eight or nine miles, are ra- 
 pids and shoals, formed by barriers of sand and lime 
 stone rock. The peculiar advantages of Ottawa for a 
 ommercial town, are hypothecated upon the supposi- 
 tion that the contemplated canal or railway from lake 
 Michigan will terminate at this place, and that the river 
 below will be made navigable at all stages by suitable 
 improvements. 
 
 The country around is pleasant, undulating, and well 
 adapted to farming. The timber is in small quantities, 
 chiefly in groves; the prairie land generally dry, and 
 rich soil. 
 
 Lime, and coarse freestone, in great abundance. 
 
 Ottawa contains twenty or thirty families, three or 
 four stores, and is populating fast. 
 
 Otter Creek) a small stream that rises in the prairies 
 in the south western part of Greene county, runs a west- 
 erly course, and enters the Illinois river about four- 
 teen miles above its junction with the Mississippi. 
 
 Towards its head is fine, undulating prairie; but lower 
 down the surface is timbered and broken. 
 
 Otter Creek rises in the south western part of Fulton 
 county, runs east, then south, and enters the Illinois in
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 303 
 
 section twenty-two, three north, three east. Large 
 bodies of timber and good coal are on this stream. 
 
 Out House Settlement, on sugar creek, in Clinton coun- 
 ty, twenty-two miles south west from Carlyle. 
 
 Ox Bow Prairie is in Putnam county, ten miles south 
 of Hennepin. It is a rich prairie, five miles long, and 
 from one to two miles wide, shaped like an ox bow, and 
 surrounded with excellent timber. The prairie is over- 
 spread with fine farms. 
 
 Paddock's Settlement is in Madison county, on the 
 Springfield road, seven miles north of Edwardsville. 
 The prairie is undulating, fertile, and healthy. 
 
 Panky's Settlement is in the south east corner of Pope 
 county. 
 
 Panther Creek heads in McLean county, runs south 
 east, and enters the Mackinau near the county line. 
 
 Panther Creek, in Sangamon county, a trifling stream 
 and branch of Sugar creek, in fifteen north, five west. 
 
 Panther Creek is in the north eastrne part of Morgan 
 county, and enters Sangamon river. 
 
 Panther Grove, a point of timber on Panther creek, 
 in Morgan county. 
 
 Another grove, called Little Panther, lies east of it. 
 
 PALESTINE, the seat of justice for Crawford county, 
 situated three miles from the Wabash river, on the 
 borders of Lamotte prairie, and in sections thirty- 
 three and thirty-four, township seven north, in range 
 eleven west of the second principal meridian. 
 
 It is twenty-five miles north of Vincennes, in latitude 
 thirty-eight degrees, fifty-eight minutes north, and 
 eighty-two miles east from Vandalia.
 
 304 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Here are the offices of the register and receiver for 
 the land district of Palestine. 
 
 Palestine has five stores, two groceries, a steam saw 
 and grist mill in the vicinity, and about thirty fa- 
 milies. 
 
 Palmers Settlement, above the South fork of Spoon 
 river, in the county of Knox, and near the line of Ful- 
 ton county. 
 
 PARIS, the county seat of Edgar county, on section 
 one, thirteen north, twelve west of the second principal 
 meridian. It is a pleasant village, on the borders of a 
 rich prairie, surrounded with good farms, v and has a 
 court house of brick, four stores, two groceries, ^three 
 physicians, one lawyer, and about one hundred and fifty 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Parker's Prairie is a large, level prairie, on the west- 
 ern side of Clark county, somewhat wet, soil second 
 rate. A considerable settlement. 
 
 Parker's Settlement is (en miles south west from Pa- 
 lestine, in Crawford county. A mixture of timber and 
 prairie, and about forty families. 
 
 Parr's Settlement is in Bond county, seven miles north 
 of Greenville, adjoining, and within the timbered tract, 
 on the East fork of Shoal creek. 
 
 Paupau Grove is at the head of Indian creek, in the 
 county north of and attached to La Salle county. It is 
 a rich tract of country. 
 
 Peek-a-ton-o-kce, a large, navigable stream that enters 
 Rock river, in Jo Daviess county, about six mile;- 
 below the boundary line. It rises in two principal 
 branhces, near the Blue mounds, in Wisconsin territory
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 305 
 
 called the East and West forks, which unite before they 
 enter the state of Illinois. 
 
 The East fork rises north of the Blue mounds, near the 
 head of Grant river. The West fork runs near the Blue 
 mounds. 
 
 After their junction, the Peek-a-ton-o-kee runs first 
 a south course into Illinois, thence a south east course, 
 and finally winds round north of east, and enters Rock 
 river. It is one hundred yards wide at the mouth, eighty 
 yards wide at the boundary line, and is navigable for 
 flat boats to Mineral Point, in the Wisconsin terri- 
 tory. 
 
 I have had no little trouble in determining the ortho- 
 graphy of this name. Its aboriginal meaning is said to 
 be "Swift water." By many persons it is written and 
 pronounced Pik-e-tol-c-ka. I have adopted the ortho- 
 graphy and pronunciation of gentlemen from its vi- 
 cinity. 
 
 PEKIN, the seat of justice for Tazewell county, is si- 
 tuated on the east side of the Illinois river, twelve 
 miles below Peoria, en fractional section thirty-three, 
 twenty-five north, five west of the third principal meri- 
 dian, on a sandy bluff, elevated and pleasant. The land- 
 ing is tolerably good at a moderate stage of the river, 
 but too shoal at the low stage. 
 
 Pekin contains forty or fifty families, six stores, and 
 one steam saw mill. It will probably be the landing for 
 a large portion of the produce of the upper part of Taze- 
 well, and the whole of McLean counties. 
 
 Cincinnati is a town site laid off adjoining and be- 
 low Pekin. 
 
 20
 
 306 A GAZETTEER 
 
 PEORIA, the seat of justice for Peoria county, situated 
 on the west bank of the Illinois river, on section nine, 
 eight north, eight east, and sometimes called Fort 
 Clark. 
 
 From a report made by Edward Coles, esq. formerly 
 governor of Illinois, to the Secretary of the treasury, 
 it may be learned, "The old village of Peoria was situa- 
 ted one mile and a half above the lower extremity or 
 outlet of the Peoria lake. This village had been inha- 
 bited by the French previous to the recollection of the 
 present generation. About the year 1778 or 1779, the 
 first house was built in what was then called La Ville de 
 Maillet, afterwards the new village of Peoria, and which 
 has recently been known by the name of Fort Clark,* 
 situated about one mile and a half below the old village, 
 immediately at the lower point, or outlet of the lake. 
 The situation being preferred on account of the water 
 being better, and its being thought more healthy, the 
 inhabitants gradually deserted the old village, and by 
 the year 1796 or 1797, had entirely abandoned it, and 
 removed to the new one. 
 
 "The inhabitants of Peoria consisted generally of In- 
 dian traders, hunters, and voyagers, and had long form- 
 ed a link of conection between the French residing on 
 the great lakes and the Mississippi river. From that 
 happy felicity of adapting themselves to their situation 
 and associates, for which the French are so remarkable, 
 the inhabitants of Peoria lived generally in harmony 
 with their savage neighbors. It appears, however, that 
 about the year 1781, they were induced to abandon the 
 village from an apprehension of Indian hostility; but
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 307 
 
 soon after the peace of 1783, they again returned, and 
 continued to reside there until the autumn of 1812, when 
 they were forcibly removed from it, and the place de- 
 stroyed by a captain Craig, of the Illinois militia, on 
 the ground, it was said, that his company of militia was 
 fired on in the night, while at anchor in their boats be 
 J'ore the village, by Indians, with whom the inhabitants 
 were suspected by Craig to be too intimate and friend- 
 
 Jy." 
 
 The inhabitants being thus driven from the place, fled 
 to the French settlements on the Mississippi for shel- 
 ter. 
 
 in 1813, Peoria was occupied by the United States 
 troops, and a block house erected and called Fort Clark. 
 The timber was cut on the opposite side of the lake, and 
 with considerable labor transported across, and hauled 
 on truck wheels by the men. 
 
 After the termination of the war, Fort Clark was 
 abandoned, and the buildings soon after burnt by the 
 Indians. 
 
 The present town is near its ruins. 
 
 Without intending to do injustice to several other 
 beautiful town sites along the upper parts of the Illinois 
 river, amongst which is Pekin, Hennepin, the foot of 
 the rapids, Ottawa, etc. I shall copy from Beck's Ga- 
 zetteer the following description of Peoria. 
 
 "The situation of this place is beautiful beyond de- 
 scription. From the mouth of the Kickapoo, or Redbucl 
 creek, which empties into the Illinois two miles below 
 the old fort, the alluvion is a prairie which stretches it- 
 self along the river three or four miles.
 
 308 A GAZETTEER 
 
 "The shore is chiefly made up of rounded pebbles, and 
 is filled with springs of the finest water. The first bank, 
 which is from six to twelve feet above high watermark, 
 extends west about a quarter of a mile from the river 
 gradually ascending., when it rises five or six feet to the 
 second bank. This extends nearly on a level to the 
 bluffs, which are from sixty to one hundred feet in 
 height. These bluffs consist of rounded pebbles, over- 
 laying strata of lime stone and sand stone, rounded at 
 the top, and corresponding in their course with the 
 meanders of the river and lake. The ascent, although 
 steep, is not perpendicular. On the bluffs, the surface 
 again becomes level, and is beautifully interspersed 
 with prairie and woodland. 
 
 "From the bluffs the prospect is uncommonly fine. 
 Looking towards the east you first behold an extensive 
 prairie, which, in spring and summer, is covered with 
 grass, with whose green the brilliant hues of a thousand 
 flowers form the most lively contrast.- Beyond this, the 
 lake, clear and calm, may be seen emptying itself into, 
 or by its contraction forming the river, whose mean- 
 ders, only hid from the view by the beautiful groves of - 
 timber which here and there arise, can be traced to the 
 utmost extent of vision." 
 
 Peoria is now rapidly advancing in population and 
 improvements. In the summer of 1833, it consisted of 
 about twenty-five families. These more than doubled 
 in a few weeks from emigration; and from the rapidity 
 of increase in the present season (1834) it must contain 
 three or four times that number. It has a printing of- 
 fice, from which the "Illinois Champion" a weekly paper, 
 is issued.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 309 
 
 Peoria Lake) an expansion of the Illinois river, com- 
 mencing at Peoria, and extending about twenty miles 
 in a north easterly direction. It is much wider than 
 the river, and has very little current. The water is 
 clear, and its bottom gravelly. It may be considered 
 as two lakes, divided by the Narrows. It abounds with 
 various kinds of fish, such as sturgeon, buffalo, bass of 
 several species, perch, white fish, pickerel, etc. which 
 can be caught with the sein in great abundance. 
 
 In 1329, John L. Bogardus, a resident of Peoria, es- 
 tablished a fishery here for the purpose of obtaining fish 
 oil. He formed several large hoppers, into which the 
 fish were thrown when taken from the sein, and the 
 oil suffered to drain off. Could he have separated the 
 gelatine from the oil, it is thought he might have suc- 
 ceeded. It turned out a bad business. 
 
 The Indian name for this lake is Pin-a-tah-wee. Some 
 authors call it Illinois lake. 
 
 Perkins's Settlement is in the north east part of Han- 
 cock county, on the head waters of Crooked creek. The 
 name of the post office is Fountain Green. 
 
 Petersburgh,a.town site on Sangamon river, eighteen 
 miles north west from Springfield, and two miles below 
 New Salem. 
 
 Phelphs's Prairie, in Franklin county, on the waters 
 of Crab Orchard creek, twelve miles south of Frankfort , 
 is good land, and somewhat rolling. 
 
 In its neighborhood is Poor prairie, a wet, level tract; 
 and Wright's prairie, an undulating tract, with a consi- 
 derable settlement. 
 
 Phigley's Settlement lies between the head waters of 
 Mc'Kee's creek and Bear creek, in Adams county. It
 
 310 A GAZETTEER 
 
 has about twenty-five families. The land is rather flat, 
 but good, about twenty miles east from Quincy. 
 
 Phil's Creek enters the Macoupen on the south side, 
 about the middle of township nine north, eleven west. 
 It heads in the prairies near the sources of the Piasau. 
 There is considerable timber, with excellent prairie on 
 the borders of this stream. 
 
 Phillips's Settlement, in the north western part of Al- 
 exander county, on Sexton's creek, twenty-five miles 
 from America, consists of eight or ten families. 
 
 Piankeshau Bend, on the Wabash river, in Wabash 
 county, eighteen miles north from Mount Carmel. It is 
 a fertile tract, timber rather scarce, with a mixture of 
 prairie and barrens. 
 
 Piasau, a small stream that rises in a beautiful tract 
 of country near the line of Greene and Macoupen coun- 
 ties, and enters the Mississippi about ten miles above 
 Lower Alton. 
 
 Pigeon Creek is a stream that rises in Adams county, 
 and runs westward near that and Pike county, which it 
 enters, and passes into the Snicartee slough three miles 
 below the county line. 
 
 In the bottom, the land is level, dry, and excellent 
 on the bluffs, somewhat broken. 
 
 Pilot Knob, in the western part of Washington coun- 
 ty, a singular eminence and point of observation on the 
 old Vincennes and Kaskaskia trace. 
 
 PINCKNETVILLE, a small village, and the seat of justice 
 for Perry county. It is situated on the west side of Big 
 Beaucoup creek, at the head of the Four Mile prairie 
 and on section twenty-four, five south, three west. It
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 311 
 
 has two stores, one tavern, one grocery, and a few fami- 
 lies, and is surrounded with a large settlement of indus- 
 trious farmers. 
 
 Piper's Point, a settlement in Greene county, sixteen 
 miles north east from Carrollton, adjoining String prai- 
 rie, and the timber of Apple creek. The land is tolerably 
 level, rich, and proportionably'divided into timber and 
 prairie. There are sixty or seventy families in this set- 
 tlement. 
 
 PITTSFIELD, the new seat of justice for Pike county, 
 was laid off in April, 1833, on the south wes quarter of 
 section twenty-four, five south, four west. It is a high 
 and healthy situation, in an undulating prairie, and on 
 the dividing ridge nearly equi distant from the Illinois 
 and Mississippi rivers. The country around is fertile, 
 and proportionably distributed into timber and prairie, 
 and is rapidly settling. 
 
 Pleasant Grove, three miles long and one wide, and a 
 settlement of twenty-five 4 or'thirty families, in Taze well 
 county, eight miles east of Pekin, on the waters of Dil- 
 lon's creek. The land is rich, and the timber consists 
 of walnut, sugar maple, linden, oak, etc. 
 
 Pleasant Grove, in Morgan county, a settlement on the 
 borders of Sweet's prairie, between Manchester and 
 Winchester. The land in this quarter is good, with a 
 due mixture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Plum Creek, in Randolph county, enters the Kaskas- 
 kia river from the east side, six, miles above Kaskas- 
 kia. 
 
 Plum Creek rises in the prairies of Morgan county, 
 west of Jacksonville, runs west, and enters the Illinois 
 river below Phillip's ferry.
 
 312 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Plum Creek Prairie is near the boundary line of St. 
 Clair and Randolph counties, ten miles long, and three 
 broad; good soil, and scattering settlements along its 
 borders. 
 
 Plum River, in JoDaviess county, rises near Kellogg's 
 grove, runs south west, and enters the Mississippi ten 
 miles below Rush creek. It is a good mill stream. 
 
 Above its mouth are rapids. The country alpng its 
 borders is a mixture of timber and prairie. It is divided 
 into South,, North, and Middle forks, and here is some of 
 the finest farming land in the country. 
 
 Polecat Creek, a stream in Coles county, that rises in 
 the prairies towards Edgar county, runs southwest, and 
 enters the Embarras east of Charleston. Near its head 
 is a very fertile region, well timbered: further down the 
 surface is broken. The settlement has thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Pond Slough, the name given to the outlet of a line of 
 ponds in Johnson county, between Big Bay creek and 
 Cash river. It is a deep, muddy channel. [See Cash 
 river.] 
 
 Pope's River rises in the great prairies in the south 
 part of Henry county, between Henderson's and Ed- 
 wards's rivers, runs a west course through Mercer coun- 
 ty, and enters the Mississippi, a few miles below Ed- 
 wards's river. In Mercer county there is some fine 
 tracts of timber on this stream further up it passes 
 through a prairie country. The land generally on 
 Pope's and Edwards's rivers is abundantly rich, but 
 there is a deficiency of timber. 
 
 Potatoe Creek rises on the west side of Fulton county.
 
 OF 'ILLINOIS. 313 
 
 near Table grove, runs a south eastern course, and en- 
 ters Spoon river about four miles west of Lewistown, 
 Excellent land, both prairie and timbered, adjoins it. 
 
 Prairie Creek, in Sangamon county, a trifling stream 
 that rises in the prairie between Spring and Richland 
 creeks, makes a circuit in sixteen north, six west, and 
 enters the latter before its junction with Sangamou 
 river. 
 
 Prairie de Long Creek rises north of Waterloo, near 
 the dividing line of St. Clairand Monroe counties, runs 
 south easterly through the eastern part of Monroe, re- 
 ceives Richland creek, and enters the Kaskaskia river 
 in the south western part of township three south, range 
 seven west. Along its borders is a considerable settle- 
 ment, and the soil in some parts is good, in others in- 
 ferior. 
 
 Prairie du Pont, [pronounced Prairie du Po, Fr.] a 
 small stream in St. Clair county. It rises in the bluffs 
 south west of Belleville, passes through the American 
 bottom, and enters the Mississippi in the south western 
 part of the county. 
 
 An old French village, with the ap- 
 pendage of commons and common fields to the same, 
 located a short distance south of Cahokia. 
 
 Prairie du Rocfier, an ancient French village, in Ran- 
 dolph county, on the American bottom, near the Rocky 
 bluffs, from which it derives its name, fourteen miles 
 north west of Kaskaskia. It is a low, unhealthy situa- 
 tion, along a small creek of the same name, which rises 
 in the bluffs, passes across the American bottom, and 
 enters the Mississippi. The houses are built in the
 
 314 A GAZETTEER 
 
 French style, the streets very narrow, and the inhabi- 
 tants preserve more of the simplicity of character and 
 habits peculiar to early times, than any village in Illi- 
 nois. It has its village lots, common fields, and com- 
 mons, the peculiarities of which are noticed under the 
 article "Cahokia." 
 
 Prairie du Rocher, in 1766, contained fourteen fami- 
 lies; the population at present is estimated at thirty-five 
 families. 
 
 Here is a Catholic church dedicated to St. Sulspice, 
 but at present has no resident priest. American set- 
 tlers have not yet disturbed the repose of this ancient 
 community. The ruins of Fort Chartres are three miles 
 north west from this village. 
 
 Pratt* s Prairie, in the north eastern part of Greene 
 county, fifteen miles north westerly from Carrollton. 
 
 Prathcr's Settlement, on Apple creek, in the north east- 
 ern part of Greene county, sixteen miles from Carroll- 
 ton. 
 
 Prophet's Village, on Rock river, in Henry county, 
 and on the road from Rushville and Warren county to 
 Galena. 
 
 On the south side of the river is a handsome town site, 
 - on a high, undulating bottom. The opposite side of the 
 river is inundated at high floods. 
 
 Rock river can be forded at this place for two thirds 
 of the year. It is about two hundred yards wide. 
 
 The country around will admit of considerable set : 
 tlements. 
 
 Prospect Hill, in St. Clair county, one mile south of 
 Belleville, and the residence of major Washington
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 315- 
 
 West. Spread out before this delightful situation is 
 one of the most beautiful prairies in the state, about 
 five miles in extent, and partially covered with weli 
 cultivated farms. 
 
 Prince's Settlement is on a branch of Spoon river, twen - 
 ty miles north west from Peoria,in ten and eleven north, 
 ranges six and seven east. Here are three groves of tim- 
 ber, from which at least one hundred farms might be sup- 
 plied. The soil is a rich clay, and undulating. The pre- 
 sent population d"bes not exceed fifteen families. 
 
 Princeton, a town site on the borders of Jersey prairie, 
 in Morgan county, ten miles north from Jacksonville, 
 in township seventeen north, in range ten west. The 
 surface is undulating, and the surrounding country one 
 of the finest tracts of land in the state, and the sente- 
 ment is large. The post office is called Workman. 
 
 Princeton, a town site in Putnam county, in Bureau 
 settlement, ten miles north of west from Hennepin. It 
 was laid off by colonists from Northampton, Mass, in 
 1833, contains a post office of the same name, and is in 
 the heart of a flourishing settlement and a rich body of 
 land. 
 
 Puncheon Camp, a creek near the north side of Mor- 
 gan county, that'enters the Sangamon. It is divided 
 into two branches. A grove of the same name is on this 
 stream. 
 
 Putnam Creek rises towards Canton, in Fulton coun- 
 ty, and taking a south western course, enters Spoon 
 river. 
 
 QUINCY, the seat of justice of Adams county, is situa- 
 ated on the bluff of the Mississippi on section two, two
 
 316 A GAZETTEER 
 
 south, nine west. It has seven stores, four groceries, 
 one carding machine, one large flouring and saw mill by 
 steam power, with four run of buhr stones, two schools, 
 seven lawyers, four physicians, several mechanics, about 
 one hundred families and six hundred inhabitants. 
 
 The land office for the sale of Congress lands north and 
 east of the Illinois river, is located at this place. The 
 land in the vicinity is excellent. A low alluvion lies on 
 the opposite side of the Mississippi river, which is over- 
 flowed in high waters. 
 
 Q,uincy must become a place of considerable busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Quaker Settlement, near the Wabash, in the north east- 
 ern part of Crawford county, on Racoon creek. Here 
 is a society of Friends who keep up regular meetings. 
 
 Racoon, a small stream in Greene county, that enters 
 the Illinois river twelve miles above its mouth. The 
 bottoms on this creek, and on the Illinois river at this 
 point, are narrow, and the surface adjoining is much 
 broken into bluffs and ravines. 
 
 Racoon Creek, a small stream that runs across the 
 north end of Crawford county, and enters the Wabash. 
 Racoon Creek, in the north eastern part of Morgan 
 county, and runs into Dickerson's lake. 
 
 Radcliff's Point, in Washington county, five miles 
 west of Nashville, and a small settlement. 
 
 Ramsey's Creek rises near the line of Montgomery 
 and Shelby counties, runs a south eastern course, and 
 enters the Kaskaskia ten miles north of Vandalia. A 
 considerable settlement lies along this creek. This is 
 sometimes called Booz creek.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 317 
 
 Ramsey's Settlement, in the south western part of Ma 
 dison county, on Sugar creek, twenty miles from Ed- 
 wardsville. 
 
 Randleman 's Settlement, in St. Clair county, twelve 
 miles south west of Belleville, and near the borders of 
 Monroe county. 
 
 Randolphs Grove, on Kickapoo creek, above Big grove , 
 about twelve miles south from Bloomington, in McLean 
 county. In shape, it is almost circular, and is a valua- 
 ble tract of land, containing lime stone, and a popula- 
 tion of about forty families. The grove comprises about 
 twelve sections of timbered land- 
 
 Rapids of Illinois. There is a succession of rapids ia 
 the Illinois, both above and below the mouth of Fox 
 river, with intervals of deep and smooth water. From 
 the mouth of Fox river to the foot of the rapids is nine 
 miles the descent in all eight feet. The rock soft 
 sand stone mixed with gravel and shelly lime stone. 
 Nine miles above Fox river the grand rapids commence, 
 and extend ten or twelve miles. They are formed by 
 ledges of rock in the river, and rocky islands. 
 
 The whole descent from the surface of lake Michigan, 
 at Chicago, to the foot of the rapids, a distance of nine- 
 ty-four and one fourth miles, is 141 87-100 feet. 
 
 Rapids of the Mississippi. These are distinguished as 
 the Lower and Upper rapids. 
 
 The Lower, or as frequently called, the Des Moints, 
 because opposite the mouth of that river, are twelve 
 miles long, and formed by beds of rock. They injure 
 the navigation in low water, and sometimes entirely 
 prevent the passage of large boats,
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 The Upper rapids commence at Rock Island, and ex- 
 tend eighteen miles up the river. 
 
 Rattan's Prairie is in Madison county, seven miles 
 north west from Edwardsville. It is level, some por- 
 tions rather wet, and surrounded with fine farms. 
 
 Rhoades's Settlement, in Greene county, south of the 
 Maconpen, and fifteen miles south east of Carrollton. 
 A mixture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Rector's Fork, in Gallatin county, is a branch of the 
 North fork of Saline creek, which it enters fifteen miles 
 above Equality. 
 
 Ray's Settlement is on the east side of Hancock coun- 
 ty, in five north, five west a fine tract on the waters of 
 Crooked creek. 
 
 Richlaitd Creek, a small stream and branch of Sanga- 
 mon river. It rises in the prairies near the borders of 
 Morgan county, runs a northerly course, and enters San- 
 gamon river below Spring creek. The land on its bor- 
 ders is first rate. 
 
 Richland, a tributary of the Kaskaskia, in Shelby 
 county, rises on the east side of the county, runs south 
 west, and enters the Kaskaskia river near the line of 
 Fayette. A large settlement in the south eastern part 
 of the county. 
 
 Richland) a small creek in St. Clair county, that rises 
 in Ogle's prairie, runs south past Belleville, and unites 
 with Prairie du Long creek, in the east part of Monroe 
 county. The land upon its borders is proportioned into 
 timber and prairie, and of excellent quality. 
 
 Richland, a post office, and laid off town, on Richland 
 creek, in Sangamon county, twelve miles from Spring- 
 field, on the road to Beardstown,
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 Richwoods. Three tracts of timbered land in Greene 
 county are known by this name, one of which is also 
 called Linden bottom. 
 
 The timbered tract north of Apple creek, and between 
 Apple creek prairie and the Illinois bluffs, bears this 
 name. 
 
 A tract of timber lying between Carrollton and Bluff- 
 dale, several miles in extent, has also received this 
 name. The land is undulating, rich, well timbered, and 
 is occupied by a large settlement. See Linden bottom. 
 Ridge Prairie is situated in Madison county, commen- 
 cing near Edwardsville, and extending south to St. 
 Glair county. 
 
 It is on the dividing ridge between the waters that 
 fall into the Mississippi west, and those that flow to the 
 Kaskaskia east. Originally this prairie extended into 
 St. Clair county as far south as Belleville, but long since, 
 where farms have not been made, it has been intersect- 
 ed by a luxuriant growth of timber. Its surface is gen- 
 tly undulating, the soil rich, and is surrounded and in- 
 dented with many fine farms. 
 
 Ridge Prairie Post Office (George Churchell, esq. P. M.) 
 was established in 1833, in township three north, in range 
 seven west, on the mail route from Belleville to Ed- 
 wardsville. seven miles south easterly from the latter 
 place. 
 
 Ridge Settlement, in Clinton county, from three to six 
 miles south of Carlyle, is a large settlement and in a 
 good tract of land. 
 
 Ridge Settlement lies in Union county, on the road to 
 Brownsville, and extends into Jackson county. It is a
 
 320 A GAZETTEER 
 
 high, billy , timbered tract of good land, well watered, and 
 has from one hundred to one hundred and fifty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 River Precinct is the settlement which extends along 
 the Wabash river opposite Vincennes, in Lawrence 
 county. It is a rich bottom, heavily timbered, and con- 
 tains sixty or seventy families. 
 
 Robinson's Creek rises in the north western part of 
 Shelby county, runs a south course, and enters the Kas- 
 kaskia river near Shelbyville. The country on its bor- 
 ders is proportioned into timber and prairie, and has a 
 large settlement. 
 
 Rochester, a town site in Sangamon county, at the junc- 
 tion of the North and South forks of the Sangamon river, 
 ten miles east of Springfield, on the principal road to 
 Decatur. It has a steam and other mills, and twenty- 
 five or thirty families. 
 
 Rock Creek rises in Adams county, in one north, seven 
 west, runs west, and enters the south prong of Bear 
 cr^ek. The land is timber and prairie, and excellent. 
 
 R6ck'reek, a branch of the Mackinau, in Tazewell 
 county. 
 
 Rock Creek, in Sangamon county, rises near Clary's 
 grove, runs north, and enters the Sangamon river, a few 
 miles below Richland creek. The land adjoining is ex- 
 cellent. 
 
 Rock Island is in the Mississippi, three miles above 
 the mouth of Rock river. It is three miles long, and 
 from one half to one mile wide, with lime stone rock for 
 its base. Fort Armstrong is on its south end. On two 
 sides the rock is twenty feet perpendicular above the
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 321 
 
 river, and forms the foundation wall of the fort. A por- 
 tion of the island is cultivated. 
 
 Rode River, a large, navigable stream ia the northern 
 part of the state, that enters the Mississippi three miles 
 below Rock Island. Its principal head is in a region of 
 lakes and swamps, towards Fox river of Green Bay, its 
 course south, and then south westerly. Another head is 
 Catfish, a stream in Wisconsin territory, that connects 
 together the "Four lakes ," the head waters of which 
 commence in a swamp a few miles south of fort Winne- 
 bago. The country towards the head of Rock river is 
 made up alternately of swamps and quag mires, ridges 
 of sand and shrubby oaks, with tracts of rich, dry, un- 
 dulating land. The Terre tremblant, or trembling land, 
 >is in this region, so called from the shaking of the sur- 
 face while passing over it. The militia of Illinois suf- 
 fered much in passing their horsed through this country 
 in 1832, while pursuing the army of Black Hawk. 
 
 After Rock river enters the state of Ilinois it re- 
 ceives the Peek-a-ton-o-kee, and several smaller 
 streams, from the right; and from the left, Turtle 
 river, Sycamore, Winnebago outlet, and several small- 
 er streams. 
 
 Much of the country through which it passes in Illi- 
 nois is prairie. About the mouths of Turtle river and 
 Sycamore creek are large bodies of timber. It gene- 
 rally passes along a channel of lime and sand stone rock, 
 and has several rapids of some extent that injure the na- 
 vigation at low water. The first are three or four miles 
 above its mouth. The second are twelve or fifteen miles 
 21
 
 322 A GAZETTEER 
 
 below Dixon's ferry. The next are below the Peek-a- 
 ton-c-kee. 
 
 The country generally along Rock river to the boun- 
 dary line is beautifully undulating, the soil.rich, and the 
 timber deficient. This, however, will not prevent it 
 from becoming an extensive agricultural region. 
 
 Rock Spring is situated in St.Claircouaty, on the Vin- 
 cennes and St. Louis stage road, eighteen miles en~t of 
 the latter place, and eight and a half mika north east of 
 Belleville. It is an elevated, and a healthy, and pleasant 
 situation, in a tract of barrens, selected by the author 
 of this work as a permanent residence in 1820. It is not a 
 town or village, but a settlement in the country, having 
 fourteen families within one mile. Its name is^derived 
 from a series of springs that issue from ledges of rock 
 a few rods from the public road. Here is a post office, 
 where the mail is received in post coaches six times 
 a week, a printing office that publishes a semi month- 
 ly newspaper called ''The. Pioneer and Western Baptist" 
 and a small monthly sheet called "The Illinois Sunday 
 School Banner." 
 
 The public literary and theological institution for- 
 merly located here, has been removed to Alton. A 
 common, primary, and an infant school of about thirty 
 scholars are taught here by a lady from Boston. 
 
 Rodgers's Creek, called also Turkey fork, a branch of 
 Crooked creek, in McDonough county. [See Fiance'* 
 ietti.ement.~\ 
 
 Rodger*** Settlement, in Sangamon county, see Athens, 
 
 Rollins Prairie, in Franklin county, north of Frank- 
 fort, is six miles long and four miles wide. The land 
 is level and good, the settlement small,
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 323 
 
 Rome, a town laid off on section five, ten north, nino 
 east, on the west side of Peoria lake, in Peoria county 
 Here the lake is one mile wide. 
 
 Round Grove is a small tract of timber described by 
 its name, in Warren county, in ten north, three west. 
 
 Round Prairie, in the north eastern part of Schuyler 
 county, on Williams's creek, twenty miles from Rush- 
 ville- It is a rich, dry, undulating- prairie, four miles 
 in diameter, and surrounded with timber. 
 
 Round Prairie, in Wabash county, twelve miles north 
 cast from Mount Carmel, four miles in diameter, very 
 fertile, and has eighteen or twenty fine farms on it. 
 
 Round Prairie, in Bond county, six miles west of 
 north from Greenville, is from one to two igiles in dia- 
 meter. It is undulating and rich, surrounded with a 
 large body of good timber, and has a consi'derable set- 
 tlement. 
 
 Round Prairie, in Perry county, on the east side of 
 Beaucoup, eight or nine miles from Pinckneyville. It 
 is one mile wide, and from one to two miles long, and 
 has a good settlement. 
 
 Rush Creek, a small stream in Jo Daviess county, that 
 rises between Plum and Apple rivers, runs a south west- 
 ern course, and enters the Mississippi six or eight miles 
 below Apple river. The first six miles from the mouth 
 is low, wet, bottom land; above are alternate bottoms 
 and precipitous bluffs. At the head is a fine farming- 
 country, with considerable timber. 
 
 RUSHVILLE, the seat of justice for Schuyler county, is 
 situated in the central part of the county, at the south 
 end of a beautiful prairie, on section, thirty, two north,
 
 324 A GAZETTEER 
 
 one west, ten miles from the Illinois river at the near- 
 est point, and twelve from Beardstown. It has six stores, 
 two groceries, two taverns, four cabinet makers, four 
 brick masons and plaisterers, three carpenters, two 
 blacksmiths, four tanneries, one steam saw and grist 
 mill, one carding machine, four lawyers, two physicians, 
 and seven hundred and fifty inhabitants. 
 
 The court house is of brick, two stories, and the peo- 
 ple have erected a brick school house. Good building 
 stone and plenty of coal are found in the vicinity. 
 
 The settlements around Rushville are large, and the 
 village itself exhibits a quietness and neatness in its 
 external appearance that is pleasing to the traveler. 
 
 Russell's Grove, in McDonough county, north of west 
 from Macomb, is a fine tract of timbered land surround- 
 ed with rich prairie, and a considerable settlement. 
 
 Sadorus, a small grove and settlement at the head tim- 
 ber of the Kaskaskia, on the road from Springfield to 
 Danville. 
 
 SALEM, the seat of justice for Marion county, is situa- 
 ted on the eastern border of the grand prairie, on the 
 Vincennes and St. Louis stage road, on section eleven, 
 two north, range two east of the third principal meri- 
 dian. It is a pleasant village of about thirty families. 
 
 Saline, a navigable stream in Gallatin county that en- 
 ters the Ohio river twelve miles below Shawneetown, on 
 section five, eleven s outh, ten east. It is made by three 
 principal branches distinguished as the JVbr/A, South, 
 ian& Middle forks , which unite near Equality. 
 
 The North fork rises near McLeansboro' in Hamilton 
 county, and runs a southerly conrse.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 325 
 
 The South fork rises on the borders of Johnson and 
 Franklin counties, takes an easterly course, and unites 
 with the North fork. 
 
 The Middle fork rises on the east side of Franklin 
 county, takes a south easterly course, and unites with 
 the South fork a few miles above Equality. 
 
 The Saline creek is navigable for steam boats to 
 Equality, fourteen miles. 
 
 Salisbury, a post office and village just commenced in 
 the border of the timber of Richland creek, ten miles 
 north west from Springfield, in Sanga-non county. 
 
 Salt Creek, in Effingham county, five miles east of Ew- 
 ington, and on the west side of the Fourteen Mile prai- 
 rie. It is large enough for a mill stream, and enters the 
 Little Wabash river ten or twelve miles below Ewing- 
 ton. 
 
 The settlement contains fifteen or twenty families; 
 the land is tolerably good, and the surface rolling. 
 
 Salt Creek Settlement, on the north side of Macon coun- 
 ty, twenty miles from Dccatur, of about one hundred 
 families. Th land is good, with plenty of prairie. 
 
 Salt Prairie, in Calhoun county, lying between the 
 bluffs and Salt Prairie slough. 
 
 It is a dry, rich prairie, six miles long, and half a mile 
 wide, densely settled with about sixty families. Fine 
 springs break out from the foot of the bluffs, and a large 
 saline rises at the head of the prairie, which furnishes 
 abundant salt water for stock. 
 
 Salt Prairie Slough, a small arm of the Mississippi, in 
 Calhoun county, six miles long, near the foot of which 
 is Gilead. It is navigable for small boats, and affords an
 
 326 A GAZETTEER 
 
 excellent harbor. Thirteen flat boats left this slough 
 in one sea%on, loaded with corn. 
 
 Sangamon River, a prominent branch of the Illinois. 
 It rises in Champaign county, in the most elevated re- 
 gion of that portion of the state, and near the head wa- 
 ters of the two Vermilions and the Kaskaskia rivers. It 
 waters Sangamon and Macon counties, and parts of 
 Tazewell, McLean, Montgomery, Shelby, and Cham- 
 paign counties. Its general course is north westerly. 
 Besides a number of smaller streams, noticed in their 
 alphabetical order, as Clary's, Rock, Richland, Prairie, 
 Spring, lack, Sugar, Horse, and Brush creeks, on the 
 south side, and Crane, CantrilPs, Fancy, Wolf creeks, 
 and other streams on the north side, its three principal 
 heads are Salt creek, North fork, and South fork. 
 
 Salt creek rises in McLean county, twenty-two north, 
 ranges four and five cast, and runs a westerly course 
 through the north west corner of Macon into Sangamon 
 county, where, after receiving Kickapoo and Sugar 
 creeks, and several smaller ones, it enters the Sanga- 
 mon river in the northwest part of township nineteen 
 north, range six west. Its two principal heads are call- 
 ed the North fork of Salt creek, and Lake fork of Salt 
 creek. 
 
 North fork, which may be regarded as the main stream, 
 rises in Champaign county, near the heads of the Ver- 
 milion river of the Illinois, the Vermilion of the Wa- 
 bash, and the Kaskaskia, in twenty-four north, seven 
 east, in a small lake. It runs south westerly through 
 Macon, then south, then west into Sangamon coupty, 
 where it receives South fork and Salt creek.
 
 OP ILLINOIS. 327 
 
 - The South fork of Sangamon rises by several ^branches, 
 in the north western part of Shelby, and the north east- 
 ern part of Montgomery counties, runs a south eastern 
 course, and forms a junction with the North fork in six- 
 teen north, four west, seven miles east from Springfield, 
 
 Sangamon river and its branches flow through one of 
 the richest and most delightful portions of the Great 
 West. Complaints are made of the extent of the prai- 
 ries, but this offers no serious inconvenience for the 
 present. These prairies for many years will afford range 
 for thousands of cattle. The general aspect of the coun- 
 try on the Sangamon is level, yet it is sufficiently un- 
 dulating to permit the water to es-cape to the creeks. 
 It will soon constitute one of the richest agricultural 
 districts in the United States, the soil being of such a 
 nature that immense crops can be raised with little ag- 
 ricultural labor. 
 
 The Sangamon is navigable for steam boats of the 
 smaller class to the junction of the North and South 
 forks, and, with a little labor in clearing out the drift 
 wood, each principal fork may be navigated with flat 
 boats for a long distance. In the spring of 1832 a steam 
 boat of the larger class arrived within five miles of 
 Springfield, and discharged its cargo. At a small ex- 
 pense in clearing out the logs, and cuttingThe stooping 
 trees, this river would be navigable for steam boats half 
 the year. From abend near the mouth of Clary's creek, 
 fifty miles above the mouth of the Sangamon, the waters 
 find a channel through the low grounds and sloughs to the 
 vicinity of Beardstown,so that keel boatscan pass in this 
 direction into the Sanga^non. It is thought that with
 
 328 A GAZETTEER 
 
 small expense, a communication might be opened in this 
 direction. Some incipient measures were adopted by the 
 legislature for improving the navigation of this noble 
 river, but nothing effectual has been done. 
 
 When the resources of the state become more ample 
 there is no doubt but this important outlet for its agri- 
 cultural wealth will receive a share of attention. 
 
 Sand Creek is a small stream in Shelby county, ten 
 miles north east of Shelbyville, and enters the Kaskas- 
 kia river. 
 
 Sand Creek Settlement, in Shelby county, eight miles 
 north east of Shelbyville. The land is good, and the 
 settlement large. 
 
 Sandy, a small mill stream that risss on the west side 
 of La Salle county, runs south west, and enters the 
 Illinois in Putnam county. 
 
 Sandy, a small stream in' Morgan county. It rises 
 near the South fork of the Mauvaiseterre, runs a south 
 westerly course pa.-t Winchester, and enters the Illi- 
 nois river above Apple Creek. 
 
 Saudi/, an insignificant stream, and branch of Cash 
 river, in Alexander county. The land near it is rolling 
 surface and rather thin soil. 
 
 Sand Prairie, a prairie of some extent, and a settle- 
 ment of eighty or a hundred families, in Tazewell coun- 
 ty, four miles south of Pekin. A rich, sandy soil. 
 
 Sau-ga-nas-kee Swamp, a tract of inundated land in 
 Cook county, about twenty miles south west of Chicago. 
 After perforating through a few feet of mud, the base is 
 found to be hard, blue lime stone. In constructing a 
 canal from the lake to the Illinois, it has been suggest-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 329 
 
 ed to construct a large reservoir to be filled with the 
 waters of the Calamic and Des Plaines. 
 
 Sank Village, in Rock Island county, is three miles 
 above Rock river, and four miles east of Rock Island- 
 This was formerly the chief village of the Sank nation. 
 Here were Indian fields fenced with poles, bark cabins, 
 plats of blue grass pasture, and a large body of rich prai- 
 rie land. 
 
 The white settlement here is large, with line farms. 
 
 Scatters of Cash. This name is given by the people of 
 Johnson county to a succession of ponds in which Cash 
 river "scatters" itself. They are in township thirteen 
 south, two east. 
 
 Seminary Township, a Settlement in the south west 
 corner of Fayette county, being five north and one west 
 of the third -principal meridian. It is a township of land, 
 thirty-six miles square, granted by congress to Illinois 
 for purposes of education. It has since been relinquish- 
 ed to the general government, and in place thereof, an 
 equal quantity is to be selected from unsold lands with- 
 in the state. The Kaskaskia river crosses its south 
 eastern part, and the Hurricane fork runs through it 
 near its western boundary. 
 
 It is proportioned into timber and prairie, contains 
 much good land, and about thirty-five families. 
 
 Senaichwinc, a stream in Peoria county, rises in thir- 
 teen north, eight east, and runs a devious course, near- 
 ly parallel with the Illinois, which it enters in section 
 eighteen, eleven north, nine east, twenty miles above 
 Peoria. 
 
 There is much good land, both timbered and prairie,
 
 330 A GAZETTEER 
 
 on this creek, and a settlement of twenty or thirty fami- 
 lies. 
 
 It derives its name from a well known Indian chief 
 who formerly resided at its mouth. 
 
 Seven Mile Creek, in Jo Daviess county, rises near the 
 Buffalo grove, runs an east course, and -enters Rock 
 river six miles above Dixon's ferry. The country for 
 twenty or thirty miles above Dixon's ferry L generajly 
 prairie, interspersed with small groves of three or four 
 hundred acres each, gently undulating, soil dry and very 
 rich. From thence on the road to Galena the surface is 
 hilly and broken. 
 
 Seven Mile Prairie, in White county, seven miles west 
 of Carmi, contains a large and flourishing settlement. 
 
 Sexton's Creek, a small stream in Alexander county, 
 running westward, and emptying into the Mississippi a 
 short distance below Cape Girardeau. 
 
 The bottom land is rich, but the upland near it is 
 rolling and rather thin soil. This by mistake is called 
 Seaton's cre,ek, on some maps. 
 
 Shannon's Stone, a post office and settlement, in Ran- 
 dolph county, eighteen miles north east of Kaskaskia, 
 on the road to Vandalia. Here is a town site called 
 Columbus. 
 
 Shawncetown is the principal commercial town in the 
 southern part of the state. It is situated on the Ohio 
 river, about ten miles below the mouth of the Wabash, 
 in section six of township ten south, in range ten east 
 of the third principal meridian, in latitude thirty-seven 
 degrees forty minutes north. 
 
 The bank of the Ohio at this place has a gradual as-
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 331 
 
 cent, but is subject to inundation at the extreme floods. 
 Between the town and the bluffs the surface is still low- 
 er, and more frequently submerged. Though no consi- 
 derable sickness lias prevailed in this town for some 
 years 'past, it cannot but be regarded as less healthy 
 than the more elevated portions of the state. 
 
 Considerable commercial business is transacted at 
 this place, both in the wholesale and retail line. It has 
 eight or ten stores, several groceries, two public houses, 
 and six or seven hundred inhabitants. 
 
 The land office for the district is in Shawneetown. 
 A printing office is here which publishes a weekly paper 
 called the "Illinois Journal." There is also a bank here 
 which was chartered by the territorial legislature, and 
 which has lately recommenced doing business, after a 
 suspension of several years. This is the only bank ia 
 the state. 
 
 SIIELBYVILLE, the seat of justice for Shelby county., 
 is situated on the west bank of the Kaskaskia river, on 
 elevated and timbered land, on section seven, eleven 
 north, four east. It has six stores three groceries a 
 brick court house, forty feet square, two stories, with 
 a cupola and forty-five or fifty families. The country 
 around it is excellent land, a mixture of timber and prai- 
 rie, and the settlements are extensive. There is a large 
 sulphur spring in the town. 
 
 Shiloh, a settlement in St. Clair county, six miles 
 north east from Belleville. Here is a Methodist meet- 
 ing house and camp ground, and a large congregation. 
 
 Shipley's Prairie, a small prairie in Wayne county, 
 five miles sou-th east of Fairfield, and has fifteen or twen- 
 ty families.
 
 332 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Shoal Creek, a fine stream that rises in Montgomery 
 county, runs south westerly through Bond and Clinton, 
 and enters the Kaska&kia river in section six, one south, 
 four west. It is formed by the union of the East, West, 
 and Middle forks, and might be made navigable for small 
 craft to a considarable- distance. Its branches are Bea- 
 ver, East, and West forks. The timber on its banks is 
 of Various kinds, and from two to six miles in width, 
 with prairies between each fork. The soil is second 
 rate, and the surface in some places is rolling, in others 
 level. 
 
 Shoal Creek Bridge and post office, in Clinton county, 
 on the Vincennes and St. Louis rood, nine rniles west 
 ofCarlylc. 
 
 Shoal Creek Prairie, &n extensive prairie lying to the 
 west of Shoal creek, in Clinton, Bond, and Montgome- 
 ry counties. Its average width is eight i.iiles. It is 
 slightly rolling, and contains much good land. 
 
 Shoal Creek Scltl-cment, in Clinton county, twelve miles 
 south west from Carlyle. 
 
 Shock's Settlement, in the American bottom, in Monroe 
 county. The land around is a rich prairie. 
 
 Shuey's Settlement is in the eastern part of Adams 
 county, near the heads of Bear and McKee's creeks, 
 and the land is less rolling than other portions of the 
 Bame county. 
 
 Silvan Grove, a settlement and post office in Morgan 
 county, twelve rniles north east of Jacksonville. It is at 
 the head of Job's creek, and both the timber and prai- 
 rie is excellent land. 
 
 Silver Creek rises in the northern part of Madison
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 333 
 
 v 
 
 county, runs south into St. Clair, and enters the Kas- 
 kaskiajn section twenty-eight, two south, seven west, 
 It is about fifty miles in length, has several branches, and 
 passes through a fertile and well populated country, di- 
 versified with timber and prairie. Its name was given 
 from the supposed existence of Silver mines, not far 
 from Rock Spring, where the early French explorers 
 made considerable excavations. 
 
 Sinsinaway, a stream in the north west corner of the 
 state. It rises in the prairies of Wisconsin territory, 
 runs a south west course, and enters the Mississippi six 
 miles above Fever river, and nearly west from Galena* 
 Timber scattering, some cedar and a few pines. 
 Sitgreave's Settlement) in Clinton county, twelve miles 
 south of Carlyle. 
 
 Six's Prairie lies in the southern part of Schuyler coun- 
 ty, seventeen miles west of south from Rushville, and 
 seventeen miles north west from Naple. It is a rich, 
 undulating, dry tract, ten miles long, and three miles 
 broad, and surrounded with excellent timber. The set- 
 tlement commenced in 1S29, and now contains seventy- 
 five or eighty families. The post office is called Mount 
 Sterling-. 
 
 Six Mile is the name of a creek, and a settlement, in 
 Pike county. The creek heads in the interior and en- 
 ters Snicartee near the county line of Calhoun. The 
 settlement on it is large. 
 
 Six Mile Prairie, in the American bottom, south wes- 
 tern part of Madison county, a rich tract of alluvion, 
 with fine farms, and surrounded with a heavy body of 
 timber rather unhealthy.
 
 334 A GAZETTEER 
 
 \ post office of this name near it on the 
 
 road from Lower Alton to St. Louis. 
 
 Six Mile Prairie, in Perry county, nine miles south 
 west of Pinckneyville, is nine miles long and six miles 
 wide. It is level, tolerably good soil, and settled along 
 its eastern border. 
 
 Skillet Fork, a large branch of the Little Wabash. It 
 rises in the prairies east of Vandalia, and running a 
 southern course, enters that river in the northern part 
 of White county. Its banks are subject to inundation. 
 The land adjoining it is fertile., but too level for conven- 
 ience. 
 
 Skillet Fork Settlement, in the north east corner of Ha- 
 milton county. 
 
 Skillet Fork, a settlement in White county, six miles 
 north east of Carmi, in a timbered region, between the 
 Skillet fork and Little Wabash. 
 
 S/a6 Point, a point of timber and a small stream in 
 the border of Montgomery county, a few miles west of 
 south from Macoupen point, on the road from Springfield 
 to Edwardsville. 
 
 Small Pox River, in Jo Davicss county, rises south 
 east of Galena, runs west, and enters the Mississippi at 
 the mouth of Fever river, in an acute angle with that 
 stream. It is fifteen miles long, the county on its bor- 
 ders very broken, has some fertile and level bottom land, 
 and considerable timber towards its mouth. 
 
 Smallslurgh, a town site with mills etc. on the Em. 
 barras, six miles below Lawreuceville. 
 
 Small's Settlement, in St, Clair county, six miles south
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 335 
 
 west from Belleville. The land chiefly timbered and 
 barrens. 
 
 Smith's Lake, in the Illinois bottom, Morgan county. 
 It is below Meredosha, and unites with the river. 
 
 Smith's Settlement is near Shoal creek timber, in Bond 
 county, four miles south of Greenville. 
 
 Smooth, Prairie is in Madison county, in the forks of 
 Wood river, eight miles east from Alton. It is three 
 miles long and about two wide, level and r ther wet. 
 
 Snake Creek, a branch of Indian creek, in Morgan 
 county. 
 
 Snicartee, (in French, Chenail-ecarte, said to mean the 
 "cutoff," or "lost channel,") an arm of the Mississippi., 
 in Pike county, commonly called a "Slough," in the di- 
 alect of the country. It is a running water at all stages 
 of the river, and for several months furnishes steam boat 
 navigation to Atlas. It leaves the Mississippi in section 
 nineteen, three south, eight west, in Adams county, en- 
 ters it again in Calhoun county, section seven, eight 
 south, four west, and runs from one to five miles from the 
 main river. It is about fifty miles in length. The lands 
 in the island are of first rate alluvion, proportioned into 
 timber and prairie, but subject to annual inundations. 
 
 Snider's Settlement is on the south side of Macon county, 
 
 South America is a settlement in Callatin county, fif- 
 teen miles south west from Equility, and near the 
 corner of Pope and Franklin counties. 
 
 South Fork of Spoon River rises in Warren county, 
 near the head of Ellison creek, runs a south easterly- 
 course, and unites with the main stream in section 
 township eight north, range two east.
 
 336 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Some of the best land in the slate lies on this stream. 
 This is frequently called Westforjc. 
 
 South Prairie, in Morgan county, is on the south sido 
 of Walnut creek. 
 
 Spanish Needle, a trifling stream in Macoupen county 
 that enters Macoupen creek, above Dry fork. 
 
 Spoon River, a large and beautiful river on the milita- 
 ry tract. A description of its principal heads may be 
 seen by reference to the articles, il Forks of Spoon ri- 
 ver," and "South fork of Spoon river." After the union 
 of these forks, the general course of this river is south 
 till within a few miles of its mouth, when it takes a south 
 easterly course and enters the Illinois in section thirty- 
 three, four north, four east, directly opposite Havanna. 
 
 This stream is navigated for several miles, and at a 
 trifling expense, in clearing out the trees and rafts of 
 timber, it might be made navigable for one half the year 
 to the forks. 
 
 Large bodies of timber of the best quality line the 
 banks of this stream, and the soil in general is inferior 
 to none. 
 
 The mainriverand several of its tributaries furnishes 
 excellent mill seats. The prairies adjacent are gener- 
 ally undulating, dry and fertile. 
 
 Above the mouth of Spoon river is a large lake on the 
 west side of the Illinois. 
 
 Spring Bay, a singular basin, about seventy-five rods 
 in diameter, adjoining the Illinois river, in the upper 
 part of Tazewell county. In front it opens to the river, 
 the waters of which enter and fill it at flood stage. 
 When low, they retire and leave the basin dry, except
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 337 
 
 ing a stream made by number of springs which burst 
 forth from the. sand ridge on three sides of it. On this 
 ridge are signs of an old settlement or fortification. A 
 short distance below is the mouth of Blue creek, over 
 which is a bridge of earth. Below this ,is a mound, 
 forty-five yards in circumference at .the base, and twen- 
 ty feet in height. It is said to have been opened, and hu- 
 man skeletons found twenty feet from the top. 
 
 Spring Creek enters Sangamon river four miles from 
 ^3pringfield. The country bordering is rather level, very 
 rich, and densely populated. The timber is from two to 
 five miles wide, and of excellent quality. 
 
 Spring 1 Creek) in Putnam county, enters the Illinois 
 four miles below the Little Vermilion. 
 
 SPRINGFIELD, one of the largest towns in. Illinois, and 
 ^the seat of justice of Sangamon county. It is situated 
 on the border of a beautiful prairie, on the south side of 
 the timber of Spring creek, on sections twenty-seven 
 aad thirty-four, in township sixteen north, in range five 
 west of the third .principal meridian. This town was 
 laid off in February, 1822, before the lands in this re- 
 gion were sold. At the land sales of November, 1828, 
 the tract on which the older portion of the town is lo- 
 cated, was purchased and duly recorded as a town. It 
 then contained about thirty families, living in small log- 
 cabins. The surface is rather too level for a large town , 
 into which it is destined to grow; but it is a dry and 
 healthy location. 
 
 Springfield has thirteen stores, five groceries, two 
 druggist's shops, two taverns or hotels, three bakeries, 
 three hatlers, two silversmiths, one tin and copper ma- 
 22
 
 338 A GAZETTEER 
 
 nufactory,two wagon and carriage makers, three carding 
 machines, one flouring rail! with ox power, three black- 
 smiths, with a proportion of mechanics of various kinds , 
 a printing office from which is issued a weekly paper, 
 called the "Sangamo Journal," 1 ' ten attorneys, seven phy- 
 sicians, three or four ministers of the gospel, about 220 
 families, and 1,400 inhabitants. The annual increase is 
 at the ratio of about eighteen or twenty per cent. 
 
 The public buildings are, a court house, jail, Presby- 
 terian and "Reformed" churches, of brick; a framed Me- 
 thodist house of worship, and a market house, where mar- 
 kets are held daily, Sundays excepted. 
 
 The first house built in Springfield was erected twelve 
 years since. The town has increased more than half 
 within the last four years. It has excellent schools for 
 both sexes. The female literaryinstitution is extensive- 
 ly patronized, aqd promises great usefulness. 
 
 Situated not far from the geographical centre of the 
 state, and surrounded with one of the richest tracts of 
 country in the great western valley, it is thought by 
 many, that, should the seat of government be removed 
 from Vandalia, it will find a location at this place. 
 
 Spring Island Grove, in Sangamon county, from four- 
 teen to twenty miles west of Springfield, on the road to 
 Jacksonville. It lies at the head of Spring creek, and 
 is an excellent timbered tract, sur/ounded with rich 
 prairie, from six to ten miles long, and from two to 
 three miles wide, and has a flourishing settlement. Many 
 excellent springs are found in this tract of country. 
 Spring Point, in Jasper county, on the national road. 
 Starved Rock, near the foot of the rapids, and on the 
 right bank of *he Illinois, is a perpendicular mass of lime
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 330 
 
 and sand stone washed by the current at its base, and 
 elevated 150 feet. The diameter of its surface is about 
 100 feet, with a slope extending, to the adjoining 1 bluff 
 from which alone it is accessible. 
 
 Tradition says that after the Illinois Indians had 
 killed Poritiac, the French governor at Detroit, the 
 northern Indians made war upon them. A band of the 
 Illinois, in attempting to escape, took shelter on this 
 rock, which they soon made inaccessible to their ene- 
 mies, and where they were closely besieged. They had se- 
 cured provisions, but their only resource for water was 
 by letting down vessels with bark ropes to the river. 
 The wily besiegers contrived to come in canoes under 
 the' rock and cut off their buckets, by which means the 
 unfortunate Illinois were starved to death. Many years 
 after, their bones were whitening on this summit. 
 
 Steam Point, a point of timber running into the prai- 
 rie that adjoins Brulette's creek, in Edgar county. 
 
 Steel's Mill, a post office and settlement in Randolph 
 county, sixteen mile's east of Kaskaskia, on the Shaw- 
 neetown road. The soil is of a middling quality. 
 
 Steven's Creek rises in Macon county, and enters the 
 North fork of Sangamon three miles bejow Decatur. 
 
 StillmarCs Run, formerly called Mud creek, a small 
 stream that, runs north west and enters Rock river a 
 few miles below Sycamore creek, where, on the 14th of 
 May, 1832, a battalion of militia, consisting' of about 
 275 men, under the command of major Isaiah Stillman, 
 of Fulton county, were attacked, defeated, and eleven 
 men killed, by a portion of the Indian army under the 
 celebrated Black Hawk.
 
 340 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Stinking' Creek., see Beaver creek. 
 
 St. Mary's River rises in Perry county, and enters the 
 Mississippi six miles below the mouth of the Kaskaskia. 
 
 Stokes's Settlement, in the eastern part of Union coun- 
 ty, near the head, and on the south side of Cash river, 
 contains one hundred families. The surface of the land 
 is rolling, and the soil good. 
 
 Stone's Settlement is fifteen miles below Quincy, in 
 three south, seven west. 
 
 Stout's Grove, a settlement in McLean county, on the 
 Mackinau, in twenty-four and twenty-five north, one 
 west, and twelve miles north west of Bloomington. The 
 north part is a large and heavily timbered bottom, prin- 
 cipally oak, with some barrens. The south part is first 
 rate timbered land. 
 
 Slrawn's Settlement, in Putnam county, about twenty 
 miles below Hennepin, was commenced in 1831. 
 
 String Prairie, in Greene county, lies between Ma- 
 cpupen and Apple creeks, commencing four miles west 
 of Carrollton. and extending .fifteen miles east, and 
 from half a mile to three miles in width. It is a rich, 
 level tract, and much of it in a state of cultivation. 
 
 Siring- Town, on the Embarras, in Lawrence county, 
 sixteen miles north of Lawrenceville, has 100 families. 
 
 Stvbblefield's Branch is a trifling stream that rises in 
 the northern part of Bond county, runs south west, and 
 enters the East fork of Shoal creek, two miles above 
 Greenville. A considerable settlement is near it. 
 
 ; a Kiangamon county, rises in the prai-. 
 ries towards the south western part of the county, where 
 its waters interlock with the heads of Macoupen and
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 341 
 
 Apple creeks, runs a north easterly course, and enters 
 the Sangamon river a short distance below the forks. 
 Its main branch is Lick creek. The land is good, sur- 
 face rather level, and the timber- of various kinds, from 
 one to two miles in width. The settlements are large, 
 and extend from the mouth to the head of the timber. 
 
 Sugar Creek, in the north eastern part of Schuylor 
 county. It rises in the south east corner of McDonough 
 county, takes a south eastern course, near the bounda- 
 ry line of Fulton, and enters the Illinois above Beards- 
 town, on section four, two north, one east. A large 
 body of" excellent timber lies on this stream. Red and 
 yellow ochre are found in its banks. 
 
 Sugar Creek, a small stream that rises in the interior 
 of Edgar county, takes an eastern course and passes 
 through a corner of Indiana into the Wabash. 
 
 Sugar Creek, a small stream in Clark county, that 
 passes near Palestine and enters the Wabash. 
 
 Sugar Creek , in Iroquois county, a branch of the Iro- 
 quois river. There is considerable timber along its 
 borders. 
 
 Sugar Creek, a small stream rising in township four 
 north, in range five west of the third principal meridian' 
 ad running a southerly course through the eastern bor- 
 ders of Madison into Clinton county, enters the Kaskas- 
 kia near the base line, in five west. It passes through 
 a fine country of laud. 
 
 Sugar Creek, in McLean county, rises in twenty-four 
 north, two east, and runs through Blooming grove in a 
 southwestern direction. It is a good mill stream, has firm 
 banks, and gravelly bottom. It rasses across the south
 
 342 A GAZETTEER 
 
 east part of Tazewell into Sangamon county, and enters 
 Salt creek in township twenty north, range five west. It 
 waters a rich body of land, and has an extensive line 
 of settlements. 
 
 Sugar Creek Settlement, in the south eastern part of 
 Tazewell county, oa Sugar creek. It has seventy or 
 eighty families, and i,s increasing. 
 
 Sugar Grove, in the north part of Sangamon county, 
 twenty miles north of Springfield. It is a fine tract of 
 timber surrounded with fertile prairie, about three miles 
 long and one mile*vide, with a respectable settlement. 
 
 Sugar River, in Jo Daviess county. It rises in the 
 Wisconsin territory, runs south across the boundary 
 line about eleven miles west of Rock river, and enters 
 the Peek-a-ton-o-kee. The country between it and 
 Rock river is rather swampy, with ridges of bur oak 
 timber. Along its course the land and timber are good. 
 
 Sutherland, a post office in Edgar county. (See Grand 
 View.) 
 
 Sweet's Prairie is in the south part of Morgan county, 
 three miles west of Manchester. It is level and wet. 
 
 Swell's Prairie is in Madison county four miles north 
 east from Edwardsville. 
 
 Swigarfs Settlement, in St. Clair county, is under the 
 bluffs seven miles east of St. Louis. 
 
 Swinningtorft Point, a settlement in Morgan county. 
 
 Swanwick's Creek rises near the Grand Cote, and enters 
 Beaucoup creek in Perry county. 
 
 Sycamore Creek rises in the prairies near Fox river, 
 and enters Rock river thirty-five miles above Dixon's 
 ferry. It is fifty yards wide at its mouth. The Indian 
 name is Kish-wau-Jcee.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 343 
 
 Table Grove is a beautiful and elevated tract of 150 
 or 200 acres of timber, on the west side of Fulton coun- 
 ty, and has a delightful prospect. 
 
 Tarapiu Ridge, a settlement four miles north of Le- 
 banon, in St. Glair county. 
 
 Taylor's Creek rises in Macoupen county, and enters 
 Macoupen creek in Greene county. 
 
 Tegarden's Mill, on Taylor's creek, in Greene county. 
 
 TcnMile Creek rises in the Great prairie near Putnam 
 county, runs through a broken but well timbered coun- 
 try, and enters Peorialake five miles above Peoria. 
 
 Ten Mile Creek, in Hamilton county, is a branch of 
 Muddy river, and runs through an undulating tract. Here 
 is a settlement of forty or fifty families. 
 
 Three Mile Prairie, in Washington county, has an un- 
 dulating surface. It is eight miles south of Nashville. 
 
 Timbered Settlement includes the north east quarter of 
 Wabash county, and is ten miles from Mount Carmel. 
 It contains sixty or seventy families.. The timber is 
 excellent. 
 
 Tom^s Prairie, in Wayne county, issixYniles north east 
 of Fairfield, on'Elm river, and has twenty or twenty-five 
 families. The soil is second rate. 
 
 Tolten's Prairie, in Fulton county, seven miles north 
 west of Lewistown is from one to three miles wide and 
 ten long. It is good land and has a large settlement. 
 
 Town Fork is a branch of Troublesome creek, in Mc- 
 Donough county. 
 
 Trinity is on the Ohio six miles above its junction with 
 the Mississippi, and at the mouth of Cash river, on sec- 
 tions one and two; seventeen south, one west. Steam
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 boats from the Ohio and Mississippi rivers exchange 
 cargoes here, repair, etc. It has one tavern and one 
 btore, and is inundated six feet at extreme high water. 
 
 Troublesome Creek, a. branch of Crooked creek, in Mc- 
 Donough county. 
 
 Turkey Creel: enters the Illinois river, in Morgan 
 county, between Walnut and Sandy creeks. 
 
 Turkey Hill, in St. Clair county, four miles south east 
 of Belleville, the oldest American settlement in the 
 county was commenced by William Scott, Samuel Shook , 
 and Franklin Jarvis, in 1798. It is now populous. For- 
 merly this name was used to designate a large tract. 
 
 Turney^s Prairie, in Wayne county, eight miles south 
 cf Fairfieid, is from one to two miles in extent. The 
 soil is good, and the settlement contains about twenty- 
 five families. 
 
 Turtle River rises in Wisconsin territory, and enters 
 Rock river forty rods below the boundary line. 
 
 Twelve Jlile Grove is between the Kankakee and Hick- 
 ory creek, in Cook county, and contains 600 acres. 
 
 Twelve Jtfilc Prairie, in Effingham county, west of the 
 Little W abash, is level, and in many places wet. It ex- 
 tends through Effingham and Clay counties. The na- 
 tional road crosses it in the former, and the Vincennes 
 in the latter county. 
 
 Twelve Mile Prairie, in St. Clair county, is moderate- 
 ly undulating, and good soil. Indian narn-e Tan-mar-waxs . 
 
 TwiichelVsJtizll,^. post office on Big creek ; Pope county. 
 
 Tyrcr's Creek, a branch of the Mississippi in Adams 
 county, rises in two south eight west. 
 
 Union Prairie, in the south east part of Clark coun
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 345 
 
 ty, is five miles long and three broad. The settlement is 
 large. 
 
 Union Prairie, in Schuyler county, four miles west of 
 Rushville. 
 
 Union, a post office in Champaign county, twenty miles 
 west of Danville. ' 
 
 Union Grove, in St. Glair county, is on the borders of 
 Looking Glass prairie and on the east side of Silver creek. 
 The land is 1 excellent, and the settlement extensive. It 
 is sometimes called Padfield's Settlement. 
 
 UNITY, the seat of justice of Alexander county, re- 
 cently located, "in the corners of townships fifteen and 
 sixteen south, in ranges one and two west of the third 
 principal meridian. It is near Cash river. 
 
 Upper Maclrinaii Settlements, a string of settlements 
 towards the head of the Mackinau, in McLean county', 
 about fourteen miles north of Bloomington. The timber 
 is divided into several groves, and is about twenty-four 
 miles in length from east to west, and from one to three 
 miles in width. The old Kickapoo and Pattawatomie 
 towns were on the north side of this timber, where the 
 blue grass grows in wild luxuriance. Here are over 100 
 families, andihe land is excellent. 
 
 UKBANNA, the scat of justipe for Champaign county, 
 as named by the last legislature. 
 
 Valentine's Settlement is in Bond county, on the west 
 side of Shoal creek. The land is good. 
 
 Vandeventer* s Settlement is on the Illinois river, in the 
 south part of Schuyler county, twenty miles from Rush- 
 ville. 
 
 VanciVs Settlement, in Union county, on a branch of 
 Clear creek. The land is rolling. .
 
 346 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Vance 's Settlement, in McDonough county, is in five 
 north, two and three \v est, six or eight miles south west 
 from Macomb, and on the waters of Crooked creek. The 
 land is excellent. 
 
 VANDALIA is the present seatof government for the 
 state, the seat of justice for Fayette county, and was 
 laid out in 1818, by commissioners appointed for that 
 purpose, under the authority of the state. It is situated 
 on the west bank of the Kaskaskia river, on sections 
 eight, nine, sixteen and seventeen, of township six north, 
 iu range one east of the third principal meridian. The 
 site is high, undulating, and was originally a timbered 
 tract. The streets cross at right angles and are eighty 
 feet in width. The public square is on elevated ground. 
 The public buildings are, a state house of brick and suf- 
 ficiently commodious for legislative purposes a two sto- 
 ry brick edifice, originally erected for a banking house, 
 but now occupied with the offices of the secretary of state, 
 treasurer, auditor, and supreme court, a neat framed 
 house of worship for the Presbyterian society, with a 
 cupalo and bell, a framed meeting house for the Meth- 
 odist society, another small public building open for 
 all denominations, and for schools, and other public pur- 
 poses. 
 
 There are in the town two printing offices that issue 
 weekly papers called the "Whig" and the "Advocate," 
 three taverns, several stores, five lawyers, four physi- 
 cians, a land office, and about 800 inhabitants. 
 
 Near the river the country generally is heavily tim- 
 bered, but a few miles back are extensive prairies. The 
 "national road" has been permanently located and par- 
 tially constructed to this place.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 347 
 
 Venus is a landing in Hancock county, at the head of 
 the Lower rapids. The settlement is dense, and the 
 situation pleasant. It must become a place of business. 
 The mineral called geode is found here in abundance. 
 
 Vermilion River, of the Wabash, rises in the great 
 prairies of Champaign and Iroquois counties', and enters 
 the Wabash in the state of Indiana. Its branches are 
 North, Middle, and Salt forks. 
 
 North fork, rises in Iroquois county, and unites with 
 the main stream below Danville. 
 
 Salt fork rises in Champaign county, near the head 
 of the Sangamon river, runs a south course till it enters 
 township eighteen north, in range ten east, 'when it 
 makes a sudden bend and runs north of east to Danville. 
 The salt works are on this stream, six miles above Dan- 
 ville. 
 
 Middle fork, rises in the prairie, forty miles north west 
 of Danville, and enters Salt fork. 
 
 The timber on these forks is from one to two miles 
 wide and of a good quality* The adjoining prairies are 
 dry, undulating, and rich. 
 
 Vermilion, (Little] rises in the south part of Vermilion 
 county, and enters the Wabash river in Indiana. It is 
 a mill stream, with a gravelly and rocky bottom, and has 
 a fine body of timber on its banks. Large and flourish - 
 ing settlements have been made on both sides of the 
 timber to its head. 
 
 Vermilion River, of the Illinois, passes across the north 
 west part of McLean county, into La Salle, and enters 
 the Illinois near the foot of the rapids. Towards its 
 head the surface is tolerably level, with a rich soil,
 
 348 A GAZETTEER 
 
 large prairies, and but small quantities of timber. To- 
 wards the Illinois its bluffs become abrupt, often 100 
 feet. high, with rocky banks and jfrequent rapids and falls. 
 It is an excellent mill stream, about fifty yards wide, 
 and runs through extensive beds of bituminous coal. Its 
 bluffs contain immense quarries of lime, sand, and some 
 free stone excellent for grind stones. The timber upon 
 its banks are oaks of various kinds, walnut, ash, sugar 
 maple, hickory , etc. 
 
 VIENNA, the county seat of Johnson county, contains 
 twenty-five or thirty families, and three stores. It is 
 situated on the East fork of Cash river, in sections five 
 and six, thirteen south, three east. The main road 
 from Golconda to 'Jonesboro,' and Jackson, Mo. passes 
 through this place. It is in latitude 37 deg. 25 minutes 
 north. 
 
 Village Prairie, in Edwards county, two miles north 
 i on, about three miles wide. A small stream call- 
 ed "The. Village" runs through it to the little Wabash. 
 
 Vincennes Road passes from Vincennea to St. Louis, 
 through Lawrence, Clay, Marion, Clinton, and St. Clair 
 counties, 154 miles. A commodious four horse stage 
 runs each way three times a week. 
 
 Vinegar Plill, in Jo Daviess county, six miles north of 
 Galena, is a prairie country, and contains one of the 
 richest lead mines in this region. 
 
 nsfi Grove, in the east part of Shelby county, is.jon 
 one of the heads of the Little Wabash. The timber and 
 prairie are excellent and the settlement, is large. 
 
 JFalash Point, in the south western part of Coles coun- 
 ty, is the principal head of the Little Wabash. The
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 timber and adjoining prairie are good, and the settlement 
 is largo. 
 
 Wail y s Settlement is in Bond county, nine miles west 
 of Greenville and on the west side of Shoal creek. The 
 prairie is good, and the timber abundant. 
 
 Wakefield's Settlement, in the south part of Shelby 
 county, is a fertile tract well timbered. The settlement 
 is large. 
 
 Walnut Creek, in Morgan county, enters the Illinois 
 above Plum creek. 
 
 Walnut Creek heads in the northwestern part of Taze- 
 weil county, and enters the Mackinau in section sixteen, 
 twenty-five north, one west. It has a free current, gra- 
 velly bottom, and runs through rich land. 
 
 Walnut, a branch of Beaucoup creek, in Perry county. 
 Walnut Grove, a rich tract on Walnut creek, in Taze- 
 well county, about one mile wide and nine long. 
 
 Walnut Grove, a settlement in the south west corner 
 of Edgar county. 
 
 Walnut Hill Prairie, on the line between Jefferson 
 and Marion counties. Some parts arc tolerably good, 
 others rather flat and wet. It is four miles long, and 
 -three broad, and contains seventy-five, families. 
 
 Walnut Prairie, in Clark county, near the Wabaisb, 
 a'.iout five miles long and two broad. It is tolerably 
 level, has a rich sandy soil, and a fine settlement. 
 
 Walker's Grove, on the Du Page, in Cook county, forty 
 miles from Chicago, is a beautiful tract surrounded by a 
 rich prairie and a large settlement. It is about three 
 miles long and one wide. 
 
 Ward's Settlement is the oldest in Macon county, and 
 is eight miles south of Decatur.
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 Warsaw, at the foot of the rapids of the Mississippi, 
 in Hancock county, many think will be an important 
 commercial town. It is near old fort Edwards. 
 
 .Washington, a new village in the western part of Ful- 
 ton county, twenty miles from Lewistown. 
 
 WATERLOO, the seat of justice for Monroe county, is 
 situated on highground,in township two south, ten west. 
 It has a court house of brick, two stores, two taverns, 
 and about twenty families. 
 
 Wattes Settlement, in Crawford county, is sixteen miles 
 west from Palestine, and has about twenty families. 
 
 Webb's Prairie, and settlement, in Franklin county, 
 fifteen miles east of north from Frankfort. The land is 
 good. 
 
 Wergle^s Settlement, in Adams county, has 600 or 700 
 industrious Germans, of the society of Dunkards, and is 
 watered by the West fork of McKee's creek. 
 
 West Fork of Kaskaskia River rises in Macon county, 
 in township sixteen north, four east, and enters the main 
 stream tea miles above Shelbyville. The land on its 
 borders, in general, is excellent, and the timber good. 
 
 West Fork of J^uddy. Settlement t in the north western 
 part of Jefferson county, is a well timbered tract. 
 
 West Fork of Shoal Creek rises in the north part of 
 Montgomery county, in nine north, three west y runs 
 south, and fcrms the main creek. The average width 
 of the timber is two nrles. 
 
 West's Settlement, in Johnson county, on the oast side 
 of Cash river, is a fine, fertile tract, and has thirty fa- 
 milies. 
 
 WhUakcr's Creek, in Greene county, a branch of Apple 
 creek on the south side.
 
 OF ILLINOIS. 35 i 
 
 Whitley's Point is the head of Whitley's creek, in Shel- 
 by county, east of the Kaskaskia river, and fifteen miles 
 north cast from Shelbyville. The timber and prairie 
 are-good. 
 
 Whitley's Settlement, on Whitley's creek, Shelby coun- 
 ty, fifteen 1 rniles north east from Shelbyville, is a mix- 
 ture of timber and prairie. 
 
 Whitney's Grove, a post office in Hancock county. 
 Whiteside's Settlement, in Pope county, is twelve miles 
 west of Golconda on Big 1 Bay creek and the state road, 
 and has 100 families. 
 
 Whiteside's Station, in Monroe county, five miles north 
 of Waterloo, is one of the oldest American settlements . 
 in Illinois. 
 
 Wiggins's Ferry, on the Mississippi opposite St. Louis, 
 and the property adjoining, are otvned by a company. 
 Here are two good steam boats, a public house, livery 
 stable, store, and post office. 
 
 Wilcoxen** Settlement, in Fulton county good soil. 
 Williams' 's Creek rises in Hancock and enters Crooked 
 creek in Schuyler county. 
 
 Willis's Settlement , in Putnam county. five miles eastof 
 Hennepin, was begun in 1827, in a rich tract of land. 
 
 Wilson's Grove } is a beautiful eminence one mile west 
 of Jacksonville, and now called College Kill. The Illinois 
 college stands on its eastern slope. 
 
 Winchester, in Morgan county, sixteen miles south 
 west of Jacksonville, on'sectioa twenty-nine, township 
 fourteen north, in range twelve west of the third prin- 
 cipal meridian, was laid off in 1831, on elevated ground, 
 and contains four stores, on grocery, a large tannery,
 
 A GAZETTEER 
 
 mechanics of various kinds, one tavern, three physicians, 
 a Baptist meeting house, and s'ixty families. Three saw, 
 and two flouring mills are on the Sandy in this vicinity. 
 The water is excellent. Lime and free stone abound. 
 
 Winnebfigo Inlet, in Putnam county, passes through se- 
 veral ponds into the Winnebago Swamp. 
 
 Winnebago Outlet enters Rock river in seventeen 
 north, one east. It runs from the Winnebugo Swamp. 
 
 Winnebago Swamp is in Henry and Putnam counties, 
 thirty miles long, and from one half to three miles wide. 
 
 Wolf Creek is a. branch of Sangamon river, in Sanga- 
 mon county. The land is level but well settled. 
 
 Wolf Creek, in Effingham, enters, the Kaskaskia river. 
 
 Wolf Run, in Morgan county, enters Dickerson's lake. 
 
 Wood River, in Madison county, enters the Mississip- 
 pi nearly opposite the mouth of the Missouri. It rises 
 . acoupen and runs through a fine country. 
 
 Wood's Prairie is a small tract of good land inWabasb 
 county, ten miles from Mount Carrael. 
 
 Worl&fs Creek, in Adams county, enters Bear creek. 
 
 Yellow Banks are sand bluffs of the Mississippi, in 
 Warren and Mercer counties, distinguished as the Low- 
 er, Middle, and Upper,at the mouths of Henderson, Pope, 
 and Edwards rivers the first five miles long. They fur- 
 nish convenient landings for steam boats. 
 
 Yellow Creek, in Jo Daviess county, enters the Peek- 
 a-ton-orkee near its junction with Rock river. It ri- 
 ses near Kellogg's grcve. 
 
 F.irfc, a village in Clark county, on the Wu 
 tains one steam saw and flouring mill, four stoi 
 r.bout fifty families.
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 TABLE I. 
 
 i Table exhibiting the JVame of each County, Date of For~ 
 mation, Number of Square Jlilcs, Votes polled in August, 
 1834, Estimated Population, and Seat of Justice. 
 
 COUNTIES 
 
 1 SQ.- 1 VOTE 
 
 DATE Ui LES | 18:54 
 
 LA'/IONJ SEAT3 F JUST1CI 
 
 Adams 
 
 1&25I 820 
 
 72b 
 
 SSOO^uincy 
 
 Alexander 
 
 1819 
 
 375 
 
 249 
 
 1755 Unity 
 
 Bond 
 
 1817 
 
 60 
 
 519 
 
 4387 
 
 Greenville 
 
 Calhoun 
 
 1825 
 
 260 ' 
 
 151 
 
 1612 
 
 Gilead 
 
 Champaign 
 
 1833 864 
 
 102 
 
 785 
 
 Urbanna 
 
 Clark 
 
 1819 
 
 500 
 
 451 
 
 3423 
 
 Darwin 
 
 Clay 
 
 1824 
 
 620 
 
 172 
 
 1020 
 
 Maysville 
 
 Clinton 1824 
 
 500 
 
 414 
 
 3150 
 
 Carlyle 
 
 Crawford 1816 
 
 378 
 
 519 2200 
 
 Palestine 
 
 Coles 18SO 
 
 1248 
 
 680 
 
 4500 
 
 Charleston 
 
 Cook 18SO 
 
 
 528 
 
 3265 
 
 Chicago 
 
 Edgar 1823 
 
 648 
 
 788 
 
 2747 
 
 Paris 
 
 Edwards 1814 
 
 375 
 
 239 
 
 2250 
 
 Albion 
 
 Effingharn 
 
 1831 
 
 486 
 
 129 
 
 950 
 
 Ewington 
 
 Fayette 
 
 1821 
 
 684 
 
 665 
 
 ?463 VANDALIA 
 
 Franklin 
 
 18181 864 
 
 759 
 
 5660 Frankfort 
 
 Fulton 
 
 18251 590 
 
 607 
 
 2650 Lewistown 
 
 Gal latin 
 
 Greene . 
 
 1812 
 1821 
 
 864 
 912 
 
 1312 
 1360 
 
 10000 Equality 
 11100 ! Carrollten 
 
 Hamilton 
 
 1821 
 
 378 
 
 460 
 
 3350 1 McLeansboro 1 
 
 Hancock 
 
 1825 
 
 775 
 
 357 
 
 1785 
 
 Carthage 
 
 Henry 
 
 1825 
 
 800 
 
 
 210]
 
 354 
 
 APPENDIX . 
 
 TABLE I. CONTINUED. 
 
 COUNTIES 
 
 I)ATK s 
 
 ws4lio;h- ; 
 
 Iroquois 1 1833 2300,. 67 
 
 850 1 
 
 Jackson 1 1316 
 
 576, 354 
 
 28401 Brownsville 
 
 Jasper 1331 
 
 233 
 
 Newton 
 
 Jefferson 1319 
 
 576 455 
 
 ^P50'Mount Vernon 
 
 Jo Daviess 
 
 1327 
 
 492 
 
 2422'Gaiena 
 
 Johnson 
 
 1312 
 
 488 
 
 316 
 
 2465 Vienna 
 
 Knox 
 
 1325 
 
 792 180! 1225KnoxviIle 
 
 La Salic 
 
 18312:304] 239 1223 Ottawa 
 
 Lawrence 
 
 1321 580 
 
 618 
 
 3875 ( Lawrepceville 
 
 Macon 
 
 13291404 
 
 292 
 
 2295'Decatur 
 
 Madison 
 
 1312! 750! 1307 
 
 19100 Edwardsville 
 
 Macoupen 
 
 1S29| 720 624 
 
 4058Carlinville 
 
 Marion 
 
 1823 576 372 
 
 3006Salem 
 
 ?tlcDonough 
 
 1325 576 304 
 
 ISOOMacomb 
 
 McLean 
 
 1830 1916 498 
 
 2500 Bloomington 
 
 Piercer 
 
 1325 
 
 
 260J 
 
 Monroe 
 
 l^'lGj :360 
 
 449 
 
 aterloo 
 
 Montgomery 
 
 13211 980 
 
 475 
 
 443S Milhboro' 
 
 Morgan 
 
 18231114 
 
 27l7i 22950 Jacksonville 
 
 Peoria 
 
 1825 
 
 648 
 
 223 
 
 1930 Peoria 
 
 Perry 
 
 1827 
 
 432 
 
 273 
 
 1635 
 
 Pinckneyville 
 
 Pike 
 
 1821 
 
 800 
 
 657 
 
 3570 
 
 Pittsfield 
 
 Pope 
 
 1816 
 
 576 
 
 444 
 
 42S6 
 
 GJolconda 
 
 Putnam 
 
 1825 1340 
 
 333 
 
 1735 
 
 f lennepin 
 
 Randolph 
 
 
 540 
 
 814 
 
 5540 
 
 Kaskaskia 
 
 Rock Island 
 
 1331 
 
 
 83 
 
 680 
 
 
 Sangamon 
 
 1S21 
 
 1270 
 
 22 1C 
 
 21700 
 
 Sprhigfield 
 
 Scbuyler 
 
 1825 
 
 864 
 
 680 
 
 4240 
 
 Rushvi le 
 
 Shelby 
 
 j - n 
 
 1030 
 
 036 
 
 4180 
 
 Shelbyville 
 
 St. Clair 
 
 1795 
 
 ll.;30 
 
 11SS 
 
 10350 
 
 Belleville 
 
 Tazewell 
 
 1827 
 
 1130 
 
 433 
 
 5855 
 
 Pekin 
 
 Union 
 
 1818 
 
 396 
 
 545 
 
 4437 
 
 Jonesboro 1 
 
 Vermilion 
 
 
 
 1025 
 
 10300 
 
 Danville 
 
 Wabash 
 
 1824 
 
 180 
 
 441 
 
 3637 
 
 Mount Carmel
 
 APPENDIX". 
 
 TABLE I. CONTINUED. 
 
 V..OTK | POPU- 
 
 1834 | LATION 
 
 SEATS OK JUSTICE 
 
 Warren 
 Washington 
 Wayne 
 White 
 
 1 18-451 900| 
 11818 
 |I819i 576! 
 ' jlSlo! 480! 
 
 286! 
 
 471i 
 977 
 
 21001 Mon mouth 
 27401 Nashville 
 
 3875iFairfield 
 8050 1 Car mi 
 
 , 10:2|:250,000 
 
 N. B. The foregoing table of population is altogether 
 liypothetical, and calculated for the present year, 1834- 
 In September, 1835, the census will be tarken by autho- 
 rity of the state.
 
 356 APPENDIX. 
 
 TABLE II. 
 
 A Table of Public Officers in Illinois, both, State and Nation- 
 al, August,' 182^. 
 
 GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE. 
 JOHN REYNOLDS, Governor; term of service expires 
 
 1st Mbnday in December, 1834. General JOSEPH 
 
 DUNCAN recently elected to serve the next four 
 
 years. 
 , Lieutenant Governor, vacant. A. M. 
 
 JENKINS, Esq. recently elected to serve *he next 
 
 four years. 
 W.M. LEE D. EWING, Speaker pro tern, of the senate, 
 
 acd ex officio lieutenant governo till 1st Monday in 
 
 December next. 
 
 ALEXANDER P. FIELD, Secretary of State. 
 JAMES T. B. STAPP, Auditor of Public Accounts. 
 JOHN DEMENT, Treasurer. 
 N. W. EDWARDS, Attorney General. 
 
 UNITED STATES COURT For the District of Illinois. 
 
 NAMES OFFICES HESIDESCE SALARY. 
 
 Nathaniel Pope Judge Kaskaskia $1,000 
 
 Javid J. Baker U. S. Attorney do 200 fees 
 
 Harry Wilton Marshal Carlyle 200 fees 
 
 Win. H. Brown Clerk Vandalia fees, etc. 
 
 This court is, held at Vandalia, the fourth Monday in 
 May, and the rst Monday in December, annually.
 
 APPENDIX. 357 
 
 U. S. LAND OFFICERS IN ILLINOIS. 
 
 DISTRICTS 
 
 Kaskaskia 
 Sbawneetown 
 Edwardsville 
 Vandalia 
 Palestine 
 duincy 
 Danville 
 Springfield 
 
 REGISTERS RECEIVERS 
 
 Miles Hodgkiss Edward Humpliries 
 James C. Sloo John Caldwell 
 Wm. P. McKee Benj. F. Edwards 
 Charles Prentice William Linn 
 Joseph Kitcbell Guy W. Smith 
 Samuel Alexander Thomas Carlin 
 J.C.Alexander Samuel McRoberts 
 Wm. L. May John Taylor. 
 
 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 NAMES RESIDENCE TERM EXPIRES 
 
 Elias K. Kane Kaskaskia March 3d, 1837 
 
 John M. Robiason Carmi March 3d, 1885 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 First District, vacant, Charles Slade, recently deceased. 
 
 Second District, Zadok Casey, of Mount Vernon. 
 
 Third District, vacant the late representative, general 
 
 Joseph Duncan, recently elected governor of the 
 
 state. 
 
 Representatives Elect to the Twenty-Fourth Congress, their 
 time commencing March 4, 1835. 
 
 DISTRICTS NAMES RESIDENCE 
 
 First District ; John Reynolds Belleville 
 Second District Zadok Casey Mount Vernon 
 
 Third District Wm. L. May Springfield
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 >-; o 
 
 B|ii*|^|'|S-ii|! 

 
 APPENDIX. 
 
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 360 
 
 APPENDlXu 
 
 T COUHT 
 
 BKS. 
 
 
 
 
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 APPENDIX II. 
 
 WISCONSIN TERRITORY. 
 
 UNDER this name is embraced all the tract of country 
 north of Illinois to lake Superior, and west of lake Michi- 
 gan to the Mississippi. It is of irregular shape, and 
 may be estimated at 350 miles from south to north, and 
 from 150 to 450 miles from east to west. Its climate is 
 various. South of the Wisconsin, it is mild, the win- 
 ters not extremely severe, and is well adapted to most 
 of the productions of the mother states. In the interior 
 are many lakes and swamps; towards lake Superior, and 
 about the heads of the Wisconsin, are cold, bleak, and 
 frosty regions, covered with hemlock, spruce, and pine. 
 
 South of the Wisconsin is the most extensive mineral 
 country, especially lead ore or galena. -And here, also 
 is a delightful farming region. Like the northern por- 
 tion of Illinois the timber is scarce, and found chiefly in 
 groves and skirts along the streams. It is this portion of 
 the territory, and of its several parliculars that will, 
 occupy most of this brief sketch. This part is embra- 
 ced in the county of Iowa, and' a portion of the county 
 of Brown. North of the Wisconsin is Crawford county, 
 of which Prairie dn Chien is the seat of justice. A strip 
 of country, about fifty miles in width, extending from the 
 post of Mack in au, due west to the Mississippi, a distance 
 of 4 or 500 miles, is called the county of Macltinau, or 
 according ,to the French orthography, tMichilimacinctc. 
 North of this, and borderingon lake Superior, the whole 
 country is included within Ctiippcway county. 
 
 low n County embraces that portion of the territory 
 which is south of the Wisconsin river, and west of aline,
 
 3G2 APPENDIX. 
 
 clue north from the northern boundary of Illinois, a few 
 miles west of Ucck river, to a point near Fort Winneba- 
 V ). It is from 70 to 120 miles in length, and about se- 
 veuty miles in width. Its principal water courses are 
 Peek-a-ton-o-kee and its branches:, Platte river, and 
 Grant river. 
 
 This-ccunty abounds v.itb lead, and is the most popu- 
 lous one in the territory. 
 
 Brown Comity lies east of Iowa and Crawford coun- 
 ties, and west of lake Michigan, and embracing the coun- 
 try about Green bay. There is much good farming land 
 in this county, especially bordering on lake Michigan. 
 Wiih the exception of its southern portion, this tract of 
 country is covered witty good timber ofvarious descrip- 
 tions. White pine in large quantities, spruce, hemlock, 
 bird), and many other kinds of a northern growth are 
 found in the peninniia between Green bay and the 
 lake. From Fort Winnebago to Green bay and around 
 Fox river, the country is hilly, timbered, and a tolera- 
 bly good sc-il. Aleut the Lead of the buy is a light 
 sandy soil, and the timber consists of pine, spruce, oaks 
 i>f various species, maple, eli-n, etc. The settlements 
 ( nd abeut six or eight miles on the seuth side of the 
 bay, and about the .SYw//, or rapids of Fox river. 
 
 Wisconsin territory is attached to Michigan for civil 
 purposes but will seen form a separate territory. 
 
 The following articles embrace the most important 
 places necessary to be mentioned in this territory. 
 
 Bad Aze, a unal! st ream in Crawford ceimty, that en- 
 ters the Mississippi about thirty miies above Prairie du 
 Chicn. Here is a heavy timbered, rich bottom, in front 
 
 a hilly countiy. This spot was signalized'as the battle 
 fir-Id between the United States troops and Illinois mi- 
 liiia, and the remrjant of the Indian army of Black Hawk, 
 i.u the second of August, >l8--- ! . About lf.0 Indians were 
 killed and ilrouced, cud about forty taken prisoners. 
 Tie Americans lost several killed, and about twenty 
 wcunclcd.
 
 APPENDIX. 363 
 
 Blue Mounds, in Iowa county, near the heads of the 
 Peek-a-ton-o-kee,and about sixty miles north, north east 
 of Galena. 
 
 Buncombe, a settlement and diggings near the boun- 
 dary line of Illinois, and about seven miles north of 
 Galena. 
 
 Blue River, a small stream in the north part of Iowa 
 county, that runs north into the Wisconsin. 
 
 Catfish, a considerable stream that rises near the Wis- 
 consin in the north eastern part of Iowa county, runs 
 east of south, and passes through the "Four Lakes," and 
 enters Rock river twenty-five or thirty miles above the 
 boundary of Illinois. 
 
 Cassviile is in Iowa county, situated on the Mississip- 
 pi, on an elevated bottom, twenty-five miles below the 
 mouth of the Wisconsin. It contains fifteen or twenty 
 families. The country adjacent contains a settlement, 
 and a number of fine farms. 
 
 'English Prairie is a settlement and tract of country 
 in" Iowa county, near the Wisconsin river. 
 
 Fort IFiiiiiebago is a military fort, in the head and en 
 the south east side of Fox river, opposite the Portage. 
 A garrison is kept here. The fort is on elevated .ground. 
 The portage across to the Wisconsin is low, wet prairie, 
 which is passed by boats in high water. On this route 
 the first explorers reached the Mississippi in 18'<o. A 
 steam boat navigation from Green bay to the Wisconsin 
 and Mississippi could be opened for less expense than it 
 would cost th2 government for congress to talk about 
 it. A steam boat has ascended the Wisconsin to Fort 
 Winnebagq the present year, (18 
 
 Four Lakes are on Catfish creek near (he boundary 
 line between Iowa and Brown counties. The first com- 
 mences about twenty miles above the junction of Cat-fish 
 with llock river, and the others are f n in three to six 
 miles apart from each other. These lakes have a rocky 
 and sandy shore, a gra-velly bottom, slid pure water. 
 
 They arc generally six cr e^ght miles long, and three
 
 364 APPENDIX. 
 
 or four miles wide, abounding with bass, trout, and other 
 kinds of fish, and surrrounded with excellent farming 
 land and fine timber. 
 
 Fox River is principally in Brown county and termi- 
 nates in Green bay. It takes its rise in a lake in a tam- 
 arisk swamp about fifteen miles south south east from 
 Fort Winnebago, winds round and passes by the fort in 
 a north eastcourse, in which direction it continues. The 
 country on its borders is hilly, timbered, and rather thin 
 soil. Its navigation is somewhat obstructed by rapids. 
 Grant River, in Iowa county. It rises in the country west 
 of the Blue mounds, run's a course a little west of south, 
 and enters the Mississippi about twenty miles above the 
 boundary line. It has skirts and groves of timber, and 
 rich undulating prairie, on which many families are set- 
 .tled. 
 
 Orations Grove is fifteen or twenty miles north east 
 of Galena, and near the boundary line of Illinois. Here 
 is a post office and a fine settlement. 
 
 Green Bay is in the north eastern part of Brown coun- 
 ty. The bay puts out from lake Michigan sixty or se- 
 venty miles. Its width is various, from six to twenty or 
 probably thirty m'iles. Towards the lake the land is 
 cold, swampy and undesirable. Here are large tracts of 
 cranberry marshes, and rice lakes. The settlement is 
 chiefly at the head of the bay, contains 7 or 800 inhabi- 
 tants, with considerable good land. 
 
 Green Bay Settlement is 230 miles north from Chicago, 
 220 miles north east from Galena, 120 from fort Wineba- 
 go, and in north lat. 44 deg. 44 minutes. 
 
 IlarJscrabblc, a settlement and diggings twelve or fif- 
 teen miles north of Galena. 
 
 Helena, a town site on the Wisconsin, north west of 
 the Blue mounds, and about equidistant from Prairie, 
 du Chien and fort Winnebago. About one mile below 
 this site, Mr. Daniel Whitney, of Green bay, has erect- 
 ed a shot tower, where lie contemplates to manufacture 
 from 5 to 6000 pounds of shot per month, when in full ope-
 
 APPENDIX. 365 
 
 ration. The shot will fall 180 feet, 120 of which are cut 
 out of the solid rock. This precipice is said to form one 
 entire block, without seam or crevice. Saw mills are 
 erecting on the Wisconsin and farms are improving in the 
 vicinity of Helena. 
 
 Itasca Lake, the Lac la Biche of the French, is, accord- 
 ing to the work of Mr. Schoolcraft, recently published, 
 the extreme head of the Mississippi river, and it is no- 
 ticed here on that account. 
 
 It is a beautiful sheet of water, seven or eight miles 
 long from south east to jiorth west, and of irregular form. 
 The waters are cool and transparent, and its shores are 
 covered with elm, linden, cherry, maple, and other tim- 
 ber common to a northern latitude. 
 
 Its outlet, which is connected with a string of small 
 lakes, is ten or twelve feet broad, and twelve or fifteen 
 inches deep. Its branches are level, and has every 
 mark of a diluvial formation. Mr. Schoolcraft has cal- 
 culated the surface of this lake to be 1,500 feet above 
 that of the Atlantic ocean, and 3,160 miles from its ex- 
 treme outlet. 
 
 It will be perceived that this account varies a little in 
 that given on page fifteen in part first. Mr. Schoolcraft 
 has recently published an account of a second tour he has 
 made to the heads of the Mississippi, in which he traced 
 this lake out as the extreme source of the "Father of 
 Waters." 
 
 Kush-ka-nong ("the lake we live on,") is a lake, in 
 Brown county, on Rock river, six or eight miles in dia- 
 meter, with some swamps and quagmires in its vicinity. 
 Its bed and shores are sandy. It is situated between 
 the mouth of Catfish, and Whitewater. Rock river pass- 
 es through it. 
 
 Kickapao River rises about sixty miles north of Prai- 
 rie du Chien, runs a south course, and enters the Wis- 
 consin about twenty miles above the junction of the lat- 
 ter with the Mississippi. Fine timber, some small prai- 
 ries, and rich land are found on this stream.
 
 366 APPENDIX. 
 
 Man-a-ta-icok, a river that rises towards the Wirfneba- 
 go lake, in Brown county, runs east and enters lake 
 Michigan. The country along its borders is heavily tim- 
 bered, and is good second rate land. 
 Melwaukee is a large stream in Brown county, that rises 
 in the swampy country south of Winnebago lake, runs a 
 south easterly course, aad after its junction with anoth- 
 er stream, forms Melwaukee bay at lake Michigan, thir- 
 ty or forty miles above the boundary line of Illinois. 
 
 This stream, as is the case with others on the west 
 side of lake Michigan, runs over a rocky bed, and forms 
 an excellent mill stream. A valuable timbered country 
 lies on its borders. 
 
 Mdwaukee Baty, at the moutli of Melwaukee river, 
 will admit of being formed into an excellent harbor. A 
 beautiful town site is said to exist, American families are 
 settling it, and it is expected to become soon a place of 
 considerable business. 
 
 Mineral Point, the seat of justice for. Iowa county, is 
 situated on the waters of the Peek-a-ton-o-kea, about 
 thirty-six miles nor.h east of Galena. It contains several 
 stores, and smelting furnaces, and about twenty famil- 
 ies. Around it are supposed to be vast quantities of 
 le.ad. The country is chiefly prairie and barrens, with 
 groves and skirts of timber. 
 
 Mounds. Amongst the wonders of nature in this region 
 are the mounds, found in the various parts of the mining 
 district. I mean not those trifling hillocks or eminences 
 spread over the west, and about which so many fables of 
 extinguished races of men have been written. But those 
 magnificent elevations, whose summits reach 800 or 1,000 
 feet above the common level o^the surrounding country, 
 whose bases extend over a mile in diameter, and which 
 can be seen at the distance of thirty miles. 
 
 To suppose that these have been thrown up by the 
 hand of man is ridic alotis. The earth around these mounds 
 exhibits evident imrks of diluvial formation. It is mixed 
 with occasional layers cf sand and lima stone.
 
 APPENDIX. 367 * 
 
 Of these mounds five in particular deserve notice. 
 
 The first stands on the head waters of the Sinsinewa 
 and Menomine rivers, eight miles north of Galena, and 
 upon high ground, about four miles from the Mississippi. 
 
 Three others are on the head waters of the Platte ri- 
 ver, twenty-three miles north, north east from Galena, 
 and are known by the name of the Platte mounds. They 
 stand nearly on a line with each other and about one mile 
 apart. 
 
 The largest of all is a double one, or'two apparently 
 united, and called the Blue mounds. They are about 
 sixty miles north east from Galena, and near the head 
 waters of the Peek-a-ton-o-kee. 
 
 Mud L'lke Fork, a principal branch of Rock river. It 
 takes its rise from Doly's creek, near Fox river and 
 Winnebago lake, passes through a marsh or quagmire 
 swamp, runs a course west of south, and unites with oth- 
 erbranches above Kush-ka-cong lake. In this region 
 are many swamps and lakes covered with wild rice. 
 
 Platte R'.vcr rises near the heads of Fever river an 
 the Platte mounds, runs a south westerly course, and 
 enters the Mississippi fifteen miles above the boundary 
 Una of lU'inois. There is a skirt of timber on its banks, 
 and plenty of rolling rich prairie, and asettlement. 
 
 Piatlsmlle is near the head of this stream, asmall village, 
 settlement, and post office, with excellent mines. 
 
 Pine River, a branch of tlie Wisconsin, in Crawford 
 county. It rises in a mountainous country, runs a south 
 course, and enters the Wisconsin about half way between 
 its mouth and Fort Winnebago. The country along it 
 is hilly, nnJ largo bodies of pine timber. 
 
 Prairie du Chien, is an old French and Indian village 
 and now the scat of justice for Crawford county, It is 
 situated on the east side of the Mississippi, on a prairie, 
 three miles above the mouth of the Wisconsin river. It 
 contains about450inl}abitat}ts,mostlyCanadiin French, 
 and a few half breeds. The United States gjvernnent 
 has a garrison at this place, and owns three leagues
 
 638 APPENDIX. 
 
 square. The rest of the country north of the Wisconsin 
 is still owned by the Indians. 
 
 A school, for the instruction of the Winnebagoes, has 
 been established in the vicinity of this place on the op- 
 posite side of the Mississippi, and is under the superin- 
 tendence of the Rev. D. Lowry and his lady, of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian denomination. The United States 
 government, according to the treaty of 18SO, have appro- 
 riated 3,000 dollars per annum for twenty-seven years 
 to the support of this school, and 2,500 dollars per annum, 
 for the sa,me period, to be expended in the support of a 
 farm and teaching the Indians agriculture. 
 
 Racoon Creek, a small stream in Crawford county that 
 enters the Mississippi above the mouth of Bad Axe creek. 
 
 Shullsbiirg, a settlement and diggings, in the south 
 part of Iowa county, near the head of Fever river. 
 
 Shab-wi-wi-a-gun, a small stream in Brown county, 
 that enters lake Michigan some distance above Malwau- 
 ee. 
 
 Trembling Lands, (Fr. Terre tremblant,) in the region 
 of country on Rock river, above Kush-ka-nong lake, is a 
 tract of country for thirty or forty miles in extent, from 
 south west 1C the northeast, made up of alternate sand 
 ridges covered with shrubs, and quagmires, and swamps, 
 that shake^ for some distance around when the traveler 
 attemps to pass over them. This region is supposed to 
 have been a lake in some former period. 
 
 White Water, a branch of Rock river, that rises near 
 the heads of Fox river of Illinois, runs a west course, 
 and enters Rock river at the head of Kush-ka-nong lake. 
 Its waters are turbid like the Missouri, and its bed is 
 miry. 
 
 Winnebago Lakers in Brown county, and connected 
 with Fox river. It is situated thirty or forty miles south 
 of Green bay, and is about ten miles long, and three 
 wide, and full of wild rice.' Fox river passes through it. 
 
 Wisconsin Hills. The tract of country north of the 
 Wisconsin river, from the great bend at Fort Winneba-
 
 APPENDIX. 369 
 
 go westward to the Kickapoo river is a continual series 
 of abrupt hills, rising several hundred feet, and covered 
 with a dense forest of elm, linden, oak, walnut, ash, su- 
 gar maple, etc. The soil is rich, but the hilly character 
 of the country will prevent settlements. There is little 
 bottom or alluvial soil on the small streams, and no grass 
 amongst the timber. In the Black Hawk war of 1832, 
 the troops and their horses suffered much in following 
 the enemy through this extremely rough country. 
 
 Wisconsin River (Ouisconsin, Fr.} This river rises in 
 an unknown region towards lake Superior, runs in gen- 
 eral a south western course, and empties its waters into 
 the Mississippi, five miles below Prairie du Chien, and 
 sixty miles above the northern boundary line of Illinois. 
 By the hunters and voyageurs, who have ascended this ri- 
 ver three or four hundred miles, it is said to take its rise 
 among mountains of considerable elevation, in several 
 branches, as far northas 46 deg. 30 minutes. The bluffs 
 or hills along its banks are abrupt, high, and picturesque. 
 When the principal branches unite it becomes a consid- 
 erable river, and takes a southern course with a rapid 
 current, till it reaches the vicinity of Fort Winnebago. 
 Here is a portage of three fourths of a mile over to 
 Fox river of Green bay. These rivers run for some 
 distance only a few miles apart. At fort Winnebago 
 Fox rive^r* turning a "short corner," runs north east into 
 Green bay, and the Wisconsin, wheeling to the west, 
 enters the Mississippi, by several mouths, in latitude 
 43 deg. 15 minutes. 
 
 At an ordinary or low stage of water, the Wisconsin 
 is shallow, and full of small islands and sand bars. On 
 these islands wild rice grows in great abundance, as it 
 does in all the streams and lakes of this northern re- 
 gion. The bottom land, or basin of the Wisconsin, in- 
 cluding the river itself, is from one to threejniles in width, 
 though there are places of ten or twelve miles in extent. 
 The bed of the river is from one fourth to one half mile 
 broad 
 
 24
 
 370 APPENDIX. 
 
 "Along its banks, many impressive views present 
 themselves; sometimes, and indeed often, lofty and high 
 piles of rocks, standing erect, in a perpendicular posi- 
 tion, are seen from the river, on one side, and a thick 
 forest of timber trees, growing on the bottom lands, on 
 the other side. The trees 1 saw, were sugar maple, 
 beech, white ash, linn orbass wood, and oaks of different 
 species. On the tall cliffs, I saw the red cedar and the 
 arbor vitce. Some of the bottom lands were natural 
 meadows, in which the grass grew to the height of seven 
 feet. Vast forests- of pine trees grow on all the head 
 waters of this river." * 
 
 * Remarks made in a tour to Prairie du Chieji, in 
 1829, by Caleb Atwater, esq. United States commis- 
 sioner.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 NORTH WESTERN TERRITORY 
 
 IN our boyhood this name designated what is now the 
 state of Ohio, or rather the whole country north of the 
 Ohio river and east of the Mississippi. Of late years it 
 has been applied to what wo have designated the Wis 
 consin territory. The name is now fairly driven across 
 the Mississippi, including the vast country around its 
 heads, and west of lake Superior. Much of its northern 
 portion is a cold, barren region, full of lakes and swamps, 
 with intervening strips of valuable land. 
 
 At the close of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, general 
 Scott and governor Reynolds, as United States com- 
 missioners, purchased a s f rip of country on the western 
 side of the Mississippi, about fifty miles in width, and 
 extending from the western boundary of Missouri, north, 
 to a point some distance above Dubuque's mines. Much 
 of this tract is well watered, with a tolerable supply of 
 timber, and fine, rich rolling prairies. 
 
 The region opposite Galena is the richest in lead of 
 any portion of the mineral country. Emigrants are set- 
 tling this tract and settlements will soon be formed 
 along the Mississippi from the Des Moines to the upper 
 Iowa river. The region about Dubuque's mines now 
 contains 2000 inhabitants, which, until the recent act 
 of congress attaching this country to the Michigan ter- 
 ritory, was beyond the pale of civil government. Un- 
 der these circumstances, they became a "law unto them- 
 selves," and an orderly and deliberate assembly pro- 
 ceeded to the trial, condemnation, and finally, to the exe- 
 cution of Patrick O'Connor, for murder. 
 
 But what reflects highly upon their character, on the 
 day of execution every grog shop was shut, and no liquor 
 sold. 
 
 The next legislature of Michigan will probably orga- 
 nize this district into a county.
 
 372 APPENDIX. 
 
 The following articles deserve special notice: 
 
 Dubaque, a town opposite the northern boundary line 
 of Illinois, and on the bank of the Mississippi. It is sit- 
 uated on a sandy bottom, above high water, and contains 
 eight or ten stores, several groceries, and about 500 in- 
 habitants. 
 
 Dubuque, an x old Indian village, is one mile and ahalf 
 below the town, at the mouth of Catfish creek. It re- 
 ceived its name from a Spaniard, who established a tra- 
 ding post there about sixty years since. Dubuque lived 
 about thirty years at this spot with the Indians, conci- 
 liated their affections, won their confidence, obtained 
 great influence over them, and was adopted as a chief of 
 the nation. At his death, the Indians showed great con- 
 cern and respect, and made a tomb or vault of stone, in 
 which they sacredly deposited his remains, and which 
 can be seen on the point of a bluff. 
 
 An Indian chief, who was much attached to him, was 
 afterwards deposited in the same vault. 
 
 The Indians gave Dubuque a tract of country in this 
 region, the title to which is claimed by several gentle- 
 men, and which remains undecided. 
 
 Catfish, Creek rises in the prairie country, runs east 
 twenty-five or thirty miles, and enters the Mississippi 
 at old Dubuque. The country adjacent is rather hilly, 
 with lime stone and considerable timber near the .Mis- 
 sissippi. 
 
 A few 1 miles back are extensive tracts of high, undula- 
 ting prairie, with a rich soil, well watered with fine 
 springs, and an excellent farming country. 
 
 Turkey River rises in the table lands west of the Mis- 
 sissippi, runs a little south of east, and enters the Missis- 
 sippi about thirty miles above Dubuque. The country 
 o n its borders is similar to that of Catfish. 
 
 \Bfiar Creek (Jlla-quo-ka-tois}. There are two streams 
 of this name west of the Mississippi. The largest one 
 rises in the great prairie, runs a south eastern course, 
 and enters tbe Mississippi opposite Jo Daviess county, 
 about thirty miles below Galena.
 
 APPENDIX. 373 
 
 The small one rises thirty miles north west of Du- 
 buque, and enters the Mississippi about six miles above 
 the village. The country in general resembles that de- 
 scribed on Catfish creek. Skirts and groves of timber, 
 high, rich, undulating prairies, fine water, and hilly near 
 the water course. 
 
 Perm a village on Little Bear creek, (Ma-quo-ka-tois,) 
 south side, and one mile back from the Mississippi. The 
 creek is usually navigable for steam boats to the village, 
 from the back water of the Mississippi. Peru is a place 
 of some business, and contains from 100 to 150 inhabi- 
 tants. 
 
 Upper Iowa River takes its rise in the great prairies 
 northwest, towards St. Peter's river, in several branch- 
 es, runs first a south east, and then an easterly course, 
 and empties itself into the Mississippi thirty miles above 
 Prairie du Chien. It is 100 yards wide some distance 
 above its mouth, with high bluffs near the Mississippi. A 
 large branch of this river is called Cedar fork. 
 
 Lower low ct River rises near the Des Moines, runs a 
 south eastern course, and receiving several tributaries, 
 discharges its waters into the Mississippi opposite Mer- 
 cer county, Illinois. There is much fine farming land 
 on this stream. 
 
 Wau-be-se-pin-e-con is a stream that comes from the 
 west and enters the Mississippi, above Rock Island. 
 
 Skunk River rises in the prairies, runs south easterly, 
 and enters the Mississippi opposite Hancock county. 
 The, timber on this river is excellent, and the prairies 
 adjoining are dry, undulating, and good soil. It is navi- 
 gable for steam boats in high water. 
 
 Flint River, a stream on the west side of the Mississip- 
 pi, that enters that river a short distance above Flint 
 Hill. The timber and prairie are good in this region. 
 
 Flint Hill, an elevated bluff on the west side of the 
 Mississippi, opposite the south side of Warren county. 
 It extends several miles along the river, from one to 
 two hundred feet in height, and covered with timber.
 
 374 APPENDIX. 
 
 Flint Hill, a town site on the west side of the Missis- 
 sippi, near the upper end of Flint hill. It has been re- 
 cently commenced and contains a dozen families. The 
 country back called the "JV<?w> Purchase," is rapidly set- 
 tling. Settlements are forming- along the timber of both 
 Flint and Skunk rivers. A Baptist church has been 
 recently constituted on this tract.
 
 APPENDIX. 375 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 Page 14, line six from top, for flint lirne stone read flint 
 and lime stone. 
 
 " 16, line two from bottom, for Wabsh read Wabash. 
 
 " 19, for Peekatolokee, read Peek-a-ton-o-kee. 
 
 " 20, line seventeen from top, for 1821, read 1823. 
 
 " 22, line one from top, for stone coal, read bitumi- 
 nous coal. 
 
 " 63, line six from bottom, for $100 for the govern- 
 or's salary, in some copies, read $1,000. 
 
 " 81, line nine from top, for appointment, read ap- 
 portionment. 
 
 <% 88, line four from top, for fifty-five, read twenty- 
 five. 
 
 " 103, line seven from top, for Tamarweds, read Tau- 
 mar- waus. 
 
 " 105, line one from top, for calrnut, read calumut. 
 
 " 10?', line five from bottom, for Port Vincent, read 
 Post Vincent. 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 Page 120, line four from bottom, for rather wet or bro- 
 ken, read -^ ther wet or broken. 
 
 " 124, line eight fr^nt bottom, for Boltenhouse, read 
 
 Boltinghouse. Next line, for Bush, read Brush. 
 
 " 154, line six from top, for Brerean, read Bureau. 
 
 " " line thirteen from top, for Burcan, read Bureau. 
 
 PART THIRD. 
 
 Page ISO, line three from bottom, for Barning's Settle- 
 ment, read Banning's Settlement. 
 
 " 191, line seven from top, for Bum Pas, read Bon Pas. 
 
 " 192, line eight from bottom, for Bridge's, read 
 Bridges' s. 
 
 " 197, first line, for Cahohia, read Cahokia.
 
 376 APPENDIX. 
 
 Page 210, line eleven from top, for centre of the upper 
 part of the town, read centre tc, etc. 
 
 t; 223, line eight from bottom, for O' Gee's, read Ogee's. 
 
 " 226, line 14 from top, for Vincennes, read Vienna. 
 
 " 224, line nine from bottom, for Finche's, read Finch's. 
 
 11 237, line three from bottom, for Fort Massar, read 
 Fort Jtiassac. 
 
 " 240, line eight from top, fur Winsconsin, read 
 consin. 
 
 " 242, line fourteen from bottom, for Fulfce's, read 
 
 259, line eleven from top, for getting a point, read 
 
 getting around a point. 
 
 " line twelve from bottom, for port, read foot. 
 281, line two from top, for Macon, read Macoupen. 
 
 " line four from bottom, for polls, read poles. 
 289, art. Jltiers's Settlement, for two miles, read ten. 
 303, for Out House, read Outhouse. 
 315, line sixteen from top, for sentement, read 
 
 settlement. 
 317, line one from top, for south western, read south 
 
 eastern. 
 330, line eleven from bottom, for Shannon's Stone, 
 
 read Shamion's Store. 
 
 333, for Six's- Prairie, read S-ixes's Prairie. 
 336, line twelve frombottom,forcupalo, read cupola. 
 350, for Wergle's Settlement, read JFeigle's Settlement.

 
 A GAZETTEER OF ILLINOIslNOEE PARTS: