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Early Lee County
Being Some Chapters in the History
of the Early Days in Lee County,
Illinois
BY
WILLIAM D. BARGE
C H I C A 6 a.. ••• •
1918
• •• >
• * . • * # " "
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THE fTEW YO^K
PUBLIC LIBRARY
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
H 1929 L
• • •
• • • <
• • ••
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PREFACE
This is not an effort to write a history of any man or
any locality. The sole purpose of the work is the collec-
tion and preservation of the scarce and almost inaccessi-
ble evidence of some of the men and events prominent in
the early days of Lee County. It was not prepared to
sustain any theory or tradition, but every effort within
my power has been made to learn all the facts concerning
these men and events and state them correctly.
Some old traditions have been shattered, but they were
not sustained by the facts, and many of them had no foun-
dation except the loose talk of persons who were ignorant
of the matters of which they spoke. Some of my old
beliefs, held and cherished since early childhood, have
been dispelled, but they were founded upon misinforma-
tion.
Reference is made to some public record, report or
document whenever one could be found. When such evi-
dence could not be had, my resort was to newspapers, pri-
vate letters or records or books written or published
about that time, in the belief that such contemporaneous
statements are more likely to be free from error than
those made years afterwards. In some instances the
?^private records and the public records differ, and the lat-
~" ter are followed, the entries being contemporaneous with
^ the event. Every statement of fact is based on evidence
^ of one of the kinds mentioned, though references have
" been omitted in some places.
^ All Indian words appearing on John Dixon's account
^books are given in the form used there. Other Indian
iP words are given ag shown in the Eighteenth Annual Re-
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11
port of the Bureau of American Ethnology, except when
in quotations.
I acknowledge my indebtedness to Mrs. Caroline
M. Newberry, Pontiac, Michigan, the only living child of
Stephen Mack; Henry S. Dixon and George C. Dixon of
Dixon, Illinois; William C. Andrus, Grand Detour, Illi-
nois, and John Blackhawk, Black River Falls, Wisconsin,
for assistance without which this work could not have
been finished.
William D. Barqe.
Chicago, June, 1918.
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
La Sallier 1
Stephen Mack 11
Fur Trade at Grand Detour 31
Joseph Ogee and his Ferry 40
Old Account Books ; 69
Kinzies at Dixon 78
Old Central Railroad 82
John Dixon v. Oron Hamlin 95
Dixon Hotel Company 103
Illinois and Rock River R. R. Co 105
First Baptist Church Ill
Lee County's First Physician 112
Early Politics 114
Amboy 124
Genesis of Lee County 130
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EARLY LEE COUNTY
LA SALLIEB.
In 1835, Joseph Crawford found some decaying logs
and other ruins of an old habitation at the Grand Detour
on the bank of Franklin Creek, about thirty-five rods
from Rock river. There was plainly visible an excavation
as though made for use as a cellar, and other evidences
of the existence, at an earlier date, of a log cabin.
On the authority of a statement made to him by Gurdon
S. Hubbard, Rufus Blanchard told the writer that one
La Sallier, a Frenchman, built a trading post on the south
side of the river, near Grand Detour, in 1822, and occu-
pied it for some time. The location is shown on Blanch-
ard 's Historical Map of Illinois. The writer called Mr.
Crawford's attention to this statement of Blanchard, and
it was then that Mr. Crawford told me of his discovery.
That there was a trading post on Rock river in the win-
ter of 1802-1803 is clearly shown by the Personal Narra-
tive of Capt. Thomas G. Anderson, who says he spent that
winter **with the Winnebagoes on Rock river. They were
the most filthy, most obstinate and the bravest people of
any Indian tribe I have met with. Here I had a half-
breed in opposition in the trade. Our houses were about
half a mile apart, and between us was a very high hill,
over which we had to pass by a little path through the
bushes.'' (Wis. His. Coll., vol. 9, pp. 137, 152.) He does
not state at what point on the river this post was lo-
cated, but we know it was not at the site of La Sallier 's
house, for he says the hill stood at least three hundred
feet above the water in the river. He does not give the
name of his competitor.
The house mentioned by Anderson was not the cabin
at Crabapple Point, on the northwesterly shore of Lake
Koshkonong, that is said (American Archeologist, v. 7,
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2 ON ROCK RIVER
p. 78; Peet, Prehistoric America^ v. 2, p. 269) to have
been occupied, at a time that is not stated, by *'Le Sel-
lier''; for the ground there was only twenty to sixty feet
above the water. That cabin was in ruins in 1839.
The Archeologist says, without mentioning the time,
that Thiebeau, who was employed by Juneau of Milwau-
kee, occupied a cabin on the southeasterly shore of this
lake, and that is said have disappeared in 1838.
In Wauhv/n, Mrs. Kinzie says that John Kinzie arrived
in Chicago in 1804, and later established trading posts
**at Bock River with the Winnebagoes and the Pottawa-
tamies,'^ and that these posts contributed to that at Chi-
cago, but she does not say at what particular places or
in what year these posts were established.
Kinzie evidently had many trading posts, as he had
twenty trading licenses in 1803 (Letter of September 10,
1803, from William Burnett to Gov. W. H. Harrison of
Indiana Territory; Hurlhut's Chicago Antiquities, p.
70), and some of them appear to have been used at trad-
ing posts in Illinois. Though so extensively engaged in
the fur trade, he was an independent trader, and had no
connection with the American Fur Company until 1825,
when he succeeded John Crafts as its representative at
Chicago. (Andreas History of Chicago, vol. 1, p. 96.) He
was Indian sub-agent at Chicago, 1820-1822, and his son,
John H., was in the fur trade at Milwaukee in 1821 when
he was ordered to close his concern and leave the place,
having been detected selling whiskey to the Indians. (Am.
State Papers, Indian Affairs, v. 2, p. 360.)
La Sallier was in the service of this company as early
as 1813, and was on Bock Biver in 1822. The fact that
La Sallier was occupying this post in 1822 is some evi-
dence that it was established by the American Fur Com-
pany. While this is but slight evidence, it is stronger
than any evidence supporting any other theory.
The account books kept by John Kinzie were delivered
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 3
to the Chicago Historical Society many years ago. The
secretary of the society persuaded James Grant Wilson
to undertake the writing of a history of Chicago. Wil-
son thought it would be well to at least make mention of
some of those with whom Kinzie had dealt. To do this,
the secretary of the society made a careful examination
of the books ^d took from them all the names of persons
appearing therein. That list is now in the archives of
the society, but the books were burned in the great fire
of 1871. It gives names and a few addresses, nothing
else. From it we learn that Kinzie had dealings witH
Pierre La Salliere September 27, 1804, and September 3,
1806; with LaSallierre at Milwaukee February 1, 1807;
with Mr. Lasellier January 12, 1817.
In Hurlbut 's Chicago Antiquities, p. 31, Gurdon S. Hub-
bard says that John Crafts was sent to Chicago by a
Mr. Conant of Detroit, the date not being given, and .that
he ^'had, up to 1819, full control of this section, without
opposition from the American Fur Company, sending out-
fits to Rock River and other points within a range say of
a hundred miles of Chicago," but he fails to locate the
particular place on Rock river, and does not tell when it
was established or who had charge of it.
Hubbard is slightly in error. Crafts was not sent to
Chicago by ''Mr. Conant," but by the firm of Mack &
Conant, who were very extensively engaged in the fur
trade, and were strong competitors of the American Fur
Company from its organization until their failure in 1821,
when their fur business was taken over by that company.
They established an agency at Lee's Place, or Hard-
scrabble (Chicago) in 1816, putting Crafts in charge. He
remained there with the firm until its end, when he en-
tered the service of the American Fur Company, being its
Chicago agent until his death in 1825. (Andreas History
of Chicago, vol. 1, p. 93; Hurlbut 's Chicago Antiquities,
31.)
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4 WEBB'S ROUTE
On the authority of a statement made by Hubbard,
Baldwin, in his History of La Salle County, says that the
American Fur Company had three or four trading posts
on Rock river from 1813- '14 to 1826- '33, but he does not
say at what places they were located.
A letter written by Robert Dickson, the British Agent,
December 20, 1813, indicates that Lesaliers was then lo-
cated at Milwaukee. Thwaites, in a note to this letter,
says this is the LeSellier who acted as guide for Maj.
Long. (Wis. His. CoU. v. 11, p. 281.)
Another letter written by Dickson March 9, 1814, men-
tions ^*a letter from La Salieres of the 3d inst.," but does
not state where he was.
Niles' Register of July 10, 1815, says that **La Sallier
of Milwaukee" was one of the Indian traders who cast
their lot with the British in the War of 1812.
While the records of the American Fur Company show
that one La Sallier was in that company's service in July
and September, 1817, they do not show where he was sta-
tioned.
That Company had a trader named *^ Pierre Lassal-
lier" at Masquognon in 1818. (Wis His. Coll. v. 12, p.
164.)
Pierre Lasallier acted as interpreter at a council held
at Michilimackinac October 24, 1824, with the Potawata-
mies. (Mich. Pion. Coll. v. 23, p. 453.)
Blanchard's Map shows the route said to have been
taken by James Watson Webb in going from Fort Dear-
born to Fort Armstrong in 1822, but that, evidently, is
conjectural, for Webb does not describe his route, except
to say he went to La Sallier 's and thence across the prai-
rie to the Mississippi. As he was at La Sallier 's early in
February, 1822, it is quite certain that La Sallier had
located and built his cabin there before that year, but it
is not now known just when he did that, or when he left.
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 6
In May, 1822, Congress enacted a statute requiring the
Secretary of War to report annually an abstract of all
of the licenses granted to trade with the Indians. Prior
to that time there was no such requirement. While these
reports show that several licenses were granted after
1820 to persons who desired to trade with the Indians
at Grand Detour, none was issued to La Sallier. The
reports state that on October 13, 1821, Alexander Wol-
cott, Jr., Indian Agent at Chicago, issued a license to
Maurice Lauzon to trade on ^* Rocky river'' for one year.
No other license to trade on Rock river was issued until
October 20, 1823, when Wolcott granted one to Stephen
Mack, Jr., to trade one year on ** Rocky river.''
It is stated in the Wisconsin Historical Collections, v.
10, p. 72, that *^Le Sellier" was enlisted by Maj. Long, as
a guide, on his journey from Chicago to Prairie du Chien
in 1823, ** because he had lived over thirty years with the
Indians, had taken a Winnebago wife, and settled on the
head waters of Rock river." Long crossed Rock river
just above the mouth of the Kishwaukee, and farther
from the *^head waters of Rock river" than from Grand
Detour. ^^Le Sellier" took the party to an Indian village
on the Pecatonica, (probably that of Winnesheik, where
Freeport now stands), and there obtained another guide,
as he did not know the way from that place to Prairie du
Chien. (Keating, Narrative of an Expedition to the
sources of St. Peter's River.)
It is apparent that the compilers of the index to the
Wisconsin Historical Collections considered Lassaliere,
Lasaliere, Le Sallien and Le Sellier to be different forms
of the names of one person. Some of their references are
to the La Sallier who was at Grand Detour, while others
are to the Pierre La Saliere whose widow married George
Schindler. These Collections also mention La Salieres,
Lassalier, La Saliere, Le Saliers and Salieres. The Michi-
gan Pioneer Collections mention Pierre Lasallier. It is
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6 ALTOWAN
difficult to gather the real facts from this confused mass,
but it is believed that all that has been printed about La
Sallier is set forth herein.
The records of the parish of Michilimackinac, as print-
ed in the Wisconsin Historical Collections (v. 19, p. 86),
show the baptism, August 1, 1786, of **Therese, about ten
years old, daughter of Sieur Jean Baptiste Marcot and of
Thimotee, of the Outaois nation, his lawful wife.'' To
this entry Thwaites has added a note saying that Therese
became the wife, first of Pierre La Saliere, and, later, oif
George Schindler. As Therese was baptized in the Catho-
lic faith, and it is reasonable to suppose that her husband
was of that faith, it is not probable that they ever were
divorced. As she married Schindler July 12, 1804 (Wis.
His. Coil. V. 18, p. 508), it is fairly certain that her first
husband was not the La Sallier who was at Grand De-
tour in 1822.
In his dedication of ^'Altowan, or Incidents of Life and
Advewture in the Rocky Mountains,'^ published in 1846,
J. Watson Webb says that early in February, 1822, the
principal chief of the Potawatamies reported to the Indi-
an agent at Fort Dearborn that his tribe had been in-
vited by the Sioux to unite with them to cut oflf the garri-
son at *^St. Peters, at the Falls of St. Anthony,'' where
Col. Snelling was then stationed with the Fifth Infantry.
The commanding officer at Fort Dearborn desired to con-
vey this intelligence to the officer at Fort Armstrong, to
be thence carried to Col. Snelling, but the voyageurs re-
fused to go, and thereupon the task of conveying the
message fell upon Webb, who was an adjutant and he de-
cided that he would make the trip himself. He set out
accompanied by a sergeant and a Potawatomi Indian.
^^Altowan" contains nothing relating to Illinois, ex-
cept that in his dedication Webb says:
*^My instructions were to employ the Pottawatamie as
a guide to the Rock river, where the country of the Wine-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 7
bagoes commenced, and then take a Winebago as a guide
to Fort Armstrong — the leading object being so to ar-
range our line of travel as to avoid the prairies, upon
which we would necessarily suffer from the cold. I had
been apprised that I would find an old Canadian voya-
guer residing with his Indian family in a trading hut on
Rock river, and it was to him my Pottawatamie was to
guide me.
Toward evening on the fifth day, we reached our place
of destination ; and old La Sailer, recognizing us as whites
intimated by signs, as he conducted us to the loft of
his hut, that we were to preserve a profound silence. All
who live in the Indian country learn to observe signs;
and it is wonderful how soon we almost forget to ask
questions. I knew that something was wrong, but it
never entered my head to enquire what it was, — Indian-
like, quite willing to abide my time, even if the finger
closely pressed upon the lips of the old man had not
apprised me that I should get no answer until it suited
his discretion to make a communication.
It was nearly dark when we were consigned to the loft
of the good old man ; and for three long hours we saw him
not. During this period there was abundant time for
meditation upon our position; when all at once the pro-
found stillness which reigned in and around the hut was
broken by the startling sound of a Winebago war-dance
in our immediate vicinity. This, as you may imagine,
was no very agreeable sound for my sergeant or myself,
but it was perfectly horrifying to my Pottawatamie; all
of which tribe, as also their neighbours, were as much in
awe of a Winebago, as is a flying-fish of a dolphin. But
all surprise has its end; and at length the war-dance
ceased — ^music of which, at times, could only be likened
to the shrieks of the damned and then, again, partake of
the character of the recitative in an Italian opera, until, at
length, it died away, and all was silence.
Then came old La Sailer, whose head, whitened by the
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8 WINNEBAGOES BREAK JAIL
snows of eighty winters, as it showed itself through the
trap in the floor, was a far more acceptable sight than I
could have anticipated it would be when I left the fort.
Having been informed who we were, and my desire to
procure a Winehago to guide me to Fort Armstrong, he
inquired whether we had not heard the war-dance, and if
we could not conjecture its object! He then proceeded
to state that two Winebagoes, who had been tried and
sentenced to be executed for the murder of a soldier at
Fort Armstrong, had escaped from the jail at Kaskaskia,
and arrived on the river a few days previous ; that in con-
sequence, the whole nation was in a state of extraordinary
excitement and that the war-dance to which we had list-
ened, was preparatory to the starting of a war party for
Fort Armstrong to attack it, or destroy such of the garri-
son as they could meet with beyond its palisades; and
that of course our only safety was in making an early
start homeward. I inquired whether I could not avoid the
Indians by crossing the Great Prairie, and thus striking
the Mississippi above the fort. He answered, that by
such a route I would certainly avoid the Indians until I
reached the vicinity of the Mississippi ; but that we would
as certainly perish with the cold, as there was no wood
to furnish fire at night. The mercury in the thermometer,
as I well knew, had stood at five degrees below zero when
I left the garrison, and it had certainly been growing
colder each day; and therefore I apparently acquiesced
in his advice, and requested to be called some three hours
before daylight, which would give us a fair start of any
pursuing party — and bade him good night.
But the old man doubted my intention to return to the
fort ; and shortly after paid us another visit, accompanied
by a very old Winehago, who avowed himself the friend
of the whites, and proceeded to point out the folly of any
attempt to proceed in my expedition. He inquired its
purport; and when I told him it was to visit a dying
friend, he said I had better postpone the meeting until
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 9
after death, when we would doubtless meet in the Para-
dise of the white man ! but at the same time gave me to
understand that he did not believe such was the object of
my visit to the banks of the Mississippi. Indian-like, he
sought not to pry farther into my affairs, but expressed
his respect for all who knew how to keep their own coun-
sels and the counsels of their government. His remarks
were kind, and in the nature of approbation of the past
and advice for the future, and coming from such a source,
made a lasting impression.
Again we were left to ourselves ; and then, doubtless,
I wished myself safe in the garrison. But to return, and
that too, from fear, and the object of my journey unac-
complished, was inevitable disgrace. But what was still
more important, was the consequence to others of my re-
turn. I could not but think there was an understanding
between the Winehagoes and the Sioux; and if there had
lingered on my mind a doubt of the story of the Potta-
watamie chief, that doubt was now at an end; and, of
course, a sense of duty to a whole regiment of oflScers and
men, their wives and children, was as imperative in re-
quiring my advance, as was the fear of disgrace in for-
bidding my return. With two such motives for a right
decision, there could be no doubt as to my course. It re-
quired more courage to retreat than to advance; and I
determined upon the latter.
Some hours before the dawn of day, we started, appar-
ently for the garrison; but once out of sight of old La
Sailer, we knocked the shoes off our horses to avoid being
traced by them in crossing the river, threw away our
caps, tore up a blanket to make the hood worn by Indians
in extreme cold weather, and took a course by the stars
directly west.''
As there is no other mention of La Sailer in the dedi-
cation, our quotation ends here. After many troubles
Webb reached Fort Armstrong and delivered his message
and the uprising was suppressed.
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10 TRIAL OP WINNBBAGOBS
Webb was then a lieutenant in the Third Infantry. He
left the army in 1827, after serving eight years. In his
later years (he died June 7, 1884) he was one of the great
newspaper men in New York. In a letter written in 1882
he says he left Fort Dearborn February 4, reaching La
Sallier's place the evening of the seventh, and leaving
there at two o'clock in the morning of the eighth when
the thermometer, as recorded at Fort Armstrong, regis-
tered twenty-seven below zero.
Dr. Everett believed that Joseph Ogee married a
daughter of La Sallier.
In the Illinois Spectator (Edwardsville) October 31,
1820, there is an article taken from the St. Louis Enquirer
saying that on the twenty-seventh of September John
Harris, a soldier at Fort Armstrong, went out hunting,
and on the fifth of October his body was found shot
and scalped. Two Winnebagoes left Rock Island on the
morning of September 27 and there were no .other Indians
in the neighborhood at the time. Afterwards, six or
seven Winnebagoes visited Fort Armstrong and were
admitted. Major Marston, then in command of the fort,
held three of the Winnebago chiefs as hostages until they
delivered the two Winnebagoes who were said to have
conunitted the murder. The Spectator adds there were
two Indians then confined in jail at Edwardsville who
were charged with having committed that murder.
The report made by William Clark, Superintendent of
Indian Affairs, of his expenditures in May, June and
July, 1821, shows several items on account of the trial at
Kaskaakia of two Winnebagoes who were indicted for
murder, and indicates that the prisoners and witnesses
traveled great distances to attend the trial. The report
does not state who the Indians were, where the crime was
committed, who was the victim, or the result of the trial.
(Am. State Papers, Indian Affcf^irs, v. 2, pp. 297, et seq.)
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STEPHEN MACK.
The first white man to make his home in the Rock river
valley was Stephen Mack. It is quite certain that he
lived in the house he bought from La Sallier near Grand
Detour some time before 1830. Apparently, this makes
him the first white settler. But, if we mean by settler
one who established his permanent abode in a certain
place, Mack was not the first settler in Lee county.
When his remains were removed, in 1880, from the
place of their first interment on his farm to the Phillips
cemetery, near Harrison, in Winnebago County, by his
old friends, they placed in a bottle, buried there with
the remains, a paper reading thus :
'*If in the course of time this paper should meet
the eye of any person, be it known that the remains
buried here are those of Stephen Mack and his Jndian
wife, Ho-no-ne-gah.
Stephen Mack was born in Poultney, Vermont,
February, 1799, and settled in this county about 1822
as an Indian trader, and continued as a resident
until his death in 1850, Mrs. Mack having previously
died.
At the time of Mack's death he owned all of sec-
tion twenty-three in this township south of the Peca-
tonica River, and resided thereon at the time of his
death. He was buried not far from where he lived
by the side of his wife on his own land. Soon after
his death, his children sold the land and went to
Minnesota with their mother's friends, and at this
time there are no relatives of Mack here.
The place where he was first buried being in a large
field, and the land under cultivation over his remains,
the undersigned friends of Mack and his wife in
their lifetime, have moved the remains to this place,
and placed a tombstone over the same. This is done
out of respect and friendship for our departed
friends.
Stephen Mack was the first permanent white in-
habitant of Rock River valley. He was a good citi-
(11)
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12 DATE OF BIRTH
zen, a generous friend, a gentleman in deportment
and an honest man.
J. B. Jewett,
WlUAM BUliLEY,
B. H. COMSTOCK.
Bockton, May 19th, 1880.
In his History of Rockton, Carr, referring to the date
of Mack'« birth, adds to the foregoing this note:
^^Some think this is not correct, for he must have
been from ten to fifteen years older when he died
than this date would make him.*'
In his list of births, marriages and deaths in Bockton,
Carr says Mack was born in 1799. It may be that in the
time passing between the writing of the note and this list
of births Carr found evidence justifying the statement
that Mack was born in 1799, but he does not show any,
or he may have followed that statement because he was
unable to learn the exact date.
The family history recorded in the bible of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Mary Stocker-Terrill, says Mack was bom in
Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont, February 20, 1798.
Carr says Mack **came west to Detroit with his father's
family, soon after the close of the war of 1812, where his
father held some position under the government, and
might have had some connection with the fur business."
In a History of Rock County, Wisconsin, published in
1879, it is said, apparently upon the strength of state-
ments made by B. P. Crane and 0. P. Bicknell as to con-
versations with Mack, that he was a native of Keene, New
Hampshire, and was living at Bockton in the spring of
1837, and that he then said that he ^*had been living with
the Indians for more than sixteen years," and had been
adopted by the Winnebagoes after he married the daugh-
ter of their chief.
A History of Oakland County, Michigan, (1887) based
chiefly upon statements made by Almon Mack, a son of
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 13
the elder Stephen, says that while the latter settled in
Detroit in 1807, he left his family in Vermont where the
educational facilities were far better than those Michigan
then had, and that his family, except one daughter, Lovicy,
who joined him about 1818, did not come west until 1822.
The family history says the younger Mack bought the
La Sallier cabin shortly after his marriage in February,
1829.
From the Michigan Pioneer Collections it appears that
Stephen Mack, father of the Stephen Mack who lived at
Grand Detour, was the first Yankee to open a store in De-
troit where he began business in 1807, dealing in dry
goods, groceries, crockery, hardware, etc. He was a mem-
ber of the firm of Mack & Conant. That firm engaged in
the fur business as early as 1816, and there is abundant
evidence that it prosecuted that business so actively and
energetically that it was a very lively competitor of the
American Fur Company. They established an agency,
for their fur business, in Chicago as early as 1816, and op-
erated it until about the time of their failure in 1821, when
that part of their business was- taken over by the Ameri-
can Fur Company. John Crafts represented them at
Chicago all the time they maintained their agency there.
After that he joined the Fur Company.
The elder Mack was a member of the first legislative
council of the territory of Michigan. With others he
founded the town of Pontiac, Michigan, where he died in
1826.
Carr says the younger Stephen Mack ** attended Dart-
mouth College, in New Hampshire, for a time, but seemed
to have left college before he gl'aduated.'' This is an
error, as the secretary of that college states that ^Hhe
name of Stephen Mack does not appear on our records.''
Carr's book purports to be a history of Eockton from
''1820 to 1898,'' and this may give the impression that
Mack settled at Macktown in 1820, but the text of the
book does not support such an idea.
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14 MACK REACHES GRAND DETOUR
From Can's History it appears that the younger Mack
joined a government expedition around the lakes, and
while at Green Bay met some traders who told him that
the Rock river country was a good place for one lo es-
tablish a trading post. He promptly started for Rock
river, reaching it near where Janesville stands. Thence
he followed down the river until he reached the Indian
settlement known as Turtle village, near Beloit Junction.
There he learned of an Indian camp at Bird's Grove,
about two miles down the river from Rockton, at the
mouth of Dry Run Creek, and he started for it only to
lose his way and wander about until he reached the
Potawatamie village at Grand Detour, and for two or
three years traded with the Indians there, taking their
furs in exchange for his articles of traffic, and carrying
his merchandise to and from Chicago on the backs of
Indian ponies.
The law permitted the Indian Agents to issue licenses
to trade with the Indians to such persons as they thought
proper, and at such places as the agents designated in
the licenses, and it required the Secretary of War to re-
port to Congress each year an abstract of the licenses is-
sued. The reports made under this requirement show
that on October 20, 1823, Alexander Wolcott, Jr., Indian
Agent at Chicago, issued to Stephen Mack, Jr., a license
to trade on Rock river with the Indians for one year
with a capital of two thousand dollars, {18th Cong,, 2d
Sess.; Ho. Doc. 54) and on September 6, 1824, Wolcott
issued a license to Mack to trade on Rock river with the
Indians for one year with a capital of one thousand dol-
lars. {19th Cong., 1st Sess.; Ho. Doc. 118.)
There is no report of the issue of any other license to
Mack until October 5, 1826, when Wolcott granted him a
license to trade with the Indians for one year on ^* Rocky
River'' with a capital of twenty-five hundred dollars.
{20th Cong.; 1st Sess.; Ho. Doc. 140.) Nothing has been
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 15
found that shows what Mack was doing in the interval
between the second and third licenses, except that he
served as clerk and voted at an election of a constable
held in the Chicago precinct May 11, 1826. (Address by
Judge David McCulloch on Early Days of Peoria and
Chicago, delivered before the Chicago Historical Society,
January 19, 1904.)
The Reports of the Secretary of War do not show that
any other licenses were issued to Mack, yet he continued
to trade with the Indians as long as any of them remained
in his neighborhood, and it is known that they were trad-
ing with him in June, 1835, at Bird's Grove. As John
Dixon traded with the Indians at Dixon's Ferry from
1830 until they left the state, and never had a license to
do so, and as no trading licenses were issued for any
places on Rock river above Prophetstown after 1827, it
would seem the general belief then was that such licenses
were not then required for that territory, although as late
as February, 1829, the Secretary of War reported that
trading posts were then established at ^* Grand Detour
on Rocky river * * * and on Rock river.'' {20th
Cong., 2d Sess.; Ho. Doc. 117.)
'* Mack's relation with this tribe was not produc-
tive of the best of feeling; and although he had taken
the chief's daughter, Ho-no-ne-gah, for his wife, still
his life was in danger, because he refused to sell
firearms and liquor to the tribe. During one of his
trips to Chicago with three of his ponies, a plan was
fully matured to dispose of him on his return, and
take possession of his effects. His Indian wife, learn-
ing of their intentions, was on the lookout for her
husband's return, and meeting him far out from
camp, apprised him of his danger. It was quick
work for her to mount one of the ponies, and to-
gether they started out for the Winnebago tribe at
Bird's grove, where they were gladly welcomed and
promised protection. It became their future home
for a number of years." (Carr.)
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16 VOTES IN CHICAGO
It is to be noted that Carr does not state the year in
which Mack located at Grand Detour, or the year he
joined the Winnebagoes at Bird's Grove and no evidence
has been found that will enable one to fix either date.
In his '^ Politics and Politicians of Chicago/^ published
in 1886, Bennett says Stephen Mack was a clerk em-
ployed by the American Fur Company, and a son of
Major Mack of Detroit, and that he voted *4n the Chi-
cago precinct of Peoria county,'' at an election in Chi-
cago, for a justice of the peace and a constable, held July
24, 1830; that he married an Indian woman and ** finally
settled in Pecatonica, Winnebago county." Bennett and
John Wentworth, in his lecture on Early Chicago (Fergus
Historical Series, v. 8, p. 55) give a list of those voting
at a special election held in the Chicago precinct No-
vember 25, 1830, but Mack's name is not there. Nor is
it in the list Bennett gives of those voting at the state
election August 7, 1826.
Andreas in his '^ History of Chicago,^' says that Mack
voted at the election held in the Chicago precinct August
2, 1830, and describes him as a ** Clerk of American Fur
Company.
In this connection it is well to remember that these elec-
tions were held in Chicago and that no part of what is
now Winnebago county ever was in the ** Chicago pre-
cinct" of Peoria county.
It appears from his letters that he made his home on
Eock river during the winter months. The fact that he
voted in Chicago indicates that he considered that place
his home.
Andreas also says that Stephen Mack bought lots seven
and eight, in block forty-three, in the original town of
Chicago, September 29, 1830, for $53. This block is bound-
ed by West Eandolph, North Market and West Washing-
ton streets and, on the west, by the old East Water street
(now vacated).
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 17
In his later years Mack visited Grand Detour several
times, and from what he said on those visits, as it was re-
peated by Charles Throop to others, it is known that Mack
bought La Sallier 's cabin and occupied it until he moved
to Bird's Grove. He was living at Bird's Grove in
May, 1832. If the family history is correct in saying that
he bought the cabin soon after his marriage in 1829, it is
clear he did not occupy the cabin for any great length of
time.
Kett's History of Winnebago Coimty (1877) says Mack
was living in that county as early as 1829.
In their Atlas of Illinois, published in 1876, Warner
and Beers say Mack was living at Bird's Grove in 1829.
Jefferson Davis, a Lieutenant in the First Infantry,
was stationed at Fort Winnebago in the fall of 1829 and
remained there until 1831. He said, ** When sent on vari-
ous expeditions I crossed Eock River at different points,
but saw no sign of settlement above Dixon's Ferry,"
(Jefferson Davis, A Memoir, by Varina Davis.)
**Mack was living in peace and quietude with the
Indians at the breaking out of the Black Hawk war.
After the battle of Stillman Valley, when that re-
nowned chief visited this tribe to induce them to fol-
low him on his journey northward. Mack used his in-
fluence against such a movement ; and although Black
Hawk was very angry with the white trader, the little
tribe remained on their old camping ground, and the
great chief marched on without them.
It is said that the feeling was so strong against
Mack during the visit of Black Hawk, that the chief
of the tribe advised him to go away for a time for
personal safety. Accordingly he privately went to
an island in the river, now known as Webber's island,
where he was supplied with food by his faithful wife
until it was safe for him to return. This may be an
actual fact or a romance, but it is given for what it is
worth." (Carr.)
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18 BLACK HAWK WAR
Both fact and romance are in this statement. Black
Hawk did visit the Indians near Bird's Grove to persuade
them to join him, and Mack did leave his home ; but both
these events occurred before the battle of Stillman Valley,
Mack may have stayed at Webber's island, but if so it
was only for a short time.
That Mack took part in the Black Hawk War is evi-
dent from his letters to his sister, Mrs. Lovicy Cooper,
reading as follows :
Chicago, May 30, 1832.
Deab Sister :
I am happy in havjng an opportunity of informing
you and the rest of my relations at Detroit and Pon-
tiac that I am still alive and well. We are at war at
present with the Socks Indians.
I left my wintering ground or trading station on
the 9th inst. and as I left it the Socks took possession
of my house but were prevented from injuring me
or my men by the Winabagoe Indians who claimed
me as their friend and trader. Immediately on my
arrival at this place I joined with the Inhabitants of
this place, took up arms and garrisoned fort Dear-
bourn, and we have been able by that means to afford
protection to all of the inhabitants of the surrounding
country that could get in in season, but I am sorry
to say that our force was too small to enable us to go
to the assistance of such as could not get in in season
to serve themselves and in consequence three fam-
ilies consisting of 14 persons were killed and several
houses burned. After being reinforced by those who
got in from the outer settlements, we went out in pur-
suit of the murderers, but could not find them and
after burying the dead we came back to wait for
reinforcements to enable us to fight our way through
to the main army (which was last heard from near
my trading post on Eocky River) and assist in pun-
ishing the marauders. * * *
Chicago, June 13, 1832.
Deab Sisteb: * * *
I have been out on one expedition against the Sauke
Indians since my last letter, but we could not find
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 19
them where we expected, and were obliged to return
and wait for reinforcements to enable us to penetrate
further into the country. General Atkinson will be
on the move again in a few days, and General J. R.
Williams, (now at this place) will probably move on
to his assistance. In that case I shall join him with
a few volunteer mounted riflemen from this place.
You need be under no apprehension on my account
for I can assure you that all of the accounts that
you receive from the seat of war are very much ex-
aggerated. It is really amusing to me who see all
the operation and know perhaps better than almost
any one the real danger, to read the accounts of ma-
neuvers of the enemy never thought of by them, and
of battles never fought. And then to sit down and
listen to the remarks of the raw Yankees who have
lately emigrated to this country, one would think
that Napoleon Bonaparte had risen from the grave
and presented himself in the person of the Black-
hawk and that the spirit of his millions of heroes
were concentrated in the 5 or 600 warriors led by that
chief. I by no means wish to undervalue our enemies,
they are brave and subtle and it may be dangerous
to encounter them without an overwhelming force,
but I can by no means approve of the tardy opera-
tions of our chief officers, for it gives time to the
nimble footed Indians to ravage our frontier settle-
ments and bathe their hands in the blood of helpless
women and unsuspecting infants. Had more prompt
measures been pursued in the commencement, I have
no doubt but many lives would have been spared and
we should have been at this moment in the full en-
joyment of peace.'*
Mack's reference to the burial of those killed by the
Indians undoubtedly is to the massacre at Indian Creek,
La Salle county. May 20, 1832, and aids us in determining
the command of which he was a part.
Five companies of volunteers were raised in Cook
county for service in the Black Hawk war. One of them,
raised in the immediate vicinity of Chicago, was organ-
ized May 3, 1832, and commanded by Captain Gholson
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20 CAPT. BROWN'S COMPANY
Kercheval. Captain James Walker commanded a com-
pany raised in the neighborhood of Plainfield and en-
rolled June 19. Captain Joseph Naper^s company was
organized July 19, nearly all of its members living in the
vicinity of Naperville. A company commanded by Cap-
tain Holden Scission was organized July 23. The muster
rolls of four of these companies have been preserved, but
the name of Stephen Mack does not appear on any of
them.
Andreas, in his History of Chicago, v. 1, p. 269, says
that some thirty of those in KerchevaPs company also
enrolled in a company commanded by Captains Jesse B.
Brown and Richard J. Hamilton, and that this company
— Joseph Naper being a member — ^made a scouting tour
through the country as far as Holderman^s Grove, Plain-
field and Ottawa, and that the remains of those massa-
cred at Indian Creek were buried by the men of this
company. The muster roll of this company was not
preserved.
In the chapter of his History of Chicago that was
written in February, 1854, Bross says that ^4ate in the
month of May, 1832, a small force consisting of twenty-
five men, was organized in the fort under the command of
Capt. J. B. Brown, with Capt. Joseph Naper and Col.
R. J. Hamilton," and that this command buried the
bodies of those killed in the massacre, and then went to
Ottawa where it joined a part of a company from Taze-
well county under Major Bailey, and the whole detach-
ment then proceeded to Chicago under the command of
Major Bailey.
A History of Du Page County, by C. W. Richmond and
H. F. Vallette (1857), says that members of a
company raised in Chicago and commanded by Captain
Brown and Colonel Hamilton assisted the men of Still-
man's command, under Colonel Johnson, in burying the
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 21
bodies of those massacred at Indian Creek. (Baskin's
History of Du Page Cov/nty, p, 37.)
In his Memories of Sha/ubena, Matson says the burial
was by ^^a company of rangers, under Captain Naper, or
Brown, from Chicago" and a party from Putnam county.
In a letter written May 26, 1832, T. J. V. Owen, then
Indian Agent at Chicago, says *^The party of mounted
men who left here some days since upon an Indian excur-
sion has this moment returned'* after burying the bodies
of those slain in this massacre. (Mich. Pioneer Coll.,
V. 21, p. 368.)
Bearing in mind the fact that the letters of Mack and
Owen were written when the facts they mention were
fresh in the mind, it seems clear that Mack was in Cap-
tain Brown's company, and that he did assist in the
burial of the victims of the massacre.
After the capture of Black Hawk he returned to Bird's
Grove and spent the winter there, going back to Chicago
in the early part of May, 1833.
In a letter to his sister, written at Chicago, August 24,
1833, he said : ** We are preparing for the Indian Treaty
which is to take place next month. After the payment
of the Indian annuities I shall take my departure for
my winter quarters in the west as usual."
In the treaty made at Chicago, September 26, 1833, with
the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians, provi-
sion was made for the payment of six hundred dollars
to Rosa and Mary, children of ^^Hoo-mo-ni gah," wife of
Stephen Mack; five hundred dollars to Stephen Mack, ^*in
trust for the heirs of Stephen Mack, deceased," and three
hundred and fifty dollars to Stephen Mack, Jr. This pro-
nsion for ^Hhe heirs of Stephen Mack, deceased," is pu7-
zling, unless it was intended to pay some old debt the
Indians owed the elder Mack.
With the exception of Stephen Mack, the first perma-
nent white settlers in Rockton were William Talcott and
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22 MACKTOWN
his son Thomas B. Talcott. The latter kept a journal in
which he wrote the events of the various days passing as
they went about northern Illinois looking for a desirable
place to make a home. Under date of Saturday, July 25,
1835, he says they forded a river, ^ ^ crossed a small prairie,
went into the woods and came to Stephen Mack's Indian
trading establishment, and once more put up with a white
man who had a squaw wife. Found we were on the bank
of Rock river, two miles below the mouth of the Peca-
tonica and six miles south of the line of Wisconsin ter-
ritory." On the next day he wrote: ^^ Shall stay with
our friend Mack today. There are no inhabitants in sev-
eral miles except the Indians, who come around and Mack
trades with them today as much as any day. All days are
alike to the children of the forest. Mack is in the employ
of the American Fur Company, and has been all his life.
The Indians have confidence in him and he has no
trouble."
Mack thought that the bluff at the mouth of the Peca-
tonica river
^^ would be a good place to locate a town in view of
river navigation, and was in correspondence with a
Mr. Bradstreet, of Albany, N. Y., on the advent of
the first white settlers in 1835. It was then consid-
ered that the Pecatonica was a navigable stream for
one hundred miles from its mouth, and Rock River
one hundred and fifty miles up into the territory of
Wisconsin. With this large prospect in view, the
mouth of the Pecatonica River was a very desirable
location for a town. Accordingly Mack took posses-
sion of this tract of land in the fall of 1835, and per-
manently resided there until his death. * * * The
place took the name of Macktown, which it still re-
tains, although the once flourishing settlement has
entirely disappeared, save the substantial farm house
which he built there. * * * Mack had his town
platted, as he owned all of section twenty-three south
of Pecatonica River and sold many lots. In the
height of hi^ prosperity he valued a corner lot near
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 23
his store at $1,000. When told that his land was
too uneven for a town, he said 4t is far better than
Milwaukee. ' " ( Carr. )
In 1834, Congress enacted a law granting to Lewis
Banezakiewitz, and his associates, being two hundred
thirty-five exiles from Poland, who were transported to
the United States by the order of the Emperor of Austria,
the right to purchase, at the minimum price, ihirty-six
sections of land, to be selected by them under the direc-
tion of the Secretary of the Treasury, in any three ad-
jacent townships in Illinois or Michigan. Baron Louis
Chlopicki and John Prehal were authorized to act as
the agents of these exiles in selecting the land, and
Chlopicki selected two large tracts of land in Winnebago
county that were not connected with each other. One
of them contained ten thousand, nine hundred and sev-
enty acres and included practically all the land within
the present city of Rockford, and the other contained
twelve thousand acres in the present town of Rockton, in-
cluding, with other lands, sections twenty-three and twen
ty-six. As soon as this was known in the neighborhood,
the men who had settled in that territory and^made claim
to the lands they occupied, and who had organized a
claim protective association, appointed a committee to
resist this selection. Mack, a member of the claim asso-
ciation, was made chairman of this special committee, as
he had made claim to the west half of section twenty-six
and that part of section twenty-three south of the river
in the present town of Rockton. In October, 1837, this
committee sent a petition to William L. May, Congress-
man of that district, and Richard M. Young, one of our
United States Senators, stating that the petitioners were
actual residents upon the land they occupied prior to
the fall of 1835, and some of them in 1834; that Chlo-
picki, knowing that they were in possession of these lands,
had promised them that they would not be disturbed ; yet,
disregarding his promise, he had selected twenty sections.
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24 WINNEBAGO PAYMENT
sixteen of which were then occupied by the petitioners,
who felt aggrieved because, following the custom of the
country, they had entered upon the land in good faith and
made improvements thereon, intending to buy the land
as soon as it was put upon the market. They expressed
a willingness to buy their peace by making a fair com-
promise with Chlopicki, and asked for legislation that
would enable them to secure the lands they occupied and
thus save the cost of their improvements and labor. {25th
Cong.; 3d Sess.; Sen. Doc. 161.) The result was the
passage of the Act of April 14, 1842, which declared that
Chlopicki 's selections had not been made lawfully, and
it specifically gave the residents an opportunity to per-
fect their claims, and permitted the exiles to select other
lands.
By the treaty made at Washington November 1, 1837,
the Winnebagoes ceded all their land east of the Mis-
sissippi and jagreed. to remove therefrom within eight
months after the ratification of the treaty. The treaty
provided for the payment of various sums, aggregating
$38,000, to certain persons named, out of the sum of
$200,000, and that the balance ^' shall be applied to the
debts of the nation, which may be ascertained to be justly
due, and which may be admitted by the Indians, pro-
vided, that if all their debts shall amount to more than
this balance, their creditors shall be paid pro rata, upon
their giving receipts in full, ' ' and that no claim for depre-
dations should be allowed. Provision was also made for
the payment, under the direction of the President, to the
relations and friends of the Winnebagoes '^having not
less than one-quarter of Winnebago blood" of the sum
of $100,000. The commissioners appointed to adjust these
claims proceeded to Prairie du Chien where they met the
Indians and the various claimants in 1838. The report of
the Secretary of War shows that Stephen Mack presented
a claim for $6,500 for merchandise sold the Winnebagoes
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 25
which the commissioners allowed at $2,500 and, the claims
exceeding the balance, paid him his proportion, — $2,-
329.50. The commissioners also paid to him the sum of
one thousand dollars for each of his five children, Rosa,
age eight; Mary, age six; William, age four; Louisa, age
two and one-half, and Thomas H., one year, ^^for valuable
services the father and mother rendered, and the dis-
position and ability of the children to do so."
When the pioneer steamboat ^' Gypsy "made her mem-
orable voyage up Rock river in 1838, *'Mack heard the
steamer's whistle as she came around the bend in the
river and hurried down to the shore to drive a stake
for them to tie up to on his side of the river," but he was
disappointed, as she tied to a stake on the other side of
the river. (Carr.)
'^In 1839 Mack built the large two story house
which is now (1898) the sole survivor of that early
settlement. At the time of its erection, it was the best
house west of the lake, and but few equaled it in Chi-
cago. It was built on a good stone foundation, the
first in the place, and when completed was painted,
which was a luxury rarely indulged in during those
early times. He occupied this house until his death.
He built other houses, but they did not involve such
an outlay of money. * * * The first one built west
of Mack's house was a frame structure, and a story
and a half high. The lower part was occupied for
several years by Sylvester Stevens, as a furniture
room and work shop. The upper story was reached
by stairs on the outside, and was first used for a
school house for Mack's children and such others as
lived in the vicinity. Some Indian children were in-
duced to attend for a time, but all the effort put forth
to educate them was comparatively labor lost. The
different teachers were paid almost wholly by Mr.
Mack. This school was kept up until he built his
school house in another part of the place, about
1846. (Carr.)
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26 MACK'S FERRY
He established a ferry across Rock river about 1838
and ran it for some time. It was operated until 1843
when he, and his associates, David Jewett and Merrill
E. Mack, a cousin, under a charter granted by the state,
built what was commonly called Mack's bridge, the first
to span Rock river in Illinois. Mack furnished the
greater part of the money for this venture. The bridge
had a draw span that gave a cle^r channel thirty-six
feet wide. It was entirely destroyed by a freshet June 1,
1851, and never rebuilt.
Carr says, '* George Stevens' family came in '38. He
was postmaster about 1840, following after Mack in the
oflSce." He does not state when Mack was appointed.
Mack conducted a store for several years, being as-
sisted for some time by his cousin Merrill E. Mack, but
this venture proved to be disastrous, as appears from
his letter of August 26, 1847, to his sister, in which he
says:
* * *^^You inquire about my circumstances. I
will answer. I lost from $4000 to $5000 by our late
Cousin Merrel E. Mack. I furnished him cash to
carry on business, and when he died his estate proved
insolvent and all I got was in old goods or other
worthless trash. This has reduced my means so
that I have given up trade and am now working one
or two good farms which I own. I hold two or three
small offices which occupies a portion of my time, but
does not add much to my income. I owe no man a
Dollar and never will. I pride myself in maintaining
a character far above the possibility of reproach in
pecuniary matters, and the result is I am burdened
with every petty office of trust that has no compen-
sating salary, in my neighborhood."
After the collapse of the State Internal Improvement
scheme he took an active part in the effort to induce Con-
gress to donate 150,000 acres for the improvement of the
navigation of Rock river from its mouth to the terminus
of the proposed Milwaukee and Rock River canal, and,
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 27
acting upon a resolution adopted at a meeting held in
Rockford in January, 1840, joined with several hundred
others in a memorial to Congress for that purpose. Noth-
ing came of the effort except the printing of the memo-
rial by order of the Senate in May, 1840. Many of the
signers of this memorial were active in public affairs in
the valley in later years, among them being John Deere,
W. A. House, Solon Cumins, Charles Throop, Chester
Badger, Abram Brown, Joseph Crawford, T. D. Board-
man, I. S. Boardman, A. L. Porter, M. Fellows, 0. F.
Ayers, E. Southwick, N. G. H. Morrill, B. B. Loveland,
D. B. McKenny and Carlton Bailey.
He was appointed and served as a delegate from Win-
nebago county to the convention held at Bockf ord Jan-
uary 7, 1846, for the purpose of taking measures to secure
the construction of a railroad from Galena to Chicago.
(Stennett, History of the Chicago & Northwestern Ry.
Co.)
He took an active interest in the public affairs of his
community, serving as school treasurer and postmaster.
In March, 1847, he was appointed one of the ^^ special
commissioners*' who were, by the statute incorporating
the Rockford Hydraulic and Manufacturing Company,
charged with the duty of determining ^'the size and loca-
tion of the lock or locks '* that company might be required
to construct in its dam at Rockford. He was a justice of
the peace ; elected in the district in which he lived.
Carr's History of Rockton says ^*Mack was elected
associate justice of the peace in 1849, and held the office
as long as he lived." The History of Winnebago Cotmty
published by Kett, in 1877, says Mack was an associate
justice in 1849-1850. That office would have made Mack
a member of the County Court, but his name does not
appear on the records of that court as a member. It does
not appear* as that of a member of the court, on the rec-
ords of the County Commissioner's Court which went
out of existence in that county in November, 1849.
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28 HO-NO-NEMJAH
At the first election in Winnebago county after the
adoption of the township organization, April 2, 1850, he
was a candidate for supervisor, but was defeated by
Sylvester Talcott by a vote of 58 to 45.
The statement in the family history that he married in
February, 1829, undoubtedly refers to his marriage to
Ho-no-ne-gah. He remarried her, Carr says, September
14, 1840, according to the rites and customs of the white
man. She died in July, 1847. Her white neighbors con-
sidered her a faithful and devoted wife, a woman of more
than ordinary ability and one who cheerfully aided all
whenever opportunity offered. Carr says she was
'largely absorbed in the care of her home and children,
save when sickness of the early settlers called for her
kind and skillful care and attention. Then with her
supply of nature's remedies which the Great Spirit had
30 kindly spread out all around her, she would seek out
the afflicted and bring sunshine and relief to many a
suffering one who fell a prey to the ills of a new country.
The high tribute of respect to Mack's Indian wife was
genuine and sincere, and although of a dusky hue,, she
possessed a noble soul and did all she could to make those
around her comfortable and happy.
Not only in sickness were her many virtues shown in a
marked degree, but the poor and destitute around her
incident to the struggles of many an early settler, shared
of her provisions in a generous manner. She delighted
in doing good. Only once was she known to assume the
garb of her pale-face sisters, and then it was by great
solicitation ; but she felt so ill at ease, and afraid to n^ake
herself conspicuous, she soon laid it aside and forever
after was content with the costume of her tribe. Mrs.
Jesse Blinn who was a near neighbor says of her: ^^She
was very skillful in ornamenting her clothing. She made
herself for extra occasions an Indian dress of fine blue
broadcloth, with a border five inches deep all around it,
worked with various colored ribbons ; her taste in blend-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 29
ing colors to have a pleasing effect was very fine, and
her needle work almost perfect. Many articles about
her home bore witness of her skillful handiwork. Being
a Pottawatomie, she like her tribe, felt above the Winne-
bago as in skill, and showed much ability in fashioning
many articles of merchandise.''
John Blackhawk, an intelligent and well-educated Win-
nebago says that Ho-no-ne-gah is a Winnebago word
meaning ''dear little one," and is the name given the
first girl born in a Winnebago family.
In a letter to his sister, after the death of Ho-no-ne-gah,
Mack said :
''You say you perceive by the notice in the paper
that my wife died a Christian. Lovicy, if I know
what a Christian is, she was one. She not only died
a Christian, but she lived one. Not by profession,
but by her every act. Her every deed proclaimed
her a follower of Christ. In her the hungry and
naked have lost a benefactor, the sick a nurse, and I
have lost a friend who taught me to reverence God
by doing good to his creatures. ' '
Mack had no children by his second wife, but Ho-no-ne-
gah bore him eleven, two of whom died in infancy. The
others were:
Rose (so named in his will, though sometimes
called Rosa), born November 14, 1830. In conse-
quence of illness she was a mute ; attended school at
the Illinois Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Jack-
sonville ; married and became a teacher there.
Mary, born July 15, 1832, was married twice — ^first
to Charles Stocker, and then to Terrill.
William H., born July 17, 1834. Married his sister-
in-law, Julia Stocker. Was a soldier in the Union
army during the Rebellion.
Louisa, born May 6, 1836. Married L. L. Curtiss.
Thomas H., born February 8, 1838. Soldier in the
Union army during the Rebellion.
Henry C, born December 1, 1839 ; died January 1,
1849.
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30 DEATH
• Edward, bom December 3, 1841. Soldier in the
Union army in the Rebellion, dying from injuries
received in that service.
Matilda, born November 26, 1843. Married Ed.
Drake.
Caroline, bom October 16, 1845. Married Arthur
F. Newberry. Now (1918) living in Pontiac, Michi-
gan. She is the only one of his children living now.
On Febroary 24, 1848, Mack married Mrs. Isabelle Dan-
iels, of Harrison, Illinois. He died, very suddenly, April
10, 1850. Soon after his estate was settled all his chil-
dren, except Caroline, who went to live with her father ^s
brother Almon, left for Minnesota or Wisconsin, to join
the friends of their mother. At the time of his death he
owned about one thousand acres of land around Mack-
town.
He was a good man, a good citizen and a great force
for good in the development of the new country.
Kett^s History of Winnebago County says he was tall,
erect as an Indian, dignified and manly in his bearing.
These facts conclusively show that Mack regarded his
place at Bird's Grove merely as a winter trading sta-
tion, and that he did not consider it his home until after
August, 1833. This being the case, it is evident that he
was not the first permanent white settler in the Eock
river valley, for in April, 1830, John Dixon settled at
Ogee's Ferry, where the city of Dixon grew up around
him, and remained there until his death in July, 1876.
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THE FUR TRADE AT GRAND DETOUR.
It is a singular fact that of all those writing upon the
history of Lee or Ogle counties not one has mentioned the
fur trade that was carried on at Grand Detour for many-
years.
There is an abundance of convincing evidence that the
Rock river country was a rich field for the fur buyers
and that Grand Detour was considered to be a very good
location for one engaged in that trade.
The Indian was improvident, giving little thought to
the future, and making but scant provision for it. When
the early frosts reminded him of the coming of the winter
with its hardships he appealed to the white men for food,
blankets, powder, bullets and shot. These were given
him cheerfully and in abundance by the licensed trader
whose security was the Indian's promise to pay by de-
livering furs.
There are still living persons who have heard John
Dixon say that the only money he lost by trusting an
Indian was due from one who was killed on a hunting trip.
Governor Lewis Cass of Michigan and Gen. William
Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, St. Louis, and
no others had a better knowledge of the Indians than
they possessed, said that the Indian was honest and did
pay as he promised, unless he was beguiled by some
rival trader who offered more. (20th Cong.; 2nd Sess.;
Sen. Doc. 67.)
The red man was governed by his own law, and that
was — if, by the fortunes of the hunt, he was unable to
pay from the proceeds of the season following the day
he was given credit, he was under no obligation to pay
at any time, — the debt was satisfied. But the trader was
persistent and the next time his debtor's tribe entered
into a treaty with the United States for the sale of land,
the trader was present, and all accounts of that char-
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32 TRADING POSTS
acter were provided for in that treaty and paid by the
United States. There is good reason for the belief that
some of the treaties .by which the Indian parted with his
land were instigated by the traders who had bills to
collect.
Under the Treaty of November 1, 1837, with the Winne-
bagoes, commissioners were appointed to adjust the
claims against that tribe, and they reported that the ^ * Win-
nebagoes were known to be generally honest, '* and that it
was the general belief of the Winnebagoes that if they
were unable to pay their debts in two years, some said
in one year, then, the debt became one of the nation or
tribe and the individual was absolved from all obliga-
tion to pay it, but it should be paid out of moneys pro-
vided for that purpose by the United States. {25th
Cong.; 3d 8 ess.; Ho. Doc. 229.)
In 1796 Congress enacted a law authorizing the presi-
dent to establish trading houses at such posts and places
as he should judge most convenient for trade with the
Indians, and empowered him to appoint an agent for each
house, whose duty it should be to dispose of, in trade
with the Indians, such goods as the president should
direct him to receive. In 1806 the president was author-
ized to appoint a superintendent of Indian trade who
should purchase the goods required and transmit them to
the place designated as trading houses (commonly called
factories) and also to appoint an agent for each trading
house and he was known as the factor. By the Act passed
in 1822 the factory system was abolished, and the presi-
dent was required to close up the trading houses and
was authorized to appoint a Superintendent of Indian
Affairs to reside at St. Louis, and this superintendent and
the Indian Agents were given authority to issue licenses
to trade with the Indians at places designated in the
license. Another act of that year required the Super-
intendents of Indian Affairs, who were the governors of
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 33
the territories, and the Superintendent at St. Louis, and
all Indian Agents, to report to the Secretary of War,
each year, '^an abstract of all licenses granted, showing
by and to whom, when and where granted, with the
amount of the bonds and capital employed, to be laid
before Congress, at the next session thereof." Prior to
the enactment of this statute there was no regulation
requiring any report of the licenses issued.
The law made it the duty of the Indian Agents ^'from
time to time to designate certain convenient and suitable
places for carrying on trade with the different tribes,
and to require traders to transact their business at the
places thus designated, and at no other place or places. '*
Those charged with the administration of the law often
complained that the Indian Agents were compelled to
issue a license to every applicant, and the consequence
was that there were many irresponsible and dishonest
traders, as any man who was able to give the required
security could obtain a license to trade for one year with
the Indians at any place so designated that he chose to
name in his application. He was required to give a bond,
the penalty ranging upwards from one thousand dollars,
conditioned that he would obey all the laws and rules
regulating the trade. He was allowed to trade at the
place chosen by himself and named in the license, and
was prohibited from trading at any other place under
that license, but was allowed to go to other places solely
for the purpose of collecting what was due him when he
obtained special permission to do so.
He could have as many licenses as he chose, there being
instances in which the records show as many as five li-
censes issued to one man in the same year, and William
Burnett, who owned a house in Chicago as early as 1798
and was in the Indian trade many years, writing to
Governor Harrison of Indiana Territory, September 10,
1803, says that in regulating the Indian trade Harrison
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34 TRADING UCENSES
decided that one trader was sufficient for a place produc-
ing less than fifty packs of furs in a year — each pack
weighing from ninety to one hundred pounds — and that
''no man should have more than four licenses," but Har-
rison disregarded his own regulation and issued twenty
licenses to John Kinzie in 1802. (Hurlbut, Chicago An-
tiquities.)
Experience taught the trader that he needed the serv-
ices of three to six men at his post, and he was allowed
to have them if their names were endorsed on the license.
He was required, before obtaining a license, to lay before
the Indian agent an invoice showing the quantity and
value of the goods he had for sale, and the capital he
had invested in that venture.
The Indian agent had no authority to issue a license to
trade at any place or with any tribe beyond his district,
but this law was not always respected by the agents.
For convenience of administration the country was
divided, arbitrarily, into districts. Generally, the gov-
ernors of a territory had charge of the trade in that ter-
ritory, but there were exceptions. The governor of Michi-
gan had jurisdiction over Michigan and part of Wis-
consin and that part of Illinois north of the Illinois river
and east of Bock river. General William Clark, who was
stationed at St. Louis, had jurisdiction over the part of
Illinois and Wisconsin west of Rock river.
The territory within the jurisdiction of the Indian
Agency at Chicago extended as far north as Grand river
on the east side of Lake Michigan, as far south of the lake
as the Kankakee river and on the west side of the lake
as far north as the *' Milwaukee, including the Indians
on that river, and to the lower bands of the Pattawata-
mies on Bock river.'' The Ottawas, Chippewas and Pot-
awatomies, always closely related, had a joint interest in
a claim recognized by the United States as a just and
valid one to northern Illinois, and *'a part of the mineral
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 35
region on the Mississippi, * * * and a considerable
band of them, * * * resided in Illinois, and another
band up the Rook River/' {20th Cong.; 2d Sess.; Ho.
Doc. 117.)
The sub-agency at Fort Winnebago had control of the
Indians — ^Winnebagoes and Menominees — ^who frequent-
ed that place and those who resided in that vicinity. The
agency at Prairie du Chien had control of the upper
Rock River country, but was not to interfere with trade at
Fort Winnebago. The sub-agency at Peoria included the
^'Ottawas, Chippewas and Pattawatimas of the Illinois
living on Fox River and west of it/' The agency at Fort
Armstrong controlled the Sauks and Foxes.
In a letter to the Secretary of War, October 17, 1821,
Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan Territory and Super-
intendent of Indian Affairs in that territory, speaking of
the conditions in Michigan during and the two years fol-
lowing the War of 1812, says '^ During a part of that
time we had no agent at Michilimacknac, Green Bay,
Prairie du Chien, St. Peters, Rocky River, Chicago, Fort
Wayne and Upper Sandusky.'' {Am. State Papers; In-
dian Affairs, vol. 2, p. 314.) Is it justifiable to infer that
there was an agent or trader at '* Rocky River" during
that war or before it began?
That there was a trading post on Rock River in the
winter of 1802-1803, is shown by the Personal Narrative
of Capt. Thomas G. Anderson, who says he spent that
winter **with the Winnebagoes on Rock River. They were
the most filthy, most obstinate and the bravest people of
any Indian tribe I have met with. Here I had a half-breed
in opposition in the trade. Our houses were about half a
mile apart, and between us was a very high hill, over
which we had to pass by a little path through the bushes. ' '
{Wis. His. Coll. vol. 9, pp. 137, 152.) He does not state
at what point on the river this post was located, but as
he says the hill was at least three hundred feet above the
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36 JOHN CRAFTS
water in the river we know he was not near Grand Detour,
unless he is in error as to the height of Castle Bock.
John Kinzie became a resident of Chicago in 1804. In
Wauhun, Mrs. John H. Kinzie, says that he *' later'' es-
tablished trading posts ''at Rock river with the Winne-
bagoes and the Pottawatamies,'' but that leaves date and
place unknown. There is an abundance of evidence that
John Kinzie had been engaged in the Indian trade in
Michigan for several years before locating at Chicago,
but he was then known as McKenzie as well as Kinzie.
Gurdon S. Hubbard, who entered the service of the
American Fur Company in 1818, says that company had
three or four trading posts on Rock River from 1813 to
1833 (Baldwin, History of La Salle County) j but he does
not name or describe the exact locations.
Speaking of John Crafts, who was the Chicago repre-
sentative of Mack & Conant of Detroit, Hubbard said he
''had, up to 1819, full control of this section, without
opposition from the American Fur Company, sending
outfits to Rock river and other points within a range
say of a hundred miles of Chicago." {Hurlbut, Chicago
Antiquities.)
In his introduction to '^Altowan, or Incidents of Life
and Adventure in the Rocky Moun>tains/' James Watson
Webb gives a thrilling account of the night he passed in
La Sallier's cabin, on Franklin Creek, about thirty-five
rods from Rock River, in February, 1822, and it shows
there was a trader there then who lived in a cabin so
old that in 1835 it was nothing but a mass of rotten logs.
It is self-evident there was no reason for the existence
of a house there in that period, unless it was for the com-
fort and convenience of one engaged in the fur trade.
Writing from Michilimackinac on August 26, 1824, to
Alexander Wolcott, Indian Agent at Chicago, Robert
Stuart, the manager of the American Fur Company, says :
"I have just received a letter from Mr. Crafts wherein
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 37
he states that you had designated Chicago, St. Joseph,
Milwalka and Bock River as the places you consider most
proper to be established for Indian trade within your
district, and that you will grant him no licenses for any
other posts/' {Am. Fur Co. Letter Booh, in Chi. His.
Soc. Library. Crafts was then that company's repre-
sentative in Chicago.)
The Report of the Secretary of War, December, 1823,
has an abstract of all licenses to trade with the Indians
that were issued in 1821, 1822, and up to the first of Sep-
tember, 1823, and it shows that on October 13, 1821, Alex-
ander Wolcott, Jr., Indian Agent at Chicago, gave a li-
cense to Maurice Lauzon to trade one year on ^*Rook
river,'' with nothing to show the particular place on that
river, and it does not state the amount of capital Lauzon
employed in that venture. The report does not show
that any license to trade on Rock river was issued in
1822 or that part of 1823 covered by the report. {ISth
Cong.; 1st Sess.; Ho. Doc. 7.)
The Report made by the Secretary of War in January,
1825, shows that on October 20, 1823, Wolcott gave a
license to Stephen Mack, Jr., to trade on '*Rock river,"
with a capital of two thousand dollars. {18th Cong.; 2d
Sess.; Ho. Doc. 54.) While this does not show the par-
ticular place Mack was authorized to trade, it would seem
but fair to say he was at Grand Detour, because he was
there other years and his family bible says he bought the
cabin in which La Sallier had lived in 1822.
In his testimony before the commissioners appointed,
under the treaty of November, 1837, to adjust the claims
against the Winnebagoes, John H. Kinzie said that the
fur trade along Rock River, in 1823-4, was good, there
being many muskrats there at that time and the price
being good.
Wolcott, on September 6, 1824, issued a license to
Stephen Mack, Jr., to trade one year on Rock river, with
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38 TRADERS AT GRAND DETOUR
a capital of one thousand dollars; and on October 23,
1824, he issued a license to Cole Weeks to trade one year
on ''Rocky river,'' with a capital of fifteen hundred dol-
lars. {19th Cong.; 1st Sess.; Ho. Doc. 118.)
Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan and Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, on August 17, 1825, issued a license to
Bernard Laughton to trade one year at ''Grand Detour,
on Rocky River," with a capital of five hundred dollars;
and Wolcott, September 27, 1825, issued a license to
Laughton to trade one year on "Rocky River," with a
capital of twenty-five hundred dollars. (19th Cong.; 2d
Sess.; Ho. Doc. 86.)
By this time it had become quite generally known that
Grand Detour was a very good place for the fur trader,
and the Report made by the Secretary of War in Febru-
ary, 1828, shows that on September 1, 1826, Governor
Cass issued a license to Morice Lozon to trade one year
at "Grand Detour, on Rocky River" with a capital of
five hundred dollars ; that on October 13, 1826, Henry B.
Brevoort, Indian Agent at Green Bay, issued a license
to Bernard Grignon to trade one year at "Grand Detour
on Rock river" with a capital of seven hundred fifty dol-
lars and sixty-three cents ; and on the next day he issued
a license to Perish Grignon and S. Chapua to trade one
year at ' ' Grand Detour on Rock river and Cheboiegon of
Lake Michigan," with a capital of twelve hundred thirty
dollars and thirty-one cents; that on October 5, 1826,
Wolcott issued to Stephen Mack a license to trade one
year on "Rocky River," with a capital of twenty-five
hundred dollars ; and on the next day he issued a license
to Archibald Clyboum to trade one year on "Rocky
River," with a capital of twenty-five hundred dollars;
and on October 17, 1826, he issued a license to George
Hunt to trade one year on "Rocky River," with a capital
of thirty-five hundred dollars ; that on November 2, 1826,
Brevoort issued a license to H. B. McGulpin to trade
one year at "Fon du Lac and Grand Detour," with a cap-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 39
ital of seven hundred ninety-two dollars and fourteen
cents. {20th Cong.; 1st Sess.; Ho. Doc. 140.)
The Secretary of War reported, in February, 1829, an
abstract of the licenses to trade with the Indians that had
been issued since September 1, 1827, but it does not show
that any license to trade at Grand Detour or on Rock
river, above Prophetstown had been issued since that
day. Nor is any mention of the issue of a license to trade
there made in his subsequent reports, so it is fair to con-
clude none were issued since November, 1826, although
he did report, February, 1829, that '*the following are
the trading posts now established * * * Chicago * * *
Fever river * * * Forks of the river Iroquois * * *
Grand Detour on Rocky river * * * Rock river * * *
among the Winnebagoes fifty miles from the mouth of
Rock river." (20ffe Cong.; 2nd Sess.; Ho. Doc. 117.)
Mrs. Kinzie tells us, in Wcmhun, that after they left
Dixon, on their journey from Fort Winnebago to Chi-
cago, in 1831, their guide lost the way and led them along
a trail that ^^br ought us to the great bend of the river
with its bold rocky bluflf,'' and it is common knowledge
that every Indian trail led to an Indian village.
It is incomprehejisible that so many men would, of
their own volition, choose Grand Detour as the site of
their trading posts, unless there were Indians there with
whom they could trade.
We know, from the great number of arrow heads,
flints and other things evidencing the prior existence of
an Indian village, that have been found north of Rock
River, and a littfe west of the road leading to the bridge
at Grand Detour, that there once was an Indian village
across the river from the bold rocky bluflf Mrs. Kenzie
mentions.
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JOSEPH OGEE AND HIS FEBRY.
It is quite common knowledge in Dixon that its first
permanent white inhabitant was Joseph Ogee. Very lit-
tle is known of him, and that is so scattered it may be well
to gather the fragments and present them so that they
may be found easily.
Dr. Oliver Everett, who lived in Dixon for a period of
more than fifty years, beginning in September, 1836, told
the writer hereof that the name Ogee was pronounced as
if spelled Ozhya, though Judge McCulloch, in his History
of Peoria County, says the name is said to be Ozier and
Ogee but a nickname. In Wcmbun, Mrs. Kinzie calls him
*'Ogie.'' That Ogee is the correct spelling will be shown
later.
Ogee represented the American Fur Company at Pe-
oria as early as 1818 (McCulloch, History of Peoria
Cownty)y and at a later day he also had charge of its trad-
ing station where Wesley City, Tazewell county, now
stands.
Ethelbert Stewart, of the United States Department
of Labor, in his ^^Feiv notes for cm Industrial History of
Illinois y^' says that the pay rolls of the American Fur
Company show that the company paid its ''trader'^ in
Illinois three thousand dollars per year because of the
fierce competition in that territory. This indicates that
Ogee was a man of greater ability that the term *' half-
breed'' would imply, and that the company considered
him to be a valuable man. {Publications Illinois State
Historical Society, no. 8, p. 119.) Stewart's statement is
fully sustained by the books of the Fur Company.
He was living in Fulton county when that county and
its attached territory included all the state that was east
of the fourth principal meridian and north of the Illinois
and Kankakee rivers, and the county commissioners of
that county, June 4, 1823, ordered
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 41
*Hhat Joseph Ogee have License to keep an Inn or
Tavern in the house where he now resides at the Vil-
lage of Peoria in Said County, by paying the Sum of
Ten Dollars in State papers.
'^By motion it was ordered the following be the list
of Tavern Bates for said Tavern, towit:
Victuals, pr meal $ .25
Horsekeeping, pr night 37^
Lodgeing pr. night 12^
Whiskey pr. half pint 12^
Rum & Gin pr. half pint 25
French Brandy Do , 50
Wine pr. half pint 37^
and all other Liquors be in proportion.''
He was summoned to serve on the grand jury at a term
of the circuit court of Fulton county to be held in Octo-
ber, 1823, but, for some reason now unknown, that term
of court was not held.
Peoria county was created by an act approved Janu-
ary 13, 1825, and given its present area (except a
small fragment taken from Fulton in exchange, to cure
a blunder in surveying), and there was attached to it all
the state north of it and the Illinois and Kankakee rivers
and some territory east of the Illinois. The first meeting
of the county commissioners' court of the new county was
held in March, 1825, in Ogee's house at Peoria which,
Judge McCuUoch says, was made of hewn logs and was
the best in the town. The first term of the circuit court
held in the county was held in this house in November,
1825, with John York Sawyer as judge and John Dixon
as clerk. It was at this term of court that the Indian
Nomaque was indicted, tried and convicted upon a charge
of murder, and sentenced to death. Ogee acted as inter-
preter at that trial and served as petit juror for that
term, and he and one Jacob Frank were indicted then for
an affray. At that trial Nomaque, it is said, was de-
fended by William S. Hamilton, the life time friend of
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42 OGEE'S ASSESSMENT
Mr. Dixon. A new trial was granted by the Supreme
Court, and ultimately, Nomaque went without punish-
ment.
A methodist church was organized in Peoria in 1824,
and Mrs. Ogee became a member of it the following win-
ter. Ogee was a patron of Peoria's first school upon its
establishment in 1826, its sole support being subscrip-
tions by its patrons. After its first week, the school was
taught in his log cabin.
In July, 1826, Ogee was allowed and paid three dollars
by the county commissioners' court for the use of his
house by the circuit court and one dollar for its use by
the county commissioners' court. That same month,
when the county sold the land it had caused to be subdi-
vided, he bought two lots in that subdivision, the town of
Peoria, for $96.25.
An assessment of two hundred dollars was made
against his personal property in 1825, but it was located
in the ''Illinois prairie," which was the local name given
the attached territory east of the Illinois. The assessor
was the same John L. Bogardus who built a shanty at
Dixon in 1827, and whose partially built ferry boat was
burned by the Indians that summer. (Kett, History of
Ogle County.) It is quite probable that the property so
assessed belonged to the Fur Company, as its property
in Chicago was assessed in the name of its agent there.
In his History of Ogle County^ p. 50, Boss quotes the
following from a letter written by Judge Joseph Gillespie
of Edwardsville :
''It was about the 5th day of March, 1827, that
thirteen of us who had met together at different
places and formed a traveling company for the lead
mines, reached the banks of Rock River at the point
where, according to my recollection, Dixon now
stands. It was naked prairie on. the south side, but
there was excellent hickory timber on the opposite
side of the river. A band of Winnebagoes were en-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 43
camped on the south side. It became necessary for
a portion of our party to cross the river and prepare
our encampment, and make fires in advance of the
rest, and a Mr. Reed, my brother and myself were
selected for that purpose. We had previously bar-
gained with the Indians for the use of their canoes to
ferry us and our wagon over, and had given a large
amount of bacon and corn meal in payment. The
Indians, without any reluctahce, took Reed, my
brother and myself across the river with our oxen,
and as soon as we were separated from our compan-
ions, they started down the river with their canoes.
This operation was likely to be attended with much
inconvenience, and some suffering and exposure to
us who had crossed the river and were without pro-
visions or bed-clothes. Our friends followed down
after the Indians, who pretended that they under-
stood the contract on their part to have been fulfilled.
We knew that they were endeavoring to fleece us.
It was found impossible to bring them to agree to our
understanding of the bargain, and nothing was left
for our side but to make the best terms we could.
They would not agree on any condition we could pro-
pose, to ferry our wagon over, pretending to believe
it would sink their canoes. There was in our com-
pany a negro, named Frank, from Kaskasia, who had
joined us when the company consisted of but four
persons — old Mr. Reed, his son, my brother and my-
self ; the rest of the company we picked up after-
wards. We rather took care of Frank, and protected
him when attempts were made to impose upon him,
for w:hich he was very grateful. Frank was in great
distress when he found that three of his friends were
separated from the company, and were without food
or bed-clothes. He had a black overcoat, the body of
which was about of the texture of an old sleazy
blanket, but the capes were really of first rate ma-
terial, and were fastened to the body with hooks and
eyes. One of the Indians took a great liking to
Frank's coat, and a bargain was struck on about
these terms : Frank was to give the Indian his coat
and they were to allow him to bring us over bed-
clothing and food, and also to ferry the wagon over
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44 WILLIAM THOMAS
the next morning, upon terms to be agreed on. Frank
rolled up an auger in the blanket to enable us to
build a raft in case it should become necessary, but
the Indians were too sharp for that. They unrolled
the blanket and contended that taking over an auger
was not in the bargain, and so Frank came over with-
out it. When they arrived a great controversy arose
between him and the Indians. Frank contended that
he was to give only his coat, and they contended that
he was to give the cape also. We had by this time
become so incensed at the Indians that we felt very
little like obeying the scriptural requirement — *If
any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy
coat, let him have thy cloak also.' So we decided
in Frank's favor, and he kept his capes. The Indians
were very indignant at Frank's strict construction,
and we might have had trouble with them; but that
night it turned intensely cold, and by the next morn-
ing the Indians were as torpid as snakes in winter.
They could not get out of their wigwams, and our
men helped themselves to the canoes, and everything
was pushed across early in the day. * * * Lest
what I have stated might lead persons to believe
that all the Indians were thus knavishly inclined, I
would remark that in crossing the Winnebago
swamps, some ten or fifteen miles south of Rock
River, we had great difficulty, and would have had
more but for some Winnebago Indians who were en-
camped by the swamps, and who were exceedingly
kind and generous to us, and rendered us every as-
sistance in their power."
In his *^ Recollections of Early Illinois," delivered be-
fore the Chicago Historical Society, March 16, 1880,
Judge Gillespie, speaking of the trip just mentioned, says
they crossed Rock river at Dixon.
When Governor Edwards issued his call for volunteers
for the Winnebago War in 1827, one of the first to offer
his services was William Thomas of Jacksonville, for
many years thereafter honored and revered by the people
of Illinois. The command of which he was a member
marched to Gratiot's Grove. Speaking of this, in an ar-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 45
tide published first in the Jacksonville Journal of Au-
gust 21, 1871, and later in the Publications of the Illinois
State Historical Society, no. 12, p. 265, Thomas says :
''The heavy rains had extended to Bock river, and
the prairies were so saturated with water that we
could travel only in a walk, our horses onbreaking
the sod at every step. Following a trail made by the
Indians and persons going to the lead mines, on the
fifth day from Peoria we reached Rock river at Dix*
on's Ferry. During the march we had to drink the
water standing in swamps, pools and holes in the
prairie. Upon reaching E<)ck river, seeing that it
was a beautiful clear stream with gentle current, we
expected a good drink of water, but, to our sur-
prise, we found that no better than the water of the
swamps through which we had passed. Dozens were
made sick by swallowing the water before testing it.
We forded the river in the afternoon on a Sunday,
those riding small horses swimming, and encamped
on the bank until next day.''
He does not give any information as to the day or
month he crossed Rock river. As the call for volunteers
was issued in the middle of July it is probable that he
reached the river some time in August. Of course that
place was not then known as Dixon's Ferry, as there was
no ferry of any kind there then.
In his ''Early Times at Dixon's Ferry,'' pujblished in
Kurtz's History of Dixon and Palmyra, John K. Rob-
inson says : —
''The method of crossing the river with teams be-
fore the establishment of a ferry was primitive and
simple. On arriving at the place of crossing, the
wagons were unloaded and the loads carried over
in canoes by the Indians, the wagon was then driven
with the side to the stream, two wheels lifted into
a canoe then shoved a little out into the river, and
another canoe received the other wheels, when the
double boat was paddled or poled to the other side ;
the horses were taken by the bridle and made to swim
by the side of the canoe, cattle swam loose; then com-
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46 THE BOGARDUS PERRY
menced the lifting out of the wagons and reloading,
and the journey was renewed, all hands happy that
the task of crossing the river was completed. Once
James P. Dixon, well acquainted with the hardships
of crossing, arriving on the hanks of the river with
the mail wagon, called for the Indians for their as-
sistance but received no answer; vexed at their delay
and their arrogance when they did assist, he boldly
unchecked his horses, so as to give them a chance
to swim, and crossed the river with the mail and
wagon in safety/^
Speaking of the travel at this place, Rett's History of
Ogle County y p. 266, says :
**In the winter time there was but very little
travel, probably from the fact that there was but lit-
tle or nothing doing in the mines, and may be be-
cause of the exposure necessarily incident to the
trip. In March, 1827, however, a heavy tide of travel
set in from Fort Clark, and other parts of the state
below there.
** Among the first to come up that season and cross
Rock River at the Boles trail (now Dixon) was Elisha
Doty, who subsequently settled at Polo. When he
arrived at the river it was still covered with ice, over
which he essayed to cross, but before he had pro-
ceeded far the ice began to give way, and he was
obliged to abandon the attempt. 'While waiting on
the bank' (says Boss' Sketches of the History of Ogle
County, published in 1859), 'just before starting on
his return, about two hundred teams collected there,
all on their way to Galena. > * * *
''in 1827 Dixon had become a fixed place for trav-
elers to cross the river, but crossing was often at-
tended with a great deal of inconvenience, as up to
this time, and until 1828, there was no ferry other
than the kind of canoe ferry already described, and
the Indians were not always present and in readiness
with their canoes. When the water was low, the
river could be forded without difficulty, but this was
not always the case. The establishment of a ferry at
that point was first undertaken by a man named J. L.
Begordis (Bogardus), of Peoria, who sent a man up
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EARLY LEE COUNTY i?
in the early summer of 1827 to build a shanty 8 by 10,
on the bank, and to live there and *hold the fort', or
ferry, until Begordis (Bogardus) could find and for-
ward the necessary workmen, carpenters, etc., to build
the ferry boat. Soon after the shanty was completed,
Mr. Doty (the father of Elisha Doty already men-
tioned), a carpenter, came and work on the boat was
conamenced and vigorously prosecuted. When the
boat was about half completed, the Indians set fire to
it, and informed its builders that they should not
build a boat there, and told them to 'go to Peoria.'
Doty and his assistant did not stand upon the order
of their going, but went at once, for the command was
imperative, if not threatening. In the spring of
1828, Joe Ogee, a Frenchman and an Indian inter-
preter, whose wife was a Pottawattomie woman,
settled there, built a house and established a ferry."
''The (Ogee) ferry boat was propelled by the old fash-
ioned 'setting pole,' " and landed at any convenient
point. It was not until 1835 that the rope ferry was
installed. That ferry was at Galena avenue. {Kurtz,
History of Dixon and Palmyra.)
John K. Robinson, who taught the children of Father
Dixon in the winter of 1833- '34, says that Ogee built his
cabin and established his ferry where Dixon stands in
the spring of 1828. Boss, in his history of Ogle County,
published in 1859, and Frank Kurtz, who compiled the
History of Dixon mid Palymra that was published in
1880, say the ferry was established in 1828. Rufus
Blanchard, in his Historical Map of Illinois, published in
1883, says it was established in 1825, but he is wrong.
It has been stated many times that John Dixon induced
Ogee to establish the ferry, or that he took Ogee with him
when he moved from Peoria, and some have said that Mr.
Dixon really established the ferry and put Ogee in charge
of it. All these statements are erroneous.
In the History of Dixon and Lee County compiled by
Frank Kurtz, and published in 1880, it is said that "Jo-
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48 JOHN DIXON AT BOYD'S GROVE
seph Ogee was induced to come here (Dixon) and estab-
lish a ferry by Father Dixon, who at the time \^as Gov-
ernment mail contractor between Galena and Peoria.''
Kurtz reprints the article on Mr. Dixon that appeared in
the Dixon Telegraph, July, 1876, which says— *^ while Mr.
Dixon was at Peoria, the Government established a mail
route from Peoria to Galena, crossing Rock River at the
present site of our city * * * mail to be carried once
in two weeks on horse back. Mr. Dixon threw in a bid
for the contract which was accepted. * * * he in-
duced * * * Ogee * * * to establish a ferry at
the point of crossing the river.''
The History of Lee County published by H. H. Hill &
Co., in 1881, says '*Mr. Dixon had induced Ogee to build
the ferry to accommodate the United States mail which
he was carrying from Peoria to Galena."
In BardwelVs History of Lee County it is said that in
1828 ^' John Dixon had, at this time, a contract for carry-
ing the mail between Galena and Peoria, and induced
Ogee to establish the ferry here (Dixon) on the mail
route. ' '
In his ''Black Hawk War,'' Stevens says ''in 1828,
when Father Dixon received the contract for carrying
the mails from Peoria to Galena and Gratiot's Grove he
took with him a half breed named Joseph Ogee, who es-
tablished a permanent, though unlicensed ferry."
Mr. Dixon did not move to Rock river from Peoria.
On the contrary, he moved from Peoria to what is known
as Boyd's Grove, in the present town of Milo, Bureau
County, in the spring of 1828.
John K. Robinson says, ''Father Dixon's object for
changing his home from Boyd's Grove, where he had a
short time before taken up his abode, was to occupy a
more central position for his mail contract."
In his Reminiscences of Bureau County, published in
1872, Nehemiah Matson says that when the Ament broth-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 49
ers passed Boyd's Grove in the spring of 1828, in their
search for a desirable location, they found John Dixon
building a cabin in which he and his family lived until
1830, when he sold it to his brother-in-law Charles S.
Boyd.
In his History of Bureau County, 1885, Bradsby says,
''In the year 1828 there were five families in Bureau
County, coming here in the order named : Bulbona, John
Dixon, Henry Thomas, Eeason B. Hall and John and
Justus Ament," and that, except Bulbona (the name
really was Bourbonnais), a French Canadian Indian
trader, Dixon's settlement ''was the first real settlement
in what is now Bureau County. Dixon lived at the grove
until 1830, when he sold his improvement to Charles S.
Boyd and removed to Dixon."
A reading of Bradsby 's book convinces one that he re-
lied, for his information on this point, upon statements
made by Alexander S. Boyd, a son of Charles S. Boyd,
and that makes it the best evidence now obtainable on
the subject, and it proves that Mr. Dixon did not move
to Rock river from Peoria.
Kett's History of Jo Daviess County contains a letter
written December 7, 1827, by Dr. Horatio Newhall, who
settled in Galena that year, saying, "We have no mail as
yet, but shall have a mail once in two weeks to commence
the 1st of January next."
Postmaster General John McLean, in April, 1828,
transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives a statement of the contracts made the preceding
year for carrying the mails in Illinois, and this shows
that the contract for carrying the mail from "Peoria to
Galena" for a term beginning January 1, 1828, and end-
ing December 31, 1829, was let to E. B. Clemson, the con-
sideration being $580 each year. This statement shows
that Clemson also had the contracts, for the same period,
for carrying the mails between Kaskaskia and Vandalia ;
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50 GALENA AND ST. LOUIS STAGE LINE
Carlisle and Shawneetown ; Salem and Cole's Grove;
Springfield and Peoria; Springfield and Lewistown;
Jacksonville and Rashville. {20th Cong. 1st Sess.; Ho.
Doc. 258.)
In 1828 only three contracts were made for carrying
the mail in Illinois, — Moore's Prairie to New Harmony;
Paris to Vandalia, and Danville to Fort Clark, the last
being let to E. B. Clemson. Each contract was for a term
of one year, beginning January first, 1829. {Letter of
Post Master General John McLean; 20th Gong.; 2d Bess.;
Ho. Doc. 135.)
In the Miners' Journal (Galena), beginning December
6, 1828, and running to April 11, 1829, appears this ad-
vertisement :
'^The U. S. Mail Stage from Galena to St. Louis
will hereafter leave Galena every Monday and St.
Louis every Friday. Fare, $8 from Galena to Peoria ;
$3 from Peoria to Springfield; $4 from Springfield
to St. Louis.
John Dixon, Proprietor of the line from Galena
to Springfield.''
The Miners' Journal of February 7, 1829, says that
the mail contractor, whose name is not given in that ar-
ticle, has informed the postmaster that he had seen it
stated in some newspaper that a weekly route was estab-
lished, and, presuming that he would shortly receive no-
tice to that effect from the Postmaster General, made
preparations accordingly, ''and has been carrying a
weekly mail, regularly, since the 15th of October. In
December last he was informed by the Post Master here
that the department could not pay for carrying a weekly
mail 'under present circumstances, as the cost' would be
$1,160," and the contractor replied that he would continue
the weekly service, hoping he would be allowed adequate
compensation for his services.
Another article in the same issue of the Journal speaks
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 51
of '^Mr. Dixon, the Mail Contractor, for carrying the
same between this place and Peoria."
The Journal of March 21, 1829, says that ^^Mr. Dixon,
the proprietor of the Mail Stage," which has run between
Galena and Peoria advises the postmaster that ^' owing
to the badness of the roads" the stage will not run again
until further notice, but the mail will be carried weekly
*'by two riders, at an additional expense to that which
is already exorbitant."
There is still in existence a statement signed January
23, 1830, by E. B. Clemson, of the account between him-
self and John Dixon which shows that Dixon carried the
mail from Peoria to Galena during the quarter year end-
ing September 30, 1829, and for that service Clemson paid
him $225.
In the Miners' Journal of August 15, 1829, Post Mas-
ter General William Barry calls for bids, to be opened
October 10th, for carrying the mail from Peoria, by way
of Gratiot's Grove, to Galena weekly, leaving Peoria
Thursday at 6 a. m., arriving at Galena Saturday by 8
p. m. ; leaving Galena Monday 6 a. m., arriving at Peoria
Wednesday by 7 p. m. ; service to begin the first of Jan-
uary and the contract to run for four years.
In a letter addressed to the House of Eepresentatives,
March, 1830, Post Master General Barry transmits a list
of the contracts let the preceeding year for carrying mail
in Illinois, saying that the letting of the contracts was
advertised in June, 1829; the contracts were 'decided
upon" October 16, 1829, and the term of the contracts
began January 1, 1830, and will end December 31, 1833.
It shows the contract for carrying the mail between
Peoria and Galena, once a week, was let to John D.
Winters, the compensation being $800 per year. The
name of John Dixon does not appear in this document.
Charles Boyd had the contract to carry the mail between
Vandalia and Peoria, once a week, at $550 per year. The
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52 TRAVEL. AT THE FERRY
contract to cany the mail between Springfield and Pe-
dria, once a week, was let to William Dillard and R. L.
Cobb, who had been paid $200, the contract price not
being shown. {21st Cong.; 1st Sess.; Ho. of Rep.; Doc.
77.)
Inasmuch as the records of the Post (Mce department
for that period were destroyed by fire in 1836, the au-
thorities just cited appear to be the best evidence that can
be obtained now.
The known facts do not justify the statement that Ogee
was taken to Rock river by Mr. Dixon. It is far more
probable that he went there upon his own initiative, be-
cause he saw a chance to make money by so doing and
the increasing flow of immigration and settlement fore-
told the end of the fur business. Moreover, the records
show that when Mr. Dixon reached the place, it was to
become Ogee's tenant, not to establish or own a ferry.
In 1870 the Telegraph and Herald Company published
a ^* History of Dixon and Lee County,'^ (without giving
the name of the author), and it is the first history of
either Dixon or the coimty that was written or published.
From it we quote : —
** Forty-four years ago the first log cabin was
erected on the site of Dixon. It was the first, and
at that time the only habitation after the manner of
white men for many miles, in any direction, and, in
fact, this was not a white man's house. A half-breed
Indian had come to this point to establish a ferry,
and was attracted by the tide of emigration that had
set in, in the spring of the above year, from the south-
,em part of the state, to Galena, where rich lead
mines had been discovered. This man's name was
O'Gee, and he showed great forethought and a *long
head' in opening his ferry at this point, as it was
just here that the greatest amount of travel appeared
to undertake the crossing of Rock river, and as soon
as it was known that there was a ferry and station
here the business that O'Gee did was enormous."
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 53
(The reader, doubtless, will note the errors as to date
and name.)
Ogee was a man of influence with the Indians, especially
so with the Potawatomies, who occupied the country
south of the river there. He was possessed of some prop-
erty and had th^ ability to manage it. It is incredible
that he would have been entrusted so long in charge of
the aflfairs and property of the American Fur Company,
some seven years or more, unless he was capable of man-
aging it. He started the ferry and operated it so suc-
cessfully that a half interest was sold by him for seven
hundred dollars in November, 1829, and Father Dixon
had no interest in the business then.
Ogee was at Green Bay, Wisconsin, August 25, 1828,
acting as interpreter for the Potawatomies in the making
of the treaty the United States made that day with the
Potawatomi, Chippewa and Ottawa Indians.
John L. Bogardus published notice in the Miners' Jour-
nal, dated October 18, 1828, that he would apply to the
county commissioners* court for a ** license to establish a
ferry across Rock river on each side thereof, at the upper
crossing, where the United States' mail now passes from
Peoria to Galena.'' In the Journal of November 1, Alex-
ander McNair and G. H. McNair gave notice, dated Oc-
tober 25, that they would apply for a *^ license for the
upper ferry on both sides of Rock river." The court did
not act upon either of these applications.
It is to be remembered that when Ogee started his
ferry the territory north and west of Rock river at this
place was Winnebago country, and that south and east of
the river was the country of the Chippewa, Ottawa and
Potawatomi Indians of the Illinois. The country south
of the river was ceded to the United States by the treaty
of July 29, 1829, and that north of the river by the
treaty of August 1, 1829. The treaty of Green Bay,
already mentioned, reads: ^^It is also agreed by the
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54 OGEE SEEKS A UCENSE
Indians that a ferry may be established over the Eock
Eiver where the Fort Clark road crosses the same. ' ' This
may explain what apparently was Ogee 's belief, — that he
did not need any other license.
. His good friend, John Turney, Galena's first lawyer,
who was a member of the house of representatives in
the Sixth General Assembly, 1828- '9, for the Jo Daviess
district, introduced in the house the petition of Joseph
Ogee praying that he be given the '^privilege of building
houses and establishing a Ferry on Eock Eiver at the
common crossing place upon the road leading from Fort
Clark to the Fever Eiver lead mines," and the committee
to which it was sent reported a bill for *^An Act authoriz-
ing Joseph Ogee to establish a ferry on Eock Eiver." It
passed the house December 12, 1828, but the senate killed
it by adjourning in January after postponing considera-
tion of the bill until the fourth of July following. At
this same session of the legislature, the senate amended
the house bill for '^An Act authorizing James E. Vine-
yard to establish a ferry on Eock Eiver," but the house
refused to concur in those amendments, and that bill
failed. (The Galena Advertiser of February 22, 1830,
gives the name of J. E. Vineyard as a member of Galena's
volunteer fire department assigned to the third ward.
Kett, History of Jo Daviess County, 457. He afterwards
moved to Wisconsin, becoming a member, for Iowa
County, of the first, second and third councils in the terri-
torial legislature, and being expelled from the last for the
murder of a fellow member of the council in February,
1842. Wis. His. Coll. v. 11, p. 408.)
In the Journal of January 10, 1829, and other issues
following, is the following: —
** Notice. I shall apply to the county commission-
ers' court of Jo Daviess county at their March term
to obtain a license for a ferry on Eock river at the
upper crossing embracing a landing on both sides.
Joseph Ogee, Eesident, Jan. 3."
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 55
The court did not pass upon this application.
The Galena Advertiser of July 27, 1829, says a band of
about one hundred and fifty Winnebagoes, from the
Spotted Arms village, on their way to Eock Island, the
place appointed for the making of a treaty, reached
Ogee 's Ferry and there learned the treaty would be made
at Prairie du Chien. This so enraged them that they
declared they would not participate in or respect any
treaty made at the latter place. They did go, however,
and join in the treaty.
If the treaty made at Prairie du Chien July 29,
1829, with the ^'Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi In-
dians of the Illinois", and the treaty made there August
1, 1829, with the Winnebago Indians are correctly printed
in the official edition of the United States Statutes, the
execution of the former was witnessed by ^'Sogee", and
that of the latter by ^' Joge", but it is fairly probable from
his signatures that still exist that these are errors of
transcription, and that the witness was Joseph Ogee.
The report of the auditor of the War Department,
sent to the House February 23, 1830, by the Secretary of
War, shows that among the disbursements made by
Peter Menard, Jr., Indian sub-agent at Peoria, were
items aggregating $433.33 paid to Joseph Ogee for his
services as ^interpreter of the Potowatamies " from
September 1, 1828, to September 30, 1829, and $15 paid to
John Dixon November 30, 1828, for ^'provisions fur-
nished the Indians." {31st Cong.; 1st Sess.; Ho. Doc.
87.)
A ''Map of the United States Lead Mines on the upper
Mississippi River", drawn and published by E. W. Chand-
ler of Galena, in 1829, shows '* Ogee's Ferry and Tavern".
It appears that he had some knowledge of the law con-
cerning stray animals, as he advertised in the Miners'
Journal for four successive weeks during July and Au-
gust, 1829, that he had an estray horse taken from the
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56 OGEE'S PERRY P. O.
Indians near the Henderson river, on the road from Ga-
lena to Beard ^s Ferry, and was holding it for the owner
at his ferry on Rock river **on the Fort Clark road/*
Caleb Atwater^s ^^ Remarks made on a tour to Prairie
du Chien" was first published in 1831, and it is the first
book to mention Ogee 's ferry. It says :
*^When I crossed Rock river at Ogee's ferry, Sep-
tember 1, 1829, there was a lodge of Indians there,
consisting of an old man, his son-in-law, daughter
and several children. They waited on me, as soon
as I stopped for the night, at the house of Ogee, who
had married a half-breed and owned the ferry.''
On another page he says :
'^Rock River, where I crossed it, on the first day of
September, 1829, at Ogee's ferry, ninety miles by
water from its mouth, was twenty rods wide, four feet
deep, and run at the rate of five or six miles an
hour."
In the Galena Advertiser of September 7, 1829, this
item appeared : —
**A new Post Office is established at Ogee's Ferry
dn Rock River, in this county, of which John M. Gay,
Esq., is appointed Postmaster. Ogee's Ferry is on
the mail route, and is the principal crossing place
for travellers by land from the Mines to the lower
country. This office has been established chiefly for
the accommodation of the settlement at the Rapids of
the Illinois River, from which it is distant about thir-
ty-five miles. Heretofore the people of that settle-
ment were dependent upon the post office at Peoria,
distant between seventy and eighty miles."
''An Old Timer y" who was J. K. C. Forrest, writing in
the Chicago Record, July 26, 1894, says Gay was ^^an em-
ploye of Ogee." He moved to Princeton, Illinois, and
served as postmaster there.
The Galena Advertiser of September 14, 1829, says
the first wagon that ever passed from the Mississippi to
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 57
Chicago went in August, 1829, from Galena by way of
*' Ogees Ferry on Rock River'', thence to the Missionary
establishment on Fox River and thence to Chicago.
(Kett, History of Jo Daviess County, 456; Burgess, Set-
tlement of Illinois, 152.)
In the Galena Advertiser of October 19, 1829, and the
four succeeding issues, Joseph Ogee gives notice, dated
October 19, that he will apply to the county commission-
ers' court, at the next term, to be held the first Monday in
December, for a license to keep a ferry across Rock river
*^at the place where the road now crosses said river from
Galena to Peoria. ' '
The record of the county commissioners' court of Jo
Daviess County of December 7, 1829, reads,
**0n the application of Joseph Ogee it is ordered
that a license be granted him to keep a tavern at his
house on Rock River by his paying into the County
Treasury the sum of twelve dollars and the fees of
the clerk and entering into bond in the penal sum
of three hundred dollars with J. M. Strode and Regis
Laurent 'Sect'.
'*0n application of Joseph Ogee it is ordered that
a License be granted him to keep a ferry on Rock
River where he at present resides by giving bond
with James M. Strode and Regis Laurent his security
conditioned as the law directs and paying into the
Treasury of the County the sum of ten dollars and
the fees of the clerk."
Those familiar with the events of the Black Hawk War
know considerable of James M. Strode, and we will only
add that he appears on the account books of Mr. Dixon as
a frequent borrower of cash.
On the same day there was entered by the court an
order fixing the rates at this ferry as follows:
Crossing footman $ .12^
Man and horse 25
Horses or cattle per head, other than cattle
yoked 25
Each yoke of cattle 37i
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58 TAVERN RATES
Road wagon 1.00
For each horse hitched to said wagon 25
Each two-horse wagon , . .75
Each two-wheeled carriage or cart 1.00
One-horse wagon 75
Each hundred weight of Merchandise, etc. .06
There was in force at that time a general order fixing
all tavern rates in the county as follows :
Each meal 37^
Horse feed 25
Horse per night at corn and hay 62^
Man per night 12^
^Each half pint of French brandy or wine . . .25
Each half pint or whiskey or other domes-
tic liquors 12^
Each half pint of Holland gin 25
Each quart of porter, cider or ale 25
By an agreement dated at ^'Ogee's Ferry Joe Davies
County," November 21, 1829, filed for record Febru-
ary 18, 1830, Og^e sold to George ^'Skillinger'' a
half interest in the establishment, including the ferry
and the farm, for seven hundred dollars, the wagon
and five horses already furnished by ''Skillinger," which
were declared to be firm property, being taken at five hun-
dred dollars. From a mortgage dated January 29,
1830, it appears that the firm had been dissolved.
Ogee keeping all the property and agreeing to pay
'^Schellinger" one thousand and sixty dollars for his in-
terest, thus showing a very substantial increase in the
value of a half interest, and indicating that the ferry was
doing a very good business. February 10, 1830, *'Schel-
linger'' assigned this mortgage to Lawrent Rolette
by an instrument that was not acknowledged, but its
execution was witnessed by John M. Gay and *^Paskal
Pinsonault,'^ the latter signing by making his mark.
(Possibly this John M. Gay is the Gay who was the first
postmaster at Ogee 's Ferry. ^ ^ Paskal Penseno ' ' appears
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EARLY LBB COUNTY 59
on the account books of Mr^ Dixon as a debtor May 21,
1830.)
The Galena Advertiser of January 4, 1830, says that,
pursuant to the order of the county commissioners' court,
a road had just been laid out and marked from St. Vrains
furnace on Apple river, near Woodbine, 'Ho Ogee's Ferry
on Eock river," lessening the distance about thirty miles
and making the road from Galena to Ogee's Ferry about
fifty-five miles. *'The mail stage came this way the last
trip."
On October 28, 1830 Laurent Rolette assigned to
Joseph Rolette of Prairie du Chien whatever inter-
est he had '4n and to certain ferry privileges origin-
ally granted by the General Assembly of the State of
Illinois to Joseph Ogee to keep up and maintain a ferry
across Rock River at the place where the public road
from Fort Clark to Galena Crosses," reciting that his
interest was acquired through a mortgage to ^'Schillin-
ger." (The spelling of these names is in strict accord
with the record. The account books of Mr. Dixon show
charges against ''Skelinger.")
Joseph Rolette settled in Prairie du Chien as early as
1804, remaining there until his death in 1842. For many
years he represented the American Fur Company ^*on the
upper Mississippi river." He acted as justice of tiie
peace and was one of Wisconsin's quaint characters.
(Hurlbut, Chicago Antiquities; Durrie, Annals of Prairie
du Chien.) Laurent (improperly spelled Lawrent) Ro-
lette was with the American Fur Company as early as
1824, being then, and for several years thereafter sta-
tioned at Drummond's Island in Lake Huron. {Ameri-
can Fur Co. letter book.) He and Skellinger were living
in or near Galena at the time of these transactions with
Ogee.
Jefferson Davis, then a Lieutenant in the First In-
fantry, was at Dixon in 1831. In ''Jefferson Davis, A
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60 FIRST ROCK RIVER BRIDGE
Memoir/' Mrs. Davis states that he said he was going
through Illinois that year with his scouts, and, upon
reaching Rock River, ''found the mail coach, and num-
bers of wagons with persons going to the lead mines
detained at the river. There was no bridge. The water
was frozen, yet not sufficiently so for them to pass over.
No house except that of the ferryman, whose name was
Dixon. His log cabin was near. The whole party put
themselves at his command. He told them to keep a
good fire in the cabin, and set the men to hewing blocks
of ice. They worked faithfully and ere long the struc-
ture began to assume shape. As each was set in posi-
tion, water was poured over, which froze it in its place.
Sometimes a workman would fall overboard, and he was
ordered to run into the cabin and turn round and round
before the blazing log fire until dry. Soon the bridge
was pronounced safe, and the whole party of men,
women, children and vehicles passed safely over. The
ferryman, Dixon, remembered the young army officer
ever afterward, and some years ago when Mr. Davis
was invited to Illinois, a letter came from the old man,
expressing his happy anticipation of meeting him once
more on earth. Mr. Davis could not then accept the in-
vitation, and not long since Mr. Dixon died."
On the first of March, 1832, there was filed for record
in Jo Daviess County an instrument reading as follows :
'*Know all men by these presents that I, Joseph
Ogee of the county of Jo Daviess & State of Illinois
have this day sold and by these presents do bargain
and sell to John Dixon of the County and State
aforesaid all my right title interest and claim of,
in and to the improvement ferry and apper-
tainances at or near the place usually known as
Ogees Ferry on Rock River in the County
and State aforesaid with all the priviledges an-
nuities and property belonging to or pertaining
to me at or near said place to have and to hold
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 61
the same without molestation forever except the
mortgage given to George Skelenger on part of said
property, which I do not bind myself to prevent the
opperation of and to release the said Dixon from all
rents and undertakings by virtue of his renting the
said premises by an article of agreement entered into
in March 1830. In consideration of the foregoing
the said Dixon has given me his two several notes one
for the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars and
one for the sum of four hundred dollars payable in
four months after this date.
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty-seventh
day of
State of Illinois,
County of Jo Daviess.
Be it known that on this thirtieth day of January
A. D. 1832 before me William Smith a justice of the
peace in and for said county came John M. Smith
proved by the oath of John R. Coons a credible wit-
ness to be the person whose name appears subscribed
to the above deed as a witness to the execution there-
of, and made oath that J. Ogee the person whose
name appears subscribed to said deed is the real
person who executed the same, and that he the said
John M. Smith subscribed his name thereto as wit-
ness in presence of said J. Ogee and at his request.
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62 DIXON'S FERRY
Given under my hand & seal at the county aforesaid
the day & year above written.
William Smith, J. P. (Seal.)^^
Mr.TDixon's account books do not show the state of his
account with Ogee at the date of this instrument, and
it is impossible to tell exactly what Mr. Dixon paid for
the ferry. He assumed the payment of a mortgage
indebtedness of one thousand sixty dollars and gave
his own notes for five hundred fifty dollars, so the pur-
chase price may have been sixteen hundred ten dol-
lars. There is nothing remaining now from which we
can Imow how much rent Mr. Dixon paid for the ferry.
There are many charges for merchandise and several
for payments of cash against Ogee, and several credits in
Mr. Dixon's account books, one of the latter being an item
of two hundred dollars, January 24, 1831, for '*Eent.''
There is, also, another credit in Ogee's favor of one
hundred dollars for ''rent," but it is not dated.
He is charged with the county ferry tax of fifteen dol-
lars for the year 1831, but the date of the payment is not
shown.
The first printed mention of Dixon's Ferry that has
been found is a statement in the Galenicm of May 16,
1832, that ''An express has just arrived from Dixon's
Ferry across Rock River."
This incident may serve to give some idea of the busi-
ness done at the ferry. Frank H. Funk, member of the
State Public Utilities Commission of Illinois, is a grand-
son of Isaac Funk, who settled at what is now Funk's
Grove, McLean county, in 1823, and who acquired a large
fortune by raising and selling cattle and hogs. Isaac
Funk had a brother named Absalom. Frank H. Funk
says that there is in his family a tradition that Absalom
Funk, finding that there was no market for hogs in Chi-
cago, once drove three thousand hogs from Funk's Grove
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 63
to Galena, as there were about five thousand people in
and around Galena and he thought that would be a good
market. In examining the old account books kept by
Mr. Dixon we find these items that sustain this tradi-
tion : —
1830. Mr. Funk, Dr.
Apl. 30 to dinner for two
.50
ferriage of cattle, Dear-
bourn horse & 2 men
1.25
1830. Absalom Funk, Dr.
Deer. 20. To 10 meals
1.87
to 4 horses 1 night
1.50
Lodging for 5
0.62i
3.99i
By the treaty of Fort Armstrong, September 15,
1832, with the Winnebagoes, provision was made, at their
request, for the payment of two hundred two dollars and
fifty cents to Ogee in satisfaction of his claims against
them. There is a provision in the treaty of Chicago, Sep-
tember 26, 1833, with the Chippewa, Ottawa and Pota-
watomi Indians for the payment of two hundred dollars
to ^'Joseph Ogie."
James Simons published notice in the Galenian of Oc-
tober 24, 1832, that he held, at his place on the East Fork
of Fever river, a horse *^ recently given up to Joseph
O'Gee^ by the Winnebago Indians," from which it seems
Ogee had not left the country at that time, though the
notice does not tell where he was.
The old account books show charges against him for
^^mockasins,'^ caps and shoes furnished his sons John
and Louis (sometimes spelled Lewis), and a charge May
15, 1830, for cash **to Margaret to go to Fort.'' The
last item indicates that Ogee had a daughter, but no
other trace of her has been found. There are three charges
against him for postage on letters, one being for ten
cents July 26, 1831, one for twelve and one-half cents
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64 THE OGEE SECTION
August 5, 1831, and one for ten cents that is not dated,
though it evidently is later than the others.
The last entry on the account books that mentions
Ogee is a charge of one dollar for *Hin beeswax and
nails to mend canoe," June third, 1832.
- The Potawatomies, says Judge Caton, in The Last of
the Illinois, were removed to a reservation in Clay County,
Missouri, in 1837. About two years later they were re-
moved to a place near Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they
remained a short time, then being placed on a reserva-
tion in Kansas, where they lived about thirty years.
Then they were taken to the Indian Territory, now Okla-
homa.
One of the Potawatomi chiefs signing the treaty of
November 15, 1861, made in Kansas, was L. H. Ogee.
Perhaps he was a son of Joseph Ogee.
By the terms of the Prairie du Chien treaty of July
29, 1829, there was granted. to ^'Madeline Ogee, a
Potawatomie woman, wife of Joseph Ogee, one section
west of and adjoining the tract herein granted to Pierre
Leclerc," which was at the village of As-sim-in-eh-kon, or
Paw Paw Grove. It is not difficult for one to believe that
Ogee had a part in securing this grant for his wife.
The next mention of him that we have found is by Mrs.
Kinzie in Waubun. Speaking of her visit at John Dixon 's,
March 13, 1831, on her memorable journey to Chi-
cago, she says she saw there a boy dressed in the full
Indian costume, and was told, in response to her inquiries,
that he was John Ogee, a son of the old ferryman, and
that his mother, ^* unable to endure the continued ill-treat-
ment of her husband, a surly, intemperate Canadian,
(she) had left him, and returned to his (sic) family
among the Pottowattamies. Years after, this boy and a
brother who had also been left behind with their father,
found their way to the Upper -Missouri, to join their
mother, who, with the others of her tribe, had been re-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 65
moved by the Gevernment from the shores of Lake
Michigan. ' '
Dr. Everett told the writer that he never knew what
caused the separation of the Ogees. Mrs. Ogee married
Job P. . Alcott on or before November 14, 1842. It is
quite probable that Ogee was then dead for while the
Potawatomi and other Indian tribes had a custom where-
by the man could divorce his wife (Haines, American
Indians, p. 288; Meese Early Rock Island, p. 15, and
Gurdon S. Hubbard so divorced his Indian wife Watseka ;
Fergus Historical Series, no. 31, p. 50), the wife could not
obtain such a divorce.
Boss says that Ogee and ^^his wife were not without
their share of domestic difficulties. As they had no neigh-
bors near enough to quarrel with, they managed to stir up
a quarrel between themselves, which resulted in the sep-
aration of the family, and Joe was left to run his boat
and broil his broth alone. * * * Ogee had been run-
ning the ferry nearly two years; his wife had forsaken
him, and withal he was much disposed to change his
course of life," when Mr. Dixon came and took charge
of the ferry in April, 1830.
Whatever the cause of the separation may have been,
it is to be noted that the wife left both husband and chil-
dren behind when she went away.
^ It is said that Ogee died in Dixon and was buried
there, first at the corner of Peoria avenue and First street
and then in the cemetery, but we have not been able to
verify this. There is no record of his burial in the ceme-
tery, but no record of burials there was kept prior to
1880, so that fact does not aid us.
Kurtz says that a man named Lafiferty died in the fall
of 1836, '*and this was the first interment in the ceme-
tery. " If he is right, and Ogee was buried at the corner
of First street and Peoria avenue, it is reasonably certain
that Ogee died before 1836.
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66 DAD JOE
No evidence of the date or place of his birth has been
found.
November 14, 1842, when the Potawatomies were living
on a reservation in Iowa, Mrs. Madeline Alcott, ^*of the
territory of Iowa, upper Missouri, within the Council
Bluffs sub-agency,'' and her husband Job, executed the
first of the deeds by which she parted with her land in this
county. In Captain Enoch Duncan's Company of Mount-
ed Riflemen enlisted for the Black Hawk War, there was
a sergeant Job Alcott of Galena, who was enrolled May
19 and discharged September 14, 1832. A man of that
name settled in the town of Wyoming in 1836. (Hill,
History of Lee County, p. 648.)
Dr. Everett believed that Mrs. Ogee was the daughter
of La Sallier, the Frenchman who lived in the cabin near
Grand Detour in 1822, whose wife was an Indian woman.
Keating had La Sallier for a guide from Fort Dearborn
to the Pecatonica in 1823, and in his Narrative of An Ex-
pedition to the Sources of St. Peter's River, published in
1824, says La Sallier *'had taken a wife among the Win-
nebagoes.''
That Mrs. Ogee was a Potawatomi is shown by the
fact that she is so called in the treaty of Prairie du Chien,
and it is reasonable to believe that the man who wrote the
treaty obtained his information as to her nativity from
the Potawatomi interpreter — ^her husband. John K.
Eobinson says she was a Potawatomi, and so do Judge
McCtiUoch and Rett's History of Ogle County.
Dad Joe's Grove, in the northern part of Bureau
County, took its name from the first settler there. In
speaking of him, Bradsby's History of Bureau County
says: **He got his name of Dad Joe from the trader
Ogee, who spoke very broken English, who found no other
way of designating Joe Smith, Sr., from his son Joe."
At a reception given by the Calumet Club to the old
settlers. May 19, 1881, Jolm Wentworth said that the first
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 67
piano in Chicago was brought by Gen. Jean Baptiste
Beaubien, and that '4t is now doing service in the family
of his granddaughter, Mrs. Sophia (Beaubien) Ogee, at
Silver Lake, Kansas, daughter of the late Charles Beau-
bien.'*
In an article in the Journal of the Illinois State His-
torical Society, vol. 5, p. 246, upon the trial of the Indian,
Nomaque, who was the first man indicted for murder in
Peoria county. Bill Moon says that the complaint upon
which Nomaque was arrested was made by Ogee and
signed by his mark.
A careful and thorough search of the files in the case re-
sulted in a failure to find any such complaint, and the
clerk of the court says there never was any complaint
made, and that there is nothing in the files signed by
Ogee in any manner. It has already been shown that
Ogee wrote his name in signing the instrument convey-
ing the ferry to Mr. Dixon. He signed the mortgage to
Rolette and his agreement with Skellinger in the same
manner, and an expert would have to say the three signa-
tures were written by the same man. This shows very
clearly that Moon is wrong, and he is so sharply criticized,
in the succeeding number of the Journal, for one error
in his article that reliance cannot be had in his state-
ments.
John L. Bogardus, a justice of the peace of Peoria
County, under the date of May 19, 1826, certified that he
had on that day married Francis Bourbonne, Jr., to
Josette Alscum. The certificate bears the names of sev-
eral witnesses. Among them are Joseph Ogee, who wrote
his name, and Madeline Ogee, who signed by making her
mark.
Charles Jouett was twice appointed Indian Agent at
Chicago, his second term of office beginning in 1815 and
ending in 1818 or 1819. His daughter, Mrs. Susan M.
Callis, says her mother ^s nurse was a half breed French
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68 JOSEPH OZIER
and Indian woman named * * Madeline Alscum or Olscum,**
who married ^* Joseph Ozier, a soldier from the garrison*'
the **day we left Chicago for the last time." (Andreas,
History of Chicago.) That would place the wedding in
1818 or 1819. It is hardly probable that this was the Ogee
of our story, as he was, as shown, stationed on the Illi-
nois River in 1818. Mrs. Callis' statement tends to sup-
port the theory of Judge McCuUoch that the real name
was Ozier and Ogee merely a nickname, but that theory
is overcome by the fact that Mr. Dixon's account books
uniformly give the name as Ogee, and he wrote it that
way.
The American Fur Company had an interpreter named
Antoine Oscum on the Illinois river in 1818, and agent
named Antoine Alscum at its trading post in the Illinois
prairie in 1826.
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THE OLD ACCOUNT BOOKS.
John Dixon kept books of account for many years after
taking charge of the ferry, but only two of them survive.
Fortunately, these are the first and second and they cover
the period from April, 1830, to October, 1835. The en-
tries were made by different persons who were not expert
accountants, and, the ink being poor and the penmanship
poorer, many of them are now illegible. Very few credits
are shown, and there are fewer balances. The account
with Ogee is scattered over many different pages, seem-
ingly without any attempt at order, and it is impossible
for one to tell just how that account stood. But with all
their many faults the books are very interesting and they
throw some light upon the life of those days.
They give prices of ipany of the commodities the pio-
neers needed and give us an insight into the cost of living
in those days.
Corn sold at from twenty-five cents to one dollar per
bushel. Oats brought fifty cents per bushel. Corn meal
cost one dollar per bushel. Live hogs sold at three to
four cents a pound, and pork cost four to nine cents a
pound, and there was a sale of a barrel of pork at $11.75.
Bacon was eight to ten cents a pound. Beef cost three to
four cents. Salt cost two dollars a bushel, and there is
a charge of forty cents for thirteen pounds.
The nearest grist mill was at Dayton, and flour cost
three to five cents a pound, and six to nine and a half
dollars per barrel. Butter was worth twelve to eighteen
cents ; sugar ranged from four and a half to fifteen cents ;
tea from seventy-five cents to two dollars. Potatoes sold
at fifty cents a bushel. Coffee was twenty to twenty-five
cents. Candles were thirty-one and a quarter cents per
dozen.
A man paid a dollar and a half to two dollars for his
shoes; four dollars for his *' thick boots"; from two dol-
(69)
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70 WAGES
lars to two dollars and a half for ** boots/* one dollar
seventy-five for his wife's shoes, and a dollar for those
his boy wore. His smoking tobacco cost him twenty-five '
to fifty cents per pound, — ^there is no record of the sale
of any cigars or cigarettes; his chewing tobacco was
twenty-five cents a ** large plug,'* and his whiskey fifty
cents a gallon. His flannel shirt cost one dollar and a
half; his pantaloons three and a half; his socks thirty-
seven and one-half cents; his hat one dollar and a shil-
ling. He paid two dollars a week for his board and lodg-
ing. One man paid $3.75 for four shirts, and another had
three made for $2.25. O. W. Kellogg was charged with
one dollar for two shirts furnished to Jarro, and with
another dollar for two shirts furnished to Pashepayou.
The last charge shows that Pashepayou, the Sac chief
who refused to aid Black Hawk in his war, traded at
Dixon. The nearest Sac town was Saukenuk, on Rock
river, commonly called Black Hawk's town.
The housewife had her bargain days — bed ticking
thirty-one and a quarter cents a yard ; muslin at fifteen
cents; calico at twenty-five to forty cents; cotton hand-
kerchief thirty-seven and one-half cents ; red flannel eight
yards for five dollars; striped shirting twenty cents.
Blankets sold for from two to five dollars. Thread, both
linen and cotton, was seventy-five cents per half pound.
Edward Penseno is the first to be named as working
for Mr. Dixon and he earned $42 working three and one
half months from April 25, 1830. Paskal Penseno worked
from April 29, 1830, to May 21 and is credited with $9.
George Elinger worked from May 1, 1830, to July 4, but
lost one day while sick and two while working for others
at forty cents per day, and his earnings were $25.20.
George Butterfield was credited with $27.60 for work
from August 22, 1832, to October 31, and with $76.80 for
eight months and twelve days' work beginning Novem-
ber 1.
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 71
Rebeckah Merrill worked two and one half weeks at
$2.00 and another period of five weeks at $1.50.
Others working for Mr. Dixon were James V. Wagner,
John Doyle, P. Grover, Nancy Walker, George Powers,
Patrick McCormack, Thomas Spicer, Charles Lane, Isaac
Morgan, William , Brownfield, Murphy,
Brink, Siner, Joseph , Mc Clure,
Grant. McClure must have been considered an exception-
ally good worker, as he earned $1.12^ a day for part of
the time. The usual pay was from twelve to sixteen dol-
lars per month.
There always has been a belief in the family that a col-
ored man worked some time for Mr. Dixon, and this
seems to be sustained by entries dated May 10, 1830,
giving credit to Eneous for work.
That the fur trade had not disappeared entirely is
clearly shown by these books. Some of the items in the
books are not dated, and others do not state the prices.
There was but little fluctuation in the prices. Coon skins
brought from fifteen to thirty-five cents. Muskrats sold
from twenty to twenty-three cents; mink at thirty-three
to thirty-five ; wolf from twenty-five to thirty-three ; wild
cat at twenty-five ; deer and fawn at twenty-five cents, and
otter at five dollars. The deer had become very scarce,
there being, in five yeqrs, sales of only nineteen fawn and
deer. There were sold 284 coon ; 50 wolf ; 101 mink ; 15
otter; 9 wild cat; 10,888 muskrats.
H. B. Stillman and P. Menard, Jr., were the best cus-
tomers, sometimes in the firm name — Menard and Still-
man — and again in their individual names. Their prin-
cipal place of business was in Pekin.
P. A. Lorimere, or Lorimier, was a good customer. As
some of his purchases were sent to J. P. B. Gratiot for
him, it would seem that his business was conducted in
Galena. Henry Gratiot and H. B. Soulard, both of Galena
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72 COL. Z. TAYLOR
were good patrons. Thomas Hartzell of Bureau County
and J. Demun were the only other buyers.
The first sale shown on the books was to H. B. Stillman
on June 28, 1830, and the last was to P. A. Loriinere,
June 16, 1835.
There are charges against S. Sacket for the Sangamo
Journal from September 3, 1834, to June 1, 1835, and they
were paid. Other charges for newspapers were made
against *^Mr. Andrus" for the Monroe Democrat SLud
the Knickerbocker; **Mr. Fellows" for the Christian Ad-
vocate and Journal; **Mrs. Fellows" for the Sangamo
Journal, Gt. A. Martin for the Galena Gazette, and one,
probably in 1834, against Isaac Morgan — *^May 30, Cash
sent for Saturday Evening Post $2.00."
There are many charges for the unpaid postage on let-
ters, ranging from ten to thirty seven and one half cents.
Many of the items indicate that Mr. Dixon was quite
willing to accommodate his friends by making small loans
of cash. John D. Winters, the stage coach man, was a
frequent borrower. William S. Hamilton, **Dad Jo"
Smith, Henry Gratiot, John K* Robinson, Dr. Forrest,
Zachariah Malugin and Asa Crook were some of the
debtors. James M. Strode borrowed several times, once
*^on his way to Galena from court." Colonel Zachary
Taylor obtained two loans of fifty cents each, two of sev-
qnty-five cents each, one of two dollars and fifty cents.
Adding these to a charge -of one dollar fifty cents for a
pair of shoes for his man, made his indebtedness six dol-
lars and fifty cents, and the book says this was ** settled
by note." Perhaps the note was paid in due time; the
book does not tell.
There are charges against the United States for flour,
bacon and pork supplied to the Indians, for flour and
bacon furnished the men of the Sixth Regiment ; for ra-
tions 'Ho Colbert the express man;" for bacon and flour
furnished the men of the First Regiment who were sent
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 73
to Prairie du Chien; for bacon and flour supplied the
men of the Sixth Regiment who were sent to the Jefferson
Barracks. ^*Col. Johnson for U. S." is charged $360.50
for blankets, guns and a rifle. **U. S. Gen. Atkinson's Q.
M. " is charged for double and single trees, breast chains,
augers, the use of oxen, iron, steel and blacksmith's tools
and ** accommodation and sustainance of the sick of the
Army," but the amount is not stated.
It is not possible for one to decipher all the names ap-
pearing in the accounts with the Indians. The books do
not give any idea of the value of the goods sold. The first
of the Indian items charges '* Hancock Honesty" with
beads, a shirt and some paint. Later with ^^wacoodshun,"
'*nobra skelehera," *'wawatchera." In the account
against Scar on His Brow there is this notation — Jarro
went with me to his camp. The items charged ?ire a bridle,
two strouds, five traps, one ax, powder, handkerchief,
spear and flour. The Long Yellow Man is noted as
**good pay."
There are charges against Old Blue Coat's son, one of
them for ^'wy Parisable." An *'01d grey head Potawa-
mie" is charged with ^^ferretin," while his ^^fat Son" is
charged with *'l wapamoon." Plump Pace bought ^'wa
sarah" and ^''my sherry." Just preceding the charges
against *^Sack, old man" is this entry ^^Ogee says he is
good." ''Fat Squaw, with many beads" owes a balance
''due on shirt." Plump Face bought a blanket for Thin
Face, and it was charged to the latter. There is an item
of "wacodghun" against American Woman and one
against the "Man that has a sick squaw," for a shirt.
"Crane's Son" bought a blanket, handkerchief, knife and
"nobra skelehera." There are charges against "Tall Pot-
awatamie, Mrs. O's ant's husband," Gr6at Dancer, Wa-
wacockera, Wakongonie; "Daddy Walker, Hanuzeka,"
Limpy, Old Quaker, Sour Eads, Corngather, "Sin au
buck, old white head Potawatamie 's son," Moneah, No
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74 INDIAN DEBTORS .
Nose, Good Singer, ''Dr/s Husband,'' ^'Preacher long
Sober man" ^'Blinkey's brother," '' Jarro's oldest son."
Plump Face is charged with ^'massagran," ^^wa sarah,"
' ' my sherry ' ' and ' ' ohanena. ' ' Chief Jarro bought some
^'ohenena," and some ^'pageuna." Howekah, the ^'One
eye old man that came with Crane & Orenduff," bought
'^torah," '^Pashchunk, Chief Crane" bought ^^wawatch-
era." Squirrel Cheeks bought ''oats netega." The
''woman that came with Mother Flat Face" bought "fer-
ritin." There was a sale of "wacoodshun" to the
Preacher. Chief Crane's brother, "Blue Coat" had an
item of "edah skelehera." Many of the charges against
Blinkey are crossed out.
In the account against the United States are charges
for supplies furnished to Hau cau shereck, Asherrekerry,
Hanaracerashak, Dash, Hounch hutie, Chaw shep hutie,
White Crow, "Dash's oldest son Hoonk Cheekah," Coca-
sarretch, Blinkey, Laugher, Comeah, Nah he kah, Little
Beaver, Hanupe Kah, Wauconjackpanke, Hoketchoke,
Mass cheeka. On cah ce nech. Whirling Thunder, Pau he
saw, Hanusee and many others. These items appear to
have been furnished between September, 1832, and March
23, 1833, and were for flour, pork, bacon and corn. No
prices are given and in many instances the quantity is
not stated.
By the treaty made at Washington November 1, 1837,
the Winnebagoes ceded all their land east of the Mis-
sissippi and agreed to remove therefrom within eight
months after the ratification of the treaty. The treaty
provided for the payment of various sums, aggregating
$38,000, to certain persons named, out of the sum of
$200,000, and that the balance "shall be applied to the
debts of the nation, which may be ascertained to be justly
due, and which may be admitted by the Indians, pro-
vided, that if all their debts shall amount to more than
this balance, their creditors shall be paid pro rata, upon
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 75
their giving receipts in full,'' and that no claim for dep-
redations should be allowed. Provision was also made
for the payment, under the direction of the President,
to the relations and friends of the Winnebagoes ** having
not less than one-quarter of Winebago blood" of the sum
of $100,000. James Murray of Maryland and Simon
Cameron of Pennsylvania were appointed commissioners
to adjust these claims, and they proceeded to Prairie du
Chien, where they met the Indians and the various claim-
ants in 1838. The report of the Secretary of War shows
that John Dixon presented a claim for $2,298.25 for mer-
chandise sold to the Indians, and, it being one of the five
that were allowed in full, the commissioners paid him
his proportion, $1,876.28, the payment being made to his
attorney in fact, James P. Dixon.
Writing to Gen. Clark in October, 1831^ of the Indian
trade on the Mississippi and lower Rock river, Thomas
Forsyth said that the prices charged by the traders in
that region about that time were higher in the fall than
in the spring and ranged as follows : a three point blan-
ket was sold for $10, a '^ rifle gun" for $30, a pound of
powder for $4, — a total of $44. He said that these arti-
cles cost the trader — the blanket $3.52, the rifle $12 to
$13, the powder twenty cents, — *^I know this to be cor-
rect."
The trader accepted for his dollar a large buckskin, or
one doe skin, or four muskrats, or four or five raccoons.
An otter skin was worth $3 and beaver $2 a pound.
A treaty made at Green Bay August 25, 1828, with the
Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi tribes were signed
by Kau-ree-kau-saw-kaw or White Crow. The treaty of
August 1, 1829, made at Prairie du Chien with the Winne-
bagoes, was signed by Wau-kun-tshaw-way-kee-wen-kaw
or Whirling Thunder, Pey-tshun-kaw, or the Crane, and
Jarot for the Indians.
The treaty made at Fort Armstrong in September,
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76 JARRO
1832, was signed by Kau-ree-kaw-see-kaw or White Crow;
Wau-kaun-wee-kaw or Whirling Thunder, and Wee-
tshun-kaw or Goose, for the Rock river deputation of
Winnebagoes, and by Wau-kaun-tshah-ween-kaw or
Whirling Thunder for the Winnebagoes of Fort Winne-
bago. It is more than probable that the third signature
should read — Pey-tshun — ^kaw, or the Crane.
John Blackhawk, an intelligent and well educated Win-
nebago, furnishes the following translations of these
Indian words:
wy parisable — ^black cloth; wacodghun — ^moccasins;
wacoodshun-— leggins ; nobra skelehera — ^finger
massagran — ^lead ; rings ;
my sherry — ^flint stone ; wa sarah — grease ;
torah — potatoes ; pageuna — * * for making
edah skelehera — ^bridle; fire'';
Hanuzeka — ^Yellow Boy; wawatchera — ^blue broad
Moneah — Arrow ; cloth ;
Asherrekerry — Fox ; Wakongonie — ^nake ;
Paschunka — Crane ; Hau cau shereck — Name of
Hoonk Cheekah — the third boy in the fam-
New Chief; ily;
Waucon jackpanke — Good Hounch hutie — Big Bear ;
Thunder ; Hanupe Kah — ^Day ;
Mass Cheeka — New Iron ; Hoketchoke — Green or Blue
Pau he saw — Sharp or who Chief ;
is sharp ; On cah ce nech — Tall Man ;
Although he was a Winnebago chief, Jarro had a
French name which he acquired in a rather peculiar man-
ner. Nicholas Jarrot, a native of France, lived in Caho-
kia from 1794 to 1823, and traded with the Indians on an
extensive scale. On one of his visits to an Indian camp
near Prairie du Chien, about 1812, the Indians were so
enraged against him that they determined to kill him.
They raised *Hhe warwhoop and brandished their spears
and tomahawks in the air. It was approaching an alarm-
ing crisis. Jarrot and men seemed to be doomed to des-
truction. The furious savages would not permit a par-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 77
ley; but at last, when the warriers were so near Jarrot
that it might .be fatal with him, one of his old friends, a
Winnebago Indian, stepped before the crowd of warriors
and raised a terrific war-whoop, such as the Indians use
in a battle where they are sure to be destroyed. It is a
kind of a death-cry, so-called by them. The Indian was
armed with all the weapons used by the infuriated sav-
ages in mortal conflict. The warriors saw the danger
they were in. One or more of them must be slain by the
friend of Jarrot, if they persisted in the attempt to
murder him and party. The bravery of the Winnebago
made them reflect, and they desisted from the cowardly
act to assassinate the trader. Jarrot and men were saved
by the noble daring of this wild savage. The Indians
changed his former name to that of Jarrot, and he was
always known by that name afterward. I saw this In-
dian, who was called Jarrot, at Galena, in 1829." (Reyn-
olds, Pioneer History of Illinois; Fergus Ed., p. 211.)
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THE KINZIES AT DIXON.
Early in 1831 the Kinzies decided to visit Chicago. The
distance from Fort Winnebago (Portage) was not con-
sidered too great, if a direct route were taken. The
winter, however, had been a severe one and the snow
was deep. While making their preparations for the
journey they learned that the route by Kosh-ko-nong
was out of the question, as the Indians were absent
from their villages, and, the ice being gone, there was
no means of crossing Rock river except at ** Dixon, or,
as it was then called, Ogie's Ferry.** Finishing their
preparations, they started on the n^oming of the eighth
of March, the party consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Kinzie,
Plante, their ** guide, on the assurance that he knew every
mile of the way from the Portage to Ogie's Ferry, and
from Ogie's Ferry to Chicago,'* and Pierre Roy. They
spent a night at Hamilton's; the next at Kellogg 's, and
on the thirteenth *'just at sunset we reached the dark,
rapid waters of the Rock River. The * ferry' which we
had traveled so far out of our way to take advantage of,
proved to be merely a small boat or skiff, the larger one
having been swept into the stream, and carried down in
the breaking up of the ice the week previous."
They crossed on the ferry and were soon in Mr. Dixon's
house. Mrs. Kinzie then saw young John **Ogie," and
heard of the separation of his parents.
After doing ample justice to **a most savory supper
of ducks and venison, with their accompaniements," Mr.
Dixon gave the travelers an account of the way still be-
fore them.
^' There is no difficulty," said he, '*if you keep a little
to the north, and strike the great Sauh trail. If you get
too far to the south, you will come upon the Winnebago
Swamp, and once in that, there is no telling when you
will ever get out again. As for the distance, it is noth-
(78)
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 79
ing at all to speak of. Two young men came out here from
Chicago, on foot, last fall. They got here in the evening
of the second day; and even with a lady in your party,
you could go on horseback in less time than that. The
only thing is to be sure and get on the great track that
the Sauks have made, in going every year from the Mis-
sissippi to Canada, to receive their presents from the
British Indian Agent."
*^The following morning, which was a bright and lovely
one for that season of the year, we took leave of Mr. and
Mrs. Dixon, in high spirits. We traveled for the first few
miles along the beautiful, undulating banks of the Rock
Biver, always in an easterly direction, keeping the beaten
path, or rather road, which led to Fort Clark or Peoria.
The Sauk trail, we had been told, would cross this road,
at the distance of about six miles.
After traveling, as we judged, fully that distance, we
came upon a trail, bearing northeast, and a consultation
was held as to the probability of its being the one we
were in search of.
Mr. Kinzie was of opinion that it tended too much to
the north, and was, moreover, too faint and obscure for
a trail so much used, and by so large a body of Indians
in their annual journeys.
Plante was positive as to its being the very spot where
he and ^Piche' in their journey to Fort Winnebago, the
year before, struck into the great road. *0n that very
rising ground at the point of the woods, he remembered
perfectly stopping to shoot ducks, which they ate for their
supper. '
Mr. Kellogg was noncommittal, but sided alternately
with each speaker.
As Plante was the * guide,' and withal so confident of
being right, it was decided to follow him, not without
some demurring, however, on the part of the bour-
geois, who every now and then called a halt, to discuss
the state of affairs.
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80 AT GRAND DETOUR
*Now Plante,' he would say, *I am sure you are leading
us too far north. Why, man, if we keep on in this direc-
tion, following the course of the river, we shall bring up
at Kosh-ko-nong, instead of Chicago.'
*Ah! mon bourgeois,' would the light-hearted Canadian
reply, * would I tell you this is the road if I were not quite
certain? Only one year ago I traveled it, and can I for-
get so soon? Oh! no — ^I remember every foot of it.'
But Monsieur Plante was convinced of his mistake
when the trail brought us to the great bend of the river
with its bold rocky bluffs."
Mr. Kinzie then took command and they proceeded in
a direction **as nearly east as possible." Other misfor-
tunes befell them before they reached Chicago, but we
are not concerned in them now.
It is impossible for one acquainted with that territory
to understand why the Kinzie party traveled from
Dixon's as they did, unless it be that they misunderstood
what Mr. Dixon told them, and Kellogg was so confused
that he was lost at the start.
Mr. Dixon knew, and Kellogg must have known, that
the road to Chicago did not run along the river. Dixon
and Kellogg well knew that the crossing of the Sauk
trail was south of Dixon's. Kinzie certainly must have
misunderstood what Dixon said about the Indian trails,
for Dixon knew that the ^^ Great Sauk" trail from the
Mississippi to Canada did not touch Chicago, and it was
far south of another trail that did go from the Mississippi
to Chicago. It is more than probable that Dixon told
them to go south until they reached the first trail and
then to follow that to Chicago. He could not have told
them that that trail, or the Great Sauk trail was about
six miles from Dixon's, for he knew it was farther.
It is very clear that Mr. Dixon did not see the party
start out, for he would not have permitted them to travel
*^the first few miles along the beautiful, undulating banks
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 81
of the Rock River," as that course would have taken
them back to Fort Winnebago. They did not keep **the
beaten path, or rather road, which led to Fort Clark or
Peoria,'' for that did not follow the river bank.
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THE OLD CENTRAL RAILROAD AT DIXON.
The **Act to establish and maintain a general system
of internal improvement," approved February 27, 1837,
appi^opriated three and one-half million dollars for the
purpose of building a railroad from Cairo to Galena, by
way of Savanna.
The act created a Board of Fund Commissioners and
authorized it borrow money on the faith and credit of
the state and pay out this money on warrants drawn by
the commissioners of public works. It created also, a
Board of Commissioners of Public Works of seven mem-
bers, to be elected by the legislature biennially, one from
each of the judicial districts into which the State was
then divided. The first board was composed of William
Kinney, whom the Board elected its president, Murray
McConnell, Elijah Willard, Milton K. Alexander, Joel
Wright, James W. Stephenson and Ebenezer Peck. Judge
Moses, in his History of Illinois, p. 400, says that John
Dixon was a member of the first board, but the legisla-
tive records show that he is wrong. Stephenson, who
lived at Galena, was the member for the s-ixth district. He
resigned in the summer of 1838 because of ill health that
soon resulted in his death. Soon after his resignation
there was presented to the Governor a petition reading
as follows :
To His Excellency/, Joseph Duncan
. Governor of the State of Illinois, Sir
The undersigned citizens of the sixth judicial Cir-
cuit in the State of Illinois, have recently understood
that a vacancy has occurred in the office of Commis-
sioner of Public Works for this Circuit, by the xesig-
nation of Col. James W. Stephenson.
They would therefore respectfully recommend
John Dixon of Ogle County to your favorable consid-
eration, under a thorough conviction that his charac-
ter qualification and standing in society would ren-
(82)
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EARLY LEE COUNTY
83
der his appointment more acceptable to the people
of this Circuit than that of any other individual.
S. M. Bowman
Isaac S. Boardman, Jr.
J ames Davy
A. W. Hughes
S. G. Holbrook
AVm. G. Elder
John Young
G. B. Dills
Stephen Fuller
Jos. Crawford
A. D. Moon
Horace Thompson
Wm. Thompson
Carleton Bayley
C. H. Chapman
G. L. Chapman by C. H. G.
C. Woodruff
Elias Dement
J. G. Dement
G. Wetzlar
Hiram F. Parks
Lewis Davis
Wm. Eeed
Denison Spooner
Orin Bennett
Robert Averil
J. W. Hamilton
D. C. Stevens
Hugh McBride
Saml. J. Charters
John W. Stoklager
Asa Crooks
A. Charters
Wilson
Austin L. Bull
Isaac T. Thomas
Robert
Kemp
James Benjamin
Horace S. Benjamin
Wm. Martin
David Hill
Harvey Morgan
B. H. Harris
B. H. Stewart
Wm. Fellows
Natt. G. H. Morrill
C. W. & M. P. Bartlett
Jacob M. Morrill
Harvey Woodle
Orin Skeel
Peter
L. S. Huff
D. Bates McKenney
Daniel W. McKenney
Lewis Lovel
Coridon Deland
James Hambleton
E. E. Gardner
John Cutshaw
James Douglas
M. Falvy
John G. Bellaragee
A. T. Wilson
David Brown
Henry
M. Fellows
Geo. W. Chase
A. Robinson
John Saunders
James Kellers
J. N. Calmes
S. Matthews
H. P. Darrow
E. W. Hine
G. D. Latham
N. W. Brown
Wm. Jones
J. K. Cutshaw
John Cutshaw
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84
A. UNCOLN
Alex Evans
G. A. Martin
R. B. Loveland
Otis Loveland
Roswell Streeter
Jarod Martin
Simon T. Martin
Isaac Morgan
Thos. I. Harris
Nathan Morehouse
Oliver A. Hubbard
Simon Fellows
P. M. Alexander
M. M. De Long
John Low
E. C. Cothral
James McKenney
Richard McKenney
F. C. McKenney
Wm. McKenney
Seth Preston
John Maynard
R. L. McKenney
they are totally illegible.)
At the same time there was presented to the Governor
the following :— ^
Springfield, July 25.
To His Excellency Jo Duncan
Having been informed that a vacancy has occured
in the board of Com. of Public Works by the resig-
nation of J. W. Stephenson we take much pleasure in
recommending to your favorable consideration for
the vacancy thus created our friend- fellow citizen
John Dixon of Ogle County whom we consider in
every way qualified to discharge the duties of said
oflSce.
Simon Francis
J. R. Speed
Tho. C. Brown
A. G. Herndon
Wm. Butler
A. 6. Henry
Harrison Barnes
Elijah Bowman
Thomas McCabe
Nemehiah Hutton
Daniel Roony
C. S. Lunt
Chas. Fred Hubbard
H. Gates Hewlett
John Caldwell
Wm. A. Fraser
E. Southwiok, Jr.
W. P. Burroughs
M. T. Crowell
James Power
W. T. Chapman
John M. Thompson
Henry A. Coe
Augustus Hawley
John Wilson
Theodore Jaques
A. L. Porter
John Brandon
Noah Beede
(Two other names appear but
Jesse B. Thomas, Jr.
Joel Wright Comr. Pub. Works.
G. Elkin
C. R. Matheny
N. W. Edwards
A. Lincoln
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 85
Upon receiving these petitions, the Governor sent this
letter to Mr. Dixon at '^Dixonville or Dixon's Ferry, Ogle
County'': —
Jacksonville Aug. 2nd. 1838.
Dea/r Sir
You are hereby appointed Commissioner of the
Board of Public Works for the Sixth Judicial Cir-
cuit, in the place of Col. J. W. Stephenson, resigned.
I will direct the Sec. of State to forward your
commission, with despatch.
Your appointment should have been attended to
sooner, but my little son has been dangerously ill, and
has absorbed all my attention.
Your Friend &
Obt. Servant,
Joseph Duncan
Gov. of the State .of Illinois
To
Jqhn Dixon, Esq.
Ogle County
Illinois
His commission is dated at Vandalia, August 8, 1838,
and he began the performance of his duties on the four-
teenth of that month, after the contract for the construc-
tion of part of the railroad between Galena and Savanna
had been let by his predecessor.
The sixth judicial circuit then included the present
counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Ogle,
Carroll, Whiteside, Eock Island and Lee. La Salle was in
the seventh circuit of which Ebenezer Peck of Chicago
was the member of the board.
February 19, 1839, the two houses of the legislature
met in joint session and elected Mr. Dixon Commis-
sioner of Public Works for the sixth circuit, he receiv-
ing sixty-six votes, William C. Enos thirty, John Tumey
seventeen. Hunt ten, and four votes were scattered.
Among those voting for Mr. Dixon were Orville H.
Browning, afterwards United States Senator and Sec-
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86 SURVEYS FROM LA SALLE NORTH
retary of the Interior, John S. Hacker, later Colonel
of one of Illinois' most famous regiments in the civil
war, John Hamlin, his old Peoria friend, Edward D.
Baker, who was killed in battle in the civil war while
United States Senator as well as Colonel, Jesse K. Du-
bois, afterwards Auditor of Public Accounts of the State,
John J. Hardin, who was killed in battle in the Mexican
war, and Abraham Lincoln. At this election Jesse B.
Thomas was chosen to succeed McConnell, John Hogan to
succeed Kinney, and Hart Fellows to succeed Wright.
Peck, Willard and Alexander were re-elected.
Following this election, Mr. Dixon took the oath of
office at Vandalia February 28, 1839, before Theophilus
W. Smith, one of the judges of the Supreme Court. His
commission, dated February 22, 1839, is signed by
Thomas Carlin, Governor.
Under date of Omaha, Nebraska, June 15, 1881,
Frederick A. Nash wrote John Wentworth that he ar-
rived at Chicago February 11, 1837, under promise of
a situation with James Seymour, who had been selected
by Edmund D. Taylor and William B. Ogden to survey
and locate the Galena and Chicago Union Railway; **we
were paid off, and June 1st, left for Peru, then a prom-
ising city on paper and prairie bluffs, to enter upon the
surveys north and south of the Illinois river, under the
old Illinois Internal Improvement scheme. * * * James
Seymour was chief; his brother, William H. Seymour,
was assistant ; P. H. Ogilvie, draughtsman, a lively little
Scot, and a graduate of Edinboro ; Geo. Howel, rodman,
and myself, axeman and chainman. * * * From Peru,
or La Salle, our surveys extended up the Vermillion to
Dixon and Galena, — from the south side of the river in
the direction of Bloomington, running 60 miles without
a tree or any stream to check our progress. * * * In
1840, Ogilvie, myself and others listened to a four hour
speech from Stephen A. Douglas, at Dixon's Ferry, and
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EARLY liEE COUNTY 87
to a shorter and spicy address from **Long John" Went-
worth, then in the bloom of manhood. In 1840 I was
junior assistant engineer, and had charge of construction
from La Salle to the Bureau river, near Inlet Grove, Lee
County, and a small prairie town called Greenfield, in Bu-
reau county/' (Greenfield is now La Moille.)
Nash, evidently writing from recollection, is slightly
in error. The division he joined was organized May 8,
1837. (See report of Seymour in Northwestern Gazette
S Galena Advertiser , February 24, 1838.)
Ogilvie later surveyed and made a plat of a town, and
when the owners of the site were trying to find a name
for the place, he suggested Moulin, as they thought it
would be a manufacturing town. After some discussion
his suggestion was modified and the name made Moline.
(Moline Dispatch, August 24, 1898.)
In June, 1837, a party of engineers was formed at Ga-
lena^ with William B. Gilbert at its head, and given
charge of the work between Galena and Rock river. In
the same month a fourth corps of engineers was organ-
ized at Dixon's Ferry, with Amedee Blanc in charge un-
til the arrival of Ogilvie who continued the surveys until
his health failed. Blanc, whose work had been confined
to the Rock river improvement up to that time, then
took up the railroad surveys. This party was disbanded
in the fall of that year. {25th Cong., 2d 8 ess.: Sen. Doc.
259.)
The division engineer's oflSce was located at Dixon in
a building erected by ** Granny" John Wilson on the
south side of East First Street between Galena and
Ottawa avenues. The first term of the Circuit Court of
Ogle County was held in that building in 1837. (Kurtz,
History of Dixon and Palmyra; Hill, History of Lee
County.)
Stephenson advertised for bids for the construction of
the railroad from Galena to the south, the bids to be
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88 LA SAIXE TO INLET
opened at Dixon's Ferry, Ogle County, May 12, 1838,
and it appears that they were opened and the contracts
awarded that day. The law required the concurrence
of *^the acting commissioner on the line, and at least
one other member of the board,'' together with the rec-
ommendation of ^Hhe principal engineer in charge of the
work," in the letting of contracts.
Attached to the Report of Joel Wright, Commissioner
of Public Works for the Fifth Circuit, is a report of
Hiram P. Woodworth, Chief Engineer, dated at the Rail-
road Office, La Salle County, November 27, 1838, stat-
ing that contracts for the construction of that part of the
Central Railroad extending southerly from Galena twenty
miles had been let ^ * last May ; ' ' that the work was delayed
because although some of the contractors had labored
faithfully others had abandoned their jobs and absconded,
and, also, by reason of the ^'protracted and painful ill-
ness of our late and much lamented" commissioner Col.
Stephenson. He also said that he had had thorough sur-
veys made on every possible route between Savanna and
Rock river, owing to the feeling exhibited.
From the report of T. B. Ransom, engineer, November
28, 1838, attached to the report of Commissioner Peck,
it appears that the line of the Central Railroad north
of the Illinois river had been located so that it would
cross Bureau creek about eighteen and a quarter miles
from La Salle and Inlet creek about twenty-eight and
two-thirds miles from La Salle ; that one line had been
considered that would cross Rock river about two miles
above Dixon's Ferry.
Ransom further says that the contract for the construc-
tion of the first eleven miles north of La Salle was let
to Kennedy & Brookin, with H. K. Curtis in charge as
engineer.
A petition of citizens residing *4n the Rock river coun-
try" was presented to the Legislature in 1838 soon after
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 89
it was reported that the Board of Public works had so
located the line of the Central Railroad that it would pass
through Dixon, and in it these worthy citizens complained
that the road from ^**Eocky Ford on the Inlet'' to a point
on the Mississippi near Savanna had been ** located to suit
personal interests rather than those of the State;'' that
it had been located on *Wery uneven ground" and on a
route longer than other routes ; that it would cross Rock
river where the banks are so low and the bluffs recede so
far as to cause the ** construction of immense embank-
ments to reach a viaduct of sufficient elevation to permit
the passage of steamboats," ^'besides," the water is deep
and the bottom sand and clay. To show that they were
moved solely by public spirit, they invited attention to
the facts that the ground from Rocky Ford to Sterling is
quite level, that the banks of Rock river at Sterling are
close to the water's edge and but about twenty feet
higher ; that the river bed there is a mass of solid rock
and the water so low that the State had already begun
the work of excavating a boat channel through this rock,
and that it would be good policy to have the railroad
cross Rock river at the place already selected for the im-
provement of the river. The petition was signed by Hugh
Wallace, Lot S. Pennington, Nelson Mason and some
twenty others, showing, quite conclusively, that it eman-
ated from Sterling.
To overcome this petition there was presented to the
Legislature a protest signed by some one hundred and
thirty ** Citizens on Rock River and vicinity," asserting
that the railroad between Rockyford and Savannah **has
been judiciously located," and referring to the reports
of the engineers.
Upon consideration of the petition and protest, on Jan-
uary 14, 1839, on motion of James Craig of Jo Daviess,
the House
*' Resolved— That the Board of Public Works be
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90 SAVANNA TO DIXON
requested to communicate to this House at as early
a day as practicable. * * *
*^3d. At what place on Bock river the said Board
of Public Works have determined that the Central
railroad shall cross, and their reasons why a more
direct route from Peru, on the Illinois river, to Sa-
vannah, on the Mississippi river, has not been
adopted. * * . *
*^6th. Whether the line of the Central Railroad
adopted is longer or shorter than another line from
Peru, on the Illinois river, via the rapids on Rock
river, to Savannah, on the Mississippi river, and the
comparative cost of construction of the two routes.
**7th. And that they report to this House their
reasons for leaving an interval of ten or twenty 'miles
between that part of the Central railroad already put
under contract from Galena south, and that part pro-
posed by the Board of Public Works to be put under
contract, during the ensuing six months, east from
Savannah towards Rock river.''
To this resolution the Board of Public Works answered,
January 29, 1839, by letter to the Speaker of the House,
saying **The Board have to state that they have not yet
determined where the Central Railroad shall cross Rock
river the line not having been definitely located from
Rocky ford, or inlet, to Savanna.''
Attached to this letter was a report, under oath, of
W. B. Qilbert, the engineer, dated at Dixon, December
4, 1838, stating that the line from Qalena south for
twenty miles was put under contract *'May last;" that
the line had not been definitely located from the south
end of the part under contract to Savanna; that a line
could be run from Savanna to the Winnebago swamp by
running down the Mississippi eighteen or twenty miles,
thence through the Cat-tail swamp to Rock river, but
such a line would not be of benefit to the country; that
an examination had been made of a line from about eight
miles south of Savanna up the valley of Johnson's creek
to the ridge between that creek and little Rock creek, and
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 91
thence to the Upper Rapids of Rock river, (at Sterling),
over an undulating surface with a maximum grade of
seventy one and one-half feet per mile. Attached to this
report is one made by George W. Clarke, assistant engin-
eer, saying that he found that the most favorable point
for crossing the Winnebago swamp was at Rocky ford;
that he had selected the line that was found least expen-
sive and best suited to the wants of the country, a route
that passes through *Hhe most beautiful and fertile sec-
tion of country to be found between the Mississippi and
Rock rivers,^' and the rapidity with which this portion
of the country is settling and *Hhe evident prosperity of
the town of Dixon, Buffalo Grove, the Elkhom and Pres-
tonville settlements furnish sufficient evidence that that
location, as here recommended, is decidedly best calcu-
lated to promote the interest of the work/'
Clarke says that he had divided the work between Sa-
vanna and Rocky ford into five divisions, the first, eleven
and a quarter miles long, had a maximum grade of sixty
four feet to the mile for a short distance; the secon^i,
thirteen and ninety seven hundredths miles long, had a
maximum grade of thirty-one feet to the mile for a dis-
tance of nine-tenths of a mile, all the rest being under
twenty-five feet; the third division, sixteen and forty-
seven hundredths miles, running along Elkhom creek,
from the mouth of Middle creek, to Chambers ' mill, thence
to Buffalo Grove (this is the line he preferred but there
were other lines to be further examined) ; the fourth
division, twelve and sixty-seven hundredths miles, ran
from the ** flourishing little village of St. Marion, in Buf-
falo Grove,'' and extended to Dixon where it crossed
Rock river ; the fifth division, twelve and six hundredths
miles, ran from Dixon to Rocky ford. He, further, states
that another line had been partly examined from the end
of the second division having a maximum grade of fifty-
six feet to the mile which passed *^ near Thomas Wardin's
house" to and across ** the valley of Buffalo creek, over
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92 BRIDGE AT DIXON
a gently undulating plain, to the Hamilton Mounds;
thence across the valleys of Sugar creek and Dry run by
the claims of Mr. Fellows and Col. Stephenson to Ro(i
river."
The Chambers mill was on the Elkhom creek, near
Brookville, and was later known as Herb's mill. The
name of the town of St. Marion was changed to Buffalo,
and later the town became, as it now is, that part of Polo
called *'01d Town." Thomas Worden (not Wardin)
lived on section twenty-two, in the town of Eagle Point,
near Hazelhurst. Stephenson's claim was about a mile
and a quarter west of Polo.
A table attached to Clarke's report shows that the pro-
posed line, after leaving St. Marion, climbs a heavy hill
to Kellogg 's claim, thence across a prairie, and with a
descending grade to Gee's farm; thence over another
prairie, and an undulating country to Charters' farm,
thence, descending a steep hill, to Dixon. The heaviest
grade on this line was sixty-six feet to the mile, and about
thirteen hundred and twenty feet long. For a distance
of about twenty-three hundred feet out of Dixon there
was a grade of fifty-eight feet to the mile, going south.
Speaking of the bridge needed at Dixon, Clarke says : —
**A bridge will be required to cross Bock river of
the following dimensions: 630 feet in length; three
arches 210 feet square; two piers sixteen feet thick
and thirty-five feet wide at the foundation, tapering
to eleven feet thick and thirty-one feet wide at the
springing of the arch ; the bridge must have an ele-
vation of thirty-five feet above the common stage of
water so as not to interfere with the steamboat navi-
gation of Bock river; the width of the bridge to be
thirty-one feet so as to furnish a roadway for teams
and the viaduct for the railroad, agreeably to the pro^
visions of the state law."
After this description Clarke continues :
** After a careful examination of the country be-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 93
tween the Mississippi and Bock rivers, and consider-
ing that twenty miles below Dixon these rivers ap-
proach within fifteen miles of each other, thereby m
a measure superceding the necessity of connection
by a railroad, I must express my decided opinion in
favor of Dixon as a crossing place. This flourishing
town, beautif iilly situated on tiie banks of Rook river,
becomes a point necessarily independent of any local
consideration, for it is but two miles north of a
straight line drawn from Savanna to Rodcy ford;
and in that distance, either above or below the town
it would be impossible to find so favorable a cross-
ing place. The water here is never known to overflow
its banks, and abundance of stone is found on the
margin of the river.**
Clarke compliments his assistants, George H. Hubbell
and Henry Wing upon their work.
Clarke's estimate of the cost of the railroad from Sa-
vanna to Dixon was $283,791.49, including the bridge at
$36,750.
The plat of the town of Dixon, as recorded in the Re-
corder's office, shows the proposed right of way through
the town, beginning at the old Chicago road and terminat-
ing on the south bank of the river at the foot of Hennepin
avenue. The road bed was graded practically all the way
from Dixon to the Illinois river at La Salle, — ^but the rail-
road never was completed. So far as we are advised no
work was done between Savanna and Dixon. No grading
was done on Hennepin avenue. The bridge never got
any further than sketches and plans by the engineers.
The scheme failed. The state was plunged into an indebt-
edness that staggered her people and prompted them to
talk of repudiation. Fortunately, the Governor, Thomas
Ford, was a man and he effectively stamped out all efforts
at repudiation. When the collapse came auditor's war-
rants on the treasury were selling at fifty cents on the
dollar, there was not enough money in the treasury to pay
postage on the state's official letters. Nobody profited by
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94 WARRANT ON FUND COMMISSIONER
it except the officers who drew their salaries, the con-
tractors who were fortunate enough to get their estimates
cashed, and the inhabitants of Springfield who succeeded
in their plan to have their town made the capital.
Whenever any of Commissioners needed money to pay
for work or supplies, he obtained from the Board of Pub-
lic Works a draft on the Fund Commissioners (or Com-
missioner, there being but one after 1839). A copy of
such a draft is shown here. The John Hogan who signed
this one as President of the Board was Register of the
Land Office at Dixon from 1841 to 1845. All efforts to
find a warrant payable to Mr. Dixon failed.
The round hole and the slashes to its left show that
this draft was ** Cancelled and cut.'' On the back are
these endorsements: **Pay bearer, J. Beall, Comr.,'' and
**Paid on the principal of this Scrip Seventy 40/100
dollars, being the dividend of the State debt fund declared
January 1st, 1851. $70.00 40/100. Thos. H. Campbell,
Audr.''
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JOHN DIXON y. OBIN HAMLIN.
After the Board of Public Works had finally located
the line of that part of the Central Railroad that was to
be constructed between Galena and Savanna, John Dixon,
he then being the Commissioner for the Sixth Judicial
Circuit, advertised in the Northwestern Gazette & Galena
Advertiser that bids for the construction of that part
of the road would be received by him at Dixon ^s Ferry
May 20, 1839. Subsequently he changed the time and
place to Savanna June 20, and at that time and place the
bids were received and the awards made, Orin Hamlin
being the successful bidder for two of the sections — six
and sixteen — into which the work was divided. Ham-
lin began his work, and carried it on in such manner that
he won the confidence of Mr. Dixon.
In due course of time vouchers for work done on the
railroad were prepared. To pay them Mr. Dixon had
to obtain the money from Vandalia, then the State Capi-
tal. Hamlin represented that he had some matters of his
own that required him to go to Vandalia and persuaded
Mr. Dixon to let him have the draft. In the Northwest-
ern Gazette & Galena Advertiser of August 3, 1839, is
the following : —
'^ Messrs. Houghton S Stevens:
I have just returned from Kock Eiver. Mr. Ham-
lin has made his elopement with $11,500 of the pub-
lic money, being the amount drawn for by Mr. John
Dixon, Rail Road Commissioner. This will make
a temporary derangement of the Rail Road. But
prompt measures are being used to replace the
money, so that in a very short time the contractors
will be paid.
Yours in haste,
James Craig,
July 30, 1839/'
(95)
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96 SUIT IN ATTACHMENT
Houghton & Stevens were then the owners of the Gaz-
ette. Craig was a surveyor, and a member of the House
of Representatives from that district at that time. He
lived at Craig's Mills, or Hanover, near Galena.
While Craig puts the amount stolen at $11,500, Mr.
Dixon, in his account with the state, charges himself with
$11,600 as of June 13, and that is the amount he sought to
recover by attaching Hamlin's property.
In the Galena Gazette of August 10, 1839, appeared
a notice, signed by Samilel Smoker, then derk of the Cir-
cuit Court of Jo Daviess County, that John Dixon had
sued out of that court a writ of attachment, dated July
20, 1839, against Orin Hamlin in a suit to recover $11,-
600, the writ being returnable to the then next October
term of the court, and that there had been attached, as
the property of Hamlin, two horses, some wheelbarrows,
spades, shovels, picks, etc. Thomas Drummond, after-
wards judge of the United States Courts in Hlinois for
many years, acted as the attorney for Mr. Dixon.
The Galena Gazette of August 31, 1839, contains an
item, taken from the Chicago American of August 23,
saying that James P. Dixon had just passed through Chi-
cago on his way home after an unsuccessful search for
Hamlin ; that he went to Louisville, thence to Portsmouth,
thence through Ohio towards Canada until business com-
pelled him to return home, and that he found no trace
of Hamlin after the latter had left Louisville.
In the ''Biography of John Dixon/' in the Dixon Tele-
graph of July, 1876, and reprinted by Kurtz in his His-
tory of Dixon and Palmyra, in speaking of this matter,
appears this: — *' James P. Dixon and Smith Gilbraith
started in pursuit, traveling by stage coach through many
of the Eastern States, but they returned without success.
Soon after James and Elijah Dixon renewed the search,
traveling in Canada and the Eastern and New England
States, striking his trail once in Connecticut, but again
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 97
losing it, they returned to Dixon without recovering any-
thing. In the meantime Mr. Dixon had raised the money
and paid the amount to the State. Sometime afterwards
Hamlin drew a prize of $25,000 in a lottery. With this
and his other ill-gotten gains, he returned boldly to Ga-
lena, and opened a store. Mr. Dixon at once instituted
suit and recovered judgment for the $11,500 and interest.
The sheriff closed out all of Hamlin's goods that he
could get possession of, which paid the costs and expenses
of the search for Hamlin, and a few hundred dollars of
the stolen money.''
This is inaccurate in some respects. Mr. Dixon com-
menced his suit, as already shown, July 20, 1839, which
must have been before James P. Dixon made his first
trip and long before Hamlin opened a store in Galena.
That suit, being, as it was, prosecuted to a judgment,
would bar any other suit, and Judge Drummond would
have so advised Mr. Dixon, and it is not at all probable
that the suit mentioned in the quoted matter was brought.
In the files of the estate of Smith Gilbraith in the
County Court of Lee County is a paper purporting to
be a statement of cash paid to Smith Gilbraith and others
by John Dixon. One item reads thus :
^^ July 26, 1839. Paid S. Gilbraith to go after Hamlin
$170."
The Dixon Telegraph of July 27, 1876, has a letter from
Thomas S. Hubbard, Monticello, Iowa, saying that he was
employed in the division engineer's office at Dixon at the
time Hamlin took this money, and that James P. Dixon
caught Hamlin in Baltimore where he had just drawn
a prize in a lottery and then and there collected the
amount stolen, **but Mr. Dixon had already paid us all
up." For the reasons already stated, it is apparent that
Hubbard is wrong so far as the payment by Hamlin is
concerned.
The Board of Public Works held a meeting August
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98 HAMLIN'S CONFESSION
27, 1839, and the record of that meeting, in part^ reads
as follows : —
**Mr. Peck presented the following communication
from Orrin Hamlin to John Dixon, Esq. to wit:
Louisville, July 15, 1839.
Mr. Dixon,
Deab Sir :
I take my pen in hand to inform you of an event
that you little expect. I preceded in relation to the
draft as you directed me ; deposited it and took a cer-
tificate of the same, and called on my return and
got the money. After drawing the money it struck
me that I could make a first rate speculation by go-
ing back to Louisville and buying up Mineral Point
inoney, Cairo and Dubuque, which was selling at a
discount of 4, 5 and 10 per cent, discount. Accord-
ingly I starteid on a boat up the river (forever to my
shame be it spoken), and on my way there I got en-
gaged in playing poker for the first and last time
in my life for money. I got a hand I supposed to be
the best in the pack, and I commenced betting, and my
opponent backed me up, until he got up to eight thou-
sand dollars, and then called me, and to my astonish-
ment and ruin he held the best hand, whereas mine
was but the second best. Judge of my feelings at the
time — ^it nearly turned me mad. I resolved in my
mind during the night what was to be done — return
I could not, so I resolved to send for my family and
leave the country, until by the means of the balance I
could return and pay you, which if the Lord lives,
and my soul lives, shall be done as soon as any honest
business will enable me to do so. I hope you will let
my work all be measured and give me credit for per
cent, and all, and let mv brother know to what extent
T am deficient — ^it is tetter for laborers to lose a
part than you all. I intend leaving this country al-
together for some length of time — ^but you need not
be afraid but what you will get the money some time
not far distant, for I swear by the holy Evangelist
that if I am permitted to live, I will earn the money
and pay you every farthing: but for the sake of my
connections, do not be harsher with character than
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 99
you can help to sustain yours, for I do believe I am
still honest (but been very imprudent) and you shall
yet say so if I live. It will be useless to follow me,
for my plan of leaving is so well executed I shall leave
no traces behind, for I could not look an acquaintance
in the face again until all things are righted again.
I have sent for my family, but have concealed all
this affair from them. They will be here today or
tomorrow. My business is all arranged in regard to
my private affairs, which is not in a very prosperous
condition, nearly all mortgaged for about half its
worth, which I expect mil have to be sacrificed. I
am afraid you will lose your office by my imprudence,
but if you do I will try and make amends for it; for
the works are short lived, for there is eight millions
of Illinois bonds thrown in market in Europe with-
out a prospect of getting a dollar. With regret I
bid you adieu, and when we meet again I am in hopes
you will have good reason for a return of your friend-
ship, which has been so grossly abused by your
I do not know what to say
Orin Hamlin.
John Dixon, Esq.
We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we
have examined the original as written by Orin Ham-
lin, that we are acquainted with his handwriting, and
that the within is a true copy thereof.
A. M. Hunt,
H. B. Stillman,
EuDOLPHUS House.
Peoria, July 28, 1839.
Which was read and ordered to be filed. On motion of
Mr. Peck the following preamble and order was adopted,
to wit :
Whereas, proof has been made to the satisfaction of
this Board, that Orin Hamlin a contractor on the Central
railroad in the 6th Judicial Circuit, has received from
the Commissioner a large amount of money over and
above the sum due him ; and whereas said Commissioner
has no means of obtaining the receipt of said Hamlin to
his estimates;
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100 JUDGMENT
Therefore ordered that the Secretary of this Board cer-
tify on the estimate of the Engineer that the amount of
said estimate should be properly credited to John Dixon,
Commissioner of the 6th Judicial Circuit."
When he made his final settlement with the State, Mr.
Dixon was credited with payments to Hamlin aggregat-
ing $4,923.44 as though made in August, 1839, and it is
reasonably safe to assume that these payments were made
pursuant to the action of the Board of Public Works, and
that Mr. Dixon charged this amount against Hamlin.
The attachment suit brought by Mr. Dixon was allowed
to slumber until June 18, 1841, when, as appears from
the Jo Daviess County records, he obtained a judgment
in the case against Hamlin for $3,055, and costs. On
December 14, 1841, Alexander Young, then Sheriff of
that county, reported the judgment ** satisfied in full."
This clearly disproves the statement that Mr. Dixon **r^
covered judgment for the $11,500 and interest," and there
is no record of any suit by Mr. Dixon against Hamlin in
Jo Daviess County, except this attachment suit.
That Hamlin did return to Galena is shown by a letter
written, October 7, 1840, by Smith Gilbraith to Major
James Sterling in which Gilbraith, speaking of this mat-
ter, says — **I am going to Galena this week to see Hamlin
who owes him (Dixon) yet $5,000.'' Considering this
in connection with the fact that judgment was taken for
but a small part of the claim, it seems very clear that
Hamlin must have paid a good part of the debt before
the judgment was rendered.
That there was difficulty in collecting this judgment
is evident from the sworn statement of plaintiff's attor-
ney, which reads as follows:
^^On the 18th day of June A. D. 1841, 1 obtained a
judgment in favor of John Dixon vs. Orin Hamlin
before the Jo Daviess Circuit Court for the sum of
three thousand and fifty five Dollars ($3055). On
this judgment an execution issued & a levy was made
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 101
& some property sold by the sheriff. I find by my
memorandum book that on the 27 day of September
1841 the sum of two thousand six hundred 31/100
Dollars were paid to me by the sheriff which sum
($2600. 31/100) I paid to Mr. Gilbraith on the 14th
day of October 1841 as by the order of Mr. Dixon
which I think I still have in my possession. Of
course this amount of $2600.31 did not pay up the
judgment and there was a stable sold & bought
in in the name of Mr. Gilbraith to whom Mr. Dixon
had committed the whole business. This stable was
afterwards sold by Mr. Gilbraith at auction I think
some time in April 1842. The stable brought $405.
Mr. Montgomery was the auctioneer. Out of this
sum of $405 Mr. Montgomery paid me one hundred
Dollars ($100) on the 2d day of May 1842. There
was something paid out of this sum of ($405) for
ground rent & for the expenses of sale. It appears
by the receipt of Mr. Gilbraith which I have seen
that on the 16th day of May 1842 Mr. Montgomery
paid to Mr. Gilbraith the sum of ($254.77) two hun-
dred fifty four 77/100 Dollars — which I suppose was
the proceeds of the sale after deducting the $100
paid me and the expenses of sale & the ground rent.
It seems that Mr. Gilbraith received on this judgment
of Mr. Dixon vs. Hamlin $2855.08 being the amount
paid him by me and Mr. Montgomery as above stated
I paying him $2600.31 & Mr Montgomery $254.77.
All of which is true to the best of my knowledge,
recollection & belief.
Thomas Drummond.
State of Illinois
Jo Daviess County
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 3d day of
August A. D. 1843, as witness my hand & the official
seal of the Circuit Court of Jo Daviess County.
(Seal.) Attest Wm. H. Bradley
Clerh of Circuit Court
of Jo Daviess County.'^
Hamlin was elected sheriff of Peoria County in Aug-
ust, 1828, and county commissioner in 1834. In 1833 the
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lOS HAMLIN AT PEORIA
county court of Peoria County granted a permit to Alvah
Moflfat, Aquila Moffatt and Hamlin to erect a mill dam
across Kickapoo creek, in what afterwards became Lime-
stone township, and they built what was long known as
the Monroe mill. In 1836 Robert Little, Augustus Lang-
worthy and Hamlin laid out IJbe town of Detroit, on the
bank of the Illinois about six miles above Peoria. In
1843 he built in Peoria the county's first steam flouring
mill. It would appear that Hamlin did not remain in hid-
ing very long, for on December 8, 1840, Hart Fellows,
Commissioner of Public Works for the 5th Judicial Cir-
cuit, paid him $2,177.91 for construction work, but the
report does not disclose anything more of the matter and
we do not know where the work was performed. The
reference, in his letter, to his brother prompts the thought
that he may have been a brother of John Hamlin of
Peoria.
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THE DIXON HOTEL COMPANY.
In 1837 the people of Dixon felt the need of a hotel that
would be more in keeping with the town. Some of her
enterprising business men conceived the idea of forming
a corporation that would build and operate a modern, up-
to-date hotel. They prepared and sent to Vandalia, then
the capital of the State, a bill for **An Act incorporating
the Dixon Hotel Company,'' which, having passed both
houses of the legislature, received the Governor's ap-
proval March 2, 1837.
This Act declares John Atchison, James Evans, Charles
S. Boyd, John Dixon, William C. Bostwick, Smith ** Gal-
breath," James P. Dixon, L. S. Huff, John Brown, and
their associates and successors, a corporation for the
term of twenty years, under the name of the ** Dixon Ho-
tel Company." It placed the capital stock at twenty
thousand dollars, appointed Evans, Boyd, ^'Galbreath"
and James P. Dixon commissioners, to receive subscrip-
tions for the capital stock, and empowered the company
to purchase and hold land on which it could build and
operate a hotel during the term of the corporation's life.
Boyd lived in Bureau county and was a brother-in-law
of John Dixon. Atchison and Bostwick lived in Galena,
the former being a director and the latter cashier of the
Galena branch of the State Bank. Bostwick afterwards
studied law and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1842.
Possibly the company thought it could obtain funds from
the State Bank, as that seems to have been an easy thing
to do.
This Act does not, either by express grant or by im-
plication, authorize the company to issue any notes or
bills with the intent of circulating them as money. An
examination of the original bill, which still remains on
file in the office of the Secretary of State, shows that when
the bill was presented to the legislature it contained a
(103)
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104 ISSUED BILLS
section, numbered two, specifically giving the corporation
power to issue such bills, but that section was stricken out,
and the bill was passed without any such provision.
The fact that the movers in the enterprise asked for a
grant of such power may have prompted in their minds
the thought that as the bill passed it did give that au-
thority. . At all events, whatever the reasoning may have
been, the company did issue such bills and some of them
are still in existence. The bills that have survived are
in the denominations of one, three and five dollars. One
of them is shown here. These notes had nothing what-
ever to do with the work on the old central railroad.
All of them that have come to our knowledge were pay-
able to * * N. Biddle or bearer ' '. Students of United States
history need not be told that this fictitious payee was the
head of the Bank of the United States.
The company built the foundations for the original
part of what is now the Nachusa Tavern, and then stop-
ped work, its money being spent, and its energies ex-
hausted.
In 1853 another corporation, with a capital of ten
thousand dollars, built the original Nachusa House on
these foundations, the house being opened to the public
for business December 10, of that year.
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THE ILLINOIS AND ROCK RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY.
The complete failure of the state's internal improve-
ment scheme was a hard blow to Dixon, but her enter-
prising business men were resourceful and soon evolved
a plan that they fondly believed would secure to them
some of the advantages they hoped to secure from the
construction of the Central Eail Road. They appealed
to the legislature and secured the passage of ''An Act
to provide for the construction of a railroad from ItB,
Salle to Dixon,'' which was approved February 27, 1841.
This act created a corporation to be known as the Illi-
nois, and Rock River Rail Road Company, to exist for
a term of fifty years, with a capital stock of five hundred
thousand dollars, divided into fifty dollar shares, and
authorized it to construct and operate a railroad from
La Salle **to the village of Dixon, in the county of Lee,"
terminating at such points on the Illinois and Rock Riv-
ers as the company might select.
It appointed Horatio Newhall of Galena, Michael Ken-
nedy of La Salle county, William Wilkinson and Dr. Oli-
ver Everett of Dixon, commissioners to receive subscrip-
tions for the capital stock.
The act empowered this company to take possession
of such roads or parts of railroad as had been constructed
by the state, and to use them, and all materials of the
state thereon, in the construction of the proposed railroad,
but carefully provided that such possession was not to
be taken until all the improvements made by the state
and all the materials of the state had been valued by
some competent engineer, and the amount so found by
the engineer to be their value should be considered as
so much capital stock of the company owned by the state.
The state agreed, by the terms of the act, to furnish
such necessary iron for a single track railroad as it had
on hand.
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106 STOCK SUBSCRIPTIONS
It was further provided by the act that if the company
did not complete its line within five years, or did not
expend at least ten thousand dollars in twelve months
after its organization, and at least ten thousand dollars
in each twelve months thereafter, then the railroad and
all the property of the company should revert to and
become the property of the state.
The commissioners opened subscription books and re-
ceived some subscriptions, and caused receipts to be is-
sued to the subscribers, one of them being shown here.
Having obtained some money by this method, the com-
pany undertook to complete the railroad, but was unable
to do this, as it could not obtain the necessary capital.
Enough of receipt No. 1 remains to show that it was
for $10, paid by Harrison, was dated the same day and
was signed by Keeler. The ornamental work at the left
end varies from that shown above.
In its chapter on the town of Amboy, HilPs History
of Lee County, p. 304, in speaking of the old Central Rail-
road, says :
**Dr. Harrison, of Peru, took a contract to build
part of the line, and sent a force of laborers here
in the fall of 1841 to renew the grading which had
been begun four or five years before and worked upon
at intervals afterward. He started a bank in Peru
and issued circulation; but one day somebody went
down and demanded specie for his paper, and was
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EARLY JJEE COUNTY 107
refused. When news of this reached the gang of
men up here they dropped their tools, and the sun
never rose on a resumption of the work. Harrison's
paper was in the hands of the people in this section,
where it has remained so long that its ' staying qual-
ities ' are fully and forever established. It was known
as * Bangs' railroad money', and is a reminiscence
of * wildcat' banking, and of the old Central 'wild-
cat' improvement."
On page 471 of the same work, in the chapter on the
town of May, speaking of John Darcy, who settled in
that town in 1840, we find this :
** About this time Mr. Darcy worked a few weeks
on the old State railroad, then being graded through
May. Mr. Darcy, like many others, received nothing
for his labor but some worthless paper issued by
a certain A. H. Bongs (Bangs) of La Salle, who had
started a bank there."
When the company suspended work the laborers be-
came very indignant, and in their rage seized Bangs and
dragged him through the streets. Serious injury would
have been done to him but for the intervention of others
who put him in a skiff and sent him down the river.
(Beebe, History of Peru.)
A reading of Beebe 's History of Peru induces the be-
lief that the author thought **Dr. Harrison" was an
unscrupulous quack.
Anson H. Bangs was president of the Bank of the
United States at Syracuse, New York, as well as of the
Farmers & Mechanics' Bank of Onondaga, at Fayette-
ville. New York.
From the report made to the legislature, in 1840, by
Governor Carlin, it appears that the State had sold its
internal improvement bonds, to the amount of fifty thou-
sand dollars, to A. H. Bangs & Co., who were connected
with the Onondaga Bank, and who obtained possession
of these bonds without making any payment for them,
and then sold them or some of them, to third persons,
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108 TIME EXTENDED
whose names the Governor was unable to learn. He
advised that suit be brought against Bangs to restrain
the sale of the bonds, so far as that could be done, and
to compel payment for them.
There was presented to the Thirteenth Greneral As-
sembly a petition reciting that under the act providing
tot the incorporation of the Illinois and Rock River
Rail Road Company, the commissioners named in that
act opened books for stock subscriptions and it was all
taken by A. H. Bangs, who thereafter acted and was
recognized as the president of that company; that the
company, through Bangs, let contracts for the construc-
tion of the road and that work to the amount of ten
thousand dollars was done thereon by the petitioners;
that **the company did not pay a single cent to any
contractor or workman'' and that both the company and
Bangs had absconded and disappeared. The prayer of
the petition was that the state estimate the work the
petitioners had done and charge it to the amount ex-
pended by the state on that part of the Central Rail Road.
The petition was sent to the committee on internal im-
provements, and, on February 27, 1843, laid on the table.
All the signers of this petition were residents of La
Salle county. The petition does not show in what locality
the work mentioned was done.
The legislature passed, and there was approved on
March 6, X843, '*An Act to extend the time for the
completion of the Illinois and Rock River Rail Road,''
which provides that the time for the construction of the
road shall be extended until five years after the final
completion of the Illinois and Michigan canal, and it
authorizes the company to extend its line beyond **the
village of Dixon" and to terminate it at some point on
the Mississippi River.
On May 16, 1843, Governor Thomas Ford wrote D. H.
T. Moss, Esq. :
^*I am obliged to you for the information contained
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 109
in your letter of the twelfth instant; and I accord-
ingly empower you to sell any of the timber or stone
or other materials, on or near the line of the railroad
between La Salle and Dixon, either at public or pri-
vate sale, according to your best judgment; also to
change the places of the public sales heretofore di-
rected. I also authorize you to settle with any and
all persons who may have used any such materials ;
and to sue for the same, in case they refuse^ to ac-
count, at fair and reasonable prices, and pay for the
same. ' '
June 16, 1843, Governor Thomas Ford wrote to George
W. Gilson, Esq., as follows :
''In answer to your letter I beg leave to state
that I have been informed that the officers and agents
of the Rock River Rail Road Company have been
selling the materials of the road for their own use
and without intending to make the road. This, if
true, is a fraud on the State and of a piece with the
villainy practiced everywhere upon the public inter-
ests. I desire you to inform the president of that
company and all others interested that it is my in-
tention to have actions at law commenced here in
Sangamon county against all persons found commit-
ting those frauds.''
Gilson had been an engineer in the employment of the
state and in November, 1838, had charge of the construc-
tion of the old Central Railroad south of La Salle.
This letter was evidently written when the Governor
was not fully advised as to the facts in the case. It brought
a letter from H. P. Woodworth, writing in behalf of the
company.
June 23, 1843, Governor Ford wrote to Woodworth as
follows :
*'I received your letter of the 20th instant and
am much gratified that the Illinois and Rock River
Railroad Co. has been organized in good faith and
with the intention of making the road. I heartily wish
you success. It appears from your letter that this
is the day which has been appointed by Mr. Moss
for the sale of the timber, stone, &c.
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110 SCHEME ABANDONED
''I am sorry that you or some other person did
not write me sooner. I did not know who the com-
pany were, and from my advices I could not but be-
lieve that a pretended company existed who were
about to commit great frauds on the State. If, how-
ever, I could have been furnished with the informa-
tion contained in your letter in time I would have
ordered Mr. Moss to delay proceedings until the
matter could have been inquired into. If you see
Mr. Moss, and he has not yet sold, show him this let-
ter and request him to desist until I can further in-
quire into the matter.''
Woodworth had been principal engineer of the state
on the northern division of the old Central Eailroad.
From this letter it would seem that he had become con-
nected, in some capacity, with the Illinois and Rock River
Rail Road Company.
We have found no evidence indicating that the Gov-
ernor made further ''enquiry,'' or that anything more
was done in the matter. It is common knowledge that
the road was not built.
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THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Kurtz's History of Dixon and Palmyra, p. 6, says:
'*May 28, 1838, 'The First Regular Baptist Church
of Dixon and Buffalo Grove was organized at Buffalo
Grove, Thomas Powell moderator, the following
named persons were the original members : Houland
Bicknell, Rebecca Dixon, Elizabeth Bellows, Jerusha
Hanamond, Sarah Kellogg, Martha Parks and Ann
Clarley."
The '^ History of the Illinois River Baptist Associor-
tion/' prepared by Gilbert S. Bailey for and published
by the Association in 1857, says that the annual meeting
of the association was held in Princeton in 1838 and ad-
mitted to membership ''Dixon and Buffalo Grove in Lee
County with fourteen members." At this meeting a com-
mittee was appointed to prepare sketches of the origin
of the churches, and its report, in part, reads as follows :
"Dixon and Buffalo Grove. Two Baptist sisters
from the Mulberry street church, in New York, set-
tled with their families in these places some years
before the removal of the Indians, and continued
alone until the commencement of the white settle-
ments introduced a few Baptist brethren around
them. In the latter part of May, they were visited
and gathered into a church by elder Thomas Powell.
Three were received and baptized into the fellowship
of the church at that time."
It appears from this authority that the annual meeting
of the association was held in Dixon in June, 1842, when
the Dixon church had forty members, and that Dixon and
Buffalo Grove were dismissed the following year, to
unite with the Rock River Association.
(Ill)
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LEE COUNTY'S FIRST PHYSICIAN.
Dr. Green Forrest, a Kentuckian, announced in the
Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser of April
25, 1835, and the subsequent numbers for six months,
that he had *' located, permanently, one mile northeast
of Dixon's Ferry, where he can be found at all times
when not absent on professional business/'
That he was there before the day of the first advertise-
ment is shown by John Dixon's account books, which
contain undated charges of a dollar for *'ll light sash,"
and seventy-five cents for **12 glass," and a load of hay,
price not stated, and these precede a charge of one dollar
and a quarter for shoeing a horse **Mar. 5," and a
charge, **Apl. 1," for a load of hay, price not stated, and
a credit dated ''Mar. 9, 1835." The last dated charge
against him on these books is that of August 21, 1835.
Dr. Forrest lived on what was known for years as the
Woodford farm, above the Assembly grounds. Later he
built and lived in a log house that stood at the southwest
corner of East Eiver street and Ottawa avenue. It is
stated by John K. Robinson, in Kurtz's History of Dixon
and Palmyra, that Dr. Forrest went back to Kentucky,
but the time of his departure is not known now. There
are circumstances, however, that make it reasonably
certain that he left Dixon in 1835.
A Dr. Spencer, son of John C. Spencer of New York,
once Secretary of War and later Secretary of the Treas-
ury, was living in Dixon in September, 1836, when Dr.
Oliver Everett arrived there in his search for a location.
Spencer immediately importuned Everett to stay so that
he might return to New York, saying he did not want to
live so far from his old home and friends, but had prom-
ised Mr. Dixon he would stay until a successor appeared.
When Everett decided to locate there Spencer gave him
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DRS. RUTUDG AND EVANS 113
several books, one being a copy of Byron's Poems. Long
afterwards Everett found those parts of Don Juan de-
scribing the mutiny of the ship's crew were underscored
by pencil marks. Later there was a mutiny on one of
the vessels of our navy, and the leaders of the crew seem
to have followed the conduct described by Byron. One
of that mutinous crew was Dr. Spencer's brother, and
for his participation in the mutiny he was hanged at the
yard arm. These facts were related to the writer on
several occasions by Dr. Everett.
In the account books kept by John Dixon there is an
account reading '* Doctor Eutlidg"— ^'1832, May 9^,
commenced," but there is nothing showing what was
commenced or how long it was continued, nor is there
any amount charged. Following this is the last entry —
''Dinner for six men $1.50," but it is without date. There
are several charges, beginning December 25, 1834, and
ending March 30, 1835, against *'Dr. Evans," for letters,
evidently meaning the postage on letters. The books
give no other information of these men, or either of them.
As Dr. Everett made his home in Dixon in 1836 and
remained there for more than fifty years, the rest of his
life, he is entitled to be called the first physician in Lee
county.
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EARLY POLinOS.
The Northwestern Gazette & Galena Advertiser says
that at an election in August, 1836, the vote in the Dixon
precinct of Ogle county for members of the House of
Eepresentatives was, Elijah Charles (elected), 10; Lu-
ther H. Bowen of Savanna, 10; John Turney of Galena,
10; James Craig (elected), 8, and Bennett, 1.
At the congressional election in 1838 the Third district,
containing the thriving towns of Deca^tur, Springfield,
Quincy, Bloomington, Galena and Chicago, had two candi-
dates — John T. Stuart, Whig, and Stephen A. Douglas,
Democrat. Andreas' History of Chicago says Douglas
received 18,337, Stuart 18,405. C. C. Brown, vol. 7, p.
110, Publications, Illinois Historical Library, says. the
total vote was 36,461, and Stuart's majority 14. Dr. J. F.
Snyder, in his article upon James H. Ealston (Publica-
tions III. State His. Soc, v. 13, p. 223) says Douglas had
18,213 votes and Stuart 18,248. '
The Sangamon Journal (Springfield) of September 8,
1838, say^ the ofiicial vote was Douglas 17730, Stuart
17807.
The Illinois State Register and People's Advocate
(Vandalia) of October 12, 1838, says the oflBcial vote, **as
corrected," was Douglas 18242, Stuart 18247, and that
the vote in Ogle county was Douglas 273, Stuart 532.
In a letter dated November 10, 1884, J. Young Scam-
mon writes to the Inter Ocean that '* Douglas was in-
Chicago on the day of the election, and he received so
large a vote in Cook County that he had no doubt of his
election. He was so elated that when he started for
Jacksonville, where he then resided, he took his seat on
the front of the stage with the driver, and traveled on
down to Lockport, receiving the congratulations of his
(114)
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 115
frieiids on the way. When he got to the latter place
he found that the canal men and hands had voted against
him because in the Legislature he was in favor of the
'shallow cut/ and opposed to a deep canal. Mr. E. B.
Talcott was then an assistant engineer on the canal
works and resided in Lockport. He engineered the bolt
and induced the scratching of Douglas' name from Dem-
ocratic tickets and substituting Stuart's. This was a
discouraging aspect of the case, but as Douglas pro-
ceeded southward on his journey he found that this de-
fection did not extend far below Lockport, and that
Ottawa and Peru and the residue of the canal regions
had given him the usual democratic majorities. But
when he arrived at Peoria, which was then the central
point whence the stages converged, he found that the
military tract was less favorable to him than he had ex-
pected, and the belief was there that Stuart was elected
by a small majority. It was so close, however, that the
result was claimed by both parties, and doubt was not
removed until the official returns reached the office of
the Secretary of State, which showed that Douglas was
elected by 8 majority. Mr. James Matheny, who was
at that time a young and very ardent Whig, said he
believed 'the Democrats had been cheating us,' and if
any one would pay his expenses he would saddle his
horse in the morning and go to every county-seat and
examine the poll-books. Mr. Stuart paid his expenses
and he made the examination, traveling over the whole
district and examining all the poll-books. He found
quite a number of errors, but they all canceled each other,
except in one precinct, where the poll-book showed that
in carrying over Stuart's vote from one page where he
had a majority his votes were put in the Douglas column
on the next page, and Douglas' into his. Correcting this
mistake the decision of the returns was reversed, and
Stuart elected by twelve or thirteen votes. This was
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116 S. A. DOUGLASS
done and the facts certified to the Secretary of State,
and Stuart got the certificate/^
Scammon says that the voting was viva voce, and that
is the fact, no ballots being cast, and no ballot box being
used, so his reference to scratched tickets is incompre-
hensible.
Frederick E. Dutcher, who was then living in Dixon,
discovered an error in the addition of the votes in the
precincts in Lee county, and he promptly made his
discovery known to John S. Eoberts of Springfield, who,
in turn, laid the matter before Douglas. In a few days
Dutcher received the following letter:
Springfield, Oct. 2d, 1839.
Dear Sir:
Mr. Eoberts has just placed in my hands a letter
from you show a mistake in the Poll Book of your
precinct of 3 votes. Every vote is importan at this
crisis. You have my grateful acknowledgements for
the kindness you have already shown. But I must
ask of you the favor to carefully add up the votes
in each of the other precincts and see if there have
been no mistakes in the addition of them by the
Clerks & Judges. This can all be done at the Clerk's
oflBce where you will find all the Poll Books of the
county. When you shall have examined all the Poll
Books I wish you would get the Clerk of the Co
Comrs Court to call to his assistance two Justices
of the Peace & to make a new return correcting the
mistakes, This has been done in many other coun-
ties and will be in all soon. It is important that this
should be attended to immediately as the time is fast
approaching when I must leave for Washington.
Please send the names of the illegal voters and also
the witness by whom they can be proven to be
illegal. I am with great respect
your friend,
S. A. Douglass.
F. E. Dutcher, Esq.,
Dixon, Lee Co.,
lU.
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 117
Duteher immediately re-examined the Lee county books
and then carefully examined the books in Ogle, White-
side and Carroll, only to find that the errors there coun-
terbalanced.
The great majority of the electors in the Dixon pre:
cinct voted for Stuart, in retaliation upon Douglas for
his support of John Phelps in the fight for the county
seat.
The first political convention held in Lee county con-
vened in November, 1839, and was due to the activities
of Frederick B. Dutcher. He received the following let-
ter in October of that year:
Sir:
The State Central Corresponding Committee have
deemed it advisable to call a State Convention of the
Democratic Party, at Springfield, on the 2d Monday
in December next, for the purpose of adopting a
more efficient system of organization, and also to
nominate candidates for Presidential Electors. The
propriety of this measure has been pressed upon
the consideration of the Committee by many of our
friends from different parts of the State, and its
necessity is rendered the more urgent by the zealous,
energetic, concerted movements of the Federal party
in this State. That Party has recently held a State
Convention in this place; has adopted an efficient
system of organization, with their State, County
and Precinct Committees ; have nominated their Can-
didates for Presidential Electors ; and have instruct-
ed those Candidates to mount the stump, and har-
rangue the people wherever they can find them as-
sembled; and, in short, are prepared for and have
avowed their determination to make a vigorous and
determined effort for the prostration of Democratic
principles, and the ascendancy of Federal Whiggery,
in this State, and the Nation. The result of such
an issue we do not doubt or fear. We are willing
and ought to be prepared to meet them boldly and
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118 CALL FOR STATE CONVENTION
fearlessly upon their own ground, and fight them
in the manner, and upon the issue they have formed.
For the purpose of being fully prepared for the
contest, equally well organized, and upon an equal
footing at the opening of the campaign, you are re-
quested to immediately consult with our friends, and
call a meeting in your county, and appoint delegates
to the proposed Convention.
Each County is requested to send a number of
Delegates at least double the number of their Sena-
tors and Representatives in the General Assembly;
and each County, no matter how small, two Dele-
gates, and as many more as it chooses.
As our Government is emphatically a Government
of the People, deriving its existence from them, we
would reconmiend an expression of opinion in your
Resolutions upon the subjects that agitate the coun-
try, and upon the following, particularly:
1st. The Constitutional Treasury Bill, as rec-
onmiended by President Van Buren.
2d. A National Bank, as recommended by Mr.
Clay.
3d. The GAG BILL, depriving officers of the
right of speech, as introduced by Mr. Crit-
tenden, in the U. S. Senate, and by Mr. Otwell,
in the Illinois Legislature.
4th. The Repeal of the Salt Tax and the sup-
pression of the Salt Monopoly, as recommend-
ed by Mr. Benton, Mr. Woodbury, and other
distinguished Democrats in Congress.
5th. The right of the Governor to nominate a
Secretary of State, as provided by the Con-
stitution, and exercised by Gov. Carlin.
6th. The decision of the Supreme Court in-
stalling A. P. Field in office for life.
An expression of opinion upon the above, and
such other subjects as shall occur to you as import-
ant to the country, is desired in order that the Dele-
gates may bring with them the sentiments of the
people upon these interesting questions.
We would further recommend that at your meet-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 119
ings you appoint a Corresponding Committee for
your County, at or near the County Seat, to consist
of three persons, and also a Committee of Vigilance
of three persons in each Justice's Precinct of your
County, to continue as permanent Committees until
others shall be appointed, and to be composed of
sound and efficient Democrats, who will use all fair
and honorable means to sustain the Principles and
Candidates of the Democratic Party. You will
please forward the proceedings of your meeting to
the State Eegister, at this place, and to the other
nearest Democratic paper, for publication. We are
very respectfully your fellow citizens.
Virgil Hickox,
John Taylor,
EoBERT Allen,
John Calhoun,
Charles E. Hurst,
John S. Eoberts,
David Prickett,
Corresponding Committee.
Springfield, October 10, 1839.
Dutcher consulted with some of his fellow Democrats
and formed a committee that called a county convention
and then organized a precinct committee that issued the
following:
'^NOTICE
A meeting of the democratic party of the Dixon
precinct will be held at the Western Hotel on Friday
15th inst at 6 o'clock P M for the purpose of ap-
pointing four delegates to meet at the same place on
the 16th inst at 12 o'clock to meet delegates from
the different precincts of this County to appoint del-
agates to meet the State Convention to be held at
Springfield on the 2nd Monday in December next for
the purpose of nominating Candidates for the Pres-
idential Electors and such other business as may
be deamed necessary for the better organising the
Democratic party of this County also pass resilu-
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120 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
tions reliteve to the Questions in a certain letter
reed from the State Corresponding Committee.
Frederick E. Butcher,
Harvey Morgan,
Daniel Frost,
Corresponding Committee.
Dixon Nov 14th 1839,"
No record of the other proceedings of this precinct
committee was preserved. The record of the county con-
vention still exists and it reads thus :
^'At a Democratic meeting of Delegates appointed
from each precinct pursuant to a call from the Cen-
tral Corresponding Committee of Lee county con-
vened at the Western Hotel in Dixon the 16th inst
at 12 o'clock for the purpose of appointing delegates
to attend the State Convention at Springfield on the
2d Monday in December next — and such other busi^
ness as might be deemed necessary.
Samuel Johnston was called to the chair & Fred-
erick R Dutcher appointed secretary
The object of the meeting having been stated by
the chair
Resolved that a committee of three be appointed
by the chair to recommend to this meeting suitable
delegates to attend the State convention at Spring-
field and Draft resolutions expressive of the viewa
of this meetingw
The following persons composed said committee
Wm. P Burroughs
Daniel Frost
Jeremiah Whipple
who after retiring a short time made the following
report, which was unanimously adopted —
Whereas a crisis now exists in this nation, which
every true republican must feel the Importance of
to the Democratic party, and whereas we believe the
principles adopted by Martin Van Buren are the
true principles of the party and should be supported
by every true Democrat, Therefore Resolved that
the delegates to Springfield to nominate candidates
for presidential electors be instructed to vote for
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 121
such men as will support the principles of the pres-
ent administration—
1st. Eesolved, That the Subtreasury Scheme is
the true method of receiving and disbursing the
Public Eevinue, also that it is the duty of every true
Democrat to sustain Martin Van Buren for the next
presidency in order that he may more fully carry
out the views of the administration Party —
2d. Eesolved, That we believe it is the duty of
the Democratic party in this State to be more cau-
tious in appointing men in office as it appears that a
majority of Democratic appointments are conserva-
tives and Whigs and that none but true and Tryed
Democrats should Eeceive Important appointments
to office from the Democratic Eepublicans of this
State.
3d. Eesolved, that in nominating John A. Mc-
Clernand Secretary of State Gov Carlin exercised
the right guaranteed him by the constitution of this
State, and should be supported by every true Dem-
ocrat.
4th. Eesolved, That the decision of the Supreme
Court of this State installing A P Field in the office
of Secretary of State for life is both unconstitutional
and entirely at variance with the principles of Ee-
publican Institutions.
5th. Eesolved, that the Sistem of plundering and
Swindling carried on by the Banks throughout the
union has been the means of building up an aristo-
cratic party, styling themselves Whigs, and that we
predict the downfall of Federal Whigery, and their
handmaids, whenever the Political jugling of the
one, and the corruption of the other, shall be more
apparent to the Honest Yeomanry of the country.
6th. Eesolved, that the transactions of the State
Bank of Illinois have become oppressive to the ma-
jority of the people, extending discounts to the few
for Political effect and agrandisement, also Eesolved
that we believe the charter should be repealed, and a
more equal and efficient sistem of Banking Intro-
duced.
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122 WraO CONVENTION
The following delegates to meet at Springfield the
2d Monday in December were then appointed
Frederick R Dutcher
Wm. P Burroughs
Edward Southwick
Resolved, that the delegates be empower to fill
vacancies should any occur in their number.
Voted that the proceedings of this meeting be
signed by the chairman an Secretary and published
in the Chicago & Galena Democrat & State Register.
Samuel Johnston, chairman
Fredebick R Dutcher, Secretary.^'
Dutcher was the only Lee county delegate who attended
the state convention. „
The Northwestern Gazette & Galena Advertiser says
the Whigs held a convention at Dixon May 8, 1840, and
nominated Thomas Drummond of Galena, for many
years judge of the United States courts, and Hiram W.
Thornton of Millersburgh, Mercer county, a land agent
and lawyer who had been a blacksmith, for members of
the lower house of the legislature. In talking with me of
this convention E. B. Washburn laid emphasis on the
fact that Thornton was a blacksmith. These nominees
were elected.
The delegates attending from Lee county were Cyrus
Chamberlain, Thomas McCabe, Oliver Everett, G. A.
Martin, John Cutshaw, H, A. Coe, F. W. Coe, Joseph
Crawford, J. B. Cutshaw, Jeremiah Murphy, James M.
Santee, W. W. Johnson, John Moss and David Welty.
The Gazette J of a later day, gives this much of the vote :
Van
Drummond Thornton Campbell Valzah
Dixon precinct 152 111
Lee county 254 256 201 212
Thompson Campbell, a Galena lawyer, afterwards Sec-
retary of State, later a member of Congress, and Dr.
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 123
Van Valzah, one of the first of the Pennsylvanians to
settle in Stephenson county, were the Democratic nomi-
nees.
In 1842 the vote in Lee county for governor was Ford,
Democrat, 237; Duncan, Whig, 238; Hunter, Free Soil,
7 ; for lieutenant governor, Moore, Democrat, 236 ; Hen-
derson, Whig, 254; Collins, Free Soil, 7.
In 1844 the vote in Lee county was Polk, 315 ; Clay, 244;
Bimey, 48.
The Democrats of the Second Congressional district,
comprising Cook, De Kalb, Du Page, Kane, Lee, Rock Is-
land and Whiteside counties, held their convention in
Dixon on the fifteenth of September, 1852, Col. John De-
ment being the chairman. The delegates from Lee county
were John Dement, John V. Eustace, Richard F. Adams,
John Gilmore and Hiram Wood. The nominee was John
Wentworth of Chicago, and he was elected, by a vote of
7538 to 6437 for Cyrus Aldrich of Lee, the Whig and 2149
for James H. Collins of Chicago the Abolition candidates.
The vote in Lee county was Wentworth 508, Aldrich 565,
Collins 55.
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AMBOT.
From a private letter, written by one of her pioneer
business men, the following is quoted to show some inci-
dents in Amboy's beginning:
Greenwich, Mass., Nov. 14th, 1854.
Alfred E. Patten,
Osceola, Iowa.
I am writing you sitting in my chair with my port-
folio in my lap, as I do not feel able to bend over a
table.
* * * * * * *
I will commence at the time we separated at Al-
bany. I regret that you had promised to go to
Clarke County, Iowa, for I thought you might do
just as well in 111., but to my doings. Chann
and myself took horse and buggy the next day after
you left, in search of a location for the business we
talked of and to see the country, likewise we spent
about one week in riding and of course saw a good
deal of the country between Albany and Chicago.
I think I am pretty well posted in the matter. The
country a little back and north of Albany is quite
rolling, though not quite so much as back of Albany
where we went. I presume it would not have been as
rolling if we had gone six or eight miles farther to
the east. You may depend that the land back of Al-
bany in that country to Sterling on Rock River will
be the best wheat lands at present of any in Northern
Illinois, and still it is not one-tenth part broken or
fenced as yet. I tell you the country is most beau-
tiful from Albany to Sterling. I crossed it twice.
Well, the first night we staid with Hyram Fish. He
married Mr. Sprout 's daughter of our place you know.
We had a special time of it you may depend. He
lives at Gap Grove and has a little bit of a house,
nice and cozy though old. You will recollect he is
the man that must have a nice horse and buggy. He
built the cottage adjoining his father's house, but
things are changed. He kicked up his heels in great
glee at seeing me, offered such as he had, said that
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 125
was good enough and would not put himself out a
cents worth for us. Well he enjoys himself and no
mistake. He lives on the main road from Dixon to
Albany, Fulton City, etc. He has 80 acres I think
of land. Bought it two years ago for 6 or 8 per acre,
now worth $25. to $35. per acre. He lives in plain
sight of A. Powers' place. W. Town staid with us
at Fish's. He was just starting for Minnesota, bag
and baggage. He wants to make a fortune in a day,
but don't know how to do it, wants to do it without
work. We started next morning for Dixon and so on
down the Illinois Central R. R. After traveling some
12 miles southeast of Dixon we ran unexpectedly on
a place by the name of Amboy. When we first saw
it, it struck my fancy, for we were on quite an eleva-
tion and looked down upon it, it looked fine. We
were on our way for Mendota 17 miles south at the
junction of the Military Track and Illinois Central.
I told Chan. I would have a lot or so whether or not,
before we got there (that is Amboy), and in great
glee we decended a slope of one-half mile or so to
the tavern and depot. The company have laid out
a good deal of expense here already. The tavern
which belongs to the company cost some twelve thou-
sands. This was finished when I was there the last
time and would be opened the next week. It is a
fine affair. I went pretty much over it and into the
observatory on the top of it. They have a large
freight house done, likewise a very large roundhouse
capable of holding 23 engines at once with a very
large turn-table in the center. The track work is
done to this likewise but the top is not on. Their
buildings when all done will cover several acres and
all of brick. They calculate to employ some three
hundred hands. It is said they intend to make this
a kind of shifting station for engineers and engines.
They will stop for meals also. There are other ex-
pectations, though they may not be realized. The
greatest is, that the County Seat will be removed
from Dixon to Amboy. Dixon is in the edge of Lee
County, only one town between it and the two other
Counties, and Amboy is within one mile or so of the
exact center. The Company has made some offers
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126 MENDOTA
of lands already and the tug of war will soon come,
and a tug it will be, as Dixon is quite a large place
and plenty of money to spend in such business. But
the middle and southern portion of the county is
getting quite thickly settled and if true to them-
selves, will out-vote the influence of Dixon. They
had a trial two or three years ago to get it at a
little place five miles from here called Lee Center
but could not out-vote Dixon influence, but things
are different now. I bought the first day I was there
one lot on Main Street about 12 or 15 rods from the
Depot. I paid $175. for it, bought it second hand,
could have taken $200. for it before I left, size of lot
50 feet front 160 back. We went down to Mendota
and staid a day. I say down for it is 300 feet lower
than Amboy though on pretty much the same kind
of land. Well it is one of the places we read of. One
year ago there was, I think, not a house in the place,
now I should think there was 150 of all shapes and
sizes and three taverns. They were all full and I
saw that many slept in cars where the seats had been
taken out. I saw a large tent full besides, but I
think it must be an unhealthy place and awful muddy.
Amboy will be muddy enough for that matter.
The country around both places is much richer
than Whiteside County, most too rich for wheat at
present, though they raise good spring wheat.
Around Dixon it is quite sandy and some of the soil
poor. I think I would like a farm here but I do not
know but it would come too high. Lands have been
offered here or within 5 or 6 miles for $7 and $8 per
acre with considerable improvements, but I don't
suppose it will be my luck to find any such. Land
will be high, very high, within say five years, at least
$25 per acre. I did not ride around Amboy as I
now wished I had. It lays like this, Binghamton
quite a place one mile east on a branch of Green
River. It has one flowering mill, school house and
a little meeting house. Eockyford is one mile west.
Lee Center 5 miles north and the old town of Amboy
a few miles northwest. So you will see that the coun-
try will soon be thickly settled and now is my time
if ever here. Last time, there was in Amboy only two
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 127
houses and two bams. This time most of the lots
are probably sold. There was several little houses
up when I was there, one blacksmith shop, three
stores and lots ready to build as soon as the rail-
road got in. It is in by this time. When we returned
to Amboy we had the refusal of five more lots. For
one fortnight I will stay here. We were very for-
tunate in coming across a kind of cousin of yours
and an own cousin of Chan's. Their names are Clark.
Uncle Benj. married their aunt. One of them is boss
of the carpenter work and we staid with him while
there. Three churches have sites either purchased
or given in the place. Now, whether all or half of
the things take place is more than I can tell, though
all looks well. I do not think it will make so much
difference in our business. It is first rate every
where I went. In returning we staid one night with
A. Powers and went over his farm. He has a good
one, 600 acres, worth from $25 to $35 per acre,
that's all. The night I was there it rained and when
we started next morning the wind blew as no other
winds, but these western winds can blow. It was
very cold likewise though it had been very warm pre-
viously. We rode 40 miles that day and without eat-
ing. When we got home we found ourselves pretty
badly chilled. I was griped some before we got home.
We. ate supper and directly after I had an attack
of cholic. * * * I started for home in just one week
from the time I had the cholic for I was very anxious
about the lots at Amboy as we had not paid for them
and we had concluded to go there. At first I thought
it would cost so much for building lots that we could
not go there, but after calculating I thought it best.
Our business lots 160 front and 160 deep cost us
$400, half down, the remainder in one year, and so
with all of them. These lots lay directly on the
railroad and a switch will come in front. The street
is 100 feet wide besides. (Father has just stepped
into my room with the news that Pelhem, Prescott,
Belchertown, Enfield, You-AU-Know-Nothings. In
Greenwich K. N. 112, Whig 22, Dem.8 I think F. S.
5.) John Powers carried me to Amboy and I was
just on time to save the lots. The next day I started
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128 DIFFERENCE IN MABKBTS
for home. I got detained twice by brake downs and
in my weak state took cold and come home with fever
which has completely prostrated me. I am as weak
as a child as yet and I write yon bnt a line or two
at a time. I mean to sell at any rate if I can. If I
cannot I shall hire a man I think and go ont as soon
as the boys get ready and stay through the season.
• •••**
I have any amount of questions I would like to ask
you. You I should think by your letter, think that
Iowa is the place for farming because the land is
cheap and just as good as 111. though you did not
say so. Now I grant that land is as good (doubtful)
in Iowa and certainly cheaper than it is in HI. But
now I would like to ask you some questions. What
is com worth as a general thing throughout the state ?
What is oats worth and wheat, etc. Perhaps emi-
gration just now makes a market there or at least
helps it considerable but that will not last long. Now
I find a difference between Albany market and Pow-
ers market, fifteen cents on wheat per bushel and
everything in proportion almost. The east is to be
the great market for grains most certainly, and the
more central, and certainly the nearest to market, will
be the most valuable country.
Now as to going on to a farm not improved I can-
not see much gain, especially to a man who has some
means. If a man gets a farm in HI. with a little
snug house and bam and say 160 acres of land with
40 or 50 acres improved, he can break up the re-
mainder when it suits his convenience and fence it at
odd jobs. Fencing actually costs $1.00 per rod in
my opinion everything counted. Iowa market may
be good but it can never equal HI. in my opinion.
Many have been out from HI. to Iowa and have come
back satisfied that land is as high, and most say
higher than in HI., with not as good privileges. I
am inclined to think so myself.
There are other things. Society in HI. is improv-
ing rapidly and I will tell you now eastern people are
coming in with means to buy and the wondering un-
easy half civilized population are going west. This
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 129
is a real fact, it is not imagination. There are many
emigrants going from Ind. I do not know how many
I asked in my travels where they were from and
where going. The answer in every case but one was
from Ind. Where bound ''To Iowa City." Further
than that they did not know. The secret is the Yan-
kees are coming in with money and have bought them
out. The same thing is taking place in Illinois slowly.
The poorest of emigration does not stop in Illinois
much now.
Now as far as your business as concerned, that is
money-getting, I do not doubt that Iowa is the place,
and if you can get the right place (and there are
places enough) you can do better than farming no
doubt, and I advise you to go into it, now is your
time. Almost any where, one if rightly situated can
get rich with your means. I mean in the western
country.
I must close this long letter for I am pretty tired
and I guess you will be by the time you wade through
it. Write me a good long letter and I will write as
long a one in return.
Yours, &c.,
B. H. Mbllbn.
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THE OENESIS OF LEE COUNTY.
Claiming jurisdiction by right of conquest, Virginia,
upon the fifth of October, 1778, passed *'An Act for
establishing the County of Illinois, and for the more ef-
fectual protection and defense thereof," which enacted
^Hhat all the citizens of this commonwealth who are
already settled, or shall hereafter settle on the western
side of the Ohio river, shall be included in a distinct
county which shall be called Illinois County."
When St. Clair county, our first county, was formed,
April, 1790, by the proclamation of Arthur St. Clair,
Governor of the Territory of the United States North-
west of the River Ohio, it included all the country be-
tween the Illinois, Mississippi and Ohio rivers and a line
drawn from the Illinois at the mouth of the Little Macki-
naw, a few miles below Pekin, to the Ohio at the mouth
of a small stream a short distance above Fort Massac
which stood at the eastern edge of Metropolis City. (St.
Clair Papers.)
Knox county, now entirely within Indiana, was estab-
lished the twentieth pf the following June and embraced,
with parts of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, all the terri-
tory in our state east of St. Clair and the Illinois river
to the confluence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines and
a line due north from that point. (St. Clair Papers.)
Randolph was created by proclamation October 5th,
1795, and included all the territory south of a line drawn
from the Mississippi through Cove Spring (near Water-
loo) to the Knox county line; thence along Knox to the
Ohio. {St. Clair Papers.)
On August 25, 1796, Governor St. Clair created the
Wayne county that is now wholly within Ohio, giving
it, with other territory, all of Illinois north and east of a
line running from Fort Wayne, Indiana, ^^westnortherly
to the most southern part of Lake Michigan; thence along
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 131
the western shore of the same to the northwest part
thereof (including the lands upon the streams emptying
into said lake) ; thence by a due north line to the .terri-
torial boundary in Lake Superior.'* (Douglass' History
of Wayne County, Ohio.)
On the third of February, 1801, Governor William H.
Harrison of Indiana Territory fixed Randolph's bound-
aries by a line beginning *^on the Ohio river at a place
called the Great Cave, below the Saline Lick; thence by
a direct north line until it intersects an east and west
line running from the Mississippi through the Sink Hole
Spring; thence along said line to the Mississippi; thence
down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Ohio, and up
the Ohio to the place of beginning." (Ind. His. Soc. Pub.
3, p. 98.) The Great Cave is in Hardin county, and is
now known as Cave-in-Bock. The Sink Hole Spring was
nearly on the present Randolph-St. Clair line. (Beck-
withy History of Vermilion County.)
January 24, 1803, Governor Harrison, by proclama-
tion, created the Wayne county that is now wholly within
Michigan, and placed in it all that part of Illinois north
and east of lines drawn ^ through the southerly extreme"
and ^^the most westerly .bend of" Lake Michigan. (IM.
His. Soc. Pub. vol. 3, p. 115.)
On March 25, 1803, he fixed the line between Randolph
and St. Clair at one drawn from the Mississippi ^'four
miles and thirty-two chains south of the point where the
present division line intersects the Mississippi bottom;
thence by a direct line to the Sink Hole Springs ; thence
by a line north, sixty degrees east, until it intersects a
north line running from the Great Cave on the Ohio."
This order, however, was not to be effective until the
first of the following May. (Ind. His. Soc. Pub. 3, p. 118.)
This line was adopted and confirmed by an order of
Nathaniel Pope, Secretary and Acting Governor of lUi-
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132 EDWARDS COUNTY
nois Territory, April 28, 1809. (Ill St. His. Library Pub.
3, pp. 3, 4.)
On the 14th of September, 1812, Governor Ninian
Edwards of Illinois Territory issued a proclamation cre-
ating three new counties, Madison, Gallatin and Johnson.
Madison was given all the territory north of the ** second
township line above Cahokia," its present south line and
its extension east to Indiana.
The first county formed by legislation in the Territory
of Illinois is Edwards, and it was created by '*An Act
for the division of Gallatin county," passed November
28, 1814, which provides 'Hhat all that tract of land
within the following boundaries (to wit) beginning at the
mouth of the Bompas creek on the Big Wabash and run-
ning thence due west to the meridian line which runs
due north from the mouth of the Ohio river ; thence with
said meridian line and due north 'till it strikes the line
of Upper Canada ; thence with the line of Upper Canada
to the line that separates this territory from the Indiana
Territory; and thence with the said dividing line to the
beginning shall constitute a separate county to be called
Edwards." The south line of Edwards has been short-
ened, .but not changed otherwise.
The ^*Act for the division of Edwards county," in
force December 31, 1816, created Crawford and gave it
that part of Edwards north of a line beginning at the
mouth of Embarrass river, and running with said river
to the intersection of the line dividing townships three
and four north, range eleven west of the second principal
meridian; thence west with the township line to the
meridian.
The **Act forming a new county out of the county of
Madison," approved January 4, 1817, created Bond and
gave it the territory north of the St. Clair-Madison line
extended to the third principal meridian that is west of
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 133
the meridian and east of the Mason-Logan line extended
from Wisconsin to the southeast corner of Madison.
That part of Crawford lying north of tlie line dividing
townships eight and nine north was cut off by the ''Act
forming a new county out of the county of Crawford,"
approved March 22, 1819, and formed into the county of
Clark.
The **Act establishing the County of Greene,'' ap-
proved January 20, 1821, gave that county the country
in the present Greene and Jersey, and attached to it the
territory within a line running from the southwest corner
of the present Macoupin to the southeast comer of
Macoupin; thence north to the northeast corner of that
county ; thence west twelve miles ; thence along the prairie
between the waters of the Mauvaise Terre and the San-
gamon to the head of Balance creek, and down that creek
and the Illinois to Greene and along its northern and
eastern boundaries to the place of beginning.
The ^*Act establishing the County of Sangamon,'' ap-
proved January 30, 1821, gave that county the territory
north of township twelve, north, bounded by the Illinois,
the third principal meridian and Greene 's attached terri-
tory.
The greater part of the territory south of a line from
the Mississippi at the southwest corner of Rock Island
County east on the north line of township fifteen, fourth
principal meridian, to the Illinois river, near DePue, was
set aside for entry under land warrants given to the
veterans of our wars, and this circumstance fastened upon
it the name of the ** Military Tract," or *^ Bounty Land,"
which it still bears.
The '^Act to form a new county on the bounty lands,"
approved January 31, 1821, created Pike and gave it a
boiindary line beginning at the mouth of the Illinois river
and running thence up that river to its forks ; and thence
up the south fork to the Indiana line ; along that to the
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134 PAYETTE COUNTY
northern boundary of our state, and on that to the west
line of the state ; and thence down that line to the place
of beginning.
*^An act forming a new county out of the parts of
counties therein contained," approved February 14, 1821,
created Fayette and gave it all of the state north of
township two, north, in range one, west, and ranges one,
two, three, four, five and six east of the third principal
meridian. This gave Fayette the area north of the
Madison-St. Clair line extended that is east of the Bond-
Fayette line extended and west of the Shelby-Coles line
extended.
Beck's Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri (1821) com-
ments on the fact that by the terms of this statute Fay-
ette bisects Pike, .but concluding that this was an error,
shows Pike as a whole, extending entirely across the
state.
In his article on the *^ Counties of Illinois," in the
Illinois Blue Book for 1905, Stephen L. Spear contends
that Fayette did not extend north of the Illinois river,
and that its west line north of township twelve, was the
meridian, and his map supports his contention. His
argument is that if this were not so, then Fayette would
bisect Pike and take range one, west, north of township
twelve, from Sangamon, where it had been placed a short
time before, and this could not have been intended.
The answer is, that the statute is a valid expression of
the will of the legislature; it is clear and precise in its
language and as it merely expresses what the legislature
could and might have intended, Fayette must be consid-
ered as extending, its entire width, through Pike to the
state line. There are other instances in which our coun-
ties were composed of disconnected tracts, but that did
not invalidate the statutes creating such conditions.
The *'Act defining the boundaries of Pike county, and
for other purposes," approved December 30, 1822, pro-
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EARLY LiEE COUNTY 135
vides that the county shall be bounded as follows: On
the north by the base line; on the east by the Illinois
river ; and on the west by the Mississippi and all the rest
and remainder of the territory composing the county of
Pike, before the passing of this act, shall be attached to
and form a part of said county until otherwise disposed
of by the General Assembly.
Edgar was created by the *'Act forming a new county
out of part of Clark," approved January 3, 1823, with
its present boundary line, and there was attached to it
all the country west of it that was not attached to any
other county (and there was none so attached until Fay-
ette was reached), and all the territory north of it **to
Lake Michigan."
The first section of the ** Act forming a new county out
of the attached portion of the county of Pike," approved
January 28, 1823, reads thus: **The territory within the
following bounds, beginning at the point where the fourth
principal meridian intersects the Illinois river; thence
up the middle of said river to where the line between
ranges five and six east strikes the said river; thence
north with the range line to the line between townships
nine and ten north ; thence west with the said line to the
said fourth principal meridian; thence south with said
line to the place of beginning, shall constitute a separate
county to be called Fulton." The Act attached to Fulton
all of Pike lying north and east of the new county.
The **Act forming new counties out of Pike and Ful-
ton, and the attached parts thereof," approved January
13, 3825, created Schuyler, Adams, Hancock, Warren,
Mercer, Henry, Putnam and Knox. Mercer was given all
that part of the state north of the present south line of
that county. Kjiox was given its present area, except the
north tier of towns w^hich was put in Henry with all the
country north of that tier. Hancock and Adams were
given their present areas. Warren had its present area
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136 LUDLOW COUNTY
and all of Henderson. Schuyler took its present area
with that of Brown. The territory now forming Mc-
Donough was overlooked and not put in any county, but
in the next year it was formed into McDonough.
Putnam was given the country north of the present
Peoria and north of the Illinois and Kankakee rivers,
and this included Lee.
The **Act to form a new county in the vicinity of Fort
Clark," approved January 13, 1825, created Peoria with
the territory it has today, except for a slight change in
the west line that was made necessary by errors in the
original surveys. This act attached to Peoria a large
area east of the Illinois river, and all the country north of
the new Peoria and north of the Illinois and Kankakee
rivers, thus attaching Putnam to Peoria.
The House of the Fifth General Assembly, January
15, 1827, on motion of Jonathan H. Pugh of Sanga-
mon, adopted a resolution for the appointment of a
committee to inquire into and report upon the expediency
of establishing a new county on Fever river, and made
Pugh, Alfred W. Cavarly of Greene, Henry J. Ross of
Pike, David Prickett of Madison and Charles Ives of
Clark the members of that committee. They reported
a bill for *'An Act establishing Ludlow county." After
the first reading the bill was amended in committee of
the whole and sent to a select committee composed of
Pugh, Henry I. Mills of Edwards and John C. Alexander
of Crawford who reported it, with some amendments,
whereupon it was sent to a committee consisting of Pugh,
Cavarly and John Leeper of Morgan, who reported it
with amendments, some of which were adopted, while
others were rejected. After defeating the motion of John
Reynolds of St. Clair that the bill be laid on the table
''until the fourth of July next," the bill was sent back to
the last committee. It was again reported with amend-
ments, some of which were lost and some adopted. Upon
motion of Cavarly, February 8, the bill was laid on the
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 137
table ''until the fourth of July next/' The difficulties
encountered seem to have grown out of the provisions for
holding the circuit court and the payment of the judge's
salary. The bill still remains on file, endorsed ''An Act
establishing Ludlow county." The boundary line pro-
posed began at the northwest corner of the state, ran east
on the northern line of the state to the northwest corner
of the township in range ten, east of the fourth principal
meridian, thence south (on the Stephenson- Winnebago
line and its extension) to the north line of the military
tract, thence west to the Mississippi and up that river
to the place of beginning.
A few days later, on motion of John Reynolds, the
House took from the table a bill entitled "An Act estab-
lishing Jo Daviess county," though we find no mention
in the journal of such a bill until this occurrence, and sent
it to a committee composed of Reynolds, Charles Slade of
Washington and Francis Prince of Gallatin, who reported
the bill with amendments that were adopted. It was read
the third time and sent to another committee, — ^Prince,
Conrad Will of Jackson, and John Reynolds, who re-
ported it with amendments that were adopted and the bill
passed, the title being "An Act establishing Jo Daviess
county." It was approved February 17, 1827, and gave
the new county a boundary beginning at the northwest
corner of the State, running thence down the Mississippi
to the northern line of the military tract, thence east on
that line to the Illinois, thence north to the northern
boundary of the state, thence west to the place of begin-
ning. In those days many bills went without any title
until the final reading, except that noted by the clerk in
making up the journal, and he changed that at his pleas-
ure, so it is quite probable that the bill Reynolds called
up from the table was the Ludlow bill as amended. A plat
accompanying the Report of the General Land Office,
1835-6, makes the north line of the Military Tract touch
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138 PINCKNEY COUNTY
the Illinois in range ten, east, a little west of the present
DePue.
In the sixth General Assembly, 1828-1829, Peter Cart-
wright of Sangamon introduced in the House a bill with-
out a title, but to which the clerk has given the title of
*^An Act forming the Counties of Chicago, Pinckney and
Brown." After the second reading the bill was sent to
the committee of the whole, amended, and then laid upon
the table on motion of Jonathan H. Pugh of Sangamon,
and there it is today.
Section one of the bill would have created a county with
a boundary line beginning at the northeast comer of
township thirty-five north, range four (4), east of the
third principal meridian (a point six miles south of the
north line, and six miles west of the east line, of the.
present La Salle county); thence **easterly" (an error;
it should be westerly) along *Hhe north line of the sur-
veys to the northwest corner of fractional township
eighteen (18) north, range ten (10), east of the fourth
principal meridian" (southwest corner of the town of
May) ; thence south on the line between ranges nine and
ten (the Stephenson- Winnebago line extended) to the
southwest corner of ** fractional township" thirteen (13)
north, range ten (10) ^*west aforesaid"; thence east to
the main channel of the Illinois river and down the river
to the ** southwest angle" of fractional township twenty-
eight (28) north, range four (4) west of the third prin-
cipal meridian; thence east on the line between town-
ships twenty-seven (27) and twenty-eight (28) (a line six
miles south of the north line of Woodford) to the south-
east corner of township twenty-eight (28) north, range
four (4) east of the third principal meridian ; thence north
on the line between ranges four (4) and five (5) to the
place of beginning. The name given is Pinckney. It
would have included Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, the
greater part of La Salle, with some of Livingston and
Woodford.
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 139
Section two of this Act provided for a county to be
called Brown, and gave it the country bounded on the
north by an extension of the north line of La Salle, on the
west by an extension of the east line of Boone, on the
south by an extension of the north line of Woodford, and
on the east by a line six miles east of an extension of the
east line of Kane.
Section three would have created Chicago with a bound-
ary line beginning on the eastern boundary line of the
State at a point in Lake Michigan opposite the line be-
tween townships forty-one and forty-two north, range
fourteen east of the third principal meridian (near Wil-
mette), and running thence west (on a line six miles south
of Lake county) to the northwest corner of township
forty-one north, range ten east; thence south (on a line
six miles east of Kane county) to the northwest comer
of township thirty-seven north, range ten east; thence
east (six miles) to the northwest corner of township
thirty-seven north, range eleven east; thence south (six
miles) to the southwest corner of township thirty-five
north, range eleven east ; thence east to the eastern bound-
ary of the State, and along that line to the place of be-
ginning.
The fourth section of the bill provided that for election
and other county purposes all the country lying north of
the counties of Chicago, Pinckney and Brown, to the north
line of the State, and as far west as the third principal
meridian, and the country lying south of these counties
so as to include township twenty-eight (28) north, ** which
is not included in the boundaries of any other county,
shall be and the same is hereby attached to the County
of Chicago.''
The proposed Chicago would have included the east
two-thirds of DuPage, all of Cook, except the north tier
of townships and two townships off the north end of the
extreme west tier, and a small part of Will.
The attached territory included the rest of DuPage and
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140 COLUMBIA COUNTY
Cook, all of Lake, McHenry, Boone, Kane, nearly all of
DeKalb, part of Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, and LaSalle.
During this session John Reynolds of St. Clair for
the committee on the revision of the statutes, on Decem-
ber 1, 1828, introduced in the House a bill for **An Act
ascertaining and defining the boundaries of the several
counties in this state, and designating the seats of justice
therein respectively. ' ' It was laid on the table after the
first reading. The real purpose of the bill seems to have
been to create Macon county. The boundary line pro-
posed for Putnam by this bill would have given that
county the territory west of the Illinois to the Knox-
Peoria line extended that is between the north line of
Peoria and the south line of Rock Island extended. It
made no disposition of that part of Putnam lying east of
Jo Daviess and did not change the lines of the latter.
During the first session of the Seventh General Assem-
bly, 1830-1831, there was presented to the House a peti-
tion from Jo Daviess, Putnam and the attached parts of
Tazewell and Peoria counties, asking the formation of a
new county. Then Joel Wright, of the Pike, Adams, Ful-
ton, Schuyler, Peoria and Jo Daviess district, presented
a petition from the inhabitants in the neighborhood of
** Chicago, in the County of Peoria,'' praying for a new
county. On motion of John F. Posey, of the Fayette,
Bond, Tazewell, Montgomery and Shelby district, it was
resolved that a select committee be appointed to lay off
all the country on the other side of the Illinois river from
Peoria county to Chicago into counties, and to report by
bill. The committee was composed of Posey, Wright and
Jonathan H. Pugh of Sangamon. To the same committee
was sent, on motion of Posey, after its second reading, a
bill introduced by Jacob Ogle, of St. Clair, for the com-
mittee on petitions upon the petition first mentioned, for
an **Act to create and organize the County of Columbia.''
This select committee reported a bill for **An Act to
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 141
create and organize the counties therein named ^' which
passed the House. It was amended in the Senate, the
House concurring, and became a law January 15, 1831.
It created Cook and LaSalle (with its north boundary as
at present), changed the boundaries of Putnam and added
some territory to Henry. By the third section of this
Act it is provided that Putnam shall comprise the terri-
tory within the following boundaries : — ^beginning at the
southwest corner of township twelve north, range six east
of the fourth principal meridian (on the Stark-Peoria
line) ; thence east to the Illinois; thence down the middle
of the river to the south line of township twenty-nine
north, west of the third principal meridian (Woodford-
Marshall Line) ; thence east to the third principal me-
ridian, and north with it forty-two miles (near Mendota) ;
thence west to (northwest corner of Bureau) a point six
miles due north of the northwest comer of township
seventeen, range six east of the fourth principal meridian ;
thence south to the starting point. Some provisions of
the act are peculiar. It makes **the northern boundary
line of the State ^^ the north line of Cook, and then at-
taches to that county the territory ** north of Cook County
and parallel with the lines of the same as far north-
wardly as Eock Eiver," the west line of Cook being the
line between ranges eight and nine east of the third prin-
cipal meridian (the Kane-DuPage line) and that river
not being so far east as that in this State. The Act adds
to Henry townships twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,
sixteen, seventeen and eighteen, range five, while another
act approved that day (An Act to establish the permanent
seat of justice for Knox county) so described Henry's
boundaries that they exclude townships twelve and thir-
teen (placing them in Knox) and the north line is Bock
riv.er, between the fourth principal meridian and the east
line of range five.
The territory in range eleven (the towns of Sublette,
Lee Centre, Bradford, Ashton in Lee county, Lafayette^
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142 LA SALINE COUNTY
Pine Eock, Marion, the east two third of Byron in Ogle ;
Winnebago, Burritt, Harrison, and the greater part of
Shirland in AVinnebago) north of the new Putnam was
not put in any county or attached to any. The north line
of the new Putnam, as fixed by this Act, is a diagonal one.
A due west line from the third principal meridian forty-
two miles north of the south line of township twenty-nine,
on that meridian, will not go to a point *^six miles due
north of the northwest corner of township seventeen^'
north, range six east of the fourth principal meridian,
though the legislators may have thought it will. (This
error was corrected in 1839 after Bureau was formed.)
LaSalle was given the territory bounded by a line be-
ginning at the southwest comer of the new Cook — the
southwest corner of township thirty-four, north, range
nine east of the third principal meridian (Shermanville) ;
running thence south thirty miles; thence west to the
meridian and north along it forty-eight miles (to the
northwest comer of La Salle) ; thence east (on the La
Salle-Lee and LaSalle-DeKalb line) to Cook (the Ken-
dall-Will line) ; thence south to the place of beginning.
The act attached to LaSalle all that part of the state lying
north of it. The attached territory included the two
ranges of townships at the east end of Lee.
This statute failed to make any disposition of that part
of the old Putnam lying north of the Kankakee, south
of the new" Cook (the south line of township thirty-four),
and east of LaSalle. By the ^* Act to establish the county
of Will,'' approved January 12, 1836, this became part
of Will.'
The bill for the '^ Act to create and organize the county
of Columbia" proposed the following boundary, — ^begin-
ning at the southeast corner of township twenty-nine,
north, range four, east of the third principal meridian,
thence north (on the Boone-McHenry line extended) to
the north line of township thirty-six, thence west to the
meridian (on the LaSalle-DeKalb line) and through the
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 143
center of township nineteen in the ranges east of the
fourth principal meridian to the line between ranges nine
and ten east of that meridian (through the towns of
Sublette and May to the east line of East Grove in Lee
county) thence south (on an extension of the east line
of Stephenson) to and down the Illinois to the south-
west corner of township twenty-nine, north, west of the
third principal meridian (the Woodford-Marshall line)
thence east to the place of beginning.
The bill is endorsed. An Act to organize the county of
Columbia.
The ''Act to establish Rock Island County,'' approved
February 9, 1831, gave that county its present area.
In the Galenian of September 29, 1835, Samuel Allen
and Edmund A. Philleo gave notice, dated September 22,
1835, that application w^ould be made to the legislature to
strike off all that part of Rock Island county that lies
east and south of Rock river, and to extend Rook Island
county from its then north line to the mouth of Johnson's
creek, thence east to the line between ranges five and six
east of the fourth principal meridian, thence south to
Rock River, thence down the main channel of that river
to its mouth.
Johnson's creek runs into Otter creek, which flows into
the Mississippi about two and one-half miles above
Fulton.
In the Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser of
October 15, 1836, is an unsigned notice reading thus
— ''To the inhabitants of Rock Island, Henry and White-
side counties. Notice is hereby given to the legal voters
of the aforesaid counties that a petition will be pre-
sented to the General Assembly of this State (Illinois)
at their next session, for an alteration of the present
boundary lines of said county, and also for a change of
the county seat of Rock Island county. Rock Island
County, October 3, 1836. ' '
In the Gazette and Advertiser of December 3, 1836,
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144 THE DIXON AND BOWEN PROJECT
** Conclusion, ^^ writing from Eock Island county, Novem-
ber nineteenth, says he understands the proposal is to
attach all of Rock Island south of Rock river to Mercer
and to extend the northern boundary to include Mere-
dosia and Cat Tail swamps, the head of the rapids to be
the county seat, that the proposal is by a man who did not
get elected recorder after the county seat was located at
Stephenson. The writer calls attention to the great popu-
lation the new county will have — if the mosquitos are
counted.
In the Northwestern Gazetteer S Galena Advertiser of
October 24, 1835, and other days after that, appeared
this :
**-Notice is hereby given that application will be made
at the next session of the Legislature of the State of Illi-
nois to establish and organize three new counties to be
embraced within the limits of Jo Daviess, and bounded as
follows :
1st : Beginning at a point on the Mississippi between
townships twenty-five and twenty-six and range two east
of the fourth principal meridian ; thence running due east
to the line between ranges six and seven east of the fourth
principal meridian; thence south to the southern boun-
dary of township twenty-five ; thence due west to the line
between ranges five and six east of said meridian; thence
south to the center of Rock River ; thence down the main
channel of said stream to the N. E. comer of Rock Island
County; thence along the center of the Meridosia, or the
northern boundary of said county, to the Mississippi;
thence up the main channel of the same to the place of
beginning.
2nd : Also beginning at the comer of townships twenty-
four and twenty-four and twenty-five and twenty-five
north of ranges five and six east of the fourth principal
meridian; thence east to the third principal meridian;
thence south with the third principal meridian to the N.
E. corner of Putnam County ; thence west along the north-
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 145
em boundary of said county to the northwest corner
thereof; thence north between ranges four and five to
Eock Eiver; thence up the main channel of Eock Eiver
to the range line between ranges five and six ; thence north
with said range line to the place of beginning.
3rd : Also leaving all that part of the aforesaid County
of Jo Daviess with so much of that portion attached to
the County of LaSalle as the Legislature in their wisdom
shall see fit to award lying north of the last. above de-
scribed county and east of range seven of the fourth prin-
cipal meridian to constitute the third new county.
October 24, 1835.
John Dixon,
Luther H. Bowen."
Luther H. Bowen was one of the surveyors who located
the Illinois- Wisconsin line in 1832. In 1835 he bought a
claim to the land on which Savanna stands, and in the
next year platted that town, conducting a store there from
that time until his death, May 5, 1876. He was one of the
first three county commissioners of Carroll county. (Kett,
History of Carroll County.)
This notice appears to assume that the west line of
Putnam was the line between ranges four and five, east
of the fourth principal meridian, while it, in fact, was the
line between ranges five and six. The consequence of
this error is that the boundaries proposed for the second
county would not connect.
It is somewhat singular that Bowen, who must have
been acquainted with the township lines, and who un-
doubtedly sought to create a county of which his town
would be the capital, placed the north line of the first
county at the line between townships twenty-five and
twenty-six, barely seven miles north of Savanna.
A petition praying for the passage of a statute creatine:
counties as outlined by this notice, was duly presented to
the General Assembly. With other petitions asking the
formation of other counties this led to the passage of
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146 OGLE COUNTY
the *'Act to establish certain counties/' approved Janu-
ary 16, 1836, which created McHenry, Winnebago, Kane,
Whiteside 9.nd Ogle, and recast the boundaries of Jo
Daviess.
Whiteside was given its present area, but it was to re-
main a part of Jo Daviess until Ogle was organized and
then to be attached to that county until its own organiza-
tion. This boundary has not been changed.
Ogle was given the territory bounded by a line running
from the southeast corner of Whiteside, north to the
southwest comer of township twenty-six; thence east (on
its present north line) to the third principal meridian;
thence south on that meridian to the southwest corner of
township forty-three, north, range one, east of that me-
ridian; thence east (on Winnebago-Ogle line) to range
three; thence south on the west line of that range (the
DeKalb-Ogle and DeKalb-Lee line) to the southwest cor-
ner of township thirty-seven, range three (southwest cor-
ner of DeKalb) ; thence west to the meridian (at north-
west corner of LaSalle) ; thence south with the meridian
to the southeast corner of township nineteen, range eleven
east of the fourth principal meridian (northeast corner
of Bureau) ; thence west (on the Lee-Bureau line) to the
place of beginning.
There was left unmentioned and unrecognized a tri-
angular strip in township eighteen, ranges six, seven,
eight, nine, ten and eleven east of the fourth principal
meridian, south of Ogle and Whiteside, and north of
Putnam, but by this Act completely cut off from Jo
Daviess. (It was afterwards placed in Bureau. The
present towns of Eagle Point, Brookville and the west
half of Forreston were added to Ogle afterwards.)
The Act creating Ogle provided that the county seat
should be located by James L. Kirkpatrick of Jo Daviess,
Charles Reed and James B. Campbell of Cook. The lo-
cation was made by Reed and Kirkpatrick June 20, 1836,
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• EARLY LEE COUNTY 147
and displeased many of those living in the western part
of the connty.
In the Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser of
September 3, 10, 17 and 24, 1836, the following appeared :
* * Notice. A petition will be presented to the Legis-
lature, at their next session, praying that Towns 19,
20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of Ranges six and 7 east of the
4th Principal Meridian, be attached to and form a
part of Ogle County, and that disinterested Commis-
sioners be appointed to locate the county seat for
said county and that the name of said county be
changed from Ogle to that of Carroll.
John Brookie,
I. Chambers.
August 29, 1836."
Brookie and Isaac Chambers settled in or near Buffalo
Grove in 1829. (Kett, Ogle County.) They had two ob-
jections to the original west line of Ogle, — ^it cut the Buf-
falo Grove settlement in two, and they were put under
the domination of John Phelps of Oregon. Had their
scheme been successful a little more than one third of
Whiteside, taken off the east end, and almost one half of
the present Carroll, also taken off the east end, would
have been added to Ogle.
Bowen allied himself with William Kirkpatrick, who,
with William Baker, W. T. Gilbraith and Smith Gilbraith,
held a claim to the land on which Freeport stands, and
they gave notice, dated October 14, in the Northwestern
Gazette and Galena Advertiser of October 15, 1836, that
a petition would be presented to the legislature praying
the formation of two counties, 1 — beginning on the state
line between ranges five and six, east, thence to the line
between ranges nine and ten; thence south to the south
boundary of township twenty-six ; thence west to the line
between ranges five and six ; thence north to the place of
beginning, **by the name of " 2 — ^beginning on
the Mississippi between townships twenty-four and
twenty-five; thence east to the line between ranges five
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148 FORSYTHE COUNTY
and six; thence south to the sonth boundary of township
twenty-one ; thence west to the Mississippi, thence up the
main channel of the Mississippi to the place of beginning
**forming the county of Forsythe/'
The county first proposed would have included all of
our Stephenson, except the tier of half towns on the west
end. Forsythe would have had parts of the present Car-
roll and Whiteside.
These petitions, with others, led to the passage of the
**Act to create certain counties therein named,'' ap-
proved March 4, 1837, by which Stephenson, Boone and
DeKalb were formed. Bowen failed in this effort also.
The fourth section of the original bill for this act, in
describing the boundary line of DeKalb (there called
Benton), started it at the southwest comer of township
thirty-seven, range two, east, putting that range in that
county. By amendment the starting point was put at the
southeast corner of that township, where it is today.
There is nothing left on record to show when, where or
by whose efforts this ajnendment was made.
Wednesday, January 11, 1837, A. G. S. Wight, member
for the Jo Daviess, Bock Island and Mercer counties dis-
trict in the Senate of the Tenth General Assembly, pre-
sented the petition of many citizens of Ogle, Jo Daviess
and Whiteside counties praying an addition to Ogle
county, which was, on his motion, referred to a select
committee of five, consisting of Wight, Orville H. Brown-
ing, William J. Gatewood of Gallatin, William Thomas of
Morgan and John D. Whiteside of Monroe.
The Vandalia correspondent (evidently Senator Wight)
of the Northwestern Gazette cmd Galena Advertiser, un-
der date of January 2, 1837, in the issue of January 15,
1837, says — *'I introduced the petition of the citizens of
Ogle county praying the alteration of their boundary and
that commissioners be appointed to permanently locate
the seat of justice, notwithstanding the great injustice
done them by former legislation as regards both, yet I am
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 149
doubtful of success, because men of influence are con-
nected in the speculation/^
January 13, Thomas presented petitions and remon-
strances from Ogle and Whiteside respecting the pro-
posed change in their dividing line, and these were sent
to the same committee. On the nineteenth Thomas intro-
duced the petition of sundry citizens praying for a di-
vision of Ogle, and upon his motion, it was referred to
the same select committee, to which other petitions on
the same subject were referred.
On the twenty-first Wight moved the adoption of the
following: Resolved, that the select commitee to whom
was referred the petition of sundry citizens of Ogle
county, praying an alteration of boundary lines and the
re-location of the seat of justice of said county, together
with the remonstrances to the same be authorized to ex-
amine persons interested in relation thereto, under oath.
This was adopted on motion of Thomas.
On the twenty-sixth Wight, for the committee, reported
that **they had had same ujider consideration and beg
leave to report that the first part of their duty appears to
be to ascertain that the petitioners had given the legal
notice in such cases ; when satisfied upon this subject they
proceeded to examine the respective petitions and re-
monstrances with a great deal of ihinuteness and accur-
acy, which enabled them to arrive at the following:
**The whole number of the citizens of Ogle Coun-
ty who had signed one or the other appears to be four
hundred and eleven, two hundred and thirty-six of
whom have signed the petition, and one hundred and
seventy-five the remonstrances. The petition and
remonstrances from Whiteside being equal in point
of numbers, but from information to be relied on,
from citizens residing in that section of the coun-
try (now in Vandalia), who appeared before the com-
mittee, which information is corroborated by the rep-
resentation from that district, it appears that while
those whose names are found on the petition were
identified, with but one exception, as being bon^, fide
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150 ALTERING OGLE COUNTY
residents of that part of the county prayed to be at-
tached, but three names on the remonstrance could
be identified as living in Whiteside County, and they
quite remote from the territory in question, the
greater part of the balance being identified as citi-
zens of Galena and Wisconsin territory. The com-
mittee will further state that the principal petition,
which the former Senator from that district pre-
sented to the Senate for the formation of a county
on the Bock river asked for the same boundaries
which are now proposed and asked for by the peti-
tion, as appears manifest from the original bill as
first introduced, creating the county, by the standing
committee on petitions. These facts in connection
with the circumstance that the present boundary in
question cuts in two one of the oldest and decidedly
the most populous and dense settlements in that sec-
tion of the country, give the petitioners strong claims
to legislative interference. As regards the re-loca-
tion of the Seat of Justice your committee will state
that independent of the *circumstanciaP evidence
that the location was made more with an eye to pro-
mote the schemes of certain speculators than the in-
terests of the citizens of said county upon which the
committee, however, do not wish to be understood to
^ve an opinion, that the present location is objec-
tionable on account of its remoteness from the cen-
ter, being thirty miles from the south boundary, and
but twelve miles from the north boundary, twenty-
three miles from its east boundary, and fifteen from
its west boundary, and as your committee are fur-
ther satisfied that great • discontent, indeed to an
alarming degree, prevails throughout said county
upon this subject, we therefore report a bill entitled
*An Act for altering the boundaries of Ogle County
and other purposes.' ''
In the form in which it was reported to the Senate the
first section of this bill provided that all that part of Jo
Daviess south of Ogle, east of the third principal merid-
ian, and north of Putnam (evidently meaning part of this
diagonal strip), and the east half of townships number
twenty-one and twenty-two (in Whiteside), and all of
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 151
townships number twenty-three, twenty-fonr and twenty-
five, in range seven (then in Jo Daviess) should be made
part of Ogle, and that township twenty-three in ranges
four, five and six, and fractional township twenty-three,
in range three (now the south tier of towns in Carroll)
should be placed in Whiteside. It would have put Shan-
non, Milledgeville and about one-half of Sterling and
Rock Falls in Ogle. The second section provided for
the division of Ogle, as thus constituted, into nine elec-
tion districts ; the election of a commissioner in each dis-
trict, and the location of the county seat by those com-
missioners.
After its second reading the bill was referred to a se-
lect committee composed of Wight, George W. P. Max-
well of Schuyler, and William O'Rear of Morgan. Janu-
ary 28 Maxwell reported the bill with amendments (none
of which can be found now), and on his motion they were
indefinitely postponed, but, three days later, on motion of
Levin Lane of Hamilton, a reconsideration was had, and
on motion of Wight the proposed amendments were
amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and
inserting:
*^That all that part of Jo Daviess County lying
south of Ogle County is hereby attached to and made
a part of Ogle County, and that for the more perma-
nent and satisfactory location of the seat of justice
of said Ogle County, the county commissioners there-
of are hereby required to order an election to be held
in the several precincts of said county to elect five
commissioners, which election shall be conducted and
the returns thereof made, in the same manner that
other county elections are. Said commissioners, or
a majority thereof, when thus elected and sworn be-
fore a Justice of the Peace to take into consideration
the convenience of the people and the situation of
the present settlements, with an eye to the future
population of the county, shall proceed to examine
and determine upon the place for a permanent seat
of Justice, giving a preference to the land belonging
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152 TO LOCATE THE COUNTY SEAT
to the United States. But in case such selection
should be made upon land claimed by an individual
or individuals, the said commissioners shall secure
for the use of the county a quantity not less than
forty acres, which land thus acquired shall be laid
off into town lots and be disposed of by the county
commissioners, and the proceeds thereof applied to
the erection of public buildings for said county. Pro-
vided, however, that no perso^ residing within the
bounds of the attached part of said county shall be
allowed to vote for commissioners to locate the Seat
of Justice as herein provided for.''
After this amendment was adopted the bill was read
the third time and laid on the table, on motion of Max-
well, and later, on the motion of Wight, taken from the
table and referred to a select committee, consisting of
Wight, Maxwell and Benjamin Bond of Clinton.
On Thursday, February 9, Wight reported the bill
with an amendment, which was read and concurred in,
and the bill passed in the following form :
**Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illi-
nois represented in the General Assembly:
Sec. 1—
That all of that tract of country laying south of
Ogle County formerly of Jo Daviess County be and
is hereby attached to and made a part of Ogle Coun-
ty.
Sec. 2d—
The county commissioners' court of Ogle County
shall order an election in the several precincts in
said county at such time as they may think best. At
which election the qualified voters residing in said
county may vote for the permanent seat of Justice
of said county, which election shall be conducted in
every respect and returns thereof made, as other
county elections are under the act regulating elec-
tions approved Jan. 10, 1829 —
Sec. 3d—
It shall be the duty of the county commissioners
of said county to hold a court within thirty days after
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 153
said election shall have been held at which court it
shall be the duty of the clerk to lay before the court
complete returns of said election as far as they have
been received, and if it shall appear by said returns
that the present county seat has received a greater
number of votes than any other one place voted for.
it shall be and remain the permanent seat of Jus-
tice for said county. But in case any other place
voted for shall have received at said election a great-
er number of votes than the present county seat, or
of any other place voted for, and a suitable cite, with
not less than forty acres, of land can be obtained by
the county commissioners at the place so elected for
the use of the county. Said land shall be laid off into
Town lots and disposed of by said court, and the
proceeds thereof applied to the erection of Public
buildings for said county. Which said election so
made shall be and remain the county cite seat for
said county, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.
Providid that if the aff ore said election be contested
the county commissioners may defer their action un-
till the result of said contest be known. This act to
be in force from and after its Passage.'^
The House sent it to a special committee, consisting of
James Craig of Jo Daviess, George Scarborough of Ver-
million, Elijah Charles of Jo Daviess, Henry Madden of
La Salle, and William A. Richardson of Schuyler.
On March 1 Craig reported the bill to the House with
an amendment (now lost), which was read and concurred
in, and it was ordered to a third reading, and on motion
of Craig, referred to a select committee consisting of
Craig, Albert C. Leary and Joseph Naper of Cook.
On March 3 Craig reported the bill with an amendment
which was read (and is now lost). Augustus C. French
of Edgar moved to lay the bill on the table until July
fourth, and the motion was carried. This was the end of
the bill, for the Assembly adjourned March sixth.
Among those voting against this motion to table were
Father Dixon's friends, Elijah Charles and James Craig
of Jo Daviess, John Dement, then living in Franklin
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154 TO DIVIDE OGLE COUNTY
county, Jesse K. Dubois, later State Auditor, Ninian W.
Edwards, John J. Hardin, who was killed in the battle of
Buena Vista, Abraham Lincoln, John Naper, Edwin B.
Webb and Robert L. Wilson.
The commissipners who were appointed to locate the
seat of justice of this county placed it at Oregon. This
intensified the jealousy between the people of Dixon's
Ferry and those of Oregon. Buffalo Grove, long since
obliterated by the march of improvements, and Grand
De Tour became ambitious, and efforts were made to di-
vide the county. John Dixon was the controlling spirit
in the south half of the county, while Thomas Ford, then
judge of the Circuit Court, and later judge of the Su-
preme Court and, still later. Governor, was dominant
in and around Oregon. Virgil A. Bogue was the cham-
pion of Buffalo Grove.
In his ^^ Sketches of the History of Ogle County" Henry
R. Boss says that John Dixon posted notices in Galena,
in 1838, that he would apply to the Legislature **for the
formation of a new county, the proposed territory includ-
ing Oregon in the north," and that John Phelps of Oregon
chanced to see this notice and he posted one stating his
intention of applying for an act dividing Ogle by an east
and west line ** just including the present town of Dixon"
in the north county. (P. 57.)
In the Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser,
commencing September 8, 1838, and running until Feb-
ruary 21, 1839, the following appeared :
*^ Notice: A petition will be presented to the
Legislature at their next session at Vandalia, for a
division of Ogle county at or near the centre by a
line from east to west thereby making each county
about twenty-one by thirty-six miles.
Dixon, Sept. 1st, 1838. John Dixon.*'
Petitions for a division by an east and west line were
prepared, circulated and signed, while the friends of
Buffalo Grove and Grand De Tour scoured the county
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 155
in their efforts to secure signatures to their petition for
a division by a north and south line. Phelps, a man of
strong passions, had taken offense at something said or
done by Dixon, and in his anger denounced the latter
with much more force than elegance. Judge Ford, then
living in Oregon, realized that Phelps was doing a great
injury to that community, so he interceded and induced
the latter to make peace with Mr. Dixon and join with
him in an effort to divide the county in such a manner
that each would haye a county seat at his own town.
Phelps listened to Ford's suggestions and became Dixon's
ally. A committee was appointed to establish the divid-
ing line. Joseph Crawford of Dixon and Cyrus Cham-
berlain of **The Kingdom" were two members of that
committee. Undoubtedly there were other members of
the committee, but our efforts to learn their names failed.
It was proposed that the north line of the new county
should run from the northeast corner of Lee straight to
Rock river, but Chamberlain protested so vehemently
against this that the line was placed where it is to-day,
and this because Chamberlain insisted that his land must
be in the south county, for he would not live **in Jack
Phelps' county." (This is on the authority of a state-
ment by Dr. Oliver Everett.)
Then they put into circulation petitions to the legisla-
ture asking that Ogle be divided upon the line they had
chosen. Smith Gilbraith and Frederick R. Dutcher went
to Vandalia in behalf of Dixon's Ferry to see that no
point was overlooked.
Dutcher frequently talked of the work he and Gilbraith
did at Vandalia to promote the passage of their bill, and
often said that they once heard that Bogue was expect-
ing to receive another petition signed by a great number
of the inhabitants of Ogle. Fearing that petition would
give Bogue a majority of the petitioners, Dutcher and
Gilbraith made their plans to keep the new petition from
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156 DUTCHER*S TRICK
Bogue. To do this, Butcher frequently inquired at the
post office if there was any mail for Bogue. His persist-
ence was rewarded one day by an affirmative answer, and
he promptly asked for the mail. He was given a large
package which he soon found was the new petition, and
he and Gilbraith carefully concealed it until their bill was
passed, and then it was useless.
Dutcher also said that, in order to reduce the influence
of Bogue to the minimum, he and Gilbraith persuaded
Bogue to make a speech in favor of the abolition of slav-
ery, and such a speech did not make one very popular
there in those days.
While some who claim to know say that Bogue was not
in Vandalia during that session, being detained at home
by a severe illness, his daughter says he did attend that
session, and was confined to his room by illness, but she
adds, with sincere regret, she has no further information
on the subject, as she was a mere child then and her
father would not talk of those events.
The Eleventh General Assembly convened for its first
session on the third of December, 1838. George W. Har-
rison of Galena was the Senator for the district com-
posed of the counties of Jo Daviess, Rock Island, Steph-
enson, Winnebago, Ogle, and Mercer, and James Craig
of Jo Daviess, and Germanicus Kent of Rockford
were the representatives for the district. On the thir-
teenth of January, 1839, there was presented to the House
a petition of citizens of Ogle living in township forty
two, ranges one and two (Scott and Monroe) asking that
those towns be placed in Winnebago. It went to the
committee on counties and no report was made upon it.
On the twenty-sixth of January, Craig presented to
the House of Representatives several petitions for the
division of Ogle, with remonstrances against the division,
and the recantations of some persons who had found
themselves on the wrong side of the question after they
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 157
had signed, and all were, upon his motion, referred, with-
out reading, to a select committee consisting of himself,
William H. Henderson of the Putnam and Bureau dis-
trict, and Joseph Naper of Cook, Will and McHenry
district, for whom Naperville was named. Two days
later Craig presented more petitions and recantations,
and they went to the same committee. On the fourth of
February, this committee, by Craig, reported favorably
a bill for **An Act to create the County of Lee out of
Ogle." It was read twice, and then, on his motion, re-
ferred to the standing committee on counties, which was
composed of John Moore of McLean (afterwards State
Treasurer), Henry L. Webb of Alexander, Abraham Lin-
coln of Sangamon, Newton Cloud of Morgan, Germanicus
Kent, John Houston of the Crawford and Jasper dis-
trict, Edward M. Daley of Greene, John H. Murphy of
Vermillion and Alden Hull of Tazewell.
In the Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser
of February 1, 1839, is part of a letter to the Peoria
Register from the latter 's Vandalia correspondent speak-
ing of the bill to establish new circuits for the courts in
which the writer mentions ^^the new county that will
likely be made out of the south part of Ogle and Henry."
The correspondent erred, as there was no proposal to
make such a county.
On the twelfth of February, Kent presented two peti-
tions, one signed by seventy nine, and the other by three
hundred and twenty three voters, praying for a removal
of the county seat of Ogle, and remonstrating against a
division of the county. Without reading, they were sent
to the committee on counties. On the nineteenth of Feb-
ruary, Moore of that committee and in its behalf, made a
favorable report upon the bill with some amendments,
which the committee proposed, one of them making the
title ** An Act to create the county of Lee from the county
of Ogle," and it was ordered engrossed for a third read-
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158 LBB COUNTY FORMED
ing. On the twenty-second it passed the House iand was
sent to the Senate, where it was read the first time Feb-
ruary 26 and ordered to a second reading, when, upon
motion of Harrison, the rules were dispensed with and
the bill read the second time by its title, and then, upon
his motion, a further dispensation of the rules was had,
and the bill was read the third time by title and passed.
It was approved, and went into effect on the twenty-
seventh of February.
The Act provides **that all that part of Ogle County
lying south of a line beginning on the western boundary
of Ogle County at the northwest corner of section
eighteen in township twenty-two, north of range eight,
east of the fourth principal meridian ; thence on the sec-
tion line between sections number seven- and eighteen in
said township, east to the main channel of Rock River;
thence up the center of the main channel of Rock River
to the section line between sections twelve and thirteen
in township twenty-two north of range nine, east of the
fourth principal meridian ; thence east with the last men-
tioned line to the northeast corner of section seventeen,
in township twenty-two north of range ten, east of the
fourth principal meridian; thence south to the southeast
corner of the last mentioned section ; and thence east with
the section lines to the eastern boundary of the county
shall constitute the county of Lee."
As passed the bill appointed D. G. Salisbury, **N.
Nichols" and L. G. Butler commissioners to locate the
county seat. On March second, the House, on motion of
Craig, adopted a resolution reciting that **N. Nichols,"
of Whiteside, should be **E. H. Nichols," and authoriz-
ing the Secretary of State to substitute the latter for
the former in the enrolled bill, and that was done, the
Senate concurring in the passage of the resolution.
While this bill was pending a bitter fight over the loca-
tion of De Kalb'd seat of justice brought in a strange
element. Joseph W. Churchill of De Kalb introduced
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EARLY LEE COUNTY 159
a petition of citizens of that county praying for a divi-
sion of Ogle, and a petition from De Kalb asking for the
re-location of the seat of justice of that county. Both
went to the committee on counties. The latter resulted
in the passage of the *^Act to re-locate the seat of justice
of the county of De Kalb," approved March second, 1839.
The first induced the committee to report a bill for **An
Act relative to the county of De Kalb," which was read
twice in the House. February twentieth it was ordered en-
grossed for third reading, and then abandoned, no further
action being had upon it. The bill remains on file. The first
section is crossed out. The other sections relate to the
location of the county seat. The first section, had the bill
passed with that in it, would have added to De Kalb,
without any vote by .the people, all of range two east of
the third principal meridian, being townships thirty-
seven (Wyoming), thirty-eight (Willow Creek), thirty-
nine (Alto) of Lee county, and townships forty (De-
ment), forty-one (Lynnville) and forty-two (Monroe) of
Ogle. (An erasure and alteration make it uncertain as
to the last town.)
While these bills were pending an effort was made in
the House to create a new county out of parts of Winne-
bago, Ogle, De Kalb and La Salle, but it failed.
Citizens of Lee, De Kalb and LaSalle unsuccessfully
petitioned the Fourteenth General Assembly, 1844-45, for
the formation of a new county out of territory in those
counties.
Silas Noble of Lee introduced in the Senate of the Fif-
teenth General Assembly, 1846- '47, the petition of sundry
citizens of Lee, La Salle, and De Kalb counties for a
new county to be called Eagle, to be composed of town-
ships thirty-six, thirty-seven and thirty-eight, in ranges
one, two, three and four, east of the fourth principal
meridian, and township thirty-nine in ranges one and
two east of that meridian. After considering them the
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160 NAME
committee asked to he and was discharged from duty,
and Nohle ohtained leave to withdraw the petition. Had
these petitioners succeeded in this effort, Lee would have
lost the present towns of Brooklyn, Wyoming, Viola,
Willow Creek, Eeynolds and Alto, and Paw Paw, in all
probability, would have become the county seat.
William B. Plato of Kane introduced in the Senate pf
the Eighteenth General Assembly, 1853, a bill for *'An
Act to establish the County of Eagle, and for other pur-
poses therein named," which was read twice and then
put to death by a reference to the committee on elec-
tions that never reported upon it.
In the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, W. W.
Sedgwick of De Kalb introduced a petition signed by
residents of De Kalb, La Salle and Lee counties pray-
ing that the new constitution be so framed that a new
county could be formed out of those counties whenever
two-thirds of the voters in the territory petitioned the
General Assembly for such new county. The petition was
sent to the committee on counties and no report was
made upon it.
Dutcher claimed the credit of selecting the name of the
county, and stated that when he chose it he had in mind
General Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry) of the Revo-
lutionary Army, and intended, so far as it was in his
power, the honor should go to him and no other. The
statement in Hill's History of Lee County (1881) that
the name was chosen in honor of General Robert E. Lee
of the Confederate Army is too ridiculous for any
comment.
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