Full text of "Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers"

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UNIVERSITY OF
ILLINOIS LIBRARY
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
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COMBINED HISTORY

RANDOLPH, MONROE® PERRY

COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

DESCRIPTIVE OF THEIR SCENERY

^iojrapl^ital ^IvbIi^bb ofj soma t\ {\m |}romm$nl Men anit mon^grs.

PUBLISHED BY

J. L. Mcdonough & co.,

PHILAOEI.PHIA.

CORRESPONDING OFFICE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.

1883. m^-

C'753

PREFACE

"T^HE publishers desire to return their sincere thanks
to those who have aided in making this ivork
thorough and complete. For the incidents relative to
the early settlement of these counties, we are indebted
to a feiv early pioneers, who have seen a wild fron-
tier country develop into a 'wealthy and populous com-
munity. For other facts zoe are under obligations to
a class of intelligent men, 'who, amid the ordinary
pursuits of life, have taken pains to thoroughly in-
form themselves on the resources of their county.
Among those 'who have specially contributed to the
eoinplctencss of this history, are Samuel Jlfansker,
Hugh Mathews, John .Sivawwick, Antoine Blais, Ed-
inond Menard, the sei'cral jnenihers of the O'Hara
family, E H. Lciuen, W. S. D Smith, the Holmes
family, W. K. Murphy, John Chestniit'wood, J. H. Wilson,
Joseph ]\\ Drury, William and John F. Schuchcrt.
We also acknoivledge our obligations to the 'writings of
Governor Reynohh, Rev. John M. Peck, Captain Pit.
man, of the English army, also the American State
papers and the 'writings of the Jesuit Fathers. Many
old and valuable manuscripts, both in the French
and English languages, ha'ce been examined. These
rare papers ha've made plain and intelligible some
of the earliest incidents and anecdotes pertaining to
this region of the state.

The articles on the common schools have been pre-
pared by gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with their
subject, 'wliose names appear at the head of the sketches
in the body of the 'work. Among the chapters most

fruitful in interest to a great number of our readers,
'will be found those 'which treat of the early history

of the churches. Many persons arc now living 'whose
fathers and grandfathers, in the humble log cabin,
'which 'was then the only house of 'worship, assisted
in founding organizations 'which ha-ce been of the
greatest good to subsequent generations. To the clergy-
men of the different denominations, and to many of
the older members of these societies, 'we arc indebted
for much 'valuable information. The editors of the
several newspapers ha've also rendered assistance in
that prompt and eheeiful manner so characteristic of
the journalistic profession.

We have endea'oored, 'with all diligence and care-
fulness, to make the best of the material at our
command. The facts 'were gathered from a hundred
different sources, and depend largely, not on exact
written records, but on the uncertain and conflicting
recollections of different indi'oiduals ! We lia've tried
to preser'oe the incidents of pioneer history, to aecuratc-
Iv present the natural features and material resources
of this portion of the state, and to gather the facts
likely to be of most interest to our present readers,
and of greatest importance to coining generations.
If our readers iiill take into consideration the diffi-
culties of the task, 'we feel assured of a favorable
'verdict on our undertaking.

The Publishers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COUNTY HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.
A Brief Sketch of the North- Vv est
Territory.
Geographical Position, 9 ; Early Explora-
tions, 9 ; Discovery of the Ohio, 15 ;
English Explorations and Settle-
ments. 16 ; American Settlements, 22 ;
Division of the North- West Territory,
23 ; Present Cnndition of the North-
West, 24 9-25

CHAPTER II.
Brief Histokicil Sketch of Illisois.
French Possessions, 25 ; The first Settle-
ments in Illinois, 26; Founding of
Kaskaskia, 27 ; As a part of Louisi-
ana, 27 ; Fort Chartres, 28 ; Under
French rule, 29; Character of the Early
French Settlers, 30; A Po.ssession of
Great Britain, 30 ; Conquest by Clark,
32 ; The " Compact of 1787," 32 ; Land
Tenures, 34 ; Physical Features of the
State, 35 ; Progress and Development,
35; Material Resources of the State,
36 ; Annual Products, 36 ; The War
Record, 36 ; Civil Government, 39 ;
Territorial and State Officers, 40 ; Mis-
cellaneous Information 25—43

CHAPTER III.

GEOQRAPHy, .\griculti;r.4.l Resources and
Railroad Facilities.

Randolph Coustt,-46 ; Monroe Countv,
47 ; Perry Cousty, 48 ; Transpor-
tation facilities, 49; St Louis and
Cairo Short Line Railroad, 50 ; St.
Louis and Cairo. 51 ; Wabash, Chester
and Western, 51 ; St. Louis Coal
Road, 51 ; Illinois Central, 52; Rail-
road Lands.'53 10-53

CHAPTER IV.
Geology.
General Stialum. 53; Randolph County,
54 ; Coal Measures, 54 ; Chester Lime-
stone, 55 ; Economical Geology, 55 ;
Monroe County, 56; Perry County.
57 53-58

CHAPTER V.
Flora.
List of Native Woody Plants, Grasses,

etc., etc 58-59

CHAPTER VI.
Fauna.
Treating of the Various Families of Ani-
mals and Birds that have existed in
these counties 59-62

CHAPTER VII.
Pioneer Sbttleme.n'ts.
Randolph County, 62; The French Set-
tlers, 62; Character of the Early
French Settlers, 63 ; American Immi-
gration, 64; American Population in
1800, 67 ; Subsequent Settlements,
67; E.irly Mills, 75 ; Overflows of the
Mississippi, 75; Monroe County, 75;
Indian Hostilities, 78; Early Mills,
82; Destructive Hurricane, 82 ; Perry
County, 83; Manners and Customs
of the American Pioneers, 86. . . 62--89

CHAPTER VIII,
Civil History.
Randolph County from 1778 to 1818,
89 ; License for trade, 92 ; Letters to
the Court of Kaska.skia, 92 ; Kahokia
Fund (No. 1.) 93; Warrant for Exe-
cution. 94 ; Todd's Embargo, 95 ;
James Moore's Naturalization, 96;
Land Tenure, 97; Extract from assess-

page
ment of 1808, 98; Government of
County in Territorial Times, 100 ;
Scraps from Records of the Period
1795 to 1809, 101 ; 1809 to 1819, 102 ;
List of Township Officers 1809, 103 ;
Proceedings in Courts of Justice, Ter-
ritorial Laws. 104 ; Shadrach Bond
and Rice Jones' Duel, 105 ; Dunlap —
Jones Murder, 105 ; Another Murder
Case, 105; Probate Court 1809, 106;
Estates under Administration from
1809 to 1818, 106 ; Slavery in Ran-
dolph County, 107; Manumission in
1760, 108 ; A Negro Child set Free,
109; Public Buildings, 111; Early
Marriages. 112; Randolph represented
in Territorial Legislature, 1795 to
1818, 112; Territorial Officers, 113;
Randolph County, 1818 to 1883, 113;

Census 1825. ; Heads of Families,

115; County Finances, 1819 to 1844,
lis ; Change of County Seat to Ches-
ter, 119; Financial Condition of the
County, September Ist, 1882, 122 ;
List of county Officers, 121-127. . 89-127

Mo.N-ROE County (from 1816 to 1882), 127;
County Government, 129 ; List of
Tax-payers in 1816, 132 ; Emancipa-
tion Papers, 133 ; Tenure of Lands,
134; Lands Entered, 135; Early
Transfers of Real Estate, 136; First
Road Petitions and names of Monroe
county Pioneers, 137 ; Early Mar-
riages, 139 ; Towns and Villages prior
to 1820, 140 ; Contracts for first Public
Buildings, 141 ; Prairie Du Long, 144 ;
Circuit Courts, 1817 to 1848, 146;
Challenge to Fight a Duel, 148; Mur-
ders, 148 ; Naturalization, 148 ; In
General Assembly from 1818 to 1848 —
1883, 149 ; Precincts, March, 1875,
155 ; Statistics. 1881-'82. 1.56; Mur-
der and Execution. 1.56 , In General

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Assembly 1848 to '84, State Offices
and Congress, Officers of county, 159.
Perry Cockty, 161 ; First License, 164 ;
First session of Circuit Court, 1 64 ;
First Road Districts and Road Offi-
cers, 1G5 ; Proceedings in Relation to
Establishing the County Seat, 165;
First Officers, 166 ; First Fiscal State-
ment, 167 ; First Probate Court, 167 ;
Petition for Redress, 168 ; First Gen-
eral Election, 168 ; First Bridge, 169;
First Court House, 169 ; Second Court
House-Remonstrance against build-
ing it, 170; Third Court House, 170;
Present Court House, 171 ; First and
Present Jail, 171 ; Almshouse, 173 ;
Circuit Court, 173; First Murder
Trial — Execution of Vaughn, 174 ;
Statistics, 175 ; Subscription to Rail-
roads, 177 ; Saline and Swamp Lands,
177 ; Officers, 17S 89-180

CHAPTER IX.
The Bench and B.vr.
B.^NTOLPH CoL-XTV, ISO; Former mem-
bers of the Bar, 182 ; Present Mem-
bers, 185; Monroe County, For-
mer Members of the Bar, 186 ;
Present Members, 187; Perky County,
18S ; Non-Resident Lawyers, 190 ;
Former and Present Members, 191.180-193

CHAPTER X.
The Press.
R.ixnoLrn County. — First Newspaper in
Illinois, 193. Subsequent Newspa-
pers— Monroe COUNTY, 198, Perry
County, 199 193-201

CHAPTER XL
Patriotism.
Early French, Conquest by Clark, 201 ;
War of 1812, 203 ; Soldiers in Black
Hawk and Mexican Wars, 204 ; Re-
bellion, 207 ; Muster Roll of all the
Soldiers who enlisted from Randolph,
Monroe and Perry counties . . . 201-231

CHAPTER XII.
Common Schools.
Randolph county, 231 ; Monroe county,

237 , Perry county, 238 231-242

CHAPTER XIII.

EeCLE.SIASTICAL.

Randolph County.— Reformed Presbyte-
rian, 243 ; Evangelical Lutheran, 249 ;
Catholic, 254 ; Presbyterian, 257 ;
Christian, 258; St. Mark's Parish,
259'; Freewill Baptist, 259 (Randolph
and Perry counties) ; German M. E.,
260. Monkoe County. — Concord
Presbyterian, 261 ; Methodist, 261 ;
German Evangelical, 262 ; Baptist,
263 ; Catholic, 263. Perry County.
—Christian, 265 ; Presbyterian, 266 ;
Baptist, 267 ; Methodist, 278 ; Ger-
man Evangelical, 279 ; Holy Catho-
lic, 280 ; United Presbyterian (Ran-
dolph and Perry), 281 243-281

BIOGRAPHIES.

Adair, Captain William 431

Anderson, J. B 392

Anderson, R. B 351

Angerer, Hon. John T 453

Ashwood and Marlow 372

Beem, John T 445

Bickelhaupt, Peter 327

Blais, Antoine 379

Blakeslee, A. J 442

Boldt, Dr. H. M 312

Boyd, Hon. John 346

Boyd, Thomas 350

Breese, William M 364

Brey, Paul C 321

Burch, J. G 311

Burbank, Hiram L 441

Campbell Bros 393

Campbell, William A 302

Canniff, James F 325

Crozier, Dr. William J 419

Curlee, Charles W. and Albert N 441

Curlee, Joseph B 366

Davis, Richard M 358

Derousae, Louis 297

Derouase, Louis J. Jr 309

Detrich, J. E 390

Dudenbostel, Louis 427

Devine, John 296

Dyer, Dr. L 443

Edwards, Captain M. C 357

Elliott, James C 430

Eld, William 327

Fairchild, W. S 402

Frank, John B 461

Gerlach, Daniel 391

P.\GE

Gerlach, John D. . • • 295

Gladson, William E 343

Gordon, Abram G 302

Goddard, Reuben J 394

Goodman, J. William 398

Gordon, Rev. George A 426

Gordon, Rev. H. S 426

Grant William H 419

Guker, Frederick, (deceased.) 405

Hamilton, P. P 433

Hammack, Lewis 352

Hartmann, Christian F 320

Hawthorne, J. C 394

Heape, Hon. Lysias 363

Hilyard, W. H 326

Holbrook, J. C 298

Hoener, Hon. Ambrose 329

Holmes, Joseph B 290

Holmes, William M 302

Holt, Nelson 364

Horner, H. C 302

Janson, Hon. John 320

Jahn, George E 329

Kane, Louis M, 349

Koenigsmark, Thomas 455

Laurence, M. B 441

Lee, A. H 3S0

Lemen Edwin H 340

Malone, James M 284

Mansker, Samuel 469

Matlack and Wassell 301

Mathews, Hugh 411

McBride, John T 300

McCandless, W. L 359

McFie, John R 373

McKenzie, William R 294

Menard, Edmond 310

Metzger, Charles 327

Michan, John 394

Murphy, William K 344

Murphy, William P 393

O'Hara, Henry 462

Pautler, Joseph 418

Payne, Thomas J 323

Penny, James J. . • 343

Penwarden, Thomas F 360

Pickett, James 428

Pollock, J. T 299

Pyatt, Hon. John W 356

Ragland, J. K. P 343

Richards, Charles P 439

Rickert, J. W 322

Riess, George L 404

Roe, Charles H 355

Rose, William, M. D 4.55

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE

Rothstein, Dr. Hugo 327

Bushing, Evan B 353

Sauer, Nicholas 419

SchlierhoU, Charles A. M 328

Schuchert, John F 293

Schuchert, William 292

Scott, Henry P ^-14

Swanwick, John *ll

Smith, W. S. D 348

Thiea, John H 428

Thompson, Captain R. Q 354

Thum, Jacob 458

Ward, John B 440

Watt, James 41U

Wheatley, B. W. S 445

Wheeler, Charles M 312

Wiesenborn, John 324

Williams, Frederick 3fi6

Williams, John S, M. D 305

Wilson, J. H 454

Wilson, Warren N 301

Winthrop, Hon. Charles E R 3H4

Wisely Brotliers 372

PRECINCT HISTORIES.

PAGE.

Baldwin 405

Beaucoup 472

Blair 463

Bluff 421

Breemen 465

Brcwerville 374

Central 420

Chester 284

Columbia 449

Coulterville 369

Cutler 446

Du Quoin 433

Evansville 415

Florence 312

Grand Cote 429

Harrisouville 412

Kaskaskia 303

Mitchie 395

Moredock 333

New Design 330

New Hanover 447

Paradise .... 3(i7

Pinckneyville 335

Prairie du Long 456

Prairie du Rocher 375

Red Bud 398

Renault 382

I'AliE

Rockwocii 467

Ruma 459

South Western 432

Sparta 384

Steele's Mills 423

Tamaroa 3()0

Tilden 407

Waterloo 314

Wine HiU 470

PORTRAITS.

Anderson, J. B 392

Anderson, Marj' 392

.'Anderson, R. B 3.")1

Blai.s, Antoine 379

Blakeslee, A. J 442

Brey, Paul C 321

Burch, J. G :!11

Canniff, James F 32:i

Derousse, Louis 297

Detrich, J. E 390

Devine, John 296

Dudenbostel, Louis 427

Gerlach, Daniel 391

Gerlach, John D 295

Hamilton, P. P 438

Hilyard, W. 11 326

Holbrook, J. C 298

Holmes, Joseph B 290

Lee, A. H 380

Lemen, Edwin H. and Wife 340

Mansker, Samuel 469

Mathews, Hugh 411

Mathews, Jane M 411

McBride, John T 300

McCandless, W. L 359

McFie, John B 373

McKenzie, William B 294

Menard, Edmund 310

Murphy, William K 344

O'Hara, Henry 402

Payne, Thomas J 323

Pautler, Joseph 118

Pollock, J. T 299

Bickert, J. W 322

Rieas, George L 404

Roe, Charles H 355

Rushing, Evan B 353

Schlierholz, Charles A. M 328

Schuchert, John F 293

Schuchert, William 292

Scott, Henry P 444

Smith, W. S. D 348

Sprigg, James D 403

Swanwick, John 291

Watt, James 410

Ward, John B 440

Wiesenborn, John 324

Wilson. J. II 454

ILLUSTRATIONS.

-Anchor Flouring Mills Facing 446

Been, E. M Facing 406

Boekholf, S Facing 400

Brickey and Aubuihon, . . Between 396--397

Brown, Charles Facing 406

Cape Hotel Facing 424

Catholic Church Facing .308

Creagau, Thomas Facing 460

Crisler, J. M Facing 308

Deroiisse, Mrs. M K Facing 296

Eberman, Isaac Facing 332

Evang. St. Pauls Church, Waterloo, Facing 320

Evansville Catholic Cliurch 460

Fults, Christopher Facing 393

Gardner Roller Mills Facing 448

Goodman, J. W Facing 41ii

Grann^-niann, Louis Facing 446

Gant, Thomas Facing 304

Knapp, P. C Facing 360

Lemen, E. H F-acing 342

Livingstone, Dr. G. P Facing 416

McKenzie, Dr. Williiuii R Facing :'j01

Maus, Philipp A Facing 384

Map Facing 9

Milligan, William H Facing 336

Meredith, Isaac store and residence, Facing 284
Oldendoriih Wagon Factory, . . . Facing 436
Old Log School-house and Puncheon

Bench Facing 232

Payne, Thomas J Facing 448

Penitentiary Facing 124

Public BuiIdings,(Randolph County,) Fac. 120
Public Buildings, (Monroe County,) Facing 152
Public Buildings, (Perry County,) . Facing 172

Pyatt, 1. J Facing 356

Roussel, F. L Facing 296

Schuchert, William Facing 284

Schuchert, John F Facing 288

Soukup, W Facing 350

" The Boots Place," Facing 360

Winklemann, Henry Facing 284

Wilson, J. H • • . . Facing 455

White, John Facing 432

Amendments to Constitution of U. S , . . 509

Constitution of Illinois 493

Constitution of United States ,506

Declaration of Independence 505

Partial List of Patrons 475

HISTORY

RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

CHAPTER I.

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SOr/TILWEST TEREITOUY.

GKOGRAPHIL'AL POSITION.

iN 1784 the North Western Territory was
ceded to the United States by Virginia.
It embraced only tlic territory lying be-
tween the Ohio and Mississippi rivers;
and north, to the northern limits of the
United States. It coincided with the area
now embraced in the states of" Wisconsin,
Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, O'aio, and
that portion of Minnesota lyir.g en the
east side of the Mississippi river. On the first day of March,
1784, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and
James Monroe, delegates in Congress on the part of Vir-
ginia, executed a deed of cession, by which they transferred
to the United States, on certain conditions, all right, title
and claim of Virginia to the country known as the Korth-
western Territory. But by the purchase of Louisiana in
180.3, the western boundary of the United States was ex-
tended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific
Ocean. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles,
being greater than the united areas of the Middle and
Southern states, including Texas. Out of this magnificent
territory have been erected eleven sovereign states and eight
territories, with an aggregate population at the present time
of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one-third of the entire
population of the United States.

Its rivers are the largest on the continent, flowing thous-
ands of miles through its rich alluvial valleys and broad,
fertile prairies.

Its lakes are fresh-water seas, upon whose bosom floats
the commerce of many states. Its far-stretching prairies
have more acres that are arable and productive than any
other area of like extent on the globe.

For the last quarter of a century the increase of popula-

tion and wcakh in the north-west has been about as three to
one in any other portion of the United States.

EARLY EXI'LORATIOSS.

In the year 1512, on Easter Sunday, the Spanish name
for which is Pa.scua Florida,* Juan Ponce de Leon, an old
comrade of Columbus, discovered the coast of the American
continent, near St. Augustine, and in honor of the day and
of the blossoms which covered the trees along the shore,
named the new-found country Florida. Juan had been led
to undertake the discovery of strange lands partly by the
hope of finding endless stores of gold, and partly by the
wish to reach a fountain that was said to exist deep within
the forests of North America, which possessed the power of
renovating the life of those wlio drank of or bathed in its
waters. He was made governor of the region he had visited
but circumstances prevented his return tliither until 1-521 ;
and then he went only to meet death at the hands of the
Indians.

In the meantime, in 1.51G, a Spanish sea-captain, Diego
Miruelo, had visited the coast first reached by Ponce de
Leon, and in his barters with the natives had received con-
siderable quantities of gold, with which he returned home
and spread abroad new stories vf the wealth hidden in the
interior.

Ten years, however, passed before Pamph'do de Narvaez
undertook to prosecute the examination of the lands north
of the Gulf of ]\Iexico. Narvaez was excited to action by
the late astoni.'^hing success of the conqueror of Montezuma,
but he found the gold for which he sought constantly flying
before him; each tribe of Indians referred him to those
living farther in the interior. And from tribe to tribe he
and his companions wandered. They suffered untold priva-
tions in the swamps and forests ; and out of three hundred
followers only four or five at length reached Mexico. And
still these disappointed wanderers persisted in their original
fancy, that Florida was as wealthy as Mexico or Peru.

*Pascutn, the old English "Fash" or Passover; " Pascua Florida"
is the " Holvdav of Flowers."

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Among those ^vho had faith in that report was Ferdinand
de Soto, who had been with Pizarro in the conquests of Peru.
He asked and obtained leave of the King of Spain to con-
quer Florida at his own cost. It was given in the year 1538.
With a brilliant and noble baud of followers he left Europe
and in May, 1538, after a stay in Cuba, anchored his vessels
near the coast of the Peninsula of Florida, in the bay of
S])iritu Santa, or Tampa bay.

De Soto entered upon his march into the interior with a
determination to succeed. From June till November of

1539, the Spaniards toiled along until they reached the
neighborhood of Appalachee bay. During the next season,

1540, they followed the course suggested by the Florida
Indians, who wished them out of their country, and going
to the north-east, crossed the rivers and climbed the moun-
tains of Georgia. De Soto was a stern, severe man, and
none dared to murmur. De Soto passed the winter with his
little baud near the Yazoo. In April, 1541, the resolute
Spaniard set forward, and upon the first of May reached
the banks of the great river of the West, not far from the
35th parallel of latitude.*

A month was spent in preparing barges to convey the
horses, many of which still lived, across the rapid stream.
Having successfully passed it, the explorers pursued their
way northward, into the neighborhood of New Madrid ;
then turning westward again, marched more than two hun-
dred miles from the Mississippi to the highlands of White
river; and still no gold, no gems, no cities — only bare prai-
ries, and tangled forests, and deep morasses To the south
again they toiled on, and passed their third winter of wander-
ing upon the Washita. In the following spring (1542), De
Soto, weary with hope long deferred, descended the Washita
to its junction with the Mississippi. He heard, when he
reached the mighty stream of the west, that its lower portion
flowed through endless and uninhabitable swamps.

The news sank deep into the stout heart of the disap-
puinted warrior. His health yielded to the contests of his
mind and the influence of the climate. He appointed a
successor, and on the 21st of May died. His body was sunk
in the stream of the Mississippi. Deprived of their ener-
getic leader, the Spaniards determined to try to reach Mexico
by land. After some time spent in wandering through the
forests, despairing of success in the attempt to rescue them-
selves by land, they proceeded to prepare such vessels aa
they could to take them to sea. From January to July
1543, the weak, sickly band of gold-seekers labored at the
doleful task, and in July reached, in the vessels thus built,
the Gulf of Mexico, and by September entered tiie river
Pauuco. Oue-half of the six huudred f who had disem-
barked with De Soto, so gay in steel and silk, left their bones
among the mountains and in the morasses of the South, from
Georgia to Arkansas.

De Soto founded no settlements, produced no results, and
left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility
of the red man against the white man, aud disheartened

• Dl' i^nto probably was at tbe lower Chickasaw bluffs. Tlie .Spaniards
calli'il tlie Mississippi Rio Grande, Great Rivei> wLicb is tlie literal
meaning of tlie aboriginal name.
1 t fe liiedna says there lauded 020 men.

such as might desire to follow up the career of discov( ry for
better purposes. The French nation were eager and reatly
to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and
were the first to profit by De Soto's defeat. As it was, fir
more than a century after the expedition, the west reuiaiuLd
utterly unknown to the whites.

The French were the first Europeans to make .settlements
on the St. Lawrence river aud along the great lakes. Qutbec
was founded by Sir Samuel Champlain in 1608,* and in IGOD
when Sir Henry Hud.son was exploring the noble rivi r
which bears his name, Champlain ascended the Sorrelle
river, and discovered, embosomed between the Green moun-
tains, or " Verdmont," as the chivalrous aud poetic French-
man called them, and the Adirondacks, the beautiful sheet
of water to which his name is iudissolubly attached. In
1613 he founded Montreal.

During the period elapsing between the years 1607 and
1664, the English, Dutch, and Swedes alternately held pos-
session of portions of the Atlantic coast, jealously watching
one another, and often involved in bitter controversy, and
not seldom in open battle, until, in the latter year, the
English became the sole rulers, aud maintained their right3
until the era of the Revolution, when they in turn were
compelled to yield to the growing power of their colonies,
and retire from the field.

The French movements, from the first settlement at
Quebec, and thence westward, were led by the Catholic
missionaries. Le Caron, a Franciscan friar, who had been
the companion and friend of Champlain, was the first to
penetrate the western wilds, which he did in 1616* in a
birch canoe, exploring lake Huron and its tiibutaries.
This was four years before the Pilgrims

"Moored their bark on the wild New England shore."

Under the patronage of Louis XIII, the Jesuits took the
advance, and began vigorously the work of Christianizing
the savages in 1632.

In 1631, three Jesuit missionaries, Brebeuf, Daniel, and
Lallemand, planted a mission on the shores of the lake of
the Iroquois, (probably the modern Lake Simcoe), and also
established others along the eastern border of Lake Huron.

From a map published in 1600, it would appear that the
French had at that date, become quite familiar with the
region from Niagara to the head of Lake Superior, includ-
ing considerable portions of Lake Michigan.

In 1641, Fathers Jogues and Raymbault embarked on
the Penetanguishine Bay for the Sault St. Marie, where
they arrived after a passage of seventeen days. A crowil
of two thousand natives met them, and a great council was
held. At this meeting the French first heard of many
nations dwelling beyond the great lakes.

Father Raymbault ditd in the wilderness in 1642, while
enthusiastically pursuing his discoveries. The same year,
Jogues and Bressani were captured by the Indians aud
tortured, and in 1648 the mission which had been founded
at St. Joseph was taken and destroyed, and Father Daniel
slain. In 1641), the missions St Louis and St. Ignatius

* Western Auuals.

HISTORY OF RAXDOLPH, MOXROE AXD PERRY COVXTIES, II.LIXOIS.

were also destroyed, and Fathers Brebeuf and Lallemand
barbarously tortured by the same terrible and unrelenting
enemy. Literally did those zealous missionaries of the
Eomish Church "take their lives in their hands," and lay
them a willing sacrifice on the altar of their faith.

It is stated by some -writer that, in 1G.54, two fur traders
accompanied a band of Otfatias on a journey of five hun-
dred leagues to the west. They were absent two years, and
on their return brought with thom fifty canoes and two
hundred and fifty Indians to the French trading posts.

They related wonderful tales of the countries they had
seen, and the various red nations they had visited, and
described the lofty mountains and mighty rivers in glowing
terms- A new impulse was given to the spirit of adventure,
and scouts and traders swarmed the frontiers and explored
the great lakes and adjacent country, and a party wintered
in IGJO-fiO on the south shore of Lake Superior.

In IGCO Father Mcsnard was sent out by the Bishop of
Quebec, and visited Lake Superior in October of that year.
While crossing the Keeweenaw Point he was lost in the wilder-
ness and never afterwards heard from, though his ca&sock
and breviary were found long afterwards among the S'toiu:.

A change w.as made in the government of Xcw France in
IGGj. The Company of the Hundred Associates, who had
ruled it since 1G32, resigned its charter. Tracy was made
Viceroy, Courcelles Governor, and Talon Intendent* This
was called the Government of the West Indies.

The Jesuit missions were taken under the care of the new
govcnmcnt, and thenceforward became the leaders in the
movement to Christianize the savages.

In the same year (1GG.5) Pierre Claude Alloiiez was sent
out bv way of the Ottawa river to the far west, via the Sault
St. Marie and the south shore of Lake Superior, where he
landed at the bay of Chegoimegon. Here he found the
chief village of the Chippewas, and established a mission.
lie also made an alliance with them and the >S(te<, Foxes and
IlUnoi.<,y against the formidable Iroqiioi<. Alloiiez, the nest
vcar (1GG6) visited the western end of the great lake, where
he met the Sioux, and from them first learned of the Missis-
.sippi river which they called "Messipi." From thence he
returned to Quebec.

In 1GG3 Claude Dablon and Jacques JIarquette estab-
lished the mission at the Sault called St. Marie, and during
the next five years Alloiiez, Dablon and Marquette explored
the region of Lake Superior on the south shore, and ex-
tending to Lake Michigan. They also established the mis-
sions of Chegoimegon, St. Marie, Mackinaw and Green Bay.

The plan of exploring the Mississippi probably originated
with Marquette. It was at once sanctioned by the Inten-
dent, Talon, who was ambitious to extend the dominion of
France over the whole West.

In 1G70 Nicholas Perot was sent to the West to propose a
congress of all the nations and tribes living in the vicinity
of the lakes ; and, in 1G71, a great council was held at Sault
St. Marie, at which the Cross was set up, and the nations of

» The duties of Intendent included a super\-ision of the policy, justice,
and finance of the province.

t The meaning of this word is said to be " Men."

the great Xorth-west wtre taken into an alliance, with much
pomp and ceremony.

On the 13th of May, 1673, Marquette, Joliet, and five
voiinrjeurs, embarked in two birch canoes at Mackinaw and
entered Lake Michigan. The first nation they visited was
the " FoUei-Avoincn," or nation of Wild Oats, since known
as the Menomonies, living around the " Bale des Puans," or
Green Bay. These people, with whom Marquette was some-
what acquainted, endeavored to persuade the adventurers
from visiting the Mississippi. They represented the Indians
on the great river as being blood-thirsty and savage in the
extreme, and the river itself as being inhabited by monsters
which would devour them and their canoes together.*

Marquette thanked them for their advice, but declined to
be guided by it. Passing through Green Bay, they ascended
the Fox River, dragging their canoes over the strong rapids
and visited the village, where they found living in harmony
together tribes o{ t\\Q Mlamis, Ma.iCOutcns'\ aud KiLabeaux
or Kickiipoos. Leaving this point on the 10th of June, they
made the portage to the " Ou!.iconsi:i," and descended that
stream to the Mississippi, which they entered on the 17th
with a joy, as Marquette says, which he could not express."];
Sailing down the Jlississippi, the party reached the Des
Moines River, and, according to some, visited an Indian
village some two leagues up the stream. Here the people
again tried to persuade them from prosecuting their voyage
down the river. After a great feast and a dance, and a
night passed with this hospitable people, they proceeded on
their way, escorted by sis hundred persons to their canoes.
These people called themselves lUtnois, or lUini. The name
of their tribe was Peruaca, and their language a dialect of
the Algonquin.

Leaving these savages, they proceeded down the river.
Passing the wonderful rocks, which still excite the admira-
tion of the traveller, they arrived at the mouth of another
great river, the Pthiiantni, or Missouri of the present day.
They noticed the condition of its waters, which they described
as " muddy, rushing and noisy."

Passing a great rock, § they came to the Ouaboushtgnn, or
Ohio. Marquette shows this river very small, even as com-
pared with the lUinois. From the Ohio they passed as far
down as the Akamsca, or Arkansas, where they came very
near being destroyed by the natives; but they finally paci-
fied them, and, on the 17th of July, they commenced their
return voyage.

The party reached Green Bay in September without loss
or injury, and reported their discoveries, which were among
the most important of that age. Marquette afterwards
returned to Illinois, and preached to the natives until li"i75.
On the 18th of Jlay of that year, while cruising up the
eastern coast of Lake Michigan with a partv of boatmen,
he landed at the mouth of a stream putting into the lake
from the east, since known as the river Marquette. He
performed mai=s, and went a little apart to pray, and being

•See Icj^end of the erent hird. the terrible " Piasn,^* tlialdcvonred men
and was only overcome by the sacrifice of a brave young chief. Th<'
rocks above Alton, Illinois, have some rude representations of this
monster.

t Prairie Indians. ; Marquette's journal. I The grand t >wer.

HISTORY OF h'AynOLPIf, MONROE AXD PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

gone longer than his companions deemed iiecessar)', they
went in search of him, and found him dead where he had
knelt. They buried him in the sand.

While this distinguished adventurer was pursuing his
labors, two other men were preparing to follow in his foot-
step, and make still further explorations, and, if possible,
more important discoveries. These were the Chevalier
Robert de la Salle and Louis Hennepin.

La Salle was a native of Rouen, in Normandy. He was
educated at a seminary of the Jesuits, and designed for the
ministry, but, for reasons unknown, he left the seminary and
came to Canada, in 1G67, where he engaged in the fur trade.

Like nearly every intelligent man, he became intensely
interested in the new discoveries of the West, and conceived
the idea of exploring the passage to the great South Sea,
which by many was believed to exist. He made known his
ideas to the Governor-General, Count Frontenac, and de-
sired his co-operation. The Governor at once fell in with
his views, which were strengthened by the reports brought
back by Jlarquette and Joliet, and advised La Salle to
apply to the King of France in person, and gave him letters
of introduction to the great Colbert, then Minister of
Finance and Marine. Accordingly, in 1675, he returned
to France, where he was warmly received by the King and
nobility, and his ideas were at once listened to, and every
possible favor shown to him.

He was made a Chevalier, and invested with the seigniory
of Fort Catarocouy, or Frontenac (now known as Kingston)
upon condition that he would rebuild it, as he proposed, of
stone.

Returning to Canada, he wrought diligently upon the fort
until 1677, when he again visited France to report progress.
He was received, as before, with favor, and, at the instance
of Colbert and his son, the King granted him new letters
patent and new privileges. Oa the 14th of July, 1678, he
sailed from Rochelle, accompanied by thirty men, and with
Tonti, an Italian, for his lieutenant. They arrived at
Quebec on the 13th of September, and after a few days'
delay, proceeded to Frontenac. Father Lewis Hennepin, a
Franciscan friar, of the Recollet sect, was quietly working
in Canada on La Salle's arrival. He was a man of great
ambition, and much interested in the discoveries of the day.
He was appointed by his religious superiors to accompany
the expedition fitting out for La Salle.

Sending agents forward to prepare the Indians for his
coming, and to open trade with them, La Salle himself em-
barked, on the 18th of November, in a little brigantine of
ten tons, to cross Lake Ontario. This was the first ship of
European build that ever sailed upon this fresh-water sea.
Contrary winds made the voyage long and troublesome, and
a month was consumed in beating up the lake to the Niagara
River. Near the mouth of this river the Iroquois had a
village, and here La Salle constructed the first fortification,
which afterwards grew into the famous Fort Niagara. On
the 26th of January, 1679, the keel of the first vessel built
on Lake Erie was laid at the mouth of the Cayuga Creek,
on the American side, aiwut six miles above the falls.
In the meantime La Salle had returned to Fort Frontenac

to forward supplies for his firthcoming vessel. The little
barque on Lake Ontario was wrecked by carelessness, and a
large amount of the supplies slie carried was lost. On the
7th of August, the new vessel was launched, and made ready
to sail. She was about seven tons' burden.

La Salle christened his vessel the " Griffin," in honor of
the arms of Count Frontenac. Passing across Lake Erie,
and into the small lake, which they named St. Clair, they
entered the broad waters of Lake Huron. Here they en-
countered heavy storms, as dreadful as those upon the ocean
and after a most tempestuous passage they took refuge in
the roadstead of MicldlllmacJcinac (Mackinaw), on the 27th
of August La Salle remained at this point until the middle
of September, busy in founding a fort and constructing a
trading-house, when he went forward upon the deep waters
of Lake Michigan, and soon after cast anchor in Green Bay.
Finding here a large quantity of furs and peltries, he deter-
mined to load his vessel and send her back to Niagara. On
the 18th of September, she was sent under charge of a pilot
while La Salle himself, with fourteen men,* proceeded up
Lake Michigan, leisurely examining its shores and noting
everything of interest. Tonti, who had been sent to look
after stragglers, was to join him at the head of the lake.
From the 19lh of Septem'ber to the l?t of November, the
time was occupied in the voyage up this inland sea. On the
last-named day, La Salle arrived at the mouth of the river
3Iiami.s, now St. Joseph. Here he constructed a fort, and
remained nearly a month waiting for tidings of his vessel;
but, hearing nothing, he determined to push on before the
wintershould preventhira. On the 3d of December, leaving
ten men to garrison the fort, he started overland towards the
head-waters of the Illinois, accompanied by three monks
and twenty men. Ascending the St. Joseph River, he
crossed a short portage and reached the The-a-hi-ki , since
corrupted into Kanhahce. Embarking on this sluggish
stream, they came shortly to the Illinois, and soon after
found a village of the Illinois Indians, probably in the
vicinity of the rocky blufls, a few miles above the present
city of La Salle, Illinois. They found it deserted, but the
Indians had quite a quantity of maize .stored here, and La
Salle, being short of provisions, helped himself to what he
required. Passing down the stream, the party, on the 4th of
January, came to a lake, probably the Lake Peoria, as there
is no other upon this stream. Here they found a great
number of natives, who were gentle and kind, and La Salle
determined to construct a fort. It stood on a rise of ground
near the river, and was named Creve- Cceur f (broken-heart ),
most probably on account of the low spirits of the com-
mander, from anxiety for his vessel and the uncertainty of
the future. Possibly he had heard of the loss of the " Griffin,"
which occurred on her downward trip from Green Bay ;
most probably on Lake Huron. He remained at the Lake
Peoria through the winter, but no good tidings came, and
no supplies. His men were discontented, but the brave
adventurer never gave up hope. He resolved to send a
party on a voyage of exploration up the Mississippi, under

' Annals of the West.
t The site of the work is at present un'.;nowa.

HISIORY OF BAXDOLPH, MOXROE AXD I'KHUY COUXTIES, ILLIXOIS.

the lead of Father Hennepin, and he himself would proceed
on foot to Kiagara and Frontenac, to raise more means and
enlist new men; while Tonti, his lieutenant, should stay at
the fort, which they were to strengthen in the meantime, and
extend their intercourse with the Indians.

Hennepin started on his voyage on the last da}' of Febru-
ary, 16S0, and La Salle soon after, with a few attendants,
i-tarted on his perilous journey of twelve hundred miles by
the way of the Illinois Kiver, the Miami, and Lakes Erie
! nd Ontario, to Frontenac, which he finally reached in
safety. He found his worst fears realized. The "Griffin"
was lost, his agents had taken advantage of his absence, and
his creditors had seized his goods. But he knew no such
word as Jail, and by the middle of summer he was again on
his way with men and supplies for his band in Illinois. A
sad disappointment awaited him. He found his fort deserted
and no tidings of Tonti and his men. During La Salle's
absence the Indians had become jealous of the French, and
they had been attacked and harassed even by the Iroquois,
who came the long distance between the shores of Lake
Ontario and the Illinois River to make war upon the more
peaceable tribes dwelling on the prairies. L'ncertain of any
Bi^sistance from La Salle, and apprehensive of a general
war with the savages, Tonti, in September, 1G80, abandoned
his position and returned to the shores of the lakes. La
Salle reached the post on the Illinois in December, 1G80, or
January, 168L Again bitterly disappointed. La Salle did
not succumb, but resolved to return to Canada and start
anew. This he did, and in June met his lieutenant, Tonti,
at Mackinaw.

Hennepin in the meanwhile had met with .strange adven-
tures. After leaving Creve-Coeur, he reached the Missis-
sippi in seven days ; but his way was so obstructed by ice
that he was until the 11th of April reaching the AVisconsin
line. Here he was taken prisoner by some northern Indians,
who, however, treated him kindly and took him and his
companions to the falls of St. Anthony, which they reached
on the first of May. These falls Hennepin named in honor
of his patron saint. Hennepin and his companions remained
here for three months, treated very kindly by their captors.
At the end of this time they met with a band of French,
led by one Sieur de Lulh,* who, in pursuit of game and
trade, had penetrated to this country by way of Lake Su-
perior. With his band Hennepin and his companions re-
turned to the borders of civilized life in November, 1G80,
just after La Salle had gone back to the wilderness. Hen-
nepin returned to France, where, ia 1684, he published a
narrative of his wonderful adventures.

Robert De La Salle, whose name is more closely connected
with the explorations of the Mississippi than that of any
other, was the next to descend the river in the year 1G82.
Formal possession was taken of the great river and all the
countries bordering upon it or its tributaries in the name of
the King.

La Salle and his party now retraced their steps towards
the north. They met with no serious trouble until they
reached the Chickasaw Bluffs, where ihcy had erected a fort

" From this man uadoubtedlj- ccmc3 I'.ie name of Dulutli.

on their downward voyage, and named it Prudhomme.
Here La Salle was taken violently sick. Unable to proceed,
he sent forward Tonti to communicate with Count Fronte-
nac. La Salle himself reached the mouth of the St. Joseph
the latter part of September. From that point he sent
Father Zenobe with his dispatches to represent him at court,
while he turned his attention to the fur trade and to the
project of completing a fort, which he named St. Louis,
upon the Illinois River, The precise location of this work
is not known. It was said to be upon a rocky bluff two
hundred and fifty feet high, and only accesiible upon one
side. There are no bluffs of such a height on the Illinois
River answering the description. It may have been on
the rocky bluff above La Salle, where the rocks are perhaps
one hundred feet in height.

L^pon the completion of this work La Salle again sailed
for France, which he reached on the 13th of December,
1G83. A new man. La Barre, had now succeeded Fronte-
nac as Governor of Canada. This man was unfriendly
towards La Salle, and this, with other untoward circum-
stances, no doubt led hira to attempt the colonization of the
^Mississippi country by w ay of the mouth of the river. Kot-
withstanding many obstacles were in his path, he succeeded
in obtaining the grant of a fleet from the King, and on the
24th of July, 1G84, a fleet of twenty-four vessels sailed from
Rochelle to America, four of which were destined for Lou-
isiana, ar.d carried a body of two hundred and eighty
people, including the crews. There were soldiers, artificers,
and volunteers, and also " some young women." Discord
soon broke out between M. de Beanjeu and La Salle, and
grew from bad to worse. On the iOth of December they
reached the island of St. Domingo.

Joutel* was sent out with this party, which left on the
5lh of February, and traveled eastward three days, when
they came to a great stream which they could not cross.
Here they made signals by building great fires, and on the
loth two of the vessels came in sight. The stream was
sounded and the vessels were anchored under shelter. But
again misfortume overtook La Salle, and the vessel was
wrecked, and the bulk of supplies was lost. At this junc-
ture M. de Bcaujeu, his second in command, set sail and
returned to France. La Salle now constructed a rude
shelter from the timbers of his wrecked vessel, placed bis
peojile inside of it, and set out to explore the surrounding
country in hope of finding the Mississippi. He was, of
course, disappointed : but found on a stream, which is
named the Yaches, a good site for a fort. He at once re-
moved his camp, and, after incredible exertions, constructed
a fortification sufficient to protect them from the Indians.
This fort was situated on Matagorda Bay, within the present
liniiU of Texas, and was called by La Salle Fort St. Louis.

Leaving Joutel to complete the work with one hundred
men, La Salle took the remainder of the company and em-
barked on the river, with the intention of proceeding as far
up as he could. The savages soon became troublesome, and

•Joutel, historian of tlic voyage, accompanied La Salle, am! snlxic-
quently wrote his " Journal Historiquc," which was published in Paris,
1713.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND FERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

on the 14th of July La Salle ordered Joutel to join him
with his whole I'.rce. They had already lost several of their
best men, and dangers threatened them on every side. It
would seem from ihe historian's account of the expedition
that La Salle began to erect another fort, and also that he
becartc morose and severe in his discipline, so much so as to
get the ill will of many of his people. He finally resolved
to advance into the country, but whether with the view of
returning to Canada by way of Illinois, or only for the pur-
pose of making further discoveries, Joutel leaves in doubt.
Giving his last instructions, he left the fort on the 12th day
of January, 1687, with a company of about a dozen men,
including his brother, two nephews. Father Anastasius, a
Franciscan friar, Joutel, and others, and moved north-east-
ward, as is supposed, until the 17th of March, when some
of his men, who had been cherishing revengeful feelings for
some time, waylaid the Chevalier and shot him dead.
They also slew one of his nephews and two of his servants.
Tins deed occurred on the 20th of March, ou a stream
called Ccnis.

In 1687, France was involved in a long and bloody war.
The League of Augsburg was formed by the Princes of tlic
Empire against Louis XIV., and England, Sf>aiu, Holland,
Denmark, Sweden, and Savoy took up arras, and Louis
found himself battling with nearly the whole of Europe, and
only Turkey for an ally. This war ended with the peace of
Kyswick in 1697.

No material change took place in America, but the colo-
nists were harassed and many of their people killed or car-
ried c-ptives to the Canadas. In 1688, the French posses-
sions ill North America included nearly the whole of the
continent north of the St. Lawrence, and the entire valley
of the Mississippi ; and they had begun to establish a line
of fortifications extending from Quebec to the mouth of the
Mississippi, between which points they had three great lines
of communication, to wit : by way of Mackinaw, Green
Bay, and the Wisconsin Eiver ; by way of Lake Michigan,
the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers ; and by way of Lake
Erie, the Maumee and Wabash Rivers, and were preparing
to explore the Ohio as a fourth route.

In 1699, D'Iberville, under the authority of the crown,
discovered, on the second f f March, by way of the sea, the
mouth of the " Hidden River." This majestic stream was
called by the natives " Malbouchia," and by the Spaniards,
' La Pulissade," from the great number of trees about its
mouth. After traversing the several outlets, and satisfying
himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western
outlet, and returned to France. An avenue of trade was
now opened out, which was fully improved.

At this time a census of New France showed a total
population of eleven thou.sand two hundred and forty-nine
Europeans. War again broke out in 1701, and extended
over a period of twelve years, ending with the treaty of
L'trecht, in 1713. This also extended to the American Colo-
nies, and its close left everything as before, with the excep-
tion that Nova Scotia was captured in 1710.

In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some
European colonists. In 1762, the colony was made over to

Spain, to be regained by France, under the consulate of
Napoleon.

In 1803, it was purchased by the United States, for the
sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory of Louisiana
and the commerce of the Mississippi river, came under the
charge of the United States. Although La Salle's labors
ended in defeat and death, he had not worked and suffered
in vain. He had thrown open to France and the world an
immense and most valuable country. Had established
several ports, and laid the foundation of more than one
.settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia are to
this day monuments of La Salle's labors ; for, th ugh he
had founded neither of them (unless Peoria, which was built
nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecrour), it was by those he
led into the we.st that these places were peopled and civil-
ized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of the
Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and
honored."*

The French early improved the opening made for them,
and before 1693, the Reverend Father Gravier began a
mission among the Illinois, and became the founder of Kas-
kaskia. For some time it was merely a missionary station,
and the inhabitants of the village consisted entirely of
natives ; it being one of three such villages, the other two
being Cahokia and Peoria. This we learn from a letter
written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated " Aux Cascaskias,
Autrement dit de I'lmmaculee concepcion de la Sainte
Vierge, le 9 Novembrc, 1712." In this letter, the writer
tells us that Gravier must be regarded as the founder of the
Illinois mi sions. Soon after the founding of Kaskaskia, the
missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia,t while
Peoria arose near the remains of Fort Crevecocur X

An unsuccessful attempt was also made to found a colony
on the Ohio. It failed in consequence of sickness.^

In the north, De La Motte Cadillac, in June, 1701, laid
the foundation of Fort Poutchartrain, on the strait, (le De.
troit'),|| while in the southwest efforts were making to realize
the dreams of La Salle. The leader in the last named en-
terprise was Lemoine D'Iberville, a Canadian officer, who
from 1694 to 1097 distinguished himself not a little by
battles and conquests among the icebergs of the " Baye
D'Udson or Hudson Bay."

The post at Vincennes, on theOubache river, (pronounced
Wa-ba, meaning summer cloud moving swiftly), was estab-
lished in 1702. It is quite probable that on La Salle's last
trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia and Cahokia.
Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements
in the northwest, as it was not until this time that the atten-

■■' The authorities in relation to La Salle are Hennepin : a narrative pub-
lished in the name of Tonti, in 1697, but disclaimed by liim (Cliarlevoix
III, 3tl5. Lettres Edifiantes.

t Bancroft, iii. tflti.

I There was an Old Peoria on the northwest shore of the lake of that

name, amile and a half above the outlet. From 1778 to 17% the iiiliaiii-

tants left this for New Peoria, (Fort Clark) at the outlet. Anuri.an

State Papers, xviii. 476.

^ Western An mils,

f Charlevoix, ii. 2S4. Le Detroit wa.s the whole strait from Erie to
Huron. The first grants of land at Detroit, t. e., Fort Pontchartrain,
were made in 1707.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

tion of the English was called to the occupation of this por-
tion of the new world, which they then supposed they
owned. Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, writing
" Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8th,
1750, says: " We have here whites, negroes, and Indians, to
say nothing of the cross-breeds. There are five French
villages, and three villages of the natives within a space of
twentv-one leagues, situated between the Mississippi and
another river, called the Karkadiad, (Kaskaskia ). In the
five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred whites,
three hundred blacks, and some sixty red slaves or savages.
The three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight
hundred souls all told.* Most of the French till the soil.
They raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like
princes. Three times as much is produced as can be con-
sumed, and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to
Kew Orleans."

Again, in an epistle dated November 17th, 17."iO, Yivicr
says : " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Jlissis-
sippi, one sees no dwellings * * * * New Orleans contains
black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hun-
dred persons. To this point come all kinds of lumber,
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins, and bear's grease; and
above all pork and flour from the Illinois. These things
create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come
hither this year. Above New Orleans plantations are again
met with ; the most considerable is a colony of Germans,
some ten leagues up the river. At point Coupee, thirty-five
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here,
witliin five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations.
Fifty leagues farther up is the Natchez post, where we have
a garrison."

Father Marest, witing from the post at Vincennes, makes
the same observation. Vivier also says, " Some individuals
dig lead near the surface, and supply the Indians and Can-
ada. Two Spaniards, now here, who claim to be adepts,
say that our mines are like those of Mexico, and that if we
would dig deeper we would find silver under the lead ; at
any rate the lead is excellent. There are also in this coun-
try, beyond doubt, copper mines, as from time to time, large
pieces have been found in the streams." I'

At the close of the year 17.50, the French occupied in ad-
dition to the lower ilississippi posts and those iu Illinois,
one at Du Quesue, one at the ^laumec, in the country of the
^•lamis, and one at Sandusky, in what may be termed the
Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the north-west, they
had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake
Michigau, at Fort Pontchartraiu (^Detroit), at Micliilli-
uiackinac or Massillimacinac, Fox Kiver of Green Bay, and
at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of La Salle were
now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of
this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settle-
ment. Another nation, however, was now turning its
attention to this extensive country, and learning of its
wealth began to lay plans for occupying it and for securing
the great profits arising therefrom.

- Lottrc-j Eiliffant,-: i I'm.-, ITolj, vii. 97-IOi;.
t Western .Vnnali.

The French, however, had another claim to this country,
namely, the

DISCOVERY OF TOE OHIO.

The largest branch of the Mississippi river from the east,
known to the early French settlers as la belle riviere, called
" beautiful " river, was discovered by Robert Cavalier de
La .Salle, in 1669. While La Salle was at his trading-post
on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian
dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. While con-
versing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the
Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea.

In this statement the Mississii)pi and its tributaries were
considered as one stream. La Salle, believing as most of
the French at that period did, that the great rivers flowing
west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to em-
bark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the
continent. He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the
approval of the Governor and the Intendent, Talon. They
issued letters patent, authorizing the enterprise, but made
no provisions to defray the expenses.

At this juncture the seminary St. Sulpicc decided to send
out missionaries in connection with the expedition, and La
Salle offering to sell his improvements at La Chive to raise
the money, the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two
thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which La
Salle purchased four canoes and, the necessary supplies for
the outfit.

On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-
four persons, embarked iu seven canoes on the St. Lawrence.
Two additional canoes carried the Indian guides.

In three days they were gliding over the bosom of Lake
Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity
of the present city of Rochester, New York. Here they
expected to procure guides to conduct them to the Ohio, but
ill this they were disappointed. After waiting a month in
the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian from the
Iroquois colony, at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured
them they could find guides, and offered to conduct them
thence. On their way they passed the mouth of Niagara
river, when they heard for the first time the di.stant thunder
of the cataract. Arriving among the Iroquois they met
with a friendly reception, and learned from a Shawnee
prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. De-
lighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made i-eady
to resume their journey, and as they were about to start they
heard of the arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring
village. One of them proved to be Louis Joliet, afterwards
famous as an explorer in the west. He had been sent by
the Canadian government to explore the copper mines on
Lake Superior, but had failed and was on his way back to
Quebec.

On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as La Salle
had predicted, the Jesuit fathers, Marquette and Dablon,
occupying the field. After parting with the priests, La
Salle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondago, where
he obtained guides and passing thence to a tributary of the
Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as

nisTOHY OF L'ANDOLPII. MOXROE AND PERRY COUXTIES, ILLINOIS.

the falls of Louisville. Tlius was the Ohio discovered by
La Salle, the persevering and successful French explorer of
the west in 16(39.

When "Washington was sent out by the colony of Virginia
in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty com-
mandant at Quebec replied : " We claim the country on the
Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of La Salle, and 'will not
give it up to the Engli.«h. Our orders are to make prisoners
of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio valley."

ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS.

"We have sketched the progress of French discovery in
the valley of the Mississippi. The first travelers reached
tha* river in 1073, and when the year 17.50 broke in upon
the father of waters and the great north-we-st, all was still
except those little spots upon the prairies of Illinois and
among the marshes of Louisiana.

Volney, by conjecture, fixes the settlement of Yiucennes
about 1735.* Bishop Brute, of Indiana, speaks of a mis-
sionary station there in 1700, and adds: "The friendly
tribes and traders called to Canada for protection, and then
M. De Yincennes came with a detachment, I think, of
Carignan, and was killed in 1735. "f Bancroft says a mili-
tary e.stablishment was formed there in 1716, and in 1742 a
settlement of herdsmen took place. J In a petition of the
old inhabitants at Viucennes, dated in November, 1793, we
find the settlement spoken of as having been made before
1742.§ And such is the general voice of tradition. On the
other hand, Charlevoix, who records the death of "Vincennes,
which took place among the Chickasaws, in 1736, makes no
mention of any post on the Wabash, or any missionary
station there. Neither does he mark any upon his map,
although he gives even the British forts upon the Tennessee
and elsewhere. Such is the character of the proof relative
to the settlement of Vincennes.

Hennepin, in 166-3-4, had heard of the " Hohio." The
route from the lakes to the Mississippi, by the Wabash, was
explored 1676, 1| and in Hennepin's volume of 1698, is a
journal, said to be that sent by La Salle to Count Frontenac
in 1682 or '83, which mentions the route by the Maumeel"
and Wabash as the most direct to the great western river.

In 1749, when the English first began to think seriously
of sending men into the west, the greater portions of the
states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota were yet under the dominion of the red men.
The English knew, however, of the nature of the vast
wealth of these wilds.

In the year 1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had
matured a plan and commenced movements, the object of
which was to secure the country beyond the Allegheni.s to
the English crown. In Pennsylvania, also. Governor Keith
and James Logan, Secretary of the Province from 1719 to

» Volney's View, p. 336.

t Butler's Kentucky.

t History U. S. iii. 346.

J American State Papers, .xvi. 32.

II Histoire General Des Voyages xiv., 758.

^Now called Miami.

1731, represented to the powers of England the necessity of
taking steps to secure the western lands Nothing, however,
was done by the mother country, except to take certain
diplomatic steps to secure the claim of Britain to this unex-
ploreil wilderncs?. England nad from the outset cl.aimed
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, on the ground that the dis-
covery and possession of the sea coast was a discovery and
possession of the country ; and as is well known, her grants
to Virginia, Connecticut, and other colonies, were through
from " sea to sea." This was not all her claims ; she had
purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This
was also a strong argument.

In the year 1684, Lord Howard, Governor of Virginia,
held a treaty with the five nations at Albany. These were
the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the
Mohawks, Oneidas, Ououdagas, Cayugas, and Seuecas.
Afterward the Tuscaroras were taken into the confederacy,
and it became known as the six nations. They came under
the protection of the mother country, and again in 1701 they
repeated the agreement. Another formal deed was drawa
up and signed by the chiefs of the National Confederacy in
1726, by which their lands were conveyed in trust to Eng-
land, " to be protected and defended by his majesty, to and
for the use of the grantors and their heirs." The validity
of this claim has often been disputed, but never successfull}'.
In 1774, a purchase was made at Lancaster of certain lands
within the " colony of Virginia," for which the Indians
received £200 in gold and a like sum in goods, with a
promise that as settlements increased, more should be paid.
The commissioners from Virginia at the treaty were Col.
Thomas Lee and Col. William Beverly.

As settlements extended, and the Indians .^egan to com-
plain, the promise of further pay was called to mind, and
Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the Alleghenies to Logs-
town. In 1784, * Col. Lee and some Virginians accom-
panied him, with the intention of ascertaining the feelings
of the Indians with regard to further settlements in the west,
which Col. Lee and others were contemplating. The object
of these proposed settlements was not the cultivation of the
soil, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. Accordingly
after Weiser's conference with the Indians at Logstown,
which was favorable to their views, Thomas Lee, with
twelve other Virginians, among whom were Lawrence and
Augustine, brothers of George Washington, and also Mr.
Hanbury, of London, formed an association whi h they
called the "Ohio Company," and in 1748 petitioned the
king for a grant beyond the mountains. This petition was
approved by the English government, and the government
of Virginia was ordered to grant to the petitioners half a
million of acres within the bounds of that colony beyond
the Alleghenies, two hundred thousand of ^^hich were to be
located at once. This portion was to be held for ten years
free of quit-rent, provided the company would put there one
hundred families within seven years, and build a fort suffi-
cient to protect the settlement. The company accepted the
proposition, and sent to London for a cargo suited to the
Indian trade, which should arrive ij November, 1749.

»Pljia Facts, pp.40, 120.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Other companies wore also formed about this time in Vir-
ginia to cohinize tiie west. On the 12th of June, 1749, a
grant of 800,1100 acres from the line of Canada, on the
north and west, was made to the Loyal t'onipany, and on
the 29th of October, 1751, another of lOO.UOO acres to the
Grtenbriar Company. *

The French were not blind all this time. They saw that
if the British once obtained a stronghold upon the Ohio,
they might not only prevent their settlements upon it, but
in time would come to the lower posts, and so gain posses-
sion of the whole country. Upon the lOth of May, 1744,
Vaudreuil, the French governor, well knowing the conse-
quences that must arise from allowing the English to build
trading posts in the north-.vest, seized some of their frontier
posts, to further secure the claims of the French to the
west. Having these fears, and seeing the danger of the
late movements of the British, Gallisoniere, then Governor
of Canada, determined to place along the Ohio evidences of
the French claim to, and possession of, the country. For
that purpose he sent, in the summer of 1749, Louis Celeron,
with a party of soldiers, to place plates of lead, on which
were written out the claims of the French, in the mounds
and at the mouths of the rivers. These were heard of by
Willliam Trent, au Indian commissioner, sent out by Vir-
ginia in 17">2, to treat with and conciliate the Indians,
while upon the Ohio, and mentioned in his journal. One of
these plates was found with the inscription partly defaced.
It bears date August ICth, 1749, and a cojn of the inscrip-
tion, with particular account, was sent by De Witt Clinton
to the American Autiiiuariau Society, among whose journals
it may now be found. These measures did not, however,
deter the English fnmi going on with their explorations.

In Februarv, H-)!, Christoph-T Gist was scut by the
Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village
of the Twigtwecs, on the Miami, about 1")0 miles above its
mouth. From there he went down the Ohio Paver nearly
to the falls, at the jiresent city of Louisville, and in Novem-
ber ha commenced a survey of the company's lands. In
1751, General Andrew l/cwis commenced some surveys in
the Greenbrier country, on behalf of the company already
mentioned. Meanwhile the French were busy iu preparing
their forts for defence, and in opening roads. In 1752
having heard of the trading houses on the Miami River,
thev, assisted by tlie Oltawas and Cliippewas, attacked it,
and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives
were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison.
The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account
says several were b\irned. This fort, or trading house was
called by the Engli.-h writers rickawillany. A memorial
of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawellanes, in the
centre of the territory between Ohio ami the Wabash."
This was the first blood shed between the French and
English, and occurred near the present city of Piqua, Ohio.
The English were determined ou their part to purchase a
title from the Indians of lands whi'-h they wished to occupy,
and in the spring of 1752, Messrs. Fry,t Lomax and Pat. on

^^Rcvlsiil Pinmipi of Vir.'iiii.i.
+ .\ftirnar.l-i C'lHiinnii l.i-in-cliicf t
meut of lUc I'rcnch Vi'-.'.r of 177j.

Wasliiiii'tou, at Cio commencc-

were sent from Virginia to hold a conference with the
natives at L igstown, to learn what they objected to in the
treaty at Lancaster, and to settle all difficulties. On the
9th of June the commissioners met the red men at Logs-
town. This was a village seventeen miles below Pittsburgh,
upon the north side of the Ohio. Hero had been a trading
post for many years, but it was abandoned by the Indians
in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the
treaty of Lancaster, but the commissioners taking aside
Jlontour, the interpreter, who was a son of the famous
Catherine Montour, and a chief among the six nations,
being three-fourths of Indian blood, through his influence
an agreement was eflbcted, and upon the 13th of June they
all united in signing a deed, confiruiing the Lancaster treaty
in its fullest extent. Meanwhile the powers beyond the seas
were trving to out-manieuver each other, and were professing
to be at peace. The English generally outwitted the Indians,
and secured themselves, as they thought, by their polite
conduct. But the French, in this as in all cases, proved that
they knew best how to manage the natives. While these
measures were taken, another treaty with the wild men of
the debatable land was also iu contemplation. And iu Sep-
tember, 1753, William Fairfax met their deputies at Win-
chester, Virginia, where he concluded a treaty. In the
month following, however, a more satisfactc ry interview took
place at Carlisle, between the representatives of the Iroquois,
Delawares, Shawneos, Twigtwees, and Wyandots, and the
commissioners of Pennsylvania, Richard Peters, Isaac Xorris,
and Bonjamin Franklin. Soon after this, no satisfaction
being obtained from the Ohi,), either as to the force, position,
or purposes of the French, Robert Dinwiddie, then Governor
of Virginia, determined to send to them another messenger,
and learn if possible their intentions. For this purpose he
selected a young surveyor, who, at the age of nineteen had
attained the rank of major, and whose previous life had
inured him to hardships and woodland ways ; while his
courage, cool judgment, and firm will, all fitted him fir such
a mission. This personage was no other than the illustrious
George Washington, who then held considerable interest iu
western lands. He was twenty-one years old at the time of
the appointment.* Taking Gist as a guide, the two, accom-
panied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march.
They lefi Will's Creek, where Cumberland now is, on the
15lh of Xoveraber, and on the 22d reached the Monongahel;;,
about ten miles above the f 'rk. From there they went t .
L ogstown, where Washington had a long conference wil'.i
the chiefs of the six nations. Here he learned the position
of the French, and also that they had determined not to come
down the river until the following spring. The Indians were
non-committal, they deeming a neutral position the safest.
Washington, finding nothing could be done, went on to Ve-
nango, au old Indian town at the mouth of the Frencli
Creek. Here the French had a fort called Fort Machault.
Ou the 11th of D -c Muber he reached l!ie fort at the head of
French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddle's
letter, received his answer, and upon the l<)th set out upun
his return journey with no one l>ut Gist, hii guidi-. and a few

-'SiKirks' Wa,liiu-:on, Vol. ii., ri>- iZi-n:.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Indians, who still remained true to liim. They reached home
iu safety on the 6th of January, 1754. From the letter of
St. Pierre, Commander of the French fort, sent by Washing-
ton to Governor Dinwiddle, it was perfectly clear that the
French would not yield the West without a struggle. Active
preparations were at once made ia all the English colonies
for the coming conflict, while the French finished their fort
at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications to
be in readiness. The Old Dominion was alive. Virginia
was the center of great activities. Volunteers were called
for, and from neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict,
and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under
Governor's proclamation, — which promised two hundred
thousand acres on tlie Ohio. Along this river they were
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point,
whither Trent had come for assistance, for his little band of
fjrty-one men, who were working away in hunger and want,
to fortify that point at the fork of the Ohio, to which both
parties were looking with deep interest. The first birds of
spring filled the firest with their songs. The swift river
rolled by th^ Alh-glieny hillsides, swollen by the melting
snows of spring and April showers. The leaves were appear-
ing, a few Indian Scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed
near at hand, and all was so quiet that Frazier, an old In-
dian trader, who had been left by Trent in command of the
new fort, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek,
ten miles up the M jnougahela. But though all was so quiet
iu that wilderness, keen eyes had seen the low entrenchment
that was rising at the fork, and swift feet had borne the news
of it up the valley,, and on the morning of the 17th of April,
Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw upon the
Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink; — sixty batteaux
and three hundred canoes, filled with men, and laden deep
with cannon and stores. The fort was called on to surren-
der: by the advice of the Half-King, AVard tried to evade
the act, but it would not do. Contreca;ur, with a thousand
men about him, said 'Evacuate,' and the eusign dared not
refuse. That evening he supped with his captor, and the
next day was bowed off" by the Frenchman, and, with his
men and tools, marched up the Mouongahela." The French
and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la Chapelle,
in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narra-
ted show that the French were determined to hold the coun-
try watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries: while the
English laid claim to the country by virtue of the discoveries
by the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New Found-
land to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The
first decisive blow had been struck, and the first attempt of
the English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these
lands had resulted disastrously to them. The French and
Indians immediately completed the fortifications begun at
the fork, which they had so easily captured, and when com-
pleted gave to the fort the name of Du Quesne. Washing-
ton was at Will's Creek, when the news of the capture of the
fort arrived. He at once departed to recapture it. On his
way he entrenched himself at a place called the " Meadows,"
where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From

there he surprised and captured a force of French and Indi-
ana marching against him, but was soon after attacked by a
much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the morn-
ing of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia.

The English Government immediately planned for cam-
paigns, one against Fort Du Quesne, one against Nova Sco-
tia, one against Fort Niagara, and one against Crown Point.
These occurred during 1755-6, and were not successful in
driving the French from their possessions.. The expedition
against Fort Du Quesne was led by the famous Braddock,
who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those
acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered an inglorious de-
feat. This occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is gen-
erally known as the battle of Monougahela or " Braddock's
defeat." The war continued through various vicissitudes
through the years 1756-7, when, at the commencement of
1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then
secretary of state, afterwards Lord Chatham, active prepa-
rations were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions
were planned for this year : one under General Amherst,
against Louisburg; another under Abcrcrombie, against
Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third under General Forbes, against
Fort Du Quesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surren-
dered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days,
and the eastern partof the Canadian possessions fell into the
hands of the British. Abercrombie captu red Fort Fronte-
nac, and when the expedition against Fort Du Quesne, of
which Washington had the active command, arrived there,
it was found in flames anl deserted. The English at once
took possession, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illus-
trious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt.

The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the redac-
tion of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ;
Araherst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point; and
General Prideaux was to capture Niagara. This latter place
was taken in July, but the gallant Prideaux lost his life.
Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point, without a
blow ; and Wolfe, af.cr making the memorable ascent to the
plains o£ Abraham, on September 13th, dufeated Montcalm,
and on the l«lh the city capitulated. In this engagement,
Montcalm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Jlont-
calm's successor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the
city, with th3 purpose of defeating the English, and there,
on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the
bloodiest battles of the French and Indian war. It resulted
iu the defeat of the French, and the fall of the city of JMon-
treal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the
whole of C.mada was surrendered to the English. This
practically concluded the war, but it was not until 1763
that the treaties of peace between France and England
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that
year, and under its provisions all the country east of the
Mississippi and north of the Ibervill river in Louisiana, were
ceded to England. At the same time, Spain ceded Florida
to Great Britain.

On the 13th September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was
sent from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only re-
maining French post in the territory. He arrived tliere on

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

the 9th of November, and suramoaed the place to surrender.
At first the commander of the post, Beletre, refused, but on
the 29rh, hearing of the continued defeat of the French array,
surrendered. The North-west Territory was now entirely
under the English rule. In 17G2, France, by a secret treaty,
ceded Louisiana to Spain, to prevent it fulling into the hands
of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire
West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fou-
tainbleau, gave to the English the dominion in question.
Twent)' years after, by the treaty of peace between the United
States and England, that part of Canada lying south and
west of the great lakes, comprising a large territory, was
acknowledged to be a portion of the United States. In
1803 Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by
France sold to the United States. By the treaty of Paris,
the regions east of the Mississippi, including all these and
other towns of the north-west, were given over to England ;
but they do not appear to have been taken possession of until
17G5, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty in
England, establisheil himself at Fort Chai-tres, bearing with
him the proclamation of General Gage, dated December
30th, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Catho-
lics who worshiped here and the right to leave the country
with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the priv-
ileges of Englishmen. During the years 1775 i.nd 177(5, by
the operations of land companies and the perseverance of
individuals, several settlements were firmly established be-
tween the AUeghenies aud the Ohio river, and western land
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a
council held in Kaskaskia, on July .Sth, 1773, an association
of English traders, calling themselves the " Illinois Land
Company," obtained from the chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Ca-
hokia, aud Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the
east side of the Mississippi river south of the Illinois. In
177o a merchant from the Illinois country, named Viviat,
came to Post Viucennes as the agent of the association called
the "Wabash Land Company." On the 8th of October he
obtained from eleven Piauke.-haw chiefs a deed for 37,497,
GOO acres of land. This dccil was signed bv the grantors,
attested by a number of the inhabitants of Yincennes, and
afterward recorded in the office of a Notary Public at Kas-
kaskia. This and other land companies had extensive
schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all were frus-
trated by the breaking out of the Revolutionary war. On
the 20th of April, 1780, the two comixinies named consoli-
dated under the name of the " United Illinois and Wabash
Land Company ; " they afterwards made strenuous efforts to
have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all signally
failed. When the war of the Revolution commenced, Ken-
tucky was an unorganized country, though there were several
settlements within her borders.

In Ilutehins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated th.".t at
that time Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000
white and black inhabitants, the whites being a little the
more numerous. Cahokia contained fifty houses, 300 white
inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were east of the !Missis-
sippi river, about the year 1771 — when these observations
were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and

238 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark,
nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements,
save what is contained in a report made by a committee to
Congress in June, 1778. From it the following extract is
made: " Near the mouth of the river Kaskaskia, there is a
village which appears to have contained nearly eighty fam-
ilies from the beginning of the late Revolution ; there are
twelve families at a small village at La Prairie Du Rochers,
and nearly fifty families at the Cahokia village. There are
also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philip's,
which is five miles further up the river." St. Louis had been
settled in February, 1764, and at this time contained, inclu-
ding its neighboring towns, over six hundred white aud one
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all
the country west of the Mississippi was under French rule,
and remained so until ceded back to Spain, its original owner,
who afterwards sold it and the country including New Or-
leans to the United States. At Detroit, there were, accord-
ing to Caj)tain Carver, who was in the north-west from 17G8
to 1776, more than one hundred houses, and the river was
settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultiva-
ted, the people being engaged in the Indian trade.

On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held
every post of importance in the West. Kentucky was
formed as a component part of Virginia, and the sturdy
pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, and recog-
nizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the
trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to their
purposes, and those w'ithin the commonivealth of Ken-
tucky proceeded to exercise their civil privileges of tlecting
John Todd aud Richard Gallaway burgesses, to represent
theni in the assembly of the present state. The chief spirit
in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year
previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move
of unequalled boldness. He had been watching the move-
ments of the British throughout the north-west, aud under-
stood their whole plan. He saw it was through their
possession of the post at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and
other places, which would give them easy access to the vari-
ous Indian tribes in the north-west, that the British intended
to penetrate the country from the north aud south, and
annihilate the frontier fortresses. Tliis moving, energetic
mau was Colonel, afterwards General George Rodgers Clark.
He knew that the Indians were not unanimously in accord
with the English, and he was convinced that, could the
British be defeated and expelled from the north-west, the
natives might be easily awed iuto neutrality ; by spies sent for
the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against
the Illinois settlements might easily succeed. Patrick Henry
was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily iuto
Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in
the Colonial Assemblies ; but there was no one until Clark
came who was sufHciently acquainted with the condition of
affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them.

Clark, havingsatisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility
of his plan, received on the second of January two sets of
instructions: one secret, the other open. The latter authoriz-
ed him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Ken-

HISTORY OF IIANDOLPH, MONBOE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

tucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three months from
their arrival in the west. The secret order authorized him
to arm tlie troops, to procure his powder and lead of General
Hand, at Pittsburg, and to proceed at once to subjugate the
country.

"With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburg, choos-
in"- rather to raise his men west of the mountains. Here he
raised three companies and several private volunteers.
Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which
he navigated as far as tlie falls, where he took possession of
and fortified Corn Island, between the present sites of Louis-
ville, Kentucky, and Ivew Albany, Indiana. Remains of
this fortification may yet be found. At this place he ap-
pointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had
reached Kentucky by the southern route. Here he an-
nounced to the men their real destination. On the 24th of
June he embarked on the river, his destination being Fort
Massac or Massacre, and then marched direct to Kaskaskia.
The march was accomplished and the town reached on the
evening of July 4. He captured the fort near the village,
and soon after the village itself, by surprise, without the
loss of a single man or killing any of the enemy. Clark
told the natives that they were at perfect liberty to worship
as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the conflict
thev would, and he would protect them from any barbarity
from Biitish or Indian foes. This had the desired 'effect,
and the inhabitants at once swore allegiance to the Ameri-
can arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the
Gth of July, they accompanied him, and through their in-
fluence the inhabitants of the place surrendered. Thus two
iiniwrtaut posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the Eng-
lish into the possession of Virginia. During the year
(1779) the famous " Land Laws " of Virginia were passed-
Tlie passage of these laws was of more consequence to the
pioneers of Kentucky and the north-west than the gaining
of a few Indian conflicts. These grants confirmed in the
main all grants made, and guaranteed to actual settlers their
rights and privileges.

After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for sell-
ing the balance of the public lands at forty cents per acre.
To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent
four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims
over many of which great confusion prevailed concerning
their validity vote.* These gentlemen opened their court on
October, 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April
26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided three thou-
sand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, — George
May, who assumed the duties on the 10th day of the month
whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year
(1781) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis-
sippi commenced. The Government of Spain exacted such
measures in relation to its trade as to cause the overtures
made to the United States to be rejected. The American
Government considered they had a right to navigate its
channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. f

» Butlur's Kentucky.

t American State Papera.

The settlements in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by
emigrants. It was during this year that the first seminary
of learning was established in the West in this young and
enterprising commonwealth.

The settlers did not look upon the building of the fort in
a friendly manner as it aroused the hostility of the Indians.
Spain hael been friendly to the colonies during their struggle
for independence, and though for a while this friendship ap-
peared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of
the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both
nations. The winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusu-
. ally severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians
always refered to it as the " Great Cold." Numbers of wild
animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives.
The following summer a parly of Canadians and Indians,
attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possesion of it in
consecjuence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolt-
ing colonies. They met with such a determined resistance
on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part
in the battle, that they were compelled to abandon the con-
test. They also made an attack on the settlements in Ken-
tucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable man-
ner, they fled the country in great haste. About this time
arose the cjuestion in the Colonial Congress concerning the
western lauds claimed by Virginia, New York, Jlassachu-
setts and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this sub-
ject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 17S0, to
pass a law giving to the delegates of that State in Congress
the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the
United States. This law was laid before Congress during
the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until
September Oth, when a resolution passed that boely calling
upon the states claiming western lands to release their claims
in favor of the whole body. This basis formed the Union,
and was the first after all of those legislative measures,
which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois,Michigan, Wisconsin and ^Minnesota. In Decemberof
the same year, the plan of coneiuering Detroit again arose. The
conquest might easiiy have been effected by Clark, had the
necessary aid been furnished him. Nothing decisive was
done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety
of the North- West from British invasion lay iji ihe capture
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered
one in the territory.

Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into
the counties of Lincoln, Fayette, and Jeilerson, and the act
establishirg the town of Louisville was passed. Virginia in
accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d day
of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the
United States upon certain conditions, which Congress would
not accede to,* and the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old
Dominion, failed, nor was anything farther done until 1783.
During all that time the colonies were busily engaged in the
struggle with the mother country, and in consequence thereof
but little heed was given to the western settlements. Upon
the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio
Eiver of American parentage occurred, being that of Mary
9 American State Papers.

HJSlOm OF EAyDOLPH, MOXIiOE AXD FERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Hcckewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian Mis-
sionary, whose band of Christian Indians suffered in after
years a horrible massacre by the hands of the frontier settlers,
who had been exasperated by the murder of several of their
neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to
humanity, a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of
shame upon their lives. For this and kindred outrages on
the part of the whites, the Indians committed many deeds of
cruelty which darken the years of 1781 and 17S2 in the his-
tory of the Xorth-west. During the year 1782 a number of
battles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and
between the ^loraviau Indians and the Wyandota. In these,
horrible acts of cruelty were practiced on the captives, many
of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of fron-
tier outlaws. These occurred diiefiy in the Ohio Valleys.
Contemporary with them were several engagements in Ken-
tucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who,
often by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfore, saved
the outposts from cruel destruction. By the close of the
vear victory had perched upon the American banner,
and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of
peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of
England and her unconquerable colonies ; C'ornwallis had
been defeated on the 19th of October preceding, and the lib-
erty of America was assured. On the 19.h of April follow-
ing, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was
proclaimed to the Army of the United States, and on the 3d
of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our
revolutionary struggle was concluded. By the terms of that
treaty, the boundaries of the "West were as follows : On the
north the line was to extend along the centre of the Great
Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long
I.,ake, thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of
the ^Mississippi Paver ; down its center to the 31st parallel of
latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalach-
icola Bivcr; down its center to its junction wiih the Flint ;
thence straight to the head of St. JIary's Kiwr, and theucj
down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean.

Following the cessationof hostilities with England, several
posts were still occupied by the British in the Xorth and
West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the
enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians through-
out Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose lands adventur-
ous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by the
proper trcatv. To remedy this evil, Congress appointed
Commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their
lands, and prohibited the settlement of the territory until
this could be done. Before the close of the year another
attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however,
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in
the North-west she had formerly done, withdrew her troops,
having on the 20th of December preceding, authorized the
whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States.
This was done on the 1st of March following, and the North-
west Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion.
To General Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract
of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situ-
ated anywhere north of the Ohio wherever they cly^se to

locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of
the Ohio, where is now the village of Clarksville, about mid-
way between the cities of New Albany and Jeffersonville,
Indiana.

While the frontier remained thus, and General Ilaldi-
mand at Detroit refused to evacuate, alleging that he had no
orders from his king to do so, settlers were rapidly gather-
ing about the inland forts. In the spring of 17S4, Pittsburg
was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur Lee,
who passed through the town soon after on his way to the
Indian council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very
prepossessing in appearance. He say.s, " Pittsburg is in-
habited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry
log houses, and are as dirty as if in the North of Ireland, or
even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on,
the goods being brought at the vast expense of forty-five
shillings per hundred lbs. from Philadelphia and Baltimore.
They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There
are in the town, four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest
of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel."

Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabi-
tants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation
from Virginia. A land office was opened at Louisville, and
measures were adopted to take defensive precaution against
the Indians, who were yet, in some instances, incited to deeds
of violence by the British. Before the close of this year,
1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them,
although no entries were recorded until 1787. The Indian
title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished, they held
large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Con-
gress adopted means for treaties with the original owners
and provided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as
well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession.
On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the Wabash
Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in
1781, that at Fort Mcintosh in 178.5, and through theso
vast tracts of land were gained. The Wabash Indians, how-
ever, afterwards refused to compi)' with the provisions of
the treaty made with them, and in order to compel their
adherence to its provisions, force was used.

During the year 1786, the free navigation of the !Mis
sissippi came up in Congress, and caused various discussions,
which resulted in no defiait^p anion, only serving to excite
speculation in regard to the Western lands. Congress had
promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution,
but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs along the
Mississippi respecting its navigation, and the trade of the
Northwest, that body, had in 1783 declared its inability to
fulfill those promises until a treaty could be coucluded be-
tween the two governments. Before the close of the year,
17SG, however, it was able, through the treaties with the
Indians, to allow some grants and settlements thereon, and
on the 14th of September Connecticut ceded to the general
government the tract of land known as the '' Connecticut
Reserve," and before the close of the year a_ large tract of
land was sold to a company, who at once took measures to
settle it. Bv the provisions of this grant, the company were to
pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a de-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ductiiui of one-third fur bad lands and other contingencies,
they received 750,000 acres bounded on the south by the
Ohio, on the east by the Seventh range of townships, on the
west by the Sixteenth range, and on the north by a line so
drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservation.
lu addition to this Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres
to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under
the resolutions of 17.S9 and 1790. While Dr. Cutler, one of
the agents of the company, was pressing its claims before
Congress, that body \va3 bringing into form an ordinance
for the political and social organization of this Territory.
"When the cession was made by Virginia, 1784, a plan was
offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from
the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which prevail-
ed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally
passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina.
By this proposition tlie Territory was to have been divided
into ten States by parallels and meridian lines. There were,
however, serious objections to this plan ; the root of the diffi-
culty was in 'the resolution of Congress passed in October,
17S0, which fixed the boundaries of the ceded lands to be.
from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles square.
These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir-
ginia and Massachusetts they desired a change, and in July
1786, the subjeat was taken up in Congress and changed to
favor a division into not more than five S.'ates, and not less
than three; this was approved by the Legislature of Virginia.
The subject was again taken up by Congress in 17S6, and
discussed throughout that year, and until July 1787 when
the famous " compact of 1787 " was passed, and the founda-
tion of the government of the Northwest laid. This compact
is fully discussed and explained in the sketch on Illinois in
this book, and to it the reader is referred. The passage of this
act and the grant to the New England Company was soon
followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves
Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of land between the
Miamis. This gentleman had visited these lands soon after
the treaty of 1786, and being greatly pleased with them,
offered similar terms to those given to the New England
Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury Board
with power to act, and a contract was concluded the follow-
ing year. During the autumn the directors of the New
England Company were preparing to occupy their grant
the following spring, and upon the 23d of November made
arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, under the
superintendency of General Rufus Putnam, to set forward.
Six boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of
January the surveyors and their assistant?, twenty-six in
number, were to meet at Hartford and proceed on their
journey westward, the remainder to follow as soon as possi-
ble. Congress in the meantime, upon the 3d of October,
had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western
settlers, and to prevent unauthorized intrusions, and two
days later appointed Arthur St. Clair Governor of the Ter-
ritory of the Northwest.

AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS.

The civil organization of tlie Northwest Territory was
now complete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of In-

dian affairs, settlers from the east began to come into the
country rapidly. The New England Company sent their
men during the winter of 1787-8, pressing on over the Alle-
ghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into
Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national
turnpike from Cumberland, westward. Through the weary
winter days they toiled on, and by April were all gathered
on the Youghiogheny, where boats had been built, and a
once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived on the
7th of that mouth, and unless the ^Moravian missionaries be
regarded as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly
claim that honor.

General St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the North
west not having yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, writ-
ten out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the
embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer
them. Washington in writing of this, the first American
settlement in the Northwest said : " No colony in America
was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which
has just commenced at Muskingum. I know many of its set-
tlers personally, and there were never men better calculated
to promote the welfare of such a community." On the 2d
of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held on
the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpo e of naming
the new born city and its squares." As yet the settlement
was known as the " ]\Iuskingum," but was afterwards changed
to the name. Marietta, in honor of Mario Antoinette.
Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Var-
uum, who with S. II. Parsons and John Armstrong had been
appointed to the judicial bench of the territory on the IGth
of October 1787. On July 9, Governor St. Clair arrived,
and the colony began to assume form. The act of 1787 pro-
vided two distinct grades of government for the Northwest,
under the first of which the whole power was invested in the
hands of a governor and three district judges. This was
immediately formed on the governor's arrival, and the first,
laws of the colony passed on the 25th of July: these provid-
ed for the organization of the militia, and on the next day
appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that
country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the
Scioto River into the county of Washington. From that
time forward, notwithstanding the doubts yet existing as to
the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the second of
September the first court was held with imposing ceremonies.
The emigration westward at this time was very great.
The commander at Fort Ilarmer, at the mouth of the Musk-
ingum reported four thousand five hundred persons as having
passed that post between February and June 17S8, many of
whom would have purchased of the " Associates," as the
New England Company was called, had they been ready to
receive them. On the 2Gth of November 1787 Symmes
issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the
plan of sale he intended to adopt. In January 1788, Mat-
thias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest in
Svmmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sec-
tions upon which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-
third of this locality, he sold the other two-thirds to Robert
Patterson and John Filson, and the three about August

EiticLY OF BAynoLnr, MoynoE axd PEnnr counties, Illinois.

commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which was desig-
nated as being Licking River, to the mouth of whicli thcy
proposed to have a road cut from Lexington ; these settle-
ments prospered but suffered greatly from the flood of 1780.
On the 4th of March 1789, the Constitution of the United
States went into operation, and on April 30th, George
AVashington was inaugurated President, and during the next
summer an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north
of the Ohio. The President at first used pacific means but
these failing, he sent General Ilarmer against the hostile
tribes. He destroyed several villages, but was defeated in
two battles, near the present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana
From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events
were the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 179(5,
General St. Clair was appointed in command, and marched
against the Indians ; but while he was encamped on a stream,
the 8t Mary, a branch of the Maumee, he was attacked and
defeated with a loss of six hundred men. General "Wayne
was then sent against the savages. In August, 1794, he met
them near the rapids of the JIaumee, and gained a cumpkte
victorv. This success, followed by vigorous measures, com-
pelled the Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July,
the following year, the treaty cf Greenville was signed by
the principal chiefs, by which a large tract of country was
ceded to the United States. Before proceeding in our nar-
rative, we will pause to notice Fort "Washington, erected in
the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. Nearly
all the great cities of the North-west, and indeed of the whole
countrv, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer struc-
tures, k:iown as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn,
Washington, Ponchartrain, mark the original sites of the
now proud cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and Detroit. So of
most of the flourishing cities ea^t and wcstof the Mississippi.
Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a rude
but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a num-
ber of strong' y-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for
soldiers' barracks were a story and a half high, while those
composing the officers' quarters were more imposing and more
conveniently arranged and furnished. The whole was so
placed as to form a hollow .square, enclosing about an acre
of grirtin<l, with a block house at each of the four angles.
Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both
the Civil ancl Military governments of the North-western
Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty vari-
ous giLrantic land speculations were entered into by different
persons, who hoped to obtain from the Indians in ^Michigan
and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. These were
•'cncrally discovered in time to prevent the schemes from
beincr carried out, and from involving the settlers in war.
On October '27, 179.5, the treaty between the United States
and Spain was signed, whereby the free navigation of the
^lississippi was secured. No sooner had the treaty of 179.5
been ratified than settlers began to pour rapidly into the
west. The great event of the year 1790, was the occupa'ion
of that part of the North-west including Jlichigan, which
was this v?:ir, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated
bv the I3riti^h forces. The United States owing to certain
conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities

in Canada in relation to Detroit and otlier tVontier posts.
When at last the British authorities were called upon to give
them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne who
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and
who before the year's close, sickened and died near Erie,
transferred his headcjuarters to the neighborhood of the lakes,
where a county named after him was formed, which included
the north-west of Ohio, all of Jlichigan, and the north-cast
of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed
at the present city of Chillicothe, along the Miami from
Middletown to Pi(iua, while in the more distant West, settlers
and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In Sep-
tember the city of Cleveland was laid out, and during the
summer and autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharj)-
less, erected the first nianufiictory of p;iper — the " Iledttone
Paper Mills" — in the West. St- Louis contained some
seventy houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along
the river, contiguous to it, were more than three thousand
inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, Indians and half-
breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that part
of the North-west. The election of representatives for the
territory had taken place, and on the 4th of February, 1799,
they convened at Losantiville— now known as Cincinnati,
having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and considered the
capital of the territory, — to nominate persons from whom the
members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance
with a previous ordinance. This nomination being made,
the Assembly adjourned until the IGh of the following Sep-
tember. From those named the President selected as mem-
bers of the council, Henry ■\'andenburg, of Vinceunes, Eobcrt
Oliver, of Marietta, James Findley, and Jacob Burnett, of
Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. Ou the IGth
of September, the Territorial Legislature met, and on the
24th, the two houses were duly organized, Henry Vanden-
burg being elected President of the Council. The mes.-age
of Gov. St. Clair, was addressed to the Legislature Septem-
ber 20th, and on October 13th, that body elected as a dele-
gate to Congress, General Wm. Henry Harrison, who re-
ceived eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over
his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of General St. Clair.
The whole number of acts passed at this session and approved
by the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were
passed but received his veto. The most important of those
p-issed related to the militia, to the administration, and to
taxation. On the 19th of December this protracted session
of the first Legislature in the West closed, and on the SOtli
of December the President nominated Charles Willing Byid,
to the office of secretary of the Territory, vice Wm. Henry
Harrison, elected to Congress. The Senate confirmed his
nomination the next day.

DIVISION" OF THE NOKTH-WEST TEr.KITOKV.

The increased emigration to the north-west, and extent of
the domain, made it very difficult to conduct the ordinary
operations of government, and rendered the efficient action
of courts almost impossible ; to i-emedy this it was deemed
advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Con-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

gress, in 1800, appointed a committee to examine the ques-
tion and report some means for its solution.

This committee on the 3d of March reported : " In the
■western countries there had been but one court having cog-
nizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which
offenders experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile
and abandoned criminals, and at the same time deters useful
citizens from making settlements in such society. The
extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assistance is
experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * *
To remedy this evil it is expedient to the committee that a
division of said territory into two distinct and separate
governments should be made, and that such division be
made by beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami river,
running directly north until it intersects the boundary
between the United States and Canada."

The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance
■with its suggestions, that body passed an act extinguishing
the north-west territory, which act was approved May 7th.
Among its pro-visions were these :

"That from and after July 4 next all that part of the
territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio river,
■which lies to the westward of a line beginning at a point
opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river, and running
thence to Fort Kecovery, and thence North until it shall
intersect the territorial line Ijetween the United States and
Canada, shall for the purpose of temporary government,
constitute a separate territory and be called the Indian
Territory."

Gen. Harrison (afterwards President), was appointed
governor of the Indiana Territory, and during his residence
at Vincennes, he made several important treaties with the
Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of land. The next
year is memorable in the history of the west for the purchase
of Louisiana from France by the United States for 8 1 5,000,-
000. Thus by a peaceful manner the domain of the United
States was extended over a large tract of country west of
the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction of
the north-western government. The next year Gen. Harri-
son obtained additional grants of land from the various
Indian nations in Indiana and the present limits of Illinois,
and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at St.
Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of land were obtained.
1 During this year, Congress granted a township of land
for the support of a college and began to offer inducements
for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising
the state of Jlichigan began to fill rapidly ■^vith settlers
along its southern borders. This same year a law was
passed organizing the south-west territory, dividing it into
two portions, — the territory of New Orleans, which city was
made the seat of government, and the district of Louisiana,
which was annexed to the domain by General Harrison.

On the 11th of January, 1805, the territory of Michigan
was formed, and Wm. Hull appointed governor, with head-
quarters at Detroit, the change to take effect June 30th.
On the lllh of that month, a fire occurred at Detroit, which
destroyed most every building in the place. When the
officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it

in ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the coun-
try. Rebuilding, however, was commenced at once. While
this was being done, Indiana passed to the second grade of
government. In 1809, Indiana territory was divided, and
the territory of Illinois was formed, the seat of government
being fixed at Kaskaskia, and through her General Assem-
bly had obtained large tracts of laud from the Indian tribes.
To all this the celebrated Indian Tecumthe, or Tecumseh,
vigorously protested,* and it was the main cause of his
attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with
the settlers. He visited the principal tribes, and succeeded
in forming an alliance with most of the tribes, and then
joined the cause of the British in the memorable war of 1812.
Tecumseh was killed at the battle of the Thames. Tecum-
seh was, in many respects, a noble character, — frank and
honest in his intercour.se with General Harrison and the
settlers ; in war, brave and chivalrous. His treatment of
prisoners was humane. In the summer of 1812, Perry's vic-
tory on Lake Erie occurred, and shortly after, active pre-
parations were made to capture Fort Jlalden. On the 27th
of September, the American army under command of
General Harrison, set sail for the shores of Canada, and, in
a few hours, stood around the ruins of Maiden, from which
the British army under Proctor had retreated to Sandwich,
intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the
valley of the Thames. On the 29th, General Harrison was
at Sandwich, and General McArtliur took possession of
Detroit and the territory of Michigan. On the 2d of Octo-
ber following, the American army began their pursuit of
Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of
the Thames followed. The victory was decisive, and practi-
cally closed the war in the north-west. In 1806, occurred
Burr's insurrection. He took possession of an island in the
Ohio, and was charged with treasonable intentions against
the Federal government. His capture was eifected by
General Wilkinson, acting under instruction of President
JeffL-rson. Burr was brought to trial on a charge of treason,
and, after a prolonged tri.al, during which he defended him-
self with great ability, he was acquittcd.of the charge of
treason. His subsequent career was obscure, and he died
in 1836. Had his scheme succeeded, it would be interesting
to know what effect it would have had on the north-we tern
territory. The battle of tlie Thames was fought October
6th, 1813. It effectually closed hostilities in the north-west,
although peace was not restored until July 22d, 1814, when
a treaty was made at Greenville, by General Harrison, be-
tween the United States and the Indian tribes. On the 24th
of December, the treaty of Ghent was signed by the repre-
sentatives of England and the United States. This treaty
was followed the next year by treaties with various Indian
tribes throughout the north-west, and quiet was again
restored.

PKE.SENT CONDITION OF THE NOKTII-WEST.

In former chapters we have traced briefly the discoveries,
settlements, wars, and most important events which have
occurred in the large area of country denominated the

* A;iurican State Papers

niSTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUSTIES, ILLINOIS.

north-west, and we now turn to the contemplation of its
growth and prosperity. Its people are among the most
intelligent and cnterpiising in the Union. Tlie population
is steadily increasing, the arts and sciences are gaining a
stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is becoming
daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked com-
muniries on the seaboard, dependent wholly on foreign com-
merce or domestic manufacture. Agriculture is the leading
feature in our industries. This vast domain has a sort of
natural geographical border, save where it melts away to
the southward in the cattle- raising districts of the south-
west. The leading interests will be the growth of the food
of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all
competitors, and our great rival will be the fertile fields of
Kansas, Kobra^ka, Colorado, Texas and Now Mexico.

To attempt to give statistics of grain productions for 1880
would require more .space than our work would permit of.
Manufacturing has now attained in the chief cities a foot-
hold that bids fair to render the north-west independent of
the outside world. Nearly our whole region has a distribu-
tion of coal measure which will in time support the manu-
factures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As to
transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles
except food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and
our fac'.litics are yearly increasing beyond those of any
other region.

The principal tradeand manufacturing centres of the great
north-west are Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
Detroit, Clev-^land and Toledo, with any number of minor
cities and towns doing a large and growing business. The
intelligence and enterprise of its people ; the great wealth of
its soil and minerals; its vast inland seas and navigable
rivers ; its magnificent railroad .system ; its patriotism and
love of country will render it ever loyal in the future as in
the past. The people of the Mississippi Valley are the key-
stone of the national union and national prosperity.

CHAPTER [I

BRIEF msroniCAL sketch of ILLINOIS.

^ EGINNING the history of this great State
wo direct attention briefly to the discovery
nnd exploration of the MUilnnippi. Hernando
Ue Soto, cutting his way through the wilder-
ness from Florida, had discovered the Missis-
sippi in the year 1.542. Wasted with disease
and privation, he only reached the stream
to die upon its banks, and the remains of
the ambitious and iron-willed Spaniard found
a fitting resting-place beneath the waters of the great river.
The chief incitement to Spanish discoveries in America was
a thirst for gold and treasure. The discovery and settle-
ment of the Mississippi Valley on the part of the French

must, on the other hand, be ascribed to religious zeal.
Jesuit missionaries, from the French settlements on the St.
Lawrence, early penetrated to the region of Lake Huron.
It was from the tribes of Indians living iu the West, that
intelligence came of a noble river flowing south. Marquette,
who had visited the Chippewas in 16G8, and established
the mission of Sault Ste. Marie, now the oldest settlement
within the present commonwealth of Michigan, formed the
purpose of its exploration.

The following year he moved to La Poiute, in Lake
Superior, where he instructed a branch of the Hurons till
1G70, when he removed south and founded the mission at
St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. In company with
Joliet, a fur-trader of Quebec, who had been designated by
M. Talon, Intendcnt of Canada, as chieftain of the explor-
ing party, and five French voyageurs, Marquette, on the
10th of June, 1073, set out on the expedition. Crossing
the water-shed dividing the Fox from the Wisconsin rivers,
their two canoes were soon launched on the waters of the
latter. Seven days after, ou the 17th of June, they joy-
fully entered the broad current of the Mississippi. Stopping
six days on the western bank, near the mouth of the Des
Moines River, to enjoy the hospitalities of the Illinois
Indians, the voyage was resumed, and after passing the
perpendicular rocks above Alton, on whose lofty limestone
front were painted frightful representations of monsters,
they suddenly come upon the mouth of the Missouri, known
by its Algonquin name of Pekitanoni, whose swift and
turbid current threatened to engulf their frail canoes. The
site of St. Louis was an unbroken forest, and further down
the fertile plain bordering the river reposed in peaceful
solitude, as, early in July, the adventurers glided past it.
They continued their voyage to a point some distance below
the mouth of the Arkansas, and then retraced their course
up the river, arriving at their Jesuit Mission at the head of
Green Bay, late in September.

Robert Cavalier de La Salle, whose illustrious name is
more intimately connected with the exploration of the
Mississippi than that of any other, was the next to descend
the river, in the early part of the year 1082. La Salle was a
man of remarkable genius, possessing the power of originating
the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment
capable of carrying them to successful results. Had ample
facilities been placed by the king of France at his disposal,
the result of the colonization of this continent might have
been far different from what we now behold. He was born
in Rouen, France, in 1043, of wealthy parentage, but he
renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the Jesuits
from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man
in 1G6G. The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a
brother, were then the proprietors of Montreal, the nucleuii
of which was a seminary or convent founded by tiiat order.
The Superior granted to La Salle a large tract of laud at
La Chine, where he established himself in the fur trade.
He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his
competitors in exploits of travel and commerce with the
Indians. In 1009 he visited the headquarters of the great
Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the heart of New

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

York, anil obtaining guides, explored tlic Ohio River to the
falls at Louisville.

In order to understand the intrepid genius of La Salle,
it must be remembered that for many years prior to his
time the missionaries and traders were obliged to make their
■way to the North west by the Ottaway River (of Canada),
on account of tho fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the
lower lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this
latter route to the Upper Lakes. They carried on their
commerce chiefly by canvas, paddling them through the
Ottaway to Lake Nipissiug, carrying them across the port-
age to French River, and descending that to Luke Huron.
Tills being the route by which they reached the North-west,
accounts for the foct that all the earliest Jesuit missions
were established in the neighborhood of the Upper Lakes.
La Salle conceived the grand idea of opening the route by
Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce
by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the
Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water coramuni-
catiou from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico.
This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to
have auiniated him iu all his wonderful achievements and
the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted.

As the fir^t step in the accomplishment of this object he
established himself on Lake Ontario, and built and gar-
risoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present city of
Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from
tho French crown and a body of troops by which he beat
back the invading Iroquois and cleared the passage to
Niagara Falls. Having by this masterly stroke made it
safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his next step
as we have seen, was to advance to the falls with all his
outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He
was successful iu this undertaking, though his ultimate pur-
prise was defeated by a strange combination of untoward
circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated La Salle and
plotted against him, because he had abandoned them and
co-operatcJ with a rival order. The fur traders were also
jealous of his superior success iu opening new channels of
commerce. At La Chine ho had taken the trade of Lake
Ontario, which but for his presence there would have gone
to Quebec While they were plodding with their bark
canoes through tho Ottaway he was constructing vessels to
command the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These
great plans excited the jealousy and envy of the small
traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of his
own companions, and finally led to the foul assassination by
which his great achievements were prematurely ended. In
1G82, La Sallo, having completed his vessel at Peoria,
descended the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of
Mexico. At its mouth he erected a column, and decorating
it with the arms of France, placed upon it the following
inscription :

LOUIS LE GRAND, ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE REGNE ;
LE NEUVIEME AVRIL, 1682.

Thus France, by right of discovery, lay claim to the
Mississippi Valley, the fairest portion of the globe, an

empire iu extent, stretching from the Gulf to the Lakes,
and from the farthest sources of the Ohio to where the head
waters of the Missouri are lost iu the wild solitudes of the
Rocky Mountains. La Salle bestowed upon the territory
the name of Louisiana, in honor of the King of France,
Louis XIV.

The assertion has been made that on La Salle's return up
the river, in tlie summer of 1682, a portion of the party
were left behind, who founded the village of Kaskaskia aud
Cahokia, but the statement rests ou no substantial foun-
dation.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN ILLINOIS.

The gentle and pious Marquette, devoted to his purpose
of carrying the gospel to the Indians, had established a
mission among the Illinois, in 1675, at their principal town
on the river which still bear stheir name. This was at the
present town of Utica, in La Salle County. In the presence
of the whole tribe, by whom, it is recorded, he was received
as a celestial visitor, he displayed the sacred pictures of the
Virgin Mary, raised an altar, and said mass. Oa Easter
Sunday, after celebrating the mystery of the Eucharist, he
took possession of the land in the name of the Saviour of
the world, and founded the "Mission of the Immaculate
Conception." The town was called Kaskaskia, a name
afterwards transferred to another locality. The founding
of this mission was the last act of Marquette's life. He
died in Michigan, on his way back to Green Bay, May 18,
lOT.'i.

La Salle, while making preparations to descend tho
Mississippi, built a fort, on the Illinois River, below the
Lake of Peoria, iu February, 1680, aud iu commemoration
of his misfortunes, bestowed upon it the name of Crevecocio;
" broken-hearted." Traces of its embankments are yet dis-
cernible. This was the first military occupation of Illinois.
There is no evidence, however, that settlement was begun
there at that early date.

On La Salle's return from this exploration of the ]Missis-
sippi, in 1682, he fortified " Starved Rock," whose military
advantages had previously attracted his- attention. From
its summit, which rises 125 feet above the waters of the
river, tho valley of the Illinois speeds out before the eye in
landscape of rarest beauty. From three sides it is inacces-
sible. This stronghold received the name of the Fort of
St. Louis. Twenty thousand allied Indians gathered round
it on the fertile plains. The fort seems to have been aban-
doned soon after the year 1700.

Marquette's mission (1675), Crevecoeur (_\68Q), and the
Fort of St. Louij (1682), embrace, so far, all the attempts
made towards eflecting anything like a permanent settle-
ment in the Illinois country. Of the second few traces
remain. A line of fortifications may be faintly traced, and
that is all. The seed of civilization planted by the Jesuit,
Marquette, among the Illinois Indians, was destined to pro-
duce more enduring fruit. It was the germ of Kaskaskia,
during the succeeding years of the French occupation— the
metropolis of the Mississippi Valley. The southern Kas-
kaskia is merely the northern one transplanted. The
Mbbion of the Immaculate Conception is the fame.

HISTORY OF RAXDOLPII, MOXROE AND FERRY COIWTIES, ILLIXOIS.

FOUSDIXG OF KASKASKI.V.

On the doatli of Marquette, he was succeeded by Alloiicz,
aud he by Father Gravicr, who respectively had charge of
the Jliition on the Illinois River Gravicr is said to have
been the first to reduce the principles of the Illinois lan-
guage to rules. It was also he who succeeded in trans-
ferring Marquette's Jlission from the banks of the Illinois
south to the spot where stands the modern town of Kas-
kaskia, and where it was destined to endure. The exact
date is not known, but the removal was accomplished some
time prior to the year 1G85, though probably not earlier
than li;S2.

Father Gravier was subsequently recalled to JIackinaw,
and his place was supplied by Binetcau aud Pinet. Pinet
proved an eloquent aud successful minister, and his chapel
was often insufficient to hold the crowds of savages who
L^^thcrod to hear his words. Binetcau met with a fate
similar to that which befell many another devoted priest iu
his heroic labors for the conversion of the savages. He
accompanied the Kaskaskias on one of their annual hunts
to the upper jMississi]ipi, that his pastoral relations might
not suifir intermission. His frame was poarly fitttd to
stand the exposure. Parched by day on the burning
prairie, chilled by heavy dews at night, now panting with
thirst and agiin aching with cold, he at length fell a
victim to a violent fever, and " left his bones on the wilder-
ness range of the buffaloes." Pinet .shortly after followed
his comrade.

Father Gabriel Jlorrcst had previously arrived at Kus-
kaskia. He was a Jesuit. He had carried the emblem of
bis faith to the frozen regions of Hudson's Bay, and had
been taken prisoner by the English, and upon his liberation
returned to America, and joined the Kaskaskia Mission.
After the deaths of Bincteau and Piaet, he had sole charge
until joined by Father Mermet shortly after the opening of
the eighteenth century.

The devotion an<l piety of Mermet fully equalled those of
his companion. lie had assisted in collecting a village of
Indians and Canadians, and had thus founded the first
French port on the Ohio, or, as the lower pare of the river
was then called, the Waba.sh. At the Kaskaskia Mission
his gentle virtues and fervid eloquence seem not to have been
without their influence. " At early dawn his pupils came
to church dressed neatly and modestly, each in a large deer-
skin, or in a robe stitched together from several skins.
After receiving lessons they chanted canticles; mass was
then said in presence of all the Christians in the place, the
French and the converts — the women on one side and the
men on the other. From prayer and instruction the mis-
sionaries proceeded to visit the sick aud administer medicine,
and their skill as physicians did more than all the rest to
win confidence. In the afternoon the catechism was taught
iu the presence of the young and the old, when every one,
without distinction of rank or age, answered the questions of
the missionary. At evening all would assemble at the
chapel for instruction, for prayer, and to chant the hymns
of the church. On Sundays and festivals, even after vespers
a homily was pronounced ; at the close of the day parties

would meet in houses to recite the chaplct in alternate
choirs, and sing psalms until late at night. These psalms
were often homilies with words set to familiar tunes. Satur-
day and Sunday were days appointed for confession and
communion, and evcrj' convert confessed once in a fortnight-
The success of the mission was such that marriages of
French immigrants were sometimes solemnized with the
daughters of the Illinois according to the rites of the
Catholic Church. The occupation of the country was a
cantonment of Europeans among the native proprietors of
the forests and the prairies.* A court of law was unknown
for nearly a century, aud up to the time of B jisbriant there
was no local government. The priests possessed the entire
confidence of the community, and their authority happily
settled, without the tardy delays and vexations of the courts,
the minor difficulties which threatened the peace of the
settlement. Of the families which formed part of the
French population iu the early history of Kaskaskia, there
is some uncertainty. There is, however, authority for
believing that the following were among the principal
settlers: Bazyl La Chapelle, ]\Iichael Derousc, (called St.
Pierre), Jeau Baptiste St. Gemme Beauvais, Bapti.stc Jlon-
treal, Boucher do Montbrun, Charles Danie, Francois
Charlesville, Antoinc Bienvenu, Louis Bruyat, Alexis Doza,
Joseph Paget, Prix Pagi, Michael Autoyen, Lauglois Do
Lisle, La Derrou.to aud XovaL

AS FAI'.T OF I.OriSIAXA.

The settlements of Illinois had been a separate depend-
ency of Canada. In 1711, together with the settlements on
the Lower Mississippi, which had been f.)unded by D' Iber-
ville and Bienville, they becanij united in a single province
under the name of Louisiana, with the capital at Mobile.

The exclusive control of the commerce of this region,
whose boundless resources, it was believed, were to enrich
France, was granted to Anthony Crozat, a merchant of
great wealth. "We permit him," says the king in his
letters patent, " to search, open, and dig all mines, veins,
minerals, precious stones and pearls, and to transport the
proceeds thereof into any i)art of France for fif^.'cn years."
La Motte Cadillac, who had now become royal Governor of
Louisiana, was his partner. Hopes of obtaining great
quantities of gold and silver animated the proprietors, as
well as agitated France. Two pieces of silver ore, left at
Kaskaskia by a traveler from Mexico, were exliibiied to
Cadillac as the pro.luce of a mine in Illinois. Elated by
this prospect of wealth, the Governor hurried up the river
to find his anticipations fade away iu disappointment. Iron
ore and the purest lead were discovered iu large quantiti.'s
in Missouri, but of gold, and silver, and precious stones not
a trace was found. After Crozat had expended 42-J,000
livrcs, and realized only 330,000, he, in 1717, petitioueil the
king for the revocation of his charter. Tiio white popula-
tion had slowly increased ; and at the time of his departure
it was estimated that the families comprising the lilin.ns
settlements, now including those on the Vv'abash, numbered
three hundred and twenty souls.

* Eancroft.

lllSTOUy OF HANDOLFH, MONROE A XL) FERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

The commerce of Louisiana was next transferred to the
Mississippi Company, iustitutod under the auspices of the
notorious John Law. The wild excitement and visionary
schemes which agitated France during Law's connection
with the Company of the West, and while at the head of
the Bank of France, form the most curious chapter in the
annals of commercial speculations. These delusive dreams
of wealth were based mainly upon the reports of the fabu-
lous riches of the Mississippi Valley. Attempts to colonize
the couatry were conducted with careless prodigality.
Three ships landed eight hundred emigrants in August,
1718, near Mobile, whence they were to make their way
overland to the Mississippi. Bienville, on the banks of that
river, had already selected the spot for the Capital of the
new Empire, which, after the Regent of France, was named
New Orleans. From among the emigrants, eighty convicts
from the prisons of France were sent to clear away the
coppices which thickly studded the site. Three years after
in 1721, the place was yet a wilderness, overgrown with
canebrakes, among which two hundred persons had en-
camped.

Phillip Renault was created Director-General of the
mines of the new country, and an expedition was organized
to work them. Renault left France, in 1719, with two
hundred mechanics and laborers. Touching at San Domingo
he bought five hundred negro slaves for working the mines.
On reaching the Mississippi, he sailed to Illinois, the region
in which gold and silver were supposed to abound. A few
miles from Kaskaskia, in \fhat is now the south-west corner
of Monroe County, was the seat of his colony. The village
which he founded received the name of St. Phillip's. From
this point various expeditions were sent out in search of the
precious metals. Drewry's Creek, in Jackson County, was
explored ; St. Mary's, in Randolph ; Silver Creek, in
Monroe; and various parts of St. Clair County, and other
districts of Illinois. On Silver Creek, tradition has it that
considerable quantities of silver were discovered and sent to
France, and from this the stream has its name. By the
retrocession of the territory to the crown, Renault was left
to prosecute the business of mining without means. His
operations proved a disastrous failure.

FORT CHARTRES.

Meanwhile war had sprung up between France and Spain
and to protect the Illinois settlements from incursions of
Spanish cavalry across the Great Desert, it was thought
advisable to establish a fort in the neighborhood of Kas-
kaskia. A Spanish expedition had, indeed, been fitted out
at Santa Fe, but their guides, leading it by mistake to the
Missouri Indians, instead of the O^ages, enemies instead of
friends, the whole party was massacred, with the exception
of a priest who escaped to relate the fate of his unfortunate
comrades. Previous to this La Salle, on the occasion of his
visit to Paris, had shown the necessity of building a chain
of forts from Canada to the Gulf, in order to secure the
territory to the crown of France. In 1718, Boisbriant was
despatched to Illinois. He began the building of Fort
Chartres, long the strongest fortress on the Western Conti-

nent, and of wide celebrity in the subsequent history of
Illinois.

Fort Chartres stood on the east bank of the Mississippi,
seventeen miles north-west of Kaskaskia, and between three
and four miles from the location of the present village of
Prairie du Rocher. The Company of the West finally built
their warehouses here. In 1721, on the division of Louisi-
ana into seven districts, it became the headquarters of Bois-
briant, the first local Governor of Illinois. Fort Chartres
was the seat of the Government of Illinois, not only while
the French retained possession of the country, but after it
passed under English control. When the fort was built, it
stood about one mile distant from the river. In the year 1724
an inundation of the Mississippi washed away a portion of
bank in front of the fort.

Captain Philip Pitman visited Illinois in 1766. He was
an engineer in the British army, and was sent to Illinois to
make a survey of the forts, and report the condition of the
country, which had recently passed under British control.
He published in London, in 1770, a work entitled, " The
present State of the European Settlements on the Missis-
sippi," in which he gives an accurate description of Fort
Chartres :

" Fort Chartres, when it belonged to France, was the seat
of the government of the Illinois. The headquarters of the
English commanding officer is now here, who, in fact, is the
arbitrary governor of the country. The fort is an irregular
quadrangle. The sides of the exterior polygon are four hun-
dred and ninety feet. It is built of stone, and plastered over,
and is only designed for defence against the Indians. The
walls are two feet two inches thick, and are pierced with
loopholes at regular distances, and with two port holes for
cannon in the facies, and two in the flanks of each bastion.
The ditch has never been finished. The entrance to the fort
is through a very handsome rustic gate. Within the walls
is a banquette raised three feet, for the men to stand on when
they fire through the loopholes. The buildings within the
fort are, a commandant's and a commissary's house, the
magazine of stores, corps de garde, and two barracks., ,These
occupy the square. Within the gorges of the bastion are a
powder-magazine, a bake-house, and a prison, in the floor of
which are four dungeons, and in the upper, two rooms and
an out-house belonging to the commandant. The command-
ant's house is thirty-two yards long and ten broad, and con-
tains a kitchen, a dining-room, a bed-chamber, one small
room, five closets for servants, and a cellar. The commis-
sary's house is built on the same line as this, and its propor-
tion and the distribution of its apartments are the same.
Opposite these are the store-house, and the guard- house, each
thirty yards long and eight broad. The former consists of
two large store rooms, (under which is a large vaulted cellar),
a large room, a bed-chamber, and a closet for the storekeeper.
The latter of a soldiers' and officers' guard-room, a chapel,
a bed-chamber, a closet for the chaplain, and an artillery
store-room. The lines of barracks have never been finished.
They at present consist of two rooms each for oflicers, and
three for soldiers. They are each twenty-five feet square,
and have betwixt a small passage."

HISTORY OF RAynOLPH, MONROE AXD PERRY COL'XriES, ILLJXOIS.

Such was Fort Chartres, believed at the lime to be tlie
most convenient and best built stronghold in North America !
Just before the French surrender, forty families lived in the
neighboring village, in which stood a parish church, under
the care of a Franciscan friar, and dedicated to St. Anne.
At the time of the surrender to the English, all, with the
exception of three or four families, abandoned their homes,
and removed to the west bank of the Mississippi, preferring
the government of La Belle France to the hated English
rule, ignorant that by secret treaty the territory west
of the Mississippi had been ceded to Spiin, even before
the transfer of the region eastward was made to the
English.

But the glnry of the old fortress soon departed! In 17.56
nearly lialf a mile intervened between Fort Chartres and the
bank of the Mississippi. A sand bar, however, was forming
opposite, to which the river was fordable. Ten years later
the current had cut the bank away to within eighty yards of
the fort. The sand-bar had become an island, covered with
a thick growth of cottonwoods. The channel between it
and the eastern bank was forty feet in depih. In the great
freshet .'■ix years af.er, in 1772, in which the American B(it-
tora was inundated, the west walls and two of the bastions
were swept away in the ilood. It was abandoned by the
British garrison, which took up its quarters in Fort Gage,
on the bluff opposite Kaskaskia, which then became the seat
of government. From this date its demolition proceeded
rapidly. In 1820 the south-east angle was still remaining.
Only vestiges of the old Fortress can now ba traced. Much
of the stone was carried away, and used for building pur-
po?es elsewhere. Trees of stately growth cover the founda-
tions. The river has retreated to its original channel, and
is now a mile distant from the ruins. A growth of timber
covers the intervening land, where less than a century ago
swept the mighty current of the Father of Waters.

UXDER FREXCn RULE.

During the few years immediately succeeding the comple-
tion of Fort Chartres, prosperity preyailed in the settlements
between the Kaskaskia and the Miss'ssippi rivers. Prairie
du Rocher, founded about the year 1722, received consider-
able accessions to its population. Among the earliest French
settlers to make their homes here were Etienne Langlois,
Jean Baptiste Blais, Jean Baptiste Barbeaux, Antoine
Louvier, acd the La Ccmipte and other families, whose de-
scendants are still found in that locality. New settlements
sprang up, and the ohler ones increased in population. At
Kaskaskia, the Jesuits established a monastery, and founded
a college. lu 1723 the village became an incorporated town,
and the king, Louis XV., granted the inhabitants a com-
mons. The Bottom land, extending upward along the !Mis-
sissippi, unsurpassed for the richness of its soil, was in the
process of being rapidly settled by the larger number of new
arrivals in the colony. Fort Chartres, the seat of govern-
ment and the headquarters of the commandment of L^pper
Louisiana, attracted a wealthy, and for Illinois, a fashionable
population.

After having been fourteen years under the government

of the Western Company, in April, 17^2, the king issued a
proclamation by which Louisiana was declared free to all his
subjects, and all restrictions on commerce were removed.
At this time many flourishing settlements had sprung up in
Illinois, centering about Kaskaskia,and the inhabitants were
said to be more exclusively devoted to agriculture than in
any other of the French settlements in the West.

M. D'Artaguette, in 17o2, became commandant of Fort
Chartres, and Governor of Upper Louisiana. Between New
Orleans and Kaskaskia the country was yet a wilderness.
Communication by way of the Mississippi was interrupted
by tlie Chickasaws, allies of the English and enemies of
France, whose cedar barks shooting boldly out into the cur-
rent of the Mississippi, cut off the connection between the
two colonies. It was in an attempt to subdue these that
JI. D'Artaguette, the commandant, lost h's life. An officer
arrived at Fort Chartres from M. Prcrricr, GovornorGencral
at New Orleans, in the year 1736, .summoning IM. D'Arta-
guette, '.vith his French soldiei's, and all the Indians whom
he could induce to join him, to xznite in an expedition against
the enemy. With an army of fifty Fronchmrn, and more
than one thojsand Indians accompanied by Father Senat
and the gallant Vincennes, commandant of the post on the
Wabash, where now stands the city bearing his name,
D'Artaguette stole cautiously in the Chickasaw country.
His Indian allies were impatient, and the commander con-
sented, against his better judgment, to an immediate attack.
One fort was carried — another — and then in making the as-
sault on the third, the young and intrepid D'Artaguette fell
at the head of his forces, pierced with wounds. The Indian
allies made this reverse the signal for their flight. The
Jesuit Senat might have fled, Vincennes might have saved
his life, but both preferred to share the fate of their leader.
The captives afterward met death at the stake under the shnv
torments of fire.

La Buissoniere succeeded as commau<iant at Fort Chartres.
In 1739 a second expedition was undertakcu against the
(" lickasaw country. L:i Buissoniere joined Bienville, then
Governor-General of Louijiana, with a force of two hun<lred
Frenchmen and three hundred Indians. The whole force
under Bienville was twelve hundred French and five hun-
dred Indians and negroes. His men suffered greatly from
malarial fevers and famine, and returned the following
spring without conquering the Chickasaws, with whom after-
ward, however, amicable relations were established.

The period from 1740 to 1750 was one of great prosperity
fir the colonies. Cotton was introduced and cuhivated.
Regular cargoes of pirk, fljur, bacon, tallow, hides and
leather, were fl )ated d )wu the Mississippi, and exported
thence to France. French emigrants p)urad rapidly into
the settlements. Canadians exchanged the cold rigors of
their climate for the sunny atmosphere and rich .soil of the
new country. Peace and plenty blessed the settlements.

La Buissoniere was followed, in 1750, by Chevalier Ma-
carty as Governor of Upper Louisiana, and Commandant of
Fort Chartres. Peace wis soon to be broken. The French
and English war, which terminated in 1759 with the defeat
of Montcalm on the plains of Abraham, and the capture of

BJSTORY OF RANDOLPH, MOXROE AYD PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Quebec, began with a struggle for the territory on the Upper
Ohio. Fort Chartres was the clegot of supplies and the place
of rendezvous for the united forces of Louisiana, and several
expeditions were fitted out and dispatched to the scene of con-
flict on the b;irJer between the French and English settle-
ments. But France was vanquished in the struggle, and its
result deprived her of her princely possessions east of the
Mississippi.

CHARACTER OF THE E\RLY FRENCH SETTLERS.

Til'! early French inhabitants were well adapted by their
peculiar traits of character for intercourse with their savage
neighbors of the f )rest, with whom th:!y lived on terms of
peace and friendship. For this reason, the French colonists
almost entirely escaped the Indian hostilities by which the
English settlements were repressed and weakened. The
freest communication existed between the two races. They
stood on a footing of equality. The Indian was cordially
received in the French village, and the Frenchman found a
safe resting-place in the lodg 3 of the savaga. In see les of
social pleasure, in expeditions to remote rivers and distant
forests, in the ceremonies and exercises of the church, the
red men were treated as brothers, and the accident of race
and color was made as little a mark of distinction as possi-
ble. Frequent intermarriages of the French with the In-
dians strongly cemented this union. For nearly a hundred
years the French colonists enjoyed continual peace, while the
English settlements on the Atlantic coast were in a state of
almost constant danger from savage depredations.

It was doubtless greatly owing to the peculiar facility with
which the French temperament adapted itself to surround-
ings, and the natur.il address with which Frenchmen ingra-
tiated themselves in the favor of the savages, that this happy
condition of affairs exi.-ted. But something must be ascribed
to the differences of character between the French and Eng-
lish in regard to their aggressiveness. The English colonists
excited the jealousy and fear of the Indians by their rapid
occupation of the country. New settlements were constantly
being projected, and the white population pushed farther
and farther into the wilderness. When the Indians saw
their favorite haunts broken up, and their hunting grounds
invaded, a natural feeling of distrust and jealousy led them
to warfare against the English. With the French it was
diffijrent. There w.as but little disposition to found new
settlements, or occupy the wilderness. They were essentially
a social people, and the solitary life of a pioneer in the forest
was repugnant to their disposition. They lived in compact
villages. Their houses were in close proximity. With
abundant room for spacious streets, they yet made them so
narrow that the merry villagers could converse with ease
across the street, each from his own cottage. Hunting was
a favorite pursuit, and the chief means of support. With
this mode of life the French were content. Ambition failed
to incite them to conquer the wilderness, and push their set-
tlements to unknown regions, and avarice was wanting to
lead them to grasp after great possessions. The development
of the "territorial paradise," as La Salle had called the re-
gion through which he passed on his first voyage down the
Mississippi, was to be accomplished by another race.

A POSSESSION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

By the treaty of Fountainbleau, 1702, the vast possessions
of Franco, east of the ^Mississippi, with the exception of the
island of New Orleans, passed under British control. Fort
Chartres and the other Illinois posts were surrounded by an
impenetrable barrier of hostile savages, friends to the French
and enemies to the English, and the French officers were
authorized to retain command until it was found possible for
the Englisli to take possession. M. Neyon de Villiers was
commandant of Fort Chartres, and upon his retiring iu 17G4,
St. Ange d'Bsllerive took upon himself the duties of that
position. It was the time of Pontiac's conspiracy, when the
Indian tribes, inflamed by the savage spirit of that warrior,
were precipitating themselves on the English settlements
from Canada to Carolina. Tlie French commandant of Fort
Chartres was besieged for arras and ammunition to be used
against the English. The French flag was st'll flying over
the Fort, and the fact of the territory having been ceded to
Great Britain was not generally known except to those iu
authority. The commandant was visited by embassies from
the Illinois, the Delawares, Shawnees and Miarais, and
finally Poutiac himself, at tlie head of fmr hundred warriors,
entered the council hall. St. Ang3 d Bellcrive, unable to
furnish arm?, offered instead his good will. The reply was
received with dissatisfaction. The Indians pitched their
lodges about the Fort, and for a time an attack was seriously
apprehended. Finally Poutiao dispatched a chosen band of
warriors to New Orleans to obtain from the Governor there
the assistance St. Ange refused to grant.

Poutiac was killed a few years after. Disappointed by
the failure of his plans against the English, he retired to the
solitude of the forests. In the year 1763, he suddenly made
his appearance in the neigiiborhood of St. Louis. Arrayed
in the French uniform given him by the JIarquis Jlontcalm
a short time previous to the latter's death on the Plains of
Abraham, he visited St. Ange d'Bellerive, who at that time
had removed from Fort Chartres to St. Louis, where he had
become one of the principal inhabitants and commandant of
the Spanish garrison. While at St. Louis, he cro.=sed the
Mississippi to attend a social gathering of Indians at Cahokia.
Becoming intoxicated he started to the neighboring woods,
when an Indian of the Ivaskaskia tribe, bribed by an Eng-
lish trader with a barrel of whiskey, stole up behind hira and
buried a tomahawk in the brain of the renowned warrior.
St. Ange procured the body, and buried it with all the honors
of war near the fort under his command in St. Louis. The
tramp of a great city now sweeps over his grave.

Two attempts, on the part of the English, to take posses-
sion of Illinois and Fort Chartres, had been made by way of
the Jlississippi, but hostile Indians on the banks of the river
had driven back the expeditions. Meantime a hundred
Highlanders of the Forty-second Regiment, those veterans
" whose battle cry had echoed over the bloodiest fields of
America," had left Fort Pitt, now Pittsburg, and descending
the Ohio, appeared before Fort Chartres while the forests
were yet rich with the varied hues of autumn. St. Ange
yielded up the citadel. It was on the tenth day of October,
1765, that the ensign of France on the ramparts of the Fort

HISTORY OF RAXDOLFII, MONROE AXD PERRY COl'XTIES, ILLIXOIS.

gave place to the flag of Great Britain. Kaskaskia had now
been founded ra re than three-fourths of a century.

On the surrender of Fort Chartres, St. Ange with his gar-
rison of twenty-one soldiers retired from the country, and
became commandant at St. Louis, an infant settlement just
founded. A large number of the French residents of Kas-
kaskia and other settlements refused to live under English
rule. Many of the wealthiest families left the country ; some
removed across the Mississippi, to the small village of Ste.
Genevieve, under the impression ihatou the west bank of the
Jlississippi they would still find a home under the govern-
ment of France, while in truth that territory had been ceJed
to Spain by a secret treaty in 1762. Others joined in found-
ing the city of St. Louis. The French settlements in Illinois,
at a period immediately preceding this date, were at the
z-^nith of their prosperity. From that ilay the French in-
habitants have declined in numbers and influence. lu 1765,
the population of the Illinois settlements was computed as
follows: White men able to bear arms, seven hundred; white
women, five hundred ; white children, eight hundred and
fifty; negroes, nine hundred; total, two thousand nine hun-
dred and fifty. One-third of the whites, and a still larger
proportion of the blacks, removed on the British taking pos-
session. A population of less than two thousand remained.
Few English, or Americans, with the exception of the British
troops, were in the country.

Captain Stirling, who now had command of the Fort, issued
a proelamalicin guaranteeing the inhabitants the liberty of
the Catholic faith, permission to retire from the country, and
enjoyment of their full rights and privileges, only requiring
an oath of fidelity and obedience to His JIajesty, the English
King. Captain Stirling died some three months after his
arrival. In the period that elapsed before the coming of his
successor, St. Ange d'Bollerive returned from St. Louis, and
discharged the duties of commandant. JIajor Frazier, from
Fort Pitt, exercised fir a time an arbitrary power, and his
successor. Col. Reed, proved still worse. lie held the office
eighteen months, and during that time aroused the hatred of
the settlements by his oppressive measures. Lieutenant Colo-
nel Wilkins assumed command in 17G8.

Captain Pitman, to whose book on " The Present State of
the European Settlements on the Mississippi" reference has
already been made, gives the following description of Kas-
kaskia, as it appeared in 1766.

The vi'lage of Notre Dame dc Cascasquias is bv far the
most considerable settlement in the country of the I linois,
as well from its number of inhabitants as i"rom its advan-
tageous situation.

" Slons. Paget was the first who introduced wat/^r mills in
this country, and he constructed a very fine one on the river
Cascasquias, which was both for grinding corn and sawing
boards. It lies about one mile from the village. The mill
proved fatal to him, being killed as he was working
it, with two negroes, by a party of Chcrokccs, in the
year 1764.

" The principal buildings arj the church and the Jesuits'
house, which has a small chapel adjoining it; these, as well
as £omo of the other houses in the village, arc built of stone.

and, considering this part of the world, make a very g )od
appearance. The Jesuits' plantation consisted of 240 arpcnts
(an arpent is 83-100 of an acre) of cultivated land, a very
good stock of cattle, and a brewery which was sold by the
French commandant, after the country was ceded to the
Engli.-h, for the crown, in consequence of the supprcsiion of
the order.

" Muns. Beauvais wa- t'lr' purchaser, who is the richest of
the English subjects in this country; he keeps eighty slaves;
he furnishes 86,000 weight of flour to the King's magazine,
which was only part of the harvest he reaped in one year.
Sixty-five families reside in this village, besides merchants,
other casual people, and slaves. The fort which was burnt
down in October, 1766, stood on the summit of a high rock
opposite the village and on the opposite side of the river.
It was an oblong quadrangle, of which the extreme polygon
measured 290 by 2')\ feet. It was built of very thick square
timber, and dove-tailed at the angles. An officer and twenty
soldiers are quartered in the village. The ofliecr governs
the inhabitants under the direction of the commandant at
Fort Chartres. Here are also two companies of mililia."

Of Prairie du Ilocher, Pi:raan writes that " it is a small
village, consisting of twenty-two dwelling-houses, all of which
are inhabited by as many families. Hire is a little chapel,
formerly a chapel of ease to the church at Fort Chartres.
The inhabitants are very industrious, and raise a great deal
of corn and ever)' kind of stock. The village is two miles
from Fort Chartres. It takes its name from its situation,
being built under a rock that runs par.allel with the Miisi-s-
sijjpi river at a league distance, fjr forty miles up. Here \i
a company of militia, the captain of which regulates the
police of the village."

In describing the distance from Fort Cliaitres, the author,
doubtless, rcfjrs to Little Village, which was a mile, or mora
nearer than Prairie du Rocher. The writer goes on to do-
scribe "Saint Philippe" as a "small village about five miles
from Fort Chartres on the road to Kaoquias. There are
about si.^teen houses and a small church standing ; all of the
inhabitants, except the captain of the militia, deserted in
176.3, and went to the French side (Missouri ) The captain
of the militia has about twenty slaves, a good stock of cattle,
and a water mill for corn and planks. The village stands
on a very fine raeadow about one mile from the Mis-
sissippi.

From the same authority we leara that the soil of tha
country is in general rich and luxuriant. It was favorably
adapted to the production of all kin Is of European grains
which grew side by side wit'a hops, hemp, fl.ix, cotton and
tobacco. European fruits arrived to great perfection. Of
the wild grapes a wine was made, vcrj' inebriating, and in
color and taste much like the red wine of Provence. In the
late wars, Xew Orleans and the lower parts of Louisiana
were supplied with flour, bsef, wines, hams, and other pro-
visions, from this country. At present, its commerce is
mostly confined to the peltry and furs which are got in traf-
fic from the Indiana ; for which are received in turn such
European commodities as are necessary to carry on that com-
merce and the support of its inhabitants."

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

CONQUEST BY CLARKE.

On tlie breaking out of the AVar of the Revolution, it is
pfobiiblo tiiat the British garrison f removed iu 1'7'2 from
Fort Chartrcs to Fort Gage, opposite Kaskaskia,) liad been
withdrawn. Illinois was remote from the theatre of action,
and the colonists were little disturbed by the rumors of war
which came from the Atlantic coast. Tlie French inhabitants
were rather in sympathy with the Americans than the Eiig-
liirli, but probably understood little of the nature of the
struggle. Illinois belonged to the jurisdiction of Virginia.
George Rogers Clarke, who visited Kentucky in 1775, seems
to have been the first to comprehend the advantages which
would result from the occupation of Illinois by the Ameri-
cans. He visited Virginia, where he laid his plans before
Patrick Henry, the Governor of the State. Clarke received
his instructions, January, 177S, and the following mouth set
out for Pittsburg His instructions were to raise seven com-
panies of men, but he could only succeed in enlisting four
commanded by Captains Montgomery, Bowman, Helm, and
Harrod. On Corn Island, opposite Louisville, on the Ohio,
Clarke announced his destination to the men. At the mouth
of the Tennessee, a man named John Duff was encountered,
with a party of hunters, who had recently visited Kaskaskia,
and also brought the intelligence that one Rocheblave, a
French Canadian, was in command at that point, that he
kept the militia well drilled, and that sentinels were posted
to watch for the " Long Knives," as the Virginians wei'e
called, of whom the inhabitants were in terror. Securing his
boats near Fort Massacre (or Massac,) Clarke undertook the
journey across the country, one hundred and twenty miles,
to Kaskaskia. It was accomplished with difficulty. On the
afternoon of the fourth of July, 1778, the exhausted band of
invaders came to the vicinity of Kaskaskia, and concealed
themselves in the hills to the east of the town. After dark
Clarke proceeded to the old ferry-house, three-fourths of a
mile above the village, and at midnight addressed his troops
on the banks of the river. He divided his force into three
parties. Two were to cro.ss to the west side of the river, and
enter the town from different quarters. The third, under the
direction of Clarke himself, was to capture the fort on the
east side. Kaskaskia at that time was a village of about two
hundred and fifty houses. The British commander last in
charge had instilled in the raindi of the people the impres-
sion that the Virginians, otherwise the " Long Knives," were
a ferocious band of murderers, plundering houses, slaughter-
ing women and children, and committing acts of great atro-
city. Clarke determined to take advantage of this, and so
surprise the inhabitants by fear as to induce them to submit
without resistance. Clarke effected an entrance to the fort
without difficulty. The other parties at a given signal en-
tered Kaskaskia at tiie opposite extremities, and with terri-
ble outcries and hideous noises, aroused the terrified inhabi-
tants, who shrieked in their alarm, "The Long Knives!'
"The Long Knives are here!" Tlie panic stricken towns-
men delivered up their arms, and the victory was accom-
plished without the shedding of a drop of blood. M. Roche-
blave, the British commandant, was unconscious of the pres-
ence of the enemy, till an officer of the detachment entered

his bed-chamber, and claimed him as a prisoner In accord-
ance with his original plan of conquering the inhabitants by
terror, and then afterward winning their regard and grati-
tude by his clemency, Clarke, the next day, withdrew his
forces from the town, and sternly forbade all communication
between it and his soldiers. Some of the principal militia
officers, citizens of the town, were next put in irons- The
terror now reached its height. The priest, and a deputation
of five or six elderly men of the village, called on Clarke,
and humbly requested permission to assemble in t! e church,
to take leave of each other and commend their future lives
to the protection of a msrciful God, since they expected to
be separated, perhaps never to meet again. Clarke gruffly
granted the privilege. The whole population convened at
the church, and after remaining together a long time, the
priest and a few others again waited upon the commander of
the American forces, presenting thanks for the privilege they
had enjoyed, and desiring to know what fate awaited
them.

Clarke now determined to lift them from their despair, and
win their gratitude by a show of mercy. " What!" said he;
" do you take us for savages ? Do you think Americans will
strip women and children, and take bread from their mouths?
My countrymen disdain to make war on helpless innocents."
He further reminded them that the King of France, their
former ruler, was an ally of the Americans, and now fighting
their cause. He told them to embrace the side they deemed
best, and they should be respected in the enjoyment of their
liberty and the rights of property.

The revulsi m of feeling was complete. The good news
spread throughout the village. The church-bell rang a
merry peal, and the delighted inhabitants gathered at the
chapel, where thanks were offered to God for their happy
and unexpected deliverance. The loyalty of the inhabitants
was assured, and ever after they remained fiiithful to the
American cause. The French inhabitants of Kaskaskia
were readily reconciled to a change of government. In
October, 1778, the Virginia Assembly erected the conquered
territory into the County of Illinois. ■ This County embraced
all the region north-west of Ohio, and five large states have
since been formed from it. Colonel Clarke was appointed
military commander of all the western territory north and
south of the Ohio, and Colonel John Todd, one of Clarke's
soldiers, who next to Clarke had been tiie first man to enter
Fort Gage, was appointed lieutenant-commander of Illinois.
In the spring of 1779, Colonel Todd visited Kaskaskia, and
made arrangements for the orga^nization of a temporary
government. Many of the French inhabitants of Kaskaskia,
Prairie du Rocher, and the other settlements, readily took
the oath of allegiance to Virginia. Colonel Todd was killed
at the famous battle of Blue Licks, in Kentucky, August,
1782, and Timothy deMontbrun, a Frenchman, succeeded
him as commandant of Illinois County. Of his administra-
tion but little is known.

THE "compact of 1787."

In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown,
a dependency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 17G5
the English flag was run up on old Fort Chartres, and

HISTORY OF RAXDOLril MOXROE AND PERRY COUNTIES. ILLINOIS.

Illinois was counted among the treasures of Great Britain.
In 1779 it was taken from tlie English by Col. George
Rogers Clark : this man was resolute in nature, wise in coun-
cil, prudent in policy, bold in action, and heroic in danger.
Few men who have figured in the early history of America
are more deserving than he. Nothing short of first-class
ability could have rescued " Vincins"and all Illinois from
the English, and it is not possible to over-estimate the in-
fluence of this achievement upon the republic. In 1779,
Illinois became a part of Virginia. It was soon known as
Illinois county. In 1784 Virginia ceded all this territory
to the general government to be cut into states, to be republi-
can in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom
and independence as the other states."

In 1787 it was tiie object of the wisest and ablest legisla-
tion found in any merely human records. No man can
study the secret history of The Compact of 1787 and not
fool that Providence was guiding with sleepless eyes tho.-e
unborn states. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally
became the incorporating act, has a most marvelous histury.
Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government
for the north-western territory. He was an emancipationist
of tliat day, and favored the exclusion of slavery from the
territory Virginia had ceded to the general governnuiit,
but the south voted him down as often as it came up. In
1787, as late as July 10, an orgauizing act without the
anti-slavery clause was pending. This concession to the south
was expected to carry it Congress was in session in New-
York city. 1 July '), Rev. Dr. Manassch Cutler, of
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the north-
western territory. Everything seemed to fiiU into his hands.
Events were ripe : the state of the public credit, the growing of
southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, his personal
character, all combined to complete oncoftliosc sudden and
marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that once in five
or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the
breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a remarkable man ; a
graduate of Ynh, he had studied and taken degrees in the
three learned professions, law, clivinity ;iiid medicine, ILir-
vnrd had given him his A. M., and Y<ilr li;iil honored herself
by adding his D. D. He harl thus America's best literary
indorsement. He had published a scientific examination of
the plants of New England. His name stood second only to
that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly
gentleman of tlie old style, a man of coramauding presence,
and of inviting face. Thesouthern members were captivated
by his genial manners, rare and profound abilities. He
came representing a company that desired to purchase a
tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of plant-
ing a colony. Government money was worth eighteen cents
on the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected
enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other specu-
lators in New York made Dr. Cutler their agent; on the
12th he represented a demand for 5,500,000 acres. This
would reduce the national debt. Jefferson and Virginia
were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia
had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the
public credit, and this was a good opportunity to do some-

thing. Massachusetts then owned the tfrritory of JIaine,
which she was crowding on the market. She was opposed
to opening the north-western region. This fired the zeal of
Virginia. The South caught the inspiration, and all exalted
Dr. Cutler. The English Mini.ster invited him to dine with
some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the centre of in-
terest; the entire South rallied around him. Ma.ssachusetts
could not vote against him, becau.se many of the constituents'
of her members were interested personally in the western
speculation ; thus Cutler, making friends with the south, and
(hmbtless using all the arts of the lobby, was enabled to
command the situation. True to deeper conviction, he
dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of
wise statesmanship that ever adorned any human law book ;
he borrowed from Jelf'erson the term " Articles of Compact,"
which preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most
saered character. He then followed very closely the constitu-
tion of Massachusetts, adopted three years before, — its most
marked points were :

l.~t. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.

lid. Provision for public schools, giving one townsliip for
a seminary, and every section numbered 16 in each town-
sliip ; that is, one thirty -sixth of all the land for public
schools.

3d. A provision prohibiting tlie adoption of any consti-
tution, or the enactment of any law that should nullify
jire-existing contracts.

]>e it fir( ver remembered that this compact declared
that " Itcligiou, morality, and knowledge being necessary
to good governmont and the happiness of mankind, schools
and means of education shall always be encouraged." Dr.
Cutler planted himself on this platfirm and would not yield.
Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing
— that unless they cimid make the land desirable they did
not want it — ho took his horse and gig and started for the
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. On July 13,
1787, the bill was put upon its pas.sage, and was unanimously
adopted, every Southern member voting fnr it, and only one
man, ^Ir. Yates of New York, voting against it, but as the
States voted as States, Yates lost his vote, and the conijiact
was put beyond repeal. Then the great States of Ohio, In-
diana, Illinois, Michigan, and 'Wisconsin — a vast empire,
the heart of the great valley — were consecrated to freedom,
intelligence, and honesty. In the light of these ninety-five
years, it is evident to all that this act was the salvation of
the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon the south
saw their great blunder, and tried to repeal the compact.
In 1803 (Congress referred it to a committee, of which John
Randolph was chairnum. He reported that this ordinance
was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock
in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. With all this
timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and protracted
struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It
was the natural battle field for tlie irrepressible conflict. In
the southern cud of the State slavery preceded the compact.
It existed among the old French settlers, and was hard to
eradicate. The southern part of the State was settled from
the slave States; and this population brought their laws,

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND FERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

customs, and institutions with them. A stream of popula-
tion from the Nortli poured into the northern part of the
State , These sections misunderstood and hated each other
perfectly- The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skin-
ning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the country
with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The
Northerner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy
creature, burrowing in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt
and ignorance. These causes aided in making the struggle
long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy with slavery
that in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and iu spite of the
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French
settlers to retain their sl.avos. Planters from the slave
States might bring their slaves, if they would give them a
chance to choose freedom, or years of service and bondage
for their children till they should become thirty years of age.
If they chose freedom they must leave the State iu sixty
days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for
offences for which white men are fined ; each lash jsaid forty
cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a
pass was whipped. These famous laws were imjiorted from
the slave States, just as they imported laws for the inspec-
tion of flax and wool when there was neither in the State.
These black laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was
made to protect .slavery iu the State Constitution of 1818 ; it
barely failed. It was renewed in 1826, when a convention
was asked to make a new constitution. After a hard fight the
convention was defeated ; but slaves did not disappear from
the census of the State until 18.50. There were mobs and
murders in the interest of slavery. Lovcjoy was added to
the list of martyrs — a sort of first fruits of that long line of
immortal heroes who saw freedom aa tiie one supreme desire
of their souls, and were so enamored of her that they pre-
ferred to dis rather than survive her.

LAND TENURES.

The early French settlers held the possession of their land
in common. A tract of land was fixed upon for a Common
Field, in which all the inhabitants were interested.

Besides the Common Field, another tract of land was laid
off on the Commons. All the villagers had free access to
this as a place of pasturage for their stock. From this they
also drew their supply of fuel.

Individual grants were likewise made. Under the French
system, the lands were granted without any equivalent con-
sideration in the way of money, the individuals satisfying
the authorities that the lands were wanted for actual settle-
ment, or for a purpose likely to benefit the community. The
first grant of land, which is preserved, is that made to Charles
Danie, May lOlli, 1722. The French grants at Kaskaskia
extended from river to river, and at other places in the Bot-
tom they commonly extended from river to bluff. Grants of
land were made for almost all the American Bottom, from
the upper limits of the Common Field of St. Phillip's to
the lower line of the Kaskaskia Common Field, a distance
of nearly thirty miles.

The British commandants, who assumed the government
on the cession of the territory by France, exercised the pri-

vilege of making grants, subject to the approval of his Ma-
jesty, the King. Colonel Wilkins granted to some merchants
of Philadelphia a magnificent domain of thirty thousand
acres lying between the village of Kaskaskia and Prairie du
Rocher, much of it already covered by French grants pre-
viously made. For the better carrying out their plans, the
British officers, and perhaps their grantees, destroyed, to
some extent, the records of the ancient French grants at
Kaskaskia, by which the regular claim of titles and convey-
ances was partly broken. This British grant of thirty
thousand acres, which had been assigned to John Edgar,
was afterward patented by Governor St. Clair to Edgar and
John Murray St. Clair, the Governor's son, to whom Edgar
had previously conveyed a moiety by deed. Although much
fault was found with the transaction, a confirmation of the
grant was secured from the United States government.

When Virginia ceded Illinois, it was stipulated that the
French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers, who
had professed allegiance to Virginia, should have their
titles confirmed to them. Congress afterwards authorized
the Governor to confirm the possessions and titles of the
French to their lands. In accordance with this agreement.
Governor St. Clair, in 1790, issued a proclamation directing
the inhabitants to exhibit their titles and claims of the lands
which they held, in order to be confirmed in their possession.
Where the instruments were found to be authentic, orders of
survey were issued, the expense of which was borne by the
parties who claimed ownership. The French inhabitants
were in such poverty at this time that they were really una-
ble to pay the exjicnses of the surveys, and a memorial
signed by P. Gibault, the priest at Kaskaskia, and eighty-
seven others, was presented to Governor St. Clair, praying
him to petition Congress for relief in the matter. In 1791,
Congress directed that four hundred acres of land should be
granted to the head of every family which had made improve-
ments in Illinois prior to the year 1788. Congress had also
directed that a donation be given to each of the families then
living at either of the villages of Kaskaskia, Prairie du
Rocher, Cahukia, Fort Chartres, or St. Phillips. These were
known as the " bead-right " claims.

At an early date, speculation became active in the land
claims of different kinds; bead -rights, improvement rights,
militia right', and fraudulent claims were produced in greU
numbers. The French claims were partly unconfirmed,
owing to the poverty of that people, and these were forced
on the market with the others. Tfie official report of the
commissioners at Kaskaskia, made in 1810, shows that eight
hundred and ninety land claims were rejected as being ille-
gal or fraudulent. Three hundred and seventy were
reported as being supported by perjury, and a considerable
number were forged. There are fourteen names given of
persons, both English and French, who made it a regular
business to furnish sworu certificates, professing an intimate
knowledge, in every case, of the settlers who had made cer-
tain improvements upon which claims were predicated and
when and where they were located. A Frenchman, clerk
of the parish of Prairie du Rocher, " without property and
fond of liquor," after having given .some two hundred depo-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MOXROL AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

sitions ia favor of three land claimant speculators, " was
induced,' in the bnguage of the report, " either by compen-
sation, fear, or the impossibility of obtaining absolution on
any O'ther terms, to declare on oath that the said depositions
were false, and that in giving them he had a regard for
something beyond tlie truth."

The report of the commissioners raised many doubts in
regard to the validity and propriety of a number of confir-
mations by the Governors, and much dissatisfaction among
the claimants; and in consequence. Congress in 1812, passed
an act for the revision of these land claims ia the Kaskaskia
district. The commissioners under this law were Michael
Jones, John Caldwell, and Thomas Sloo. Facts damaging
to persons who occupied positions of high respectability in
the community, were disclosed. They reported that tlie
English claim of thirty thousand acres confirmed by Gover-
nor St. Clair to John Edgar and the Governor's son, John
Murray St. Clair, was founded in neither law or equity ; that
the patent was issued after the Governor's power ceased to
exist, and the claim ought not to be confirmed. Congress,
however, confirmed it.

For a period of .several years, emigration was considerably
retarded by the delay in adjusting land titles. The act of
Congress passed in 1813, granting the right of pre-emption
to settlers, was influential in bringing the public lands into
market. Emigrants poured into the country, and improve-
ments were rapid'y made.

rilYSICAI, FK.VTURES OF TIIF. .STATE.

Ia area the State has 55,410 square miles of territ iry. It
is about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in
latitude from JIaine to North Carolina. It embraces wide
variety of climate. It is tempered on the north by the great
inland, saltless, tidelcss sea, which helps the thermometer
from either extreme. Being a table-land, from 690 to 1,G00
feet above the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the
health maps, prepared by the general government, an almost
clean and perfect record. In freedom from fever and mala-
rial diseases and consumptions, the three deadly enemies of
the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State, stands without a
superior. She furnishes one of the essential con<litions of a
great people — sound bodies; we suspect that this fact lies
back of that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men. The
great battles of history havebeen determinative; dynasties and
destinies have been strategical battles, chielly the question of
position ; Thermopyho has been the war-cry of freemen f )r
twenty-four centuries. It only tells how much there may be
in position. All this advantage belong to Illinois. It is in
the heart of the greatest valley in the world, the vast region
between the mountains — a valley that could feed mankind
for a thousand years. It is well on toward the centre of the
continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have
beenf)und nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history.
It has sixty-five miles of frontage on the head of Lake Michi-
gan. With the Jlississippi forming the western and south-
ern boundary, with the Ohio running along the south-eastern
line, with the Illinois river and Canal dividing the State
diagonally from the lake to the Lower IMississippi, and with
the Rock and Wabash rivers furnishing altogether 2,000

miles of water-front, connecting with, and running through,
in all about 12,000 miles of navigable water. But this is
not all. These waters are made most available by the fact
that the lake and the State lie on the ridge running into the
great valley from the east. Within cannon-shot of the lake
the water runs away from the lake to the gulf The lake
now empties at both ends, one into the Atlantic and one into
the Gulf of ^lexieo. The lake thus seems to hang over the
land. This makes the dockage most .serviceable; there arc
no steep banks to damage it. Both lake and river are made
for use. The climate varies from Portland to Richmond.
It favors every product of the continent including the tropics,
with less than half a dozen exceptions. It produces every
great nutriment of the world except bananas and rice. It
is hardly too much to .say that it is the most productive spot
known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the
earth full of minerals; with au upper surfiiceof food and an
under layer of fuel; with perfect natural drainage, and
abundant springs and streams and navigable rivers; half
way between the forests of the North and the fruits of the
South; withiu a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal,
copper, lead and zinc: containing and controlling the great
grain, cattle, pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is
not strange that Illinois has the advantage of position. This
advantage has been supplemented by the character of the
population. In the early days when Illinois was first admit-
ted to the union, her population were chiefly from Kentucky
and Virginia. But, in the conflict of ideas concerning sla-
very, a strong tide of immigration came in frori tlie East, ami
soon changed this composition. In 1880, her now native
poj)ulation were from colder soils. New York had furnislied
143,290: Ohio gave 172,023: Pennsylvania 108,352: the
entire South gave us only 210,734. In all her cities, and in
all her German and Scandinavian and other foreign colonics,
Illiiiiiis has only about one-filth of her people of fureigu
birth.

]'R()c:r.Ess OF r)i:vi:i.<iFMi:NT.

Que of the grcat:ist d::velopments in the early history
of Illinois, is the Illinois and Michigan c.uial, connecting tin;
Illinois a:id ;\Iississippi rivers with the lakes. It was of the
utmost importance to the State. It was recommended by
Governor Bund, the first governor, in his first message. Two
bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost
at 8000,000 or 8700,000. It finally cost 88,000,000. In
1825, a law was passed to incorporate the canal company,
hut no stock was s Id. In 1826, upon the soli^'itation of
Daniel P. Cook, congress gave 800,000 acres of land on the
line of the work. In 1828, another law-commissioner was
appointed, and work commenced with new survey and new
estimates. In 1831-35, George Farquar nuide an able
report on the whole matter. This was, doubtless, the
ablest rejiort ever made to a western legislature, and it be-
came the model for subsequent reports and action. From
this the work went on until it was finished in 1848. It co.-t
tlie State a large amount of money ; but it gave to the indus-
tries of tlio State an impetus that pushed it up into the fir-t
rank of greatness. It was not built as a sprruhuinu. But
it has paid into the Treasury of the State an average annual

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

nett sum of over 111,000. Pending the construction of the
canal, the land and town-lot fever broke out in the state, in
1834-35. It took on the malignant type in Chicago, lifting
the town up into a city. The disease spread over the entire
State and adjoining States. It was epidemic. It cut up
men's farms without regard to locality, and cut up the purses
of the purchasers without regard to consequences. There
was no lack of buyei-s ; speculators and money swarmed into
the country. This distemper seized upon the Legislature in
1836-37, and left not one to tell the tale. They enacted a
system of internal improvement without a parallel in the
gjandeur of its conception. Tliey ordered the construction
of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions.
This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements.
There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or
river or canal, and those were to be comforted and compen-
sated by the free distribution of S'200,000 among them. To
inflate this balloon beyond credence it was ordered that work
should be commenced on both ends of each of these railroads
and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the same time.
The appropriations for the vast improvements were over
$12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow
money on the credit of the State. Remember that all this was
in the early days of railroading, when railroads were luxu-
ries ; that the State had whole counties with scarcely a
cabin, and that the population of the State was less than
400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with
which these brave men undertook the work of making a
great State. In the light of history it appears that this was
only a premature throb of the power that actually slumbered
in the soil of the State. It was Hercules in the cradle. At
this juncture the State bank loaned its funds largely to
Godfrey Oilman & Co., and other leading houses for the
purpose of drawing trade from St. Louis to Alton. Soon
they failed, and took down the bank with them. In 1840,
all hope seemed gone. A population of 480,000 were load-
ed with a debt of 814,000,000. It had only six small cities,
really only towns, namely: Chicago, Alton, Springfield,
Qiiincy, Galena and Nauvoo. This debt was to be cared
for when there was not a dollar in the treasury, and when
the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the
people to pay the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet
in the presence of all these difficulties the young State
steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. Ford took hold of the
problem and solved it, bringing the State through in trium])h.
Having touched lightly upon some of the most distinctive
points in the history of Illinois, let us next briefly consider
the

MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE.

It is substantially a garden four hundred miles long and
one hundred and fifty wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy
loam, varying from six inches to six feet thick. On the
American Bottoms it has been cultivated for over one hun-
dred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French
towns it, has yielded corn for a century and a half without
rest or help. It produces nearly everything green in the tem-
perate and tropical zones ; she leads any of the other Statf s

in the number of acres actually under plow. Her products
from 2.5,000,000 acresare incalculable. Her mineral wealth
is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal,
iron, lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone,
fire clay, cuma clay, common brick and tile clay, sands of
all kinds, gravel, mineral paint, everything needed for a
high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elements of
all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an
appreciative handling in figures. We can handle itin gene-
ral terms, like algebraical signs but long before we get up
into the millions and billions, the human mind drops down
from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension. Nearly
four-fifths of the entire State is underlaid with a deposit of
coal more than forty feet thick on the average, including all
strata (now estimated by recent surveys, at seventy feet
thick). You can get some idea of its amount, as you do of the
amount of the national debt. There it is, 41,000 square
miles, one vast mine into which you could bury scores of
European and ancient empires, and have room enough
all round to work without knowing that they had been
sepulchered there. Put this vast coal-bed down by the
ather great coal deposits of the world, and its importance
becomes manifest. Great Britain, has 12,000 square miles
of coal; Spain 3,000; France 1,71'J; Belgium .578; Illi-
nois about twice as many square miles as all combined.
Virginia has 20,000 square miles; Pennsylvania, 10,000;
Ohio, 12,000 ; Illinois has 31,000 square miles ; one-seventh
of all the known coal on this continent is in Illinois.

Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh
of one cent a ton it would pay the national debt. Great
Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give each
man, woman and child in the kingdom the help and service
of nineteen untiring servants. Ko wonder she has leisure
and luxuries. No wonder the home of the common artisan
has in it more luxuries than could be found in the palace of
good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive of it, of
the vastarmy of servants that slumber in Illinois, impatient-
ly awaiting the call of genius to come forth to minister to
our comfort. At the present rate of consumption England's
coal supply will be exhausted in 2o0 years. At the same
rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) tho deposit
of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. L?t us now turn
from this reserve power to tlio

ANNUAL PRODLTCTS

of the State. We shall not bo humiliated in this field. Here
we strike the secret of our national credit. Nature provides
a market in the ^Constant appetite of the race. For several
years past the annu.al production of wheat in Illinois has
exceeded 30,000,000. That is more wheat than was raised
by any other State in the Union ; with corn, she comes for-
ward with 140,000,000 bushels, twice as much as any other
State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the Uuited
States. She harvested 2,707,000 tons of hay, nearly one-
tenth of all the hay in the Republic. It is not generally
appreciated, but it is true, that the hay crop of the country
is worth more than the cotton crop ; the hay of Illinois equals
the cotton of Louisiana.

HISlOEi OF EASDOLPH, ilOXEOE A XI) PEEEY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

The valuation of her farm implements is 8230,000,000,
and the value of her livestock, is only second to the great
State of New York. She raises from 25,000,000 to 30,000,-
000 hogs annually, and according to the last census packed
about one half of all that were packed in the United States.
This Ls no insiiruifieant item. Pork is a growing demand of
the old world. Illinois marked St>4,000,000 worth of
slaughtered animals ; more than any other State, and one-
seventh of all the States.

Illinois is a grand and wonderful State, peerless in the fer-
tility of her soil, and inexhaustible resources. She is fast
marching on towards her predestined place asjirst among the
sisterhood.

We subjoin a list of the things in which Illinois excels all
other States.

Depth and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ;
acres of improved land ; large farms — number of farmers ;
amount of wheat, corn oats, and honey produced ; value of
animals for slaughter; number of hogs; amount of pork;
and number of horses.

Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in
miles of postal service, and in money orders sold per annum,
and in the amount of lumber sold in her markets. She pays
a larger amount of internal revenue to the general govern-
ment than any other state.

Illinois is only second in manv important matters. Tliis
sample list comprises a few of the more important:

Permanent school fund (good for a young State) ; total
income for educational purposes; number of publishers of
books, maps, papers, etc. ; value of farm products and im-
plements, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined.

The shipping of Illinois is only second to Xew York. Out
of one port during the business hours of the season of navi-
gation she sends forth a vessel every ten minutes. This does
not include canal boats, which go one every five minutes.
No wonder she is only second in number of bankers and
brokers or in physicians and surgeons.

She is third in colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead,
hay, flax, sorghum, and beeswax.

She is fourth in population ; in children enrolled in public
schools, in law schools, in butter, potatoes, and carriages.

She is fifth iu value of real and personal propert)', in theo-
logical seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in
milk sold, and in boots and shoes manufactured, and iu book-
binding.

She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is
the twelfth in area. She now has much more wood and
growing timber than she had thirty years ago.

A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She man-
ufactures 8210,000,000 worth of goods, which place her
nearly equal to New York and Pennsylvania.

In the number of copies of commercial and financial news-
papers issued, she is only second to New York, and in her
miles of railroads she leads all other States. Jlore than two-
thirds of her land is within five miles of a railroad and less
than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away.

The Eeligion and Morals of the State keep step ivith her
productions and growth. She was born of the missionary

spirit. It was a minister who secured her the ordinance of
1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance,
and dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congre-
gation in Eandojph County, petitioned the Constitutional
Convention of 1818 to recognize Jesus Christ as King, aud
the Scriptures as the only necessary guide and book of law.
The Convention did not act in the case, and the old cove-
nanters refused to accept citiztii.*hip. They never voted
until 1824, when the slavery question was submitted to the
people. But little mob violence has ever been felt in the
State. In 1817 the regulators disposed of a band of horse
thieves that infested the territory. The Mormon indignities
finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also the scene of a
pro-slaver)' mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of
martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law
supreme, and gives the State unruffled peace. With about
823,000,000 in church property, and 4,321 church organiza-
tions, the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of
moral ideas, that alone is able to secure perfect safety. Con-
science takes the knife from the assassin's hand aud the blud-
geon from the grasp of the highwayman. We sleep in safety
not because we are behind bolts and bars — these only de-
fend the innocent ; not because a lone ofiicer sleeps on a
distant corner of the street; not because a sheriff may call
his posse from a remote part of the county ; but because con-
science guards the very portals of the air and stirs iu the
deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues within
the State 9,-500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and
receives still more from without. Thus the crime of the
State is only one-fourth that of New York and one-half that
of Pennsylvania.

Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens.
In Belleville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Ben-
nett arranged to vindicate injured honor. The seconds
agreed to make it a sham, and make them shoot blanks.
Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted something,
and, unob.servcd, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed
Stewart. He then fled the State. After two years he was
caught, tried, convicted, and, in spite of friends and political
aid, was hung. This fixed the code of honor on a Christian
basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. The early preachers
were generally ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent
according to the strength of their voices. Gov. Ford .saj's,
"Nevertheless these first preachers were of incalculable ben-
efit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality.
To them are we indebted for the first Christian character of
the Protestant portion of the people."

Jn£(fuca</on, Illinois surpasses her material resources. The
ordinance of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to
common schools, and the law of 1318, the first law that went
upon her statutes, gave three per cent, of all the rest to Educa-
tion. The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its
yoking together morality and intelligence it precludes the
legal interference with the Bible in the public schools. With
such a start it is natural that we should have about 11,500
schools, aud that our ilitcracy should be less than New York
or Pennsylvania, and about one-half of Massachusetts. What
a grand showing for so young a State. These public schools

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

snon made culleges inevitable. The first college, still flour-
i^liing, was started in Lebanon in lS-8, hv he M. E. Church,
ai.d named after Bishop ilcKcudree. Illinois college at
Jacksonville followed in 1830, snjiported by the Presbyterians.
In 1832 the Baptists built Shurtleff college at Alton, and
Knox college at Galesburg fullowed in 1833, and Jubilee
college at Peoria in 1847, and the good Catholic missionaries
long prior to this had e tablished in various parts of the State,
colleges, seminaries and parochial schools. After these earl v
years colleges have rained down. A settler could hardly
encamp on the prairie but a college would spring up by liis
wagoa. The State now has one very well endowed and
eijuipped university, namely the North-western University,
at Evanston, with six colleges, ninety instructors, over one
thousand students, and Sl,.")00,000 endowment. Eev. J. M.
Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in the State.
lie settled at Rock Spring, St. Clair County, about 1820, and
has left his impress on the State. He was a large contribu-
tor to the literature of that day in this State ; about 1837 he
published a GartWeer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell,
of BlulTdale, published essays and tales showing genius.
Judge James Hall published the Illinois Monthhj Magazine
with great ability, and an annual called Tlie Western Sou-
venir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the United
States. From these beginnings, Illinois has gone on till she
has more volumes in public libraries even than Massachu-
setts, and of the 44.500,000 volumes in all the public libra-
ries of the United Siates, she has one-thirteenth.

In 18G0 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries ; in 1870
she had eighty.

That is a grand advance for the war decade. Her growth
in the last ten years has been equally marvellous.

This brings us to a record unsurpassed in any age.

THK WAR RECORD OF ILLINOIS.

We hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or
what. to say, as we can at best give only a broken synopsis
of her gallant deeds. Her sons have always been foremost
on fields of danger. In the war of 1812 she aided in main-
taining national sovereignty. In 1831-32, at the call of
Grov. Reynolds, her sons drove Blackhawk over the Missis-
sippi.

When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men
ofiered themselves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The
fields of Buena Vista, Chapultepec and Vera Cruz, and the
storming of Cerro Gordo, will perpetuate the bravery and
the glory of the Illinois soldier. But it was reserved till
our day for her sons to find a field and a cause and a foe-
man that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism.
Illinois put into her own regiments for the United States
government 256,000 men, and into the army through other
states enough to swell the number to 290,000. This far ex-
ceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in all the
■war of the revolution. Her total years of service were
600,000. She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five
years of age when the law of Congress in 1864 — the test
time — only asked for those from twenty to fortv-five. Her
enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted to

go and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment.
Thus the basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then
the quota itself, at least in the trying time, was far above
any other State. Thus the demand on some counties, as
Monroe, for example, took every able-bodied man in the
county, and then did not have enough to fill the quota.
Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred
days, for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's
attention was called to the inequality of the quota compared
with other states, he replied, " The country needs the sacri-
fice. We must put the whip on the free horse." In spite
of these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 73,000
years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenlh of
the population of the loyal States, she sent regularly one-
tenth of all the soldiers, and in the peril of the closing
calls, when patriots were few and weary, she then sent one-
eighth of all that were called for by her loved and honored
son in the White House. Her mothers and daughters went
into the fields to raise the grain and keep the children to-
gether, while the fathers and older sons went to the harvest
fields of the world. What a glorious record there is treas-
ured up in the hi,story of this great country for the patriotic
Illinois soldier. Her military record during the Rebellion
stands peerless among the other States. Ask any soldier
with a good record of his own, who is thus able to judge,
and he will tell you that the Illinois men went in to win.
It is common history that the greater victories were won in
the West. When everything else was dark, Illinois was gain-
ing victories all down the river, and dividing tiie confederacy,
Sherman took with him on his great march forty-five regi,
ments of Illinois infantry, throe companies of arliller}', and
one company of calvary. He could not avoid goinej to the
sea. Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with
" It is impossible; there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,-
OOO Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 300
battle-flags. The first United States fl.ig that floated over
Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and
nurses to every field and hospital, to care for her sick and
wounded sons. When individuals had given all, then cities
and towns came forward with their credit to the extent of
many millions, to aid these men and their families. Illinois
gave the country the great general of the war — Ulysses S.
Grant — since honored with two terms of the Presidency of
the United States.

One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds,
embalmed in all hearts, that must have the supreme place
in this story of our glory and of our nation's honor : that
name is Abiaham Lincoln, of Illinois. The anal3'sis of Mr.
Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its symmetry.
In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising
honesty, ."^.nd well we may, for this saved us thousands
throughout the length and breadth of our country who knew
him only as "Honest Old Abe," and voted for him on that
account ; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could
have carried us through the fearful night of the war.
When his plans were too vast for our comprehension and
his faith in the cause too sublime for our participation,
when it was all night about us, and all dread before us,

HISTORY OF RAXnOLPH, MONROE AXD PERRY CO UX TIES, ILLIXOIS.

and all sad and desolate behind us : when not one ray shone
upon our cause ; when traitors were haughty and exultant
at the south, and fierce and blasphemous at the North ;
when the loyal men here seemed almost in the minority ;
when the stoutest heart quailed, when generals were defeat-
ing each other for place, and contractors were leeching out
the very heart's blood of the prostrate republic : when
everything else had failed us, we looked at this calm, patient.
man standing like a rock in the storm and said, " Mr. Lin-
coln is honest, and we will trust him sail." Holding to this
single point with the energy of faith and despair we held
together, and, under God, he brought us through to victory.
His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all laada.
With such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their
ultimate eflects, that his foresight of contingencies seemed
almost prophetic. He is radiant with all the great virtues,
and his memory shall shed a glory upon this age that shall
fill the eyes of nicu as they look into history. Other men
have excelled him in some points, but taken at all points, all
in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man
of six thousand years. An administrator, ha served the
nation in the perils of unparalleled civil war. A statesman,
he ju^tified his measures by their success. A philanthropist,
he gave liberty to one race and salvation to another. A
moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the
foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he
exercised mercy under the most absolute obedieace to law.
A leader, he was no partizan. A commander, he was un-
tainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, he wns
unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of pas-
sion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of
jealousy, no purpose of selfish ambition. Tiius perfected,
without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into
these troubled years to adorn and embellish a!l tluit is good
and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all
coming time the divine idea of free government. It is not
too much to say that away down in the future, when the
Ilepublic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time; when
the great war itself shall have faded out in the distance like
a mist on the horizon ; and when the Anglo-Sax ju language
shall be spoken only by the tongue of the stranger, then the
generation locking this way shall see the great President as
the supreme figure in this vortox of hi.^t ry.

CIVIL OUGAXIZATIO:^.

The history of Illinois has been traced while a possession
of France, and when under the British government ; and
the formation of Illinois as a County of Virginia has boon
noted. The several States afterwards agreed on the adop-
tion of Articles of the Confederation, to cede their claims to
the western land to the General government. Virginia
executed her deed of cession JIarch 1st, 1784. For several
years after, there was an imperfect admistration of the law
in Illinois. The French customs partly held force, and
affairs were partly governed by the promulgations of the
British commandants issued from Fort Chartros, and bv the
regulations which had subsei|ueutly been i isued bv the Vir-
gicia authorities.

By the ordinance of 1787, all the territory north-west of
the Ohio was constituted into one district, the laws to be
administered by a governor and secretary ; a court was insti-
tuted of three judges. A general assembly was provided
for, the members to be chosen by the people. General
Arthur St. Clair was selected by Congress, as Governor of
the north-western territory. The seat of government was at
Marietta, Ohio.

In the year 1795, Governor St. Clair divided St. Clair
County. All south of a line running through the New
Design settlement (in the present County of Monroe) was
erected into the County of Randolph. In honor of Edmund
Randolph of Virginia, the new county received its name.

Shadrach Bond, afterwards the first Governor, was elected
from Illinois, a member of the Territorial Legislature which
convened at Ciucinnati, ia January, 1799. In 1800 the
Territory of Indiana was formed, of which Illinois consti-
tuted a part, with the seat of government at Vincennes.
About 1803, among otlier places in the West, Aaron Burr
visited Kaskaskia in an endeavor to enlist men for his
treasonable scheme ag.iinst the government. In 1.S0.5,
George Fisher was elected from Randolph County a mem-
ber of the Territorial Legislature, and Pierre Menard was
chosen member of the Legislative Council.

By act of Congress, 1809, the Territory of Illinois wu<
constituted. Xinian Edwards was appointed Governor of
the newly organized Tcrritorv, and the seat of government
established at Kaskaskia. N.ithaniel Pope, a relative of
Edwards, received the appointment of Secretary.

For nearly four years afcc-r the organization of the Terri-
torial Government no legislature existed in Illinois. An
election for representatives was held on th.e eighth, ninth,
and tenth of October, 1812. Shadrach B md, then a resi-
dent of St. Clair County, was elected the first Delegate to
Congress from Illinois. Pierre Slenard was chosen from
Randolph County member of the Legislative Council, and
George Fisher of the House of Representatives. The Legis-
lature convened at Kaskaskia ou the twenty-fifth of Xovem-
ber, 1812.

In April, 1818, a bill providing fur the ad.ni.;sion of Illi-
nois into the Union as a sovereign Siato was j)assei liy Con-
gress. A Convention to fiame a Constitution a-.somble 1 at
Kaskaskia in the following July. The first election under
the Constitution was held in September, 1818, and .'^iiadrach
Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard, Lieutenant
Governor Illinois was now declared by Congress admitted
to the Union as on an equal footing in all respects with the
original States. The Legislature again met at Ka-kaskia in
January, 1S19. Tiiis was the last session ever held at Kas-
ka^kia. Vaudalia, the same year, was selected as the Capital
of the State. It was stipulated that Vandalia was to be the
Capital for twenty years. At the end of that period it was
changed to Springfield. Below we give list of g )vernora
and staff officers of Illinois.

Illinois was constituted a separate Territory by act of Con-
gress February 3d, 1S09. The boundaries w-jre described
as follows :

HISTORY OF BANDOLPK, MONROE AND rERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ILLINOIS TERUirORY.

FROM 1809,

TO 1882.

* " That from ami after the first day of March next, all
that part of the IiKUana Territory which lies west of the
Wabash river and a direct liuedrawn from the said Wabash
river and Post Yincennes due north to the territorial line
between the United States and Canada, shall for the purpose
of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and
be called ' Illinois.' "

The seat of government was fixed at Kaskaskia.

The territorial government was continued under the first
grade from 1809 until 1812, when by a vote of the people
the second grade was adopted.

Under the first grade, the Governor and Judges, who
received their appointment from the President, constituted
the Legislative Council, and enacted laws for the govern-
ment of the people. The Governor possessed almost un-
limited power in the appointment of officers ; the Secretary
of the Territory being the only officer, not appointed by the
Governor.

Lender the second grade, the people elected the Legisla-
ture, which was composed of a Legislative Council and a
House of Representatives. The Legislative Council was
composed of five members, and the House of Kepreseutatives
of seven members.

The Legislature enacted the laws for the government of
the people, but the Governor was possessed of the absolute
veto power, and was therefore in position to dictate the laws,
if he chose to exercise the power.

The people also elected the Delegate to Congress by popu-
lar vote.

Ttrrltoilnl Officers.

The following is a complete roster of territorial officers
from 1S09 until the organization of the State government
in 1818:

GOVERXOnS.

•Toli.i R.vl.^ :M;ir.'li7,lsnti, Poi-liiicl.

>iiium EUivanls \Iiril:;l, Isiio, to DecijmburC, ISIS.

Tlio term oftho Governor's h,:. im n i,r a.k two yc.->rs. Governor Ertwarrls
was rc-appoiutoil from timo ti. tiiii., :i^ Ins I, rm expired, and served through
the entire territorial government.

SEcr.ETAr.IES.

K.-ilhanicl Pope IVI.ireh 7, ISnn, to DeeemV.rr IT, ISH',.

J.istph Phillips December 17, 1S16, to Oelober c, 1S18.

AUDITORS OF rUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

IT. II. Maxwell 1S12 to I.SIG.

Daniel P. Cook January V.\, 181G, to April, l.sn.

B.-ihert Blaelcwell April .^i, 1S17, to August, 1317.

Elijah C. Berry August 28, 1317, toOctober 9, ISIS.

ATTOr.NrVS riFNERAL

Benjamin 11. Dovle i " ■ .'l, 1 ■ ", to December, 1809.

•lohn J. Crittenden I'- i"'" r ■'•", 1809, to April, lalo.

Th.jmas T. ('rittenden iiril 7. |s|ii, to Oetoher, Isln.

Benjamin M. Piatt I i,.t,,l,.r •-'9, isin, to June, 1S13.

William Mears Iune23, 1813, to February 17, ISIS.

• From Le.jislativc Directory, published 1881.

TREASURERS,
1S1-2 10 1818.

DELEGATES TO COKGRESS.

Sb.adraeh Bond Iir, rnibrr, 1S12, to 1S14.

lleniamin Slepheuson September -l-J, ISH, to 1817.

Naliianiel Pope 1»17 to Isls.

JUDGES.

March 7, 1809.

Jbu-eh 7, 1SH9. Resigned.

Obadiah Jones,

\Vi

1 M<-

Jeptlia Hardm. (Eastern elrcuil.)..

ADJUTASTS-GEXERAL.
Elias I),.ot,M- Mnv :; |s

l!o

Elias l:. . I..; .. .
l\enjanunS|„|,|
Wui. Akxande

, 1M4

First Territorial Legislature— 1813.

Convened at KaslcasUia on the 2.5th dav of November, A. D. 1812. Adjourned
the -'etli dav of December, 1S12. .Second session convened and adjourned
November s' A. D. 1S13.

LEGISL.VTIVE COUNCIL.
OFFICERS.

President Pierre Menard.

Si-crclnrii lohn Thomas.

Duorkeeper Thomas Van Swcaringen.

MEMBERS.

Pierre Menard Randolph. Ramnel Jud.v Madison.

lienjamui Talbott (iallatin. Tlionias Ferguson Julinsou.

William Biggs St. Clair.

HOUSE OF REPRE.?ENTATIYES.

n li FRs.

F:peal;er...

Clerk

Duurkecpt

.George Fisher,
-.William C, GrCi

Reorse Fisher

Alexand'T WiN..u
Phillip Trallirnel ,

MEMBERS.

..Randolpli. .Toshua Oclesbv St. Clair,

....(iallatni. Jaeob Short SI. I'l.iir,

... (inllatin. William Jones Madison

....John.son.

Second Territorial I.e*f;islatu

FIRST .SESSION.

LEtJlSLATIVE COUNCIL.
OFFICERS.

r-i-Meni Pierre Menard.

Srcrr.lnTv John Thomas.

Luurkceper Phomas Stuart.

MEMBERS.

Pierre Menard Randolph. S:imuel ,Iudy Madison.

William Biggs st. riair. Thomas Ferguson Johnson.

Benjamin Talbott (iallatin.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OFFICERS.

Snrakcr Ri.sdon Moore.

Clerk William Mears.

Duurileper Tliomas Stuart

MEMBERS.

Fisdnn iT.inr.- St. Clair. Phillip Trammel Gallatin.

\V;lh,un l.oi Madison. Thomas C. Browne (iallatin.

Jam..- I'M, St, Clair. Owen Evans Johnson.

Jaiiu- < .i:i . 'II. Randolph.

Seeond Territorial I^eglslature— 1815.

SECOND SESSION
Convened pursuant to adjournment, the 4th day of December, A. D. ISl.i.
Adjourned January 11, A, D, 1810.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
OFFICERS.

President Pierre Menard.

,Verretarii .Jolin Ihomas.

Enrolnnn and Eagromng Clerk Wm. C. Greenup.

jjoorkecper Ezra Ctwen.

MEMBERS.

Pierre Menard R.andolph. William Biggs St. Clair.

Samuel Judy Madison. Thomas Ferguson Johnson.

Benjamin Talbott Gallatin.

» Expelled.

mSTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

. C.Greenup.

nOl'PE OF EKPRF.SF.NT.VTIVES.
oi'Fici:i;--

Speaker

Oerk

Doorkeeper

Enrolting and Engrossing Ciirk

MEMEEK.S.

Ri«don Moore St Clnir. .Ii'liti n. Lodon Mndh

Phillip Trammel Gallatin. William l!alil>.

Tlioma.« C. Browne liallatin. James Lemon

Jarvis Hazelton Kaadoliili.

Third TerHtorlal I/eglslatiire— 1816-IT.
FIRST SliS-SlCPX.
Convened at Ka=kaskia the 2d da.v of December. A. D. ISIG. Adjourned
January 14, \. D. ISIT.

^ ' LEGISL.-VTIVE COl'N'CIL.

OFFICERS,

President Pierre Menard.

Hrrrelar,, ;',"',?P,r '^"""'K'-

Enntllimi and Enqro.siuj Clerk H. K.MoLaughlm.

DoorkecJHr ! Ezra Owen.

membet;?.

"icrre Menard Randolph. .Mm Grammar Johnson.

,Iohn G. Lofton Madison. TliomM C. Browne Oall.ilin.

Abraham .\mos St. Clair.

HOUSE OF KEPRESEXTATIVES.
OFFICEIIS.

Speaker "T"'-?'; J'^^*"",'

0frk Daniel P. Cook.

Enroi}ni!i''and'Bn'qrt>5Sinn Ocrk R. K. McLaUKhlin.

Doorkeeper '. Ezra Owen.

MEMBERS.

Georce Fi.«her R.andolph. Joseph Palmer Johnson.

C. R. M.alhenv ^^t. Clair. S.'th Card Edwards.

\Vm. H. Brad'sby S^t. Clair. Samuel Omelveny Pope.

^'athan Davis Jackson.

Third Territorial ieglslatnre— 1S17-18.
SECOND SE5SlnN-.
Convened .\t Ka.skaskia the Ist day of Docember, A. D. 1817. Adjourned
Januarv li A. D. 1818.

LEGISL.VTIVE COUNCIL.

OFFICERS.

President Pierre Menard.

Seerctnr,! !,°''fP''.F'',""''-^L-,-

Enre^inganAEagroaing CUrk R. KJ»IcLaughIir

Doorkeeper

MEMBERS.

Pierre Menard Randolph.

Abraham .\mo9 Monroe.

John Grimmar Johnson.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OFFICERS.

Speeika- g^ilS? F'sh".

(jlffrk Daniel P. Cook.

Enrouimaiui'iiii^nTsing'cierk. R- K. McLaughlii

Doorkeeper '.... - Ezra Owen.

..Ezra Owen.

George Fisher Randolph

Cha«. R. Matheny St. Clair.

Willis Hargiaves White.

Wm. H. Bradsby St. Clair

Joseph Palmy J,.hnson

M. S. Davenport Gallatin

First Constitutional Convention.

COXVEXTION I IF ISls.
As.'serabled at Kaska-skia, July — , 1818. Adjourned August 26,
1818. Thirtv-three delegate,^. One member from Wa-shington county
died during the .sitting of tlie convention ; name unknown. Constitu-
tion adopted in convention without being submitted to a vote of the
people. Approved by Congress, December 3, 1818.
OFFICERS.

President -Tes-se B.Thomas.

Secretary William C. Greenup.

I)ELEGATF,S.

St. Cfctr— Jesse B. Thomas, John Messinger, James Lemen, Jr.
Bandolph— George Fisher, Elias Kent Kane.

Jl/adtscm— Benjamin Stephenson, Joseph Borough, .Abraham Pric-
kett.

GaZZo/iTv— Michael Jones, Leonard White, Adolphus F. Hubbard.

Johnson — Hezekiah West, Wm. McFatridge.

Edward.i Seth Gard, Levi Compton.

irAt<<:— Willis Ilargrave, Wm McHenry.

.AToTiroe— Caldwell Cams, Enoch Moore,

Pope — Samuel Omelveny, Hamlet Ferguson.

Jncfoon— Conrad Will, .lames Hall, Jr.

Oau/orrf -Joseph Kitchell, Edward X. CiiUom.

Bai!<i— Thoma-sKirkpatrick, Samuel G. Morse.

ITnion—Vf iWi&m Echols, John Whiteaker.

Washington — .\ndrew Bankaon.

Franklin— Ishum Harrison, Thomas Roberts.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

Under the constitution of 1818 the elective ofBcers were the Gover-
nor and Lieutenant-Governor, who held office for four years. The
election returns were transmitted by the returning otficers, directed to
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose duty it was to
open and publish them in the presence of a majority of each house of
the General .\ssembly. In case of a tie, the choice was made by a
joint ballot of both houses. The first election for Governor and
Lieutenant-Governor was lield on the third Thursday of September,
A. D. 1S18. Thereader the elections were held every four years
on the first Monday of August.

The Secretary of State was appointed hy the Governor, with the
advice and consent of the Senate.

The .Vudilor of Public Accounts, Treasurer and Attorney-General
were elected by the General Assembly, and held office for two years
respectively.

By the constitution of 1S4S, all these officers were made elective by
the people, except the Attorney-General, which office was abolished.
The term of office for each was four years, except the Treasn n r,
which was two years.

The office of .Attorney-General was again created by law, in 1867,
and the term fixed at two years. The office was first filled by
appointment by the Governor, and at the expiration of the term by
election by the people.

The constitution of 1870 provides that the Executive Department
shall consist of-a Governor, Lieutenanl-Ciovernor, Secretary of State,
Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public In-
struction, and Attorney-General, who shall eacli, with the exception
of the Treasurer, hold office for four years from the second Monday in
January next after election. The Treasurer holds office for two years,
and is ineligible for re-election until the expiration of two years next
after the end of his term. The first election under the constitution of
1870 was held Novembers, A. D. 1872.

By a law passed in 1849 the Secretary of State was made ez-officia
State Superintendent of Public Schools. In 18.54 the law establish-
ing a system of free schools created the office of State Superintendent,
and provided for the appointment by the Governor, upon the taking
effect of the law, of some person to hold office until the election in
1855, when a State Superintendent should be elected, and every two
years thereafter.

The offices of Adjutant-General, State Geologist, and Entomolo-
gist, are created by law, and filled by appointment of the Governor.

STATE OF ILLINOIS.

Shailraeh Bond 'Oct.

Ktiw..>rd Coles IDeC.

Nmian Kd wards Dec.

Jotm Reynolds Dec.

Wm. L. D. Ewing INov.

Joseph Duncan Dec.

Thomas Carlin ' Dec.

Thomas Ford Dec.

Augustus C. French Dec,

Augustus C. French |Jan.

6, 1818....
6, 1822...
6, 182C..
9, 1830...

17, 1834.

3, 1834

7, 1838....

8, 1842

!1, 1846

8, 1849...

.St. Clair

.'Madison...,
. Madison....
.'St. Clair

.Fayette

.:Morgan

.'Greene

Joel A. Mfttteson Jan.,

Wm. U. Bissell Jan.

John Wood Mar.

.Ian. 14,18f.l.
Jan. 16, 1865..,
Jan. 11, 1869.,
Jan. 13, 1873.,

John L. Beveridge Jan 23, 1873

Richard Yates

Richard J.OKlesby..

John M. Palmer

Richard J. Oglesby-.

1853....
12,18.57..,
21, I860..

Resigned Nov. 17, 1834.

Elected Ren. to Congress.
Vice Reynolds. *

Shelby M. Cullom Jan. 8,1877..

Shelby M. Cullom 'Jan. 10, 1881..

Monroe Died March 15. 1860.

Adams jSueceededto the office vic«

Bissell.

Morgan

Macon

Macoupin .
Macon

Resigned Jan. 23, 187S.

Elected U.S. Sen*or.
Succeeded to office, t1c«

Oglesby resigned.

4-2.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Ijieutenan£-Goi

Pierre Menard Oct. 6, 1818..

Adolphus F. Hubbard..' Dec. 5,1822.,
William Kinney., "' "

Stinson H. .^nrter:

John M'viri-

Joseph n. Wolls...
Wm. McM.irtry...
Gustavua KcErner,
John Wood

3 A. Marshall..
I \. Hoffman..

Dec. 7, 1838.,
Dec. 8. 1S42.,
Dec. 9, 1846.
Jan. 8, 1849.
1853.
12, 1857.

St. Claii
Jefferso
Fayette

Jeffer.son,
McLean,.
Rock Isia

Jan. 14, 1861.,

Jan. li;, 1805.,

„ Jan. 11, 1869.,

John L. Beveridge 'Jan. 13, 1873.,

John Early Jan. 23, 1873.,

Archibald A. Glenn Jan. 8, 1875.

Union

Coolt

Winnebago.

Brown

Resienc-d March 1. 18.33
Pre.sident of Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Governor.
Resigned

Presidentof Senate and Act-
g Ijieut-Governor

Succeeded to office
vice Bissell dec'd ^

1860.
President of Senate a

ing Lieut-Gnvernc

Succeeded to office of Gov.

vice Oglesby elec'd U. S Sen

Presidentof Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Governor.

President of Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Gc

Secretaries of State.

Elias Kent Kane 1 1, t r. l-l-

Samucl n, L.,ckwood 1 in ■ I -, ■ -
David Bl-vkn-r-ll \]'ril J. '

Morri" P.pklu-.'k M,,t 1,1- I

Georrr l,',,-|r ,r ,1 ,:, I,, I '

Alex^ui i, , ]■ I I, !,i I' , ,1, I -

Stepli.-n \ h ,i|,-i,i. \,,> ,,.■, I- h

Lyman '1 i '-ill .. I-I' -T, IMI

Thompson r.inipbcll, , -Mar. 4, 1,<4:!„

Horaces. Cooley [Dec. 23, ls4r...|

Horaces. Cooley 'Jan. 8,1849..'

David L. Greggs \i.nn". !,■<."

Alexander -Starne ' m l ■, i ,,

Ozins M. Hatcli 1 n I ., 1 :

OziasM. Hatch ,l:.n, II, l

Sharon Tyndale ,,ian, P , I

Edward Rummel 'Jan. 11. i

George H. Harrow Jan. 1:1, 1

George H. Harrow Jan. ,'-. 1 ,,

Henry C. Dement Ijan. 10, l,.^l,.

lAppointed hy Gov. French.
Elected under Constitution
I of 1848. Died April 2, 1850.

Auditors of Public Accounts.

, 27, ls:n.

Fayette

James T. B. Stapp

Levi Davis

James Shields

Wm. D. L. EwinK_.
Thomas H. Campbel
Thomas H. Campbel

Jesse K. Dubois

Orlin H. Miner Deo. li, 1864.. Sang;

rhailcs E. Lippincott..]Jan. 11, 18C9.. Cass

Charles E. Lippincott.. J.an. l.i, 187,3,, "

Thomas B. Needles .fan. 8, 1877.. Washington

Charles P. Swigert Wan. 10, 1881.. Kankakee...

? Ewing, deceased.

Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Ninian W. Edwards Mch. 24, 1854.

Wm. H. Powell Jan'y 12, 1857.

Newton Bateman |Jan'y 1,1859.

Newton B.iteniaii iJan'y 4, W61.

John P. Brooks Jan'y 12, 1863.

Newton Bateman Jan'y lu, 1805.

Newton Bateman IJan'y — , 1867.

Newton Bateman 'Jan'y-, 1871.

Sam'l K. Etter iJan'y 11, 1876.

Jattes P. Slade Ijan'y 13, 1879.

Sangamo
Peoria....
Morgan..

Appointed by the Governor

State Treasurers.

John Tho
R. K. Jlc I

Jamc
Willi;
Willi;

Resigned Dee, 3, 1,V10.

Ale

HBeveridg
George W. Smith...
Erastus N. Bates...
Erastus N. Bates...

Edward Ruiz

Thos. S. Ridgeway..

Edward Rutz

John C. Smith

Edward Rutz

,l;m. 12, 1,S63„

.Ian. 9, 1865.

Jan. 10, 1807.

Jan. 11, 1869.,

Nov. 8, 1870.

Jan. 13, 1873.

Jan. 11, 1875.

Jan. 8, 1877.

Jan. 13, 1879.

Jan. 10, 1881.

Dekalb..

Oook

Marion..

St. Clair

Gallatin

St. Clair

JoDaviess .
.Cook

,l|ipn,„t

Kleeted.

Resigned Sept. 3, 1859.

Appointed,

Carpenter.

,1859
Mille

Attomeys-CJeneral.

Daniel Pope Cook

WHliam Mcars

Sam'l D. Lockvvood..,.

James Turncy

James Turney

George Forquer

James Semple

Ninian W. Edw.ards..
Ninian W. Edwards...
.Jesse li. Thomas, Jr.

Walter B. Scates

Usher F. binder

I W. Olney

.'Mch. 6, 1819.. Randolph ... Resigned March 5, 1819.

.'Dec. 14, 1819.. St Clair I

Feb. 20, 1821,.!Madison Resigned Deo. 28, 1822.

. laii'yll, 1^2:1 Washington Resigned Jan'y 7, IS'25.

1, l.>,.4„
ly 111, 1811,

James A. Meli,
David H, CiiLi]
Kobeiti., Ill-- ■

iFeb." 12, 183.5. .'Madison. I,' I : -,

.Llan'ylS, 1830.,'JefTerson I,, .i , 1 ,■ - ,

IFeti, 4. isn C,-.|p.i.,. 1:, ;-ii, ,l ,l;ii,' II, I ,;■<.

.1,1, ix;- M-,,!,^,,,,, R, .,L',i.-,| Feti-y 1, 1,h:.19.

; Jl, h ,,!-,, ( �� i,u,,|,| 1;, .|,_'iie,l Kov.19, 1S40.

I-!', J.; I-'- !■,'', ','■",, .\pi...inledby(..ov. I 'Klc.by.
I ,:, X I I. !■; , I ,- il,, -

. Janv. ,11 1S77„, " :

.^Jan'y.lO, I881..lWayne 1 - -

State Geolo^Bts.

When I From what

appointed, i county.

Joseph Norwood

H. A. rlffers

Amos H. Worthen....

L.-op.jld Riiditer

Henrv Engolraann..
William Billington..

!.luly 21, 1R,51 ,'s,3neamon.-.. Act of Feb. 17, 1S51.

■\], 1, ■' 1- 11 ■(, , 1: \ !',,• >or%vood.

1,,, 1,1 ,, " i -,M.
, .\|„,1 r., I-., I -' ' I,..:
,:Apnli:o, l.,„l„-.;n;4.m.,...-..

State Entomologists.

When |From what
appointed. ] county.

D.B.Walsh

Wm. LeBarron.
Cyrus Thomas..

.June- 11, lsn7..!Rock IslandlDicd.

.April 2, 1870..lK.ane iDied.

.lApril 13, 1876..iJackson I

Adjutants-General.

Wm. Alexander

Elijah C. Berry

James W. Berry....
Moses K. Anderso
Simon B. Buckner
Wm. C. Kcnney....
I'homas S. Mather

Allen C. Fuller

Isham N. Haynie..
Edward P. Nlles....

Hubert Dilger

Edwin L. Higgins
Edwin L. Higgins

Hiram Hilliard

When From what

appointed. county.

April !
June 1
Dec. 1
Dec. 1
April
Deo.
Oct. 2
Nov. 1
Jan'y 1

MohVii
Jan'y 2
July
July
July

, 1839.
1857.
, 1857.
, 1858.
, 1801.
, 1866.

,'1809.
, 1873.
, 1874.
, 1875.
, 1877.

Sangamon...

Cook

St. Clair

Sangamon..

Boone

Alexander..

Cook

Sangamon..

Resigned Nov. 11,

Resigned Nov. 7, 1857.

Died.

Vice Kinney, deceased.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

POPrLATIOX OF ILLINOIS.

i by Counties, ujordiag t> the United States census, from the year ISCk) to the year 1380, and dale

1800. i 1810. ; 1820. 1 ia.io.

I'^Ml. I ISfiO.

Adams

Alexander.

Hond

Boone

Brown

Bureau

Calhoun

Carroll

Champaign ...

Christian

Clark

Clay

Clinton

Coles

Cook

Crawford

Cumberland..

DeKalh

IifWiti

llH!lL'l;l*

l>iira.-.-

Iroqtv
.T.vks

•l.lSpc

..| 4,822

2,1811

i,:ao

2,031

3,0411

7.1,-:

2,.'i30

],878l 3, 20:!!
7, 4V1 9, ."■32

111,2111 1 43,3S.V

41,323
4, 707
0,815
11, 078
9,938
25, 420
.1, 141
11,733
ll,32r,
14, 029
10, 492
11,987
9, .^3^,
10.911
14, 203
144, 9."i4
11,.V,I
R.31I
10,086
10, .S2n
7,140
14,7"l!
lc.,9i->|
.■i.lSJl
7 8IC1
11,189
l,079l
0,303'
33, .l;).'?!

10,093!
10,379:

a.nwl

29, 001 i
3,7.59;

2,2041

1 1 1'

■-, 1-1;

3,921

I ■.■•

-•lllj

11,079
4,012

1_ ...,l

11. Till!

r., 9.37
-., 5SS
19, 22s
in, .-.73

..■;72|

r,ii.-,o.

l,-.73

7,914
7,807
3,710

13, rcii

20. ISO

2,8'Hi

ll.ixr.

♦,7lfi|

7. i21 1

12,0-,2

3,239:

r.,.v24i

7, 01.-.

9,no3i

11,492

2,7Io|

4,210

4, 090

308'

0,739|

8,170

l,n7.'>i

4,S10|

n,9.-.3

2,r..W|

S, 133i

0, S2."i

0,0911

7,9I9j
2. -.14

8 92.'.

s. 3111

1871

,301
20, 000!

..; 4,.^r.:

7, 3.54i

12, 0.51 :

1 0, liSM

18,001

27,3-25

i;| 3, c-.io,

4,114

9, 342;

.. 0, 5111

10, 703,

30. 0fi2i
1.5. 4121

■

7 73 ;

I3.074I

4; 7,010

1:1. 279i

2.<, 0031

,- 7,0,-,4!

11,220

18,2571

..' 9, 3 IS

17. SI.5I

48.3321

.•* 7,0921

0.I2I1

9,214'

2, 03-.:

r., 292:

17.0.511

.1 7.59 ■

1,5.52,

11,037:

22, 112'
0,385'

22, SSsi

30, 001 1
9,,5.52|
0, 127

27.2491
0,712
3,943
.5, .587

17.205
9,711

21,00.5
9, 331

32, 274

14, CS4
9, 0(i9l

14.0131
9,004:
•37,094
25,1121
21, 470,
ll.lSli
lo.rtiol
7, 3131

l8,.^3fi!

13.731]
12, 2131
12, 403

15, 71)71
29,3211
12,2a5

SO, 302
10, .564
13 152
12, 942
1-2,205
34,41

lr,'-u

18,719
15,875
10,285

When organized.

12, 0521
S-'S, 2911
11,1341
20, -277
14..93,s
1.3,Ot4|
35,9351

19.0.34
11,2.3s
17,8114,
1.5,0.54'
27, 820
ll,24.'i'
39,1191
24, .352]
1-2, .399

27, 171 :
31 , 471
2!, 0.531
20, 181 ;

10, .5nO
2.5.4711,
10, 751
f 1,01a,
30,00s
27. 903 I
10,.51R|
30..3SS;
8, .« 11
23. 174
17, .599
19,7.5.<l

m.-sio
£7. .503;

43,0131
17,. 3-29
29, .3011
IS, 95G'

59, 148 .Tanuary 13, 18-25..

14, 809>Ittrt-h 4, 1S19

14,873 J;inii:ir-.- 1. I«1T..
11,527 Mi: ■': I, 1- ,^ .-
13,014 !■■■ I 1 . I i- .'
33. ISO F- ',- ■ , V J. 1 ■ :T

N-.

18,924 r,-lMiiiuyl5, lb:ii
23,213 Fohmarv 14, 1821
15 105 Februarv.l7, 1.S.59
111, l.-Llnnuiu-V-'. isl.'^...

: . J 1 ■ ■

•.-S, ISJl..
-.-11. 1825..

■:. IS39

i'V 211, 1S41...

r,n1 .l:ini
457 Feb
.50S .lam

5; 5 F.-b,

u-vl :. K2.5...
uary -20, 18.33

ary 10, isio...
n;n-vl5, 1S31

27; 491 1- ■','-.• ■--, i- :i
3s.,|5'i F,' 1 :; 11 V --7. 1^1:
2.5,041 Fel.|ll:u-\' 1 ., 1S:|9...,

30,071 .laiiiia'-y I'l, Isii

37,705.1aniiarvl7, 1820

.50.141 S-ptc-nibor 14, 1SI2..

1,,. 11^ 1'. :.i;; ,:;.-s, lvl:l. ...

iliflU .lannary 10,' ls3il

00,115 Dci-embfr 2.5, 1S30..
13. 02s Febrnarvl5, 1.S.39....

19, ,5111 .l:innnr%' 1:1. \---5

13,6.12 I::- ■ 1, I-'

2S, (iSii 1

31,51:. I

13,^111 |- 1 . '

.33,701 .biiiuiuv 111. l.^Jl..
13,2.5c:Al.iil I, Isio

9, .507 51;>rch.3, 1843

S.555 .Taniinrv 13. !S-25..

16, 2l'i la

1 -, 1125

745 February 10, 1839....

.3o;2S2 .lanuarv 23, 1S27

11,209 March 2,1839

Cl,SjO April 28. 1809

31,970 March 4,1837

29, 079 .January .31, 18-27

18, 1(«t .lannary 2. 1818 ,

41, 000 .lannai-v 18, 1320

9, 91.5 Dcnen)ber27, 1824..

22,940 .lannary 13, 1325

21,117 January 2, 1818

21, -297 Mareh20. 1819

23, II.S9 nceembcr 9, I815...

30, SM January 10, 1S:10 ,

53, 424 January 1-2, 1830 ,

19.320 Fcbruarv 23, 1839...

30, 518 January 16. 18.36

21, 630 February 27, 1841...

County Seats.

iQuincy

Cairo

Greenville

Hclvifiere

Ml. Sterling

I'l in. --("M...

ll-,r.lni

M.-ir.sliall .'.'.'.'.'.'..'..'.

ILouisville

Carlyle

Charleston

, Chicago

Robinson

.:Majority Point

'. lilliogliaMKiim..!.!

. Van.lali.a

Paxton

. Benton

. Lewistown

. Shawneetown

. Carrollton

. Morris

. Mel.eansboro

. Carthage

. Elizabethtown

. Oquawka

. C.mbridge

. Watseka

. Murphvsboro.

. Xewtoii

. Mt. Vernon

. Jerseyville

. Galena

. Vienna

. Kankakee City

.'Yorkville

. Galesbnrg

. Wn.lkfgan

I .V, :. ..-viiiel'Z!

' l.ine,!in..!3!"!".l

- Deratni-

. Carlinville

. F.hvardsville

. Slu-lhyvill.

. Touion

. nellcville.
. Freeport.

Marion..

B.>..klord...
Metamora..

. 851,4701 1,711.951 2,.5.39.89ll 3,1

:, 030

as organized April 27th, 1790, by Arthur Pt. Clair, then Gnve
' rc^organized after lUinoiei had been established as a Terril

or and Commnnde
y, April 23tli,18iiO.

ritory of the United Slate

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

Presidents.

No. NAME. QUALIFIED.

1 George Washington April 30, ITS'i

.•^ '' Mar. 4, nm

2 John Adams Mar. 4, IT.i?

S Thomas .Icrtersou Mar 4, isin

" " Mar. 4, 18llj

4 James Madison Mar. 4,1800

•« " Ma**, 4, 181-i

5 James Monroe Mar. 4, 1M7

C John Qiiiiicy .K'\Muf .... .M^r. 4, 1»25

7 .Andrew Jaclcso,, Mar. 4, ip

M.ir. 4, 1833

8 Martin Van Bnron Mar. 4, 1837

Wm. Honrv Harrison.... Mar. 4, 1841

10 John Tvler April n, 1841

11 James K. l'..lk Mar. 4, 184,5

in Zacharvr.vl.ir M.ir. f<, 1S4')

13 Millard FiHni"r^ Inly 1", LS^"

14 FranUliii I'l ivr Mir. 4, IsVt

Ir, James Bu.'i,.„,:,n M:ir 4, 1H.-.7

16 Abraham Li.icohi Mir. 4, 1.%1

" .Mar. 4, 180.5

17 Andrew Johnson April 15, 18b5

18 Ulvsses S. Grant Mar. 4, 1809

Mar. 4, 1873

10 Rutherford B. Hayes Mar. 6, 1877

ao James A. Garfield Mar. 4, 1881

21 Chester A. Arthur Sept. 20, 1881

Vice-Presidents.

Secretaries of State.

2 Thomai .leffi-

3 Aaron Burr

4 George Clinft

4, 1707
4, 1801
4, 1805
4, 1809

6 Eldlidu-e Gerrv

..Mar. 4, 1813

..Nov. 2.5, 1814

G Daniel D. Tompkins...

..Mar. 4, 1817

..Mar. 6, 18^1

7 John C.Calhoun

..Mar. 4, 18i5

8 Martin Van Hiin-n

..Mar. 4, 1833

9 Ricli:i! 1 M .1- :hi-.ii ..

..Mar. 4, 1837

...Mar. 4, 1841

•Saiir.. 1 - . . .;.l

.Anril 1-., 1841

..May 31, 1842

11 lifMru- M PaMi.

..Mar. 4, 1845

Vi Miliar.; I'llli. 1,11.1

..Mar. .5, 1840

•William li KiiiK

...July 11, 1850

13 William K. Kiiii;

..M.ar. 4, 1853

•Iiavrl R, Atrhison....

..April 18, 18.53

•Jesse D. Brieht

..Dee. 6, 1854

..Mar. 4, 18.57

1.5 Hannibal Hamlin

.Mar. 4, ISfil

16 Andrew Ji.hn-.
»I,.afaveite ^ 1
•Benjamin 1' v

17 Schuyler ('nil iv

18 Henry WiN,.n
♦Thomas W. Fe

il 15, 1

2, 18G7
I 4, 1800
r. 4, 1873

No. NAiaB. APPOISTEn.

17 John C.Calhoun Mar. 6, 1814

18 James Buchanan Mar. li, ls4o

19 John M. Clayton Mar. 8, 18i0

Daniel Webster July 22, 1850

20 Edward Everelt Nov. B, 18.52

21 William L. Marcy Mar. 7, 1853

"lewisCass Mar. 6, 1857

2:j Jeremiah 8. Black Dec. 17, I8C0

24 William H. Seward Mar. 6, 1861

Mar. 4, 1865

April 15, 1865

25 E. B. Washburne Mar. .5, 1809

26 Hamilton Fish Mar. 11, 1860

" Mar. 4, 1873

27 William M.Evarts Mar. 12, 1877

28 James G. Blaine Mar. 4, 18S1

29 Frelinghuysen, F. T Dec, 1881

Secretaries of tlie Treasury.

1 Alex. Hamilton Sept. II, 17S0

Mar. 4, 1703

2 Oliver Wolcott Feb. 2, 1705

Mar. 4, 1797

3 Samual Dexter Jan. 1, ISol

4 Albert Gallatin May 14, 1801

" " Mar. 4, 1800

Mar. 4, 1813

5 Geo. W. Campbell Feb. 9, 1814

6 Alexander J. Dallas Oct. 0, 1814

7 Wm. H. Crawford Oct. 22, 1816

Mar. 5, 1817

" " Mar. 5, 1821

8 Richard Rush Mar. 7, 1825

9 Samuel D. Ingham Mar. 6, 1820

10 Louis McLane Aug. 2, 1831

11 William J. Duano May 20, 1833

12 Roger B. Taney Sept. 23, 1833

13 Levi Woodbury June 27, 1834

Mar. 4, 1S37

14 Thomas Ewiug Mar. 5, 1841

" April 6, 1841

..Sept. 13, 1841
..Mar. 3, 1843
.June 1,5, 1844
...Mar. 0, 1845
8, 1849

Secretaries of AVar.

No.

i William L. Marcy Mar. 6, 1845

23 George vv. Crawford.. . Mar. 8,1849

24 Charles M. Conrad Aug. 15, 1850

25 Jerter.ion Davis Mar. ,5, 1853

20 John B. Floyd Mar. 6. 18.7

27 Joseph Holt Jan. 18, 1801

28 Simon Cameron Mar. 5,1861

29 Edwin M. Stanton Ian. 1.5, 1862

Mar. 4, 1865

" " April 16, 1805

U. S. Grant, ad in(erim...Aug. 12, 1867

L Thomas, " " ...Feb. 21,1808

30 John M. Schofield May 28, 1868

31 John A. Rawlin,! Mar. 11, 1809

32 Wm. W. Belknap Out. 25, 1869

Mar. 4, 1873

33 AlphonsoTaft Mar. 8, 1876

34 James D. Cameron May 22, 1.876

35 Geo. W. McCrary Mar. 12, 1877

36 Alexander Ramsey Dec. In, 1879

37 Robert T. Uncoln Mar. 4, 1881

Secretaries of tHe Navy.

1 Benjamin Stoddert May 21, 1708

Mar. 4, 1801

2. RobertSmilh July 15, 1801

3. J. Crowninshield M

4 Paul Hamilton M

5 WiiliamJou

15 Walter Forward..

16 John C. Spencer..

17 George M. Bibb .

18 Robert J. Walk
M. M

I Th.

iith.

21 James Onlhrie

■>i Howell Cohb

23 Philip F. Thomas .,

24 John A. Dix

25 S.almon P.Cha,se

20 Wm. Pilt Fesscnde
27 Hugh McCulloch...

.Sla

23, IS,

7, ls-,3

. 6, 18,57

, 12, 1861 1

11, 1SI,1

186.=

29 George S. Boutwell

29 Wm. A Richardson M

30 Benj. H. Bristow
^1 Lot M. Morrill...

32 John Sherman...

.April 15, IS
.M ■■ "

11, 1:

17, 1

4, 1874

luly 7, 1876

Mar. 8, 1877

..Mar. 4, IRSl

..Dec

1881

20 Chester A Arthur Mar. 4, 1881

21 David Davis Oct. 13, 1881

*Aeting Viee-Presidcnt £
pro tern of the Senate.

Secretaries of State.

Secretaries of \Vi

4 Samuel Den

5 Roger Grisv
G Henry Dea

8 John Quincy Adams Mar.

Henry Clfiy

1 1 Martin Van Bur
U Edward Divines

12 Louis McLane .

13 John Forsyth

14 Daniel Web=tei

..Sept. 26, 1789
..Mar. 4, 1793
...Ian. 2, 1794
..Dec. 10, 1795
.Mar. 4, 1707
.. May 13, 1800
...Mar. 5, 1801
...Mar. 4, 1805
..Mar. 6, 1809
.April 2, 1811 11 George Graham
' 12 John C. Cal'ioun

13 James Barbour..

14 Peter B. P,)rter.

15 John H. Eaton...
10 Lewis Cass

.Sept. 12, 17S0
..Mar. 4, 1793
.Jan. 2, 1705
..Jan, 27, 1796
..Mar. 4, 1797
..May 13, 1800
. K. b. n, 1801
...Mar. 6, 1801
..Mar. 4, 1805
...Mar. 7, 1809
...Jan. 13, 1813
4, 1813
27, 1814
1, 1815
,.ad interim

Mar.

6 B. W. Crowninshield Dec.

Mar.

7 Smith Thompson Nov.

8 Samuel L. Southard Sept

Mar,

9 John Branch...
10 Levi Woodbury,

11 Mahlon Dicke

14 Abel P. Upshur....

15 David Henshaw ...
10 Thomas W. Gi.mei

17 John Y. Mason

18 Geo'gelianeroft,...
John Y. Mason

19 William B. Piesto
ill William A. Graliar

21 John P. Kennedy.

22 James C. Dobbin .

23 l.saac Toucey

24 Gideon Welles

3, 1805
7, 1809

12, 1813

4, 1813
19, 1814

4,1817
9, 1S18

5, 1821
16, 1823

4, 182.1
9, ISill

May 23, 1831
Mar. 4, 1833
June 30, 1834
.Mar. 4, 1837
June 25, 1838
Mar. 5, 1841
0, 1841

13, 1841
July 24, 1843

15, 1844

14, 1844
111, 1845

9, 1846

5, 1849

July 22', 1852

Mar. 7, 1853

Mar. C, 1857

Mar. 5,1801

Mar. 4, 1865

April 15, 1865

5, 1869

April

..F.b.

.Sept.

. Mar.

Illy

Postmasters-Creneral

No.

26 Geo. M. Robeson June

Mar.

27 Rich. W.Thompson Mar.

28 Nathan Goff, Jr Jan.

29 W. H. Hunt Mar.

30 W. E. Chandler April,

25, 1869
4 1673

12, 1877
6,1881
4, 1881

Secretaries of tile Interior.

..Sept.

,.Ma

-,Mar. 7, 1825
.Mar. 6, 1S29
..May 24, 1831

...Mai'. .5, 1841
.. April 6, 1841

Hugh S. Leeare May 21, 184;)

Abel P. Upshur July 24, 1843

..Oct.
..Ma

April

19 John C. Spencer Oct.

20 James M. Po-ter Mar.

21 William ftilkina Feb.

,181-

5, 1821
7, 1825

20, 1823
9, 1829
1,1831
4, 1833
7, 1837
,5, 1841

6, 1841
12, 1841

iEwing Mar,

1 Thi

2 Alex, H. Stu;

3 Robert McClelland .Mar.

4 JacobTh'impson Mar.

5 Caleb B. Smith Mar.

John P. Usher Jan.

" Mar.

8, 1849

Sept. 12, 1850

7, 1853

4 Gideon Gi-auger Nov. 28, 1801

Mar. 4,180,5

" Mar. 4,1809

5 Reluru J. Meigs, Jr Wai-. 17, 1814

" Mar. 4. 1817

" Mar. 5,1821

6 John McLean June 20,1823

" Mar. 4,1825

7 William T. Barry Mar. 9, 1829

•■ Mar. 4,1833

8 Amos Kendall May 1,18:15

Mar. 4, 1837

9 John M. Niles May 25, 18Jl>

10 Francis Granger iMar 6. 1841

Apiil 6,1841

11 Chas. A. Wickliflo Sept. 13, 1S41

12 Cave Johnson .Mar. 6, 181,5

13 Jacob Collamer Mar. 8 1K49

14 Nathan K. Hall July 23, 18.50

15 Sam'l D. Hubbard Aug. 31, 18.52

16 James Campbell Mar 5, lR5:i

17 Aaron V. Brown Msr. 6, 18.57

18 Joseph Holt .Mar. 14,1659

19 Horalio King Feb. 12, 1861

20 Mnnteoniery Blair Mar. 5, iROl

21 William Dennison Sept. 24, 1864

Mar. 4, 186.5

" " Apiil 15, 1K65

22 Alex. W. Randall July 2.5, 1866

23 John A. J. Cresswell Mai'. 5, 1869

Mar. 4. 1S73

24 Marshall Jewell Aug. 24, 1874

25 James N. Tyner July 12, 1n70

2C David McK Key Mar. 12, 1877

27 Horace Maynard June 2, 18'!)

28 Thomas L James Mar. 4, issl

29 Timothy O.Howe Dec, 1881

Attorneys-General .

7 James Hailan

8 O. H. Browning

9 Jacob I'. Cox

10 Columbus Delano .

11 Zachariah Chandh

UCarl Schurz Mar.

13 Samuel J. Kirkwood Mar.

14 Henry M.Teller April,

6, 1867
5, 1801
8, 1863
4, I8O0
April 16, 1865
May 15, 1865
July 27, 1806
Mar. 5, 1809
Nov. 1, 1870
.Mar. 4, 1S73
19. 1875
12, 1877
4, 1881
1682

. Oct.

Postmasters-General.

3 Joseph Habersham F b.

26, 1789
12. 1791
4, 1793
25, 1795

I Edmund Randolph...

Sept.
.Mar

26, 1789
4, 1703

2 William Bradford

.Jan.

27, 1704

3 Charles Lee

.Dec.

10, 1795

.Mar.

4, 1797

4 Theophilus Parsons...

.Feb.

211, 1801

5 Levi Lincoln

..Mar.

6, 1801

6 Robert Smith

..Mar.

3, 180.5

7 John Breckiniidge....

Aug.

7, 1805

SCicsar A. Rodney

28, 1807

..Mar.

4, 1809

9 William Plnkney

..Dec.

11,1811

..Mar.

4, 1813

10 Richard Rush

..Feb.

10, 1814

" •'

..Mar.

4, 1817

11 William Wirt

..Nov.

1.3, 1817

..Mar.

5 1821

..Mar.

4, 1825

12 John M. Berrien

.. Mar

9, 1820

13 Roger B. Taney

..July

1.0, 1831

4, 1833

14 Benjamin F. Butler...

..Nov.

1.5. 1833

. Mar.

4, 1837

15 Felix Grundy

...July,

5, 1838

10 Henry D. Gilpin

11, 184(1

17 John J. Cnllenden....

6, 1841

..April

6, 1841

18 Hugh S. Legate

...f^ept.
...JuV

13, 1841

19 John Nelson

1, 1843

20 John Y. Mason

...Mar.

0, 1845

21 Nathan Clifford

..Oct.

17, 1840

22 Isaac Toucey

...June

21, 1848

23 Reverdy Jonnson ....

. .Mar.

8, 1849

John J Crittenden...

luly

22, 1850

24 Caleb Cn>hing

...Mar.

7, 1853

...Mar.

6, 1857

26 Edwin M. Slanton....

.. .Dec.

20, 1860

27 Kdward Bates

...Mar.

5, 1861

..June

28 James Speed

...Dee.

2, 1864

....Mar.

4, 1865

a .1

.. Apri

15. 1865

29 Henry Stanbery

...July

23. 1866

30 William M Evarts...

...July

16, 1868

31 E. Rockwo'^d Hoa-...

.. Mar.

6, 1809

32 Amos T. Akerman ..

lune

23, 1870

33 George H. Williams.

....Dec

14, 1871

" '

... Mar.

4. 1873

34 Edward Pi-rrepont.

...Apri

26, 1875

35 Alphonso Tnft

....May

22, 1870

36 Charles Devena

....Mar.

12, 1877

37 Wayne MacVeagh....

....Mar.

4 1881

38 Benj. Harris Brewster...Dec.

I88I

SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Joseph B. Varnii
Henry Clay

John W. Taylor....
Philip P. Barbour

Henry Clay

John W. Taylor...
Andrew Stevenson.

Pennsylvania
Connectieut..
Pennsylvania
New Jersey...

MQBr^aclmaetts.-
Kentweky

New York, 2d Session..

Virginia

Kentucky

Robert M. T. Hunlcr

John White

John W. Jones

John W. Davis

Robert C. Winthrop.

Howell Cohb

Linn Boyd

Joyd

Tennessee, 2d Sesp

Virginia

Kenlucky

Virginia

Indiana

Massachusetts..

Georgia

Kentucky

Naths

niel P. Banks

.Unies L. Orr

Wm. Pennington

lialu.iha A. Orow ,

Schuyler Colfar

. Ma.«sachusel
jriouth Carol
.iNew Jer.oey.
tPennsylvani
.Indiana

i G. Blaine Maine..

CpMSr

Ter

IstC'ngress April I, IT.y', t.i Miir.li 4,

2d Congress 'ii.;tober lit. IT'l. t'. Mm I

3d Congress Decerntxr j, 17'.';. lu M:in

«h Congress iL-i-emli. r :, IT'i:., <■■ -Mm.

5th Congress. M iv r.. r; '7, i M .i 'i ■',

6th Congress. i '' .mt-i .17', 'iMit

1th Con.nrei.8 l •. . mi., r 7, l i , !'• M .i

.*tth Congress -i, < .i„ ,17 l : . Mu I

nth Congress ••■>'■> '-■' i.M.n

lOth Cot.gress >• '<' 1 1 7, . Mu

Uth Congress M .- ^- 11 . ■■ '

12th Congress ^ ■ ' ^11 1 '"• ''

lath Congress. "^I 'v 71, 11 ;. 1 1 u..i,u\

lUth Congl-ess hinumy Id, IMI, t.. .Man-

llthCongies.s Uerember 4, Isl.->, to Mar

15th Congress li,ecember 1, 1S17, to Mar

lilth Congress Iiecember G, l^l'.i, to Miij

llith Congress \,,i, mb. r 1,7. l-j", i.. M:l

17th Congress Ii. ..,nl..r 1, l-jl, 1. 11, ,t

l.slhCongress I <••''• 1 1 i-: '•■ M:u

I'Jth Congress I'"" 1 • 1-7,1.. Mm

20th Congress 1 1. . .'liil...! ., I-J7, i.i iM;ii

21st Congress I ">'- ' ~. '^'-•. <" Mm

2'.'d Congl-ess 1'. ..nil- r 7, IMI, to M«v

■2nd Congress ' mi.- r 7, 1^.1 1, In .1.11,1

■2;Jd Congress i.:... 7, 1- .1, t.. "M;,.. i. 1,

24th Congrtss i. . ... . ;,i- . \i

2.'tth (!ontireps >. . ■. 1 ■ 7i

26th Congress 1 :,

*27th Congress ^' .^ ii n 7i

z«th Congress Iiec.n.i- 11 • ■ 71

2ath Congress pecenil. ; ,1 '. 1

llnth Congress iDeceiril. 1 .1 ;: i .

:11st Congress .Dt-.-einl. 1 7, : |. ' ^l..

.32d Congress |i,..i,.i 1 1 - 1 -.7],,

H3d Congress I ' ' ■ iM .:

34th Congress 1 ;... 71 . . ,7L,i.

:J5th Congress I '■ . 1 ' 1 . 71 .

36th Congress I '■■■ -'-'• ' '''•

37th Cf ngress ' . 1. ' 7; 1

38th Congress I ■: t : 1.

39th Congress I" . i 'i-

1609
1805
1SII5

.;Pennsylvauia,2dSe

44lh Cngrt-ss lle.-emb.T 1, I.s7.:, 1.. Miir.b 4, 157:

.'4.ith Consress jOotober 15, 1K77, to March 4, 1879...

.i4illh Congress JMarch 18, 1S7.J, to

1821

1652

i'sivi

1845
1848
185U

POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT EACH CENSUS, FROM 1790 TO 1880, FROM THE OFFICIA L CENS US.
States aud Territories. 1790. I ISOO. I 1810. 1820. 1830. I 1840. I 18S0. ! 1860. 1870. 1880.

The United State

771023
209897
02,i97

25243.3 I 341)985
12282 651 02

24520 I 147178

711748
347.30
511.823
l')7445
313031

oppi

Missi
M .ss<

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire-
New Jersey

>'ew York

North Carolina....

Ohio

Oregon ,

Penn.sylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

The States
Arizona

141885
184139
3411120
393751

4.34373
G882S

249073
35G91

151719
341548
422845

0112.305
09122
345591
105602

4<l(u'ill
705.50
2;870S
3811.5411
472040
4702

604135
152923
298269
407350
623159
8705

637917
215739
:!994."i5
447040
C1(14<1S

309976
78085
64477
09139 i
470183
68.1806
43112

370792
91532
87445
6011185
851470
988410
192214

779828
352111
.501793
47I10I9
737099
2U-2I.7

982405
517762
583169
.•.83034
994514
397054
6077
Cnn.V20
68'2M4

214460 '
215502 I
959049
6.55.50O
2.30760 1

siiKioi

76931
415115
261727

244022
2774211
1372! 11
o;)88 9
581295

"i'tiii™
aijoio

502741
42-2771

1348233 I
97199
681185
681904

1724033
108830
6'l4398
8-^9210

317970
489555

30973M
8C9039

1980329
13204

2311786
147545
668.507

1002717
212.592
314120

1421661

305391

904201
4354.50
379994
34277
400147
112216
140424

1057280

1711951

1360428
674913
107-206
115068
708002
6-28279
(187019

1231050
749113
172023
791305

1182012

28841

6857

326073

672035

3880735
992022

23J9511
6241.5

2900215
174020
7113708

1109S0I
1104215
315098

1590318

991.992
484471
660247
39804
637454
1-25015 1
18774S
H84109
25391-91
1080637
11940-20
304.399
l.-.50.'^+

14.57351
1184059
439700
827922
1721295
122993
42491
3I83CIO
90G090
4382759
loTllli.l

■^n. '■■■■'.

1268521) I
K1S579 I
330551 i

1220163
442014

1054070

1202794
802564
804680
194049
0-22083
140064
267351
1639048
307871.9

995900
1048708

940103

048945

934032
1783012
1030331

7S..R00
1331592
21I1.-604

452433
62265

341984

1130^

83M1I

1542463
1,592574

332286
1612806

618443
1315480

9600783 1-28»)86S nol!i641 ' 2.3067262 I 31183744 : .38115041 49369.i95

Dakota.,

Disti-ict of Columbia..

Idaho

Montana

New Mexico

Utah

Wnshington

Wyoming

The Territories

Total Population..

.5308483 72398SI 9033,^22 12.8. 00-20

43712
17069453

124614 I
2319l,«76

9658
I4I8I
1317.5"
14999
;tl59,i
9187-1
86780
231155

9118

44-2730
38558371

40441
135180
177638
32011
39157
118430
14391.0
75120
2(17S8

783271

20.60
65 05
64.34

368.28
15.85
17..30
42.39
29.97
21.22
17.70
.16.06

173.14
24.60
29.32
3.15
19.68
22.34
.38.19
77 67
30.67
25.99

207.83
40.63
9.01
24.>0
15.09
30.67
19,99

23.42
39.91
24.72

34.88
117.42
90.12
«S.90

NJSTOHY OF IIAKDOIA'II, MONROE AND I'KUHY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

CHAPTER III.

OKOaUArilY, AinUrri.TVllAL llKSOUncnS AXD nAlL-

ROAD FACILITIKS uF RAXlJOLlUI. .VOMiOB

AXD PEJIRY COUXTIE^.

RANDOLPH COUNTY.

i/^J^

HIS county is situaud on the
.'uiitlivctt borders of tlie
slate, and bisected at riglit
angles by the 38th degree oi'
north latitude, and the 90th
degree of longitude west from
Gr(en\\icli. It is an irregular
district of country, triangular
ill outline, and bounded on
the north by Monroe, St.
(.'lair and Wabliingtuii coun-
ties, on the ea.it by Perry and Jackson counties, and on the
south and wejt by the Mississippi river and Monroe county.-
It embraces an area of about si.Kteen congressional townships,
or upwards of five hundred square miles. The Kaskaskia
enters the county from the north in Baldwin precinct, flows
ill a soutiierly course, and discharges its waters into the
Mis.-issippi river about ten miles above the south line of the
eiiuutv. The ea.-^t is traversed in the same direction by
Mary's river, which enters the Mi-s^issippi about four miles
below the mouth of the Kaskaskia. lu addition to these.
Horse creek, and Nine Mile creek, tributaries of the Kas-
kaskia, flow through the northern portion of the county;
and the Little Mary, a tributary of Mary's river. The>e,
taken together, furnish an excellent waterway i'ov all sections
of the county. Besides the a'oove, there are streams of lesser
note, which form auxiliaries to complete almost a perfect
surface drainage.

Toporjrapluj. — The features of the county topographically
are somewhat varied. About one-third of its surface, com-
prising the northeastern portion, is comparatively of a level
or rolling surface, sufficient for good natural drainage. The
prairie tracts are very small and limited, and possess a loamy
Soil of lightish color, with a yellow clay sub-soil. These
prairie lands, although not possessing the deep bl.ick soil
peculiar to the central and northern part of the state, are
nevertheless, very productive yielding abundant crops of
corn, wheat, oats, and grasses, and this without very much
effort' on the part of the husbandman. The jirairie region
is restricted, maiuly, to that portion of the county underlaid
by the coal fields.

Soil and At/iiciilture. — Between this prairie region and
the bottom lands on the Kaskaskia and Mississippi rivers,
there is a bjlt of country underlaid by sandstone and lime-
stone, which is ipiite broken and hilly, rising at some points
to quite prominent bluffs. Originally this portion of the
country was covered with heavy timber, and a considerable
portion of its surface is still occupied by the natural forests.

The soil upon these broken lands is somewhat shallower than
that of the prairie.", yet its productive qualities seem to be
about equal to the adjacent lands, and where the surface is
sufficiently level for agricultural purposes, good crops are
usually realized. The yellow clay sub-soil of this region
appears to possess all the essential elements of a good soil,
and when brought to the surface and subjected to atmos-
pheric agencies, it becomes most productive. Hence, sub-
soiling will be found largely advantageous to those soils
that, from long and injudicious cultivation, have been par-
tially exhausted. These broken lands are especially adapted
to the growth of every kind of fruit peculiar to the temperate
zones, and the smaller fruits may be successfully cultivated
even where the lands are too undulating for the raising of
cereals. Some of the enterprising German farmers have
already commenced the culture of the grape, and the manu-
facture of native wine by them has proven quite a success.
It is a matter of experiment as yet, whether the Catawba
will succeed as well here as in a more northern climate. Yet
there are other varieties, if it should fail to be valuable, that
can be successfully cultivated. The Delaware and Concord
varieties have proven valuable and productive in all por-
tions of the temperate zone, rather than in a comparatively
mild one ; hen'-e its cultivation in Southern Illinois has gen-
erally proved a partial failure, while in localities further
north it has been comparatively successful. The Catawba
seems to be less liable to be affected by mildew or rut in a
climate as cold as it can stand without protection. It is no
longer a doubtful problem that the broken and liilly lauds
along the principal streams, e.^peciall)' the bluffs of the Mis-
si^sijipi, where tlie marly deposit known as ''loess " has been
<lep(i-iied, and is more or less intermingled with the soil, are
admirably ailapted to the growth of the vine. The labors of
the intelligent agric ilturist have already (Lnionstrated the
fact that Illinois is cajiable of jiroducing, not "uly all the
native wines re<iuiied for home consunipiinii, but a surplus
for the supply ot less favored regions.

The most important and productive pai-t of the county is
probably found in the American Bottom, It forms a belt of
rich alluvial soil about twenty miles in length, and an
avirage width of four miles. It is exceedingly productive,
and were it not for ihe periodical overflows to which it is
subjected from the high waters of the Mississippi, it would
be esteemed as the most valuable land in the county. The
soil is quite sandy, but is intermingled with vegetable mould
and clay from the sediment of the river, forming a rich,
warm soil, which is unsurpassed by any in the state for the
production of maize and the cereals generally. Tlie upianils
comprise a series of brown and yellow clays, intermingled
locally with gravel and small pebbles, and specially adapted
to the culture of wheat. There have really been three eras
in the county of what might be considered the staple pro-
ducts that have engaged the attention of the agriculturist.
In an early day, Indian corn was the principal product.
Later, the castor bean was largely cultivated, and was con-
sidered a most profitable crop. About twenty-five or thirty
years ago, wheat became largely planted, and to this time is
the grand staple of the county.

HISTORY OF RAXTiOLPH, MOXIIOE AXD PERRY roi'XTIES, ILLIXOIS.

The general elevation of the uplands above the Missiwippi
is from three to four hundred feet. Tlie principal varieties of
timber upon the land are black oak, white oak, shell-bark
and pig-nut hickory, sugar maple, linden, black gum, pir-
sinimou, red, slippery and white elm, black ash, rcd-l)ud,
dogwood and sassafras. On the bottom lands are found the
Cottonwood, svcamore, honey-locust, hackberry, box-elder,
sweet gum, white ash, swamp oak, burr oak, white and black
walnut, pecan and white maple. Plenty of good timber is
yet left for all the wants of the people ibr fuel and building
purposes.

Chester. — The capital of the county is situated in the
southwestern part, located on the bluff overlooking the
Mississippi, about seventy-five miles below St. Louis, and
contains a population of nearly three thousand inhabitants.
The southern penitentiary is located here, and there are
many fine business houses in the city, and it is at this writ-
ing in a prosperous and growing condition.

I'opu/iition. — The population is composed mainly of Eng-
lish, German, French and Irish nationalities, and, according
to the census of 1880, was as follows :

KusUnski
HHldnin
rhesUr

4,2GU
J, MO

Central and BInir

Bic

Hocl<wooil ....
Slcols .Mills ;in.nVi

ypavtn

Tilden iiiul Coullei-

MONROE COUNTY.

This county comprises an irregular-shaped triangular area
on the southwestern borders of the state, embracing about
three hundred and eighty square miles, and is bounded on
the north and east by St. Clair and Randolph counties and
the Kaska-skia river, and on the south and west by Ran-
dolph county and the Mississippi river.

Waterloo, the capital of the county, is situated on the
St. Louis and Cairo railway, in the northeastern part of the
county, and is one of the substantial inland towns of the
state, and contains a population of about two thousand in-
habitants. It is located on a high, rolling site of ground
that overlooks a large scope of beautifully cultivated larming
lands.

Popnhtiiiii. — The population of the county is mainly com-
posed of a thrifty German nationality, which constitutes
about three-fourths of the inhabitants of the county. The
other fourth is a mixture of various nationalities, principally
of English, Irish and French descent. The Irish settle-
ments are in the center and south. According to the census
of 1880 the population by precincts was as follows :

Walcvloo Pieoinrl lim-lndinK eit.v) :t,l(r)

(•olunil)i;>,inaNen Hanover l'.sIO

.Moredork 061

Mitchic. Blufl; and llairisonville 2,:i77

Konault 1,(188

New Design l,47ii

Prairie dn Long 1.480

The census of 1860 was Li 8.".?; of 1870, 12,982. The
population of the town of Waterloo in 1870 was 1,537; in
.880, 1,822.

Topor/iiij/lii/. — The surface is considerably diversified, the
region adjacent to the river bluHs being quite hilly and
broken, while the eastern portion of the county is compara-
tively level, and affords an area of excellent farming lands.
In that portion of the county underlaid by the St. Louis
limestone, in the central and southwestern uplands, there
are numerous " sink-holes," which render the land nearly
valueless for agricultural purposes. These depressions are
funnel-shaped, and lead down to crevices or caverns below,
through which the water that falls upon the surface finds an
outlet into the adjacent streams. Occasionalh' the crevice
at the bottom becomes filled up with the sediment that
washes into it, and small ponds of water arc found, some of
which, in the vicinity of Waterloo, cover an area of several
acres, and are bountifully supplied with fish.

ILjiIrof/riiphii. — The natural drainage of the county is
almost complete, the Mississippi extending ali;ng the entire
western boundary, and the Kaskaskia partially on the east.
The principal interior streams are Fountain creek, Horse
creek, and Prairie du Long creek. The former rises in the
highlands south of Waterloo, and extends in a north-
westerly course until it enters the American Bottom, and
from thence southwesterly, emptying into the Mississippi
near Harrisonville. Horse creek, which intersects the
southern portion of the county, and Prairie du Long creek,
which waters the eastern portion, both discharge their waters
into the Kaskaskia. In the western part of the county there
are several fine lakes, among which are Jloredock, Kidd,
and the Grand Coule lakes, with some others of lesser note.
Some of these are fed mainly by subterranean stream.?, which
find their way through the fissures and caverns of the lime-
stones underlying the adjacent highlauds. These lakes are
well supplied with fish, and are favorite resorts for the
sportsman, both for hunting and fishing.

Resources, Soil and Ayricidttirc. — As a budy, Monroe
county was originally heavily timbered, there being but
three or four small prairies in the eastern portion, the larger
of which arc Xew Design jjrairie, Prairie du Long, and
Prairie du Rond, none of which exceed an area of more than
three or four square miles in extent. The timber of the
uplands consists mainly of the usual varieties of oak and
hickory on the broken lands, while on the more level tracts
in the east, elm, black walnut, hackberry, wild cherry,
linden and honey-locust are found in abundance. The
bottom lands are for the most part heavily timbered with
Cottonwood, sycamore, black and white walnut, ash, elm,
pecan, soft maple, persimmon, and several other varieties.
The surface of the highlands is composed of a buft-colored
sandy loam, often filled with bleached fresh-water and land

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

shells, and is underlaid with a variable thickness of drift,
clays and " loess,' usually ranging from ten to sixty feet,
and at a few points near thejiver blufls it attains a maxi-
mum thickness of seventy-five to one hundred feet. The
western portion of the county, embracing nearly one-fourth
of its entire area, is included in the American Bottom. The
average width of this alluvial belt is about four miles, and
its extent north and south is over thirty miles. These
bottom lands are exceedingly fertile, and really possess- three
classes of soil. Probably the richest and most inexhaustible
is that portion known as the blue-black deposit, and can be
cultivated only when it is of a proper consistency between
wet and dry. The other soils are composed of either black
or light sandy loams. This land is peculiarly adapted to
the growing of coru, but wheat, grasses and oats are culti-
vated with success. On the uplands, wheat has been the
grand staple for twenty-five or thirty years, and the yield
and quality is unsurpassed by any lands in the state.

rcrciinial Spriiir/s abound iu various parts of the county
after rising the bluff. They are of pure cold water, and are
auxiliary to the comfort of both man and beast. Many of
these gush forth in sufficient quantities to form brooks of
ever-running water.

PERRY COUNTY

lies immediately north of Jackson county, which forms its
southern boundary, and is bounded on the north by Wash-
ington, on the west by Randolph, and on the east by Frank-
lin and Jefferson counties. It embraces a superficial area of
twelve congressional townships, or about 276,480 acres of
land, three-fourths of which was originally covered with
timber. It is divided into eight political divisions or pre-
cincts as follows : Grand Cote, Beaucoup, Taraaroa, Cutler,
Pinckneyville, South Western, Du Quoin and Paradise.

Pliickiift/rille, the seat of justice, is situated on the west
side of Big Beaucoup creek, and near the geographical
center of the count}- in section twenty-four, five south, three
west, at the head of Four-JIile prairie. At this writing it
contains a population of about 1.500 inhabitants. In 1837,
according to Peck, it contained four stores, one tavern,
one grocery, and fifteen or twenty families, and was sur-
rounded with a .settlement of industrious farmers.

Popiilation. — The first settlers were principally American
born, and emigrants from the south. The present popula.
tion is composed of various nationalities, English, German,
Irish, Negroes and Poles ; the former probably being in the
ascendancy. According to the official census of 1880, the
county contained 16,008 inhabitants.

Hydrography. — The county is well supplied with water-
courses suitable for natural drainage. The principal streams
within its limits are Little Muddy, Beaucoup, and Colombo
creeks, all of them being northwestern affluents of the Big
Muddy river. The former constitutes the principal portion
of the eastern boundary of the county, and, with its tribu-
taries, furnishes excellent drainage for that part of the
county. Beaucoup creek flows through the entire county
from north to south, and nearly equally divides the territory

in acreage on the east and west, while the Colombo practi-
cally drains the west and southwest.

Topography and Soil. — The surface of the country is gene-
rally rolling, and on some of the streams becomes consider-
ably broken by low ridges, but not sufficiently abrupt to
render the land unfit for cultivation ; while some portions
are quite level, including a few flat prairies and a portion of
the timbered land known as " Post-Oak F'ats." As stated
above, Beaucoup creek trends through the center of the
county, and the prairies occupy mainly the highlands be-
tween this stream and the Little Muddy on the east, and the
Colombo on the west, except the Grand Cote prairie, which
occupies an elevated ridge in the northwest. The prairies
here, as is usually the case in other parts of the state, form
the highest part of the ground, yet their relative elevation
is quite variable, even iu a single county. In Perry, they
are mostly surrounded by timbered flats, which gradually
pass into more broken timbered lauds as you approach the
streams. Their surface is usually flat, or gently undulating,
passing in places into the broken grassy upland known as
"barrens." This land consists of low hills and ridges,
covered with a dense growth of tall grasses, and quite desti-
tute of timber. The sub-soil of the " barrens " consists of a
white sandy loam, but the surface configuration afl!brds a
complete drainage, and therefore sustains a good growth of
vegetation, which in time has formed a rich soil, highly
charged with humus. These lands become dry early in the
spring, and from their excellent surface drainage, resist the
drouth better than the "flats" on account of the soil being
more porous, and readily absorb the atmospheric moisture.
The absence of timber is undoubtedly due to the annual
fires that sweep over them, fed by the tall grasses that cover
the surface. Thes.-) "barrens" merge into the oak hills,
which are similar ridges covered with a heavy growth of
timber, consisting of post-oak, black oak, hickory, black-
jack, etc.

The creek bottoms within the barren region have a soil
similar to that of the flats, but a little coarser, and contain-
ing a greater per cent, of vegetable mould, rendering them
as dark in color as the prairie soils. The timber is tall and
heavy, and consists principally of the varieties of oak, ash,
shell-bark hickory, walnut, hazel, and some other classes of
timber.

The " Post-Oak Flats" are comparatively level stretches
of theuplaud, sparsely timbered with patches of post-oak, and
interspersed with black-jack and a young growth of post-
oak. They thus form an open forest, and the light, bleached
appearing soil is but scantily covered with vegetation. The
sub-soil comprises a white sandy loam, and reaches to the
depth of several feet. The surface soil is quite shallow, and
seems to differ from the sub-soil only by a slight mixture of
vegetable mould. This soil, like that of the prairies, is so
finely comminuted as to render it almost impenetrable to
water, which remains in depression upon the surface until it
slowly disappears by evaporation. A potent remedy for
this would be by clovering frequently, or top dressing with
a copious supply of well-rotted compost. These flats extend
around the prairies, forming a narrow belt between them

HISTORY OF BAXDOLPH, MONROE AXD PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

and the more broken timbered lands adjacent, and also from
the highes: portions of the broad flat ridges between the
streams where no pr.iiries occur. The prairie soil differs
from the flau only in being more fully charged with vege-
table humus, and a somewhat deeper productive surface. Of
all these varieties of soil, the " Aals " are the most unpro-
ductive, and require the greatest amount of skill and labor
to bring them up to a standard that is most valuable to the
husbandman. This can be effectually and cheaply done by
deep and frequent plowing, which loosens the soil and aids
the surface drainage and by topdrissing and plowing under
green crops to give the required amount of vegetable mould,
which treatment would undoubtedly insure a steady increase
in the productive capacities of the soil, until it will equal
the fertility of the adjacent prairies.

Agriculture and Horticulture. — This is emphatically a
wheat county, although large quantities of corn, oats, rye,
potatoes, etc , are raised. The wheat raised upon the
timbered land rates among the best in the state.

The growth and prosperity of a country depends upon its
agricultural resources; indeed the world could not move if
it were not for this industry. HoiV true the aphorism, " The
success of the huabandmau is the salvation of a country I "
He is the bone and strength of the land, the engine, as it
were, that drives the whole machinery of mankind — that
which fosters life, distributes wealth, and creates happiness
in every Breside in the land. When this industry fails
famine, misery and tears prevail. Ireland, and other coun-
tries of Europe, have in times past been striking examples
of the famine tiend ; but thanks to a kind Providence, in our
own country, and especially within the fertile fields of the
grand old prairie slate, never have the people been obliged to
realize the sufferings of those who were not blessed with the
necessaries of life.

The means and facilities for tilling the soil have kept
pace with other improvements of the age. The old wooden
muuld-board has given place to the elegant sulky plow, the
reaping-hook is tran.-forined into the wonderful niechani,-im
known as the self-binder, and the tramping of the cattle and
the thud of the flail have yielded to the steam engine
and the hum of the gigantic thresher. The farmers of this
county are up with the times, and to a large extent are using
all the modern farm machinery. Horticulture is given
considerable attention, but not that notice the soil and cli.
mate would warrant. Good orchards prevail in most parts
of the county, and the small fruits and berries are cultivated
quite largely, but with the natural resources of climate and
soil of Perry county, with proper attention given to the
culture of the vine and other fruits, a few acres of land
might be made to yield as much profit as some of the larger
farms. This may be a thought worthy the attention of those
who own but small farms on the lands composed of the
thinner class of soil.

Trmisportaiion Facilities. — The early markets and the

facilities for transportation were as inconvenient as the pro.

duce to be moved was meager ; all things were in keeping

and consistent with the times. These counties, especially

Randolph and Monroe, have enjoyed special early privileges
in the way of transportation. Long before steam power was
invented or thought of, the Mississippi and Kaska-^kia rivers
furnished an outlet for all the products to be moved by the
people. The early medium was by the means of the old-
time flat boat, propelled bj- poles or sweeps. Then came
the steam age, and a new area opened up to the people along
the Mississippi ; and a little later still, the iron horse became
an important auxiliary to carry the products to all points of
the country where the markets might be most conducive to
the interests of the husbandman. Only about a half century
ago, a boat propelled by steam on the Mississippi was a
sight to behold, nhile at this time, the long line of smoke
from their volcanic furnaces is scarcely lost sight of, and the
whistles from their hoarse throats are continually resounding
throughout the American Buttom. Steamboats have navi-
gated the Kaskaskia as far as Carlyle. The first boat that
made the trip was the " Bellevue," in the spring of 1S37,
Capt. Nelson commander and owner. In the same year, the
steamer " Wild Duck " made a passage up the river to the
same point, thus opening up a new era to the people along
the banks of the Kaskaskia. At this writing, boats do not
pass beyond Evansville on account of the St. Louis and
Cairo Railroad bridge spanning the river a little above the
aforesaid town. As already stated, the first navigation of
the Mississippi was by rafts or flat boats. It was for some
time a mooted question whether it could, with its swift cur-
rent, be navigated by steamboats. This doubt was dispelled
by the landing at St. Louis of the "General Pike," com-
manded by Capt. James Reed, August 2d, 1817. About
two years thereafter, a second boat ascended the river. This
was the " Harriet," from New Orleans, June 'Id, 1819, and
was commanded by Capt. Arniitage. The trip was made in
twenty-seven days. This was the beginning of river com-
munication proper between the marts of New Orleans and
St. Louis.

The first locomotive engine was invented by George
Stephenson, of England, and was first successfully operated
September 27th, 1825, on a short road from Stockton to
Darlington, England In 1830, there were but twenty-three
miles of railroad this side of the Atlantic. The first road
operated in the States extended from Baltimore to Ellicott's
Mills, Maryland, a distance of eleven and a-half miles ; this
was in July of the above year. The cars were drawn by
horses, the locomotive not then having been introduced on
this side of the water. The coaches were open vehicles,
somewhat resembling the carriages of that date. In the
Baltimore American of July, 1830, an advertisement ap-
peared of this road, stating that a sufficient number of cars
had been provided to accommodate the traveling public,
and that a brigade (train of cars) would leave the depot on
Pratt Street at G and 10 o'clock a. m., and at 3 and 4 o'clock
p. M. ; returning, would leave the depot at Ellicott's Mills at
6 and 8.30 o'clock a. m., and 12.30 and 6 v. m.

The first road constructed in the Mississippi Valley was
built from Illinoistown — now East St Louis — to the bluff, a
distance of about six miles across the American Bottom.
It was constructed in 1837, under the personal supervision

JIISTORV OF RAXUOLl'H, MONROE AND I'ERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

of Governor Reynolds, Vital Jarrot, aud a few others. It
was expressly built for tiie purpose of transporting coal from
where it cropped out at the bluff to the St. Louis market-
It had a wooden rail, and the cars were driven by horse-
power.

The first line of railroad built in the state in which the
locomotive was utilized was the North Cross Railway, ex-
tending from (J.uincy to Danville. This was chartered in
1837, and the first engine placed upon it was in the winter
of 1838-9, its run being from Meredosia to Jacksonville.
The track was the primitive ttraprail style. The engine, as
well as the road, soon became so inipaired that the former
was abandoned, and the horsepower substituted in its stead.
To-day, Illinois leads the van, has outstripped all other
states in this gigantic enterprise, and now modestly bears the
honors of a well-earned success in its magnitude of internal
improvements.

According to official reports of 1880, Illinois had 9,29i
miles of track, constructed and equipped at a cost of
8408,745,915, thus surpassing every other s-tate iu the
Union in miles of railroad. Many miles of track have been
laid since the above report was made, the Prairie State, as
usual, taking the lead of all other states. If within less than
half a century such strides have beeu made in the facilities
of transportation, what mind can conceive the progress that
will be reached in the fifty years to come ?

RAILROAD SYSTEM OF RANDOLPH, MONROE
AND PERRY COUNTIES.

ST. I.OUIS AND CAIRO SUORT LINE l;AII,EOAD.

St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Raihouy Co. — This is
one of the most important roads traversing Southern Illinois,
and through its proprietary and leased lines does a very
large business, having terminal facilities at East St. Louis
and Eldorado, and an operating contract with the Illinois
Central R R., by which through trains run to Cairo. The
most important stations on the line of the road are East St.
Louis, Belleville, Pinckneyville, Du Quoin, Benton, Gala-
tia and Eldorado. At East St. Louis and St. Louis it has
connections with all the roads centering in those important
commercial marts. At Pinckneyville, connections are made
with the Wabash, Chester and Western R. R ,and St. Louis
Coal R. R. ; at Du Quoin with the Illinois Central ; and at
Eldorado with the Cairo and Vincennes (now a part of the
Wabash system) and the Louisville and Nashville Rail,
road.

This company was incorporated June 24th, 1862, under
an act approved February 28th, 1861, by the purchase of
the franchises and property of the Terre Haute, Alton, and
St. Louis R. R. Co., and the Belleville and lUiuoistown
R. R. Co., Oct. 30th, 1856, under act of the Illinois Legisla-
ture approved February 28th, 1854.

The Belleville and Illinoistowu R. R. Co. w as incorporated
June 21st, 1862.

The Belleville and Southern Illinois R. R., from Belleville

to Du Quoin, 56 miles, was leased to this company Oct. 1st,
1806, for 999 years, and operated from January 1st, 1870.

By subsequent arrangement of lease, the Belleville and
Eldorado R. R , another leased line, and an extension of the
former, from Du Quoin to Eldorado, 50 miles, was leased to
this Co. July 1st, 1880, for 985 years. The officers of the
road are : — President, W. Byard Cutting, New York ; Vice-
President and General Manager, Geo. W. Parker, St. Louis;
Secretary, Edward F. Leonard, Springfield ; Treasurer, Geo.
W. Parker, St. Louis; Superintendent, J. L. Hinckley,
Belleville ; Auditor, H. T. Nash, St. Louis ; General Freight
and Passenger Agent, H. S. De Pew, St. Louis ; General
Offices, 104 North 4th St., St. Louis.

When the main line of the St. Louis, Alton, ami Terre
Haute R. R. was leased in 1867 to the Indianapolis and St.
Louis R. R. Co., the lessors retained under their own man-
agement the Belleville brauch, aud stipulated that a certain
portion of the equipment should be allotted to the branch
from the general equipment of the road ; also that the lessors
should erect a new depot at East St. Luuis, and withiu a
certain specified time turn over the old depot grounds to the
" Belleville Branch." The coal traffic along the line be-
tween East St. Louis aud Belleville had always been au im-
portant factor in the general butiuess of the road, while the
trade iu other traffic is also remunerative. The charter of
the St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute R. R. Co. authorized
an extension of the road from Belleville to Paducah, and
the question of building the line via Alhtns and Marissa, to
some point on the Illinois Central Railroad in the direction
of Cairo had been seriously agitated by the management
during 1866-67. but it was finally deemed advisable to en-
trust the construction to some other corporation, and lease
the road upon its completion. The road, therefore, from
Belleville south to Du Q,uoin, a distance of fifty-six miles,
was built under the auspices of the Belleville and Southern
Illinois R. R. Co., and opened for through traffic in 1870,
under lease to the St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute R. R.
Co. as aforesaid. As will be observed, this road forms a
connection with the Illinois Central R. R. The short line
between St. Louis and Cairo, also all poiiits south reached
via Cairo, has c intributed materially towards maintaining
intimate business relations between St. Louis and the Gulf
States. The management, -ever since the opening of the
Short Line for through traffic, has been a commercial aud
financial success ; and if the owners of the St. Louis, Alton
and Terre Haute R. R. were wise, under the then existing
circumstances, in leasing their main line on terms which
guaranteed in perpetuity the interest on nearly all their
bonded debt, they displayed more wisdom in obtaining a
southern outlet for the branch which enhances its material
value, and contributes largely to the amicable net revenue.
When the Belleville and Southern Illinois R. R. was com-
pleted and opened for business in 1870, and leased to the St.
Louis, Alton and Terre Haute R. R. Co. the latter com-
pany, and the Illinois Central R. R. Co., made an agree-
ment by the terms of which the road from East St. Louis to
Du Quoin, aud from Du Quoin to Cairo, should be united
under a business management, and practically operated as a

HISTORY OF RAXnOLPH, MOXROE AXI) PERRY ('OrXTIK<, ILLIXOIS.

single line. It was then christened, and has since been known
as the " St. Louis and Cairo Short Line," but popuhirly
known as the " Cairo Short Line."

The character and resources of the country between East
St. Louis, Du Quoin and Eldorado, traversed by the " Cairo
Short Line," are well known to residents of Southern Illinois
and St. Louis. The whole country, from East St. Louis to
Eldorado, is underlaid with coal of a superior quality, from
which large supplies are annually drawn for public works
and manufacturing industries It is, also, the finest wheat
producing section of Southern Illinois, and Belleville and
other points on the line of road have extensive flouring mills,
whose brands have acquired deserved reputations both in
domestic and foreign markets. A few miles southeast of
Belleville the road enters on the Grand Prairie, which ex-
tends for twenty-two miles, and is proverbial for its superior
grain crops. Here, also, a vein of very superior coal is
found, especially near Coulterville, thirty-two miles from
Belleville. The quality of the coal seems to improve with
the increased distance from St. Louis. The celebrated
" Bryden," or Williamson County coal, finds its way to St.
Louis over this line of road ; also the Big Muddy coal from
Jackson County. The present eastern terminus of the
"Cairo Short Line" is at Eldorado, in Saline County, one
hundred and twenty one miles from St. Louis. Number of
miles of road, 121 ; aggregate length of sidings, 19— total
track mileage, 140 miles; in addition to the branch from
Belleville to East Carondelet, 16 miles, which will .*oon be
opened and operated fur the delivery of coal to the manu-
facturing e.^tablishmentsin Carondelet.

TJii' St. Loiiix and Cairn R. A'., was chartered February
l(jth. 186.5, and the entire line completed and put in opera-
tion J[arch 1st, 187.5. It connects the cities of East St.
Louis and Cairo, and has an entire line of track of 151 I'V
miles. It was originally chartered under the name of the
Cairo and St. Louis Railroad Comj)any, but within the last
year it was reorganized and adopted the above corporate
name. At the time of the organization of the company it
was decided to build a narrow gauge— three feet — road, and
it was believed that the enterprise would prove a success on
account of the cheapness of construction and the economy
of obtainiug the rolling stock. In accordance with these
views contracts were let, and the management was encour-
aged by the promises of liberal local aid to push the enter-
prise to completion ; but the financial panic of 187.3, over-
took it before it was thoroughly completed. The promised
local aid failed to be forthcoming, and the company after
struggling against many difficulties, was compelled at last
to place the property under the orders of the court, and a
receiver appointed, under whose management it was operated
until February 1st, 188'i, when it was transfered to the pre-
sent company, and is now conducted by them under the
above name, with its General Office at 411, Olive street, St.
Louis, Missouri. The following is a list of the officers of
the road : President. W. F. Whitehouse ; Vice President,
L. M. Johnson ; General Solicitor, S Corning Judd ; Secre-
tary, C. Ritchie ; General Superintendent, Chas. Hamilton;
Auditor, Lewis Enos ; General Freight and Passenger Agt.,

Geo. H. Smith. It utilizes seven miles of the East St.
Louis and Carondelet RaiUvay, with a third rail from Ea.st
St. Louis to East (.'arondelet The road enters Monroe
county in the extreme northern part in Columbia precinct;
extends in a south and easterly direction through New Han-
over, Waterloo, and New Design precincts— clipping the
southwest corner of Prairie du Long — and crosses the
boundary line into Randolph county in the extreme north-
west, in Red Bud precinct ; and extends thence ea.st and
south through Randolph into Perry county, crossing the line
of the latter in town 6, range 5 ; and thus includes more
than one-third the length of the entire line of road.

Witl)a.'ih, Cheder ami Wc-^trrii Railroad Compan;/. — This
road was chartered March 4th, 1869, and entitled the " Ches-
ter and Tamaroa Coal and Railroad Company." It was
put in operation from Tamaroa, in Perry county, to Ches-
ter, Randol|)h county, in JIarcli 1872. The company
secured subscriptions to its capital stock from Perry and
Randolph counties for which stock interest bearing bonds
were issued. Those of the former county are yet outstand-
ing and will mature in 1892 ; the interest — seven per cent. —
is regularly and promptly paid July 24th, 1873, the com-
pany was consolidated with the Chester and Iron Mountain
Railway Company of Missouri, under the Iron Mountain,
Chester and Eastern Rail Road Company. The road passed
into the hands of a Receiver, and was for some years the sub-
ject of lively litigation. A sale of the road took place,
February 28th, 1878. under foreclosure in the United States
Court, and H. C Cole became the purchaser.

A company was organized Fel)ruary 20th, 1878, a- the
" Wabash, Chester and Western Rvilroad Company," and
began operating the road April 1st, 187S W. G. Barnard
of Bellaire, Ohio, was President, and Charles B. Cole of
Chester, Illinois, Treasurer and General Jlanager. This
management leased the road to the St. Louis Coal Railroad
Company, March 25th, 1882, for forty-five years. The
main line — from Tamaroa to Chester is 40 iV.j miles ; branch
— from Chester to the Penitentiary, 1 I'u'j miles ; sidings on
the main line, 2 iVu miles; aggregate length of all tracks,
45 J Jj miles.

St. Loui.'f Olid R R. Co. was organized October 15th,
1879, by what was styled the " St. Louis Central Railroad
Company." The road was completed August, 188ti, from
Carbondale to Harrison Junction, on the Cairo and St.
Lonis Railroad, and was constructed from Murphysboro,
Jackson county, to Pinckneyville, in the spring of 1882,
connecting with the " Wabash, ("hester and Western " and
the " St. Louis and Cairo Short Line." It was subsequently
leased to the St. Louis Coal Railroad Company, which was
oro-anized as stated above. It also operates under lea.se, the R.
R. of the Carbondale and Shawncetown R. R. Co.— between
Carbondale and Marion, a distance of 171 miles. Total
length of main and leased lines 29 miles. This road has an
extensive traffic in coal, and reaches the St- Louis market
over the line of the St. Louis and Cairo Short Line R. R.
Offiirrs. — Pre.sident and General Manager, Andrew C. Bry-
den, St. Louis ; Vice-President, Edwin Harrison, St. Louis ;
General Superintendent and Secretary, James C. Bryden,

H]sT(inY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Carbondale ; Auditor, Edftiu Brown, St. Louis; Assistant
Superintendent, James Prentice, Carbondale.

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD.

The main line of this road enters Perry County from the
uoith near the center of Taiuaroa precinct in section 4, and
extends southward through the entire county, having about
18 miles of road in the county, besides the sidings. The most
iin|xirtaut stations are Du Quoin and Tamaroa.

In September, 1850, Congress passed an act, and it was ap-
proved by President Fillmore, granting an aggregate of
2,595,051? acres, to aid in building this road. The act
grantad the right of way, and gave alternate sections of land
for sis miles on either side of the road. The grant of land
was made directly to the State. On the 10th of February,
1851, the legislature of Illinois granted a charter to an east-
ern company, represented by llnniotd and others, to build it,
with a cajiital stock of $1,000,000. The road was completed
in 1854. The legislature, in granting the charter, and trans-
fci-iiiig to the corjioration the lands, stipulated that .sfccjijucr
(I ///. of the gross earnings of the road should be paid semi-
annually into the treasury of the State forever. This wise
l)rovision, in lieu of the liberal land-grant, yields a handsome
annual revenue to the State ; also that in the event of war
government transportation should be furnished at a certain
reduction from the prices regularly paid by the general
government for such services. The proceeds of land sales
have been regularly applied to the redemption of construc-
tion bunds, and it is significant that while the original issue
of mortgage bonds amounted to §22,000,000, that amount
has been so reduced that in 1890 the whole issue will be re-
tired, and the stockholders will own a road more than 700
miles in length, fully equipped, with no outstanding liability
other than the share of capital. It may be noted here, that
when the general government donated lands to the States of
Illinois, Mississippi and Alabama, it was intended that
through the aid derived from these lands a through artery
of travel should be established between the Lakes and the
Gulf ports. Had the war not supervened, the project would
then have been carried out in its entirely, and the North and
South movement of traffic would have beoi fully developed,
but the enforced delay in carrying out the original pro-
gramme was utilized in building up the State of Illinois, and
in perfecting the track of this road. The resources of the
com))any were taxed to their utmost capacity during the
war, in furnishing transportation for the general government;
but the interests of communities along the line were carefully
watched, and a local business was built up, which in volume
and value far exceeded the most sanguine expectation of the
proprietary. Strict attention to local business has always
been a marked characteristic of Illinois Central Railroad
management, hence their lands have been eagerly sought
after; and they have the satisfaction of knowing that the
value of the road is not dependent entirely upon its identifi-
cation with the through business of the country, but on the
contribution of local traffic, which shows a permanent and
certain increase. Two years after the close of the war, in
1867, the Illinoi.^ Central Railroad Company leased three

railways in Iowa, "The Dubuque and Sioux City," "Cedar
Falls and Minnesota," and "Iowa Falls and Sioux City'
Railroads. The last named road was not, however, com-
pleted to Sioux City until 1871. These leased lines have
been extensive feeders to the Central ; and also have added
immensely to the commerce of Chicago, and have been great
auxiliaries in the development of Iowa and southern Min-
nesota.

On the opening of the Vandalla line, the Illinois Central
made its first direct advance toward securing a representation
in the traffic between Chicago and St. Louis. Two through
trains were run daily, via Effiiu/liam. In 1870, on comple-
tion of the Belleville and Illinois Southern Railroad to Du
Quoin, the southern business of the Illinois Central Railroad,
originating in St Louis, was transferable from Odin and
Ashley, the former connections with the Cairo Short Line.
Though the Illinois Ceutral Railroad put in a car-hoist at
Cairo, to obviate the difficulties incidental to the diiferent
gauge of the southern roads, the tedious transfer between
Cairo and Columbus militated against a satisfactory develop-
ment of through business, and it was not until 1873, by com-
pletion of the ]Mississippi Central Extension, from Jackson
to a point opposite Cairo, that the Illinois Central was en-
abled to compete on equal terms with rival routes to the
South for the business of the Gulf States. This extension
could not have been built without the aid of the Illinois
Central Railroad Company, which was given by exchanging
one million of Illinois Central, five per cent, sterling bonds,
which were easily negotiable in foreign markets, for five
millions of the southeru bonds, bearing sere}/ per cent, an-
nual interest, with the understanding that the difi'erence be-
tween the interest of the sterling and the so\Uhern bonds
should constitute a sinking fund for the redemption of the
bonds at maturity. The financial panic of 1873, combined
with other local causes, prevented the line between New Or-
leans and Cairo from earning sufficient to meet the annual
interest charges, and the property was placed in the hands
of a receiver, where it remained until 1S77, when a reorgan-
ization of the companies resulted in placing the direct con-
trol in the hands of the Illinois Central Railroad Comi)any.
No expense has been spared to put the road-bed and equip-
ments in first-class condition. About the same time the Illi-
nois Central Managers acquired, on favoiable terms, pos-
session of the Oilman, Clinton and Springfield Railroad,
and thereby secured in perpetuity the traffic of a valuable
section of country formerly tributary to competing roads.
At Durant, 309 miles from Cairo, connection is made with
a branch, 21 miles in length, to Kosciusko, also at Jackson
(Mississippi); the Vicksburg and Meridian Railroad fur-
nishes a line to Vicksburg, and thence via the Vicksburg^
Shreveport and Texas Railroad for Monroe, La., Shreve-
port and all points on the Texas and Pacific Railway. The
Morgan's, Louisiana and Texas Railroad, in connection with
steamers from Brashcar, furnish an alternate route to Gal-
veston and other points in Texas

The following statistics in reference to the physical con-
dition and equipment of the Illinois Central Railroad, will
not be devoid of interest : —

HISTORY OF RAXDOLPH, MONROE AXJ> PERRY COIXTIES, II.LIXOIS.

MII.I-S.

Msia line, Cairo lo I.a Salli-, opened for bnsine.'?, Jnn. Sth, ISM aw 09

Galena Branch, La Salle, to Dunkirk, opened Jure I21I1, ISM MC.-3

Chiiago Branch, Chicago to Centralia Junction, opened Sept 2i'.lh, 1856, °4!i.7S
Springfield Division, Oilman to Springfield, i>pentd in Sept., Is;i 111.47

Tot.'il length of Main Line and Branches, M'.OT

Aggregate length computed as single track, 831.CA

Length of Sidings, l.''.2.G8

Total length of track owned in Illinoi.", 9W>.30

Iowa Pivi.-ion, from I<ubiiquc to Sioux City, , 327.(iO

Southern tiiviaion, from Cairo to Sew Orleans, 548.00

Minnesota Branch, from Waterloo to Mono, 8<>.00

Slaking the total-number of miles,

i',]-ii.:

The line between Chicago and Cairo is operated as the
Chicago Division ; tliat between Centralia and Dubuque as
the Northern Divifion, and the Road between Oilman and
Springfield as the Springtield Division. The tracks of the
various lines are mostly steel-rails, the road beds, especially
iu this state, are ballasted with rock, the rolling stock is ex-
cellent, and the road throughout is, in all parts, first class.
The :Main Line passe.s through the richest portion of the
state — and is the greatest thoroughfare of travel and traffic
between the North and the South.

RAILROAD LINES.

Believing that there are many farmers in these ccunties
who desire a profitable investment, we would therefore call
the attention of all who are desirous of procuring more land,
or larger farms to the large quantity of good faiming land,
the Illinois Central Railroad company still tfl'er for sale,
along their line in Marion, Fayette. CIrnton, Washington,
Jeflersou, Jackson, Perry, Franklin. Union, AVilliamson,
Alexander, and Pulaski counties in this state.

TITLE.

The title to these lands ofTereti for sale is as perfect as
huniau agency can make it. It was originally donated bj'
act of Congress to the State of Illinois, and by an act of the
State Legislature transferred to this company and its trus-
tees. No incumbrance of any kind whatever. To all who
desire in good faith to examine any of these lauds, the rail-
road company issues half-rate tickets on any of their own
lines to and from the nearest points to the land, and if such
ticket-bolder buys even a forty-acre tract, they will allow
what he paid for such ticket as part payment on the pur-
chase. These lands are productive, the climate healthy, and
prices very low — usually from S-l to S':! per acre, on easy
terras, and a low rate of interest. These lands can be pur-
chased on the following terms :

One quarter cash, with five per cent, interest for one year
in advance on the residue ; the balance payable in one, two
and three years, with five per cent, interest in advance each
year on the part remaining unpaid. For example, for
forty acres of land at S5.00 per acre, the payments would be
as follows :

Cash payment S."i0.00 principal, and 57. .*0 interest.

In one year SO.liO " " 6.00

In t«o years 50.00 " " 2.50

In three years 50.00 "

(-200.00 (15.10

Or the same land may be bought for S180.00, all cash, as ten
per cent, is deducted when all cash is paid. Full informa-
tion on all points relating to any particular locality or tract,
will be furnished on application, either in person or by
letter, to

p. Daggy, Land Commissioner,
Room 36, No. 78 Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois.

*'V<~^

(^uarternary. Tertiary, Carboniferous,
Devonian and ."^ilurian systems. Be-
neath them may, and, if generally
accepted theoiies be true, must be
formations of other sj-stems anteda-
ting these. The Empire State of the
Valley has mainly escaped from up-
heaval by earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions, so that her prairies spread
out in beautiful repose uninterrupted
by unsightly masses of matter from
long past ages. In the counties of Riindolph, Monroe and
Perry, the various systems penetrated thus far by man iu
his inquiries after geological truth have rewarded his re-
search quite as well as any throughout the state. The
Jlississippi with her deep grooved channel upon the West ■'
her line of bluffs following up her general course; a break
traversing the counties all contribute t.» nuike clear the
strategraphical chart. The Quarternary, Tertiary and
Carboniferous .systems present outcroppings here and there
throughout their extent.

The Quarternary, or uppermost stratum, is possessed of
greater economical value than all other formations com-
bined. It comprises the drift and all deposits above it of
whatever may be the quality of the soil. In scientific terms,
it includes the alluvium, buttora prairie, blufli' and drift of
various thicknesses, which crop out here and there upon the
surface. All those deposits which have been formed since
the inauguration of the present order of thiugs, might be
appropriately classified under the head of Alluvium as it
embraces soils, pebbles, sand, elay.s, and vegetable mold, all
of which are here found.

Soils are a well-kuown mixture of various comminuted
and decomposed mineral substances, combined and mingled
with decayed vegetable and animal remains, and composing
those ingredients so well adapted to the nourishment of the
vegetable kingdom. They are formed by the action of
water in form of rain or dew ; by atmospheric changes of
heat and cold ; by decay of vegetable and animal matter.
The soils of these counties are very deep and exceedingly pro-
ductive. The vegetable kingdom has contributed largely to
their formation. The luxuriant growth of prairie grass,

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

high as a man's head riding horseback (as the old settlers
are wont to say), dying with the touch of frost each autumn
to form a thin layer of vegetable mold, or. being burned by
the raging fires of the hazy Indian summer-time to add
their mite of alkali, has contributed untold wealth to the
fertility of the soil. Here and there, are clay formations
cropping out upon the surface, kindly inviting the hand
of industry to transform their barrenness into tile and brick,
and thus contribute to the general good. Immediately un-
derneath are evidences of the aqueous agencies in pebble and
formative sand rock measures, only waiting to become useful
in various ways that man's inventive genius has devised.
Upon the surface here and there, are the monuments to the
existence of a glacial period, in form of great boulders, com-
posed of quartz, feldspar, mica, and hornblend. We look
upon these massive rocks, and note nothing in common with
the formations surrounding them. Bedded in the virgin
prairie soil, poised upon its surface, their composition
declares them of different origin from other rock, and the
abrasions upon their surface, sometimes in deep longitudinal
grooves, oftentimes well rounded in general outline, declare
in plain words a long journey thitherward. Scientists have
critically examined them. Evidently the storm of centuries
have beaten upon them where they stand, and the hand of
time has broken many a fragment and piled them at their
bases, as if to number the years of their being Speculations
have been indulged as to their mighty journeyings from the
far-off North land during an age when Manitoba waves
would have been hailed as the breath of spring-time; an age
when animal and vegetable existence were alike impossible.
Borne on before the resistless power of slowly-movin'g
glaciers or icebergs, they were dropped here and there on
far-stretching prairies, or carried on the very tops of
mountains, like those of Missouri, where their piled up con-
fusion leads to the idea of a battle-field with the gods.
Who can number the ages that have rolled away since it
paused in its course, or measure the time of its journey ? or
who assay to count the time it occupied its place in the
parent ledge before the glacier or iceberg wrenched it from
its place and bore it away ?

The prairies themselves, stretching out in their beauty, —
nay, in silent grandeur, — have invited man's genius to assign
to natural cause their origin, and declare the years of their
formation. Much scientific discussion has been indulged
respecting thera. Prof Leo Lesquereux, in report of the
State Geologist of Illinois, asserts that they, with their pecu-
liar surface soil, owe their origin to the same causes that are
at present operating to form prairies, though on a less exten-
sive scale- The black, rich soil is doubtless, he says, due to
the growth and decay of successive crops of vegetation,
which, in the geological ages of the past, under a far higher
temperature and more favorable atmospheric conditions than
now exist, grew to an extent unknown since the appearance
of man upon the earth. These prodigious crops of plants
and grasses were from year to year submerged, and becom-
ing decomposed, contributed their annual accumulations to
the surface of the country. By the continuation of this pro-
cess for untold centuries, and by the subsequent recession of

the waters that once covered the entire Mississippi Valley,
a black, mucky soil was formed, and the whole region
emerged as vast swamps or swales interspersed with hills and
valleys, mountains and table-lands. These, by gradual
growth, became outlined in prairies.

In each of the three counties here treated of, great deposits
of coal have been found. The age of these formations would
prove a study of interest. That of coal can be computed
more accurately than any other encountered beneath us. It
has been calculated that thirty feet of vegetable matter
would be required to form one foot of coal. What must
then have been the plant growth which gave us such vast
deposits.

RANDOLPH COUNTY.*

The surface deposits of this county comprise the three
usual sub-divisions of the Quarternary system, designated as
alluvium, marly deposit known as " loess" and drift. The
most important alluvial deposit in the county is that known
as the American Bottom, which follows the great river from
the northwest corner of the county southward to the mouth
of the Kaskaskia, having a width varying from four to fif-
teen miles. This belt is exceedingly productive, and but
for the overflows to which it is subjected, would be by far
the most valuable land of the county. The soil is quite
sandy, but is intermingled with humus or vegetable mold
or clay from the sediments of the river, forming a rich warm
soil of unsurpassed fertility.

The loess is a deposit of light brown or buff siliceous marl,
sometimes also quite calcareous It caps the blufis of the
Mississippi and other streams of the county, and is of a
thickness varying from ten to sixty feet, or even m^ire. It
generally contains great numbers of bleached shells. It
gives origin to the bald knobs, that are often a conspicuous
feature in the river bluffs. Ttie drift deposits of this county
comprise a series of brown and yellow clays, intermingled
locally with gravel and small pebbles, spread over the en-
tire surface of the uplands, and underlying the loess where
both are present. Boulders of igneous' character are occa-
sionally seen in the valleys. Specimens of galena, analogous
to the ores of Potosi in southeast Missouri, are frequently
found beneath the soil in this county. Whether native, or
transported by human agency, or yet b}' easterly currents,
carrying them from their resting places across the river, is a
subject for speculation. The stratified rocks exposed at the
surface include a portion of the lower coal measures, from
the micaceous sandstone above coal No. 6 in the general
section to the base of the measures, together with the Chester
group and the St. Louis group of the lower carboniferous
limestone series.

Coal Measures. — The beds exposed in the county that be-
long to the coal measures comprise a series of micaceous
sandstones, limestones, and shales, with two seams of bitu-
minous coal. The thickness of the whole, including the
conglomerate at the base, probably does not exceed two hun-

» We nre indebted to the State Geological Reports for much data bearing on
the Geology of these counties.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTJES, ILLINOIS.

dred and fifty feet. The followiug vertical section shows
the succession and comparative thickness of these beds :

Micaceous sandstone and shale ao to 40 feet.

Band of limestone 3 "

Shale 1-.! "

Limestone and bituminous shale 4 *■ "

Coal (Bellevillel •• 8 "

Fire-clay and nodular limestone 3 " G "

Shale or shaly sandstone .'iij " 40 "

Limestone 3 '* 4 "

Bituminousshale 3 " & '*

Coal No. j (7) 2 " 4 "

Fire clay 2 '■ 4 -

Shii'e and .sandst4jne ( ■unglotneralf) ,M> " lao ■'

The coal measures underlie about one-third of the county,
being that part known as the prairie district. The sand-
stone and shales that form the base of this group of strata
give origin to a more broken surface. Of the coal mea-
sures, two are developed in this county, the Belleville coal
(No. 6) and a lower seam, probably No. .5 The Belleville
coal seam is very regular, with an average thickness of about
six feet. It almost invariably has a good roof, composed
either of limestone or hard bituminous shale, either of which
makes a subtantial roofing, both safe and economical. In
a few places, packets of a conglomerate have been found in
this roofing, notably in a shaft sunk near Coulterville, the
giving way of which is attended with disastrous results.
The coal from this seara is compact, of a bright color, and
comparatively free from pyrites. Sometimes it rests upon a
bed of fire-clay, but more frequently on one of argillaceous
limestone. The over-cropping limestones are fossiliferous.
The out-cropping of the coal measures, which underlie the
northwestern part cf the county, is along Mary's river. At
Pope's bank the coal is deposited in five distinct layers,
measuring respectively sixteen, twelve, fifteen, sixteen, and
one and a half feet-

At Boyd's coal mines, one mile west of Spaita, the coal is
obtained by a shaft sunk to the depth of about fifty feet
through the following beds :

Cluy ,um1 grnvel 20 feet.

Limestone 2 "

Shale 15 "

Limestone 5 " '

<'oal •'

The dip is slightly easterly, and does not exceed 5°. A
mile and a half northeast is Wood's coal mine, where the
coal is reached at a depth of forty feet. It is overlaid with
bituminous shale and limestone. In the vicinity of Steels-
ville, the coal is of an average thickness of six feet, and is
found from twenty-five to thirty feet below the surface.
Four miles to the south it out-crops in the bluffs along Cos's
creek.

Chester Group. — The following vertical section gives an
idea of comparative thickness and relative position of the
different members of this group:

Grey silioious limestone No. 1 2.5 to 30 feet.

Shalesaudshaly sandstones, with fossil plants . 80 " OO "

Shaly liinest ,ne No. 2 15 " 18 '•

Massive brown sandstone 40 **

Limestone No. 3, upper bed at Chester 40 " 45 "

tireen and blue argillaceous shales, with plates

of limestone 45 '* 70 "

Arenaceous and ar^illaccovis limestone No 4 . . 20 to 30 feet.

Massive and shaly saiid.-^tonc . 15 " 20 "

Compact and granular grey limestone No. .0 . . 150 "

Passive quartzose brown sandstone 120 ''

This group attains its greatest thickness in the southern
part of the county. At Chester the middle portion of this
group forms the greater portion of the river bluff, and the
beds afford the following section at this point :

Green and purple scales 8 feet.

Compact grey limestone 10 '*

Limestone, irregular, partly ujdular and partly argil-
laceous 32 "

Green and argillaceous shales, with thin plates of lime-

stone and ferruginous hands 70 "

Compost grey limestone, with intercalated beds of blue

aiKl green clay shales «2 "

Total 202 "

Adjacent to the city, and partly exposed on the hill-tops,
is a bed of i]uartzose sandstone This sandstone is overlaid
with another limestone which m.iy be found as you journey
farther from the river, so that like step-stones these forma-
tions rise one above another, exposed as the aqueous abra-
sions have by lapse of time laid them bare. Near the Peni-
tentiary buildings the top of the limestone is eighty feet
above low water level of the river, and is overlaid by a mas-
sive sandstone about fifteen feet in thickness. Below Ches-
ter, limestone almost wholly made up of crinoidea and fish
teeth abounds — a limestone susceptible of a high polish.
At Prairie du Rocher, the bluff is composed of the massive
grey limestone of the St. Louis group, but before reaching
tlie general level of the adjacent country we pass over the
lower sandstone of the Chester group, and the limestones
and shales of the higher beds are found expo.std on all
the small streams between the bUifis and Red Bud.
At Red Bud, the sinking of a shaft presented the following
record of strata :

Surface clay 18 feet.

Grey limestone, conUiiuing fossils found in the Chester

group 13 "

Clay shale 46 "

Economical Geology, — Elsewhere in this work soils are
treated of, and in presenting a brief view of what is appro-
priately termed economical geology, we shall only call atten-
tion to the minerals that furnish the basis of future wealth
and importance to this county.

Vodl — By far the most valuable and important mineral
deposit underlies fully one third of the county. It has been
calculated that the yield of a coal seam is one million tons to
the square mile for every foot of thickness of the seam, and
consequently the yield of the upper seam as here found
would aggregate six million tons. Then if three hundred
square miles of the county are thus underlaid the enormous
amount of eighteen hundred million tons of coal awaits the
application of human genius in its exhumation. Then, too,
yet beneath this partially developed seam is another with
probably one-third as much more coal. Mining coal, a
comparatively new industry, is being rapidly pro.seculed, and
with constantly increasing facilities for its transportation,
and not only this, but for transfer of rude ores from the
mountains of Missouri, to be changed as if by a magician's

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

wand into various forms of utility and beauty through its
agency. It is destined to grow and demand enlarged facili-
ties for exhumation and carriage. Manufacturing interests
are taking hold, and will be within the next decade more
than double in number and capacity.

Bnildinf/ Stone. — Enough stone, and that too, of superior
quality — abounds here to supply the state f jr centuries. Its
presence was one of the great inducements offered in behalf
of the location of the State Penitentiary at Chester. To
particularize, the St. Louis limestone, abundant in the north-
western part of the county, rising full two hundred feet in
height, could be made available for the heaviest masonry, as
well as for foundation-walls for dwellings, for flag-stones, etc.
The lower sandstone of the Chester group, an excellent free-
stone, which can be sawed or cut easily when freshly quar-
ried, hardening on exposure, will furnish, practically, inex-
haustib'e supplies for various purposes of art. Then the
lower limestone of the same group, for all manner of archi-
tectural display, is most excellent ; for caps, for cornices,
for columns, and for shafts it is well adapted. Much of it
is susceptible of a high polish, and will be availed of by way
of ornamentation.

Lime. — Stone employed in its manufacture abounds. The
best is found in the vicinity of Prairie da Rucher. It is
not surpassed by any calcareous deposit in the Mississippi
valley for the production of a superior quality of lime.

Clays. — The fire clay which underlies each of the coal
seams nny be useil advantageously. Clay for the mauufxc-
ture of brick of fair quality everywhere abounds, underly-
ing the surface soil.

MONROE COUNTY.

As iu Randolph we find along the great river, following
its course, a widespread bottom presenting its inexhaustible
alluvial deposits. Soil sandy, intermingled with humus or
vegetable mold and clay from the sediments of the river.
Hemming in the great water way, as if to check its overflow,
are great bluffs of varied character. The disturbances in
the regular stratification of rocks are very marked, there
being two decided axes. The nucleus of the more northern
one is the Keokuk limestone, which is well exposed near
Columbia on a small creek. Above the exposure is a brown-
ish-gray and cherty limestone, forming about forty feet of
its bulk, while the remaining ten feet consists of blue calcareo-
argillaceous shales with small geodes of quartz. Immediate-
ly west, the overlying St. Louis limeston ■ dips full 20 degs.
south, while on the eastern side of the axis the dip in the
opposite direction varies from 8 to 12 degs., thus forming a
trough or valley, and indicating, at some time away back
in the sleeping ages, mighty convulsions of nature which
have pushed upwards out of their natural beds great mas.ses
of rock, different from their fellows, upon either hand.
These convulsions speak of an age antedating the carboni-
ferous period, since coal measures in regular lines cross the
valley, intervening the exposures of the Keokuk limestone.
The other axis is to the south and shows the elevation of the
Saccharoidal sandstone. Its extent is limited, as it rapidly

sinks to the eastward beneath shales and limestones of the
Lower Carboni.'erous series.

The relative position and comparative thickness of the
stratified rocks in this county are shown iu the following
section :

No. 1. Cial lupa^nre.si 40 to .W foet.

Xo. 2. Chester Kionp Km to :i'.il feet.

N.i. ;;. rppc-r St Louis limestone 140 to l.'Jl feet.

No. 4. Lowel- St. Louis or W:U'.s:uv VJO to l:'.0 IVt't,

No..-.. Keolcok liojestone loll fcet.

No. 0. Iturlinu'ton limestone 7o to lull feet.

No. 7. Kiudiuhook (jroup so to IIKJ feet-
No. 8. Trenton limestone 12(1 feet.

The a^^regate thickness of these rocks may be estimated
at about oue thousand feet, and they represent a very large
portion of the whole Paleozoic series below the coal meas-
ures, as that series is developed in Southern Illinois. No
part of the State presents more interesting phases of geo-
logical research than here. Coal is found throughout the
basin formed by the break in the formations already referred
to, and is necessarily confined to a narrow strip. Breaks in
coal measures, being quite as uneven as the basis on which
they rest, make successful mining hazardous. At a number
of points within the isolated synical basin, coal was found,
and in some places successfully rained. Gall's coal mines,
on the northwest quarter of section 3, township 2 south,
range 4 west, have been quite extensively worked and
abandoned. The beds exposed give the following section :

fuloareons shales C (o s feet.

I oui part ar(;illiieeou-s limestone 3 to 4 feet.

P.ilmninons shale I to 3 feet.

Cal. liellevillescam :Uo 4 feet.

Ciiloareoils shnlesauil no lul.ir limestone .T to 4 feet.

Sliule tiiul shiily .siinilstone Ij feet

No. 2. Chester Group. — As developed in this county is
the upper group of the lower carboniferous system, consists
of a heavy bed of sandstone forming its lower division, aljove
which are two or three beds of limestone alternating with
sandy and argillaceous shales and sandstones. In thickness
they are less than in Randolph county, and as we travel
north grow more and more so. In places the rock of this
group is massive and concretionary in structure, then again,
fossiliferous, consisting of coarse, granular and partly crinoi-
dal limestone.

Nos. 3 and 4 St LouL? Limestone. Upper and Loiver.
Occurs in extensive outcrops in the county, and in two well-
marked divisions. The upper consists mainly of light-gray
compact, regularly bedded limestones, with some thin shaly
partings, and the lower of buff or brown marly and partly
maguesian beds, and with some very massive layers of a serai-
oolitic, nearly white limestone. Exposures of these groups
are met with to the east and north of the Chester group.
'Ihe sink holes met with are a sure guide to the extent of
these formations, they being only formed where the upper
division of this group forms the bed-rock.

No. 5. Keokuk Group. — Exposures of this group are rare
in this county, forming as it does the nucleus of the anticlinal
axis passing near Columbia. It has been found to be com-
posed of coarse-grained gray limestone, yellow calcareous
shale, blue shale, cherty gray limestone and bedded chert.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

No. 6. Burliiiyton LlmrstDin' — May include the bedded
chert attributed above to the Kenkuk group. It is couliiicd
to the viciuity of Salt Lick Point where it forms the upper
escarpment of tiie bluH'. It consists of alternations of light-
gray crinoidal limestone and chert. Tiie bluff where found
is the highest between St. Louis and Chester, presenting
from its summit a grand panorama of river and valley.

Nu. 7. K'lHih'fhQok Group. — Seemingly out of its place,
having by some agency been pushe<I entirely out of its rela-
tive position, usurping that of the Devonian and upper Silu-
rian groups, is found only in the vicinity of the foregoing
group, and consists of ashen gray shales, which pass upward
into chocolate-colored shales and limestones.

No. 8. Tretitoii Limestone. — The oldest formation found
in Southern Illinois. Its presence is attributable to like
causes with the three preceding groups. It forms a low ledge
of massive gray limestone at the base of a blufl' about two
miles below Eagle elitf. Wherever it outcrops it consists of
heavy bedded yellowish gray crystalline limestones, inter-
sected with vertical fissures or joints. These vertical fissures
are, in places most marked, separating great columns so that
thev stand apart like silent sentinels. Some of them are
from forty to fifty feet in height. They have locally received
the a|)peIlation of the " stoue chimneys "

Ei-oiiomien/ Geolofjy. — In his report the State Geologist
savs there is no county in Southern Illinois more abundantly
supplied with buikling stone of various qualities than this,
and it is so generally distributed over all portions of the
county as to be easily accessible to every neighborhood.
The stratified rocks arc here something more than a thousand
feet in thickness, and fully one-half may be considered of
economical value. The sandstone that forms the basis of
the Chester group will furnish an unlimited supply of excel-
lent building stone. It generally is compact, free from
foreign substances, but sometimes shows a concretionary
structure ; where this is the case it can be readily quarried
as it splits evenly in blocks of required sizes. It works
easilv under the chisel, and hardens on exposure. The lime-
stones of the same group furnish some good material suitable
for rough walls. The rock most generally used, however,
comes from the St. Louis group which furnishes the bed rock
of a much larger area of territory than iloes any other. It
is mostly a compact, fine grained, bluish-gray limestone,
weathering to a nearly white color, and generally lies in
regular beds of fair workable thickness from size suitable for
flagging, curb-stones, &c., to blocks of two feet thickness.
Most of the macadamizing material used in the county is
obtained from the hard, bluish-gray limestones of this group.
Dimension stone of any required thickness and form is
obtainable from the lower division of this group. It is one
of the best building stones in the county. In the next or
Burlington group the rock is too cherty for use.

Marbl''. — The Trenton limestone aflibrds some beds of light-
gray crystalline thick-bedded rock that receives a fine polish,
and the thickly imbedded organic forms give to the polished
surface a slightly mottled appearance, pleasing to the'eye. It
mav be obtained at Salt Lick Point in inexhaustible
quantities.
8

tb((/. —As already indicated the only c lal found in this
county is that obtained in the valley or basin formed by the
upheavals on either side. Tlie valley is narrow and coal
seams irregular throughout its e.xtent, being found in pack-
ets. The veins where found are of uneven thickne.<s, rang-
ing from thin leaves to four feet.

Iron Ore may be found thick enough to prove of some
economical value at the junction of the Chester and St.
Louis groups. Its presence is indicated, ami a band, appar-
ently of good quality, is here exposed.

Hi/draulic LimciifoKc—Tha manufacture of cement is of
sufficient importance to cause thorough examination to de-
termine the existence of Hydraulic limestone in workable
quantities. That it exists here is well known, whether in
quantity and of quality to re-pay investment in its mining
and reduction is problematic.

LimcKtonfi for Lime. — This county could afiord sufficient
lime, that too, of most excellent quality, to supply all the
demands that could possibly be made upon it for centuries.
Lime kilns are here and there operated successfully, and at a
hundred other points might be constructed to the advantage
of proprietors.

Brick Materliih. — Clay suitable for the manufacture of
brick everywhere abounds, and sand may be readily sup-
plied from the banks of adjacent streams.

PERRY COUNTY.

The geological formations of this county are restricted
to the coal measures and tha superficial deposits known as
drift. The coal measure strata that formed the original sur-
face in this region, consist mainly of arenaceous, argillaceous
and bituminou-i shales, fine-grained sand stones, and thin
bjds of silicious and argillaceous limestone. The drift de.
posits above the coal measures are comparatively thin.
Perhaps a medium would be represented by the following
section :

Soil and .«ub-soil
Keddish Clay . . .
.Sand ADd gravel .
Yellow tough cla.v

Beneath this clay last named, is encountered a blue mud,
which is rich in vegetable remains, or in places where the
stratified rocks belonging to the coal measures are reached,
the blue mud being absent. The coal measures embrace a
depth of about three hundred feet. At Tamaroathe follow-
ing section was obtained :

Soft micaceous sandstones 1^ f'

Sandy Shale 20

Massive hard ferruginous sandstone 10

lilue clay shale 2o

Impure Iron ore, with fossil shelU -

Bituminous Sliale 3

Coal So. 8 9

Fireclay . 3

Sandstone ^^

Sandy Shale 102

Hard calcareous sandstone 3

Black carbonaceous slate 1

Clay Shale . ■ 3

Hard, arenaceous, slaty rock 16

Clay Shale '

Light-grey, sub-crystalline limestone 8

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Bituminous Shale 2 ft.

Coal, i-oinetimes wanting No. 6 ? 2 "

Fire clay or clny nhale 3 "

Limestone, light-colored, nrcnaceous 7 "

Gray S ale 6 "

Jjimestone *"• "

Shales, with fossil rlants i5 "

Coal No. 5 ? .li to 7 ft.

Clay shale, witli nodules of limestone 15 "

At other points throughout the county workable veins of
coal were found at much lets depths. The Black Diamond
mine exhibits the following section :

Clay, (-urface material) 24 f^et.

Limestone 9 "

Clay Shale 1 '•

Bituminous Sliale 1 "

Coal 1 "

Fire-clay 4 "

Limestone f' "

Clay Shale ■'"' "

Limestone 7

Blue clay shale li "

Hard, dark-colored limestone 3 "

Bituminous Shale 2 "

Coal ...••• _5 "

93 "

At Pinckneyville the depth is only some forty to fifty /eet
to coal, which out-crops on a ravine southeast of the town
in section 30, T. 5 S. R. 2 W.

Eeonoviiml Geolof/y. — Perhaps no county in Southern
Illinois offers superior inducements to the mining of coal
than this. The accessibility and quality of the coal are
both in its favor. Mr. Pratten's analysis of the Du Quoin
coal gave the following result :

Specific gravity 1.24C

Loss in coking 48 5

Total weight of coke 51.1-ltio

Moisture 8.')

Volatile matters 40.4

Carbon in coke 48.1

Ashes (light gray) 3 (1-1(10

Carbon in coal .'JO.C

The analysis when compared with that of other bituminous
coal found throughout the state is favorable to the Du Quoin.
In reference to the accesi-ibility, not alone is the coal found
throughout this county at comparatively little depth, but the
roofing is superior, being in places a hard, blue limestone.
Where it is a bituminous shale it is not so good.

The amount of accessible coal in this county is enormous.
The State Geologist in his report estimates it at two billion,
four hundred million tons, which at Si. 50 per ton would
yield 13,600,000, and adds that this estimate is undoubtedly
below rather than above the actual amount of coal to be ob-
tained from the beds underlying the surface of this county
alone. Here then, would we look for the future manufactur-
ing establishments of Southern Illinois, for the erection of
smelters, furnaces, iron industries, foundries, &c. An era
of prosperity awaits the hand of industry, and the mining of
her black diamonds will expedite its advent.

Building Slone. — In this, Perry county is deficient.
Material suitable for foundation walls is found and .some
adapted to such masonry as enters into making of bridges
and culverts is accessible. Some of the limestone out-

cropping is adapted to the manufacture of quick-lime,
and has been thus used. The sand-stones, are too soft for
general uses, but are used for flagging, light walls, &c.

Sand and Clay for the manufiicture of brick may be
found almost in any place where it may be desirable to
manufacture them : and from the abundance of coal, and
the economy with which they" can be burned, brick will
always be one of the cheapest and most easily obtained
materials for building purposes in this county.

CHAPTER V.

N treating of the flora of these coun-
ties, it is not our purpose to treat
exhaustively on all the plants of
the respective counties, but rather
to give a list of the native trees
and grasses found within their
limits. The intelligent and prac-
tical husbandman first looks to
the native vegetation as a dial to
be governed by in determining the value of new lands. The
growth, size, and kinds of timber will, to a great extent,
decide and determine the qualities of the soil for agricultural
purposes.

The botanist, in making a survey of the State, classes it
under three heads : the heavily timbered regions of the
South, the flora of which is remarkable for its variety and
beauty ; the central portion, consisting mainly of prairie
region ; and the North, which is a combination of both
timber and prairie. These counties represent the charac-
teristics of the latter, having a fair proportion of each, also
including the American Bottom varieties. Many of the
early species of the vegetable kingdom have changed and
passed out of sight since the coming of the Anglo-Saxon.
The " buffalo grass," which formerly grew only upon the
prairies, and the high pampas gra.ss, have become extinct
and given place to blue grass and other varieties sown and
cultivated by the present tillers of the soil. The plants are
many and rare, peculiar to this climate and latitude. Among
the most important for medical purposes we find the bone-
set, ginseng, Colombo, pennyroyal, pink-root, Indian turnip,
sarsaparilla, and other varieties too numerous to mention.
The native plants of beauty are the lily, phlox, golden rod,
eye-bright gerardia, asclepias, and hundreds more which
adorn the meadows and flower-gardens of this section of the
Prairie State. Beside these, there are the climbing vines,
which fill the forest with beautiful festoons of artistic form,
such as the woodbine, grape, clematis, bitter-sweet, etc. The
trees and grasses, however, engage the special attention of
the traveler. The many varieties of oak, hickory, and elm,
are in abundance, — the giant cottonwoods, sycamore, walnut.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

and hundreds more that wave in the breeze, attest the
virtue of the soil and the excellence of climate to produce
what Dame Nature has so bountifully brought forth.

The following are the indigenous floral and vegetable
products of these counties : Foa pratensis—spenr-gmss ;
Poa compremin — blue-grass ; Armeimi triphijUnm—lndiaa
turnip; Thijplatifolia—csit-ta\l; Sagittarla i'«ri')4(/is— arrow-
head ; Cypripedium piiheseens — yellow lady's slipper;
Cypripedium candidum— white lady's slipper, common ;
Cannabis saticd — hemp; Humidici lupulus — hop, com-
mon ; Datura stramonium — Jamestown weed ; Axclepinx cor-
fiiiti — milk weed ; Fraxinus Americana — white ash ; Fraxinug
sambunfoUa—h]&ck ash ; Phijtolaef.a decandra — poke weed ;
Amyrantua hybridiis—])ig weed ; Riimex crispus— sour dock ;
Sassafras officinale — sassafras ; Batjitin odoriferus — fever
bush; Marntbiuin rnhjare — hoarhound ; So/anum nigrum^
night-shade ; Pliysalis iv'.sroxa — ground cherry ; Monanla di-
dym-i — horsemint; Nepeta cataria — catnip; Hedcuma pulc-
yioides — pennyroyal; Diospyrox mrginiana — persimmon ;
Plantago major — plantain ; Verbascum thap.-<ii.-< — mullein, com-
mon ; Cissium lancfolatam — common thistle ; Lappa major —
burdock ; Taraxacum dcas-leonis — dandelion, common, been
introduced during the last forty years ; Erecth ites hieracifolia —
fire-weed ; Ambrosia artemisvfulia — rag weed; Xaidhiuin
stramarium — cockle burr; Bidens bipinnata — Spanish needle ;
Bideiischrysanthemoides — beggar ticks ; Mantn cutula — May-
weed ; Leucaiitlwmum rulyare — ox-eye daisy. Another plant
which has become quite common in Randolph county, along
the bluff near Kaskaskia, is a species of the flag. It was
brought from France by one of the old French families, on
account of its floral beauty. The berries that it bears are a
special delight of the birds, and the result is that the whole
section of country is likely to be inoculated with its presence.

Eupatorium perfoliatum — thoroughwort, not common ;
Cornus Florida, dogwood ; Sambueus Canadensis — elder, very
common ; Ribes cynosbidi — wild gooseberry ; Tynw eoronaiia
— wild crab, abundant.

Crateyus, several species ; Rosa setiyera — climbing rose ;
Rubus liicida — dwarf wild rose ; Rnbus ivYAysKS— blackberry,
abundant.

Asimina triloba — papaw, quite abundant along the creek
bottoms; Nelunbium luteum — May apple, abundant in
shady places.

Saiiyuinaria Canadensis, or hloodroot ; Lepidium Viryini-
rum —wild pepper grass ; Poriulaca Oleracea, or purslane ;
Titia Americana, or linden; Xanthoxyhun Americanina —
prickly ash ; Rlius typhina — sumach; Rhus toxicodendron —
poison oak; Vitis oestiralis — summer grape, common ; Viti^
cordifotia—trost grape; Ampelopsis quinquefolia — Virginia
creeper ; ^Eaculus pavia — buckeye ; Acer saccharinum — sugar
maple ; Acer dasycarpum — white maple ; Neyundo aceroides
— box elder; Baptisia tincforia — indigo weed, not abundant;
Cereis Canadensis — red-bud ; Gymnoclad ns Canadensi<< —
Kentucky coffee- tree ; Gleditsehia tracanthos — honey locust;
Prunus Americana — red plum; Piunus ehieasa — Chickasaw
plum; Prunus errotina—wUd cherry; Fragarin Viryiniana
— wild strawberry ; Rubus occidentalis^h\a.c]!i cap raspberry ;
Rubiis Canadoisis — dewberry, common.

Popuhis nngu/atd — cotton-wood, abundant.

iSalix — willow, several varieties.

Alnus serrulafn — alder.

Betula — birch ; Carpinus Ainericann — horu-beau, not com-
mon.

Corylus Americana — hazel nut; Cutanea pumili — chin-
quapin.

Quereuj< rubra — red oak; Qnerrns tinctnria — black oak;
Quercu-s nigra — black jack; (^wreu'< inibriciria — laurel
oak ; Quercus prinua — chestnut white oak ; Q uerc us casta nea —
yellow oak, not common ; Quereus alba — white oak, common ;
Qnereus obstiloba — post oak, abundant.

Carya glabra —pig-nut hickory ; C^iirreas macrocarpa —
overcup oak ; Carya tomentosa — white heart hickory ; Carya
alba — shell bark hickory; Cirya ulieiej'ornus — pecan, com-
mon.

Jnylans nigra — black walnut, abundant ; Juglans cinerea,
— butter-nut, not common.

Platan us occldentalis — sycamore.

Ulmus fuh-i, — red elm ; Moras rubra — red mulberry ;
Urtica dloica — stinging nettle; Ulmus AniTicma — white
elm, abundant.

In the above list we have given the scientific as well as
the English names, believing such a course to pursue in the
study of plants more beneficial to the student or general
reader. There may b3 some plants omitted, yet we think the
list quite complete.

CHAPTER VI

HE study of Natural History is always
interesting to all ages and classes of so-
ciety, and more especially the animal
kingdom of our own inhabitation, both
the fauna of the past and present. It
is ditticult for those of the present day to
believe that the wild buffalo of the West-
ern plains once roamed over the prairies
east of the Mi3sissi|)pi ; or that the
Elk and Black Bear were on their native heath in this part
of the country only a little more than half a century ago.
Many other varieties of animals, which found their homes
ill the forests and on the prairies of this part of the state,
have fled before civilization, and are now seen by our chil-
dren only in the cages of the menagerie. In order to more
fully interest and inform the reader, pertaining to this
science, we here append in a classified form the most im-
portant animals indigenous to this region.

l'.VGUL.\TA, OR HOOFED.

Of the hoofed animals, one of the most prominent is the
American Bison {Biton, or Bos Americanas,) which disap-
peared from the prairies of Illinois before the arrival of the
white man, leaving, as the only evidence of its former pres-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ence, a few " buffalo wallows " in certain parts of the state.
The bison is a large animal, with thick, heavy body, short,
stout legs, short, black horns, and black, or brown shaggy
hair. Large herds of these animals at present roam over
the plains at the eastern base of the Eocky Mountains.
Like the mastodon and other ancient animals, the bison is
destined at no distant day to become extinct. The American
Elk {Cerms Americaniis,') next to the moo.se, is the largest
deer of America. It is remarkable for the size of its
antlers, which sometimes grow to the height of six feet, and
weigh from forty to eighty pounds. The animal itself is about
as tall as an ordinary horse, is very fleet, and has wonderful
lowers of endurance. It long ago left the prairies of Illinois,
and is now found in the northern parts of the United States
and in British America. The deer family (Ccrvidce) has
had, so far as is known, only one representative in this
region, viz. : the common American deer, (Ccrvus Yhyini-
aniis,) which disappeared from its prairie haunts several
years ago, and is found in the mountainous regions of Mis-
souii and the unsettled parts of other states. Its flesh is
very sweet and palatable, and it is highly prized in the
finest markets, where it commands a ready sale at the high-
est price.

C'.\RSIVORI, OR FLESH-EATERS.

The most ferocious animal of the carnivorous order, com-
mon to this country, is the wolf, which belongs to the dog
family {Canida). There were formerly two species of this
animal in these counties,viz.: the prairie wolf ( C'k/ii'js lalrnns),
and the common American, or gray wolf (0(;(/«f)CT'/rfe)i;o/('.>;).
The former is tmall, with long body, elongated, sharp muz-
zle, smooth tongue, and like all the dog family, has five-
toed fore-feet and four-toed hind ones. It formerly inhabited,
in large numbers, the wild prairie regions, but latterly has
disappearwl from this part of the state. The latter is large,
with long, sJim body, long, sharp muzzle, smooth tongue, and
straight, bushy tail. In years gone by the howling of these
wolves was the evening serenade of the pioneer settlers, and
foreboded havoc among the flocks of those times. A few of
this species are still found in dense woodlands and unfre-
quented thickets on the prairies. Two species of fox ( Vulpes)
are found here, the common or Gray Fox {Vulpes mdgaris),
and the Red Fox ( Vvlpcs fidrvs). The former are still
numerous in this region ; the latter, rare. Both species are
noted for their extreme cunning, and their predatory habits.
Foxes are readily distinguished by their slender, pointed
muzzle, long,bushy tail, aod the elliptical pupil of the eye.
Of the Cat family (Fr/ida), the only two indigenous repre-
sentatives are the American wild-cat {Lijiix rvfus), and the
Canadian lynx (Lynx eaiiiidfrisin). The former was very
common during the early history of this country. It was
about thirty inches long, of a pale rufous color, dappled
with gray, ears black ou the outside, tail short, with black
patch above the end. It was very destructive to lambs, kids,
poultry, etc. It has, within the last few years, almost dis-
appeared. The lynx was never common in Illinois, though
it was occasionally seen thirty years ago, and even later. It is
about forty inches long, of a grayish color, streaktd with black ;
ears tipped with a bunch of black hairs, and tail very short.

It is further distinguished by having one molar less than the
true cat, in each side of the upper jaw. The panther {Felia
]}(irdii!^) was also an early inhabitant of this region, although
not numerous. The common Raccoon (Procyon lofor) is
one of the most familiar wild animals in these parts. It in-
habits the timbered regions, generally near some stream or
body of water, to which it resorts for food, in the shape of
craw-fish, frogs, mussels, etc. It also feeds upon roots, ber-
ries, young corn, " roasting-ears," birds, and other small
animals. This animal, from the end of its nose to the tip
of its tail, i.s about two feet long, and has a pointed muzzle,
five toes on each foot, and a ringed tail. It is nocturnal in
its habits, and in cold climates passes the winter in a par-
tially torpid state. Its fur is valuable. The raccoon be-
longs to the family of Procyonid(v, of which it is probably
the only representative in this region.

The weasel family {3Iuslclida-), belong to the well-known
animals, minks, skunks, otters, common weasels, etc , most of
which have long, slender bodies, five-toed feet, and glands
which secrete a liquid of very disagreeable odor. Otters and
minks are hunted for their furs, which are very valuable.
The former are amphibious, and are at present rarely seen.
The costly fur called ermine is obtained from a weasel which
inhabits the northern parts of Europe and Asia.

Weasels are brown in summer and white iji winter, the tip
of the tail being black. The color of minks is dark-brown,
or black, throughout the year. The otter {Lutra canadeims)
is black, and is noted for its size and strength. Its toes are
webbed; head large and flat; ears short; tail slightly flat-
tened, and nails crooked. It is aquatic, and subsists on fish.
Minks and weasels prey on birds, poultry and small animals
of various kinds. The skunk {Mephitis Aniericauio has a
pointed nose, bushy tail, and is nocturnal. It feeds upon beetles
and other small animals. It is also fond of eggs. It was
very common a few years ago, but like most of the wild
animals, is gradually disappearing. Of the opos.sum family
{Didelphidida:), the only species here is the common opossum
{Didelphys Virginiana). Opossums are small animals, about
twenty inches long to the tail,whicli is from twelve to fifteen
inches in length, nearly bare, and prehensile. Its hair is
whitish with dark-brown tips. When captured and wounded,
it feigns itself dead. It is a marsupial, or pouched animal,
and carries its young, which at birth weigh only a few
grains, in a ventral pouch situated near its hind-legs. On
emerging from this pouch, which occurs four or five weeks
from birth, the young twine their tails around that of their
mother, and thus supported ride on her back. The opossum
lives on birds, eggs, insects and other small animals. This
animal, like the raccoon, is found in all parts of the United
States and throughout most of North America.

E0DENTI.4, OR GNAWER.'*.

The animals of this order are easily distinguished by their
teeth. In the front part of each jaw they have two chisel-
shaped incisors, between which and the molars is a consider-
able space without teeth, these animals having no canines.
The largest representative of the rodents ever known in this
country is the American beaver (C'osto?' canadensis). The

HISTORY OF RAXDOLPH, MOXHOE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

rats and mice Qlurida) constitute the most numerous family
of the rodents. They number, in all, about three hundred
species in the world.

Their appearance and habits are too well known to require
description here. The black rat {Mus rrittu-^) was formerly
very common, but of late years it has been almost extirpated
by the brown, or Norway rat {Mus deeumaiuts), which is
much larger and stronger.

Of the mice we note, as found here, the common house-
mouse I Mii,i miL-'culm), the field-mouse, the meadow-mouse,
the jumping-mouse (Janihis liudsonius of the family Jacu-
lidce), — which has a body about three inches long and a tail
six inches, — and the tree-mouse. The musk-rat ( Ondatra
zibethitiis), allied to the beaver, has but one species. This
animal is about the size of a cat, and has a strong, musky
smell. It is amphibious, building its mud houses in ponds
and shallow lakes. It is a native of North America, and is
still quite common. Its fur, like that of the beaver, is valu-
able. The fur of the latter i.s used for making the finest
hats.

The squirrel family (Sciui-ida) is represented here by the
red (fox) squirrel (Schirus hitdm>iiti-<}, the gray squirrel
{Sciurua Cni-olliiciifi.''}, the flying-squirrel {Pt/romy.i vfilu-
cellri), the ground-stjuirrel {Tamla-f !'lri(diis), the gopher
(Spermnphihis), the prairie squirrel and the woodchuck or
ground-hog ( ArHoiin/n monax), all of which are so common
that they need not be described.

Of the hare family ( Lrporidtr i, the common gray rabbit
{Lep-^ns cuniculus) is the only representative now inhabiting
this region. It is very prolific, and is destined to propagate
its species long after some of the animals mentioned shall
have become extinct.

Bats and moles — the former belonging to the order of
animals (r/ii'/-()^//^-i/ 1, the latter tu {he order i,Iiiiiictirori) —
are still very numerous. Both are carnivorous (iiiisccticn-
roK.v), and during hibernation are semi-torpid.

CLASS OF AVES, OR CIHDS.

In the following list of birds indigenous to these countries
the old system of groups, or orders, is used rather than the
new classification of birds adopted provisionally by the
Smithsonian Institute at Washington. The former, as it
contains fewer and less difficult technical terms, will, it is
believed, be more readily understood by the general reader.
The chief characteristics of all the birds belonging to each
order are given first, and appended thereto are the names of
such birds of the order as are indigenous to this region.

R,\PTORES, OR BIRDS OF PREY.

These are generally of large size and stout form; bills
hooked and very strong; claws sharp and curved; wings
extensive and muscles powerful ; females larger than males ;
li%'e in pairs and choose their mates for life (?). Under this
order and belonging to the hawk family (Falconidce), are
the sparrow-hawk {Tinuuneulus alamlarius); swallow-tailed
hawk {Nnur/cru-t furcatiu); hen-harrier (Circus cyaiteui);
go8-hawk {Falro palamhariu^) ; sharp skinned hawk, red-
tailed hawk {Buieo borealis); red-shouldered hawk, pigeon-
hawk {Falco columbarum) ; white-headed ("bald") eagle

(_Haliehis leucocephalui) ; ring-tailed, or golden eagle (Aquila
chryceeios).

To the owl family (Strigidoc) belong the great horned-owl
(Bubo Virffininnus); snowy owl (Strtx nisa); barred owl
(Syniium nebidomm, or "hoot owl"); American barn or
screech-owl (Stn'x flumiiKe); spotted owl, marsh owl, Kenni-
cott's (?) owl.

Of the Vulture family (^Vtdturidw), the only representa-
tive is the turkey-buzzard (Cathartes aura).

BASORES, OR .SCRATCHING BIRDS.

Binls of this order are characterized by their stout bodies,
strong legs and feet, and their general adaptation to living
on the ground. It includes the wild-turkey (Mclengris
gallopavo), prairie hen ( Tetrao citpldo), ruffled grouse, or
" partridge" (Buiiasa umbd/u-i), quail (Ortyx Virylnianus),
turtle-dove (Turlur aurilus), wild or passenger pigeon (Edo-
pides mit/raloria).

ORAI.I.ATORS, OR \VAlJr.V(i BIRDS.

They have long necks, long billi, very long and slender
legs, and slender bodies. Their general form is well adai)ted
to wading. This order includes the plover { Cliaradrlu><'^,
common snipe {Sruhpax (/allina'ju), American woodcock
(Philohela minor), Wilson's snipe (Gallinaf/o Wihoiiii),
mud-hen (Fulira Atncrii'dna), kill-dee (Aer/laliirs voriferiis),
red-breasted snipe (Gambeita mdanoleuca), tell-tale snipe
(Gamhdta fliivipes), water-rail (Rallus aqiiaticus), aand-hill
crane t Grus Caitad/n.ti.f), blue crane ( Gru.i Aiueriraiiun),
yellow-legged and upland plover, white crane (Grus albug),
and heron (Ardea cinerca).

NATATORES, OR SWIMMINll BIRDS.

They are broad and flat; feathers compact and well oiled ;
legs wide apart, femur short, and feet webbed. Under this
order are found the common viWdgooie i Anser Ameriraini-<),
summer or wood duck (Aix sponsa), Canada goose (Bermi-
cala Canadeims), American swan (Cyynus Ainericanus),
brand goose, or "brant" (An.ser Bernida), butter-ball (Bn-
cephala albeoki), mallard (Anas Bosdia.^), blue-winged teal
(Boschas crerca), American widgeon (Mareca Amerirana),
red-head duck (Aylhaya Americ(tna), canvass-back duck it)
(Aythaya vallisneria), green-winged teal (Nellion Carolinen-
sii), pin-tail duck (Dafiln anifa), trumpeter swan ( Cyr/nim
buccinator).

lNSEssor.i-:s, or rERciiiNt; birds.

The perchers dift'er greatly among themselves; all have
three front-toes and a single hind one; feet well adapted to
perching. To this order belong the majoritv of birds, of
which we note, as belonging here, the wood-thruth ( Timlus
mudelinus), mocking-bird iMitims po/yghttu-s), blue-bird
(Slnlis Wilsonii), cat-bird (Mimiis Carolinem^i'i, robin
(Turdiis migralorlus), brown thrush, or "thrasher" (Turdu.-<
rufas), titmouse, or chickadee (Pnrui alrlrapit/u«) brown
creeper (Certhia familiaris. nuthatch iSiltn Caroliiicnii.'<),
winter wren (Troglodytes Ityemalis), cedar bird (Aiiipjdi^
cedrorum), rose-breasted gosbeak (Guiraca /udnviclwia),
chewink (Pipilo erytliroplifhalmw<), meadow-lark (Sturnd/a
magna), blue jay (cyanura rridata), wren (Troglodytes do-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

me«<fca), warblers barn-swallow {HiruwJo hordeorum), bank-
swallow (Cotyle riparla), blue martin {Progne purpurea),
cardinal red bird {Cardinolls Virginianua) , field sparrow
{Spizella pusUla), indigo bird (Cyanospiza cyanea), great
northern shrike, or butcher bird, (Collurio borealis), yellow,
or thistle bird (Sylvitica ccstiva), swamp, or red-winged black-
bird {Sturntis predatorius), cow blackbird ("cow- bird")
common blackbird {Merula miisiea), king bird, or bee martin
{Tyrannw CarolinensU), rnven (Corviis corax^, common crow
{Corvua Americanus), summer red-bird {Pyravga cestiva),
scarlet tauager, Baltimore oriole {Icterus Baltimore), peewee,
or Ph(jebe bird iSatjorius fuscus), kingfisher {Ceryle alcyon),
ruby-throated humming-bird {TrocUlus colubris), yellow-
billed cuckoo {C'ucu/iis caiwrus), ruby-crowned kinglet,
golden crowned kinglet, whippoorwill, (Antrostomus vorif-
erus), g-ass sparrow, or black-throated bunting, lark, spar-
row, finch, snowbird (Juiwo hyemalls), chipping sparrow
(Spizella socialis), night hawk ( Chordeiles popetue).

SCANS0RE9, OR CLIMBING BIRDS.

Birds of this order have their toes in pairs, two in front
and two behind. Under this order and indigenous to this
county are the swift, or chimney-swallow {Cypseliis pe.las-
rjius), red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalm),
golden-winged woodpecker ( Calaptes awatus), Carolina par-
oquet {Coiiunis Ciirolinensli), sap-sucker {Picus pubescens).

(class) reptilia, or reptiles.

Under this class we find represented here the order Tes-
tndinata, or turtles, and including such individuals as the
box-turtle (Cistudo virginea), suapping-turtle ( Chelyara
serpeidina), wood tortoise {Glyptemy.f iiisctdpta), and soft
shelled turtles, including niud-turtles. Of the order La-
certia (lizards), the common striped lizard {Ameira sexli-
neata) is the only representative we have found here. Un-
der the order (Ophidia), or serpents, we note the common
black-snake {Baseanion constrictor), water-snake {Serpens
aquaticus), rattle-snake {Crotalus horridus), moccasin {Toxi-
cajjhis atrapiscus), copperhead {Trigonocephalus eontoririx),
garter-snake {Eutania sirtalk), house-snake, joint-snake,
blue racer, and green snake. Of these the rattlesnake, cop-
per-head and moccasin are very poisonous, and therefore
most to be dreaded. The blowing, or hissing adder, a veno-
mous serpent, is rarely seen here.

The class Batrachia, or frogs, has as representatives, the
leopard frog (Rana halecina), bull-frog {Raim pipiens)^
wood-frog, tree-frog (" tree toad,") (Rana %/'<), marsh-frog
{Rana palmtris), common toad (Bufo vulgaris), tadpole,
salamander (Amblystoma punctatum), tritou, or water-newt
{Diemiciylus viridescens), and mud puppy {Menobranchus
lateralis).

The class o{ Pisces, or fishe-s, is represented, in the streams
of these counties, by the white, the black and the striped
bass, cat fish, pike, sturgeon, gar, goggle-eyed perch, sun-fish,
chub, white perch ("croppie"?), white and black suckers,
buffalo and a few others of minor importance.

CHAPTER Vri.

PIONEER SETTLEMENTS,

. RANDOLPH COUNTY.

I HE history of no part of the West ex-
' ceeds in interest that of the early settle-
ments in Randolph county. Civiliza-
tion in the Mississippi valley here first
found a permanent foothold. At a
time when the feeble settlements of
New England, fearful of the midnight
war-whoop of the savage, clung to the
valleys of the Connecticut and the Merriraac ; when a few
Dutch burghers at the mouth of the Hudson represented the
wealth and population of the state of New York, when
Penn's colony on the banks of the Delaware was but an ex-
periment ; at a time when no Virginian had yet threaded the
passes of the Blue Ridge, and all beyond was an undiscov-
ered country, unpenetrated by a single English pioneer, a
few Jesuit priests and French traders in fur, a thousand
miles within the interior of the continent, a trackless wilder-
"hess stretching north, south, east and wttt, founded the old
town of Kaskaskia. Other French settlements sprang up
between Detroit and New Orleans ; and France, to cement
her growing power in the New World, within twenty miles
of Kaskaskia and still on the soil of Randolph county, began
the construction of a fort which at ote time was considered
the strongest on the continent.

From this citadel Illinois was ruled. Soldiers marched
from it to fight the English in Pennsylvania and in Canada.
Its gates, which might have withstood long continued assaults,
were opened peacefully by the stroke of a pen in the Old
World, one day in the ytar 1763, and the French flag was
lowered before the standard of Great Britain. But a few
years passed before another invading army trod the soil of
the county. This time a band of Virginia riflemen suddenly
appeared at Kaskaskia, and wrested Fort Gage from the
Briti-sh commandant. On the capture of this post was
based the claim of the colonies to the Mississippi as their
western boundary. After the Revolution, a flood of immi-
grants poured in from the country east of the Alleghenies.
Kaskaskia became the capital of the territory, and then
of the state. The most distinguished men of the West here
began their public career. Her merchants controlled trade
far and near, and sold goods to the shop keepers of St. Louis.
The town, now in a state of ruin and decay, is the oldest
settlement in the Mississippi valley.

THE FRENCH SETTLEMENTS.

The date of the founding of Kaskaskia was probably the
year 1700. For a few years it was little more than a
mission station. The Indian trade gradually attracted set-
tlers from Canada and France, and the village began to
wear the appearance of business as well as of religion. A
grant of land for Commons was made on the fourteenth of
August, 1743, by M. Vandrieul, governor, and M. Salmon,
commissary ordonnateur of the province of Louisiana.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNIIES, ILLINOIS.

Grants in the Common Field were made to the inhabitants
in severalty. Among the French names which appear on
the records as belonging to the owners of land in the village
and Common Field of Kaskaskia in the last century, are
those of Archambeau, Aubuchon, Allary, Autire, Bienve-
nue, Blouin, Beauvais, Buchet, Bougie, Buquett, Buyatt,
Brazeau, Barrutelle, Beauvet, Chaniberlaud, Charleville,
Cottineau, Chinie, Curvois, Cerre, Danie, Doza, Delisle,
Derousse, Duprain, Dubord, Duplace, Devigne, Dugay,
Danis, Degagne, Faggot, Godebert, Gendron, Gomes, Gau-
delert, Janis, Joyouse, Lamall, Leplant, Laderoute, La-
source, Lafatigue, Lafout, Lavassieur, Lachapelle, Lachance,
Lasond, Louval, Lachange, Langlois, Menard, Morin, Moreau,
Mieure, Montrieul, Philip, Peltier, Page, Picard, Provost,
Prieur, Place, Rochblave, Ravel, Racine, Richard, Seguin,
St. Pierre, Tiirpiu, Turojurt, Torrengeau, and Valle.

Kaskaskia is said to have become an incorporated town
in 1725. By that time a considerable immigration had set
in from France. Fifteen or twenty years later considerable
attention was j)aid to agriculture and commerce, and cargoes
of pork, flour, bacon, tallow, hides, and leather were floated
down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and thence to France.
On the cession of Illinois to England many of the French
families removed to the west bank of the Mississippi, some
to St. Louis, and some to Ste. Genevieve, thinking that
they there could still find a home under the French govern-
ment. In 1766, the year after this exodus, Kaskaskia is
described as containing sixt3--five families, " besides mer-
chants, other casual people, and slaves." The richest in-
habitant at that time, Jean Baptiste St Gerome Beauvais,
kept eighty slaves, and furnished " to the king's magazine"
eighty-six thousand pounds of flour,, which was only part of
his harvest for one year.

The year 1722 is given as the date of the fuuiuling of
Prairie du Rocher. The grant of Commons was made on
the seventh of May, 1743, the same year as that of Kaskas-
kia. The village never grew to any great size, and no event
of importance seems to have marked its history. A mill
was built by the Jesuits. In 1766 it was a settlement of
twenty-two families, and the inhabitants were said to be
very industrious, laising a great deal of corn and every kind
of stock. Like Kaskaskia, it suffered by the removal of
some of the Fi-enL-h families to the west of the Mi.'jsissippi
on the British occupation of the country.

The village of Fort Chartres had an existence correspond-
ing with the occupation of the fort of that name by the
French garrison. It sprang up, outside the gates, on the
building of the fort, and when the garrison marched to St.
Louis, and the British took possession, the French families
abandoned their houses, and transported themselves to (as
they supposed) the French side of the river. The church
here was the mother of the churches at Prairie du Rocher
and St. Phillips, the latter on their establishment being mere-
ly chapels conne'bted with the church of St. Anne at Fort
Chartres.

The French settlers were gregarious in their habits, fond
of social intercourse and dwelling together, and averse to
pushing their improvements to any considerable distance

from the outskirts of their villages. The "improvement
rights," granted under the law of 1791, show the limits
within which tract-s of land were placed under cultivation
On the west side of the Kaskaskia river, six or eight miles
above the village of Ka^ikaskia, improvements were made
and crops raised, at an early day, by .Jean Baptiste Gendron
(claim 1007), Antoine Beauvais (claim 283), Louis Long-
valle (claim 2007), and Antoine Buyatt (claim 2'Jo).
Claim 999, farther up the Kaskaskia, containing three
thousand eight hundred and eighty arpents, was granted
to Nicholas Cailotte Lachance, and his rival sons, Nicholas,
Baptiste, Antoine, Gabriel, Fran(;ois, Joseph, Miclwul,
Charles, and Benjamin, on account of improvements which
they had here made. This seems to have been the farthest
up the Kaskaskia river that the old French settlers ven-
tured. Where Diamond Cross now is, 'on the hills, about
three miles east of Kaskaskia river, on Gravel run," as it is
described, the four hundred acres contained in claim 241
were granted to Jean Baptiste Beauvais, covering land
which he there had in cultivation. Claim 292, a couple of
miles from Chester on the hill road to Kaskaskia, com-
prised the improvement right of Antoine Bienvenue. On
Mary's river, at the mouth of Gravd creek, where claim
291 has been surveyed, Joseph Colchout settled and made
some attempt toward bringing a farm under cultivation.

The statement has been made that Kaskaskia, in the year
1763, contained two or three thousand inhabitants. If this
b3 true, its subsequent decline must have been very rapid.
The French settlements in Illinois doubtless reached the
period of their greatest prosperity about 1763. The news
of the cession of the ountry to England drove the wealthy
and influential families across the Mississippi, and the
French colonies on the west of the river were thenceforth
larger and more prosper ^us than those in Illinois. In the
year 1800 there were seven hundred French within the
present boundaries of Randolph county. Of these the
village of Kaskaskia had five hundred and Prairie du
Rocher two hundred. In all the rest of Illinois there were
about six hundred French inhabitants, of whom the greater
number, four hundred, lived at Cahokia. There were besides
a number of French slaves in Prairie du Rocher, the de-
scendants of the five hundred brought from the island of San
D.jmingo by Philip Francois Renault in 1719.

CHARACTER OF THE EARLY FRENCH SETTLERS.

The early French settlers were ambitious for neither
wealth nor knowledge They were content to take the world
as it came, and endeavored to extract all the enjoyment
possible out of life, and to avoid its cares. All were devout
Catholics and punctual in the discharge of their religious
duties. They were eminently a social people. Instead of
settling on separate farms, like the American pioneers, they
clustered together in villages, so that they might have the
greatest opportunity for social intercourse. Their physical
wants were easily supi)lied, and the great part of their lives
they gave to pleasure. The young people delighted in the
dance, and this cheerful and innocent diversion was actually
carried on under the eye of the priest and the aged

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

patriarchs of the village, who freely sympathized with the
spirit of the gay assemblage. The excitement and anima-
tion of a French ball room were surprising. Old and
young, rich and poor, met together in good feeling and with
hearts overflowing with merriment. It was the usual cus-
tom to dance the old year out and the new year in. The
numerous festivals of the Catholic church strongly tended
to awaken and develop the social and friendly intercourse
of the people. On the morning of the Sabbath they were
always found at church, but the rest of the day was devoted
to social intercourse and diverting pastimes. Husbands and
wives were kind and affectionate, and the children obedient.
Hospitaliiy and generosity were common virtues.

Their costume was peculiar. Blue was their favorite
color, and handkerchiefs of that hue usually adorned the
heads of both men and women. No genuine Frenchman in
early times ever wore a hat, cap, or coat. The capot, made
of white blanket, was the universal dress for the laboring
class of people. In summer the men wore a coarse blue
stuff, and in the winter, cloth or buckskin. The women
wore deer-skin moccasins, and the men a coarser and
stronger article, made of thicker leather. With that natural
aptitude for dress, which seems to belong peculiarly to their
nation, the women caught up the fa.?hions of New Orleans
and Paris with great avidity, and adopted them, as far as
they were able. Notwithstanding their long separation by
an immense wilderness from civilized society, they still re-
tained all the suavity and politeness of their race. It is
said that the roughest hunter, or boatman, among them
could at any time appear in a ball-room, or other polite, or
gay assembly, with the courage and behaviour of a well-bred
gentleman. The women were remarkable for the spright-
liness of their conversation, and the ease and elegance of
their manners.

They seldom violated the penal law. Reynolds remarks
that very few, or none, of the Creoles were ever indicted for
the crimes the law books style malum in se, and that the
records of the courts in Illinois do not exhibit an indictment
against a Creole Frenchman for any crime higher than keep-
ing his grocery open on a prohibited day of the week. Edu-
cation, however, was neglected. The priests and old ladies
taught the children, but there was no regular system of
schools. While not superstitious, the ancient French in
Illinois believed that some of the negroes of the West India
islands possessed supernatural power to do any one harm,
and that they could also look into futurity. In Cahokia,
about the year 1790, this superstition got the upper hand of
reason, and several poor African slaves suffered for this
offence. One, called Moreau, was hung on a tree not far
from the village, and another, named Emanuel, was shot.

They were on friendly terms with the Indians. The ease
with which the French could adapt themselves to circum-
stances, made them at home by the camp fires of the savage.
When with the Indians they adopted their modes of life,
dressed like them, and frequently took as wives the dusky
squaws. In the wars between hostile tribes the French suf-
fered as did their Indian allies. In the parish register of
Kaskaskia are recorded solema services for the dead — " Slain

upon the Mississippi by the Chickasaws ; " "Killed by the
savages on the Wabash ; " and for others who fell victims
to Indian atrocities within a few miles of the village.

The horses and cattle of the French, for want of proper
care and food fur many generations, had degenerated in size,
but had acquired additional vigor and toughness, so that a
French pony was a proverb for endurance. These ponies
were sometimes attached to the cart or plow singly, and
sometimes two were hitched together, one before the other.
The carts were made entirely of wood, and held about double
the contents of a common large wheelbarrow. Oxen were
yoked by the horns instead of the neck, anil in this way were
made to draw the plow and cart. No reins were used in
driving. The driver's whip, which had a handle about two
feet long, and a lash two yards in length, controlled the horse
eflectually.

AMERICAN IMMIGR.\TION.

The favorable report of the Illinois country, carried back
by the soldiers of Col. Clark, occasioned the first American
immigration in 1780. Descending the Ohio, and stemming
the ctlrrent of the Mississippi, a colony of pioneer settlers
reached Kaskaskia, among the members of which were John
Montgomery, John Doyle, David Pagon, Joseph Anderson,
John Dodge, Minard Asturgus, James Curry, and Levi Teel.
The most of these had been soldiers under Black Shortly
after their arrival, they made settlements east of the Kas-
kaskia river.

John Blontgomery improved a tract of land four or five
miles northeast of Kaskaskia. The old Vincennes road
afterward ran past his place. Montgomery built a small
water-mill here, which was in use for some years. The
place in which he settled is included in claim 1993, contain-
ing four hundred acres, granted to him on account of his
improvement. This place was one of the best known in the
early history of the county, and after Montgomery, Stacy
McDonough resided here for lialf a century.

John Doyle was one of Clark's soldiers. He resided in
and near Kaskaskia. He was a man of some education,
and taught one of the earliest English. schools in the country.
He was acquainted with both the French and English lan-
guages, and was often employed as an interpreter. He was
unambitious, made no endeavor to obtain either wealth or
position, but was respected as an honest man.

David Pagon, had served in Clark's expedition to Illinois,
as had also James Curry and Levi Teel. Claim 2008, on
Nine Mile creek, two miles north of Ellis Grove and five
miles from Kaskaskia, includes the place on which Pagon
settled. Teel improved a farm east of the Kaskaskia river,
a little more than a mile above the mouth of Nine Mile
creek. Pagon built a house in a strong and substantial manner
so as to withstand an Indian attack. While the house was
yet unoccupied, Teel and Curry, having been hunting in the
neighborhood, took possession of it to spend the night there.
The door had three bars across it, and a hole cut in at the
bottom for the cat to go in and out. Toward evening the
house was besieged by sixteen Piankashaw Indians Curry
first discovered their presence, and told Teel to get ready
his gun for defence. Teel was inclined to open the door and

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

surrender, but Curry would not listen to this proposal. As
Teel stood bj' the door, with his foot near the cat hole, an
Indian from the outside thrust a spear through his fo >t, and
fastened him to the floor. He instinctively seized the spear
to pull it out, when the Indians pierced his hand with other
spears, thus nailing him to the floor, and reuderiiig him use-
less. Curry was a man of extraordinary bravery, and cool
and prepared in any emergency. Fearful that Teel would
open the door and let in the enem}-, he sprang up into the
loft, and through a small hole in the roof thrust out his gun
and fired at the Indians. Three shots, fired in rapid succes-
sion, killed as many warriors. Descending to the lower
floor he found Teel transfixed by his hands and feet in the
manner described. Going back again to the loft, he tum-
bled the whole roof, weight poles and all, down on the In-
dians, who had huddled clo^e to the side of the house to
avoid his shots. The roofs in those days were put en with-
out nails, but had weight poles to hold them fast. Sometimes
large round timbers were laid on the tups of the houses on
purpose to roll off' on assailants below. The roof falling,
killed the chief, and disabled some others of the Indians,
and as day was breaking, the rest of the band ran off, leav-
ing Curry the victor He took both guns, and walked along
by the side of Teel, who was almost exhausted by loss of
blood, toward Kaskaskia. Teel gave out before reaching
the village, when Curry hastened on for help, and at last
succeeded in getting him to the town where he recovered
from his wounds.

Curry was a large, strong and active man, fearless of
danger, at the same time bold and discreet, and while serv-
ing under Clark was cliosen among the first to accomplish
any especially desperate and hazardous service. While out
hunting with Joseph Anderson, it is supposed that he was
killed by the Indians. He left their camp one morning,
and did not return, nor was ever heard of afterward Jo-
seph Anderson settled on Nine Mile creek, and lived tbere
till his death. His improvement right of four hundred
acres, (claim 308) lies on both sides of the creek, just above
Little Nine Mile, and connects with that of Pag.in.

John Dodge and Jlinard Asturgus improved land on the
hills opposite Kaskaskia The donations of land which
they received, four hundred acres each, claims 996 and
1001, extend within a mile of the village, and within half a
mile of Fort Gage. Djdge had been one of Clark's soldiers.

Settlements were also made in the year 1780 by John
Hilterbrand, Henry and Elijah Smith, David Hix, and
Haydon Wells, on the east side of the Ka.skaskia river, above
the mouth of Nine Mile creek. Some of these had served
with Clark. Elijah Smith settled on the Kaskaskia, where
Cox's ferry now is Claim 1044, c ivering the customary
four hundred acres of land, was given to his heirs in right
of his having made this improvement This is the farthest
grant of land that was mr.ie up the Kaskaskia, and for a
long while Smith's little farm was the limit of the settlement.
Hix's improvement was on claim 1992, immediately south
of Smith. Thomas Hughs came from the western part of
Pennsylvania in the year 1783. During that year he built
a cabin, and placed some land under cultivation, on Nine

Mile creek. Claim 319, comprising four hundred acres of

land, granted to his heirs, covers this improvement. The
next year he went back to Pennsylvania for his family.
Coming down the Ohio river near Fort M issacre, the boat
was attacked by the Indians, and Hughs and an iufant child
in the arms of its mother were killed. The child was shot
through the head, and its brains were spattered over the
mother's breast. The mother was wounded severely in the
shoulder. Some friends were accompanying the family to
Illinois, and of these two were killed. The rest of the party
escaped and returned without attempting to continue their
journey.

Indian hostilities broke up the settlements east of Kaskas-
kia, and interfered with the immigration to Illinois. The
American pioneers found refuge in Kaskaskia. Israel
Dodge, Ichabod and George Camp, John C )ok, Jacob Judy,
William Musick, James Piggott, and Robert Seybold had
all become residents of the village before 1783. Israel Dodge
was the father of Henry Dodge, afterward United States
Senator from Wisconsin. In 1790 ho removed across the
river to Upper Louisiana. James Piggott settled at Pig-
gott's fort in the present county of Monroe. He had served
in the war under Clark, as had also Seybold. Jacob Judy
built Judy's mill in Monroe county.

The Indiau troubles lasted till about the year 179.5. Ic
1796 and 1797 several families re- established themselves
east of Kaskaskia river, and remained there permanently .
Ichabod and George Camp made improvements west of the
Kaskaskia river, and Camp creek bears their name. They
afterward removed to St. Louis, and lived at Camp Spring,
then west of the city, now include! within its limits. Mrs.
Hughs, whose husband, Thomas Hughs, was killed by the
Indians on the Ohio, as has been narrated, afterward
married James Pillars. In the year 1795 the family, con-
sisting of Mr. and Mrs. Pillars, two sons, John and Richard
Pillars, and James Hughs, the surviving son of Thomas
Hughs, came to Illinois. They settled on the farm east of
the Kaskaskia, long known as the "old Hughs place." Pil-
lars lived here several years, and was a quiet and industrious
citizen. James Hughs returned to Kentucky, there married ,
and came again to Illinois in the year 1800. He was a man
of great energy and sound judgment. He was in the United
States ranging service during the war of 1812-14. John
Reynolds, then a boy. afterward Governor of the State, re-
sided in the same neighborhood from 1800 to 1807. He
says: "Before any common school was established in the
neighborhood where my father resided, I mounted a horse
nearly every evening during a winter, and rode about a mile
and a half to the residence of James Hughs, to study under
his guidance the arithmetic. Mr. Hughs, although he was
raised in the backwoods, and was filled with fun and frolic,
was a man of strong mind and benevolent heart. He took
great pleasure in teaching me the arithmetic, and during
this winter I studied the most important principles contained
in the treatise."

Stace McDonough, in the year 1797, settled on the old
place which John Montgomery first improved, in claim
1993, a couple of miles northeast of Ellis's Grove. He had

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

experienced many adventures in his campaigns against the
Indians, and became a leader in the frontier community.
He was born, of Scotch ancestry, in New Jersey, in the year
1770. His parents dying when he was an infant, he was
bound out, but he and his master not getting along well
together, he ran away, and coming West, found his way to
Kentucky. He took part with the Kentucky troops in their
expeditions against the Indians north of the Ohio, and in
Col. Clark's campaign in the year 1786, though then only
sixteen years of age, distinguished himself by his brilliant
services He was strong, athletic, and courageous, and a
faithful and ardent soldier. He was an excellent marksman,
and frequently acted as a spy. He entered into the service
of the United States government in 1790, and in Gen. Har-
mer's campaign of that year was given the command of a
train of pack horses. The next year he served under Gen-
eral St. Clair, and was placed in charge of the convoys of
provisions for the army. He was in the disastrous defeat of
St. Clair on the fourth of November, 1791, escaping on foot
from the field of battle, and saving the life of an officer whom
he found wounded and exhausted on the ground, and whom
he assisted into camp. He commanded one of the govern-
ment boats on the Ohio in 1793. He was an excellent pilot,
and thoroughly understood the navigation of the river.
Near the mouth of the Kentucky river, an Indian standing
on the shore shot him in the shoulder. A white man with
the Indians, called out in English, "to throw that man over-
board, he will die in a short time." He never recovered
fully from the wound, but was well enough to take part in
Wayne's campaign against the Indians a year or two later.
He left the service at the close of the war in 179.5, and
married in Louisville, Kentucky. After coming to Illinois
he improved a fine farm. He was extremely fond of the
rifle, and spent a good deal of his time in hunting. In the
war of 1812-14 he was captain of a ranging company, and
did good service in protecting the frontiers from Indian
depredations. ' He was also, during this war, contractor for
carrying the mails from St. Louis to Shawneetown. This
mail route was then very important, on account of its being
the only one by which correspondence was kept up between
Illinois and Washington. The country between the Kaskas-
kia and the Ohio rivers was a wilderness, and the Indians
hostile, but he carried the mails with punctuality. Like
many of the early pioneers he had strong natural abilities,
but no education. He was honorable and upright in his re-
lations with his neighbors. He died on the farm on which
he settled on coming to the county, after having lived on it
nearly fifty years.

Toward the close of the Indian wars the fettleraents in
Illinois began to extend. The New Design settlement, in
the present county of Monroe, was at that period by far the
largest American colony in Illinois, and soon after 1795, it
began to extend southward into Randolph county. In the
year last mentioned the town of Washington was laid off on
the west bank of the Kaskaskia river, not far south of the
northern boundary of the county. Its site was the high
bluff of the river, overlooking to the west the Horse prairie.
Johnson J. Whiteside was one of its projectors. The

Whitesides had emigrated from Kentucky to the New
Design settlement in 1793. Washington came to be known
as Horse Prairie town. Its inhabitants cultivated large
fields of grain, and raised stock. Among the residents,
of this place were William Going and his son, who
bore the same name. They had come from Kentucky
in 1794, and erected a station a short distance south-
west of the present town of Waterloo. Both were
blacksmiths. The old gentleman was a quiet and orderly
citizen, except when excited with taffia. At courts and other
gatherings he had bells to sell, and often put a cord through
the staples of a dozen bells of all sizes and then tied them
around his waist. His head was adorned with a fox-skin
cap, the tail suspended behind, and his other dress was of the
same backwoods character. Thus equipped, he danced in the
crowd, making of course, a terrific noise. He was not a
large man, but strong and active. He compelled Judge
Simms, one of the United States judges for the North-
western territory, while he was holding court at Cahokia, to
undergo this bell-dance at which his honor grew very im-
patient. He was noted for performing other wild freaks.
He died at the Horse Prairie town, and was buried in the
old graveyard north of the town.

William Going, the son, was a man of different qualities-
He had received but a limited education and could hardly
read and write, but possessed strong natural abilities which,
had he made use of them, might have fitted him for almost
any position. He was brave and courageous, and impressed
his associates as a man of decision and firmness. His im-
pulses were naturally on the side of honesty and integrity,
but bad associations, and evil habits, gradually grew on him,
and often the public was forced to think strange of his con-
duct. At horse races, shooting matches, and at the card
table, bis was the governing spirit. Besides being a black-
smith, he was a good gunsmith. He had no taste for steady
and hard labor. He worked in his shop when it pleased
him, and with the object of only earning enough to support
himself and family. For wealth he cared nothing. He had
steady nerves and excellent eyesight, and none excelled him
in repairing, or shooting, a gun. Reynolds relates that he
at one time, at ninety yards, with a rest, put four rifie balls
into the same hole, near the centre of the target. The fifth
ball also touched the hole. From the Horse Prairie town
he moved to a place on the Kaskaskia river, in St. Clair
county, below the present town of Fayette, and from there
to Arkansas, where he died in 1830.

John Pulliam, from 1799 to 1802, was a resident of the
Horse Prairie town. He was born in Botetourt county,
Virginia ; after the Revolutionary war he removed to Ken-
tucky, and in 1796 came to the New Design settlement.
In 1797 he removed to the neighborhood of Florissant, west
of St. Louis, and returned to Illinois two years later to settle
in Horse Prairie town, near which he cultivated a farm. In
1802 he began improving a farm on Prairie du Long creek,
near the mouth of Richland creek, in what is now Monroe
county. He died on the Kaskaskia river, near the present
town of Fayette, in 1813. He was a man of sound mind,
and considerable energy and activity. From him sprang

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

oue of the most numerous piimeer faniiliea in Illinois.
Johu Grosvenor, a stuue masou and farmer, and a native of
Connecticut, lived iu the Hjr^e Prairie town for some
years after 1793. He had a large farm adjoining the town
which he cultivated with more industry than wa^ usually
displayed in those days, raising considerable amouuts of
produce As the country in the Horse Prairie improved, the
village declined, and soon became extinct.

Among the pioneer settlers on I£orse creek was Henry
Levens. He emigrated from the western part of Pennsyl-
vania. He was a large, stout mau, a stranger to fear, and
well calculated to brave the dangers and difficultiesof a new
settlement. He was without much education, but possessed
decisive and energetic qualities of mind which made him a
conspicuous personage among the early pioneers. He came
to Illinois iu 1797. Coming down the Ohio river, he landed
at Fort Massacre with two wagons and teams, one of which
was an ox team. In one of the wagons he placed a large
skiff to be used as a wagon body on land and a ferry boat
in crossing the large creeks encount-red on the journey.
The party was twenty five days in coming from the Ohio to
Kaskaskia. He settled on Horse creek, about two miles
above its mouth, and three miles north of the present town
of Evansville. He here obtained a donation of four hun-
dred acres of land (claim 2607) by reason of his improve-
ment. In the year 1800 he built a saw and grist mill
on Horse creek, near his residence, which he carried on with
much energy and industry, and with great advantage to the
other settlers. At the time this was built it was the only
saw mill in the country. The lumber for nearly all the flat
boats built in early times in Illinois, was .sawed at this mill.
Levens was a man of great hospitality, and his house was
the usual place at which dancing and convivial parties as-
sembled. He raised a large family, and both his sons and
daughters were inclined to gayety and sociability, and
indulged freely in the pleasures of the ball-room, and other
amusements of a similar character. The most of his sons^
and some of the daughters, played on the violin. The
family was the centre of attraction, and many happy days,
and particularly nights, of innocent amusement and recrea-
tion were enjoyed in pioneer times at Levens' hospitable
dwelling on Horse creek. The sons were active, resolute
men, excellent hunte^s and marksmen, and frequently
carried off the prizes at the shooting matches which formed
a common amusement for the neighborhood. They also
delighted in foot racing, wrestling, and jumping, and an
early chronicler remarks that they " were not bashful in a
fight, in which they indulged at times to the great discom-
fiture of their adversaries." The gun, race-horse, and violin
were articles of greatest admiration in the family. Although
fond of amusement, the Levens' family became more wealthy
than the most of their neighbors. Their stock was raised,
winter and summer, without much labor, and the mill and
farm yielded considerable income. The peltries, resulting
from the hunting expeditious of the sons, added something.
At one time the family consisted of four, or five grown
unmarried sons and two daughters. The progress of the
settlements at last crowded the old man too much, and in

1818 he sold out his possessions on Horse creek, and moved

to the frontiers of Missouri where he died at an advanced
age.

The Horse prairie, lying between the K;nkaskia river
and Horse creek, obtained its name, as did also the creek,
from the fact that herds of wild horses were f lund in the
prairie, aud along the creek, iu early times. These horses
had escaped from the French villages. In the upper end of
the prairie, at the close of the list century, a settlement,
composed of Samuel aud Winder Kinney, Chance Ratcliff,
Robert McMalian, Jarrot Brickey, the Gibbons, Teter, and
some other families, was formed in the upper end of the
prairie. In a few years the most of the families moved
away. McMahan was born in Virginia, removed to Ken-
tucky, and in 1793 came to the New Design settlement. In
1795, in the present Monroe county, three miles northeast
of New Design station, his wife and four children were
killed by the Indians. Oa coming to the Horse prairie, he
settled on Ralls' ridge where now runs the road from Red
Bud to the Kaskaskia. He was justice of the peace, and
oue of the judges of the old court of common pleas. He
removed to St. Clair county near Lsbanon, and then to the
neighborhood of Troy, in Madison county, where he died in
the year 1822. Jarrot Brickey was a native of Virginia^
and came to Illinois from Kentucky. He lived in the Horse
prairie for nearly half a century. He was iu the ranging
service during ths war of 1612-14, as was also his son,
Preston B. Brickey, whose farm was half a mile north of
the present town of Red Bud.

Kaskaskia by this time had become the residence of seve-
ral Americans. John E Igar, who came to the village iu
1784, had assumed a prominent position iu the community.
William Morrison reached the place in 1790, and began an
extensive mercantile business. The earliest practicing law-
yer in Illinois, John Rice Jones, had settled in the town the
last named year, and in 1798 Dr. George Fisher began the
practice of medicine.

THE AMERICAN POPULATION IN 1800.

According to the estimate of Reynolds, the American
population in Illinois in the year 1800 amounted to eight
hundred souls. The New Design and American Bottom
settlements, in the present county of Monroe, contained six
hundred inhabitants, and there were other scattering settle-
ments in that county. Only about one hundred Americans
lived in Randolph county. Of these, six or eight families
lived in Kaskaskia. The settlement east of the Kaskaskia
River contained seven families, and the Horse Prairie colony
was still less in number.

SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENTS.

On the openingof the present century the arrivals became
more numerous, and the number of American inhabitants of
the county rapidly increased. The immigrants were mostly
from the western and southern states, and the Ohio river was
the main channel by which the pioneers reached the country.
Fort Massacre was a usual point for leaving the Ohio and
beginning the journey overland. In very early times the
I French had opened a road from Fort Massacre to Kaskai>-

6**

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

kia, marking the miles on the trees. The figures were cut
in with an iron instrument and painted red. This road
made a great curve to the north to avoid the swamps and
rough country on the sources -of Cache river, and to
take advantage of the prairie as much as possible. A road
also ran from Fort Massacre to Cape Girardeau, then in the
Spanish country. There were two celebrated crossing places
on the Ohio, Lusk's Ferry and Miles' Ferry. The former
was opposite the present town of Golconda, and the latter
six or seven miles farther up the river. From Lusk's and
Miles' ferries a road had been established to Kaskatkia.
This road was first opened by Nathaniel Hull, one of the
pioneers of Monroe county. Roads were afterwards cut
leading from Shawneetown to Vincennes and Kaskaskia.

The scanty American population of the county received a
notable addition in 1800 in the family of Robert Reynolds.
His son, John Reynolds, then a boy of twelve, afterward
became governor of the state. Robert Reynolds was born
in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1785. In
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, John Reynolds was
born in 1788. The family in the fall of that year removed
to East Tennessee. In February, 1800, with eight horses
and two wagons, the family left Tennes-ee for the Spanish
country west of the Mississippi. Upper Louisiana, now
Missouri, was then popularly known as the Spanish country.
The Spanish authorities encouraged by liberal land grants
the immigration of Americans. Several members of the
Murphy family had gone from the Reynolds neighborhood
in East Tennessee, and had settled on the St. Francois river,
southwest of St. Geuevievs, and Robert Reynolds had de-
cided to settle there. The Ohio was crossed at Lusk's ferry,
and they first set foot on Illinois soil where now stands the
town of Golconda, in Pope county. The west side of the
Ohio was then called the Inilian country. Governor Rey-
nolds relates that he asked Mr. Lusk how far it was to the
ne.\t town, and that the proprietor of the ferry laughed and
said, "One hundred and ten miles to Kaskaskia, the first
settlement on the route." Big Muddy river was found to
be full and swimming, and after wailing on the banks two
weeks for the stream to fall, a raft was constructed, with
two days' labor, and the family and their efi'ects were ferried
over. Four creeks were rafted between the Ohio and Kas-
kaskia, and the journey required four weeks. Governor
Reynolds has recorded his impressions as he reached the
bluff's east of Kaskaskia, and surveyed the prospect. It was
spring, and the landscape was clothed in beauty. The
prairie between the Kaskaskia and Mississippi rivers was
covered with grazing horses and cattle. The Mississippi
itself could be seen through the forest of cottonwood trees
skirting its shores, and the ancient village of Kaskaskia
presented its singular and antique construction to his sight
The ancient cathedral stood a venerable edifice in the heart
of the village, with its lofty steeple and large bell — the first
church bell he had ever seen. Around the village were
numerous camps and lodges of the Kaskaskia Indians,
who still retained much of their original savage inde-
pendence.

Many of the young warriors decorated themselves with

paints, and tied feathers in their hair, and sometimes at-
tached to their heads the horns of animals.

After securing some provisions, and provender for the
horses from General Edgar's mill, near which they had en-
camped, preparations were made to cross the Mississippi,
when R )bert Morrison, John Rice Jones, Pierre Menard
and John Edgar came up, and proposed that, instead of
going to the Spanish country, the Jleynolds family should
remain for a time at Kaskaskia, and look around for a per-
manent residence in the vicinity. After spending some time
in the exploration of the eastern side of the Mississippi,
Robert Reynolds re-affirmed his decision to settle west of the
river, and applied to the Spanish commandant at St. Gene-
vieve for a permit, but found that a pledge was required
that he should raise his children in the faith of the Roman
Catholic church. To this he refused to agree, and he re-
mained in Illinois. The family lived in Kaskaskia some
months, raised a crop of corn in the common field, and then
settled east of Kaskaskia. Governor Reynolds says: "Our
residence was within about two miles and a half of Kaskas-
kia, and we made mathematically the seventh family of the
colony. We made our habitation east of the Kaskaskia
river, in the forest amongst the high grass, and the wolves
and wild animals were howling and prowling about us all
night. About the year 1805, a small school was formed in
the settlement where my father resided I was a scholar at this
humble institution during part of the winters and the wet
days we could not work on the farm, for one or two years,
while we remained in the settlement. There were some books
scattered about the country, but they were not plenty. Al-
though my father was a reading man, and possessed a s-trong
mind, yet, as far as I recollect, he brought to the country
with him no books i xcept the Bible. John Fulton, who
.settled in the vicinity, brought with him Rollin's Ancient
History. My father borrowed it, and I read it day and
night at the times I spared from labor." In 1803, Robert
Reynolds, with Pierre Menard and Robert Morrison, repre-
sented Randolph county in the Legislature of the Indiana
territory. In 1807, he moved to the Goshen settlement, four
miles southwest of Edwardsville.

In 1801 John Braird and family settled four miles north-
east of Kaskaskia He was born in Virginia and raised in
the country adjoining the New river. He emigrated from
Virginia to Tennessee in the year 1787, and there married a
relative of Robert Reynolds. He is described as a brave,
energetic, decisive man, and while living in Knox county,
Tennessee, was always elected captain of the companies
raised to pursue the Indians when any depredation was com-
mitted, which was not unfrequent. In April, 1793, he led
one hundred and twenty five men from Knoxville to Nash-
ville, and killed a few Creek Indians. The next mouth, in
command of fifty men, he pursued a band of Indians who
had killed two citizens near Clinch river. In defiance of
the orders of the United States government he crossed the
Tennessee into the Cherokee country, and there killed several
of the savages The government ordered him to be tried by
court martial, but the people of Tennessee sustained him in
his course. On the formation of the state government of

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Tennessee he was elected to the legislature from Knox
county. He died in Illinois in 1>*09. One of his sons,
Joseph A. Beaird, became a prominent citizen of Monroe
county, which he represented in the state senate for several
terms. Another, William A Beaird, was sheriff of St. Clair
county from 1818 to 1830.

Among the additions to the settlement cast of Kaska-skia
in 1801 WHS Jo^pph Heard, who first settled on Garrison
hill, and theu improved a farm on Gravel creek, two miles
and a half north of Chester, in later years the property '>f
Joseph B. Holmes. His son, Hugh Heard, settled two
miles north of his fatiier, in the neighborhood of Diamond
Cross, and the farm on which he lived was long known as
the " Old Heard farm." After living on this farm many
years Hugh Heard removed to Wisconsin. James Heard, a
brother to Hugh, located still farther north, and made a
farm on which he lived to old age. Joseph, William and
James, were sons of the latter. With Joseph Heard came
George Franklin who improved a farm in section twenty-
two, of township six, range seven, and afterward removed to
the neighborhood of the present town of Pinckneyville in
Perry county.

In the year 180i the arrivals became more frequent and
the settlements began to expand over wider territory. John
Fulton, the same who as Governor Reynolds relates, brought
with him to Illinois RoUin's Ancient History, came from
Tennessee, and settled east of Kaskaskia, in the vicinity of
Robert Reynolds. He made a valuable addition to the com-
munity, and was active and foremost in promoting the pub
lie welfare. His sons, Thomas, David and Cyrus, lived
afterward in the same neighborhood. The two former died
these, and the last removed to Marion county- William
Roberts came from Lexington, Kentucky, also in 18'i2, and
settled east of the Kaskaskia river, in the neighborhood of
Ellis Grove, where he improved a farm. He was a man of
enterprise and shrewdness, and traded down the river, be-
coming well known al'>ng the banks of the Mississippi between
Kaskaskia and New Orleans. He died in 1822. His son,
Thomas Roberts, was nearly of age at the time of the settle-
ment of the family in the county. He settled on a farm
near his father. For many years he acted as justice of the
peace. He was a member of the c<mnty commissioners'
court from 1828 to, 1834. His death occurred in 1858.
One of his nine sons, Daniel Preston Roberts, was the last
register of the land office at Kaskaskia, receiving his appoint
ment in ls53, and coutinuing in the office till its removal to
Springfield. John and Ephraim Bilderback came in 1802
Ephraim settled eaH of the Kaskaskia. He was a man of
great industry, aud paid close attention to his farm. His
sons were William, Stuart, James, Charles, Franklin, Henry,
Ephraim, Thomas and John. William removed to the ex-
treme southern part of the county, where he entered laud as
early as 1814. Charles also settled in that part of the
county. John Bilderback, the brother of Ephraim, was in
the ranging service during the war of 1812-14. He died
without children.

Robert Tindall, of the Chester district. South Carolina, in
1802 began improving a farm five miles northeast of Chester

in section ihirty-two, of township six, range six. This was
the first settlement in that vicinity. He undertook the erec-
tion of a water mill on a small stream flowing through his
farm, but before its completion it was washed away by the
floods. He then built a horse mill near his residence which
was in operation for some years and proved a great advan-
tage to the neighborhood. On M.iry's river, about fiur
miles above its mouth, Binjainin Crane, with a family of
seven sons, whose names were Benjamin, Squire, William,
.lames, Joel, Lswis, and John, settled probably in 1802,
though by some the date is placed earlier- The Cranes were
men of decided character, and were the leading citizens in
the country adjacent to the mouth of Mary's river. On the
west side of the Kaskaskia river, near the mouth of Camp
creek, Paul Harelston made a settlement in 1802. He was
a man of considerable influence and prominence in early
times.

The vigorous and influential Irish settlement, east of the
Kaskaskia, in the neighborhood of Plum creek, from which
have sprung many of the leading citizens of the county, was
founded in 18 J2. These colonists were of Irish blood,
Presbyterians in religious faith, and came to Illinois chiefly
from the Abbeville district in South Carolina. They were
known in Randolph county as " South Carolina Irish."
They had the same energetic traits which have marked the
Scotch-Irish stock in all parts of the United States, and left
a lasting impression on the county. James Patterson was
the pioneer of this settlement. He was born in South Caro-
lina. His father had come to America from Ireland, and
had taken part as a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
He arrived in the year 1802, and settled on the site of the
present town of Preston. He was a man of great energy and
activity, and always maintained a high standing iu the com-
munity. He filled the office of justice of the peace for several
years, and in 1819 was chosen a member of the county com-
rai.ssioner's court. He was a ranger in the war of 1812-14.
About the year 1819 he moved to the neighborhood cf
Sparta, and there died in 1829. His four sons, John, Samuel,
Reuben, and .James Harvey, became well-known citizens of
the county. Robert Huggins came from South Carolina iu
1803, and lived for some years in the Irish settlement, and
then removed to the Opossumdeu prairie. His sou, James
Huggins, settled in Flat prairie, about the year 1817, and
improved the first farm in that prairie. The descendants of
Huggins lived afterwanl in Perry county.

In June, 1803, Abijah Leavitt, came to Fort Gage as a
sergeant in Col. Pike's division of the regular army sent
to garrison the fort. He was from Bangor, Maine He
obtained a discharge from the array, and settled a mile back
from Garrison hill, on section twenty-nine, of township six,
range seven, where he improved a farm, on which he lived
for manv years. In early life he had been a sailor. He
was a quiet, industrious citizen, and was held in esteem by
his neighbors. Edward, John, George, and Abijah Leavitt
were his sons. Edward, the oldest, was born on the Ohio
river, on the way to Illinois. Two of the sons are yet living,
and Abijah lives on the old farm on which his father settled.
Numerous and valuable additions were made to the Irish

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

settlement iu the year 1804. John McClinton, David
Anderson, James Anderson, and Adam Hill, with their
families, numbering in all thirty-one person-i, reached the
settlement on Christmas day of that year. This was the
largest single colony which up to that time had settled in
the county, and gave a great impetus to the growth of the
Irish settlement. A few weeks after their arrival McClin-
ton's wife died, and he himself died within a year afterward.
His three sons, John, William, and Samuel McClinton, were
placed under the guardianship of the Hills and Andersons,
Ddvid Anderson, or as he subsequently came to be called,
Colonel Anderson, was a man of much popularity. He was
strong and athletic, benevolent and kind in his disposition,
and a warm friend of religious institutions. He was elected
colonel of the militia. For several years, under the territo-
rial government, he was one of the judges of the court of
couraon pleas, and afterwards in 1819 and 1820 one of the
members of the county commissioner's court. His sons all
died in early life. His oldest daughter became the wife of
Robert G. Shannon. James Anderson died a few years after
coming ti Illinois. He left five sons James, John, William,
Th >mas and David. The Andersons settled in section five,
of township live south, range seven. They came from the
Abbeville district, South Carolina, where their ancestors had
settled previous to the war of the Revolution. Adam Hill
settled northeast of Evansville. John, William, Adam,
Robert and Samuel Hill were his sons.

At the close of the year 1804 another important colony
r ached the Irish settlement, among which were Absalom
Cox, Archibald Thompson, James Thompson, Robert Mc-
Donald, and William McBride. This colony also came from
the Abbeville district in Sjuth Carolina. Absalom Cox
settled on the Kaskaskia on the old claim granted to Elijah
Smith for his improvement there made. He established
Cox's ferry across the river at that point within a few years
after his arrival. When he located here it was the highest
settlement of the Kaskaskia He was elected captain of a
militia company, and was in the ranging service during the
war of 1812-14. He died on his farm in the year 1844.
John, William, Thomas, and Absalom "were his sons. Archi-
bald Thompson was a man of excellent character. In 1812
he moved to a farm two miles south of the present town of
Evansville where he died at an advanced age in 18.33 He
was one of the judges of the common pleas c >urt which ex-
isted in territorial days. Robert, William, Moses, Archi-
bald, John and James Thompson were his sons. He was
elected a member of the State legislature in 1834, and died
while filling that position. James Thompson settled on a
farm on coming to Illinois in 1804. He served as a ranger
during the Indian troubles. Robert and Archibald were his
sons. William McBride proved a valuable member of the
community. He was born in the north of Ireland, and was
advanced in years when he came from South Carolina to
Illinois. He died in 1818. He had three sons, Thomas,
John and William. William, the youngest, was captain of
a militia company in 1813, and county commissioner in 1844.
He was the father of John T. McBride. Robert McDonald
settled near the Kaskaskia, a short distance below Cox, and

there died. None of his descendants now remain in the
county

John Lacy, in the year 1804, reached the county from
South Carolina, and improved a farm about seven miles
northeast of Chester. He lived here some years, and died.
His widow married Major Adair, and the farm on which
Lacy settled became afterward known as the " Major Adair
place." Samuel Cochran, in 1804, settled'three miles north
of Chester, and improved what was afterward known as the
Haskin farm. His location was at some distance from the
other settlenienis, and, though sociable and fond of com-
panionship, he was here obliged to lead a secluded life. He
was influential and popular, and among the public positions
which he held was that of judge of the common pleas court.
He held this office previous to 1809, while Illinois was yet a
part of the Indian territory. He died in Jackson county,
in 1824. His sons were John, William. George, Alexander
and Elisha, and all were noted for their skill as hunters.
William lived and died on the farm one mile northwest of
Chester included in claim 292. George, Alexander and
Elisha became citizens of Jackson county. Near the present
town of Rockwood, a man by the name of Emsley Jones,
settled about the year 1804. In a quarrel with a man
named Reed, living in the same neighborhood in the Miss-
issippi bottom, he killed Reed. For this murder he was
hung iu the commons, south of Kaskaskia. His execution
was witnessed by a great concourse of people. This was the
.second hanging to take place iu the county In the year
1802, about fifteen miles east of Kaskaskia, near Mary's
river, a young man going back from Kaskaskia to the east,
was shot by an Indian. The murderer was a straggling
Delaware from west of the Mississippi. With the murdered
man's saddle and some other articles he escaped towards the
mouth of the Big Muddy river. The Kaskaskia Indians
were employed to search for the murderer whom they found
and brought to Kaskaskia. Certain articles belonging to the
murdered man, found in the possession of the Indian,
formed the evi lence on which he was convicted. He was hung
late in the fall of 1802, by Dr. George Fisher, then sheriff,
on a honey locust tree, on the bank of the Kaskaskia river,
a mile or so above the village of Kaskaskia. These two
executions were the only ones in Illinois till 1821, when one
took place at Belleville.

In the year 1805, Alexander Barber reached the county
from Ohio. He settled east of the Kaskas'ua river and
west of Ellis Grove, where he lived twenty years, and then
moved to a farm two miles north of Rockwood. He was a
man of strong natural mental abilities, clear judgment and
robust constitution. The«e qualifications gave him a lead-
ing place among pioneers, and his opinion and judgment
were much relied on. He had mechanical genius, and as
the settlement increased engaged in building mills, and thus
was of much use to the people of the county. The name of
Barber, to the early residents of the county, always sug-
gested a mill. He filled the office of justice of the peace
without interruption for more than forty years, and his
official acts in this position are unusually equitable and sat-
isfactory. Alexander Clark iu 1805 settled three miles

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY VOVNTIES, ILLINOIS.

south of the present town of Evansville. The Abbeville
district, South Carolina, made another contribution to the
settlement of the county this year in the Lively family.
Joseph Lively settled the Seymour farm iu section twenty-
eight, of township six, range seven, three miles northeast of
Kaskaskia. In 1823 he removed to the lower end of the
Opossumden prairie. He died in 1823, leaving six fons,
Amos, Shadrach, Enoch, Kichard, James and Reuben.
John Lively settled on the prairie northwest of the Irish
settlement, which thenceforth was known by the name of
Lively prairie. He died in the year 1.H26. Reuben, James,
Turner, William and Hugh were his sons. Another branch
of the Lively family settled in what is now Washington
county, where in 1813, the wife and all the children, but
two, of William Lively were killed by the Indians.

Among the arrivals in 1806 were George Wilson and
Samuel Crozier from the Abbeville district, South Carolina.
The former settled near the fork of Plum creek, and from
there removed to the mouth of Doza creek. When the war
of 1812-14 began, he, with his neighbors, built a fort which
stood about a mile from the < ast bank of the Kaskaskia, not
far from the line between townships 4 and 5. He took an
active part as a ranger in that war, and after its conclusion
settled in the old fort, improving a farm in the neighborhood.
In 1828 he moved to the Heacock prairie, where he died in
18.57. His sons were John, George, William, James and
Andrew. Samuel Crozier improved a farm on Nine Mile
creek, three miles so\ith of the present town of Evansville.
He was affable and benevolent, and possessed unusually
strong mental qualities. He was elected a member of the
.state senate in 1.^22, and served till 1824. John, James,
Andrew, Archibald, and Samuel, were his sons. John set-
tled on the site of Red Bud in 1824, and his son, Samuel
Crozier, was one of the founders of that town.

The year 1807 witnessed the arrival of John Campbell,
who settled near the mouth of Xine Mile Creek ; of the Tag-
garts who settled in the part of the county north of Chester
where their descendants still live; of John Steele, the pio-
neer of the Steeleville neighborhood, and of John Mausker,
who moved across the river from Missouri and located on
the island in the Mississippi opposite Rockwood. John
Campbell was from the Abbeville district. South Carolina.
From his first location near the mouth of Nine Mile creek,
he removed to a place four miles east of where Evansville
now is, where he ditd in 1827. He was unassuming, quiet
and respecttd. John, Samuel, Archibald and James Camp-
bell, his sons, settled near their father. John and Daniel
Taggart were also South Carolinians. The former for some
years remained in the neighborhood of Kaskaskia. He was
in the ranging service, and after the conclusion of the war
settled on the farm, nine miles north of Chester, on which
he afterward lived many years. Amos Taggart was his son.
Daniel Taggart also performed service as a ranger, and
settled on a farm near his brother. His sons were John,
William, Amos and Daniel. John Steele was a captain in
the Virginia force during the Revolutionary war. After
the colonies had gained their independence he became one
of the pioneer settlers of Tennessee, living for a time near

Knoxville, and then in the neighborhood of Nashville. He
had the qualities requisite for a pioneer hfe^self-reliance
and courage — and selecting a location beyond the limits of
the settlements, made the first improvement iu the neighbor-
hood of the present town of Steeleville. His sons were George,
Archibald, James, John and Thomas. George Steele was
the founder of Georgetown, or Steeleville, as the place came
to be called. He settled on the site of the town in 1810,
and iu 1812 a fort was erected here for protection against
the Indians. All the five brothers were in the ranging
service during the war. John Mausker was one of the pio-
neers of Kentucky and Tennessee. At St. Clair's defeat by
the Indians he received seven different wounds, but eflected
a miraculous escape from the field of carnage. In 1804 he
settled in Ste. Genevieve county, Mi.s.souri, three years later
located on the island opposite Rockwood, and in 1812 on
the river above Rockwood. His .son, Samuel Mausker, has
since lived in the .same vicinity, and is now one of the oldest
citizens of the county.

The number of new settlers in 1808 were quite numerous.
Jacob Bowerman, a man of great decision of character, set-
tled three miles south of Steeleville, and afterward west of
that town. He was remarkably ingenious, and could work
at almost any trade, even making good guns, without pre-
vious instruction. As a marksman with the rifle he had uo
superior. He had lour sons, Jonathan, Jesse, Michael and
Wdliam. Robert Foster and John Anderson this year
made the journey from the Abbeville district, South Caro-
lina, on horseback. Anderson was a brother of Colonel
David Anderson, near whom he ^ettled. For many years
he was a justice of the peace. Foster first settled near the
Kaskaskia, to the west of Ellis Grove, and then on Plum
creek, where he erected a horse mill and steam distillery.
These conveniences caused the influx of other settlers to the
neighborhood, ami Foster's mill became a place of frequent
resort. Musters and other public gatherings were held
here. He died in 1831. Samuel, John, James, William and
David were his sons. James was one of the founders of
Sparta. A man named Henderson also arrived from South
Carolina in 1808, and settled on the Kaskaskia river, oppo-
site Evansville. The immediate neighborhood of the present
city of Chester received its first settler this year in the per-
son of John Clendinen who came from (ireen county, Ken-
tucky. He improved the farm, afterward known as the
Porter place. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary
war, and the story is told that once, while guarding some
prisoners, a lady came and besought permission to see her
brother, one of the captured men. His gallantry did not
permit hira to refuse, and confiding in her integrity, he
loaned her his uniform in order that she might eflt-ct her
object. The lady made the visit in safety, and was grateful
for his kiudness. He was an honorable, industrious citizen.
His descendants reside in the southern jiart of the county.
His sons were James, Henry, John and Harvey. James
Clendinen setthd about half a mile west of Diamond Cross
in 1808, from which place in 1837 he removed to the neigh-
borhood of Rockwood. Harvey Clendinen was county
commissioner from 1838 to 1844. Andrew Mct'ormack and

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

John Miller located in the Bilderback settlement, north of
Kaskaskia and east of the Kaskaskia river, in 1808. Richard
Robbison came to this part of the county the same year, and
afterward removed to the vicinity of the present town of
Steeleville. He had a large family of sons from whom
sprang a numerous posterity. Augustus Davis, who came
to Kaskaskia in 1808, became subsequently a member of the
Steele settlement. James White, a South Carolinian, settled
in 1808 on the hills west of Steeleville, half a mile north of
where the road leading from Steeleville to Chester crosses
Mary's river. This year William Barnet came from Ken-
tucky and joined the Irish settlement. He died in 1818.
John, his oldest son, lived for many years on the place his
father settled, William, the second son, while returning
home from a campaign against the Indians in 1813 was
drowned while crossing Plum creek, within a distance of two
miles from his father's house.

Kaskaskia in the first decade of the present century
received a large increase of American population. Michael
Jones came to the town in 1804 as register of the land office.
His address was plea.sing and plausible, hia education good,
and he was well qualified for business, though his tempera-
ment was said to be excitable and irritable With E.
Backus, receiver at the land office, he acted as commissioner
to adjust land claims in the Kaskaskia district. The Rector
family came to Kaskaskia in 1806, and were connected with
the surveys of the public lands. There were nine brothers
and four sisters, all born in Fauquier county, Virginia.
Reynolds speaks of them as singular and peculiar in their
traits of character; ardent, excitable and enthusiastic in
disposition ; possessing integrity and honesty of purpose in
the highest degree ; impulsive and ungovernable when their
passions were aroused; true and devoted friendi, but impul-
sive and energetic enemies; and the most fearless and un-
daunted people he ever knew, dangers, perils and death
appearing to them, when excited, as only amusements.
William Rector, the oldest brother, was colonel of a regiment
in the campaign against the Indians in 1812. In 1816 he
was appointed surveyor-general for Illinois, Missouri and
Arkansas. Stephen Rector was a lieutenant in the ranging
service in the war of 1812-14. Nelson Rector was captain
of an expedition up the Mississippi in 1814, and had an
engagement with the British and Indians at Rock Island.
Dressed richly in a splendid military uniform, with a large
red feather in his hat, he led his company from the boat,
disregarding the fire of the Indians, especially directed to
him, as though their rifles were but pop guns Thomas
Rector fought a duel with Joshua Barton, a prominent citi-
zen of Missouri, on Bloody Island, opposite St. Louis. The
establishment of the territorial goverument in 1809 brought
to Kaskaskia many distinguished residents, among whom
were Gov. Ninian Edwards, Nathaniel Pope, Benjamin
Stephenson, Judge Jesse B. Thomas, Judge Alexandet Stu-
art, John J. Crittenden, and his brother, Thomas P. Crit-
tenden, William C. Greenup and Matthew Duncan, who
established, in the fall of 1809, the first newspaper in Illinois.
The winter of 1809-10 witnessed more gayely, carousal and
amusement at Kaskaskia than the town has ever since

known. Governor Edwards and other territorial officers,
soon after their arrival, organized a colony of their own, and
located in the prairie in the bottom below Prairie du Rocher.
Edwards, Thomas, Stuart, Stephenson and some of the Rec-
tors resided here.

In 1809 John Beattie came to the Irish settlement. He
was a native of the Abbeville district. South Carolina. He
was quiet and retired in disposition, but with much force and
decision of character. John, Andrew and Charles Beattie
were his sons. The settlement in the Horse prairie began to
increase in 1809. That year witnessed the arrival of Chesley
Allen, Rawleigh Ralls and Edward Faherty. Allen was a
Virginian. His sons, James, John, Albert, William and
Miner Allen became respected citizens of that part of the
county. Rawleigh Ralls was born in Virginia, and served as
a soldier in the latter part of the Revolutionary war, though
at that time he was not yet grown to manhood. From Vir-
ginia he removed to Tennessee, and in 1809 came to Illinois.
He first settled near Prairie du Long creek, about three-
fourths of a mile north of the line between Randolph and
Monroe counties, and from there moved to the beautiful
ridge running parallel with the Kaskaskia, and still known
as Rail's ridge. Edward Ralls, his son, settled on the farm
on the ridge that had been originally improved by Robert
McMahan. He died in 1851. John Ralls, another son, was
one of the pioneer preachers of the county, and died in 1857.
Edward Faherty settled on the southern b irder of the Horse
prairie. His sons, Patrick and John Faherty, were after-
ward residents of that part of the county. Ezra Owen and
his son, Thomas J. V. Owen, located in the "Dr. Fisher
settlement," as it was called, also in the year 1809 Ezra
Owen was made major of the militia, and served creditably
in that position. The son was sherifl" of the county from
1823 to 1828, and in 1830 was elected a member of the state
legislature. Dr. George Fisher was born in Hardy county,
Virginia, and settled in Kaskaskia in the year 1789. In
1806 he removed from the village to a farm at the foot of
the bluff, six miles above Kaskaskia on the Prairie du
Rocher road. This vicinity was afterwards known as Dr.
Fisher's settlement. He was appointed sheriff of Randolph
county soon after the organization of Indiana territory, and
filled the office for several years. He was a member of the
first legislature of the territory of Illinois, which met at
Kaskaskia at the close of the year 1812, and was chosen
speaker of the house. He also served as speaker of the
house in the third territorial legislature which convened
during the winters of 1816-17 and 1817-18. He was a
delegate to the convention of 1818 which framed the first
constitution of the state of Illinois. A short time after his
removal to his farm above Kaskaskia the small-pox reached
the vicinity of Kaskaskia. Dr. Fisher erected a hospital on
his farm, and here the great part of the French population
of the surrounding bottom passed through the dangerous
malady under his skillful treatment. The citizens of Kas-
kaskia all that summer kept guard at the outskirts of their
village to prevent the contagion from reaching the town.
The American settlements were undisturbed by the disease.
Dr. Fisher was an able physician, though an early authority

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

states that his education was but ordinarj', and that he
depended more on his natural abilities than on books and
scientific knowledge. lie died in 18'20.

For a kv! years previous to 1809 considerable immigra-
tion had come to Illinois, and the counties bordering on
the Wabash, the Ohio, and the Mississippi, from Vincennes
around to Alton, had begun to improve. The Indian troubles
commenced in 1810, and thence till the conclusion of the
war of 1812-H few new families came to Illinois. The
settlements in Kan<lolph countj' happily escaped the Indian
depredations. The greater part of the able-bodied male
population of the country served as rangers during the war,
scouring the frontier, and taking part in expeditions against
the savages.

Several forts, or block houses, were erected during the
year 1812. One was in the Irish settlement, about a mile
east from the Kaskaskia ; another was in Dr. Fisher's settle-
ment ; another on the site of the present town of Steeleville ;
and a fourth at Jacob Bowermau's. The .settlement east of
the Kaskaskia river used Fort Gage as a place of refuge.
In mo.«t cases the people abandoned their own houses, and
lived together in these forts till the war was over. The
men kej)t up their farms, but always carried with them
Iheir rifles. Several attacks were made on men at work in
the field by the Indians, but no serious injury was done.

The only new settler who camu to the county in 1811
was Michael Harmon. lie came from Tennessee, and after
exploring the country around Kaskaskia, decided to locate
about seven miles north of the present town of Chester and
the same di.stance from Kaskaskia. This locality subse-
quently came to be known as the Harmon settlement.
Returning to Tennessee he brought b.ick his family, but
the next fall died. His seven sons settled in the vicinity.
With Harmon's family came John Young who settled near
Ellis Grove. William Nelson, a native of Ireland, and a
former resident of the Abbeville district, South Carolina,
made a settlement on Horse Creek, some three miles sonth
of the present town of Red Bud, in 1812. He built a dis-
tillery, became a leading man in that part of the county,
and served for a long term of years as justice of the peace.
He had five son.s, John G., Isaac, William, Robert, and
Wilson, some of whom filled public offices. Hugh Leslie
accompanied Nelson from South Carolina, and became a
citizen of the count)'.

In 1814 James and Samuel Thompson reached Kaskaskia
from the Abbeville district, South Carolina. James taught
school in Kaskaskia three years, and settled on a farm in
township five, range seven. He commanded a company of
militia iu the Black Hawk war. He was a skilful surveyor.
For twenty years he surveyed public lands for the United
States government, and was county surveyor for several
terms. In pursuit of his favorite occupation his foot prob-
ably left its impress on every section of land in Randol|)h
county. He was judge of the probate court from 1831 till
the office was abolished by the constitution of 1848. He
was county commissioner in 1820. Samuel Thompson was
also a surveyor, and was employed in surveying the public
land for several years. William and John Allen, originallv
10

residents of Georgia, whence they removed to Ohio, in 1841
came to Illinois, and settled in township five, range seven.
In 1815 Alexander Gaston settled in the ea-!teru part of the
count}', not far from the present town of Stcclcvillo.

Andrew Borders, a native of South Carolina, then a young
man of twenty-three, came to the county in 1810, and began
an unusually successful business career. He settled in the
neighborhood of Sparta, where he died in 1804. He
brought with him to the county four slaves, whom he
treated with great humanity and kindness. Samuel Craw-
ford reached the county from Tennessee in 181G. Three
years later he made a settlement in the lower end of the
Opossumden prairie. He was popular with the people and
held several public positions. He was a justice of the peace
for a time, and receiver of public money at the Kaskaskia
land office. He was elected a member of the state senate
in 18-8, and served till 18:j2. William Fowler, a soldier of
the war of the Revolution, came from South Carolina in
1816, and made his home in the Ilarraou settlement John
Layne, the same year, settled near the present town of Steele-
ville ; James Slater, in the vicinity of Ellis Grove; Cor-
nelius Adkins, in the lower end of Short's prairie; and
Emanuel Canaday, in the Steele neighborhood.

In the year 1817, among the settlers were several who
became conspicuous and infiuential in the early historj' of the
cjunty. Among these was Robert M. Mann. He was born
iu ths Abbevilh district of S)uth Cirolina aid left that
stit3 fjr Illiniis in ISOT. Oa re.ic'iing Kuitucky news of
Indian depredations deterred him from proceeding farther,
and he remained in Logan county, Kentucky, till 1817,
when he came to Randolph county, and entered land near
the present village of Preston, on which he lived until his
death iu 1855. John Mann, his oldest son, came to the
county some years after his father. He served as county
comrais ioner for several years subsequent to 1842. Another
son, Robert Mann, was an oflicer in the Black Hawk war;
in 1820 was elected a member of the state legislature, and
also served as school commissioner. The other two sons
were William and Samuel Alexander Mann. Col. Gibriel
Jones in 1817 settled near Steeleville. He was born in
Loudon county, Virginia. In 1810 he removed with his
father to Barren county, Kentucky. He enlisted in the
Kentucky troops during the war of 1812-14, and was at the
battle of the Thames in Canada. On coming to Steeleville
he taught school. He was active, energetic, and talented,
and was appointed colonel of the militia and served in that
position several years. From 1825 to 1828 he lived near
Kaskaskia, and subsequently was in the mercantile business
at Steeleville and Chester. He was the captain of a com-
pany raised in the county for service in the Black Hawk
war, and was made colonel of the regiment, distinguishing
himself as an able and gallant soldier. He represented
Randolph county in the state legislature from 1824 to 1826,
and from 1S38 to 1840. He was elected a member of the
county commissioner's court in 1822 and 1836. He was
also mayor of the city of Chester. He lost his wife in the
great storm which visited Chester iu November, 1864, his
house being swept away in the tornado.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Ignatius Spregg, in 1817, came from Maryland and settled
iu the American Bottom. He was elected treasurer of the
county, from 1828 to 1838, served as sheriff and became a
citizen of Arkansas. In the latter part of the year 1817,
James and Henry O'Harra came to Illinois and shortly
afterward settled in the neighborhood of the present village of
Ruma. They were of Irish descent, and their ancestors had
settled at an early period in Frederick county, Maryland.
In the year 1811 the family removed from Maryland to Nelson
county, Kentucky, and thence came to Illinois. Curtis
Conn, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, came to the county
in 1S17. He had lived several years in the West India
islands, where he had been actively engaged in trade. After
residing for a year in Kaskaskia he settled on the firm, a
couple of miles northwest of Chester, which Samuel Cochran
had begun to improve in 1804. He was judge of the probate
court ten years. Daniel Alexander reached the county iu
1817 from Maine. He settled on a farm in the Hughs
settlement, and after living there many years went to Texas,
where he was murdered. James McFarlaud, a South
Carolinian, settled on the we^t fork of Mary's river, near
where that stream is cros.sed by the Kaskaskia road, iu 1817.
Samuel Nisbet, also a native of Sjutli Carolina, settled the
same year o:ie mile east of where the village of Eden was
nfterward built William Morris became a resident of the
Opossumden prairie, and William Givin and the Barrows
and Houseman families located in the vicinity of Shiloh.
At the point of the bluff, five miles above Kaskaskia, Henry
Will began the improvement of a farm in 18-7, and an im-
portant settlement sprang up in his vicinity.

In the year 1818 the neighborhood south of Ruma re-
ceived important additions in the families of Joseph and
Thomas Orr, Benedict Horrel, John Brewer and Norton,
Samuel, L?wis and Thomas Hull. Amos Paxton was also one
of the pioneers in this part of the county. The Orrs were
from Virginia. Joseph was a major in the militia. The
Brewers and the Hulls came from Kentucky. One of the
most useful and respected of the early residents of the county,
the Rev. Silas Crisler, arrived from Boone couuty, Kentucky,
in 1818, and began the improvement of a farm, on the old
Shawneetown road, near the Harmon settlement seven miles
north of Chester. Much of his time was devoted to the work
of the ministry, and he was the founder and pastor of the
Gravel creek church, one of the early Baptist churches in
Illinois. He died in 1851. Amasa Aldrich a native of
Massachusetts, became a citizen of Kaskaskia in 1818. A
few years afterward he settled on a farm north of Chester.
In 1819, a Tennessean, Alexander Campbell, came to the
Irish settlement. He afterward removed to the neighbor-
hood of Steeleville. One of his sons, Edward Campbell, was
elected county commissioner in 1844. Another, John Camp-
bell, was sheriff from 1838 to 1848 and from 1854 to 1856,
and county judge from 1849 to 185S and from 1856 to 1861.
Eli Short, a soldier in the Kentucky troops during the war
of 1812-14. who had received a wound at the battle of Tip-
pecanoe, which troubled him during the rest of his life in
1819 settled in the prairie in the eastern part of the county
which still bears his name. For many years he preached the

Gospel. One of his sons, Jefferson Short, was killed in the
Black Hawk war. David Hathorn in 1819 settled near the
site of EvansviUe, and afterward in the Opossumden prairie.
James Baird came from Ohio the same year, and began the
improvement of a farm three miles south of Sparta. Arthur
Parks settled in the eastern edge of the Lively prairie. He
was county commissioner from 1824 to 1826. Adonijah Ball
made a settlement on Rock Castle creek iu a region which
no one had previously penetrated. George W Stratton came
to the county in IS 19 He first settled in the American
Bottom, and shortly afterward purchased the laud on which
that part of Chester known as Buena Vista is now built, on
which he lived till his death in 1845. Isaac Rust, a native
of Maine, first cane to Kaskaskia in 1819. In early life he
had been a sailor, and after a few years tried the sea again
for a year, and then returned to become a permanent citizen
of the county. He was a wagon-maker, and introduced an
improved style of wagons among the Kaskaskia people.
He also repaired boats, and rigged sailing vessels with masts,
thus bringing his nautical knowledge into use. In 1836 he
removed to a farm two miles east of Chester. Sheltou Evans
and Lewis Simmons settled in the point below Kaskaskia
about the year 1819, and in 1825 removed to the Horse
prairie, where the penitentiary is now built, above Chester.
Benjamin A. Porter settled in 1819. He built a brick house
and a mill. The mill burned down, but the house stood for
many years afterward.

In 1820, numerous additions were made to the population
of the county. Robert Bratuey, who had been a soldier in
the war of the revolution, and an early settler in Tennessee
settled near the mouth of Little Plum creek. With him
came his son, Josepli Bratney, who had served under Jack-
son in the war of 1812-14. Martin Smith arrived from the
state of New York. John Thomison began the improve-
ment of a farm four miles west of Sparta. Alexander Alex-
ander came from the Chester district. South Carolina, and
settled one mile south of where the village of Eden now is.
Thomas, William and John McDill located in the neighbor-
hood of the present town of Sparta. John Adams, a native
of North Carolina, and one of the pioneer settlers of Ken-
tucky, came to the neighborhood of EvansviUe, and in 1822
settled in the Horse prairie. John and Samuel Cochran
settled in the vicinity of Chester, the former first living near
the mouth of Mary's river, and afterward on the farm sub-
sequently occupied by Isaac Rust, and the latter improving
the Douglas place, two miles and a half east of Chester.

The settlement in the lower end of Flat prairie was
strengthened by the arrival, in 1820, of David Cathcart,
John Dickey, and John McMillen, and the next year of
Ebenezer Alexander and James Anderson. Heacock prai-
rie was settled in 1822 by Samuel Douglass, James Bean,
Thomas McBride, James Redpath, and Elisha, George,
Charles and Fortiss Heacock. The same year, the Grand
Cote prairie, in the northeast part of the county, received as
its pioneer settlers, James Coulter, John McKelvey, and
Alexander McKelvey.

In the precinct histories will be found more minute men.
tion of the pioneer settlers of the county. Of all of them it

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

may be said that they were simple-hearted, brave, and
generous, and their memories should be cherished as those
who, on the soil of Randolph county, laid the first founda-
tions of the great commonwealth of Illinois.

EAKLY MILLS.

The first water-mill ever built in Illinois was near Kas-
kaskia, on the opposite side of the Kaskaskia river, where
now stands Reiley's mill. Prix Paget (the name is spelled
" Pagi " in the deeds of conveyance) was the earliest pro-
prietor of a mill at that place of whom there is any record.
He erecteil a stone mill, and engaged in the manufacture of
flour for the New Orleans and Mobile markets. He -met
his death at the hands of the Indians. The mill was
attackeii by a band of Kickapoos, and Paget, with some
negrots employed in the mill, was killed. One negro made
his escape, and gave the alarm to the people of Kas-
kaskia. Paget's body was found cut in pieces, the head
severed from the body, and thrown into the hopper. The
old mill was about one hundred and fifty yards below the
site cjf the present one. After Paget's death the mill was
abandoned for many years. The structure crumbled to
pieces, so that only the walls remained. About the year
1795 the mill tract came into the possession of General John
Edgar, who rebuilt the mill with enlarged capacity. From
the mill-pond, about three hundred yards distant, the water
was conveyed by an arched culvert. General E<lgar carried
on the mill for many years, and it was of great service, both
to the people of Kaskaskia and the pioneer American fami-
lies who settled in the various parts of the county. It was
resorted to from a distance of many miles. The mill ceaseit
to run while still owned by General Edgar. After his
death, it passed into the possession of a company composed
of Jacob Feaman, Anthony Lessieur, James 51. Wheeler,
and Samuel Jones, who put it in running order. Daniel
Reiley purchased it in 1842, and made important improve-
ments. In 18-5.5 he began the erection of a steam mill.
He was aclivelv engaged in running the mill till his death
in 1867, and made Reiley's mill the center of considerable
business activity.

A mill was built in early times at Prairie du Rocher.
Henry Levins' mill on Horse creek was a great convenience
to the residents of that part of the county.

OVERFLOWS OF THE MISSI3SIPPL

An inundation of the Mississippi bottom in Randolph and
Monroe counties occurred in the year 172.5. Another, which
made necessary the abandonment of Fort Ghartres, took
place in 1772. The flood of 1785 was the greatest of the
last century. The French villiges were reached by the
water. The inhabitants of Kaskaskia and Cahokia were
compelled to seek refuge on the bluffs. The next great
flood was that of 1844, still remembered and referred to, not
only by the residents of the .Vmerican Bottom, but by people
then living abng the whole course of the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. Water many feet deep covered the bottom.
Large steamboats sailed from bluft'to bluti'. The village of
Kaskaskia was almost destroyed. The water stood five feet
deep in the old hotel building, while the high water of 1785

had just reached the fli),)r. Sub^equeut overflows have
occurred in later years, but none so great or destructive.
The annual rise usually washes away ([uantities of land at
different points in the bottom, and the river from lime to
time has shifted its channel. The Mississippi each year has
approached nearer and nearer to Kaskaskia. On the 20th
of April, 1881, the neck of land separating the Mississippi
and the Kaskaskia, above the village of Kaskaskia, was
washed away, and about one-fourth of the water of the
Mississippi now passes down the Kii<kaskia. Three or four
da)'s after this cut off was nia le. steamboats efl'ecled a pas-
sage by the new channel.

MONROE COUNTY.

While the ncighl)oring counties of Randolph and St. Chiir
contained the great bulk of the early French population of
Illinois, M )nroe was the chief seat of the pioneer American
settlements. The American inhabitants of Illinois at the
beginning of the century were about eight hundred in num-
ber. Of these not many mon- than a hundred resided in
what is now Randolph county, and less thin thirty in .St.
Clair. Monroe county contained the balance. The settle-
ments at New Design, at Bellefontaine, in the American
Bottom and arouml Whiteside's station and Pigu'ott's ancient
fort, w.'re thrifty an.! vigorous. Purtions of the Am-jrican
bottom wer^ as densely populated tlu'u as now. From this
it may well be judged that an important part of tiie early
historv of Illinois is inscribed in the annals of the pioneer
settlements of Monroe county. These settlements bore the
brunt of savage depreilations during the Indian war which
raged from 1786 t.) IT'.l'i. Many ol' the piuneers fell victims
to the tomahawk anil xalping knife of the savage, and
many families were massacred. The Jlorelocksand White-
sides became the most noted Indian fighters iu ll," West.
Afterward, when these daigers were over, populaiicjn had
increased, and a state government was organized, the county,
in the person of one of her early citizens, furnished Illinois
her first governor. The gubernatorial chair was twice sub-
sequently filled by men who began their distinguished
careers iu this part of the state, and the first nativcboru
citizen of Illinois to represent the state iu the United .States
senate first saw the light of day in an old house HJiich is still
standing on the soil of Monroe ci'unly.

The first American colony to settle within the territory
now comprised in the county, arrived in the year 1782, and
was compo.sed of James Moore, Shadrach Bond, Robert
Kidd, Larken Rutherford and James Garretson. Their
wives and children accompanied them, and they came to
make a permanent settlement. Crossing the Allegheny
mountains, they floated down the Ohio to its mouth, and
then propelled their craft against the strong current of the
Mississippi till they reached Kaskaskia some time in the
autumn of the year 1781. From this place the country was
explored in difl'erent directions, and all of tlu party fixed
on locations now in Monroe county, as the most eligible
place for settlement. The French inhabitants had clung
close to two or three villages, and had made little progress
toward clearing the wilderness, or extending their settlements

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

over any considerable territory. These Marylanders and
Virginians adopted a different policy. With the true Saxon
instinct of ownership of his own homestead and lordship
over his own acres, ejch immigrant selected a location where
he would be likely to experience little trouble from neigh-
bors and remain master of his own domain. The hill trac-^
between the French villages of Kaskaskia and Cahokia and
St. Louis passed near a beautiful spring, a high, healthy
ground, to which the French had applied the name of Belle-
fonlaine. Here Moore, Garretson and Rutherford deter-
mined to make their settlement. The rich soil of the Miss-
issippi bottom attracted the attention of other members of
the colony, and there Kidd and Bond made their homes.
Kidil clung closest to the French villages, and settled at a
distance of but a few miles from Prairie du Rocher. Bond
chose a location farther north. These settlements were made
in the spring of the year 1782.

James Moore, the leader of this colony, was a native of
Maryland. He was a man of vigorous traits of mind, ready
resources, and was accustomed to the exigencies of pioneer
life. Not long after his arrival he was employed by Gabriel
Cerre, a wealthy merchant of St. Louis, to take goods and
trade with the Indians in the western part of Tennessee.
He was thus engaged for a number of 3'ears, during which
time he made his headquarters at the French Licks, as the
place was then called, where now is built the capital of the
state of Tennessee. His place of settlement was a short
distance south of. the site of the town of Waterloo where
the spring, which attracted liim to this locality, may still be
observed.

James Garretson first made an improvement near the
Bellefoutaine. Claim 510, survey 720, a mile northeast of
Waterloo, was granted to him as an improvement right.
He afterward removed to the American Bottom, and for
many years his home was in the present iloredock precinct.
He was an honest, upright citizen, unambitious and unas-
suming, and always refused to hold public position. He
was a brave man and an excellent soldier, and did his part
toward protecting the settlements from the attacks of the
Indians. His brother, Samuel Garretson, was kilkd by the
Indians during the winter of 1788-89.

Robert Kidd had been one of the soldiers in George
Roger Clark's expedition to Illinois in 1778, and had taken
part in the capture of Fort Gage. He made a quiet and
unpretentious citizen of the great commonwealth of which
ho was one of the founders, and died at his home in the
American Bottom in the southern part of the county in 1849.
Kidd lake, near the head of which he settled, bears his name.

Larken Rutherford had also been a soldier under Colonel
Clark. He was a large and athletic man, and was bold and
fearless in his disposition. At the storming of Fort Sackville
in 1779 he exhibited much bravery. Soon after the year
1800 he removed to the present St. Clair county, and settled
north of Belleville. During the latter years of his life he
was a zealous member of the Baptist church. In the organ-
ization and government of the church he took an active part.
He was honest in his views, and while vigorously observing
his own duties, was rigid and exact in expecting the same

from others. A difference of opinion he would not tolerate.
He was a member of the Richland Baptist church in St.
Clair county, and in 1809 took offence .it some views ex-
pressed in a sermon by James Lemen on slavery, of which
Lemen was a strong opponent. Rutherford brought the
matter before the church authorities, and the result was a
division not only of the Richland church, but of the Baptist
association, which was continued for many years.

Shadrach Bond was born and raised near Baltimore,
Maryland. He lived on his farm in the American Bottom
for many years till his death at an advanced age. He was
the uncle of Shadrach Bond, the first governor of the State
of Illinois. He was several times elected to the legislature
of both the Indiana and northwestern territories. He was a
representative in the territorial legislature which convened
at Cincinnati in September, 1790. For several years he was
one of the judges of the St. Clair county common pleas court.
In these public positions he discharged his duties in a con-
scientious manner, and was held in high estimation by the
people. His education was limited, but he possessed a strong
mind and an excellent heart. He was not ambitious for
wealth. In his younger days, as was the case with most of
the early pioneers, he spent a considerable part of his time
in hunting, and was considered an excellent woodsman. He
was one of that cla.ss of men who improve with age, and the
longer he lived and the better he became known, the more
his character wfs esteemed.

All the members of this band of pioneers left descendants
who have since been identified with the State of Illinois, and
of whom some have reached positions of influence and dis-
tinction. The families of Bond, Garretson, Moore, and Kidd,
are all represented by some member living either in Monroe,
or an adjoining county, and the land on which Moore settled
at the Bellefoutaine has never left the family, and is now
owned by heirs of the original pioneer.

Soon after these hardy adventurers from Maryland and
Virginia had prepared the way, a New England man fol-
lowed. This was Captain Nathaniel Hull, born in Massa-
chusetts. He was one of the first; to make his way overland
from the Ohio river to Kaskaskia, and his track was the one
usually taken by subsequent bands of immigrants. He set-
tled under the bluff below ChalHn Bridge, and bscame a
prominent citizen of the new community. His store, and
the post-office there established, were in all probability, the
first in the county. He served as magistrate and county
judge. With all his good qualities he was a man of eccen-
tric notions, and asked to be buried in an upright position,
standing as in life, overlooking from his grove in the bluff
above his house, the fertile expanse of the American Bottom.

Another of the early pioneers, William Biggs, became the
first sheriff of St. Clair county, which then included Monroe,
and filled other important public positions. He was born in
Maryland, served under Colonel Clark in the war of the
Revolution, and coming to Illinois settled at the Bdlefon-
taine. He was taken prisoner by the Indians, who killed
his companion, Vallis, in 1788, and effected his escape by
paying a ransom. He was accompanied to Illinois by his
two brothers. George Biggs settled southwest of Waterloo

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

where he received a grant of land included in claim 777.
The Huff and Moredock family came in the year 1786, and
first settled near the Bellcfontaine, but afterward removed
to the American Bottom. The murder of Mrs. Ilufl'by the
Indians, on the route to Illinois, instilled such deadly hatred
of the savage race into the breast of her son, John Moredock,
that he never lost an opportunity of avenging his wrongs.

Piggott's fort, or the fort of the " grand ruisseau," as it was
called by the French in the American Bottom, not far from
the bhiH", west of Columbia, was established about the year
1783. James Piggott wa.s a native of Connecticut, and early
in the war of the Revolution engaged in the privateering
service. He removed to Pennsylvania, and commanded a
company of Pennsylvania troops at Brandywine, Saratoga,
and other battles. His health becoming impaired by severe
marches and hard service, he was obliged to resign his cap-
taincy, and with his family followed Colonel George Rogers
("lark to the west, and was placed in command of Fort Jeffer-
son which had been established five miles below the mouth
of the Ohio, and on which the Indians made a desperate
assault. In 1790 there were seventeen families, and forty-
six inhabitants, at Piggott's fort. They addressed a petition
to Governor St. Clair, praying for grants of land to the set-
tlers. It was likely on this petition that CoDgre.ss, in 1791,
passed the act granting to every settler on the public lands
in Illinois four luindred acres, and to each enrolled militia-
man one hundred acres. Governor St Clair, under whom
Piggott had served in the war of the Revolution, :ippointed
him the presiding judge of the St. Clair county court. In
1795 he established the first ferry acro.ss the Mississippi at
St. Louis. This has been continued ever since, and is now
known as Wiggins' ferry. The licen.sc was issued by Zenon
Trudean, lieutenant governor of the province of Upper
Louisiana. He died at this ferry, opposite St. Louis, in 1799.

The New Design settlement was founded about the year
178G. James Lemen, a native of Berkeley county, Virgi-
nia, settled here that year. He became the bead of a nu-
merous and iiitluential family which has been held in re-
spect in Illinois for now nearly a century. The dwelling
which he constructed is still standing. It was the first brick
house in the county, and is now one of the oldest in the state.
The New Design .settlement, toward the close of the last
century, was the most flourishing of all the American colo-
nies in Illinois. In 179.3 it received a large acc; ssion in the
Griffin, Gibbons, Enochs, Chance, Musick and Going fami-
lies. Four years later a still more numerous colony arrived.
It was composed of no less than one hundred and fifty-four
persons, and was made of immigrants from Hardy county,
Virginia on the south branch of the Potomac, and included
the Carr, Stookey, Eyeman, Shook, Mitchell, Kinkead,
Clark, Badgeley, Teter and Miller families. The first season
in Illinois was sad and disheartening. The summer was
wet, the journey from the Ohio to Kaskaskia was accom-
plished in mud and water, and though the settlers extended
an open-handed welcome and hospitality, disease desolated
nearly every household, and swept away one-half of the new
arrivals. In New Design the earliest church (Protestant)
organization in Illinois was formed.

The Whitcsides, the family of noted Indian fighters, came
to New Design in 1793, and shortly afterward settled at the
Belle fontaine and Whiteside's station. They were from the
frontiers of North Carolina, and from there had made their
way into Kentucky. The fort which William Whiteside
erected southeast of Columbia wa-s a noted military post in
the Indian wars. John Whiteside lived for many years at
Bellefontaine, and died there. Jo.«eph Kinney settled at
New Design in 1793, and shortly afterward built one of the
first mills in Illinois on Rock House creek. One of his sons,
William Kinney, became lieutenant-governor of the state,
and another, Andrew Kinney, where Monroe city now stands,
built a water-mill from which, early in the present century,
flour was shipped to the St. Louis, New Orleans, and even
more distant markets.

By the act of Congress of 1791, a grant of four hundred
acres of land was made to all who had cultivated or im-
proved land in Illinois, except in villages, prior to the year
1788. Under this act the public records show that forty-
five improvement grants "were made to Americans. The
heads of American families were seventy -five in number, and
all the Americans who were capable of bearing arms as
militia men on or before the year 1791 were only sixty-five.
Under the law which granted four hundred acres to each
head of a family in 1788, two hundred and forty-four dona-
tions were made. From this it is estimated, supposing each
family to have averaged five members, that the whole popu-
lation of Illinois in the year 1788 was twelve hundred and
twenty.

Where the road from the Bellefontaine to Cahokia de-
scended the bluff' settlements were made by the Ogles and
Biggs in the year 1790. The Ogle family brought a con-
siderable tract of land under cultivation in the bottom ad-
joining the bluff". The same year families of the name of
Short, Griffin, Gibbons, Roberts and Valentine settled be-
tween Bellefontaine anil the bluff' in the present Bluff' pre-
cinct. After a few years this settlement was abandoned en-
tirely. A large grave-yard showed that the inhabitants of
this neighborhood must have been at one time quite numer-
ous. The first settlement northeast of Whiteside's station,
in the present limits of St. Clair county, was made by
William Scott, a native of Botetourt county, Virginia, who
selected a location on Turkey Ilill, near Belleville, in De-
cember, 1797. The Jlurdick family settled in the American
Bottom in 1796, and John Murdick grew up to be the wag
of the day. George and William Blair came the
same year. George lived for a time on the Eberman
place, north of Waterloo, and on a ranch west of hi?
residence erected a distillery in early times. In iMt^
he removed to the site of the present city of Belleville, and
the public buildings were located on part of his farm at the
time the county seat was removed to that place from Caho-
kia. James McRoberts, in 1797, settled north of the present
Maysville. He lived here many years, and was honored
and respected. One of his sons became L nited States sena-
tor. Dr. Caldwell Cairnes, at the beginning of the century,
settled north of the present town of Harrisonville. For
years he practiced his profession in the American Bottom.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

He was a member of the convention which framed the ori-
ginal constitution of the state, and was one of the judges of
the St. Cliir county court.

Among the new settlers who reached the county in 1804
are the Ford and Forguer family. The eldest of the chil-
dren was George Forguer. His half-brother was Thomas
Ford, who became governor of the state. The father of
George Forguer served as an officer in the revolutionary
war, and toolc part in Arnold's disastrous campaign in
Canada He was subsequently appointed collector of reve-
nue of Bucks county, Penosylvania, and while in the
possession of a large amount of the public money, was
robbed by Tories. The restoration of this amount entailed
the loss of his private fortune, and he removed to the
western borders of Pennsylvania, there to begin life anew.
He settled near what was known as the Eed Stone Old Fort,
afterward called Brownsville, and was killed there by the
falling ia of a coal bank. Some two or three years afterward,
his widow married Robert Ford, who rn 1802 was killed, as
it was supposed, by robbers in the mountains. This left her
with a large family and scanty means of support. The
Spanish government west of the Mississippi was liberal in
its offers of land to actual settleis, and with the object of
taking advantage of this she embarked from Red Stone Old
Fort for St. Louis, in the Spanish country, in the year 1804.
She reached St. L )uis only to find that the country west of
the Mississippi had been ceded to the United States, and she
could obtain no laud except by purchase. She remained in
St. Louis some time, and then she and some of her children
were taken sick. After their recovery, in the fall of the
year 1804, the family came to the east side of the river,
finding a home about three miles south of the present town
of Waterloo. The next year, 1805, the family moved nearer
the bluff, not far from the residence of James McRoberts.
Here George Forguer and Thomas Ford attended the school
kept by Edward Humphrey in the neighborhood of Chalfin
Bridge. Samuel McRoberts also attended this school, so
that Mr. Humphrey, in his primitive school-house in the
bottom, had under his tuition at one time a future attorney-
general of the state, a United States senator, and a governor
of Illinois. Mrs. Forguer was a woman of much talent and
ability, and she bent all her energies toward the education
of her children. She observed system and economy in her
family, and used every endeavor to get along. She herself
taught school for a time near the McRoberts residence. She
afterward moved to a place under the bluff. Those yet liv-
ing who remember Thomas Ford at that period, when he
was about fourteen years old, speak of him as a boy of un-
usually polite manners and pleasing address. Mrs. Ford
bestowed much care on the rearing of her children, and en-
deavored to instill into them sound moral principles. For-
guer, being the oldest of the children, was obliged to work
out, and help gain a support for the family. He began this
when he was nine years old. Altogether he attended school
not much more than a year. He learned the trade of a car-
penter in St. Louis, and worked at it for several years in
that city. He came back to Monroe county, and purchased
the tract of laud on which Waterloo is built, and in company

with Daniel P. Cook laid out the town. He purchased a
stock of goods and opened a store at this point. He also
projected the town of Bridgewater on the Mississippi, a mile
above Harrisonville. His mercantile operations proved a
failure, and he began the study of law. His education was
defective, but he possessed a naturally strong and vigorous
intellect, which supplied many deficiencies in the way of
intellectual training. He had a good voice, and the debat-
ing societies of the county furnished him the training for an
accomplished and pleasing orator. He was elected a repre-
sentative from Monroe county in the State Legislature in
1826, and at the end of the session was appointed Secretary
of State. He was afterward elected Attorney-General. He
removed to Sangamon county, which he represented in the
State Senate. He was also register of the land office at
Springfield. He died of a pulmonary disease, at Cincin-
nati, in the year 1837, at the age of forty-three. Although
he began the world poor, and for some years was embarrassed
with the debts he incurred in his unsuccessful mercantile
operations in this county, he afterward accumulated con-
siderable wealth.

Thomas Ford had better opportunities for acquiring an
education. He was studious in his youth, aud at school
ardently atta bed to the science of mathematics. He
awakened the interest of Daniel P. Cook, who made ar-
rangements for him to study law, and sent him to Lexing-
ton, Kentucky, to improve his education. The misfortunes
of his brother Forguer obliged him to return home, and
while reading law he taught school, at intervals, at Water-
loo, to gain the means of a support. He began practice in
1823; in 1829 was appointed prosecuting attorney; in 1835
was elected circuit judge ; in 1840 an associate justice of the
supreme court; and in 1842 governor of the state. He died
at Peoria in 1849, which place he made his home after the
close of his term as governor.

INDI.^N HOSTILITIES.

In the Indian hostilities from 1786 to 1795 the inhabit-
ants of the present Monroe county suffered greatly. The
pioneer settlers realized their exposed condition, aud as soon
as they reached the county erected forts for their protection.
One of these block houses was at Bellefontaine. Another
was in the American Bottom near the residence of Shadrach
Bond. Another was built by Daniel and James Flannary
on the main road from Kaskaskia to Cahokia. This was
about three miles southeast of the present town of Columbia,
and was afterward widely known as Whiteside's station. A
fourth was erected by James Piggot at the foot of the bluff,
a mile and a half west of Columbia, where a small creek,
called by the French the Grand Ruisseau, emerges from the
bluff. This was also a celebrated place in early times, and
was known as Piggot's fort. A fifth block house was built
by Nathaniel Hull at his residence at the foot of the bluff
just below the present Chalfin bridge. Brashear's station
stood near the present town of Harrisonville, and Golden's
block house not far from where Monroe city is now built.
Sometimes these forts, or stations, consisted of a single block
house, the second story projecting over the first, with holes

HISIORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

in the floor through which to shoot at Indians attempting to
enter the lower story. The lower story was provided with
port holes, and with strong p'uncheou doors, three or four
inches thick, stoutly barred. Another and better style of
pioneer fortification was made by building a large, strong
block house on each of the four corners of a square lot of
ground. Large timbers, placed deep in the ground and
extending twelve or fifteen feet above the surface, filled in
the interval between the buildings. Within these stockades
caSins were built, and if a spring was not to be found a well
was dug. When danger was suspected horses were kept
inside during the night. There were usually two strong
gates. In the line of the stockade, near the top, port holes
were cut here and there, and platforms were constructed
inside on which to stand and shoot. The timber was care-
fully cleared away in the vicinity so that no place of ambush
might be aflorded the enemy. Sometimes sentinels were
k?pt on watch during the night. In the morning the
inmates emerged from the fort with great caution, for the
Indians at that hour often lurked in the neighborhood. In
these stations the inhabitants found refuge in times of
anticipated danger, and from them issued the expeditions
that set out from time to time to punish the Indians for .some
atrocity.

In the year 1780 while Mr Hulf, who had married the
widow Moredock, was coming to Illinois from Western
Pennsylvania with the Moredock family, the party was
attacked by the Indians on the Missi.ssippi near Grand
Tower, and Mrs. Huff, one of her sons, and some others were
killed. The re-t mauaged to cscap"? in the boat. The body
of Mrs. Huff was mangled in a shocking manner before the
eyes of her husband and family. One of her sons, John
Moredock, swore vengeance against the Indian race, and was
afterward one of the foremost leaders in inflicting punish-
ment on the savages A few years afterward Mr. Huff,
himself, was killed by the Indians on the road between
Prairie du Rocher and Kaskaskia. Many years afterward
his watch and some other articles were found on the spot
where he had been killed.

Before thi.s, in the year 1783, James Flaunary had been
killed, but the settlers were not much apprehensive
of danger till a general war commenced in 1786. That
year James Andrews, who lived two miles north of where
Waterloo now stands, was attacked by the Indians, he and
his wife massacred, and his child taken captive. Andrews
was an adventurous yung Virginian, who had come to
Illinois with the American immigration, and had settled at
Bellefontaine in 1782. Shortly afterward he married the
daughter of Captain Joseph Ogle, and settled at the head
of Andrews' run at a spot now included in claim 507,
survey 721. The window of his cabin was a S()uare hole
cut into the side of the building, which could be .securely
clcsed in times of danger. Andrews had neglected to close
this opening on retiring fjr the night, and just before dawn
while reposing peacefully by the side of his wife and child
there came the sharp, clear report of an Indian's rifle, anil
a bullet penetrated his body. He instantly leaped from the
bed, and sprang out through the opposite door, believing

that the savages would be satisfied with plundering the
house, and would not injure his wife and child. After ran-
sacking the house, and loading themselves with such articles
as they could carry, they prepared to depart, taking Mrs.
Andrews with them, when the little girl, at that time three
years old, who had before remained perfectly quiet and un-
ob-erved, called out, " Don't take my mamma." Upon
hearing the cry, they returned and seized the child, and
carried her with them After traveling about a quarter of
a mile Mrs. Andrews, who was in a delicate state of health,
expecting soon to become the mother of another child,
became uuable to proceed farther, when her inhuman cap-
tors took the unhappy woman behind a tree and murdered
her, leaving the body on the scene of the outrage. The
body of poor Andrews was discovered some days later, far
down the creek, where in weakness and delirium he had
sunk down and died. Captain Ogle, the father of Mrs.
Andrews, went to St. Louis, then a French trading port,
and offered a liberal reward for the recovery of the child
through the French traders and trappers. The little girl
had been carried by the Indians as far north as Prairie du
Chien, but after a short captivity she was brought back to
St. Louis by the French trappers. She was raised in the
family of James Lemen, at New Design. Her name was
Drusilla, and on arriving at womanhood she became the wife
of Henry Mace. Soon after her marriage she and her hus-
band settled on the Andrews' tract, but a short distance
from where the old house had stood. On one occasion, while
sitting with her infant in her arms, an aged Pottawatamie
Indian entered the house, and addressod her in broken Eng-
lish : " House no here long time ago," and then taking her
by the arm led her to where her father's house had stood,
and said, '' Long time ago you papoose, heep Indian came
and kill you mother." Mrs Mace was much agitated. The
Indian, without doubt, was one of the band that massacred
her father and mother. She became the mother of a large
family of children.

On the 10th of December, 1788, while Benjamin Ogle
and James Garretson were hauling hay from the bottom,
they were fired upon by two Indians. A ball lodged in
Ogle's shoulder and remained there. Garretson escaped in
the woods. While engaged in stacking this same hay Samuel
Garretson and a man named Keddick were killed and
scalpi'd. On account of his wound Mr Ogle was granted a
pension by the government. On the 28th of March, 1788,
William Biggs, who then resided at Bellefontaine, in com-
pany with John Vallis, set out for Cahokia, to sell some
beaver fur. When within six miles of Piggot's fort they
heard the report of two guns which they thought had been
fired by hunters. Soon afterward sixteen Indians made
their appearance and presented their guns in readiness to
fire. Biggs and Vallis whipped their horses and attempted
to escape. The bullets of the Indians killed Biggs' horse
and pierced his overcoat with four holes, though his per.son
escaped injury. With his furs and saddle he fell from his
horse, and after running sume distance, was made prisoner.
Vallis was shot in the thigh, but clung to his horse, which
carried him to the fort. He died six weeks afterward from

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

his wound. As soou as Vallis reached the fort a swivel gun
was fired to alarm the neighborhood. When the Indians
heard this gun they ran with Biggs for si.K miles. They
were without horses, but traveled forty miles the first day.
One of the Indians attempted to kill Biggs, but this his
comrades would not permit, and killed the Indian himself.
The Indians were Kickapoos, and traveled with Biggs to
their town on the Wabash. After some time he effected his
release by agreeing to pay a Spaniard, named Bazedone,
two hundred and sixty dollars ransom money, and thirty-
seven more for necessaries to enable him to make his journey
home. He reached Kaskaskia by way of the AVabash,
Ohio and Jlississippi rivers, and from there came to Belle-
fontaine. lie was a large and fine-looking man, and was
greatly admired by the Indian maidens, who were his warm
friends during his captivity. He wrote and published a
narrative of his adventures in 1820.

During the years 1789 and 1790 the Indians grew more
bold and troublesome, and numerous murders were com-
mitted. No family or individual was safe, night or day,
from their attacks. It is estimated that in these two years
one-tenth of the inhabitants of the county were massacred.
The Kickapoos were mostly the aggressors. They were
better armed and more vigorous than the other Indian
tribes, and prosecuted their war against the Americans with
great ferocity. The French settlers of Illinois almost en-
tirely escaped. The enmity of the savages was directed
altogether against the American population. In the xVmer-
ican Bottom, not far from where Fountain creek flows from
the bluff, three boys were attacked by six Indians in 1789.
One, David Waddle, was struck with a tomahawk in three
places and scalped, but still made his escape and recovered
from his wounds. His companions ran to the neighboring
fort and were uninjured. James Turner and John Ferrel
were killed the same year. James Dempsey was scalped
and left for dead, but recovered. In the winter of 1789-90,
a party of Osage Indians crossed the Mississippi and stole
some horses from the settlers in the American Bottom. A
party was hastily organized to pursue them toward the river
James Worley, being in advance of the others, was turned
upon, and killed and scalped by the Indians, before his
companions could come to his rescue. It is said that the
Indians cut off the head of Worley, and threw it toward the
whites as they advanced. It was seldom that the Osages,
who lived west of the Missiisippi, crossed the river to commit
depredations in Illinois.

A Baptist preacher from Kentucky, James Smith, while
journeying to the village of St. Phillips, in company with a
Frenchman and a Mrs. Huft" on the 19th of May, 1790, the
party was fired en by a band of Kickapoo Indians who were
concealed in a thicket near Bellefontaine. The horses of
the preacher and Frenchman were shot, and the woman was
wounded. Mrs. Huff was at once killed on falling into the
hands of the Indians; the Frenchman made his escape, and
Smith was taken prisoner. His saddle bags were found the
next day in a tlncket where he had thrown them at the time
of the attack. He was a large, heavy man, and the Indians
loaded him with a pack of plunder they had secured from

the settlements, and set out toward their town on the Wa-
bash. His march through the prairies, with a heavy load,
and under a hot sun, was excessively fatiguing Some of
the Indians propo.sed to kill him, and pointed their guns at
his breast. Having observed him praying and singing
hymns, they concluded that he was a good medicine man,
and held intercourse with the Great Spirit, and must not
therefore be killed. Through the agency of the French
traders at Yincennes, he was released, the people of the New
Design settlement paying one hundred and seventy dollars
for his ransom. He came back to Illinois, obtained his
saddle bags which contained valuable papers relating to the
titles of land belonging to his friends, and then returned to
Kentucky.

In May, 1791, John Demp.sey, who two years before had
been scalped by the Indians and left for dead, was again
attacked, and this time succeeded also in eftecting his escape.
A party of eight men hastened in pursuit of the Indians,
who were double the number of the whites. Captain Na-
thaniel Hull led the party, of whom the other members
were James Lemen, Joseph Ogle, Benjamin Ogle, Josiah
Kyan, William Bryson, John Porter and Daniel Raper.
The Indians were overtaken and a hot battle fought in the
timber at the Big Spring, about five miles north of the
present town of Waterloo, and a short distance east of the
St. Louis road. The fight was kept up from tree to tree, the
Indians endeavoring to escape and the whites pursuing.
Five of the Indians were killed, and not one of the whites
was injured.

In the year 179:.) a band of Kickapoo Indians stole some
horses from the Araericiin bottom near Eagle Clifi's, and an
expedition was organized to pursue the Indians. William
Whiteside was captain, and he was accompanied by Samuel
Judy, John Whiteside, Samuel Whiteside, William Harring-
ton, William L. Whiteside, John Porter, and John Dempsey.
They followed the Indian trail, passing near the site of the
present city of Belleville, towards the Indian camp on Shoal
creek. One of the party generally went before on the trail
to prevent the others from rushing int-i an ambuscade. It
was considered better that one should be killed than all the
party. They came up with the Indians on Shoal creek, and
found three of the horses grazing in the prairie. These
horses were secured, and then arrangements were made to
attack the Indian camp. Captain Whiteside divided his
force into two parties of four men each. These parties
attacked the camp from oj)posite sides at the same time, the
firing of the captain's gun being the sigual for the commence-
ment of the battle. One Indian, the son of the chief, was
killed, and several woundtd. The Indians ran off, leaving
their guns and everything else behind. The old chief, Pecon
by name, surrendered, and gave up his gun ti Whiteside.
He supposed from the bold attack that the whites were
numerous, but when he found their entire number consisted
of only eight men, he called in a loud voice for his men to
return, and at the same time attempted to wrench his gun
from Whiteside's hands. Whiteside was a large man of ex-
traordinary strength and easily retained the gun. While
the struggle was going on the whites were afraid to shoot at

HISTORY OF RAXDOLl'H, MONROE AXD PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

the Indian lest they might kill their captain. Whiteside
would not permit his men to injure an unarmed foe, and the
chief was suffered to escape. Captain Whiteside was famous
for his prudence, as well as iiis courage, and witli the horses
they had caught, started back, and neither ate nor slept till
they reached Wliiteside's station. Hia wisdom was verified,
for the very niglit of his arrival at the station Pecon and
seventy warriors, in pursuit, camped near Cahokia. The
next year, 1794, Pecon and his band shot Thomas Whiteside
near the station, and tomahawked a son of ('aptaiu White-
side^who had wandered some distance from the fort to play.

Captain Whiteside, however, had his revenge ne.xt year.
A Frenchman of Cahokia informed him tliat a considerable
number of Indians had camped under the bluff in St. Clair
county, near where the road from Belleville to St. Louis now
pasies. Captain Whiteside gathered a company of fourteen,
among which were Samuel Whiteside, William L. White-
side, John.son J. White.-ide, Samuel Judy, and Isaac Euochs,
and attacked the cam[) ju-st before the break of day, killing
all the Indians except one who ran off, and was killed, it is
said, by the other Indians for his cowardice. For man)'
years afterward the boues of these Indians could be seen
whitening the ground. In this battle Captain Whiteside
was wounded, and he su|)posed mortally. He fell to the
ground, but still continued to exhort his men to stand their
ground and never permit an Indian to touch his body when
he was dead, as he supposed he would be in a short time.
His son, Uel, was also wounded in his arm so that he could
not use his gun. He examined his father's wound, and
found that the ball had not i)assed through the body, but
had struck a rib and glanced off toward the spiue. The bul-
let could be felt uuder the skin. Every pioneer in those
davs was a surgeon, and with his butcher-knife he cut it out,
remarking, ' Father, you arc not dead yet.' Tlie old man
jumped to his feet, and continued his fight with the Indians.
On their return to Wliiteside's station the party halted in
Cahokia, at the house of Mrs. Rains, to care for the wounded
This lady had two beautiful aud intelligent daughters, and
this accidental meeting finally led to their marriage to Uel
and William 15. Whiteside.

The most serious and dreadful tragedy that ever occurred
in the county, or, indeed, in the State, wa.3 the murder of
the wife and four children of Robert McMahan, in January,
1795, three miles southeast of the New Design station. Mc-
Mahan was a native of Virginia, from which he emigrated
to Kentucky where, at Crab Orchard, he married Margaret
Cline. In the year 1703 he came to Illinois, and settled at
New Design. In 1794 he lived in a house near the station
belonging to James Lsmeii ; he had selected a location
in the prairie, and desiring to improve a farm had moved on
the land which was part of the northeast quarter of section
nineteen, township three south, range nine west. No other
house was in sight. He made prepirations to defend him.self
and family from an attack by the Indians. He ha<l a rifle,
and only a week before the tragedy, had run two hundred
rifle balls. He also kept at the house a blunderbuss loaded
with six charges of powder aud nine balls. " When you
hear the report of mv blunderbuss," said he to his friends at
11

the station, "you may be certain that I am attacked." The
door of his house was so constructed that it might be strongly
barred, and port holes were made in the walls through which
he might shoot any oue who should attcm|)t to ascend to the
roof The murders took place ou the twenty-sixth of Jan-
uary, 179-3. On the morniug of that day McMahan went
out to hunt for his oxen, when he perceived that his horse,
which was confined in a pen, appeared to be frightened. He
cast his eye over the prairie in every direction, but saw no
enemy. A lone hickory tree, one hundred and fifty yards
from the house, had been blown down the previous fall while
in full leaf, and thus furnished a convenient hiding place for
an attacking party. Unfortunately he did not think that a
deadly enemy might be hid behind' this convenient covert.

lie entered his house but had not been indoors more than
two or three minutes, when four Indians, frightfully painted
black and red, entered the house, two by two, saying " Bon
jour I B )U jour !" (good day I g )od day I ) a salutation which
they had eviJently learned from thair intercourse with the
French. They stood motionless a few seconds, when one of
them attempted to take down McMalun's rifle from the
hooks, and McMahan took iloivii his blunderbuss; but his
wife took hold of it and begged him not to resist as she
hoped their lives might be sjiared if they submitted peace-
ably, but otherwise they would be killed. The Indians then
seized the blunderbuss, and wrenched it from liis hands.
Every oue then made for the door. Mrs. JIcMahau ran
half way around the house, when she wa-- shot in the left
breast aud scalped. McMahan was then pulled back into
the house, thrown on the floor, and his hands pinioned close
behind him, wiitli deer siue*s. .Sally McMillan, the oldest
daughter, then les-s than throeycars ol<l. remained in the house,
and saw one of the Indians knock her brother and two of her
sisters on the head with the |)ole of his tomahawk. It was
a light blow, only sufiicieut to stun them. This Indiin was
proceeding to open the cradle where lay a female infant,
only one month old, when Sally ran out of the house, and
once around it, when she was also seized b_v him. Three of
the children were scalped. The infant likewise was mur-
dered.

The Indians took from the house such articles as they
wanted, packed a part of them upon Jlcilahan, untying one
of his hands so that he might hold the load on his back.
Thev were in a great hurry to got off. Sally ilcMahan was
also taken along as a prisoner. They set out for the Indian
town iu the northeast part of Illinois. They crossed Prairie
du Long creek, not far from its mouth, and camped the
first night on Richland creek, about half a mile below the
present town of Belleville. ^IcMahan meditated an escape,
but did not make known his intention to his daughter. The
first night the Indians tied hira securely, and took away his
shoes aud hat and part of his clothes, so that he had no op-
portunity. They also tied ou him a belt, partly wrought with
porcupine (juills and small bells, so that if he stirre<l, the
bells would rattle and give the alarm. After the journey
was commenced the Indians were kind and friendly, fixing the
shoes of Sally McMahan, and making her as comfortable as
possible. The second night Mc.Nlalian quietly slipped the

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

cords from his limbs and body, and was about to rise, when
one of the Indians raised up his head, and looked around,
but laid down again without noticing him. When the
Indian had again gone to sleep, McMahan made his escape,
without his shoes, bat, and with but little of his clothing.
He covered some of his clothing over the belt of bells, so
that they made no noise. He slipped back to the camp, and
tried to get his shoes, or a pair of moccasins from the Indians,
but could get neither. He starced for the New Design, as
well as he could judge of the course. He was nearly fam-
ished. While with the Indians a small pittance of dried
meat had been his only food. The Indians, themselves, were
without provisions, and in an almost starving condition. He
lay out one night, making his bed of leaves under a large
fallen tree, which was held up from the ground by its
branches. His feet and elbows were partially frozen, but
with the daylight he resumed his journey He visited the
New Design settlement, but near Prairie du Rocher saw
Samuel Judy. When he reached New Design his condition
was deplorable. His clothing was torn and tattered, his
feet bruised and bleeding, and his limbs partially frozen.

His wife and children lay dead for several days before the
murder was discovered by the neighbors. A small dog,
which had been much admired and petted by McMahan's
family, came frequently to the house of James Lemen, whin-
ing, and running backyvard and forward in an unusual
manner. No one took any hint from the actions of the dog,
though the cause of its distress was plainly enough afterward
made manifest. Old Mr. Judy was the first to discover the
dead bodies, and shed tears when he told the sad story of the
murder. The neighbors went out and buried the dead all in
one grave, and on the night of the same day funeral services
were held at the house of James Lemen. At nine or ten
o'clock, just as the meeting closed MeMahan entered the
house from Prairie du Rocher. The little dog at first did
not know his master, so changed was he by his hardships and
sufferings, but the moment he looked into his face he leaped
into his lap with extravagant demonstrations of joy. The
whole assembly was profoundly aflected, and McMahan burst
into loud lamentations over the fate of his family.

After McMahan's escape the Indians traveled with their
remaining captive, Sally McMahan, to the home of tha
Putawahs, southwest of Lake Michigan. Here she was
transferred to an Ottawa Indian named Sukkonok, who had
become a chief in the Putawah tribe and whose wife was
the sister of the three who had been concerned in the
massacre. By the treaty of Greenville, following Wayne's
victory over the Indians in 1795, the Indians engaged to
bring to the white settlements all the captives in their pos-
session. In accordance with this agreement Sukkonok, in
April, 1796, brought Sally McMahan in a canoe,, down the
Illinois and Mississippi rivers to Cahokia where she was de-
livered to the white people. It was during the session of the
court, and a great many people were present. The Indian
chief made a speech in which he said that he had no hand in
the massacre and had paid a considerable sum for the captive,
and had brought her from a great distance to the white
settlements. He therefore appealed to the liberality qf the

white people to make him a just compensation. A subscrip-
tion paper was drawn up, and one hundred and sixty-four
dollars raised, which amount, in goods, was advanced to Suk-
konok by Mr. Arundel, a merchant of Cahokia. Robert
McMahan married a second wife, and raised a large family.
He lived for some years on Ralls' ridge, near Red Bud, in
Randolph county, and was justice of the peace and judge of
the Randolph county court. He afterward removed to the
vicinity of Troy, in Ridge prairie, in Madison county, where
he died in the year 1822 at the age of sixty-three. Sally,
his daughter, who was born in March, 1785, married David
Gaskill, in Ridge prairie, Madison county, where the greater
part of her life was spent. She died in the city of Alton, ou
the tweuty-lhird of January, 1850.*

EARLY MILLS.

The first water mill in the county seems to have been
Judy's mill, built a short distance east of Whiteside's
station by Jacob Judy in 1794. It was of great
service to the pioneer settlers. A few years afterward a
number of mills were built in the same neighborhood. Some
were propelled by water, and some were the old band mills.
George Valentine was the builder of a mill on a stream nearly
west of Judy's mill. On Fountain creek, west of Waterloo, an
Irishman, named Halfpenny, one of the early school teachers
in Illinois, built a water mill about the year 1795. On
Ryan's creek, between Monroe City and the bottom, a mill
was built by Josiah Ryan in the year 1798. All traces of
this mill, and that on Fountain creek, have long since dis-
appeared. Andrew Kinney was the first builder of a mill
on the site of Monroe City. It did a prosperous business in
early days, and made considerable quantities of flour for the
St. Louis and other markets. Soon after the opening of the
present century more mills were built. Two men named
Tate and Singleton built a good stone mill on Fountain
creek, a few miles southwest of Waterloo, in the year 1802.

DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE.

The most terrific hurricane that ever swept over the county
occurred on the fifth of June, 1805 It moved from the
northwest to the southeast, and crossed the Mississippi about
a mile below the mouth of the Merrimac, passing through
the present Moredock precinct. Its track was about three-
quarters of a mile in width. It prostrated trees, and even
swept the water out of the river and the lakes in the Ameri-
can Bottom. W^illiam Blair, who had a boat moored in the
river, near the place where the storm crossed it, asserted that
for three-quarters of a mile the water was raised out of the
river by the violence of the tempest. Fish from the river
and lakes were scattered all over the prairie in its course.
It occurred about one o'clock in the afternoon. The sun
previously had been shining, and the atmosphere had been
clear. Col. James A. James, resided with his father nearly
in its course, and was an eye-witness to the terrible storm.

Reynolds' Pioneer History of the McMahan ma9s»cre
lorrect. He states that two daughters were taken
IS only one. The facts, as above narrated, .-igree with
the statements made by the daughter, Mrs. Gaskill, to George Churchill, a
careful and aocurate writer of Madison county, who prepared an account of
the affair in 18&5.

* The account given :
is, in some instances, i
prisoners, when there i

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

The family fled from its track. Dr. Cairnes and his family
were directly iu its course and saw it approaching, and suc-
ceeded in saving their lives A.s the Doctor and his family
were running for safety the storm overtook them. His wife
was behind, and she lay flat on the earth and held to a bush.
Kails, tree-tops and almost every movable thing were dashed
around her with great force, and she was wounded in the
head, but not fatally. The rest of the family escaped unhurt.
Dr. Cairnes' cattle came running home before the hurricane
reached the house and barn, bellowing and much terrified.
They all peri.^hed. A hors3 iu a lot near the house was
killed by a fence rail running through him. Every log in
the house and the last rock in the foundation of the chimney
were swept away. Everything movable was destroyed and
torn to pieces. A large bull was raised high in the air, and
after being carried a considerable distance, was dashed to the
ground with every bone in his carcass broken. By the time
the storm reached the Mississippi bluffs, its force was nearly
spent, and no injury was done on the hills. The clothes and
all the household furniture of Dr. Cairnes were destroyed,
and scattered far and near. One of his waistcoats was found
in the Little prairie, where his father resided, si.'i or eight
miles distant. Tops of pine trees from Missouri, which did
not grow nearer than fifty or sixty miles from the American
Bottom, could be seen. In the midst of the storm it was
very dark.

PERRY COUNTY.
The eaily settlers chose the timbered sections of the place
where they chanced to locate in preference to the open
l)rairie. ]\Iany ascribe as a reason for such choice, that
they believed the prairies were so poor that they would
not produce timber, and hepce were too barren to yield
crops for the sustenance of themselves and families. This,
however, is an error. The true reason for the selection of
homes iu the timber may be thus enumerated : First, the
pioneers put U|) their cabins where wood was plentiful for
building and fuel, and where the timber afforded shelter
from wintry blasts and the scorching sun of summer ;
secondly, in the early days the prairies were covered with a
dense growth of grass, and during the greater portion of the
year the surface was covered with water, thus preventing a
supply of that article in a wholesome state, which could be
readily obtained in the timber ; thirdly, the prairie sod was
so strong that they were unable to break it up for cultiva-
tion, owing to the primitive nature of their agricultural
implements.

The first white man to h)cate permanently iu Perry
county, of which we have any reliable data, was John Flack,
who settled in Four Mile prairie, with his family, in 1799.
He built his rude log cabin on the southwest quarter of .sec-
tion eleven, iu township six, south of range three, in what is
now a part of Pinckneyville precinct. When John Flack
came to his new home, he found but one white man in the
county. This man's name was Cox, and with his family, he
had taken up his temporary abode on claim No. 1,410, sur-
vey No. 459— the only survey or claim within the limits of

the county. The claim was located in sections seventeen
and eighteen, iu towushipsix, range two, on Bjaucoup creek ;
and also in Pinckneyville precinct. The abode of Cox,
prior to his advent to this county, or whence he removed, is
no longer known. The old pi'ineer, John Flack, left a son,
John Flack, whom the later settlers found living in the Four
Mile prairie.

B A Brown and family were among the early settlers
and neighbors of John Flack. They lived in the Six Mile
prairie; bat all traces of the family have long since been
lost. We find an entry of the west half of the northeast
quarter of section nineteen, in township six south, of range
three west, in the name of Benjamin Brown, as early as
Mf>rch 16, 1819. The next to locate permanently in the
county was the Hutchings family. In May, 181G, John afld
William Hutchings. brothers, with their families, camped
upon the banks of Beaucoup creek, in what is now Beau-
coup precinct. They were on their way from Tennessee to
Missouri, and had no intention of remaining psrmauently.
After a few days rest they pushed onward, and on reaching
Katcliff's or Sawyer's point, in Washington county, fifteen
miles distant, they abandoned their journey, and returned to
their old former camping place, where they had found game
and honey in abundance, and where the productive appear-
ance of the surrounding country had favorably impressed
them during their transient sojourn. John Hutchings'
family consisted of a wife, four children, and three slaves,
Landon Parks and Agis, his wife, and a colored woman
named Dinah. William Hutchings' family was composed of
a wife, six children, and a young woman named Dv.dilah
Jones, who afterward became the wife of John R. Hutch.
ings, his eldest son. This party of emigrants had made the
journey in old-fashioned wagons, drawn by horses, and com-
prisec" eighteen persons iu all. The Hutchings were natives
of North Carolina, where they married. John Hutchings
built his first cabin on the northwest quarter of section uiue-
teen, in township four south, of range two, which he entered
July 2-5, 1817. He sub.sequently built a two story frame
house near his cabin. This was known for many years as
the " Travelers' Inn." William Hutchings built his first
house in the south edge of the prairie, which took his name.
Here he resided until 1819, on what is now known as the
Watson place, and died in 1820. The Hutchings family
were prominent and useful citizens, and the eldest son of
William, John K. Hutchings, was one of the earliest
teachers and Baptist ministers. He was also one of the
commissioners chosen to se'ect the site of Piuckneyville, and
held many of the county offices, among the number that of
judge. Wesley W. Hutchings, born at the pioneer home, on
the 4th of October, 1822, is the only survivor of William
Hutchings' family, and now resides in the Three Mile prai-
rie, Washington county, this state. Mrs. Mary Ivice, widow
of Hiram Kicp, and daughter of John Hu'chings, is the only
survivor of the eighteen pioneers, and was but five years old
when brought to the territory by her father iu May, 1816.
The nearest trading points at the time of the settlement by
the Hutchings, were Kaskaskia and St. Louis, and the only
articles of trade were deerskins, honey and beeswax, which

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

were exchanged for such necessaries as were required. John
Huggius, who was au early settler of Cutler, came to Illinois
in 1802. He yet lives in section tweuty-one, and is a native
of South Carolina.

The first to seek a home within the limits of what is now
Du Quoin precinct, was Jarrold Jackson, who exacted a toll
from travelers for crossing a bridge over Little Muddy, in
1803, on the road leading from Shawneetown to Kaskaskia.
Thomas Taylor, a native of South Carolina, came into this
precinct =n 1812, from Jackson county, to which place he
had emigiated in 1803. Lewis Wells, also a native of South
Carolina, an old neighbor of Taylor, and one of the early
county commissioners, moved to Jackson county in 1804 ;
and fjom there came with Taylor, to what is now Perry
counly, in 1812. Mr. Wells resided in Du Quoin precinct
until 1846, the yeflr of his death. He had reached the ripe
age of ninety-six years. John Campbell, who, at his death,
left his children, John, Washington, Isaac, Alexander and
Charles living in the precinct, came from Tennessee in 18] 2,
and gettlrd in the neighborhood of Wells and Taylor. In
1815, Tamaroa precinct received its first permanent resident
in the person of the parents of Edward T. Rees. They
settled near a water course, now known as Rees' creek.
Edwaid T. Rees has been honored with the responsible
position of County Judge, by his fellow gitizens.

Du Quoin precin"t received within its borders as perma-
nent citizens, in 1816, Hiram Root and Ephraim Skinner
and their families. They were natives of New York. Mr.
Skinner lived but four years after their arrival.

Simon Wiiliard and family settled in the southwest in 1817.
He located on section two, township six south, range four;
and when the land came into market, he entered it January
19, 1819. There were 504.60 acres in the tract. His
neighbor, James Craine, improved and made his hoae
on the nrrthcast quarter of section thirteen, township
six ran we four. Mr. Craine entered this tract in the
land office in Kaskaskia, May 14, 1818. Benjamin Brown
was also a neighbor in 1817. His home was on the west
half of the southeast quarter of section eleven of the same
township. Richard Green, Robert Crow and Robert John-
son with their families, were living in the neighborhood.
William H. Threlkel, Jacob Short and John Stuart were
also residents of this section, and their names are intimately
interwoven in the earlier civil history of the county as
men of unqucsliontd honesty and ability. They were
natives of New York, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Stephen
Kelly was also a pioneer of this neighborhood. The Pyle
family, whose names appear prominently in the civil history
of the county, in pioneer days, and many of whose descend-
ants are now respected citizens of the county, came to what
is now Du Quoin precinct, from Tennessee, in 1819. There
were three brothers, John, William and Abner, all men with
families of well-grown children. Grand Cote received its
first settler in 1819. Thomas Swanwick, a native of
Chester, England, entered the northwest quarter, and the
east half of the southwest quarter of section eleven in town-
ship four south of r nge four, on the thirteenth day of
February, 1818. The land entered by this old pioneer is

now occupied by his son, Joel J. Swanwick, now past the
meridian of life. James McMurdo came with Mr. Swan-
wick, and now resides in Randolph county. The next ac-
cession to the settlement of Grand Cote, was Wil'iam P.
Elliott, who came from Georgia in 1820. He located on
the twentieth section, built his cabin, and in the spring of
1821, brought his family to his new home. He was an en-
terprising citizen, and was the first to operate a mill in this
section of the county. He built a tug or band mill as early
as 1822. The burrs were made from boulders picked up on
the prairie.

In 1822, Shadrach Lively made an improvement in the
southwest corner of Holt's Prairie. Between the years
1820 and 1830, Du Quoin precinct received a large number
of settlers, among whom were Robrrt McElvain, Rodney
Bolin and others. The widow of Rodney Bjlin died a few
years since, being past ninety years of age. In this decade,
Daniel Dry, the first county treasurer, after the organization
of the county, arrived iu Du Quoin precinct. It is said
that Mr. Dry, in company with his wife, made the entire
journey from Pennsylvania, on foot, bringing his entire
worldly wealth in an old barrel, mounted on two wheels.
This improvised cart he propelled before him as he trudged
on his wearisome way in search of a home in the western
wilds. He spent the remainder of his days in the county,
leaving behind him an unsullied reputation, and a large
number of descendants, who have kept the family name un-
tarnished. David H. Mead was also a pioneer of the same
neighborhood. His name appears prominently in the civil
history of ihe county. In the year 1824, Du Quoin re-
ceived other permanent and enterprising settlers in the per-
sons of Zachariah Clinton, Green Durriugton and Micajah
Phelps, all with familifs, who came direct from their
homes in Kentucky. Also, Dr. Joseph Brayshaw, an En-
glishman ; Avery Chapman and Joshua Davis, who settled
upon what is now the site of Old Du Quoin. Cutler pre-
cinct was colonized in 1825, by a band of sturdy pioneers,
who made permanent settlements. They were natives of
Smith county, Tennessee. Enoch Eaton, who still lives upon
his old homestead, the northeast quarter of section- twenty-
four, in township five south, range four, was the first of the
company to arrive with his wife and two children. Oneofhis
sons, R H. Eaton, is now a resident of Pinckneyville. He
made the journey with the old-fashioned wagon, drawn by
horses. He was soon followed by his father, who brought his
family in a cart drawn by a bull. With Eaton, Sr , came
John Murphy, father of Robert, James, Richard G., and
William C, all of whom came with their iiUher and were
prominent in the early histoty of the county. Hon. Wil-
liam K. Murphy, of Pinckneyville is a grandson of this
pioneer, Richard Green and family of New York ; Hugh
Brown from South Carolina; Matthew Vann of Tennessee;
Andrew Cooper of South Carolina were among Enoch
Eaton's first and early neighbors. James Brown, also a
native of South Carolina, settled near Galum as early as
1825. The next accession to Grand Cote was Jonathan
Petit, who came from the " Irish settlement " in Randolph
County, in the spring of 1825. He settled on section thirty

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

of township four south, of rauge four. In the same fall, he
disposed of his improvement to Absalom Wilson of Wash
ington County, Virginia. Sir. Wilson did not occup)' his
new house, however, until 1840. George Cherry from the
Chester District, South Carolina, also came into Grand
Cote the same year, and settled on section five, where he
continued to reside until his death, which occurred in
March, 1857.

The year 1826 brought so many permanent settlers into
the territory now comprising the county, that toward the close
of the year the necessary steps were taken to secure the organi-
zation of the county. Among the number who took up their
abode within its limits were : David Deal, a native of Ten-
nessee. He brought a wife and family of six children, two
sons and four daughters ; two of the latter are now residents
of Franklin county, this .state, the rest being dead. He
built his humble cabin on section twenty-eight. He subse-
quently purchased the improvement of David Rees, who had
made his appearance about the same time as Mr. Deal, and
had built his cabin on section twenty-one. After purchas-
ing Jlr. Rees' improvement, Mr. Deal entered the land.
Abraham Jlorgan and family made themselves houses in
what is now Taniaroa precinct, as early as 182G. They
lived upon, and were the first occupants of what is now
known as the Samuel Benson place; and there entered the
southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section
eighteen of township four south, range one west.

Fiyckneyville precinct received numerous accessions in

1826. Among the number were Ephraim Bilderback and
Charles Garner, who came from Randolph county and
settled in the southwestern portion of the Four-mile prairie,
in the spring of that year. Matthew Jones settled on the
west side of Holt's Prairie in 1826. John Hazzard and
John Berry came with Jones and made themselves houses
in the same prairie. All were natives of Tennessee. Abner
Flack, a native of South Carolina, took up his abode in the
Four-mile prairie the same year; and George Franklin
made his house, one-half mile south of the present site of
Piuckneyville at the tame time. The year 1827, brought
with it some of the pioneers, whose names are interwoven
inseparably with the early political history of the county.
Chief among the number was Humphrey B. Jones. Mr.
Jones was a native of Kentucky and first came to Jackson
county, Illinois, ia 1821. There he continued to reside
until the twenty-first daj' of April, li-27, when he changed
his residence to the new county of Perry. His first house
was in Pinckueyville, near the site of the "old spring."
Among his surviving children is the wife of Charles H. Roe,
the efficient Circuit Clerk of the county. Mr. Jones held
many of the official positions in the county, as will be seen
by a reference to the civil chapter. He was a scholarly
gentleman, an able lawyer and successful physician. He
died at his home in Piuckneyville, his aged wife following
but a few years since. Fergus Milligan, another of the
more prominent early settlers, first came to the county in

1827. He was a native of Iredell county. North Carolina,
and arrived in the .spring, first settling the land now known
as the Harmony place, three miks northwest of Pinckney"

ville. When he came to the county, his family cons'sted of
a wife and nine children. Not being satisfied with the
selection first made, in the fall of the same year, he removed
to Four-mile prairie, and seltctid a house on the southwest
quarter of the southeast quarter of section eleven, township
six south, of range three, and there died some years since.
Afton Crawford settled in the south end of the Four-mile
prairie, in 1827, and improved what is now known as the
'' old Bill Murphy " place. Jonathan Petit, from Randolph
county, improved what is now the county poor farm, as
early as 1827.

The population of Tamaroa precinct was largely increased
in 1828. Nathan G. Curlee, one of the pioneer local
preachers, found a home on section seventeen of township
four, rauge one. The first neighbor of Mr. Curlee was
Benjamin Hammack, who brought his family, and selected
a portion of section seventeen, township four, range one, as
hid home. Mr. Hammack was a native of Virginia, but
came to Perry from Jackson county. His family consisted
of a wife and four children. Lewis Hammack, a prominent
lawyer of Pinckueyville, is a son. Immediately following
Mr. Hammack came Stephen Brown, who settled on the
same section.

Paradise precinct received as pioneers in 1828, Edward,
Minyard i\nd Robert Gilliam, brothers, with their families
from Bradford county, Tennessee. The prairie in which
they settled now bears their name. The two first named
died in the precinct and Robert in Te.xas. James Jones, a
brother of William Jones who first came into the township
in 1827, and bought the claim of a settler nan)ed Alexander
Clark, arrived from Tenne.ssee with a wife and family of
several children in 1828. With James Jones came an old
Tennessee neighbor, by the name of John M. Haggard, who
came along to see the country. Being well pleased he
immediately returned to his old home and brought out his
fomily — a wife and child. To the little settlement of Grand
Cote was added in 1828, James Kirkpatrick and family of
South Carolina, » ho made their home on section nine.
Among the number of pioneers of 1^28, settling in Pinck-
ueyville, \vere James Steele, who settled in the Four-mile
prairie; and William Craig who found a home in the
immediate vicinity. Joshua M Rice, a native of Tennessee
arrived in 1829. and settled in Hutchings' prairie, where he
raised one crop ; and changed his home to township four
the following year. Peyfam Brown was also a settler in the
immediate neighborhood the same year. Among the
numerous accessions to the county from the years 1829 to
1838 inclusive, were Reuben Kelly and Isaac McCollum, of
Paradise; the Blands of Taniaroa; John White, Robert H.
Allen, William M. .\dair, Hugh Cooper, Alexander Crsig,
William Jvainey, Benjamin Ragland, Solomon Maxwell,
John jNIcMillen, John Hughey, Newton FiankKn ib\
Joel Rushing, all in Grand Cote. The last named, Joel
Rushing, was a native of Anson County, North Carolina,
and while a mere boy was taken to Bedford County, Ten-
nessee. Here he grew to manhood, found a wife in the
person of Miss Susannah Hale, and came to Pcriy County
in December, 18.38; and bought one hundred and twenty

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

acres of land from James McMillan's father. Evan B.
Rushing, one of the leading lawyers of the Perry county
bar, is a son of this pioneer. Jeremiah Dennis, Jacob
Walker; Campbell Stuart, James Meadows and Edmund
Hodges sought homes in Beaucoup precinct during this
period. Among the earliest pioneers who attained deserved
political prominence was Hawkins S. O^burn, who ably
represented his people in the General Assembly of the
state, both in the House and Senate. He was a lover of
fine horses, accumulated a handsome property and died a
few years ago at a ripe old age. His sou, Thomas Osburn,
now lives upon the old homestead, and is said to be a
counterpart of his honored father.

We have thus briefly sketched the early pioneer history
of the county ; and the reader desirous of obtaining a more
extended history of those named in this chapter, or whose
names do not appear, will find what they seek in the
several precinct histories.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE AMERICAN PIONEERS.

The early American settlers were principally from the
Southern States of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Some came from Pennsylvania and Maryland. A New
England emigrant was rare. Their sense of independence
was one of the marked traits of their character. By the
necessities of their situation they were forced into singular
and different employments. They were compelled to act as
mechanics, to make their plows, harness and other farming
implements, to tan their leather, to hunt game, while at the
signal of danger they unhitched their horses from the plow,
and were ready to march to any part of the territory in
defence of their homes.

While the majority of settlers were without means, pov-
erty carried with it no crushing sense of degradation like
that felt by the very poor of our day. They lived, it is
true, in a cabin, but it was their own, and had been reared
by their own hands. Their house, too, while inconvenient
and far from water-proof, was built in the prevailing style
of architecture, and would compare favorably with the
homes of their neighbors. They were destitute of many of
the conveniences of life, and of some things that are now
considered necessaries ; but they patiently endured their lot
and hopefully looked forward to better. They had plenty
to wear as protection against the weather, and an abundance
of ivholesome food. They sat down to a rude table to eat
from tin or pewter dishes ; but the meat thereon spread —
the flesh of the deer or bear ; of the wild duck or turkey ;
of the quail or squirrel — was superior to that we eat, and
had been won by the skill of the head o*' the house or of
that of his vigorous sous. The bread they ate was made
from corn or wheat of their own raising. They walked the
green carpet of the grand prairie or forest that surrounded
them, not with the air of a beggar, but with the elastic step
of a self-respected freeman.

The settler brought with him the keen axe, which was
indispensable, and the equally necessary rifle ; the first his
weapon of offence against the forests that skiited the water-
courses, and near which he made his home ; the second that

of defence from the attacks of his foe, the cunning child of
the forest and prairie.

The manner of building was as follows : First, large logs
were laid in position as sills ; on these were placed strong
sleepers, and on the sleepers were laid the rough-hewed
puncheons, which were to serve as floors. The logs were
then built up till the proper height for the eaves was
reached ; then on the ends of the building were placed poles,
longer than the other end-logs, which projected some
eighteen or more inches over the sides, and were called
" butting-pole sleepers ;" on the projecting ends of these
was placed the " butting-pole," which served to give the
line to the first row of clap-boards. These were, as a
matter of course, split, and as the gables of the cabin were
built up, were so laid on as to lap a third of their length.
They were often kept in place by the weight of a heavy
pole, which was laid across the roof parallel to the ridge-
pole. The house was then chinked, and daubed with a
coarse mortar.

A huge fire-place was built at one end of the house, in
which fire was kindled for cooking purposes, for the settlers
were generally without stoves, with which to furnish the
needed warmth in winter. The ceiling above was some-
times covered with the pelts of the raccoon, opossum, and
of the wolf, to add to the warmth of the dwelling. Some-
times the soft inner bark of the bags wood was used for the
same purpose. The cabin was lighted by means of greased
paper-windows. A log would be left out along one side, and
sheets of strong paper, well greased with coon-grecse or
bear oil, would be carefully tacked in.

The above description only applies to the very earliest
times, before the rattle of the saw-mill was heard within our
borders.

The furniture comported admirably with the house itself,
and hence, if not elegant, was in most perfect taste. The
tables had four legs, and were rudely made from a puncheon.
Their seats were stools having three or four legs. The bed-
stead was in keeping with the rest, and was often so
contrived as to permit it to be drawn up and fastened to the
wall during the day, thus attbrding more room to the
family. The entire furniture was simple, and was framed
with no other tools than an axe and auger. Each was his
own carpenter; and some displayed considerable ingenuity
in the construction of implements of agriculture, and
utensils, and furniture for the kitchen and house. Knives
and forks they sometimes had, and sometimes had not The
common table knife was the pack knife or butcher-knife.
Horse collars were sometimes made of the plaited husk of
the maize sewed together. They were easy on the neck of
the horse, and if tug-traces were used, would last a long
while.

The common dress of the American pioneer was very
similar. Home-made wool hats were usually worn. The
covering of the feet were, in winter, mostly moccasins made
of deer skin and shoe-packs of tanned leather. In the
summer, the greater portion of the young people, male and
female, and many of the old, went bare-footed. The sub-
stantial and universal wear was the blue linsey hunting-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY' COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

shirt. Gov. Reynolds says that this was a most excellent
garment, and that he never felt so healthy and happy after
layicig it off. Many pioneers wore the white blanket coat
(the French rupot) in the winter. These were made loose
with a cap or cape to turn over the head in extreme cold
weather. The vest was mostly made of striped linsey. The
coliirs were made with alum, copperas and madder, boiled
with the bark of trees in such manner and proportions as
the old ladies prescribed. The shirts worn by the Americans
were generally horn? made, of flax and cotton material.
Some voyagtrs and hunters among the Americans wore
calico and checked shirts, but these were not in common
use. The pantaloons of the masses were generally deer-
skins and linsey, and sometimes a coarse blue cloth was
used. In early times factory made goods did not exi.st.
These goods, from New England and Kentucky, reached
Illinois about the year 1818, and then looms and spinning
ceased. Every pioneer had a rifle and carried it almo.'it
wherever he went. On the Sabbath a stack of rifles might
be seen outside the house of worship while within the
congregation were attending service. Almost everybody
was a hunter, and a deer was as likely to be seen on Sunday
as on any other day of the week. Neat and fine linsey,
manufactured at home and colored and woven to suit the
fancy, composed the outside garments of the females. A
bonnet of calico or some gayly-checked goods, was worn on
the head, in the open air. Jewelry was unusual. A gold
ring was an ornament not often seen.

The style of dress began to change about the year 1820.
The blue linsey hunting-shirt with red or whit^ fringe gave
place to the cloth coat. Boots and shoes supplanted the
deer skin moccasin. By the year 1830 a man dressed in
the costume of the territory, raccoon-skin cap, hunting-
shirt, buckskin breeches and moccasins, with a belt around
the waist to which a knife and tomahawk were appended,
was rarely to be seen. The female sex made still more
rajjid progress in adopting modern costumes.

The pioneers were exceedingly friendly and sociable. A
new comer was heartily welcomed. When a log cabin was
to be raised, whether invited or not, they gathered together
and enjoyed a backwoods frolic in putting it up. At these
house-raisings much sport and amusement were indulged in.
The young men and boys tried their strength and skill at
jumping, wresiling, and running foot-races. Old and young
took part in the game of leap frog. Shooting at marks was
practiced among those most skilled in the use of the rifle.
Among a group of older men would figure a Kentuckian
relating his adventures on flat-boats, " the old Broad Horn,"
to New Orleans. At times, a bottle, called " Black Betty,"
filled with Monongahela whiskey, made its appearance, and
then was told the "hair-breadth escapes" and thrilling
adventures of the pioneers. A log-rolling, corn husking, or
bee ( f any kind, called the settlers together for miles around.
The whole neighborhood assembled and split rails, cleartd
land, plowed up whole fields, and the like. Pioneer amuse-
ment generally clo.sed the day. With the invitation to the men
commonly came one to the women, to come to a quilting.
The good woman of the house where the festivities were to

take place, would be busily engaged for a day or more in
preparation for the coming guests. Great quantities of
provisions were to be prepared, for dyspepsia was unknown
to the pioneer, and good appetites were the rule and not the
exception.

"The bread used at these frolics was baked generally on
Jonny or Jouniiij cake-boards, and is the best corn-bread
ever made. A board is made smooth, about two feet long,
and eight inches wide — the ends are generally rounded.
The dough is spread out on this board, and placed haning
before the fire. One side is baked, and then the dough is
changed on the board, so the other side is prcfeented, in its
turn, to the fire. This is Joiiiii/-cake, and is good, if the
proper materials are put in the dough, an<l it is properly
baked." — ReynnUlf' Pioneer Hidury.

At all logrollings and house raisings it was customary to
provide liquor. Excesses were not indulged in, however.
The fiddler was never forgotten. After the day's work had
been accomplished, out doors and in, by men and women,
the floor was cleared and the merry dance began. The
handsome, stalwart young men, whose fine forms were the
result of their manly out door life, clad in fringed buckskin
breeches and gaudily colored hunting-shirts, led forth the
bright-eyed, buxom damsels, attired in neatly-fitling- linsey-
woolsey garments, to the dance, their cheeks glowing with
health and eyes speaking of enjoyment, and perhaps a
tenderer emotion.

The following description of a "Shucking " of the oldea
time is taken from Reynolds' Pioneer History of Illinois:

" In pure pioneer times the crops of corn were never
husked on the stalk, as is done at this day; but were hauled
home in the hu.'-k and thrown in a heap, generally by the
side of the crib, so that the ears, when husked, could be
thrown direct into the crib. The whole neighborhood, male
and female, were invited to the slmelrimj, as it was called.
The girls, and many of the married ladies, generally
engaged in this amusing work.

'• In the first place two leading expert buskers were
chosen as captains, and the heap of corn divided as nearly
equal as possible. Rails were laid across the pile so as to
designate the division ; and then each captain chose, alter-
nately, his corps of buskers, male and female. The whole
number of working hands present were selected, on one side
or the other, and then each party commenced a contest to
beat the other, which was in many cases truly exciting.
One other rule was, that whenever a male husked a red ear
of corn, he was entitled to a ki.s from the girls This
frequently excited much fuss and scuffling, which was
intended by both parties to end in a kiss. It was a
universal practice that iaffia or Jlonongahela whiskey was
used at these husking frolics, which they drank out of a
bottle, each one, male and female, taking the bottle and
drinking out of it, and then handing it to his next neighbor,
without using any glass or cup whatever. This custom was
common, and not considered rude. Almost always these
corn-shucks ended in a dance. To prepare for this amuse-
nunt fiddles and fidillers were in great demand; and it
often required much fast riding to obtain them. One violin

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

and a performer were all that was conteraplated at these
innocent rural games.

" Towards dark, and the supper ladf over, then it was that
a bustle and confusion commenced. The confusion of tongues
at Babel would have been ashamed at the corn-huskings.
The young ones hurrying off the table, and the old ones
contending for time and order. It was the case, nine
times out of ten, that but one dwelling-house was on the
premises, and that was used for eating as well as dancing.

" But wlien the fiddler commenced tuning his instrument,
the music always gained the victory for the young side.
Then the dislies, victuals, table and all, disappeared in a
few minutes, and the room was cleared, the dogs driven out,
and the floor swept off ready for action. The floors of these
houses were sometimes the natural earth, beat solid, some-
times the earth, with puncheons in the middle over the po-
tato-hole, and at times the whole floor was made of pun-
cheons.

" The music at these country dances made the young folks
almost frantic, and sometimes much excitement was dis-
played to get on the floor first. Generally the fiddler on
these occasions assumed an important bearing, and ordered,
in true professional style, so and so to be done ; as that was
the way in North Carolina, where he was raised. The de-
cision ended the contest for the floor. In those days they
danced jigs and four-handed reels, as they were called.
Sometimes three-handed reels were also danced.

" In these dances there was no standing still ; all were
moving at a rapid pjce from the beginning to the end. In
the jigs the by-standers cut one another out, as it was called,
so that this dance would last fur hours. Sometimes the par-
ties in a jig tried to tire one another down in the dance, and
then it would also last a long time before one or the other
gave up.

"The cotillion or stand-dill dances were not then known.

"The bottle went around at these parties as it did at the
shuckings, and male and female took a dram out of it as it
passed round No sitting was indulged in, and the folks
either stood or danced all night, as generally daylight ended
the frolic. The dress of these hardy pioneers was generally
in plain homespun. The hunting-shirt was much worn at
that time, which is a convenient working or dancing dress.
Sometimes drassed deer-skin pantaloons were used on these
occasions, and mawkaAsins — rarely shoes — and at times
bare feet were indulged in.

"In the morning all go home on horseback or on foot.
No carriages, wagons or other vehicles were used on these
occasions, for the best of reasons — because they had none."

Reynolds states it as his sincere conviction that the early
pioneers of Illinois were more moral and free from crime
than the people of a later day. Thefts were of rare occur-
rence, and forgery, perjury, and similar crimes were seldom
perpetrated. A white man was hung for murder in Kas-
kaskia in the year 1802, and an Indian in lb04 ; no further
instance of capital puni-hment in Illinois occurs till 1821,
when Bennett was hung at Belleville for the murder of Stu-
art. In the early history of the county, the courts were in
session four times each year at Cahokia, but the grand ju-

ries frequently adjourned without finding a single indict-
ment. While the higher crimes were of rare occurrence,
the lesser violations of law were not unfrequent.

The use of into.xicating li(]Uors was indulged in then more
than now. Drinking was fashionable and polite, and liquor
was considered an elemeut in the conviviality of all circles.
The French seldom carried the use of liquor to excess, In-
temperance, on the part of the Americans, was greatest in
the village of Cahokia and there, as also at Kaskaskia,
many good citizens were injured by the excessive use of
ardent spirits.

The Sabbath, among the American pioneers, was often
employed in hunting, fishing, getting up stock, hunting bees,
breaking young horses, shooting at marks, and horse and
foot-racing It was, however, a custom to cease from ordinary
labor, except from necessity, on that day, and when a far-
mer cut his harvest on Sunday, public opinion condemned it
more severely than at present. There was no dancing, and
but little drinking. In many localities there were no reli-
gious meetings. The aged people generally remained at
home and read the Bible and other books. The French ob-
served Sunday in a different manner. After the conclusion
of their religious service?, the rest of the day was passed in
amusements, merriment and recreation. Dancing was com-
mon on the Sabbath, and frequently houses were raised and
the militia trained. Public sales of land and Other property
were held, in early times, by the French at the church door
on Sundays, after the close of the service. The French
rarely engaged in common broils and disturbances. They
detested a quarrelsome, fighting man. With the Ameri-
cans personal combats were frequent. A slight dispute led
to a fight ; but the combatants often good-humoredly made
it up before parting. These combats scarcely ever occurred
unLss the parties had been drinking. No rules were ob-
served. At times eyes and ears were much injured, and were
sometimes destroyed.

All species of gaming were commim. Card-playing was
sustained by the best classes. A person who could not,
or would not, play cards, was considered destitute of one of
the accomplishments of genteel society. The French delighted
much in this amusement, and thus assisted in giving card-
parties more standing and popularity among the Americans.
During the hot summer months, in early times, the French
played cards incessantly in the shade of the galleries of their
houses. They frequently played without betting, but at
times wagered heavily. The most common game of cards
was called "loo." The voyageurs indulged in this sport
more than any other class of citizens. The ladies often
amused themselves at the game.

Horse racing was one of the most popular amusements.
The quarter races were the most common, and at these the
most chicanery and juggling was practiced. The most
celebrated and famous horse-race in Illinois, in early times,
was run in the upper end of the Horse prairie, in Kandolph
county, in the spring of the year 1803. The two horses
which made the race were of the same size. They ran three
miles and repeat, for a wager of five hundred dollars. The
bye-bets and all must have amounted to a thousand dollars.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

or more, which in those days was considered a very large
sum. In 1806 Robert Pulliam, of Illinois, and a Mr. Mu-
sick, of Missouri, made a bet of two hundred dollars on a
race between two horses, of a quarter of a mile, to be run on
the ice in the Mississippi river, a short distance above St.
Louis. The race came off, and was ran without injury to
either the horses or riders. Foot-racing, jumj)iug and
wrestling were much practiced by the Americans. Bets of
some magnitude were made on foot-races as well as horse-
races. Governor Reynolds, in his youth, was one of the best
in a foot-race, and won many wagers in Randolph county,
then his residence.

With the Americans shooting-matches occurred frequently.
These were generally held on (Saturdays, and as often as
every week, in summer. A beef was usually the prize. A
keg of wiiiskey was generally carried to these shooting-
matches, on horseback, and sometimes a violin made its
appearance, and the crowd d.iuced for hours. Aged matrons
frequently attended, with a neat, clean keg of metheglin,
which they dirpensed to the thirsty. This drink was made
of honey and water, properly fermented, was pleasant to the
taste, and had no power to intoxicate. The old lady some-
times brought her knitting and sewing with her, and would
frequently relate tales of the tories '' back iu North Caro-
lina," during the Revolution.

Agriculturf was at first, of course, carried on only to a
limited extent. The inhabitants of the New Design settle-
ment were the first to begin, about the year 1800, the culti-
vation of fall wheat to an)' considerable extent. In cutting
the wheat, sickles, or reap-hooks, were the only implements
used. There were no cradles. Reaping with a sickle was a
severe labor. Wheat at that day sold for one dollar a bushel.
A short distance from the farms, on the prairies, or in places
in the timber, patches of grass were selected and mowed,
and this, as well as reaping wheat, was hot, hard work.
The Americans at that day, generally stacked their hay and
wheat out, but the French had barns which they Ured for
this purpose. The French barns were made of large cedar
posts, put in the ground some two feet, and set apart four
or five feet — the space between filled up with puncheons put
in grooves on the posts, and the whole covered with a
thatched rotf. Threshing and cleaning the wheat wsis in
olden times a great trouble. The process of winnowing with
a sheet was slow and hard work.

Considerable quantities of corn were shipped from Illinois
in flat-boats to New Orleans before the purchase of
Louisiana. It was an uncertain market, and the navigation
of the river was more uncertain still. Stock, cattle and hogs
were raised for the New Orleans market The commerce
on the river and the Indian trade consumed the small
surplus product of the farms. Irish potatoes were raised
in abundance, and the crops scarcely ever failed. Only
small quantities of cheese and butter were made, scarcely
enough for home consumption. The French scarcely ever
troubled themselves with milking cows, but turned the
calves out with the other cattle, and made little or no
butter. That portion of the population .scarcely ever used
a ohurn, a loom, or a wheel. The apple orchards in propor-
12

tion to the population were numerous. The French also
cultivated orchards of pears, but the peach-tree was entirely
neglected. The greater portion of the merchants made the
Indian trade their main object. The furs and peltries were
articles in great demand, and were generally shipped to
Mackinaw, i'hiladelphia, and New Orleans. The French
horses, known as " French ponies," were sold in great num-
bers to the Indians. Guns, powder, lead, and all Indian
goods, blankets, blue strouding and made-up calico shirts,
formed large items in the commerce of the day — as the
Indians were much more numerous than the whites.

CHAPTER VIII.

CIVIL IIISTOI}Y FROM 177S TO lsl«.

SJ^'

RANDOLPH COUNTY.
OON after the capture of the British mili-
tary posts north of the Ohio river by
George Rogers Clark in 1778, the au-
thorities of Virginia, in whose name
Clark had made his conquests, effected
arrangements for the organization [of
a civil government of the newly acquired
territory. The General Assembly of
Virginia, in October, 1778, passed "an
Act for establishing the County uf Illitwis and for the more
eflTectual protection and defense thereof." That County of
Illinois "embraced all that territory out of which in subse-
quent years were formed the States of Ohio Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin. The State of Virginia, then in
its infancy, and with the twelve sister States engaged in the
terrible struggle for independence, hastened to provide a gov-
ernment for this immense territory, and selected the ancient
French village of Kaskaskia as the seat for such govern-
ment. The Act mentioned above authorized the governor
to appoint a County-Lieutenant or commandant, who could
appoint and commission deputy commandants, militia offi-
cers and commissaries. The religion and customs of the
inhabitants were to be respected and all civil officers were
to be chosen by the people of the respective districts. The
County Lieutenant had power to pardon all offenders, ex-
cept murderers and traitors. The governor was authorized
to levy 500 men to garrison and protect the county, and
keep up communication with Virginia and with the settle-
ments on the Spanish (West) side and to take measures to
supply goods to the inhabitants and friendly Indians.
Patrick Henry, the honortd patriot, was then governor of
Virginia: he selected his friend, John Todd, for the diffi-
cult and responsible position of County-Lieutenant on the
12th of December, 1778. The letter of appointment was
dated at Williamsburg, then the cai)itol of Old Virginia.
It is spread in full on the first five pages of Todd's Record
Book, signed by Patrick Henry himself This Record-
Book was found among a number of documents removed from
Kaskaskia to Chester in 1847, aud is now in possession of

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

the Historical Society of Chicago. Robert G. Detrick,
Esq., of Chester, tooii the precaution of making a complete
copy of the contents of said record-book, before placing it
in the custody of said Society, and to him the writer is
indebted for ihe following complete abstract, to wit:

" P.iTEicK Henry's Letter to John Todd, Esq.

Williamsburg, December 12, 1778.
To John Todd, Esq :

By virtue of the act of the General Assembly which
established the county of Illinois you are appointed County-
Lieutenant or commandant there, and for the general ten-
nour of your conduct I refer you to the law.

The grand objects which are disclosed to the view of your
countrymen will prove beneficial or otherwise according to
the value and abilities of those who are caljed to direct the
affairs of that remote country. The present crisis rendered
80 favorable by the good disposition of tlie French and
Indians may be improved to great purposes, but if unhap-
pily it should be lost, a return of the .same attachment to us
may never happen ; considering therefore that early preju-
dices are so hard to wear out you will take care to cultivate
the affections of the French and Indians.

Although great reliance is placed on your prudence in
managing the people you are to reside among, yet consider-
ing you as unacquainted in some degree with their genius,
usages and manners as well as the geography of the country,
I commend it to you to consult and advise with the most
intelligent and upright persons who may fall in your way.

You are to give particular attention to Colonel Clark
and his corps, to whom the State has great obligations. You
are to cooperate with him on any military undertaking when
necessary, and to give the military every aid which the cir-
cumstance of the people will admit of. The inhabitants of
the Illinois must not expect settled peace and safety while
their and our enemies have footing at Detroit and can inter-
cept or stop the trade of the Mississippi. If the English
have not the strength or courage to come to war against us
themselves, their practice has been and will be to hire the
savages to commit murders and depredations. Illinois must
expect to pay in these a large price for her freedom, unless
the English can be expelled from Detroit. The means of
effecting this will not perhaps be found in your or Colonel
Clark's power, but the French inhabiting the neighborhood
of that place, it is presumed, may be brought to see it done
with indifference or perhaps join in the enterprise with
pleasure. This is but conjecture. When you are on the
spot you and Col. Clark may discover its fallacy or reality, if
the former appears. Defense only is to be the object of the
latter or a good prospect of it. I hope the Frenchmen and
Indians at your disposal will show a zeal for the affairs
equal to the benefits to be derived from establishing liberty
and permanent peace.

One great good expected from holding the Illinois is to
overawe the Indians from warring on our settlers on this
side of the Ohio; a close attention to the disposition, char-
acter and movements of the hostile tribes is therefore neces-
sary for you. The forces and militia at Illinois, by being

placed on the back of them, may inflict timely chastisement
on these enemies, whose towns are an easy prey in absence
of their warriors.

You perceive by these hints that something in the military
line from you, so far as the occasion calls for assistance of
the people composing the militia, it will be necessary to
cooperate with the troops sent from here, and I know of no
better general direction to give than this, that you consider
yourself at the head of the civil department, and as such
having the command of the militia, who are not to be under
the command of the military until ordered out by the civil
authority and to act in conjunction with them.

You are on all occasions to inculcate on the people the
value of liberty, and the difference between the state of free
citizens of this commonwealth and that slavery to which the
Illinois was destined. A free and equal representation may
be expected by them in a little time, together with all the
improvements in jurisprudence and police which the other
parts of the State enjoy.

It is necessary for the happiness, increase and prosperity
of that country that the grievances that obstruct these
blessings be known in order to their removal ; let it, there-
fore, be your care to obtain information on that subject that
proper plans may be formed for the general utility. Let it
be your constant attention to see that the inhabiiants have
justice administered to them for any injury rec'd from the
troops ; the omission of this may be fatal. Col. Clark has
instructions on this head and will, I doubt not, exert himself
to curb all licentious practices of the soldiery, which, if un-
restrained, will produce the most baneful effects.

You will also discountenance and punish every attempt
to violate the property of the Indians, particularly in their
land. Our enemies have alarmed them much on that
score, but I hope from your prudence and justice that no
grounds of complaint will be administered on this subject.
You will embrace every opportunity to manifest the high
regard and friendly sentiments of this commonwealth
toward all the subjects of his Catholic Majesty for whose
safety, prosperity and advantage you will give every possi-
ble advantage. You will make a tender of the friendship
and services of your people to the Spanish commandant
near Kaskaskia and cultivate the strictest connection with
him and his people. I deliver you a letter which you will
hand to him in person. The details of your duty in the
civil department I need not give you, its best direction will
be found in your innate love of justice and zeal to be in-
tensely useful to your fellow-men. A general direction to
act according to the best of your judgment in cases where
these instructions are silent and the laws have not other-
wise directed is given to you from the necessity of the cases
for your great distance from government will not permit
you to wait for orders in many cases of great importance.

In your negotiations with the Indians confine the stipula'
as much as possible to the single object of obtaining from
them touch not the subject of land or boundaries till par-
ticular orders are received ; where necessity requires it
presents may be made, but be as frugal in that matter as
possible, and Jet them know that Goods at present is scarce

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

with us, but we expect soon to trade freely with all the
world and they shall not want when we can get them. The
matters given you in charge are singular in their nature
and weighty in their consequences to the people imme-
diately concerned, and the whole state they require the
fullest exertion of your ability and unwearied diligence.
From matters of general concern you must turn occasionally
to others of less consequence. Mr. Iluseblave's wife and
family mus; not suffer for want of that property of which
they were bereft by our troops, it is to be restored to them
if possible, if this cannot be done the public must supijort
them.

I think it proper for you to send me an express once in
three months with a general account of affairs with you and
any particulars you wish to communicate It is in con-
templation to appoint an agent to manage trade on public
accounts to supply Illinois and Indians with goods. If such
an appointment takes place you will give it every possible
aid. The people with you should not intermit their en-
deavors to procure su[)plies on the expectation of this, and
you may act accordingly.

P. Henry."

Hon. Edward G. Mason, in his " Illinois in the 18th
Century " comments on the contents of said letter as follows;
" This letter is notsu h a one as territorial governors would
be likely to receive in our days. It deals with higher things
than those which occupy the modern politician. The Lieu-
tenant's care must be to remove the grievances that obstruct
the happiness and prosperity of that country, and his con-
stant attention to see that the inhabitants have justice ad-
ministered. He is to discountenance and punish every
attempt to violate the property of ihe Indians To the
Spanish Commandant near Kaskaskia be is to tender friend-
ship and services, and he is warned that the matters given
in his charge are ' singular in their nature and weighty in
their consequences to the people immediately concerned, and
to the whole state.' Then with that high .sense of justice
and humanity which distinguished the man, Henry turns
from state affairs to right the wrongs of the helpless wife
and children of his country's enemy. The family of Mr.
Koseblave, the late British commandant at Kaskaskia, had
been left among the hostile people there, while the husband
and father was a prisoner in Virginia and their possessions
had been confiscated.

Conciliatiiin of the newly enfranchised inhabitants, selec-
tion of competent advisers, defense against foreign and
native enemies, subordination of the military to the civil
arm of the government, establishment of Republican insti-
tutions, administration of equal justice to all, an alliance
with friendly neighbors, encouragement of trade, and the
exertion of the commandant of unwearied diligence, zeal
and ability in behalf of his people ; such are the principal
heads of this able and, for its time, extraordinary State
paper. It shows ua that the man, who had taken the grave
responsibility of the secret instructions which led to the cap-
tureof the Illinois country, was competent to direct the next
step in its career. He could wisely govern what had been

bravely won. With all the cares of a new state engaged in
a war for its independence resting upon his shoulders, pro-
scribed as a traitor to the mother country, and writing
almost within sound of the guns of the British fleet upon
the James, he looked with calm vision into the future and
laid well the foundations of another commonwealth beyond
the Ohio."

John Todd arrived at Kaskaskia on the first day of May,
1779, as stated in the journal of Col. Clark who says : " The
civil department in the Illinois had heretofore robbed me of
too much of my time that ought to be spent in military
reflection. I was now likely to be relieved by Col. John
Todd, appointed by government for that purpose. I was
anxious for his arrival and happy in his appointment, as
the greatest intimacy and friendship subsisted between us ;

and on the day of May, 1779, had the pleasure of

seeing him safely landed at Kaskaskia to the joy of every
person. I now saw myself happily rid of a piece of trouble
that I had no delight in."

Col. Todd was not slow to assume his labors, as will be
seen from his record book, page 6, containing his first entry
in reference to appointing and commissioning deputy-com-
mandants and otticers of the militia, dated May 14, 1779, to
wit : (copied verbatim.)

Made out the military commissions for the district of
Kaskaskia, dated May 14th, 1779: Richard Winston,
Commandant, as Capt. ; Nicholas Janis, First company,
captain ; Baptiste Charleville, 1st Lieutenant ; Charles
Charleville, 2nd Lieutenant; ]\Iichael Godis, Ensign.

Second company : Joseph Du Plassy, ca|)tain ; Nicholas
Le Chance, 1st Lieutenant; Charles Danee, '2d Lieutenant;
Baptiste Janis, Ensign.

" 17th May, sent a commission of commandant of Prairie
du Rucher and captain of the militia to Jean B. Barbeau.

The District of Kohokia. — Francois Trotter (should be
Trotier), commandant ; Tourangeau, captain l?t com-
pany ; Girardin, lieutenant; C. Marthen, lieutenant;

Sausfaron, ensign. Commission dated 14th May, 1779,

"'Myear of th-. Conimonweixlth." (This latter clause is not
without significance. How firmly must the patriots of those
days have been convinced of their success, to commence their
reckoning of time from the date of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, years before it was established !)

The attention of Todd was next directed towards estab-
lishing the courts. The statutory provision to have all civil
oflicers elected by a majority of the people, was carried out,
as appears from the entries made on pages 7 and 8, to which
the reader is referred. This election was held in the month
of May, 1779, and was the first election ever held in Illinois.
We have spent days in search of those election returns,
which would have furnished a list of names of the voting
population of the territory and been almost equivalent to a
census. The search was in vain. The documents had been
lost ordestroycd. An cft'ort to save them, made by Hon. W.
C. Flagg, while senator of Ma<lison county, in 18G9, proved
abortive, for the oflicer in custody of those documents per-
emptorily reined to let Mr. Flagg have them. The latter,
fully aware of the hi^torical value of many of those docu-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

nients, pledged himself to return them, arranged in throno-
logical order, and substantially bound at his own expense,
as soon as he had copied the most interesting documents.
All was in vain. S. St. Vrain would listen to no proposals
of the kind, although the county authorities had made an
order to transmit those documeuts to Mr. Flagg. Was it
a sense of duty that prompted St. Vrain to disobey? Who
knows ? The result of his refusal is in any event very much
to be deplored.

The entry above referred to is as follows : " List of the
Court of Kaskaskia, as elected by the people: 1. Gabriel
Cerre ; 2. Joseph Du PlaFsy ; 3. Jaques Lesource ; 4. Ni-
cholas Janis ; 5. J. B Barbeau ; 6. Nicholas Le Chance ;
7. Charles Charleville ; 8. Antoin Duchafours de Louvirres,

and 9. Girradot (probably Girardin). Carbo-

neau, clerk ; Richard Winston, sheriff. Court of Kohokias :

1. Touranjeau (Godin) ; 2. Frangois Trottier ; 3. Charles

Gratiot ; 4. Gieradin ; 5. B. Saucier ; 6. M. Beau

lieu ; 7. C. Martheu. Fran9ois Saucier, clerk ; J. B. Le
Croix, sheriff. The Court of St. Vincennes : 1. P. Lfgras;

2. Francois Bosserau ; 3. Perrot ; 4. Cardinal

(refused to serve) ; 5. Guerry La Tulippe ; 6 P. Gamelin ;

7. Edeline; 8. Degeuest ; 9. Barron.

Legrand, clerk ; , sheriff.

Militia officers of St. Vincennes : P. Legras, lieut- col. ; F.
Bosserou, major ; La Tulippe, 1st captain ; Ede-
line, 2d ; M. Brouilet, 3d (rank not settled) [capt.] ; P.

Garmliu, 4th; 1. ; 2. Godin, lieut. ; o.

Godin, lieut. ; 4. . 1. ; 2.

Joseph Rougas ; 3. Richerville ; 4. Richerville.

The reader will observe that by far the greater number
of those ofhcials elected as well of militia officers appointed
are French. Anglo-American names are but few. The
fact that many of the nnlitia officers are also members of the
courts, leadj us to infer, that the material for "officers" was
not as plentiful as in our days, and strange to say, one of
the judges of Vincennes, Monsieur Cardinal, refused to
serve. The reason for his refusil is not stated, but what
" Cardinal" would be satisfied with the fourth place on the
bench ?

The attention of Todd is next given to the encouragement
of trade and business, for page eleven contains a copy of a
license of trade issued to Richard McCarty. (The reader
will find this name again in the subsequent chapter on
Monroe county).

The document introduced here is the first of its kind
issued in Illinois, from it the reader will learn, that to
become a trader, a man had to be a patriot first, and also to
prove his integrity, etc. We further learn, that the loyal
citizens of those days were '■ liege subjects." Here follows
the license :

LICENSE FOR TRADE.

To all to whom these presents shall come. Greeting:
Know ye, that whereas Richard McCarty, gentleman, hath
produced a recommendation from the Court of District of
Kohokia, certifying his patriotism, integrity and knowledge
in trade and merchandizing. These are, therefore, to
licBDEe and permit the said R. McCarty to traffic and

merchandize with all the liege subjects and friends of the
United States of America, of what nation soever they be,
and to erect factories and stores at any convenient place or
places he shall think proper within the commonwealth
aforesaid. Provided, that by virtue hereof, no pretence
shall be made to trespass upon the effects or property of
individuals.

Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia, the 5th of
June, 1779, in the third year of the commonwealth.

The financial question of the day now claimed the atten-
tion of the indefatigable lieutenant. The paper money of
the young commonwealth of Virginia, as well as that of the
United States, was " cried down " in the streets of the
villages. The rapid depreciation of this curreiicy was
severely felt in the county of Illinois, and attracted Todd's
attention. His letter to the court of Kaskaskia on the
subject is worth preserving, to wit:

LETTER TO THE COURT OF KASKASKIA.

"Gentlemen: The only methcd America has to support
the present just war is by her credit. That credit at present
is her bills emitted from the different treasuries, by which
she engages to pay the bearer at a certain time gold and
silver in exchange. There is no friend to American Inde-
pendence who has any judgment but soon expects to see it
equal to gold and silver. Some disaffect-d persons and
designing speculators, discredit it through enmity or
interest; the ignorant multitude have not sagacity enough
to examine into this matter, and merely from its uncommon
quantity and in proportion to it arises the complaint of its
want of credit. This has for some years been the case near
the seat of war, the disorder has spread at last as far as the
Illinois, and calls loudly for a remedy. In the interior
counties this remedy is a heavy tax now operating, from
which an indulgent government has exempted us. One
only remedy remains which is lodged within my power, that
is by receiving on behalf of government such sums as the
people shall be induced to lend upon a sure fund, and
thereby decreasing the (|uantity ; the mode of doing this is
alread}' ])lanned and shall be always openlo your inspection
and examinatiou with the proceedings, and I must request
your concurrence and assistance, I am gentlemen, your most
obedient servant. John Todd."

The record book next contains a plan or mode of relief,
as follows :

Plan for borrowing 33,333i dollars of Treasury Notes
both belonging to this State and the United States. Where-
as, owing to no other reason than the prodigious quantity
of Treasury Notes now in circulation the value of almost
every commodity has risen to most enormous prices ; the
preserving of the credit of the said bills by reducing the
quantity requires some immediate remedy it is therefore de-
clared :

1. That 21,000 acres of land belonging to this common-
wealth shall be laid off as soon as may be boundeel thus:
Beginning on the bank of the Missii-sippi in the district of
Kohokia at Richard McCarty 's corner, thence running up
the said river 3,500 poles, when reduced to a straight line

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

from the extrcmeties of wliich at right angles with the
former on the Virginia side, two lines of equal length shall
run so far, that with another line parallel with the course
of the river plat shall contain the quantity aforesaid.

2. That the said 21,000 (except one thousand to be here-
after laid off by the government for a town in the most
convenient part thereof within and out lot.s) shall be a fund
for the purpose aforesaid. Provided that every adventurer
be subject to all laws and regulations in cultivating and
settling, to which settlers in the county of Illinois shall
hereafter be subjected.

3. That the lender of money take a certificate from the
commissioner for the purpose appointed, for the sum but not
being less than 100 dollars, for which, he, his heirs, execu-
tors, administrators, or assigns shall be entitled to demand
within two years, a title to his proportion of the laud in the
said fund or the sum originally advanced in gold or silver
with 5 per cent, interest per annum at the option of the
State. Provided first that no assignment of such certificate
shall be made but in open court by deed to be recorded.
2 That a deduction shall be made for all money hereafter
discovered to be counterfeited.

4. That all persons may have reasonable inducements to
lend, the lender shall have assurance that no greater sum
shall be received than 33 333* dollars on said fund. That
government shall comply with the above enjoyment, and
this Plan be recorded in the Recorder's office of Kaskaskia.

Joiix Todd.
Todd's plan must have found favor with court, he ap-
pointed Henry Crutchcr commissioner and his record book
contains the following :

COPY OI' THE INSTRICTIOS ASD OX THE BOin'.OWING PrXD.

'■ Sir : You are hereby appointed a commissioner for borrow-
ing money upon the Kohokia Fund. Inclosed is a copy of
the Plan ; the design you'll observe is to abridge the quantity
in circulation. The money paid in you will preserve until
you shall be called upon for it. Let every man's money be
kept apart with his name and quantity endorsed thereon.
Keep a book to register the number, the person's name, the
quantity of money, the dates your receipt thus :

KOnOKIA FUND (XO. 1).

I do certify that I have received of the

sum of Dollars which entitles the said

to a proportionable quantity of land in the Kohokia Fund,
or gold and silver, according to the Plan recorded in the
Recorder's office of Kaskaskia. Witness my hand this —

day of ,1779.

Henry Critcher, Commissioner."

Mr. Crutchcr's bond, in words and figures as follows is
also recorded in said book, to wit:

" Know all men by these presence that we, Henry Crutcher,
George Slaughter and John Boberts, are held and firmly
bound unto Jno. Todd, Esq , Commander-in-Chief of the
County of Illinois in the sura of thirty-three thousand three
hundred and thirty-three dollars and one-third to be paid to
the said John Todd or his successors, to which payment

will truly be made, we do bind ourselves and each of our
heirs, executors firmly by these presence. Sealed and dated
this 14th day of June in the year 1779.

The condition of the above obligation is such if the above
named Henry Crutcher, Commissioner of Funds, for bor-
rowing certain sums of Continental and State currency
shall at all times when required pay and account for all
sums so received, and in all things comport himself agree-
able to such rules and regulations as shall be adopted for
prosecuting the same then the above obligations to be void
otherwise in full force.

Test

Rich'd Harrison.

Rhii'd Winston.

Henry Crvtchek.

Geo. Slaughter.

John Roberts.

From a proclamation issued by the county-lieutenant on
the same day, it would appear, that a number of adventurers
had made their appearance in his county for the purpose of
laying claims to its most desirable lands, which Col. Todd
would rather have reserved for actual settlers. The fertil-
ity of his brain, backed by an unceasing activity, is truly
admirable. The proclamation read as follows :

proclamation.
" lUinoh to wit :

Whereas, from the fertility and beautiful situation of the
lands bordering upon the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, and
Wabash rivers, the taking up the usual quantity heretofore
allowed for a settlement by the Governors of Virginia would
injure both the strength and commerce of this country in
future :

I do, therefore, issue this proclamation, strictly enjoining
all persons whatsover from making any new settlements
upon the flat lauds of the saiil rivers, or within one league
of said lands, in manner and form of settlement as heretofore
made by the French inhabitants, until further ordtrs given
herein.

And, in order that all the claims to lands williiii the said
country mav be fully known, and some method provided for
perpetuating by records the just claims — eveiy inhabitant
is required, as soon as conveniently may be, to lay before the
persons in each district ajipointul for that jiurpose a aemo-
randum of his or her land, with copies of all their vouchers
and where vouchers have never been given or are lost, such
deposition and certificate as will best tend to support their
claims. Such memorandum to mention the quantity of
land, to whom originally granted, or by whom stttkd, and
where; reducing the title through the various occupants to
the present proprietor. The number of adventurers who
will soon overrun this country renders the above method
necessary, as well as to ascertain the vacant land as to
guard against trespasses which will proliably be committed
on land not of record.

Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia, the I4th
day of June, 1779.

John Todd."

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected judges of the court at Kas-
kaskia and Cahokia had held sessions. The records of their
proceedings are not in existence, but our commandant's
record-book sheds some light on what the judges had done.
The first entry on page 18 contains the following :

WARRANT FOR EXECUTION.

Illinois to wit :

To Richard Winston, Esq., Sheriff in-Chief of the District
of Kaskaskia.

Negro Mannel, a slave in your custody, is condemned by
the court of Kaskaskia, afier having made honorable fine at
the door of the church, to be chained to a post at the water-
side, and there to be burnt alive and his ashes scattered, as
appears to me by record. This sentence you are hereby
required to put into execution on Tuesday next at 9 o'clock
in the morning, and this shall be your warrant. Given
under ray hand and seal at Kaskaskia, the 13th day of June,
in the 3d year of the Commonwealth.

There is no record of the crime which was to be atoned
for by the wretch Mannel, nor can it be told if this awful
sentence was put in execution. Some person having access
to the record-book, has drawn heavy lines across the lieu-
tenant's order, so as to efface it forever. There is no doubt,
however, that the court had fixed the inhuman penalty, for
the order to execute it is certainly in Todd's handwriting,
who, under the law of Virginia, mentioned above, was de-
prived of the power to pardon in such cases. It is therefore
very probable that ihe sentence was duly executed.

The following order bears witness that the court at Caho-
kia had also been at work :

" To Capt. Nicholas Janis :

You are hereby required to call upon a party of your
militia to guard '• Moreau," a slave condemned to execution
up to the town of Kokas — put them under an officer. They
shall be entitled to pay, rations and refreshments during
the time they shall be upon duty to be certified hereafter

by you.

I am, sir, yr Hble servant,

Jno. Todd "

15th June, 1779. I recommend 4 or 5 from your
compy, and as many from Capt. Placey's, and consult Mr.
Lacroix about the time necessary. J. T.

It is not unlikely that both of these negroes had been
tried on a charge of Voudouism, or Witchcraft, and found
or even pleaded guilty of an imagined crime. Reynolds,
in his Pioneer History says : " In Cahokia about the year
1790, this superstition got the upper hand of reason, and
several poor African slaves were immolated at the shrine of
ignorance for this imaginary offense. An African slave, called
Moreau, was hung for this crime on a tree not far south east
of Cahokia. It is stated that he had said he poisoned his
master, but his mistress was loo strong for his necromancy."

There cannot be any doubt that the " Moreau " of Todd
is -identical with Gov. Reynolds' man "Moreau." Rey-
nolds, who writes from tradition, is not correct in his dates.

It would seem that " Moreau " had been kept confined at
Kaskaskia, as there was not any prison at Cahokia (Kahos)

prior to 1791, and m Captain Janis was instructed to confer
with Mr. Le Croix (sheriff of the district of Cahokia as
stalel abjve) we miy infer, thit Croix hung said negro.

The county-lieutenant, after his labars of 4 or 5 weeks
at the settlements on the Mississippi, now prepared to enter
upon his duties in other parts of his "empire county." Be-
fore leaving, he addressed the following letter to his sheriff,
to wit :

" Sir: Djring my absence the command will devolve upon
you as commander of Kaskaskia — if Col. Clark should want
anything more for his expedition, consult the members of
the Court upon the best mode of proceeding. If the people
will not spare willingly, if in their power, you must press
it, valuing the property by two men upon oath — let the mil-
itary have no pretext for forcing property. When you order
it and the people will not find it, then it will be time for
them to interfere. By all means keep up a good under-
standing with Col. Clark and the officers. If this is not the
case you will be unhappy. I am, sir,

Yr. hble. servt,

John Todd."

To Rich'd Winston, Esqk.

June 13, 1779.

The expedition of Col. Clark referred to in this letter,
was the one planned against the English at Detroit, but was
never carried out. Todd was back at Kaskaskia on the
27th of July, 1779, on which day the following proclama-
tion in reference to the continental currency was inserted
into his record book.

" IlliuoLS to wit :

Whereas the emissions of continental money, dated the
20th May, 1777, and April 11th, 1778, were required to be
paid into some continental treasury by the first of June,
which was a day impossible to the people of Illinois :

I do therefore notify all persons who have money of the
said emission, that unless they shall as soon as possible com-
ply with the said resolution of Congress and produce vouch-
ers of such, their impossibility, the money must sink in their
hands. The vouchers must be certifyed 'by myself or some
deputy commandant of this county, and have reference to
the bundle of money numbered and sealed.

Signed by order of the commandant-in-chief at Kaskaskia
July 27th, 1779.

( Copy. ) John Todd."

Hy. Crutcher.

Soon after his return, the county-lieutenant issued a per-
emptory order to the judges of the Kaskaskia district to
hold court, any adjournment to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. The easy going of his French judges seems to have
irritated the restless and ever working spirit of Todd, who
" slightly interfered with the court's prerogative" by issuing
this order :

" To Gabriel Cerre ,i Co., Esqs., Judges of the Court for the
District of Kaskaskia.
You are hereby authorized and required to hold and con-
stitute a court on Saturday, the 21st of July, at the usual

HISTORY OF BAXDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

place of holding court within your district, any adjournment
to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided that no suitor or party be compelled to answer
any process upon said day unless properly summoned by the
clerk and sheriff.

Given under my hand and feal at Kaskatkia, 1779.

Jdhs Todd."

It is to be presumed that Monsieur Gabriel and his "con-
freres" took the hint and held court on the '2]st of July
(Atigust is meant), no matter how much they disliked to sit
in court during the reign of the dog-star ; but it would be a
treat to be allowed to read the minutes of that court. Old
Gabriel and his clerk Carboneau have certainly given the
lieutenant a model cudgeling in grand French eloquence.

In the month of August, 1779, the commandant addressed
himself, in obedience to Patrick Henry's wise suggestions, to
Monsieur Cartabonne, commanding at St. Genevieve, and
also to Monsieur Leyba at St. Louis. These letters, originally
in French, were cojied by parlies not conversant with that
language, and are therefore not very intelligible. It will be
remembered that all the region west of the Mississippi then
belonged to Spain, at that time at war with England. In
these letters Todd proposes an arrangement concerning the
commerce of the Illinois country, for the mutual advantage
of their respective governments, — his Catholic majesty on
the one hand and the State of Virginia on the other, and for
the disadvantage of the British, their common enemy, promis-
ing at the same time to aid his neighbors by sending troops
at his (Todd's) disposition, if the Spaniards were attacked
and needed help.

Tcese troops were then on tluir march to Illinois. Todd
had to overcome many difficulties in procuring the necessary
supplies for those troops, even in this most fertile region of
the continent, but less on account of scarcity of the neces-
saries of life, than on account of the sluggishness of the
newly-made " freemen " of French descent, who still pre-
ferred the Royal Louis d'or to the Republican " promise to
pay."

The record-book is again reftrred to for explanation (see
page 2- ), to wit :

The inhabitants of Kaskaskia are for the last time invited
to contract with the persons appointed, for provisions espe-
cially "fou'tr," for the troops who will shortly be here. I
hope they'll use properly the indulgence of a mild govern-
ment. If I shall be obliged to give the military permission
to press it will be a disadvantage and what ought more to
influence free men, it will be a dishonor to the people.

Published by order of the Commander in Chief at Kas-
kaskia, 11th Aug. 1779.

In order to facilitate matters the contracting officers were
instructed to file vouchers with the county lieutenant and
obtain orders on th» governor of Virginia in payment of
supplies thus furnished. The record book contains only one
such order, to wit :

To his excellency the Governor of Virginia please to pay
to J. B. La Croix or order the sum of 78 dollars which is

due to him from the state of Virginia for sundries furnished
the militia and Indiansas appears by vouchers to me rendered.

Given under mv hand at Kaskaskia, the 11th of August,
1779.

Being convinced that this appeal met with but indiflVrent
responses, a harsher measure was tried.

todd's emh.vroo.

Illinois to wit : Whereas the demands of the State require
that a stock of Provisions be immediately laid for the use
of the troops of the C'ommonwealth and that an embargo
be laid upou such provisions for a limited time. I do there-
fore issue this Proclamation strictly enjoining all inhabitants
and others in the county of Illinois from exporting either by
land or water any provisions wh.itsoever for the space of
sixty davs unless I shall have assurance before that time
that a sufficient stock is laid up for the troops or sufficient
security is given to the contractors for its delivery whenever
required. The offender herein shall besubjected to imprison-
ment for one month and mcrever forfeit the value of such
exported provi.-ion.

Given under my hand ami seal at Kaskaskia .\ugust "iL'nd,
1779.

This order is also recorded in French, apparently becau.se
the French were so very reluctant in aiding the struggling
state, and becoming weary at the delay of the people as to
the voluntary surrender of continental money he gave the
following notice, in both languages.

Illinois to wit : The Public are notified that after to mor-
row no more certificates will be granted at Kaskaskia to per-
sons producing the called in emms<ions.

Published by order August 22nd 1779.

It is verv questionable, whether the French in the settle-
ments in Illinois had large amounts of continental money.
They were a careful race, and from the numerous sale bills
on file it would appear that they did not sell anything for
any other currency than coined money, except on compul-
sion. Now they were called on to deposit their money in
the public treasury, for no other purpose than to drive it out
of circulation. They could not understand the benefit to be
derived from such an arrangement, and consequently pre-
ferred to keep in their own cash box the little stock of con-
tinental scrip they had hoarded up.

How slow the residents were to furnish the authorities
with the so much needed supplies is made apparent from the
fact, that the following or record order on the governor
to wit :

"October 7. 1779. Order given Pat McCrosky on the
Governor for 140 dollars dated at Kaskaskia October 7.,
17i9, [No. 2. 140] by certificate from M. Helm," was i.ssucd
nearlv two months since Croix had drawn his order for
87800.

A short and simple method of forfeiting realty is illus-
trated in the proceedings set forth on pages 25 and 26 to wit :

"Advertised by notifying at the door of the church of
Kaskaskia the half a lot above the church, joining Picard
on the east, and Langlois on the west, that unless some per-
son should appear and support their claifu to the said lot
within three days it should be condemned to the use of the

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

commonwoalth. Said notification was dated Octuber 4tli,
1779."

This advertisement is succeeded ten days later b}' the
following, to wit :

" 7///»o/V, to ivil : Whereas, after publicly calling upon any
person or persons to show and make appear any claim
which they might have to a certain lot of laud containing
one half acre, be the same more or less, lying in the town of
Kaskaskia, near the church adjoining Mons' Pickard on
the east, and Mons' Langlois on the west, and after delaying
and waiting the appointed time, and no person yet appear-
ing to claim the same against the commonwealth of Vir-
ginia, I do declare and adjudge the said lot to the said
commonwealth, and that all persons whatever be thence-
forth debarred and precluded forever from any claim thereto.
Given under my hand at Kaskaskia, the 13th of October,
in the fourth year of this Commonwealth, a. d. 1779.

John Todd.

And thus the commonwealth of Virginia became the
owner of said tract.

The last entry in Todd's handwriting has reference to a
land grant to Col. Montgomery, but the pages are torn out
of the book and nothing is left but the words : " Copy of a
grant of land to Col. Montgomery."

Some other entries were made by others in Col. Todd's
record liook during his term of office 1778 to 1782. (Todd
fell in the celebrated battle with the Indians at the Blue
Licks, Kentucky, August 18, 1782;. On two pages, near the
end of the book, is kept his "peltry account," which is charged
with his drafts on the governor of Virginia, in favor of
Mons' Beauregarde, to the amount of $30,000, dated at St.
Louis, September 14, 1779, the value thereof having been
received, one-third in paper currency and two-thirds in
peltries. The account is credited with payments made
for supplies for the garrison at Kaskaskia, purchased by
Col. John Montgomery, and for the garrison at Cahokia,
purchased by Capt. McCarthy. Taffia * seems to have been
the most desired article of supplies bought, for it was laid in
by the hogshead.

On page 26 is an oath of allegiance taken by James
Moore at Kaskaskia, to the United States of America.

James Moore's Naturalization.

I do swear on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that
I renounce all fidelity to George the Third, King of Great
Britain, his heirs and successors, and that I will bear true
allegiance to the United States of America, as free and inde-
pendent, as declared by Congress, and that I will not do or
cause to be done any matter or thing that may be injurious
or prejudicial to the independence of said States, and that I
will make known to some one justice of the peace for the
United States all treasonous, all treacherous conspiracies

*Taffia is mentioned as late as 1800, when the court regulated the priees to
be charged by innkeepers for commodities furnished to guests— taifia or rum
25 cents per one lialf-pint. Webster allowed the word a space in his unabridged,
but casts out one f, and defines the word " A variety of rum, so called by the
Frencli."

which may come to my knowledge, to be formed against said
United States or any one of them. So help me God.
Sworn at Kaskaskia, July 10th, 1782.

James Moot:e *

During the frequent absences from his " county," Todd
seems to have been represented by Monsieur De Montbrun,
his deputy and acting commandant, who^ a little vain per-
haps, took pains to have posterity learn his temporary
dignity, for he wrote on the inside of the covers of this book
the following words : " Nota bene, Mons. Thiraothe De Mont
Brun Lt. Comd't par interim." This mixture of Latin and
French (Take notice. We, De Mont Brun, Lt. Corad't for the
time being) is written in a bold beautiful hand.

On the last page are two memoranda iu the same hand-
writing. They read :

February, 1782. Arrived, a small tribe of«the Wabash
Indians, imploring the paternal succor of their father, the
Bostouians having their patent from Major Linctot. In
consequence, I did, on behalf of the Commonwealth, give
them six bushels Indian corn, fifty pounds of bread, four
pounds of gunpowder, ten pounds of ball, and one gallon of
taffia from Carbonneaux.

The circumstance that these lodians called the whites
" Bostouians" would indicate that said small tribe was made
up of fragments of tribes of New England Indians. The
second Indian visit is reported on the next page, to wit :

March 22d. Came here deputies from the Delawares,
Shawnes and Cherokee nations of Indians, begging that the
Americans would grant them peace, as likewise the French
and Spanish ; and after hearing their talk, smoking the pipe
of peace and friendship with th°m, and from their conduct
while here, as well as many marks they gave us of their
sincerity, I could not avoid giving them, on behalf of the
Americans, the following articles, viz. : 10 bushels Indian
corn, lOO pounds flour and 100 pounds biscuit, 6 pounds
tobacco, 1 gallon taffia, 5 pounds wampoun, and canoe which
cost me S2U.

An entry on the fly-leaf of the record-book recalls to us
Todd's former deputy, Richard Winston, the sherift"; and the
contents of this entry explain why Timothy had taken Dick's
place. Winston must have forgotten the warning of Todd
to keep on terms with the military chief, and thus was found
in bondage. While imprisoned he must have found the
Record Book in his prison, and iu order to let future gener-
ations know why he was not longer dtputy and acting com-
mandant, he wrote out the following statement :

'Kaskaskies in the Illinois, the 29th April, 1782.
This day ten o'clock, A. M., I was taken out of my
house by Israel Dodge on an order given by Jno. Dodge,
in despite of the civil authority, disregardless the laws and
on the malicious accusation of Jas. Williams and Michael

* 1782. Among the immigrants to Illinois we note the names of Jamea Moore,
Shadrach Bond, James Garrison, Robert Kidd and Larlcen Rutherford, the
two latter having been with Claris; they were from Virginia and Maryland.
Jama Moore, the leader, and a portion of his party, located afterwards on the
hills near "Bellcfontaine," while Bond and the rest settled in the American
Bottom (from which circumstance the name is derived), near Carthage or Har-
risonville, subsequ-ntly known bs the "Block-House Fort."— (Davidson *
Stuvo's History of Illinois, chapter 18.)

nisronv of haxixili'II, Masum: .wn ri:i:i;y cnr.Mii-s, ii.i.ixois.

IV'raiile a.-; may u]>i)oai' by tlieir ilepcisitioiis. I was rniiliiuil
by Tyi-aiiiiick iijilitary force without making any ic^'ai
application to the civil magistrate. .'inth tlio alt^'iiuy
for the state, La Jiui<uiere, preieiited a petition to the cuirt
against Richard Winston, state prisoner in llnir cnslndy.
the contents of which he (the attorney foi- the staid ''iighl
to have conimunicateil to me or my attorney if any I had.

(The entry here ends abruptly).

The remaining pages of this book arc occupieil uiiji a
brief record (French) of the proceedings of the court. Ii ini
JuneSth, 17^7 to i''eliruai-y l"'tli, 17-''^. I)uiingtliis piii.Hl
the court seems to have Ineii pi-'iiy nnnh in the hands nt
one family, as thn'C of tin' li\e jiistiees are named l;i_iuiv;d~
The proceedings are void ot' interest.

The county "Illinois" remaineil a part ol' N'irjinia until
March 1st, 1784. when Virginia ■' deeded "' ih' \;i-i domain
to the United States. From 17'S4 to 17'S7. Illinois was
practically without a civil government. The celebrated
ordinance of 1787 (passed July loth), (jrganized the north-
west territory, and General Arthur .St Clair was, by (Con-
gress elected governor of the territory, October 5tli, 1787.
(iov. St. Clair arriveil at Kaskaskia, in February, 17U0,
and on tlie 14lh of April of that yrar, issued his proclama-
tion, organizing the county of St. Clair: "Beginning at the
mouth of tiie little Jlichilliakinack (now Mackinaw creek)
running thence southerly in a direct line to the mouth of the
little river above Fort Massac upon the Ohio, thence with
the .said river to its junction «ith the Mississippi, thence up
the Mississippi to tlie mouth of the Illinois river and up
Illinois river to the place of beginning, etc.

A court of Common I'leas was establisheil, and .Tnhn
Edgar of Kaskaskia, John Baptiste Barbeau of Prairie du
Ilocher, and John Dumoulin of Cahokia appointed judges,
each of whom held court in the district where he resided.
William St. Clair was appointed clerk and recorder of
deeds, and William Biggs, Sheriff. Thus the interregnum
of sixteen years gave way to a better order of things.
Immigration had however continued uninterruptedly, as
will be seen in our chapter on pioneers and early settlers.
In 1795 the governor saw fit to form a second county. It
was done by drawing a line from the Jlississijipi due east
through New Design settlement to the Wabash. All the
territory south of this line to the Ohio River was, in honor
of Edmund Randolph, the Virginian statesman and
philanthropist, named

li.VXIXILI'II COUNTY.*

At the time of its organization, the vast area of the
country cjutained, in its western part, the following distinct
settlements, to wit: The ancient French villages of Kas-
kaskia, Prairie du Rocher and St. Philij) with FortChartres
and the purely American settlement at New Design. The
" French " villages and adjacent districts were inhabited by
the descendants of the colonists arrived in the beginning of
the 18th century, and by a number of English and American
emigrants, who, in a spirit of adventure or speculation had

• E. J. Moiitii^'uu ill hi.s liistoiicnl sliutdiM of Kiimlolpli County, ;i.ssoils thiit
when Col. Claik tuoli possession of tlie emintry in 1778, tic immoit llic ilistrict
iwonml Kiiskaskia " Riiiul<ilpli County" in complinii-nt to F,.linniia R;in.|olpli,
ell-.

I'ounil their wav to those ilis'ant regiiins since 17G3. The
cession of the eiuntry to Kngland had induced many of
the wialtliier French eol''ii'-|s lo aliandoii their homesteads
on the ea-t sideot' tli.' .^l:~>i-sippi, seeking refuge in the ter-
ritory -.vest of the- river, then in possession of his Catholic
Maje-ty, the King of Spain. This exodus of the French
alarnud the lOnglisli Authorities to some extent, and induced
tlieiu to pronnse to the inhabitants the liberty of the
■ ( aili .lie Ueligi.in," etc, bv proclamation, at the same
time granting those wishing to emigrate, the right to .sell
their propertv, provided tlie purch;isers were loyal to the
!\ing of I'lngland. The e>:odus, however, continued; and it
i-- 'inesiioiiublc whetlur the arrival of r'nglishmeu and later
of .\MMrieans was sniiii'ien! to till the gaps. The popula-
li'in ■■:' tiie new eonn.ty in 17'.'i was in ;tll probability less
than in 17i!-;. The inh;sl)ilants of the county at that period
il7'.'o were for the njev-t pait farmers and hunters. The
nnndji.r of traders was limited, and the trades were repre-
sented by a few blacksmiths and here and there a tanner;
the fact was, that the American jiioneers were, almost with-
out exception, skilled mechanics and artisans.

TEN'UKf; OI' I..VXD.S.

The French colonists held the land granted to them pretty
much in the same style in which the rural population of
their mother land hold it to this day. Each villager had a
strip assigned to him, some more, some less, according, pro-
bably to the number of his family or to the favor in which
he stood with the dispensers of the grants These strips
were surrounded by a ftnee owned and constructed in com-
mon by all the villagers, each of whom had to render a
certain amount of labor for the commuiuty or forfeit tl.e
right to his strip. At Kask.askia these strips extended from
river to river, while at St. Philip and other colonies they
extended from the river to the hills. Besides the.se fields
held in common, the villagers possessed large tracts of lands
as commons, where to procure fuel, hunt, fish and pasture
their stock. A large part of these commons have in our
days been leased in smaller parcels to settlers, and for the
benefit of the vUlwjcrs, while some por.ions still remain
" commons " as of yore. Individual grants were also made
by French missionaries. The French ( ioverunient made
first mention of their pos.sessions in " Louisiana " in 1712,
on the 14th of September, when Antoine Croziit was granted
letters patent to the whole commerce of the country. In
1723, on the 14th of June, a grant of land was made to
Francois Philip Renault (Renaud) in fee simple in order to
enable him to support his establishment at the mines in
Upper Louisiana. This grant was made by Boisbriaiit, the
King's lieutenant, and governor of the province of Louisiana,
and by Des Ursins, principal secretary of the Royal India
Company. The grant was located near Fort Chartres,
bounded on the south by lands of the Illinois Indian.^, one
league in front of the Mississippi, and extending back into
the country two leagues.

Other individual grants exteudeil throughout the Ameri-
can bottom for a distance of many miles. The English,
wheu in possession of the territory, 17(53 to 1778, exercised
the privilege of making grants to a great extent, and in some

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

instances conveyed lands which had for years been the pro-
perty of individuals.* Virginia, when in possession of the
territory granted the so-called improvement rights, 400
acres each ; all these grants properly authenticated, were
recognized by the United States when succeeding Virginia
in the possession of the territory. In their turn the United
States granted the so called family head rights of 400 acres
each, to heads of families having held permanent residence
in the territory in 1783, and militia rights of 100 acres
each to all who had actually served in the militia in 1790
and prior years.

When the country was organized in 1795 these land grants
called for mauy hundred thousand acres of land, as will
be seen below, but the thousand and odd individuals to
whom these grants had been made, had divested themselves
of them prior to the first assessment of taxable property of
the county, probably in 1808, when these broad acres were
owned by less than three hundred individuals.

Among the numerous assessments of the property of Ran-
dolph county, filed away in the court-house at Chester, we
have selected one from which to quote, as it appears to be
the oldest on file. It has no date ; the lands assessed were
described by metes and bounds only ; not an acre seemed to
have been properly managed. This assessment was in all
probability made by David Robinson, Sr., who was ap-
pointed county assessor March 12th, 1808.

LANDS IN RANDOLPH COUNTY.

Extrnci from the Assessment of probably 1808 — This ap-
parently oldest assessment of Randolph county kept on file
is not dated, nor signed, yet it is very carefully made up,
and shows that 435,800 acres of land were in the possession of
individuals. None of the tracts owned had been surveyed,
and they are described in the following way as for instance :
Situated "on the Kaskaskia, seven or eight miles above the
village," or "on the Okaw, si.\ miles below Horse Prairie,"
or "adjoining the Jesuits' land," or " on the road to fort
Charters, opposite the village of Kaskia," or ''situation un-
known," or " ten leagues up the Ohio River," or " on the

Confiscation of Umds by the authorities of His Majesty, the King of Great

The Britisli authorities, in malving tlic land grants and donations, would
occasionallydispo-sess the original owners of their homesteads and donate the
same to loyal siittjects of His Majesty.

The first document of this kind was made out at Fort Chartres, November
]2th, 1767, by Gordon Forbts, Captain 34th Regimei.l, in manner and form as
follows:

By virtue of the power and authority in me invested, Ido herelty grant unto Mr-
James Ruinsey, late lieutenant of His Majesty's 34th Regiment, a certain tract
of land containing acree in front from the river Kaskaskia to tlie Missis-
sippi, once the j roperty of one La Bauhon, whereon formerly did stand a water
mill, the remains of which are now to be seen. The whole being agreeable to
His Majesty's Proclamation, confiscated to the King and is hereby given lo James
Rumsey in consideration of His Excellency. General Gage's Recommendation,
and for the good exampleo{ a speedy seltlement of His Majesty's colony, as like-
wise the frame of a house with a lot of land thereunto appeitaining opposite
the Jesuit college in the village of Kask.i.«kias.

In many instances the original owners were allowed to sell their property, as
will appear from the following:

Fort Chartres. ss. (no date.)

Permission is hereby granted to Alexis La Plante, inhabitant of Kaskaskias
in the Illinois country, to sell, or dispose of, the house, and granted him from
Colonel John Reed, latecommandant of the said country of the Illinois. ,\nd I
do hereby declare that whomsoever of His Majesty's iifjj Subjects may pur-
chase the same that he or they, etc. shall be and are hereby declared to be
legally possessed of the same without any hindrance, let, incumbrance or tax
whatsoever.

Mississippi some thirty miles above the mouth of the Ohio,"
or " right below Tower Rock," or "on Clark's trail to Vin-
cennes," etc., etc. This land was owned by less than 300
individuals, and in parcels ranging from two or three to over
100,000 acres. The largest land-holders were Gen. John
Edgar, who paid tax on 130,400 acres; Robert Morri-
son had 34,000, William Morrison 24,800, James O'Hara
15,200, John Rice Jones 1(3,400, Pierre Menard 12,000,
Richard Lord 11,200 acres, etc. Linds in cultivation were
assessed at 12.00, lands " improved " at 81 50, " wild " lands
located at $1.00, and wild lands not located at 75 cents per
acre. The assessed value of all those lands amounted to
§418,072, and the tax levied, at 75 cents per 100 dollars
value, to $3,135.54.

26,262 acres are mentioned as fields and are assessed at
$2.00 per.acre, and one three acre tract, owned by William
Murray, is assessed at $2 00 per acre.*

The present limits of the county did not contain much
more than one-fifth of those 435,800 acres, as will appear
from the following lengthy statement of lands of Randolph
county owned by individuals in 1820. The 26,262 acres in
fields were principally located in and around Katkas^kia
and Prairie du Rocher, with the exception of about one-fifth
located in the south part of Monroe.

List of lands entered and occupied by individuals in
Randolph county in 1820.

TOWN.SHIP 4 S. 3 W.

Mar, (i,l«1') \:ilV,:in T'lvi., K JS.W.S, m .Sept. Id, l«l«
A^g.,^,l-I^ I r,;,,. rl,\\v 17, 160 ; Aug. :■., 1 • 1 - -
NdV.lT. 1-1- I ,i: ■ - ' : ' 'i- 1 :NB.l8, 80 ; Oct.l. 1-1- r
Nov.l7,l-l-> -inl.l. 1. 1.1, N JS 13.1!), 8U i Oct. 1, 1-1- I
Sept. lO.ISls John M, liill, N,E. 21, ICO ! Oct. I, Islx F
Apr. .30, lsl« John McDill, S.E. 21,
Sept. V.I, 1818 John McPill, .N'.W. 22.
Sept. I'.i, ISIS Hugh McKchy, W. 2

-Kolvy, N,E, 27, KiO

lili, Ji- s w. :i", IM

iti>-, E,2 N E,3ll,S0

ii.ny. W. 2:.3, 320

patty, E. 2S,E, 33, 80

160 Apr. 30,1810 Joseph Cathcart, N.W.35, Ico

ICO j

:r., 320 I Total, 2oo4

TOWNSHIP 5 S. 5 W.

Acres. Acres.

Dec. .31, 1819 John Dickev. Jr. .S.W.3, Ico ' June 30, 1817 N. Pope A W.Harrison,
Dec. 3, 1818 James Munford, S E. 3, ir.) j N.E. 20, 160

Oct, 1. 1818 VVm. Marshall. W.2 N.W.4, 70 , June 30, 1817 N. Pope * W. Harri.«ori,
Oct. l,i,1818 J. McMillan, W.2S.W. 5, so S,K, 2(i. 1(X)

Dec. 17, 1818 J. McClurken, S.W. C,
Dec. 17, 1818 J, McCUlrken.S.W, 7,
Feb. 25, 1819 A I.- \- AIi-mi^.I ■> . \ K

Dee. 27, 1819 ■^■■'■' '- ' . . :, ■ - r.T, b," \u'- JI, l-l- An--
Apr. 7,1818 ]::■" V , ■,, u : \ r -, -II ,lnlK J", 1,-1- K Ih
Mar.3,1818 .Iiuiu - Ami, :-,,n, ~ W s, b,(i Mil-. ,-, IMS ,1. Mi
July29,1818 J.i J. lluggiii", \V.2S.ES,80 Aug, 8. Isls J. Mii
Nov.2«,181SSamuel Xeviit.S.W.lO, ICO , May 27, 1818 Mi.;i.
May 2C, 1819 Wm. Vann, W, 2 X.E. 17, 80 June2.'i,isi7 A. L:ui.k-iall, W, 2 N-\V.32, so
Aug. 20, 1818 Wm. Vann, W. 2 N.W. 17, ICO Feb, 24, 1819 J, Uo« .rman, W, 2 S, W, :l;t, 80

Mar. 3, 1818 James Anderson, N.E. 18, ICO I ■

Apr. 10, 1815 Wm. Morrison, 19, Oil ' Tot.al, 3835

TOWNSHIP 6 S. 5 AV.

151 June 311, 1817 N. Pope .t \V.

ept, 2?, 1«IS M. B..W.-ITI1II

, K, 21, 160

, 111, irn

Acre

Feb. 21, IM'i .1 I'.r.bi

Apr

1-1 ,,1,

n r II-.

r,S

.W.A.'

.E.7

Apr

2'.i

i-r> ,1.

11 IvIl'

ir.

W.2,

Jul\

ISlC J.

Bowerr

, S.W

Oct.

1818 E

i Short

E, 11,

Feb

.-,

1818 S.

Baker

2S,E,

11.

Oct.

1818 E

i Short

2 N.W. 12

Dec

181C J.

Bowerr

nal

,N. 2

1*,

n, N.E. j, 160 I Oct. 12, 1816 George Steel, N. E. ir., ici)
, E, 2 N.W. 5, 88 I July 31, 1816 J. Ilowerman, N.W. 16, icil
N.2N.W.C, 94 Oct, 12, 1816 George .Steele, S. 2, 16, 320
320 I Sept. 30, 1814 James White, AV. 2, 17, 320
320 j Apr. 11, 1818 John. Steele, E. 2 S.W. 21, 80
160 I Sept 30, 1814 John Steele, S.W. 28, 160
160 I Apr. 14, 1818 John Layne, W. 2 N.E. 29, 80

Total,..*...

.,3062

« Murray bought this three-acre tract as the agent of the firms of Moses and
Jacob Frank.s of London, and David and Moses Franks, of Philadelphia, on
the 8th of August, 1771, of Charles Cadron, dit. St. Pierre of St. Philip, village
in the Illinois country, yeoman and M:rrie Jeanne Merrier, his wife, for 300
poumls. On it was a water-mill and a large stone dwelling-house, on the road
from Fort Chartres to St. Philip.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

TOWNSHll" , !

Oct. 3, 1818 Adam Storm, E. 2, S.W. 3 SO
Nor. 18. 1817 .John CrPnslmw. N. 2, U. 3-2i) | j^,^
Jan. 1, islli .lolin .1. Honry, S.E. 14, 100 | '
Aug. 3M, Isls TI10.S. li..l.i-its, S.E. 31, IGO

TOWX.SH11- S S

Claims and Surveys — not tlatetl.
B. Thelwo, O. l.Vio, S. 732

Aug.
Jan.

Apr. .

Aug.
Aug.
Aug.

Acres.
, IKU \V rtuil.lprlmck,S.W.17, 121
isu W. A c. nuildoiliafk,

l.art N.K. 18, 106
l.si:, Win. M.-In(..sli, N. 2, N.

K. 20, 80

Total :«1

TOWNSHIP 4 S. 6 W.

Acres. 1 ;
,, ISIS .lolin Miiiifonl, S. W.IO, 145 ' Aug. 1.'., Lsls .In... M.-Millan. N. V. -.^
I. 1.S1S H. L.'Sli.-. K. 2. S.W. 20, sol Oct. 7,1818 Jumes c .ui'll, S.W. 31,
, 181S H. l.c^li... W. 2, S.E. 20, 80 , A. HudKe, A J. Murd.ic
,, ISIS W.f. Mallard, E.2,S.K. 2.1, So] E.2.S.|.:.:i
,, 1818 \V. C. Ballard, N. 2, 24, 320 Aug. 18, 1S18 A Hodge i A. B.ir.k i
., 1818 W. C. Ballard, N. W. 2>, 100 W. 2, S. W. :!
:7, 1818 W. E.l^ar, \V. 2. S.W. 25, 80 Aug. 18, 1818 .1 McMillan, S. E. 3.'.,
17, 1818 Samuel Little, N.W. 20, ICO
17, 1518 Patrick Hanus, W. 2, X. I Total

July 12.
Feb. 10.
Aug, V,.
Oct. 1,
Aug. 20.
Aug. ir.,
Apr. 2.1.
July 2,
July 2,
July 2,

TOWNSHIP 5 S. C W.

Acres. [
Ihivi.l Mi-MillanS. E. 3, 100 | Oct. 13, ISI7 .li.lin Wiley. S. E. 1
Andrew H.irdera N.E. 4, 135 ; Sept.Al. 1.^17 J..lin Heaty, S. W.
lohn Lively S.W. 4, 100 Sept. 20, 1817 Jas. .Mcfhirken.S.]
vVm. Elli.itt, E. 2, S E 4, 80 \ Sept. 22, 1813 W. Morris, E. 2, N.V
lohn Lively, N. E. 0, 100 ! Apr. Z\ ISl.'i Wm. Melntosli, Ser
Francis Beatly, S. W. 9, 100 Oct. 2tl, 1817 WillianiMorris.S.V
John Lively, S. E. 0, 100 Dec. 12, 1S18 John Miller, N. W.
Joseph Weir, N. W. 10, 160 IJec. 12, 1818 Jolin Wiley, N. E. :>
Wm. Mcintosh, sec. 12, 040 | Dee. 12, 1818 John Miller, N. W.
Jas. Patterson, N. W.13, 100 Sept. 20, 1817 S.Crawford, E.'2,S.\
John Mc Dill, S. E. 13, 100
Jas. P.atter.son, N. 2, 14, 320 1 Total

TOWNSHIP 6 s. G w.

Jan. 10, 1818 D. Looney. E. 2, N. W. 3, 71 Apr. 10, isi.i Wm. Morrison, S. 2,
Apr. 10, 1810 Wm. Morrison, S. 2.3, 320 : Sept. 24, 1814 KeuI.en Lacev. X.W
Oct. 3, 1818 C. Glover, W. 2, S. W. 4, 80 ; Sept. 24, 1814 John La.-ey, X. W. 1
Apr. 21, 1815 .Tohn Pillars, S. E. 4, 100 j Xov. 8, 1817 Cath. Coddle. S.W. 1,
June2C, 1819 John Taggart.S.W. 7, 151 [ Apr. 10, 1815 Wni. Morrison, X. 2,
i John Pillars, N. E. !!, 100 „, -

■"- --■ ^- 2' W. 32" Pierre Menard'

Apr. 21, 1
Apr. 21,1
Apr. IS. 1
Apr. 18, 1

and Suirei/s.

I J.Mcnonough,X.E.ll,

iJ.McD. ngh,X.W.I2, 100! Total..

Claims and Snrveyt.

? Mcnanl

,ar.l, hrs

TOWNSHIP 7 S. 6 W.

I Acres.

Acres. Aug. 19,1818 A. Smith, E. 2, X. E. 20, no

Sepl.2l,lsH HenjaminCrain,S.W..22, lOo

Dee. 10, ISl'J Pierre Menaid, X.W. 27, loo

McRoberts 300

Total 2IUO

June 12, 1818 S.amuel Man.s:
Jan. '23, 1819 Henry Kcil, fra

TOWNSHIP S S. 6 W.

TOWNSHIP 4 S. 7 W.

Elija

.Smith, hrs. clain

Mar. 4, 181s Gc

JulyC, 1818

Jan. 12, 1819
July e, 1818
Ocl.lo, 1817
Sep. 9, 1810
July 6, 1818
Jan. 4, 1815
Jan. 21, 1818
Jan. 7. 1SI9
Nov. 3.1817
Apr. 20, 1818

William lliggs

Elisha C.Hickox,X2,of 2,
Same. W2, N.W.
A. W. Snider, X.E. 4,
Jas. Morrison, W. 2, of 4,
Wm. Morrison, S.E. 4,
Jas. Morrison, N. 2, 5,
David Kulton, N. 2, 0,
Robt, Morrison, E.2,X. E.7,
Jas. Morri.son, X.W. 9,
Thomas Fulton. S.E. 9,

Jns.|ill (Mlllni, N W.19,
TI...IU 1- r.illl. , - W. 19,
J..hM \.|.iin.. 1: :,\,W. 20.
W. .M. L. Le Ll.apelle,
N.W. 21,

Apr. 20,
July 18,
(Sep. 1,
! Apr. 25,

1819 .'

1818 1
1817 '

1819 .:

>rge Wilson.N.E. 23, lUO
Thompson, jr. E. 2,

S.W.23 80

.Sam. Douglass, W.2,S.E.23, so
Wm. McBride, S.W. 24. 1.50
Thomas McBride. N.E.2C, 100
John Anderson, E. 2,

N.W. 20 80

100 ' Mar.2.->,1815 Otha Levens, S.W. 29, 144
Paul Harlson, N.W. 30, 129
Otha Levens, S.E. 30, loo
Thomas Levens, N.W. 31, 12!l
David Anderson, jr. S.W.32, 44
A. St. Francisco, hrs. N.E.

N.W. .33 11

Andrew Beatty, S.E. 30, 100

Total. 5218

270 I Apr. 24, 1815
I Mar. 25, 181.:
Apr. 28, 1815
Apr.2i,18l5
Sep. 30, 1816

TOWNSHIP 5 S. 7 W.

'. 400 Sep.30,1816 A. St. Francisco, hoirs.

John Edgar, " " 300 | S-W. 17 160

John Pettit, " " 100 Sep. 28, 1816 Robt. Morrison. S.E. IS, 100
Dec. .30,1818 .loseph Pratton.S.E.of 3, 100 Aug.21. 1818 Henry Conner, N.E. 21, 100
Apr.22, 1815 DavidAnderson,W.2,of5, 320 I May 1, 1S15 Jas. Thompson, S.E. of 22, 160
Dcc..30,1819 Joseph Pratton.N.E.of 10, 1,56 Jan.2G, 1819 Thos. Sirahan, N.W.of 27, 100
I>ec..30,lsn Wash'g'nSt..rrets.S.W.10,107 I •' " John Irvin, S.W. 27. 160

•Sep. 23. 1814 Jas. Patterson. S.E. 10, li;o 1 Aug. 3. 1819 Wm. Th.jmpson.S.E. 28, 160
.Same, S.W. 11, liai ; Jan. 0, 1815 A. .McCormack, W. 2 33, 320

Jan. 6, IslS Robert McMann.N.E. 14. 100 Jan. 0. 1S15 Wm. Tumbrell, .S.E. 33, 99

Dec.l..i,lsl8 John Rankin, N.2,N.W.l.-., so |

Tolal 3,642

TOWNSHIP G s. 7 w.

Acres. 1 Arces.

Heirs of J. Anderson, I May 1, 1810 Thos. Slatter.fr.S.W. 18, 79

claim and survey 400 j Jun.10,1810 John Fult.in. sr., S.E.ia. 143

Urather and Similey, [ Ap. 20, 1816 John Edgar, fr. sec. 19, 168

400 Ap. 29, 1815 Staecy McDonough,

Stacy McDonough,

claim and survey

John Pettil, claim anil

survey 100 , Fl.

Heirs of Henry Si

N.E. 20 .

160

Legal representatives
of .1. Montgomery,

John Rii
and sui

Jon

John Edgar

Pierre Menard I,;

Heirs of C. 4 R. Dniry
Village tract of Kas-

P. 11. Roberts

Robert Reynolds

Diego Kodreique

May 15, 1817 Jacob Harnian, fr.,

S.W. 7

.Mr. 24, 1S19 Stacey McDonough,

X.E. 8

Jan. 14,1818 Amos Anderson. S.E. 12,
Oct. 10,1818 William Coddle, X.E. 1:1
Ag. 31.1S10 llb.a.liah ri.-l.ls, S.E. l:i,

400 : Ap. 10, 1817 John Edgar, bal. sec. W, 459

Ag. 31, 181S Henry Conner, X.E. 21, 160
1,1817 Stacey McDonough,

N.W. 21 100

400 Mr. 1.5, 1817 C.iIvinLawrence,S.W.2I, 160

Ag. 10, 1817 Edward Coles, fr. S.E.21, 93

A p. 4, 1818 Joseph Jay, E. 2, N.E. 23. 80
4110 Jan.20,lslS Silas Crisler, W. 2,

N.E. 24 80

200 No. 17, 1810 Aaran (Juick, X.W. 24, li»l

.I11I. 4, 1817 Joseph Harman,S.W.24, 100

1,415 Ai-. 30, 1817 Jonathan Petii', S.E. 24, 160
2.22..1 Oct. 17, 1818 John Hannard. E. 2,

S.E. 26 80

.250 Jul. 30, 1819 John Richardson, sr.,

W. 2, S.W. '27 80

232 Xo. 21,1817 William Morrison, fr.

BOO E. 2, 28 108

:i,50 Ag. 10, 1817 Edward Coles, fr.N.W.

KX).

28..

' Sep. .30.1810 P. Menard 4 A. Perry,

X.E. 29 147

Ap. 22. 1817 Abijali Levett. W. 2, 29, 203
Sep. :iii, 1810 Pierre Menard and A.

I'erry, fr. S.E. 29 30

Sep.3n.lsl.i John Edg.ar. fr. W. 2, 30. 59

Fb. 11), 1,^17 .lano Rippey, S.E. 30, 145

Jun

2. ISl-

James Hughes. W. 2. 17. 310

A p.

JUD

.>7. 1.<1.
10,1811

J..lni K.lgar. S.K. 17. Ifio
.lohn Kullon.sr.. X.E.IK, 120
TOWNSHIP
Acres.
John R. Jones, cl. ,t sur., 2098
John Rappico.cl.isur., 39
Wm. Morrison, cl. and

sur. in 7-7 A 7-.8 277

John Edgar.el. and sur.

in 7-7 .1- 7-8 12'JO

Joseph McPherson, cl.
andsur. in7-7.t7.a... 134

T..lal .

and sur. in 7-7 i 7-8

Widow Godin. .alias Go

angeau, cl. and sur. ;

. 13,35:

Bii

278

7 7 ,1 :

Michael Danie, cl. and Ale.iis Blaurais, cl. and

sur. in 7-7 * 7-8 31 sur. in 7-7 A 7-8 45

Antoinc Bienvenue, .1. James Morrison, cl. aud

and sur. in 7-7 ,1 7-8... HI sur. in 7-7 i 7-8 94

James llaggins, cl, aii.l J. li. Laderout. el. and

sur. in 7-7 and 7-s li«i sur. in 7-7 ,(: 7-9 36

JamesGilbrealh.el.au.l n.l II, 1S17 .I..hn Clendenin. N.W.2, 160

sur. in 7-7 and 7-8 lai Inc. 2. Isl7 Henry Pettit, X.E. 3, 100

Pierre Menard, cl. and July 7, 1818 Wm. Morrison, X.E. 4, 100

sur. in 7-7 and 7-8 941 X... 27, 1817 Rachel Green, W. 2,

L.iuis Ladcr..iil, cl. and S.E. 4, 80

sur. ill 7-7 and 7-8 127 M.ar. 0,1818 Elijah C. Berry, fr. s. 5, 272

Louis rhaml.erlanl, cl. Jan. 7, 1818 Jolin McFerron, W. 2,

and -iir. :u 7-7.1- ,V 7-8 13.5 S.W. 4 80

Joseph Archambeau. el. Apl. 0, 1818 W. T. Williams. S.W. 13, 100

and sur.in 7-7 .V 7-8.... 90 Jan. .5. 1817 Wm. Oliver. W. part. 14. 154

Joseph Devignc's heirs, Ap. 18, 1815 John .VcFerron, pt. S.W.

cl. A sur. in 7-7* 7-8... 67 U liU

L. G. Chamberlant, cl. Fb. 16,1818 William Oliver, S.E. 14, loo

and sur. in 7-7 A 7-8... 114 Sep.28,1814 Saml. Cochran, X.E. 15, 100

J..hnRice Jones, cl. and

sur. in 7-7 .t 7-8 105 T.ilal 8317

TOWNSHIP 4 s. .S W.

.\i'r.'8. Acres.

Henry Levens, cl. ami Ap, 11, 1815 W. Rector A E. Barcrofl.

siir.4A5S. 8 3i«) S E. 1 ICO

John Edg.ar, cl. and sur. Jul 24, 1819 Wm. Peach, W. 2, S.E. 2, 80

4-8 loO Jul. 24, 1819 Saml. Abbolt,E.2,X.W..5, 80

My.20,1817 BinlardA Nove, N.pt.l, 280 Oct. 30. 1818 G. Taylor, Jr.,S.E.-N.E.O, 38

100

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

TOWNSHIP 4 S. 8 W.
Acres.

Mnr.e, 181« Samuel Crozier, N.E. 8, 160

Jan. 2.1S18 Jb. B. Bull, E. 2, N. W.8, 80
Ap. 21, 1817 Naney Garner. W. 2,

S.W. 9 SO

Ap. 29, 1815 Cliecqueur and others,

S.E. 12 100

De. 24,1817 Isaac Husband, S.E. 24, 100
De. 12, 1817 Paul Haralson, \V.2, N.E,

of 25 8(1

Ap. 24. 1815 Paul Haralson, S.E. 25 160

Jnn.10,18'0 Robert Foster, S.W. 29, 100
Jan.11,1819 James Kinney,W.2,S.W.

:13...

TOWNSHIP

Acres
Robert Reynolds, cl. A

survey, 40(

Pierre Menard, cl

No.22,1817 Abner Koek.N.E. 3.'i IGO

Ap. 28, 1815 Thomas Levens, N.E.31, 100

De. 23, 1817 Isaac Husband, N.W. 30, 100

Ap. 28,1815 Thos. Levens, fr. S.W. 30, 02

Mr. 30, 1810 Caldwell Games, S.E. 36, 100

Total 3-240

8 w.

Apr. 28, 1815 Thos. Levens, S E 2..,
Dec. 22, 1818 Henry 0'Hara,fl ac.S(

rvey ..

400

John Bl.iird (probably

Dralrd),cl. and survey 400
Levin Cropper, cl. and

Jno. Rice Jones, cl. and
survey 400

Peler Menard, cl. & snr.,
in 5-8 4 6-8 340

P. D. Roberts, el. S sur.,
in 5-8 A C-8

PiatlieriSmily, cl.

. 3300

i .t I

400

llay.l"

du Rocher, cl. A sur.,

in 5-8 ,t 5-0 0102

L. & B. Laderoute, cl. &

sur., in 5-8 A 5-9 337

John Edgar, part in 5 A

C S.— S A 9 W 002

Wm. Morrison, part in

6 A OS.— 8 A 9 W 040

Apr. 28,1815 Caldwell Carne.=, frac.

W2of 1 1S7

Dec. 24, 1817 Isaac Husband, S E of

Apr. 28, 1815 Thos. Levens, N E 2....
Jan. 2, 1819 David Lanson, E 2S W 2

Sep. 18, 1819 Peter Smith, N E of 9...
Aug. 7, 1819 Jas. Whelan, E 2 N W 9
Sep. 30, 1814 Thos. Levens, N 2 12....
Aug. Ill, 1814 David Fulton, fr. S.2 of

13 195

Aug.29,1815 John Edgar, N. 2 of 14.. 320

Jan. 5, 1818 Jos. H. Orr, S.W 15 160

Oct. 19, 1818 Wm. Steel, pts. of sec-
tions IS and 19 302

Oct. 0, 1818 J. 4J. Dunlop,N.E,of 19 160
Dec.l2, 1818 Henry Kinnel, W. 2 N.

W. SO 80

Apr. 17, 1815 Amos Paxton, E 2 S.W.

TOWNSHIP 5 S. 9 w. — Continued.

Monsieur Denegro he
Widow Dennyer heirin
Widow Hebert heirs .
Anloine Riviere, clain

5-9 and 5-10 237

J. B. Boquette heir.s claim and sur.

part 5-0 and 5.10 03

Henry Carpenter heirs claim and

sur. part 5-8 and .5-10 35

Joseph Hortiz heirs claim and sur.

part 5-9 and 5-10..: 42

John Edgar heirs claim and sur.

part 5-9 and 5-10 85

Deb. 10, 1818. Samuel LeardS.W. of 1 160

20.

June 8, 1818 Edwd. Mudd, W. 2 S W.

of 20 80

June 1,1818 Norton Hull, E.2S.W.21 80

May 22, 1818 Thos. Orr, S.E. 21 160

May 1,1815 J. Dodge, S.W. 22 160

Aug.10,1818 James Wilson, N.2of24 294
Sep. 14,1819 John Hathorn,fr. N.-2 of

ISli

Jan. 9, 1815 Archibald Thompson, fr.
S.2 of 2.-,

Apr. 29, 1815 Wm.Reclor,parts of sec-
tions 34 and 35

Jan. 19, 1815 A. Thompson, parts of
sections 'Ad and 30

Joseph Belle
part in 5-!

Joseph Lamii
part i

Tola

heii

Total..

Pierre R. Gidin heirs claim and sur. 79
August Allard heirs claim and sur. 90
lias Jarret heirs claim and sur. 88
George Wiimer heirs claim and sur. 89
Joseph Bellcour heirs claim and sur. 93
Antoine Riviere Heirs claim and sur. Gli9
Jacques Routillet heirs claim and sur. 50
Pierre Le Compte heirs cl. and sur. 280
Andree Barbeau heirs claim and sur. 51
Louis Peareau heirs claim and sur. 60
John Edgar heirs claim and sur. 431
Ambrose A Vasseur hs. cl. and sur. 136
Du Boiher vill»ge sq. hs. cl. and sur 397
R. Robinson and R. Morrison

heirs claim and survey 147

Jean B. Boquette heirs claim and sur. 85
Ignace Laroche tieirs claim and sur. 213

TOWNSHIP 6 S. 9 W
Acres.
John Edgar and J. Murray cl. and

Jr. part in 6-9 and 0-9 1677

John Edgar heirs cl. and sur. part

in .6-9 and 0-9 : 1589

B. Barbeau heirs claim and sur.

part in 6-9 and 6-9 260

P. G. dit Peaureau heirs claim and

ar. part in 69 and 0-9 58

August Allard heirs claim and sur.

part in .5-9 and C-9 116

A. A L. Lapeur heirs claim and sur.

pact in .6-9 and 0-9 309

Louis Pettit heirs claim and sur.

part in 5-9 and 6-9 117

Clement Dniry heirs claim and sur.

part iu 5-0 and 6-9 241

Saurier Louvier heirs claim and sur.

part in 5-9 and 6-9W 481

TOWNSHIP 5 S. 10 W
Acres.
John Edgar claim and .sur. Island

opposite Fort Chartres 1047

Widow Hebert part in Monroe Co... 370

John Edgar part in Monroe Co 260

M. Philebot part iu Monroe Co 142

KECAPITULATION.
jands in Randolph county owneil by individuals prior to lli

ands

. and £

. part

5568

Acres.

151

d 6-9...
heirs cl. and sur.

6-9and6-9 192

claim and sur.

part in ,6-9 and 0-9 131

A. Roy neirs claim and sur. part

in 6.9 and 6-9 373

Jacques Boutillet heirs claim and

sur. part in 6-9 and 0-9 117

sur. part in 5-9 and (

.iutoine de Louvier h*

s claim and

258

part in 5-9 and 0-9..

Unappropriated heirs claim and

sur. part iu 5-9 and 6-9 105

. 1205

John Edgar, cl. A
Timotliy Demonbro

claim and survey
Not located els. & si
Pierre Menard, cl. A
Kaskaskia Indians, cl.

and survey 443

Jt)s. Person and others,

claim and survey . ... 160
Widow La Chapelle, cl.

TOWNSHIP 6 S. 8 W.

. 7l>84

J as. Mo

, cl. A !

Wm. Mcintosh, cl. A sur
Heirs Etienne Pevard,

clain
M.adan

nd survey..

Robt. Reynolds.cl. Asl
Jas, Kinltaid, cl, A si
AntoineBuyat, nl. A si
Heirs of B. Richard,

vey..

Sr.,

Antoine Bien

cl. and survey

Jacob Judy, cl. A sui
Jo-. Morrison, cl. Asm
Hens of Michael Dan

claim and survey

Wul■l^^ ToiTongeau, c

and survey

Wm. Morrison, cl.Asu

Antoine La Chapelle, cl.

an 1 survey 22

Genevieve Buyat, claim

and survey 49

1 Lafaruqtie, cl.

and survey, G-S A C-9... :

Jos. Tullieur A others,

cl. A survey, li-8 A G-9.,

Nov. 13, 1816 Geo, Fislier, fr, S,W of

Nov. 13,1810 Geo, Fisher, fr, N,W. of

Nov, 13,1816 Gei
June 10, 1816 Jas

ction 9

., Fisher, fr, S, pt, of

Sla

fr, 8,E, of

J, B. Boquette part in Mo
Ignaoe Le Grass part in I
Joseph Bellccour part iu

Total

Acre

2004 T"

«l,ip

■ W.

I 7 - 7 W

18119

,. 13,347
.. 8317
.. 3240
.. 18,824
.. 13,008

TmiHsh-l

Township 1. S. 8 W,

Township 7 S. 8 W 240

Township 5 S. 9 W 5568

Township G S. 9 W 0448

Township 6 S. 10 W., pt. in Monroe 2911

Total..

. 102,8!

o, heir

Sept. 30, 1816 A.St. Francis

fraction S.E. of 14 101

Sept. 30, 1810 A.St. Franciac , heirs,

fraction N.E, of 23 40

Sept. 30, 1816 Jno,Edgar,parts of 23 A

171

Sept, 30,1810 Jas. Slatter, fr. N.E. of

24..

Sept. 30, 1816 Shadrach Bond, fr. pts.

of 25

Sept. 30, 1810 Shadrach Bond, fr. pts.

of 36

IchabetCamp, he
Antoine Bienvei]

Total 13,000

TOWNSHIP 7 S. 8 W.

Menard, claim and survey 240

Total ■■■ 2«

TOWNSHIP 5 S. 9 W.

Acres.

) and survey 800

1 and survey 715

Town«hip4 S. 5 W

Townships S. 5 W

Township G S. 6 W

Township 7 S. 5 W

Township 8 S, 5 W

Dship 4 S, 6 W

nship 5 S, 6 W 4076

Township G S, 6 W 3087

nship 7 S, GW 2100

nship 8 S, W 304

Township 4 S, 7 W 3218

Township 5 S, 7 W 3042

GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY IN TERRITORIAL TIMES.

The administration of the county in its infancy, from 1795
to 1803, was entrusted to a court of common pleas, organized
in 1795, and composed of John Edgar, William Morrison,
Pierre Menard, Robert McMahan, George Fisher, John
Beaird, Robert Reynolds, Nathaniel Hull, Antoine Louvier,
John Grosvenor, James Finney and Samuel Cochran. These
gentlemen were territorial or United States justices of the
peace, and as such members of the court of common pleas.

The minutes of this court could not be found, and so it is
impossible to give an account of the earlier transactions,
1795 to 1803. From subsequent minutes it may be inferred,
however, that the first " court-house," probably built by
Todd in 1779, was not longer inhabitable; that it, together
with the lot on which it had been erected, had been sold to
William Morrison and Dr. George Fisher, who, in 1803,
were dunned by the county officials for balances due by them
to the county on account of said purchase. Morrison owed

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

101

a balance of $25 for the lot, aud the Doctor owed $60 for
the stone of the court-house.

James Dunu, sheritl" prior to 1803, built the first county
jail at Kasfeaskia, and received $j70 35 for it July 12,1803.

C'onrity Commmionrr.% 1803 to 1809. The first meeting
of these oflicers was held July 4, 1803, at the dwelling-house
of Robert Morrison, where he and his colleagues, Paul Ha-
ralson and James Gilbreath, took the oath of office before
John Edgar, Esq., ami then adjourned. Their next meeting
was held at the house of Mrs. Turcott. on the 12lh of July,
1803, when William Wilson, county surveyor since 1795,
was appointed secretary of the commissioners, in place of
Paul Haralson, who had declined to act any longer. (Paul
had acted as secretary at the 4th of July meeting, and writ-
ten twenty-one words as secretary ) From the minutes of
the I'Jth of July, it would appear that William Kelly was
the first coroner of the county, for he was then allowed a
claim of 8-9.89, for holding an inquest over the body of a
man found dead on the Massac road in 1796.

The court held their subsequent meetings in the house of
Louis Laderout, and paid him 811.50 rent October 18, 1803.
The county had been divided into five townships by the court
of common pleas, and the county commissioners retained
this subdivision. The townships were named Kaskaskia,
Prairie du Rocher, Williamsburg, Mitchie and Springfield.

An assessment of personal property was ordered on the
13lh of January, 1894, and the following forces put to work :
For Kaskaskia — John Grosvenor and Joseph Pago ; for
Mitchie — James McRoberts and William Cliafhu ; for
Springfield — William Kelly; for Prairie du Rocher — Nico-
las Mya (Meyer), John Evert, Sr., and Prince IJryan.

This seems to have been the last term of the county com-
missioners' court, as it adjourned " without a day," after
allowing wolf-scalp premiums — to John Griffin for 14, Otho
Levens and Jonathan Petit for 4 each, John Hornbeck for 2
and Parker Grosvenor, Robert McMahan and Robert Hug-
gins for 1 each.

The administrative functions of the county were next
performed by a court, styled orphans' court, compo.sed of
the following justices : Pierre Menard, John Bcaird, George
Fisher, Robert Reynolds, Robert McMahan and John Gros-
venor, from 1804 to 1808. From minutes kept by this court
it would appear that it devoted its atteution to probate busi-
ness almost exclusively. Once only, on March 7, 180b, some
political measures are mentioned. Same territory of the
county, heretofore a wilderness, had gradually been settled
and become the home of a few families possessed of " taxable "
property, whereu|)on the court deemed it proper to organize
tliese parts as townships. The five original townships were
retained and the following new ones added :

Rocking Cave. — To commence at range Hue 7 east of the
3d principal meridian, running north with said line until it
intersec s the county line between Randnlph and St. Clair.
Tliis description ij vague. The new township must have
comprised the present counties of White, Gallatin, and Har-
din, and eastern parts of Hamilton, Saline, and Pope.

Massac. — To commence at range line 2 east of the 3d
principal meridian; running due north till it strikes Big

Muddy river. This township comprised the present coun-
ties of Massac, Johnson, and Williamson, also west parts of
Hamilton, Saline, and Pope.

Mississippi. — To commence on the Mississippi, below Big
Muddy, and bounding on Massac township, running to the
mouth of the Ohio. This township contained the present
counties of Pulaski, Alexander and Union, and southeast
part of Jackson. The order for formation of these townships
is immediately followed by another, appointing assessors, to

wit : Samuel Omelveny for Rocking Cave, Hughes

for Mississippi, and f homas Ferguson for Massac.

Marie, or Marij. — Springfield township was divided by a
line beginning at Colonel Edgar's Ferry, on the Kaskaskia,
along the road leading to Harralson's ferry, on the same
river, until oppo. ite the house of Thomas Fulton ; thence
east to the Vincennes road with the same until it strikes the
boundary line of Knox county.

Scraps from the records of the period, 1795 to 1809. —
The first official mentioning of the name of Randolph county
is found in a record of deeds, when, November 7, 1795,
Lewis Germain and Mary his wife, of Kaskaskia, Randolph
coi.nty, in the Territory of the United States west of the
River Ohio, sold to William Mclutosh a one-sixth interest
in a tract of land at a place called the Big Spring, near the
road from Kaskaskia to Prairie du Rocher, about six miles
from Kaskaskia, containing in front 12 acres, and 90 acres
deep, between Pierre Lauglois and John Edgar, for twenty
dollars.

The prices at which lands sold in those times are very
irregular. 400-acre head rights were sold at from thirty to
two hundred dollars, and were frequently paid for in goods
at enormous prices. Militia rights, 100 acres, brought from
six to fourteen dollars; other donation rights sold at similar
rates, while the so-called improvement rights were seldom
sold for less than fifty cents per acre.

The largest land sale made in those days was that of
Pierre and Therese Menard to Charles Choquier and John
Holmes of Baltimore, wherein, for the sum of $9,000, nine
thousand two hundred aud thirty-three and one-third acres
were conveyed February 12, 1799. Menard's lands thus
sold consisted of twenty-one and one third head of family
rights, of 400 acres each ; and seven militia rights, of 100
acres each. His profits must have been considerable.

Lardner Clark sold his mill, distillery, dwelling-house,
and "gardens." situated east of the Kaskaskia river, to John
Edgar for S20 50, November 10, 1798. John Edgar had
apparently monopolized the purchasing of lands, the de-
serijition of which fills 172 consecutive pages iu the land
records of the county.

Marriages recorded during said period.

Nichola Jarrot and Marie C. Barbun, Sept. 22. 1795 —
solemnized bv Gabriel Richard. Curate of St. Joseph of
Prairie du Rocher. Joseph Danguiue and Marie Reine
Filet, Sept. 29 1795 — by the same. Antoine C. LaChance
and Jeanne Felicitee d'Amour Louviere, Nov. 9. 1795 — by
same. Antoine d'Amour Louviere and JIarie Louise Lang-
lois, Feb. 8. 1796— by same. Louis Allaire and Magdalene

102

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Degagnee, Feb. 5. 1796, by "Janin," Curate at Kaskaskia.
Alexis Paquin and "Archangel", April 21. 1796 by same.
Joseph Devigne and Julie Godin Tourangeau, Nov. 8. 1795,
by same. Joseph Langlois and Marie B. D. Toulons, Oct.
27. 1796. J. B. Perrin and Marguarete Grannon, Nov. 14,
1796, Joseph Sylvain and MarianeNuillier Devignie, Feb
28. 1797. Etienne L'Anglois and Cecile Candere, January
23. 1798. Francois L'Anglois and Marie Godin, Joseph Blai
and Marianne Lavone— same day by Gabriel Richard Curate.

The estate of Louis La Sand deceased was put under ad-
ministration on the 20th of November 1795, when his will,
dated Prairie du Eocher June 23. 1790, was proved. The
will is void of interest. The personal property consisted in
6 cows, valued from 15 to 20 dollars each, 1 yoke of steersi
60 dollars, 10 head of young cattle, valued from 7 to 12
dollars each, 3 horses, valued 40 dollars each.

The common law cases adjudicated during the period,
although quite numerous, are without any special interest,
and criminal cases there are none, except now and then an
assault and battery or liquor case, as for instance the Indict-
ment and fine of Ephraim Carpenter, innkeeper at Kaskas-
kia, who had sold liquor without license — in defiance of law
and to the evil example — for which misdemeanor he paid a
fine of five dollars and costs.

The election returns of that period h;.ve not been pre-
served. From documents preserved in the sister county St.
Clair, it appears that Shadrach Bond of Randolph defeated
Isaac Darneille of Cahokia [St. Clair] for "a representative
for to be sent to the General Assembly of the Territorry,"
at an election held in January 1799. Another election,
after the organization of the territory of Indiana, held on
the 7th of December 1802, to elect three representatives to
go to Vincennes and there to meet the convention to be held
there on the 20. of December for the purpose of sending our
grievances to Congress, resulted in the election of Shadrach
Bond sr., Jean Fran9ois Perry and John Murdock. May 21.
1805, Shadrach Bond, sr., was elected representative to the
territorial legislature of Indiana, and becoming a member
of the legislative council [senate] resigned in 1806, when
Shadrach Bond, jr., his nephew wa« elected to fill this va-
cancy. He was reelected in the following year, remaining
a representative of Randolph county until Illinois waa
formed into a separate territory.

The officers of the county during this period have been
mentioned above. The dates of their commissions could not
be ascertained. The sheriffs of that period were James
Dunn, 1795 to 1800, George Fisher from 1800 to 1803, James
Edgar 1803 to 1805 and James Gilbreath from 1805 to
1807. Robert Morrison was clerk of the court (.f quarter
sessions. William Wilson was county surveyor from 1795
to 1808, William Kelley coroner 1795 to 1808 and Lardner
Clark recorder of deeds. The organization of the territory
of Illinois, February 3. 1809 gave cause to a reorganization
of the two counties then existing, St. Clair and Randolph,
which was done by proclamation as follows :

Apbil 28, 1809.
Nathaniel Pope, Secretary of the Territory of Illinois,
and exercising the government thereof.

By virtue of the power vested in the Governor for the
prevention of crimes, injuries, and for the execution of
process, civil and criminal, within the territory, I have
thought proper, and by this proclamation, to divide the
Illinois territory into two counties to be called the county
St. Clair and the county of Randolph. The county of
Randolph shall include all that part of -the Illinois
Territory lying south of the line dividing the counties of
Randolph and St. Clair, as it existed under the govern,
ment of the Indiana Territory on the last day of February
in the year one thousand eight hundred and nine, — and the
county of St. Clair shall include all that part of the
Territory which lies north of said line.

Done at Kaskaskia, the 28th day of April, 1809,
and of the Independence of the United States,
the thirty-third. Nat. Pope.

The territory of the county remained the same as
heretofore. The population of the county, 1103 in 1800,
had now increased to about 7000. (The United States
Census of 1810 gave the county then a population of
7275.) The people were scattered over a vast area, but
fully one-half of the total population were located at Kas-
kaskia and its vicinity.

A reorganization of the county government took place
on the 3d of July, 1809, when William Arundel, Philip
Fouke and John Edgar, Esquires, Justices of the Peace,
with William C. Greenup as clerk, and Benjamin
Stephenson as sheriff, assembled at the house of Thomas
Cox and " held court."

1809 TO 1819.

In reading and examining the proceedings of the first
courts of various and diverse counties the writer observed
that the licensing of taverns is the first step usually taken.
The absolute want of public funds in all these new bodies
politic must have compelled the authorities to grantthose
licenses as the easiest and quickest mode of obtaining a
"revenue." And thus the records again show that Philip
Fouke was licensed as innkeeper at Kask^kia, taxed $12.00
per annum, and, being a man of " good character and
reliable withall," he was excused from giving the usual
bond; he was allowed to charge as follows: breakfast, 25
eta., dinner 37 i cts., supper 25 cts., lodging 12i cts., horse
to hay at night 25 cts., corn or oats 12* cts. per gallon,
French brandy, 50 cts. per half pint; whiskey, 12i cts. J
taffia or rum, 37* ; peach brandy or cherry bonnie, 25 cts.

William Morrison was licensed to keep a ferry from
opposite the "Little Rock" across the Mississippi, and
allowed to charge the following rates : four-horse team,
$3.00 ; two-horse team, $2 50 ; two-wheel carriages, with a
pair of horses or oxen, $2.00 ; with single horse or ox, $1.75 ;
man and horse, 62 J cts. ; single horse, 50 cts. ; single
person, 25 cts; "plunder," 12V cts. per 100 lbs.; neat
cattle per head, 50 cts ; hogs or sheep, 12* cts ; and planks,
25 cts. per 100 feet. The Kaskaskia ferry rates were lower,
to wit: Single person above 77 years of age, 6i cts.; man
and horse, 12* cts.; single horse, 6i cts. ; cart and oxen or
horses, 25 cts ; wagon and team, 50 cts. ; grown cattle, 61^

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY' COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

103

eta ; cattle under two years of age, sheep or hogs, 3i cts.
each.

The labors of the county court were performed by
justices of the peace, three of whom would form a quorum,
until January, 1810. A territorial law, pa.ssed December
22d, 1809, created county courts, to be composed of three
judges who were appointed by the governor. Before pro-
ceeding further we would here introduce a

LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS — IS09.

Justices of the Peace. — The early Justices of the Peace
held their offices by appointment, and it was not until 182"
that the people were deemed competent to elect their town-
ship judicial officers. The general view on the subject seems
to have been that the dignity of the " Squire " would be
or was in danger of being lowered by the vulgarity of elec-
tions.

The governor of the territory appointed the justices at
the suggestion of the county commissioners, or " at will,"
and the commissions issued to those dignitaries smack of
monarchical origin, his excellency the governor using the
plural number of the personal pronoun when referring to
his own persou.

The following gentlemen seem to have acted as justices in
1809:

Philip Fouke, William Arundel, Henry Levens, Pierre
Le Coute, P. Harralson, David Anderson, Jean B. Bar-
beau, Robert Gaston, Archibald Thompson, John Guithing,
John Edgar, James M. Roberts, John McFerron, John
Bradshaw, i^amuel Omelvany, George Robinson, George
Hacker, Jas. Lemon, Thomas Ferguson, Hamlet Ferguson,
John Phelps, and Marion Fuller.

Overseers of the Poor. — Ralph Drury, John Evert fur
Mitchie ; Clement Drury, Pierre Le Conte, fur Du Rocher;
John Gibson, A. Langlois, for Kaskaskia ; Joseph Clen-
denin, Henry Leven, for Williamsburg ; John Beaird, Paul
Heilston, for Springfield; George Hecker (Hacker), and
Squire Green for Mississippi ; Hamlet Ferguson and Fred-
erick Grater for Massac ; James Ford and Samuel Omel-
vany for Rocking Cave.

Overseers of the Highways. — Jesse Reynolds for Mitchie,
Pierre Auguste for Du Rocher, Jesse Griggs for Kaskaskia,
Thomas Levin for Williamsburg, James Hughes for Spring-
field. For the newly organized townships Rocking Cave,
Massac, and Mississippi, no appointments were made.

Constable''. — Jesse Griggs and Samuel Davis for Kaskas-
kia ; Michael Masterson for Mitchie; John Langston for
Mississippi ; Joseph M. Courtney for Marie ; Autoin Le
Chance for Du Rocher; James Laird, Springfield.

Licensed Taverns in 1809. — Pierre IjC Compte, at Prairie
du Rocher ; Philip Fuuke, at Kaskaskia ; Thomas C x, at
Kaskaskia; Jonathan Taylor, at the United States Saline ;
James Truesdale, on the road leading from U. S. Saline to
Shawneetown ; James Lane, do. do.

The first county court of Randolph county, composed of
the Worshipful Philip Fouke, William Arui-del and John
McFerron, met at the tavern of Thomas Cox on the 4th of

January, 1810, and proceeded immediately to levy a tax
for the county and also a territorial tax on lands located.

The county tax levy was as follows : Each single man, not
having one hundred dollars' worth of taxable property, was
assessed one dollar ; owners of slaves had to pay for each
slave one dollar per year ; horses were taxed fifty cents
and neat cattle ten cents each ; each mansion valued
at two hundred dollars or more, all mills and distilleries,
were assessed at the rate of thirty cents per one hundred
dollars valuation. The numerous ferrries were also a source
of revenue, and the year 1810 saw the following ferries
licensed, to wit : Ephraim Carpenter, William Cheek, John
Edgar, Pierre Menard, James Ford, each ten dollars ; Ham-
ilton Ferguson at seven dollars ; James Fulton and William
Mirrison eac'i at six dollars ; Charles Bradley, Louis Baor-
ke, Thomas Ferguson, John Robinson, RichanI and Waller,
each five dollars; Jonathan Hampton at four dollars;
John Morris, James McHorton and John May, each three
dollars.

The revenue of the county derived from these levies was
small, as the land taxes proper were collected for maintain-
ing the territorial government only. From a settlement
mentioned in the county records of August term 1809, it ap-
pears that the county revenue for the years 1807 and 1808,
the collection of which was entrusted to sheriff James Gil-
breath, amounted to §1,593.18, of which S944.97 had been
collected and accounted for, while §213.50 of the revenue
of 1807 and §435.71 of the revenue of 1808 were re-
turned delinquent. The sherifl^s of those days had a
hopeless task to perform in collecting a few hundred dollars
of taxpavers, whose homes were scattered through all the
territory between the Misaissisippi, the Wabash and the
Ohio, nor is it to be wondered at that nearly every one is
accused of being in default. The expenses of those infant
counties, though insignificant in the whole, invariably ex-
ceeded the revenue, and sufficed scarcely to defray court
expenses, rent of rooms and salaries of officers; improve-
ment of roads and buHding of bridges was out of the ques-
tion; but let it be said in honor of those pioneers, that they
contrived to find means to aid the poor and helpless. We
mention here that the authorities in 1809 paid Thomas Cox
8144 a year for keeping Thomas Branham, a blind man.
Thus it is shown that about ode-sixth of the whole revenue
was expended in support of one unfortunate fellow being!
In extreme cases the aid of the territorial government was
extended to the helpless, as for instance in the case of Julian
Bart, who had been drafted to serve a tour of duty as a
militiaman during the past summer, and while in service and
obeying the orders of his officer, was shockingly wounded,
having one arm shot off and the other broken in different
places, his body lacerated and his eyesight greatly injured,
and now lies in a most distressed situation in the town of St.
Louis, dependent on the bounty of a poor family ; and
whereas it would be cruel to permit him to linger out a
miserable existence, rendered so in the service of his coun-
try, without the support which it is able to aflford hira,
therefore it is ordered by the governor that the auditor
draw warrants for such sums of money as may from time to

104

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES. ILLINOIS.

time become necessary for the support of said Julian Bart,
and to provide for his removal from St. Louis to Kaskaskia,
his home, etc , etc." Bart was soon after put on the U. 8.
pension list.

PROCEEDINGS IN COURTS OF JUSTICE.

Before reciting some interesting criminal cases during
territorial times, it may be proper to introduce here a brief
sketch of

TERRITORIAL LAWS.

We will allude to some features of the territorial code,
which may give an idea to the reader of the progress and
amelioration attained in criminal jurisprudence and the
punishment for debt. Thus in the punishment of crimes,
both felonies and misdemeanors, the barbarous practices of
whipping on the bare back, confinement in stocks, standing
in the pillory, and branding with hot irons were the penal-
ties frequently prescribed ; besides fines, imprisonment and
loss of citizenship. These summary modes of chastisement
grew in part out of the condition of the country. It was but
sparsely settled, the people were poor, they had no general
prison or penitentiary, and the few jails were so insecure as
to present scarcely any barrier to the escape of prisoners.
Whipping upon the bare back, besides other punishments
at the option of the court, was prescribed in burglary or
robbery, 39 stripes; in perjury, larceny, the receiving of
stolen goods, and obtaining goods by fraudulent pretenses,
31 stripes ; horse stealing, first offence, from 50 to lOU lashes ;
hog stealing from 25 to 39 lashes ; altering and defacing
marks or brands on domestic animals at large, 40 lashes
" well laid on"; bigamy, punished with from 100 to 300
stripes ; for sodomy, from 100 to 500 lashes were prescribed ;
forcibly taking away a female to marry against her consent
was declared a felony and might be punished by whipping ;
children or servants for disobedience, might upon complaint
and conviction before a justice, be whipped not exceeding
10 stripes. Fines were collected from those unable to pay
by the sheriff hiring or selling them to any one who would
pay the fine and costs for such terms as the court might
deem reasonable, and if the delinquent should abscond, the
penalty was double the term of servitude and 39 stripes.
Standing in pillory was prescribed, in addition to other
penalties, in perjury, forgery, and the altering or defacing
of brands or marks on domestic animals. For this last
offense, on second conviction the culprit was to have the
letter T branded in the left hand with a red hot iron. To
prevent the common crime of killing stock running on the
range, every one, including the owners; was required to
exhibit the ears of hogs or hides of cattle, killed, to a magis-
trate or two freeholders within three days under a penalty
of 810.00. For aiding the escape of a convict, the punish-
ment was the same as that of the culprit, except in capital
cases, when stripes, standing in pillory or sitting on the gal-
lows with the rope adjusted about the neck, at the option of
the court was the penalty. Besides in treason and murder,
the penalty of death by hanging was pronounced against
arson and rape, and horse-stealing on second conviction.

For selling intoxicating liquors to Indians, slaves, apprentices
and minors, severe penalties were enacted. For disorderly
behavior at divine worship and hunting on the Sabbath,
penalties by fines were prescribed. In 1810 a law was
adopted to suppress dueling which made the fatal result of
a duel murder, including the aiders, abettors or counselors
as principals in the crime.

In regard to the collection of debts the principles of the
common law favored the creditor. All the property of the
debtor, both real and personal, without any humane features
as to exemption, might be levied upon and sold under exe-
cution. The sale was absolute, no time of redemption. If
the laud failed to sell for .want of bidders, it was the judg-
ment creditor's right, at his option, to take it absolutely at
the appraised value made by 12 jurors. But this was not
all. If the property was insuffiiient to pay the judgment,
the body of the debtor might be seized and cast into prison.
Here he would be allowed the prison bounds, extending 200
yards from the jail in any direction, on condition only of
giving bonds in double the sum of the debt, not to depart
ttierefrom.

The territorial revenue was raised by a tax upon lands.
Those situated in the river bottems of the Mississippi, Ohio
and Wabash, were called 1st class land and taxed at the
rate of SI. 00 on every 100 acres; uplands were called 2d
class lauds, and were taxed at the rate of 75 cents per 100
acres. Uulocated, but confirmed land claims were taxed at
the rate of 37 J cts. per 100 acres. The county revenue was
raised chiefly by a tax upon personal property, including
slaves or indentured servants, not to exceed SI each. The
only real property taxed for county purposes was lots and
houses in towns, mausion houses in the country worth 8200
and upwards, mills and distilleries. There was levied also a
capitation tax of $1.00 on every able-bodied single man of
21 years and over. Tavern keepers, merchants and owners
of ferries were licensed at from S3 to S15 per annum.
Horses and cattle were taxed by the head, not exceeding 50
and 10 cents respectively — not according to value, as at
present.

The entire territorial revenue, between the 1st of Novem-
ber, 1811, and the 8th of November, 1814, was reported by
the legislative committee on finance, in 1814, to be S4,875 45.
But of this amount only 82,516.89 had actually been paid
into the treasury ; the balance, nearly half, — 823,58,50 re-
mained in the hands of delinquent sheriffs. The delinquen-
cies of sherifls in their capacity as collectors of the revenues,
remained a curse to Illino's, not only during its territorial
existence, but for many years after it became a State.*

The courts established in 1779 by the county lieutenant
were superseded by Governor Arthur St. Clair in 1790, and
three judicial districts established to wit : Kaskaskia, Judge
John Edgar; Prairie du Kocher, Judge Jean Baptiste Bar-
beau, and Cahokia, Judge John De Moulin. After the or-

*These delinquencies of sheriffs as collectors of revenue are to be excused.
The compensation of the officers, 10 percent, of amounts collected, would for
the whole territory amount to $487.50 if all the revenue were collected. There
were then 2 sheriffs, and if they had taken the pains of calling on each tax-
payer in their respectivi districits, their travelling expenses would have ab
sorbed twice the amount of their prospective compensation.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

105

ganization of the territory of Illinois, the whole territory
formed one judicial circuit until 1818. The judges during
this period were Obadiah Jones, Alexander Stuart and Jesse
B, Thomas, appointed March 7, 1809. Stuart resigned in
March, 1810, and was succeeded by Stanley Griswold.
William Sprigg was appointed July 29, 1813, and Thomas
Fowles October 28, 1815, and reappointed January 16, 1816.

This General Court of the Illinois Territory held its first
term at Kaskaskia on 12th day of Sej)tember, 1809. Pre-
sent: The Honorable Judges Alexander Stuart, Obadiah
Jones, Jesse B. Thomas. The names of the grand jurors were :

Isaac White, foreman ; Samuel Cochran, William Simp-
son, William Daniels, John Manis, John Hibbins, William
Chaffin, John Worley, Ephraim Bilderback, Josiah Cox,
Jacob Bowerman, William Stiles, John Murphy, John
Phelps, Thomas Griflin, Samuel Omelvany, James Steele,
Gershora demons, Alexander Blair, William Alexander,
John Bradshaw and Owen Evans.

The grand jury thus assembled had a vast amount of labor
before them. The most interesting case was that of The
Uuited States versu* James Dunlap, a physician at Kaskas-
kia, and Michael Jones, "gentleman," also of Kaskaskia.
Before going into the details of the indictment and subse-
quent trial, a few words should be said in reference to inci
dents preceding the indictment.

Rice Jones, son of the well-known John Rice Jones first
lawyer of Illinois, had had difficulties of a political nature
with several gentlemen at Kaskaskia, and in consequence a
duel between him and Shadrach Bond had been arranged.
The parties met on an island between Kaskaskia and St.
Genevieve. When the principals had taken positions and
the word was about to be given, Jones' pistol went off by
accident. Dr. James Dunlap, Bond's second, claimed that
it was Jones' fire, and that Bond might now fire at Jones;
'but Bond, the chivalrous and high-hearted Marylauder, dis-
dained doing so; in fact, the duel ended right there and the
controversy was amicably settled on the spot. The incident
gave rise to a bitter quarrel between Rice Jones and Dr.
James Dunlap, who was urged on by Michael Jones and
others to persecute Jones in every way imaginable. The
threats against Rice Jones' life had become verv loud
towards the close of the year 1808, so that John Rice Jones
saw proper to address the following note to Elija Bachus :

K.\sKASKrA, Nov. 25, 1808.
Sir— I have just heard of your threats of yesterday, that
if my son did not go out of the country, he should in a few
days be put out of existence— "i< will he done, it ahnll be
done." I now inform you that he will remain hfre, and if
he should be murdered either by you or through your insti-
gation, I shall know where to apply. I must, however, con-
fess that the threats of poltroons can be considered in no
other light than as those of assassins.

Yours, John Rice Jones.

On the 7tli day of December, 1808, while Rice Jones was
standing in the streets of Kaskaskia, in conversation with a
lady, Dr^ Dunlap stole up behind him and shot him dead

with a pistol. This murder created great excitement in the
community, and Duulap had to flee the country.

The grand jury J after bringing in an indictment against
Dr James Dunlap for murder, also indicted Michael Jones,
" gentleman," because he did, on the 6th of December, 1808,
incite, move, abet, etc, feloniously and with malice afore-
thought, the said James Dunlap to commit the crime of
murder.

The prosecuting attorney, B. H. Doyle, obtained the con-
sent of court for a continuance of the trial on the affidavit
of Archibald IMcKnabb, an important witness, being sick
and unable to attend court. A continuance was granted,
and Michael Jones, who had insisted on a speedy trial, was
admitted to bail in the sum of S3,000. His securities were
John McFerron, Shadrach Bond, Jr., Thomas Leavens,
Henry Leavens, Henry Connor and Samuel Cochran — all
of the best people of the county, the f. f. of Randolph.

Michael Jones was tried on the 10th of April, 1810, before
a jury composed of William Rector, Paul Harralson, Thomas
Wideraan, William McBride, John Anderson, George
Franklin, David Anderson, John McFerron, Henry Connor,
George Creath, Jacob Funk and James Fulton. It will be
observed that two of his bondsmen, McFerron and Connor,
were members of the jury that tried Jones' case.

Michael Jones was acquitted, but the court exonerated
the ''prosecutor" (John Rice Jones?) from paying the costs,
as there were probable grounds for preferring the indict-
ment.

Another Murder (Use. — James McGlaughlin, indicted for
the murder of Thomas McGlaughlin, was tried on the 13th
iif September, 1809, before the following jury: John An-
dersoii, Robert Hill, Thomas Stubblefield, John McFerron,
Joseph McCourtney, John Howell, Robert Penny, Thomas
Leavens, William. Evert, Thomas Fulton, William Dees and
Robert Huggin, who brought in a verdict of guilty, where-
upon the court sentenced James McGlaughlin to be hung on
the 23d day of September, 1809, in or near Kaskaskia. The
writer could not ascertain if the execution took place or not.

Two others, Robert Hays, " yeoman," and Jesse Canada,
" laborer," indicted for the murder of Thomas Allen, were
tried and acquitted.

John Boren, " laborer," indicted by the same grand jury
for clubbing Samuel Billingsley to death Nov. 20, 1808, aa
also Hosea Boren, for aiding John, had their cases con-
tinued and were nolle jiros. April 10, 1810.

Sever.il grievous cases of assault and battery were tried
and ended in the conviction of the fighters, who had to pay
pretty heavy fines, from 12 to 60 dollars. Francis King,
indicted for breaking into and burglarizing the store of
James Wilson, was tried by a jury and found guilty
whereupon the sheriff was ordered to take King Francis to
some " convenient" spot and there give him " 39 lashes on
his bare back, well laid on."

Moses Canada and John Gibson, indicted for stealing
" one gelding of a black color" from sheriff Stephenson,
were acquitted.

Nelson Rector, the old surveyor, had had '■ difficultiea
with Benjamin H. Doyle (U S. Attorney), and had admin-

106

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

istered a terrible cudgeling to him on the first of June, 1809.
The grand jury could not ignore this outrage, and so we
read on the records of that term :

Nelson Rector, surveyor, being a person of a terrible,
cruel, fierce and inhumane disposition, and wickedly having
in his heart rank malice and ill will towards Benjamin
H. Doyle, on the 1st of June 1809, did beat the said Doyle
with a round stick or cudgel, cruelly and barbarously,
striking him diverse, terrible, grievous and dangerous blows
upon the head and hands, to the manifest danger of life, etc.
Kector had the case continued, and on the 10th of April,
1810, confessed the allegations charged against him in the
indictment, and put himself upon the mercy of the court,
who fined him $60.00 and costs. Doyle was not satisfied
with this sentence, and now brought suit against Rector for
• damages. In his declaration he stated that Rector felled
him to the floor with a blow of the cudgel, and then
continued beating him mercilessly until he left him for
dead, etc., etc. The case was subsequently dismissed,
Rector paying costs.

It is somewhat strange that neither the grand jury nor
the petit jury had any French among them, but it also
should be stated that no French names are to be found
among those indicted.

PROBATE COURT. 1809.

William C. Greenup, clerk of the county court, trans-
acted the probate business of the county on his own
responsibility. The entries made on the records are not in
chronological order. The first one, dated July 9th, 1810,
has reference to the estate of Jean B. Godfrey, deceased,
and grants letters of administration to Louis Buatt in the
following language :

William C. Greenup, clerk of the county court of Ran-
dolp to Louis Buatt, Greeting :

Whereas, Jean Baptiste Godfrey, late ef this county,
deceased, died intestate as it is said, /do therefore give and
grant unto you full power and authority to administer,
etc., etc.

The estate of said Godfrey, consisted in a sorrel horse
three years old, valued at $20.00, and one arpent of land in
front extending from the bluff to the Mississippi, lying in
the big prairie below Prairie du Recher, and was appraised
at $60 00 by Jean Baptiste Gendron and John Doyle.

Then comes an inventory of the estate of John Beaird,
dated March 13th, 1809. Beaird must have been farming
extensively ; the inventory mentions seventeen horses, worth
from $45 to $100 each, two yoke of oxen, wagons, plows,
six sets of harness, etc., a "mulatto negro" worth $350, and
a black boy worth $250.

Prices paid at the sale : Corn, ten cents per bushel, one
barrel of pork, $10.00, one half dozen of pewter plates, $2.50.
The negro boy " Berry " was sold to John Beaird, Jr., for
$450, the other brought only $225. Mrs. Elizabeth Worley
paid $120 for a bay mare ; twenty acres of wheat in the
field brought $65, and a pot trammel $4.25 ; cows sold for
nine, ten and twelve dollars, but a "muUey" brought $13. 15,
purchased by Monsieur Archambeau; one yoke of oxen

sold for $60.00 and the other for $17.50. The sale
amounted to $2,273.20.

On page twenty-five of said record is found the following
will, which was in all probability drawn up by some justice,
who had but recently written out a deed.

Illinois Territory, )

Randolph County, j Know all men by these presents,
that I, Isaac Allen of said county, being in a low state of
health but yet in my right mind, do render ray soul to God,
and my estate to my wife and children in the following
manner, and this is my last will and testament to stand
against all other previous to this. And I do hereby appoint
John Anderson and David Anderson of this county my
executors, and I do hereby bequeath unto my wife, Rutb,
one black mare about thirteen years old and two colts, one
a yearling and the other a spring colt, one bay horse about
six years old, and all the neat cattle except steers; about
thirty head of hogs, and all the household furniture, and all
the corn in the cribbs and the land, and all the rest of the
property to be sold on the 15th of October, at twelve
months credit, ray wife Ruth to have a child's part of the
vendue money, the other property which I have bequeathed
to her, is to be for the use of her and the children while she
remains a widow.

This I acknowledge to be my last will and tfstament, in
witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
19th day of May, 1810. Isaac-Allen.

The testator seemed to have been sure of his early demise,
inasmuch as he fixed the day of sale, nor was he mistaken,
for the records show, that the will was probated on the 23d
of June, 1810.

ESTATES PUT UNDER ADMINISTRATION FROM 1809 TO 1818.

Jean B. Godfroy, Ambrose Vasseur, Jean B. Barbeau,
James Davis, Isaac Allen, Charles Burk, Joseph Danie,
Nelson Montgomery, Henry Bowers, Margareta Cochon,
Nathan Dever, Moses Stephans, Israel Bailey, Samuel Liv-
ering, Abel Dewey, Isaac Baker, Robert Robinson, Elijah
Bachus, Pelage Danie, Moses Harrisoii, Jesse Reynor,
Henry Laughlio, Wra. McGlaughlin, James Anderson,
James McNabb, John Lively, John Robinson, Francis Gar-
ner, James Smith, Clement Drury, Elijah Benton, Joseph
Lavoy, John Hicks, John Wooten, Joseph Laflambuis,
Catharine Page Gasper Butcher, Samuel Wilson, John
Fisher, Gregory Codel, John Mansker, James Fulton, John
R. McGlaughlin, Michel D St. Pierre. William Arundel,
Robert Gas'on, Samuel Blakely, Nicholas G. R. Rhea,
James Edgar, Blissftt de Rouse, Samuel Vermillion, Eliza-
beth Septante, and John Hochersmith.

William C. Greenup attended to all the probate business
of the county until August 6, 1821, when Hon. Curtis Conn
appears as judge of probate of Randolph county. David J.
Baker, succeeded Curtis Conn on the 24th of August, 1827.
Dwight Hunt, probate judge, from March 7, 1831 to May
16, L31.

During his brief administration the Will of JohnEdgab
was probated. This will was drawu up in the handwriting

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUXTIES, ILLIXOIS.

107

of Elias Kent Kaue, the seoator, and was also witnessed by
him, James L. Lamb, and Patrick KSvenaugh. The will
is dated Septr. 4, 182:>. Ttie coutents of the will are as
follows:

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Edgar, of Kaskaskia,
in the state of Illinois, being sick in body, but of sound mind,
memory and discretion, knowing the uncertainty of life and
the certainty of death, have made this ray last will and tes-
tament, and do hereby declare and will as follows:

Item first: Whereas on the 25th day of November in the
year 1S23, I executed in contemplation of my late marriage
with my dear wife Eliza, to the said Eliza a bond in the
penal sum of 820,000, conditioned for securing to the said
Eliza over and above her dower, the sum of $10,50(1, now
therefore for the purpose of satisfying and fully complying
with the conditions of said bond, and in order to provide a
suitable maintenance and support for my said wife Eliza,
I do hereby devise and bequeath to my said wife in full
property and domain the house wherein I now reside, in the
village of Kaskaskia. together with the lots adjoining the
same and together with all my household furniture, I also
for the same purpose give and bequeath to my said wife my
mills, distillery and ferry on the East side of the Kaskaskia,
together with all the lands belonging to and adjoining the
same. Also my tract of land below the village of Kaskas-
kia in the Common field of said village; also ray tract of
land on the East side of the Kaskaskia river, called the gar-
rison hill tract, in fee simple and full domain ; I also give to
my said wife all my stock of cattle, hogs and other stock.

Ittm Stfcond. — I do further will, that my debts be paid
out of the remainder of my property.

Il'iii Ihinl. — After all my just debts *hall have been
paid, I do will and bequeath al the rest and residue of ray
estate, real, personal and mixed, whether in possession, in
action or in expectancy, to my said wife Eliza, to have and
to hold the same absolutely in her own right forever.

Item Fourth. — I do further hereby name and appoint my
said wife Eliza sole executrix of this mj- last will and testa-
ment, and that she be not required to give any security for
the administration of my estate in any shape whatever, etc

Jiimes Th'trnp^on, Probate Judge from May 16, 1831, to
April 27, 1837, from aud after which day the judge signed
his name as probate justice of the peace. He remained in
office until after the adoption of the Constitution of 1848,
when he was superceded by Hon. John Campbell, first
county judge of Randolph county.

.SLAVERY IS RASDOLPH COUNTY.

Readers may wonder at this caption. Slavery in Illinois I
AVhy, the very ordinance of Congress creating the territory
northwest of the river Ohio, decreed that neither slavery nor
invoAutary servitude shouhl exist in it. How, then, could
thtt institution be established? The fact is, that the ordi-
nance of July 13, 1787, found slavery in this us well as in
other parts of the vast territory.

The first slaves were brought to Illinois by Antoine Crozat
and his followers about the year 1713. King Louis XIV. of
France had, on the 14th of September, 1712, granted to said

Crozat letters patent to the vast regions extending from
Upjjer Canada to the (.iulf of Mexico. Crozat arrived in
1713, and commenced mining operations in the vain hope of
finding precious metals. Ilis followers were suflTering with
climatic diseases, and therefore a number of blacks were im-
ported from the French West India Islands. Crozat's ex-
ploits, however, failed entirely, and he returned to France
in 1717, surrendering bis patents to the crown.

Frantjois Renault (properly Renaud), manager of the
affairs of a company of adventurers, .sent out by the " Com-
pany of the Indies," to whom the royal domain refused by
Crozat had been granted in 1719, brought 500 negro slaves
to Illinois, landing them at the site of the "ancient village
of St. Phdip." His contract stipulated that he should
bring at least six thousand whites and three thousand blacks
to Illinois within tweuty-five years from the date of his
grant (1719).

By the condition of the peace of Paris, February 10, 1763>
the territory was ceded to England, and on taking possession
of it in 17G4, General Gage, commander in chief of the
English troops in America and governor, issued aproclama.
tion in the name of the crown of England, December 30,
1764, in which all the rights and privileges heretofore en-
joyed by the then inhabitants of the ceded territories were
guaranteed to them. Sieur Stirling, captain of the High-
land Regiment brought this proclamation to Kaskaskia in
person. Virginia in her turn [1779] readily guaranteed to
the inhabitants of the conquered territories all their prior
rights and titles of whatsoever description, and when the old
Commonwealth ceded and deeded the territory to the United
States, the rights and privileges etc. were guaranteed again
bv the latter. Hence it was afterwanls strenuously con-
tended that the famous ordinance of 1787, prohibiting
slaverv conflicted with the deed of cession and was therefore
not binding in efl'eet, as slavery had legally and legitimately
existed in the territory.

This view, however was not taken by the judicial authori-
ties of the territory at the earlier period as will appear more
fully from the following proceeding and order of court of
Sept. 1798.

It appears that a certain negro, formerly a slave, had
found his way into the territory aud that his case was taken
into court, in order to make a test case of it. Guy, the
negro in question ajjpeared before his honor. Judge John
ClevesSymmes at Kaskaskia on the ■22d of September, 1798,
when the following proceedings were had. Guy in making
his application for certificate of freedom subscribed the fol-
lowing affidavit, to wit :

Guv, a negro man aged about .SO years who being duly
sworn according to law deposeth and sayeth that he formerly
lived with and belonged to Adam Lawrence of North Caro-
lina who moved to and settled on Green River in 1793, and
that his master and "him" agreed, that he [Guy] and his
wife, also a slave of said Lawrence, should stay with him
until they had made 1000 bushels of corn for him, but that
after having raised and delivered 750 bu.-hels of corn on
lauds first cleared by them, his master sold him to one Robert
Mitchell of Massac who had come to his masters house with

108

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

a load of lead, and that his master got into a great frolic and
was drunk for sorae days, in which time said Blitchell had
bought hiin [Guy] and his wife. Said Mitchell had then
taken them to Fort Massac, promising never to sell them,
and to set them free if they would clear off a piece of land
[five acres] during the fall and winter and then plant it in
corn and tend it well during the summer. In consequence
of these promises, he had gone to work clearing the land,
when all at once Mitchell had sold him and wife to one
Nealy, bound to the Spanish dominion ; that they first re-
fused to go, but as he knew they were too strong for him, and
could bind him and take him by force, he consented to go,
though determined to leave the boat if he could. The boat
had landed 20 miles below Fort Massac during the night,
when he and his wife made their escape, and after great
difficulties and many sufferings and hardships he and his
wife had arrived at the town of Kaskaskia in the county of
Randolph. On the 22d. of Sept. 1798, the court there upon
entered the following order : Guy's Freedom Papers.

Territory of the United States } ^ .,

Northwtstof the Ohio River )

Be it remembered that on this 24th day of September,
1798, Guy, a negro man, and Abigail, his wife, being both
severally brought before the subscriber, one of the Judges of
the Territory, when they alleged, that by the Ordinance
creating the government of said territory, there can be no
such condition as slavery, therefore that the said Guy and
Abigail, his wife, of right are and ought to be free, and the
subscriber having maturely considered the premises does
adjudge the said negro man, Guy, as well as his wife,
Ahig&il, citizens of the United States, and that they ought of
right to enjoy all and every privilege and franchise with
relation to their personal liberty and protection of property,
unmolested, subject only to the laws of the land.

And all persons are hereby advised and forewarned not
to invade or annoy the entire freedom of the said Guy and
Abigail, which Inj this record is ahsu'ufe.

Given under the hand and seal of John Cleves
Symmes, at Kaskaskia, the day above written.
John Cleves Symmes.

All honor to the Judge! *

* MANVMISMON IN 1700.

Geoi-gG Morg.Tn, one of His Majesty's justices of the peace for the country of
the Illinois, took the acknowledgment of one "Antoine Renand" to the
followint; docnment .nft?r having fully explained the contents thereof to him,
in the Frtuch languiise, to wit :

To all people to whom these presents .«hall come, Antoine Eennud, of
Kasliaski.T vill:ii;f, in Iho country of the Illinois, yeoman, sends greeting.
Whereas the .«r>iil Antoine Rcnaud is now iu actual possession of a certain
negress slave named Ton Ton, and, whereas, for causes and considerations
hereinafter recited, he is very desirous that the said negress shall no
longer remain in bondage as a slave to him, or any other person or persona
whatsoever. Now, know ye tliat the said Antoine Renaid, in consideration of
the great and signal services she, the said Ton Ton, hath done and performed
for him, the said Antoine Eenaud, since she halhbcen his slave, as well as in
consideration of his mcrsion to anj/ of ths human tpccics contimmnce in perpetual
bmdagc and staicrj/, and also in consideration of £5 lawful money of Great
Britain, to him, the said Antoine Renand, hy Ihe .said Ton Ton in hand paid,
at and before the ensealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged, he, the said Antoine Renand, hath for
himself, his executors and administrators, fully and amply released, liberated
and forever disfhargr d her, the said Ton Ton, from all slavery, bondage and
servitude whatsoever, either to h mself, the said Anioine Renaud, his
executors or administrators, or to any other periion or persons whatsoever

His decree, however, was no surpri.se to the people of the
territory, for the struggle to defy the stipulations of the
ordinance of 1787 was then scarcely perceptible. The
feeble efforts of several citizens of the colony to have
Congress re-consider the anti-slavery proviso were ineffectual,
and injured the very men who made them. The purchase
of Louisiana in 1803 added a vast empire of slave terri-
tory to the United States, the present state of Missouri
being a part thereof And it was not until the ftw and
scattering American settlers in Illinois saw well equipped
emigrants from the slave States pass through Illinois, bound
fur Missouri, where slavery was not prohibited, that the
actual agitation for introducing or legalizing it here was
inaugurated. It must have been provoking to see a
desirable population turn their backs to the beautiful lands
on the east bank of the Mississippi and cross over to
inferior land for their settlements. A raw-boned Tennes-
seean, passing with his family and " property" through the
streets of Kaskaskia on his way to Missouri, being asked
why he would not remain here rather than move further on,
op&iied his big mouth saying: "Ynur'sile' is rich and
fertile, and the country is fine ; but, God dern ye, a man is
not allowed to own niggers here."

But to return to the suljject ; it should be stated that the
ordinance of 1787 was prospective only, and did not affect
the condition of the French slaves or their descendants.

The Legislature of Indiana passed various acts in Sep-
tember, 1807, (Illinois then forming a part of Indiana terri-
tory) by which at least a temporary and modified form of
slavery was effected. Negroes were brought into the terri-
tory and there held as indentured servants. Another act
provided that the owner of a person " owning" labor (i. e. a
slave) may bring such person into the territory and "agree"
with him beforethe clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in
the county, upon a terra of service, after the expiration of
which the slave should be free. The ignorance of the poor
blacks was taken advantage of, for many of them would as
readily bind themselves for I'9 years as for 10 or 15 years.

If an indentured slave refused to work, the owner was
allowed to take him to another State or territory, i. e., to
sell him to some slave trader in the south or west. Slaves
under the age of 15 were held in servitude until the age of
35 or 32 according to sex. Owners had to give bond that
slaves who would become free after their 40th year of age,
should never become a county charge. The children of

lawfully claiming or to claim by, from or under him, them or either of them
from the day of the date hereof, for and during the natural life of her, the
taid Ton Ton, and by these presents doth for himself, his executors and
administrators fully and amply release, liberate and forever discharge her,
the said Ton Ton, from all ^lavery, bondage and servitude whatsoever, either
to him, the said Antoine Renaud, his executors or administrators, or to any
other person or persons whatsoever, lawfully claiming or to claim by, from or
under him, them or either of them from tho day and date hereof, for and
during the natural life of her, the said Ton Ton, giving and hereby
granling unto the said Ton Ton full liberty to go and come
whithersoever she shall think proper, without the least trouble, hindrance or
intervention.

In witness whereof, etc., tigned 22d of May, A. D. 1769.

Antoine X R

mark

d by \Vi

nd^o

r Brown

and Valent

ne Thomas Da/ton.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

1(9

" registered or indentured "slaves remained in servitude until
they were 28 and 30 years old, according to sex.

The records in reference to the owners of slaves or inden-
tured servants set forth that theie were 197 negroes and niu-
lattoes regi-tered as slaves or indentured as servants during
the territurial ])eriod of the county ; the slaves owned there
prior to 1807 were not mentioned. Among the slaveholders
of the county, the following well-known names are found:
Jesse B. Thomas, the judge ; Alexander Stuart, Benjamin
Stephenson, Frederick Bond, David J. Black, Kinian
Edwards,* Nathaniel Pope, William and Elias Rector,
James Gilbreath, William and Rdbert Morrison, 'Squire
Garton, Elias K. Kent, Robert Shields and others. The
terms of bondage and servitude vary from 8 and 10 years
to 99 years. Jean Pierce was bound to Wright Pierce for
99 years when he was 19 years of age, to wit, March 8, 1811,
and thus Jean will be a free negro in 1910. Millv, a negro
girl of twenty years of age was brought into the State from
Kentucky, in May, 1811, and bound herself to Samuel Hall,
her master, for eighty years; she will soon be free, to wit, in
18. '1. Henry Kimniel, one of those slaveholders of the ter-
ritorial period was a German, while there are quite anuipber
of Frenchmen among them Rachel, the proper!)' of Amos
C'hipps, reported to have been 15 yiars of age ou the 7th of
April, 1811, is still living in the county.

Colored people, who were not slaves nor bonded servants.
bad to procure certificates to that effect, in order to be un-
molested. We introduce here a few samples, to wit :

State of North Carolina, |

Guilford County. J This is to certify that Moses
Tabon, a man of color, is a free born. Let him pass
and repa.ss ; his height is five feet nine inches; in the 25th
year of his age. Let him pass through North Carolina and
Virginia, this 14th of June, 1805. His character is equal to
any of his color, since he has been ij) the county.

Jehu Beeson, J. P.

We hereby certify that the bearer, Mary Ann, an old
negro woman, was this day made free by us.

William Morrison,

EUPHR^VSIA MoRRI.SON.

Recorded Feb. 25, 1813, at Kaskaskia, in Book M, p. 90.
William ArundeLj Recorder R. C.

Persons of color, whose time of indentured bondage had
expired, were furnished certificates of freedom by the county
authorities, in form following, to wit :

May 19th, 1819.

Dice, a negro woman, about 45 years of age, five feet seven
inches high, of a stout make, a scar on her left cheek aLd

* The Governor seems to have been one cf the principal slaveh jlders and
.ilnve tr.iJers in tlic Territory.

The Illinois Herald, in whii-h his name as Governor con-tantly app^-nred
attached to various promulgations and otiicial documents, contained a'ao the
following:

Notice: I have for sale 22 Stavea; among them are several of both sexes be-
tween the ages 6{ 10 and 17 years. If not stld i*hortly I shall wish to hire them
in Miasourt Terrilury. I have also for sale a full blooded Stud Horse; a very large
Eng'i'k Bu'l, and several young ones.

OlTOBER 1, 1815. NlNIAN Edwabds.

The Governor, in later years, whs an anti-slavery agitator.

right breast, produced to W. C. Greenup, clerk of the circuit
court of Randolph county. State of Illinois, one indenture
of herself to John Edgar, dated the 7th of June, 1794, for
twelve years next ensuing; whereupon a certificate was
granted, under the seal of the court, to her of her freedom,
pursuant to the act passed at the last session respecting free
negroes, mulattoes, servants and slaves.

In other instances the freedom papers assumed the form
of a deed, and as a specimen illustrating this, the following
is here introduced :

Know all men by these presents that, whereas I, John
Edgar, of Randolph county. State of Illinois, in considera-
tion of the many valuable services rendered to me by my
mulatto woman slave, named Celeste, originally owned by
Louis Lasond and transferred by him to William Morrison^
and by Morrison to Joseph Gendr. n, and by him to me, I
have released and by these presents do release, manumit, set
free and at full liberty the said Celeste, from and after the
date hereof, forever free from my service and the service of
my heirs, executors and ailministratnrs forever, and from
the service of all other persons whomsoever, hereby exoner-
ating her from all bonds of service, freely to act for herself
as any other free person of color ; and I do moreover, in
consideration of said services rendered me by said Celtste,
release, manumit, set free and at full liberty the children of
the said Celeste, namely : Leonora, aged 14 years last Jan-
uary ; Nerville, aged 9 years on the 4th day of July last;
Virginia, aged 6 years ou the 26th day of April last ; Hil-
laire, aged 4 years last May ; Mary Louise, aged 2 years
last May ; Joseph, aged 1 year last August ; and I do hereby
exonerate the said children from my servicte and place them
respectively under the control of their said mother, the
males until they shall be 21 years old and the females until
they shall be 18 years of age, when they shall be free to act
for themselves as fully as any other free person of color,
according to law. In testimony of which, etc, etc.

Signed

JuuN Edgar. ( seai,^

A NEGRO CHILD SET FREE.

Know all men by these presents that I, Joseph Geudron,
of Randolph county. State of Illinois, for and in considera-
tion of the sum of eighty dollars to me, cash in hand, paid
at and before ensealing and delivering of these presents, the
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do give, grant and
forever set free my servant, named William, aged about five
years, the sou of Therese, formerly the servant of me the
undersigned : I tlo therefore, for and in consideration of the
sum aforesaid, manumit and set free and at full liberty from
my service, from the date hereof, for ever. And I do further
warrant and forever defend the liberty of the said William
from myself, my heirs or assigns, or any person claiming
under or by virtue of me. In witness whereof I have htre-
unto set my hand and seal at Kaskaskia this 6th day of De-
cember, 1831.

This ' deed" is signed, witnessed, and formally acknow-
ledged before James Hughes, clerk, and by him recorded.
It is not slated who paid those eighty dollars, but it may be
suppoeed that the mothei paid for him.

110

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

isidney Breese manamitting a slave in 1834. — Know all
men by these presents, that I, Sidney Breese of Kaskaskia,
Illinois, for divers good causes and considerations me there-
unto moving, have and by these presents do forever manumit
and set free my indentured woman Rachel, now about 43
years of age, and residing at present at Cheater, Randolph
county, Illinois : ard I do hereby release her from all her
obligations and covenants to rae as contained in her inden-
ture assigned me by Redding B. Hering : It being under-
stood that I am in no wise responsible for any of her con-
tracts now or heretofore made, or hereafter to be made.

Witness ray hand and seal at Chester aforesaid, this 8th
day of November, 1834.

Sidney Breese.

The records contain the names of many persons of color,
who have their freedom papers as documentary evidence
of their being barn free, proparly entered, even to as
late a day as the 13th of April A. D. 1863. S. St. Vrain
and Edmund St. Vrain appeared before R. B. Servant, jus-
tice of the peace, and made oath that "Patrick" Mitchell^
a colored inhabitant of the county, of bright complexion,
etc., was born " free" at Kaskaskia about the year 1840,
and that his mother, at the time of his birth, had been a
free colored inhabitant of said county of Randolph, etc.,
etc.

The number of slaves, as given by the county census of
1820, was then 240. From that period their number
constantly decreased, and in 1840 there were only 133
enumerated. While the system of slavery existed, however,
it had all the appearances and features of this peculiar in-
stitution in the southern states.'

The newspapers of the period contained the well-known
advertisements of Fifty Dollars Reward, etc., etc.

The following, taken from a stray number of the Illinois
Intelligencer, may serve as a sample:

Fifty Dollars Reward. — Ran away from the subscriber.
on the night of the 18th ultimo, a negro man, named Charles,
about 25 or 26 years of age, of large stature. He has a
small piece of the left ear taken off. He stole from my
desk one hundred and eighty dollars — a hundred dollar bill
on the bank of Nashville, other bills not recollected. Also,
•a negro woman, named Peggy, the fellow's wife, ran away at
the same time, near the same age. She is a common-sized,
very black, and has lost the sight of one of her eyes. The
above reward will be given to any person who will appre-
hend the said negroes and deliver them to me at Kaskaskia.

James Adkins.

The irrepressible negro may now be dismissed, for it is
not the province of the chronicler of a county sketch to
follow the subject of the slavery question through its various
stages. The feud between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery
men in Illinois was more a national affair than a county
matter- Prominent men of Randolph county were found
on the -one side as well as on the other. The contest, fierce
and bitter, ended in favor of freedom, for the people of the
Btate defMted the scheme of the new constitutionists or

pro-slavery men by a vote of 6822 against 4950, August,
1824. Strange, however, it must appear that although the
anti-slavery men were largely in the majority, the pro-
slavery men elected a majority of the legislators, who elected
a violent pro-slavery man, Elias Kent Kane, of Randolph
county, senator of the U. S. to succeed John McClean.
Thomas Mather, a member of the General Assembly from
Randolph, was a decided anti-slavery agitator.

Public Roads. — As heretofore stated, the revenue of the
county in territorial times did not admit of appropriations
of public funds towards the making of roads and building
of bridges. The supervisors of highways mentioned hereto-
f'-re, and their assessors, had no means at their disposal
barring the labor due by able-bodied residents, and it
barely sufficed to keep the neighborhood roads in repair.
The numerous ferries facilitated the traffic across the
streams, as no substantial bridges were in existence. The
want of roads to distant settlements was keenly felt, and
the aid of the federal government had to be implored to
open such roads. The records of the county mention the
road from Kaskaskia to Prairie du Rocher, and to the place
of Degagnie, as also a road to Belleville. A correspondence
in reference to the opening of a road to Shawneetown was
placed in the hands of the writer, from which the following
facts are gleaned :

The Government of the United States appropriated, by
Act of Congress, passed April 27th, 1816, the sum of $'<,000
for surveying and making a road " in the Territory of Illi-
nois, of which amount SI, 258. 51 were expended in exploring"
the country from Shawneetown td Kaskaskia. The balance
of the money was considered inadequate to complete the
road, but deemed sufficient to clear it of timber and to bridge
the worst streams, etc. The President of the U. S. appointed
then Shadrach Bond, of Kaskaskia, and Leonard White, of
the Wabash Saline, agents, with authority to commence the
work at the two extreniities and to make such distribution
of the money as the nature of the road required.

Hon. W. H. Crawford, Secretary of the U- S. Treasury,
addressed a letter to Shadrack Bond, then Receiver of Pub-
lic Monies at Kaskaskia, on June 21, 1818, to advisehira of
his appointment, closing the letter in the following sentence :
You will consider yourself as authorized to advance out of
the public moneys in your hands the sum, which shall be
assigned for the completion of your part of the road. As the
opening of this road is of great importance to the citizens of
the Territory, it is expected that your charge for the super-
intendence will be as moderate as possible, not exceeding your
necessary expenses, and the most reasonable coiiipensation for
the loss of time, etc , etc.

A contract was then made with George Breath and David
Husband, August 15. 1818, to " clear" the road 33 feet in
width, to remove all the timber, etc., from Dernints in Frank-
lin county to Kaskaskia, a distance of 50 miles, the work to
be done by January Ist, 1819, for which they were then to
receive $2,000

The work was done and the money paid out. On the 20th
of September, 1819, David Husband contracted for the build-
ing of good and substantial bridges, across Tindall's creek,

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Ill

2 branches of Cox"s creek, 1 branch of Pipestone creek, 1
branch of Rattlesnake creek, 1 branch of Beaucoup creek, 2
brandies of Ell prairie and Prairie creek, and across little
Muddy river ; further he contracted for the digging down the
banks of all the other creeks across which the said road
passed from Kaskaskia ^0 miles east, and for removing all ob-
structions from fallen trees and the like, etc., for all of which
work Husband was to have ?1, 319.24, on the 1st of January,
1820.

Shadrach Bond rendered an account of his receipts and
disbursements on the 2(tth of March, 1820, from which it
appears that he had drawn ?3,395.74}, (the exact one-half
of the balance of the appropriation mentioned about, and
that he had paid out the following amounts, to wit :

Breath and Husband $i!,ikk> 00

David Husband I,:«9 2*^4

Blackwfll and Berry, for publishing notices 3 76

Superintending the work, etc 72 75

83,395 74V2

The U. S. Government was not satisfied with this account,
because, as Joseph Anderson, comptroller, in his letter of
Shadrach Bond, dated November 29, 1821, stated, the two
agents. Bond and White, should have rendered a joint ac-
count, etc. Leonard White seems to have failed to render
a proper account of the " moiety " placed in his hands, for
the Comptroller advised Senator John McLean, February 2,
1825, that Mr. White had not accounted for one-half of said
amount, and that the question had now arisen how far
Shadrach Bond was liable for the other half, etc; and that
in all probability suit would be brought against Bond as
well as against White, as both had drawn the amount jointly.

The writer has not been able to ascertain if such suitg
were brought or how the matter was adjusted. Shadrach
Bond however had opened a road, 33 feet wide and 5U miles
long, bridging all bad streams and cutting down the banks
of others for less than 63,400, or abo.ut §68 per mile, and it
would have been a grievous wrong to have held him respon-
sible for White's "moiety."

PUBLIC BUILDIXti.S.

The only public building erected during this period was a
jail built by Nathan Hill and Ezra Owens in 1815. It was
"received" on rejiort of George Fisher and Edgar Owens,
commissioners ajiiwinted on the 3d Jlonday of June 1815.

The courts of the county were held for years at the va-
rious taverns in Kaskaskia until November 1812, when the
authorities of the county occupied the house of James Gil-
breath at Kaskaskia. The court had apparently purchased
this house, for on the 3d of March 1818 the clerk is in-
structed to ask said Gilbreath for a deed, and on refusal, to
bring suit against him.

The records of the county commissioners court from Janu-
ary 10, 1810 to June 20, 1814 are missing. On this date
John McFerron and George Fisher held court to try James
Adkins indicted for cruelly beating his negro. The court
fined him 84 00. Adkins filed a bill in arrest of judgment
on the following reasons ; first becau.'e the law of the terri-
tory does not lie for assault and battery against the niastt r
for whipping his servants, as the law gave another remedy

for unmerciful punishment : second because the master may
correct his servant and not be guilty of assault and battery :
third because the indictment is inconsistent as it states that
the assault was committed by the defendent on his indentured
servant : fourth because if the servant is abused the court
are commanded to redress his cause in a summary way and
not by indictment. This bill was overruled and the fine
exacted.

From a report made to this court by sheriff that the
revenue of the county for the year 1814 amounted to S529 -
90, tax was paid on

108 negrws 108.00

491 horses 245-50

Studhorses 18..W

Mansions, mills and di-tillerids .11.90

For licenses M.OO

Single men M.OO

J529.90

It was further reported that Benjamin Stephenson, ex-
sheriff, was in default with the county on account of the
revenue of 1812 and 1813 to the amount of 841 .37i The
affairs of the county from 1815 to 1819 were conducted by
the territorial justices, John McFerron, William Morrison,
James Finney, David Anderson, Philip Fouke, George
Fisher, Archibald Thompson, Antoine L. C'henett, Miles
Hotchkiss and Pierce L. Compte.

A new township. Plum Creek, was formed March 1816,
and is described as follows: All that part north of Spring-
field township and east of the Kaskaskia liver. Meanwhile
the population of Rand( Iph county or southern Illinois had
increased to a considerable extent, in consequence of which
the legislature had deemed it proper to organize several new
countiesout of the territory of old Randolph county, to wit :
Gallatin and Johnson, Sept. 14, 1812, White, December
9, 1815, Jackson, January 10, 1816, and Monroe June 1,
1816, and by doing so had reduced the county to almost its
present boundary.

We find therefore, at the end of this territorial period the
following six townships officered as follows:

Kaskaskia. — All that part lying between Kaskaskia and
Mississippi rivers up to the point of the bluffs and up with
the bluffs to Morgan's run. Shadrach Bond and Michael
Smith supervisors of roads, George Fisher assessor, Dan. L.
Swearingen and Allies Hotchkiss ovtrseer of the poor.

Prairie dii Bocher. — All that part of the county between
the bluflis and the river, above Morgan's Run. Pierre Le-
compte and Patrick Earner, supervisors of roads ; Henry
Barbeau, as.«essor ; Thomas Sterritt and Archibald McNabb,
overseers of the poor.

WiHiaimburg. — All that part lying west of the Kaskaskia
as fiir as the point of the bluffs between the Kaskaskia and
the Mississippi, and up along the bluffs of the Mississippi to
the county line.

Ezra Owens and Otho Leavens, supervisors; David An"
derson, assessor ; Paul Harralson and James Fulton, over-
seers of the poor.

Sprl»;/fcl<l. — All that part of the county south of the road
from Kaskaskia to Shawr.eetown and north of Mary town-
ship and Nine-mile Creek. Jo.«eph Jay and James Hughes,

112

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

sui)ervisors ; William Bariiett, assessor; and Alexander
Barber and John Clendinin, Sen., overseers uf the jmor.

Mari/.—Begi uning at Cul. Edgar's ferry on the Kaskaskia,
aloug the road leading to Harralson's ferry, until opposite
to Thomas Fulton 's, thence east to the county line. William
Bilderhack and William Cochran, supervisors; Robert Tin-
dall, assessor ; and G. Franklin, and Itobert Tindall, over-
seers of the poor.

Plum L'lrek. — Boundary as above. Thomas Widaman^
supervisor of roads ; David Anderson, assessor ; and James
Paltcr.son and James I'attou, overseers of the poor.

The townships of Rocking Cave, Massac, and Mississippi
were now forming counties, and are not further mentioned
iu the records of Randolph county.

A short list of marriages solemnized in the county in the
bcgiuning of the latter half of the territorial period, will
demonstrate better tliau any other evidence, that tiie Ameri-
can population had become the predominant one as early as
ISU'J.

EAltl.Y MAl;HlA(;liS.

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James Fk-niiii); anil llai h. 1 ,~li. li.i , .M.i
James Wilson ami Jam- .\ii.lr.-ii, Mar. li
Marviu Fullor ami JIarsai i-t llaiui..ii, M
Polamlei- Kuykcm.lali- aii.l |i..lly Mm 1 ■. .

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II, Man

.•1., kslii, l.y llan.li-l i.-.rL-ll>..li,
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1.-.-, I'.i, islii, liy llaiiil.-t F,Tj;ns.-,n.
..11, Jan. 11, ISU', by Tliomas Fei-gusou.

•_*;), by John Phelps.

Nov. '21, 18111, by Giiliriel Greatliouse.

. ll -.:.., 1-11, l.y (ieorgc Haeker, J. P.

Ill 1.., 1 SI I, by (ieiirno ItacUci'.

11, isll, ly Marvin Fnllcr.
ill 11, IMl, by same.

id nn « hirh Clie.tter stands.

. 'JI, Is

111 .N

■ll by tii-c
in 1S15,

111 lailiaiim- Willis, May 28, 1811, by lieorge Kobinson.

lii.l.- ,\1...-, n. t, :!1, by William Arnndel.

.ami i:ii/,ai.. lb Mathers, Dec. 19, 1811, by Jas Finney, Judge.
.111.- and Dolly Murray, Jannary IG, ISll, by G. Hacker, J. P.
I i'..lly Tindall, April II, 1811, by tame.
I ' .1 kus lin.ssell, May 23, 1811, by same.
!> Mi-l.imi.-hliii, June 0, 1811, by same.

iiiri-is, June 10, 1811, by same.
,111-iiiila Cattn-y, Dec. 28, 1811, by John Phelps, J. P.
i.rds ul the county from 1S12 to October, 1818, have been
Tlie number of licenses issued in 1812 was 17 ; in IS a, lli; in
i in 1816, 8; in 1817, 21; and in 1818, it was 25.

UANDOLPH COUNTY REPRESENTED IN THE TERRITORIAL
LEGISLATURES. — 1795 TO 1818.

Shadrach Boiul, Sr., member of the L.^gislature of the
U S. Tenitory northwest of the River Ohio, 1T99, and of
the House of Representatives of the Territory of Indiana
to the year 1806, and member of the" Council ' (Senate) to
1809.

Shndrach Bond, Jr., member of the House of Repre-
sentatives of the territory of Indiana from 1805 (took the
place of his uncle who had resigned) to 1808.

1809 TO 1S12. ILLI.VOIS TERRIXORY. NO LEGISLATURE.

1812 TO 1818.

Pierre Menard, (*) member of the Legislative Council and
its president from 18r2 to 1818.

George Fisher, (f ) member speaker of the House 1812 to
1814 and 1816 to 1818.

James Gilbreath, elected in 1814, wa.se.xpelled during the
first session — so stated in the Illinois Legi.-^lative Directory of
1881. This work mentions

Jarvis Haz Iton, as member of the House from Ran-
dolph County during the year 1815. Hazelton may have
died or resigned before the expiration of his term, because

William L Reynolds, {%) though not mentioned in the
said directory, was certainly a member of the Legislature
from Randolph County at that very period.

■ M.--

-.1,11

Ih hi

llli!

brother

ai rived

n Kaska^k

a aT)out the year 1790, in

Ivpolire

and Franc

is. Pierre was the most

-ajiod in

nieri;haiHl

zing and trading with the

E highest

vi-neratiun,

on account of his upright

pr.imiuent of the tin-
Indians, «ho lield Pi
honomy and purity of intention. Hiskmdne.ss to all the needy was prover-
bial. Tlie govi-rnnient of the United Stales had its .ittention called to this
exemplary man at an early day, and appointed him Indian Agent, which
position he filled for many years. In 17'J5 Pierre Mi^nard was appointed Judge
of tbeCor.rt i.f Comninu Pleas of Randolph County, and in 1SI8 was elected
I,u-iiti-iiiirii..>t-iii"i"f the State, and as such pro-ided over the Slate Senate
IViiiii Isls I., isjj Alt. -r the close of this term of oflfies he declined to accept
piililii stall. .11-, aii.l lb-voted himself to private aft'aii-s. He died in 18-14, and
was buriiil in the old giave yard of K.askaskia.

-i;e Fisher, .1 iiliysieian, was a Virginian, who arrived, according to E.

.ac-uc's Historii-al Skelehes, at Ka.«ka.skia, in 17!is : but the records of

to.

J. Mo

Fislif

tyhave him a m-
as an intlnential
was sherittof Hand Ipli
In 181S lie was elei-ted 11
framed the tirst t'lilistitu
ISOChad opem-il a f.irni 1
rtied-lsi". The region

JWilliamL. Reynolds V
time. Hepubl

Dr.

or of the Conn of Cominoo Pleas in 1793.
mberof the community, and a popular politician^
tnty when the Illinois Territory was organized.
?iiiber of the Constitutional Convention, w-hich
for the Stale of Illinois. Dr. Fisher, who, since
he Prairie du Roeher, remained tliere until lie
ever been known as Dr. Fisher's Settlement,
pi-obably the most diligent representative of his
I in the "Illinois Herald," Kaskaskia, February 1, 1810, a
list of the laws passed at the late session of the Legisia urc, 4u in number,
introducing his list by a lengthy address to the citizens of Randolph county,

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

113

TERRITORIAL OFFICES.

Nathaniel Pope, Secretary of the Territory from 1809 to
1816.

Robert Morrison, Adjutant General, July 18, 180^, to
May 28, 1810.

Elias Rector, his successor, held the office until (JctoUer,
25, 1818.

Shadrach Bond, Delegate to C)ngress, 1812 to 1814.

Nathaniel Pope, Dc^legate to Congress, from 1817 to 1818.

Daniel P. Cook, Auditor of Accounts, January 13, IHIG,
to April, 1817, and Judge of the Western Circuit in 1818.

RANDOLPH COUNTY — 1818 TO 1883.

The State Convention which framed the first Constitution
of the State of Illinois, assembled at Kaskaskia in July,
1818, and completed its work on the 28th of August of that
year. It was composed of thiriy-three members, one of
whom, a member from Washington county, whose name is
unknown, died during the term. These members repre-
sented the then fifteen counties of the territory, three of
which, to wit., St. Clair, Madison and Gallatin, had three
representatives each, while the remaining counties were
represented by two members each.

The session of the Legislature of which your confidence maile m^ a
con>titiient part has come to a close, and rendering up to you the important
trust confided to my care, I feel it my duty to inform yon what laws have been
passed ; you will be better able to judge for yourselves whether your public
servants have exercised that delegated p >wer %vith a view to the political
interest of our common country or not.

Having been elected after nearly half the session had elapsed, a number of
laws were parsed before I took my seat, and at this time I am unable to judge
of their political expediency.

The power of legi-Ulion in lliis territory under the ordinance and tlie
several acts of Cjngress is so confined and clogged, that it is almost put out i>f
the power of the representatives of the peopio to pa'^s those laws, rules and
regulations that the political situations and necessity of the country r-quirc

The memorial forwarded to Congress, praying an alteration in the ordinaiu-o,
if granted to the extent of our prayer, will remedy a host of evil?* under which
the territory now labors, and hereafter your public servants will b » more able
to legislate for the real interest of the country.

I am apprised that some may think tne ma'ting of four new counties is
not justified by the present populatio i. To that opinion permit m** to remark
thai experience and former examples have uniformly proven that in new
countries where counties have been left too long at large, much public
expense for public buildings has been incurred, and on subsequent divisions
wholly lost, therefore, the sooner the country is laid out into counties of
proper shape and size the better for the public interest.

On the eve of the session the President's Proclamation arrived, ordering all
pt-rsons oft the public lands, which produced the deepest emotion." in the
brea-tsof all. It seemed to come like a noxious planet, portending misery
and calamity. And what could have dictated so evil a measure I am unable
to ilivine. A great portion of the citizens of this territory are on Congress
Lands, and to drive them off would in fact almost ruin the present prosperous
condition of our country.

What answer may we not give the General GoTernment — can we not say we
have left the "States" because we were unable to purchase land, and unwilling
to be tenants of the great land holders at whose nod we must bow in the sacrifice
of every noble principle of independence. We fought for a century where we
could enjoy existence uncontrolled by overbearing land holders, where nature
affords abundant food for man, and where we could cultivate the soil of our
beloved country without fee or reward, that soil we have enhanced in value —
that soil we have defended against the arms of a savage enemy, the allies of
England, alone we stood, almost unaided by the general govfrnment, without
that compensation that the whole is bound to give the few for defending them.
When that pay comes many of us will be able to purchase the lands on which
we live from the government. No doubt some sordid miscreant hHS given
the delusive information upon which the proclaination is bottomed, and that,
too, to bring into his pocket a little gain, at the great injury of his fellow man,
etc , etc.
Hon. Reynolds exhibits a little deniagoguery in his concluding remarks.
(The "Herald" of February 1, 18li>, for want of paper of a proper size, was
published for the time being on half sheets of super royal, and the editor had
gone to Kentucky Co obtain a supply.)

The members from Randolph county were Elias Kent
Kane and Dr. George Fisher, whose names have heen re-
peatedly meiitioiied iu preceding pages. A glance at the
named of the other members shows that many of the former
citizens of Randolph were now representing other counties,
as, for instance, Jesse B. Thomas, the first territorial judge,
represented St. Clair ; Benjamin Stephenson, formerly
sheriff of Randolph, represented Madison ; Michael Jones,
implicated in the murder of Rice Jones (1808), represented
Gallatin; Caldwell Cairn.s, Monroe county ; Samuel Oniel-
veny, the old squire of Rocking Cave township, represented
Pope ; Isham Harrison and Thomas Roberts represented
Franklin county ; Jesse B. Thomas was president, and \Vm.
C. Greenup, the old court clerk of Randolph, secretary to
the convention.

The constitution was not submitted to a vote of the people
for their approval or rejection, nor did the people have
much to do with the choice of officers generally under it,
other than that of governors, the general as.«emblies, sheriffs,
coroners and county commissioners. The e!ecti\'e franchise
was, however, extended to all white male inhabitants above
the age of twenty one, having resided in the State six months
-next preceding any election. Judges, either supreme, cir-
cuit or probate, prosecuting attorneys, circuit clerks, re-
corders, and even justices of the peace, — all were to be
appointed. The prerogative of appointing, at first enjoyed
by the governor, was soon after vested by law in the legis-
lature.

The first election under the constitution, for governor,
lieutenant-governor, ard m<nd)rrs of the general assembly
was held on the third Thursday and the two succeeding days
in September, 1818.

Shadrach Bond, jr , at that time a resident of St. Clair
county, was elected governor, and Pierre Jlcnard, of Ran-
dolph, lieutenant-governor.

The first General Assembly, elected at the same time, con-
sisted of fourteen senator-, oi'" frou each couuty, with the
exception of Johnson and Franklin counties, they forming
one senatorial district. The house had twenty-nine members,
to wit : four from Gallatin, three from St. Clair, White and
Madison, each ; two from Edwards, Union, Pope, Randolph
and Crawford, each ; and one each from Monroe, Jackson,
Franklin, Bond, Washington and Johnson.

This General Assembly met in first session at Kaskaskia,
on the 5tli of October, 1^18, but adjourned on the 13th of
that mouth, because grave doubts had arisen as to the
legality of the proceedings, inasmuch as Illinois had not
then been regularly admitted as a State into the Union.

The Act of Congress passed December 3d, 1818, removed
this uncertainty, and the A.ssenibly couvened in Second Ses-
sion on the 4th of January, I81'J. Randolph county was
represented in the senate by Johu McFerrou, the old county
commissioner; and in the house by J'^dward Humphrey and
Samuel Walker. Pierre Menard, of Randoli^h, presided in
the senate as lieutenant-governor, and William C. Greenup
acted as secretary. Tnomas Reynolds, chosen clerk of the
house, was also a Randol[)h county mau. The Assembly
elevated other Randolphiaus to high positions, to wit : Elias

114

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

Kent Kaiie, Secretary of State; Daniel P. Cook, Attorney-
General ; and Blackwell & Berry, State printers. John
Reynolds, then of Cahokia, but formerly of Randolph, was
chosen Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.*

The Assembly adjourned on the 31st of March, 1819. It
was the last State legislature that ever assembled in the
quaint old French village of Kaskaskia. Vandalia— nomen
et omen — had been selected as the future capital of the State,
after Kaskaskia was stripped of this honor.

But to return to the aifairs of the county, which, in the
interregnum from December, 1818, to May, 1819, had been
conducted by the territorial justices mentioned above. The
last session of these justices was held on the I9th day of
April, 1819. There were then present : Joseph Cro s, Miles
Hotchkiss, Raphael Widen, Alexander Barber, John W.
Gillis. William H. Hays, John Steele, Sr., Gabriel Jones,
John Anderson, Samuel Taylor, Samuel Crawford, Ezra
Owen, William Nelson and Curtis Conn.

In pursuance of a law passed by the General Assembly
at their second session, these justices proceeded to "lay off'"
the county in election precincts. In doing this, they retained
the names and boundary lines of the several townships as
established on February 27th, 18 16, and confined their labor
to selecting places and judges of election :

A'(s/,u«ita.— Court-house ; Philip Fouke, Hypolite Me-
nard and Michael Smith.

I'rairie du Rocher.— House of Archibald McNabb ; An-
drew Barbeau, William Drury and John Fisher.

TJ7//«(wi*6«r3/i.— House of William H. Hays; Paul Har-
ralson, Joseph Sprigg and Norton Hill.

J/u )■!/.— House of James Gaston ; Robert Tindall, James
Clendeuin and Archibald Steele.

SprinyfiekL—Uoniie of John Tygart ; Alexander Barber,
John Bilderback and Micajah House.

Plum Creek.— Home of Washington Sterrett ; William
McBride, Abner Cox and Samuel Crozier.

An election must have been held soon after, for under
date of May 17th, 1819, the following entry was made on
the county records :

Be it remembered, that in pursuance of an act of the peo-
ple of the State of Illinois, represented in the General As-
sembly, entitled An act establishing the courts of county
commissioners, it appearing from certificates from the judges
of election of Randolph county that David Anderson, James

« Reynolds, in his famous work, "My Own Times," tells us that he had been
urged on by his friends to join them in a visit to Kaskaskia during this term
of the Assembly. Upon arrival, they found much excitement at the State capi-
tal, incident to the selection of officers. In a few days he was urged to give his
assent to become a candidate for supreme judge. This request, he says, broke
upon him like a clap of thunder. His consent was yielded ; he was elected.
His experience in the law was four years' practice oi " commerce in land." So
far, the old governor's own words. The writer must say, however, that the
governor certainly had some pretensions of being a jurisprudent, lawyer and
advocate, for it was the writer's good fortuns to have found the following ad-
vertisement in the Illinois Herald, published at Kaskaskia, on the 5th of De-
cember, 1815:

To the Poor People of Illinois and Misiouri Terrilonet : To the above class of
mankind, whose pecuniary circumstances will not admit of feeing a lawyer, I
tender my professional services as a lawyer in all courts I practice in, without
fee or reward. •'"«" ^^•'^o^o^-

This advertisement admits of the following suppositions: John Reynolds
was a philanthropist and an extremely liberal lawyer, or a demagog.ie and ex-
tremely shrewd politician.

Patterson and Curtis Conn were duly elected as such county
commissioners, whereupon the said David Anderson, James
Patterson and Curtis Conn took their seats ; and thereupon
a court was held by the county commissioners of Randolph
county, on the 17th day of May, a. d. 1819.

It is odd that the two first built court houses in this State
have been converted into saloons, for the first court house at
St. Clair county, at Cahokia, still standing, has for an age
or longer, also been converted into a modern " Temple of
Ptrsonal Liberty."

The proceedings of the county board during 1823, 1824
and 18'25 contain nothing of interest. The great anti-slavery
agitation of those years is not mentioned in the county pro-
ceedings. A majority of the prominent men of the county
were pro-slavery men, as stated elsewhere in this chapter-
A county census taken during the year 1825, when the
county aria had been reduced to its present limits, may
find a place here, as also some extracts from the county census
of 1830 and the United States census of 1840.

The other proceedings of this board are of no importance.
Their successors, to wit: David Anderson, James Thompson
and ^[iles Hotchkiss, resolved to build a new court house,
which the county stood so much in need of Nathaniel
Pope, their illustrious fellow citizen, had donated a tract of
land to the county for that purpose as well as for the erection of
a jail and a " stray pound." On the 21st of Decemher, 1819,
the board contracted with J. W. Comley and J. W. Nelson
for the building of a court house, to be constructed of brick
and to be two stories high, for which the county was to pay
them S47d0. Nathaniel Pope contributed also 8300 iu cash
for that purpose, and the county treasurer was iujtructed to
solicit and receive aitl from other citizens. The contribu-
tions were slow in coming in, for on the 7th of June, 1820,
the treasurer was instructed to borrow money for the pur-
pose of paying off the contractors, wherever he could get it
at 6 per cent., and to bring suit against all persons who had
failed to pay donations formerly promised by them, A
special tax of 50 cents per SlOO valuation was ordered, and
as the total assessed value of all the taxable property in the
county was then only 81,585.02, this tax would scarcely net
8700. The county jail was also in a very bad condition,
for the militia had to be called out to guard the prisoners ;
80 men did service of this kind during the year, and received
each 81.25 for 24 hours service.

The new court house was " received " and occupied June
7, 1821, and the contractors were paid a 10 per cent, interest
bearing county order for 81,000 for balance due them March,
1822. It may be, however, that this amount was paid for
repairs of the court house, for the records of September 5,
1821, state, that the court contracted with J. VV. Comley
to put up anew the '■ northwardly" end of the court house,
lately blown down by a violent storm. Nothing further to
chronicle, except the organization of a new election precinct,
March 4, 1822, to be called Union, now Red Bud, with poll
at the house of James Patterson.

The old court house near the Catholic church (formerly
the property of ex-sheriff' Gilbreath) was let to Jesse W.
Cooper on March 5, 1823, to be used as an inn, here called

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

115

a ''grocery" for the time. Cociper puid S60 per annum for
the use of the house, and subsequently in 1825 bought court-
house and grounds for S250, State paper. Rents were still
very high in 182 3

Ci'.nxus of the County, by Th. J. V. Owen. Commission
dated November 25, 1825.

Heads of Families — Town of Kaskaakia. — Jliles Hotcli-
kiss, W. C. Greenup, Samuel Taylor Samuel Smith, Mary
Paine, Leonard Stephens, David J. Baker, Antoine Antya,
Sidney Breese, William Siraont.ui, II. H Maxwell, Elias
Kent Kane, Josiah T. Bills, William Orr, Thomas Rey-
nolds, Edward Riberts, Jesse Francis, Jeptha Siveet, R
M. Young, M D. Smith, Simon Rodergues, John At-
kins, John E Igar, William Steven^, Felix St Vraiii, James
L. Lamb, R. K. Fleming, Thomas Short, Robert JI 'rrison,
William Morrison, Josejih Morrison, Edward Humphreys,
Daniel M. Guthrie, Patrick Kavanaugh, Nathaniel Pope,
Jacob Feamnn, Nathan Cloyes, Jame.s D. Osborn, John
Frankford, Diego R jdergues, Samuel Lybarger, Rowiiia
R'ldergues, Elizabeth La Chapelle, Antoine Dufour. Silas
Leldud, Jesse W. Cooper, W. G. Hiser, Leon Pera, Joseph
Page, Marie L. Chamberlaine, John W. Comly, Ferdinand
Ouger, Elizabeth Barton,T. S. V. Owen, J. B. Seguin, Sr.,
J. B. Seguin. Jr., Celeste Barbeau, Therese Godiu, Raphael
Meudue, Pierre Derouse, ThtrcsThamour (D'Amour), Louis
Masoier, Riga Derouse, Joseph Derouse, Michael B. Dauie,
Michael Danie, (fiddler), C. C. Conway, Louis Lemieux, An-
toine Chamberlain, Placit Casson, Margaret Gaston, Pascal
Las*ouri, Fiancois Menard, Luke Gendron, Baptiste Crota,
Rosalie Creurier, Joseph Gendron, Louis Derouse, Benjamin
Beatt, Ursula Lefleur, Silas Barntelle, Alex's Doza, Alexis
Euos Pierre Derouse, Andre Charleville, Antoine Gendron,
Hugh Woods, Michael Butcher, Charles Derou.se, John Dow-
ling, Philip Fouke, Eltienne Derouse.William M Alexander,
Ursula Levire, Joseph Buyatt, Elizabeth Brewer, Michae
Derouse, Fran(;ois Goruor, Hannah Cowles, Joseph Derouse,
Jr., John Brady, John Grate, Lawson Lovet, Aquilla Can-
trell and N. E. Allen.

The families of these 99 "heads" were composed of 477
members, besides they owned 109 slaves and harbored 31
free persons of color. William Morrison owned 22 slaves,
Francois Menard 21, Sidney Breese 4 and Elias Kent
Kane 5.

Township of Kaskaski.a. — Antoine Buatte, Joseph Tulier^
Julian Jones, Pierre Colme, Louis Seguin, Espazell Seguin,
Gerorae D^-rouse, Magdalen Degazine, Jack Backus, (free
negro), Phebe, a black woman, John Carpenter, Michel Pet-
tier, Joseph Danie, Hip )lite Menard, Joseph Chamberlain,
Louis Buatte, Gabriel Jones, Spencer P. Adkins, Michel
Buatte, Henri Bienvenue, John Paterson, Shadrach Bond,
David Woolscy, Jacob Woolsey, John Wegan, Elijah Lovin,
Baptiste Danie, George Stratton, Alexis Beauvois, Antoine
Danie, Baptiste Reaurae, John Bowers, Joseph Louvalle,
Thorston Thomas, C. B. Danie, Louis M. Derouse, Peter
Wegan, William Langlie, Catherine Lloyd, Richard Wool-
Bey and Allen Richards.

Prairie ilu lioelier — Vi/luye — Henry Connar, John M.
Godeau, Frank Tonga, Therese Blay, John Louvier, Pelagie

Catineau, August Derouse, Michel Duclos, Sen., Joseph Go-
deau, Baptiste Oliver, Baptiste Godeau, Alexis Derouse, Jaa.
Deeper, Charles Blay, William Drury, Francis Champline,
Marie Olliver, Joseph Vasseur, Henri Phebeau, Ellen Degag-
nie. Madam Degagnie, Marianne Blay, Nicholas Durward,
JosephBlay, Baptiste, Roye, Clement Drury, Michel Duclos,
Jr., Antoine Louvier, Jr , Antoine Ix)uviere, Jr., Ichabod
Sergeant, Donation Olliver (priest), August Allard, Ettienne
Langloi.-e, Francis Thebau, Henry Barbeau, Eliza Chene and
Henry Kerr. There were 38 heads of families enumerated at
Du Rocher. The total number of inhabitants of the village
was 202, of whom 28 were slaves and 10 free persons of color.

Township of Da Rocher. — Isadore Godeau, Joseph Bonle-
telle, Archibald McNabb, Audree Roye, Harriet Godeau,
John Drury, Antoine Blay, Gerard Langlois, Antoine Cato,
Andre Barbeau, Antoine Barbeau, Baptiste Barbeau, Bur-
rell Philips, Josia M. Horsey, Michael Smith, Francis Lang-
lois, Abraham Horine, Sylvauus Harlow, James Taylor,
Francis Brown, Reuben Sackett, Ansel Dennis.

Township of WilUamsbunj. — Paul Harralson, Antoine La
Chapelle, William Steele, John C. Sigiion, James Mudd,
Edward Mudd, Joseph Mudd, Francis Mudd, Norton Hull,
Thomas Orr, Ezra Owen, Lewis Hull, Amos Lynn, Henry
Royer, John Linsey, James S. Robinson, Thomas Lindsey,
Elizabeth Lindsey, James Wheland 1st, James Wheland -d,
Henry O'Hara, Hannah Kennedy, E. T. Owen, Alexander
Wilson, Robert Wilson, William Nelson, John Stevenson,
William McBride, Lemuel Owen, Levi Owen, Michael Dil-
lon, Edmund Faherty, Levi Siinmonds, jr., Joseph H. Orr,
Samuel Hill, sr.. Prudence Wilson, .lames Wilson, David
Lawson, A. C. Adams, Joseph Griffin,, John Roles, Emanuel
Evans, Ettienne Pavard, Thomas Hull, Henry Will, James
Adkins, .Lacob Fisher, Thomas Levens, Ignatius Sprigg,
John Smith, Daniel Buel, George Glenn, William Hamil-
ton, John C. Crosier, William Been, Shelton Evans, Levi
Simmoiids, sr , James Connar, John Foran, Adam Youug-
man, Ellison Talbott, Edward Ralls, John Guthrie, Wash-
ington Evans, Thomas Horsell, John Brewer, Zadock Dar-
row, Absalom Tailor, John Adams, Otho Levens, and Eleanor
McNabb.

There were only 5 slaves in this township.

Town-ship Plam-Creek. — James McDonald, Robert M.
^lanu, John Beatty, Andrew Borders, Thomas Finley, Isabel
Euglish, William Findley, James McClurken, John Max-
well, James Munford, .John Thomason, William Pattison,
Burdite Green, Patrick Raines, William Edgar, Adam Ed-
gar, David Ferris, Jane Beatty, William M. Maun, .James
Pollock, Robert Pollock, William Hill, James Hathorn,
David Hathorn, John Beaird, Robert Hill, William Hand-
ly, Andrew McCormick, George McCormick, Alexander
McKelvey, Andrew McFerron, Robert Poster, David Ander-
son, .John Campbell, Robert Miller, John Cochran, James
Couch, John Allen, Samuel McClinton, William McCliuton,
John G. Nelson, John Barnet, Samuel Morris, Willianj
Allen, George Wilson, Samuel Nisbet, Archibald Thomp-
son, jr., Larkin Dial, Robert G. Shannon, Samuel Y. Henry,
James Gordon, Samuel Stubblefield, John Irvin, Samuel J.
Thompson, James Thompson, Moses Thompson. Samuel

116

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

Crosin, Samuel Hathorn, John Thompson, James Croain,
Robert Win, Margaret St. Clair, William T. Chambers,
Thomas McDill, Thomas Swanwick, Samuel Hill, Thomas
McBride, John Anderson, sr, William Gordon, Martin
Wilson, William Temple, Robert Muggins, John McMillan,
jr., Arthur Parks, James McNulty, Hugh Leslie, Robert
McMillan, James Anderson, sr., John McKelvey, Charles
McKelvey, John McMillan, sr., William McDill, William
Thompson, James Wilson, jr , John Boyd, sr., Joseph Cath-
cart. Smith Dickey, James Clark, Thomas Armour, John
McDill, Samuel Leard,sr., Absalom Cox, Martin Gray,
Alexander R. Leslie, Isaac Scudder, Isaac Rainey, Samuel
Pitchford, John Hutchings, J. R. Hutchings, William Elliot,
William Hodge, John Murdoch, John Wiley, Samuel Stor
jjiant, Hugh McKelvey, Absalom Wilson, Alexander Mc-
Kelvey, jr., William Stormaut, David Cathcart, Alexander
Campbell, sr., John Dickey, William Marshal, James H.
Beatty, Alexander Dickey, Samuel Wiley, Alexander Alex-
ander, John Alexander, James Beaird, William Wiley, Wil-
liam Campbell, John Armour, James Patterson, John Dob-
bins, James Strahan, John Bilderback, John Miller, sr ,
Archibald Thompson, sr., William Lively, Turner Lively,
John Lively, James Stoker, James S. Guthrie, William Mc-
Bride 3d, J. Wilkinson, Asa Scott, James Lively, James
McMurdo, Josiah Little, Samuel Little, Robert Edgar,
Joseph Win, Samuel L. Weir, Kobert Caldwell, Archibald
McMillan, James Wilson, sr., William Morris, William
Miller, J. W. Henderson, J. W. Alcorn, Andrew Ross,
Elizabeth Richey, Robert Thompson, sr., Robert Thompson,
jr., John Anderson, jr., James Anderson, jr., Patsey Little,
John McBride, John Haire, William Boyd, Samuel Doug-
lass, Henry Nore, James Redpath, Frederick Holden, Samuel
Leard, jr., Allen Been, Ralph Scudders, John Briggs, Wil-
liam McBride, sr., and Joseph Bratuey.

Township of Sprinrifield. Pierre Menard, Enoch Lively^
William Robinson, Shadrach Robinson, John Taggart, John
Mahon, John Lacey, John Pillars, James Murphy, D. Olliver,
Alexander Campbell, Jr., Shadrach Lively, Sr., Thomas
Roberts, Charles C. Glover, Aquila Brown, Antoine La-
brier, George Franklin, Josias S. Briggs, Richard Robinson,
jr., Justus Rockwell, John Reynolds, James Fisher, Joseph
Jay, John F. Berry, Joseph Harman, Jonathan Bowerman,
Lemuel Barker, Ezekiel Barber, Sarah Lee, Rachel Hughes,
James McFarland, Jesse Bowerman, Jacob Bowerman, W.
H. Threlkel, Richard Green, Hugh Brown, John Murphy,
sen., Joshua Davis, James Herd, Jonathan Petit, Elizabeth
Fowler, James Huggins, William Irick, Charles Stratton,
Mary Bilderback, Samuel Crawford, Antoine Montroy,
John Murdock, James McMillan, Denard Short, Eli Short,
Matthew Vann, John Murphy, Jr , Abijah Leavitt, Abigail
Pitchford, Julia Ricor, Calvin Lawrence, Harrison Colbert,
Jane Jones, Isabel Hilton, Stace McDonough, Anderson
Candle, William Porter, Jane Bilderback, Susan Harman,
Isaac Slater, William Turner, George Harman, Daniel Tag-
gart, Richard Pillars, Archibald Snodgrass, John Young,
John Taylor, James Milligan, James McDonough, Isaac
Leard, Solomon Foresee, John Foresee, William Coddle,
Amos Anderson, David Looney, Richard Robinson, Joseph

Robertson, Silas Crisler, John Huggins, Joseph Lively,
Robert Gant and Samuel Hughes.

Township of Mary. Curtis Conn, William Jay, William
Bilderback, James Bilderback, Alexander Barber, John
Crane, Wiley Lane, Susannah Lane, Malakiah Holleman,
Stephen B. Tilden, James Clendenen, John Clendenen,
Henry Petit, Adonijah Ball, James Steele, George Steele.
William C. Marlin, William J. Lane, Alexis Buatt, William
Cochran, Baptiste Montreal, David Hoar, Thomas F. Steele,
Bryant Axom, Nathan Conant, J. D. Starnes, Samuel
Manseo, Francois Montroy, Jehu Ertes, George Master.=,
William Paine, Joel Crane, David Petit, Demanda Petit,
Shadrach Lively, jr., Genevieve Ravel, Nicholas Buatt,
Benjamin A. Porter, John Griffin, William Hodge, John
Cochran, sen., Asaph Smith, Wdliam Smith, Reuben Ertes,
Robert GrifMn, Sarah Johnson, William Manseo, Isaiah
Vineyard, Benjamin Grain, John Hindman, Andrew P.
Cochran, Daniel Sandbon, James Johnson, Martha Herd,
Antoine P. Bienvenue, Joseph Curry, Pierre Reaume, Jean
R. Geiidron, John Harman, John Vineyard, Robert Tindell,
Reuben Tiudell, Joseph Archambeau, John Starnes, sen.,
Harvey McNeely, Archibald Steele, John Steele, Sr., John
Steele, jr., Duran Houseman, Richard Giviu, Leonard Garter,
Charles Bilderback, Cornelius Adkins, William Fowler,
Mary Bapart, James Gillespie, Robert Davis and John Davis.

ThP pnpulalion of the
asiainJividuals,— to wil

as eiuuiiei-atea by Mr. Owen,

Wliites 3481

Negroes— slaves 240

Negroes — free 91

Bkia Whiles T2C

Slaves 137

Free negroes... 48

911

I Dn Rofher Whites 287

Slaves 62

Free negroes... 13

..Whites 421

Free negroes... 3
430

Plum Creel! Whites 971

Slaves 12

Free negroes.... ^

988

Springfiel.l Whites .181

Slaves 21

Free negroes... 21

..Whites 49*

Slaves 12

Free negroes.... 1

The report does not contain any further items of interest,
except an enumeration of what it calls " manufactories " of
Randolph county to wit: eight distilleries, nine horsemills,
three inclined wheel grist mills, one water grist mill, and
one " ditto " saw mill, three cotton gins, one carding machine,
two house carpenters carrying on business, three shoe manu-
factories, two hat, ditto, five blacksmith shops, one " bake "
ditto, two tailor ditto, one saddle manufactory and one spin-
ning wheel ditto. The location of those manufactories and

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

117

mills is not given, nor by whom they were operated. The
presumption is, that those eight distilleries were sufficiently
large enough to supply the 800 male adults of the county
with the so much needed production. Not a word is said
about the occupation of the people with the exception that
Michael Danie was a fidler at Kaskaskia, and Don Oliver
a priest at Do Rocher

Another county census taken in 1830 by John C. Crozier
is more elaborate. From it we learn, that the population
had increased to 4448 since 1825, 99 of whom were slaves,
and 102 free negroes. 661 persons over 18 and under 45
years of age were enrolled as militia men and 911 were
voters. William Morrison was running a copper steam
distillery and a water grist mill, while his neighbor Na-
thaniel Pope contented himself with one steam saw and grist
mill. James O'Hara operated a water grist mill and a cop-
per distillery. Enos Christy operated an inclined wheel
grist mill, two carding machines and an oil press ; William
Nelson a copper distillery and grist mill ; Samuel Crawford
had a spinning machine, Jiseph Bratney a water saw mill,
Robert Forster a band mill and a steam distillery. Horse-
mills were operated by Andrews Borders, William Paltison,
James Beaird and John Armour. George Steele operated
an inclined wheel grist mill, and David Steele a copper
distillery, as also Robeit Tindall and Andrew Crozier. Felix
St. Vrain operated a steam saw mill. The following me-
chanics were mentioned also :

BlacLmiflis: A. B. Brown, W. T. Evans. Silas Leland,
Samuel Lybarger, John Mann, Jarret Wilkeson, David
Woodside, Robert C. Jones, J. B. Burk and John Stejih-
enson.

]V(ir/onmiihcrK : Aquila Brown and Jacob Harman.

Coopers: Thomas Horrell, John Harman, George Har-
man, and Seth Allen.

r(U!?!fT8; Maurice D. Smith, Samuel Hull, Elisha Sty-
mour, Wm. McDill, Wm. Gordon, Andrew Allen.

Harness makers : George Lamb, Robert G Shannon.

Shoemakers: John Reynolds, Michael Peiiiiy, James
Strathan, Wm. Gordon, Solomon Foresee, Justus T. Rock-
well.

Hatter: Jacob Feaman.

Tailors: Ferdinand Unger, Robert G. Shannon.

Cabinet ma ktrs and turners: Harry Fulton, Henry Res-
inger, Stanley G. Peet, Wiley Lain, Wm. C. Marlain.

Tinner: Julian Chenoux.

Patt Kavanaugh operated at one and the same time a
saddler, cooper, shoemaker, and a tailor shop. Cotton gins,
and press were operated by Wm. Pattison, John Patterson
and Levi Simmons, and shingle shaving machines by Robert
Miller and by Charles Bilderback. The following data are
taken from the U. S. census reports of 1840.

The census of 1840 gave Randolph county a population
of 7,944 in the aggregate, 133 of whom were slaves and 188
free colored people ; 50 people were over 70 years of age, 2
of whom were over 90 years old. The occupations of the
people of Randolph were defined as follows: mining 7, ag-
riculture 1,895, commerce 116, manufactures and trades
360, navigation 1, learned professions and engineers 48,

Revolutionary soldiers 1. * The unfortunates were : 2 deaf
and dumb, 3 blind and 6 insane. Education could be had
in one college, attended by 50 students; one academy, with
25 scholars; 14 common schools, with 403 pupils ; 78 adults
were unable to read or write.

The census reports of 1840 state that 11 men were em-
ployed in digging coal, producing 6,011 bushels, and that
§525 were invested in that business; that there were in the
county 5,742 mules, 16,847 cattle, 7,688 sheep, 25,338 hogs,
and $8,402 worth of poultry ; that the farmers of the county
had harvested in 1839, 56,792 bushels of wheat, 803 of bar-
ley, 76,051 of oats, 1,042 of rye, 377 of buckwheat and
301,342 of corn; besides 9,091 pounds of wool, 256 of hops,
985 of wax, 18,177 bushels of potatoes, l.O.iOtons of hay, 83
tous of hemp, 11,174 pounds of tobacco. SOO potinds of rice (f),
5,776 of cotton and 719 of sugar. 7,085 cords of wood were
sold ; butter and cheese brought S4,603 to the diligent house-
keeper ; orchards produced |2,9o8 worth of fruit ; linsey
and woolsey made at home on the hand-loom, now an almost
unknown and forgotten apparatus, were otimated atS6,96I,
and gardening yielded S347. There were 10 commission
houses in the county, having a capital of $51,000 invested ;
32 retail houses, with 878,820 capital ; 4 lumber yards, with
S6,000, giving employment to 28 hands; 4 men were em-
ployed in " internal transportation " (^running stage-coaches) ;
4 others were engaged in butchering and packing, having a
capital of §12,500 invested in that business. The products
of the forest were 83,617 worth of lumber and 8773 worth
of skins and furs; 13 men produced bricks and lime to the
value of 81,523. One fulling mill and woolen manufactory,
with a capital of 81,500, gave employment to 4 persons and
produced 8400 worth of goods ; 4 persons were engaged in
manufacturing tobacco, had 81,000 invested in the business
and turned out 8350 worth of the wef d. There were then 6
tanneries in the county, which turned out 2 420 sides of sole
leather and 2 084 of upper leather, employed 13 hands and
had 87,850 invested in the business; there were 2 saddleries,
with 8600 capital and 2 hands, who manufactured 81,200
worth of articles ; 4 distilleries, giving employment to 13
men, turned out 5,:>00 gallons of whisky. Randolph county
had 2 printing offices and 1 bindery, emj)loying 5 men,
capital invested |1,800 ; 6 flouring, 8 grist and 11 sawmills,
with an investment of 871,000, gave employment to 39 men.
The value of products, including 11,000 barrels of flour
shipped, amounted to $81,050. Boats, valued at $1,500,

* From a list of Revolutionary soldiers drawing pensions as such, and having
been residents of the State of Illinois, we found that the following residents of
the county ot Randolph drew such pensions, to wit: John Edgar, captain U. S.
Navy, admitted by special act of May 26, 1830 ; commencemeni of pay March 3,
1826, W80 per annum ; the full amount drawn was 82,201.33. General Edgar died
December 19, 1830. The amount mentioned was drawn by his administrators
Charles McNabb, private Maryland Continentals, drew 800 per annum. George
Stamm, privaTe Maryland Continenlals. drew ggc per annum. William Fowler,
private South Carolina militia, drew 820 per annum. Paul Harratson, private
South Carolina militia, drew 862.50 per annum. We annex a list of Invalid Pen-
tioncTS of the War of 1812 and the Indian wars prior to 1816, residing in Ran-
dolph county: Julian Bart, a Virginian (mentioned heretofore as a fit subject
for charily), served in the Illinois militia, was pensioned Sept. 1, 1815, received
88 per month, and lived long enough to draw $1,104.80. David Hoar, from Mass-
achusetts, private 31st U. 8. Infantry. William Henly (Tennessee), Dyer's
regiment of militia. Armistead Jones, Illinois militia. William Lippincott
(New York), 2d U. S. Infantry. William Lane, Tennessee volunteers (U. S. ser-
vice). Eli Short, Kentucky volunteers (U. S. service).

118

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES. ILLINOIS.

were built duriug the year, aud 66 mechanics erected 4
brick and 20 wooden houses, at an expense of $15,760.

COUNTY FINANCES — 1819 TO 1844.

The financial condition of the county remained as it had
been in territorial times ; the expenditures, though most
sparingly made, exceeded the revenue. On the 17th of
December, 1825, an interesting report was filed by Thomas
J. V. Oiven, treasurer and sheriff, who had been authorized
by the county commissioners to examine all books and pa
pers bearing on the subject of county finances since 1819.
He reported that the county had expended the following
amounts of money, to wit :

In tlie year 18W Sl,108."l>4

" 1820 T^S.b-%

" " 1821 2,0u6.23

" " 1822 1,821.40

" 1823 920.175^

" " 1824 1,C1.1.24'4

" 1825 1,991.925^

And that the revenue of the county during all that time had
been considerably less than the allowances made ; that now,
on the 17th of December, 1825, there were county orders
out and unpaid, calling for the enormous amount of $3,811.-
671, and that the total revenue to be expected for the cur-
rent year amounted to only $1408.993, to wit : tax on land,
695.48i, and on other property, $813.01 i.

During the administration of the 7th board — Arthur
Parks, Josiah Betts and Franklin P. Owen — the first free
schools were organized, one in township 5 S., Range 7 \V.,
called Liberty School District, on petition of Archibald
Thompson and others ; the other at Unionville, on the peti-
tion of David Hathorn and others.

A few years later, during the administration of Thomas
Roberts, William G. Hizer and John Thompson, Samuel G-
Thompson (in 1833) was appointed commissioner of schools,
and authorized to sell the lands donated by the Federal
Government for the purpose of aiding public schools.
Thompson was very dutiful and accurate in filing reports,
which were all approved but »oi recorded.

The above mentioned board, in 1825, made an effort to
enliven business at the old village, and on the 29th of Octo-
ber appointed a board of inspectors for the harbor of Kas-
kaskia. This board consisted of Curtis Conn (the probate
judge), Gabriel Jones and William G. Hizer. They were
authorized to have warehouses erected, and instructed to
inspect beef, pork, flour, hemp, tobaQCO, and other articles
of exportation ! No report of their labors is found.

The next reference to the financial condition of the county
was made March 9, 1831, when the "enormous amount " of
unpaid county orders of December, 1825, had been reduced
to 891.61, with not a cent of money in the treasury.

This condition of affairs remained unchanged till 1836 and
subsequent years, when the county drew large amounts from
the State Improvement fund.

The legislature of the State had, in an evil hour, inaugu-
rated a system of public improvements, to be carried on by
State oflBcers under the supervision of the legislature.

The impetus to the system, at the expense, or, more
properly speaking, on the credit of the State, was given by

George Farquer, a senator of Sangamon county, in 1834.
(He had lived for years in Randolph and Monroe counties,
had laid out the present city of Waterloo, and been county
commissioner sortie years). His plans, however, failed. J.
M. Strode, senator of all the country including and north of
Peoria, had a bill passed in 1835 authorizing a loan of one-
half a million of dollars on the credit of the State. This
loan was negotiated by Governor Duncan in 1836, and with
this money a commencement was made on the Illinois Canal
in June, 1836.

The great town lot speculation had reached Illinois about
that time. The number of towns multiplied so rapidly, that
it seemed as though the state would be one vast city. All
bought lots and all dreamed themselves rich ; and in order
to bring people to those cities in embryo the system of in-
ternal improvements was to be carried out on a grand scheme.
The agitation became general and the indiflerence of the
busy farmer was taken for tacit consent. The legislature,
on the 27th of February, 1837, provided for the building of
about 1300 miles of railroads, appropriating eight millions
of dollars for that purpose, two hundred thousand of which
were to be paid to counties not reached by these proposed
railroads as an indemnity. Two millions of dollais were
voted for highways and river improvements, so as to remove
impediments to navigation, fifty thousand of which were to
be expended on the Ka^kaskia river, and a loan of four
millions was authorized to complete the canal from Chicago
to Peru. And as a crowning act of folly, it was provided
that the work should commence simultaneously on all the
proposed roads at each end and from the crossings of all the
rivers.

No previous survey or estimate had been made, either of
the routes, the costs of the work, or the amount of business to
be done by them The arguments in favor of the system
were of a character most difficult to refute, composed as they
were partly of fact, but mostly of prediction. In this way
it was proved, to general satisfaction by an ingenious orator
in the lobby, that the state could well afford to borrow a
hundred million of dollars, and expend it in. making internal
improvements. None of the proposed railroads were ever
completed ; detached parts of them were graded on every
road, the excavations and embankments of which have long
remained as a memorial of the blighting scathe done by this
legi-lature A special session of the next legislature, held
in 1839, repealed the system and provided for winding it up,
for it had become apparent that no more loans could be ob-
tained at par. Under this system a state debt of $14,237,-
348 had been created, to be paid by a population of less
than 500,000 souls.

Randolph county was represented in the legislature of
1834—1836 by Thomas Mather, senator, who resigned in
1835, to be succeeded by the late Richard B. Servant, aud
by Richard G. Murphy and John Thompson, members of
the house, and in 1836—1838, by said Servant, as senator
and James Shields and Samuel G. Thompson.

We were unable to ascertain, how these gentlemen voted,
but from the fact that Thomas Mather was soon after ap-
pointed a member of the board of fund commissioners —

HISTORY OF EAXDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

119

practical and experienced financiers to contract for loans, etc-
it raniKit be doubted that he voted aye.

lu the next legislature, ISoS to 1^40, by which the system
was repealed, the county was represented by senator Servant,
and Gabriel Jones and E. Menard, members of the house,
and there cannot be a question about the vote of those
gentlemen.

The population of Randolph county was then about 7000,
and its proportional part of the debt was fully 200,000 dol-
lars, and yet, the county fared far better than her sister
counties, as it was not reached by the proposed routes and
consequently shared in the 200,000 dollars indemnity fund
mentioned herein.

Xathan Conant, Ferdinand Maxwell, Thomas McDill,
John C. Crozier and James Clendenin were appointed com-
missioners to view roads and report where improvements
were most needed. This unexpected wealth, placed at the
disposition of the county authorities, who had struggled for
forty years to defray the county expenses out of a minimum
of revenue, caused the inauguration of public improvements
in the county, such as had never been witnessed before. 21
substantial bridges were built, and thousands of dollars ex-
pended on the improvement of public roads, and still large
amounts of money remained in the treasury. An order of
the county board, Wm. G. Hizer, Samuel Douglas and
Harvey Clendenin, made on the 7th of December 1838, pro-
vided that 12,000 dollars of the improvement fund should be
loaned out, at 10a annual interest, to citizens of the county,
in sums of from 50 to 100 dollars cash. 141 citizens of the
county availed themselves of this opportunity, and §10,-
636.00 were loaned out ere the close of the year.

This order was soon after succeeded by other orders, call-
ing in the money, as it was needed for other improvements.
The records of the county do not contain any information
as to the §50,000 appropriated for the improvement of the
Kaskaskia river, but it is to be presumed that a part of it
was exi>ended for said purpose.

The balance of this improvement fund, amounting to
$9,945, as per report of April 14th, 1840, was reduced to
$3,115.42 in 1844, when it was placed in the county
treasury and used as county revenue.

The financial reports of the county officials from 1825 ifo
1843 were not recorded, but the "Kaskaskia Eepublican "
of December 23d, 1843, brought a lengthy report called,
" An abstract of the fiscal concerns of Randolph county for
the current year, commencing on the 6lh day of December,
1842." We introduce here an extract of said abstract:
The income of the county was stated to have been as
follows:

Fines collected 8 6G.0O

Licenses collected I85.UU

Taxesof 1842 and hack taxes collected 2,828.11

Improvement fund notes and interest collected (j98.2.'i

83,777.36

EXPENDtrURES.

Co. offices, stationery and fuel, etc 8 75.r,7

Courts, jurors and bailiffs 2il8.f.o

Elections I28..'i()

Jail and inmates 27.!(I

Officers, compensation of -l.fHIi.'JJ

Paupers H77.4.')

Roads and bridges I,u35.44 $3,402.80

Balance in treasury $374.56

The report further stated, that the ytar commencing on
the 6th of December, had opened with a balance of SI, 496.-
47 of outstanding county warrants, and that this floating
debt of the county had thus been reduced to §1,148.91.

The pauper expenses were stated too high, inasmuch as
Stuart Bilderback had in 1842 built a poor-house for the
county at an expense of §125.00. This building was
erected on west half of the northeast fractional quarter of
section thirteen in township six south, range eight west

During the period of apparent prosperity numerous towns
had been laid out and improved in the county, and consid-
ering the very inconvenient location of the county seat, it
was but natural that other and more accessible towns should
make eflbrts to become the capital of the county. A short
sketch of th's strife will be of interest to the reader.

CHANGE OF COUNTY SEAT FROM KASKASKIA TO CHESTER.

The question of changing the county seat to a more
accessible and safer point, became general after the great
flood of 1844.* The Kaskaskians became greatly alarmed,
and Parson Percy of the '' Republican," published at
Kaskaskia, fought manfully for the old village. He waa
aided by msny able correspondents, whose communicationg
are signed by various noms-du-plume, "Aristides" and
"Sophocles," philosophical and eloquent effusions did no
more execution than "Zip's" flippancies, or "Taxpayer's"
homilies. "Ecce Homo's' pathetic expectorations are also
in vain, while "Sans Culotte " (Without Pants) does harm
by bis French impetuousness. "C\res" appeals tearfully
to the readers in behalf of Kaskaskia. A bill providing
for the selection of a permanent seat of justice, for the
county of Randolph, was introduced in the General Assem-
bly in January, 1847, and became an "Act" by approval
of the governor, January 30th, 1847.

This Act was artfully worded and clearly designed to
abandon Kaskaskia as the county seat. It provided, 1st,
that an election should be held on the first Monday of April
1847, as between all towns having aspirations to become or
remain the county capital ; 2d, that if one of the contending
towns should receive a majority of all the votes cast at taid
election, a second election should be held on the first Monday
of May, 1847, to decide between the three towns having
obtained the most numerous vote at the first election ; and
3d, that in case no absolute majority was obtained, a third
election should be held on the first Monday of June, 1847,
to decide between the two towns having received the greatest
number of votes at the second election.

'Ferdinand MartceU's Official Report in rsfcrrncc to the food of 1844.— This day,
June 28th, A. D. 1844, I have witnessed the whole of the town of Kaskaskia
inundated by the high water, some seven feet upon an average. The whole
population of the place removed over on the hills or high lands opposite, and
a great many took shelter at Col. Pierre MenardV house. On Wednesday, the
2Clh of June, the steamboat Indiana, Captain Ludwig, landed near Col. Men-
ard's house, which may be known by cin<lers from stone coal which was thrown
out at the place where she landed, which is southwest from the spring not
over fifty yards, and she remained a few hours and took away the sisters or
nuns, who were teaching a school in the village at the time of the flood, to
St. Louis. :^I.iny houses were carried off by the water; the water commenced
ri8ing4tbout the r2th of Juno an<i commenced falling about five o'clock, P. M.,
this 28th day of June. Given under my hand, F. Maxwell, Clerk.

120

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

The result of the first election was as follows :

For Kaskaskia 3" ™',f »•

For Chester "' „

For Sparta *J^

For Evansv.lle 2" .^

For Centre "J „

For Geographical Centre ^

Total vote 1'36.

It should be borne in mind that at the general election of
1846, when Lyman Trumbull contested the re election of
Robert Smith for member of congress, with the utmost rigor,
the county of Randolph had cast only 1206 votes in all.
Parsons Percy commented on this circumstance very se-
verely. The second election left Kaskaskia out of the race,
and the " Republican " now embraced the cause of Sparta,
not because it loved Sparta more, but because it hated
Chester more intensely. He is aided by a correspondent,
"Old Kaskaskia," who is loud in his denunciations of
Chester. "Some parties interested in the sale of lots," says
' O. K.,' " have filed a bond to donate S:3,.500 for the erec-
tion of public buildings at Che.ster." Three of them, Mather,
Lamb and Opdyke, are not even residents of Chester, but of
New Orleans and Springfield, and Mather was the president
of the " rotten " State Bank of Illinois.

Sparta was championed by Andrew B trders, R. G. Shan-
non, John A. Wilson, Joseph Faruan, William Roseborough,
8. W. McClurken, James A. Foster, E. S. Peck, L-
Murphy and J- C. Holbrook, who had made the solemn
promise, signed and sealed, that they at their own expense
would build a substantial courthouse 40x45 feet, and two
stories high, if Sparta were to be chosen.

The result of the third election is commented on by Percy
as follows :

"The county-seat election came off" on the 7th of June,
1847. Never perhaps in the annals of history was the elec-
tive sufi"rage more grossly violated. Votes from an adjoining
state were freely taken— boys and 'persons of doubtful
blood' were accepted. Chester performed her part with
much eclat, and Sparta was not much behind, if we are cor.
rectly informed. This game was played off by both of those
rival towns for the purpose of breaking down Kaskaskia,
which they have both been trying to do for years past. We
have no doubt that two-thirds of the voters of the county are
dissatisfied and would be, no matter which of those two
points were successful. So far as we can learn Chester has
received a majority of forty votes, but the people of Sparta
intend contesting the election.

Had the previous election been conducted with fairness,
Kaskaskia would still remain the county-seat, and we think
it hard to lose it by such dishonorable means as have been
resorted to. We give below the official returns of this hon-
orable (?) election, and leave it to the people to make
what comments th°y please upon this extraordinary increase
of the population of Randolph county.

For Sparta.

. . 83 votes

For Chester.

Kaskaskia 120 votes Kaskaskia. . . .

Prairie du Rocker 52 " Pi airie du Roche

Union ,^ " Union

Georgetown 113 ' (Georgetown . . .

Liberty ^^1 ;; L.herty .... .

Sparta '.■-■.■.'. '.'.'.'■'■'■'■ _>^ " Spa"a

1082 "

The next county election, August, 1847, brought out 1428
votes, from which it is to be iuferred that some 60:) or more
illegal votes were polled at said election of Juae 7, 1847.

The fact of accepting fraudulent votes is admitted by
various citizens who witnessed the affdir D. S. Lybaiger,
Esq., a native of Kaskaskia, informed us that the Spar-
tans had been as suspicious of the Chesterians, as these of
those. Committees to reconnoitre and to act as challengers
had been sent from Chester to Sparta, and vice versa. He,
(Lybarger), had arrived at Sparta on the night before the
election, and had noticed the arrival of numerous " visitors"
from adjacent counties. On the morning of the election the
Chester challengers were refused admittance to the poll,
whereupon he was sent back to Chester to report. He had
made the trip in less than one hour and thirty minutes. Soon
after his return, the S|)artau challengers at Chester had
made their exit, through door or window, " they had not
been ' particular,' at all, at all." During election neither
Leonidas nor any other Spartan was seen at Chester, but
Joseph Mattingley's horse-boat had made many trips bring-
ing in voters from the other side. Flat-boatmen also had
voted diligently and repeatedly, but it was not true, that
the good steamboat Red Cloud had landed a number of
passengers and her crew to vote, nor had the boat itself
" voted for Chester" as the Spartans had charged.

The Spartans made an earnest effort to contest the ehc-
tion. An investigation conducted by M. Morrison before
three magistrates, developed the fact, proved by witnesses
from Chester and Bois Brule Bottom, Mi.ssouri, that 135 ille-
gal votes had been polled at Chester, and that besides there
appeared on the pull book 70 names, not known to the "old-
est" inhabitants, also supposed to be fraudulent. " Kaskas-
kia Republican," July 31, 1847.

The county seat matter was finally disposed of by the
circuit court, November term 1847, and decided in favor of
Chester, whereupon the county board was convened by the
chairman in, as was subsequently charged, an illegal man-
ner, causing another outburst of indignation and lengthy
preambles and resolutions passed in citizens' meetings at
Kaskaskia and Preston.

The said session of the county board was held in the court-
house at Kaskaskia, on the 2:id of November, 1847.

Present: Edward Campbell, William McBride and James
Gillespie. The following order was then and there passed
by a unanimous vote, to wit:

Order in reference to remove the public records from Kas-
kaskia to Chester.

"Whereas the judge of the circuit court of Randolph
county has decided that the proceedings had by the president
and board of trusteeo of the town of Sparta, in said county,
in the matter of the county seat of said county are illegal
and void ; and whereas, the injunction sued out by said
president and board of trustees of Sparta against the county
commissioners of said county has been dissolved by his honor,
Judge Koerner, at the late term of our circuit court held on
the 15th inst. : Therefore ordered, that and in pursuance of a
law of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, entitled
an act for the location of a permanent county seat for Ran-

120A

COUfiT HOUSE.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS RANDOLPH CO /LL.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

121

dolph county, approved January 30, 1847, the records of
Rindolph cjunty be forthwith conveyed to the town of
Vhexfer, the present county seat of said county, and that the
respective officers of Randolph county and the clerk of the
court remove thereto and transact all official business re-
quired by law to be done at the county seat at said taint of
Ch'jifci; in the county aforesaid."

The order is signed by each member individually. The
court then adjourned to the next day, when William McBride
had the following words entered on the record: I want it
understood that I was in favor of not entering the order for
removing the records to Chester until our December term of
our court.

William McBride.

This order, passed at a session of the board " irregularly
called," gave rise to outbursts of public clamor. Indignation
meetings were held at Kaskaskia on the 10th of December,
presided over by J. Feaman, with 8. St. Vrain as secretary ;
at Preston, on the 15th of December, William Rainey pre-
siding, and at various other places, in which meetings, reso.
lutions were passed condemning the frauds perpetrated
at Chester, and the "indecent" haste of the county commis-
sioners.

The county election, August 2d, 1847, had been a very
spirited one, but failed to bring out more than 1428 voters.
James Thompson was defeated by John Campbell, by a ma-
jority of 260 votes; John A. Wilson defeated Henry Bil-
derback and Anthony Steele by a plurality of 30 and 28 for
sheriff. J. W. Gillis, the champion of Kaskaskia, was re-
elected recorder over E. Walker and J. D. Spindle. S. St.
Vrain was defeated by F. Maxwell for county clerk. H. H.
Baker defeated J. H. Clendenin, W. S. Hughes, and J. H.
McCarty for treasurer. Samuel G. Thompson was elected
surveyor by an absolute majority over Ignatius Sprigg, and
E. Leavenworth and D S. Lybarger were chosen coroners.

Two county officers, J. W. Gillis, the recorder, and Charles
D. Kane, the circuit clerk, continued to hold forth at the
old court-house peremptorily refusing to obey the above order.

TilE COUNTY COURT AT CHESTER.

The regular December term, 1847, of the county board
was held in the school-house at Chester, which said house
was furnished as a temporary court-house by the citizens of
said town.

The county board remonstrated with the disobedient
county officials, and succeeded in getting the circuit clerk to
locate his office at Chester. The recorder, however, was
notified on the lltli of November, 1848, that if he failed to
remove his office to Chester by the 6th of March, 1849, the
office of recorder would be declared vacant. Gillis was
ousted by this order, but the people reinstated him by tri-
umphantly re-electing him to the office.

The election for delegates to the Constitutional Conven-
tion 1347-8 resulted in the election of Ezekiel W. Robbins
and Richard B. Servant for Randolph county The form
of county government was changed under the new constitu-
tion, which provided for county courts to be composed of a
judge and two associate justices for each county. These
16

officers were to be elected on Tuesday after the first Monday
of November, 1849, and to serve for a term of four years.

The old county board held their last meeting on the 4th
day of December, A. D. 1849.

The site of the present court-house at Chester was selected
by the county board on the lOih of January, 1849. The
lots on which it was erected had been donated to the county
by Seth Allen. The building was erected by William
P. Haskins, at the expense of private individuals.

William W. Taylor contracted with the county board for
the building of the old jail at Chester on the 16th January,
1819. The jail site was also donated by Seth Allen, but the
building was paid for (-5140) by the county.

The valuation of taxable property in 1849 amounted to
81,124,993. The tax levy was thirty-five cents per 100 —
aggregating §3,937.47, of which amount $244.40 were re-
turned " delinquent."

The population of the county in 1849, as stated in the
United States census of 1850, was 11,079, the sixteenth place
in point of population. The county tax per capita amounted
to only thirty-five and three-fifth cents, while, for the current
year the county tax amounts to 83 3G for every man, woman
and child in the county.

This population of 11,000 souls were largely Anglo-Ame-
ricans, for although the country of Illinois had been colonized
principally by French, the descendants of this old stock had by
that time gradually disappeared, and their number was actu-
ally less than French colonists of the county were estimated
to have been in 1703. The chapter on pioneers mentions a num-
ber of Europeans, principally natives of Ireland, who sought
and found homes in the county in the very first years of the
present century. Among these early arrivals we merely
mention James Patterson, and his four sons John, Samuel,
Reuben and Jaraes, Robert Huggins, John McClinton, David
and James Anderson, Adam Hill, Absalom Cox, James and
Archibald Thompson, William McBride, Robert McDonald,
Joseph and John Lively, George Wilson, Samuel Crozier,
R)b3rt Foster, John Anderson, A. M. Henderson, William
Nelson, and others. The reader has met many of these
names among the leading citizens and county officials. The
German nationality now forming a large part of the popu-
lation was scarcely represented in the territorial times of the
county. About the year 1817 we fiund two Germans as
re5i<lents of Kaskaskia, to wit : Ferdinand linger, a tailor,
and Heinrich Resinger, a cabinet maker. The actual German
immigration began about the year 1830, when Gustav Pape
arrived, soon followed by Caspar iVnton Pape, Franz
Schwarz, Anton Tilman, Adam Huth, the Wehrheims, Die-
derich Moehrs, Charles Schribner, Andreas and John
Schoeppel ; between the years 1840 and 18.50 arrived John
Selteger, -Jacob Zang, Charles Reinhart, the Rauchs, Wil-
liam Schuchert, J. G Middendorf, John Stoehr, J. H. Meyer^
Christopher Gatelman, Paul Pautler, Louis and Diederich
Liefer, J. H. iMckelman, Daniel Gerlach, (somewhat later)
J. F. Hornberger, August Begemann, Henry, William and
Fred. Ebers, J. F. Knop, D. Bickenberg, H. W^elge, William
Rurede, J. H. Thies, Fred. Draves, Julius Schrader, Henry
and Frederick Sternberg, Diederich Heitmann, Heinrich

122

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Knoche, Lnuis Meyer, Henry Schnoeker, Henry Bode,
Frederick Brinkman, Herman Decker, Henry Hartmann,
H. R. StoUe, Philip Schoen, Jacob Gillenburg, F. C. Peters
and others. The revolutionary times during the years 1848
and 1819 caused a large emigration in some of the German
States, and the arrivals became so numerous, that a recital
would fill many pages. The bulk of this German immigration
chose farming as their occupation, in which pursuit they
have met with astonishing success. Others, principally
mechanics, settled in the towns and villages, many engaged
in merchandizing, while not a few devoted themselves to
keeping of hotels and refreshment shops. A few of these
early German settlers and many of their descendants have
occupied responsible and important offices of the county.
The census of 1860 found fully one-fifth of the population of
the county of foreign birth.

We return to the recital of county affairs after the adop-
tion of the constitution of 1848.

The election of November, 1849, entrusted the affairs of
the county to the first county court, to wit :

John Campbell, county judge,

Benbow Bailey and John Braser, associate justices.

1849 TO 1853.
This court held iU first term on the 17th of December^
1849. John W. Gillis, county clerk, John A. Wilson,
sheriff. The new court-house was completed duriug their
administration. On June 20, 1850, appeared in open court
Thomas Mather, James L. Lamb, Stacy B. Opdyke, A
Andrews, Francis Swanwick, Seth Allen, Adolph Blacky
A. Perkins, Joseph B. Holmes, Joseph AVilliamson, Judson
Clement, John Swanwick, Marmaduke E. Ferris, Joseph B.
Mattingley, James R. Dunn, and Charles Song, who on the
4th of June, 1847, had entered into bond to build a suitable
court house at Chester, at the expense of the citizens of said
town, and presented to the county court said court house for
said county to use forever, as their own property in fee with-
out charge or rent, and free from all lien or incumbrance
whatsoever.

Whereupon the court accepted the tender of said court
house and considered that said bond had been fully dis-
charged, and tendered the thanks of the county to said
donors for the gift nf said court house.

The court house was furnished at the expense of the
county, and first occupied on the 2d of September, 1850.

The affairs of the county during the decade of 1850 to
1860 were conducted by this court and their successors in
an economical and satisfactory manner. The valuation of
the property increased perceptibly, and amounted in 1860
to $2,963,000. The taxes for county purposes in that year
amounted to $10,371.56, of which, however, $1052.27 re-
mained unpaid. Tax dodging had commenced, and con-
tinued until it grew to be a dangerous evil. The county
authorities resorted to a most pernicious practice, to wit,
drawing warrants on a depleted treasury, and, what was
worse, made those warrants 10 per cent, interest-bearing
paper. The example given by the Federal Government
during the war, in creating an immense debt at the very

shortest notice, proved contagious. The authorities of the
county found themselves coerced to have a special act passed
by the legislature, permitting them to issue bonds, in order
to procure the means of managing a heavy floating debt,
June 5, 1865. A bridge across Mary's river had been paid
for in such orders, amounting in the aggregate to nearly
$9,000, and yet the usual tax levy of ^5 cents per $HIO
was not increased. In J864 the court authorized H. C. Cole
to erect a fire-proof building, 22 feet by 48 feet, for clerks'
oflaces, promising him 10 per cent, on all moneys advanced
by him, and a suitable compensation for superintending the
work Bonds amounting to $17,000 were issued June, 1865,
and $10,000 more in March, 1866, to pay the purchase price
of the Gordon farm, bought fur the purpose of making it a
poor- farm, and in November, 1866, the citizens of the county
voted in favor of having $100,000 of 8 per cent, bonds
issued in aid of the construction of a railroad.

This railroad debt gave rise to much complaint, leading
to tedious and expensive litigations, which terminated in
favor of the bondholders.

Since 1874 the county has been governed by a board of
county commissioners, who have succeeded in bringing the
finances of the county into shajjc.

A statement of the financial condition of the county in
1882 is introduced here, followed by a detailed exhibit of
the taxable property of the county and its value, from which
the reader will perceive that the net debt of the county is
less than 4 per cent, of its assessed value. It is also well
understood that the real value of the taxable property of the
county is nearly four times as great as the assessed value,
and that the county indebtedness therefore does not amount
to more than 1 per cent.-of the property in the county. The
tax levy of 1882 is high, but the amount to be collected
will reduce the county debt to about $10O,U0O, the principal of
the railroad debt contracted in that evil hour of November,
1866.

The value of the public buildings, not reckoning the
court house, which is a donation, the substantial clerks'
offices, the expensive new jail, the poor farm and its im-
provements, is fully adequate to the amount of the debt,
less railroad bonds.

Preceding the assessment of 1882 we insert an extract of
the assessment of 1 62, in order to show how rapidly values
change, leaving it to the readers to draw their lines of com-
parison. Just think of it! 21 piano-fortes in 18o2, and 378
pianofortes and melodeons in 1882 ! !

FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTY, SEPT. 1, 1882.

Bonds issued Sept. 8, 1870, due in 1885 813,000.00

Bonds issued May, 1878, due 1808 40,000.00

Judgment in Uni ed States court, including principal of Tamaroa

R. R. bond and coupons 108,000.00

Outstanding county orders 833.59

Jury warrants 07. 80

Total 8161,901.^9

ASSETS.

Balance in treasury 80,835.00

Taxes of 18S1, collected and in hands of collector 4,745.70

11,580.70

Debt, less assets 8150,320.139

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

12:5

The county authorities, at the November term, 1882, or-
dert d the following tax levies to be made, to wit :

For general onimty purposes, per SlOrt S -GO

For ro:uls, per 51lKi 15

For part pay of judgments, per $1U0 1-25

Total Si.0O

All county bonds, with the exception of $13,000, are re-
gistered with the auditor of the State, who levies a special tax
to meet the payment of interest.

ASSKSSHF.NT

7,449 horses, rained at $249,441

14,472 cattle 97,46«

bii mules 18,2«9

C,a»5 sheep C,2.",7

21,7(!9 hogs 20,79J

2 305 wagons and carriages.... 61,825

2,W2 clocks and watches 9,171

21 piano-fortes 2,:)<>4

Goods and nierchandi^ie 91,'i95

Capital stock 5,505 Total $2,866,3:17

The taxes for that year were for

state purposes 812,970.%

County purposes 10.088.06

Special school purposes 8.841.08

Total 511,899.50

The delinquent taxes of 1861 and prior years amounted
then to $3,857.57.

TAX VALUES OF RANDOLPH COUXTY 1882.

18C2.

M.inufactnred articles. 7,023

Moneys and credit" 119,8:12

.\ll otlier personal property... 122,707

Total 5812,5)17

Lands (83,000 acres in culti-
vation) 1,010 370

Lots 43-,H80

PERSOVU. PKOPEBTY

Valufd (it
i ,218 horses $25.32".^ each $137,474

8,.'>37 cattle

2,123 mules Xi-UX

7,810 sheep 1.021

I.5,:i32 ho;ss 91

67 steam-engines.. 217.G4
55 fire-proof safes™ 36.90

21 billiards 31.66?^

3,790 car. & wagons 12..55J4
4,235 watc. i clocks 2.27
2,319 seir. machines 5.90

145 pianofortes S0..*i3

231melodeons. 18.27

3 franchises 91.CCJJ

2 annui. * royalties .307.00
9 steamb. & vessels 22G.(H;%
Merchandise on hand

61,404

7(1,.%tO

8,017

13,935

14,382

2,029

005

47,588

9,024

14,007

7,327

4,257

275

734

Material & manufact articles

Manufacturers' tool8,etc

Agricultural tools

Gold aud silver plate

Diamonds and jewelry

Moneys of banks.

Credits of banks

Moneys of other than banks
Credits of other than banks

Bonds and stocks

Shares of capital stock, etc...

Property of saloons

Household furniture

Investments in real estate ...
All otner personal property..

831,307
7,214
6G,()9G

.51,038
250,.58o
15,402
60
3,193
94,030
3,630
31,496

Total personal property.. 81,119,105
LANDS ASD vm.

188,973 acres, improved, »t 89.83 4-5 $1,8.59,251

103,413 acres, unimproved, at $3.09 504,772

6,750 lots 646,547

BAILROAK PROPERTT.

Wabash, Chester and Western 862,703

Alton and Terre Haute 44,213

Cairo and St. Louis 74,057

Total 84,310,708

These tax valuations appear to represent not more than
one-fourth of the fair cash value, and it is safe to state that
the property enumerated above is worth fully sixteen mil-
lions of dollars.

The agricultural statistics of Randolph county set forth
that in 1881

I produced 130,054 bushels of <

803,008

2,148

172,900

" 293

" 2,282

" 37,837

1,852

of orchard produced 38,900

" ■• 193

•• " _ 40

wheat,
spring wheat.

rye.

barley.

Irish potatoes.

sweet potatoes.

apples.

peaches.

pears.

2«acr

es of vineyards prod'd

782 gallons of wine.

5.181 ■

of meadow "

4,649 tons of timothy hay

3,922 '

of clover "

. 3,318 tons of clover hay.

12,117 '

were pastured.

G.5,719 '

are woodland.

9,019 '

are uncultivated, and

9M ■

are laid out in city and town lots.

357 horse?, valued at 817,819, died during the vear, and
430 colts were foaled. Fat cattle, weighing 1,295,516 pounds,
were sold, and 214, representing a value of -53,594, died of
disease. 3,985 cows furnished the people of Randolph with
milk, etc. ; and the report further states that 80,079 pounds
of butter, 5,221 of cheese and 085 gallons of milk were sold
during the year. 470 sheep, worth *1,4G0, were killed by
dogs, and 554, worth 81,826, died of disease. (It is remark-
able that this class of sheep is so valuable. The average
value given in by the assessor is 81.02 3-5, while the sheep
killed by dogs are valued at three times the amount.) The
wool clipped it reported to have weighed 47,928 pounds and
valued at 8 10,54.3 — about 82,000 more than the sheep were
assessed at; besides there were 3,912 sheep, weighing
361,525 pounds, sold, bringing about 815.001) more. 2,949
fat hogs, weighing 535 990 pounds, were sold ; 2,149, weigh-
ing 157,463 pounds, died of hog cholera, and 501, weighing
34,271 pounds, died of other diseases. 547 hives of bees
produced 1,506 pounds of honey. 900 feet of drain tile was
laid in 1881.

EX>r.\ruTC0E5 or rivdoli'ii coistv in 1SS2.

Assessment, cost of $1,909.25

County jail and ^-risoners 2,441.05

Courts and bailitTs 3,073.*!

County officers 0,15K.30

Court house— fuel, ice. insurance 421.51

Court offices, printing and stationery 1,313.25

Elections 848.00

Paupers— in poor house 84,149.47

outside of 2,748.77

" in State institutions 541.03

" inquests 131jn

•' new building 4,',i.54,0O S12,.'i25.23

nd bridges 7,021 79

Roads
Sundries .

316.98

Total 830,709.36

Deducting the cost of the new building on the poorf:um, to wil, 81,95 1.0:"i from
*he above amount, it would appear that the regular county e.xpenditure8

amounted to $31,755.30

To which add interest on 8n,000 bonds I,3ii0.0<)

jntcrest on $40,000 bonds at 7 per cent 2,800.03

Interest on 100,000 R. R. bonds at 8 per cent 8,000.00

SH.&53.30

"We failed to obtain the United States Census Re-
ports of 1880 before concluding this chapter, in order
to add statistics of public interest and permanent value.
These reports are however, not ready, and may not be com-
pleted for some time From the lists filed by the enumerators
in the clerk's office, we glean the following in reference to
the population of the various precincts of the county :

1. Baldwin— TovB, 271; ouLside, 1280: total 15.57

2. Bremen.— Toul 'M

3-4. Blair and Central— Tota\ I0.5O

5. BrcwtrviUe.—Tot&\ 546

6. Chester —Town, 2525 ; rural, 1995 ; total 4520

7-8. CouUervilU and 7\Uen.— Total 2004

9. JEiiinfi>i«e.— Total "01

10. Florenee.—Tota\ 701

11. A'a.toM*ia.— Total population 1150

12. Prairie du Roeher— Total 111«

13. Red Bu</.— Total 2595

124

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

U. Jfociiocorf.— Town, 231 ; rural, 989 ; total 1211

15. Buma.— Total 8*3

16. tparta—rovn of 17f6 ; Eden, 201 ; rural, 1421 ; total 3408

17. StoteMi»».— Town of Steelesville, 440; rural, 1059 1499

18. W'iim iffc'i.— Total 881

Total of county 26,479

In a preadiug part of this chaiter we have iutro-
duced the names of citizens of Randolph county, who repre-
senttd it in the territorial legislatures. A similar statement
in reference to the representatives of the county in the con-
stitutional conveutiocs, the various general assemblies, State
offices and United States congresses is here appended.

Randolph county as represented in the conMutional con-
ventions of Illinois. 1818, George Fisher and Elias Kent
Kane ; 1847, Ezekiel W. Robbing and R. B. Servant ; 1862,
Daniel Reily ; 1870, J. H. Wilson and G. W. Wall.

Randolph county was represented in the General
Assembly of the State as follows :

1818 to 1820— John McFerron, Senator; Edward
Humphreys, Samuel Walker, Representatives.

1820 to 1822— Samuel Crozier, Senator; Thomas Mather,
Raphael Widen, Representatives.

1822 to 1824.— Samuel Crozier, Senator ; Thomas Mather,
Raphael Widen, John Mc/Ferron, Representatives.

1824 to 18i6— Raphael Widen, Senator ; Elias K. Kane,
resigned in 1825, Gabriel Jones, elected to fill vacancy
Thomas Mather, Speaker of the House, resigned 1825^
Samuel Smith, elected to fill vacancy, Representatives.

1826 to 1828— Raphael Widen, Senator; John Lacy.
Thomas Reynolds, Representatives.

1828 to 1830. Samuel Crawford, Senator for Randolph
and Perry; Thomas Mather, Hypolite Menard, Repre-
sentatives.

1830 to 1832— Samuel Ciawford, Senator for Randolph
and Perry; John Atkins, Thomas J. V. Owen, Repre-
sentatives for Randolph and Perry.

1832 to 1834— Thomas Mather, Senator for Randolph and
Perry ; David Baldridge. Richard G. Murphy, Representa-
tives for Randolph and Perry.

1834 to 1836— Thomas Mather, resigned in 1825 and was
succeeded by Richard B. Servant, Senator as above ; Rich-
ard G. Murphy, John Thompson, Representatives.

1836 to 1838- Richard B. Servant, Senator, Randolph
alone ; James Shields, Saml. G. Thompson, Representatives.
1838 to 1840— Richard B. Servant, Senator ; Gabriel
Jones, Edward Menard, Representatives.

1840 to 1842 — Jacob Feaman, Senator; James Mc-
Clurken, John P. McGiinis, Representatives.

1842 to 1844 — Jacob Feaman, Senator; Jacob J. Danner^
Andrew J. Dickinson, William McBride, Representatives
for Randolph and Monroe.

1844 to 1846 — Joseph Morrison, Senator ; E. Adaras, E.
W. Robbins, John D. Whiteside, Representatives for Ran-
dolph and Monroe.

1846 to 1848— Joseph Morrison, Senator; Robert Mann,
John Morrison, Edward Omelveny, Representatives.

1848 to 1850— Hawkins S. Osburn, of Perry, Senator
Fourth District ; Samuel H. Guthrie, Representative.

1850 to 1852— H. S. Osburn, Senator, John E. Deitrich,
Representative.

1852 to 1854— John E. Deitrich, Senator, Joseph
Williamson, Representative.

1854 to 1856— John E. Deitrich, Senator, Twenty-fourth
District — Randolph, Washington, Clinton, Perry and
Jackson counties ; James C. Holbrook, Representative, Sixth
District, composed of Randolph county.

185G to 1858— E. C. Coffey, of Washington, Senator
Twenty-fourth Distiict; James H. Watt, Representative
Sixth District.

18o8 to i860— E. C Coffey, Senator as above ; John E.
Deitrich, Representative as above.

1860 to 1862— James M. Rodgers, of Clinton, Senator as
above ; Edmund Faherty, Representative.

1862 to 1864 — Israel Blanchard, of Jackson, Senator of
Third District, composed of Randolph, Williamson,
Franklin, JacksoB, Jefferson and Monroe; Stephen W.
]Miles, of Monroe, Edward Menard, Representatives Eighth
District, composed of Randolph, Perry and Monroe.

1864 to 1866— Daniel Reily, of Kaskaskia, Senator Third
District ; W. K. Murphy, of Perry, Austin James, of
Monroe, Representatives Eighth District.

1866 to 1868— Daniel Reily, Senator as above ; W. K.
Murphy, John Campbell, Representatives as above.

1868 to 1870 — Samuel K. Casey, of Jefferson, Senator as
above; John M. McCutcheon, Thomas H. Burgess, Repre-
sentatives.

1870 to 1872— Samuel K Casey, died during term, and
was succeeded by W. B. Anderson, of Jtfferson, James M.
Washburn, Senators Third District; James M. Ralls,
Daniel R. McMasters, Representatives.

1872 to 1874— W. K. Murphy, Senator, Forty-eighth
District ; John W. Pratt, William Neville, Austin James,
Representatives Forty-eighth District.

1874 to 1876— W. K. Murphy, Senator; Joseph- W.
Rickert, Samuel McKee, Jonathan Chestnutwood, Repre-
sentatives.

1876 to 1878 — Ambrose Keener, Senatoir; TheophilusT.
Fountain, John Boyd, Septimus P. Mace, Representatives.

1878 to 1880— Ambrose Hoener, Senator ; John T. Mc-
Bride, John R. McFie, Philip C. C. Provart, Representa-
tives.

1880 to 1882 — Lewis Ihorn, Senator; Isaac M. Kelly,
W K. Murphy, Austin James, Representatives.

1882 to 1881 — Lewis Ihorn, Senator; John R. McFie,
James T. Cannitf, John Higgius, Representatives.

RANDOLPH COUNTY AS REPRESENTED IN STATE OFFICES.

Shadrach Bond, first Governor of the state of Illinois, in-
augurated Oct. 6, 1818.

* Shadrach Bond is claimed as a citizen by Randolph county, Monroe county
and St. Clair county, and,seems to have been .1 resident of the latter at the time
of his election. Shadrach Bond, a nephew of Shadrach Bond, sen,, who is men-
tioned more conspicuously in our chapter on Pioneers, was a native of Maryland
and arrived in Kaskaskia about the year 1794. Prior 10 his election as governor he
h.id represented his district in the territorial legislature and the territory as a
delegate to congress. He was at the e.xpirali'on of his term of ofBce appointed
Register of the Land office at Kaskaskia, and continued in that position
many years. He died in 1830, Ihe lamented and favorite statesman of Illinois

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

l-2o

Pierre Menard, Lieutenant Governor from 1818 to 1822.

Elias Kent Kane,* Secretary of State, from October 6th,
1818 to December 10th, 1822, when he resigued.

James Shields,t Auditor of Public accounts, March 4lh,
1841 to 1843.

Thomas H. Campbell was auditor of public accounts from
March 2Gth, 1>46, to Jatuary 12th, 1857.

Daniel P. Cook, the famous jurisprudent of Kandolph
county, Illinois, occupied the office of Altornfy General
ju&t long enough to write out his resignation. He qualified
on the 5. of March. 1819, and then resigned on the same day.

Wm. Ale.\auder was Adjutant General from April 24,
1819, to June 11, 1821.

RANDOLPH COUNTY IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
OF ILLINOIS.

1818. George Fisher and Elias Kent Kane.

1848. Ezekiel W. Robbins and Richard B. Servant.

1862. Daniel Reily.

1870. J. H. Wilson and George W. Wall for the Eighth
dbtrict, composed of the counties of Monroe, Randolph and
Perry.

RANDOLPH COU.NTY IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.

INinian Edwards, from 1818 to 1819, and from 1819 to
1824, ivhen he resigned.

§ Jesse B. Thomas, from 1818 to 182'J, two couseculive
terms.

His remains wore removed from the old liomej^tead to Everproen cemetery in
Chester t.y B. N. Bond only surviving son of ilic governor m November 1870.
The state of Illinois is now ereeting a monument over the tomb of her 6rst
governor.

B. N. Bond, .M. P., is now a resident of Staubery, Gentry county, Jlissouri.

* E. K. K.ine had commenced the practice of law in Kaskaskianbout the ye.ar
1814. A man of brilliant talents lie rose toa position among tlie memliers of the
bar. As member of the first .tate convention of Illinois he is nienti<ined "ith
commendation :isa leading spirit and as largely stamping the constitution with
its many exeellenei. s. He was a memtier of the t ouse of reprcentalives of the
4th general a.ssembly of ll.inois, 1SJ4 to IKC. He resigned this posit on, as this
very assembly elected him to the senate of the United .States, .lanuary 182.5.
He was Te-e.ectt d in 1631, but died before expiration of his second term, Dec.
12th, ISIo, yet in the prime of life.

t James Shields, an Irisliman by birth, commenced his career by teacliing
school at Kaskaskia, afterwards studying law. He represented Randolph
county in the legislature, was judge of the circuit court, and served with di.
stinction during the Mexican war as brigadier general of tlie Illinois volun,
teers. After his return from the field, his grateful fellow citiz ns elected him
to the United States senate from 1849tolSoJ, as successor of Sidney Breese. The
senator subsequently emigrated to Minnesota, and represented this new state
also in the U. S. senate, as also the state of Missouri for a fractional term. Gen,
Shields died a few years ago in retirement.

I Ninian Edwards was born in Montgom cry county, Maryland, in 1775, studied
lawat Carlisle, Pa,, but before finishing his studies he removed to Kentucky
where he spent a few years in various e.xcesses and extravagances. Sub!
Bequently he broke from his dissulute companions, and took up his studies with
renewed zeal and energy, and rose to a most distinguished position as juris-
prudent, and was occupying the office of chief justice tf the t'ourt of .\ppeals
of Kentucky, when April 24, 18(,9, President Madison appointed him Governor
of the newly organized territory of Illinois, as per act of Congress, approved
February .1, 18()9. Ninian Edwai ds remained Governor of Illinois until the State
organization took effect October l'., 1818. He was a resident of I\.-\skaskia at the
time of his election to the Senate, but soon after took up his residence at
Edwardsviile in Madison county, thus ceasing to be a citizen of liandolph.

gjesse B. Thomas, when Speaker of the House of Representatives of the
territory of Indiana, of which Illinois then formed a part, entered into an agree-
ment with the leading men of the Illinois part to use his inflitence in bringing
about a separate territorial organization of Illinois on the conditions that he
should first be elected delegate to Congress. The Illinois members, with a due
appreciatioti of the promises of politicians, even at that early day, required of
Thomas, before they would vote for him, to support his pledges by his bond,
conditioned that he would procure from Congress a division, whereupon he

Elias Kent Kane, from 1825 to 1835, December 12, the
date of his death.

David J. Baker, from November 12, 1830, to December
11, 1830, appointed by Governor Edsvards to succeed Judge
John McLean, deceased.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daniel P. Cook of Kaskaskia was the first Representative
of Congress from the State, taking his seat at the second ses-
sion of *^ loth Congress. He contiuued to represent the
State during the 16th, 17th, IStli and 19th Congresses, a
period of nearly nine years, being from December 1818 until
March 1827. Xo other from Randolph county has graced
the hall of Representatives as a member since the day when
D. P. Cook retired from his seat.

Addenda. — County Officers of Randolph County,
1779 to 1883.

A(lministratii-e Officrrs. — Colonel John Todd, county lieu-
tenant, from 1779 to 1782. Timothy De Moutbrun, county
lieutenant, from 1782 to 1784. John Edgar and J. B.
Barbeau, judges, from 1790 to 1795.

John Edgar, William Morrison, Pierre Menard, Robert
McMahan, George Fisher, Jvhn Beaird, Robert Reynolds,
Nathaniel Hull, Antoine Louvier, John Grosvenor, James
Finney, and Samuel Cochran, United States justices and
members of Court of Common Pleas, from 179.') to 1803.

Paul Harralsoii, Robert Morrison, James Gilbreath, Pierre
Menard, Creorge Fisher, and James Finney, county commis-
sioners, from 1803 to 1809.

Philip Fouke, William Arui.del, Henry Levens, Pierre
Le Conipte, Paul Harralsoii, David Anderson, Jean B. Bar-
beau, Robert Gaston, Archibald Thom|isoii, John Guiihing,
John Edgar, James McRoberts, John McFtrroii, John
Bradshaw, Samuel Omelveiiy, George Robinson, (ieorge
Hacker, James Lemon, Thomas Ferguson, Haniltt Ferguson^
John Phelps, and Marvin Fuller, justices, members of
county court, from 1809 to 1819.

Curtis Conn, David Anderson, James Patterson, James
Thompson, Miles Hotchkiss, Gabriel Jones, Francois Menard,
John Miller, Arthur Parks, Josiah Betts, Franklin P.
Owen, John C. Crozier, R. H. Fleming, Pierre De Rousse,
James S. Guthrie, Thomas Roberts, Felix St. Yiain, William
G. Hizer, John Thompson, John G. Nelson, James Gillespie,
James S Guthrie yM term), Robert Clark, James O'Harra,
Gabriel Jones (2d term), W. G Hizer ( 2d term i, Samuel
Douglas, Harvey Clendenin, Lawson Murphy, lleiiry O'-
Harra, John Mann, Archibald Thompson, Edward Camp-
bell, William McBriiie, James Gillei-pie (2d term\ county
commissioners, from 1819 to 1849.

John Campbell, W. P. Haskins (died during his term>
R. B. Servant, John Campbell (2d term ), J. W. Ralls, Har-
vey Neville, Alexander Hood, judges of the county court,
and John Braser, Benbow Bailey, James Gillespie, Samuel

w.as "triumphantly" elected by a bare majority with the aid of his uwn vote !
He was hung in efBgy at Vincciines by the :inli.sepiinitioni-l-. but ho dis-
charged his pledges and his bond by procuring the ilivision from fungress,
and as it w.is doubtless desirable to elmngc his residence he eanie home w ith a
commission for a federal judgeship of the new territory in liis pocket, and re-
moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois. (History of Illinois by Davidson and Struve).

126

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE, AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

B. Adams, James Gillespie (2d term), William Mudd,
Armistead Jones, William Mudd (2d term), M. Ireland,
Philip Wehrheim, John Wilson, and Philip Wehrheira (2d
term), associate justices of the county, from 1849 to 1874.

Johu Morrison, John Wilson, Philip Wehrheim, P.
Faherty, J. R. Doucliis, M. Ireland, J. B. Frank, James J.
Borders, and John C. Johnson, board of county commis-
sioners, from 1874 to 1883.

County Clerks.— Carboneau, from 1779 to ? ?

Robert Morrison, from 1795 to 1803. Paul Harrolson and
William Wilson, from 1803 to 1809. W. C. Greenup, from
1809 to 1827. Miles Hotchkiss, from 1827 to 1832, resigned
in June. James Hughes, appointed in 1832, and elected in
1833. Andrew J. Dickinson, 1837, resigned in 1839. Robert
Mann, appointed clerk pro tern., served 3 months. Ferdinand
Maxwell, elected in 1839 and reelected in 1841. J. W.
Gillis, from 1845 to 1851. J. M. Cole, from 1851 to 1857.
J. H. Nelson, from 1857 to 1864. John A. Campbell, ap-
pointed pro tern., 1864. Joseph Scbuessler, elected 1864 to
1865. R. J. Harmer, from 1865 to 1809. J. R. Shannon,
from 1869 to 1873. John T. McBride, from 1873 to 1877.
R. J. Harmer, from 1877 to 1882. Louis Dudenbostel, 1882.
5/,,,,./^; —Richard Winston, from 1779 to 1782. Timothy
du Montbrun, from 1782 to 179i). William Biggs (St. Clair
county), from 1790 to 1795. James Dunn, from 1795 to
1800. George Fisher, from 1800 to 1803. James Edgar,
from 1803 to 1805. James Gilbreath, from 1805 to 1 809-
Beijarain Stephenson, from 1809 to 1814. Henry Connor,
Samuel C. Christy, T. J. V. Owens, Ignatius Sprigg, John
Campbell, John A. WiLson, elected in 1848. John P.
Thompson, 18.50. Sav. St. Vrain, 18-52. John Campbell,
1854. Sav. St. Vrain (2d term', 1856. Anthony Steele,
1858. M. S. McCormack, 1860. John Campbell, 1862.
John T. McBride, 18G4. J. R. Shannon, 1866. M. S.
McCormack, 1868. J. T. McBride, 1870. Beverly Wilt-
shire, 1872 and 1874. Daniel Gerlach, 1876 and 1878.

Gerlach, 1«80, and E. J. Murphy, 1882.

Treasurers and Assessors.— The county sheriffs were treas-
urers until 1809. The duties of assessors from 1795 to 1808
were performed by the township constables and special
appointees. David Anderson was the first county assessor,
1808 and 1809. Treasurers and ex-officio assessors: Wil-
liam Alexander, 1812 ; William Barnett, K. Barton, John
McFerron, Alexander Barber, Samuel G. Thompson, Har-
vey Clendenin, Francis S. Jones, Hypolite Menard, S St.
Vrain, H. H. Barker, Matthew Huth, H. B. Nisbett, J. T.
McBride, J. M. Thompson, George Wilson, Peter Wickline,
F. S. Peters, Edmund St. Vrain, William Swanwick, S. B.
Hood, appointed in 1881, and William A. Campbell since
1882.

(-'oro»er«.— William Kelly, 1795 to 1803; Miles Hotch-
kiss, Henry Derousse, R. K. Fleming, D. L. Lybarger, F.
C. Peters, F. D. Lewis, F. C. Peters, 2d terra ; H. B. De-
rousse, J. H. Altrogy, J. M. Smith, D. L. Lybarger (2d
term) ; G.V. Renter, T. J. Garrett, William Heining. (This
list is incomplete, as there were no records kept of ofRcers
elected prior to 1849.)

Surveyors.— ^\\\\Am Wilson, Thomas Patterson, Paul
Harralson, James Thompson, Samuel G. Thompson, Ferdi-
nand Humphreys, Ezekiel W. Bobbins, James B. Parks,
S. G. Thompson, Joseph Noel, R. B. Thompson, James M-
Thompson, M. S. McAttee, J. P. Thompson, J. T. Douglas
and H. W. Schmidt.

Judges of Co!(r<«.— Gabriel Cerre, Joseph Duplassey
Jacques Lesource, Nicolas Jarvis, J. B. Barbeau, Nicolas
Le Chance, Charles Charleville, and Antoine Duchafours de
Louvieres, 1779 to 1790. La Buisniere was State attorney
at this period. John Edgar and J. B. Barbeau, 1790 to
1795, by appointment of Governor Arthur St. Clair; Hon.
John Cleves Synimes, 1795 to 1809 ; Hons. Jesse B. Thomas,
Obadiah Jones, Alexander Stuart, Stanley (iriswold, Wil-
liam Sprigg, Thomas Towles, Daniel P. Cook, John War-
nock, members of the' General Court of the territory of
Illinois, 1809 to 1819; B. H. Doyle, prosecuting attorney;
Hong. Joseph Phillips, Richard M. Young, Thomas Reyn-
olds, John Reynolds, Theophilus W. Smith, Samuel M.
Roberts, Samuel D. Lockwood and Thomas C. Brown mem-
bers of the Supreme Court and presiding judges at circuit
courts throughout t' e State, 1819 to 18.35; William Mears,
Charles Mattheny and Sidney Breese prosecuting attorneys.
Hons. Thomas Ford, Sidney Breese, James Semple, James
Shields, Gustav Koerner, W. H. Underwood, Sidney Breese,
2d term, H. K. S. Omelveny, Silas L. Bryan, Amos Watts,
W. H. Snyder and G. W. Wall circuit judges, 1835 to 1883-
Prosecuting attorneys during said period, W. H. Under-
wood, W. H. Bissell, P B. Foulke, George Abbott, W. C.
Kinney, W. H. Snyder, Amos Watts, J. P. Johnston, John
IMichan, Reuben J. Goddard (first county attorney, 1872 to
1880) and D. E. Detrich, present county attorney.

Clerics of Circuit ((iiirt..< and exofficio Recorders. —

Carboneau, 1779 to 1795; Lardner Clark, 1795 to

1809; William Arundel, 1809 to 1815; William C.Greenup,
1815; James Hughe-s, 1831 ; William Guthrie, 1840; James
Quinn, 1845 ; John M. Langlois, 1845 ; Charles D. Kane,
184/; James M. Ralls, 18.50; Savinie,n St. Vrain, 1860;
G. H. Pate, 1876 to date.

Probate Judgc-^.-Carlh Conn, 1821 to 1827; David J.
Baker, 1827 to 1831 ; Dwight Hunt, from March 7 to May
16, 1831 ; James Thompson, 1831 to 1848; John Campbell,
from 1848 to 1853; W. P. Haskins, 18,53 to 1853; died
during his term of office, and was succeeded by R. B. Ser-
vant, 18.55 to 1857 ; John Campbell, 2d term, 1857 to 1861 ;
J. W. Ralls, 1861 to 1865; Harvey Neville, 1865 to 1869;
Alexander Hood, 1869 to 1873; John H. Lindsey, 1873 to
1877; W. P. Murphy, 1877 to 1882; and G. L. Riess,
present incumbent.

School CommUnoners or Superintendents.— Sa.mue\ G.
Thompson, 183o ; W. McBride, 1839; S. G. Thompson, re-
appointed, 1840; M. A. Gilbert, 1843; Thomas Roberts,
1844; Elisha Seymour, 1845 ; James W. Glenn, 1849; J. B.
Parks, 1851 ; Robert Mann, 1854 ; Eli Lofton, 1857 ; Mar-
quis S. Burns, 18G1 ; John A. Malone, 1865 ; R. P. Thomp-
son, 1869 ; Peter N. Holm, 1870 ; R. M. Spurgeon and B. B.
Hood, present incumbents.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MOMROE AND PERRY COUXTIES, ILLINOIS.

127

In conclusion we introduce here a

ROSTER OF OFFICERS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, DECEMBER, 1882.

George L. Riess, county judge, elected in 1882 ; Louis
Dudeubostel, county clerk, elected in 1882 ; Everett J.
Murphy, sheriff, elected in 1882 ; John C. Johnson, county
commissioner, elected in 1882; James J. Borders, county
commissioner, elected in 1881 ; J. B. Frank, county com-
missioner, elected in 1880 ; William A. Campbell, treasurer,
elected in 1882; William Heiuiug, coroner, elected in 1882;
Samuel B. Hood, superintendent of schools, elected in 1882 ;
Henry W. Schmidt, surveyor, elected in 1879 ; D. E.
Deitrich, slate's attorney, elected in 1880; G. H. Pate_
circuit clerk, elected in 1880.

PRECINCT OFFICERS.

Baldwin. — W. M. Wilson and James A. Bean, justices .
J. AV. Pickett and John P. Cox, constables.

Bremen. — John H. Wilson and Henry Heitman, justices
of the peace; Henry Detmore and Jacob Wiukelmaun,
constables.

Blair. — S. B. Boggs and James Harkley, justices of the
peace ; and F. M. Welshans and T. W.-Taggert, constables.

Breurrvillc. — F. A. Jlarliu and W. P. Boyle, justices ;
Albert Snook and Leo Bone, constables.

Chr.'<f(r.—C W. Dean, H. Perkins, W. L. Wilson and
Leonard Crisler, justices; John W. Ragdale, Bartley
Tovera, George R. Douglas and Louis Harmon, constables.

Central. — John M. Beattie, justice of the peace; Stephan
Wright and R. J. Holcomb, constables.

Cindtrrrille. — David Muniord and Anthony Steele, justi-
ces ; Jesse McBride and Ruius East, constables.

Evan.ivilte. — James S. Gray and John H. Thompson,
justices; John Hagerdown and Paulus Smith, constables.

Florence. — B. P. Harmon and H. D. Lilly, justices ; Ed.
Beare and Walter W. Nifang, constables.

A'(.<A((.<A(a. — Wm. R. Burch and C. W. Wheeler, justices;
W. H. Doza and E. A. Lucken, constables.

IVairie du Rocher. — J. R. Duclas and Edward Harmi-
nutz, justices; Mike Dapron and Francis M. Oliver,
constables.

Red Bud — F. D. Gucker and John H. Meyer, justices;
William Heining and Peter Ensenauer, constables.

Rockwood. — James F. Bildtrback and W. G. Harry,
justices; James G. Simpson and James G. Sympson,
constables.

Ruiiut — Henry F. Kucker and .John B. Frank, justices ;
George W. Baker and Fritz Hopka, constables.

Sparta — -W. G Kitchen, James L. Skelley, A. N. Sprague
and T. F. Alexander, justices ; Peter W. Pillars, Thomas
C. Blair, J. S. Carter and O. R. Bannister, constables.

Steele's Milk. — T. A. Lickip and D. H. Schaefl'er, justices;
A. Short, constable.

Ti/den_ — William Fulton and A. M. Chassels, justices;
William Stephenson and John HoUiday, constables.

Wine Hill. — Henry Ebbers and N. H. Eickelmann,
justices of the peace; and Conrad Walters and Hermann
Sasse, constables.

CONCLUSION.

Randolph county has prospered from the day the Ameri-
can patriot Patrick Henry first stretched out his arm from
the old dominion to aid the colonists in forming a people's
government in the far west. Fifteen millions of dollars
would not sutHce to purchase the properly owned by the five
thousand families now residing in the county. A hundred
years is but a brief period in the life of nations, and yet how
wonderful have been the changes wrought in that time. An
Indian trail here and there, short neighborhood roads from
Kaskaskia to Prairie du Rocher, and Fort Chartres and
thence to Cahokia, were the means of communication be-
tween the sparse and scattering settlements of a hundred
years ago. How great was the joy of those people when in
1810 the first stage-coach came rattling through the streets
of quaint old Kaskaskia ! The daj-s of the stage-coach have
passed by and the cheery sound of the coachman's bugle
does not longer awake and call forth the echoes on the
bluffs, the bugle and the bugler are forgotten.

The county is dotted with prosperous and growing towns
and villages, the rich fields yield immense quantities of
golden wheat and corn, stately school-houses adorn the villages
and numerous church spires seem to indicate that the thoughts
of these people are not altogether bent on things that perish.

Railroads traverse the county in various directions, facili-
tating travel and commerce. Telegraphic lines connect
cities and towns with all parts of the >yorld, and electric
lights turn darkness into day.

Such is Randolph county now. Predictions as to what
another century may make of her, are idle. There isalimit to
all things. The Titans were powerful, they were strong
enough to pile mountains on mountains, but they could never
reach the sacred heights where Jupiter is throutd.

MONROE COUNTY.

CIVIL HISTORY — 1816 TO 1882— OI!G ANIZATION OF THE
COUNTY.

The territory composing the present county of Monroe
had formed a part of the old county of Illinois from 1778 to
1790, when it became incorporated in the county of St.
Clair. The organization of Randolph county in 179.5 and
reorganization of the two counties mentioned above, April
28, 1>09, divided the present county by a line running due
east and west from the famous settlement "New Design."

The organization of the county was decreed by a formal
act of the Legislature of the Territory of Illinois, approved
the 6th day of January, ISIG, and to be in force I'rom and
after the 1st day of June, 1.S16.

This latter clause gave to Monroe the tenth place in the
chronological order of counties, to wit., St. Clair, Randolph,
Gallatin, Johnson, Madison, Edwards, White, Jackson, Pope
and Monroe.

The law creating this county reads as follows:

^l(i Aet for forming a new county by the Legislative
Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois Terri-
tory, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same:
That all that part of the county within the following bounds.

128

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

viz: Beginning on the Mississippi river where the base line,
which is about three-fourths of a mile below Judge Biggs'
present residence, strikes the said river, thence with the base
line until it strikes the first township line therefrom ; thence
to the southeast corner of township two south, range nine
west; thence south to the southeast corner of township four
south, range nine west ; thence southwestwardly to the Mis-
sissippi, so as to include Alexander McNabb's farm ; and
thence up the Mississippi to the beginning, shall constitute a
separate county, to be called Monroe.

Be it further enacted, That William Alexander, James
Lemon, sen., James B. Moore, John Prim and James Mc-
Roberts be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to
fix upon the proper place for the seat of justice for said
county of Monroe, who shall meet for that purpose on the
third Monday of July next, at the town of Harrison, — and
they, or a majority of them, when so assembled together,
shall take an oath to fix the said seat of justice at such place
as they shall think best calculated to promote the conve-
nience and interest of said county, without favor or afiection
to any individual or individuals; provided, the owner or
owners of the land will give to the county for the purpose of
erecting public buildings, a parcel of land at the said place,
not less than twenty acres, and laid off into lots and sold for
the above purpose; but, should said owner or owners refuse
to make said donation aforesaid, then and in that case it
shall be the duty of the commissioners to fix upon some
other place for the seat of justice as convenient as may be to
the different settlements in said county, and, when fixed
upon by said commissioners, (hey shall certify under their
hands and seals, and return the same to the next county
court in the county, which said court shall cause an entry
thereof to be made on their records of said county. Pro-
vided, however, that if the said commissioners, or a majority
of them, shall not be able to meet on the said third Monday
in July next, they shall meet as soon thereafter as it may
be convenient, and either at the first or any subsequent
meeting they may continue from day to day, so long as they
may think it necessary to form a correct decision, and said
commissioners shall be entitled to two dollars each per day
that they are necessarily employed in fixing the county seat,
to be paid out of their county levy ; and provided, also, that
the town of Harrison shall be the seat of justice for said
county, until some other place shall be chosen as afore.«aid
and public buildings be erected thereon.

Be it further enacted, That the said county of Monroe
shall be, and hereby is allowed one representative in the
House of Representatives of this territory, who shall be
elected in the same manner that representatives are now
authorized by law to be elected in other counties, and he
shall be authorized to exercise all the powers, possess all the
privileges, and be entitled to all the emoluments that any
other Representative can exercise, possess or receive accord-
ing to law.

Be it further enacted. That whereas the said county of
Monroe was taken off of two districts for the election of
Members of Council, all qualified voters who shall reside
within those bounds which previous to the passage thereof

was a part of St. Clair county shall have a right to vote for
a member of the Legislative Council to represent them and
the qualified voters of St. Clair county as one district ; and
all those qualified voters who shall resMe within those
bounds, which previous to the passage hereof, was a part of
Randolph county, shall have a right to vote for a member
of the Legislative Council to represent them and the quali-
fied voters of Randolph county as one district, and it shall
be the duty of the sheriflfs of the counties of Monroe and
St. Clair within eight days after the election to attend at
Bellville and compare the polls and make out and deliver
to the person duly elected for that district their joint certifi-
cate thereof. And it shall be the duty of the said sheriffs of
Randolph and Monroe to attend at Kaskaskia, within ten
days after the election to compare the polls and make out
and deliver to the person duly elected for that district their
joint certificate thereof, provided however that any part of
the said duty may be performed by a legally authorized
deputy sheriff, the principal sheriff being responsible for the
faithful discharge thereof, and if the said sheriff or any of
them shall refuse or fail to perform the duties hereby re-
quired, such delinquent or delinquents, shall severally forfeit
and pay the sum of two hundred dollars to be recovered by
action of debt or indictment, one-half to the use of the terri-
tory and the other half to the person suing or prosecuting
for the same.

Be it further enacted, that the qualified voters of said
county of Monroe shall be entitled in all respects to the
same rights and privileges in the election of a delegate to
Congress, that are allowed by law to the qualified voters of
any other county ; and all elections hereby authorized shall
be held at the seat of justice for the said county of Monroe,
and shall in all respects be held and conducted as elections
are authorized and required to be held and conducted in
other counties. This law to commence and be in force from
and alter the first day of June next.

RiSDON Moore,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Pierre Menard, President of the Council.

Approved January 6, 1816. Ninian Edwards.

A plot of the county drawn by Michael Jones, Register,
and dated 1816, is on file in the county clerk's office at
Waterloo. According to this plot the original county of
Monroe contained the southwest half of township 1 South,
Range 10 west, the fractional townships 1 South, Range 11,
and li-ll, township 2 South, range 10, the southwest half of
township 2 South, range 9 west, townships 3-9 and 3-10,
and fractional township 3-11 with Harrisonville as " seat of
justice," then townships 4-9 and 4-10, and also fractional
township 4-11. This area contained in the aggregate 21G,-
640 acres, or about 338i square miles.

The organization of Monroe county is one of the acts of
the second territorial legislature, composed of Pierre Menard,
of Randolph, Samuel Judy,* of Madison, Benjamin Talbott,

» Samuel Judy was originally from Monroe county, where his father, Jacob
Judy, (Tohudy) a native of Switzerland, had, in 1794, erected a mill, the first
water-mill of any kind built by American settlers in that region ; this mill did
good service, and was for many years the only one between Kasky and Cahokia.

imSTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

129

of Gallatin, William Biggs, of St Clair, and Thomas Fer-
guson, of Johnson, forming ihe Legislative Council, and
Risdon Moore and James Lemen, jr., of St. Clair ; Philip
Trammel and Thomas C Browne, of Gallatin, John G. Lof-
ton and William Rabb, of Madison, and Jarvis Hazleton,
of Randolph, forming the House of Representatives.

The organizalicn of the county did not then give universal
satisfaction to the inhabitants of the counties, out of which
the new county was fjrined. James Lemen, jr., then a re-
presentative of St. Clair county, deemed it proper to explain
his vote on the question iu a lengthy address published in
the Kaskajkia Herald, the first newspajjcr published in the
state.

The address contains a vast amount of political wisdom
and morality, and is well worthy to be preserved Besides
there are numerous descendents of the Lemen family iu
Monroe county who may have a personal interest besides in
the document

To the freemen of St. Clair county.

Fellow citizens : Previous to my election as one of your repre-
sentatives, I wasnotignoraiit of the responsibility that would
devolve on me as a legislator if elected. On turning my.
attention to political matters or the subject of legislation ;
I have always viewed it as intricate and important, while I
have been led to believe that it could not be filled to the
satisfaction of all who have to be legislated for, many of
whom having real or imaginary local interests involved not
differing Irom each other. Therefore let the representative
pursue what course he may, if he should receive the sanction
and applause of some, he may expect to be censured and
calumuiated by others. A consciousness of this circum-
stance, induced me to feel much reluctance in engaging such
an office, but believing that man was not created to dwell in
a state of nature independent of or unconnected wiih each
other, but for the formation and benefit of society, by which
it is understood that each part should protect and be under
the control of the whole so that the community should
guard the rights and enforce the obedience of each individual-
Thus government, results of course from the formation of
society as necessary for its protection, and as each individual
owes an equal part to the protection of civil government,
therefore each is bound in similar obligations to participate
in government, when called by the community to aid in
promoting welfare. Although not entirely congenial to my
feelings, I freely obeyed the call of my fellow-citizens to a
seat in the legislature of this territory, in performing the
duties of which I have eudeavored to serve you to the best
of my capacity, and when your wishes have been communi-
cated to me my most active exertions have been used to pro-
mote your wishes. The only subject which I supported
without satisfactory information was the erecting of a new
county out of the cjuuties of St. Clair and Randolph, but
policy dictated to me the necessity of such a measure, for at
the first session which I served in the legislature, there was
a new county erected out of the northeast part of Gallatin,
to which a representative was allowed, and at the last session
there were three new counties erected out of the counties of
17

Johnson and Gallatin and Randolph, called White, Pope
and Jackson, all of which were suj)plied with members trom
Gallatin, one of its former members to supply a representa-
tive ^or White, thus the lower counties will at the next ses-
sion of the legislature send six members to the house of re-
presentatives, while Randolph, St. Clair and Madison (if no
division on our ])art had taken place) would have sent but
four, which would have given the lower members so decided
a majority as to have enabled them to have legislated for
the whole territory ; the necessity therefore of throwing an
additional weight in our scale of legislative power presented
itself to my view and I advocated the measure. I was also
sensible of the extreme hardship under which those citizens
included in the new county had to labor in attending the
seat of justice of the old, a grievance which was represented
to the legislature with a petition containing about 200 signers,
and believing that nothing short of such a division would
tranquillize our county, while we had it in our power to de-
signate the division line favorable to it, and fearing that such
might not hereafter be the case, I should not have acted ac-
cording to the dictates of what 1 conceived to be sound
policy, if I had not aided in the division, and I am
happy to assure my fellow-citizens that I am of the opinion
that it will result to their advantage, as the growing popu-
lation in the frontier parts of the counties of St. Clair and
Randolph will in a short time demand the erection of another
new county, which will perminantly settle the seat of justice
in our flourishing county.

James Le.mes, Jr.

The third territorial legislature of Illinois, elected in
August, 1816, two months after the organization of Monroe
county, was convened at Kaskaskia on the 2d of December,
1816. Monroe, however, was not represented during this
session, which lasted to January 14th, 1817. At the second
.session, convened on the 1st of December, 1817, was repre-
sented in the legislative council (senate), by Abraham
Amos, whose name is frequently mentioned iu the early
records of the county. He was a justice of the peace, and
apparently a follower of Christ, for as such he solemnized
the rites of matrimony between William F. Roberts and
Elizabeth Farquer, on the 14th of August, 1817, affixing
the letters " M. P." to his name. As Monroe county did not
then sport a " Member Parliament " the M. P. above seemed
to read Missionary Preacher.

The houje of representatives of the third territorial legis-
lature, December, 1816, to January, 1818, did not contain a
member from Monroe.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

The civil officers appointed by the governor, met at the
house of John McClure, at Harrisonvilie, on the 1st day
of June, 1816, and caused their clerk to inscribe the follow-
ing in the county records, to wit :

Organization of the county court. — Pursuant to an act of
the legislature of the Illinois territory, passed on the 6th
day of January, 1816, for forming a new county out of
Randolph and St. Clair counties, to be called Monroe,
Caldwell Cairns, James Lemen, Sr., and Abraham Amos,

130

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

gentlemen, met at the house of John McClure, in the town
of Harrisonville, and county of Monroe, on the first day of
June, 1816, and severally produced commissions from his
excellency, the governor, bearing date the lOlh day of
January, 1816, appointing them judges of the county court
of Monroe county.

Whereupon, William Alexander, Esq., by commission
from his excellency, the governor, having been appointed
clerk and recorder of the county of Monroe, aforesaid, and
having heretofore taken the oaths prescribed by law,
together with James B. Moore, Esq., his security as clerk,
and Caldwell Cairus, Esq., hia security as recorder, entered
into and acknowledged bonds in the penalties and with the
conditions required by law.

And thereupon, the said William Alexander, in pursuance
of the act of the legislature in such case made and provided,
administered the several oaths required by the constitution
of the United States and the laws of this territory, to be
taken by the judges of the county courts, to said Caldwell
Cairns, James Lemen, Sr., «p ' Abraham Amos.

James B. Moore, gentl o, produced a commission from
his excellency, the .ernor of this territory, bearing date
on the 10th day of January, 1816, appointing him sheriff of
the county of Monroe, and together with William Alexander
and James Lemen, Sr., his securities, entered into and
acknowledged bond in the penalty and with the condition
required by law, and took the oaths required by law.

James B. Edwards produced a commission from William
Alexander, Enquire, clerk of the county of Monroe, appoint-
ing him deputy clerk of said county, as also a commission
from said William Alexander, as recorder of the county
aforesaid, appointing him- deputy recorder of said county,
whereupon the said Edwards took the oaths required by law.
The little craft, called Monroe county, was now officered
to start out on its career as a body politic. The reader
will observe that the officers ranked as follows : The judges
and sheriff, as gentlemen; the clerk, as esquire, and the
deputy without rank The entry does not state to what
day or place the authorities had adjourned, but at any rate,
the record shows, that they had selected the next Saturday
for a meeting, and from the work done at this first " term,"
it is to be inferred that the county fathers had not been idle
during the week.

This, the first court, was held again at the house of John
McClure, on the 8th day of June, 1816, when the following
proceedings were had :

Present, Caldwell Cairns, James Lemen and Abraham
Amos, gentlemen judges of the county of Monroe. The
court proceeded to lay off and divide the county into town-
ships as follows, to wit : ordered that

Eayle Township, being No 1 in this county, be considered
as included in the following boundaries, viz. : Commencing
on the Mississippi river, where the base line strikes said
river, thence with its meanders until it intersects the tornado,
where it crosses said river, thence east until it strikes the
county bridge on Eagle creek, from thence following the
meanders of said creek to where it passes through the bluff,
from thence east of north so as to include Levi Pickett, and

from thence to the county line, continuing on to where it
commenced.

Harrison Township, being No. 2 in this county, be considered
as included in the following boundaries, commencing where
the tornado crosses the Mississippi river, thence with the
meanders of said river to the mouth of the Big Gut below the
town of Harrisonville, from thence an east course running
between Hugh Kalston and Isaiah Levens, so as to include
Kinney's mills and Avington Shirril's, from thence a north
course so as to include Valentine's old mills and Converse's,
from thence with the meanders of Eagle creek to where said
creek passes through the bhiff.

Mifchie Township, being No. 3 in this county, be considered
as included in the following boundaries, viz : Commencing
at the mouth of the Big Gut on the Mississippi river, thence
with its meanders to the county line, thence with the county
line to where it intersects Range line, between Ranges No.
9 and No. 10 west, from thence a northwest course, so as to
include McRul rts until it intersects the division line be-
tween Harrison and said township.

Belle Fountaine Township, being No. 4 in this county, be
considered as included in the following boundaries, viz. :
Commencing where Eagle township struck the county line,
thence southeast to the corner of said county, thence south
to the southeast corner of township No. 4 south, from thence
with the county liae until it intersects Mitchic township,
from thence with Mitchie until it strikes Harrison township,
and from thence until it intersects Eagle township. After
establishing these townships the court hastened to gladden
the hearts of many of their citizens by elevating them to
various offices. John Violeny was made constable of Harri-
son, and Michael Masterson of Mitchie, Stephen Terry and
Churchill Fulsher became overseers of the poor for Eagle,
James Garretson ..nd Solomon Shook for Harrison, James
Henderson and Alexander McNab for Mitchie, and Michael
Miller and James McDonald, Robert Hawk, William Hogan,
William Alexander, Raphael Drury, George McMurtrey
and James Bradshaw became supervisors of roads.

John Moore, "gentleman," produced his commission as
treasurer, and also one of coroner, and was sworn in the
office. It was agreed that hereafter the " court" should meet
at the house of Thomas O'Conner, and that Thomas O'Con-
ner should have a tavern license, for which he was to pay
$ J GO per annum. John Cooper was also granted such
license, whereupon the court regulated the prices to be
charged by said tavern keepers as follows :

For a warm breakfast, dinner or supper 25o.

For lodging (one in abed) 12J.^

For lodging (two or more in a bed), each 6!4

For whiskey by the half pint 12H

For peach or apple brandy, by half pint 12^

For cider per quart 12^

For porter or beer per bottle 37J^

For porter or beer per quart 25

For oats or corn per gallon 12J^

For hay, oats or fodder for a horse, per day 37^

For cherry bounce, per half pint 18>i

The court proceeded on the same day to order a tax levy,
as follows :

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

131

For each bond servant or slave Sl.OO

•• each horse over 3 years old ;V)

" eaeh stud-horse, the rate he stands at the season.

•' each town and out lot, wind and water-mill, mansion-house, for

every $UH) value, the sum of :lil

" every sijigle man over 21 years of age $I.<JO

Timothy Coats was licensed to keep a ferry from Carthage
(formerly Harrisoiiville) across the Mistitsijipi, with rattsas
foHows : Man, "Joe. ; horse, 50c.; homed cattle, Too. ; light
carriage, $1.50; road wagon, $1.75; freight, 8c. per 100 lbs ,
and a cart or a " gig." 81.00

The attention of the court was next directed to acquiring
a donation of land whereon to erect the public buildings of
the county, as O'Conncr'.s charge of $3 00 per term for the
use of his house as a court-room was too extravagant. In
this the court was successful, inasmuch as McKnight and
Brady were ready for a donation, and did subseijuenlly e.x-
cute the following instrument, to wit :

Till-: SK.VT Ol- JfSTKli.

I)ee>l of McKii'Kjht <{• Dnnhj to the Cixnilij.
This indenture, made this lUih day of June, a. d.
1816, between John McK night and Thomas Brady, trading
under the firm of JIcKnight A Brady, of the county of St.
Louis and territory of Missouri of the one part, and William
Alexander, James Lemen, sen., James B. Moore, and James
McKoberts, commissioners appointed by virtue of an act of
assemblv, in that case made and provided for an<l in behalf
of the county of Monroe, in the territory of Illinois, of the
other part, witnesseth that the said John McKnight and
Thomas Brady, trading under the firm of McKnight &
Bradj' as aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of
one dollar current money of the United States of America,
to them in hand paid, the receipt whereof they hereby ac-
knowle<Ige, aiul forever acquit and discharge the said Wil-
liam Alexander, James Lemen, sen., James B. Moore, and
James McKoberts, commissioners aforesaid, their heirs, ex-
ecutors and administrators, have granted, bargained, sold,
aliene<l, enfeciH'ed and confirmed, and by these presents do
grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff and confirm unto the said
William Alexander, J.imes Lemen, Sen., James B. Moore
and James Melloberts, commissioners i'or and in behalf of
the county of Monroe aforesaid, and their heirs and assigns
forever, the following lots or parcels of laud situate in and
adjoining the town of Carthage, in the county of Monroe
aforesaid, to wit : Block No. 47 in the " plan " of the said
town, containing one acre and 32 poles, and lots No. 1, 2, 3,
4, on the east end of the town tract and adjacent to the said
town of Carthage, containing together eighteen acres and
one hundred'and twenty-eight poles, which said lots tcgether
with block No. 47 in the plan of said town of Carthage, eon-
tain in the whole twenty acres, more or less, by a late survey,
together with all inipn>veruent.'', profits and ajipurtenances
whatsoever to the said lots belonging or in anywise apper-
taining, and the reversions, remainders and profits thereof,
and all the estate, right, title, interest, property, claim and
demand of them the said John McKnight and James Brady,
of, in and to the same, to have an<l to hold the aforesaid lots
or parcels of land hereby conveyed, with all an<l singular the
premises and every part and parcel thereof, with every of
the appurtenances, unto the said William Alexander, James

Lemen, sen., James B. Moore and James McRoberts, com-
missioners as aforesaid, for the use and in behalf of the
county of Monroe aforesaid, their heirs and assigns forever.
And the said John McKnight and Thomas Brady, for them-
selves, their heirs, executors ami administrators, do cove-
nant, promise and agree to and with the said William Alex-
ander, James Lemen, sen., James B. Moore and James Mc-
Kobeits, commissioners as aforesaid, their heirs ami a.ssigns,
by these presents, that the i)remises before mentioned now
are and forever hereafter shall remain free of and from all
former and other gifts, grants, barg:iins. sales, dowers, rights
and titles of dower, judgments, executions, titles, troubles,
charges and incumbrances whatsoever, done or suffered to
be doue by them the said John McKnight and Thomas
Brady. And the said McKnight A- Brady aforesaid, and
their heirs, all and singular the premises hereby bargained
and sold with the appurtenances, unto the said William
Alexander, James Lemen, sen., J.iracs B. Moore and James
McRoberts, commissioners as aforesai<l, their heirs and as-
signs, against them the said .John JIcKnight and Thomas
Brady, trading under the firm of McKnight & Brady, and
their heirs and all and every other person or persons what-
soever, do and will warrant and forever defend by these
presents.

In witness whereof they the said .lolm McKnight and
Thomas Brady, trading under the firm of McKnight &
Brady, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals,
the day and year first before written.

Signed, sealed and delivered ]
in the presence of j

Tiio>r.vs J.vMKs. MiKMiaiT A Bi;.\I)Y.

J AMiis li. Er)\v.vi;ii.s-.
Illinois Territory, |

Monroe County, j

Be it remembered, that on the 2i'th day of July. l^Ki,
James B. Edwards, one of the subscribing witnesses to the
foregoing deed of conveyance, personally appeared before
me, a justice of the peace of Monroe county aforesaid, and
made oath that he saw Thomas Brady, one of the firm of
McKnight and Brady, the grantors in said deed mentioned,
sign and heard him acknowledge the same as anil for his
free and voluntary act, and alloweii the same to be recorded
iu the recorder's office of said county, given under my hand
and seal the day and year aforesaid.

I'jjiNCE Bry.^st, /^ _ ^^

Justice of the Peace. v^— -_>/

The title thus conveyed to the county by the firm of Mc-
Knight and Brady was, as lawyer Guy Gaylord contended,
not perfect, and the county authorities were unsuccessful to
find purchasers. In IM^^, April 28, a second deed to the
.same real estate was made, signed this time by John Mc-
Knight, Thomas Brady and Harriet, his wife, individually.
.Still the people were very slow in investing in this property,
.so that even (.Jen. .lohn Edgar, of Kaskaskia, felt it his duty
to come to the rescue, which Ir.' did in th.> following card
published in the Illinois Intelligencer of June 15, 181!), to
wit :

Nutice. — Wherea-s the public in general and particularly

132

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

the inhabitants of Monroe county, are concerned for the
honest growth and prosperity of the county seat of said
Monroe county at Harrisonville : Therefore, for the inform-
ation of the public, I decertify that I have sold all my claim
to the land whereon said C(>unty seat is situate to Messrs.
McKnight and Brady, and know of no other claim to said
land than that of the above named McKnight and Brady.

Kaskaskia, May 12, 1819.
III. Inteirnjencer, June 16, 1819. John Edgar.

Leaving this subject we return to the assessment of tax-
able property which was ordered by the board to be made
at ODce. The writer believes that the following are the iden-
tical-returns made, although they arc without date. They
are made out in the handwriting of John Moore and signed
by him, who, as seen elsewhere, was the first assessor of the
county. He served as such two consecutive years, and his
returns may also serve here for the purpose of a census,
which was taken in 1818, but not preserved. The names of
the tax payers are alphabetically arranged; and may call up
many recollections of times passed.

LIST OF TAXPAYERS OF MONROE COUNTY — 1816.

Alexander William, Anderson William, Arundel William,
Arnold James, Atchison John, Abraham Amos, Axley Eli-
sha, Atchison John, Atchison William, Alexander John,
Ayers William, Berver Nathan, Bryan Daniel, Bradshaw
Absalom, Brimberry John, Boggs Jesse, Baldwin Francis,
Bryant Prince, Badgley Ichabod, Bryan William, Boisen
Ebenezer, Blaukenship Noah, Borer Jacob, Beaird Joseph
A., Brown William, Bradley Kubin, Barrick William,
Brock George, Blankeuship Matthew, Brown William,
Brownfield Charles, Browufield Theron, Bradshaw James,
Barkner Abner, Bond Shadrach, Clark Felix, Clark Jacob,
Carey Joshua, Clark Edward, Chaffiu William, Chafhu Seth,
ChafEn Ellis, Chaffin Amos, Cooper Jesse W., Crouch Ed-
ward, Chance William, Clark Ben., Clark William, Cape W.
B., Cooper John, Chandler Amos, Converse Seth, Calhoon
Ann, Carr Leonard, Clover Jacob, Cairns Caldwell, Cook
E. R., Cartell Jacob, Drury Raphael, Dunn Samuel, Davis
Elijah, Dace Michael, DSce Herman, Deconey John, Deprew
Michael, Divers John, Dillard Ishmael, Eastwood Abraham,
Eastwood Jacob ( what has become of Eastwood Isaac? Eagan
John, Everett William, Eastes Jehu, Eberman Abraham,
Fields Henry, Fowler James, Fry Cath., Forquer George,
Ford Elizabeth, Garrish Edward, Forquer William, Go^mer
Peter, Goldsmith Charles, Green Barditt, Greenleaf Mayo,
Garretson James, Grate John, Hull Daniel, Hettick Andrew,
Henderson James, Howard William, Hogan William, Halde-

man Christopher, Hogan Joseph, Hammon Michael, Hoit ,

Hogan Prior, Hawk Robert, Hawk John, Hartman Fred-
erick v., Hendricks James, Hamilton Thomas M., James
John, James Thomas, Jameson John, Jameston Alexander,
Jonstou Nathaniel, Jonston John, Jonston William, Kinney
Joseph, Kidd Robert, Kinney Andey, Kirkpatrick Francis,
Kissel James, Lemen William, sr., Leraen James, Lemeu
William, jr., Lemen Moses, Lemen Josiah, Layway Baptist,
Lock Gerardis, Levins Isaiah, Leathers Charles, Lathy

Robert, Lusby Thomas, Laster George, Ladd Elijah, Moore
J. Milton, Miller Michael, Miller Jesse, Miller Robert, Mars
Thomas, Miller John, Marney Benjamin, Mitchell John,
Martin "Lawyer," Miller Henry, Moredock John, Moore
John, May Reuben, Modglin John sr., Modglin Henry,
Moore James B , Miller Joseph, Miller Ruben, Modglin
John, Moore Enoch, Modglin Henry, Mattingley Richard,
McMurty George, McDonald James, McKinzey Rolley,
McDavid John, McNabb Alexander, McKeen Joseph,
McDaniel L , McDaniel James, McClure John, McRoberts
James, McMeen Joseph, Nolin Samuel, Nelson Thomas,
Nelson James, Nelson Abraham, Newlin James, Osborn Fran-
cis, OCorner Thomas, Preston J^zekiel, Porter James, Page
Louis, Payne Adams, Porter Thomas, Parraux Pascal, Par-
raux Amable, PiggottLevi, Parmer Ambrose,Patterson Luke,
PattersonCharles,Primm John, Ray ner Samuel, Rapert Dan-
iel, Rogers William, Rader Philip, Rolsten Hugh, Roach John
Robins William, "Rite Mr.", Roberts Henry, Robins John,
Roberts Jesse, Robinson David, Ryley Mills, Ramey George,
Sterritt Thomas, Skeen Jacob, Shehen Sebastian, Starr Dan-
iel, Shehen John, jr.. Smith James, Scovel Henry, Pink Dan-
iel, Strout Peter, Scott George, Shephard John, Summers
John, Shook Solomon, Scott Jehu, Scott John, Strong Solo-
mon, Shook Daniel, Shephard James, Stevens Samuel, Ster-
ritt Avington, Smith Samuel, Sullivan James, Scott Francis,
Sterritt William, Taylor Levi. Trask Mervin, Tolin John, jr.,
Tolin Isaac, Trout Jacob, Todd Widon, Turner James,
Turner Samuel, Talbott Thomas, Talbott Elijah, Taylor
Thomas, sr., Taterfield Jesse, Talbott Joshua, Taylor James,
Taylor Thomas, jr , Varnum Moses, Vollentine George,
Volleutiue Ichabod, Varnum Jewett, Vaughn Th., Williams
Zophor, Westbrook Elisha, Worley Joseph, Wilson J. M.,
Worley William, Woodrum John,sr , Worley John, Wiswell
Jesse, Wright Josiah, Winters John, Wells Alexander,
Warner John, Whaley James, Whaley Baker, Woodrome
J. P., Woodrome David, Whiteside David, Woodrome Wil-
liam, Whiteside IMary, W^allis George, Welch Edward,
Woodrome Joel, Wilson Otho, Wilson Edward; Wiustanley
Thomas, Wightman John, Young David, and Yannie Law-
rence.

Remarks. — The number of people subject to paying taxes
was 269. Of these were 47 unmarried men, over the age of
21 years, who had to pay a tax of 81.00 per capita for the
enjoyments of bachelor life, and for being the " beaux" of
their time. The taxable property of that period of time con-
sisted in slaves and horses, also in mills, distilleries, mansions
and town lots. The assessment of 1816 shows that there
were 22 slaves in the county, owned by Jacob Trout, Philip
Rader, James McRoberts, fohn Jameson, Joseph Hogan,
James B. Moore, George Ramey, each owning one slave,
Mary Whiteside, Caldwell Cairns, R. Mattingley and Shad-
rach Bond, each owning two Solomon Shook owned three,
and Joseph A. Beaird, four slaves. There were 5^9 horses
in the county, the tax on which produced S299.50.

A large majority of the 222 families of the county lived
in cabins, which were'^iot reached by the tax gatherer. The
more opulent, who livtd in "mansions," were the following:
Francis Baldwin lived in a 400 dollar palace, Joseph A.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

133

Beaird had a " city" residence, located on two lots, and
valued at 8500. Jesse W. Cooper acd John Cooper also
owned town lots, valued respectively 8300 and S500. Seth
Converse resided in an expensive mansion, worth 8550 in
rural districts. Raphael Drury was most extravagant ; for
his, a planter's residence, was rated at 8700, and Arthur
Eberniairs at 8"2O0. Michael Dace had two lots worth 8100.
James Grate and James Garrttson had good farm houses,
worth 8300 and 8350. James Henderson's and John Hogan's
dwellings were worth 450 and 400 dollars. Thomas James'
Harrisonville residence was assessed at 8600; Alexander
Jameson's at S'200 ; James Lemen and Thomas Lusby had
town residences of.?4()0, and SlOO value ; John Moore rivaled
Raphael Urury in the elegance and ctstliness of residence,
for he rated his house also at STOO ; Michael Miller's at
J-250, and Jiinus B. Moore's at 8100 ; Daniel Sink sunk 8(iOO
to build him a mansion ; Solomon Shook, 8350; and John
Shehen, Jr., 8'^00 Thus we see 22 families comfortably
" housed," and it is to be supposed " that the owners of mills
also had convenient house room. They were Andey Kinney,
whose mill i^* rated at 81,000. Andey had erected a cotton
machine besides."

I.-hmael Dillard's mill was assessed at 8950, and Richard
]\laltingley's at SoOO.

There were 31 town lots owned and improved by indi-
viduals. The taxes to be collected tn this assessment give
the following figures:

Fpriy-.«evcn bachelors were e.ipectcd to pny for the fnn of being sneh, S47.00

The owners of the 22 sUves had to pay tl per eapitu, 22.110

The owners of the 390 hordes were taxed 50 cenis eneh, 2'.i'j JO

And Edward Crouch, who kept a staUion, was taxed 3.00

Owners of mill property paid ."io cents per hundred dollars ad vn'orem:

Valueof mill property, S2200.:.o, 11.25

Value of mansions, J83C1 ^1-'^

Total expected revenue of 1816, S424.50

The slave property was not valued very high in those
days, and, if the tax per capita should be a criterion, we
may infer that two horses were equivalent in value to a
slave. We add here a short sketch of what the records of
the county have to say on the subject :

A census of slaves residing in Monroe county was com-
pleted on the 30th of January, 1817. The number of slaves
reported was small— only 13 all told. Joseph A. Beaird
owned then a couple of blacks, Henry and Annaky, who
were "indented" for a short 80 j'ears ; both will be "free"
on the 30th of January, 1897. James McRoberts' man
George was to be free in 18.9. William Hogan's negro
servant must have been a man of letters, for he went under

♦Look Here ! !

For the encouragement of those that wish to raise cotton that may live con-
venient, I therefore give this early notice, that I have erected a cotton machine
at my mill on the waters of liyans creek, in St. Clair county, six miles from
Harrisonville, said machine goes by waler, and will "machine" one thoufand
weight of cotton per day, leaving less seeds or motes in it than any cotton that
has ever appeared in this territory. )Iy price for "machining" is the seventh
pound, but any " person living e.ist of the road leading from Prairie du Kochcr
to Cahokia fetching cotton, shall have it " machined" for ihe eighth pound,— or
any person living west of the Mississippi fetching cotton shall have it on the
same terms. Any person favoring me with their custom on any day of the week,
except the Sabbath, their business will be immediately attended to, and their
work done in the neatest order by the subscriber.

Andet Kinnet.

Illinois Uerald, December 4, 1814.

the name of " Doctor," and was to be free in 1857. He
came from Georgia. John Jameson owned a " wench " of
royal blood. She was named Dido, after the queen of Car-
thage in North Africa. Freedom dawned for her in 18G2,
when she would be 61 years of age. Her cradle had stood
in the bluegra.ss region of Kentucky. Richard Mattingley
had two slaves, Henry and Harry, aged 23 and 20 years
respectively; both were to be free when they reached their
54th year of age. R. B. Herring's man Harry was to be
free in 1847. James B. Moore owned a family of a mother,
two daughters and a son. The latter enjoyed the beautiful
and significant name of" Boar," was 13 years old, and was
to be a free boar in 1839. Frederick Mason brought a six-
year old boy, named Hank, from New York, who was to be
a free man when 21 years of age. The taking of servants
from Illinois to Mi.^souri could not be done without consent
of the servants, to be obtained before the county court, as
given here :

Illinois Territory, )
Monroe County, J *''"

This is to certify that Page, an indented negro woman,
the property of Henry Leveiis, personally appeared b fore
the undersigned, one of the judges of the county court for
the county aforesaid, and being examined separate and
apart from her said luaster, voluntarily declared that she
was willing to go into the Mi.s.soiiri Territory with her
present owner.

Given under my hand and seal, this 12lh day of July,
1817.

Caldwell Cairns. (^^j^J

emancipation PAPEHJ;.

The manumission of slaves had to be made a matter of
record. Among thfse records is found the following queer
entry, to wit :

Be it remembered that on this IStli day of March in the
year 1820, Andrew Mitchell, born on the first day of Oc-
tober, 1776, sUiui mid robust, iiriijh'nifj ahnut 240 pounds
and produced from under the signature and seal of the
clerk of the circuit court of St. Louis a certificate in the
following words, viz.:

Territory of Mkwuri, St. Louis.

Know all men by these presents that I, Andrew Mitchell,
of the same territory and county of St. Louis, do by these
presents, of my own free will and pleasure, emancipate and
from this date forever set free from me, my heirs, executors
and administrators my " negruw " woman named Nance or
Nancy and her four children, to wit, a girl named Lucy, a
boy named Charles, a boy named Solomon and a girl named
Cordelia, the said negroes to be henceforth forever dis-
charged of all demands of servitude in ihe same manner
they would have been if they had been born free.

In testimony whereof I have set my hanil and seal, in the
presence of witnesses, this 4th day of October, 1819.

Andrew Mitcuell. ( seai> i

134

HISIORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Territory of Missouri, \
county of St. Louis, j **■

Circuit court Dec. 1819.
Be it remembered that on the first day of December per-
sonally appeared in open court George I'itzer and Christopher
M. Price and being duly sworn upon their oath say that
they saw the faid Andrew Mitchell sign, seal and acknow-
ledge the same as his own act and deed for the purposes
therein mentioned.

/< — ^ Given under ray hand and seal of office at St.
(J^^j Louis, Dec. 8, 1819.

Archibald Gamble, Clerk.

The records do not explain, why the above was placed on
record of Monroe county. The last " free papers " found in
the court house were never made a matter of record. A
small slip of paper, 6x8 inches, sets forth the following :

Mr. AVm. Omelveny,

The bearer hereof, Susan Battiste, has
been raised by me and has served her time out and is now
of age and is entitled to her free papers.

April 22nd 1847. John Divers.

TESUKE OF land. — THE RENAULT GRANT.

This subject has been treated on preceding pages in this
chapter under the heading of Randolph county, to which
pages the reader is respectfully referred. The ancient French
colony of St. Philip, a few miles above Fort Chartres was
founded about the year 1725 by Philip Franr;uis Renault,
(usually called Renault) and his followers who came directly
fram France. The older colonies, Cahokia in the north and
Kaskaskia in the south of St. Philip were founded by Cana-
dians, French by birth and by descent. The lands occupied
by said Renault had beeu granted to hira by the authorities
of France. The American state papers, volume II. page 164
contain the following statement in reference to this claim ;

"On the 14th day of June 1723 a grant was made to
Philip Renault in fee simple in order to enable him to sup-
port his establishments at the mines of upper Louisiana, by
Boisbriant and des Ursins, the former styling himself the
king's lieutenant and governor of the province of Louisiana,
and the latter, principal secretary of the royal India com-
pany, of a tract of laud at a place called the Great Marsh
bounded on the south by lands of the Illinois Indians, estab-
lished near Fort Chartres, of one league in front on the Mis-
sissippi and extending back into the county two leagues."

All that part lying between the Mississippi and the hills
or blutfs has been conveyed by said Renault in small allot-
ments to sundry individuals. Out of this grant of Renault
has arisen the village of St Philip, the lots of which were
parts of the oblong tracts and were either occupied as build-
ing spots by those who owned the said tracts or purchased
by others from those who did own them. Nearly all these
subdivisions were in 1809 claimed and owned by Joseph
Morrison, Wm. Mcintosh, John Evert, Wra. Morrison and
Wm. Murray.

St. Philips : The common field lands of this French village
were surveyed by Wm. Proctor and return made to the office
of the surveyor of the United States June 2nd, 1809. There

were then 27 oblong tracts of various dimensions, running
north 2(3° 30, east, from the river to the bluffs.

The original owners, as far as it can be ascertained from
the United States papers vol. II. page 164 were as follows,
commencing at the southern line, which line has a length of
1305 poles.

Charles Vein conflrmed to John Everet 110 acres.

J. B. Mollet " Joseph Morrison 269?^ "

Louis Pothier " Joseph Morrison 284}^ "

Viaiilt Esperome " John Everet 28414 •'

Louis PoHlin " heirs of Jean Mereiers •. . . . 18'J'4 "

Jean Legr.inge '* Joseph Morrison 189 "

M. Gorgnon " Joseph Morrison 94 "

Nieliolas Prevost, dit Blandine Wiliiam MorrLson 189 "

Joseph Belcour " Joseph Morrison 284 *'

Louis Lenray " William Morrison 190 "

William Drury " William Morrison 190 "

Jean B. Gendron " Joseph Morrison 95 "

Etienue Leiand " Joseph Morrison 190 "

M. Gagnord " Joseph Morrison 285 "

J. B. GodiD, alias Champagne Joseph Morrison 284 "

Buchette * Bienvenue " Jo.seph Moriisou 800 "

Buohette >(; Bienvenue " William Murr.ay 033 "

Nichol.as Prevost " John Everet 284 "

Michael Laguiness " Joseph Morrison 174 "

Jean Legrange '• Joseph Morrison 2.73 "

Antom Larcello " William Mclutosh 108

Miehael Laguiness " Joseph Morrison . . 3:51 "

Etienne Guevremont " Joseph .Alorrison 102 '*

J. B; Gendron " Joseph Morrison 8K '*

Jean & Pierre Gerardin" Joseph Morrison 236

Joseph Pierre " J. F. Perry 5.50

Frangois Noisee " John Uice Jones 5.52 "

Aggregate number of acres 7,420

The north boundary line measures 1,072 poles.

The lands of the common fields of St. Philip's are now
owned by Jacob Fults' heirs, Oliver Nie's heirs, James Rut-
ledge, George Bradshaw's heirs, P. C. Koch, Andrew Koch,
Philip A. Maus, A. B. Cavanah, Jacob Rebenack, F. W.
Brickey, Brickey and Anhuchon, Jacob Meyer, John Mat-
tingiey, M. Claudet, Joseph Harsey, E. L. Morrison, David
Klamp, James Canifl, Michael Carr, Peter Zeiger, William
Crook, Demint & Hardy, Dennis Chartmnd, D. W. Bryant,
W. J. Burke, Edward Ahern's heirs, Charles Doerr's heire,
Aquilla McNabb, Theodor Hursey, Henry Jacobs, Edward
Coon, John Barnes, Peter Kelley, Edward Faherty, Mary
Slate, John Wall, William Winkelmann, Rob. Orr's heirs
and Mary A Shenly. Among the names of the present
owners are found only three of French appearance, to wit,
Aubuchon, Claudet and Chartrand. The American pioneer
families seem to be represented by the Bradshaws, the Mor-
risons, Bryants and McNabba. Many German names are
also met with in the above list, while the Kelleys and Fa-
hertys show that the Emerald Isle is not left without proper
representation.

Philip Fran5ois Renault, after having disposed of the
southern part of this grant, returned to his native country,
where he died, as is said, in 1755.* The north part of his

* Andri5 Narcisse de la Mothe, of Montreal, appeared in court at Waterloo^
on the ICth of August A. D. 1880, and produced a power of alt orney from the
heirs of said Renault, and, in substance, made the followin g statement :

The ofBcial records of the " Tribunal ciril de Peroune, France," exhibit.
That Philip Franijois Renault died in "France" on the24lhof April, 1775, being
the owner of large tracts of land in Amarica, grouted to him A. D. 1723 by the
French Government, among which the Renaud (Renault) Grant in Monroe
countv. His children surviving him were: Philip Francois Celestine,
Thomas Joseph, Marie Jeanne Augustine, Marie Anne Celestine Philliipine
married to M. Frangois, and Marie Caroline Gabrielle, married to Martin

HISTORY OF RAXDOLl'H, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES. ILLINOIS.

135

claim was never dispoed of by Reuault. It was "u|il!iii(i,"
somewhat broken and hilly, and consequently not desirable
at a period of time wlien bottom lands could be had for tiie
asking, as it were. The United States having declared the
original grant to Renault valid, the unoccupied parts of it
were never included in the United States surveys. In the
course of time, fcjuatters occupied portions of it and converted
the wilds into fields of plenty. These occupants were tax
free, inasmuch as the land was not and could not be thiir
property. In later times, about the years 1840 and l^i41.
the laud was listed for taxation and sold for taxes to John
Kyan and E. P. Rogers. This sale was annulled March 5,
184<i t

Matters remain d now in statu quo until very recently,
when the board of county commissioners cau.sed a survey to
be made of the individual claims, and subdivided the whole
int ) (ifty-six " lot^," now occupied and in possession of the
following residents, to wit: George Leip's heirs 12.11 acres-
John Friess 70.8!), Charles Lohkamp I l.">, John Gutman's
widow ;>.'! .SO, Fred. Roever oS ,S7, Henry Juelfs, two lots-
2ti0 07, Christine Brandt I'JO M, Nicholas Sutler 1.4."), Chris-
tian Stahl 151.80, Henry Vogel 131.71, Mary A. Vogel
58.17, Charles Doerr 12.14, Charles Meister 71.51, Frank'
Brown 14()..')0, Peter Vogel 57.14, William Vogel 20.53'
Christian Hoppe, two lots, 2.56, Adam Eigner 148.18, Her.
maun Landwehr 155.10, Ulrich Meyer 47-100, Church pro
perty 1 acre, Joseph Heller 9(i.33, George Harlow's heirs
118 ()!), Conrad Burkhardt 12 6, Lewis Wortmann 10.5.02,
Henry Wortmann's widow 4 03, William Wortmann's estate
1()8..)8, John Schult (i.34, Joseph Heller's estate Oo.liO, John
Niemann 160.24, Fred. Heller 188 35, Louis Eymann 148.80,

Latoiir. Thomas Joscpli nnd Marie Jonnne Augustine dieil without issue
(dalf of decease not mentioned) iifter having willed all their interest in the
►aid grant or grants to their older brother, Philip I'rancjois Celesline Henaul
(Renault). The lut enlied Febru.iry 3, ITiin, leaving ns only heir his daughter,
Amelie Josephine Keiiaut, married to Monsieur de Pancemont. Sh>- died
intestate January 18, 18;t^, leaving an only heir, to wit ; her daughter, .\ugu>tine
Anne Peeise Hyacinthe .idele, married to Cou..t do Tournou Simiiine. Her
three children, to %vit: Philip Auto n Fransois, An\elie Helene Frant'oise Rose,
and Marie Amelie Stephanie, widow of Count de Croi.x, were still living, repre-
senting three-fifths of the estate of the original Uenaut. Marie Anne Celestiiie
Philippine Francois, the fourth direct heir of Renault, died November 2M
178K, and her descendants, now eight in number, representalso one-fifth in i aid'
estate. Marie Caroline (iabric le I.atunr died January 2», 17115, and her
descendants now surviving, forty in number, own another one-tiflh of the
grant. The order of sale for the purpo,-e of partition, made by the above-
mentioned tribunal, was approve I by the Court of Appeals at Amien.! July 31,
1870. Mr. I.a Mothc, mentioned above, claims to be the owner of the northern
jart of the old Renault grant, by virtue of purchase. He brought suit in the
United Stales Court of Illinois, at Springfield, and obiainedjudguient. The
mitter is at prj<entstill in litigation, and a prop )sitio.i of I^a Mothe's to com-
promise the matter by paying him at tlie rate of %\iy.w per acie has been
declined by the present "squatters."

t BoAHD or couHTV coMMissiONP-Bs, Marcli .'>, 1840.
Now comes Emry P. Rogers, surviving partner of John Ryan, deceased, by
H. K.S. Umelveny, atid filea his motion, requiring this court to direct theij.
cleric to correct an error in the list of lands sold for taxes for the years 1840
and 1841 on the 5th day of September, 1842, in his office by making the sale of
the north half of Renault grant as having been erroneous, and to refund the
taxes paid for the years 1840. 1841, 1842, 1843 and ISJ.'.. And thereupon the said
petitioner produces in proof of the justice of this motion the nertitieate of Jacob
Feaman, register of the Land Office of the United States at Kaskasliia, Illinois,
stating that the above described land has never been confirmed to the heirs of
Renault, and that the title to the said land is still in the United States, and
alio a letter from James .Shields, Commissioner of the General Land OfHce of
the United States, setting forth the .same facts. And it appearing to the Court
that the said tract'pf Und, t« wit. the north Half of Kenaulfs grant was not
taxable atthe date of thesaidsale, it is ordered that the taxes thereon for said
years, amounting to 8170.65 be refunded to the said E. P. Rogers, and said sale
be annulled.

John Niemann 50.04, John Brown, Jr., 73.85, Philip Fauer-
bach 66.36, Jacob Fults 301.07, Michael J. PVisch 07 72,
Philip Kissel ()1.30, J. P. Brown, Sr., 88.10, Peter Roden-
berg, Sr., 102.(54, Ernst Prange 5.45, Dieterich Oft'erniann
198.83, Elenry Jacobs 151.0, Louis Wortmann 141.10, Henry
Rodenberg's estate 141 57, John Lorenz 141.12, Fred. Jan-
sen 56.70, Frederick Hendrix 402.24, Joseph Heller's estate
225 60, John Ihdler 80.;)4; lots 12, 18 and 25, containing
26 89 acres in the aggregate, are " unclaimed." These fifty-
six lots compri-e an area, according to county survey, of
5,202 acres, and are assessed at only $12,840. The actual
value, if a perfect title can be obtained, is much greater,
probably $35 per acre. Some of the " claims" would bring
S75 per acre, and the actual value of these 5,202 acres is
certainly not less than $180,000.

Other Land Oniiits. — Besides the Renault Grant, there
was a large number of "family head," "donation," " \'ir-
ginia improvement" and militia rights located in the county,
aggregating over 40,000 acres.

In order to present to the reader an accurate view of all
lands occupied or owned by individuals prior to the year
1820, the following table has been carefully arranged, ac-
cording to congressional townshijis:

LANDS ENTERED.
T. 3 8. — 8 W

1st Entry .\pr.l 24, 1815

Subsequent Entritt.
William Morrison, parts of j

\ Patrick Faherty, partsof sec. 29 . . 80
Aaron Youngman, parts of see. 32 . ICO
James .Smith, part of section 35 . . IGO
Preston Brickey, part ol sec. 30 . . lliO
C uitiis ami Sari-ei/s—iStiS.

'. John Edgar, survey 005, part in

Ualeigh Rawles, parts of sec-
tions 25 and 2l> 320

Stanley Dodge, parts of section 2;i . so

3-7
John Ri.

. 1143

. 1715

T. 2 SI 9 w.

ls( Entry— DtetmhtT 3, 1SI4.
James B. Moore, S. E. of sec. 7 . .
Subsifjut-nt EidrUt.

. MO

. OS
. 157

. 1110
. 80
.144

Claims aiul Sarveifs.
« illiam Higgs, survey 784, parts

Joseph McMun, parts of sec. . .
I^. McDaniel, parts of sec. . . .
Heirs of J. H. Moore, parts of

John Murdiick, survey, 041-171,
parts in 2-10

James Moore, survey 304 and 030
parts in 2-10

James (tarretsou, survey 4u7 ,fc
720 '.

.090
.480

William Farquer, parts of sec 33

Cook & Farquer, parts of sec. 30
and 31

James B. Moore, survey 778 . .

-9 w.

Moses Lemon, parts of sec. 19 .
Pierre Menard, parts of sec. 19

Cliinis and Suri-iys.
Peter Casterline, survey 722 . .
George Dement, survey 390 . . .
James Lemon, survey 395, part

. 400

Heirs of G. Dement parts sec. 31

T.
A

\st £n(n/,v4pn7 2n, ISLI.
Pierre Menard, N. W. of sec. 7 . .

Subsequent Eutrii-!.
Richard Dalton parts of sec. r. . .
Jesse Miller, parts of sec. . . . .
John Tolin, parts of sec. 7. . . .
Isaac Tolin, parts of sec. 17 . . .

. nil
3 s.-

. 100

74
. 140
1.10
100
100

811

3034

Acj-es.
. 160
.168

.102
. 109

T. M. Hamilton, parts of sec. 17 .
Moses Varnum, parts of sec. 17 .

1003

T 4. s.^ — 9

Ut E>itrt/, September IG, 1814.
W. Hendrix. E. half of 9. E sec. 20 .
Spencer Atkins, p*rt of sec. 24 . .

Kzra Owen, part of sec. 2>

F. K. Owen, part of sec. 3G

Ctiin and Surveij.
Nicholas Jorrot, survey G13 ,

T. 5 s. — 9 w.

Acres.
CUiims and Surveys.

Nicholas Jarrot, Survey 743 400

William Atchison, survey 610 400

800

136

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

T. 1 N — 10 W.

s aid Surcei/s, M'y} 1, ISlj

Will. Mcintosh, survey 750 .
Nicholas /arret, fract. sec. 31 .

T. 1 S. — 10 W.

Claims and Swrveya.
Daniel McCann, survey 5o8 .... 400

John Etlgar, survey 773 4(iu

David Wliiteside, survey 418 . . . . 300

Willi.im Biggs, survey 417 400

Jacob Judy, survey 413 400

Benjaniiu Ogle, survey 044 .... 300

Joseph nu'l., vim.y .'..->(i 400

Franc-l- n-lli.r. -inv.-y 5.55 . . . . 400
Jamus I'mii'il. -iiiirys4104054 . . 801)
Jacol> (.]..ot, .-luvev 41.1 4CHI

Stephen Kerry, survey 0.*)4 . . . .
Nicholas Smith, survey 411 . . .
Henry O'llarra, survey 414, part

CaldM.-nCa
in 1-11 .

rvey 413, part

vey 74", part
1

T. 2

Leonard Harness, survey 434,

part in 1-11

ls( Eiitrji September 7, 1814.

.\bsaloin Bradshaw, N. W. quar-
ter of see. 24

Siihtcqiient Ell

Samuel Hill.

John J. ^.

Adelaid I'.ii

as N,-Knn, parts of sec- 20 . . .so
Hiadshaw, parts of see. 35 . lOO
I Whitley, parts of sec. 30 . . 117

-10 W.

Sur

J. Wo.Iey .

ey. Aers

507 11. (i

705 100

721 2mi

i'.l7, 042 500

04O 4' HI

670 400

400 4011

Shaihaeli Bond, Sr .

Sliailrach Bond, Jr . . .330,502,012 00

John Singleton 713 Kh

J. Hyan c:il si

Mlei.ael Miller 7.V, lo

George \alenline 30;; loi

Fubt Entry, Dec. 3, 1814.

Soth Comerse. . B. \V. of sec 8 11

Theion Bruiinfiel.l, part of see. i si

T. 3 s.— 10 w

J.ilm Berks .
J.iliii Kyaii ,
1. ,V T. Tax In
....i„g,. Far,|i
,1. ,i .1. liuiila
.1. y[ Mi.i.ie .
K|.l,raiii.s,o:
.Mieliaul.Mill.

12 120
25 201

13 112

James Henderson . . COO pi ili 4 m i"

Henry I.eyens . . . i.;;:i ii>

deorge Biggs. . . . ci:i :;"

Jaine.sM<dioberts,703,7n4ptiu4-10 2o

First Eiitn,, .Siji(. 17, 1814.

Miehnel Jliller . fr. N. K. of .•«ee. 1 15

James J-euien . part of see. 12, 13 31

M Rirkir . . . part of s
linii .Mrlntiish . part of s

.lalni's :\i,.i;.,i
W, F. .Mvll.il.i
F.lijah Talluit

T. 4 S. —

Snr;ey. Acrs

Jolm Rilgar 730, 702 Sou

John liiee Jones . . 707 494

John Uiec Jones . . 315ptin5-10 652

Williaul Mcintosh. 30Sptin5 10 121

J. Worley 4S7 2oo

llaplniel Druiy . . . 0^5 Im

JaniesSeott 707 250

Joseph Morrison. . 311,312,313 3.j.s
Joseph Morrison . . 2S0, 200, 203,
204, 296, 2111, 30<1, .illl, 302, 303,
304, 300, 307, 300, 310, part in

5-10 4,OS8

John Eyert . . 201, 305, pt in 5-10 442

T. 5 s.

Surveys. Acrs

John Edgar 353, 354, 355 404

William Mcintosh . 322 61
Joseph Morrison. . 318,320,321,

323, 324, 326, .'.20, 327 OSO

John Evert 288, 317, 034 292

Pierre Roquette . . 317, 3.50, C69 191

Joseph Tyon .... 348, 070, 072 785

Joseph Hennet . . 350, 004, 005, 700 981

Gabriel Dodier . . . 351, 352 155

Jean Petit 000 128

Bene Grude 008, 609 213

10 W.

William

207,

F. Pi

pan

His.

f.Nulli.

. 314, pt in 5 10 .550

. 7C0, pt in 4-11 400

Hall . . . . 4S8 400

and surveys 482, 03i;, part in4-U son

Jesse Kuyner. . . 708, pt in 4-11 400

First Fntnj, Si]tl. 4, 1815.

J, ,t W, Wiiiliv , . X E of Mr 19 l.-,2

lli^ .if N. lliill l.ail 111 MT ]'.. .ill 2S3

, lluUl

—10 w.

Monsieur Deneger .

671 128

Alexander McXabb .

633 113

Pierre Menard . . .

035 374

William Murr.ay . .

317

323 22

George Atchison . .

402

40.i 80O

Joseph Hagan ....

490

491 3|i0

Antoin Boisnienue .

734 714

IchabodCamp ....

009 400

Daniel Shultz ....

607 40U

Total

7,131

T. 1 S. 11 \V.

Henry O'Harra . 5S8, 598, 509, 097 1,000

Caldwell Cairns . . 409 100

William Trumbull, 42:!, pt in 1-10 800

Leonard Harness . 410 400

David Waddle ... 408 314

Adam Stroud . . . 715,pt in2-Il 303

Benjamin Kogers . 5lW.pt in 2-11 loo

First Fiitri,, .W<iT/l, 1S14.

Adelaide Perry, fr. part of sec. 11 510

K.lmii.
li.ni.l
Joliu Pi

Porter . parts of see. i:
Trumbull, part of seel
J .lai-riitt , part of sec. 2;
•.'■iinl, partof sec. 24, 2:

I ii\ IV. part of sec. 2i
UK li. part of sec. 3:
iiu - fr. part of sec. 33,3;

Total .

T. 2 s. — 11 w.

/■'irs( Flit y, Sept. 17, 1.S14.

John Dimpsey . . . frar-l. uf 2
John Sheehan . . . parts of 1
Jai'oli Glover . . parts of I & 29

W. .1, r.i.gers pans of 1

.1 1 I'rilii.jr . . . pans of 3

Ilu\ ill Ci.x parts c.f 3

Hrir-.il li. ,t .1, I:. 111].. |.;.n- .if 4

W. II II Illl-.... |..Mls ..| s ,^ 17

E. Il.-iiist. li ,v \ M.N.iir, |.l- .|
Willhim 51.1111-. .11 . I'liiis .if .1

. . parts of
. . parts of
on, parts of

, parts 15, 22, 23
. . section 16
ii-,pts 17,20,21

10. 21,

lan

s n

irts

..r

pai

t 30

S Ul

A- 35

-11 w.

John K.Igar
J. W.irlev, «

T. 4 S. — 11 w.

flialli
Al.-x.i

Willi.
Philip li.iil.-i-
William L.iiK
Ueuben Mille

The grand ag;rregate of the number of acres of hiiid of
Monroe in pos.<essioii of individual owners as early a.< 1819,
when Illinois had become a state, was not less than 72,000
acres, nearly one-third of the present area of the county.
The uncertainty as to the locution of those numerous claims
had prevented settlers from purchasing the lands ou which
they had squatted, and the reader will observe that the pro-
cess of entering government lands commenced in all town-
ships pretty much at the same time. The land entries be-
tween the years 1818 and 183G were by no means numerous,
and the transactions in the real estate market but few.

EARLY TRANSFERS OF REAL ESTATE.

The oldest deed on record was made in 1708, but not
recorded until 1817. It is here introduced at length, to wit :

HfSTORY OF RAXDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

137

Benjamio Ogle to James Garrctsoii.

This indenture made this twenty fourth day of August
1798, between Benjamin Ogle in Cahokia township in the
Illinois territory, militia man and doing duty as such on the
first <lay of August 1790, of the one part, and James Garret-
son, of the other part, witnesseth that the said Benjamin Ogle
as a militia man being entitled to one iiuudred acres of land
by the sixth section of an act of congress, entitled an act for
granting land^ to the habitants and settlers at Vincennes
and the Illinois country in the territory northwest of the
Ohio and for confirming them in their possession, on hia
part for and in consideration of the sura of eighty dollars to
him in hand paid by the said James Garretson, the receipt
whereof he doeth hereby acknowledge, hath gis'en, grante<l,
bargained, sold, released, conveyed and confirmed and by
these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, release, convey
and confirm unto the said James Garretson his heirs and
assigns forever, all his right, title, claims, interest and de-
mand of, in and to the said one hundred acres of land which
before the ensealing and delivering of this indenture the said
Benjamin Ogle might rightfully claim by, through and
under the said act of congress as aforesaid unto the said
James Garretson his heirs and assigns, and the said Benja-
min Ogle for himself his heirs, executors and administrators
doth covenant and agree to and with the said James Garret-
son his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns the said
militia right of one hundred acres of land together with all
the appurtenances against the lawful claim or demand of any
person or persons whatsoever unto the said James Garretson
his heirs and assigns he the said Benjamin Ogle his heirs
and will forever warrant and defend by these presents. In
testimony of which the said Benjamin Ogle hath hereunto
subscribed his name and affixed his seal the day and year
first above written. *****

Bexjamix Ogle. Jseal.J

Witness. — James Lemen, J. P. *****

There were a few more conveyances prior to the county or-
ganization. The first sale of town lots took place in 1810
when one Jacob A. Boj'es, a resident of Harrisonville and
its founder, sold to William Middleton of Louisiana territory
lots number 1U7 and 108 in the town of Harrisonville for
one hundred and fifty dollars, August l<tth, 1810. These
lots lay between Alexander and McRobert's Streets, front-
ing on Walnut. Sales became more numerous after the or-
ganization of the county. David Cox sold eighty acres lying
in the northwest fractional quarter of section No. 3, town-
ship 2 south, range 11 west, at S-.OO per acre, June 4th, 1816.
Six thousand dollars would hardly pay for these 80 acres
to day.

Isabella Bond sold an unlocated but confirmed claim of
four hundred acres, a so called improvement right, to Abra-
ham Amos for S5 0.00, July 6th 1816. These improve-
ment rights were sold in the years from 1793 to 1798 for
from twenty to sixty dollars each.

A tract of land of one hundred acres, the northeast frac-
tional quarter of section 27 in town 3-11 was sold by Prince
Bryant to Andey Kinney, May 14th, 1816, for fifty dollars.
18

This tract is now owned by D. T. Tripp, and is considered
to be worth S7000. John Violeny, a constable of Eagle
township, sold lots oo, .j6 and 80 in Harrisonville, the pro-
perty of one Abijah Ward, who had ab.sconded to John Mc-
Chire for eighteen dollars, May l-nh, 1816.

John Mitchell conveyed a tract of land in the American
Bottom — no description — containing 100 acres to Alexander
Wells to secure the payment of a loan of two hundred dollars
Sept. 8, 181.^, the deed was placed on record Sept. 6th, 1810.
Nicholas Jarrot of the county of St. Clair sold 160 acres, a
part of improvement claim No. 2682 certified to Jean Baptist
Parant, to Andrew Kinney for 100 dollars, August 8ih, 1816.

Heirs of Henry O'Hara, by commissioners sold to John
Sullivan claim No. 766, survey .")88, containing 400 acres,
also claims 76.S and 764 containing 200 acres, all located iu
Round Prairie for 81.500, Sept 6th, 1816.

These tracts are now in the possession of J. C. Cairns,
judge E. P. Slate, August Tuntze, Michael Stumpf, Herman
Beckerle, John Breisen's widow, John Stephan and others,
and represent a cash value of at least S43,000. Henry
Hays, adm. of the estate of W. L. Smith deceased, sold to
Samuel J. Kinkead 250 acres, the improvement right of
James Scott, claim 820 for 8127, Sept. 7th, 1816.

The transactions mentioned above may .suffice to show
what price the real estate in the county commanded at the
time of its organization, to wit from 50 cts. to 2i dollars
per acre

The sale of real estate in the first decade of the county,
1816 to 1826, amounted in the aggregate to 8327.645, prices
ranging between 50 cts. and 810,00 per acre. The highest
price was paid in 1820 the lowest in 1816; prices advanced
rapidly from 1818 to 1820, when a decline is perceptible, to
wit. to 84.00 in 1822 — prices recovered somewhat in 1824
and reached 87.00 and 88.00 in 1825. The transactions in
the real estate market were as follows:

In 1816 they amounted to $14.0:t» In 1822 they amounted to 513.050

1817
1818
1819
1820
1821

33.785

' 1823

«.345

' 1824

93.8U

' 1825

37.249 1

18.721 ■

22.247
22.718
27.o:t7

first road petitions and names of monroe county
pioneers.

May 23, 1816.

The undersigned petitioners, citizens of Monroe countyi
humbly sheweth

Whereas, a new High Way or common road from Harri-
son to Andey Kinney's Mill is greatly needed, said road to
pass along on the most convenient ground from Harrison to
the lane dividing between Squire Jameson and Mr Thomp.
son's place, thence through said lane to the county road to
the residence of Hugh Ralston, from thence up Ryan's
creek on the best ground for which your petitioners therefore
pray that your honors will take such measures concerning
the premises as to you seemeth meet — and your petitioners
as in duty bound will ever pray.

William Marney, Hugh Ralston, Mo.ses Jameson, John
Conn, Elisha Exley, (Axley) Daniel Hull, Joseph Worley,
John Winters, Alice Chalffin, James Hull, Michael Doe,

138

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

Amos Cha]ffin, Daniel Rapert, Samuel Turner, James Heu-
der^on, John James, Edward Crouch, Timothy Coats, John
McClure, John Tolen, Reuben Bradley, Isaiah Levens, Ed-
ward Cox, Andey Kinney, Francis Osborn, John Moore, Ed-
ward Claris, John Hagan, William Worley, William Chance,
Philip Rader, Daniel Star, Thomas James, William Hagan
and Thomas Lusby.*

The older residents of the county reniember well the ec"
centricities of William Lemen, who at one time contrived
to lodge the honorable judge, E. P. Rogers, merchant at
Peter's town, in a hogshead filled with eggs. Rogers, stand-
ing up to his waitt within his eggs, screamed out, you have
to pay for these eggs, you have to pay for them. " Cer-
tainly," said Lemen, ''count them out, sir; count them
out." During the Black Hawk war he served as a volun-
teer. The following practical joke on Bill Evert, also from
Monroe, is credited to Lemen. Evert was known to be as
great a coward as braggadocio. Lemen strolling away from
camp found a dead (or as they called them then a good
Indi. n. He wrapped a blanket around the corpse and
Btood it up against a tree. Returning to camp, he told
Evert that he had seen Invert's missing horse about a mile
off, on a little prairie. Evert of course, rushed out and
coming near tlie tree mentioned, saw the dead Lidian. He
discharged his rifle and ran back to camp, telling the men
that he had met a number of Lidians and was sure to have
burned a hole through the blanket of one of them, etc. He
was laughed out of camp for wasting his ammunition on an
Indian who had been dead for a week or longer.

Lemen's famous court-martial trial for playing horse and
scaring at a stump is known to ail.

In October, 18U), the following residents of the American
Bottom petitioned for a road from Daniel Vaughan's and
John Hewitts saw mill to the old "Stroud" place, to wit :
John Hewitt, Daniel Vaughan, James Fowler, Seth Con"
verse, Edward and David Cox, John Primm, Ira Hewitt'
James Whaley, William B. Whaley, William Whaley, S.
Bond (ihegcvunor (?) who then livedat or mar Moredcck
lake), John Cooper, Jesse W. Cooper, William Alexander
and Thomas O'Connor.

In February, l!S17, John Cooper, Timothy Coates, Avin-
ton Sherrill, Hugh Ralston, J. W Cooper, John McClure,
William Arundel, Daniel Hull, Zopher William, John

* Some of William blarney's descendants are still living in the r-niinty, lor
inst.-xnce, ttie iJilch f:\miiy. The Marueys were from ICentiicky. .Closes Janie.
son was the first justice of the peace in the county. Histomi stone «as in Uler
days utilir.-d by one— a certain well-known foreign horn citizen— as a part floor
of a baking oven. He was indicted for this otfense, but escaped punishment ;
subsequently this same individual, indicted for stealing liogs, and sentenced to
penitentiary for oue year. A.xley's descendants are still residents of the county-
John Winters' tombstone can still be seen in the cenielory of the " Grant M.'cl-
ng House "—so called because situated on tlie famous Renault Grant. The
ChatHns and among them the Horines are known residents of the county.
JohnJames subsequently hel.i many county oftices; liis descendants, and those
of his brother, James A. James, are prominent citizens of the c unly. The
Tolins* family was very prolihc. Reuben Bradley lived about three miles
north of Harrison, but the family in the county is not represented at present-
AndeyKinney hadawater powermlil atwliat is now called Monroe City. There
are no descendants now found in the county, they having moved north. The
Mooresare moree.xtensively mentioned in the chapter on pioneers. The Clarks
are still represented in the county ; they hail from Virginia. Daniel Starr, who
used to live on the Frick place, removed to Texas. William Lem-n belonged
to the oldest American settlers in Illinois. They are mentioned in the chapter
on pioneers.

Tolin, Josiah Lemen, Cartwood, Abram Bunker and

Joshua Craig, petitioned the court for a road, beginning at
the Hugh Ralston " plantation '' up Ryan's (now Monroe)
creek, thence up Sherrill's branch to the New Design road,
thence to the " Beaver ponds," there dividing, thence ' along
the right-hand fork to Judge Lemen's plantation, there
falling into the Horse-prairie road leading to the Wideman's
and ]Manville's ferry on the Kaskaskia, the other fork from
the Beaver ponds to the left, passing on by Michael Miller's
to the ■' fountain," there falling into the road that leads from
New Design to Belleville.

First road in Mitchie township. The petitioner.=, Alexan
der McNabb, Joseph Worley, Seth Chalffin, Joseph Wilson,
Raphael Drury, Thomas McRoberts, and others, state un-
der date of April 10, 1S17. that a permanent public road
through Mitchie township is greatly wanted. This road is
to start from Hugh Ralston's plautation — ^which, by the way,
seems to have been the centre of population at that time —
along the bluffs, through the plantations of Isaiah Levens
and James Henderson, to a road estal)lished by the county
court of R-aiidolph county, thence to the plantation of Jo-
seph Worley. thence to Mill creek, where a bridge is to be
erected, thence through the prairie so as to leave the plan-
tation of the widow Fisher on the right hand, thence along
the so called middle road to the county line. In December,
1818, a road was opened from J. 'SI- Wilson's ferry landing
on the Mississippi through Yankee prairie to Horse-prairie-
Another road from Harrison through the American Bottom
to Wilson's ferry was ordered to be opened August -, 1819.
Among the petitioners are to be found the following names
not heretofore mentioned : Andrew Hilton, James 8. Beau-
raond, Robert Latty, John Grate, Johu Warnock. William
Mcintosh, Charles Haldeman, R. Martin, John Ford, Prince
Bryant, George Wallis, Elijah Talbott. Edward Garrick
George Forquer, William Bryant. John ^l. Davis, John
Brimberg, (a German > Francis Baldwin and J. ^Mitchell.

The county was divided into the following road districts,
Junes, 1817.

No. 1. To commence on the Kaskaskia rnail at the southern
boundary of Harrison township, and run north to what is
called Robbin's place, or otherwise to a large pecan tree near
said farm, with Thomas James as supervisor.

No. 2. To contmence north at the Mitchie towasliip line
and run south to the southern boundary line of the rnuiity,
with William Worley as supervisor.

No. o. To commence south at Robbin's |)lace, or the Pecan
tree, and run north to the north end of the county bridge
across Eagle creek, with George Atchinson as supervisor.

No 4. To commence south at the north eml of the county
bridge across Eagle creek, a' d run from thence north to the
northern boundary line of the county, with Thomas Harrison
as supervisor.

No. 5'. To begin at the south line of the county and run
north to the lane between the fields of Michael Miller and
Felix Clark, with George M. Mourtry as supervisor.

No. 6. To commence south at said line and run north to
the boundary line of the county, with William Forquer as
supervisor.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

139

EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE,

Moses Jameson, Alexander Jameson, Thomas Brownfield;
J. W. Cooper, J. M Moore, Henry C. Miziier. John Roach,
John Scott, Prince Bryant, John James, Seth Converse,
John Divers, John Prim, Daniel Hull, Joseph Worley,
Thomas M. Hamilton, and Alexander McNabb.

From a record of stock marks of 1816 to 1818 we are
enabled to give to the reader the names of all farmers of the
counv owning stock. These names have been arranged in
alphabetical, but not chronological order, to wit:

Elisha Axley, William Alexander, Abraham Amos,
Ichabod Badgley, Jacob Borer, John Burk, Seth Chalfin,
Edward Crouch, Abram Clark, William Chalfin, Caldwell
Cairns, Edward Clark, Jacob Clark, Adam Clover, John
Clover, John Cooper, Moses Clawson, Ebenezer Clawson,
Amos Chalfin, Joshua Carey, David Cox, Jonathan Church,
James Cleiideuin, Daniel Converse, Robert C.)lman, Wil-
liam Chance, Felix Clark, John Clark, John Coop, Erapson
B. Cantril, John Cirr, W. C. Bryant, Raphael Drury,
Michael Dace, David Ditch, G W. Ditch, William Ditch,
Geo. W. Davis, Elijah Davis, James Davis, (called the
pauper), Barnett Ertis, John Eagan, George Estes, Jacob
Eastwood, Joseph Evans, Abraham Eastwood, Churchill
Fulsher, William Farquer, Gram Fisher, Jacob Fultz, Jere-
miah Gilman, James Garrison, John Grate, Edward Gavish,
Euos L. Gaylord, William Goldsmith, Jake Garritson>
William G. Goforth Joseph Hogan, Daniel Hull, P. Hogan,
James Henderson, William Howard, Peter Holderaann,
John Hogan, Daniel Hilton, Robert Haskins, John Haskins,
Joseph Haskins, Redding B. Herring, Moses Haskins, Chris-
tian Holdemann,Ad. Hussy, Sylvauus Harlow, Daniel Heely,
John M. Hull, Mathias Harrison, Alexander Jameson,
Ishraal Willard, John James, Thomas James, Henry Iraan,
Christopher Iraan. Nathan Johnston, Samuel J. Kiukead,
Audey Kinney, G. W. Kingsley, William ( Hills ) Lemeu,
Gerardus Locke, Thomas Lusby, William Lemeu, Moses
Locke, Samuel Locke, .Arnold Livers, David Lenisee, John
McClure, John Moredock, Reuben Miller, John (Meyer)
Myars, Thomas Marrs, John Mitchell, Benjamin Marney,
John Miller, (bar keeper, 1817), Jacob McDavid, Alexander
McNabb, Milton J. Moore, Samuel Miller, Benjamin Mas-
terson, Enoch Moore, .fames B. Moore, C. H. Mizner, John
Modglin Stephen W. Miles, James Moore, John Moore,
Milton J. Moore 2nd, James B. Moore ?nd, Jacob Neft", John
Neff, Abrara NefT, James Nelson, Henry Neff, Edward New-
sham, Thomas O'Connor, Charles Owens, Adams Payne,
David Petit, Andrew Porter, Luke Patterson, Jacob Pal-
meier (German), William Robins, James Robins, Philip
Rader, John Roach, John Robins, John Ryan, Hugh Ral-
ston, Daniel Raper, .James Roberts, Daniel Rapert, James
M. Robinson, John Rogers, Daniel Ramer, Peter Rogers,
Solomon Shook, Daniel Shook, John Summers, Edward
Smith, Jehu Scott, Daniel Sink, Peter Stroud, Solomon
Stong, Adam Smith, Junies R. Shepherd, Nehemias Starr,
Isaac W. Starr, William Steel, James Stirrett, Jonathan
Shepherd, Elijah Talbert, Jacob Trout, James Taylor, Thom-
aa Thaylor, Jewett Varnum, Alexander Wells, Edward

Welch, George Wallis, John Werley, Joseph Werley, John
M. Wilson, J. Rodgers William, Elisha Westbrook, B.
Baker Whaley, Henry Wardman, Z )pher Williams, John D.
Whiteside, Otho Wilson, William Wilson, D.ivid Whiteside,
Je.sse Weswell, Hiram Whiteside, John Woodrome, John
Whiteside, J. P. Waddle, Moses Williams, William Walker,
David Yates, Joseph I. Young
We introduce next a list of

EAHl.Y MARRIAtiES.

The oldest certificate of marriage is dated September 28,
1810. The happy couple, to wit: William Calhoon and
Nancy Quigley, had obtained their proper license from the
clerk of Monroe county, Illinois, on the 20th of August pre-
ceding, and were joined in the holy bands of wedlock,
according to the rules of the Baptist Church, by James
Garretson. This was the only marriage in the county
in 1816. The next wedding took place almost a year
later, August 14, 1817, when Abraham Amos, M. P.
(missionary preacher), solemnized the rites of matrimony
between William F. Roberts and Elizabeth Fonjuer ; and
also Thomas Porter and Nina Wheeler. The marriage
ceremony between John Warnock and MLss .Jane McClure
was performed by Salmon Giddings, an ordained clergy-
man. William Griflen and Polly Hendricks were lawfully
married by Abram Amos, M. P., Sept. 4, 1817. Alexander
Jameson, a justice of the peace, performed the marriage
ceremony for Ira Scovel and Polly Chrisley on the 21st of
December, 1817. John Henson and Sarah Davis were
joined in the holy state of matrimony by J. Milton Moore,
justice of the peace, on the 30lh of October, 1817 ; and
Squire Alexander Jameson did a similar act of kindness to
Joseph Andrew and Katharine Wiley Oct. 28, 1817 ; also
for John McDavid and Betsey Fisher on the 1.5th of Sept'r
1817 ; and, two days later, for Reuben Bradley and Nancy
Stephens.

Jesse W. Cooper, justice of the p ace, on the tJth of Au-
gust, 1817, was addressed by William Alexander, C. C. 0.
M. C, as follows : Whereas there is a marriage shortly to be
solemnized between Elisha Fowler, of the county of Monroe
and territory of Illinois, and Mary Quigley, of the same
county and territory ; and the said Elisha Fowler having
legally proven the requisitions required of him according to
law, this is therefore to license and permit you to join to-
gether in the holy state of matrimony said parties, agreeable
to the rites and ceremonies of your church; and for so doing
this shall be your sufficient warrant. Given under my hand
at my office at Harrisonville, Monroe county, this tith day
of August, 1817, and of the Independence the forty-second.
The Squire tied the knot on Sunday, August 10, 1.S17, ac-
cording to law, as he says.

A proclamation and warrant similarly composed and
worded, with the addition of the solemn a.ssertion that the
lady had consented and entered into security as the law
directs, authorized the marriage of Daniel Vaughn and
Rody Huit ; and Squire Cooper comically reporis that the
"above named " were lawfully married according to law.
The year 1817 was prolific in its crop of marriages, there

140

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

having been eleven recorded in the county. The records of
1818 contain the following:

Ellis Chalfin and Rebecca Hull, Jan. 0, by Alexander Jameson, J. P.
William Riggs and Sarah Brownfleld, .4pril 7, by Thomas Browufield, J. P.
Thomas Vanmater and Delilah Cain, Feb. 15, by Abraham Amos, M. P.
William Rodgers and Sarah Probins, Aug. 18. by J. W. Cooper, J. P.
Joseph Hogan and Eliz.^beth Liycount, Aig. 7, by Jesse W. Cooper, J. P.
Thoma.s Johnston and Eache Cain, Nov. 29, by James Garretsoii, M. G.
The year 181S did not as well as 1817.

1819.

Dennis Dace and Massey Robins, Jan. 2, by James Garretson, M. G.

Jess Boggs and Polly Wilson, Jan. 21. by Jesse W. Cooper, J. P.

William Brown and Betsey Barney, Jan. 2.3. by John Scott, J. P.

William Anderson and Sally Valentine, alios SiUy Miller, January 23, by John
Scott, J. P.

Burdett Green and Rebecca Parker, Jan. 31, by James Garretson, M. G.

Samuel Lock and Charily Steph- ns, April 21, by John Scott, J. P.

Moses Divers and Phcebe Jones, July 15, by Henry C. Mizner.

Moses Lock and Sally Stirrel, June 12, by Henry C. Mizner, J. P.

James McDaniel and Elizabeth Modglin, Aug 6th, by J. Milton Moore, J. P.

Jesse Miller and Elizabeth Modglin, Aug. 29, by J. Milton Moore, J. P.

Elijah Axley .ind Elizabeth Everman, Aug. 26, by Th. Browntield, J. P.

William D. Brightman and Sophia Devoe, Aug. 20, by T. M. Hamilton, J. P.

John B. Wiser and Catharine Fry, late wife of Joseph Fry, legally divorced by
an order of the Circuit Court of Monroe county, obtained license to get
married ; but the certificate of marriage is not on file nor recorded.

Nimrod Triplet and Franky Hutson, Nov. 18, by John Divers, J. P.

Reuben Gon and Sarah Elliot, Dec. 20, by Henry C. Mizner, J. P.

Among the marriages solemnized in Monroe county at an
early day, that of Shadrach Bond should here be mentioned.
The license was issued on the 16lh of June, 18'23, and worded
as follows :

State of Illinois, Monroe county, ss

The people of the State of Illinois, to all to whom these
prefents fhall come greeting : Know ye that a license is
hereby granted to any licensed minister of the Gospel, any
justice of the peace, county commissioner, or any other per-
son legally authorized, to join together in the holy state of
matrimony Shadrach Bond and Ann Todd, both of the
county aforesaid, and for so doing this shall be a sufficient
warrant.

In witness whereof, I, Daniel Converse, deputy clerk for
Samuel McRoberts, clerk of the county commissioners' court
for Monroe county, have hereunto set my hand and seal
(there being no public seal provided), this 1 6th day of June,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-three.

Daniel Converse, Dep'y Clerk.

The marriage was solemnized about ten days later, as will
appear from the following certiticate:
State of Illinois, Monroe (»unty, s«

This may certify that on the twenty-sixth day of June,
1823, by virtue of a license from the clerk of the cuunty
commissioners' court of Monroe county, I joined together in
the holy bonds of matrimony Shadrach Bond* and Ann
Todd. Witness my hand and seal, June 27, 1823.

Henry C. Mizner, J. P.

* This Shadrach Bond cannot have been the "Governor," who '
Nov. 27, 181(1, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Miss Achsah Bond (an own cousin),
who survived the Governoi- and died in Kaskai-kia, Feb. 29, 1844, as stated to
the writer by Dr. B. N. Bond, of Slanberry, Mo., only surviving son of the Gov-
ernor. The doctor al.so Informs us that Daniel D. Smith and Miss Todd were
married at the Governor's house, which fact was ascertained from a memoran-
dum in the family Bible, now in his possession.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES PRIOR TO 1820.

The ancient village of St. Philip has been mentioned in
the preceding sketch of the Renault Grant. Harrimmille,
or Carthage, is frequently mentioned in the oldest American
records of Kaskaskia, where it is sometimes called t'^e Ameri-
can " block house" or "fort.' A plat of the town of "Car-
thage " was filed for record on the 20th of July, 1816,
signed James B. Edwards, deputy recorder of Monroe
county. The town was located on the Mis-issippi river, in
section 18, town 3—11 It contained 56 blocks of 4 lots
each. The streets, 14 in number, crossed each other at
right angles. Water, Second, Third, Walnut, Sycamore,
Broad and Mulberry streets ran parallel with the river.
The cross streets, commencing in the south, were named
Main, Market, Moore, Lemen, Alexander, McRoberts and
McClure streets. The public square was located in the
southeastern part of the town, between Broad and Mul-
berry and Main and Market streets. A donation to the
county was made by the firm of McKnight & Brady, of St.
Louis, on the 19th of July, 1816 This donation com-
prised block 47 of the town of Carthage and four outlots,
adjoining the town in the east, containing about 20 acres
in the aggregate. The name of " Harrisonville" is easily
accounted for, as the town was laid out during the adminis-
tration of the first territorial governor of the Indiana terri-
tory, of which, until 1809, Illinois formed a part. But why
was the town named Carthage? Probably in honor of Mrs.
Dido, wife of William Atchison, who was in possession of a
tract of land containing 4U0 acres, known as Claim 1407,
Survey .561, located in the immediate vicinity of the town,
at the time of the organization of the county. William and
Dido sold this tract to William Morrison, November 4,
l.sl«, for §3000— the highest price paid for lands in those
days. It is to be hoped that our Dido led a more fortunate
life than her namesake, the queen of ancient Carthage. At
any rate we found no account of a faithless and heartless
uEneas, who, after playing shepherd with her in the adja-
cent caves, could have caused her to ascend a funeral pile,
and to pierce her loving heart with an old cavalry sabre.

Waterloo was named and laid out by George Forquer* and
Daniel P. Cook on section 25, town 2, south 10 in the be-
ginning of 1818. A survey of the site was made by Enoch
Moore, December 18, 1818.

Town lots had been sold by Forqutr and Conk as early as
April, 1818. Among the purchasers of these lots we found
the names of James Smith, James Rankin, William How-
ard, Dennis Dace, Michael Dace, John Garretson, Joseph
Beaird, William Beaird, John Reynolds, Enoch Moore,
Peter Prim, Guy Morrison, John Ryan, J. H. Lambert,
Jesse W. Cooper and James Moore.

Bridgewater, laid out by George Forquer, Daniel P. Cook
and John James, was located south of Eagle creek, at its
confluence with the Mississippi. It contained 19 blocks of
from 6 to 12 lots each. The public square was composed

*t;eorge Forquer was :i man of great inHuence. He occupied various respon-
sible poi-i ions in the county. In later years he removed to Sangamon county,
which he represented iu the State Senate in 1834 and 18.1.-.. He gave the im-
petus to the great internal improvement and railroad fever, which plunged
the State into a debt of a' out fourteen millions of dollars.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

141

of 8 lots, two each of blocks 2, 3, 8 and 9, being of oblong
form, '2(>0 by 344 feet, and containing an area of 89.440
i-quare feet. Samuel Mooney. John Ford, Freeman Kelly,
Hamilton .Smith, David Levisse, James R. Sheppard and
Henry C. Mizner were the first purchasers of lots.

We return now to the government of the county. The
second county board. 1^*17 to 1818, consisted of Caldwell
Cairn?. James Lemen and James McRoberts. The labors
of this board were confined to opening a few roads, granting
of licens-es and permitting Ichabod Valentine to erect mill"
dams on Eagle creek. The court had a settlement with
John Moore, asse.'sor and treasurer, and also with James K.
Moore, sheriff. It does not appear what the revenue had
amounted to, but there were small balances, to wit: 833.02*
and S20.)S.") against the officers. The cost of the assessment
was stated to have been §12.00 exactly.

The act of the legislature, January 12, 1818, established
the so-called justices' courts, which were intrusted with the
county government. This system continued in force until
June 7, l><l!t.

The first court of this kind was held en the 20th April,
1818, Justices Jesse W. Cooper. Prince Bryant, J. Milton
Moore, Alexander Jameson. John Scott, James Whaley and
William Chalfin attending. The court was held in the
house of Thomas Jame.s. A number of ^Nimrods appeared
to claim the lawful rewards for killing wolves, to wit, 82 00
for each scalp. These Nimrods were Ellis Chalfin, Warner
Dace, John Clover, Joseph Harniss, William Quigley,
Thomas Nelson and James McDonald. James Henderson,
Adam Smith and Daniel C. Link were licensed to keep
taverns, and John M. Wilson to run a ferry from his
"house" across the Mississippi, for which he had to pay
$3 00.

Thomas O'Conner contracted for making the county
assessment, for and in consideration of which he was to be
paid S21.0O.

The necessity of building a jail had now become apparent,
and a contract was entered into with Samuel J. Kinkead on
the 18th of April. 1.S18.

In order to give the present generation an idea of what a
dungeon of those days consisted, we introduce below the
contract at length.

John James was appointed to superintend the building of
the jail, which seems to have been completed June 9, 1819.

CONTKACT FOR FIRST PUBLIC BUILDING IN MONROE COUNTY.

A contract is hereby made with Samuel J. Kinkead to
build a jail on the public square in the town of Harrisonville,
donated to the county for the purpose of having public
buildings thereon erected by the present proprietors of said
town, the jail is to be of the following descriptions, viz. :

To be sixteen feet square in the clepr, the foundation to
be of stone laid in lime mortar, three feet thick and two feet
high, the jail to be built of " hughen " timber one foot scjuare
and two tier, each to be dovetailed so as to lock at each
corner ; timber of the same kind and size to be set in per-
pendicularly between the in- and outer tier, so as to touch ;
to be one story high and eight feet in the clear, all of the

timber to be oak, except the two inside tiers, the upper tier
of the lower floor and the lower tier of the upper one maybe
of cotton wood, which is used in building the said jail, the.
corners of said jail are to be boxed with good oak plank, the
lower floor to be " hughen" timber, one foot square jointed
and to be double, the upper tier of timber to " lay " across
the under. The floor overhead to be of light materials and
made in like manner with the lower one. A double door to
be made of two inck oak plank, two feet nine inches wide to
be riveted ; and the door is to be hung by. hooks firmly put
into the logs, and it is to be secured by a good substantial
lock : there are to be two windows, two feet by eight inches,
with six iron bars, one inch square across each window, to
be fastened into the logs 8 inches di-ep, at each end, and one
perpendicular iron bar one inch square on the outside in the
centre of each window, al*o to extend eight inches into the
logs at each end. four plates to be well pinned down with
two inch pins, gable ends to be made of inch oak plank, to
be covered with a good and sufficient roof of rafters, being
well spiked to the plates, to be well sheeted and covered with
oak or walnut shingles, laid six inches to the weather, the
shingles to be of i of an inch thick and well proportioned,
the "hole'' (nomen et omen) to be completed in a workman-
like manner by the first day of December, 1818, for the con-
sideration of one thousand and four dollars current money,
to be paid at the county treasury, by order of the justices
court and their successors in office, as follows : two hundred
dollars in advance and the balance when the building afore-
said shall be completed in manner aforesaid, to the satisfac-
tion of this court and their successors in office. And it is
further ordered that the said Samuel J. Kinkead give bond
and security in the sum of two thousand and eight dollars
to the sitting justices of this court and their successors in
office for the faithful performance of the foregoing contract

Meanwhile Illinois had made preparation to be admitted
as a sovereign state into the Union and a constitutional con-
vention had been elected, and its members assembled at
Kaskaskia in July, 1818, and having completed their labors
adjourned August 2ti, 1818.

Monroe county was repr.sented by Caldwell Cairns and
Enoch Moore, both pioneers of the county. Cairns was a
member of the county board during the first years of the
county's existence, and in later years judge of probate.
Moore also filled various official positions in the county, both
gentlemen were exemplary officers.

The first county commissioners' omrt since the admission
of Illinois as a State convened at Harrisonville, on the 7th
of June, 1819 The court was composed of the Honorables
Caldwell Cairns, Joseph A Beaird and James McRoberts.
"gentlemen," as Samuel McRoberts, the clerk, stated,
"elected and qualified."

The townships of territorial times were now converted into
election precincts without any change in the territory.

Eagle township commenced as heretofore in the southwest,
where the "tornado" had crossed the Mississippi, and its
elections were to be held at the house of Joseph Hogan.

Belie Fountaine, poll at the tavern of David Ditch, in
Waterloo.

142

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Harrison and Mitchic, poll at the court room iu the house
of Thomas James, at Harrisonville. Mitchie became an
election precinct on the 8th of June, 1824, with poll at the
house of Seth Chalfin.

The succeeding board was composed of the same persons,
as Caldwell Cairns, the out-going member, was re-elected.
In the third board, George Forquer and John Roach suc-
ceeded Beaird and McRoberts. John Garretson was elected
iu 1823, in place of Forquer, and Nathan Hamilton in 1824,
in place of Roach. John D. Whiteside succeeded Caldwell
Cairns in 182.5. The labors of these boards were confined
to routine business only, as the financial couditiou of the
county was most deplorable ; the county warrants were
worth not more than thirty-five cents per dollar. The board
had some difficulties with the clerk, but it is not known what
had caused them. Mr. McRoberts was ousted and Squire
Mizner appointed in his place. McRoberts brought suit in
the circuit court against the county commissioners, who, on
the 3d of June, 1822. were treated to a mandamus by his
Honor, Judge Thomas Reynolds, to reinstate McRoberts.
The mandamus was obeyed instanter ; whereupon McRob-
erts entered upon the duties of the office to the end of his
terra, September, 1824. Eighteen years later McRoberts
was United States Senator from Illinois.

In 1825 the county seat was permanently established at
Waterloo by a board of commibsiouers appointed by the
legislature of llliuois. The minutes of the county board
contain the following entry in reference to the matter, to wit :

April Term A. d. 182.5.— April 9, 1825.
Nathaniel Hamilton, )

John 1). Whiteside
John Garretson,

County Commissioners.

Report of commissioners appointed by the legislature to
fix the county seat, was laid before the board by Mr. John
D Whiteside, which report is as follows:

We, the commissioners under the act of the 15th of Jan-
uary, 1825, to fix the permanent seat of justice for the county
of Monroe, to wit, Henry Conner, Joseph Conway and
Samuel C. Christy, met at the house of David Ditch, in said
county, on the 1st of April, 1825, and according to law took
an oath btfore John Milton Moore, Esquire, a justice of the
peace in and for said county, to faithfully take into view the
convenience of the people, the situation of the settlements
with an eye to future population and the eligibility of the
place, which oath in writing is herewith returned and made
a part of said return. On the 7th of the same month another
of the commissioners, to wit, John Reynolds, took the same
oath as above taken by the other commissioners and filed as
aforesaid. The other commissioner, to wit, Thomas Rey-
nolds, does not attend. After mature deliberation and
reflection, and taking into view the convenience of the peo-
ple, the situations of the settlements with an eye to future
population and the eligibility of the different sites, we, the
commissioners, do designate and determine upon the public
square in the town of Waterloo, as laid out in the original
plat of said town, made by Enoch Moore, on the 18th De-
cember, 1818, and which plat is made a part of our return

to the county commissioners of said county, to be the seat of
justice for the said county of Monroe

We, the said commissioners, have taken a bond for twenty
acres of land, and another bond for the sum of five hundred
dollars, which two bonds are herewith filed and returned to
the said county commissioners. All lands which have been
given to the county in consideration of the location of the
seat of justice on said public square shall be considered and
taken as part of the town of Waterloo. All of which actings
and proceedings we, the commissioners as aforesaid, do certify
and return to the county commissioners of Monroe county,
9th April, 1825.

H. Conner,

John Reynolds,
Joseph Conway,
Samuel C. Christy,
Affidavits of Commissioners.
Be it remembered, that on the first day of April, in the
year of our Lord one thou.>-and eight hundred and twenty-
five, at the house of David Ditch, in the county of Monroe,
personally appeared before me, J. Milton Moore, a justice
of the peace for the aforesaid county of Monroe, Henry
Ccnner, Samuel C. Christy and Joseph Conway, three of the
commissioners who were appointed by the act of the General
Assembly of the State of Illinois, at the last session, approved
the 15th of January, 1.S25, to fix the permanent seat of jus-
tice for the aforesaid county of Monroe, who, being duly
sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, faithfully
to take into view the convenience of the people, the situation
of the settlements with an eye to future population and the
eli"ibility of the place. Given under my hand and seal this
day and date above.

J. MiLTos Moore, J. P. JskalI

A similar affidavit was made on the 7th of April, 1825,
by John Reynolds, who, however, was not sworn on the
Holy Evangelist of Almighty God.

The commissioners were paid the sum of S80 for their
labors of locating the county seat.

The changing of the county seat from Harrisonville to
Waterloo was apparently perfected without trouble or diffi-
culty. The scanty archives of the county were transported
on an ox-cart from town to town. Some residents of Harri-
sonville, however, were very much displeased and the most
valuable property of the county, to wit, the doorlock, and
other irons of the public jail at Harrisonville, was taken
possession of by James A. James, a valiant Harrisonvillian,
who retained them for years, not surrendering until Septem-
ber, 1835, when the county agreed to make him a deed to
the jail grounds at the village. In March, 1831, the court
made an order to sell the old jail. The sheriff' who was to
execute this order, refused to carry it out, for fear that he
would be held " respunsiljle." whereupon the court made
another order, in which the county was held to indemnify
the sheriff, and the purchasers were assured to get possession.
However, there was no sale.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

143

The first term of the county commissioners at Waterloo
was held in David Ditch's tavern, on the (ithot'June, l><'2o;
present — Nathaniel Hamilton, John D. White and John
Garrelson, commissioners ; John James, sherift', and Daniel
Converse, clerk. The tax levy of that year (1824) amounted
to S735.t)"), and the sheriff was summoned to explain why he
had not settled his accounts. John M. Wilson was licensed
to run a ferry across the Jlississippi river to Selma's Cliffs.
He paid S1"J.0() per year for this j.rivilege and was allowed
to make the foUowiug charges: Foot passengers, 2.5 cts.; horse,
371; man and horse, 625 ; cattle, "i.") ; calf, sheep or goat,
12J cents; wagon and team, S2 00 ; dearborn, 81.2") ; cart
and horse, SI 00 ; cart and oxen, SI 2.") ; barrel of spirits or
wine, 2.") cents, and goods at 10 cents per 100 lbs.

David Ditch was licensed to keep tavern at Waterloo,
when upon the court adjourned for one hour, it is presumiil
for the purpose of holding a private conference ou the ques-
tion of prohibition. John Bamber became a member of the
board iu September, \&25, taking the place of John Garret-
son. An order was made iu D. cembtr, lf<2.'), that county
orders issued prior to December, 1)S24, should be received by
the tax gatherer at a discount of Otis per cent. ; those issued
after December, 1824, and prior to June 1st, 1825, at 50
per cent. ; and those subsequent to latter date and prior to
date of order at 25 per cent, discount. Josiah Lemen was
appointed commissioner to lake the census of the county.

J. ililton Moore was employed to draft a plan for a court
house, December 26, 1825; finished this job on the 0th of
Mar. h, l'<2(i, and received §3.00 for his work. It had
talven Mr. Moure months to draft the plan, but it took the
court years to make use of them. The troubles in consequence
of the change iu the county seat were being felt for years
inasmuch as constant impediments were thrown into the
paths of the commissioners. Board succeeded board without
even being able to procure a suitable site for the public
buildings. During this period of uncertainly the county
commissioners had succeeded however to get the county out
of financial ditficulties for coun y warrants were taken at
par, December, 1830. The authorities received donations
of land and lots iu 1<S30 for public buildings.

The following grounds were donated to the county, on
account of locating the seat of justice at Waterloo, to wit:
Five acres of land granted by Enoch .Moore, beginning at
the southwest corner of David Ditch's, aiid on the north-
west corner of Garduer Stone's lots, thence north ten poles
with said Ditch's lot, thence east eight poles, thence north
thirty poles, thence west twenty-two poles, thence south
forty poles, thence east fourteen poles to the place of begin-
ning, which shall be divided by a street running north, sixty
feet wide and iu the same direction.

The founders of Waterloo besides donated the following
town lots, to wit: Nos. 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23,24,
26, 27, 31,33, 40, 52, 53, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 64. These
lots were to be sold, and the amount realized was to be
applied towards paying for the erection of a court house.
It seems that these 23 lots were sold for 8224.041.

Finally ou the 26th day of March, 1831, bids were invited
for the contracts for buildiuga brick court house, 30 by 36

feet, and two stories high. W. W. Oraelveny ccntractid
for the brick work for §478.50. He completed his work by
the 7th of December, 1831, when he was paid S4 )8.50, the
county remaining in debt to him to the amount of 840 on
balance of contract, and 81 6. 'JO on account of extra work
done.

Robert Coleman received 8150 for wood work, but failed
to complete the work, which was now entrusted to J. H.
Harrington, who received in pay a certificate "to recover
value of work done from the above contractor."

The court hou.se, although in an unfinished condition, was
occupiid on the 4th of June, 1832.

This court house must have been a very frail building, for
in September, 1834, the court took " notice" that the walls of
the building were "shook " and injured by the boys throwing
balls against them, whereui)nu the clerk was instructed to
draw up a. proc/unidtiun forbidding the throwing of toy-balls
against those walls, and have said proclamation posted, one
at the court house and three more at the most public j)laces
in town. Emery P. Rogers, Solomon Patterson and
Thomas McRoberts are responsible for this " ukas." From
a report of John Rya- , treasurer of the county, it appears
that the revenue of the county for the year 1831 was
81131.02, and that all nf if had been collected and paid into
the treasury ; further that the collector of the revenue of
1830 was in arrears to the amount of 8140 72, that ])ur-
chasers of donation lots were still owing the county 8197.18i,
and that Nancey Ramey, C. F. Fletcher, E. P. Rogers,
David Ditch, John Divers, James A. James and J.ihu M
Wilson had not jiaid their licenses, amounting in the aggre-
gate to 834 00 We have stated repeatedly that the county
authorities had at every occasion exhibited great readiness
to license taverns and grog-shops, and now let it be saiil, iu
honor of the good people of Waterloo, that, as early as 1832,
they raised 826 for the purpose of sinking a well to procure
good drinking water. Who would have thought of such a
thing at Waterloo, and atso early a day ? The county board,
not to be outdone by the villagers of Waterloo, appro-
priated one dollar of the public funds towards purchasiiKj a
Bihh' for use of the county otticials.

We have baeu assiirod thit prLH-iou-i to this purchase
the county officers hiwi been using Chesterfield's Letters to
his .son for their edification, and, from present appearauces,
it may be inferred that this information is correct.

During the term of this board a number of revolutionary
veterans appeared in court for the purpose of identifying
themselves and iu order to get their certificates for pensiou.
From these proceedings and an official statement by the
State authorities, it appears Ebei czer Brown, aged 9)\, ha<l
served in the Virginia Continentals, that his annual pension
amounted to 848.33, and that he lived long enough to draw
8144.09 ; Andrew Hilton, aged 77, of the Maryland Conti-
nentals, drew 830.00 per annum for three years, so did
Michael Miller, of tlu \'irgini:i Cjiitiueutals. James
McRoberts, of the Pennsylvania Continentals, and Joseph
Wright, of the Virginia Continentals, drew each 820 per
annum. The total pensiou money paid to these five veterans
amounted to 8734.98. George Goble, a sergeant, and

141

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

William Howard, private, Third U. S. Infantry, and John
Jeirod, private of the Sixth U. S. Infantry, were invalid
pensioners, and received $96 per annum. They were not
revolutionary soldiers, however.

Solomon Patterson was appointed commissioner and agent
for the disposal of school lands in 1833

A new election precinct was organized in 1834, to be
called

PRAIRIE DU LONG.

It commenced at Thomas Talbott's mills on Prairie du
Long creek, thence direct to the big spring on Horsecreek,
thence southwest to the old ruad from New Design to
Kaskaskia, thence down said road to the Randolph line.
The pull was established at the house of John Morrison,
with Preston Brickey, John Bamber and Zopher Williams,
as judges of election.

In March, 1834, the county's cash box was replenished
by a remittance of $300 00, due to he county, of amounts
realized from sale of Gallatin county saline lauds. This
money was immediately made use of in completing the
court house. Leman French got $2-50 for furni.-hing the
upper rooms, and Daniel Converse was paid 875 for paint
ing the house.

The court house was now completed, about ten years after
Waterloo 4iad become the county seat. It speaks well for
the morals of the people of the county, that the want of a
jail was not felt until in 1835, when the court commenced
to moot the question of building a jail. Afttr four years
of diligent talking and planning, the question was brought
to a vote and decided in favor of building a jail.

In the meantime the county had come into possession of a
large amount of money, her proportional share of the so-
called iinproi'ement fund, mentioned in this chapter under
the heading of Randolph county. John Morrison had been
appointed to collect this fund, to wit $6,900, at Vaudalia,
and he brought it safely to Waterloo on the 5th of Novem-
ber, 1838. There was trouble now, how to save and
preserve so vast an amount of actual money. The county
board, composed of Sidney Todd, William Thrtlfull and
J. M. Wooten, ordered, that Edward Newsham, J. H.
Portle and James B. Needlei should become ihe custodians
of this fund, that each of them should receive $2 300 of the
money in order to loan it out in sums not exceeding $500,
at not less than twelve per cent, annual interest for the
benefit of the county This order, made at the December
term, 1838, was succeeded by another order, of March, 1839,
instructing the fund custodians to at once collect these
funds and to hold them in readiness for further orders.

The jail project had now ripened into shape, contractors,
who had heretofore given the county a wide berth, were now
ready and eager to go to work. The jail contract was let
on the 3rd of June, 1839.

This jail, the first in Waterloo, was erected in 1839.
John Taylor of Belleville, contracted for the building of
it on July 1st, 1839, for $2,400 (This jail stood east of the
present court house). It was to be erected of good sound
limestone, thirty-five feet long and twenty-five feet wide,
two stories high, eight feet each exclusive of the joists.

The walls of the lower story to be two feet thick, and the
second story above the joists twenty-two inches thick, both
stories to be divided by partition walls, eighteen inches
thick of same materials, leaving an entry of ten feet wide,
two outside doors and one door from the entry into each
room, eight windows of fifteen panels, ten by twelve glass,
four of which to be secured with iron grates. The founda-
tion to be of limestone, to be sunk two feet and a half below
the surface of the ground and raised to a level one foot
above the surface of the ground, two feet and a half thick
to extend under the partition, as well as side and end walls,
and all to be laid in good lime and sand mortar. The
dungeon to be lined with timber five inches thick with
suitable doors and grating. The contractors had to furnish
all ^he materials, which were to be of first-rate quality, etc.
The jail was finished on the 9th of September, 1840 Its
construction cost $100 more than contract price. The con-
tractors were paid $1,205 in cash, and $1 295 in twelve per
cent, interest bearing county orders.

The county authorities appropriated a round thousand
dollars of this fund, towards improving the road from
Waterloo to Harrisonvdle, and entrusted Jacob J. Danner
with the disbursement of this amount ; $250 of it were paid
to Henry Hill for grading the road on Tamaroi's hill. The
fund had been gradually reduced to $4,200.34. December
8th, 1840, the fund commissioners surrendered this balance,
all in promissory notes, to the county clerk for safe keeping.
They were paid $508 for their services. (John Morrison
received $45 for making the collection and bringing the
funds from Vandalia to Waterloo). Converse, the clerk,
remained custodian of this fund until December, 1843, when
he turned the papers over to the county treasurer, by whom
they by rights ought to have been kept and preserved from
the beginning. These moneys were subsequently trtated
and disbursed as other public funds belonging to the county.
New Design precinct was organized December 8th, 1840,
with poll at the house of Matthias Harrison. The popula-
tion of the county, u.ore than 1200 in 1816, amounted now
over 4000 souls

The United States census of 1840, furnishes the following
data : The population of Monroe was 4481 in the aggregate;
there were then eleven slaves in this number, two male and
nine female. Twenty-eight of the above number were ovtr
seventy years of age. The occupations of the inhabitanis
of the county, were defined as follows: Agriculture, 979;
commerce, 32; manufactures and trades, 115; navigation
of canals and rivers, 2 ; learned professions and engineers,
13 ; number of pensioners for revolutionary or military

services, . The unfortunates were : One deaf and

dumb, three blind, two insane, all at private charge. There
were five schools in the county attended by 168 pupils.
Three hundred and seven adults were unable to read or
write.

The census of 1840 recites that th? county of Monroe was
engaged in " mining " at that period. A closer examina-
tion into this astounding statement led to an easy explana-
tion. The " mine " was a stone-quarry, in which one man
was employed, who contrived to get out 300 dollars' worth

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

145

of rock (luring 1839. The agricultural wealth consisted in
2289 horses, 8:):52 neat cattle, 3338 sheep, 16,516 hogs and
3668 dollars' worth of property. The agricultural produces
of the year 1839 were reported as follows: 22,012 bushels
of wheat, loO of birley. 21,975 of oats, 350 of rye and
293,462 of corn ; 436 pounds of wax, 10,016 bushels of po-
tatoes, .397 tons of hay, 550 pounds of Hax, 300 pounds of
tobacco, 20 pounds of cotton, 36.59 cords (if wood, 11,844
dollars' worth of milk, butter and cheese, and 1910 dollars'
worth of fruit. Homespun goods, woven on the famous
old loom, represtnted a value of S16,630. Gardening
produced a value of $66 and a "nursery" 8145. Nine
merchants were doing business in the county with a capital
of §31,281. Under the head of "Fisheries" we find that
28 ffalloii-t of oil hm\ been produced in the county. Eight
men had manufactured 920 dollars' worth of bricks. Two
woolen manufactories, employing two persons turned out
goods valued at S550. Three tanneries, worked by 5 hands,
turned out 600 sides of sole leather and 1050 sides of upper
leather. Two saddlery shops did 1800 dollars' worth of
work. Two distilleries manufactured 7000 gallons of whis-
key. The products of 2 flouring, 3 grist aud 4 saw mills,
with a capital of §37,750, giving em|)loyment to 11 persons,
were valued at 820,300.

The proceedings of the county board during the succeed-
ing years are void of interest. As a curiosity, we may
mention here an order of the county board in reference to
the official conduct of James B. Needles, ex-sherifl' of the
county, to wit :

"Ordered that he have a certificate under the seal of the
court, that he has faithfully discharged the duties of the
office of sherifl' of Monroe county for 6 years previous to
September 1, 1840, and punctually settled and paid over all
moneys charged against him as collector of the revenue of
the county."

The settlements of the treasurers had for years exhibited
a balance of funds on hand, and yet there were considerable
amounts of count}' warrants outstanding aud remained un-
redeemed for vaiit of fuuil.<. This contradictory state of
aflTairs finds an explanation in the following report:

" The undersigned having been apjioiuted agent of the
county wi h instructions to convert the iineurrent funds in
the treasury of the county into lawful money, and to use it
in paying off the floating debt jf the county, begs leave to
report, that he realized 8315.37 cash from the sale of 8647
of State bank paper, sold at 44 cts. per dollar, and also of
$99 of the bank of Shawneetown, sold at 33 cts. ; that he
bought county warrants amounting to 860 for 836 cash, and
8372.50 more for 8279.37 (cash) ; that he charged 89 for
his trouble, and further that there were still 820.50 out in
county warrants which could be bought for 815.37* cents in
cash."

Soon after, in 1845, Mr. Morrison, as sherifl' of the county,
filed a report of his revenue collections, which will be intro-
duced here at length, because of its accuracy, and because
of its being the only one spread on the county record since
the organization of the county. The following is the docu-
ment:

John Morkison, collector, in acct with the county of Monroe.

To am't of CO. revenue as per receipt for 18H, $3,440.77

To ara't collected more Ihao charged, 69.90

Ce.

By treasurer's receipts filed, »2,ri38.37

By taxes remitted under act for relief of sutTerera by tlood, . 441 15

By errors— lands assessed twice 21.00

By errors— in calculations, 2C.72

By delinquent hits 26-67

By adv. lands inundated, 140.50

By forfeitures to the Stale 246.03

By commission 77.95

By balance p.l. to treasurer to-day, 182.IS

t3,.'>06.57 $3,506.67

Septb. 9, 1845.

John Morrison,

Sheriff" and collector.

The assessed values of the taxable property in the county
for 1845 was 8798,094, as rep')rted by John Ryan, the
assessor.

From the report of Mr. Ryan we glean the following
facts :

Monroe county had then 910 resident tax-payers, and
their personal property was valued at 8172,500. Eight of
these 910 had personal propjrty exceeding 1,000 dollars
in value, to wit :

S. W. Miles ?:i,"10 J. D. Whiteside 81.400

James A. James l,62o Samuel E. Owen 1,:132

Jacob Trout 1,531 Jewett heirs 1,209

Samuel Newland 1,500 Ferdinand Rose . 1,02.')

Slave property was assessed at $1,350. Henry Wademan,
A. W. Gardner, Cecelie Beaird, M T. Hornie, S. W. Miles,
and A. Eekert, were the slaveowners in 1843.

Tliere was quite a number of citizens who sported pleasure
carriages worth from 8100 to 8300 The present generation
may have some curiosity as to who it was that drove to town
in carriages forty years ago, and their curiosity shall be
gratified. The gentry of 1843 was made up by the follow-
ing :

B. F. Masterson — his carriage was the finest or newest,
for it was assessed the highest ; John Morrison, W. H.
Gale, A. W. Gardner, William Wilson, J. R. James, J. M
Moore, P. B. Brickey, Milton Moore, W. T. Eekert, Jesse
Wiswell, Abram Clark, Lewis S. Steigers, and John Ste-
vens.

The assessor's report further states that there were then
thirteen capitalists in the county, who, together, were draw-
ing interest on 88,930 loaned out. The report speaks also
of thirteen merchants doing business in the county, who
had stated their several stocks of goods to be worth 86,150
in the aggregate.

The town lots in the county were assessed at $21,955 ; the
values vary from 810 to 81,000 per lot. Of the latter class
there was but one, to wit : lot No. 90 in Waterloo, owned by
E. Moore.

The lands were assessed at from 83.00 to 85.00 per acre.
There were 48,060 acres described iu claims and surveys,
and 124,800 acres in sections.

The county levy for the year 1846 was 50 cents per $100,

146

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

which would yield a revenue of 8:^900.0(1, a tax of about 80
cents per capita.

Before closing our remarks in reference to the adminis-
tration of county affairs by the county commissioners' courts
(1819 to 1849), we should mention that the boundary line
question between St. Clair and Monroe, and between Monroe
and Randolph counties, had been adjusted during this
period. The reports of the county surveyors may, therefore,
find spai.'e here.

J. Milton Moore, surveyor of IMonroe county and J. Mes-
senger surveyor of St. Clair couniy made the following re-
port, which is ordered to be filed and recorded.

We the undersigned do hereby certify that on the 30th
of November 1829 we commenced at the former corner to
townships 2 and 3 south, between ranges 7 and 8 west of the
third principal meridian, where we seta new post in the re-
mains of a former "mound " from which a pine oak now 18
inches in diameter, a former witness tree btars south (i9° west
233 links distant, and with the compass set at a variation of
8° 45 east and ran thence north 89° 05 between townships
2 and 3 south range 8 west along the former line, renewing
the blazes when passing through timbered lands, and setting
posts when in the prairie at several points 5 miles and seventy,
five chains to a flag stone placed at the point of the former
corner to townships 2 and 3 south, ranges 8 and 9 west, from
which stone a post oak, SO inches in diameter bears south
21" west 135 links distant and a post oak now 15 inches in
diameter bears north 09° west, 101 links distant ; each of
them former witness trees to said corner, thence run north
along the former range line and renewing the blazes in the
same, 1 mile to the former corner of sections 30 and 31 T
2 south, R. 8 west, reblazed the old line where we set a new
post from which a Sycamore 30 inches in diameter bears
north 59° east 72 links distant, each of which were the
former witness trees to said corner, thence north 44° 06
west, 8 miles and 33 chains blazing the same to the former
corner of sections 30 and 31 T. 1 S. R. 9 west where we set
a new post by the remains of the former witness trees to said
corner, they having been recently felled, and take for new
witness trees a post oak 18 inches in diameter bearing 46J°
west 187 links and a post oak 15 inches in diameter bearing
north 16 J ° west 243 links distant, they being the former
witness trees to sections 25 and 30 T. 1. S. R. 10 west thence
north along the former line between ranges 9 and 10 west,
reblazing the same 1 mile to the corner of sections 19 and 30
T. 1 S. R. 9 west where we set a large flag stone in the
prairie, thence north 44° west intersecting the former section
corner diagonally to seclions 13, 14, 23 and 24 and sections
10, 11, 14 and 15 and sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, five miles and
52J chains to the northwest corner of section 4, T. 1 S. R. 10
west thence on the same course 2 miles and 66 chains to the
banks of the Mississippi river, where we set a post, from
which a black walnut, 18 inches in diameter, bears south 08}
east, 25 links distant and a sycamore, 26 inches in diameter
bears south 8 east, 50 links distant. The aforesaid line being
in conformity to an order of the county commissioners of St.
Clair and Monroe counties and in conformity to the act of

the legislature relative to the northern boundary of Monroe
county.

Report is dated December 3d 1829 and signed by J. Mil-
ton Moore and John Messenger, surveyors. Cost of survey
was 143 16.

Southern boundary line. Report of James Thompson and
J. M. Moore, county surveyors, made the following report,
March 1st 1830 and ordered to be recorded..

Report: We commenced to run the line between the coun-
ties of Randolph and Monroe at the southeast corner of
township 4 S. R. 9 west of the third principal meridian at a
variation of 7" 36 east, thence south 70 west on a random
line 62 chains to the house of James M. Canada (Kennedy)
about 6 chains north of the line 1 mile 30 chains a 15 K 5
links, thence north west 2 miles and 40 chains, second south
east 4 miles 16V chains, Kaskaskia road, 5 miles to the top
of the bluff", 7 miles and 01 chains to a road, 8 miles 236
chains, road to Kaskaskia, 8 miles and 55 chains to Alexander
McNabb's farm, fell 125 chains south of said farm, thence
cerrected the course and run from said farm south 71° 05
west on true line to the Mississippi river, which nine miles
and 78 chains to the river bank we set a post from which a
Cottonwood, 18 inches in diameter bears north 61 east 24J
links distant and another Cottonwood tree 1 6 inches in
diameter bears north, 25° west, 27 links distant, thence went
back to A. McNabb's farm and corrected the line and blazed
.it back to the beginning corner.

In conformity with a law of the legislature of the state of
Illinois providing for running a line between the counties of
Randolph and Monroe Dated February 18th, 1830. Cost
of survey §46.00.

REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

From the reports it appears that the school lands of town-
ship 3 — 8 were sold in 1830, averaging about 83 50 per acre.
Amount realized, $2216 00.

T 1—111 .
T3— 9 .
T 3—10 .
T 2— .
T a-11 .

. I V2i\m T 4—10

. l'.i(i!l.i;(l T4— 9

IC^T-IT T4— 11

l:ii;6.sii

-,t.ln) Total Sohnol fund in 1848 . 811.309.

3,10.00
484.29
1726.60

The regime of the ciunty c3'Timi<3ioner's court ended in
1849. The constitutional convention of 1847 entrusted the
administration of county affairs to county courts, composed
of a county judge and two associate justices, who held their
respective offices for four years.

The last county board of ilouroe county was composed of
E. P. Rogers, Joseph Livers, and John Burk.

Before reciting the events of the period from the adoption
of the new constitution, March, 1848, to the present time,
we shall here introduce an extract of the circuit courts of
the county.

CIRCLIT COURTS 1817 TO 1848

The first circuit court, held July 21. 1817, at Harrison-
ville, was presided over by Hon. Jesse B Thomas, with
Charles Matheny as prosecuting attorney. The grand jury
at this term was composed of the following gentlemen free-
holders: William Chalfin, foreman, Alexander McNabb,
Daniel Hull, Jacob Trout, Ebenezer Bourne, John Worley,

HISTOEY OF JRAXDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUXTIES, ILLINOIS.

147

Jacob Clark, John Sliehan, Daniel Shook, Jacob Clover,
Leonard Kerr, George Ramey, Daniel Starr, John Roach,
Joseph A Beaird, Elijah Davis, Daniel Link, Michael
Dace, Solomon Shook, and Levi Piggott.

The indictments returned were as follows:

Andey Kinney, assault aud battery for severely beating
and wounding, at his mill in Harrisonville township, one
William Hogan, tried and acquitted.

John Lock, larceny. John had stolen a bridle from Jcihn
James, of the value of 80.00 ; pleaded guilty, and paid a
fine of ?1 2.00 and costs, and returned the bridle.

William Hogan, the very man on whose account Andey,
the miller, had been indicted, was brought up for larceny,
because he had, bv force, broken the lock of a chest, left in
his custody by Joshua Carey, and stolen its contents of the
value of 811. 5u

There were 7 more cases of assault and battery ; the fighters
were invariably finul from So to 812 00, but the fine was as
invariably remitted by a lenient aud benevolent judge.

A divorce case, Sarah Miller vs. Abraham Miller, was
tried and Sarah's prayer granted. She was also awarded
the custody of their only child, a boy named Isaac.

Another divorce case, Joseph Hogan versus Patsey (prob-
ably an abbreviation of Potiphar) Hogan was tried before
Judge Warnock at the August term, 1818. Joseph's griev-
ous wrongs are set forth in the following pathetic declaration :

To the honorable Circuit Court for the

county of Monroe, lUinoia Territory.

Your petitioner humbly sheweth that sometime in the
month of February in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and si.icteen, he was lawfully married to Pat-
sey Bailcv, now Patsey Hogan, that he continued to live in
peace and happiness with her for about three months, when
the said Patsey Hogan, contrary to the duties of a wife and
the matrimonial injunctions, eloped from his bed and board,
without his knowledge or consent, and now lives in open
adultery with other men.

Your petitioner humbly prays the honorable court for the
causes above stated, to decree a dissolution of the bonds of
matrimony entered into with the said Patsey llogan, and
your petitioner will ever be in duty bound to pray, etc.

For Joseph Hog.^n,

by E. Martin, his attorney.

Hogan had the following witnesses subpa-naed, to wit ;
Alexander Jameson, Edward Croush, and Adam Payne.
PaLsey made no defense, and the divorce was granted.

The first criminal court held in Monroe county after the
admission of Illinois !is a sovereign state, was presided over
by Joseph Phillips, chief justice of the supreme court, May
3d, 1819. Subsequent terms were held by John Reynolds
in lf<19, 18-20, and 18-21. Hon. Phillips is on the bench
again in 1822, succeeded in 1823 and 1824 by Thomas Rey-
nolds. In 182-5 and 18-2(5 Samuel McRoberts, the former
clerk, was found on the bench ; he had entered upon his
career to fame and honors, which elevated him to a seat in

the Senate of the United States. The next judge was T. W.
Smith. While at the bench at Waterloo, in March, 1828,
he heard the first murder case tried in the county. From
papsrs on file we glean the following facts in this,

The first murder case. A boy, or young man, Jacob Gil.
mon, had died on December 22, 1827, under suspicious cir-
cumstance.*, so that William Biggs, the coroner, deemed it
his duty to hold an inquest .V coroner's jury, with Joshua
Talbot as foreman, was called on the 'Mth of January, 18-28,
to hear the testimony of Cynthia Reynold, who swore that
between the 4fh und \Oth of Jubj lasl she was a' the house of
Jervett Varnum, and she understood that the said Varnum
was then whipping Jacob Gilmon at the cow pen. which was
a consderable distance from the house, and she, the said
Cynthia, distinctly heard blows, which she supposed to be
indicted on the body of said Gilmon with a stick, and that
Gilmon screamed from the tirfie she first heard the blows,
and that he continued screaming for a considerable time
after the blows ceased, and that he continued crying until
she went to bed ; and that he, the saiil Varnum came to the
house apparentlv in great passion, and said that he had given
the said Jacob the severest whipping that he had ever given
him. On the day following said Jacob said in the presence
of herself and Mrs. Varnum, that Jewett would never give
him but one more whipping, for he had almost killed him.
The wife of said Jewett told him to hush, that Jewett had
not given him too much ; and he (-lacob) said that Jewett
had given him too much, had thrown him against the fence
and almost killed him.

The phvsicians attending the post mortem have the follow-
ing testimony in writing :

" We, the undersigned practitioners in medicine, having
been called on by W. Biggs, the coroner of Monroe county,
to examine the body of Jacob Gilmon who was supposed to
have died from the effects of an external injury received, do
certify on oath, that our examination was particularly con-
fined to the head, and by careful examination of the hones
of the o-ifronfis and os temporis (!) and the upper part of the
OS temporis ^sic) having been fractured, we do agree that the
said deceased came to his death by violence committed iu
some way.

W. G. GOFARTH, J.VMIvS Newlin, T. St.vxtos.'

Thereupon the coroner's jury agreed to render the follow-
ing verdict :

We, the jurv, aft^r examining the body of Jacob Gilmon,
believe his death was caused by violence done by Jewett
Varnum, from the evidence produced.

Joshua Talbot, foreman.

Varnum was thereupon committed to jail, and for that
purpose, on January -M. taken to Belleville, as Monroe
county had no jail, only a lock and some irons, and they
were in possession of a citizen of Harrisonville. He imme-
diately petitioned Judge T. W. Smith for a writ of hnbeas
I corpus, under which he was brought to Edwardsville before
1 his Honor, Feb. 5, 18-28. The judge admitted him to ba il

148

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

in $500 with Thomas Hamilton as security. The case was
brought before the grand jury, «ho on the 8th of March,
1828, indicted Varnum for murder. The indictment set
forth that the beating given the boy ou Ju'y Titli, 1828, had
Caused his death on the 22d of December next, etc.

The case was tried on the 13ih of August, 1828, and
Varnum was acquitted.

A Challenge to fight a Duel. — At the next term of tbe
court, in August, 1828, Justus Varnum was indicted for
challenging Isaac Clark to fight a duel with rifles, to wit,
on the 13th of July last. Bad blood, caused by a lawsuit
about the right of some property, had prevailed for some
time between the parties. The duel was not fought, and the
case against Varnum the Just was nol. pros, iu August, 1829.
Another Murder. — Eliza Head was put on trial for her
life in May, 1831, before Judge T W. Smith. It appears
that Daniel Winn had made an aifidavit before 'Squire
Thomas McRoberts, on the 21st day of April, 1826, that he
had found the dead body of a female infant near his house ;
that he had reason to believe that said infant came to her
death by violence ; and further, that he believed that one
Eliza Head was the murderess of the child. A special
term of the court was thereupon called by Judge Smith, to
be held in May, 1831. The grand jury, through James
Ta:ylor, their foreman, presented an indictment against said
Eliza, charging that on April 19, 1826, immediately after
having given birth to a bastard child, she had destroyed its
life by filling the mouth and throat of the infant with dirt
and leaves, not having the fear of God before her eyes but
being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil,
and against the peace and dignity of the state, etc.

The prosecution summoned the following witnesses : Daniel
and Mary Winn, James Wells, Fielder Burch, Samuel New-
lin, J. M. Wilson, Robert Miller, James Miller, Robert
Wilson, David Ditech and Abigail Converse. The trial
came oft' on the 31st of May, Attorney-General Alfred Cowles
prosecuting and A. W. Snider defending. The jury, com-
posed of William Wright, James Shephard, James Modglin,
John Wooters, Lynville M. Daniel, Elijah Axley, John
Matlock, Moses Lock, John Clark, Thomas McDaniel, Tho-
mas Sterrill, Jr., and Thomas Morgan, rendered a verdict
of "not guilty."

A second indictment, charging the said Eliza with con-
cealing the death of a child, was disposed of by a plea of
want of jurisdiction, the plea being sustained by the
court.

More Murders. — Henry Appel, indicted April, 1818, was
tried and found guilty at said term. He was defended by
Bissell and Engelmann, and obtained a new trial, when he
was found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for five years. Two cases of larceny against him
added fifteen years to the above sentence. Appel was a
St. Clair county man ; the name of his victim is not men-
tioned in the records.

Jacob C. Jones was tried for murder August, 1848, and
acquitted. Christopher aad Franz Reininger wsre tried for
murder April, 1849 ; they, too, were acquitted.

Leaving this subject of murder and bloodshed, we shall
turn now to another subject, to wit : the naturalization of
foreign- born residents of the county.

NATURALIZATION.

European immigrants commenced to arrive in the county
of Monroe about the year 1833. The first naturalization
papers were granted to John Raddleberger, August 26, 1840.
His Honor, Judge Sidney Breeze, administered the oath of
allegiance to the applicant, and made him a naturalized
citizen of the United States. Applications for citizenship
now became numerous, and as it may interest the present
genei'ation to read the declaration of such applicants, we
introduce here that of Ludwig Pilger, to wit :

I, Ludwig Pilger, an alien bornjree luhite person, do here-
by in conformity with the acts of congress relating to the
naturalization of foreigners, declare and make known that
my true and proper name is Ludwig Pilger, that I was born
in the Grand Dutchy of Hesse Darmstadt on the 27th day
August, 18(10, and that I am forty years of age, that I be-
longed to the German nation and owed allegiance to the
Grand Duke of Hesse, that I landed at the city of New
York, and in the United States of America, on the 20th
day of June, 1834, that I have ever since my first arrival
remained under the jurisdiction of the said United States,
and that it is bona fide my intention to renounce, forever,
all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, State or
Sovereignty whatever, and, more paiticularly such allegiance
and fidelity as I may in any wise owe to the said Grand
Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, and to become a citizen of the
United States : that I do not now enjoy or possess, nor am I
in any wise entitled to any order of Distin-ction or title of
nobility, and that I am sincerely attached to the principles
contained in the Constitution of the United States, and desire
that this my declaration and report may be accepted, filed
and recorded preparatory to my intended conformity with
the several acts of congress heretofore passed on that subject.

Subscribed and sworn to before me ")

this 23d day of Eebruarv, A. D., V Ludwig Pilger.
1840. ■ 3

W. W. Omelveny, clerk.

List of foreign born citizens naturalized in the county,
from August 26, 1840, to April term, 1850. J. A. Franke,
George Frick, John Frick, Joseph Haller, W. Kraemer,
Philip Wehrheim, John VVehrheim and E. Waldmann,
August C. Haserick, Joseph Riehl. John P. Brann, Sebas-
tian Berger, James Burke, Joseph lieinpe, Jacob Horn,
John Koechel, George Koch, George Leip, B. Mosbacher,
Joseph Mohler, .Joseph Mohr, Louis Nadler, Joseph Reihl,
Jacob Ruch, Joseph Schroeder, Valentin Siegel, Vincent
Somm, Andrew Schirmer, Anton Schaefer, Joseph Sp^cht,
John Schaft'er, Anton Sparwasser, William Thackway,
David Walsh, John Welch, John Kirsch, Patrick McGrath,
Michael Kelley, Jacob A. Beck, Henry Lauer, Mathias
Huth, Lewis Pelzer, George de Pugh, Anton Dictz, Urban
Voelkli, James Newsham, George Maerz, Adam Bruegel,

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

149

Adam Hahnenberger, Christopher Klube, John Minker,
Heniy Oestrich, Henry Miller, Adam Beeker, Henry Manni,
Johann Dietz, Nicholas Reitz, Valentin Schafenberger,
John Hempe, John P. Hofman, Peter U'ierscheini, sr., and
Peter Wierscheim, jr., John McCrossin, Thomas Bums,
Jacob Ran, James Rogcow, Frederick Henekler. Thomas
Coop, .Tohn Adam Mummert, Michael O'Leary, Charles
Henekler, James Sinimott, Jacob Frick, Christopher Heyl,
J. Michael Kraetner, Gottlieb Much, Charles Frick, Paul
Schmitz, Jacob Ralin, Daniel Klein, Louis Grossmann,
Joseph Roscow, Philip Jarges, Peter Wickline, Perry Fox,
Martin Huth, Thomas Crowe, John P. Ensinger, jr., John
Dixon, George A. Kopp, John Lofink, Martin Dunn,
Thomas Lamb, William Gilraore, Valetin Bruegel, Thomas
Griffin, John Rye, John Delaney and Michael Berthall.

This list contains but a part of the names of the early
emigrants. Hundreds obtained their naturalization papers
'n other counties and in St. Louis, Mo. Many more, find-
ing no difference between citizenship and the right of suff-
rage, took no step to be naturalized, as the constitution of
the State gave the latter right to all who had been residents
of the county prior to its adoption — March, 18-18.

The number of immigrants poured into the county since
1^48, principally from Germany, have completely turned
the features of this county, which at its organization was
largely American. The German language now predomin-
ates in many parts of the county, and in the stores, the
shops, yea, even in the court house, " wird deutsch yespro-
chen." Many of the remainders of the old American stock
understand the German perfectly and speak it fluently.

The German schoolmaster, and above all, the German
priest or clergyman have by their ceaseless efforts succeeded
in perpetuating the language of the Yaterland on the banks
of the Missistipj)i.

MONROE COUNTY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FROM 1818

TO 1848.

Section 8, Article \1. of the Constitution of 1S18, stipu-
lated that Monroe should be entitled to one Senator and one
Representative, until a State census should be taken.

The Fimt General Axsemh/tj convened at Kaskaskia, Oct.
5, 1818, and adjourned on the 13th of that month, because
the Constitution had not yet been approved by Congress.
It met in second se.-sion, January 4, 1819, and adjourned
March :'l, 1819. Alexander Jameson represented the county
in the Senate, and William Alexander in the House, 1818
to 1820.

The Second (imeral Axsembhj convened at the new State
Capital, Vandalia, December 4, 1>^2(I, and adjourned Feb.
15, 1821. Alexander Jameson, senator, and Enoch Moore,
representative, 1820 to 1><22. Vandalia remained the State
capital for twenty years.

Third General Ai^embhj, 1822 to 1824. Joseph A. Beaird,
senator; William Alexander, representative.

Fourth General Assardily, 1824 to 182t). Joseph A.
Beaird, senator; George Forquer and Thomas James, repre-
sentatives.

Fifth General Assembly, 1826 to 1828. Joseph A. Beaird,*
senator ; Thomas James, representative.

Sixth General Assembly, 1828 to 18;50. Samuel McRoberts f
senator ; Moses Lemen, representative.

Seventh General Assembly, 1830 to 1832. Jonathan
Lynch, senator ; John D. Whiteside, representative.

Eighth General Assembly, 1832 to 1834. Jonathan
Lynch, senator ; John D. Whiteside, representative.

Ninth General Assembly, 1834 to 1830. Benjamin Bond,
senator ; John D. Whites'ide, representative.

Tenth General Assembly, 183(; to 1838 John D. White-
side, senator (resigned March 6, 1837); James B. Moore,
senator (successor of Whiteside); David Nowlin, represen-
tative (resigned); John A. Summerville, representative (suc-
cessor of Nowlin).

Eleventh General Assembly, 1838 to 1840. James B.
Moore, senator ; Edward T. Moore, representative.

Twelfth General Assembly. 1840 to 1842, convened at
Springfield (now the capital of the State), on the 23d of
November, 1840. James A. James, senator ; W. H. Bissell,
representative

Thirteenth General Assembly, 1842 to 1844 James A.
James, senator; Jacob J. Danner, Andrew J. Dickinson and
William McBride.]; representatives.

Fourteenth General Assembly, 1«44 to 1840. Joseph Mor-
rison, senator for Randolph and Monroe ; E. Adams, E. W.
Robbins and John D Whiteside,' representatives for Ran-
dolph and Monroe.

Fifteenth General Assembly, 184fi to 184.H Joseph Mor-
rison, senator ; Robert Mann, John Morrison and Edward
Omelveny, representatives.

MONROE COUNTY — 1849 TO 1883.

The State Convention of 1847 was convened at Spring-
field June 7th, 1847. and adjourned August 31st, 1847.
The constitution proposed was ratified at a special elec-
tion held on the 6th of March, 1848, and went into force
and effect April 1, 1848

This convention was composed of one hundred and sixty-
two delegates. Newton Cloud, of Morgan county, was
president, Henry VV. Moore secretary, and John A Wilson
sergeant-atarms.

James A. James and John D. Whiteside represented the
county of Monroe in the convention.

As stated on a preceding page, the county commissioners,
court was abolished by the new constitution, and the govern,
ment of the county entrusted to county courts.

First County Co«r(, 1849 to 18.o3 — John Morrison, County

* A re-npportionment was made January 12, 18'-fi, by whi<'h Monrop, Clinton,
and Washington counties formed a senatorial, and the county of Monroe a
representative district.

t Samuel McRoberts was elected to fill u vacancy caused by the death of Jo-
seph A- Beaird. McRoberts had been clerk of both lounty and circuit courts,
as well as recorder, during the infancy of the county. His records are to this
day models of accuracy and penmanship. He was elected to the United States
Senate in 1841, to succeed John M. Rob'nson, of Carmi. McRoberts died
March 22, 1813, and was succeeded by James Semple of Alton, senator, appointed
by Gov. Ford

t February 26, 1811, the ratio for a senator was fixed at 12,non, and for a repre.
snntaUve, at 4,<xio inhabitants. Monroe remained a part of the old St. Clair
senatorial district, and formed with Randolph county a representative district,
which was entitled to three members of the house.

150

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Judge ; Bradley Rust, James M. Robinson, Associate
Justices ; Daniel Converse, Clerk ; John H. Wilson,
Sheriff.

The first meeting of this court took place on the 3d of
December, 1849 The proceedings during the first two
years of this court are void of interest. The judge himself
devoted his attention to examining most minutely into all
county affairs. The constantly increasing public business, as
well as the growing claims on account of support of paupers
necessitated an increase in taxation. Besides, the o/(^ court
house, whose walls were '■ shook " by the balls of children
when it was new — 1834 — was wholly inadequate for even
the most modest demands. The question, when and how to
build, was mooted for fully two years, and when at last the
plan of building a new court house was matured, and a
contract made, the court wisely ordered a special tax for the
purpose of paying for the work as it progress; d,

The contract price was only 88,000, but how carefully was
the contract itself drawn up. There is, we venture to say,
uo contract on the files of any of the other counties of the
State so detailed and so carefully worded as the one in
question. Its perusal may not interest all the readers of
this sketch, and yet it is very good reading, and men in
future may learn a lesson from it.

The New Court Huu-e. — The building of the present
court house was an undertaking of some magnitude, consid-
ering tlie indifferent condition of the county finances, and
the limited revenues of the county.

The county authorities were well aware of the situation,
and the articles of agreement drawn up and entered into on
the 5th day of (September, a. d. 1851, bear witness to their
fonsiylit. We intiuduce this voluminous document at
full length, so that in future times the county authorities
may be guided in similar cases.

Tlie Agreem nt. — This article of agreement made this 5th
day of April, a. d. 1851 between Lloyd Prather, of the
first part, and John Morrison, judge of the county court,
Bradley Rust and James M. Robinson, associate justices of
the county court of Monroe county, Illinois, and their succes-
sors in ofKce for the second part, witnesseth :

That for and in consideration of the sum of S8,000, to be
paid by the said parties of the second part or their successors
in office, as hereinafter on their part particularly set forth,
the said Lloyd Prather does hereby agree and bind himself,
to build a Court House on the public square in the town of
Waterloo, Illinois, for said county, and on such place on
said square as shall be de.'^ignated by the said county court,
according to the following plan and specifications, to wit :

1st. Excavation of all that part of the earth that will be
under the two rear rooms, to be excavated six feet from the
lower edge of the joists, the same being about 17x25 feet
each, all that other part of the outer foundation which will
be under said building, as shown in the plot annexed hereto,
and drawn to i inch to the foot, making the said building
43x60 feet on the ground, is to be excavated to the depth of
2} feet and 2i feet wide, and all partition walls are also to
be excavated to said depth, eighteen inches wide, said cellars
and trenches for foundation to be dug to a level from the

proper point in such a manner that the brick walls will
stand plumb over the center of all the lower foundations.

2d. Foundaiion. — All that part of the foundation from
the bottom of the cellars to the top of the grade, and all
that other part of the foundation of said building to be good
common mason work of lime stone rock of good sine for such
a job, well laid in good lime and sand mortar, said walls to
be laid solid and firm clear through the whole thickness of
the wall, all of said mortar walls to be two and a half feet
thick, and all the inner or partition walls to be eighteen
inches thi ^k, brought up to a true level at the top of grade.

3d. Upper Found ttioii.—A.U that part of the upper
foundation under the outer walls of said building to be raised
on the outside from the top of the lower foundation or grade
to the height of two feet with good bush hammered cut
rock of lime stone, laid in two ranges if practicable, with as
small joints as possible of lime and sand mortar; the rock
for said foundation is to have an inch and a half margin cut
or tooled all around, top and bottom, and the center snugly
dressed with a fine bush hammer, the lower range of rock to
be a little wider than the upper one. And the thickness to
vary from 6 or S to 14 inches, and those thick and thin rock
placed alternately on the walls so as t) make a good joining
with the backing up behind the face work, which is to be
sufficient to make the walls two feet thick of common mason
work. On the top of this cut stone work there is to be a
water table, eight inches in depth and dressed in the same
manner on the face as the other cut-ston-', said water table
to be from ten to fourteen inches wide, and beveled from
the brick walls between the outside three-fifths of an inch so
as to throw off the water, and the same is to project over all
around one and a half inches and beveled snugly all around,
making good intersections. There is to be backing up
behind the water table level with the top, the same as the
backing up behind the other cut work. The partition walls
in the upper foundation to be raised to a level with the
outer foundation, the same thickness as the lower and the
same kind of work, all of which must be well and substan-
tially done, taking care to have the walls well tied together
from the face, or nearly so, tha: the two beds will come
snugly together and thereby prevent springing when the
weight comes on.

4lh. Sills, etc. — There are to be sills at the side entries
doors set in range with the water table, the same thickness
and worked in the same manner, and to be wide enough to
extend from the outer edge to the inside of the brick wall.
At the two ends there must be a stone platform, to be long
enough to embrace the entire finish of the door set in range
with the water table, the same thickness and dressed in
the same manner, and to be wide enough to extend from
the front raige of the water table fjur feet inside of
the brick wall, which will require each to be about 6x9
feet. There are to be hutments carried in connection with
the wall from the foundation up sufficiently high for the
platforms to rest upon at each end and to be a little elevated
on the inside to run out the water. The joist must be so
arranged as to bring the floor level with the top of those
sills and platforms, observing that the joists must go into the

HISTORY OF RAyDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRV COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

15]

stone wall.-; ; tiiere nw to bo tlirec stone steps at each duor
the rife being; eight inches auii trend lourteen inches,
(inisheii in tiie same style.

.5lh. SllU iiikI i'<ipi. — All windows to have .-tone ra)is and
sill.-, to be ilressed iu similar niatincr ; sills J inches thick,
and as wide as usual ; the caps to be 10^ inches wide and of
proper thick ne.-s. The outside doors must have wooden
frames clear through the wall, made ironi joists 2 by .S
inclies, spiked or pinned together and well put on, -ci a- to
prevent settling or cracks.

<>lh. Tlir lirick for sai<l building must be of the best
nierchantable (juality, moulded in twos and of city sizi-s,
using the best front brick for the outride.

7th. lii-icl; (toi-L- — All the brick work is to be done in
good sub.-tantial manner, and never running more than
scatilild high on one wall before bringing up the other walls
to the same height. All the outside walls to be run to the
height of 2()j feet from the top of the water-table to the
square of the building, nuiking the (irst story 101 feet high
niKJ the second st«>ry 1') feet high ; the outside walls to be '11
inches th'ck, including i iiteas. The antea to i)roject about
41 inches, leaving the walls about l"* inches thick, and,
after running to the t"p of the antea caps, the wall must
then be full thickness clear through, thert by making the
faces of the cornice of brick, as also the architrave of the
cornice, set out at square projections ; the antea cajis are
also to be of brick, set out at square projections. The inner
or partition walls to be run to the height of the first story,
and niue inches thick. All the brick must be laid in their
appropriate i)laces with true face to walls inside and out.
with straight angles and plumb. Sai<l brick must be laid
in go' d lime and sand mortar, and all the interstices to he
filled up wiih mortar, so as to make a good solid wall.

8th C'lrpentii's work — All the joists in the first and
second floors to be 2; by 10 inches, of white or post oak, or
otherwise white or yellow pine. There mu?t be at least one
range of cro.ss bridging, of suitable size, run through each
room and pas-age below between the joists, and also three
ranges in the u]>per floor, one over each belovv. well secured
All the above joists are to be placed on the walls 16 inches
from the centre. There must be a heavy girder, or rather
two, to reach across the passage, to lay the joists on. Said
girder should be 10 by 12 inches, and rest well on the wall.
Dth. ('t'i/iiirj ami riirif. — There njust be si.\ pair of princi-
pal rafers in said roof, one t • stand over each antea, but
where the flues and chimneys come they niu.-t be as near the
antea as practicable, on account of fire, minding to equalize
the weight as much as possible ; .said rafters to be as fol-
lows : Each main bearn 7 by 10 inches, and long enough to
extend over the wall on both sides. There are to be two
king posts, hammer beam, and spur braces. The queen
posts must be at least 7 by 12 inches, cut in such a shape
that the head of the principal rafter when cut square will
fit it when applied ; also cut at the foot, so as to receive the
spur brace. In the same way said posts must be well
framed into the main beams, and said beams are to be sup-
ported by means of an iron stirrup, h by 2 inches, going
around the beam and extending up the posta at least two

feet from the lower edge of the beam, drawn up by means

of two iron keys, made of sutticient length to drive through,
and then bolted through with a three-ipiarter iron bolt with
head and nut. The principal rafters must be let into the
main beam at th'' bottom or heel, and there secured by
means of a seven-eighth screw bolt with washers, put ing the
same through at riglit angles from the top of the rafters.
The queen posts muyt be framed into the girders a little
more than one-third of the space from the inside of each
wall. The hammer beams must be with a little head to the
shoulder, so as to b x into the queen posts one-half inch at
its lower edge. The size of the principal rafters and beams
are to be 7 by 8 inches, two ranges on each siile of the roof,
one to jog down on the beams immediately behind the queen
posts, the other at a proper distance below, as near the head
of the spur brace a.s praclii'able, or not quite hall-way to the
rai-iug plate, which must be 2 by 10 inches, and well se-
cured to the beams and lookouts. Jack rafters mu-t b.; 2
by G inches. The ceiling j dsts must he 2' by inches,
boxed in between the main beams as to a strip well nailed
or spiked. Said joints must be put in (i inches from the
centre ; at lea.st evtry other j .int at each end of the building
must remain outside of the wall to fasten cornice to. Ob-
.serve to only have the end beams that rest on the wall half
the depth of the others, or .5 by 7 inches, and well .secured.
On the top o the joists there must b : look.iuts framed in on
the sides, of sufficient number and size to make a good sub-
stantial job. say at least l'> inches deep. All the above
joists and roof timbers must be of good white jiine, to u.se
scjuare-edged sheeting 1 inch thick, to use the best (|uality
of white pine shingles, laid from 4 to 5 imdios to the weather.
Root to be the same pitch as shown in the plan ; to be a con-
venient scuttle left through the ceiling in the lobby at the
head of the stairs, and also one through the roof at a con-
venient place for getting out ; the .same to be well secured
with copper, so as to entirely prevent leaking. There must
also be copper gutters behind each and all the chimneys,
being tour in all.

10th. Curnicc. rtr. Said buililing is to have a cornice in
the Grecian style ; it is to go all around said building Th
gutters iu this cornice must be lined with 12 lb. copper, the
same being made as large as lo inches; the copper must be
put together'with a double groove, made perfectly water-
tight and fastened <lown with staples made at right angles,
so that the co()per will draw under them when affected by
heat. It will be observed that said gutters must first be
lined with plank before the copper is put in ; there must be
also four down conductors, made from 10 lb. copper, and
made 3 inches in diameter, and carried down behind the
brick facia and antea caps, so as not at all to obstruct the
cornice on the outside, and conductors to be carried down
straight in the first angle of the ant^a from the corner on
each side to the top of the water table, and there a shoe
made to throw off the water.

lllh. Front iKjiiires There are to be four frontispieces
in Grecian style, one to each of the four entrances, to be
made of thick, heavy stutt"of the best quality of white pine,
also four side-light doors, made of the same material; the

152

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES. ILLINOIS.

two recess doors not to stand more than 3 J feet from the
iuside of the wall to the finish of the posts. There is to be
a heavy fancy architrave around the outside of said doors;
the shutters to said doors must be made of the best quality
of white pine, and made in four panels, well hinged with
good butts, each door furnished with a good, heavy American
look, with mineral knobs. There must be an iron railing
of a good pattern from antea to antea, on each side of the
door over the crown of the frontispiece on each side of the
building.

12th. Windows. There must be four windows in stone
foundation, two at each end of building, one under each of
the other windows. There are al.so to be twenty-eight win-
dows, twelve lights, each 12x18 inches, all of said windows
to be made with good puUies properly arranged, and the
lower sash hung with good cords and cast-iron weights.

1.3th. Flooring, etc. Floors to be laid in the first and
second stories with good seond-rate yellow pine plank, mill
worked and of the usual thickness, and from 4 to six inches
wide, well seasoned and well laid down by secret nailing.

14th. Doors. There must be the same number of doors
as marked on the plan. All the inside doors, except the
door to the court room must be at least 3x7 feet, and the
one to the court rojm must be 51x8'., made folding, and each
door to be hung with three hinges; to have j:ood spring
bolts with chain to the top bolt, also a good American lock,
with mineral knobs, as aLso all the other doors in said
house.

15th. Stairs, etc. The stairs in said building to be as laid
down in said plan, of yellow pine.

16th. IJitse. There must be a base in all the rooms and
passages in said building, made plain and 8 inches wide,
snugly cased.

17lh. I'drtitions. All the rojius in the secjnd story to be
divided with partitions ; there must be a snug step-ladder to
go up to the scuttle in the upper ceiling.

18th. Court Room. All the seats for spectators and jury
boxes must be raised from the floor, one above the other,
from four to six iuches, to have ends back and seats solid,
with backs capped in a snug manner; there must also be a
strip, four iuches wide, under the seats. The judge's seat to
be made with square columns, snugly capped, the front
being 25 feet from the floor of the stand to the top. The
clerk's desk to be made in good style, with doors, also the
desk for sheriff, officers, etc.

19th. PlitstfriiHj. All the rooms and passages in said
building to be plastered w th three good coats of lime and
sand mortar, the last coat to be made of Plaster of Paris and
marble.

20th. Pointing. All the brick-work on the outside to be
painted with three coats of white lead and oil, of light drab
coLir, and all the corners, anteas, caps, pediments, frontis-
pieces, frames, doors, etc., to be painted white.

All the window blinds to said building must be painted
with three coats, green of the best quality. All the work is
to be finisheil in manner as specified by the 1st day of March,
1853. The said county court and their successors in oflice
agree to and with the said Lloyd Prather that they will upon

compliance of the said Prather with this contract pay to him
the sum of $8000 in payments and in manner as follows, to
wit, the sum of $1500 on the first day of June 1852 and the
sum of $1500 payable yearly after the year 1852, and at the
completiijn of the building the said court further agrees to
and with the said Prather, that they will for the balance
then due to said Prather issue the bonds of said county bear-
ing interest at the rate of 10^ per annum until paid and pay
the interest thereon annually until paid.

Lloyd Prather's bond was countersigned by Ham. Shoe-
maker, W. C. Starkey, N. B. Wall, A. W. Gardner and
Wm. Wilson, jr , witnessed and certified to by J. M. John-
son, a justice of the peace.

The court house was completed on April 1st, 1853.

The tax values of 1852 were $905,000 and the special levy
for court house purposes was -41 cts.

The secc„'' county court was elected in 1853.

John Morrison was re-elected, and in fact remained in
office until death called him off" in 1872. The reader will find
the names of his associates in the roster of county officers on
a subsequent page. The County continued to grow in
wealth and population. The Financial affairs weie in good
shape, the taxes light and the tax-payers ready to pay
them.

A financial statement made during the third term of the
Hon. Judge may find room here.

Pnid since- June ter
i-)r r-iails ami bridge?

1 18J7 to the pieseiit te

county and probate .
associate justices . .

377.110
201 .k»

records, cupboards for county clerk's •

sherirt and deputies

sh ritf s percentage on revenue . .
elections, officers of and mileage
comnii-sioners on lost book (.' . . . .

constables on circuit court

„5.essors, depot, assessors

clerk of circuit com t salary and fees .
repair ..n court house and jail, fuel, ki-
e,.r,.urr li .Iding inquests

r;'"pcr-

l.i7.1o

2-.i.50
O.i.SO
01 0.37
138.95
13S.20
01.20
il2S.78

Total .

County orders is.sued since June l.<.i7 S7. 340.44

County orders of prior date out -l^.W

Total S7.J89.00

County orders paid since June 1857 5.552.39

County orders still unpaid 2.337.21

County revenue for. 1857 86.953.50

Licenses — peddlersand groceries 9OU.50

7.854.00

Paid in by ooUecter, part revenue of 1857 $1023.20

Leaves revenue uncollected " 830.80

Deducting from this the outstanding county orders as above 2.337.21

Leaves amount due to the county $4.4113.59

Whereas the jury certificates are not issued in this office,
and no report made of those issued, it is impossible to state
how many are out.

I, the undersigned, clerk hereby certify that the above is a

i5:a

COURT HOUSE.
FUBUC BW1M/N6S MONHOS county. ILLINOIS

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MOXROE AXD PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

153

true ami correct statement of the fiscal condition of Monroe
county iij) to June term a. d. 18>8.

C. II. KiCTTI.ER, CoUllll) Clerk*

The following statement will slmw the increasing wealth
of the county.

STATEMFNT OF ASSESSHENT 18ot).

Horso« 3.148 valued SIi"'<li>'<>

Mules isa '• lG.ii4.'>

Cattle • , 0230 " 6(i.fiiil

Slieep 1300 •' '. . ii.5i>.")

Hops ... . i079"> " ].'i.C(iS

Carrinpes an<l wngons .... 1703 " 3.'i.Ti>.s

CUiek.* and u'atelies 11-JO "

740

Go^uls and merehan<H>c 33.970

Mnnnfaeturi'd arliclfs 2.390

Mone.v and .rodiis I34.r.«C

Bouds and Stuek> l.HK)

\\\ utiier persunal property 70.«I0

Total ,

Land<i — numlier of
Lots in tcuiis

Equ.tlized valuuliiMi 51.919.74''.

Tnr/^r;/ /or l.<o9 fur state purposes I2.8(;2.3l

Fonouul.v •• 7li7)t.99

Special school taxes for said year are not mentioned in the
above statement.

An immense hanking business was to be started at that
period, with a capital of a million of dollars known as the

MffcantUc Bank, at Waterloo, Monroe county, Illinois.
We whose names are hereunto annexed, do hereby certify :

J-'int. That we have associated together for the purpose
of establishing an office of discount, deposit and circulation,
and do hereby agree to become incorporated upon the terms
and conditions, and subject to the liabilities prescribed in
the act of the general assembly of the state of Illinois,
entitled "an act to establish a general system of banking,"
and the name assumed to distinguish such associations
and to be used in its dealings, is the Mercaiitile Bank.

Sffoiiil. That its business is to be carried on in the town
of Waterloo, Monroe county, state of Illinois.

Third. That the amount of capital stock of the associa-
tion is one million of dollars, divided into ten thousand
shares of one hundred dollars each.

Fourth. That the name and residence of the respective
shareholders, and the number of shares held by each of them
respectively, are as follows : Caryl Young, Chicago, Illinois,
ten thousand shares.

Fijih. That the said association shall commence this

* The above statement js a verbatim copy of the original|as found on book E
pages 21G and 217. It i? not in good shape, yet accurate, and being the first
statement ever placed on record, it should find space o^i this chapter. The
county revenue to wit S6-854.0<i exceeds the expenditures about S2,'jO, which
amount may have sufficed to redeem the jui*y certificates mentioned above. —
What use the county clerk had for a cupboard is however not made plain. The
lost book C was a record of desed, spirited away and after several years found
in the court house well. The index to this book had been preserved, and a
partial record was subsequently made by recording the deeds 4c, remaining in
the hands of grantees.

20th day of September, 18G0, and terminate on the 20th of
September, 1885.

(liven under my hand, this 20th of September, 1860.
Caryl Yoi'xg, [l. s.].
Subscribed and sworn to ) r^ n tr ^r , i, ,,■

this 20th of Sept., 1860. \ ^" ^ " Harris, Xotary Pubhc.

The following report clearly indicate.^ that the people of
the county fully understood the favorable financial condi-
tion of their county :

EEl-OKT OP GR.VND JURY, NOVEMBER TERM, 1858.

The grand jurors at said term have examined the jail,
and have also conversed with the prisoners confined therein,
and we deem it proper to report, in relation to the prisoners,
that they appear to be well provided for under the circum-
stances, as could reasonably be expected, and that all speak
in the highest term of the kind treatment received from the
gentlemen in charge of that department.

We have a few remarks to make in relation to the present
condition of our county jail, and hope they will not pa.ss
unnoticed by the county authorities; we earnest!}' recom-
mend that speedy measures may be taken to erect a decent,
safe and suitable building, to hold our unfortunate people,
who have violated and al\vay.s will violate the laws of
our common country. We look upon the present jail as a
nuisance and unworthy of a resting place upon the public
ground of Monroe county, a county free of indebtedness,
and settled by an industrious and enterpri.-ing people, and
occupying the most enviable position of all the southern
counties of our growing state.

Jacob Gai.e, forenuai.

The county court did not pay any attention to this request
or report of the grand jury, for ihey thougiit it wi.ser and
more humane to first provide fi.r the poor and friend le.'^s,
than for our unfortunaif people ti-lio nill a/irays tio/atc the
lauM of our common roiintrij.

Acting on this principle, they purchased a small tract of
land from Charles Ilenckler and John S. Boshert, for S200,
and contracted with Charles Borntraeger to erect an
asylum thereon, in order to give shelter to the county poor.
This, now commonly called poor housf, cost the county
S2,2S8.15.

The civil war had now broken out, and the public funds
were constantly needed to support the needy families of the
men who had taken the field.

The flush times in the years immediately succeeding the
war, had their effect on the people of Monroe county as well
as on those of other counties. The expenditures of the
county increased to S25 000 a year, and frequently exceeded
the revenue. County orders, amounting to S5.<I0 and over,
were made ten per cent. inter>st bearing paper, a floating
debt was gradually creeping up and what was worse, a large
funded debt was settled upon the county, not by its officers,
however, but by the votes of the people. The old county
judge, however, did not live to see his county loaded with a
debt, exceeding 8100,000.

The records of the county pay tribute to this faithful
public servant, as follows:

]54

HISTORY OF liANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

PlX-EMRER SlTCIAL TkUM 1S7'2.

Mniiil,!!/ Ajlmiooii DccciiiIk r '1 i.

In mi:mi)1:iam. Hon. Jc/m J/dr./.M//*.— At a funiial meet-
ing of tlie I'ouiuy cuui-t liclil at the t^ourt House in Waterloo,
Detember :2;> ISTii, pi.niLiputed in by the several couuty
officer?, nie;iil)er» of the bar and citizeus of the county, for
the purpose of paying a last tribute of respect to the memory
of Hon. Job.n M n-rison <]ecease(l, late judge of the county
court of Monroe County, Illinois, alter appropriate prelimi-
nary remarks, the following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted, viz:

AVhereas ii has pleased Divine Providence to remove by
death Ironi our miilst Hon. John Jlorrison, and as it is emi-
nently niu't, that we in his death ever honor one \Yhom we
had so loiig honored while living, therefore as a last teslimo.
iiial of our respect to his memory, be it

1st, Ji'ryulcrJ, that by the death of Judge Jlorrison, the
citizens of this county have lost one whom they long delight-
ed to honor as the firm, uncompromising friend and protect-
or of the poor, the friendless, the widow and the orphan, and
whose doors and jialms were always open to the wants of the
needv, and one whose hands were ever pure in the adminis-
tration of !iis official duties.

■_*)i(/, 7,''.-"/i'(/, that we tender our sympathies to his be-
rfavid widow and family.

"nl, Ji'ifo'i-cd, that these resolutions be placed upon the rec-
ords of the county court, that a copy of the same be fur-
nished (0 the family of the deceased, and also that a copy be
furnished to each of the newspapers of this county, the ad-
joining counties and St- Ijouis, with a request that the same
be published.

John IMoriison was succeeded by H. S. Talbott, who to-
gether with Adam Rei.-s and Harrison Druce conducted tha
affairs of the county until 187 !, and were relieved by a board
of county commissioners, who under the constitution of 1870
were henceforth entrusted with tlie county government.

The large funded debt nientioned above was created by a
vote of tlie people at a special election held on the 24th of
February, 1868, in which 1537 voters against 165, decreed
that the county should take 8100,000 stock in a projected
Bail Road from East St Louis to Cairo, and running through
the county.

The money with which to pay for the stock was to be
raised by issuing county bonds of said amount, to draw 8 per
cent, interest, and to become due 20 years after the date of
issue. The result of the election however was not made a
matter of record at that time, because as it seemed, the plan
of building the road had been abandoned. Later this was
done, the bonds were prepared, and finally placed into the
hands of the railroad people, as will appear from the follow-
ing document of one hundred words each, which will cost the
county twenty six hundred dollars in principal and interest.

No. 2S. — State oflldnois. — 1,000 Shares Cairo arid St. Louis

Railroad Company.

This is to certify, that Monroe county, in the State of

Illinois, is entitled to 1,000 shares, of SlOO each, of the

capital stock of the Cairo and St. Louis Railroad Company,

transferable only on the books of said company by the said
stockholder in person or by attorney, on the surrender of
this certificate.

In witness whereof, the said company has caused this cer-
^^"^^■^^ tificate to be signed by its president and secretary,
K^-^J this 5th day of March, 1873.

S. S. Taylor, President.

D. IIi'RD, Secretary.

CON'STITUTIONAI. CONVENTION OF 1870.

This convention was preceded by that of 1862, in which
Thomas \V. Morgan represented this county. The funda-
menlal law proposed by this convention was rejected by the
people at a special election, held June 17th, 1862. A ma-
jority of the delegates were not exactly " loyal" in the sense
of a majority of ihe people, who were at the time in the hot-
test excitement on account of the civil war. " Loyalty" in
tho.se days did not mean obedience to law, but allegiance to
ihe dominant party. The convention of 1870 was composed
of eighty five delegites, j>resided over by Charles Hitchcock,
of Cook county, with John I. Harmon as secretary and J.
L. Lothrop as doorkeeper. Monroe, together with Ran-
dolph and Perry counties, formed the eighth district, repre-
sented by J H. Wilson, of Monroe, and George W. Wall,
of Perry. The constitution proposed by this convention
was ralilied by the people on the 2d of July, 1870, and went
in force on the 8th of August following.

As stated above, the county government was now entrusted
to a board of county commissioners of three members; the
members of the first board to serve respectively one, two and
three years; their successors were to he elected for full terms,
to wit, three years. The first county board was composed of

Gtorge Fi-ick, who served two full tci-nis 187a to IS70.

Hiiiri.^ou Druce, wiih served a two yenr.s' term 187:t t'l 1875.

George I>i\ ers, who served a one year and a three j-ears-' term, 187J lo 1877.

The first board caused the present jail to be erected, a
substantial structure and a credit to the people of the county,
but not until the grand jury had again urged the matter.
They say in their report of September, 1874 : " The couuty
jail is very unsafe and insecure, and from its constructiou
and arrangement unfit for the purpose of a jail, impossible
to bo kept clean and ventilated ; its insecurity is so notorious
that the sheriff is compelled to place a night-guard around
the said building. Steps should be taken immediately to
erect a new jail" The question of borrowing the necessary
funds for building a jail was answered in the affirmative by
a popular vote, and a contract entered into with Jotham
Bigelow, of St. Louis, who agreed to erect the building
according to plans and specifications, for §8,985, and have it
finished by the 21st of September, 1875. The jail was finished
and received in December, 1875, and cost a trifle more than
contracted for, to wit :

Amount paid to contractor SS,901 no

" for lot «I0.('0

" for plans 125.00

" " to superintendent 245.25

" tor extras 829.75

Total 810,001.00

During the term of this board, some changes in the names
and boundaries of the existing precincts were made and new

HISTORY OF RAXDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

loo

precincts formed Eagle township lost its time-honored
name, to be henceforth known as Columbia. We sulijoiii a
complete list, to wit :

I'RECINCTS — MAKCH SPECIAL TERM, 1875.

Columbia. — Each precinct to be named Ciluin'^ia, with
boundaries as follows : Oo the north and east by the county
lines of St. Clair and Monroe counties ; on the west by tbe
Mississippi river; in the south to include sections 2") and
2 and north part of survey 408, claim o4'>, all in township

15. R. 11 W., and sections 2o, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 3o and
',A) in township 1 8. R. 10 \V., and the part of section 31
township 1 S. R. 9 W., lying in Monroe county. The elec-
tions at this precinct to be held in the town of Columbia.

Neu' Hanover, a new precinct to be established, the boun-
daries to be as follows, to wit : Oa the west by the bluffs ;
on the north by the north lines of section 31, 32, 33 and 34
in township I S R. 10 W., including all of survey 413,
claim 341 ; on the east by the section lines between sections
34 and 3.") in township 1 S. R. 10 W., Dud by the section
lines between seelions 2 and 3, 10 and 11, lo and ID, 21 and
22 in township 2 S. R. 10 W; on the south by the section
lines between sections 21 and 28, 20 and 29, 19 and 30 in
township 2 S. R. 10 W., and by the section lines betwten
sections 24 and 2o in township 2 S. R. 11 \V; elections to be
held in the town of Hanover.

Waterloo, heretofore known as Fountain precinct, the
boundaries of which shall be as follows : On the east by the
boujidary line between the counties of Monroe and St. Clair
including all of township 2 S. R. 'J W. lying in Monroe
count)', except sections 25 and 30 : on the north by township
lines between township 1 S. R. 10 W. and township 2 S. R.
10 W., and the lines between township 1 S. R- 9 W. and
township 2 S. R. 9 W ; on the north by the lines between
sections 11 and 2, 10 and 3, 9 and 4, 8 and 5, 7 and 6 of
township 3 S. R. 9 W., also by the lines bstween sections 12
and 1,11 and 2, and 10 and 3 oftownship 3 S. R. 10 W ; on the
we^t by the lines between sections 2 and 3, 1 and 10, 15 and

16, 21 and 22, 27 and 28, 34 and 33 of township 2 S. R. 10
W, and the lines between sections 3 and 4 in township 3 S,
R. 10 \V. ; elections to be held in the town of Waterloo.

MoreJoek. — On the east by the bluffs; the west by the
Mississippi river, on the north by the north lines of survey
599, claim 764 and survey 588, claim 765, and survey 409
claim 643, and the north line of section 36, all in township
1 S. R. 11 W ; and the south ivest quarter of survey of 654,
claim 579, in township 1 S. R. 10 \V., on the south by the sec-
tion lines between :!() and 31 , 29 and 32, 28 and 33 and section
34, all in township 2 S. R. 11 W. Klections to be held at
the house of Isaac Eberraann, the old homestead of the late
Stephen W. Miles, sr.

Prairie dii Long. — On the east by the Kaskaskia river,
including all of township 3 S. R. 8 W. and all township 3
S. R. 7 W. lying in Monroe county, and sections 1, 12, 13^
24 and 25 in township 3 S. R. 9 \V., and section 36 and
fractional section 25 in township 2 S. R 9 W. Elections to
be held at school-house No. 2 in 3-8.

New De.nijn includes all of sections 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,

34 35, 36, township 3-9, and section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, town-
ship 4-9, and secticms 10, II, 12, 1.3, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25,

26 27, 34, 35 and 36 in township 3-10, and section^
1,2 and 3 in township 4-10. I'.leciions to be held in the
town of Burkvillo.

Bbiff includes all of sections 4, 5. 6, 7, 8, !>, 16 17, Icj. l!),
20, 21, 28, 29, 30, in T. 3 S. R. 10 W. section 28, 2H, 30, 31,
32, 33 in town 210, the bluffs forming the western bnundary
line, including the blulf parts of sections 25, 35 and 36 in
township 2-11, also the following sections in townsliij) 3-11,
lying on the bluffs, viz: sectionsi, 2,3, 10 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
22, 23, 24, 25, 26 ; elections to be held at the hou.se of Peter
Mueller.

Harrisovril/e. — On the east by the blutfi ; on the west
by the Mississippi river, it includes sections 31, 32,33, town-
ship 2-11, and the claims and parts of claims lying within
said sections of town-'hip 2-1 1, and the islands and parts of
islands in said townshiji, it includes also sections 3. 4, 5,6, 7,
8, 9, 10,15, 16, 17, 1-, 19,2), 21,22,26, 2:, 2^ 2.1, 30, 31,
32,33, 34 and 35 in t)wnship 3 11, and all tho claims ami
surveys lying within said seciions in saiil townships in the
American Bottom excepting claim 495. survey 701 ; elec"
tions to be held in the town of Harrisonville.

Mitchie to compose all of sections 31, 32 and '■)■) in town-
ship 3-10, also sections 35 and 36, township 3 11, cltiiii V.i'),
survey 701, also sections 1 , 2, '■',, 4. 5, 8, '.), \'\ 1 i, 12, 13, 14
1.5, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25 an. I 26 in 4 11, also steti wis 4, 5. 6, 7^
8,9,16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 2:t, 30 in township 4 10, the
upper line of the common fi^dds of St. Rhilij), farming the
division line between Mitcliio and Renault ])re(;incts ; elec-
tions to be held in the school house near Clialnn bridge.

Renault comprises all of .sections 7, 6, 9. 1(1, 11, 12, 13, 14,
1.), 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 2.-5. 29, 30,
31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 in towiishiii 4-9, also tcctions and
parts of sections 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15, 24, 25, 35 and o6 in
township 4 10, also ail of th^j itiiiault Grant and the part
of the commons of St I'hilip lyinir in township 4 10, also
all oftownship 5 9 and township 5-10 lying in the county of
Monroe. Elections to be held in the town of Glasgow city.

I'AUl'KKS IN THE L-DINTV.

The expenditures of the county on account ol' this class
of its population have never been great. Monroe is an in-
different field for pauperism. The expenditures of the
county in 1882 amounted to •■?32,t)7S.83, for general purposes,
and to 88,000 more on account of the interest on the railroad
debt, making an aggregate of 640,078.33. The pauper bills
amounted to 82,873.91, or a triflrf more than 7 per cent, of
the total. There is no other county in the state of Illinois
to show up as well in this respect as little ^lonroe.

After exannning into the financial affairs of many
counties in the state, we are of theopini()n that the pa.iii''r
expens3S abs )rb abo;it 18 per e.Mit. of the tot:,l tount/
revenues.

The paupers are kept in an a.sylum at Waterloo. The
superintendent of this asylum is paid §300.00 per annum,
and twenty cents per day for each inmate, whom he has to
board, clothe, and provide with bediling, etc. The inmates,

27 in number, are well kept, and have no complaints to

156

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

make ; nine of this number are constant boarders, the others
are transients, admitted since June, 1882 The county
has 20 insane paupers in state institutions.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS — 1881 AND 1882.

Farm Oops.

Acres of, i

1,401

2,rji
3,308

O.irn lr,,758

Wheat <56 3G7

(Ints S,ll50

Apple Orchards

Vineyards . . •

Tiniotliy meadows . . .

rinver meadows

Hungarian and millet !)■'»

Rye !:»

Birley l"iT

Irish potatoes 1,244

Rorglio 41i;

Turnips, etc 2.'i

otiier crops

Prodtirls in 1681.

btithels.

132,316

71B,112

50,705

13.000

ons. 12,046

s. 3.25.1

5,590

iish. V87

J 72,790
716,112

52,080
.55,000

Pas'ure

Woodland

Ilnculti^aled lands

folts foaled number 108. valu
Fat cat le sold, gro.ss weight .
Pounds of butter s.rld . . . .
Pounds of cheese sold . . . .

Gallons of mik sold

Pounds of wool sold . . . .

Fat sheep sold

Fat hogs sold

Pounds of honey produced .

6,867
.57,240

Addendum.— liu horses, representing a value of S10,64(»,
died during the year 1881 ; .i.") head of cattle, valued at
$1,.')49, died of disease. There were 1780 cows kept;
61 sheep, representing a value of $183, were killed by dogs,
and 91, worth Sil70, died of disease. Cholera carried off 57.J
hogs, worth S2,235 ; and 442, valued at Sl,l)4<t 00, died of
other diseases.

STATEMENT OF ASSESSMENT.— 1882.

Horses, 2.004, valued atS31.55 each

Cattle, 3,76:), valued at Slo.05 each

Mule", 2.335, valued at SSO.iHl each

Sheep, 1..586, valued at 81.00 each

Hogs, 9,235, valued at S1.47 e.ach

Steam engine.",. 5.5, valued at S145.00 each

Safes, 17, valned at »21.00 each

Billiards, IG, valued at $10,011 each

Carriages and wagons, 2,382, valued at S10-G5 f aeh .
Watches and clocks, 2,130, valued at 81.58 each . . .
Sewing machines. 1,157. valued at $0.70 each . . . .
Pianos, 47. v.alued at $40.24 each

Melodeons,0, valued at $10.44 each

Merchandise

Material and manufactured articles

Manufacturers' tools and implements

Agricultural tools and machinery

Moneys and credits ■ ■ "

Properly of saloons

Household property

Grain of all kinds on hand

All other personal property

Total

126,717 acres of improved land .at $9.97

111,065 acres of unimproved land at $2.00

1,804 town lots

Total values ....
Railroad property, assessed at

Grand total

Addition by order of stale board of equalization

Total equalized value .

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.— SEPT. 1, 1882.
Receipts :

Balance in treasury, September!, 1881 .

Revenue of 1881

Licenses

Sundries

Excess of fees from eoimty oflicers . . .

Total

$7,279 22
22,508 77

1,<155 55
26 60

3,272 47

$34,142 61

Expenditures :

$91,020

37,849

91,141

1.586

13,0.50

7,055

3.50

307

25,367

3,388

7,701

2,173

148

48,985

5,907

1,473

40,407

154,775

1.432

42,006

0,832

5,727

$000,625

$1,264,190

289,660

e50,3i;0

$2,404,835
.55,777

$2,400,612
252,142

Salary of county officers . .

Paupers

Public buildings

Court-*

Elections

Jail, dieting prisoners. . . .

Roads and bridges

Attorney's fees and eommiss:
Surveying Renault grant . .
Surplus, available

$6,908 89

2,873 91

1,0.52 70

1,.577 15

321 £5

570 05

15,700 23

1,502 94

406 20

2,004 28

f'ouuty orders issued pri'

County Debt :

■ to September 1, 1881, unpaid .

Railroad bonds

Total indebtednc

.ailablc surplus as above -,

.\olnal county debt $98.

The tax s levied for the current year are as follows :

For state purposes

For interest on county debt .
For county purposes ....

For town purposes

For school purposes ....
For road purposes

$13,044 15

9,351 83

17,3114 00

1,598 72

23.010 21

2,310 46

Total $07,225 43

The population of the county, according to the U. S.
census of 1880, is at present 1 3,682 ; hence the tax per capita
is nearly 85.00.

CIRCUIT COURT. — 1848 TO 1882.

During the period the circuit courts of Monroe were pre-
sided over by the Hons. Gustav Koerner, W. H. Under-
wood, Sidney Breese, H. K. S. Omelveny, Silas L. Bryan,
Amos Watts, George W. Wall, and W. H. Snyder.

The number of murder cases during this period is alarm-
ingly large, over twenty ! Most of the accused escaped pun-
ishment, many cases were nol. pros., with leave to re-instate
and never re-instated ; others were acquitted and a few con-
victed of manslaughter, to be sent for a terra of years to the
penitentiary.

Two, howiver, had to suffer the extreme penalty of the
law.

MURDER AND EXECUTION.

Henry Alter, tried for the murder of William Henze, who
was found dead in a field of Henry Alter's, in Prairie du
Long, on the 5th of July, 1860. luformatiim of the murder
was made, by Henry Henze and Rodus Kunkel, to F. T.
Klinkhardt, J. P., who, in the absence of the coroner, called
a jury and held an inquest This jury was composed of H.
W. Waldraaiin, Henry Struebig, Kilian Rex roth, George
Bley, John R. Tomlinson, James Wiggelsworth, Jacob
Christ, Peter Waring, John Bradley, Thomas Carter, Mat-
thew Donohoe and Casper J. Brann. The evidence was_
that Alter and Henze had had an altercation about some

HISTORY OF RAXDOLPH, MOXROK AXD PERRY ( OUXTIES, ILLIXOIS.

l.V

hogs, on said 5ih of July ; that they had not been on friendly
terms foi some time, and that Alter shot Henze while he
(Henze) was going away. The wounds inflicttd were in the
back of deceased. The verdict of the coroner's jury was as
follows:

" We, the jury, find that the deceased came to his death
bv violence, by shooting with buckshi>t, and that the said
body has upon it the following marks and wounds, intlicted
by Henry Alter, and which this jury find to have been the
cause of the deceased's death ; all buckshots came from
behind; five of them entered the back of the deceased, two
the left arm, fracturing the bone mar the shoulder; one his
right forearm, one his spine, and was cut out of the breast-
bone."

Upon this verdict the defendant was committed to jail,
and brought there by Thomas Ryane, constable.

The grand jury, at the subsequent October term, was
composed of Harrison Horine, foreman, John Wilsch, John
Koechel, John Whiteside, George L Ditch, John L. Kiddi
Jacob Motes, Frederick W. Brand, John liowman, James
Close, Jacob Beck, Thomas A])plegate, Harrison Druce,
Michael McDermot, Louis Grossmann, Jesse Wiswell, Wil.
liam Walsh, Sr , John Morgansen and George A. Kopp, and
found the following true bill, to wit :

The People i'*. Henry Alter. Indictment for murder. A
true bill. H. Hokixe, Foreman.

Witnesses: Kodus Kunkel, Henry Henze, Jacob Hush-
man, George Bley, Frederick >?chrader and Caspar J.
Brown.

State of Illinoi.s \

Monroe County, ) *'■

Of the October term of the Monroe County Circuit Court,
in the year of our Lord 18G0.

The grand jurors chosen, selected and sworn in and for
the county of Monroe, aforesaid, in the name and by the au-
thority of the p3ople of the state of Illinois, upon their oaths
present that Henry Alter of the county afoiesaid, on the fi th
day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and si.xty, at and in the county of Jklonroe aforesaid^
in and upon the bo<]y of William Henze in the peace of the
people of the state of Illinois then and there living, felonious-
ly, wilfully, and of his malice aforethought did make an as-
sault, and that the said Henry Alter, a certain gun then and
there charged with gunpowder and ten leaden shot, which
the said gun, he the said Henry Alter, in his hands then
and there held, then and there felouiously, wilfully and of
his said Henry Alter's malice aforethought did discharge
and shoot off to, against and upon said William Henze, and
that the saiil Henry Alter, with the ten leaden shot afore-
said, out of the gun aforesaid, then and there, by force of
the gunpowder aforesaid, by the said Henry Alter, dis-
charged and shot ofl'as aforesaid, then and there unlawfully,
feloniously, and of his malice aforethought, did strike, pen-
• etrate and wound him, the said William Henze, in and up-
on the back of him, the said William Henze, giving to him
the said William, then an<l there with the ten leaden shot,
aforesaid, by the said Henry Alter, in and upon the back
of him the said William Henze, one mortal wound of the

depth of six inches, and of the breadth of half an inch of
which said mortal wound he, the said William Henze, then
and there instantly died, and so the jurors aforesaid, upon
their oaths afort said, do say that the said lit r.iy Alter,
him the said William Henze, in manner and by the means
aforesaid, feloniously, wilfully, and of his malice afore-
thought, did then and there kill and murder, contrary to
the form of the statute, in such cases made and provided,
and against the peace and dignity of the people of the state
of Illinois.

Amos Watts states attorney. Henry Alter was defend-
ed by Abbott and Henchler. The witnesses subpa-nanl in
his behalf, were Martin Stahlheber, Thomas Burns, John
Barthel, Jacob Horchman, (son of crubbing John) Timothy
Dun, and his son Timothy Dun, and Charles Schuckert (a
tailor at Red Bud).

The trial commenced on Wednesday, November 21, ISfiO,
before the Hon. H. K S. Omelveny, and on the 22d the fol-
lowing verdict was returned, to wit:

November 22, Waterloo, Monroe county. State of Illinois.
We, the jury, '• finds " the defendant •' gilty ' in manner and
form as charged in the indictment in this cause.

Signed : Henry P. Comyns, N. S. Peters, Ben Carr,
Francis Malcbora, Thomas J. Erwin, John S. Garett, Fred.
Miller, Joseph Rincler, Jacob Snider, William M. Nether-
ton, Albert Busen and John G. Schaefer.

A motion for a new trial was overruled, as was also a
motion in arrest of judgment for insufficiency of the indict-
ment, acd the following sentence passed upon said defendant ;

'■ That he, the said defendant, Henry .\lter, having been
found guilty by the jury of the crime of murder, be sentenced
to be hanged by the neck until dead ; and it is further
ordered by the court, that he, the said Henry Alter, be exe-
cuted on the 2'<;h day of December, a. d. IMJO, between the
hours of ten o'clock a m. and four o'clock i>. m. of said day,
in the hall of the jail of Monroe county. 111., if the room of
said hall be sufficient; if not, then he be executed in the
jail yard of said county ; that he remain in eustodv until said
day of execution, and that the sheriff of this county execute
this sentence."

This laconic sentence was duly executed. The room in
the hall of the county jail was not "sufficient," and so the
execution took place in the jail yard, as will more fully
appear from the following certificate. It is written out on a
separate sheet of paper, and not endorsed on the death war-
rant, as usual in such cases ; in fact, there is no death-
warrant on file ;

Certijicate.

" I, H. F. Henckler, Sheriff of Monroe county, in the
State of Illinois, do hereby certify, that Henry Alter, who
was sentenced to be hung on the 28th of December, 18G0, by
the circuit court of said county, at the special November
term, 18ti0, of said court, for the killing of William Henze
in said county, was, on the 28th day of December, l^tJO, at
quarter past three o'clock P. .M of that day, duly executed,
according to the sentence of said court, by hanging said
Henry Alter by his neck until he, the said Henry Alter
was dead, and that I did comply with the act passed by the

158

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

legislature of the said state, on tlie 18lh of Februarj', A. d.
1859, by erecting an inclosure adjoining the county jail of
said county on the north side, and having such persons
present as the said act directs ; but that before Alter was
hung said inclosure was forcibly taken down by a mob, who
overpowered the officers attending said execution.
Witness my hand this 28th of December, 1K60.

H. F. Henckler,
Sheriff of Monroe county. 111."

We the undersigned, do certify that the above certificate
and the statement thertiu contained, is true and correct,
and that we were present at the said execution.

Witness our hands, this 28th of December, 1860.

John Morrison, county judge; Urban Degenhard, judge ;
George Tolin, judge. Doctors, K. S. Bollet and Thomas
J. Cornell. Witnesses, Paul Schmiz, John C. Morney,
Joseph W. Drury, C F. Gauen, Henry Pinkel, G. L.
Ditch, Heinrich Kimmel, Cortez Crocker, Nelson Moody,
Jewett Varuum and G. Ruch.

The sentence of H. Alter, has by many been considered
too severe, and to this day it id thought that a term in the
penitentiary would have been ample. Alters had been
worried and laLtalized by Henze, time and again, and in
this last altercation could not control his passion. Murders
had been of frequent occurrence in the county and the
people were clamorous for a punishment in keeping with the
heinousness of these oft repeated crimes.

The sheriff's certificate itself shows plainly how enraged
the masses were. The iuclosures, erected to hide the death-
scenes from the eyes of a blood-thirsty nfultitude, were torn
down by a mob, which had overpowered the authorities.

Executioner, doctors, judges and four fifths of the wit-
nesses have passed away to those realms, to which poor
Albert's soul took its forced flight on that cold December
eve.

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF GABRIEL J. FORSEE.

Gabriel J. Forsee was not a resident of Monroe county.
He had been indicted by the grand jury of Randolph
county, Illinois, at the September term, 1865, for murdering
Elizabeth Darwio, whose throat he had cut with a knife
"for the value of one dollar," on July 13th, 1865. He
obtained a change of venue and was tried before judge Silas
S. Bryan, at the May term, 1866. He was defended by
Underwood and Hood. The jury who tried him, was com-
posed of the following citizens, to wit: William Nagel, W.
W. Wallace, Michael Finnerty, Joseph Proctor, Joseph W.
Hilton, Renke Renken, Arnold Herchenroeder, Frank
Varies, Henry Schmidt, Christian Henry, Jacob Heer and
George L. Ditch.

The verdict of this jury is very brief, and bears no date
or signatures. Its file mark is as follows : Filed May Tth,
1866. William Erd, clerk.

His honor, judge Bryan, closed his brief sentence of death
with the words, " May God have mercy on you."

Gabriel Forsee was a bad man, had served a term in
penitentiary for some other crime, ahd as he had been con-

victed, mainly on the evidence of Elizabeth Darwin, he
murdered her from motives of revenge.

The execution took place, as the sheriff's certificate states,
on the 2d of June, 1866, between the court house and jail
at Waterloo. It is signed by Lewis N. Wilson, sheriff, and
witnessed by Dr G. Hoffmann, Dr. H. Rothstein, Engelbert
Voerster, M. D., and a ''jury" composed of William Hen-
ley, Charles W. Meyer, Samuel Waddle, Christopher Fults,
John Hirz, Martin Dunn, Valentine Briegel, C. H Kettler,
J. H. Wilson, Theodore Repp, Daniel O'Leary and Charles
Frick.

It should be stated here, that judge Lynch held court,
time and again, during this period. His work was speedy
and terrible, and, it is feared not just in several cases.
This information was given to the writer from hearsay, and
as this chapter is" wholly made up from documentary
evidence, the details of cruel and monstrous mob law must
be excluded from these pages, The passions during and
immediately after the war ran high, life was considered
cheap, and the evil deeds of lawless persons exasperated the
people to such a degree, that the word " not " was stricken
from their sixth commandment.

Several efforts to bring judge " Lynch " into court proved
futile, and it seemed that the people generally were satisfied
with what judge Lynch had ordered and decreed.
A queer indictment.

Frederick Heidelberger was indicted May, 1864, for
bringing a negro slave into the county. The evidence was
that Heidelberger, although warned that he was violating
the law, had smuggled a negro slave, who had run away
from his master in Mississippi, and made his way to St.
Louis from that city to the county, etc. The jury found
Heidelberger guilty, and the court, judge Silas L. Bryan,
fined him SlOO and sentenced him to one hour imprisonment
in the county jail. Heidelberger took an appeal, but it does
not appear that the case ever came before the supreme
court. It was lost sight of entirely. The fine and costs
are still unpaid. Heidelberger died February 3d, 1873.
His estate was put under administration and all his just
debts were paid in full.

MONROE COUNTY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1848 TO 1884.

Sixteenth General Assembly, 1848 to 18.i0.* J. L. D.
Morris-'n, of St. Clair, senator ; Xerxes F. Trail, of Monroe,
representative.

Seventeenth General Assembly, 1850 to 1852. J. L. D.
Morrison, senator; Thomas Quick, representative.

Eigh:eenth General Assembly, 1852 to 1854. Edward
Oraelveny, senator; Thomas Winstanley, representative.

Nineteenth General Assembly, 1854 to 1856. The appor-
tionment of 1854 made no change in the district, except
as to number. St. Clair and Monroe counties formed the
22d senatorial, and Monroe alone the Uth representative

* Section 6 of Article III. of the Constitution of 1848 provided as follows : The
Senate shall consist of 25 members, and the House of Representatives shall
consist of 75 members, until the population of the State shall amount to one
million of souls. By section 40 of that same article the counties of St. Clair
and Monroe formed the 5tU Senatorial, and Monroe alone the 18th Represent,
ative district.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

159

district. J. L. D. MorrisoD, of St. Clair, senator ; William
R. Morrison, representative.

Twentieth General Assembly, l.s5(i to 1858. W. H.
Uuderwood, of St. Clair, senator ; W. R. Morrison, repre-
sentative.

Twenty-first General A.'sembly, 1858 to lS(iO. W. H.
Underwood, senator ; \V. R. Jlorrisou,* representative.

Twenty-second General Assembly. 18G0 to 1862. \X. 11.
Underwood, senator ; H. C. Talbott, representative.

Twenty-third General Assembly, 1862 to 1864. By the
apportionment of January 31, 1861, Monroe county, to-
gether with the counties of Williamson, Franklin, Jackson,
Jefferson and Randolph, formed the 3d senatorial, and
Monroe, Randolph and Perry the 8th representative dis-
trict, which latter was entitled to two members of the house.
Israel Blaneliard, of Jackson, senator; Stephen W. Miles,
of Monroe, and Edward Menard, of Randolph, representa-
tives.

Twenty-fourth General Assembly, 1864 to 1866 Daniel
Reily, of Randolph, senator; Austin James, of Monroe, and
W. K. Murphy, of Perry, representatives.

Twenty-fifth General Assembly, 1866 to 1868. Daniel
Reily, senator ; John Campbell and William K. Murphy,
representatives.

Twenty -sixth General Assembly, 1868 to 1870. Samuel
K. Casey, of Jefferson, senator ; John M. IMcCutcheon and
Thomas II. Burgess, both of Perry, representatives.

Twenty-seventh General Assembly, 1870 to 1872. Samuel
K. Casey, senator, died in office, succeeded by W. B. Ander-
son, senator; W. R. Morrison, representative.

Twenty-eighth General Assembly. 1872 to 1874. By the
apportionment of March 1, 1872, Monroe, Randolph and
Perry counties have formed and are now forming the 4Nth
senatorial district, entitled to one senator and three repre-
sentatives. W. K. Murphy, of Perry, senator; John W.
Piatt, William Neville and Austin James, representatives.

Twenty-ninth General Assembly, 1874 to 1876. W. K.
Murphy, senator ; Joseph W. Rukert, Samuel McKee and
Jonathan Chesnutwood, representatives.

Thirtieth General Assembly, 1876 to 1878. Ambrose
Hoener, senator ; Theophilus T. Fountain, John Boyd and
Septimus P. Mace, representatives.

Thirty-first General Assembly, 1878 to 1880. Ambrose
Hoener, senator ; John T. McBride, John R. McFie and
Philip C. C. Provart. representatives.

Thirty-second General Assembly, l.SSO to 1M.N2. Louis
Ihorn, senator ; Isaac M Kelly, William K. Murphy and
Austin James, representatives.

Thirty-third General Assembly, 18M2 to 1884. Louis
Ihorn, senator; John R. McFie, of Coulterville, James F.
Cauniff, of Waterloo, John Higgins, of Du Quoin, repre-
sentatives.

CITIZENS OF MONROE COUNTY IN STATE OFFICES.

George Forquer, the founder of Waterloo, was attorney-
general from January 23, 1829, to December 3, 1832, on
which day he resigned the office.

•W. R. Morrison, the honored member from Monroe, was Speaker of the
House, 1808 to 1800.

John D. Whiteside was state treasurer from March 4,
1837, to March 6, 1841. The Whitesides came to this
region about one hundred years ago. John J. Whiteside
founded the now defunct town of Washington, on the Kas-
kaskia, about the year 17it5.

William II Bissell was elected governor of Illinois in
1856, was inaugurated on the 12tli of January, 1857, and
died at Springfield, March 15, l.'^fiO. (Note from the "Amer-
ican Encyclopedia.") Gov. Bissell was born near Coopers-
town, N. Y., April 25, 1811. He took the degree of M. D.
at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 183);
practiced medicine two years at Painted Post, N. Y. ; re-
moved to Monroe county, Illinois, in 1837 ; was elected to
the state legislature in 1840, and there earned distinction as
a forcible and ready debater. He subsequently studied and
practiced law, and was elected prosecuting attorney of the
St. Clair district in 1844. He served in the Mexican war
in 1846 as colonel of the 2d Illinois volunteers, and distin-
guished himself at Buena Vista. On his return home in
1849 he was elected without opposition a representative in
Congress, in which capacity he served till 1855, resisting the
repeal of the Missouri compromise, though he had previ-
ously acted with the Democratic party, and gaining much
reputation in the North by his defiant bearing in a contro-
versy »ith Jefferson Davis respecting the ccmparative brave-
ry of Northern and Southern soldiers. Davis challenged
him, and he accepted the challenge, selecting muskets as
the weapons to be used, at so short a distance as to make the
duel probably fatal to both parties. Finally the quarrel
was compromised and the challenge withdrawn.

Henry C. Talbott was a member of the first state board
of equalization elected by the people. He served his con-
stituents in that capacity from 1868 to 1872.

MONKOE COUNTY IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED ST.\Ti;.S.

Seriate.

Samuel McRoberts was elected to the Senate in 1841,

succeeding John M. Robinson. McRoberts died JIarch

22d, 1843, four years before the expiration of his term, and

was succeeded by James Semple, then of Madison county.

House of Representatives.

William H. Bissell, originally of IMouroe county, repre-
sented this, commonly called the Belleville district, from
nh) to 185.5.

William R. Morrison, the most distinguished citizen of
Blonroe and of Illinois, represented the district from 1863 to
1865, and again since 1873 — and has recently been elected
to serve a sixth consecutive term, to wit : from 1883 to
1885. Morrison, as member of the House, is honored and
respected by all his colleagues, without an exception. His
administrative talent is apparent to all who direct their
attention to public affairs. As chairman of the Committee
of Ways and Means, 1875 to 1877, he has made a national
record of talent and merit.

OFFICERS OF MONROE COt:NTY.
A'Iministratiee Braitcli.
County Commissioners from IS 16 to 1840.
181G to 1817— Caldwell Cairns, James Lcraen and

160

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

Abraham Amos, " GeutleEian Judges" of the county of
Monroe.

1817 to 1818 — Caldi^e'. Cairns, James Lemen and James
McRoberts

1818 to 1819— Caic',>ell Cairns, James McRoberts and
Joseph A. Bfaird

1819 to 1821 — George Forquer, Caldwell Cairns and
James McRoberts.

1821 to 1823— George Forquer, Caldwell Cairns and
John Roach.

1823 to 1824 — John Roach, John Garretson and Cald-
well Caiins.

1824 to 182o — John Garretson, Nathaniel Hamilton and
John D. Whiteside.

182G to 1828— John D. Whiteside, John Bamber and
John James.

1823 to 1829— Enoch Moore, H. H. Talbott, John Bamber
and John JI..'Donald, elected to succeed Talbott (resigned.)

1829 to 1830 — Enoch Moore, John Bamber and John
McDonald.

1830 to 1832— Ed. T. Morgan, Ab. Barker and John
McDonald.

I8.j2 to 1833— Ed. T.Morgan, John McDonald and Felix
Clark.

1833 to 1834— Ed. T. Morgan, Felix Clark and Scipio
Beaird.

1834 to 1836 — Emery P. Rogers, Solomon Patterson and
Thomas McRoberts.

1836 to 1838— E. P. Rogers, Sidney Todd and Thomas
Singleton.

1838 to 1840-Sidney Todd, William Threlfull and J. M.
Wooten.

1840 to 1S41— J. M. Wooten, Sidney Todd and Thomas
Winstauley.

1841 to 1842— Sidney Todd, Thomas Winstanley and
Thomas Harrison.

1842 to 1843 — Thomas Winstanley, Thomas Harrison
and Clem. Bostwick.

1843 to 1814 — Thomas Harrison, Clem. Bostwick and
John Goeth.

1844 to 1845- Clem. Bostwick, John Ga?th and Pat.
Saxton.

1845 to 1846— John Goeth, Pat. Saxton and Lewis James.

1846 to 1847 — Pat. Saxton, Lewis James and E. P.
Rogers.

1847 to 1848 — Lewis James, E. P. Rogers and Joseph
Livers.

1848 to 1S49— E. P. Rogers, Joseph Livers and John
Burk.

COUNTY COURTS FROM 1849 to 1873.

1849 to 1853 — John Morrison, County Judge; Bradley
Eust, J. M. Robinson, Associate Justices.

1853 V) 1357 — John Morrison, County Judge; George
Tobin, Sidoc}' Todd, Associate Justices.

1857 to 1861— John Morrison, County Judge; George
Tobin, Uibau Degenhard, Associate Justices.

1861 t? I-8J5 — John Mjrrisoj, Cjunty Judge; Ernest
Grjsie, Stephen C. Potest, Associ.?.J.e Justices.

1865 to 1869— John Morrison, County Judge; Jacob
Beck, Abraham Porter, Associate Justices.

1869 to 1874 — John Morrison, county judge, died in
office December 1872 ; vacancy was filled by Henry C. Tal-
bott, county judge. Adam Raisi and Harrison Druce, asso-
ciate justices.

County Commissioiiers Board from 1874 to date : 1874 to
1875. — George Frick, Harrison Druce and George Divers.

1875 to 1876. — Harrison Druce, George Divers and Geo.
Frick.

1876 to 1877. — George Divers, George Frick and Jacob
Maeys.

1877 to 1879. — George Frick, Jacob Maeys and Ernest
Grosse.

1879 to 1880. — Jacob Maeys, Ernst Grosse and Chris-
tian Jobusch.

1880 to 1881. — Ernst Grosse, Christian Jobusch and John
Angerer.

1881 to 1882. — Christian Jobusch, John Angerer, and J.
F. Harms.

1882 to 1883.— John Angerer, J. F. Harms and John
Janson.

Clerhi of the County Court or Board.

1816 to 1819.— William Alexander.

1819 to 1825.— Samuel McRoberts.

H. C. Mizner, clerk at " interim," in place of McRoberts,
suspended by county board, but reinstated by a " manda-
mus " of the circuit court, 1822.

1825 to 1843. — Daniel Converse.

1843 to 1848.— W. W. Omelveny (resigned).

1848 to 1857. — Daniel Converse.

1857 to 1861.— C. H. Kettler.

ISGl to 1873. — Ambrose Hoener.

1873 to date. — Paul C Brey.

Assessors.

John Moore, Thomas O'Connor, Alexander Jameson,
Nathaniel Hamilton, John C. James, Madisoi. Miller, J. D.
Worley, Pendleton Hill, Thomas Winstanley, John Ryan
and Mathew Donohoe.

These officers were appointed by the county board at
times to act for the whole county, and, at other times, for
districts or townships.

The assessment of the taxable property has by law been
made the duty of the county treasurer. 1844.

Treasurers.

John Moore, 1816; Prince Bryant, 1819; John James,
1825; E. P. Rogers, 1827; Nathaniel Hamilton, 1823;
Hardin Newlin, 1830; John Ryan, 1831; Jesse Wiswell,
1841 ; Hammond Shoe^jaker, 1843, resigned in 1853, David
M. Livers appointed to fill vacancy in 1853 ; Christian H.
Kettler, elected in 1853 ; John L. Lemen, 1855 ; Ambrose
Hoener, 1857 ; Hammond Shoemaker, 18(il ; William Wil-
son, 1863 ; G. L. Riess, 1865 ; David M. Hardy, 1869, re-
signed in 1878 ; and Alonzo Philips since that date.
Recorders.

William Alexander, 1816; Sarauel McRoberts, 1819;

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

161

and Daniel Converse, 1825, who remained recorder until
the law made the circuit clerk recorder ex-officio, 18-18.

Surveyors.

Enoch Moore, 181B; J. Milton Moore, 1820; W. C.
Starkey, 1855; H. Ropiquet, 1859 ; David M Livers, 1861 ;
Leander James, 1863; August Weinel, 1865; August
Brandes, 1867; J. R. Doyle, 186!); and Rufus Gardner
s'nce 1875.

Jmlic'uil Officers, Probate Court — Judges.

Caldwell Cairns, from 1816 to 1825; James B. Moore,
1825 to 1832; Enoch B. Moore, from 1832 to 1837 ; Thomas
Winstanley, 1837, as probate justice of the peace; John
Morrison. 1849 to 1872. County Judge : H. C. Talbott,
18/3 to 1877 ; and William Erd since 1877.

Circuit Court —Juilyes.
Hon. Jesse B. Thomas in 1817 ; Hon Daniel P. C'ook and
Hon. John Warnock in 1818; Hon. Joseph Philips in 1819;
Hon. John Reynolds in 1819 and '20; Hon. Joseph Philips
in 1821 ; Hon. Thomas Reynolds in 1822; Hon. John Rey-
nolds in 1823 ; Hon. Thomas Reynolds in 1824 ; Hon. Sa-
muel McRoberts in 1825 and 1826; Hon. T. W. Smith

1827 to 1828; Hons. R.M.Young and \V. C. Brown in 1829 ;
Hon. T. W. Smith, 1830 to 1835 ; Hon. Thos. Ford in 1835 ;
Hon. Sidney Breese from 1836 to 1843 ; Hon. las. Semplein
i843 ; Hon. .James Shields from 1843 to 1845 ; Hon. Gustav
Koerner from 1845 to 1849; Hon. W. H. Underwood from
1849 to 1855 ; Hon. Sidney Breese from 1855 to 1 858 ; Hon.
H. K. S. Omelveny from 1858 to 1862; Hon. Silas L.
Bryan from 1862 to 1874; Hons. Amos Watts, George W.
Wall and W. H. Snyder since 1874.

Prosecuting Attorneys.
The records fail to give a succinct account of these officers
in the period from 1817 to 1840; Charles Matheny, Charles
B. Matheny and Sidney Breese are mentioned. W. H.
Underwood from 1840 to 18J4 ; W. H. Bissell from 1844 to
1848 ; P. B. Foulke from 1848 to 1852 ; George Abbott in
1852 (pro tern.) ; W. C. Kinney to 1856 ; W. H. Snyder
from 1856 to 1858 ; Amos Watts from 1858 to 1864; George
Vernor in 1864 (pro tern); J.P.Johnston from 1864 to
1868; .John Michan, 1868 to 1872; George R. Reiss, 1872
to 1876 ; J. W. Rickert Since 1876.

Clerks of the Circuit Court.
William Alexander, 1816; Enoch Moore, 1818; Samuel
McRoberts, 1819; John D Whiteside, 1825; David Newlin,

1828 ; Enoch Moore, 1836 ; W. W. Omelveny, 1840 ; W.
R. Morrison, 1853; William Erd, 1855; John Segler,
1876, died in office, 1879, was succeeded by John Wiesen-
born, the present incumbent.

Sheriffs.
James B. Moore, 1816 ; John James, 1820 ; Jonathan
Lynch, 1825 ; James Moore, 1830 ; James B. Needles,
18;5-4; Edward T. Morgan, 1840; John Morrison, 1842;
John H. Wil.^on, 1846 ; Charles Henckler, IS.jO ; J. M Wil-
son, 1852; Ciiarles Frick, 1854; H. F. Henckler, 1860;
Lewis N. Wilson, 1864; Joseph W. Drury, 1866 ; Charles
21

Frick, 1868; Joseph W. Drury, 1870; Charles Erick,

1874; and J. H. Wilson since 1878.

Coroners.
John Moore, 1816; Wd. Howard, 1818; Seih Converse,
1820 ; Andey Kinney, 1822; William Riggs, 1826; Thomas
Nelson, 1828; Fielder Burch, 1830; Seth Whitesice, 1S36;
Fisher Ditch, 1838; Jacob Troxel, 1844; L«aac Barker,
1846; H P. Rhodeu, 1872 ; Otto Kuehn, 1874; S. B Hil-
ton, 1876; Otto Kuehn, 1878; S. B. Hilton since 1880.

PERRY COUNTY.

The civil history of this county properly begins with the
passage, by the Fifth General Assembly of the state, held at
Vandalia, commencing on the fourth dav of December, 1826,
and closing on the nineteenth day of February, 1827, of the
"Act creating Perry county : —

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly, that all that tract of
country within the following boundaries, to wit : Beginning
at the northeast corner of townshij) numbered four, south of
range numbered one west, thence due west, on the line be-
tween townsiiips three and four, twenty four miles to the
northwest, corner of township four south of range four west ;
thence due south, on the line between ranges four and five,
eighteen miles to the southwest, corner of township six south
of range four west, thence due east on the line between town,
ships six and seven twenty-four miles to the southeast corner
of township six south of range one west, thencedue north on
the third principal meridian line eighteen miles to the
place of beginning shall constitute a new county to be called
the county of Perry.

Sec. 2. That for the purpose of locating the permanent
seat of justice for said county, the following named persons
shall be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners, to
wit : Edward Humphreys and Samuel Crawford of Randolph
county, and Singleton Kimmel of Jackson county, whose
duty it shall be to meet at the house of Amos Anderson, in
said county, on or before the first Monday of April next,
and after being duly sworn before some judge or justice of
the peace of this state, faithfully and impartially to dis-
charge the duties imposed upon them by this act, shall pro-
ceed to determine upon a place upon which to locate the
permanent seat of justice, for said county : Provided, the
proprietor or proprietors of the land so selected, will give to
the county, for the purpose of enabling it to erect the neces-
sary public buildings, a quantity of land not less than twenty
acres; which said land shall be conveyed to the county com-
missioners of .said county and their successors in office, for
the use of the people of said county, by a good and sufficient
deed in fee simple, in the customary form, and with the usual
covenants of warranty ; and shall afterwards be laid out
into lota, and sold under the direction of the county com-
missioners of said county, at such times and upon such terms
as the said commissioners may ajipoint for the purpose of
enabling said county to erect the necessary public buildings
as aforesaid. Should the proprietor or proprietors, refuse to

162

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

make a donation as aforepaid, then, and in that case, it shall
be the duty of the commissioners to fix upon some other
place for the seat of justice, which place, when so fixed and
determined upon, shall be considered the permanent seat of
justice for said county ; and the county seat when so estab-
lished, shall be called Pinckneyville. And the said com-
missioners shall certify their proceedings, under their proper
hands and seals, to the first county commissioner's court, to
be held in and for said county ; which court shall cause an
entry thereof to be spread at large on their books of record.
Sec. 3. Until public buildings shall be erected, for the
purpose and designated by the county commissioner's court,
as such, the several courts of record, with the exception of
the probate couit, shall be held at the house of Amos An-
derson in said county.

Sec. 4. An election shall be held at the house of the
above named Amos Anderson, on the first Monday of May
next, for three county commissioners, one sheriff, and one
coroner, for said county, who shall hold their offices until
the next general election, and until their successors be quali-
fied : which said election, shall in all respects be conducted^
agreeably to the provisions of the act or acts now in force,
or which may hereafter be enacted regulating elections :
Provided, that the qualified voters of said county, when met
shall proceed to elect, from among their number which may
then be present, three qualified electors, to act as judges of
said election, who shall appoint two qualified voters to act as
clerks.

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit
court, who may be appointed for said county, to give public
notice of the time and place of holding said election, by caus-
ing advertisements to be set up at three of the most public
places in said county, at least fifteen days previous to the
day on which it is hereby directed to be held : and in case
there shall be no clerk appointed in time, it shall be the duty
of the recorder to give notice as aforesaid, of the time and
place of said election.

Sec. 6. The citizens of the said county of Perry shall be
and they are hereby declared to be entitled to the same rights
and privileges, as are or may be allowed in general to the
other counties in this state.

Sec. 7. That until the nest general apportoinment of the
representation of the several counties of this state, all that
part of the said county of Perry, which is hereby taken from
the county of Randolph, shall constitute a separate and
distinct precinct, which shall continue to vote with the county
of Randolph in all general and special elections for senators
and representatives to the general assembly of this state ;
and all that part which is taken from the county of Jackson,
shall for the like period, in like manner continue to vote
with the county of Jackson for representatives, and with the
counties of Franklin and Jackson for senators to the general
assembly, in all special and general elections, until other-
wise directed by law : Provided, that the said county of
Perry shall in all other elections, and for all other officers,
be entitled to vote as a free and independent county, without
any other or further restiiction, than is imposed upon other

counties in this state-. The said county of Perry shall be at-
tached to and form a part of the second judicial circuit.

Sec. 8. The said commissioners shall receive as a com pen"
sation for their services, the sum of one dollar and fifty
cents per day, for each day by them necessarily spent in
discharging the duti>s imposed upon them by this act, to be
allowed by the county commissioners' court, and paid out
of the county treasury.

This act to take effect from and after its passage.

NiNiAN Edwards,
Approved, January 2'"th, 1827. Governor.

This act, as it appears from the original manuscript in the
records now at Springfield, was signed by J. McLean,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, William Kinney,
Speaker of the Senate, and approved by the Council of Re-
vision on the 29th day of January, 1827, and signed by
Ninian Edwards, Governor of the State, at which time it
took effect and went into force.

1. Creating Perry County. — The county was named in
honor of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, who won great honors
for defeating the English squadron on Lake Erie, on the
tenth day of December, 1813. The severe naval battle, in
which he destroyed the British fleet was fought near Put-in-
Bay ; and his dispatch to General Harrison was, " We have
met the enemy and they are ours."

The house of Amos Anderson, at which the elections were
to be held, was situated on the west half of the southwest
quarter of section twenty- two, in township five, south range,
two west of the third principal meridian, and was a log cabin
common in those days.

First County offieers. — On the nineteenth day of the same
month and year, Theophilus W. Smith, associate justice ofthis
judicial district, being thesecondjudicial district in the State,
commissioned Humphrey B. Jones, circuit clerk of our
county, whose duty it was, under the 6th section of the act,
creating the county, to give at least fifteen days notice, by
causing advertisements to be set up at three of the most pub-
lic places in the county, of the election of three county com-
missioners, a sheriff and coroner as provided by the act, to
be held on the first Monday in May, 18'27. The records of
the county, however, contain no account of this election,
there being no records of any county election previous to
August 4th, 1828.

We are informed however, by Enoch Eaton, who was then
a legal voter, and now living, that an election was had in
the spring of 1827, pursuant to an order of H. B. Jones, cir-
cuit clerk, and that John R. Hutchings and William Adair
were two of the commissioners elected; the third one he does
not now remember; and that William C. Murphy and Joseph
W'ells were candidates for sherifl^ and that they each had an
equal number of votes, and upon casting lots, Joseph Wells
was the lucky aspirant for the office. Amos Anderson was
elec.ed coroner.

As usual in elections however with our people, and we
came by it honestly, there was considerable excitement and
feeling over the election, and Dr. Brayshaw, one of the dis-
satisfied ones, being no doubt on the losing side, raised a

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

1G3

point as to the legality of the election on the ground that
the circuit clerk instead of calling for the election to be held
at the house of Amos Anderson, as provided for in section
four of the act, had by his public advertisements, announced
the same at the house of George Franklin, who lived east of
south from the now present site of Pinckneyviile about a
mile, and at which last named place the election was held.
So persistent was Dr. Brayshaw in pronouncing the election
illegal, that in order to carry his point he went on horseback
to Vandalia, then the capital of the State, for the purpose
of procuring a copy of the act. What was the result of this
error of the clerk in thus calling the election contrary to the
provision of the act, we are unable to ascertain. That
^\ illiam Adair, whom we are informed by Mr. Enoch Eaton
was elected one of the commissioners under the first call for
an election, was not sworn in as the records show, leads us
to conclude that a second election was held the first year.

RECORD OF THE MEETING OF THE FIRST BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS.

From the first record, it appears that John K. Hutching^'
David H. Mead and Elijah Wells met at the house of Amos
Anderson, who lived about two and one-half miles east of
the present site of Pinckneyville ; and on what is now the
Du Quoin and Pinckneyville road, and were there sworn into
office as county commissioners, on the fourth day of June,
1827, b)- Humphrey B. Jones, a justice of the peace, and
immediately held the first session of the county commissioners'
court. The first official act was the appointment of Hum-
phrey B. Jones as county clerk. He gave bond in the sum
of one thousand dollars, with Lewis Wells and Daniel Dry
as his sureties, took the oath of office and entered upon his
duties. For the office of treasurer there were two candidates,
Daniel Dry and Richard G. Hutchings. Daniel Dry re-
ceiving a majority of the votes of the commissioners, was
declared elected, and gave bond in the sum of one thousand
dollars, with Humphrey B. Jones and Lewis Wells as his
sureties, took the official oath, and was given the money box
of the county. At this same meeting, the commissioners
appointed James H. Franklin constable for the district west
of Beaucoup creek in said county, and Franklin gave bond
in the sum of five hundred dollars, with William C. Murjjhy
as his surety at the same time. The following orders were
made the same day :

E/fcrio)t diftrirU.—" Ordered, that in pursuance of the act
entitled " An act to provide for the election of justices of
the peace and constables; the county of Perry be divided
into districts as follows, to wit: All that tract of country
lying east of Beaucoup creek in said county shall constitute
and compose one district to be denominated the Eastern
District ; and all that country in said county west of said
Beaucoup creek shall form another district to be called the
Western District."

" Ordered, That Robert McElvain, Charles C. Glover and
Abner Pyle be, and they are hereby appointed judges of the
election for justices of the peace and constables in the Ea.>-t-
ern District of this county ; and that Thomas Swanwick,
sr., William H. Threlkel and James Crane be and they are

hereby appointed judges of the election of justices of the
peace and constables for the Western District of this
county "

AKse.fsment of Properly. — Ordered, That a ta.x of one third
per cent, be levied on all town lots, which are not taxed by
the trustees, which may be appointed to the town of Pinck-
neyville; on all slaves and indentured negroes or mulatto
servants; on pleasure carriages; on all distilleries ; on stock
in trade ; on all horses, mares, mules, asses and neat cattle
above three years of age ; and on watches with their appen-
dages ; and on bank stock."

" Ordered, That the court adjourn until to-morrow morn-
ing, nine o'clock." Tne cjm nissioners met in session the
follosving day and appointed the following named citizens
as the

First Grand Jurors. — " Ordered by the court that John
Campbell, Jr.. Avery Chapman, Lewis Wells, Jr., William
Troop, Sr., John Pyle, Sr. , Robert McElvain, John G.
Simpkins, William Pyle, Sr., John Berry, Amos Ander-
son, Robert Huggins, William Elliott, Jonathan Pettit,
John Hutchings, Robert B. Murphy, William H Threlkel,
Richard G. Murphy, James Brown, sr., Richard Green,
William Adair, Charles Garner, John Flack, Robt-rt Crowe,
James Crane, be and they are hereby appointed standing
Grand Jurors to serve at the next August term of the Perry
Circuit Court, and the clerk of this court issue a venire
therefor.

First Pdit Jurors. — Ordered by the cjurt, that Jonathan
Foster,iIames Simpkins, Joseph Taylor, James West, Joseph
Brayshaw, Joseph Wells, John Pyle, Jr., Lswis Wells, Sr ,
William Pyle, Jr., Abner Pyle, Enoch Eaton, James Hug-
gins, Thomas Swanwick, Jr., Epiiraim Bilderback, James
Murphy, William (xarner, Hugh Brown, Matthew Vaun,
Benjamin F. Brown, Jacob Short, R ibert F. Clark, John
Brown, Jr., Shadrach Lively and James Brown, Jr., be and
the same are hereby appointed standing Traverse jurors, to
serve at the next August term of the Perry circuit court,
and that the clerk of this court issue a venire therefi)r.

John Pyle, Jr., was appointed constable in the Eastern
District, and gave bond in the sum of five hundred do'lars,
with William Pyle^ Sr.. as surety.

First Order for Road. — Whereas, a petition signed by
William Pyle, Sr , H. B. Jones, Lewis Wells and others,
amounting to eighteen, has been presented to this court,
praying for a road to be viewed and marked, to commence
at the road leading from Shawneetown to St. Louis, at or
near where said road enters the east edge of what is called
Paradise prairie, thence running the nearest and best route
to Beaucoup creek, and to cross said creek at the nearest
good ford thereon to the centre of this county, thence the
nearest and best route to what is called " Willards road,"
where the same leaves the west edge of the six mile prairie.

Ordered, by the court, that the prayer of said petitioners
be granted, and that William Pyle, Sr., David H. Mead
and Amos Anderson, be and are hereby appointed to view
and mark said road from the St. Louis road to Beaucoup
creek, and that John Hutchings, George Franklin and
Robert B. Murphy, be and they are hereby appointed com-

104

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

niisbioucrs to view and mark said road from Beaucoiip creek
to " Willard's road," where it passes out of the west end of
the six mile prairie, according to the provisions of the fore-
going order.

Firt>t License to keep a Tavern. — Amos Anderson applied
for a license to keep a tavern or public house of entertain-
ment, at his house in the county for one year.

Ordered, that his request be granted on his giving bond
according to law and paying for the use of the county, one
dollar and fifty cents, the clerk's fees for the same.
Ordered, that the court adjourn one hour.
Court met pursuant to adjournment, and passed the fol-
lowing schedule of charges for Amos Anderson :

Ordered, that the following be the rates and prices to be
paid or demanded by tavern keepers, within this county,
for liquors, lodging, diet, stableage, provender, pasturage,
&c , to wit :

For whisky, twelve and a half cents per half pint; for
rum or brandy, wine, gin, peach or apple brandy, or cherry
bounce, eighteen and three quarter cents; for lodging, six
and one quarter cents per night ; for breakfast and supper,
eighteen and three-quarter cents ; for dinner, twenty-five
cents; for feeding horse, beast, twelve and one-half cents;
keeping .'ame per night, thirty-seven and one-half cents ; for
pasturage for horse, beast, si.x and one-quarter cents per
head for each day or night ; pasturage for neat cattle, hogs
or sheep, four ceuts per head for each day or night.

First Polls. — Ordered, that the election for justices of the
peace and constables for the Eastern District of thi^ county,
be held at the house of William Pyle, Sr., and that the
election for the same in the Western District, be held at the
house of Robert B. Murphy.

Ordered, that the court adjourn until court in course.

j. r. hutchinus,
David H. Mead,
Elijah Wei.ls.

First Session of the Perry Circuit Court.— 7he next sub-
ject to attract the attention of the reader in order of date,
is the first session of the circuit court for the new county.
The original records show that the session was but of one
day's duration, and the principal acts were as follows:

At a session of the circuit court, begun and held at the
house of Amos Anderso