DOCUMENTS AND BIOGRAPHY
PERTAINING TO
THE SETTLEMENT AND PROGRESS
OF
StarkCounty, Illinois,
t'ONTAINING
AN AUTHENTIC SUMMARY OF RECORDS, DOCUMENTS,
HISTORICAL WORKS, AND NEWSPAPERS.
RELATING TO
Indian History, Orkjinai. Settlement, Organization and Politics, Courts and
Bar, Citizen Soldiers, Military Societies, Marriages, Ciuirches,
Schools, Secret, Bknevoi.ent and Litehahy Societies, Etc.
together with
BIOGRAPHY OF REPRESENTATIVE MEN
PAST AND PRESENT.
WRITTEN FROM RECORDS AND PERSONAL REMINISCENCES,
BY
m'."'1':Yeeson.
ILLUSTRATKD
CHICAGO:
M. A. LEESOX & 00.
MDCCCLXXXVII.
DONOHUE & HE^NEBEKKY, Printers and Binders, Chicago.
■::i;i a
PREFACE.
m^
I STORY is the pith or substance of collected biographies or of
the lives of men and women of a State. It is the drama of set-
tlement and progress — a link of golden truths whicli binds us to
the past. History is also the monument, built during our own
a lives, to be our instructor, and beyond this present time it looks
into the future as a warning teacher. Local history is not only
history as defined, but also history and l)iography — grasping
the most minute details connected with the persons and events
identified with the progress of a county, township or village.
The past and pi-esent — the whole fabric of society — the home,
school, church, literary and benevolent societies, governmental
and military organizations, agriculture, commerce, manufactures
and all these institutions which draw men's interests together,
should be traced to their humble beginnings, and every name
and date placed in such form as to be a treasure for all time;
for Old Father Time will one day call up such records. Local
history, while embracing all such details of men alid women and
events, should not revel in records of vice and decay. Its teach-
ings should be pure, and, to have them so, he who would lead
the jDeojile of the present time to a higher nobility of character and purpose
must ]iot give the story of decay and vice, and shame and crime in detail.
Tiie introduction to this work is peculiar in its practical character. It
is not here to enlarge the volume or to comply with any known literary style;
but to place honestly before the people a concise instruction in the whole
history of the LTuited States aiul of Illinois, while leading down to the
period when the little commonwealth of Stark came into existence.
The general histoiy of the county is embrace'd in the first fifteen chap-
ters, each one exhausting its subject, without detracting from the details
of township, village and family history, contained in the eight great chap-
ters which follow. The plan of township history is sim})]ified by making
the personal sketches and reminiscences of the people of each division of
the county, a part of the division chapter, arranging them ali)habetically.
This plan, however, will not place .before the reader at once all the family
history of a township ; because, owing to change of location, a pioneer of
one division, may be an old settler of a second, and a modern resident of a
third townshijD. To provide a ready reference in this case, a list of the
families treated in this volume is given and the contents table made very
complete.
The material for the entire history of the county and of each township,
village and hamlet, was collected, written and edited by M. A. Leeson. All
this is based on official records, private documents, newspaper accounts,
and. wdiere quoted and credited, on the published historical works and
reminiscences of local writers who acted justly by the past of their county.
Ill
I I
■i^'jii^i^
IV PREFACE.
lu this work the cemeteries Avere not forgotten, so tliat the monuments
speak in this vohime of names and dates which might otherwise pass un-
noticed.
The biographical collection is the work of many men. Their notes
were, in the greater nnmber of instances, re- written by the general historian
and mailed for correction or revision. In a few cases the gentlemen
engaged in this department proved their notes at the time of writing and
thus obviated the necessity of total revision.
While absolute perfection (if thei-e is such a human attribute) is not at
all claimed for this volume, we feel that the writer has given the people a
plain, substantial, matter-of-fact work — the most thorough of its class ever
offered. AVe believe that his desire to exceed all pi'omises has been satisfied,
and in sending the work on its mission of usefulness we do so with that
pleasure which always accompanies a dut}' faithfully performed.
To the county officers of 188(3 and their deputies, to whom the general
historian is indebted for uniform courtesy and material aid in research, we
offer expressions of gratitude ; to the gentlemen of the press, our deep
thanks for the unanimit}" of their endorsement: to the clerks or secretaries
of the various educational, literary, religious, secret, benevolent, military
and municipal bodies, our sincere acknowledgements, and to all the people
— to whose cordial and intelligent cooperation the success of this work is
due — we send a message of hope and belief that the history of their county
will prove authentic and be accej^table.
M. A. LEESON & CO.
February, 1Ss7.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Title i
Pheface iii
Table of Contents v
Map of Stark County xv
INTRODUCTION.
PAKT I.
Ducovery and Diseorerers:
Aborininal Inhabitants 17-18
Wars of the United States 19
lieginients in the Revohition 19
AVarof 1812 19
]\Iexican War 19-20
War of tlie Rebellion 20
Chronology of the United States 20
PART II.
Derivation of Name — Illinois 32
Illinois Confederacy . 32
Chronology, 1655-1750 32-33
1765-1814 34
1816-1832 35
1833-1871 36-37
Conclusion 37
Pere Marquette's Map of the
Mississippi
Documents op Stark County
CHAPTER I.
Topof/rnphy (tnd Natural History:
Physical Characteristics 43
Rivers and Streams 44
Origin of Cooper's Defeat 608
Economic Geology 45
Coal Measures 46
Arclneology 48
Storm, Flood and Drought 50
CHAPTER II.
lndian.i of Illinois :
Origin of American Indian 52
Indians of Illinois 53
French Forts 54
Pottawatomies and Ottawas 56
Starved Rock 57
Destruction of the Illinois 57
White Settlements 59
Treaties 59
Black Hawk Troubles 63
Page
CHAPTER III.
Exploration and Orcujyition :
American Settlement at Peoria 65
Travels in the Neighborhood 65
Isaac B. Essex's First School 65
Settlement in Stark County 66
Pioneers of 1830-35 ." 66
Original Assessment, Dis. No. 1. . . 67
" 2.... 67
" 3 68
" 4 68
Military Tract 69
CHAPTER IV.
Marriage Record 1831-1866:
Introduction 70
Record 1831-39 71
Description of a Wedding 72
First License and Certificate 72
Beginning of Marriage Record of
' Stark 72
Justices and Ministers 71-105
CHAPTER V.
Pioneer Associations and Reminiscences :
Causes of Association 105
Mutual Protection Society — OiTicers
and Members 106
Beginnings of Old Settlers' Society.. 107
Organization of the Society 107
First Annual Meeting 108
Second " " 108
Death Record of Old Settlers 108
Third Annual Meeting 109
Death Record of Old Settlers 109
Meeting of 1882 110
Death Record of i\Ienibers 110
Reminiscences . . Ill
Meeting of 1883 Ill
Record of Deaths 112
Seventh ^Meeting 115
Death Roll of Old Settlers 116
Settlement of David Fast 117
Eighth greeting 117
Names of Okl Residents Present . . . 117
Pioneer Necrolony for 1884-5 118
Meeting of August, 1886 119
RecoiTfof Deaths 120
Underground Railroad , 122
Receipt for Horse-stealing 124
VI
CONTENTS.
Page.
Cattle Drivin.-i in Early Days 126
J. BlancbiU-d's Reminiscences 127
James B. Witter's Reminiscences.. 128
H. C. Henderson's " ..128
S. H. Hendersons " ..129
CHAPTER VI.
Organization and Coinmit>sioners' Court:
Organization of Illinois 130
" Counties 1-30
Voters in Spoon liiver Precinct 130
Acts of Putnam Co. Conunissioners. 133
First Election in Spoon River 133
Bribery Act and Plunder 133
Afritallnoj a New County 133
Coffee County in the Legislature . . . 134
Bill for Establishing Stark County . 130
Life of John Stark 13."")
Act Providing for :More Territory . . 13.t
Commissioners' Record, 1839-53 . . . 136
Organization by Townships 138
First Supervisors" Board 138
County Buildings 138
County Poor Farm 139
Index "to Legislative Acts 139
CHAPTER VII.
Political History:
Introduction 140
National Caucus and Convention ... 141
Precinct Elections, 1839 141
County Election liecord 142
Masters in Chancery . 153
Local Conventions 153
Douglas and Lincoln 153
Unconditional Union Men 154
Union League and Knights of G. C. 154
Soldiers' Convention 154
Anti-polvganjv ]\Ieeting 155
Conventions of 1886 155
CHAPTER VIII.
The Courts aad Bar:
Introduction 159
First Law Office 159
Courts of Fulton County 160
Courts of Putnam County 160
Courts of Stark County 1 60
Reminiscences of First Court 161
Circuit Judij:es 162
Roll of the "Old" and the "New"
Bar of Stark County . .' 163
Brief Reference to a Few Cases .... 167
CHAPTER IX.
Journalism and Literature:
Prairie Advocate, Toulon 168
News, Toulon 169
Union. Toulon 169
News (Redivivus), Toulon 169
Democrat, Tovdon KiO
Old-time Billingsgate 170
Democrat (Redivivus), Toidon 170
Page.
Ku Klux Bulletin, Toulon 171
Molly Stark, Toulon 171
Herald (Toulon S. W.) 171
Sentinel, Toulon 172
Call (Toulon T. W.) 172
Post-Chronicle, Wyoming 172
Post, Wyoming 172
Herald, W s'oming 172
Post-Heralil, Wyoming 172
Daily Post-Herald, Wyoming 173
Bee, Wyoming 173
Chronicle, Bradford 173
Times, Bradford 173
, Independent, Bradford 178
Annex, Lafayette 178
Stark County and its Pioneers 174
Pen Sketches of Service in the Ma-
rine Artillery 174
History of the 112th Regiment 174
Close of Chapter 174
CHAPTER X. .
Schools and Institutes:
School Statistics of State 175
First School in Stark County 175
Roll of School Superintendents 175
School Statistics of County 176
Teachers' Institute and Association . 177
S. G. Wright's Reminiscences 177
William Nowlan's Reminiscences. . . 178
Roll of Teachers 178
Statistics of Teachers 179
Teachers' Normal Class 179
Teachers" Association 179
Teachers' Institute, 1882 180
Normal Institute 180
CHAPTER XI.
lielif/ions and Semi-Religious Associations:
Establishment of Churches 181
Sunday-school Union 182
Camp-meeting A.ssociation 185
Bible Society" 185
Temperance League. ., 186
Women's Christian Temperance As-
sociation 186
Musical Society 186
CHAPTER XII.
Agric ultu ral Societies:
Socictvof 1843 187
Stark "County Agricultural Society . 187
Effort to Esfablish at Wyoming 189
Central Agricultural Society 189
CHAPTER XIII.
Physicians of the County:
Record of 191
CHAPTER XIV.
Railroads:
Western Air Line 193
Peoria and Rock Island 194
Rushville Branch 195
Proposed Roads 195
CONTENTS.
Vll
Page.
CHAPTER XV.
Military History:
Introduction 196
War for tlic Union 197
Statistics 197
lievolutionarj' Soldiers liere 197
Black Hawk and Mexican Wars... 197
First War Meeting in Stark C^ounty. 198
Organization of Home Guards 198
County and F.ocal Relief Circles ... 198
jNniitar}' Disbursing Committee 199
List of Soldiers killed up to Feb-
ruary, 1802 199
Township Relief Societies 199
Women's Loyal Tjcague 199
Provost-marshal White and the Ter-
willigers - . 199
Bro.Tu's Recruiting Station 200
The Draft 200
County Central Aid C'ommittee .... 200
A Furieral Sermon 200
Miles A. Fuller's Report 203
Sundry Paragraphs 204
Soldiers' Momunent Association. . . . 205
]\Ieeting to Celebrate Peace 205
Regimental Sketches and Rosters of
Infantry C'onunands 205
Of Cavalry Commands 242
Of Artillerv Commands 244
Fourth I. X. G 246
G. A. R. Post Rosters, pidc town-
slnpa.
DOCI'MENTS AND BlOCiRAPHY OF TOWN-
SHIPS AND Vllil-.'VGES :
CHAPTER XVI.
To u Ion Toionsh ip :
Topography 247
Original Land Owners 218-251
Present Land Owners 248-251
Political Statistics 251
Supervisors and Justices 251
Schools and School Officers 254
Census of Pioneers in 1866 254
Toulon Cemetcrv and Its Tenants. .. 254
Modena Hamlet! 257
Stark Predestinarian Baptists 258
]\Ioulton 259
Societies 259
Toviii of Toulon:
Introduction 259
First Settlers 260
Survey of Town 261
Sale of Town Lots 261
Its Selection as County Seat 262
Improvement Era 26B
]{. R. Aid Granted 263
Trustees and Oliicers of Village. . . 263
Reornanization 263
Otlicials, 1873-1886 263
Toulon Postoffice 264
Page.
Old Business Houses 265
Leaf from an Account Book 266
Hotels 266
Mauufactm-ing Industries 267
Banking Houses 267
Railroad and the Grain Trade 268
Business Circle 268
Methodist Church 269
Congregational Churcli 270
Baptist'Church 276
Second Baptist Church 279
Christian Church 279
Catholic Church 2^0
Universalist ( 'hiu'ch 280
Sabbath Schools 280
Schools of Toulon 281
Masonic Lodge 284
Eastern Star' (Chapter 285
I. O. O. F. Lodge 285
Temperance Workers 287
W. Vs\ Wriiiht Post 288
Militarv Affairs 289
Lotus Club 290
Woman's Club . . 280
W. C. T. U 291
Y. :M. C. A 291
liiterary Societies 291
Old Court House D. S 291
Toulon Del)ating Society 292
Miscellaneous Societies 293
Toirii of Wyoming:
Introduction 294
Survey 295
Early Lot Buyers 295
Additions to Town 295
Sketch of Its Fir.st Days 296
Otficials, 1872-'86. ..."'. 297
Schools of Wyoming 297
Methodist Church 300
Protestant Episcopal Church 303
Catholic Church 304
Baptist Ciiurch 305
Congregational Church 305
United Brethren Church 306
Masonic Lodge 307
Wyoming Ciiaptcr 307
Eiistern Star Chapter 308
Wyo]ning I. O. O. F 308
Wyoming En(;ampment 309
DeWolf>ost 309
DeAVolf Post 418
Sons of Veterans 660
National Festivals 310
Miscellaneous Societies 311
Postoflice 312
Wyoming Cemetery and Tenants. . . 313
Commerce and Mining 314
Houses in Village in 18S2 315
Banks and liankers 316
Business and Manufacturing Circle.. 317
Opera House 318
Conflagrations 318
Biography and Remini.sceuces. ..318-418
Vlll
CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER XVII.
Elmira Township:
lutroduction. . . 420
Oriirinal Land Owners 421-429
Present Land Owners 421-429
First Settlement and Settlers 429
Scotch Settlement 4:i(»
Travels of the Turnbulls and Olivers 431
Elmira Cemetery and Tenants 432
Osceola Cemetery and Tenants 433
Pioneer Neighbors 433
Highlanders and Lowlanders 434
Schools 434
Supervisors and Justices 435
Insurance Company 436
Elmira Grange ' 437
Grand Army of the Republic 437
lioster and Record G. A. R 437
Elmira Library Association 438
Elmira Village:
Introduction ... 439
L'nited Presbyterian Church 440
Methodist Episcopal Church 441
Elmira Bible Society 442
Presbyterian Church of Elmira 442
Knox Church 443
Cumberland Church 444
Schools of District 3 444
Business Circle 445
Osceola Village:
Introduction 446
Presbyterian Church 446
;Methodist Episcopal Church 446
Baptist Church 447
Free Will Baptist Church 448
Other Religious Societies 448
iliscellaneous ■ 448
Elmira in the War 449
Biography and Reminiscences 455
CHAPTER XVIII.
Esfie.r Toicnship:
Introduction 493
Neighboring Settlements 493
Original Entries 493
Present Landowners 493
3Iadison Winn's Recollections 499
Sheets Cemetery 501
Pleasant ValleyCemetery 501
Schools of Essex 502
Supervisors and Justices 504
Railroad Election 504
Pioneer Postoffice 504
Methodist Church 505
Latter Day Saints 505
United Brethren 505
Duncan Village 506
Biography and Reminiscences. . .507-525
CHAPTER XIX.
Goslun Township:
Introduction 525
Original Entries 525
Page.
Present Land Holders 525
Schools 532
Cemeteries 535
Lafayette Village :
Survey and Purchase 536
Incorporation of Villaire 537
Tru.stees, 1869-1887. .'. 537
Clerks, 1869-1887 538
Old and New Business Circle 538
Pioneers of 1848 538
Pensioners 538
I. O. O. F. Lodge 538
Dautrhter.; of Re'bekah 539
Blue^ Lodge. A. F. & AM 539
Eastern Suir Chapter 539
Good Templars 540
Baptist Church 540
3Iethodist Episcopal Church 540
Indian Creek Class 541
Union Church 541
Presliyterian Society 541
Mormon Church 542
U. :M. p. Church 542
Universalist Church 542
Church of Christ 542
Biography and Reminiscences 542
CHAPTER XX.
Osceola Township.
Introduction 571
Statistics 571
Coal and Gas 571
Original Land Entries 572
Present Land Owners 572
Schools 57.5
Super^^sors 577
Justices 577
R . R . Aid Election 577
Franklin Cemetery 588
Bradford Vill'ige :
Survey and Plat 588
First Lot Buyers 588
Era of Settlement 588
Business Circle 588
Bradford Schools 578
Village Incorporated 581
Trusfees and Officials 581
^lasonic Lodse 581
Odd Fellows'" Lodge 582
Good Templars' Lodge 582
G. A. R. Post and Roster 582
Universalist Church 583
Sewing Circle 583
Methodist Episcopal Church 584
Baptist Church 584
Congregational Church 586
Catholic Church 586
Protestant Episcopal Church 586
Bradford Cemetery 587
LomhardriUe :
Survey and Plat. 587
Improvement Society 587
Biography 588
ILLUSTRATIONS.
IX
Page.
CHAPTER XXI.
Penn ToxonsMp :
Physical Character 603
Villaiies of 603
Population 603
Cooper's Defeat Creek 603
Original Entries 604
Schools of Peun 607
Supervisors 608
Justices 608
Castleton :
S\u-\'ey and Plat 609
Lot Purchasers 609
Business Circle 609
Ntn-mal School 609
^Methodist Einseopal Church 610
Drawvcr's Class 610
liojoate's Class 610
:\[ethodist Protestant Church 610
Evangelical Lutheran Church 611
Societies 611
Camp Grove 612
Franklin Cemetery 612
Snareville Cemetery 615
Biography and Reminiscences 615
CHAPTER XXII.
Valley Township:
Physical Character 640
Population 640
Original Pantries ' 040
Present Land Ov^-ners 640
Township Schools 643
Supervisors -644
Justices 645
Pioneer Neighbors. - 645
Wolf Hunt, 1830 645
Yallev Cemetery 645
Stark Village. 645, 659
Pensioners 646
Congregational Church 646
Members of 647
Page.
Wady Petra Village 647
Methodist Church 647
Grange 647
Sons of Veterans 660
Biography and Remiuisceuces 647
CHAPTER XXIII.
West Jersey Township:
Introduction 672
Physical Character 672
Popuhition 672
Original Entries 672
Present Land Owners 672
Schools 67(5
Supervisors 678
Justices 678
Pioneer Neighbors 678
Millbrook Township 678
Victoria Township 678
Pioneer ^lemories 679
First Settlers 679
Distiilerv 679
First Ball 679
First Postoffice 680
Census of Pioneers 680
West Jersey Cemetery 680
Soldiers Buried in Cemeterv 681
West Jersey Village '. 681
M. E. Chu'rch...: 681
Hazen's Class 681
Finch's Cla.ss 682
Trickle's Class 682
Presl)vterirtn Church 682
Odd Fellows 683
Starwauo 683
Burning of Intirraary 683
Biography and Reminiscences 684
CONCLUSION.
Population 1840—80 707
Township 1855—80 707
Nationality of Citizens 707
Population of Villages 708
Annual Expenditures 1839 — 85 707
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Map of Stark County 15
Pere Manjuette's ^lap 39
Starved Rock 61
Landing of La Salle 95
Pioneer Home 113
Pontiac 131
Tecuraseh 149
Black Hawk 201
First SchooLhouse 495
Page.
Oliver Whitaker 255
James H. Miller 273
Samuel Burge 323
Sylvester Otmau 341
William Sturm 359
Clinton Fuller 477
Abner Kerns 529
Rev. A. C. Miller 649
L L. Newman 697
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
Torxox Town snip xst>
Towns of Ton.ox and
Wyoming.
Page.
Jolin W. Agard 319
John R. Atherton 319
Julius Barnes 319
Dr. Bacraeister 191
James Ballentiue 320
Eunice Bass 320
Thomas A. Beall, Sr. . 320
Thomas Beall 320
John Berlield 320
Carson Berfield. (Gen. Hist.)
Patrick :M. Blair 321
Elva M. Black 322
Herbert Blakely 322
Thomas W. Bloomer. . 322
Andrew F. Bloomer. . . 328
William Boggs 322
3Ia jor Bohanuau 322
William J. Bond 322
Orlando Brace 325
Kezzie F. Brace 325
Henry C. Bradley 325
Samuel G. Breese 326
William Brown 326
John B. Brown 620
Capt. John M. Brown. 327
Samuel Burge 327
Kev. Benjamin Buree. . 328
D. S. Burroughs. .":... 328
Henrv Butler^ 329
Ed^\ in Butler 329
C". C. Campbell 330
Alfred Castle, M. D . . . 330
Rev. W. W. Carr 331
Thomas H. Carlin 331
Wm. Chamberlain, M.D. 332
Julius F. Chapin 332
Mary F. Chapin 332
Joseph Catterlin 332
John S. Cleveland 332
Jeffrey A. Coolev 332
Presley Colwell .' 332
Mrs. David Cooper 332
MarvCox 332
Clara De W. Cox 332
Jere M. Cox 333
Polly Crandall 333
Eliza J. Creighton 333
P. K. Cross 333
Page, i
John Cuthertou 334
Rev. T.J. Cullen 334
Dr. Curtiss 334
L. P. Damon 3:34
Samuel M. Dewey 335
Stephen Deaver 335
Kezzie Dexter 336
R. J. Dickinson 336
Henry B. Dorrance. . . . 337
John Drinnin 337
Luther Driscoll 337
Mary E. Dugau 337
William Dunn 337
Rev. R. C. Dunn 337
Benjamin Drummoud . . 365
Otis T. Dyer 338
William 5l. Eagelston. 338
C. L. Eastman 339
S. W. Eastman 340
Emory J. Edwards. . . . 343
B. F. Edwards UA
John G. Emery 344
Joseph Essex 344
Artemus Ewers 344
Spencer Falconer 344
Davis Fast 344
John Finlev 344
Rev. J. J. Fleharty. . . 344
Benjamin C. Follett... 344
Mrs. Pleasant Folktt.. 345
Sarah E. Fofflesoug. .. . 345
:Mrs. D. Fos^ter. . .\ . . . 336
William Fuller 345
Miles A. Fuller 345
Ernest C. Fuller 346
Brady Fowler 463
Andrew Galbraith 346
Charles Geesey 347
Amos P. Gill.' 347
Hu£rh Y. Godfrey 347
Joel D. Goodale." 347
W. H. Gray 347
Ruby Greenfleld 347
F. R. Greenwood 347
W. H.Greenwood 348
James Grilhn 348
A. Gross 348
Robert Grieve 348
Thomas Hall. M. D ... 349
J. Knox Hall 352
Mary 31. Hammett 352 .
X
Page.
John Hanes 352
Richard Hardin 352
Mrs. Harty 3.52
Sarah ]\I. Hazzard ... . 352
AuEcustus G. Hammond 352
Charles Hartley 353
George Hartley 353
James P Headley 354
George Harvey 354
John Hawkes 354
W. H. Henderson 355
Thomas J. Henderson. . 223
John W. Henderson... 356
Henry C. Henderson. . . 356
Stephen H. Henderson. 356
James A. Henderson . . 356
3Irs. Ann Heywood . . . 356
Thomas Hevwood 357
Richard Hight 357
William Holgate 358
Henry A. Hoist, ride
Gtu. Hist.
Georse E. Holmes. . . . 358
John^Hook 361
Frank C. Hook 361
W. H. Hoover 362
Augustus Hulsizer .... 362
Chjirles F. Hamilton . . 591
Jane Ingham 363
Ellen Jackson 363
William S. Johnson . . . 363
Peyton P. Johnson .... 363
John Jordan 364
George Kerns 364
William Kerns 365
Martin Keran 365
James Kinney 365
Maria Kightlinger 366
Wesley Kinir 366
Albert W.King 366
James E. King 367
George S. Lawrence... 367
Davis Lowman 368
James K. Lashells 368
William J. Law 368
Abram Lindsev 368
Dr. J. L Liiihffall 369
Caleb :M. S.~"Lyon 367
Caroline Lvon 369
William R. Leirir 369
Leek family . .^^7 369
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCKNCES.
XI
Page.
Elizabeth Long 369
Mary Ann Lowman . . . 369
^lincrva Lj'on 369
Richard Mascall ?69
William Malianv 369
William Mahany 694
Col. I). W. Magce, M.D 369
William Mason 370
Wallace McW. Mason . 371
John A. Maxfield 371
Thomas H. Maxlield . . 371
David McCance 372
Charles P. McCorkle . . 372
Kolx-rt McKeio-han .... 373
John INIark :\rc:Millen.. 373
Stephen W. Maring ... 374
M. F. Meeker........ 374
Major W. K. Merriman 374
Hon. James H. Miller . 375
Allen P. Miller 376
William Miller 377
Royal H. Miller 377
Wflliam Miner 378
Rev. John Mitchell .. . 378
Robert Mitchell 378
James Montooth 378
William L. ^Nlooney . . . 379
J. \V. 3Iorrison ..'..... 380
Robert Moore 482
K B. Morse, M. D.... 381
James H. Newton 381
Ben j . A . Newton 381
Jason M . Newton 382
George Nicholas 382
Rev.^T. J. Nesmith .. 382
Elizabeth Nixon 382
Will E. Nixon 382
James Nowlan 383
Thomas A. Oakes 383
Sylvester F. Otman. . . 383
William Ogle 519
Benjamin Packer 384
Charles S. Pavne 385
Harve\- Pettit'. 386
Allen ^IcA. Pierce, M.D 386
Henry R. Pierce 387
F. O. Phelps 387
Mrs. Franklin Pratt... 387
Henry T. Prentiss.. .. 387
John Prior 3^7
James Price, ride mil. ch.
Nelson Prout 388
ilrs. Elijah Ransom. . . 388
Francis Rennick 388
Joseph D . Rhodes 388
Eugene Rhodes 388
John H. Rhodes 564
Hugh Rhodes 564
Mr.s". Byrne Riley 389
Anthonv Robinson.... 389
George Rockwell 389
James M. Rogers 389
Frank Rosseter 389
William R. Sandham. . 389
Page.
Peter Sanner 390
Wintield Scott 390
George W. Scott 390
IVIartin Shallenberger. . 391
Hopkins Shivvers. . . . 393
William U. Sickles. . . . 393
Minott Silliman 565
Levi Silliman 394
Perrv H. Smith 394
John W. Smith 394
John Smith 395
Barbara Smith 395
PhcebeH. Smith 395
Whitney Smith 395
Isaac B. Spillman 395
Nathan Snare 395
Perrv Stanclitf -. . 396
Gen' John Stark 135
Patrick Sullivan 397
Charles M. Swank .... 398
Andrew Swartz 398
Sj'lvester Sweet 398
]\irs. William Sweet. . . 398
Bushrod Tapp 398
Charles M. Teeter 398
Elias Stout Teeter 399
Isaac Thomas 400
James M. Thomas 400
William F. Thomas... 401
Frank Thomas 401
Gen. Samuel Thomas . 401
Owen Thomas 403
Harriet Taylor 403
Brailford F. Thompson 403
Harriet Ticknor 404
L. E. Timmons 404
E. A. Trimmer 404
W. A. Truax 404
Benjamin Turner 405
Jesse T. Turner 405
Daniel Tvrrell, M.D... 407
\. F. Stlckney 406
James M. Sticknev. . . 406
J. C. Starr ' 406
Daniel D . Stone 406
Rev. I). G. Stouffer .. 406
William Sturm 407
George C. Van Osdell . 669
Gertrude Wagner 410
David J. Walker .... 410
Dexter Wall 410
Rev. W. Wallers . 411
John W. Walters... . 412
Joseph AValther 412
Oliver Whitaker 413
Jolui Whitaker 414
B. WhiHen 415
John Whitcher 415
William Williams 415
Warren Williams 415
Marshall Winn 415
James Woods 416
Stephen G. Worlev ... 416
Rev. S. G. Wright ... 416
Page.
William W. Wright... 416
Capt. W. W. Wright.. 570
Susan D. Wright .... . 416
John Wriglev 417
David DeWolf 418
Hewes White 492
Keziah I). Young.... 418
B. F. Young 481
Elmiha Townsuip.
John Adams 455
James Arm.strong, Sr. .. 455
Louis Austin 455
Matthew Bell 455
W. D. Blanchanl 455
Abhy M. Blanchanl... 456
Dr. E. R. Boardman. . . 456
Dr. E. O. Boardman... 456
Charles Bolt 457
Myrtle G. Bi-ace , , . . 457
Lochlin Buchanan 458
Lochliu ]M. Buchanan. . 458
Asa A. Bunton 458
Asa Bunton 461
James Buswell 461
James Cinnamon 461
David Currier 462
Lsabella Fell 548
Brady Fowler 463
Laton Fuller 463
Ambrose Fuller. ...... 463
Clinton Fuller 464
Walter U. Fuller 464
Wm. W. Fuller 464
Charles L. Gerard .... 465
Hall family 466
Rol)ert Hail 473
John M. Hatch 473
Aaron Harvej' 592
James ^I. Jackson 473
Thomas Jackson 474
Col. William Jackson.. 474
David Jackson 474
John Jackson 476
Adam Jackson 476
James L. Jackson 479
John Leason 479
AVilliam Leason 465
Thomas Lvle... • 461
Carlos B.'Lyle 479
Horace E. Lvle 479
Finlev ^latheson 480
Geo. S. .Alavnard 480
Donald Mci)onald 480
Harriet J. ilcKeuzie... 481
William Moflitt 481
Samuel .Montooth 482
Robert Moore 482
George ilurray 482
William Murray 483
Thomas Nicholas 483
Adam Oliver 484
Andrew Oliver 484
Henrv H. Oliver 485
XII
i;io(;kai'iiv and keminisokn^ks.
Thomas Oliver
AVilliiim Parks
Matthew B. Parks . .
William G. Perkins.
Gideon Potter
Jolm F. Reed
Simon 15. Spencer. . .
Isaac Spencer
Charles Stuart
Sturms family
John Tiirnbuil
JohnG. Turnbull...,
William 11. Turnlmll
AVilliam Turubull. . .
Archibald Vandyke .
Charles V^andyke. . . .
Ilewes White
ACJE.
485
486
486
486
487
488
488
489
450
489
489
490
491
491
491
492
493
Page.
Benson 8. Scott 520
EssKX Township.
F. F. Brockway 507
Thomas ColweH 508
Henry (V)lwell 508
JohnColwell 509
Joseph Cox 509
Thomas W. Cox .... 509
W. K. Cox 509
Malon Cox 510
Mary E. Cox 510
I. P. Carpenter 510
Hannah Dixon 510
Samuel Dixon 510
Rosanna Dixon 510
Philip F. Earhart 510
Eliza Edwards 511
Isaac B. Essex 511
Thomas Essex 512
Philip Fast 512
Jane Frail 512
James M. Estep 512
George Fautz. . . 512
Joseph Friedman 518
Daniel Gini;ricli 513
Lucinda Giuiirich . . . . 513
A. E. Gingrich 514
Thomas Graves 514
Nancy Graves 514
James Graves 515
Joseph S. Graves 515
Jacob Graves 516
Lemuel Graves 516
Argeion Graves 516
Jerome Graves 516
James Hartley 517
Ann Hartley." 517
n. Ingram." 517
Jared Jones 517
Abner Kerns 518
John Leffler 518
Jesse L, .Moltiit 519
Josiah .MoHitt 519
John II. Ogle 519
Henry M. Rogers 520
John" Scott. . .'. 520
520
522
522
523
Peter Sheets .
Henry Springer
Amelia M. Standard .
John P. Standard . .
Christopher Trickle.
Edward Trickle 523
Jelfenson Trickle 52a
]\Iason B, Trickle 523
Sylvester Wilkinson... 524'
Alonzo Wilkinson 524
Solomon Wilkinson... 525
Thomas Winn 109
GOSUKN ToWNSIHI'.
Eric Anderson 543
Josepll Atherton 543
Jesse S. Atherton 543
^[rs. A. Atherton 543
R. C. Baker 543
Jeremiah Bennett 543
xV. R. R. Revier 544
U. H. Brown 544
Emory S. Buffum 544
Jonas Butler 544
Mrs. P. Cavenaugh .... 544
Melinda Carver 545
Dr. J. R. Crawford... 545
Wm. L. Dalrymple. . . . 545
Elder Delle ". 545
Mrs. Dickinson . 545
Rebecca Dickin.son. . . . 545
Jeremiah DeMutli 545
Lotan Dexter 546
GL'orge F. Dexter 546
Daniel Dodge 546
Mrs Dudley 546
S D. Easton 546
Elijah Eltzroth 546
Conrad Emery 547
John Emery." 547
Jacob Fall ." 547
Mrs. Farr 547
Barnabas Frail 547
D. K. Fell 548
Isabella Fell 548
(Jideon B. Gillette 548
J. T. (Gardner 549
Hugh Galbrailh 549
Epii. Garrison 550
Luther Geer 550
Nelson Grant 550
Orson Grant 550
Ruth Graves ... 550
: Thomas Gemmell 550
' William J. Hamilton. 551
Andrew Hamilton 551
j A. IT. Harris. -.. 551
Harry Hayes 551
John S, Haxtiui 551
Martha Hill 551
i Sabrina Hilliard 551
Azro Hilliard 552
Page.
Charles Himes 552
Homer II. Himes 553
Cad. Howell 553
I). J. Hurd 553
James Ingels 553
James Jackson 553
Barnabas M. Jac'kson. . 554
Capt. C. P. Jackson. . . 554
J. M. Jones 555
Jacob Jones 555
Sheridan Jones 555
Capt. F. A. Jones 556
William Marks 556
James Martin 557
William Mason 557
John A. ^laxfield ... . 557
Oren Maxtield 557
Elijah McCleuahau. . . . 557
Henry McClenalian . . 557
Elijah J. :McClenahan.. 557
James McStimpson. . . . 558
Harris W. Miner 558
Susanna Miner 109 559
Robert Moore 559
Henry S. Newcomer. . . 559
Dr. J. H. Nichols 559
James Nicholson 560
Eric U. Norberg 560
Michael No wlan 560
William Nowlan 561
Philanda Pomcroy. . . . 561
Elijah Pomeroy 561
Henry Presler 561
Samuel Parrish 561
Squire Parrish 562
Bethuel Parrish 562
Joel Parrish 563
J. H. Quinn 563
Mrs. Reed 564
Wm. A. Reed 564
Isaac C . Reed 564
Huuh Rhodes 564
Jolm F. Rhodes 564
T. W. Ross 565
Jacob Ross 565
Lucretia Ruston 565
Minott Silllman 565
C . F . Spillman 566
William Snyder 566
Alfred .M. Snyder 567
A. B. II. Snyder 567
J. F. Thompson 567
V. Todd 568
Abbie A. Todd 568
Smith Tuttle 5(18
Peter II. Wade 568
John White 568
John A. White 569
John H. White 569
Samuel M. White 569
Simeon AVilliams 569
Rev. J. L. Williams... 570
Capt. W. W. Wright.. 570
GadL. Yale "..... 571
BIOGRAPHY ANT) REMINISCENCES.
xin
Osceola Township.
Page.
Alviu Abbott 588
Mary P. Adam,s 588
Major A. Ames 588
Z\3bnloii Avery 589
Dr. J. G. Boardman... 589
John V. Bevier 589
John n. Boyd 590
A. H. Brock 590
Mrs. Capperune 590
Mrs. Cashing 590
James B. Do vie 590
W. P. Dator! 590
Mrs. Driscoll 590
Mrs. Fink 590
Patrick Finni^an 590
Wesley T. Foster 591
Otis Gardner 591
Charles F. Hamilton.. 591
Jenny Hartley 592
Thomas W. Harmon . . 592
William Harvey 592
Geo. L. Haskins 592
Mrs. T. Horan 593
John Lackie 593
Emily i^I. Lewis 593
Francis J. Liggett 594
Geo. W. Longmire. . . . 595
Catherine iMcXultv . . 595
Jolui A. Mielkey.' 595.
H. R. Mokeler ' 596
James M. Morris 596
A. B. j\[or.se 597
Harmon Pheni.x 597
Geo. W. Reed 597
George Reeves 598
Benjamin F. Rockhold 598
Asher Smith 599
Byron Smith 599
Liberty Stone 599
Mrs. Herbert Searles. . . 600
Nicholas Stin-m 600
Church Sturtevant 600
Isaac Sturm 600
A. J. Sturm 600
Seth Stuart (iOl
AugiLst S. Thompson.. 601
Joseph E. Weed 601
Washino-ton White... 602
Naomi Wilcox 602
John Winslow 602
Calvin Winslow 602
Penn Township.
Heniy B. Ackley 615
John Acklej^ 615
Humphrey Avery. . .616-18
S. G. Avery 616-19
Elizabeth Smith Avery.. 616
]VIiles Avery 617
Jo.seph C. Avery 619
Robert McBocock 619
Elijah Bocock 620
Paoe.
Cyrus Bocock 620
Thomas J. Bocock. ... 621
William C. Bocock.... 621
John B. Brown 622
Cramincr W. Brown.. . 622
Erastus Brown 622
Harlow Brown 623
Benjamin B. Bunnell. . 623
Jam'es A. Bunnell 624
Robert E. Bunnell.... 624
Daniel Coghlan 625
Samuel Crum 625
C. W. Davison 625
Geo. D. Eaa-elston 626
William Eagel.ston 626
Mary P'arwdl 626
James W. Fleming. . . . 626
Levi Fonts 027
Zura Fidler 627
C. D. Fuller 627
Ben j . F. Gharrett .... 628
William D. Grant 628
George Green 628
AndiW Harty 629
James Holeate 630
Dr. J. R. Holgate 630
Edwin Holmes 630
Leo Julg 633
Michael Ivitterman 634
Alexander Kissinger . . 634
Thomas Leadley 634
"Aiuitie" McLauiihlin. 634
James McNulty.T 634
Geo. W. Miller 634
Warren Pettit 635
Virdl Pike 635
Clias. H. Perkins 635
William Redding 656
William Rvan 635
Hcnrv Seeiev 635
Wm." S. Sniith 635
John Snare 636
James Snare 636
R. S. Snare 637
Edward Somers 638
Kliza])e1h Sturm 638
.Micagv Swiger 638
Wm! H. Whitlen 638
C. AVilson 639
Archibald Wheeler. . . 626
Lydia White 630
Abram Zimm 639
Valley Township.
Josepli Anderson 648
Margaret V. Brain 648
AVm. Atkinson 648
Perry C. Burdick 651
Bishop Chase 705
r^hilander Chase 706
Pliilander Chase 651
Heber Chase 651
Bernard C^olgan 652
Thomas H. Crone 653
Page.
Wm. Da\v.son 653
John Ij. Dawson 654
James L. Dawson 654
Elizabeth Dciwn 654
AVm. Dow n 654
Mary A. Dcwlnu-st . . . . 65 >
James DcAvhurst 655
L. Duckworth 655
G. W. Durvea 655
Joseph Ebv 655
A J. Faulkner 655
Ambrose Ghert 656
A. AV. Hendricks 657
Henry Hampson ...... 657
Sai'ah Hampson 657
Thomas Heaghney.... 658
David Hodges. . .' 658
Chas. AI. lIuU 659
Geo. L. Jackson 659
James Jack-son 664
Mrs. Judith S. Job . . . 660
David Joh 660
Thomas Kelly 660
G. Klepfer...' 660
Alonzo Kengsley 660
Jonathan Luce 660
George JIarlatt 661
Malinda jVIarlatt 661
AVilliam McConnell 662
Sarah McGinniss 662
John Morrissy 663
William Peterson 663
John Schanck 664
Jacob Simmerman 664
A.J. Sinunerman 664
Edwin Snare 665
John Speers 665
Carl Stagg 666
James Turner 655
Charles D. Stisser. ... 669
Geo. C. Y:\u Osdell. .. 669
Thomas Wickliara, tide
Mstort/.
A.sahel Wihnot 670
Harriet N. AVilmot 670
Samuel AVrigiey 671
West Jeiisioy Township.
S. V. Addis 684
D. O. Addis 684
James P. Addis 685
Ella Addis 685
Francis Anthony .... 685
John H.Anthony 685
Cyrus Anthony 685
AVilliam Barr
]Mrs. Bishop 686
AVilliam Bishop 686
Josepli Bodine 686
John P. Bodine 686
David J. Bodine 687
R. A. Bovd 687
David AV.Bi'own 687
S. Caskev
XIV
BIOaRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
Page.
Tjudnda Duncer 687
John Dryden 687
Rebecca "Dunn 687
A. A. Duim 689
aeorge Kckley 689
Hannah Gaffliev 689
John Finley 689
A. .]. Finley 689
Samuel J. Fox 690
Sarah George 690
Jacob N . Hazen 690
John Ilazen 690
S. R. Hazen 691
James R. Henry 691
Mrs. Ingels 692
Levi Johnson 692
A. J. Johnson 692
Wm . H. Johnson 698
Page.
R. W. King, M. D 693
John Keller 694
Jacob Kissell 694
Philip Knoir 694
James Little 6H4
William Mahany 694
James V. B. Mahany. . 694
W.S.McClauahan, M.D. 695
Rev. A. C. Miller. . . . 695
I. L. Newman 696
Joseph Palmer 696
Willard Palmer 696
John Pratz 699
Jonathan Pratz 699
S. H. Sanders 699
John Sargent 700
Belle Shafer 700
Page.
Mary L. Swank 700
Peter Sheets 700
George Slieets 700
.Jacob B. Smith 700
Jacob Stimmell 701
Sarah H. Stimmell.... 701
Robert Stonier 701
Chas. W. Terry 702
Washington Trickle... 703
A. D. Van Sickle 703
.Tohn Wiley 704
W. W. Webster 704
EcclesB. West 700
Jacob Wygell 698
Mahala Young 704
C. W. Young 704
J. Q. Young 705
INTRODUCTION
I'AIIT I.
CllKO.XOLOGV OF THE UNITED STATICS.
HE honor of discovering land in the western hemisphere
has been variously credited. It is said, and on very good
authority, that it was known to the people of Cartilage,
as the Atalantis of Plato's ''Critias and Tiniaeus." Again,
Saint Brendan is credited with its discovery in the sixth
century ; while Powell, in his history of Wales, assumes
that the Welch prince, Madoc, left his country in 1170
with his retainers, and made a settlement here. The
works of those early settlers and explorers were of such
little utility that notliing has been transmitted by them
to posterity which might substantiate the claims of
their latter day countrymen. Not so with the Tartars and others.
Tiie ancient inhabitants of Uispaniola, Peru, Mexico, and even Canada,
who came ma Kamptschatka, from China, Japan, and even from
Africa, left behind them immutable souvenirs of their coming and
their stay, and gave to tlie continent two great empires — Mexico and
Peru. Then followed Sjiain with her Christian hero, the Genoese, Col-
umbus, 1492; then England with the two Venetians, John and Se-
bastian Cabot, 1497; then Portugal with the Florentine, Yespucius,
1501; then the French explorers, Cartier, Marquette, • Joliet, La
Salle, Allouez, Dablon, and hundreds of other Frenchmen who explored
and wrote and preached. The record of discovery by Europeans, as
accepted, is as follows : Christopher Columbus, San Salvador, 1492 ;
John and Sebastian Cabot, Labradoi-, 1497; Americus Vespucius,
l^)razil. 1501 ; Caspar Cortereal, Canada, 1501 ; Ponce de Leon, Florida,
1512 ; Juan Verazani, Coast of North Carolina, 1524; Jaccpies Cartier,
Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1534; Hernandez Cortes, California, 153() ; Fer-
dinand de Soto, Mississippi river, 1541 ; Samuel Champlain, River St.
John, ir;o4; Henry Hudson, Hudson river. 1(509, Marquette, Joliet, La
Salle, Upper Lake and Mississippi region ; Verandrye, DeSmet, Rocky
Mountains.
The aboriginal inhabitants of this continent have left numerous
evidences of their existence, such as ruins, stone and copper vessels
3 17
18 INTRODUCTION.
an,280 ; Ulackfeet, I'pper Missouri river,
2,0S0 ; Bloods, Upper Missouri river, 2,400; Brules, Up])er Missouri
river, 1,120 ; California Tribes, California, 33,590 ; Canianches, U])per
Arkansas river, 1.800; Cayugas, Senecas, New York, 147; Cherokees,
West Arkansas river, 17,530; Cheyennes, Upper Platte river, 1.800;
Cheyennes, Upper Arkansas river, 1,600 ; Chickasaws, AVest Arkansas
river, 4,287 ; Chippewas of Lake Superior, Michigan, AVisconsin and
Minnesota, 4,940; rhi])pewas of the Mississi])|)i river, Minnesota, 4,028 ;
Chi[)j)ewas and Ottawas, Michigan, 5,0(>6 ; ('liij)])ewas of Saginaw and
Swan Creek, JVIichigan, 162.<;Chi])})ewas, with Pottawatoniies, Michigan,
247 ;Choctaws, West of Arkansas, 16,000; Christian, orMunsees, Kansas,
90 ; Creeks, West of Arkansas, 25,000 ; Crows, U]iper Missouri rivei',
3,900 ; Delawares, Kansas, 1,071 ; (Iros Ventres, U])per Missouri river,
1,000 ; lowas, Nel)raska. 291; Kansas Kaws, etc., Kansas, 741 ; Kaskas-
kias, Weas, Peorias, Weas Miamis, and Piankeshaws, Kansas, 384 ;
Kickapoos, Kansas, 34o; Kiawas, Upper Arkansas river, 1,800; Man-
dans, I^])))er Arkansas river, 120; Menominees, Wisconsin. 1,724; Mi-
amis, Indiana, 384 ; Miss(nii*is ancH)tt<)es. Nebraska, 470; Minnecon-
goux. Upper Missouri river, 1,280. Muhauche, Utahs, New Mexico,
5(')() ; Navajoes and Mo(]uis, New Mexico, 15,000 ; Oniahas. Nebraska,
953 ; Onondagas, New Yoi'k, 422 ; Oniedas. New York, 160; Oniedas
with Onondagas, New York, 7o ; Oneidas with Stockln'idge, etc., Wis-
consin, 323 ; Oregon Tribes, Oregon. 13,001) ; Osages, West of Arkan-
sas, 4,098 ; Pawnees (four l)ands). Nebraska, 3,414 ; Pri dos Mescal-
eros, etc.. New Mexico, 4oo ; Poncas. Nebraska. 864; Pottawatoniies
with Kickapoos, Kansas, {'>U ; Pottawatoniies of Huron. Michigan, 50;
Pottawatoniies at Agency ]iroper, Kansas. 2,25!t; Pueblos. New Mex-
ico, 10,000 ; Qua])aws, West of Arkansas. 314 : Sacs and Foxes (Missis-
sippi), Kansas, 1.280; Sacs and Foxes (Missouri), Nebraska, 96; Sans
Arcs, Uj)per Missouri river, l,(iOO ; Senecas, New York. 2,988; Senecas,
with Shawnees, West of Arkansas, 159 ; Seniinoles, West of Arkansas,
2,500 ; Snawnees, Kansas, 830 ; Sioux of the M!ssissip])i, Upper Mis-
souri river, 8,686 ; Sioux of the Missouri, Upper Platte river, 6,000 ;
Stockbridge, with Munsees. Wisconsin, 323 ; Tus(^aroras. New York.
305 ; Two Kettles, Upper Missouri river, 96o ; Utah Tribes, Utah,
1.200 ; Utahs (New Mexico), New Mexico, 2,500; Uncopapas, Upper
Missouri river, 2,680; Washington Territory Tril)es, AVashington Ter
ritory, 14,000 ; AYinnebagoes, Upi)er Missouri river, 2,256; Wyandots,
Kansas. 435; Yanctonnais (Missouri), Upi)er Missouri river, 3,840.
Since the Revolution many of these tribes have been constantly u]) in
arms against the whites. ' The Indian AVar of 1790, the Barbarv AVar
of lSo;j, the Tecumseh AVar of 1804, the British Indians AVar of 1S12.
15, tne Algerine AVar of 1815, the first and second rebellions of the
Seminoles, 1817 and 1835, the Black Hawk War of 1832, the Minne-
sota Massacre of 1862, the Peigan AVar of 1867, the Sioux War of
CHRONOLOGY OF THE ITNITEL) STATES. 19
1875-8, the Nez Perces War of 1877, and the Apaches War of 1883,
with a thousand other minor affairs convey an idea of the manner in
which tlie conquest of tlie Indian nations was affected.
From the tlays of (Joi'tez and Pizarro to our own times war has
been waged at interv^als throughout the two Americas. In our own
country the following named wars have engaged the attention of the
inhabitants from ir>75 to 188)'. : King Phili])'s AVar, 1(375 ; King AYil-
liani's Wav, 1<)89 ; Dutch War, 1(;78 ; Queen Anne's War, 1744 ; French
and Indian AVar, 1753 ; American lievcjlution, 1775 ; Indian War, 1790;
Barl)arv AA^ar, 1803 ; Tecumseli AVar, 1S()4 ; AVar of 1812, 1812 ; Alger-
ine War, 1815; First Seminole AVar, 1817; Black Hawk War, 1832;
Second Seminole War, 1835 ; Mexican War, 184f) ; the Southern Rebel-
lion, 18f)l ; Sioux AVar, 1875-78. Tlie lie volution ary War may be said
to begin with the agitation against the Stamp Act in 17f>5, and to end
with the inglorious surrender of Cornwallis to AA'ashington and Lafay-
ette, October 19, 1781. In April, 1783 Cbngress notihed Washington
of the treaty of peace just entered into, and on A})ril 18th, at New-
burg, the commander-in-chief ordered the ^proclamation to be read at
the head of every regiment, and religious services to be held. On
April 19th, 20th, 21st and 22(1 festivities were the rule in honor of
complete victory. Acting under AVashington's order of April 19,
1 783, preparations for the illumination of the victory building were
made. The headquarters' regiments, then in Newburg cantonment,
were ordered to cut and scpiare 124 pieces of timber to seven inches,
deliver the same to Colonel Gouvion, the French officer in charge of
the illuminations, and act under his directions in erecting the building.
The regiments were Maryland Detachment, Fourth Pegiment, Jersey
Regiment, Jersey Battalion, First New York Regiment, Second New
York Regiment, Hampshire Regiment, Hampshire Battalion, First
Massachusetts Regiment, F^ourth Massachusetts Regiment, Seventh
Massachusetts Regiment, Second Massachusetts Regiment, Fifth Mass-
achusetts Regiment, Eighth Massachusetts Regiment and Third Mass-
achusetts Regiment. Tlie shoeless troops worked in the forest until
the 20th of April, delivered the timber, erected the great frame for
illumination, and thus celebrated the defeat of the British.
The troops of the Revolution were made up of 231,075 regular
infantry and cavalry, and 5(1, (»33 militia. The states contril)uting were
the free states, 172,819 regulars, and 45,91* > militia. Slave states,
58,255 regulars, and 10,123 mihtia.
Notwithstanding the utter rout and defeat of the English, that
nation reorganized for revenge, and under many guises brought on the
AVar of 1812. Their motto was, '* we will punish that ujistart Yankee
nation, take its navv and some of its territory." Toward this end they
dispatched 1,000 war vessels, fully manned and e(]ui])])ed. to ca])ture
or destroy the 20 war slii])s of the United States. A few " Yankee"
sailors swept this fleet from our ocean and sea coasts, destroying for-
ever all hope in British hearts for the restoration of tyranny here.
The defeat of Proctor's Enji'lish and Indians in Canada closed this last
struggle for English su])reniacy.
The Mexican War brought' otiier successes to the Union, resulted in
20 INTRODUCTION.
the acquisition of some territory ; but above all formed a military
school in which man}' soldiers of the Union studied the art of war, and
prepared themselves to be of use in the greater struggle, then unseen,
to preserve the Union itself.
The War of the Eebellion commenced in ISHl and ended in 1865.
The fall of Fort Sumter was a signal for the u])rising of the people.
The news of the calamit}' was flashed throughout the world on April
14, 1861, and earl}' the next morning the proclamation of President
Lincoln was telegra])hed to the chief executive officer of each state.
The prochimatious of the governors were issued April 16, 1861, and on
that the same day every man within the loyal states was prepared to
act a citizen's part. The number of men called for by the president
was 2,942.71:8 and the number obtained 2,690,-101. The reenlistments
brought the numl)er up to 2,859,132, while the number who commuted
or obtained sul)stitutes was 86,724.
The troops furnished by the Southern States were, with the excep-
tion of those of Louisiana, nearly all white. Florida furnished two
regiments of cavalry ; Alabama one white regiment ; Mississippi one
battalion, and Xorth Carolina two regiments, one cavalrv. The calls
of October, 1868, and February, 1861, were combined, and the product
of the draft Julv, 1863, credited thereon.
In addition to above total, 63,322 men were obtained from the
territories and secession states under the different calls. The draft
gave 168,619 men. The number of colored troops was 186,097.
The Confederates succeeded in enlisting 600,000 men, of whom one
thii'd were killed on the field or died of wounds or disease. The re-
maining 400,00u were captured, or became prisoners by surrender, or
deserted. The total losses of the iS^orth and South a])proximated to
600,000 men. The war cost the United States about $4,000,000,000.
The Chronological Histoi'v of the United States has been pre])ared
with great care. It covers the leading events in American history,
and for this reason it must prove invaluable as a plain record and
reference.
1492 Columbus sails from Spain August 3 ; arrives at San Salvador, Oc-
tober 12 ; at Cuba. October 28 ; and Hayti, December 6.
1497 Cabot discovers Labrador, July 3.
1498 Columbus discovers South America, August 10.
1501 Xegro slaves imported into Spanish America, or Hispaniola.
Americus Vespucius discovers Brazil.
1506 Columbus died, May 20.
1512 Florida discovered by Ponce de Leon, April 6.
1513 lialboa discovers the Pacific ocean.
1520 Carolina visited by Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, September 29.
1534-5 Cartier came up St. Lawrence to Montreal in June.
1521 Mexico conquered by Cortez.
1524 Coast of North America explored by John Verazani.
1541 De Soto discovered the Mississippi.
1562 Huguenots settled at Port Royal.
15()4 Huguenots settled in Florida.
15G5 St. Augustine, Fla., settled by Spauiards, September 18.
1583 Henry Gilbert's troops take New Foundlaud.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 21
1585 First English colony arrived on Eoanoke Island under Raleigh.
1587 Second attempt to form the settlement.
1602 Cape Cod discovered by Bart. Gosnold. May 34.
1605 Port Royal,, IN. S., settled by the French.
1606 London and Plymouth Comjianies chartered.
1607 Jamestown settled by the London Company.
Plymouth Company settled on the Kennebeck river, August 21.
1608 Quebec founded by the French under Champlain. July 3.
1609 Virginia received its second charter, June 2.
Hudson river discovered by Hudson, September 21.
1610 Starving time in Virginia.
1612 Virginia received its third charter, ^Marcli 22.
1613 Pocahontas married to Kolfe in April. ■
1614 John Smith explored New England coast.
New York settled by the Dutch.
1616 Tobacco culture commenced in Virginia.
Father Le Caron in the West.
1620 Plymouth, Mass., settled by Puritans.
Negroes introduced as slaves.
Charter granted to Council of Plymouth.
A Dutch vessel with first negro slaves entered James river.
1621 Treaty with Massasoite. April 1.
1622 First Indian massacre in Virginia. April 1.
1623 New Hampshire settled at Little Harbor and Dover.
1627 Delaware and New Jersey settled by Swedes and Finns.
1632 Maryland settled by Irish Catholics, under the leadership of Lord
Baltimore at St. Mary's, and Baltimore named after a village of
that name in Cork county, Ireland.
1632-4 College founded in Baltimore.
Nicollet traveled in Michigan and the AVest.
1633 Connecticut settled at Windsor in October.
1636 Rhode Island settled at Providence. Harvard College founded.
1637 The Pequod war.
1638 Delaware settled, near Wilmington, April.
1641 New Hampshire settlements united to Massachusetts.
French mission in tlie Northwest.
1643 Union of the New England colonies formed, May 29.
1644 Second Indian massacre in Virginia, April.
1645 Clayborne's rebellion in Maryland.
1650 North Carolina settled on the Chowan river.
1651 The ''Navagation Act"' passed by the British Parliament.
1652 The Maine settlementG united in Massachusetts.
1655 Civil War in Mai-yland.
New Sweden conquered by the Dutch, October.
1663 Carolina granted to Clarendon and others.
1664 New York became an English province ; New Amsterdam changed
to New York, September 8.
New Jersey settled, at Elizabethtown.
1665 Mesnard, Allouez and others explore the West.
1668 Father Marquette at St. Maire.
1670 South Carolina settled, on the Ashley river.
1673 Virginia granted to Culpepper and Arlington.
Marquette and Joliet explore the Illinois country.
22 INTRODUCTION.
1675 Kiug PhilliiDp's war begun, attack on Swanzey, July 4.
Marquette died. May 18.
1676 Baeon"s Rebellion.
1680 La ;Salle, Hennej^in and other French explorers on the Mississippi.
Charleston founded.
New Hampshire made a royal province, September 28.
1682 Pennsylvania settled by Quakers.
Delaware granted by the Duke of York to William Penn, August .31.
1686 Andros arrived at Boston as Governor of Xew England, December 30.
1689 King William's war commenced. Attack upon Dover. July 7.
1690 Schenectady burned by the French and Indians, February 8. Port
Eoval taken by the English under Phipps, May.
1692 "Salem Witchcraft"" delusion prevailed.
1697 King 'William"s war terminated. September 20.
1702 Queen Anne's war commenced.
1710 Port Royal, Xova Scotia, captured by the English, October 13.
1713 Queen Anne's war terminated, April 11.
1729 Xorth and South Carolina became separate provinces, July.
1732 Washington born, in Westmoreland county. Virginia, February 22.
1733 Georgia settled, at Savannah. Februarv 12.
1741 "The Xegro Plot," in Xew York.
1744 King George's war begun.
1745 Louisburg captured by the English, June 28.
1748 King George's war ended, October 18.
1753 Washington sent with a letter from Dinwiddle, October 31.
1754 Washington delivered St. Pierre's reply to Dinwiddle, December 11.
The battle of Great Meadows, May 28.
Congress of Commissioners met at Albany, June.
The battle of Fort Xecessity, July 4.
1755 French expelled from Xova Scotia by Moncton, June.
Braddock's defeat at the battle of Monongahela, July 9.
The British defeated by Dieskau, near Lake (ieorge, September 8.
Dieskau defeated by the British at Lake George, September 8.
1756 Great Britain declared war against France, ^lay 17.
France declared war against Great Britain. June 9.
The French, under Montcalm, captured Oswego, August 14.
Indians defeated at Kittaning, Sei)tember 8.
1757 Fort William Henry suri-eiidered to Montcalm. August 9.
The massacre at Fort William Henry. August 10.
1758 Lord Howe killed in a skirmish at Ticonderoga, July 6.
Abercrombie repulsed by Montcalm at Ticonderoga, July 8.
Louisburg taken by Amherst and Wolfe, July 26.
Fort Frontenac surrendered to the English, August 27.
(xrant defeated by Aubry, near Fort Duquesne. September 21 .
1759 Ticonderoga and Crown Point abandoned by the French.
Xiagara surrendered to the English, under Johnson, July 25.
Battle of Montmorenci, July 31.
Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Sej)tember 13.
Quebec surrendered to the English, September 18.
1760 The F"rench attempted the recovery of Quebec, April 28.
Montreal and the whole of Canada surrendered to the English, Sep-
tember 8.
1763 The Peace of Paris between Great Britain and France, February 10,
CHRONOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 23
1763 Florida ceded to Great Bi'itaiii by Spain, Fe1)ruary 10.
1765 The Stamp Act })assed by the Britisli Pai-lia-ineiit, March 8.
A Colonial Congress met at New York, October 7.
1766 The Stamj) Act repealed by the British Parliament, March 1Jouth Caroliiux, January 17.
The revolt of New Jersey troops, January 18.
Arnold's depredation in Virginia, January.
Cornwallis's pursuit of Morgan and (Jreene, January, Fel)ruary.
The battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, March 10.
Articles of Confederation ratified by the States.
The battle of Hobkirk Hill, South Carolina, April 25.
Siege of Ninety-six by General (h-eene. May, Jnne.
The battle of Ninety-six, South Carolina, June 18.
Colonel Hayne executed by the British, at Charleston, July 31.
Arnold's expedition against Coniu'cticnt, September.
The battle of Fort Griswold, Connecticut, September G.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 25
1781
The battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, September S.
The siege of Yorktown, Virginia. Oetol)er.
The surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, October 11).
1782 Preliminary articles of peace signed at Paris, November 30.
1783 Cessation of hostilities proclaimed in the American army, April 111.
Savannah, Georgia, evacuated by the British, July 11.
Definite treaty of peace signed at Paris, September 3.
American army disbanded by orders of Congress, November 3.
New York evacuated by the British. November 2").
Charleston, South Carolina, evacuated by the British, December 14.
Washington resigns his commission, December 23.
1785 John Adams, ambassador to England.
1787 Shay's Eebellion, in Massachusetts.
Constitution of the United States agreed on by the convention of
delegates at Philadelphia, September 17.
Cotton introduced into Georgia.
1788 Ratification of Constitution by all States excejjt Khode Island and
North Carolina.
1789 The first Congress under the Constitution met at New York.
March 4.
Washington inaugurated President of the United States, April 30.
1790 Harmar defeated by the Indians, in Indiana, October 17, 22.
1791 United States bank established at Philadeljihia. ,
Vermont admitted into the Union, March 4.
St. Clair defeated by the Indians, in Ohio, November 4.
1792 Kentucky admitted into the Union, June 1.
1793 The difficulties with France.
1794 Wayne defeated by the Indians, on the Maumee, August 20.
'• Whiskv Insurrection" in Pennsylvania.
1795 '•' Jay's treaty " with Great Britain ratified, June 24.
Treaties with the Western Indians, Spain and Algiers.
179G Tennessee admitted into the Union, June 1.
1797 John Adams inaugurated President of the United States, March 4.
1799 The death of Washington. December 14.
1800 The seat of govei'nment removed to Washington.
Treaty of peace concluded with France, September 30.
1801 Thomas Jefi'erson inaugurated President, March 4.
War declared against the United States by Tripoli, June 10.
1802 Ohio admitted into the Union, November 29.
1803 Louisiana purchased of France. April 30.
(^ommodore Preble sent against Trijioli.
1804 The frigate Philadelphia destroyed by Decatur, February 15.
The duel between Hamilton and Burr. July 11.
1805 Derne. a Tripolitan city, captured by Eaton, April 27.'
Treaty of peace concluded with Tripoli, June 3.
180fi British blockade from the Elbe to Brest declared. May 1*!.
Bonaparte issued his "'Berlin Decree" November 21.
1807 liritish " Orders in Council '" ])rohibited coast trade with France,
January 7.
American frigate Chesapeake attacked by the Leoi)ard. June 22.
British armed vessels ordered to leave the United Stales. July.
British " Orders in Council" prohibited all trade with France ami
her allies, November 11.
26 INTRODUCTION.
1807 Aaron Burr tried for treason, and acquitted, September.
Bonaparte issued his ''Milan Decree," December 17.
Embargo on American ships laid by Congress. December 22.
1809 Commerce with Britain and France interdicted by Congress,
March 1.
James Madison inaugurated President, March 4.
1811 Action between the frigate President and Little Belt. May IG.
Battle of Tippecanoe, Indiana, November 7.
1812 Louisiana admittted into the Union. April 8.
War against Great Britain proclaimed by the United States,
June 19.
Invasion of Canada by General Hull, July 12.
Surrender of Fort Mackinaw, Michigan, July 17.
'j'he first battle of Brownstown, Michigan. August 5.
The second battle of Brownstown. August 9.
Surrender of Detroit, Michigan, by General Hull, August 16.
British sloo}) Alert taken by the frigate Essex, August lo.
British frigaie Guerriere taken by the Constitution, August 19.
The battle of Queenstown, C-anada, October 13.
British brig Frolic taken by the Wasp, October 18.
British frigate Macedonian taken by the United States, October 25.
British frigate Java taken by the Constitution, December 29.
1813 The battle of Frenchtown, Michigan. January 22.
British brig Peacock taken by the Hornet, February 24.
31adison commenced a second presidential terin, March 4.
The battle of York, Canada. April 27.
Fort Meigs, on the Maumee, besieged by Proctor, May 1.
The battle of Fort Meigs, Ohio, May 5.
Fort George, Canada, taken by the Americans, May 27.
The battle of Sackett's Harbor, New York, May 29,
American frigate Chesapeake taken by the Shannon, June 1.
The battle of Fort Stephenson, Ohio, August 2.
American brig Argus taken by the Pelican, August 14.
Creek AVar commenced by the massacre at Fort Mims, August 30.
British brig Boxer taken by the Enterprise, September 5.
Perry^s victory on Lake Erie, September 10.
The battle of the Thames, Canada, October 5.
The battle of Chrysler's Field, Canada, November 11.
1814 The battle of Tohopeka, the last of the Creek War, March 27.
American frigate Essex taken by the Phoebe and Cherub, March 28.
The battle of La Colle Mill, Canada, March 30.
British brig Epei'vier taken by the Peacock. April 29.
British sloop Keindeer taken by the American sloop Wasp, June 28.
Fort Erie captured by the Americans, July 3.
The battle of Chippewa, Canada, July 5.
The battle of Lundy's Lane, or Bridgewater, Cana
N.^
m.
:,fcfed
[TE origin of tlie name Illincjis is variously credited. Some
persons maintain that the early French explorers called it
/.s/e a'fi,e JVois or JVut hiau(h while others are equally
certain that the aborigines applied the name niini or Land
of tixiperior Men. The first ]:)arty state that, while the
ex])lore7's were en yoxte down the Mississi])pi, they camped
on an island covered with a heavy growth of pecan trees,
and there gfave this name to the countrv. The second
party give the authority of Algonquin annals for the word
Tl'tnrw(>l\ meaning men, and also quote the Otciiijiwe and C-ree adajita-
tion of the word Jnln'ncol' and Itjlntiri)l\ as a})j>lied to the })rairie Indians
in the same manner as Chicagok was ap]ilied to the red settlers along
C/hicago river and their neighl)orli()()(l. This latter definition is accepted
with very just reason ; for the once ])()wei'ful confedeiacy of tlie Illinois
was in truth a race of superior Indians. This confederacy comprised
the Tamaroas, Michigans, Kaskaskias, (Jahokas and Peorias, with
representatives of the Miamis and Delawares, wiio, l^etween 1670 and
1675 retur'ned from the West and settled in this State. Some years
]>rior to ir>7<», in HJSS, those tribes inhabited the country south of lakes
Erie and JMichigan, but were driven westward beyond the Mississippi
by the Iroquois, where their eight towns stood in 1670, when Father
Manjuette visited St. Es])rit, on Lake Superior. In 1673 Marcpiette
and .foliet met them here, and two years later the former established
the Mission of the Immaculate Conce])tion among them at Kaskaskia,
seven miles below the present town of Ottawa. Four years after the
establishment of this mission, in 1671>, La Salle found at least six thou-
sand persons tlierc^ and four hundred and sixty lodges; and there they
resided until the Pottawatomie war. when the power of the confederacy
was shattered at Starved P,ock. The Sacs and Foxes inhabited the
northwestern part of this State, and in later years became notorious as
the allies of tlie Eno'lish. In 1S32 there were twelve Sac families and
eight Foxes; while Kickapoos, Shawnees, Mascoulins, J^iankishaws,
Pottawatomies, Otchipwes and Ottawas were represented in other })arts
of the State, as related in the histoiy of tlie county.
1055 First li'oquois Invasion of Illinois.
1671 Exploration by Nicholas Perrot.
]67Si Exploration by Fathers Allouez and Pablon.
32
CHRONOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 33
1G73 Return of the Illinois tribes.
Exploration by Louis Joliet.
Exploration by Father Mar()uette.
Marquette's A'oyage up the Illinois and Desplaines Rivers.
1674 Establishment of the Mission of the Immaculate Conception near
Utica. La Salle county.
1675 Death of Marquette. May IS.
1680 Fathers Ribourde and Membre at Starved Rock.
Chevalier La Salle takes possession of Illinois for France.
La Salle at Lake Peoria, January 3.
La Salle returned to Fort Frontenac (Canada.)
Henry Tonti. the Italian, and fifteen men at Fort Crevecoeur.
Second Invasion of Illinois by the Irocpiois.
Father Louis llennepin left Fort Crevecanir in February for the
Uppei' Mississippi .
Father Riboui'de murdere. Poiute au Sable, a resident of Chicago.
Old Peoria abandoned.
1804 Building of Fort Dearborn at Chicago.
Treaty with Sacs and Foxes.
1805 First mail route (Vincennes to Cahokia) established.
1809 The Territory of Illinois organized. John Boyle, of Kentucky, ap-
pointed Governor by President Madison. Boyle declined this
})osition, when it was offered to Ninian Edwards.
St, Clair and Eandolph counties only political divisions of Ter-
ritory,
1811 Peace Convention with Pottawatomies at Peoria.
Battle of Tippecanoe, November 7.
1812 Building of Fort Russell, near the present village of Edwardsville.
Massacre of Fort Dearborn, August 16.
Governor Edwards' militia attack the Pottawatomie village at Peoria,
August. Captain Craig burned Peoria, November.
1813 General Howard's command of nine hundred men build Fort Clarke,
at Peoria.
1814 Illinois Herald established at Kaskaskia.
Governor Clarke's expedition up the Mississip])i.
The Sixty-sixth Illinois Rangers' terrific figiit near Rock Island.
Major Taylor, Captains Rector and Whiteside attack the English
and Indians near Rock river. Defeat of the Americans,
Peace of Ghent, December 24.
CHKONOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 35
1816 Treaty of St. Louis. Lands between Illinois and Mississij)pi rivers
ceded.
1818 Fort Clarke destroyed by fire.
Territorial Legislature petitioned Congress for admission as a State
in January.
Tbe Enabling Act was passed April IS.
Convention of Kaskaskia, July.
Illinois admitted, December 3.
Change of northern boundary so as to secure Chicago.
Adoption of whipping, stocks, pillory, and gibbet for punishment
of criminals.
First State election. Shadrack Bond, Governor ; Pierre Mesnard,
Lieutenant-governor.
1819 Peoria reoccupied and settled by American citizens.
A^andalia. tlie seat of government. (Removed to Springfield in
1837.)
1820 Reverend J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in
the State. He settled in St. Clair county.
1821 Appropriation of $10,000 by State Legishiture for survey of Illinois
and Michigan canal.
Incorporation of the Bank of Illinois.
Henry R. Schoolcraft and party at Fort Joliet.
1822 The slavery and anti-slavery questions raised for election purposes.
1824 Direct mail route from Vandalia to Springfield ; and to Chicago in
1832.
Aggregate vote polled, 11,612.
The proposition to make Illinois a slave State defeated at the polls
by 1,800 votes.
1825 Lafayette accepted invitation of Assembly and visited Kaskaskia in
February.
Bills for the support of schools and construction of roads by pub-
lic tax passed.
1826 Sanganash, or Billy Caldwell, appointed Justice of Peace of Peoria
cou nty .
Congress granted 800,000 acres of land to the State to aid in build-
ing the canal.
1827 Winnebago War under Chief Red Bird. General Cass, of Michigan,
visited Illinois.
1828 Line of Illinois and Michigan canal resurveyed.
The Methodist Ejuscopal college, Lebanon, established. First in
State.
1830 The legal rate of interest established. Previously 150 per centum
was reached.
1831 Criminal code adapted to penitentiary punishment.
Black Hawk established himself upon his disputed territory.
General Gaines, commanding 1,500 Illinois volunteers, destroyed the
Indian town, and forced Black Hawk's people to cede all lands east
of the ^Mississippi, and settle on the west side of the river.
1832 General Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, Jeff Davis and Lieu-
tenant Robert Anderson, at Dixon, Illinois, in re Black Hawk's
war.
Black Hawk recrossed the Mississi])pi to war on the whites.
Building of Fort Joliet.
3(5 INTRODUCTION.
183'^ (iovenior Keviiolds collected 1.800 volunteers under comnuind of
]ii-ig!i(lier-(ieueral Wliiteside. This command destroyed Prophets-
town, and })i-oceeded to join General Atkinson's division. The
flight from Stiliman's Kun was one of the comicalities of this war.
The assault on Apple Kiver fort. June, 183:2. Black Hawk and
150 wai'riors defeated by 25 men. (ienerals Henry and Atkinson
at the battle of Eock river. Three hundred savages killed and 50
made prisoners, iigainst 17 whites killed and 12 wounded. Black
Hawk and his special warriors, who escaped from the Rock river
affair, were captured by the Winnebagoes and handed over to
(ieneral Street. He was interned in Fortress Monroe with other
hostile Sacs, until June 4, 1833. when the chief and his party
were conveyed to Rock Island. Illinois, and there set at liberty.
He settled near Des Moines, Iowa. In 1838 this old ally of the
British died.
Massacre of the settlers on Indian ci'eek.
Rachel and Sylvia Hall captured by Indians. Ransom, 12,000
and a number of horses.
1833 Treaty of Chicago.
1834—5 Beginning of Governor Duncan's administration. Ajjpropriations
aggregating i|10,230,0()0 made by the State. Town lot fever.
Railroads for every man, or a money compensation. Legislators
magnificently reckless.
1834 First payment of annuity, at Chicago, under treaty of 1833, in
October.
1836 The construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal commenced.
1837 Elijah P. Lovejoy, Abolitionist, mobbed and killed at Alton, No-
vember 7.
1838 The first locomotive run on Northern Cross railroad. November 8.
Thomas Carlin elected Governoi', opposed by Cyrus Edwards, Whig.
1839 The Illinois Institute for Deaf and Dumb was founded, and the
buildings erected at Jacksonville in 1842.
1840 Settlement of the Mormons at Nauvoo.
Improvement laws rejiealed, after a debt of 115,000.000 was con-
tracted
1841
Arrest of Joe Smith, and his release by Judge Douglas.
Pirates of the Prairie before the law. The regulators administering
law
1842 Second arrest of Joe Smith and his escape.
Adam W. Snyder nominated for (governor; died previous to election,
when Thomas Ford was nominated to oppose Duncan.
T'he Mormon war. Joe Sniitli and Hiram Smith killed at Carthage.
End of Nauvoo Mormonism. Septembei", 1840. The action of
the Gentiles narrow and unconstitutional. The Mormon exiles
reached Salt Lake, July 21, 1847.
Woi'k on canal resumed l)y Illinois and Michigan Canal Com})any.
184(3 Nine regiments (8,370 men) answered the call for troops to serve
against Mexicans. Four regiments, or 3,720 men, accepted,
(ienerals James Shields, Baker, Coffey, Harris, Hardin. Bissell,
Houghton, McKee, are Uiirnes identified with this state in the
Mexican war.
1847 River and Harbor Coiiveiitioii at Chicago. Jnlv5.
State Constitutional Convention.
I~
CHRONOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 3
1847 The Illinois Hospital for the Insane was established bv the act of
March 1, 1847.
1848 Opening of the Illinois and Michigan canal.
1850 The Galena railroad opened to Elgin.
1851 In 1851 the hospital buildings were commenced near Jacksonville.
1852-54 Railroad building era in the West.
1855 Chicago the focal point of 2,933 miles of railroad.
1858 The Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary Association, in May. Was
ma /?«,# w/y^
ED
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BASfIN OB LA FLO/UaE
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iff
FLOR/DE
DOCUMENTS AND BIOGRAPHY OF
STARK COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
TAPvK COUNTY is Iwunded on tlie north hy nenrvand Bu-
reau counties, on the south b\' Peoria county, on the west
by Henry and Knox counties and on the east by Bureau
and Marshall counties. The area is 288 square miles or
184,820 aci-es, of which 1S2,B5!) acres were snrveyed, and
180,125 acres assessed. The population in 1S8<» was 11,207,
increased in 1885 to over 12,000. Toulon, the seat of jus-
tice, is 14 miles from the southwest corner, 8-| miles from
the northwest corner, t>-| from the extreme northwest cor-
ner, 20|^ from the northeast corner, 20 miles from the south-
east corner, and 8 miles from the south line, on tlie line of
the R. I. & P. R. R. Wyoming, the leading commercial
town, is equally outside the geograpliical center, l)ut has
the advantages of two railroads, the R. I. & P. and the
C. B. it Q. bi-anch between Buda and liushville. Lafayette
is situated near the western county line, and Bradford near
the east line, each having railroad facilities. Duncan, Castle-
ton and Lombardville are villages on the C. B. ife Q., while
Wady Petra and Stark are on the R. I. Oc P. R. R. The villages of
Elmira, Osceola, Pleasant Green, Modena, Waldron, Camp Grove, Val-
ley, Slackwater, Starwano and West Jersey are without railroad facil-
ities.
The surface of the county is undulating, except in the neighbor
hood of Spoon river, where it is decidedly broken. Of the entire area,
no less than 173,711 acres were under cultivation in 1885, and it may
be said with truth that the total area offers one great fertile field of
wealth to the cultivator. Along the streams and around old Osceola
the primeval forest still stands, a reminder of the past. South of
Toulon, too, the old, old woods continue sentinel, but throughout the
county, the trees of fifty years ago have given place to ornamental
grove's of walnut, elm, maple, and, in a few instances, red and white
])ine. Osage orange hedges guard each field instead of the old rail
fence ; large and elegant residences have taken the place of the
43
44 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
pioneers' homes ; Avell-kept floAver and vegetable gardens are common
in the towns and villages, and are often seen in the country districts,
wliile the mown lawn, always jileasing to the eye. greets the traveler
in both town and country. Within tifty years this wilderness of waving
prairie has been transformed into one of the most beautiful garden
s]wts of Illinois. A few groves and the streams remain as landmarks
of the olden time.
Rivers and Streams. Spoon river has its head waters in
Xeponsett township. Bureau county, where the stream known
as "East Branch" rises, and in Kewanee township, Henry
county, where the "West l)ranch has its source. The east fork entere
Stark" county in three divisions, so to speak, the central stream
being known as Silver creek. The streams unite in section
10. Osceola, forming the East Branch. Hall creek flows into
it in the northwestern Cjuarter of section 22, and Cooper's Defeat
creek in the northeastern quarter of section 31. A confluence with
the West Branch is formed just north of the village of Modena in Tou-
lon township and thence to its estuary, the name Spoon river is ap-
plied. In Essex township it receives the united waters of two creeks,
flowing westward, known as Mud Run and Camping Pain and near the
village of Slackwater receives the waters of West Indian creek. From
this Spoon river flows through a tortuous channel to the parent Illi-
nois, Avhich it entei*s at Point Isabelle, opposite Havana. In the days
of the Indians it was known as " Feather River '" or Maquon. Its
present name is said to have Ijeen given by Dr. Davison, the hermit,
on account of a bayou resembling a spoon in the formation of its shores
near what is now the village of Waterford in Fulton countv.
Walnut creek has its source near Xekoma in Henry county, whence
it flows southeast to West Jersey township, and thence to its confluence
\vith Spoon river, just north of Rochester. Peoi'ia county. To the char-
acter of the trees founl along this stream is to be attributed its name.
Camping Run rises in Marshall county, east of Camp Grove, and
dates its name l)ack to ante-railroad days, when prairie schooners
anchored there, while their crews feasted round the camp flres.
Indian creek rises just northeast of Galva, winds like a trail
through Goshen. Toulon and Essex townships, and enters Spoon river
in section 2S, Essex. Prior to the negotiation of the treaty of Chi-
cago, a few Pottawattomie and mongrel Indian lodges were scattered
along its banks, owing to which fact the pioneers of the county gave it
this name. This creek is not to be confounded with Indian creek. La
Salle county, where the massacre of settlers, by the British Indians,
took place in 1832.
Cooper's Defeat creek may be called the east Ijranch of the East
Foi'k of Spoon river. It is a tributary of that stream, rising near Milo
in Bureau county, and flowing east through Osceola townshi]). except
for two miles where it wanders, as it were, through the nortiiern sec-
tions of Penn township. The name is credited to a leamster of the
surveying party, who never failed before to drive his hoi*ses across or
through a creek, until tliis point was reached, as related in sketch of
Penn township.
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORV. 45
Muddy Run parallels ram])ino- Tlim. It also rises in Mai'shall
county, flows through the southern sections of Vallev townshi]) and
forms a confluence with (Janiping Run, near the nioutli of that stream
Jack creek is the name given to a small stream I'li lining eastward
to Spoon river, which it enters in the northwest quartei- of section 12,
Toulon township.
Fitch creek rises in Grove township, Knox county. Its various
feeders flow generally eastward, forming the main stream near the
west line of Goshen township, and watering the northwestern sections
of that township.
There are found in every division of the county numerous small
streams, some of which flow from springs. As noticed in the historv
of the townships, many ponds or miniature lakes are found through-
out the county.
Altitudes^ soil and tree^. — The altitudes are not very marked, vet it
is stated that in the neighhorhood of Lawn Ridge the highest elevation
in the State is reached. At Bradford, too, a decided elevation occurs.
Prof. E. W. Claypole's ])a])er on Buffalo and Chicago, read some
time ago before the American Association for the Advaiu'ement of
Science, contained a suggestion which goes to show what nari-ow
margins nature sometimes makes in her geogra})hical and geological
ai'rangements. It also shows what a narrow escape Ghicago has had
from a flood that would have revealed no friendly Ai-ai-at and that
would have discouraged the most resolute of doves on its quest for
terra-firma. The professor's statement in brief is tiiat the great lakes
are banked u])on a table land about r»00 feet above the sea, and that
the drainage flows over the dam at Black Rock, the lowest ])oint.
Hence a dam twenty-five feet high across the river at Black Rock
would be sufficient to tlii-ow the waters of the upper lakes into the
Mississippi by the Illinois river. The professor complacently stated
that the result of this would be to annihilate the St. Lawrence river,
make Buffalo the head of navio'ation. aiul Ghica<>'o the outlet. In
other words, the conditions of Chicago and Buffalo would have been
reversed had the rim of the basin at l)lack Rock been originally a few
feet higher.
A large portion of the county is prairie, but on account of the
numerous intersecting streams, the prairies usually contain but few
square miles of area. There are, however, some large prairies in
townshi])s 12 and 13, range 7. The soil is a common dark-colored
loam, and when properly drained and cultivated is everywhere ])ro-
ductive, except the '' barrens," a small ti'act of sandy soil. The subsoil
is usually a brown or yellow clay. The soil of* the timber lands along
the water-courses is usually of less depth and lighter in color. Along
the water courses comuKm oak, hickory, ash, maple, black walnut,
butternut, cottonwood, sycamore, coffee tree, buck-eye, box-elder, red
bud, wild ])lum, cherry and crab ajjple trees abound.
Eeonoiide (Jeologji. — Let us fancy ourselves visiting Stark county,
away back in the days when the foundations of the present coal beds
were made. What do we behold? An immense marsh stretching to the
horizon — a wilderness of reeds and weeds, and mosses, inhabited, if we
4r; HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
iimv SO speak, with amphibians, alive with ten thousand species of
re])tile ; but not a man in tlie whole great waste — not even a bird flew
hither to look in upon the loathsome wilderness. How manv years
this stagnant sea required its drying ])rocess to continue cannot now be
cU'termined with certainty. Tliere ai-e at least five to eight feet of
vegetable debris requii-ed to form one foot of coal, and since there are
thi-ee feet, representing the seam in this county, it must have required
t went v-f our feet in depth of rich vegetable debris to form our ])resent
coal bed, and the suljsequent growth or carriage hither of sufficient
material to make that natural hydraulic j)ress which pressed this coal into
its shape and texture. Volumes might be written on the formation of
oui' ])rairies. of our coal beds, of tlie great trains of sand and rock and
forests which the drift brought hither to press down the original
stagnant mass of vegetable matter, water and the animal life which
they supported ; hut where is the use of speculative wi'iting { Our
reason points out one natural method l)v which our rich prairie soil
and everything beneath it were formed, namely, an immense lake,
gradually filling up of the same by sediment and shore growth, slow
lifting- up of lake bottom and annual decay of vegetable debris ; slower
drainage and tlien the jirairie.
The quaternary divisions of the county are the alluvium and drift,
the former com|)rising all the bottom lands or stream valleys from a
few rods to 6,000 feet in width ; the latter comprising a series of
brown and blue clays with sand or gravel mixings with granite
bowlders of ancient rock — the uplands. This drift varies in dejith
from twenty to sixty feet. Through this formation an abundant
su]i])ly of good water is reachefl before the bed-rock is tapped.
Tliroughout the county there is no exposure of rock other than the
lower series of coal measures. Of this series No 7 shows on the north
line of section 10, township 14, range 7, along the east branch of Spoon
river. In this section the S. C. Francis shaft shows sixty-four and one-
fourth feet. This was sunk in 1868, and from the record shows the
following formation :
Yellow clay, 2 feet; red sand, 2 feet; limestone (nodular), 2-^ feet;
clay, light- colored, 7 feet ; clay shale, 2 feet ; sandstone, 8 inches ; blue
clay shale, 8 feet ; dark colored clay shale, 5f feet ; coal, 2 inches ;
blue clay shale, 12 feet ; impure limestone, 3 inches ; clay shale, 8 feet ;
impure limestone, 2 inches ; blue clay shale, 1^ feet ; dark colored clay
shale, 3 feet ; coal, 2 feet, 7 inches ; clay (penetrated). If feet.
In section 32, townsliip 1<>, range 7, the exposure was worked. In
section 21, Townshi]^ 14, range 7, series No. 6 is far below the surface
Mithout a sign of outcro}).
In the southeastern part of section 3, township 14, range 10, No.
6 coal appears in the l)luft of West Branch, along the creek to the
southeastern corner of section 16. This series has been worked along
the western ])lateau, where there are several outcrops above water
level of over four feet in depth with a regular clay pai'tition of two
inches in thickness.
In the southeastern part of section 3, township 14, range 6, No. 6
coal appears on the bluff of AYest Branch. Along the creek to the
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY. 47
southeastern corner of section 16, this series has been worked along the
western plateau, where there are several ontcro])s a])()ve water level of
over four feet in depth with a regular clay partition of two inches in
thickness.
The mine of No. 6 series in township 14, range 7, section 28, on the east
bank of the East Branch, ])i'esents a shaft of over ninetv feet, of which
eighty-nine and two-thirds feet i)resent the following strata: Vellow
clay, 8 feet; limestone, 4 feet ; light colored clay, 4^ feet ; light colored
clay shale, S-Jfeet ; limestone 2|feet ; clay shale, 1(» feet ; coal, 2 inches ;
soft black slate, 4 inches ; clay, 4^ feet ; sandstone, 22^ feet ; clay shale,
feet ; limestone, 4 feet ; light colored clay shale, feet ; green clay
shale, 2i feet ; dark colored clay shale, 3 1-6 feet ; impure limestone, H
foot ; dark colored clay shale, 2i feet ; coal vein, 3 to 6 feet, with a
clay ])artition of 3 inches in de])th. The slips or " horsel)acks" peculiar
here tend to retard miners' enterprise ; but with the coming of the coal
cutter and other modei'u ap])liances this o1)stacle will vanish.
In the northern portion of section 1, township 13, range 6, a few
shafts have been made to the depth of several feet. Near Modena, at
a depth of ab<^ut thirty feet, a 1-foot vein was struck. Westward, on
section 4, the Jack creek beds have been worked, and in sections 2, 11,
and 12, the out-crop appears in the banks eight to ten feet above water-
mark, ^
Near the north line of section 14, Toulon townshiji, about twelve feet
above the water of a little rivulet, the following formation may be
seen: Sandstone ; clay shale, 15 feet ; im})ure limestone, clay shale,
black slate, coal, average 3 feet ; clay partition, coal, 1^ foot ; clay
shale, partial outcrop of sandstone. The strata above the three feet
vein of coal is replete in its deposit of imperfect fossils, such as the
rardin ia fragilis^ pleurotomaria grayviUensis, and fossils of fish. On the
section coal and a strata somewhat similar to that given above, are
outcropping. From section lo along the courses of the river and
tributary rivulets to sections 25 and 26, where the seam is over
twent}" feet above watei*-mark, the miner has left traces of his work,
and backward from tlie stream on section 26, coal has been found at a
depth of sixty-nine feet in solid strata, four to five feet in thickness,
wdiile just east the miners had to sink a shaft to a depth of ninety-six
feet to reach the seam.
In Essex township, section 23, the following strata- a])])ears in a
shaft sunk a few years ago : Clay, 21 feet ; cla\' shale, 8 feet ; lime-
stone, 1 foot ; clay shale, interslated. If foot ; coal, 2^ feet, with thin clay
partition. Although this belongs to series No. 6, horsebacks or slips
render mining for moi'e than local use, un})rofitable. A seam of series
No. 2 coal is found on section 17, at the base of the bluifs of Indian
creek, which was very little woi-ked u]) to four years ago.
In West Jersey township, on section 11), coal of the No. 4 Illinois
series has been struck at a depth of fifteen feet. Here the vein is from
four to six feet deep, underlaid by about ten inches of im[)ure cannel
coal, and this by a clay l)ed. Fish and ])lant fossils abound here,
including one almost perfect form of iha palaa>)iiscii-'<. The teeth and
imperfect form of a diplodus have also been exhumed. The coal
48 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
ohtained is very gootl. On section 17 a one and one-lialf foot vein of
the Ts'o. 2 series was found at a depth of fiftN^-nine feet. It lies in the
bed of the creek, and is woi'kable only at low water. On section No. 10,
Toulon, a ([uany yields al)un(hintly of building stone of more than fair
(jualitv. On Wahiut creek, in West Jersey townshij), a quari-y on
section 20 produced a fair hard sandstone, very well ada])ted to buildei's'
uses.
The rock in sections 21 and 22, Osceola townsliip, is a limestone six
to twelve feet thick, of thin layers. This is an uneven, (Iral)-colored.
weatiier-proof stone, found in tiie first section, its lower strata resting
thirtv-nine feet above a two-inch coal seam and sixt^^-three feet above
a two-feet seven inches vein of No. 7 series coal. As a stone for build-
ing purposes, or for lime for building j)ur})oses, it cannot be excelled.
The sandstone measures of Elmira township ai'e f)utcropping, and
hidoen beds of this valuable rock abound. In section 1<> is found a
light-colored soft rock about twelve feet above a measure of No. series
coal. In Toulon township, section 14. tiie sandstone is l)elow No. i)
series coal, but of a very superior quality, and approaching the Parma
stone of Michigan in compactness.
In Essex townshij), section 14, a sandstone quarry of the finest
grade has been worked for some years, wliile that on section 17 (from
which the stone was taken fo^* l)uikling the first stone house in the
neighborhood years ago) yields plenty of good material for ordinary
ouildings.
Osceola, Elmira. Toulon, and West Jersey furnish the greater part
of the coal su})ply ; Essex furnishes a little, and A'alley less ; Penn and
Goshen are reported non-productive m the matter of coal ; but what
future exploration may credit these townships with in this connection
must be left to the future.
The miners' estimate of coal deposits is l.OOU.UOO tons of coal to
every section or square mile per foot of thickness of seam, which, it
])laced at an average of a three-feet seam, as in this county, would give
108.000,(100 tons to each township, or 864,000,000 tons to the entire
county of No. 6 series coal alone, exclusive of series Nos. 1, 2, -1 and 7.
some (^f which have not yet l)een ex])lored at all, and others only })ar-
tially. Allowing five tons per annum to each voter in the county in
1885, or 12,000 tons annually, there is a supply of No. 6 coal here to
viehl them fuel for 72,0(>0 years.
ArcJuHjhjgy — The general prevalence in IlUnois of the existence of
ancient mounds has excited no inconsiderable interest in the mmds of
scientists since their discovery was first made. Nearlv every county
has these interesting vestiges of a numerous people long since gone to
rest, about whose history there pends a veil — an impenetrable mystery
— of whom the later Indian tribes possessed neither knowledge, myth
nor tradition. Those in iStark county are as numerous as elsewhere,
for s})eai' and arrow-heads, human l)ones, and sometimes pottery have
been found here. They are so ccmimon as to excite little interest among
those who have resided in the county for any length of time, and are
driven over and plowed up as if Ijut a rise in the ground, not all that
remains of the history of a past race. A piece of native copper AA^as
TOPOGKAPHY AND NATUKAL HISTORY. 49
found in blue clay, twenty-five feet below the surface, on Samuel Sturm's
farm, one mile south of Bradford. In other places several evidences
of the drift, as well as of prehistoric settlements, have been uiieai'thed.
T. M. Shallenberger, now of Nebraska, W. II. Adams, of Eochester,
Peoria county, and others, have given the study of arehfeology some
attention; but their research in this county has been limited to surface,
I'ather than excavatorv work. Prior to the removal of the Indians,
thev visited all tlieir old camp-grounds and villages, and leveled even
with the ground all the little mounds denoting the graves of their
dead.
W. II. Adams, in a pa])('r addressed to the regents of the Smith-
sonian Institute, and pul)lished in 1885, on the mounds in the valley
of Spoon river, says : " On the north side of Si)oon river, seventv-
five yards distant, eighty rods west of the east line, and twenty rods
south of the north line of section 12, townshi]) 11 north, vange 4;^
east of the fourth ])rincipal meridian, is a round numnd about thirty
feet in diameter, called l)y those in the neighborhood a '•hogl)ack.'''
On the highest of this hogback, at the surface, is some evidence of fire.
The evidences of a former hi'e increase very rapidly. At a depth of
twelve to sixteen inches I found live skeletons, nearly all the bones of
which were calcined by hre, and numy of them entirely consumed.
One of the skulls lay to the north, one to the northwest, one to the
southwest, one to the south, and one to the northeast. With the bones
were fragments of sandstone bui"ned red. At or near each skull, and
neaiiv on a line between the point of the shoulder and ear, was a
water-worn ])ebble, excei)t in one instance, and that was an angular
piece of flint. The ])el)b]es had not l)een acted u])on by the lire, so
that they evidently must have been placed there after the intense heat
of the "tire had ' subsided. From the appearance of the earth
one would be strongly inclined to believe that the Are in this instance
had been one of unusual intensity. From the position of the skulls to
each other, the feet of one body would reach to his neighbor's head,
if laid at full length. One of tlie skulls was rather thinner than those
we usually And in other mounds. Some of the teeth evidently be-
longed to' a person of great age; others of the teeth were very small,
but I cannot say that they belonged to an infant. The skulls were in
fragments, the' largest piece obtained being about t\vo inches scjuare.
On another hogback, east of the one described, commencing on sec-
tion 12, township 11, range 4 east, extending across the northwest cor-
ner of section 7, township 11, range 5, and also some distance on sec-
tion *), township 11, are thirteen common round mounds, varying in
height from eighteen inches to live feet. As far as examined these
are burial mounds, and in one I found nineteen skeletons. ^ Tiiis one
was forty-five feet in diameter and five feet in height. The l)ones
were in a fair state of ])reservati()n. I o})ened four or five of this
grouj), and in each were found pieces of trap rock from one and one-
half to two inches square ; ])ieces of Imrned sand I'oclv, small watei'-
worn pebbles, and in the largest mound a very small IVagment of red
potterv."
A stick of cedar was exhumed in March, 18(52, and brought to
50 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
Toulon by E. S. Kincade. It was foiiiKl while digging- a well in
the eastern part of the coimt3% twenty-eight feet. below the surface.
While placing a sewer across'^Main St., Toulon, in June, 1SS4, one
of the two trees, cut near the site of the court house, and placed there
l>v Oliver Whitaker over forty years ago to bridge the slough, was
unearthed. The piece taken out is about three feet in length. This
was smoothed off and is held as a relic of the early years of the
county.
StofiH , Flood a Jill JJrouyht. — The big snow of 1 830 will be vividly re-
membered l)y all the old settlers. The snow began falling on the night of
the 29th of December, and continued to fall for three days antl nights,
until it reached an average depth of about four feet, but drifting in ])laces
as high as from eighteen to twenty feet. Great suffering was ex})erienced
in consequence. The settlers relied for their daily food upon Indian corn
which they were enabled to raise, together with wild game which was
abundant "at that time. Plenty of the former was raised to su])ply the
wants of all until the next season's cro]); but when the snow fell very
little had been gathered. Game could not l)e had. The great depth
of snow was a barrier to all ti'avel. and it may be well imagined the
sufferings of the people were very great indeed. This was the heavi-
est snow that ever fell in Illinois within the memory of the oldest
settler of this part of the State. According to the traditions of the
Indians, as related to the })ioneers. a snow fell from fifty to seventy-
live years before the settlement by the white people, which swept
away the numerous herds of buffalo and elk that roamed over the vast
prairies at that time. This tradition was verified by the large num-
l)er of bones of these animals found in different localities on the prai-
ries when first visited by the whites. The deep snow is one of the
landmarks of the pioneer.
The cold winter of 18-t'2-3. commenced on Xov. 7. 1842, and con-
tinued until May. 1843. This season of ice may be said to end the
days of profitable hunting in Illinois.
The storm of June, 1877, swept across West Jersey, Elmira, and
j)arts of Goshen, blowing off house i-oofs and rooting \\\) trees. The
county is not in tlie storm trail.
The greatest flood ever known in the county was that of February
16, 1883. xVs a general rule bridges were swept away, and in the
wreck of the l)rid"-eon the Toulon and Wvomino- road three men nearlv
lost their lives. In the s])ring of 1831 there was a great flood conse-
({uent on the break of the "Big Snow." and in the fall of 1835 another
flood.
The drought of 188() has no pai'allel m the history of the county.
It was broken on August 12th. 13th, lltli and 15th. On the night of
the 15th a rain and thunder storm swe])t over the county, but at nine
o'clock the moon ])eered down from a l)right blue sky, while a rainbow
of peculiai'ly bi'illiant colors illumined the west. The average rainfall
during the fifteen years, including 187"). for the months of April, ^lay,
June and July, was 15.(59 inches, the m 
