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HISTORICAL

ENCYCLOPEDIA

ILLINOIS

edited by
Newton Bateman, LL.D. Paul Selby, A.NL

AND HISTORY OF

PEORIA COUNTY

KDITED BY

D.win McCi'LLOCH.

ILLUSTRATED.

VOLUrvlE II

CHICAGO AND PEORIA:

MUNSELI. PIBLISHING COMPANY

ITBLISHERS

1902,

Kiilcrcd according to Act of Congress,
in tI>L- years iHt)4. 1S99. iqooand 1902 by

W I I. 1. 1 A M W. M U N S K U L, .

in the oflfice of tht- librarian of Congress

Washing roN,

iC^iefacc

HKM tlie French Explorers first came to Peoria Lake they found a confederacy of kindred
tribes of aborigines of a more peaceable and tractable disposition than the savages better
known to modern history. P'or many years the missionaries preached to them in their
respective villages and many of them embraced the Christian faith. Until recently
English readers have been obliged to rely, for what they could learn of this early period,
upon a few e.\tracts from the writings of the earliest explorers. These dealt mainly with the voyages of
discovery and the events immediately following, leaving more than half a century practically untouched.
The more recent works of J. Gilmary Shea, Edward G. Mason and others, and the publication in the
English language of the "Jesuit Relations," have thrown a flood or light upon this period of our early
history and have' confirmed what has heretofore rested mainly on tradition, that Peoria was at one
time the center of e.xtensive missionary operations, and that here, upon tlie banks of our beautiful lake,
there once existed a city of three thousand souls [lartially enlightened by the truths of Christianity_
Then came the incursions of hostile tribes by whom the peaceable inhabitants were driven south, where
they lai<l the foundations of Kaskaskia, Cahokia and other towns famous in Illinois history.

During this early period an important political event took place in the detaching of the "Illinois
Country" from New France, and in attaching it to the Province of Louisiana. Just where the division
line ran, if there ever was one, seems to be an unsettled point, but we learn from the Renault grant,
made in 172iJ, that Peoria was at that time regarded as being within the latter province. Thenceforth
until its cession to Great Britain the history of this region is almost a total blank, a few traditions coming
from the descendants of the early French inhabitants being the only information we yet have.

It is known that at the time of its cession to Great Britain, there was a French village of consid-
erable importance located within the limits of the present city of Peoria, near its northeastern boundary.
Well authenticated traditions say it was one of the most important trading posts in the Mississippi
Valley. A few years ago certain documents which came into the hands of the Editor, led him into an
inquiry respecting the truthfulness of these traditions. The result of this investigation, supplemented
liy those of more recent date, will be found in the body of the work. That the inhabitants were an in-
ilustrious and peaceable class of people is shown by the number and extent of their farms, which- dotted
the prairie from their village to the Kickapoo bottom, the location of some of them having been ascer-
tained with a reasonable degree of certainty. The charge brought against them that, at the outbreak of
the war of 1812, they were disloyal to the Government, is not well sustained. Situated as they were, in
the midst of hostile Indians, with no protection from the Territorial Government, they were obliged, for
their own safety, to maintain towards them a peaceable attitude, which, having been mistaken for one of
hostility to the government, finally led to the unjustifiable destruction of their village.

Concerning the occurrences which led up to, as well as those which followed that event and which
resulted finally m the erection of Fort Clark, there formerly existed a great deal of misapprehens'on,
which has been cleared away by the publication of Edwards' " Pioneer fiistory of Illinois," and of the
" Edwards Papers," which must be read in connection with each other to arrive at a full understanding
of that important period. With the destruction of the village the French occujiancy ceased, and with
the erection of Fort Clark that of the Americans began. True it is that this fort had ceased to be occu-

1907ri.?2

iPrcface

pied for some time before the arrival of any permanent settlers, yet, by its occupancy, the government
of the United States maintained its authority over this region during and until after the end of the war.

The modern history of Peoria begins on Ajiril 15, 1811», with the advent of a party of seven persons
from Shoal Creek, Illinois, who founded a settlement at Kort Clark which became the nucleus of all
other settlements in this region. To trace from this humble origin the growth and developments of
Peoria County and its institutions until the grand results of the present have been attained, has been the
grateful task of the Kditor. With little attempt at embellishment by anecdote, reminiscence or elegance
of style, it has been his endeavor to place his readers in close touch with the founders of our institutions
by a plain setting forth of what they were doing from time to lime in their several spheres of activity.
The work will, therefore, be found to have taktn the form of a simijle compilation of historical events
rather tlfan that of a literary production.

In its preparation he has consulted the original records and files remaining in the public offices
of Peoria County, so far as the same have been accessible, and it has been his good fortune to discover
several im[)ortant documents in the most improbable places. Hoping to make the work a reasonably
reliable history of the county, he has spared no pains to verify important statements by reference to
such original sources of information as were within his reach.

The book would, however, have been very incomplete without the generous contributions of the
ladies and gentlemen who have furnished Township Histories and other siiecial articles appearing under
their respective names.

In the preparation of the history of the churches great assistance has been rendered by their
pastors and other officers. Of the latter, special obligations are due to Mr. Ira E. Benton, of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and to Mr. David McKinney, of the Presbyterian Church, for valuable data
furnished by them relating to the early history of their respective denominations. The Editor also
desires to acknowledge his obligations to Hon. James A. Rose, Secretary of State ; Hon. James S. McCul-
lough, .State Auditor; Adjutant General Jasper N. Reece, and their deputies ; to Mrs. Jessie Palmer
Weber, Librarian of the State Hi-storical Library, to Mr. Charles Evans, late Librarian of the Chicago
Historical Library, to the city and county officers of Peoria, to Mr. Janus Smith, Chief of the Peoria Fire
Department, and to the managers respectively of the Peoria Water Works Company, The General
Electric Company, The Peoria Gas Light t*t Coke Company, and to the several railroads leading into the
city, for valuable assistance rendered. Hut most of all is he indebted to the wealth of historical matter
furnished by our own Public Library, accumulated through the indefatigable laliors of Librarian Erastus
S. Willcox, ably seconded by an efficient Board of Directors.

In the department of Biography, which has been mainly in charge of the publishers, valuable
assistance has been rendered by Hon. John S. Stevens, for which they desire to express their sincere
thanks. In this department the Editor has added a limited number of biographical sketches of leading
men of the county, in its formativ-e period, which seemed to him appropriate ; others of equal merit
would have been added had not the lack of material prevented.

In the preparation of the work for the press the publishers have been peculiarly fortunate in secur-
mg the assistance of Mr. Paul Selby, who, as co-editor with Newton Bateman,LL. D., has rendered valu-
able services to the people of the State in the production of the "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois,"
which constitutes the first volume of the present work.

Trusting his efforts, imperfect though they may be, will be appreciated, and that the book will
prove a valuable contribution to the history of the county, the Editor submits it to the generous consid-
eration of its readers. If he has succeeded in a measure in giving Peoria County its true position among
the counties of the State, he feels that he will have rendered but a slight return to its people for the
generous kindness bestowed upon him through a long series of years' residence among them.

^^^U^^ /^^,C-<^-.^^>-r=tC^

Contcnte

Pan Tir$t==Peoria Couniy

CHAPTER I.

Lake Pimiteoui; Discovery by Joliet and Marquette.

French Explorations in the Great Lake Region — Search for the South Sea — French Mission-
aries as Early Explorers — Expedition of 'Joliet and Marquette — Meet the Illini — They
Enter the Illinois River — Uiscovery of Lake Pimiteoui — First View of the Site of
Peoria by White Men — Marquette's Second Visit to the Illinois Country — His Death. . . 1-6

CHAPTER II.
Peokia fro.m 1680 to 1682.

Arrival of La Salle and Tonti — Accounts Given by Hennepin and Tonti — The Original Kaskas-
kia — Fort Creve Coeur Located — Tonti Left in Command is Deserted by Most of the
Party — La Salle's Second Expedition — He and Tonti Reach the Mouth of the Mississ-
ippi — Fort St. Louis Established 7-13

CHAPTER III.
The Missionaries.

French Catholic Mission at Peoria — Peoria Village in Existence Early in the Eighteenth Cent-
ury — French Grant to Philip Francis Renault — Blank in Peoria History From 1723 to
1765 14-18

CHAPTER IV.
Old Peoria Fort and Village.

Conjecture Regarding the Site of Fort Creve Coeur — Peoria in 1778 — Jean Baptiste Maillet,
French Trader of Peoria, Leads Expedition Against St. Joseph — Le Pe, Trading Post
Within the Limits of Peoria, Destroyed by the British in 1779 — Destruction of the VilUage
in 1812 19-24

CHAPTER V.

Indian Akfaiks.

Expedition of Captain Levering — Council With the Indians at Peoria — The Speech of Chief

Gomo 25-30

vi (Tontcnte^lpnit 11.

CHAl'TKR \ I.
Tm: War ok 1812.

Peoria Known as "Opa."— Its ImiJurtancc as a Slratci;ic Point Gathering of Hostile Indians —
Expedition Against Peoria - Destruction of Black Partridge's \'illage -Burning of
Peoria by Captain Craig — Reports of the Affair by Craig anil Colonel Russell lil-'.i^

CHAPTER VII.
Oi.i) Peokia AM) Its Inhabitants.

Claims of the Early French .Settlers Growing Out of Captain Craig's Act — Report of Land-Office

CHAPTER \T1I.
French Inhabitants of Old Peokia.

La Ville de MaiUet Located at the Foot of Lake Peoria— Its Founder Jean Baptiste .Maillet —
Isaac Darneille'and Col. William Russell Successively Become the Owners — Terms of
the Darneille Deed -Other Claimants of Peoria Lands 44-47

CHAPTER l.\.

Peokia in 1813.

Expedition of Gen". Benjamin Howard Reaches Peoria Surprised by the Indians — Building
of Fort Clark — Description of the Fort— Gurdon S. Hubbard's Account of its Destruc-
tion , 48-52

CHAPTER X.
Fikst Amkkican Settlers.

Abner Eads and Party Arrive in Spring of 1819 -Mrs. Eads First American Woman to see
Peoria — A Second Party Arrives the Same Year— Later Arrivals — Tax-Payers in 1825
— Characteristics of the People 53-56

CHAPTER XL

County Govern.ment.

St. Clair County Organized — Formation and Territorial Jurisdiction— Peoria Outside of the First
County Limits — Is Included in St. Clair County in 1800 — Successively Attached to Mad-
ison, Pike and Fulton Counties-The Eads-Ross Contested Election Case - Peoria
County Organized in 18'25 — Other Counties Set Off From Peoria — County Officers ' 57-62

CHAPTER XII.
Struggle for the County-Seat.

County-Seat Located — Obstacles to Securing Title From the General Government — Question

Settled by a Special Act of Congress in 1833— County Commissioners From 1825 to 1833. 63 68

CHAPTER XIII.
Government by the County Commissioners.

Organization of First Board — The County-Seat Named — Grand and Petit Jurors Selected —
Other County Officers — County Divided Into Precincts — Chicago and Galena Consti-
tute Part of Peoria County — County Commissioners' Court Goes Out of Existence 09-75

ContentO'IPart H. vii

CHAPTER XI\".

The pRiiBATE Court.

Peoria County Probate Court Organized — Norman Hyde First Probate Judge — Other Incumbents
in the Office — Some of the Estates Settled in the Early Probate Court — Ceases to Exist
Under the Constitution of 1848 76-78

CHAPTER XV.

Early Circuit Courts.

[udge John York Sawyer— John Dixon, First County Clerk, Appointed Circuit Clerk — Trial
of Nomaque, an Indian, for Murder— He is Defended by William S. Hamilton, a Son of
Alexander Hamilton — Xomaque Joins Black Hawk in the Black Hawk War — His
Final Fate— Changes in the Peoria Circuit— Some Notable Judges Who Have Presided
in the Peoria Courts 79-82

CHAPTER X\T.
Early Roads, Ferries and Bridges.

The First Road From Fort Clark Believed to Have Led Towards Springfield — Ossian Ross Es-
tablishes a Ferry at Havana— John L. Bogardus Secures License for a Ferry at Foot of
Peoria Lake— .\bner Eads Establishes the First Ferry— Fare Rates on Illinois Ferries
—First State Roads Located Towards Chicago, Danville and Galena— John L. Bogardus
Enters Into Contract to Erect a Bridge Across the Illinois River— Early Stage Routes. 83-90

CHAPTER XVII.
County Buildings.

First County Court House— First Court Held in House of Ogee, a Half-Breed— Erection of The
First jail— .^ Second Court House Erected in 18::!5— A New Jail Erected in 1849 and a
Third Court House in 1858— Present Peoria County Court House Completed in 1878—
Peoria County Alms House 91-100

CHAPTER X\III.
Early Churches.

First Religious Teachers Roman Catholics— Methodists and Baptists Follow the New Immi-
gration—The First Marriages— Dr. Alexander Wolcott Married to Eleanor Kinzie of
Chicago by John Hamlin, J. P., of Peoria— Rev. Jesse Walker a Missionary Among
Indians About Fort Clark— Rev. William See Preaches the First Methodist Sermon in
Peoria— Peter Cartwright and Stephen R. Beggs— Presbyterians Found Their First
Church— The Court House Used for.Church Purposes— Other Church Organizations. . . 101-110

CHAPTER XIX.
Public Schools.

First Free-School Law— Norman Hyde the First Teacher— John Essex Teaches an Indian
School— Miss Maria Waters, the Second Teacher, Relates Some Reminiscences-
School Legislation— Sale of School Lands- Educational Conventions at Peoria -.Arrival
of Prominent Educators— C. C. Bonney and Charles E. Hovey— State Teachers' Insti-
tute at Peoria in 1854—" Illinois Teacher"— Free-School Law of 1855—" Peoria County
Teachers' Institute"— Statistics of Peoria Courty Schools- County School Commission-
ers ni-121

viii Contcnte^Ipait 11.

CHAPTER XX.

Kaii.uoads.

Internal Improvement System of 18.'{"— Lines Projected From Peori.T to Warsaw and From
Pekin to Hloomington— Peoria & Oiiuawka Railroad Chartered m 1849—" Eastern Ex-
tension" Completed in 1859 — Other Important Lines Centering at Peoria — General Rail-
road History 122-129

CHAPTER XXI.

Political Annals.

Early Elections- The Slavery Issue in 1824— Some Early Politicians— Benjamin Mills, William
L. May and James W. Stephenson -John Hamlin, First Member of the Legislature
From Peoria County— John T. Stuart's Candidacy for Congress— Election Statistics of
1842— Senators and Representatives From Peoria County - Lincoln B. Knowlton, Will-
iam W. Thompson and Onslow Peters Represent Peoria County in Constitutional Con-
vention of 1847— Legislative and Congressional Apportionments— Representation in
State Legislature— The Constitution of 1870 130i:{7

CHAPTER XXII.

The Impending Conflict.

The Campaign of 1840— Foreshadowings of the Struggle on the Slavery Question — Excitement
Over an Anti-Slavery Meeting in 184.3— The Pro-Slavery Element Adopt Resolutions in
Opposition to the Formation of an Anti-Slavery Society in Peoria— Samuel H. Davis of
the Peoria Register Issues a Pamplet in Condemnation of This High-Handed Action-
Prosecution of Owen Lovejoy for Aiding a Fugitive Slave — Agitation Over the Annexa-
tion of Texas — Lovejoy Elected to the State Legislature— Escape of the Negro Slave,
"Old Mose" — Lovejoy 's Retort to Congressman Singleton of Mississippi 1;}8-144

CHAPTER XNIII.

1864 TO 1856 Readjustment oi' Parties.

Adoption of the Kansas-Nebraska Act by Congress — Reorganization of Parties — Debate Be-
tween Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln at Peoria — Invitation of Pe<iria Citi-
zens to Mr. Lincoln to Meet His Antagonist— Douglas asks a Truce— Ward H.
Lamon's Account of Peoria Meeting — Douglas Charged With Breaking the Truce-
Conference of Illinois Editors at Decatur Appoints Anti-Xebraska Convention at
Bloomington, May 29, 1856— Delegates from Peoria County— First Republican State
Ticket Nominated and Elected— Douglas-Lincoln Debate at Galesburg in 1858 —
Other Political Events 145-154

CHAPTER X.\l\'.

Political Cami-aig.-^ ok 1860.

Republican National Convention in Chicago — Lincoln Nominated for the Presidency Other
National and .State Nominations — "The Wigwam" — Political Marching Clubs — Local
Candidates — Monster Democratic Mass Meeting at Peoria — Enthusiasm Over the Elec-
tion of Mr. Lincoln— Great Ratification Meeting of November 9, 1860 165-158

CHAPTER XXV.

Peoria in the Great Uprising.

The Fi'ring on Fort Sumter — Popular .Sentiment .^roused on the Side of the Government —
Julius Matining, a Prominent Democrat, Declares for the Union — President Lincoln's

Contents = part H.

First Call for Volunteers— Enthusiasm Aroused by Proclamation of Lincoln and Gov-
ernor Yates— War Meeting at the Court House -Kniistments for Union Army— R. G.
Ingersoll, Late Defeated Democratic Candidate for Congress, Offers to Raise a Cavalry
Regiment— Vigilance Committee Appointed— Volunteers Depart for Springfield-
Enlistments Under Call for Three Years' Men 159-165

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Mustering in of Troops.

The Bull Run Disaster— Peoria County Responds to the Call for Troops— Prominent Democrats
Take Strong Ground in Support of the Government— Camp Lyon Established on the
County Fair Grounds— Roster of Field and Staff Officers of Peoria County Regiments-
Statistics of Quotas and Enrollment for Peoria County— .Appropriations for Bounties
and the Support of Soldiers' Families 166-175

CHAPTER XXVIl.

Auxiliary Work.

"Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society"— Young Men's Christian Association— The Western Sanitary
Commission— Contributions of Hospital and Sanitary Supplies— Peoria County Fur-
nishes Two of the Most Famous Army Nurses— "Aunt Lizzie" Aiken and Mrs. Sturgis. 176-185

CHAPTER XXVni.

Peoria County Politics During War Period. ■

" Knights of the Golden Circle"— Election of 1861— Criticism of Government War Policy— Atti-
tude of the War Democrats — Owen Lovejoy and Thomas J. Henderson Opposing Can-
didates for Congress— Party Nominations for State Offices — Peace Champions in the
Legislature of 186;^ — Mass Meeting of War Democrats at Decatur— Camp Douglas Con-
spiracy—Mass Meeting of Anti-War Democrats at Peoria, August :->, 1864 State and
Local Elections 186-195

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Monuments.

Soldiers' Monument in Court House Square— Gens. B. F. Butler and John A. Logan Take Part
in Dedication Exercises- Soldiers' Monument in Springdale Cemetery — Dedication of
Ladies' Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in 1899— Addresses by Mrs. Lucie B. Tyng and
President McKinley 196-201

CHAPTER XXX.

Peoria in the Black Hawk and Mexican Wars.

The Black Hawk War — Muster Roll of Captain Eads' Company of Rangers— Major Stillman,
of Stillman's Defeat, a Citizen of Peoria County— Panic Among the Early Settlers of
Peoria and Fulton Counties — Part Taken by Peorians in the Mexican War — Associa-
tion of Mexican War \'eterans— List of Survivors 202-209

CHAPTER XXXI.

County Officers.

Clerks of County Commissioners' Court and County Clerks— Sheriffs — Coroners — Probate Judges
— Probate Clerks — Ceunty Judges — Circuit Judges— State's Attorneys — Circuit Clerks —
County Treasurers — School Commissioners and Superintendents — County Surveyors —
Respective Terms of Office of Each 210-2Io

Contents *lpait II.

CHAPTER XXXII.
Ar.iucui.TiRAi, Societies.

Statf and County Fairs—Patrons of Husbandry Statistics of Wealth, Agricultural Products,

Population and Popular Vote '214-217

CHAPTER XXXIII.

PiivsicAi. Features and Natukai, History.

Geography and Geology of Peoria County- Coal Measures -Building Stone Fauna— liirds.

Reptiles and Fishes Flora 218-22.J

CHAPTER XXXn'.

Old Settlers' Union.

Founders of the Organization— .Annual Meetings— List of Officers— Addresses and Reminis-
cences of Pioneer Life — A Pioneer Wedding — Advent of the Cook-Stove— Early Days
on the River— Opening a New F^erry— A Retrospect — The Patriarch's liletsing 226-2^5

Part Second-City of Peoria

CHAPTER I.
Peoria as a Vili.agf,.

County CimimissioiUTS Locate the County-Seat — The Villa,iie Platted in 18'2o— Land EntiTed
l)y the County Commissioners — First Sale of Lots in 1826 — \'illage Government Organ-
ized — First Village Officers — First Peoria Newspaper Established 1834 — Some Early
Business Men — Prices of Commodities — Peoria in 1838 — Described by John M. Peck in
" Gazetteer of Illinois" — The Second Newspapjer — Social Events and Business Adver-
tisements — Lawyers in Peoria 237-244

CHAPTER II.

From Village to City.

City Incorporated in 1845 — Changes in Corporate Limits — Facts From "Drown's Record" —
Some Business Statistics of 1856 — Peoria Manufactories — Imports and Exports— Peoria's
First Railroad, The Peoria and Oquawka — Branches of Business and Principal Business
Houses — Packing Houses — Population From 1844 to 1858 — Buildings in Process of Con-
struction in 1859 245-251

CHAPTER III.

Village and City Governments. '

\'illage Officers — First City Election April 28, 1845 — Changes in City Charter — Mayors, City

Clerks and City Treasurers— City Buildings 252-256

CHAPTER IV.

Water Supply and Fire Department.

Early Water Supply — Water Works Company Incorporated — History of Individual Fire Com-
panies—Paid Fire Department Established in 1875— Fire Department Officials 257-264

CHAPTER V.

Bridges— Gas and Electric Light— Telegraph and Street Railroads.

I'euria Bridge Company Chartered Ferry Privileges — First Bridge Erected in 1848 — Chronol-
ogy of Bridge History — Gas and Electric Light — Telegraph History — Sewerage — Street
Paving — Side- Walks — Street Railways — The Telephone ■ 2(>5-27(i

CHAPTER \'I.

Parks and Artesian Wells.

The Peoria Park System— History of Individual Parks — Artesian Wells — Prospect Hill — Ex-
penditures of Park System up to 1900 — Present Park Board 277-279

■^ii (Tontcnts^lPait 1I1I.

CHAPTER VII.

Post Office— Intkrnal Revenue— U. S. Courts.

Karly Postal Facilities— List of Postmasters— Locations of Post Office— Free Delivery Service
Established in 1873— Peoria Custom House Internal Revenue— Annual Receipts-
Collectors of Internal Revenue — United States Court 280-285

CHAPTER \T11.
The Press.

Peoria Newspaper History— First Paper Established in 1834— "Illinois Champion and Peoria
Herald" — Other Individual Newspaper Enterprises — Some Prominent Chicago Journal-
ists— Abram S. Buxton, Samuel H. Davis, Thomas J. Pickett — "Illinois Teacher"—
Drown's and Root's Directories 286-297

CHAPTER IX.
Hotels.

Early Hotel History— Col. Charles H. Dean's Reminiscences--\'isit of Ex-President Martin
Van Buren in I842--Some Prominent Hotel Keepers — Leading Hotels of Present Day
—The National Hotel Company 298-303

CHAPTER .\.
Banks and Banking.

Early Banking in Illinois -History of Peoria Banking Institutions — Remarkable Growth of
Banking Business— National and .State Banks and Their Individual History — Their
Officers — Capitalization and Resources — Other Financial Enterprises — Clearing House
Association 304-313

CHAPTER XI.

Manufactures.

Peoria as a Manufacturing Center — Extent and Variety of Manufactures in 18.50— Agricultural
Implements— Principal Manufacturing Establishments— Agricultural Iron-Works —
liinder-Twine Industry — Cellulose Manufacture Described — Breweries and Distilleries
— Flouring Mills and P'oundries — Glucose Works— Early Importance of the Pork Pack-
ing Trade — Minor Industrial Enterprises 314-339

CHAPTER XII.
Trade and Com.merce.

Early Trade in Peoria — Leading Wholesale Houses — Transportation — Steamboat Lines at an
Early Day-Railroads Centering at Peoria — Grain Elevators — Board of Trade— Its
History and Board of Officers — Peoria Chamber of Commerce — Grain Receipts and
Shipments— Pork-Packing — The LTnion Stock Yards .■'40-3.M

CHAPTER XIII.
Churches.

Denominational and Church History — Individual Church Organizations and Edifices — Method-
ist, Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, Christian, Episcopal, Roman Catholic and
Lutheran Churches — Miscellaneous Church Organizations— Some Extinct Churches. . . . 352-379

Content0*lpart nil. '''''

CHAPTER XIV.

Religious and Charitable Oroanizations.

Young Men'j Christian Association — Date of its Founding and Service During the Civil War —
Young Women's Christian Association — Women's Christian Temperance Union— Wo-
men's Christian Home Mission — Bradley Home for Aged Women — The Guyer Home —
The St. Joseph's Home — Home of the Good Shepherd — Peoria Industrial School for
Girls 380-388

CHAPTER W.

EUUCATION.

Peoria Public Schools— Bradley Polytechnic Institute— Catholic Schools -Lutheran Parochial
Schools — German Free Schools — Brown's Peoria Business College — Peoria Public Lib-
rary — Peoria Scientific Association 389-401

CHAPTER X\'I.

Medical Profession— Hospitals.

Early Physicians and Surgeons in Peoria — Sketches of Members of the Profession — Specialists
— Homeopathy — St. P'rancis and Cottage Hospitals — The Peoria Sanitarium — Peoria
City Medical Society 402-409

CHAPTER XVII.

Grand Army of the Republic.

Date of Organization, Membership and Objects — Bryner Post, G. A. R. — List of Officers — The
Encampment of 19J1 — Women's Relief Corps— Ladies of the Grand Army of the Re-
public — Daughters of the American Revolution — Illinois National Guard — Peoria
Military Organizations in tlie Spanish-American War 41l)-415

CHAPTER XVllI.

Secret and Social Orders.

Ancient Free and .-\ccepted Masons -Organization of the Order in Illinois — Local Lodges in

Peoria County — Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Lodge History and Organization. 417-426

CHAPTER XIX.

Social Life.

Homes of Peoria — Clubs and Club-Life— Peoria Women's Club — The Country Club— Creve
Coeur Club — North Peoria Women's Club — New Era Club — Peoria Art League — Music
and Musicians — Places of Amusement 427-441

Part Cbird-Cowns and Ccwn$bip$

Akron Town

Brimfiehi

Chillicothc

Elm wood

Hallock

Hollis

Jubilee

Kickapoo

Limestone
Logan

Medina
Millbrook

Princeville

Radnor

Richwoods

Rosefield

Timber

Trivoli

hip. Cliapter 1 645

!).
10

11.
12.

18.

14.
15.
Ifi.

17.

18.

6r.:i

(566

677
699

710

721
725

r.u

744

753
761

767

791
808
819

823

8;«

Ifll^CX

Pcirtrair$==gitv of Peoria

PAGE

Anderson, Horace G 4

Anthony, Clifford M 8

Avery, Gilman W 14

Avery, Robert H 20

Bailey, Oliver J 26

Baldwin, Engene F 32

Barker, Gardner T 36

Bartlett, Amos P 42

Bartlett, Peter C 48

Bassett, Mark M 52

Binnian, William II 58

Boal, Robert 64

Bourscheidt, Frank C 70

lirayshaw, Abraham 80

Prown, Charles M 86

Brown, Deloss S 92

Brown, Isaac 96

Brown, James L 102

Bryan, William F., Sr 106

Bryan, William F., Jr 112

Burnham. Nelson 116

Bush, William R 124

Bushell, Augustine A 128

Cullender, Eliot 134

Carroll, William H 140

Clark, Horace 148

Clarke, Charles C 150

Clarke, Charles S 156

Coffey, Thomas 160

'Cole, Almiran S 164

•Cole. Johnson L 168

■ Cole, Roderick M 172

Cooper, Jonathan K 178

PAGE

Cremcr, Bernard 182

Dr.ugherty. Aquilla J 188

Day, Ezekiel 192

Detvveiller, Henry 198

Dcwcin, Valentine 204

Dougherty, Newton C 216

Kaston, Edward S 220

Emerson. George F 224

I'iiikelstein, Harry V 228

Francis, John H 232

Frederick, Henry N 238

Freeman, Volney II 242

Gerdes, Alt 246

Godel, Eberhard 250

Gorman, Thomas N 254

Graff, Joseph V 260

Greenhut. Joseph B 266

Grier, Thomas A 272

Hamilton, William R 278

Harned, Rowland H 282

Hasbrouck, Frank B 288

Htnebery, Mathew 294

Hcnseler. Alexander J 300

Hcrron, William A 306

Hodges. Andrew J 310

Hull. William E 316

Hunter. William H 322

Jack. Edward H 32S

Jack. William 332

Johnston, John 338

XVI

1ln^cx-.

I'AGK

Kidder. Alvan 34-^

Kingman. Martin 348

Kirk. John E 354

Kramm, Erhard 360

Kraus, Sebastian .I*^

McCullocIi. David Frontispiece

McCulloch. Edward D 3/2

McEadden, Lewis A 37''

Mellvaine, Thomas M 3^4

McRobcrts, William 390

Meyer, Frank 394

Miles, Benjamin F 400

Kewsam, Richard 406

O^kford, Aaron S 41-'

Phelps, Alfred A 418

Proctor, David C 422

Proctor, Ezekiel A 424

Proctor, I. Francis 430

Proctor, John C 438

Purple, Norman II 444

Reinhart, Frank M 45°

Rcnnick, Percival G 45<>

Rubison. Leslie 462

Rouse. George W 468

Rouse, Rudolphus 472

Rugg, Henry 1 478

Sargent. Frank P 484

I' ACE

Schipper. John F 490

Schncllbacher, Jacob P 496

Schroder. William 502

Sedgwick. James H 508

Selby. James 514

Smith. Frederick 11 520

Spalding. John L 526

Spurck. Michael 532

Stevens. John S 538

Stone. Willi.'im E 544

Thiclbar. Henry 548

\'aii Sant, John W 554

Walker, Isaac 558

Warren. Benjamin 564

White, Crosby 570

Whiting. Richard H 576

Will, Otho B 582

Willcox, Erastus S 586

Williains, Edgar L 592

Williamson. Marion 598

Wilson, George A 602

Wilson, John 608

Woelfle, John C 614

Wolfner, William F 620

Woolner, Samuel 626

Wright, Joseph 630

Zdl, Philip 636

Ziegler, John R 640

Portraits-Cownsbips

PAGE

Adams, Ezra 7/2

Allen. Alfred R 646

Allen. William H 754

Anderson, William 648

Autcn. Lydia 780

Auten, Peter 776

Batcman, George M 824

Black, Gain R 712

Bradley. Joseph 666

Brown, Edwin R 682

Clinch, Tlionias 686

Dcnipsey, William 810

Dniilap, Napoleon 794

I ': iednian, Jolin 784

Harlan, Moses 798

Hawley, Jerome C 648

Hicks, Lucas C 700

Holman, Harvey 668

Hnrd, Riley 836

Jolins, Charles 670

Jordon, James W 736

PAGE

Keach, Charles H 726

K( liar, Isaac 812

Lightbody, Alexander 828

Meeker, William H 838

Merrill, Alvah 670

Miller, William H 672

Ncwsam, Frank 714

Patton, Thomas E 746

Reed, Morrow P 656

Rice, James 650

Sanger, William M 704

Stowell, Ebenezer 7^

Stringer, John 75"

Stringer, Thomas F 756

Taylor, William 728

Thorne, David F 758

Trimble, Silas 672

Truitt, Henry 674

Wakefield, William 802

Bicgrdpl)ic$

PAGE

Adams, Martha J 77^

Aiken, Joshua 44-

Alkcn, Mark M 44-:

Allen, Alfred R (>4S

Allen. William II 754

Anderson, Horace G 474

Anderson, William 64S

Anthony, Clifford M 474

Auten, Peter 77J

Avery, Oilman W 475

Avery, Robert H 476

Bailey, Oliver J 477

Baldwin, Eugene F 478

Ballancc, Charles 4-11

Barker, Gardner T 479

Bartlett, Amos P 479

Bartlett, Peter C 480

Bassett, Mark M 481

Bateman, George M 8j6

Bestor, George C 444

Binnian, William H 482

Black, C;ain R 7i.?

Boal, Robert 483

Bourscheidt, Frank C 484

Bradley, Joseph 66j

Brayshaw, Abraham 48S

Brotherson. Peter R. K 44f>

Brown, Charles M 485

Brown, Deloss S 486

Brown, Edwin R 68j

Brown, Isaac 486

Brown, James L 487

Bryan, William F, Sr 487

Bryan, William F., Jr 489

Burnham, Nelson 49°

Bush, William R 490

Bushell, Augustine A 49i

PAGE

Callender, Eliot 491

Carroll, William H 492

Clark, Horace 493

Clarke, Charles C 494

Clarke, Charles S 494

Clinch, Thomas 685

Cockle, Washington 44''

Coffey, Thomas 495

• Cole, Almiran S 496

• Cole, Johnson L 496

• Cole, Roderick M 497

Cooper, Jonathan K 498

Cremer, Bernard 498

Curtcnius. Alfred G 447

Curtiss, Nathaniel B 448

Daugherty, Aquilla J 499

Day, Ezekiel 500

Uenipsey. William 810

Detweiller, Henry 500

Dewein, Valenliine 502

Dixon, John 448

Dougherty, Newton C 502

Dunlap. Napoleon 795

Easton, Edward S 503

Emerson, George F 504

Emory, Enoch 44')

Finkelstein, Harry V 505

Flanagan, John C 45°

Ford, Thomas 451

Francis, John H 505

Frederick, Henry N 506

Freeman, Volney H 506

Friedman, John 780

Gale. Jacob 45.i

Gerdes, Alt 507

1In^cx.

XIX

PAGE

Godcl, Ebcrhard 507

Gorman, Thomas N 508

Graff, Joseph V 509

Greenhut, Joseph B 510

Grier, Thomas A 511

Hale, Asahel 454

Hale, William 455

Hamilton, William R 511

Hamlin. John 455

Harlan, Moses 796

Harned, Rowland H 512

Hasbrouck, Frank B 512

Hawley, Jerome C 648

Henebery, Mathew 514

Henseler, Alexander J 514

Herron, William A 515

Hicks, Lucas C. 70,5

Hodges, Andrew J 516

Holman. Harvey 669

Hull, William E 517

Hunter, William H 518

Hurd, Riley 837

Hyde, Norman 458

Ingcrsoll, Robert G 459

Jack, Edward H 519

Jack, William 520

Johns, Charles 670

Johnson, Elbridge G 460

Johnston, John 520

Jordon, James W 737

Keach, Charles H 727

Kellar, Isaac 811

Kerr, Lucien H 460

Kidder, Alvan 521

Kingman, Martin 521

Kirk, John E 524

Kramm, Erhard 525

Kraus, Sebastian 525

Lightbody, Alexander 827

McCoy, Alexander 461

McCulloch, David 526

McCulloch, Edward D 528

McFadden, Lewis A 529

Mcllvaine, Thomas M 530

McRoberts, Ellen B S33

Meeker, William H 838

PAGE

Merrill, Alva 670

Meyer, Frank 532

Mliles, Benjamin F 533

Miller, William H 671

Nason, Nathaniel C 462

N-ewsam, Frank 713

Newsam, Richard 533

Oakford, Aaron S 534

Fatten, Thomas E 745

Pettengill, Moses 463

Phelps, Alfred A 534

Proctor, David C 536

Proctor, Ezekiel A 536

Proctor, I. Francis 537

Proctor, John C 537

Purple, Norman H 538

Puterbaugh, Sabin D 464

Reed, Morrow P 656

Reinhart, Frank M 539

Rennick, Percival G 540

Reynolds, William 465

Rice, James 649

Robison, Leslie 541

Rouse, George W 541

Rouse, Rudolphus 541

Rugg, Henry 1 542

Sanger, William M 704

Sargent, Frank P 543

Schipper, John F 544

Schnellbacher, Jacob P 545

Schroder, William 546

Sedgwick, James H 547

Selby, James 547

Sloa'n, Enoch P 467

Smith, Frederick H 548

Spalding, John L 549

Spurck, Michael D 551

Stevens, Asahel A 468

Stevens, John S 551

Stone, William E 552

Stowell, Ebenezer 704

Stringer, Thomas F 755

Taylor, WHlliam 728

Thielbar, Henry 553

Thompson, William W 469

Thome, David F 756

1ln^ex.

PAGE

Trimble, Silas 6"!

Triiitt, Henry (yji

Tyng, Alcxarwier G 46)

Underbill, Isaac 471

Van Sant, John \V 553

Wakefield, Willi.nn 796

Walker. I>aac 554

Warren, Benjamin 555

Weston, John 472

White, Crosby 555

PAGE

Whiting, Richard H 556

Will, Otho B 5S7

Willcox, Erastus S 557

Williams, Edgar L 558

Williamson, Marion 560

Wilson, George A 561

Wilson, John 563

Woelfle, John C 563

Wolfner, William F 564

W'oolner. Samut-l 564

Wright. Joseph 565

Zcll, Philip 566

Zeigler, John R 566

Personal $ketcbe$-=City of Peoria

PAGE

Adams, George F 567

Archer. Charles 567

Arnold, Frank W 567

Ball. Benjamin F 568

Barnes, Joseph 568

Bartholomew, O. Y 568

Bauer, Louis P 568

Baugh, Walker 569

Beasley, Alfred W 569

Behner. Jacob 569

Bess. Frederick B 570

Bessler. George 570

Bieber. Michael 570

Bigham. David L 571

Bishop. Hamilton 571

Blaney, John A 571

Blossom, Benjamin F. . . . 571
Bohlender, George M.... 572

Boland, Daniel 572

Borchers. Frederick G.... 572
Bourland. Benj. L. T.... 572

Boyle. Martin 57.?

Brown. William A 573

Buckley. John F 57.?

Bush. .-Mhert 574

Bush, Frederick 574

Bush, Henry A 574

Bush, John 575

Bush. Theodore 575

Calhoun. John H 575

Campbell. Albert D 575

Campbell. Robert M 576

Cartwright. Benj. F 577

Case. Stephen 577

Charvat, Alois L 577

PAGE

Christiansen. Christian . . 577

Clarke. Edward M 578

Clegg, Joseph 578

Clemow. David G 578

Colburn. Walter P 579

Coleman. Albert 579

Coleman, Clinton A. D. . 579

Collins. Clifford U 579

Corrigan. Thomas F 580

Couch. Harriman 580

Covey, Delbert A 581

Covey, Frank R 581

Covey, Ira J 581

Cowell, Benjamin 581

Crandell, Eugene A 582

Crandell, Isaac W 582

Crane. Charles C 583

Cumerford, Martin V. B. 58.^

Davis. Joseph M 5S4

Distler, Andrew 584

Dodge, John M 584

Dubuis, Oscar F 585

Dure, Charles M 585

Duke, William B 585

Duncan, Nelson 585

Dunlea, James T 586

Ebaugh, William H 586

Eckley. Oscar E 586

Eichhorn. Louis G 587

Eichhorn. Peter J 587

Ellis. Benjamin F 587

Felton. John S 588

Fischer, Jacob H 5S8

Fisher, Edgar 588

PAGE

Francis, Willis Y 580

Franks, Gerald B s&j

Freeman, Seth W 589

Gates, Goodwin 590

Gauss, William P 590

Giese, Daniel 590

Glass, Alexander 590

• Green, James 591

Grier, Robert C 591

Gutsche, Ernst 591

Hammer, Julius C 592

Harms. Charles G 592

Harms. Daniel G 592

Havens, Ernst A 592

Hccht, Jacob 59.5

Heid, Louis ; . 59.3

Henseler, John E 59,3

Hewitt. Frank E 594

Hill. William H 594

Hillyer. Frank R 594

Hitchcock. Charles F 595

Hurd. Charles T 595

Irwin. William T 595

Janssen, John G 596

Johnson, Andres G 596

Johnson, August P 596

Johnson, Charles A 590

Johnson, John S 597

Joos, Rageth 597

Kammerer. Charles 597

Keene. John E 598

Kellerstrass, Charles H. . 598

XXll

1In^ex^

PAGE

Kellerstrass, Rnhcrt 598

Kennedy, James 590

Kirk. Walter H 599

Klingenburg. Nicholas . . 599

Kneer, Rudolph 600

Krause, Charles A 600

TCrause, Fritz 600

Krieg, Fridolin 600

Kruse, Henry 601

Kucher. Theodore N 601

Kuck. Henry G 601

Landis. William C 601

Lapp. Angiist 602

Leisy. Edward C 602

Leisy, Albert F, 602

Levinson. Isaac J 602

Lines. Calvin C 602

Little. John W fio.-,

Lohmar, Alexander W. . . 60.?

Louis, August 603

Louis, Charles N 603

Lovett, Robert H (103

Lucas, Adam 604

Lynch, Henry W 604

McCabe, William L (104

McClelland. Frank W.... 604

"McCIure. John D 605

McCowan. Samuel M.... 605

McDonald, John J 606

McGinnis. John 606

McKinney, David 606

Mansfield, Henry 607

Maple, Joseph W 607

Marklcy, John H 607

Maxwell. Wesley C 60S

Meals. Barnhart 608

Meidroth. William F 60R

Meints, Frederick foi

Miles, PHilo B 609

Moeller, Carl 609

Moorehouse, Louis W.... 610

Mounts, Charles T 610

Murphy, John 610

Newman, Max 610

Newman, William G 6it

Newsam, John 6tt

Norvell, Thomas B 611

Nyberg, John H 611

Nystrom, Nels A 612

PAGE

Olander, Frederick 612

Olander, Swan 6i2

Olson, Olander 613

Orr, Robert M 613

O'Rourke. Frank H 613

Otten, John B Oi.?

Otten. John II 614

Page, George T 614

Parker, Jame^ W 614

Peck, James D 615

Peters, Cyrus 615

Pool, Arthur Q 615

Poppen, Hero T 615

Putnam. Frank H 616

Railsback. William P 616

Read. John A 616

Reeves. William H 617

Reigart. William H 617

Rhea, Ebcnezcr B 617

Rice, James M 618

Riggs, James L 619

Robertson, Joseph L 619

Rogers, John F 619

Roskoten. Robert 619

Rowcliff. John W 620

Ruch, Adolph J 620

Rutter, Charles 621

Schaumleflfle, Lawrence . . 621

.Schmidt. Charles IT 622

Schmidt. John L 622

Schmitt. Joseph I. 622

Schofield, John 622

Schwerin, Charles G 623

Sehmer, Charles 623

Seibcrling. Monroe 623

Sellers. Thomas J 623

Seward, Theodore F 624

Sherry, Peter H 624

Simmons, George F 625

Simpson, Thaddcus S.... 625

Singer, Charles J 625

Singer, Emil 625

Singer, Henry 626

Singer, Rudolph 626

Singleton. Milton S 62fi

Sisson, Edward 626

Slotter, Orson W 626

Smith, David ■. . . . 627

PAGE

Smith, Philip 627

Spitznagel, Edwin C 627

Sprenger, Joseph 628

Steele, Harrison 628

Streibich, Frederick 629

Strickler, George B 629

Stuber, Joseph 629

Sucher, George B 629

Swanson, August 630

Sykes, Francis H 630

Taylor, Isaac 630

Taylor. Logan H 631

Templin. Ernst F. H 632

Thomas. Matthias H 632

Tripp. Stephen 632

Van Eps, Henry R 632

Van Deventer. Frank N.. 63?

Verch. August F 6.33

Wagner, Edward II 633

Wahlfeld, August 633

Warren, John 634

Watrous, Leroy C 634

Watt, David N 6.34

Watt, George C 63s

Wead, Hezekiah M 635

Weaver, Alonzo E 635

Weber, Charles F 63(1

Weil, Joseph A 6,36

Wells, Henry H 6.36

Wells, Henry W 637

Welch, John W 637

Welsh. Kittie J 638

White. Joseph R 638

Whitmore, William W... 638

Whittemore, Caleb 639

Wilber. Henry P 6.39

Wiley, Walter 1 639

Winchester. William J... 640

Wolf, Louis P 640

Wolf, Luther 641

Wombacher. Ferilinaiid . . 64t

Wynd, Jamc< H 641

York, Solomon 642

York. William F 642

Zerwekh. William 642

Zimmermann, Andrew . . . 643

Zweifel, Wolfgang 643

Personal $Ketcbe$==Cown$I)ip$

PAGE

Aby, James 797

Adams, William H 764

Adkinson, John D 797

Alford, Carlos 780

Andrews, David 728

Apple, Henry 812

Archibald, Thomas 686

Armstrong, Joseph 780

Arnold, William A 657

Ashbaugh, John J 798

Auten, Edward 781

Auten, Lemuel 781

Bacher, Magdalena 687

Backes, John 650

Bailey Frank W 673

Baker, Eddy 658

Ball, Edward 738

Barnhill, John 658

Barron, John 827

Bartholomew, Albcrtns V. 6S7

Becanon, Henry 828

Beck, Joseph P 812

Benjamin, Riifus J 782

Benson, John 738

Bergmanii. Henry 73A

Birkel, Philip J 812

Bland, Lydia (Hakes) ... 673

Blandin, Aianson J 746

Bliss, Abner 650

Blundy, Joseph 658

I'uhlander, Peter 714

Bontz, Conrad 738

Bootz, Daniel 813

Bootz, Robert B 813

Borin, W. .\ 714

Bouton, Aianson B 782

Boyer, John A 729

PAGE

Brassfield, Malilon D 798

Brazena, John 715

Brisendine, William A . . . 82S

Bristol, John E 756

Broniilow, James 673

Brooks, William A 746

Brown, Edwin L 687

Bruninga, Bruno R 739

Burdett, Joseph 720

Burt, Hugh 659

Bush, .A.ndrew 650

Cahill, Peter 723

Calhoun, John A 715

Callery, Patrick 782

Cameron, John C 739

Carlile, James B 798

Carr, James 798

Case, Charles M 799

Cattffln, Thnmas 659

Checsman, Henry J 782

Christian, Peter 729

Clinch, John 688

Clinch, Walter A 688

Clingan. Clarissa S SSg

Coburn, James 650

Coburn, William 783

Cclwcll, William 673

Conklin, Endress M 689

Conklin, John W 690

Connell. Stephen T...". .,, 838

Connell. William 690

Coone, F?athena 746

Cooper, Jabas F 680

Cooper, Jessie F 689

Corbet, David 690

Corney, Mary (Ford)..., 723
Corrington, Washington., 813

PAGE

Cottinghani, Ira D 747

Coulson, Frank E 724

Cramer, Michael 729

Cramer, William 838

Crow, Henry 715

C'"owe, Davis 747

Dalton, Avery 690

Daniels, Orange 691

Davis, Charles C 764

Denton, Christopher R,.. 747

Dickison, Robert B 756

Dickison, William B 729

Dollison, Jasper 783

Doubet, Eleonor 739

Doubet, Joseph 739

Doubet, Peter 747

Duffield, Silas S 828

DuMars, William T 839

Dungan, Jolin M (>-,i)

Dunlap, Benton C 79y

Dunlap, Byron W, 799

Dunlap, Gilbert L 800

Dunlap, William K 800

Eagles, Walter 829

Elliott, William K 783

Erxlebcn, August H 715

Eslinger, Samuel 691

Evans, Adolphus 801

Evans, Evan 8oi

Eyre, Preston 784

Fahncstock, Allen L 829

Fash, Henry 740

Forbes, Thomas 747

Ford, John 801

Frank, Jesse 839

Friedman, Joseph C 784

XXIV

lln^cx.

PAGE

Friess, Bernard 830

Frye, Margaret 813

Fryf, Rebecca 814

Fuller, Joseph 716

Fulton, .Albert 814

Galhip, John .S 705

Gauvvitz, Anton 814

Gelling, Joseph 650

German, Joseph 785

Gibbs, Justus 691

Giles, Nathan. Sr 814

Gillett, Joel B 8.»

Goodman, Jonathan 785

Goo(hvin< Thomas ...... 705

Gordon, .Austin H 730

Gordon, Samuel 802

Grafelmann, Peter 740

Graham, Samuel S 6qi

Graham, Sarah J 692

Gray, David H 692

'Greene, Jefferson J 802

Grcgxiry, Henry S 840

Gullett, John W 705

Guyer, Lazarus L 660

Hakes, Daniel 705

Hall. Bradford 660

Hallcr, Conrad J 730

Haller. George H 730

Harding, Henry W 820

Harkness, Edson 692

Harlan, Harrison 802

Harrison, John R 8,^0

Heberling, Richard 785

Heinz. Andrew, Jr 731

Heinz, Andrew, Sr 730

Heinz, Frank 731

Heinz, Frederick 731

Herr, Jacob 716

Herrell, David H 748

Hershey, Charles 674

Hervey, David H 803

Heuermann, Claus 740

Heuermann, Henry E 740

Hicks, Ira J 706

Hicks, Samuel F 757

Hill, Edward I. 786

Hill, John 740

Hitchcock. Daniel 650

Hobble. George W 716

Hodges, Otis 651

PAGE

Hofer, Lucas S 786

Holmes, John 757

Holmes, Zealy M 758

Holt, Frederick 821

Homan, Charles H 840

Hootman, Samuel J 830

Houghton, Rollin L 706

Hovenden, George 692

Howard, Theodore E 748

Huffman. Nathaniel 693

Hunt, Carlton C 840

Hunter, Elmer F 674

Jackson, Stephen H 830

Jay. Fred D 693

Johnson, Henry R 660

Johnson, James K 765

Johnson. John R 741

Johnston, Tobias B 758

Jones, T. William 786

Judd. William G 815

Kelly. Michael C 674

Kelly. W. S 840

Kendall. Ruble K 706

Kershaw. Mary A 693

Ketchum. Smith 661

Kimzey, Robert B 748

King. Annie (O'Riley)... 821

Klinck, Daniel 7R6

Knapp. Alfred A fifii

Koeppel. Christian 711

Koerner, David 731

Koerner. John F 815;

Krakcl, Carl 815

Krause, August 716

Kreiling, John 815

Kricfe, Frederick C 758

Kuhn, Christian Xifi

Kuntz, George 716

Kuykcndall, Christian N. S31

I,air. .Andrew J "85

Landy, James 731

Lane. George J 841

Lautenberger. Edward.... 758

Leonard. Joseph H 831

Lightbody, Chauncey J. . . . 831

Livingston. Robert A 8o5

McClellan, Charles L 661

PAGE

McCorkle, John 693

McCoy, John S 706

McCullough. George 717

McCullough. James 717

McCollough, Wi'liam S... 749

McDcrmott. James 651

McDonnell. Thomas II... 706

McDonna, Matthew J 706

McFarland, .'\. J f)94

McGinnis, George T 787

Mcllree, Samuel S 749

McKee, James W 803

McKee, Samuel 841

McKinney, Eliza 816

McKown, Levi 787

McManmmy, John W.... 674

McManus, Henry 765

McMillen, James P 787

Mansfield, Edward 788

Maple. Albert D 717

Marshall. Albert A. M 724

Martin, .Andrew 788

Matthews. Lcman 758

Mayo, Charles 804

Mendenhall. Craft 804

Me'.calf. Vachel 694

Miles. A. G 694

Miles, Arthur 694

Miller, John F 732

Mitchell, E. A 674

Moody, James M 821

Moore, Arthur 749

Moore, John D 662

Morton, .Andrew 749

Nash. Roswcll M 759

Nelson. Dennis 804

Nessalhous, Matthew .... 717

Neuenschwander. John.... 7rS

Nowsam. Thomas 831

Nickeson. J. C 694

Nurse, Henry H 706

O'Byrnc. Matthew. Jr 707

Oedewaldt. Henry J 718

Ojemann. George 74'

Onyun. Joihn A 816

Pacey. .Addison 662

Parr. James A 749

Parr, William S 75°

lln&ex.

XXV

PAGE

Peters, Adolph 741

Phillips, Henry T 832

Phillips, Peter E 707

Pinkerton, John H 750

Powell, Albert G 718

Preston, James S 759

Preston, Samuel 695

Prince, D. C 719

Radley, George 662

Reed, Harrison 750

Reed, Joseph 662

Reents, Siebold 822

Reese, Charles G 788

Rice, Zachariah 841

Riedelbauch, Bernhard... 832
Robinson, Joseph V. H... 759

Robinson, Thomas 832

Rogers, Mary T 695

Rogers, William H 804

Root, Alonzo M 707

Rosecrans, Allen 751

Rosenbohm, Hilbert 741

Rupp, John 822

Scarcliff, Thomas 832

Scott, Charles 765

Scott, George W 833

Scott, Robert 822

Secretan, John P 732

Seelye, Danfard 675

Shehan, Lawrence 805

Shipley, John R 789

Sholl, Joseph H 742

Short, John 816

Silloway, I. W 663

Sims, Maurice P 707

PAGE

Sipp, Fred 817

Slack, George B 719

Sloan, Albert J 765

Sloan, Jerome 651

Slygh, Henry S 766

Smith, George E 724

Smith, William J 695

Spcers, Albert J 708

Spence, Milton H 695

Spicer, John G 708

Stafford, Jesse 732

Stein, Nicholas 842

Stewart, George W 842

Stewart, Hugh C 652

Stewart James H 833

Stewart, Robert A 751

Stewart, Thomas M 833

Stoltzman, Charles F. . . . 842

Stowell, Orson B 708

Stowell, Samuel R 709

Straesser, William 742

Stranz, William V 719

Swords, William A 742

Tallctt, Alfred 709

Taylor, George B 805

Tharp, Charles M 834

Thomas, Alexander 675

Thorne, John W 760

Threshie, William D. C. . 805

Threw, Matilda 696

Thrush, Alexander 751

Thurman, Cary T 696

Tmimons, Charles A 652

Timmons. George 760

Toalson, James J 760

Trigger, William 806

PAGE

Trigger, William 806

Tucker, Homer C 663

Tucker, Robert 806

Turbett, James A 751

Turbett, John B 752

Tuttle, A. 696

Tultle, Eli 806

Van Petlen. William J... 696
Van Rensselaer, Robert H. 817

Vars, Thomas 709

Voorhees, Joseph 732

Washburn, Ansel C 789

Washburn, Silas H 697

Watson, William V 834

Watts, William 1 607

Weatherwax, Andrew 664

Weber, Peter J 675

Wescott, Charles C 675

West, James C 818

Wheeler, John M 719

White, Andrew J 752

White, Russell M 766

Wilcox, Collin H 789

Wilder, Edward F 807

Wiley, John P 752

Williams, Samuel 842

Williams, Thomas C 807

Willson, James E 697

Wilson, William R 720

Winget, Henry J 843

Wood, John C 760

Yates, John 7i3

Zink, Hyrnan P 698

Illustrations

Calvary Mission Cliurcli, 1863 362

Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1876 362

City Hall 252

Court House, 1835 94

Court House, 1876 94

First Baptist Church 357

P'irst Church of Christ, Scientist 357

First Congregational Church, 1835 362

First Congregational Church, 1852 362

First Congregational Church, 1883 362

First M. E. Church 363

First Presbyterian Church, 1850 356

First Presbyterian Church. 1889 356

Hotel Fey 298

Irving School 397

Letter to Abraham Lincoln, 1854 146

Lincoln School 396

Map of Peoria County (Facing Title Page)

National Hotel 298

Pavilion — South Park 276

Peoria in 1831 240

Peoria Public Library 253

Rustic Bridge — Laura Bradley Park 276

Scene in Glen Oak Park 276

Second Presbyterian Church, 1854 356

Second Presbyterian Church, 1899 356

Spalding Institute 397

St. Mary's Cathedral 363

United States Government Building 253

Views Around Lake — Glen Oak Park 277

Webster School 396

y, M. C. A. Building 94

Sty i^ i: G U^/Zmra <S&c /

tT^^c^^O T^'S^o^^^^U^-t^^

PART FIRST

PEORIA COUNTY

CHAPTER I.

LAKE PlMITEOUl; DISCOVERY BY JOLIET AND MARyUETTE,

It was on the seventeenth day of May, A. D.
1673, that two young men, with five assistants,
took their departure from Michihmackinac to ex-
plore the Mississippi River. Louis XIV was then
upon the throne of France, Jean Baptiste Col-
bert, Marquis of Seignelay, was his Minister of
Marine, and Frontinac was Governor of New
France. Through the influence of this King and
his great Minister, the Kingdom of France had
risen to a pitch of prosperity and glory to which
it had never before attained. Notwithstanding
the great wars with other European nations in
which he had for many years been engaged. "The
Grand Monarch" was fired with an ambition to
extend his dominions far into the interior of
America. More than half a century before that
time, and almost contemporaneously with the
planting of the Engli.sh Colonies on our Atlantic
coast, the French had planted colonies of their
own upon the St. Lawrence River, and, by the
time of which we now write, had pushed their
discoveries to the head of the great lakes and
even far beyond. England was in pos.session of
the Atlantic Coast and Spain of the countries bor-
dering upon the Gulf of Mexico togetlicr with a
considerable portion of those on the Pacific
Ocean, or the South Sea as it was then some-
times called. It was the ambition of Louis to
discover if possible, to the north of these coun-
tries, a ready access by water from his posses-
sions in the east to the South Sea, whereby the
people of France might have easy communica-
tion with the Indies. China and Japan.

In all their voyages of discovery the z'oy-
agcurs were accompanied by the ministers of re-
ligion ; for in those days there was such a com-
plete union of church and state, and such a com-
plete companionship of religious ceremonies with
all the affairs of men, that no enterprise of any
importance, either private or public, could be un-
dertaken without the attendance of the priest to
bless it. There was also an intense zeal pre-
vailing among the clergy, not only of France but"
of all other nations who had possessions im
America, to carry the Gospel to the Indians, and,
if possible, to convert them to the Christian faith-
Fired with this zeal many of the missionaries ac-
companied the royagcurs of discovery to their
farthest limits, and there, in the most .self-sacri-
ficing spirit, took up their several abodes among'
the natives, and endeavored to impart to them a-.
knowledge of the truths of their religion. Among'
the earliest of these was Claude Allouez, who had
established a mission as far West as the Bay
of Che-guoi-me-gon near where the City of Ash-
land is now situated, and another far up the Fox
River of Wisconsin, at the place called the Port-
age, near where Fort Winnebago was afterward
erected.

From these distant outposts of discovery and'
missionary enterprise, marvelous stories were
continually floating back to the eastern settle-
ments of a wonderfully rich country lying far
beyond the lakes, and of a great river flowing
southward, no one knew whither. No white man.
so far as known, had yet visited it or could telt

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

its story. The Indians, whose language the mis-
sionaries had learned, told of its wonders and of
the great countries tlirough which it flowed in
its onward course to the sea, but their knowledge
of geography was too limited for them to say
with certainty whether it flowed into the At-
lantic Ocean, through the British Colonies, or
into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean.
It had been learned from the Spanish discov-
eries that a large river emptied into the Gulf of
Mexico and another into the Gulf of California,
or the Red Sea (Mare Vermillie), as it was then
called, and it was surmised that one of these
might be the great river of which the missionaries
had heard so much.

The ambition of the monarch wa'i imparted to
his loyal subjects in both the old and new worlds,
and all France, as well as Canada or New France,
was fired with zeal, not only to make the great
discovery, but to extend the dominions of their
King over the rich territories of which they had
heard such glowing accounts. With the purpose
in view of exploring the great river and dis-
covering its outlet to the sea, Louis Joliet, then
only twenty-eight years of age, the son of a com-
mon artizan, having already made a successful
exploration of the copper mines of Lake Superior,
was selected by Jean Talon, Intendant of Justice,
Tolice and Finance of Canada, to command an
•expedition having for its object "To discover the
"South Sea by the Mascoutins' country, and the
■great river Mississippi." This selection having
been confirmed by Frontinac, the Governor, Joliet
3eft Quebec in the autumn of the year 1672 and
arrived at Michilimackinac on the 8th day of
December, of the same year. -At that point he
fell in with Father Jaques Marquette, a mission-
ary of the Jesuit Order, who. although only thirty-
six years of age, had already spent six years in
these regions establishing missions among and
preaching the Gospel to the Indians. He had in-
structions from the Superior of his Order, carried
proljably by Joliet himself, to join the latter in
his expedition.

Joliet in his youth had been placed under the
care of the Jesuits, with a view of his being edu-
cated for the ministry, but finding he had no
taste for the priesthood, had betaken himself to
the life of an adventurer. Marquette was highly
educated, especially in those branches^language,
philosophy, history and mathematics — which in
those days made up the curriculum of the L'ni-
versities. He was an excellent mathematician.
and sufficiently acquainted with the use of in-

struments to determine with some degree of ac-
curacy the latitude of such places as he visited.

Slaving made due preparations, these two men,
the one fired w'ith zeal for the glory of his King,
the other equally fired with zeal for the glory
of God in the salvation of souls, started out
from |K>int St. Ignatius, on the Straits of Mich-
ilimackinac, on the 17th of May, 1673. Their
entire outfit consisted of "two birch-bark canoes,
five men, some bags of corn meal, some dried
beef and a blanket apiece." Besides their per-
sonal equipment they carried with them a quan-
tity of beads, crosses and other articles of a
religious character, and probably divers articles
of trade to barter witli the Indians whom they
might encounter on the way.

From his long residence among them, and
from his daily intercourse with the Indians of
the Algonquin or Chippeway family, Marquette
had become sufficiently well acquainted with the
general structure of the language to be able to
make himself understood with the dififcrent tribes
of that great family, although differing some-
what from each other in their several dialects.
He had heard of, and possibly had become some-
what acquainted with, a great tribe called the
mini (or Illinois) inhabiting a country far to
the south of the great lake which had its out-
flow at the straits, and knew them to belong
to the Algonquin family. If therefore he could
reach these people, which he much desired, he
would be at once prepared to preach to them
in their own language. Coasting along the foot
of the great lake (now Lake Michigan) to its
western shore, they entered Green Bay (some-
times called Bay Fetid, and the Bay of the
Puans), to which point other voyagcurs and
missionaries had preceded them. Continuing their
way southward, they came to the mouth of the
Fo.x River of Wisconsin, and pursuing its tortuous
course finally arrived at the Portage on the 7th
day of June. Here was the Ultima Thule of
previous discovery and missionary enterprise, the
farthest point to which the civilization of Europe
had yet penetrated. It is barely possible that
some enterprising trappers had pushed their trade
beyond this point, but none had left any ac-
count of their discoveries, if any they had made.
Havii-ig carried their canoes, their bags of corn
meal, their dried beef, their blankets and other
equipments across the portage, they arrived at
the Wisconsin River. Here the two Indians,
whom they had employed as guides from Green
Bay, left them and returned to their homes,

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY

leaving the explorers to pursue their voyags
whithersoever they might.

Emharking again in their two canoes, with
their five attendants as oarsmen, Joliet and Mar-
quette proceeded down the Wisconsin without
incident worthy of note until the Seventeenth day
of June, when they emerged upon the mighty cur-
rent of the Mississippi, which, in honor of the
Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, under
whose special protection Marquette conceived him-
self to be, they named "The River Conception."

Continuing their journey, they proceeded to
follow this great river, not knowing whither it
might lead them, but trusting in God and in the
Blessed Virgin for their safe return. At what
point our royagciirs crossed over to the west
side of the river we are not informed, but
that they did cross over is evident from the
narrative they have left us.

Proceeding on their voyage, they discovered
nothing of importance until the 25th day of June,
when, having arrived at a point a little south of
a line drawn due west of Peoria, and near the
mouth of the Des Moines River, they saw some
fresh foot prints of men by the water's edge,
and a beaten path leading through a beautiful
prairie. This was at once recognized as an In-
dian trail, which would probably lead to their
village. In an account of this voyage, subse-
quently written by Marquette, the incident is de-
scribed as follows: "We stopped to examine
it, and, concluding it was a path leading to some
Indian village, we rfesclved to go and reconnoitre.
We accordingly left our two canoes in charge of
our people, cautioning them strictly to beware
of surprises. Then M. Joliet and I undertook
this rather hazardous discovery for two single
men, who thus put themselves at the discretion
of an unknown and barbarous people. We fol-
lowed the little path in silence, and having ad-
vanced about two leagues we discovered a vil-
lage on the banks of the river and two others
on a hill half a league from the former."

Approaching the first of these villages, they
made their presence known by the usual loud
call, which was responded to at once by the
chiefs. It was a delightful surprise to Marquette
to find them to be .of the Illini, whom he had so
long desired to visit. It was equally a surprise
to them to see a Frenchman, of whose nation they
had often heard, but never seen, and who could
speak to them in their own tongue. They were
therefore welcomed by the chiefs in royal style,
as royalty goes among the Indians ; they were

feted and feasted for several days, and when they
took their departure were presented with the
calumet as a passport of peace to other tribes
whom they should encounter in their journey
toward the south.

These Indians were doubtless of the sub-tribe
called the Peorias, for Marquette afterward drew
an accurate map of the regions he had visited
and of the rivers he had traversed, on which
map are located three villages on the River Des
Moines, near its mouth, to which he gave the
name " Pe8arias."(') This is probably the first
time the word from which we derive our eu-
phonious name "Peoria" was ever written.

Having resumed their journey, the voyageurs
proceeded to follow the great river past the
mouth of the Illinois to the mouth of the Mis-
souri, which is described as being as large as that
which they had been following. After this they
continued their journey past the mouth of the
Ohio and possibly as far south as the Arkansas.
Having had some difficulty with the natives, whom
they discovered to be armed with weapons of
European manufacture, and fearing they were
then in close proximity to their enemies, the
Spaniards, and, having from their own observa-
tions as well as from information derived from
the Indians, concluded that the great river, then
called the River Conception, did not flow- into
the Pacific Ocean but into the Gulf of Mexico,
they determined to retrace their course and to
return to Michilimackinac.

Arriving again at the mouth of the Illinois,
they there received information that that river
afforded a much shorter and less difficult route
to the great lakes than that by which they had
descended. They therefore adopted it and found
it to have an excellent channel, and to be al-
most without current, so that their ascent was
easy and rapid. The narrative being very meager
as to the charming beauties of the scenery along
the Illinois, we must call to our aid the known
topography of one portion of the country in de-
scribing their journey. Having reached the lati-
tude of about forty-one degrees north, they passed

(I.) The strange character here introduced is identical
with that used in our almanacs to represent the sian Taurus.
It was used by the later Greek writers to represent the diphlhone
Omikroti I'psitoji and was thence imported into the Roman
Alphabet to represent our dipthont; on. It was so used by the
missionaries. When standing at the be^inninc of a word it
took the place of the letter w. Hence we have such words as
yabache—Ouabache— Wabache. and bisconsin— Ouisconsin
— Wisconsin. It has given modern copyists great peridexity,
resulting in a great variety of spellings. Thus we have Peou-
area. Peouaroua. Peourea. Peoareas. Pewaris. — each standini;
for the tribe of Indians afterward known as the Peorias.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

a point where a high l)luff on the easterly side of
the river jutted down to the water's edge on their
right, and where a small lakelet lay to their left.
There they entered upon a beautiful curve in the
river which changed their course directly toward
the north. Then for a short distance on their
right lay a marsh covered with a heavy growth of
timber, and on their left another one covered
with rushes, which the Indians gathered to make
mats to cover their cabins. Through the latter
flowed a small river, which was almost imper-
ceptible among the tall grass and rushes. Pro-
ceeding a mile in this direction, the river, by an-
other graceful curve, resumed its former course
to tlic northeast ; but now to their left appeared
a narrow tongue of wooded land through which
a small prairie could be perceived not far dis-
tant. Continuing to row another mile, a scene
of enrapturing beauty suddenly broke upon their
astonished vision. On their right the shore re-
ceded in a graceful curve to the southeast for a
distance of half a mile, and then, turning north-
wardly for the distance of about a league, it in-
closed a most beautiful lake, which filled the
intervening space. On their left arose from the
margin of the river a charming prairie, covered
with waving grass and studded with the gorgeous
flowers of the later summer months, the resort
of wild fowl and animals in great numbers and
variety. The whole space covered by lake and
prairie was inclosed in a magnificent amphi-
theatre of hills rising to the height of two hun-
dred feet and more on every side, from the face
of which issued many springs of water, clear as
crystal, which found their way in sparkling rivu-
lets to the low lands beneath and thence to the
river. A more charming scene seldom greets
the eye of man. It was Piniiteoui (-) — ''The
Land of Great Plenty." It was Peoria.

But the attention of the voyagcurs was di-
rected chiefly to an Indian village which stood
upon the westerly shore of the lake. This if in-
habited would afford them one more opportunity
to preach the Gospel to the heathen. Thither they
betook themselves, and remained with the natives
three days, and so deep was the impression the
preaching of Marquette made upon them that
at their departure they brought to him a dying
child to be baptized. This circumstance was so

f2.) This word in the Indi.in ton«ue si«ni6es a reqion of
thrifty animals rather than a particular spot. It has its enuiv-
alent in the Hebrew term sinnifyine "a land of milk and
honey" — a land rich in pastures for the flocks, and abound-
ing in blossoms for the bees.

gratifying to him that in writing of it in his
narrative he says :

"Had all the voyage caused but the salvation^
of a single soul I should deem all my fatigue
well repaid. And this I have reason to think, for
when returning I passed by the Indians of Pesrea,
I was three days announcing the faith in all their
cabins, after which, as we were embarking, they
brought me upon the water's edge a dying child
which I baptized a little before it expired, by an
admirable Providence for the salvation of that
innocent soul,"

It is impossible with our limited information
to accurately locate this village at which Mar-
quette preached, and where he baptized the dying
child. But from evidence which appears almost
incontrovertible it appears the Peoria Indians had
a permanent village within the present limits of
the city of Peoria, from which circumstance we
can infer with much certainty that Marquette
on this occasion preached the Gospel for the first
time, and for the first time administered the rite
of baptism at and within the limits of the present
city of Peoria. It is al.so quite certain that these
were the first white men who set foot upon
its soil.

It would be a gratification to have from the
pen of Marquette himself a picture of the scene
as it presented itself to their astonished vision
upon entering Lake Peoria. But he appears to
have been exceedingly utilitarian in his views
and not much given to the making of pen pictures,
or to drawing upon the faiicy of his readers.
After making the voyage through the entire
length of the river all he had to say of it was
this :

"We had seen nothing like this river for the
fertility of the land, its prairies, woods, wild cat-
tle, stags, deer, wild cats, bustards, swans, ducks,
parrots and even beaver. Its many little lakes
and rivers on which we sailed are broad, deep
and gentle for sixty -five leagues. During the
spring and part of the summer the only portage
is half a league."

Yet notwithstanding their silence as to the
charms of nature which their eyes had seen and
their ears had heard during their long journey,
we may imagine the little flotilla gliding down
the Wisconsin, the air richly laden with the
fragrance of the budding pines, hickories and
oaks, the birds singing in their branches and the
spring flowers blooming on the river banks.
Floating down the great Father of Waters, they
nuist have wondered at its lofty embankments,.

. ^. /du.6ljyu^i;;d

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

its walls of rocks, its majestic current and its
swiftly rolling rapids. And as they ascended
the Illinois River, pushing their canoes here and
there amongst the water lilies and their statelier
brothers, the lotuses, we may imagine them mak-
ing an occasional halt, climbing to the summit
of the adjacent hills, viewing the broad plains
then gorgeous with all the varieties of the heli-
anthus, the aster, the solidago and other flowers
of brilliant hue, and covered with a luxuriant
growth of prairie grass with waves chasing each
other before the wind like ranks of soldiers
marching to the battle. But it is difficult to
imagine that in the wildest flights of fancy they
could have conceived of the productiveness of
these same prairies at the close of this nine-
teenth century, brought about by the fostering
care of man.

Having completed their visit to the Indians
at Peoria, the exploring party continued to as-
cend the river until they reached a point near
the present city of Utica, where they found the
capital or principal village of the Illini, of which
Marquette writes as follows :

"We found there an Illinois town called Cas-
caschia, composed of seventy-four cabins. They
received us well and compelled me to promise to
return and instruct them. One of the chiefs of
this tribe with his young men escorted us to the
Illinois Lake (Lake Michigan), whence at last
we returned in the close of September to the
Bay Fetid (Green Bay), whence we had set out
in the beginning of June."

This was the last of Joliet and Marquette
at Peoria. Joliet returned to the east and in
a mishap which befel him in the St. Lawrence
River lost his journal, his instruments and all his
papers. For this reason history must rely al-
most wholly upon the narrative subsequently
written by Marquette, from which the foregoing
extracts are taken.

True to his promise Marquette endeavored
to return to the Indians at "Cascaschia." Being
in fcclile health on his' return, he was not able
to make good his promise at once, but having
received from his superior an appointment as mis-
sionary to the Illinois, he, on October 25, >674,
set out for that country. But the condition of
his health would not permit him to proceed
farther than a point .some distance from Chicago,
where there was a portage. There he remained
'intil the month of March. 1675. when, resuming
bis journey, he reached "Cascaschia" on the 8th
•day of April.

After remaining there barely long enough to
establish the mission, he became convinced that
his days were about numbered, and, wishing to
end his career at his beloved old mission at St.
Ignace, he took his departure for that place by
way of the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, but
died on the way.

Although not .so early on the mission field
as Allouez and others, and although he was only
second to Joliet in this memorable expedition, yet
for his distinguished services as a pioneer mis-
sionary and explorer, and probably because he
was the chief chronicler of the discoveries, his
name has become more distinguished than that
of either of them and his statue has been
awarded a place in the nation's capitol.

After the demise of Marquette the Illinois
Indians were for a short period left destitute of
a missionary. But Father Claude Jean Allouez,
having received an appointment to the Mission of
the Inmiaculate Conception at "Cascaschia," ar-
rived at that place on the 27th day of April, 1677.
As an emblem of the doctrines taught by him he
erected a cross twenty-five feet in height, and it
is said preached the Gospel to eight tribes ac-
customed to assemble at that place. With the
exception of some brief periods of absence he re-
mained there until ihe latter part of the year
1679, when, hearing of the approach of the ex-
pedition of La Salle, who was supposed to be un-
friendly to his religious order, he retired to other
missions then in charge of the Jesuits. The
mission of the Immaculate Conception established
by Marquette and continued by Allouez seems to
have embraced the entire territory inhabited by
the Illini confederacy, extending from near Lake
Michigan on the north to near the mouth of the
Illinois River on the south, and from that river
to the Mississippi and even beyond the same on
the west. The Peorias seem to have occupied the
central portion about Lake Peoria and south and
west of the same to the Mississippi. It there-
for; happened that, when Marquette arrived at
Peoria Lake, he found there the same tribe, or
sub-tribe, he had met with at the River Des
Moines on his trip southward.

It was the custom of the Indians in the win-
ter time to vacate their villages at the north and
to go on hunting expeditions to the south, stop-
ping at the villages located on the river as they
passed to and fro. Before leaving they would
deposit corn and other provisions in caches, or
under-ground vaults or receptacles, to serve for
food and seed upon their return. These de-

6 HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

posits were held inviolably sacred, and it was con- nual hunts, and inasmuch as the "Cascaschias"
sidered a most heinous offense to disturb them. usually came as far south as Peoria it is reason-
Adopting the habits of the natives among able to suppose that Father Allouez was the sec-
whom they dwelt, it w-as the custom of the mis- ond to preach the Gospel at this place,
sionaries to accompany their people in these an-

CHAPTER II.

PEORIA FROM 1680 TO 1682. LASALLE AND TONTI: HEN-
NEPIN, MEMBRE AND RIBOURDI: FORT
CREVE COEUR.

The next white men to visit Peoria, of whom
we have any account, was a party headed by the
celebrated Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle. It
is said by one of our early historians that, on their
return from the voyage of discovery, Marquette
and Joliet made out such a glowing report that it
set all Canada on fire and swept over France
like a tornado. The French caught the mania
and became almost crazy. to see and settle the
west. This rage for western enterprise reached
La Salle, and bound I'.im in its folds during the
remainder of his life.

After surmounting many obstacles he finally
succeeded in fitting out an expedition in the
year 1679. Having before that time received re-
peated favors from the crown, amongst which was
a title of nobility, he next obtained' a license to
carry on western explorations for five years ; to
build and hold forts and to enjoy a limited mo-
nopoly of trade in the skins of the buffalo.

To accomplish his ends he constructed a ves-
sel on the River Niagara of forty-five tons
burthen, which he named 'The Griflfon." Em-
barking on Lake Erie August 7, 1679. he pro-
ceeded by way of Detroit, through Lakes St.
Clair and Huron to the Mission of St. Ignace
at the Straits of Michilimackinac. Thence he
proceeded to Green Bay, where he loaded his
vessel with furs, intending thereby to provide the
means of paying his debts, many of which he had
contracted at and about Fort Frontinac. Having
started her on her way with instructions to bring
back materials for the construction of a barque
on the Illinois River, he put his expedition en
route for the coimtry of the Illini by row-boats
on Lake Michigan. But The Griffon, as was after-
wards learned, instead of r'eporting at St. Ignace
on its wav eastward, went to the bottom of Lake

Michigan with all its crew and cargo, which was
the cause of great perplexity to the discoverer.

Dividing his forces and sending one party
up the eastern side of Lake Michigan, under
Tonti, an Italian soldier with one arm, whom
he had brought with him from France, La Salle
in person conducted the other party along the
west shore and around the southern end of the
lake to the mouth of the St. Joseph's River, where
he had appointed a rendezvous with Tonti. After
waiting there for a considerable time his forces
were all collected and he built a fort at the mouth
of the St. Joseph's River, which was named Fort
Miami. His party now consisted of himself,
Henry de Tonti, as his lieutenant and historian,
thirty mechanics and marines, and three Recollet
Monks, namely : Father Gabriel Ribourdi. the Su-
perior, known as Father Gabriel : Father Zenobius
Membre, known as Father Zenoble. Zenobe or
Membre : and Father Louis Hennepin, commonly
called Hennepin, but sometimes Father Louis.

At this point it will be noticed that the mis-
sionaries of the Roman Catholic church were
generally members of different orders or so-
cieties, having their origin in Europe, which cut
a very important figure in the history of the
times. One of the.<:e orders was called the
RecoUets, a branch of the Franciscan order of
Monks, very austere in their manners, and ob-
serving very strictly their vows of poverty. In
the earlier days of the French occupation of
Canada, these Recollets seem to have had charge
of all the missions established for the spread of
the Gospel. But after some time they were placed
principally in charge of the priests of the order
of Jesus, whom we call Jesuits.

La Salle and his party resumed their journey
from Fort Miami on the 3d day of December,

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

1679. Thence ascending the St. Joseph's River,
with great difficulty and with much loss of time,
to a point near the Kankakee River supposed to
be about where South Bend in the stale of In-
diana is now located, they came to a portage
where boats, baggage and other effects had to be
transported by hand to the Kankakee, and hav-
ing entered that stream they proceeded with
eight boats or canoes down the same to a point
some distance below its confluence with the Des
Plaines. There they found a large Indian village,
which afterward proved to be "Cascaschia," the
metropolis of the five tribes composing the con-
federacy of the Illinois Indians,

Here La Salle stopped long enough to ac-
quaint liimself with the condition of affairs, and
finding the Indians had all gone down the Illi-
nois River on their annual hunt, he proceeded to
relieve the almost famished condition of his party
by appropriating a quantity of Indian corn found
in their caches. Proceeding thus on his journey
and about the 3d day of January, 1680. he arrived
at Lake Pimiteoui, wliere the Indians then were.
Having satisfied the Indians that his mission was
a peaceful one, he was for a time received into
their friendship, but within a few days a mis-
sionary from other tribes, hostile to the French,
arrived and endeavored to incite the Illinois In-
dians into a hostile frame of mind toward La
Salle and his party.

Deeming it a matter of prudent precaution.
La Salle determined to build a fort, which he
proceeded to do on the southeasterly bank of the
river or lake.

As this was the first structure erected by the
white man on the soil of Illinois, it is important
that the actors in the scene be permitted to tell
their own story.

On the return of Father Hennepin to France,
two years later, he prepared a history of the ex-
ploration, which was published in the year 1683
under the title of "A Description of Louisiana."
from which the following passages are taken. (M
Of the great town of the Illinois, he says :

"This Islinois village is situated at forty de-
grees of latitude in a somewhat marshy plain,
and on the right bank of a river as broad as the

(I.) Previous histories of Peoria have quoted from a later
work attributed to Hennepin, published in the EnElish lani:u-
age in ItiitS, a copy of which is in our public library. It has
been found, however, to be so full of interpolations, .^dditions
and false statements as to greatly impair its reliability, if not
its authenticity. The statements here quoted are. however, so
fully corroborated by other writers, and so fully indorsed in
the subsequent edition as to leave but little doubt of their re-
liability. It will be noticed particularly that it does not aim to
give the exact locatioD of Ft. Creve Coeur.

Seine before Paris, which is divided by very
beautiful islands. It contains four hundred and
si.xty cabins, made like long arbors and covered
with double mats of flat flags, so well sewed
that they are never penetrated by wind, snow or
rain. Each cabin has four or five fires, and
each fire has one or two families, who all live
together in a good understanding.

"As we had foreseen, we found the village
empty, all the Indians having gone to pass the
winter hunting in various places according to
their custom. Their absence, nevertheless, put
us in a great embarrassment ; provisions failed
us and we durst not take the Indian corn which
the Islinois hide in trenches under the ground
to preserve it, and use on their return from the
hunt for planting and subsistence till harvest.
This stock is extremely precious in their eyes,
and you could not give them greater offense
than by touching it in their absence. Neverthe-
less, there was no possibility of our risking a
further descent without food, and as the fire
that had been set to the prairies had driven off
all the animals, the Sieur de La Salle resolved
to take twenty bushels (-) of Indian corn, hop-
ing that he would be able to appease the Islinois
by some means.

"The same day we re-embarked with this new
supply, and for four days we descended the same
river, which runs south by west.

"On the first day of the year 1679 (1680), (")
discovering one of our deserters, of whom I
have heretofore spoken, and that he had re-
turned to us only to seduce our men, who, more-
over, were disposed to abandon us, through the
fear they had of suffering hunger during the
winter, I made an exhortation after the mass,
wishing a Happy New Year to the Sieur dc La
Salle and all our part.', and after the most touch-
ing words. I begged all our malcontents to arm
themselves with patience, representing to them
that God would provide for all our wants, and
that if we lived in concert he would raise up
means to enable us to subsist. Father Gabriel,
Father Zenobius and I embraced them with the

(2.) Other translations say forty bushels. The French
text says thirty ininots. a niinot containine thirty-nine litres, a
bushel thirty-sis and a fraction. Mason's "Chapters from
Illinois History."

(3^ The chance of the first day of the year from March
25th to January 1st. which had been made not many years be-
fore and which was not adopted simultaneously by all nations,
nave rise to the necessity of giving the double date to occur-
ances happening between Jantiary 1st and March 25th. just as
the Russians still do. This may account for Hennepin's mis-
take in the year above noted.

• fr.iJ. (*i/At«7S ^jSri'./V/^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

most affectionate sentiments, encouraging them
to continue so important a discovery.

"Toward the end of the fourth day, while
crossing a little lake formed by the river, we ob-
served snioke(') which showed us that the In-
dians were cabined near there. In fact, on the
fifth, about nine o'clock in the morning, we saw
on both sides of the river a number of parrakeets
and about eighty cabins full of Indians, who did
not perceive our canoes until we had doubled
a point, behind which the Islinois were camped
within half gun shot. We were in eight canoes,
abreast, all our men arms in hand, and allowing
ourselves to go with the current of the river.

"We first gave the cry according to the custom
of these nations, as though to ask whether they
wished peace or war, because it was very im-
portant to show resolution at the outset. At
first the old men, the women and children took
flight across the woods by which the river is bor-
dered, the warriors ran to arms, but with so much
confusion that before they recovered themselves
our canoes had touched land. The Sieur de La
Salle was first to leap ashore.

"The Indians might have been routed in the
disorder they were in, but as this was not our
design we halted in order to give the Islinois
time to regain confidence. One of their chiefs
who was on the other side of the river and who
had observed that we had refrained from firing
on seven or eight Indians whom we might easily
have killed began a harangue to stop the young
men who were preparing to discharge arrows
across the river. Those who were encamped on
the side where we had landed, and who had
taken flight at first, having understood the situa-
tion, sent two of the chief men among them to
present the calumet from the top of a hill : soon
after those who were on the other side did the
same thing and then we gave them to understand
that we accepted the peace, and at the same time
I proceeded in haste with Father Zenobius in the
direction of the Indians who had taken flight,
taking their children by the hand, who were all
trembling with fear; wc manifested much affec-
tion for them, entering with the old men and the
mothers into the cabins, taking compassion on
these souls, which art going to destruction, be-
ing deprived of the Word of God and lacking

(1.1 Parkmin has made this clause the basis of a romrin-
tic scene of columns of smoke curlins from the Indian wib-
wams nestled amonc the trees, etc. More probably it was a
'Cloud of smoke restinB above the horizon in the distance.

missionaries. The joy of both was as great as
their fear had been violent ; that of some having
been such that it was two- days before they re-
turned from the places to which they had gone
to hide."

Then, after giving a full account of his re-
ception by the Indians and of the adverse influ-
ence which one Monso. an emmissary of a hostile
tribe, had upon them in stirring up their enmity,
and the effect which their apparent hostility had
upon the men of La Salle and his endeavor to
persuade them to loyalty, the writer proceeds as
follows : "These reasons and some others of that
kind which I made them, persuaded them, and
brought all to work with a good grace in build-
ing a fort which was called Creve Coeur, situated
four days' journey from the great village of the
Islinois descending towards the river Colbert (as
they had named the Mississippi in honor of the
great minister of Louis XIV. — Ed).

"A great thaw having set in on the 15th of
January, and rendered the river free below the
villcgc, the Sieur de La Salle begged me to
accompany him. and we proceeded with one of
our canoes to the place which we were going to
select to work at this little fort. It was a little
mound about two hundred paces distant from
the bank of the rivei. which in the season of
the rains extends to the foot of it ; two broad,
deep ravines protected two other sides and a
part of the fourth, w-hich we completely en-
trenched by a ditch which united the two ravines.
Their exterior slope which served as a cotmter-
scarp was fortified : we made chcvaux dc frise
and cut this eminence down steep on all sides,
and the earth was supported as much as was nec-
essary with strong pieces of timber, with thick
planks, and for fear of any surprise we planted
a stockade around, the timbers of which were
twenty-five feet long and a foot thick. The sum-
mit of the mound was left in its natural figure,
which formed an irregular square, and we con-
tented ourselves with putting on the edge a good
parapet of earth capable of covering all our force,
whose barracks were placed in two of the angles
of this fort, in order that they might be always
ready in case of attack. Father Gabriel. Zenoble
and I lodged in a cabin with boards, which we
adjusted with the help of our workmen and in
which we retired, after work, all our people for
evening and morning prayer, and where, being
unable any longer to say mass, the wine which

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

we had made from the large grapes of the coun-
try having just failed us, we contented ourselves
with singing Vespers on holidays and Sundays,
and preaching after morning prayers.

"The forge was set up along the curtain which
faced the wood. The Sicur de La Salle posted
himself in the middle with Sieur de Tonty and
wood was cut down to make charcoal for the
blacksmith.

"While they were engaged at this work we
were thinking constantly only of our explora-
tion, and we saw that the building of a bark
would be very difficult on account of the de-
sertion of the pit-sawyers. It occurred to us one
day to tell our people that, if there was a man
of good will among them who was willing to try
and make sheathing planks, there was hopes of
succeeding, with a little more labor and time, and
that at the worst we should after all only spoil
a few. Immediately two of our men ofifered to
work at it. The trial was made and they suc-
ceeded pretty well, although they had never be-
fore undertaken a similar piece of work. We be-
gan a bark of forty-two feet keel and only
twelve broad. We pushed on the work with so
much care that notwithstanding the building of
Fort Creve Coeur the sheathing was sawed, all
the wood of the bark ready and curved in the
first of the month of March.

"It is to be remarked that in the country of
the Islinois the winter is not more severe than
in Provence, but that of the year 1679 the snow
lasted more than twenty days, which was an ex-
traordinary surprise to the Indians, who had not
yet experienced so severe a winter, so that Sieur
de La Salle and I saw ourselves exposed to new
hardships, which will perhaps appear incredible
to those who have no experience in great voyages
and new discoveries.

"Fort Creve Coeur was almost cotnpleted ;
all of the wood had been prepared to complete
the bark, but we had neither rigging nor sails.
nor iron enough ; we heard no tidings of the bark
which we had left on Lake Dauphin nor of the
men who had been sent to learn what had be-
come of her. Meanwhile the Sieur de La Salle
saw that summer was approaching and that if
he waited uselessly some months more our enter-
prise would be retarded a year, and perhaps two
or three, because being so far from Canada he
could not put his aflfairs in order or cause the
things he needed to be forwarded.

"In this extremity we both adopted a resolu-
tion, as extraordinary as it was difficult to carry
out ; I to go with two men into unknown

countries, where one is at every moment in a
great danger for his life, and he to proceed on
foot to Fort Frontinac itself, a distance of more
than five hundred leagues. We were then at the
close of winter which had been, as we have said_,
as severe in America as in France, the ground
was still covered with snow, which was neither
melted nor able to bear a man on snow shoes.
It was necessary to load ourselves with the usual
equipage on these occasions, that is to say, a
blanket, a kettle, an axe. a gun, powder and
lead, dressed skins to make Indian shoes, which
often last only a day, those which are worn in
France being no use in these western countries.
Besides this he must resolve to push through
bushes, to walk in marshes and melting snow,
sometimes waiste high, and that for whole days
sometimes even with nothing to eat, because he
and three others who accompanied him could not
carry provisions, being compelled to depend for
all their subsistence on what they might shoot,
and expect to drink only the water they might
find on the way. To conclude, he was exposed
every day and especially night to be surprised by
four or five nations which made war on each
other, with this difference, that these nations
where he was to pass all know the French, and
that those where I was going had never seen
Europeans. Nevertheless all these difficulties did
not astonish him any more than they did rie.
Our only trouble was to find among our force
some men robust enough to go with us, and to
prevent the others, already greatly fluctuating,
from all deserting us after our departure."

The following account of La Salle's discov-
eries, attributed to Tonti, was sent in in the year
1693. After describing the journey and the col-
lecting of the forces at the mouth of the St.
Joseph River it proceeds as follows :

"I went back in my little canoe and as soon
as I arrived we ascended twenty-five leagues as
far as the portage, where the men whom I had
left behind joined us. We made the portage
which extends about two leagues and came to
the source of the Illinois River. We embarked
there and ascending (descending) the river for
one hundred leagues arrived at a village of the
savages. They were absent hunting, and as we
had no provisions we opened some caches of In-
dian corn.

"During this journey some of our Frenchmen
were so fatigued that they determined to leave
us. but the night they intended to go was so cold
that their plan was broken up. We continued
our route in order to join the savages, and

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

found them thirty leagues above (below) the
village. \Vhen they saw us they thought we were
Iroquois and put themselves on the defensive
and made their women run into the woods. But
when they recognized us the women were called
back with their children, and the calumet was
danced to M. de La Salle and me in order to
mark their desire to live in peace with us. We
gave them some merchandise for the corn which
we had taken in their village. This w'as on the
3d of January, 1679-80.

"As it was necessary to fortify ourselves dur-
ing the winter we made a fort, which was called
Creve Coeur. Part of our people deserted, and
they had even put poison into our kettle. M. de
La Salle was poisoned, but he was saved by
some antidote a friend had given to him in
France. The desertion of these men gave us less
annoyance than the effect w'hich it had on the
minds of the savages. The enemies of M. de La
Salle had spread a report among the Illinois
that we were friends of the Iroquois, who are
their greatest enemies. The effect this produced
will be seen hereafter.

"M. de La Salle commenced building a boat
to descend the river. He sent a Father Recollet
with the Sieur Deau to discover the nations of
the Sioux, four hundred leagues from the Illi-
nois on the Mississippi River southwards, a river
that runs not less thai! eight hundred leagues to
the sea without rapids. He determined to go
himself by land to Fort Frontinac, because he had
heard nothing of the boat which he had sent to
Niagara. He gave me the command of this place
and left us on the 2d of March with five men.
On his road he met with two men whom he had
sent in the autumn to Michilimackinac to obtain
news of his boat. They assured him that it had
not come down, and he, therefore, determined
to continue his journey. The two men were sent
to me wMth orders to go to the old village to
visit a high rock and to build a strong fort upon
it. Whilst I was proceeding thither all my men
deserted and took away everything that was most
valuable. They left me with two Recollets and
three men newly arrived from France, stripped of
everything and at the mercy of savages. All
that I could do was to send an authentic account
of the affair to M. de La Salle. He laid wait
for them on Lake Frontinac, took some of them
and killed others, after which he returned to the
Illinois. As for his boat, it was never heard of."

Father Zenobius Membre also wrote an ac-
count of the events transpiring between the time
of the departure of La Salle from Fort Creve

Coeur until the month of June following, from
which the following extract is taken :

"Father Louis (Hennepin) having set out on
the 29th of February, 1680, Sieur de La Salle
left the Sieur de Tonti as commander of Fort
Creve Coeur, with ammunition and provisions-
and peltries to pay the workmen as agreed,
and merchandse to trade with and buy provisions-
as we needed them. And having lastly given or-
ders as to what was to be done in his absence,,
set out with four Frenchmen and an Indian on
the 2d day of March, 1680. He arrived on the
nth at the great Indian village where I then wa^
and thence, after twenty-four hours' stay, he con-
tinued his route on foot to Fort Frontinac. Frorrv
our arrival at Fort Creve Coeur on the 14th of
January last. Father Gabriel, our superior. Father
Louis (Hennepin) and myself had raised a cabin
in which we had established some little regularity,,
exercising our function as missionaries to the
French of our party and the Illinois Indians who
came in crowds, as by the end of February I al-
ready knew a part of their language, because I
spent the whole of the day in the Indian camp,
which was a half a league off. Our Father
Superior appointed me to follow when they were
about to return to their village (Cascaschia). A
chief named Oumahouha had adopted me as his
son in the Indian fashion, and M. de La Salle
had made him presents to take care of me."'
* * * "The greater part of this tribe, and
especially the Illinois, with whom I have had
intercourse, make their cabins of double mats of
flat rushes sewed together."

In the same narrative Father Membre. after
enumerating the more northern tribes of Indians
with whom he had intercourse, speaks of the great
village of "Cascaschia" as follows :

"The village of the Illinois, Cascaschia, was
situated west of the bottom of Lake Dauphin
(Michigan), a little southeast at about forty-one
degrees north." * * * "The only great Illi-
nois village being composed of seven or eight
thousand souls. Father Gabriel and I had just a
sufficient field for the exerci.se of our zeal, besides
the few Frenchmen who soon after came there."

From these accounts it appears that, after leav-
ing the great village, the party continued to de-
scend the river for four days ; that on the first
day of January, 1680, the Fathers said mass and'
exhorted the men to maintain loyalty to their
leader : that on the fourth day. while crossing
Lake Peoria, they observed smoke, which in-
dicated the presence of the Indians ; that on the
morning of the fifth day they discovered on both-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

sides of the river a number of pirogues (canoes)
and about eighty cabins full of Indians; that La
Salle's party were in eight canoes abreast, and
that being hidden by a point of land they were
not discovered by the Indians until they had ap-
proached within a very short distance of them ;
that the old men, the women and children fled to
the woods, while the warriors took to their arms ;
that one of their chiefs who was on the other side
of the river, observing the peaceful attitude of
the strangers, began a harrangue to stop the young
men who were preparing to discharge their ar-
rows across the river; that those who were en-
camped on the side where the landing had been
made, observing the situation, presented the calu-
met from the top of a hill, in which action they
were soon followed by those on the opposite
shore, all of which resulted in a cordial welcome
by the Indians.

It was soon discovered that they were the
Cascaschias from the great village on the river,
four days' journey above, who had come as far
south as Peoria on their annual hunt. Nothing
is said of the Peorias, but the village, doubtless
the one which Marquette had visited, is men-
tioned. The Peorias had in fact gone on a hunt
farther to the south or west.

The seeds of dissension having in tlie mean-
time been sown by Monso. it was deemed prudent
to erect a fort within half a league of this camp
or village if it m.ny be so called.

If this camp could be definitely located, it
would go far in determining the location of Fort
Creve Coeur, which has heretofore been and
probably will continue to be a disputed point.
Strong reasons exist for its location opposite the
northern portion of the city of Peoria, where it
is claimed the remains of the fort have been dis-
covered, while it is claimed that equally strong
reasons exist for its location on the bluff near
Wesley City.

The plans outlined by Hennepin were carried
out. Hennepin with one Michael Accault (called
by Tonti, Deau, and by others, Aco) as com-
mander, and one Anthony Anguel, surnamed
Picard du Gay, made his celebrated journey to
the mouth of the Illinois River and thence to the
head waters of the Mississippi. La Salle, after
having endured incredible hardships on the way,
arrived at Fort Frontinac on the 6th of May,
following. Having met with two men whom he
had sent to inquire of the fate of The Griffon, he
sent word by them to Tonti. whom he had left
in command at Fort Creve Coeur, to proceed to
the great village of Kaskaskia and to erect a fort

on a high rock in its vicinity. In Tonti's absence
the men lie had left at the fort deserted, taking
with them everything they could. Tonti, having
received orders to abandon the fort and to erect
ank)ther at the Rock, sent men to Creve Coeur
and brought away everything that could be used
in the erection of the new fort, but the fort itself
was not destroyed. In consequence of the deser-
tion of his men he was unable to proceed with
the erection of the new one at that time, having
with him only three Frenchmen and the two
monks, Membre and Ribourdi, after sending two
to carry word to La Salle of the deplorable situa-
tion of affairs. In the autumn of that year La
Salle organized another expedition and set out
on his return to the Illinois. But, just before
his arrival, the great village had been attacked
by the Iroquois and destroyed with great slaugh-
ter of the inhabitants. Tonti had been compelled
to flee and. just on the eve of his departure,
the aged monk Gabriel Ribourdi had been treach-
erously murdered by a Kickapoo Indian. Tonti
went by the Des Plaines, while La Salle ap-
proached by the Kankakee, by which mishap they
failed to meet. Tonti proceeded north, and. after
encountering incredible hardships, finally reached
Mackinac.

When La Salle reached the great village of
Kaskaskia he w^as horrified to witness the de-
struction wrought by the Iroquois and the evi-
dences of their barbarity to the inhabitants. Hop-
ing that Tonti might still be alive, and that he had
gone with the fleeing Illinois, he took boat and in
an incredibly short time reached the mouth of the
Illinois River, but without any success. Arriving
at Fort Creve Coeur on the 3d day of December,
he found his unfinished barque much in the same
condition he had left it, except that the Iroquois
had drawn a few nails from its mouldings. Had
the tools taken by Tonti to the new location lieen
available, it could have been finished in a month.
On a broken plank, however, he discovered in the
handwriting of one of his men the words. "Nous

somnes tons sauvages ce 15 A 1680." "We

are all savages." Fle supposed the date to have
been August, but afterward it was discovered
to have been .^pril, a date prior to Tonti's de-
parture. .'\rriving nt the mouth of the n'ver
and finding no trace of Tonti. he nailed a letter
addressed to him to p tree and returned. Hav-
ing spent the winter about the St. Joseph's River
in making fruitless inquiries concerning Tonti,
La Salle again visited the site of the great village
in the spring of 1681, and. having received tidings
that Tonti had gone north, he proceeded to

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

13-

Mackinac, where the two wanderers, each hav-
ing supposed the other to be dead, greeted one
another "as if returned from the si>irit land."

La Salle then returned to Fort Frontinac and
organized his famous expedition which finally
reached the mouth of the Mississippi. Reaching
Lake Pimiteoui they found Fort Creve Coeur in
a good state, and. La Salle leaving orders there,
the expedition proceeded on its way. On their re-
turn they found the fort nearly destroyed, also
the unfinished vessel, and a few blackened tim-
bers only remained. Leaving eight Frenchmen
here. La Salle proceeded on his journey to Fort
Miami at the mouth of the St. Joseph's River.

Again, on December 30, 1682, he is found at
Fort Creve Coeur, this time to withdraw all his
men to the new location, Fort St. Louis on
Starved Rock. This was the last time La Salle's

eyes rested upon the fort, and little if anything is
learned of it afterward. It is barely possible
that after the burning of Fort Creve Coeur, La
Salle's men may have erected another in it's
vicinity.

Of the events occurring after La Salle's de-
parture from Fort Creve Coeur for Fort Fronti-
nac, in March. 1680, the accounts appear some-
what conflicting. But within the last half century
many documents have come to light which have
cleared up some- supposed discrepancies. In a re-
cent publication entitled "Chapters from Illinois
History," by Edward G. Mason, now deceased, a
very exhaustive attempt has been made to recon-
cile former narratives and to connect the events
related by diflferent writers into a chronological
account. His narrative has been followed here.

CHAPTKR III

THE MISSIONARIES. PHILIP FRANCIS RENAULT.

It would add interest to this narrative it it
could be stated with certainty that the village
mentioned by Fathers Marquette and Membre, lo-
cated on Lake Peoria, had had a continuous ex-
istence from that early period until the same was
found to be occupied by the French at the middle
of the eighteenth century. By the intermingling
of the French with the Indians and by their inter-
marriages the Indian villages gradually lost their
distinctive character as such and became more
French than Indian. It is more than prob;il)le
that this was the case at Peoria.

In the year 1699 a company of missionary
priests consisting of Fathers Montigny, St.
Cosme, Davion and De la Source, with Tonti at
their head, made a trip froin Michilimackinac,
where they had met Father Gravier, formerly of
"Cascaschia," to the lower Mississippi to establish
missions there. Coasting along the western shore
of Lake Michigan, they arrived about Octobef
21 St at a point not far from the site of the pres-
ent City of Chicago. There was then a Jesuit
mission at that place located probably a little
south of the present city. St. Cosme, in an ac-
count of tliis trip which he afterward wrote, says :
after having landed some distance from the place
on account of the storm, "We went by land,
Mr. De Montigny, Davion and myself, to the
house of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers, our people
staying with the baggage. We found there Rev.
Father Pinet and Rev. Father Buinateau, who had
recently come in from the Illinois and were
slightly sick. * * * Their house is built on
the banks of a small lake, having the lake on one
side and a fine large prairie on the other. The
Indian village is of over one hundred and fifty
cabins, and one league on the river, there is an-
other village almost as large. They are both
of the Miamis. Rev. Father Pinet makes it his
ordinary residence excepting in the winter, when

the Indians all go hunting and which he goes
and spends at the Illinois. We saw no Indians
there. They had already started for their hunt."

On the 24th of October, these voyagers com-
menced making preparations for their journey,
and, on account of the lowness of the water in the
river, concluded to take only what supplies were
absolutely necessary for the voyage, leaving the
remainder in charge of a Brother Alexander. On
the 29th they started from Chicago and put up
for the night about two leagues off in a little
river which is then lost in the prairie.

Continuing his narrative, St. Co.sme says :
"The next day we began the portage which is
about three leagues long when the water is lovv,
and only about a quarter of a league in the
spring, for you embark on a little lake that emp-
ties into a branch of the river of the Illinois, and
when the waters are low you have to make a
portage in that branch. We made half our port-
age that day, and we should have made some
further progress, when we perceived that a little
boy whom we had received from Mr. De Muys,
having started on alone, although he had been
told to wait, had got lost without any one paying
attention to it, all hands being engaged. We were
obliged to stop and look for him. All set out.
We fired guns, but could not find him. It was a
very unfortunate mishap. We were pressed by
the sea.son, and the waters being low, we saw well
that being obliged to carry our effects and our
canoes, it would take us a great while to reach the
Illinois. This made us part company. Mr. De
Montigny, De Tonte, and Davion continued the
portage next day. and I with four other men re-
turned to look for the little boy, and on my way
back I met Fathers Pinet and Buinateau. wiio
were going with two Frenchmen and one Indian
to the Illinois. We looked for him again all that
day without being able to find him. As the next

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

day was the feast of All Saints this obliged mc to
pass the next day in Chikagou with our People.
After having heard mass and performed their de-
votions early we spent all that day, too, in look-
ing for that little boy without being able to get
the least trace. It was very difficult to find him
in the tall grass, for the whole country is prairie,
you see only some clumps of woods. As the
grass was high, we durst not set fire to it for fear
of burning him. Mr. De Montigny had told me
not to stay over a day because the cold was be-
coming severe. This obliged me to start after
getting Brother Alexander to look for him and to
take some of the French who were in Chikagou."

He then goes on to give a minute description
of his passage of the portage from that river to
the Monjolly. (Near Joliet.) Continuing the
narrator says :

"On the nth, after making the little portage,
we came to the River Tealike (Kankakee) which
is the real river of the Illinois, that which we
had descended being only a branch. * * *
After having had to carry our baggage for three
days and put it all together in the canoe, the
river being low and full of rocks, we arrived on
the 15th of November at the place called the Old
Fort. It is a rock which is on the bank of the
river about one hundred feet high, where M. De
La Salle built a fort which he abandoned. The
Indians having gone to stay about twenty-five
leagues lower down, we sailed a league below,
where we found two Indian cabins. We were
consoled to see one perfectly good Christian
woman.

"From Chikagou to the fort they reckoned
thirty leagues. [From Chicago to Peoria the dis-
tance is 160 miles. — E;'.]. Here navigation begins
which continues uninterrupted to the Fort Per-
mavevvi, zchcre the Indians arc now. We arrived
there on the 19th of November (four days from
the old fort). We found Rev. Father Pinet there,
who not being loaded when they started from
Chikagou had arrived here si.x or .seven days be-
fore us. We also saw there Rev. Father Marays
(Marest). a Jesuit. All the Rev. Fathers gave us
all possible welcome. Their only regret was to
see us start so soon on account of the frosts. We
there took a Frenchman, who had spent three
years at the Arkansas, and who knows the lan-
guage a little.

"This Illinois mission seems to me the finest
that the Jesuit Fathers have up here. [The writer
being a RecoUet. — Ed.], for without counting all
the children who are baptized there are many
grown persons who have abandoned all their

superstitions and live as perfectly good Christ-
ians, frequenting their sacraments and are married
in the church. We had not the consolation of
seeing all these good Christians, for they were all
dispersed going down the banks of the river to
hunt. We saw there only some Indian women
married to Frenchmen, who edified us by their
modesty and by their assiduity in going several
limes a day to the chapel to pray. We sang high
mass there with deacon and sub-deacon, on the
day of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin,
and after commending our voyage to her and
placing ourselves under her protection, we started
from the Illinois.

On the 22d of November we had to break the
ice for two or three arpens to get out of the Lake
of (Pimiteoui). (') We were four canoes,
Mr. De Tonte's, our two and another (of five),
young voyagers who chose to accompany us, partly
on account of Mr. De Tonte, who is generally
loved by all the voyagers, and partly also to see
the country. Rev. Fathers Buiniteau and Pinet
(who were Jesuits — Ed.), also joined us for a
part of the way, wishing to go and spend the
whole winter with the Indians."

Bearing in mind that no Indian had been found
at "The Rock," or at the old village of "Cascas-
chia," we are led to conclude that what St. Cosme
says about the mission and the Indians was based
upon his observations at the village on Lake
Peoria, where he first found them.

It is possible that when speaking of the pros-
perity of this Illinois mission, the narrator had in
view the entire extent of the mission from Chi-
cago, where Pinet's summer residence was, to this
village, where he had his winter residence, and
that his reference was not wholly to that portion
of the mission located at Peoria. But it seems
that when speaking of the Indians whom he saw,
of their going to chapel, of the singing of high
mass, of the starting from the Illinois, of the
breaking of ice to get out of the lake, and of the
persons being baptized I'li the church, he had ref-
erence to what he had observed at Peoria. The
voyageurs continued their journey until they
reached the Mississippi River on the 5th of De-
cember, after having made about eight (correctly
eighty) leagues from the fort of Pimiteoui. If
this conclusion is well founded it follows that as
early as the beginning of the eighteenth century

't) In the printed copy this space is blank. I have taken
the liberty of insertinc the word Pimitfoni. because it is the
only lake answering the description in the text. In this I am
corroborated by the Librarian of the Chicago Historical
Library.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUx\TY.

there was a permanent village on Lake Peoria,
having a chapel and supplied with the ordinances
of the church. The exact location of this village
does not yet appear, but as we proceed the evi-
dence accumulates that it was not only on Lakd
Peoria, but that it was near the northern limits
of the present city of that name.

One year later the Rev. Jaques Gravicr, a
Jesuit and successor of Allouez. made a trip down
the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf.
In a letter addressed to Father De Lainbcrville
from the fort of the Mississippi near the Gulf
of Mexico, dated February i6. 1701, he says:
"On my return from Michilimackinac, I received
your letter, which you did the honor to write by
the Mississippi addressed to Father Aveneau. who
sent it to me at Chikagou, whence I set out on
the 8th of September, 1700. to come here. I ar-
rived too late at the Illinois dii Detroit [a word
signifying a strait or narrows. — Ed.], of which
Father Marest has charge, to prevent the trans-
migration of the village of the Kaskaschias. which
was too precipitously made, on vague news of the
establishment on the Mississippi. I do not believe
that the Kaskaschias would thus have separated
from the Peouroua (Peaaraa) and their Illinois
du Detroit had I arrived sooner. At all events,
I came soon enough to unite minds a little and
to prevent insult which the Peouroua and the
Mouingouena were bent on throwing to the Kas-
kaschias and French as they embarked. I spoke
to all the chiefs in full council, and as they con-
tinue to preserve some respect and good will for
me, we separated very peaceably. But I augur
no good from this separation, which I have al-
ways hindered, seeing but too clearly the evil re-
sults. God grant that the road from Chikagou
to the strait (du Detroit) be not closed, and the
whole Illinois mission suffer greatly. I avow to
you, Rev. Father, that it rends my heart to see
my old flock thus divided and dispersed, and I
shall never see it after leaving it. without having
some new cause of affliction. The Peouroua,
whom I left without a missionary (since Father
Marest has followed the Kaskaschias) have
promised me that they would preserve the church
and that they would await my return from the
Mississippi, where I told them I went only to as-
sure myself of the truth of all that was said about
it. This gave them great pleasure. They prom-
ised me that they would leave their village only
when I should direct, or the great chief down the
river wished them to transport it. I much doubt
whether they will keep their word."

"After having marched four days with the

Kaskaschias, I went ; head with Father Marest,.
whom I left sick at Tamarouha, where Father
Pinet discharges peaceably all the functions of the
missionary, and Mr. Berger, (a secular priest. —
Ed.), who gets along well with us, has care
only of the French, and this is a great relief for
Father Pinet."

This is a very important statement, showing as
it does the exact time, manner and cause of the
migration of the "Cascaschias" and their French
allies from the old village near "The Rock"
to the new location on the Mississippi, afterward
the famous Kaskaskia. Gravier met them on
their way at the place called Detroit, which had
imparted its name to some of the Indians residing
thereabouts and which applies well to the "Nar-
rows," above Peoria. Marest had had charge of
that portion, but had gone with the Kaskaskias.
There was a village it that point in which was a
church or chapel which they promised Gravier to
preserve and to desert their village only when he
or the great chief down the river should direct.
Gravier continued his journey south, marching
four days with the Kaskaskias, and then going
ahead with Marest, whom he left sick at Tamar-
ouha. where Pinet then ministered and where
one Berger, a secular priest, had care of the
French.

On .April 29. 1699. soon after the visit of the
St. Cosme party to Lake Peoria, Father Marest
wrote a letter to another of the same order in
which he describes the village as being one-half
league in length, with a chapel at each end, one
of which had been recently erected to accommo-
date the increasing number of converts. This
was the year before the separation of the Kas-
kaskias from the Peorias.

In the summer of 1705 Gravier was again
among the Illinois, where he was attacked by an
Indian who shot five arrows at him, one of which
left its point imbedded in the tendons of his
elbow, which afterward resulted in his death, but
not until after a visit to Paris and his return to
America. Father Mermet, in a letter dated March
2. 1706, gives a minute account of this transaction.
Concerning the condition of the affairs of the
Illinois, he says: "It is good from this village
(Kaska.skia) except that they threaten to leave
us at the first word. It is bad as regards both
spiritual and temporal matters among the Illinois
of Detroit — otherwise the Peorias — where Father
Gravier nearly lost his life on two occasions, and
he is not yet out of danger." After suffering for
three months at that place, but having learned the
Indians were hostile to his leaving, Gravier

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

planned a secret departure at niglit, but, wlien
about to embark, he was greatly surprised to
learn that Ins house was surrounded by about 200
Indians, who had taken down a portion of his
palisade in order to get in. But through the
interposition of a friendly chief he was permitted
to proceed, and after arriving at Kaskaskia was
sent to Mobile, whence he sailed for France.

The Mission House, surrounded by a palisade,
may possibly be all that is meant by the word fort
in these early narratives.

On November 9, 1712, Father Marest wrote
to Father German, another Jesuit, a long account
of the missions among the Illinois, in the course
of which he says : "I worked with these mis-
sionaries (Pinet and Buineteau> and, after their
deaths 1 alone remained charged with all the
labors of the mission until the arrival of Father
Mermet. Previously I was in the large village
of the Peorias, where Father Gravier, who had
returned there for the second time, received a
wound which caused his death."

Having planned a journey to Mackinac, in
which it would be necessary to go by w'ay of the
village of the Peorias. Marest on Friday of Easter
week, i/ii, set out on foot from Kaskaskia,
stopping one night at Cahokia. After several
days' travel, during which he endured intense
suflfering in his feet, he reached the Illinois river,
twenty-five leagues below the village of the
Peorias. There he dispatched one of his Indians
to inform the Frenchman at the village of his sad
plight, and after two days was met by them and
taken into their canoes.

Up to this time we have heard of no French-
men residing at Peoria, and it is a question
whether these were such.

In the beginning of October, of the year 1721,
Father Charlevoix made a voyage down the Illi-
nois River and found a village on the west bank
of Lake Peoria, which he terms a second village
of the Illinois, the first having been found at The
Rock, but his estimate of distances and the course
of streams is so very unreliable as to render its
exact location impossible. His description of the
surrounding scenery, however, corresponds quite
well with that at the Old French Village of
Peoria. The most important statements made by
him are tliat the village was called Piniiteoui. the
same name the lake had borne from the time of
La Salle; that the Peorias were then at war with
neighboring tribes, and that he found there four
French Canadians apparently living with the In-
dians. If there had been more he would have
certainly mentioned them, for he was sorely in

need of their assistance. There the chief of the
village invited him to a conference at a house
where one of the missionaries had lodged some
years before, and where probably they used to
hold council. This account was written on the
spot, at Piniiteoui. Nothing is said about a
chuich or a fort or the number or character of
the inhabitants.

It is a matter of history that during the next
year, 1722, the Peorias, being harrassed on all
sides by their enemies, took their departure from
the Illinois country and followed the Kaskaskias.
We therefore hear notliing further of the mission
at Peoria.

There is another item of evidence, however,
coming from an entirely different source, which
goes to show the existence of a village at Peoria
as early as 1723. The French having established
a government in Louisiana, to which province the
Illinois country had been attached. M. de Bois-
briant had been appointed First Lieutenant of the
King in the province of Louisiana and command-
ant of Illinois, who. with M. de Laloir des
Ursins, Principal Director of the Company of the
Indies, constituted the council. Philip Francis Re-
nault, Director General of the mines of the Com-
pany, who had formerly been a banker in Paris,
reached Fort Chartres in 17 19, bringing with him
250 miners and soldiers and a large number of
slaves from San Domingo to operate the mines.
Renault obtained several grants from the com-
pany, among which was one located at or near
Peoria. The grant is couclied in the following
language :

"Year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-
three, Jtme 14th, granted M. Renault in freehold^
(en franc aleu), in order to make his establish-
ment upon the mines:

".\ league and a half of ground in front upon
the little Marameig and in the River Marameig at
the place of the first fork w-hich leads to the cabins
called the cabanage de Renaudierc. with a depth
of six leagues, the river making the middle point
of the compass and the small stream being per-
pendicular as far as the place where the Sieur
Renault has his furnaces, and thence straight to
the place called the great mine.

"One league in front at Pimiteau on the River
Illinois facing the Fast and adjoining to the lake
bearing the name of the village, and on the other
side to the banks opposite the village for a half
league above it with a depth of five leagues, the
])oint of the compass following the Illinois River
down the same upon one side and ascending by
the River of .Xrcary (dWrescy, elsewhere called

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

des Arcoury. — Ed.), wliicli forms tin.- niiddlo
through the rest of the depth."

This grant goes to show that at that time,
June 14. 1723, tliere was a village located on Lake
Pimiteau, or Lake Peoria, the precise location of
which is not definitely stated. The heirs of Re-
nault have, from time to time, set up a claim to
the land so granted at Lake Peoria, and it is
possible they have not yet wholly abandoned the
same. Their last claim is that it embraces a
tract lying on both sides of the Kickapoo Creek
at its mouth, extending up the river, as far as the
wagon road bridge at Bridge Street, and following

the creek as its middle line for a distance of five
leagues, or fifteen miles, by one league, or three
miles, in width. The description, however, is of
such an uncertain nature it docs not seem possible
to locate it with any degree of accuracy.

From that date until the year 1765, the history
of Peoria is a blank, but the fact of there being
a prosperous village at Peoria, which had grown
up within the space of forty years, affords suffi-
cient evidence that within that period, and prob-
ably very soon after the Renault grant, the French
Village had taken the place of that which had
theretofore been mostly made up of Indians.

CHAPTER IV.

OLD PEORIAS FORT AND VILLAGE.

It is a well-established fact that at the lime
of the cession of the Illinois country by France to
Great Britain (1763) there was a French village
situated on the west bank of Lake Peoria about
one and one-half miles above its outlet. The
site of this village as fixed by tradition and by
the relics there found, as well as by the govern-
ment surveys, was in the vicinity of the foot of
Caroline Street, and extended probably to and for
some distance up the ravine coming from Spring-
dale Cemetery familiarly known as Birket's Hol-
low. It contained a fort, and the place was
known afterward as the "Old Peorias Fort and
Village."

At wliat time or by whom this "Old Fort" was
erected does not clearly appear. Governor Rey-
nolds, in his "Pioneer History of Illinois," says
that it was the same as that erected by La Salle,
and that "the site at Creve Coeur has been uni-
formly recognized by the old French inhabitants
as the 'Old Fort' ever since that day down to
the present time." This statement cannot, how-
ever, be accepted as undoubtedly correct, for not
only do Hennepin's maps locate Fort Creve Coeur
on the easterly side of the river, but the location
of "Old Peoria" does not correspond in other
respects with that of Creve Coeur as given by
other contemporaries of La Salle.

It is true that La Salle located Fort Creve
Coeur a half league from the Indian Village or
camp, and if the fort had from his time sub.se-
quently been occupied, it would have been quite
natural for a French village to have grown up
in its immediate vicinity. Whether, therefore, the
landing of La Salle, where he found the Indian
village, was at the Narrows (called by the French
"au Detroit") or at the foot of the lake (called
by them Au Pied or Opa), the location of the
Old Fort or Village corresponds in distance with
that given of Fort Creve Coeur from the same

place, one-half a league. It is more probable,
however, that this fort was erected by the
French subsequently to the destruction of Fort
Creve Coeur.

Governor Reynolds further says : "The
Traders — their voyageurs, and others in their
employment, occupied this post, more or less,
ever since its first establishment. As it has been
said, the Indian trade of that section of the
country was better than at any other point.
This made it to the interest of the traders to oc-
cupy the place.

" Peoria never, in ancient times, was as large
a village as either Kaskaskia or Cahokia, but it
is more ancient than either of them. La Salle,
when he first saw the country, was charmed with
the beauty of the place and established a fort
there. He also knew the resources of the country
arising from the Indian trade, which was another,
and perhaps a greater, inducement to erect his
grand depot here for the Indian trade than for
any other consideration.

"In the first settlement of the country, the
missionaries settled at this post, and had their
flocks of the young natives around them. Peoria
can boast of a higher antiquity than any other
town in Illinois, and about the same date with
St. Josephs, Green Bay, Mackinaw and Detroit.

"The French culti\ated some ground, more or
less, at Peoria, for more than one hundred years
past. They cultivated at the old village, to some
extent, and at the new one since the year 1778,
when it was commenced by Maillet. It will be
seen by the report of the United States officers,
sustained by positive proof, than one .\ntoine St,
Francois had a family in Peoria in the year 1765,
and cultivated a field of corn adjacent to the vil-
lage.

"Other inhabitants also resided there at the
same time and long before. It is true, most of

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the citizens were Indian traders and those hving
on the trade; hut this trade required support by
men and provisions which were both furnished,
to some extent, by the settlers of Peoria."

Mr. E. G. Mason, in "Chapters from Ilhnois
History," relates that Fort Creve Coeur was al-
most wholly destroyed while La Salle was absent
on his expedition to Ihe Mississippi in 1682. On
his return he left there eight Frenchmen. In
December of the same year he returned and di-
rected Tonti's command to break camp and to
follow him to the new location (Fort St. Louis).
It appears, therefore, that Tonti had a command
here during the latter part of 1682. Did they,
rebuild the fort or did they erect a new one?
One Baron La Honton ascended the river in
1689, and in 1703 published an account of his trip,
accompanied with a map on which Fort Creve
Coeur (where he says he met Tonti) is located
on the west side of the river. Mr. Mason dis-
credits the account for two reasons, first, Fort
Creve Coeur was on the east side of the river,
secondly, Tonti is shown to have been elsewhere
at the time. But, as already seen, St. Cosme's
party in 1700 found a fort here, which they
called Permavevvi. Tonti was with them and
they remained there several days. May this not
have been the fort erected by Tonti himself under
authority from La Salle, and the same of which
Governor Reynolds speaks?

The importance of Peoria as a military or
trading post is further proved by a certain pro-
vision in the famous treaty of Greenville. Al-
though the Indians had co-operated with the
British forces during the Revolutionary war, they
did not cease hostilities with the treaty of peace
of 1783, but continued their warfare for a period
of eleven years thereafter. They were then dis-
astrously defeated by General Anthony Wayne,
in the battle of Maumee. This defeat was fol-
lowed by a great peace conference held at Green-
ville from the i6th day of June until the loth
day of August. 1795, which resulted in a treaty
of peace whereby the boundaries between the In-
dians and the L'nited States were fixed by a line
running through the State of Ohio. Within the
territory reserved by the Indians there were six-
teen posts or pieces of land ceded to the L'nited
States, among which were the following: The
post at Detroit and certain lands attached thereto;
the post of Michilimackinac with all the land on
the island and certain others on the main land,
together with the Island de Bois Blanc; one
piece of land six miles square at the mouth of
the Chicago River, emptying into the southwest

end of Lake Michigan, where a fort formerly
stood ; one piece twelve miles square at or near
the mouth of the Illinois River, and one piece six
miles square at old i'corias fort and village, near
the south end of the Illinois Lake, on the said
Illinois River. And it was further provided that
the said Indian tribes would allow to the people
of the United States a free passage by land and
water, as one or the other should be found con-
venient, through their country along the chain of
posts thereinbefore mentioned, that is to say,
from the commencement thereof, etc. * * *
Again, from the mouth of Chicago River to the
commencement of the portage, between that river
and the Illinois and down the Illinois River to
the Mississippi. The purpose of the said grant of
said chain of posts is expressed to be a desire on
the part of the Indians to provide for the ac-
commodation of the people of the United States',
and for that convenient intercourse which should'
be beneficial to both parties.

The "Old Peorias Fort and Village" arc here
officially recognized as the land mark of the
township of land surrounding the same, ceded to
the United States as one of a chain of trading
I)Osts extending from Detroit by way of Michili-
mackinac and Chicago to the mouth of the Illi-
nois River.

Peoria, although a small village, had its part
in the stirring times of the Revolutionary war.
It must be remembered that from the time of
the treaty of Paris (1763) until the year 1803
the country west of the Mississippi now included
within the state of Missouri was a Spanish pos-
session called Louisiana. It therefore happened
that wlien Spain and England were at war with
each other the Mississippi River formed the
boundary between the hostile countries.

Two expeditions from Cahokia to St. Joseph,
now in the state of Michigan, in both of which
that place fell into the hands of the attacking
party, are mentioned as having taken place in the
years 1777 and 1778. in the latter of which Jean
Baptiste Maillet, with a company of adventurers,
is said to have taken a prominent part. The
latest account of this expedition is that of E. G.
Mason, in "Chapters of Illinois History," where
he says that "In the summer of 1778 one Paulette
Meillct. a Canadian Frenchman, residing near the
site of Peoria, of which he was the founder,
resolved to undertake the task of obtaining sat-
isfaction. He led a force of 300 French and
Indians from his place of residence, probably by
the Illinois and Kankakee Rivers, to St. Joseph,"'
etc. This account follows that of Governor

L^^^,(^Zt^Ey^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

Reynolds. But the founder of the (new) vil-
Jagc was Jean Baf'tiste Muillcl, and not Pauletfe ;
tlie head of the expedition was named in the
Western Annals (App. 697) Paulette Maize, and
it was organized at Cahokia and not at Peoria.
It is there stated that some of the members of
the most ancient and respectable families in Ca-
hokia were in this expedition. The first expe-
dition having set ou: from Cahokia, where its
leader, Tom Brady, lived, it would seem the
second (if there was one) was but a sequel to it.
It is there shown that the whole story as related
by Governor Reynolds had been derived from
one Boismenue, a native of Cahokia, which he
had received from his father and other citizens
of Cahokia. In this narrative nothing is said
about Paulette Maillet. of Peoria.

The date of these alleged expeditions as well
as Maillet's participation tlierein is seriously ques-
tioned by others. It is certain, however, that in
the year 17S0 an expedition of that character did
take place from Cahokia and St. Louis, which is
claimed by some to have been the true date of
the latter of those already mentioned. There is
nothing but an uncertain tradition that Maillet
had any part in it, but it is very certain that he
was about that time the commander of a com-
pany of ijiilitia at Peoria. It is not even certain
that this expedition came by way of Peoria.

It will be borne in mind that prior to its con-
quest by General George Rogers Clarke, the coun-
try of the Illinois was in possession of the British,
and that the inhabitants of the French villages
were favorable to that nation rather than to
the Americans. It was not until they had been
informed that France had taken sides with Amer-
ica that they consented to take the oath of allegi-
ance to X'irginia. The militia of the newly ac-
quired territory was not organized until after the
advent of the Commnndant John Todd in 1779.
It cannot therefore be supposed that Maillet had
a company of militia under his command prior
to that time.

It is related by Edward G. Mason that "Clark's
force was not sufficient to guard the whole of
the conquered territory and hence a large part of
the Illinois region was still open to raids from
the enemy. Major De Peyster was the British
Conunandant at Mackinac. Under his orders an
invading expedition was sent in the summer of
1779 to attack the trading post of Le Pe, which
was situated within the present limits of Peoria,
Illinois. It had been in important fur-trading sta-
tion under the French regime and it was still
maintained bv traders of that race who were

friendly to the Americans and rejoiced in Clark's
conquest. They had built a stockade which De
Peyster feared might be of advantage to the Vir-
ginia troops in case they moved further north-
ward, and therefore wished to destroy. The com-
mander of the expedition was Charles Gautier
Vervillc, a Canadian in the British service, who
was employed during the Revolution in recruiting
Indian allies for the British in the Northwest.
His soldiers were almost entirely Indians from
various tribes. He undoubtedly came from Mack-
inac along the west coast of Lake Michigan, and
by the lovely little Chicago River and the portage
to the Des Plaines River, and thence down the
Illinois. Many times this route had been followed
by parties of Indians and the Frenchmen in the
early days of the Northwest, but this is the first
time it appears in Revolutionary history. De Ver-
ville's approach was so stealthy and so sudden
that the startled French traders had no time to
prepare a defense, and their stockade was taken
and burned. But fear of retribution from Clark
and his "long-knives" led De Verville to beat a
hasty retreat, and he apparently returned as he
came by the site of Chicago across which trooped
these native allies of Great Britain in their war
paint adorned with the spoils of Le Pe."

This is the only place yet seen where this ex-
pedition is mentioned and the only place where
Peoria is called Le Pe, although frequently called
Opa. It will be observed that the French were
friendly to the Americans and that they had built
a stockade there which Verville destroyed. If as
related by Matson and Patrick Kennedy the
"Old Fort" had been destroyed as early as 1773,
this must have been the one erected at the new
village, and it must have been erected at the very
beginning of its settlement. This renders the
statement of Hypolite Maillet (infra) plausible
that he had been born in a fort at the new village,
and accounts for its non-existence at the time
the village was afterward destroyed by Captain
Craig.

About that time the authorities in command
adopted the questionable policy of withdrawing all
their forces from the Illinois country and of con-
centrating them at Fort Jefferson, near the conflu-
ence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers on the
south side of the latter. In consequence of this
action the villages were left without adequate pro-
tection. It was probably owing to that circum-
stance that the villag-j of Peoria was in 1781 en-
tirely deserted for a tiine, but its inhabitants not
long afterward returned to their former homes.

The loyalty of the French inhabitants to the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

govcrniuent of Uie United States has sometimes
been questioned, but this charge has not been sus-
tained. While occupying a post on the extreme
frontier, where any act of hostility to the Indians
would have resulted in almost certain death, it
became them to maintain toward the latter a
peactahlc attitude, which they could do w'ithout
compromising their character as loyal citizens.

When the French sovereignty yielded to that
of Great Britain, those of them who remained and
took the oath of allegiance to Great Britain be-
came the subjects of that realm, and when the sov-
ereignty of Great Britain was superceded by that
of Virginia, those who remained became citizens
of that State and afterward of the United States.
The New Village of Peoria had si:arcely obtained
a foot-hold at the foot of the Lake when these
exciting events took place, but we shall see that
those of the new village maintained their loyalty
so long as the village had an existence.

The village having been burned and all its
inhabitants carried away captive in the year 1812,
the means of acquiring accurate information as to
its population and the extent of its trade are very
meager. It is conceded on every hand, except by
tho.-^e interested in belittling its importance, that
it had (|uitc a large population, that they carried
on 1:11 extensive trade and had a large quantity
of land in cultivation, not only adjoining the vil-
lage but as far distant as the Kickapoo bottoms.

In the year 1882 there was published an his-
torical work entitled "The Pioneers of Illinois,"
by N. Matson, of Princeton, Illinois, who in his
preface claims to have visited the descendants of
the early French pioneers, then living in the
American Bottom, and to have heard their stories
of past events which had come down through the
third and fourth generations. He states many of
the incidents narrated had been obtained from
persons who had figured in them, and that every
statement not well authenticated had been ex-
cluded. From this work the following extracts
are made, showing at least what tradition says
in regard to the village and its inhabitants:

"According to the statement of Antoine Des
Champs, Thomas Forsyth, and others, who had
long been residents of Peoria previous to its de-
struction in 1812, we infer that the town con-
tained a large population. It formed a connect-
ing link between the settlements on the Mis-
sissippi and Canada, and being situated in the
midst of an Indian country caused it to be a fine
place for the fur trade. The town was built
along the beach of the lake, and to each house
was attached an outlet for a garden, which ex-

tended back on the prairie. The houses were
all constructed of wood, one story high, with
porches on two sides, and located in a garden
surrounded with fruit and flowers. Some of the
dwellings were built of hewed timbers set up-
right, and the space between the posts filled in
w'ith .stones and mortar, while others were built
of hewed logs notched together after the style
of a pioneer's cabin. The floors were laid with
puncheons, and the chimney built with sticks and
mud."

"When Colonel Clark took possession'of Illi-
nois in 1778 he sent three .soldiers, accompanied
by two Frenchmen, in a canoe to Peoria to
notify the people that they were no longer under
British rule, but citizens of the United States.
Among these soldiers was a man named Nicholas
Smith, a resident of Bourbon county, Kentucky,
and w'hose .son, Josei)h Smith [Dad Joe — Ed.],
was among the first American settlers of Peoria.
Through this channel we have an account of
Peoria as it appeared a century ago, and it agrees
well with other traditional accounts."

"Mr. Smith said Peoria, at the time of his
visit, was a large town, built along the beach of
the lake, with narrow, unpaved streets, and houses
constructed of wood. Back of the town were
gardens, stockyards, barns, etc., and among these
was a wine-press, with a large cellar or under-
ground vault for storing wine. There was a
church with a large wooden cross raised above
the roof, and with gilt lettering over the door.
There was an unoccupied fort on the bank of the
lake, and close by it a wind-mill for grinding
grain. The town contained six stores, or places
of trade, all of which were well filled with
goods for the Indian market. The inhabitants
consisted of French, half-breeds and Indians, not
one of whom could understand or speak English."
I This was one year before Verville's attack upon
the village and the destruction of the fort. — Ed.]

"Among the inhabitants of Peoria were mer-
chants or traders who made annual trips to Can-
ada in canoes, carrying thither pelts and furs
and loaded back with goods for the Indian mar-
ket. They were blacksmiths, wagonmakers, car-
penters, shoemakers, etc., and most of the imple-
ments used in farming were of home manufacture.
Although isolated from the civilized world, and
surrounded by savages, their standard of morality
was high ; theft, robbery or murder were seldom
heard of. They were a gay. happy people, having
many social parties, wine suppers, balls and public
festivals. They lived in harmony with the In-
dians, who were their neighbors and friends.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

adopting in part their customs, and in trade with
them accumulated most of their wealth."

"The dress of hoth men and women was very
plain, made of coars-; material, and the style of
their wardrobe was partly European and partly
Indian. The men seldom wore a hat, cap or coat,
their heads being covered with a cotton hand-
kercliief, folded on the crown like a night-cap
or an Arabian turban. Instead of a coat they
wore a loose blanket garment called capote, wi'th
a cap of the same material hanging down at the
hack of the neck, which could be drawn over the
head as a protection from rain or cold. The
women wore loose dresses, made mostly of coarse
material their heads covered with a hood or
blanket, and their long hair hanging down their
back like an Indian squaw. But these women
were noted for sprigluliness in conversation, with
grace and elegance of manners, and notwithstand-
ing the plainness of their dress many of them
were not lacking in iicrsonal charm."

If the passages just quoted apply to Peoria
at the time it was visited by Nicholas Smith, im-
mediately after the conquest by General Clark,
they describe "Old Peoria" and not the new, for
the new village at that time had no existence.
They, however, accord well with other estab-
lished facts.

Joseph Smith (otherwise called Dad Joe)
was one of the first county commissioners of
Peoria County and resided in what is now Taze-
well County, His father, Nicholas Smith, is said
to have been a Kentuckian, but it must be ob-
served that in those days Kentuckians were not
very numerous. Probably he became a Ken-
tuckian afterward. He became a large dealer in
lands granted by the government to those who
had been heads of families or had improvements
on lands prior to 1783.

The description of the manners and customs
of the people is very similar to what we read of
them in other accounts of the inhabitants of the
lower villages, and may have had the same origin,
but, inasmuch as they w'ere all of the same stock
of people, their habits were in every respect sim-
ilar and a description of the habits of the peo-
ple of one village would apply equally well to
all. It is more than probable they had a church
or chapel, however rude or primitive it might have
been, for that was a usual accompaniment of all
French villages, and as wine was the common
beverage of the people and wild grapes were
abundant there would be nothing strange in their
having a wine-press. We find little reference to
wind-mills in the early days in Illinois, and the

reference to one here might possibly be a mis-
take for the horse-mill which is known to have
had an existence near the "Old Fort."

The same author relates that after the aban-
donment of the "Old Village" by the French
it was occupied for many years by the Indians,
until the hou.ses rotted down, but the remains
of the old chapel could be seen .for many years
after the dwellings had disappeared. He also
relates that a fort was built at the new village,
consisting of two block-houses surrounded by
earthworks and palisades, with an open gateway
toward the south next to the river, but it was
only intended as a place of retreat in case of
trouble with the Indians. For some unexplained
reason he attributes I he building of the new vil-
lage to Robert instead of Jean B. Maillet, the
real founder, and says that this fort at the new
village was never occupied, except a short time
by Robert Maillet, who used one of the block-
houses for a dwelling and the other for the sale
of goods. Hypolite Maillet, the son of Jean
Baptiste Maillet. about the year 1820, when called
as a witness to prove up the claim of Thomas
Forsyth to tw-o certain lots in Peoria, which had
formerly been owned by his father, testified that
he had always understood that he was born in a
stockade situated on one of said lots. As he
was then forty-two years of age the date of his
birth must have been about the same year as that
of the founding of the new village. As it is
shown that his father also lived at and cultivated
land near the old fort, it is barely possible that
his birthplace may have been at the latter. No
mention is made of a fort at the new village at
the time of its destruction by Captain Craig.

The same author says the stockades of the
"Old Fort" had been burned down as early as
August, 1779, when one Pat. Kennedy with a
company of adventures from Kaskaskia visited
the place, but the block-houses were then standing.

There is in the State Historical Library a
volume entitled "Mr. Patrick Kennedy's Journal
of an expedition undertaken by himself and sev-
eral Couriers de Bois in the year 177.?, from Kas-
kaskia Village in the Illinois country to the Head
Waters of the Illinois River," in which under
date of August 7 occurs this entry: "The morn-
ing being very foggy and the river overgrown
with weeds along its sides, we could make but
little way. About twelve o'clock we got to the
'Old Peorias Fort' and village on the western
shore of the river and at the southern end of a
lake called Illinois Lake, which is nineteen miles
and a half in length and three miles in breadth.

HISTORY OF I'EORIA COUNTY.

It has no rucks, shoals or perceivable current.
Wc found the stockades of this Peorias Fort de-
stroyed by fire, but the houses standing. The
summit on which the fort stood commands a fine
prospect of the country to the eastward and up
the lake to the point where the river comes in
at the north end." He then gives a description
of the topographical features of the place, in which
he makes the strange statement that on the eastern
side of the lake about the middle of it the chain
of rocks that extends from tlic back of the Kas-
kaskia to Cahokia Pia.'^a, the mouth of the Illinois
River terminates. Sucli wild statements as this
occurring throughout the book greatly impair its
historical value. But there seems to be no good
reason to doubt his ,'tatement of the condition
in which lie found the "Old Fort Peorias."

The weight of probability seems to be that
the "Old Fort" had been partially destroyed as
early as 1773; that soon thereafter in anticipa-
tion of a change of location of the village a new

fort had been erected at the foot of the lake;
that the old village was gradually abandoned,
leaving the buildings to be occupied by the In-
dians until they rotted down; that Jean Baptiste
Maillet took up his residence at the new fort,
witliin the precincts of which his son Hypolite
was born in the year 1778 or 1779; that it was
soon afterward attacked by Verville and de-
stroyed; that about 1781 tlie village was deserted
by its inhabitants, who did not return until peace
had been declared; that they rebuilt their village,
all the inhabitants of the "Old Village" having
come tlicre to live, but that they never rebuilt
their fort, it being their best policy to maintain
friendly relations with the Indians, and the re-
building of the fort might have been construed
into an act of hostility toward them. It is a
difficult task to undertake to reconcile these ap-
parently conflicting accounts, but the foregoing
seems to be a reasrnable deduction from the
different narratives.

CHAPTBR V.

INDIAN AFFAIRS— EXPEDITION OF CAPTAIN LEVERING— VISIT TO
GOMO CONFERENCE WITH CHIEFS AT PEORIA— 1811.

Governor Edwards had not long been in office,
as Governor of the Ilhnois Territory, before the
ominous clouds of an Indian war began to loom
up in the distance. Benjamin Howard was the
Governor of the territory of Upper Louisiana,
later Missouri.

On the night of the 19th of June, 1810, a most
daring murder had been committed by some In-
dians within the Territory of Louisiana near
Portage de Siou.x, which led to a great deal of
trouble. The Indians, having stolen some horses
in that vicinity, were pursued by a party of white
men, who, failing to capture them the first day,
bivouacked for the night. About two o'clock
in the morning, while quietly sleeping around
their camp-fire, they were fired upon by the In-
dians and four of their number, namely, C.
Gooch. Abraham Patten, W. T. Cole and Sar-
shall Brown, were inftantly killed. Two others
escaped to the settlements and reported the mas-
sacre. The proof being clear that the murder had
been committed by the Pottawatamies of Illi-
nois, a requisition was made by- Governor Howard
upon Governor Edwards to deliver them up to
the authorities of Louisiana for punishment. The
demand specifically natned, as one of the mur-
derers, an Indian named Cat Fish, who, it was
alleged, resided within the Illinois Territory, and
the same was accompanied by a note from Colonel
William Clark, United States agent for Indian
afifairs in Louisiana, a brother of General George
Rogers Clark, and afterward governor of the
territory. In that note Colonel Clark said that
Gomo, a Pottawatamie chief residing near Peoria,
in a council with him at St. Louis had said that
two of his nation, named O-ki-che-go-mis and
Ne-skad-na-mis, had belonged to the party of
■murderers; that they were attached to a band of

Pottawatamies who were under the influence of
the prophet, and resided on the Wabash.

Tecumseh, the great chief of the Shawnees,
was then at the height of his power, and this
Indian, called the Prophet, was his brother. At
that time he was roaming the country, visiting
tribe after tribe in his endeavors to incite a gen-
eral Indian uprising against the whites.

In the summer of 1811 great alarm began to
prevail among the settlers and many on the
frontiers began to quit their farms and to seek
safety in the more populous settlements. Gov-
ernor Edwards reported to the War Department
at Washington the serious aspect of affairs to-
gether with an account of the depredations being
committed by the Indians, such as the killing of
one young man named Co.k. the taking prisoner of
his sister, and her recapture by excited citizens,
the stealing of horses and the plundering of the
people of other property.

On June 30th of that year he reported having
received circumstantial accounts of certain horses
that were said to have been stolen by a party
of Pottawatamie Indians settled near Peoria, un-
der the chief named Main Pock, or Man Shot.
These, he says, are the .same Indians who com-
mitted the depredations which he had reported
the preceding summer. He also reported that
he had ordered out n few militia to make dis-
coveries and to resist the stragglers. He had
also dispatched a spy and was taking every means
in his power to ascertain what Indians they were
who committed the outrages on the Co.x family
and property. ( ' )

Instead of inciting the settlers to assume a
hostile attitude toward the Indians, it seems to

(1.) Edwards History of Illinois, pp. 235.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

have been the polfcy of both Governor Edwards
and Governor Howard to cuhivate the riiost
friendly relations with as many of the Indian
tribes as possible. A small force of militia who
occupied a block-house or small fort near the
mouth of the Illinois River, having imprudently
fired upon a company of Sacs, accompanied by a
Frenchman, this circumstance called forth a pro-
test from Governor Howard to Governor Ed-
wards, because the Sacs were then on friendly
terms with the whites in his territory. An ex-
planation from the officer in charge. William
Whitcsides, seems to have settled the matter, but
the incident shows how careful the authorities
were not to provoke the Indians into hostilities.

On the 24th of July, 181 1, Captain Samuel
Levering was commissioned by Governor Ed-
wards to proceed to the tribes on the Illinois
River to demand of them the authors of the mur-
der of the Cole party, as well as of the thefts
of property. To accomplish this purpose he, on
the 25th of July, 181 1, dispatched a boat to Peoria
under command of Levering with a crew consist-
ing of Captain Herbert, Henry Swearingen, N.
Rector, a Frenchman who passed for an inter-
preter, but who was in reality a spy, a Potta-
watamie named Wish-ha and eight oarsmen
named Pierre St. John, Pierre Laparche, Joseph
Trottier, Francis Pencenneau, Louis Bavano.
Thomas'Hall (alias Woods), Pierre Voedre and
Joseph Grammason, each of whom was armed
with a gun. Stopping at Portage de Siou.x, they
learned of the incidc-nt of the firing upon the
party of Sacs in the river. Nothing of importance
however, occurred until they arrived at Peoria
on the 3<i day of August, when they met Mr.
Thomas Forsyth, the Indian agent, who informed
Captain Levering that he had delivered to Gomo
a letter from Governor Clark in relation to the
murderers, and that Gomo had replied as though
he was disposed to surrender the offenders, but
that his will was ineffectual against the majority.

On the next day Jaques Mette, also a resi-
dent of Peoria, informed Captain Levering that
one of the Indians who had committed a murder
at Shoal creek was a Pottawatamie, who at that
time was at a village on Yellow creek about
ninety miles from Peoria, that another was at
Patourt or White Pigeon (now in the state of
Michigan) abo'it twelve miles on the road from
St. Joseph to Detroit, and that one of the party
that murdered Cox was twelve or fifteen miles
further on toward Detroit. From this statement
it will be seen that the Indians were no less
adroit in hiding criminals in the wilderness than

some of the same profession arc in hiding them
in the great cities at the present day. From
Peoria they sent a Mr. Fournier, whose name here
appears for the first time, to Gomo's village to
apprise him of the arrival of Captain Levering
with a letter to him from Governor Edwards.
Gomo had already learned of Captain Levering's
arrival, from an Indian who had gone in advance
of Fournier, and had informed Gomo that the
party consisted of fifty men. On account of their
supposed large number Gomo, notwithstanding
Fournier's representations to the contrary, re-
fused to come to meer Captain Levering without
an escort of fourteen of his own warriors.

On the morning of August 5th a United States
flag was seen at Gomo's lodge, a quarter of a
mile above Peoria on the lake, he having arrived
during the niglu. On receiving a message he
came to the quarters of Captain Levering, who
delivered to him the letter from Governor Ed-
wards. He replied that he would immediately re-
turn to his village and on the following morning
would prepare his young men and send them to
call the chiefs to a council, giving at the same
time the names of the following Pottawatamie
chiefs : Nang-ke-sapt or Fire Medals, at Elk-
hart, near Fort Wayne ; Topennyboy, on the
River St. Joseph ; Mo-quan-go, on the Qui-qui-
que (Kankakee) River; Wi-ne-mauge, or Cat
Fish, on the Wabash River. He said that Mar-
pock (Main Pock) and his principal chiefs had
gone to Detroit and probably would not return
until the fall. The chiefs of the towns on Fox
River resided at Milwaukee ; Little Chief, on
River Au Sable or Sand River : Maseno, or Gomo,
about seven leagues above Peoria : and Black
Bird, chief of the Ottawas, on the River Au Sable.
Gomo declared his wilingness to do all in his
power to render justice and to satisfy the Amer-
icans.

After parleying amongst themselves for some
time as to the proper method of pursuing their
mission, the party of Levering came to no definite
conclusion. On the next day they proceeded up
the river and arrived at an Indian village about
seven leagues from Peoria. Here their oarsmen
refused longer to work, saying they were not
hired to work at night — it being then about
dark. Captain Levering then engaged two In-
dians to take him and Mr. Fournier in a canoe
about four miles higher up the river to a creek
(doubtless the Senachewinc), from which place
they were conducted, through a moist and thick-
etty bottom, to Gomo's village, where they arrived
about eleven o'clock at night, and disturbed the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

great chief and the other Indians in their slutrt-
bcrs. The village may have occupied the same
site as that of Senachewine, located on the north
bank of the Senachewine not far from where the
Peoria and Bureau Valley Railroad crosses it.
The visitors were invited into the lodge — a bark
building twenty-five by fifty feet inside, tenanting
about thirty persons. There were scaffolds, from
six to seven feet long, six feet wide and five
feet high extending all around the building, on
which the Indians sat and slept — stretching them-
selves from the siding to the center. Captain
Levering and Mr. Fournier were invited to mount
those next to the ones occupied by Gomo and
his family. Although it was so very late, yet
Gomo"s wife hastened to bring in a dish of green
corn for their supper, and while they were eating
Gomo smoked his pipe. The men generally left
their sleeping places, squatted around two fires
in the center of the building, and out of respect
to the strangers all engaged in "the solemnity
of profound smoking."

On the next day, accompanied by Gomo and
another chief, they returned to .Peoria, where the
two chiefs. Gomo and Levering had a long con-
ference. Levering adroitly managing to prolong
the interview in order to give more time for the
other chiefs to arrive. During the delay which
followed. Captain Levering delivered two com-
missions — one to Thomas Forsj'th as justice of
the peace for the town of Peoria, and the other
to John Baptiste Depond. as captain of militia
for the same place — both of whom took the oath
of office.

At length, on the 15th of .\ugust, the chiefs
began to arrive. Miche Pah-ka-en-na, chief of the
Kickapoos, on that day called upon Captain Lev-
ering and expressed much friendship. On the
same day Gomo, Little Chief and others also
called. Little Chief said that he had come to
hear the words ' of his father (Governor Ed-
wards) and he hoped that they would be ali
told to them as they were written. Forsyth, who
was' to be the interpreter, took offense at this
remark, and replied with much warmth that if
they apprehended any deficiency they must get
another interpreter.

Little Chief was a talkative fellow and some-
what inclined to sarcasm, and withal quite jealous
of the forms of etiquette due to his exalted sta-
tion. Seeing no provisions made by the Govern-
ment of the United States for the entertainment
of the chiefs, he said to Captain Levering that
if the representatives of his nation had come to
his (Little Chiefs) village he w'ould have fur-

nished them with a cabin and plenty to eat. and
as he had come to hear the words of his father
he wished to know where he should lodge. Cap-
tain Levering replied that the white men were
aggrieved and had sent him to talk with the In-
dians ; that he was a sojourner and a stranger
among them, but as he had invited them to
Peoria he would furnish them a house, although
being in a strange place and unprovided he
could not give them the kind and quality of pro-
visions equal to his wishes. The result was that
Little Chief committed a deliberate insult to the
American flag (one of which had been given
him by Captain Heald. at Chicago, to carry with
him to St. Louis) by hanging it on the fence
with the Union dow.i. Captain Levering there-
upon addressed a letter to the chief, complaining
of this insult to his government and telling them
that they must turn their flag and have it placed
properly, or he would immediately leave with-
out delivering "our father's great talk."' The
next morning the flag was seen "Union up."

On the l6th of August, being informed that
the Indians were on their way to the room where
the council was to be held. Captain Levering in-
vited the inhabitants of ^eoria to attend. Then
in company with Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Rector. Mr.
Swearingen and Captain Herbert he repaired to
the council, which he opened with the following
address :

"Brothers. Chiefs. Warriors — The weather is
cloudy. In the region south and west of this
you will see none moving — all having drawn
toward their cabins ir. apprehension of a storm.
But our father who presides over the tribes be-
tween the Mississippi and the Wabash, being a
good man. has sent me to invite you under his
shelter to smoke a pipe in profund meditation —
having our ears open to the voice of the Great
Spirit, and our hearts disposed to obey his dic-
tates — to see whether all may not subside, be
calm, fair and cheerful. But first let us smoke
a pipe and then attend to the talk of our father."

The conference then proceeded with all the
deliberation and dignity which has recently char-
acterized the proceedings of the meetings of the
peace commission at Paris. Captain Levering
first presented Governor Edwards' letter ad-
dressed "To the Chief and Warriors of the
tribes of Pottawatamies residing on the Illinois
River and. its waters in the Territory of Illinois."
This remarkable document consisted of eighteen
distinct paragraphs, each one commencing with
the words. "My Children." and was signed
"Your Affectionate Father, Xinian Edzcards."

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

On account of its great length very short
extracts from this letter must serve to give an
idea of the whole. It commences as follows :

"My Children, you are now met together, by
my desire, on a very important occasion. You
are now to be asked to do an act of justice.
Should you refuse, it may once more involve the
red and white brethren in all the horrors of a
bloody war. On the other hand, if you should
perform what justice itself calls for, it will
brighten the chain of friendship, which has for a
long time united the red people with their white
brethren of the United States."

He then tells them that our Great Father,
the President, had faithfully kept all treaties with
them ; that he had endeavored to make his red
and white cliildren live as one great family,
loving and obliging one another, and had al-
ways forbidden his white children to do any
harm to their red brethren.

He then tells them of a number of depreda-
tions upon the property of the white settlers and
the murders they had committed, for whfch he
demands satisfaction; and concludes as follows:
''My children, the blood of those innocent men
who have been wounded and murdered cries
-aloud to the Great Spirit for vengeance. The
hearts of their relations and brethren bleed with
sorrow. The fire of revenge flames in their
hearts and they thirst for blood." * * * *

"My Children, now open your ears to hear
my words, and let them sink deep into your
hearts. If you wish for peace with us you must
do us justice. If you disapprove those murders
and other outrages that have been committed,
}-ou must deliver up the offenders, for if you
harbor among you such deadly enemies to us you
cannot be our friends, and you ought not to ex-
pect our friendship.' ********

''My Children, your Great Father, the Presi-
dent of the United States, has nothing to fear
from wars, but he wishes to be at peace with you
because he loves you and wishes lo make you
happy. You ought n try to merit his kindness
and avoid his resentment." ******

"My Children, let justice be done: let all
cause of quarrel be removed and let us live like
brothers."

After the reading of this Icter the council
adjourned until the following day. at which time
Gomo made his reply on behalf of the Pottawat-
amies. We have not been informed whether this
was an extempore effort on his part or whether
it had previously been reduced to writing by some
interpreter or amanuen.sis. We have it. however,

in good English, and it is a no less remarkable
document than the letter of the governor.

After a very appropriate exordium lie pro-
ceeds as follows :

"You see the color of our skin. The Great
Spirit, when he made and disposed of man,
placed the red .skins in this land, and those
who wear hats on the other side of the big waters.
When the Great Spirit placed us on this ground
we knew of nothing but what was furnished to
us by nature ; we made use of stone a.xes, stone
knives and earthen vessels, and clothed our-
selves from the skins of the beasts of the forest.
Yet we were contented When the French first
made large canoes they crossed the wide waters
to this country, and on first seeing the red peo-
ple they were rejoiced. They told us that we
must consider ourselves as children of the French,
and they would be our Father ; the country was
a good one, and they would exchange goods for
skins. Formerly we all lived in one large vil-
lage. In that village was only one chief,
but since our intercourse with the whites, there
are almost as many chiefs as we have young
men "*************

"If we are fools the whites are the cause
of it. From the commencement of their wars
(French and English) they used many persua-
sions with the Indians; they made them presents
of merchandise in order to get them to join and
assist in their battles — since which time there
have always been fools among us, and tlic whites
are blamable for it."

When the old chief had become thoroughly
warmed up by a long recital of the grievances
suffered by the Indians he continued as follows:

"Now listen to me well in what I have to say
to you. The red skins have delivered up their
offenders. Some time ago one of our young men
was drunk at St. Louis and was killed liy an
-American. .'\t another time .some persons stole
a horse near Cahokia ; the citizens of the village
followed the trail, met an innocent Kickapoo and
killed him. Last fall, on the other side, and
not far from Fort Wayne, a Wyandotte Indian set
fire to a prairie ; a settler came out and inquired
of him how he came to set it on fire; the Indian
answered that he was hunting ; the settler struck
the Indian and continued to beat him till they
were parted, when another settler shot the Indian.
This summer a Chippeway Indian at Detroit was
looking at a gun ; it went off accidentally and
shot an .-\mcrican. The Cliippeway was demand-
ed, delivered up and executed. Is this the way
that General Wayne exhibits his charity to the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

red skins? Whenever an instance of this kind
happens it is usual ior the red skins to regard
it :.s an accident."

Then, after reciting other grievances, he con-
tinues:

■'Whenever the United States make tiie In-
dians presents they afterward say that v/e must
give them sucli a tract of land, and after a good
ma.iy presents they then ask a larger piece. That
is the way we have been served. This is the way
of extending to us charity.

"Formerly, when the French were here, they
made us large presents; so have the English,
but the Americans, in giving their presents, have
always asked a piece of land in return. Such has
been the treatment of the Americans.

"If the whites had kept on the other side
of the waters these accidents could not have hap-
pened ; we could not have crossed the wide
waters to have killed them there, but they have
come here and turned the Indians into confusion.
If an Indian goes into their village, like a dog
he is hunted and threatened with death."

After some further remarks in explanation
of how some of the alleged outrages may have
been committed by the young men who were dis-
satisfied with the situation, but were unknown to
the chiefs, he concluded his long address, where-
upon the council adjourned until the following
day.

Before the company had dispersed, however,
Gomo, in a laughing way, said, "We have had
long talks ; will not a little whisky enable us to
sleep?" His request was gratified, and they all
went to their lodgings.

It was now the third day of the council and
Little Chief was to speak for his people. Much
of what he had to say was in the same strain as
the speech of Gomo. A few extracts must suf-
fice to characterize the whole. He began as
follows :

"Listen to me. my friends, if you wish to
know the ideas and sentiments of the chiefs and
warriors here present to-day. Give the same at-
tention to my words that I did to those of yester-
day. At the conclusion of the American and
Indian wars the Americans asked us to remain
at peace and in quietness. I and my warriors
have always observed the advice." * * * *

"At the peace of Greenville it was agreed on
both sides to deliver up all the prisoners ; I my-
self ran from town to town gathering all, and
General Wayne said, 'Now all is completed, and
hereafter we will see which of us (red or white)
will first take up the tomahawk. It shall now

be buried.' But from your talk of yesterday you
threatened to make war against us ; to cut off
our women and children. You astonish us with
your talk. When you do us harm, nothing is
done; but when we do anything, you immediately
tie us up by the neck." ********

"You see the situation of the Pottawatamies,
Chippeways and Ottawas to-day. The Shawnee
Prophet, the man whc talks with the Father of
Light, blames us for not listening to him. You
do the same. We are like a bird in tho bush,
beset, and not knowing which way to fly for
safety — whether to the right or to the left. If
our young men behave ill to-day, you may blame
the Shawnee Prophet for it." * * * * »

"Behold the Shawnee Prophet, that man who
talks with the Great Spirit and teaches the In-
dians to pray and look to God. But as for us we
do not believe him. We wish to chase our deer
and live in peace with the American." * » *

' Observe, my friends, since our peace with
the Americans we have been and still are a poor
people. We have not ei'cn a piece of ribbon to
tic our speech. I have finished."

This was the last speech ever made by Little
Chief in a council with the whites, for in a few
months thereafter he died and was succeeded bj'
a chief named Pepper.

After the conclusion of the address of Little
Chief, Captain Levering addressed a few words
to tlie chiefs, saying that as they had spoken upon
many subjects he wished to have time to look
over them and also to put his words on paper,
that he might show them to his father (the Good
at Kaskaskia.)

After offering eacii other the hand of friend-
ship they separated until the next day. Then
Captain Levering made another long address, in
which he endeavored to disabuse the minds of
the chiefs both with regard to the treaty of
Greenville and the alleged injustice of the whites
to the Indians.

At its conclusion Little Chief said. "My friend,
I request you now to take the names of the
chiefs and warriors, rhat you may show to your
father in Kaskaskia how ready we have beeri to
attend to his words."

On August i8th the Sac chief. Little Sturgeon,
called on Captain Levering, who explained to him
the circumstance and cause of Captain White-
sides having fired on some of his nation on the
Mississippi river. Tho council then reassembled
and after Captain Levering had given his advice
Gomo said. "We have listened with patient at-
tention, and I hope that the Great Master of

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Light was nolicing it. When the Master of
Light made man he endowed those who wore hats
with every gift, art and knowledge. The red
skins, as you see. Hve in lodges and on the wilds
of nature."

The council then adjourned sine die. Gomo
delivered up two of the stolen horses. Little
Chief agreed to deliver two more to Captain

Heald at Chicago, and Gomo said that he would
endeavor to h;ive them all returned as soon as
they could be found. They also gave informa-
tion of the whercaboL.ls of the murderers of the
Colo party, but they were never c'elivered up.
Thus Darren of results came to an end the great
council at Peoria.

CHAPTER VI.

THE WAR OF 1812— EXPEDITION OF GOVERNOR EDWARDS
—DESTRUCTION OF BLACK PARTRIDGE'S VIL-
LAGE—BURNING OF PEORIA.

The country had by this time become thor-
oughly aroused by the evidences of an impend-
ing Indian war. Inasmuch as Peoria was the
chosen rendezvous of the hostile tribes, and, from
their exposed position its inhabitants were obliged
to maintain an apparently friendly attitude toward
the Indians, the village came in for its full share
of public opprobrium. In the latter part of the
summer of 1811 the citizens of St. Clair County
held a public meeting, at which they adopted an
address to the Governor in which, after setting
forth in bitter terms the depredations committed
upon them by the Indians, they recommended as
a precautionary measure the erection of a fort
or block-house near the mouth of the Missouri or
the Illinois River and another at llie seditious
Tillage of Peoria (commonly called Opa), the
great nursery of hostile Indians and traitorous
British Indian traders. This address was for-
warded by Governor Edwards to the War Depart-
ment under date of October n. 181 1. On the
7lh of November of the same year the battle of
Tippecanoe was fought, at which the Indians
were defeated by the forces under General Will-
iam Henry Harrison. Governor Edwards, well
understanding the Indian character, truly pre-
dicted that, in retaliation for their defeat, they
would divide themselves up into hostile maraud-
ing bands to prey upon the property of the whites.

On the 25th of January. 1812. the Governor
reported to the Secretary of War that he had in-
vited Gomo and other chiefs to a conference and
had sent a messenger to him for that purpose.
At the same time he recommended the breaking
up of the Indian settlements by volunteer ex-
peditions of mounted riflemen. He then says:
"Without this or a garrison at Peoria, or some
other measure of offense, a great number of our
inhabitants will, without doubt, be forced to

abandon their settlements. Peoria is the great
highway through which all the Illinois Indians
and all those about Lake Michigan make their
incursions into this country, and the latter In-
dians derive great encouragement from the asylum
which the villages on the Illinois affords them."

Being thoroughly convinced of the hostile at-
titude of the Indians and of the great necessity
for the adoption of vigorous measures of defense,
Governor Edwards became very importunate in
his demands upon the government for the assist-
ance he deemed necessary, but failed to receive
the encouragement hoped for.

On the loth of Fvibruary. 1812. he addressed
a letter to Governor Howard, of Missouri, set-
ting forth his grievances in the following lan-
guage : "I have portrayed in the strongest colors
the dangers of the negative state we are in (being
neither at war nor peace). I have pressed the
necessity of an expedition against the bands of
Illinois, who still retain among them the mur-
derers and refuse to deliver them up, or make
any satisfaction for their depredations, and I have
advised that there should be a strong garrison at
Peoria : I have stated the universal terror that
pervades and is desolating the territory : I have
solicited the aid of two regular companies of
backwoods riflemen, with a view to put them in
two stations on the frontiers, from which parties
as spies in all directions shall be constantly de-
tached, always taking care to leave enough to
defend the station : in fact I have said so much
on the subject of danger and the necessities of
preparation that I derive great consolation from
being fortified by your opinions, for I was grow-
ing afraid that my representations might iie at-
tributed to timidity, seeing that the papers in all
directions held a contrary language."

The year 1812 opened with such a threatening

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

attitude on the part of the Indians that both Gov-
ernor Edwards and Governor Howard determined
to order out a force of rangers sufficient to pro-
tect the frontiers. On March 23d the latter re-
ported to tlie War Department that he had re-
ceived communications from Chicago, Peoria and
Fort Madison, which left no rational doubt of
the decidedly hostile views of the major part of
the Indians between the lakes and the Mississippi
River. Early in the spring of the same year
Thomas Forsyth had descended the Illinois River
to St Louis to consult with Governor Howard,
and had also gone to Kaskaskia to see Governor
Edwards. He had laid open to them the whole
condition of Indian affairs in relation to the ap-
proaching war, which seemed inevitable, so that
they might make due preparations for that event.
Prior to that time he had sent a confidential
Frenchman, named Antoine Le Pance. to St.
Louis to communicate to the officer in conmiand
at that place information of a meditated attack
upon it by the Sacs and Fox Indians, and thereby
in a great measure prevented that calamity.

After one failure Governor Edwards suc-
ceeded in having a conference in person with the
chiefs of the various tribes at Cahokia in the
month of April, but without any better results
than at that of Peoria.

The importance at this time attached by Gov-
ernor Edwards to Peoria as a strategic point, as
well as his estimate of the character and services
of Thomas Forsyth, may be gleaned from the
following letter written by him to the Secretary
of War under date of May 16, 1812 : "Mr.
Forsyth, of Peoria, left my house yesterday. He
thinks the murderers will be delivered up. He is
a very intelligent, gentlemanly man, has a perfect
knowledge of the Indians, and would make a
first rate agent, but he positively refuses to take
$700 per annum and one ration per day for his
services as sub-agent, which I understand was
what General Clark was authorized to offer him.
Finding him decided on this point and determined
to go to Detroit on his private business. I offered
to pay him an increase of $200 per annuin and
two rations per day out of my private funds
(providing the government would not increase
his salary), if he would staj' — believing, as I do.
that Peoria is now the most important point
to collect information of every kind calculated
for our success, and to facilitate our intercourse
with and command a control over the Indians.
I am not bound for the above mentioned in-
crease of salary any longer than I can hear from
you on the subject, but I should be very happy

if you would take the trouble of making some
inquiries of General Clark, whom you will shortly
see. He is personally acquainted with Mr.
Forsyth, and knows the importance of the point
at which the services are required.

"I believe Peoria to be the most eligible point
at or near the frontier of the United States, that
could be occupied. It is more central to a great
number ai the Indians, and it is not so remote
from our settlements but that they would derive
nearly as much security from troops there as if
they were nearer — thus combining the usual ad-
vantages of troops at such places with the positive
protection of our frontiers, which is never the
case where garrisons are fixed too far in the in-
terior of the Indian country."

The controversies between the United States
and Great Britain had now reached a crisis, with
which the Indians seem to have been even more
fully acquainted than the people of Illinois. Brit-
ish emissaries were i'mong them endeavoring by
every possible means to excite tliem to hostility
against the Americans, in which endeavors they
were eminently successful.

On the 19th of June, 1812, war was de-
clared to exist between the two nations. It re-
quired some time, probably three or four weeks,
for the news of this event to reach Governor Ed-
wards. In the nieaniime he was collecting in-
formation from all possible quarters and report-
ing the same to the Secretary of War. He claimed
that his information in regard to the movements
of the Indians was so definite that he knew not
only of their contemplated raid upon the white
settlements, but that he was also apprised' of the
very day when the movement was to take place.
This information he had doubtless obtained from
Thomas Forsyth, Antoine Le Clair and other con-
fidential agents residing at Peoria or elsewhere
among the Indians. On June 23d he reported
seven hundred Indians at Peoria, who with their
boats and canoes could transport themselves to
Kaskaskia, the then capital, in four or five days.
On August 4th he reports : "It is now well un-
derstood at Peoria that the Indians are for war,
and are only waiting for directions from the
British. They contemplate an attack upon four
different points at the same time; one party
Tand a very strong one, too) is to attack the set-
tlements on the Mississippi, another party (those
east of Lake Michigan) to join General Hull's
army, another to attack Chicago and another to
attack the Indiana Territory. Those near Peoria
are constantly killing and eating the cattle of
that village."

C^>^-9•«/V^A^ ^y ^

O-UAxcvw

HISTORY OF PEORTA COUNTY.

During ihe summer Governor Edwards, with
what troops he had at his disposal, established a
cordon of defense across the state which was con-
stantly patrolled by mounted riflemen or rangers,
but Peoria was too far north to receive any benefit
from this measure of defense, and its people, for
their own safety, were obliged to maintain as
peaceful an attitude toward the Indians as was
possible.

The war in the northwest was now raging in
all its fury. On July 17th Fort Mackinac_ had
fallen. On August 4th the Ohio volunteers were
defeated at Brownstown ; on the 15th of the same
month the terrible massacre took place at Chi-
cago, and on the next day General Hull sur-
rendered Detroit to General Brock, of the British
army.

The news of these disasters coming thick and
fast upon the people of the territories, it became
apparent that the most vigorous measures of de-
fense must be adopted. In regard to these there
was some difference of opinion between Governor
Edwards, of Illinois, and Governor Harrison, of
Indiana. On August 26th the former reported
that he could not agree with Governor Harrison
with regard to the establishment of a chain of
forts. "I would recommend a different one. I
would march an army to Peoria and there estab-
lish a fort, thence to the Wisconsin and establish
another and thus co-operate with the Michigan
army, whose operations will tend to check the
British from going among the Indians, while
ours would eflfectually prevent the Indians from
going to them."

On September 6th he wTote from Camp Rus-
sell that he was at the head of a considerable de-
tachment of militia he had ordered out for the
defense of the territory; that in con.sequence of
an order from Governor Harrison, Colonel Rus-
sell, with Captain Broderats' company of rangers,
start the same day to Vincennes and "thus leave
us without the aid of a single man, who has not
been raised in this territory, while there seems
to be a large force concentrated there."

He therefore concluded to organize an ex-
pedition on his own responsibility with what
forces he could command in the territory, to
march to the head of Lake Peoria and there at-
tack the Indians. Having been imexpectedly
joined, by Colonel Russell with about fifty men,
who, together with his own constituted a force
of four hundred and sixty, he marched up Cahokia
creek, crossed the Sangamon some distance east of
Springfield, left Elkhart Grove to the left and
marched in a direct line northward across the

prairies to the head of Peoria Lake; there he
destroyed the village of Black Partridge and re-
turned to Camp Russell, having been absent just
thirteen days from the date of his departure on
the eighteenth day of October. This expedition
proved to be one of very great importance to
Peoria, for within a very few days after the ex-
ploit of the Governor at the head of the lake,
the village was sacked and partially burned and
its inhabitants carried away captive by one Cap-
tain Thomas Craig, who was in command of a
company of soldiers. Craig had been dispatched
up the river to co-operate with the forces under
the Governor and to carry provisions and the
necessary tools for the building of a fort at
Peoria.

Governor Edwards had no occasion to send a
force again.st the French inhabitants of Peoria,
wliom he knew to be friendly; his expedition was
wholly against the Indians, and Craig's depreda-
tions upon the whites were wholly w-ithout au-
thority from him. As the commonly received re-
ports of this transaction are very misleading and
do great injustice to the Governor, the following
official documents are given entire.

Upon his arrival at Camp Russell Captain
Craig addressed the following note to the Gov-
ernor under date of November i6th, two weeks
after the return of the land expedition :

Camp Russell, Nov. 16. 1812.
Dear Sir : — This comes to inform you that I
have arrived last evening from Peoria, and am at
a loss to know what to do, as I have a number
of the inhabitants of that place as prisoners with
me, and a considerable quantity of property of
different Sioux chiefs. I wish very much to see
you or hear from you as soon as po^silile. I
am, dear sir.

Your most obdt.,

Thom.\s E. Cr.mg.

Under date of November i8th tlic Governor
made a report to the Secretary of War, wherein,
after detailing his operations during the sunmier,
he gives the following account of his ex[)edition
to Lake Peoria :

"When I found that the Indians had retired
from our frontier I began to prepare for an ex-
pedition against them, being fully convinced that
I could so regulate it as to surprise them in their
villages at the head of Peoria Lake. .At this
time I counted on no assistance or forces what-
ever, beyond what I had raised in the territory,
but after every preparation was made, and the day

HISTORY OF PEOKJA COUNTY.

of our departure fixed on. I received a letter from
Colonel Russell proposing to nie an expedition
somewhat similar, and promising to come on be-
fore the day I had appointed for marching. He
accordingly arrived, viith a part of tv^fo com-
panies of rangers, consisting of fifty privates and
their officers, and tendered me his services,
which I gladly accepted by appointing hini sec-
ond in command — well knowing and duly ap-
preciating his great experience in Indian war-
fare and his merits as a military officer.

"Through him I also learnt that General Hop-
kins was to march to Peoria with at least fwo
thousand mounted volunteers, and would arrive
at that place about the time I expected to be at
the head of Peoria Lake.

"In consequence of this latter informatio'n, as
an addition to my original plan, I sent one com-
pany of volunteers, with two boats, to Peoria —
one of them being well fortified and the other
carrying as much provisions as I could collect,
and the necessary tools to enable General Hopkins
to build a fort at that place, provided he chose to
do so; or, otherwise, to build it myself under'
cover of his army whilst it was inarching, as he
proposed it should do, up the Illinois River.

"On the i8th of October, having made ar-
rangements for the defense of the frontier in my
absence, and leaving a force which, under exist-
ing circumstances, I deemed adequate to that
object, I commenced my march with about four
hundred mounted volunteers. On our way we
burnt two Kickapoo villages, on the Saline fork
of Sangamon River — till which time I had per-
mitted it to be understood that I intended \o
march to Peoria and cross the Illinois at that
place. But as my plan was entirely a different
one I then thought it advisable to call a council
of officers and unfold to them my real views and
intentions, in which, they all concurring, we
marched with uncommon rapidity to a large vil-
lage at the head of Peoria Lake, inhabited by
Kickapoos and Miamias." The Governor then at
length gives a detailed account of the destruction
of the village.

"The pursuit and fight over, we returned to
the village, which, with a great quantity of pro-
visions and other valuable Indian property, we
burnt and otherwise destroyed. We brought off
with us about eighty head of horses and four
prisoners, having killed, according to the Indian
accounts frequently given, between twenty-four
and thirty Indians, without the loss of a single
man. and having only one wounded, which, in
my opinion, was entirely owing to the charge that

was made upon the enemy, as they were run so
hard that when they attempted to form they were
out of breath and could not shoot with sufficient
accuracy.

"Not meetitig or hearing from Hopkins, and
knowing that my force was too weak and our
horses too much fatigued to attempt anything
further, I detached a party the next day to
Peoria to leave directions for the captain who
commanded the boats to return as speedily as
possible. This party burnt another village that
had been lately built within a half-mile of Peoria
by the Miamias, and we all returned to my head-
quarters at Camp Russell after a tour of thirteen
days only.

"The boats did not return until the 15th inst.,
which has delayed tliis communication to this
time."

It is said that upon receipt of Craig's letter
of November i6th, the Governor ordered the re-
lease of the prisoners, which was done at Sav-
age's Ferry, opposite the mouth of the Missouri
River, when Craig arrived at that place. Craig
proceeded to Shawneetown, from which point
he had started, where, under date of December
loth, he made his formal report, in which he en-
deavors to explain his reasons for the destruction
of the village. It will be observed, however, that
Craig does not claim to have arrived at Peoria
until November 5th, at which time Governor
Edwards was at Camp Rus.sell, fully one hundred
and fifty miles away, having heard nothing from
Craig since his departure on the i8th of October.

The report which follows is characteristic of
the brutality of the entire transaction. It shows
that in the absence of the people Craig sacked
the town and afterward burned it and took the
inhabitants prisoners.

Shawneetown. 111. Ter., Dec. 10, 1812.
Governor Edwards :

Sir: — No chance sooner has offered for the
conveyance of a letter to you. Since my return
home I felt anxious to communicate the charges
I have against Thomas Forsyth & Company of the
citizens of Peoria. Forsyth, from every appear-
ance, was chief commander. Sir, agreeable to
your orders, I went to Peoria with my company
on board the boats placed under my command.
I landed at Peoria on the 5th day of November
and left that place on the 9th. On my way, not
far below Peoria, I met two canoes loaded mostly
with squaws and children, accompanied by five
men. They were brought to the boats. They
said they were running from the Indians on their

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

way to Partushdism. I kept one of the men on
board my boat the balance past. This was a
Frenchman, called Polete; he said the Indians
had told him what our men had done, etc., and
that they had seen Benet and Nail with you, and
on that account had got mad with the French.

After fixing out my sentinels at Peoria at a
proper distance I marched my company through
the village, where I found the doors of the
houses open and all the property left appeared
like entire loss to the owners. I hourly expected
you or General Hopkins' army at that place. I
thought the property they had left might be taken
as a prize. I thought no men more deserving
than my own ; all the property that could be found
was put on board the boats. We made use of
some pork and ate the fowls; the pork I paid
for. On the evening of the same day I landed
there I was anchored in the river or lake opposite ;
at dark I saw a canoe with six men about one
mile below me ; they appeared to be in great haste.
I thought them to be Indians, as they appeared
to shun us. I sent some men and had them
brought to the boats. They were the company of
Forsyth. I unarmed them and took them on
board the boats. They told me that Forsyth had
sent them on to see what we were doing. At the
same time he might have come himself or writ-
ten to me by them. This is the first I had ever
heard of his coming. He was then a little dis-
tance below Peoria. The next morning his men
wanted to meet him. I released four and kept
two. The evening after, Forsyth came with
about twenty-five men and all the squaws and
children we had met. After going through the
proper ceremony was permitted to pass. From
the recommendation I had got of Mr. Forsyth I
was glad to see him. They took up their dwell-
ing in town, I suspect, as usual.

I asked Forsyth if he would anchor in the
lake with me that night. He said not. I asked
him if he was not afraid of the Indians. He said
they were all gone, and he apprehended no dan-
ger, and I believe none of the citizens, from their
actions. The sentinels on board my boats could
hear and see them passing through town with
candles, and hear canoes crossing the river all
night for several nights. We would land in the
morning to cook, and see fresh horse-tracks in
town. There is no doubt but they were Indians.
Forsyth and myself were in company every day.
On the third day Forsyth made application for the
property we had got in town. He said it be-
longed to him and the citizens. I, without hesita-
tion, landed the boats and let them take all they

claimed, except some of my own cooking tools
and the peltry and property that came of Lecroix
(Le Croix) and Besong"s house, as I was told
they were in Canada, trading with the British.
This property I hold as a prize for the use of
the company — tho' sub;ect to your orders. Forsyth
and myself lived in this way, I thought perfectly
friendly, for six or seven days. I am convinced
the French knew of your return, and did tell him,
but not me. They were in council every day,
and did detain Governor Howard's express against
his will after my letting him have rations to
bring him down. I asked Mr. Forsyth when he
expected you at that place. He said he was con-
vinced that you were about ninety miles above
Peoria, at a place called Flat Island, and would
be there in the course of six or seven days.
About midnight of the 6th of November the wind
blew so hard in the lake that we were forced to
drop the boats about one-quarter of a mile below
Peoria. We there cast anchor; the wind still
continued to blow with such force that it broke
our cable and drifted the armed boat on shore.
It was at that time very dark, and our anchor
lost. I thought myself secure, as it was impossi-
ble for the Indians to discover us before daylight,
except they were in town at the time we passed.
Betwixt the break of day and daylight I opened
the cabin door and was talking with the sentinel
on the stern deck ; we had spoke but a few words
before we were fired on, by, I think, ten or more
guns, not more than thirty yards from the boat.
The men were instantly fixed for battle, but
were more disappointed, as they made their escape
immediately. We only heard them yelp after the
fire. So soon as it was clear daylight I had the
boats landed, about the center of the village, and
sent to know what bad become of the citizens.
They said they had heard nor seen nothing. I
then sent to the place from which we were fired
on. There were tracks plenty leading from that
place to the village. This was what I expected.
I instantly had them all taken prisoners, except
Howard's express. They were all in Forsyth's
house with their guns. Their guns appeared to
be just fired; the most of them were empty.
I gave them time to collect their property, which
was done immediately. Forsyth said his cattle
would be lost. I told him to take four of his men
and hunt his cattle; that I would wait two days
longer, and that he might drive them through
the way he said he wanted to take them. He
said it was too late, his cattle were gone, etc.
Howard's express came on board my boat and
told me that seven of the citizens went out, they

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

said to hunt beef, that morning we were tired
on. They started about the break o£ day and
returned by daylight. He said perhaps there were
more, for they never would let him know what
they were going to do, and would talk together
in his absence. He said he wanted to come with
the six men in the canoe, but Forsyth would not
let him. We staid two days after they were taken
prisoners. I made them furnish their own rations
all the time I kept them. 1 burnt down about
half the town of Peoria, and should have burnt
the whole and destroyed the stock, but still ex-
pected Hopkins' army to pass that place. There
was a keg of powder buried in Lecroix's house.
While burning down, I found four American mus-
kets in their possession and one keg of musket-
balls, and one musket in Forsyth's house under
the floor, and some brass musket-moulds. On our
way down the river they were all unarmed ; I
gave them permission to camp on shore while I
anchored in the river. They always preferred the
Indian side for their camping-ground. Forsyth
appeared sulky and obstinate ; in fact, every
part of his conduct gave rise to the strongest
suspicion of his not being a friend, and, in short,
I am well convinced that the citizens done noth-
ing but what he was knowing, too; he claimed
property after refusing to take it at Peoria. He
got all his property, and, I am afraid, more.
He and the rest of the dam'd rascals may think
themselves well off that they were not scalped.
I find it impossible for me to describe his con-
duct in a proper manner. I have been very un-
well since my return home. I can scarcely sit up
to write you, but mending.

I have the honor to be, sir, your Innuljlc
servant, Thos. E. Cr.mg.

His Excellency, Ninian Edwards, Governor and

Commander-in-chief, etc., of Illinois Territory,

Elvirade."

For some reason probalily not yet fully known
the forces under General Hopkins did not, as was
expected, form a junction with those under Gov-
ernor Edwards and Colonel Russell.

One of the companies under Governor Ed-
wards was that of Samuel Judy, composed of
spies or scouts, in which were enrolled two future
governors of the state of Illinois, John Reynolds
and Thomas Carlin. Governor Reynolds has left
an account of the affair which deals in personal
reminiscences and striking incidents of the cam-
paign rather than in its general scope and results,
all of which would add interest to this narrative
if space would permit.

In an historical view of Peoria published by
S. De Wit Drown in 1851, at a time when a spir-
ited contest was being waged by the heirs of the
French settlers for the recovery of their ancient
possessions, there appears a petition to congress
dated at St. Louis, December 20, 1813, for a re-
dress of the grievances connnitted by Captaia
Craig at Peoria and signed by thirteen known,
inhabitants of Peoria at the time of its destruc-
tion. Mr. Drown claims to have received the
same from the attorneys representing said heirs.
Among the signers are Thomas For.syth, Hypolite
Maillet, .\ntoine Le Clair, Antoine Bourbonne,
Antoine La Pance. This document after setting,
forth the exposed situation of the inhabitants,
the depredations committed upon thcni and the
threats of the Indians to massacre them, their
services to the government in imparting infor-
mation of the movements and intentions of the
Indians, for which they had been so severely up-
braided by them, together with their loyalty in
remaining at Peoria against all these adverse cir-
cumstances for the very purpose of aiding and
assisting the government, goes on to state the
fads relating to the destruction of the village, as
follows: "We still wishing to hold our ground
at Peoria, knowing full well the assistance we
could render to our country in giving informa-
tion of the Indians at all times, but at a time
when there were only a few men in Peoria vil-
lage (the others having come down to this coun-
try on business) the Kickapoos and Piankeshavv
Indians robbed our houses of all the arms and.
ammunition that were to be lound, as also all.
kinds of w'earing apparel, and while the few
people who were so left at Peoria had fled from
the enraged Indians, two boats under Captain.
Craig, of Shazi'iiectown, arrived at Peoria and
emptied our houses and out-houses of every kind
of property that was portable, and put them on
board the boats. When we returned to Peoria
we asked Captain Craig for our property ; some
was returned and the remainder detained and
never returned to us. The Indians having fired
on Captain Craig's boats, we were all made pris-
oners and disarmed by him amounting to forty-
two men, women and children. We asked per-
mission to kill sonic cattle and hogs for our
winter provisions which Captain Craig refused,,
and he and his men killed the hogs for their
own use, besides burning four houses and four
barns, two of the barns containing wheat. We
were brought down prisoners to Savage's Ferry
[which is opposite the mouth of the Missouri-
River. — Ed.], in Illinois Territory, where an or—

if^ Maj^e^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

tJcr from Governor Edwards liberated us, with
the loss of a great deal of property, as we were
obliged to leave at Peoria all our cattle amount-
ing to upwards of two hundred head, besides
hogs, etc., and a large quantity of corn, it being
too late in the season for us to return to Peoria.
The cattle, corn, etc., fell into the hands of the
Indians, who destroyed all the cattle, etc., besides
burning all our houses and out-houses."

After urging other reasons for redress the peti-
tioners say: "We have been liberated, but in the
mcantiine we have been stripped of our ordinary
means of subsistence and are now thrown upon
the world without the common necessaries of life
and many are now living on the generosity of
other people."

The circumstances under which this petition
was penned would seem to suggest that the peti-
tioners would have put forth their strongest
grounds of complaint; yet they are very tame
in comparison with an account of the same
transactions appearing in the works of Mr. N.
Matson. There are, however, many circumstances
well authenticated which go far to corroborate
Air. Matson's statements in the main.

It cannot at this day be denied that the des-
truction of Peoria was a wanton outrage coin-
mited on his own responsibility by Captain
Thomas E. Craig, while in command of a com-
pany of volunteers in the service of the Territorial
government. Thus ended the occupancy by the
French of Peoria or Le Ville de Maillet. It is
said by some that a portion of the inhabitants
afterward returned and took up their residence at
that place, and some French names appearing in
the early history of Peoria County would lead to
that conclusion. But it was never again occu-
pied by them as a distinct community, and with
the destruction of the village the last remnant of
French occupancy came to an end.

Since the foregoinsj was written the following
report of Colonel Ru-sell to General Gibson, act-
ing governor of Indiana Territory, has been dis-
covered in a copy of The Reporter, published at
Washington. Pennsylvania. November 12, 1812,
copied by it from the Pitls'burgh Gazette, and
exhibited to the editor of the Peoria Transcript,
January 2, 1873, by J. B. Cleaver, of Olena,
Henderson County, Illinois. It will be observed
that it is dated on the same day the expedition
reached Camp Russell and several days before
Captain Craig reached Peoria.

Camp Russell. 31st Oct. 1812.
I have the pleasure to inform you that after

leaving Vincennes with parts of three companies
of the United States Rangers, I arrived at this
place where I joined Governor Edwards, from
whence, with a force of only 360 privates, we set
on foot an expedition. We penetrated very far
into the Indian country with the expectation of
co-operating with General Hopkins, at Peoria, on
the Illinois. In this we were greatly disap-
pointed, and could rot hear from him in that
quarter, it being further than any army had as yet
gone. We stole a march upon a principal Kicka-
poo town, situated about twenty miles up the
Illinois River above Peoria and immediately at
the head of Peoria Lake. This was a well-built
town. Between the town and the river was a dis-
mal swamp, into which the Indians immediately
flew for shelter. Our men pursued them for
three miles through the swamp up to their waists
in mud and water, and killed many of tliem
in it, and while crossing the Illinois River. The
Governor states to me that upwards of twenty
Indians were found dead. Our men pursued them
to the opposite bank of the river, and took their
canoes, in which were a number of of dead In-
dians. There was an immense quantity of plunder
found in this town, together with a great deal of
corn, all of which was destroyed. I believe that
not less than eighty horses fell into our hands be-
longing to the enemy, and several white persons'
scalps were found amongst the Indian plunder.
I had the immediate command of the battalion,
but the chief command was lodged with Gover-
nor Reynolds.

In this expedition we were fortunate, as we
had but four men wounded, none dangerously.
[Governor Reynolds says one was mortally
wounded and died from his wound. — Ed.] The
most severe was through the thigh, without in-
juring the bone. The tour we performed from
this camp and returned in fourteen days.

I am now engaged in promoting an expedi-
tion this fall into the same neighborhood, and
have for that purpose addressed a letter to Gov-
ernor Howard. We could easily go on to Fort
Mason, on the Mississippi River, and not be
suspected, then suddenly make a dash across to
the Illinois River when we should, without
doubt, catch them by surprise. To this letter,
however, I have as yet received no answer.
I have the honor to be with great respect,
Your obedient servant,

W. Russell,
Col. "th U. S. Regiment and District Command-
ant.
This report corroborates in its main features

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the account given by Governor Edwards, but
throws no new light upon the destruction of
either the Black Partridges' village or of Le Ville
de Maillet. It will be observed, however, it out-
lines the plan of the expedition conducted by
General Howard the j-ear following. As Gov-
ernor Edwards was not at the head of that ex-
pedition, this circumstance may give a clue to
one reason why the compiler of his Pioneer His-
tory stops with the expedition of 1812, and does
not resume the narrative until the year 1826.
When he became Governor of the State, Gov-
ernor Reynolds, who, as a youth, was attached

to Captain Judy's company of scouts, left an
account of what he saw. which does not dif-
fer in material respects from the others, but it
has been so garbled as to make it appear that the
whole battle consisted of the killing of an Indian,
the firing of several shots at a squaw without
hitting her, and the wounding of one of Judy's
men, from which wound he afterward died.

The expedition reflected no great credit upon
those engaged in it, but neither Governor Ed-
wards nor Colonel Russell can be charged with
the drunken barbarity committed at Peoria by
Captain Craig.

CHAPTER VII.

OLD PEORIA AND ITS INHABITANTS.

No immediate action was taken by Congress
to grant relief to the inhabitants of Peoria who
had been despoiled of their property by Captain
Craig, but on May 15, 1820, an act was passed
requiring every person or his or her legal repre-
sentative who claimed a lot or lots in the village
of Peoria to deliver, on or before the first day of
October ensuing, to the Register of the Land
Office of the district of Edwardsville, a notice in
writing of his or her claim, and thereupon it
should be the ditty of said Register to make a re-
port of all such claims with the substance of the
evidence, and also his opinion and such remarks
respecting the claims as he might think proper
to make. In compliance with the terms of thi's
act seventy claims were filed within the time
limited, and Edward Coles, afterwards Governor
of the State, who was the Register of the Land
Office at Edwardsville, made his report to the
Secretary of the Treasury, dated November 10,
1820, in which he says : "The inhabitants of
Peoria consisted generally of Indian traders,
hunters and voyagciirs, and had formed a link
of connection between the French residing on
the waters of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi
River. From that happy faculty of adapting
themselves to their situation and associates, for
which the French are so remarkable, the inhabi-
tants of Peoria lived generally in harmony with
their savage neighbors. It would seem, however,
that about the year 1781 they were induced to
abandon the village from apprehension of Indian
hostilities; but soon after the peace of 1783 they
again returned and continued to reside there
until the autumn of 1812, when they were forcibly
removed from it and the place destroyed by Cap-
tain Craig, of the Illinois militia, on the ground,
as it is said, that he and his company of militia
were fired on in the night, while at anchor in
their boats before the village, by the Indians',
with whom the inhabitants were suspected by

Craig to be too intimate and friendly." This
statement forms the basis of almost everything
that has heretofore been written concerning the
character of the inhabitants of Peoria, and while
the same is true in many re.spects, it does not
contain the whole truth concerning them as it
is now known. The terms "Indian traders,"
"hunters" and "z'oyagciirs" are somewhat liable to
be misunderstood. An "Indian trader" was one
whose business consisted largely in carrjing on
the business of a merchant in goods suitable for
the trade with the Indians. Many of them were
men of character and wealth, and such will be
found to be the case with some of those residing
at Peoria. The busmess of hunting for fur-
bearing animals was one of the important indus-
tries of the country, and those who engaged
therein were not to be despised any more than are
the farmers of the present day. The Z'oyageur
was he who carried on the business of navigat-
ing the rivers in transporting the products of
the country to the market, and in bringing back
goods for the merchants.

It is the universal testimony of historians that,
in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Peoria
was one of the leadmg marts of commerce in
the Mississippi Valley, and while its inhabitants
were not strictly an agricultural people, yet they
had sufficient land in cultivation to not only
supply their own needs of the product of the farm,
but to ship a surplus to other markets.

They were not a French colony in the same
sense that Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Prairie du
Rocher were, deriving their titles from grants
made by lawful authority, but, as stated by Ed-
ward Coles, "the only title they had to their
lands was derived from possession, and the only
value attached to it grew out of the improve-
ments placed upon it."

But. conceding that they had no title by grant
"from the authority of any government," and that

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

their only title was derived from possession,
yet the fact that they had such possession and had
made such improvements, was made the basis of
important donations of land long before the des-
truction of the village.

In accordance with the stipulations contained
in the deed of cession by the state of Virginia to
the United States, and in part compensation for
the hardships imposed upon the inhabitants of
Illinois by the events of the war which followed
the conquest of the Territory by General George
Rogers Clark, the congress of the Confederacy,
on the 29th of August, 1788, passed a resolution
providing for the confirmation in their posses-
sions and titles of the French and Canadian in-
habitants and other settlers about Kaskaskia and
Vincennes, who, on or before 1783, had fi'ofcsscd
themselves citizens of the United States, or any
of them ; and also donating a tract of four hun-
dred acres of land to each head of a family of the
same description of settlers. This resolution re-
quired the then Governor of the Territory (St.
Clair) to make lists of the pcrs.ons entitled to
lands and to have them surveyed.

An act of Congress of March 3, 1791, enlarged
the provisions of said resolution by providing that
four hundred acres of land be given to each
of those persons who in the year 1783 were heads
of families at Vincennes or in the Illinois Coun-
try, and who since then had removed from one
place to another within the district, and also to
such as had removed out of the limits of the
territory specified, upon condition of their re-
turning and occupying said lands within five years.

It further provided, that when lands had been
actually improved and cultivated within the limits
before mentioned, under presumably valid grants
of the same by any commandant or court claim-
ing authority to make such grants, the Governor
was empowered to confirm the .same to such per-
sons, their heirs or assigns, or such parts thereof
as he might deem reasonable, not exceeding four
hundred acres to any one pers;on ; also, "that
the Governor be authorized to make a grant of
land not exceeding one hundred acres to each
person who hath not obtained any grant of land
from the United States, and who on tlie first
day of August, 1790, was enrolled in the militia
at Vincennes or the Illinois Country, and has
done militia duty."

These provisions having proved insufficient for
the purposes intended. Congress passed an act
on March 26. 1804, establishing Land Offices at
Vincennes and Kaskaskia. Under this act Michael
Jones was appointed Register at Kaskaskia and

Elijah Backus, Receiver, who were authorized to
act as Commissioners, with full power to receive
proof of and to adjudicate all claims coming
under the former acts. This commission, under
various modifications and changes, continued to
act until the year 1815, making in the meantime
several reports, and closing up their business by
a report of that year.

In order to facilitate their work they classified
the claims as follows: (i) ancient grants; (2)
donations to heads of families; (3) donations on
account of improvements; and (4) donations to
militia men.

It does not appear that any of the inhabitants
of Peoria claimed any lands under ancient grants
from either the French or the English govern-
ment. They did, however, claim lands under
each one of the other classes, and the proof being
sufficient their claims were recommended for con-
firmation.

The proof fails to show the location of these
donations, but that they consisted of actual loca-
tions and not of floating claims sufficiently appears
from other available evidence.

Bearing in mind that the new village was not
conmienced until the year 1778, and that the place
was entirely aliandoned from 1781 until the peace
of 1783, it will be readily perceived that proof
of residence and improvements at Peoria prior to
the latter date must have reference to "Old Pe-
oria" or "The Old Fort" rather than to "Le Ville
de Maillct." It may also be inferred that the
claims were laid upon the lands which had been
improved and enough surrounding them to fill
out the number of acres donated. This we know
to have been the case with Jean Bapliste Maillet,
who laid his two claims, amounting to eight hun-
dred acres in the aggregate, upon the land imme-
diately adjoining the new village, he having been
a resident at that place and having improved his
land there located before the abandonment of the
place in 1781. Unless, therefore, it appears other-
wise in the proof, it may be safely inferred that
the claimants had respectively resided at "Old
Peoria."

The claims of the following named persons,
under one or more of the classes mentioned,
were recommended for confirmation.

Pierre Troge, in <he right of his wife Char-
lotte, who was the daughter and heir-at-law of
Antoine St. Francois, was reported as entitled to
four hundred acres on account of improvements
and cultivation, and four hundred on account of
St. Francois, the ancestor having been the head
of a family at Peoria in 1783. It was proved by

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Louis Pilette, an ancient inhabitant of CalioI<ia,
that St. Francois was the head of a family at
Peoria and tliat he cuUivated the land, having a
small field in which he sowed corn in the year
1765; and that he remained there several years
thereafter; also that Pierre Troge married his
daughter. This little item of evidence lets the
light in upon the life of "Old Peoria" at the
time when the sovereignty of the country was
transferred from France to Great Britain. The
fact that St. Francois remained after that period
raises the presumption, at least, that he became
a British subject; and the fact of his heir having
been granted land by the government of the
United States afifords almost conclusive evidence
that he had become a citizen of Virginia or of
the United States at or after the time of the
Revolution. Of his wife's name or parentage we
have no information. Nor do we know anything
of Pierre Troge, except that he married the
daughter. The name of Louis Pilette is closely
and inseparably connected with the history of
Peoria. It also appears from the report of Ed-
ward Coles that this same Charlotte Troge, nee
St. Francois, laid claim to a lot containing two
arpens, situated two miles above Fort Clark, near
"Old Fort Peoria." We therefore discover in
this one instance the names of five persons who
lived at "Old Peoria," namely, Antoine St. Fran-
cois and his wife, his daughter Charlotte, her
husband Pierre Troge, and Louis Pilette.

That Louis Pillcttc was a good and loyal citi-
zen is shown by the fact that he received a dona-
tion of one hundred acres of land from the gov-
ernment upon Governor Harrison's confirmation,
on account of military services.

The claims of a large majority of the inliabi-
tants had been sold before being proved, princi-
pally to Nicholas Jarrott, Isaac Darneille, Will-
iam Russell and William Arundel, in wdiose
names the proofs were made. These purchasers
will be disregarded and the names of the orig-
inal claimants given as the donees.

To Louis Bihore there was confirmed four
hundred acres on account of improvements and
four hundred acres on account of his having
been the head of a family at Peoria in 178.3.
That Bihore was a very early inhabitant of
Peoria is shown by ;he fact of his having been
a witness on behalf ot some of the oldest claims.

To Jean Baptistc Shoenberger, alias St. Jean,
were confirmed four hundred acres on account of
improvements near the "Old Fort" of Peoria. No
other claim having been made on his behalf, it is
to be presumed he was neither the head of a

family nor a militia man within the terms of
the law.

To Louis Chattlereau were confirmed one hun-
dred acres as a militia man, four hundred as head
of a family at Peoria in 1783, and four hundred
on account of cultivating about forty acres of
land and improving the same by building a house,
a horse-mill, etc., thereon.

To Pierre Verbois, alias Blondereau, were con-
firmed at Peoria one hundred acres as a militia
man. No other information attainable.

To Pierre Lavassieur (dit Chamberlain) were
confirmed one hundred acres as a militia man.
This man was also a claimant before Edward
Coles for a lot containing two arpens in the "Old
Village" and of another lot containing twelve
arpens near the same.

To John B. Chevy were confirmed four hun-
dred acres on account of improvements, and four
hundred acres as head of a family. It was proved
by Louis Laperche, Louis Boisman and Louis
Bihore that Chevy was an inhabitant of Peoria,
that he was the head of a family and cultivated
ground, planting it in corn, as early as the
year 1779.

To Jean B. Jourdain. who lived at Peoria, were
confirmed four hundred acres on account of im-
provements made upon and the cultivation of a
farm on Mallet's River (probably the Kickapoo),
where he had a house and planted corn as early
as I'rSji.

To Jean B. Amlin. who lived at Peoria from
1779 to 1799, were confirmed four hundred acres
on account of impro .-ements by cultivating land
and planting it in corn, also four hundred acres
as head of a family in 1783, and one hundred
as a militia man.

To Francois Arcoit were confirmed four hun-
dred acres on account of improvements and four
hundred acres as the head of a family at Peoria
in 1783. It was proved by Baptiste Pelitier, Pierre
Verbois and Jean B. Parent that Arcoit was the
head of a family at Peoria in 1783 ; that he made
improvements near the village : that he had a
house and cultivated ground by planting corn in
1782. but had to leave on account of the Indians.

To Louis Brunette were confirmed four hun-
dred acres as head of a family at Peoria in 1783,
which was proved by Jaque Ducharme and Fran-
cois Vailett ; also that he continued to reside there
for some time thereafter.

To Jean B. Parent were confirmed four hun-
dred acres as head of a family and four hundred
on account of his improvements. It was proved
by Jean B. Pointstable (Point de Saiblc), Jaque

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Ducliarnie, Louis Bihorc and Pierre Valois that
before and after the year 1783 Parent was the
head of a family at Peoria, that he had a house
built and cultivated land near the "Old Fort"
in the year 1780, and that he had a farm and raised
crops.

To Antoine Grandbois were confirmed one
hundred acres as a militia man, which had been
confirmed by Governor St. Clair. The location
of this grant is not given, but it is known that
Grandbois was a resident of Peoria.

To Francis Babo (Babeau) were confirmed at
Peoria, one hundred acres as a militia man.

To Augustine Roque were confirmed four
hundred acres on account of improvements made
near Peoria, and four hundred acres as the head
of a family at Peoria in 1783.

To Francois Bouche (Boucher) were con-
firmed four hundred acres on account of improve-
ments about one league from Peoria (Old Fort),
four hundred acres as head of a family at Peoria
in 1783, and one hundred acres as a militia man.

To Etiene Bernard were confirmed four hun-
dred acres as the he^d of a family at Peoria in
1783, and on account of improvements four hun-
dred acres near the River Cotencau (Kickapoo),
within three miles of Peoria.

To William Arundel were confirmed on ac-
count of improvements three hundred acres near
Peoria, he having already had a military bounty
under the fourth class, also as head of a family
at Feoria in 1783 three hundred acres, he having
received a militia right confirmed by the Gov-
ernor.

William Arundel was a native of Ireland,
where he had received a liberal education. Emi-
grating to America, he first settled in Canada,
where he became a merchant. Entering the In-
dian trade, he came to Peoria, at what date is
not known, but that it was prior to 1783 appears
from the fact that he was residing here with
his family at that time. He afterward removed
to Cahokia, where he became the first merchant
of the place, and at the organization of the
territory was appointed Recorder of the county of
St. Clair, he having previously been appointed to
the office of County Clerk of the same county at
the time of the organization of the Indiana Terri-
tory. "He was an orderly, moral and correct
man," and -was appointed secretary of the first
lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State,
which was constituted at Kaskaskia June 3, 1806.
Besides his other pursuits, he also dealt largely
in lands. He died at Kaskaskia in 1816, at a
very great age.

Another man of note living at Peoria at that
time was Jean Baptiste Point de Saible (else-
where called Pointstable), to whom were con-
firmed four hundred acres as the head of a family
at Peoria in 1783, and four hundred acres on ac-
count of improvements. A claim was also made
by one claiming to be his assignee for one hun-
dred acres due him as a militia man, but for
want of proof it was rejected. It was proved
by Jaque Ducharme, Louis Brunette and Fran-
cois Vailete that Pointstable, as they called him,
was the head of a family at Peoria in the year
1783 and before and after that time; that he had
a house built and cultivated land between the
"Old Fort" and the new settlement in 1780.

This man, although a negro, became noted
as the first white settler in Chicago — the Indians
designating all persons as "white" who did not
belong to their own race. Hence the facetious
saying that "the first white man in Chicago was
a nigger." Much has been vifritten about him,
and in the more recent histories of Chicago he
is made a hero, the date of his arrival there
being placed at a period anterior to his residence
at Peoria. On the other hand, Matson tries to
show him to have been a runaway slave from
Kentucky, from which state he worked his way
to Chicago, but the date of his departure from
Kentucky is placed in the year 1790. seven years
after he is shown to have become a resident of
Peoria. In her charming work entitled "Wau-
bun," Mrs. John H. Kinzie gives the following
account, which seems to be the most reliable we
have of this celebrated negro :

"Jean Baptiste Point-au-Sable, a native of San
Domingo, about the year 1796 found his way to
this remote region and commenced life among
the Indians. There is usually a strong affection
between these two races (negro and Indian), and
Jean Baptiste imposed upon his new friends by
making them believe that he had been a great
chief among the whites. Perhaps he was dis-
gusted by not being elected for a similar dignity
by the Pottawatomies. for he quitted this vicinity
and finally terminated his days at Peoria, under
the roof of his friend Glamorgan, another San
Domingo negro, who had obtained large Spanish
grants in St. Louis and its environs, and who at
one time was in the enjoyment of an extended
landed estate."

It is said the real name of this singular char-
acter is not known, but that he acquired his title
of Point de Saible. Point au Sable or Pointstable
from the location of his hut on the point of sand
at the mouth of the Chicago River. If that be

c:::^-y^<^^i^^^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

so, it follows that he must have been at Chicago
before the time of his having been a resident at
Peoria, for he was known by that name here.

There is in the library of the Historical Society
of Chicago a typewritten copy of a manuscript
journal of Hugh Heyward to the Illinois Country
in 1790 (the gift of C. M. Benton, of Detroit).
Having arrived at the Chicago River May 10,
he says, "Slept at Pomt Sable's with the canoes
and began to hull corn and bake bread, arranged
everything for the next morning, left the cannots
(canoes) at Point Sable's and took his porogue,
bought of him 41 lbs. flour and baked in bread
for 25 & 29 lbs. pork at 2-8, the whole amounting
5 pounds los. & paid him with 13 yds. 4-4
cotton." On the nth of May he passed the
portage to the Des Plaines on his way south.
This locates Point au Sable at Chicago six years
•earlier than the author of Waubun and seven
later than his residence is shown to have been
at Peoria. Glamorgan's name does not appear
connected with any land claims at Peoria, but the
name Glamorgan does appear in connection with
certain claims at St. Louis. Point de Saible ap-
pears to have been a most singular character.
A native of the Spanish Dominion, he is at one
time represented to have been in the interests
of the French at Chicago ; again, receiving pro-
tection from the English and Indian invaders by
reason of his having a British commission ; then
seekng the chieftaincy of the Pottawatomies ;

and finally, in all probability, going back to the
Spanish territory to die.

Charles Ladeau was made the subject of a
special report and recommended for a donation
of one hundred acres as a militia man. It was
proved that he had been enrolled in Captain
Maillet's company at Peoria on or before the year
1790, and had continued to serve as a good militia
man in the village of Peoria. It is not certain
that this man was an inhabitant of "Old Peoria,"
but inasmuch as Maillet's company was in the
service as early as 1780, the inference would be
that he belonged there.

It will appear from the said report of Edward
Coles that, in addition to those already named,
the following persons were proved to have re-
sided and claimed lots and lands in "Old Peoria,"
and must have been very early inhabitants, name-
ly, Gabriel Cerre (or St. Cyr), Thomas Lusby,
Joseph Boucher (Bouche), the extent of whose
possessions will appear from said report.

The name of Felix La Pance, Jaques Buche,
a priest, Captain M. de Ford and others are men-
tioned by Matson as residents of the "Old Vil-
lage," but their names do not appear as claim-
ants of land. It was only those who came
within one of the classes provided for in the acts
of Congress whose names so appear, and it is not
certain that any considerable portion of such
made their claims.

CHAPTER VIII,

FRENCH INHABITANTS OF OLD PEORIA AND
LE VILLE DE MAILLET.

Something more is known of tlie inhabitants
■of Le Ville de Maillet than of those of the
"Old Fort" or "Old Peoria." It is said by one
wiiter that after the abandonment of the place in
1781 the inhabitants returned, and that by the
time ol the peace of 1783 it had not only regained
its former prosperity, but had far exceeded it.
The better opinion, however, seems to be that
they did not return until after the treaty.

It has already been seen that Jean Baptiste
Maillet had at first resided at the "Old Village,"
and that about the year 1778 he had taken up his
residence at the foot of the lake, where he
founded the village called "La Ville de Maillet."

If he had the right to locate his claim at
the place where his improvements had been made,
we should look for islaillet to have located his
claim at his new village. This we find to have
been done.

It so happens that the two original deeds by
v.hich William Russell, afterward Colonel Will-
iam Russell (already mentioned in connection
V. ith the Edwards expedition), became the suc-
cessor of Jean Baptiste Maillet are still in exist-
ence and throw much light upon this subject.
The first is a deed from said Maillet to Isaac
D.irneille, who was the second lawyer to emi-
grate to the state of Illinois, and was then a
lesidcnt of Peoria. The characters of the parties
to this deed impart to it the greatest interest.

That Maillet was a leader among his people
cannot be doubted, and that during the Revolu-
tionary war he had them enrolled as a company
of militia is also well established. It is more
than probable that he resided in the fort in the
new village at the time of the birth of his son
Hypolite, and that he there occupied, including
the fort, two blocks of ground each three hun-
dred feet square, afterward occupied by Thomas
Forsyth, together with sundry lands in the vicin-

ity of the village. He at last lost his life in an
affray with one Senegal in the latter part of the
year 1801. (')

As Darncille was the first of Peoria's lawyers,
a part of Governor Reynolds' sketch of his career
is here given.

"In the year 1794 the celebrated Isaac Dar-
neille arrived in Cahokia and remained in the
west for several years. He was the second pro-
fessed lawyer that emigrated to Illinois, John
Rice Jones being the first. He was a classic
scholar, and was, in his person, genteel and
agreeable ; he possessed the easy and graceful
manners of a polished gentleman. He was large
and portly, and made it a sine qua non to be ex-
tremely neat in his dress and attentive to his
pcr.sonal appearance. He studied all the arts
and mysteries of gallantry, and thereby made a
very deep and rather lasting impression on his
female friends. Darneille studied the ladies
more than he studied his profession of the law.
He was benevolent and kind to all mankind, and
particularly to the ladies.

"While Darneille retained his youthful vigor,
this life passed off very well; but w-hen old
age crept on him his former pursuits w-ere aban-
doned, from necessity, and he remained an old
man, without sincere friends or means of support.

"He taught school in the western part of Ken-
tucky, where he died, rather humble and neg-
lected, in 1830, aged sixty years.

"If Darneille had abandoned this one failing,,
the excess of gallantry, he would have enjoyed
the character of one of the most honorable and
respectable gentlemen in Illinois,"

These two singular characters became parties

(I) Some say he lost his life in 1805, but the testiinon.v of
his son Hyiiolite. before Edward Coles, places the date in 1801.
Jaques Dncharme testifies to the same thing before the com-
missioners.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

45.

to the deed mentioned, the one as grantor, the
other as grantee. The deed is dated July 6, 1801,
and thereby Jean Baptistc Maillet, of the village
of Peoria, upon the Illinois River, in the Indiana
Territory, for the consideration of $200, currency
of the United States, grants to one Isaac Dar-
neille, of the same place, all that tract or parcel
of land lying and being upon the Illinois River
adjoining the said village of Peoria, containing
800 acres, being a donation of 400 acres as a head
of a family in the year 1783, and an improvement
right of 400 acres wliich the said Jean Baptiste
Maillet "holds under an act of Congress bearing
date the 3d day of March, 1791, and bounded as
follows, to-wit : Beginning at a stone below the
gate of the said Isaac Darneille in his lot in
said village, and running thence southwest to the
corner of the stable of the said Maillet ; thence
west, and from the said stone north and west
so as to include the said quantity of four hiln-
dred acres of a donation right and four hundred
acres as an improvement right, in all the quantity
of eight hundred acres of land." It is drawn
with the technical accuracy of our old-style deeds,
having all the essential elements of a conveyance —
the names of the grantor and grantee, the con-
sideration, the words of the grant, the description
of the property, together with the privileges and
appurtenance, the habendam and tenendam, with
full covenants of warranty. It is signed "Maillet"
without any given name, and is sealed with a
wafer covered with a rectangular piece of paper.
Affidavits in proof of its execution were made
before Antoine Des Champs and Raphael Be-
longier, two Justices of the Peace of Indiana Ter-
ritory, on the 17th day of May, 1802.

From this deed we learn certain facts which
nowhere else appear; that at the time Darneille,
the grantee, lived in Peoria, he had an enclosed
lot which had a gate, which lot was situated to
the northeast of that of Maillet, and that there
were then at Peoria (whether resident or not
does not appear) two Justices of the Peace
named Louis Laboissier and Antoine Des Champs.
We do not, however, find either of these justices
to have been claimants of land before said com-
missioners or before Edward Coles in 1820. It
appears elsewhere that Des Champs was a promi-
nent man in the community and trusted by the
Governor. .A. few years later he became manager
of the American Fur Company's interests on the
Illinois River.

On the 5th day of October, 1807. we find
Darneille at St. Louis, in the Territory of Louisi-
ana, making a deed to William Russell, of the

same place, for a number of his purchases,
which is the second of the above mentioned deeds,
and it is remarkable for the elegance of its
penmanship, which is evidently that of Darneille
himself. By this deed he conveys to Russell the
following tracts of land, all in the Indiana Ter-
ritory :

1. A certain tract or parcel of land on the
western shore of the Illinois River, on the River
Cartineaux, about one league below the town of
Peorias, containing fourteen hundred acres oi
land and specially bounded as follows, to-wit :
Beginning on the bank of the Illinois River at an
elm tree and a stone, thence running due west
seven hundred poles to a stake and a stone,
thence south three hundred and twenty poles to-
a stake and a stone, crossing the River Car-
tineaux, thence due east seven hundred poles to
a stake and stone near the bank of the Illinois
River, and thence running with the meander of
the Illinois River to the beginning for quantity.

[It is said above that no claims under the first
class had been proved at Peoria. Late research
in the office of the State Auditor, where the land
office papers now are, has revealed the original
application of William Russell for confirmation
of the first five of these tracts, the first or 1,400-
acrc tract having been purchased by Darneille
from Maillet, who claimed the same by right
of British government as having cultivated" there-
on from 1766 to 1801, the same having been con-
firmed to him. A marginal note, however, says
that government had no power to make the
grant. So it must have been rejected.]

2. The aforesaid tract in Peoria, which had
been conveyed by Jean Baptiste Maillet, by the
deed already described, except about six hun-
dred feet square sold to Jean Marie Coursol.
This completed Russell's title to the two claims
of Maillet, above mentioned.

3. Another tract, being a donation and im-
provement right of eight hundred acres purchased
by contract of Baptiste Pelletier August 26, 1802.
Land not described.

4. A donation right of four hundred acres
purchased of Pierre Verbois, alias Blondereaux,
by contract dated August 21, 1802. Land not
described (but Blondereaux lived at Peoria and'
had a militia right confirmed to him. — Ed.)

5. A donation and improvement right of
eight hundred acres purchased of Francis Bouche,
attorney for Louis Chattclreaux (who also lived
at Peoria and had two four-hundred-acre claims
confirmed to him. This claim was near the
"Old Fort."— Ed.)

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

6. A tract of three arpens in front by forty
arpens deep situate in the common field near the
town of Peorias, purchased by Francis Willctte,
assignee of Pierre La Vassuer [called Chamber-
lain, who had a military right confirmed to him —
Ed.], containing one hundred and twenty arpens
of land. [This is the only mention of a common
field anywhere found at Peoria. — Ed.]

7. One lot of land and a house at the 'Old
Peorias Fort," and a tract of land near said
"Peorias Old Fort," quantity unknown, pur-
chased of Jean Baptistc Point Sable, assignee of
Jean Baptistc Maillet. by deed dated March 13,
1773- [Here we have Pointstable at Peoria in
1773— Ed.]

8. Another lnuise ami lot in the town of
Peorias, and a quantity of land near the same
bought of Theresa Malliette, widow Cattenoir,
assignee of Francis Babeaux, by contract dated
October 11, 1798. [Francis Babeaux had a militia
right confirmed to him. — Ed.]

9. A militia right of one hundred acres bought
of Louis Petit, alias Lalumiere.

The other six tracts mentioned in the deed
were not located at Peoria.

By these deeds we are able to locate the two
claims of Maillet at the new village, also a tract
of land with a house sold by him to Point-de-
Saible near the "Old Fort;" also a tract of four-
teen hundred acres at the mouth of the Kickapoo
(River Carteneaux), the original claimant of
which is not named. We also learn that Baptiste
Pelitier, Theresa Mailliet, widow of Cattenoir,
assignee of Francis Babeaux, not before men-
tioned as claimants, also had claims at Peoria.
From the journal of Hugh Heyward before
mentioned, it appears that after passing through
the upper lake (of Peoria) he arrived at "the
Petite Etroit," a narrow between this and another
lake of a league — on the west of this small lake
is settled one of the name of Chatteleron (Chat-
telreau) — at the village of the Peorias at the south
side of this small lake are seven French settle-
ments among the Indians [probably on Farm
Creek.— Ed.], Augnslin Fecto, J. Bt. Amelin (La-
pierre a Smith), Captain Mye (probably Maillet),
Dineau and Miney and Parrent and Ouilett
(probably Willette) (Engages) and Diffon.
There appears from the old maps a Pottawatamie
village at or near the mouth of Farm creek, and
it is possible that some of the claimants of land
may have resided among them.

It has been hinted that the reason why these
claimants were so willing to sell their claims was
a report set on foot by the speculators that if they

remained in the L'nited States they would be com-
lielled to abjure their religion, and on that ac-
count many of them sold out and left the coun-
try. Although the claitns were reported for con-
firmation, yet it does not appear that the titles
were ever perfected by the issuing of patents. It
is thought probably other lands in lieu thereof
situated in another part of the state were granted
to the claimants. It is not deemed necessary to
pursue that inquiry as the present purpose is to
ascertain the names and standing of the earliest
settlers of Peoria.

In the investigation made l)y Edward Coles
under the act of Congress of 1820, respecting the
claims to lots in Peoria, it was made his duty
to report the substance of the evidence upon which
the claims were based, which was not required
of the commissioners under the former act. In
pursuance of thi? requirement he made a report
not only embodying the substance of the evidence,
but also tabulating the claims, giving the names
of the claimants, the quantity claimed, the date of
tlie improvement and the date of abandonment.
The table will be found in American State
Papers. Lands. Vol. Ill, pp. 421-2, published by
Duff Green, 1834. Its length denies its insertion
here.

But neither the table nor the map which ac-
companies it gives the full extent nor the location
of the farms under cultivation by the inliabitants.
The following were proved, but did not come
within the act of Congress, which applied only
to village lots and out-lots, namely:

Thomas Forsyth, a field of 20 arpens two
miles south from Peoria at the River Gatinan
(now Kickapoo). also a field of 20 arpens on
Little Prairie [location not known. — Ed.]

Angelica Willette, a field of 15 or 20 arpens
three-fourths of a mile northwest of Peoria. This
woman became the wife of Bartholomew Fortier,
who had a long continued litigation respecting a
lot lying between the Chamber of Commerce
building and the river.

Pierre Lavassieur dit Chamberlain, a field of 7
arpens one-half mile southwest of Peoria, adjoin-
iiig Antoine La Pane.

Simon Roi in riglu of his wife, the late widow
of Charles Ladoux, six arpens in rear of lot 30
claimed by him.

Sin on Roi, Antoine Roi and Francis Racine
jointly, 30 arpens on east bank of River Gatinan
adjoiuing Antoine Cicare.

Francis Racine, Sr., a field of 20 arpens ad-
joining the village and between fields of Simon
Roi and Antoine Bourbonne.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Fcl-'x Fontaine, a field of 9 arpens one-half
mile southwest of the village between Antoine
La Pance and Francis Racine, also an out-lot
of 2Y2 arpens one-fourth of a mile west of the
village.

Hypolitc Maillet in the right of his wife,
Josette Demonchelle, late widow of Louis
Boucher, one lot of 4 arpens one-half mile west
of the village.

Hypolite Maillet, an out-lot of 6 arpens in
rear of lots 49 and 50 claimed by him, bounded
north by Charles La Bolle, and south by Jean
Baptiste Defond. Also an out-lot of 15 arpens
one and one-half miles north of the village,
bounded north by out-lot of Mailliet, west by blufif,
south and east by prairie. Also a field of 15
arpens two miles below the village on the eastern
bank of the River Gatinan, and bounded south
by the field of Francis Montplaiser.

Heirs of Charles La Belle, a field of 10 arpens
in the rear of lot No. 60 claimed by them.
[LaBelle had two daughters, one married to
James T. Sargeant ; the other to Samuel Hart,
who will be remembered as for many years a
pilot on the Illinois River. — Ed.]

Antoine Bourborne, a fieW of 4 or 5 arpens
near Peoria and adjoining Francis Racine on the
north.

During the early part of the year 1812, 1J
shown by the reports of Governor Edwards to the
War Department, the Indians had committed
divers depredations upon the people, by steal-

ing their cattle and farm products, yet after the
burning of two of their barns, which contained
a large amount of wheat, by Captain Craig,
and after his butchering some of their hogs,
they were compelled to leave behind them at least
two hundred cattle, a large quantity of corn and
many hogs. The proof shows that nearly every
village lot claimed, (thirty-seven in all) had been
occupied by a dwelling or out-building connected
with a dwelling, and that, while some had, on
account of Indian depredations or other causes,
been abandoned before the arrival of Capt.
Craig, yet nearly if not quite thirty continued to
be occupied until that time.

The noted French Claim suits had reference
to the village lots and out-lots, not to the farm
lands.

Prominent among the inhaliitants of T.e Ville
de Maillet was Antoine Le Clair, who after-
wards went to Davenport in the State of Iowa
and took a prominent part in the founding of
that city. The town of Le Clair was also named
in his honor.

Michael La Croix was also a prominent citi-
zen of whom Governor Reynolds has given a
sketch.

But the most noted citizen of Peoria was •
Thomas Forsyth, already frequently alluded to,
of whom much has already been said and of
whose life and character Governor Reynolds has
written at some length.

CHAPTBR IX.

PEORIA IN 1813— EXPEDITION OF GENERAL BENJAMIN
HOWARD— BUILDING OF FORT CLARK-
ITS DESTRUCTION.

The year 1813 opened with no abatement but
rather an increase of the virulence of the Indian
hostihties. It is said that even Black Partridge,
who had taken such a conspicuous part in be-
friending the white settlers at Chicago, had be-
come hostile. Tradition says that it was after
that event, while he was absent endeavoring to
rescue Lieut. Helm from his captors, that Gov.
Edwards attacked and destroyed his village.
Returning and finding his village devastated
and his kinsman slaughtered he at once vowed
revenge, joined himself with the other hostile
Indians, and with about three hundred of them
left for the settlements in the southern part of
the State, where they made various attacks upon
the whites. In the months of February and
March several murders had been committed and
the attitude of the savages had become peculiarly
threatening.

It was then decided that a more formidable
force should be organized than any which had
yet been marched against them. This was ac-
complished through the joint operations of the
militia of IMissouri and Illinois Territories, in
connection with a few regulars.

Benjamin Howard had been appointed Gov-
ernor of Louisiana Territory April 17, 1810, and
it was during his incumbency that the name was
changed to that of the Territory of Missouri.
Going to Washington in the spring of the year
1813, he returned with a commission as Brigadier
General in the United States army, but continued
to act as Governor until the expiration of his
commission a few weeks later. He was succeeded
as Governor by Gen. William Clark, brother of
Gen. George Rogers Clark, who continued to
hold the office until Missouri was admitted into
the union in 1820.

Upon retiring from the office of Governor,

General Howard organized a force consisting of
Missouri and Illinois militia, and a small de-
tachment from the regular army under com-
mand of Col. Nichols, to march into the country
of the hostile Indians. The regulars ascended
the Illinois River in boats and arrived at Peoria
some days in advance of the volunteers, who
were monunted and came across the country.
Of this expedition up to the time of its reaching
Peoria Gov. Reynolds gives the following ac-
count :

".Another campaign was decided upon in the
northern section of Illinois, and the Illinois
troops, to the number of three or four hundred,
left Camp Russell, about the first of August,
1813. I was sergeant in Capt. Wm. B. White-
sides' company of United States Rangers, and
marched in this campaign. At Fort Mason the
Missouri troops all swam over the river and
joined us. The army was reorganized at this
station. General Howard in command. Colonels
McNair, of St. Louis, and Stephenson, of Ran-
dolph. Illinois, were the two Colonels comman-
dant. William B. Whiteside, Nathan Boone, of
Missouri, John Moredock, and others were made
Majors. Col. Desha, of the United States army,
was in command. Col. Clempson was the in-
spector. The whole force amounted to not more
than eight hundred men. The army marched up
the Mississippi bottom to a point above Quincy,
thence across the country and struck the Illi-
nois River fortj'-odd miles below Peoria. The
army reached Peoria on a calm, pleasant eve-
ning, and the beauty of the situation was admired
by the whole army. The lake, and the scenery
around, made a pleasing impression of its grand-
eur and beauty even on the stern, rugged sol-
diers of the army."

In that expedition was George Davenport,

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

then a non-commissioned officer in Captain Owens'
company of the regular army, who became a
colonel and whose name afterwards became fa-
mous as having been murdered at his home on
Rock Island. From him Mr. Matson derived the
following account of the transactions at Peoria.
"On arriving at Peoria Lake, the soldiers (the
regulars. — Ed.) commenced building a block
house for storing the baggage as well as a pro-
tection against an attack from the enemy. A
well having been dug near the block house to
supply it with water, it became necessary to have
a sweep to draw it ; consequently Mr. Davenport,
with two companions, went into the woods to ?et
a grapevine for that purpose. Having found one
suitable, Da\ cnport climbed the tree to cut it off.
and while doing so he discovered a large body
of Indians skulking in the timber, going in the
direction of the block house. On seeing this
war party Davenport and his companions gave
an alarm, and, in all haste, fled toward the
block house, but finding Indians in that di-
rection turned their course for the gunboats,
which were moored in the lake. With all speed
the fugitives ran for the boats, closely followed
by the Indians, who fired at them many shots,
while yelling like demons. The soldiers on the
gunboats, thinking only of their own safety,
pushed them ofif from the shore, but fortunately
one of them grounded on a sand bar, which was
the means of saving the life of Davenport and
his companions. The fugitives ran into the
water waist deep, pushed the grounded boat off,
and jumped on board of it, while the Indians
fired on them, many of the rifle balls whizzing
by their heads and lodging in the sides of the
vessel. The boats went off some distance from
the shore, nevertheless the Indians continued to
fire on them, but without effect. A cannon on
one of the boats was brought to bear on the
savages, but in the excitement of the moment
its muzzle was raised above the port hole, and
the ball (ore off a portion of the side of the
vessel. The Indians also attacked the block
house, which was in an unfinished condition,
but met with a warm reception from those within.
The cannons on the boats having been brought
to bear on the Indians, they fled from the thick
timber where they had taken shelter, and the
fight ended."

In the year 1850, while Drown's "Hislorical
J'iczi' of Peoria" was in preparation, Mr. John
T. Lindsay, then a promient lawyer of Peoria,
and still living at Lake Forest, Illinois, received
a letter written at his request by John S. Brick-

ley, Esq.. Potosi, Missouri, who was one of
the Missouri volunteers, from which the fol-
lowing extracts are made:

"In the summer of 1813, there was a requisi-
tion made for a regiment of mounted riflemen —
volunteers to go into the then northern part of
Illinois, against the Indians said to be organized
by and under the command of one Dickson, a
British officer who had long been a trader with
and had great influence over them. The frontier
.settlements had been greatly annoyed by con-
stant inroads and depredations of those Indiana
for more than a year before ; so in consequence
of the above mentioned requisition, about the
first of .August, the Missouri regiment of vol-
unteers of 400 or 500 men, rendezvoused and was
organized at St. Louis ; * * * * we marched
from there and crossed the Missouri river near
Bellefountain, a fort south of the Missouri
not far from the junction of the Missouri and
Mississippi, thence up and along the Mississippi
on the west side for 75 or 80 miles, then crossed
the river and joined a regiment of Illinois vol-
unteer mounted riflemen, consisting of about 400
men, under the command of Colonel Stephenson
— the two regiments now number about 900 men —
that from Missouri was commanded by Colonel
McNair, subsequently Governor of Missouri,
and the whole commanded by General Howard.

"L'pon arriving at the west bank of the Miss-
issippi, there was no other means of ferrying the
regiment over, men, horses and baggage, but tw.>
platforms made of slender boards laid cross-
wise on two canoes. To have crossed or trans-
ported 500 men and horses with their baggage,
although the latter consisted of a few pounds
of flour and pickled pork, all the soldiers had in
those times, would have required some days at
least; therefore to expedite the march it was
resolved by about 300 men to ride, or swim ih/r
Mississippi on horse-back, they placing their pro-
visions (no blankets or tents, for they had none)
on the platform — more than 300 did actually
swim the river on their horses, myself amonjj
the number, which occupied about three hours,
without the least accident, except one horse was
drowned by becoming entangled in some vines in-
descending the high bank of the river. The con-
sequence of this expedition was, the whole regi-
ment crossed the same day, and on the next
joined the Illinoisans from Camp Russell.

"It so happened, that instead of the boats and
volunteers arriving at the same time, and taking
the village by surprise, the boats got there on
Sunday, the 29th of August, and the mounted

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

men not until the Wednesday following,, when
no enemy was to be seen. But on the arrival of
the boats \vith the regulars about 150 or 200 In-
dian warriors then in their town attacked them
with great resolution, and not until after an
hour's hard fight, and using several pieces of
small cannon, could the boats effect a landing at
Peoria.

'•When the mounted riflemen arrived at
Peoria they found the village consisting of a
great number of huts, all deserted a few days
before, and two or three frame houses, one 30
or 40 feet long (said to have been built by the
French), although they did not appear to have
been inclosed or covered. The Indians in then-
flight had left nothing but some dried pump-
kins, corn and beans, which were found in some
of the houses, but much more was found
wrapped up in skins and hid in the ground, all
of which was seized and used by those who found
them. Every house in the village w-as de-
molished the same day we entered * * * *
and used for fuel during the stay of the army at
that place." (»)

The writer in the course of his interesting
letter described how the soldiers, after swimming
the Mississippi River, which they did in Adam's
costume, encountered a patch of nettles which
rendered it, to say the least, uncomfortable for
both horses and men; also the fleet of gunboats
consisting of ten or twelve barges, mantled, or
covered with thin boards which served well for
protection from the elements but very poorly
against Indian bullets; how a young man who
had, imnoticed by a sentinel, passed beyond the
guard line for water, was, on his return, shot to
death by mistake; how the army the next day
marched to Gomo's town and encamped there one
night and then returned and assisted in the
erection of Fort Clark. He then gives this vivid
description of the impression made upon the army
by its first sight of Peoria Lake and its sur-
soundings.

".^s the army approached Peoria from the
northwest and got a first view of its situation
from the high-land prairies, two or three miles
from the lake, looking easterly and southerly,
beheld the smooth prairie gradually descending
to the town, the lake stretching miles far to the
northeast, the giiuboats lying quietly at anchor
upon the water, the towering forest across the
water, and the lovely prairies bounded only by

(\\ This corroborates the statement elsewhere made that
only a portion o£ the town bad been destroyed by Craig.

the horizon, there was an involuntary halt — the
men all gazed in silence for a moment, and then
of a sudden, as if moved by one impulse, ex-
pressed universal admiration of the beauty and
grandeur of the prospect spread out before them.
At this time there was no road to Peoria ex-
cept the Indian trail, not a forest tree amiss, I'ot
a house within one hundred miles (except the
town before described), no plough had ever
broken the turf that covered the rich soil be-
neath. The lake was covered with wild geese,
ducks and other water fowls ; game such as deer,
bear, elk, and turkeys everywhere in the thick
woods and adjacent prairies. Bees and honey
were found in almost every hollow tree, and,
notwithstanding express orders to the contrary,
the men would and did, on the march, frequently
stop and cut down the trees and get large quani-
ties of the most deHcious honey. While em-
ployed in building the fort, many of the men
were well supplied with venison, fowls, honey
and sometimes with fish caught in the lake."
This description fully justifies the Indian name
of the place, "Pimiteoui — The Land of Plenty."

The writer describes the erection of Fort
Clark as follows:

"For want of suitable timber and materials
within several miles of the place, on the west side
of the lake, on account of the country back from
the river being prairie, it became necessary to
obtain all timber from a fine forest on the east
side of the Illinois River at the lower end of the
lake and raft it over. The men commenced fell-
ing the trees, the most of which were white oak,
and for the paHsades cut them about eighteen
feet long and each log not less than fifteen or
eighteen inches in diameter — the timbers for the
block-houses at the corners of the_.enclosure were
much longer; the era (area) inclosed for the fort
contained, according to my recollection, two or
three acres. While a portion of the men were
cutting, others were employed in hauling and
rafting the logs over to the opposite side of the
lake, and from there to the site for the building;
having no carriages of any description, all the
materials were drawn by men on trucks, by
means of large ropes, a distance of from one to
two miles. Thus was Fort Clark erected where
Peoria now stands, in less than two months, by
the Missouri and Illinois volunteers of mounted
riflemen, in September and October in the year
1813, at a distance of inore than one hundred
miles from any white settlement, and with no
other means than above described."

This picture of the building of Fort Clark is

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

complcteU l)y George Davenport in his account
given to Mr. IMatson before alluded to, as fol-
lows :

"Preparations having been made to build a fort
on the site of the old French town for the pur-
pose of holding possession of the country, timbers
were cut on the opposite side of the lake and
floated across to build block store-houses, and en-
close them with palisades. On a high piece of
ground near the bank of the lake a fort was
built, consisting of stockades made of two rows
of split timbers, and the space betw'een them filled
with dirt. A ditch surrounded the fort, and at
two corners were bastions for mounting cannon.
Inside of the stockades was a large block-house,
two stories high, and on three sides of it were
port-holes, so the inmates could fire on the enemy
in case of an attack. Besides this block-house
were store-houses, and quarters for officers and
soldiers.

"When the fort was completed and cannons
mounted on its ramparts, with flags waving on
each bastion. General Howard ordered all the sol-
diers on duty, formmg in double file, fronting
the gateway. A speech was made by the com-
manding officer, drums beat, soldiers cheered, the
cannons fired a salute, and with much enthusiasm
the fort was dedicated and named "Fort Clark"
in honor of General George Rogers Clark, the
hero of Kaskaskia and Vmcennes." (')

Governor Reynolds varies the scene somewhat,
but substantially agrees with the foregoing state-
ments. He says : "The army marched to the
upper end of the lake and returned the next
day. The troops camped on the south side of
the lake for three or four weeks. It was here
that the logs were cut for Fort Clark. With a
proper truck wagon, and ropes with cross pieces
of wood tied at the proper intervals, eight men
can 3raw as many logs as four horses. * * *
The logs were thrown into the water and the
regulars, under Captain Phillips, rafted them over
the lake, and made Fort Clark of them. The
army returned to Camp Russell, in safety, late in
November."

Research has failed to reveal any more par-
ticular description of Fort Clark than that above
given. It is reasonable to suppose it differed but
little from other forts erected about that time.
Only one block-house is spoken of at Fort Clark,

(1' It has been stated that the fort was named "Fort
Clark" in honor of William Clark, then Governor of Missouri
Territory, but the best authorities say it was so named in
honor of Gen. George Kofiers Clark.

but there were also within the enclosure quarters
for officers and men. Mr. Ballance, in his History
of Peoria, gives its dimensions and construction
as follows:

"This fort was about one hundred feet square,
with a ditch along each side. It did not stand
with a side to the lake, but with a corner towards
it. The corner farthest from the lake was on the
upper side of Water street, near the intersection
of the upper line of Water and Liberty streets.
From there the west hne ran diagonally across
the intersection of Water and Liberty streets
nearly to the corner of the transportation wart-
house, at the lower corner of Liberty and Water
streets. At this corner was what I suppose mil-
itary men would call a bastion, that is, there
was -I projecting corner made in the same man-
ner as the side walls, and so constructed, as I
imagine, as to acommodate a small cannon to
command the ditches. And thj same had, no
doubt, been at the opposite corner, but when I
came to the country in November, 1831, there
was no vestige of it remaining. In fact, at that
time there w-as but little to show that there had
ever been a fortification there, except some burnt
posts along the west side, and a square of some
ten or twelve feet at the south corner with a ditch
nearly filled up on two sides of it, and on the
west side of the square."

Observing, however, that Water street is one
hundred feet wide at the point indicated, and
that the location of the magazine which must
have been within the fort was very close to the
base of the smoke-stack of the Electric Light
Plant, some distance below Water street, the con-
clusion is forced upon us that his estimate of its
dimensions is erroneous. If the fort was of a
square form and contained one acre, one side of
it would measure 208.7 fe^t. which would corres-
pond more nearly with the points given by Mr.
Ballance than does his own estimates.

Other relics of the fort have been found, among
which, as already stated, is the foundation of the
magazine recently discovered near the base of
the stack of the Electric Light Plant at the foot
of Liberty street.

It is not known how long the fort was oc-
cupied by L'nited States troops, nor who was in
command. It is often said that it was evacuated
soon after the close of the war, which event oc-
curred at the beginning of the year 1815. but
there is some evidence of its having been oc-
cupied until the year 1817 or 1818. Among those
holding the first opinion is Mr. Matson, who

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

says : "The gate of the fort having been left
open, it became a lair for deer and a roost for
wild turkeys. In the fall of 1816 a party of
hunters from St. Clair County came to Fort Clark
and found about twenty deer in the fort and the
floors of the block-house covered with manure.
The hunters cleaned out this building and oc-
cupied it as a residence during a stay of ten
days while hunting deer and collecting honey in
the river timber. Fort Clark stood unmolested
until the fall of 1818, when it was burned by tlic
Indians."

The following incidents and quotations from
the autobiography of Gurdon S. Hubbard, of
Chicago, throw much light upon the destruction
of Fort Clark.

Mr. Hubbard entered into tlic employment of
the American Fur Company about the year 18 18,
,ina was assigned to duty on the Illinois River,
that department or brigade being under the di-
rection of Antoine Dcschamps. Deschamps had
been educated at Quebec for a Roman Catholic
priest, but refusing to be ordained engaged him-
self to Mr. Sara, a fur trader, at St. Louis, and
had devoted many years of his life to the Indian
trade on the Ohio and Illinois Rivers. When tlic
American Fur Company was organized he was
engaged by them, and placed in charge of the
Illinois brigade or outfit. It was his custom to
make a trip every fall to St. Louis with one boat
to purchase supplies cf tobacco and other neces-
saries for distribution among the various traders
on the Illinois River. This is the same Antoine
Deschamps who held the office of Justice of the
Peace at Peoria as early as 1802, as before men-
tioned.

"On the i8th of September, 1818, the IIlinoTs
brigade, led by Deschamps, started for the Illinois
River. Some of the boats were crowded with the
families of the traders, the oldest of whom was
Mr. Bieson, a large, portly, gray-headed man, who
was then about sixty years of age, and for more
than forty years had been an Indian trader on
the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. His
wife was a pure-blooded Pottawatamic Indian,
enormous in size, so fleshy she could scarcely
walk. Their two daughters were married and lived
at Cahokia, a small French town opposite St.
Louis. Mr. Bieson had a house and some property
at Opa, now Peoria, and had been, with all the in-
habitants of that place, driven off by the United
States troops in the command of General Howard
in 1814 (1813), and a fort was there erected,
which was called Fort Clark. The town of Opa
and Fort Clark were .-.ituated at the foot of Lake

IVoria on the Illinois River, where now stands
the flourishing city of Peoria."

Among the others who had their families with,
them were Messrs. Beebeau [Babo or Babcau.
— Ed.], of Opa, and Lefrombois, Bleu and St.
Clair, all of whom had Indian wives. And in
fact there were but three or four single men in
the party.

Having arrived at the mouth of Bureau River,
they located their first trading house and placed
the same in charge of Mr. Beebeau, who for
many years had been a trader in that region.
Hubbard was assigned to that post and was to
have charge of the accounts, as neither Beebeau
nor any of his men could read or write. Bee-
beau had kept his accounts with the Indians by a
system of heiroglyphics. Mr. Hubbard then pro-
ceeds as follows :

"I was permitted ,by Mr. Deschamps to ac-
company him to St. Louis, whither he went with
one boat to purchase supplies of tobacco and
some other needed articles from the French people
at Cahokia. Beebeau received his invoices of
goods and detail of men and we proceeded on-
ward.

"Our next post was located three miles below
Lake Peoria, and about sixty miles from Bureau,
and was placed in charge of old Mr. Beason, a
venerable man who had long been a trader on this
river and was well and favorably known by the
Indians. This we called Opa Post. (This was
afterward called "The Trading Post," where Wes-
ley City now is.)

"As we rounded the point of the lake above
Peoria we discovered that Old Fort Clark was on
fire, and, upon reaching it, w'e found Indians to
the mmiber of about two hundred engaged in a
war dance. They were hideously painted and had
scalps on their spears and sashes which ihey had
taken from Americans during the war with Great
Britain from 1812 to 1815."

Mr. Hubbard then relates an encounter which
took place between himself and a young Indian,
which came near resulting in the death of one of
them. He then says, "This incident left such an
impression on my mind that no doubts exist with
me as to the time of the burning of Fort Clark."

Only a portion, however, of the buildings could
have been consumed at that time, for in the fol-
lowing year when the first company of white set-
tlers came to the ]>lacc it is said they, too,
found what they supposed to be the fort on fire.
With this incident the history of the fort comes
to an end, but the name still clung to the place
for M-ars afterward.

jH.O^^f^^^^^^cstn::

CHAPTER X.

FIRST AMERICAN SETTLERS.

Having completed their business in St. Louis,
DesChamps and his party, including Gurdon S.
Hubbard, started on their return about the 20th
of November, and, after stopping at Opa Post,
reached the station at Bureau between the loth
and 15th of December. In March, 1819, they
started for Mackinac, which point they reached
about the middle of ]\Iay.

While they were making this journey, having
left Bccson in charge of the station at Wesley
City (then Opa), the first permanent settlement
was made at Fort Clark (now Peoria). Early
in the spring of that year a party consisting of
Abner Eads. Seth Fulton and Josiah Fulton, Vir-
ginians by birth, Joseph Hersey, a New Yorker,
S. Dougherty, J. Davis and T. Russell, Ken-
tuckians, but all then living at Shoal Creek, now
in Clinton County, Illinois, left that place to
found a settlement at Manvaise Terre, Prairie,
near the present site of Naples, on the Illinois
River. Not finding that locality satisfactory, and
having heard favorable reports of the country
around Fort Clark, they determined to proceed
to that place. With the boat in which they had
ascended the river they ferried their two horses
over to the west side, Virhere Eads and Hersey
mounted them and started for their destination,
arriving at Fort Clark on April 15, 1819. The re-
mainder of the party proceeded by boat, bring-
ing with them all their effects. After waiting
two days at the fort, a deserter from Fort Dear-
born came floating by in his canoe whom Eads
liailcd. and, joining him as a passenger, started
out to see what had become of the rest of the
party. When in the vicinity of La March Creek
they were met by the others, all enjoying" gooJ
health and spirits, and, joining them, they all
proceeded to Fort Clark, where they were wel-
comed by Hersey, who had remained alone in
charge of the horses. The circumstances of their
arrival are thus related by Josiah Fulton:

"We found the wails of two small log caBins,
which we supposed to have been built by the sol-
diers of the garrison stationed there, and at once
set to work to cover them over and finish them
up for dwelling places. While we were em-
ployed at this work ve made out to be comfort-
able in the shelter of our tents and boats. The
cabins stood on what is now Water street, and
almost directly in front of the Germania Hall
building. These cabins were the first American
dwelling places at what is now the city of Peoria.
"There were also rails enough, which the sol-
diers had made, to inclose fifteen acres of
ground. The ground was broken up and planted
to corn and potatoes, from which a pretty good
crop was gathered in the fall. The north line
o,' that first field ran west from the river and
not far from Fulton s;reet.

"About the first of June, Eads, Fulton and
Dougherty returned to Shoal creek with their
two horses to move Eads' family, consisting of
his wife and three children, to their new home.
■After settling up his sffairs in that neighborhood
Eads loaded his household effects, wife and chil-
dren on a two-horse wagon and headed across
the country in the direction of the beginning of
Peoria— the new settkment at Fort Clark. They
reached and crossed the Illinois River at the
present site of Wesliy City, where there was a
trading post, and where Indians and Indian canoes
[and possibly Louis Beeson. — Ed.] were nearly
always to be found. Some of the canoes were
secured, the household goods were unloaded from
the wagon, and with the family transferred to the
canoes and carried over to the west side of the
river. The wagon w.is then taken 10 pieces and
carried over in the ,-ame manner. The horses
and cattle w^ere made to swim across."

"Mr.5. Eads was the first .\merican woman to
see the site of Peoria "

On or about the loth of June of the same

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

year Captain Jiide Warner arrived from St. Louis
with a keel-boat loaded with salt and provisions,
and a seine for fishing in the lake. This com-
pany consisted of Isaac De Boise, James Gofif,
William Blanchard, David W. Barnes, Charles
Sargent and Theodore Sargent. They spent the
season in catching and salting fish in bulk. Their
arrival swelled the number of men at Fort Clark
to fourteen, and say.^ Mr. Fulton : "We were
about as happy a little circle as has ever lived
in Peoria. We were isolated, completely shut out
from the rest of mankind, it is true. We heard
but little from the outside (inside?) world, and
the outside world heard but little from us. But
little was known at that time about the Fort
Clark country. There were no roads, nor steam-
boats, nor mail routes, nor communications of any
kind, so that in point of fact we were as much a
community by ourselves as if our cabins had
been built on an island in the middle of the sea.
Our post office was St. Louis, and we never got
our mail, those of us who got any, only when we
went there for supplies, and then our letters cost
us twenty-five cents, and we couldn't muster that
much money every day.

"Mrs. Hads was duly installed as house-
keeper, and the rest oi the company, e-xcept Her-
sey, who didn't remain long, boarded with her.
It was a pretty hard winter on us, but we managed
to get through. Bread-stuflf gave out and we had
to fall back on honiiny-blocks and hominy. It
was a coarse kind of food we got this way, but
it was a good deal better than none, and served
to keep hunger away. Hominy-blocks went out
of use long ago, and there are thousands of people
in Peoria County that never saw one, but they
were a blessing to hundreds of the pioneers of
Ohio, Indiana. Michi5;an, Illinois, Iowa, and in
fact to the first settlers of the entire country,
and were the means of keeping many of the
pioneers and their little ones from starving to
death."

Of the first seven men who came to Fort
Clark the two Fultons went across the river and
selected a claim on what is now called Farm
Creek, and commenced to make a farm. In 1834
they sold that claim and removed to Peoria Coun-
ty, where Josiah lived a respected citizen during
the remainder of his life. Seth Fulton was seized
with the lead-mine excitement and removed to
Galena and afterward to Henry County.

.•\bner Eads bought the northwest quarter of
Section 17, 8 N., 8 E., in which the old Peoria
Cemetery, now Lincoln Park, is situated. He
afterward bought a quarter on Kickapoo Creek,

on which valuable coal mines were subsequcnlly
developed. He, too, after rendering valuable serv-
ices to the public, both civil and military, was
seized with the lead mine fever, and about the
year 1833 removed to Galena, wdiere he was for
two terms elected to the Legislature and served
during the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Assemblies.
In 1854 he went to California and commenced to
make a farm, then starting back for his family
he was seized with the Chagres fever and died on
the way and was buried in St. Louis. (')

Dougherty was a wild, reckless, daring Ken-
tuckian, and did not long remain in the country.
Hcrsey, the New York Dutchman as he was called,
went into the southern part of the state, where
he got into trouble, but having gotten his matters
"fixed up" disappeared. He is reported to h.ave
beon a man of some means, and years afterward
diligent .search was made for him or his heirs,
but .'o far as known vvithout success.

Davis first settled on Farm Creek, and after
remaining there a while removed to Sangamon
County and thence to Texas, where he died.

Russell did not remain here long, but took to
the river and was last heard of at St. Louis.

Of this first company Josiah Fulton is the
only one who remained at Peoria during the re-
mainder of his life.

Of the party who ':ame with Captain Warner,.
William Blanchard became a resident of what
is now Woodford County, where he continued to
reside until his death, which occurred only a few
yeras since. Jacob Wilson, one of the first to be
commissioned as Justice of the Peace, on the 22d
day of March, 1825, performed the first marriage
ceremony celebrated in the new county, which
was that of William Blanchard with Betsey
Donohoe. Barnes and the two Sargents went to
what is now Fulton County, where they became
prominent citizens.

Among the most uoted of these early setlers
was John Ilamlin, whose life is so intimately con-
nected with the history of Peoria that no ' ex-
tended sketch is here needed. Having arrived irt
the state, he made his home for some time with-
Hon. James Latham at Elkhart Grove, then in
Madison County. Judge Latham was the first.
Probate Judge for Sangamon County after its or-
' ganization, but afterward removed to Peoria
County. In 182 1. in company with several other
gentlemen, probably Judge Latham being of the
number, Mr. Hamlin visited Fort Clark and found

(1) Eads was captain nf tlie Peoria Company which
marched under General Stillman in the Black Hawk \\'ar
St( infra.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

on his arrival here two log cabins, one of whicli
was occupied by the family of Abner Eads ; the
other was a double log house, occupied by two
families — one by the name of Bogardus and the
other by the name of Montgomery. This was in
the early part of May, 1821. In March. 1822,
he had his effects removed to Fort Clark by an
ox-teani. In 1823 one William S. Hamilton had
a contract to supply Fort Howard, at Green Bay,
with beef-cattle, and Mr. Hamlin, on account of
his efficiency and knowledge of the Indian char-
acter, was chosen to accompany the expedition.
After divers vicissitudes and romantic experi-
ences they arrived at their destination on the sec-
ond day of July, 1823, having accomplished the
journey in thirty days.

On his way back Mr. Hamlin, who was a Jus-
tice of the Peace of Fulton County, performed his
first marriage ceremony, at Fort Dearborn, in the
marriage of Dr. Alexander Wolcott, the bride
being a Miss Kinzie, daughter of John Kinzie,
the first permanent settler of Chicago. This was
the first marriage ceremony ever performed in
what is now the great city of Chicago. (See
biographical sketch of John Hamlin infra.)

Gurdon S. Hubbard, afterward superintendent
of the Illinois Brigade of the .\merican Fur Com-
pany, spent the winter of 1821-2 on the Illinois
River. Reaching Bureau Station, he found Mr.
Beebeau still in charge, though much enfeebled
on account of age. This expedition was also un-
der the leadership of Des Champs. Hubbard then
says : "After resting a few days and selecting
the goods and men to be left at that post
(Bureau) we proceeded on our way, making our
next halt at Fort Clark, where we found several
families located, among whom were Mr. Fulton,
the first pioneer settler at that point, who still
resides in that county, and a Mr. Bogardus, a
brother of General Bogardus, of New York, a
highly intelligent gentleman, and his estimable
wife. Two miles below, at a point now known as
Wesley City, was Mr. Beeson's post, and there
we remained about one week, during whicli time
I went almost daily to the fort."

Mr. Hubbard then relates the circumstance of
an aged squaw having been attacked and devoureit
by wolves at the Kickapoo Creek, opposite Bee-
son's post.

From 1821 to 1S25 many new settlers came
into the territory afterwards embraced in Peoria
County, soiTie of those at Peoria being William
Eads, brother of Abner Eads, Judge James
Latham and the MofTatt family, consisting of the
father, Joseph A. ^loflfatt, three sons, Alva,

.•\quilla B. and Frankhn. and two daughters: also
Isaac Funk. William Holland, Elijah and Nor-
man Hyde, Dr. Agustus Langworthy. George
Sharp, Isaac Waters, John Dixon and others.

In the year 1825 an assessment was made for
the then new County of Peoria by John L. Bogar-
dus, which shows well the distribution of the pop-
ulation and wealth it then contained. M Peoria
the following persons were asses.sed in the
amounts mentioned with their names : Archi-
bald .A.llen, $150: Noah Beauchamp, Sr.. $200;
Noah Beauchamp. $200 : John Barker. $400 : John
L. Bogardus. $500: Joseph Bryant, S300 ; Cor-
nelius Brown, $150; John Dixon, $350: William
Eads, $350; Abner Eads, $800; Samuel Fulton,
$300; Isaac Funk. $200; Jesse Harrison. $50:
John Hamlin, $400 : William Holland, $800 : E. &
N. Hyde, $700; Jacob M. Hunter, $50: Charles
Love, $1.50; Agustus Langworthy. S200; J.
Latham. $300: Philip Latham, $100; Daniel Like,
$50; .Alva Mofifatt, $60; Aquilla Molifatt, $40;
Jesse McLaree, $25; Henry Neely, $150; Martin
Porter, $100; .-Vmhers' C. Ransom, $100: George
Sharp, $600; Joseph Van Scoik, $50; Isaac Waters,
$100. — 30 in all.

.\t Chicago the following assessments were
made: John B. Beaubcin, $1,000: Jonas Clyborne,
$625: John K. Clark. $250; John Crafts. $5,000;
(1) Jerry Clermont, SlOO; Louis Cantra, S50;
John Kinzie, $500: Joseph Lafraniboise, $50; C.
Laframboise, $100; David McKee, $100; Peter
Piche, $100; Alexander Wolcott, $572; .\ntoine
Wilmr-tte, $400, — 13 in all.

At the Trading House (Wesley City) .\ntoine
Alscome, $50: Francis Bourbonne, $200: Louis
Beabor, $700; Francis Bourbonne, Jr., $100, —
4 in all.

At Mickinaw- Point (near which is the village
of Dillon) Allen S. -Dougherty, $100: Walter
Dillon, $250: Nathan Dillon, $400; Absalom Dil-
lon. $200: Thomas Dillon, $300: Jesse Dillon,
$727: John Dillon, $93: William Davis. $200";
Hugh Montgomery, $200; Alexander ^[cNaugh-
ton, $150; Eli Redmon. $35; Henry Rcdmon, $35;
Peter Scott. $50, — 13 in all.

.At Ten Mile Creel:, William Blanchard. $150:
Elza Bcthard, $275; Reuben Bratton, S135:
Thomas Banks, $;o: Hiram M. Curry, $225:
Major Donahue. $200: Seth Fulton, $100: David
Mather, $200: John & William Phillips. $400;
John Stephenson, $40: Edmond Weed, S174;
Jacob Wilson, $300. — 12 in all.

d' .lohn Crafts represented thcAmeriran Kur Company
and tbi8 asbessDient doubtless represented its pioperty.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

At Farm Creek, Andrew Barker, $ioo; Aiislin
Crocker, $J00 ; Thomas Camlin, $300 ; Stcplien
Freiicli, $200; James Fulton, $12.50; Josiah Ful-
ton, $150; Elislia Fish, $200; Jacob Funk, $500;
Joslnia Ilarlin, $150; George Ish, $250; Joseph
Smith, $550, — II in all.

At La Salle Prairie, Elias P. Avery, $200;
Stephen Carroll, $150: Gilbert Field, $150; John
Griffin. $50; George Harlan, $150; Lewis Hal-
lock, $50; John Ridgeway, $100; Hugh Walker,
$50,-8 in all.

At Illinois Prairie (Tazewell County), George
Cline, $-0; John Cline, $264; Nathan Cromwell,
$300; Jessie Egman, $100; Levi Ellis, ^25; Will-
iam Clark, $250; Levi Gilbert, $25; James Latta,
$200; Levi McCormick, $50; Joseph Ogee, $200;
Isaac Perkins, $400; John Sommers, $300;
Ephraim Stout, Sr., & Jr., $500; Jonathan Tharp,
$100; Ezekiel Turner, $150; Seth Wilson, $200;
Samuel Woodrow, $150; Hugh Woodrow, $250,
— iS in all.

At Fox River, Robert Barcsford, $50; Fred
Countraman, $50; Aaron Hawley, $200; Pierce
Hawley, $300; John L. Ramsey, $200; Jesse
Walker, $50,-6 in all.

At Little Detroit, Thomas N. Brierly, $160;
Abner N. Cooper, $120; Peter Dn Mont, $50;
Gco.-ge N. Love, $350,-4 i" ^'l-

At Prince's Grove (Princeville), John Patter-
son, $20; Daniel Prince, $200,-2 in all.

Fn.iii the foregoing it will be seen that of
the one hundred and twenty taxable inhabitants
of Peoria County and attached territory, one-
fourth were assessed at Peoria, one-seventh at
Illinois Prairie, one-ninth each at Chicago and
Mackinaw Point, one-tenth at Ten Mile Creek,
one-eleventh at Farm Creek, one-fifteenth at La
Salle Prairie, six at Fox River, four each at The
trading house and Little 'Detroit and two at
Prince's Grove. Those at Peoria, La Salle Prairie,
Little Detroit and Prince's Grove, forty-four in all,
constituted the taxable population of what is now
Peoria County.

Their settlements were principally along the
streams where wood could be readily procured
for fuel and for the building of their houses.
The habits of these early settlers, which from
the force of circumstances were necessarily sim-
ple, are thus described by Governor Reynolds:
"They were rough in personal appearance and

luircfincd, yet kind, social and generous. They
were hunters and stock growers, and confined
to their agricultural operations chiefly to corn
and a small amount of wheat. They were brave,
prompt and decided in war, yet liberal and mag-
nanimous to a subdued foe. They showed great
energy, and a just spirit of enterprise, in remov-
ing from five to fifteen hundred miles into a
wilderness country, and pioneering out the way
for the future prosperity of their descendants.
They were hospitable, generous and ready to
share with their neighbors, or newly arrived
strangers, their last loaf.

"They were guided by Providence, preserved
amidst dangers, sickness and savage assaults, and
thus became the pioneers of civilization, the foun-
ders of a free government and the extension of
pure Christianity. They turned the wilderness
into a fruitful field, and pr(,-|)are(l the country to
sustain a more dense population, and to increase
in wealth and prosperity.

"Their habits and manners were plain, simple
and unostentatious. Their dwellings were log
cabins, of the rudest and most simple structure.
Their furniture and utentials and dress were
the most simple and economical possible, for such
only could be obtained.

"For clothing, dressed deer skins were ex-
tensively used for hunting shirts, pants, leggins
and mawkawsins, and the red skin of the prairie
wolf, or fox, was a substitute for the hat or
cap. Strips of buffalo hide were used for ropes
and traces, and the dressed skins of the buffalo,
bear and elk furnished the principal covering of
their beds at night. Wooden vessels, either dug
out or coopered, and called "Noggens," were in
common use for bowls, out of which each mem-
ber of the family ate mush and milk for supper.
A gourd formed the drinking cup.

"Every hunter (and all men were hunters)
carried his knife in nis girdle, while not unfre-
(|ucntly the rest of the family had but one or two
between them. If a family chanced to have a
few pewter dishes and spoons, knives and forks,
tin-cups and platters, it was in advance of the
neighbors.

"Corn was beaten for bread in the mortar,
ground on a grater or in a hand mill."

Such men and women as these laid the foun-
dation for the future prosperity of Peoria County.

CHAPTER XI.

FORMATION AND TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF
PEORIA COUNTY.

As already seen, General Arthur St. Clair,
'first Governor of the Northwestern Territory, did
not reach Kaskaskia until March, 1790, nearly
two years after his arrival in the Territory. He
then by proclamation established a county and
named it for himself, with the following bounda-
ries. "Beginning at the mouth of the Little
Michihimackinac [Mackinaw River in Tazewell
County. — Ed.], thence southerly in a direct line
to the mouth of the little river above Fort Massac
on the Ohio River, thence with the said river to
its junction with the Mississippi, thence up the
Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois River,
and so up the Illinois River to the place of he-
ginning," comprising about one-fourth of the
state as it was subsequently bounded. (')

It appears that Peoria was left outside of the
bounds of this county, but it made little differ-
ence whether it was in or out, for the government
attempted to be established was of little force
even to those residing within the new county.
In October, 179S, a new county was fonned in
the southern part of the State called Randolph,
the county seat of which was Kaskaskia, and the
county seat of St. Clair County which now em-
braced the balance of the old county of St.
Clair was at Cahokia ; so Peoria still remained
outside of the bounds of an organized govern-
ment, unless it may possibly have been embraced
within the bounds of Knox County one of the
four which had been formed within the North-
western Territory.

The Northwestern Territory was divided in the
year 1800. and the Territory of Indiana, which in-
cluded Illinois, was at that time established and
organized with William Henry Harrison as Gov-
ernor. That portion of the Territory covering the
present State of Illinois was then divided into

(1) Mosos' .Address to State H.Tr .\ssociatiiiii, 18'.)5 p. 209.

two counties. Randolph and St. Clair. Randolph
County was bounded as follows : "Beginning on
the Ohio River at a place called the Great Cave
below the Saline Creek, thence by a direct North
line until it intersects an East and West line
running from the Mississippi River through the
center of Sink Hole Spring, thence along the
said line to the Mississippi River, thence down
the Mississippi to the Ohio and up the same to the
place of beginning."

The County of St. Clair was bounded as fol-
lows : "On the South by the before named
East and West line from the Mississippi through
the Sink Hole Spring to the intersection of said
line running from Great Cave aforesaid, thence
from the said point of intersection by a direct
line to the mouth of the Great Hennoumic
(Calumet River) flowing into the southern point
of Lake Michigan, thence by a direct Northeast
line to the division line between the Indiana aid
Northwestern Territories, thence along the said
line to the territorial boundary of the United
States, thence along the said boundary to the
intersection thereof with the Mississippi River
and down the Mississippi to the place of begin-
ning."

This is the first time the territory now em-
braced within the county of Peoria came under
an efficient civil government. As we have al-
ready seen, Antoine Des Champs and Louis La-
boisiere were Justices of the Peace, exercising the
functions of their offices at Peoria in the year
1802 ,under appointment from the then Governor
of Indiana Territory, William H. Harrison. The
county officers were: John Hays, Sheriff; Will-
iam .Arundel, Clerk; and John Hays, Recorder.

On a proposition to advance the Territory of
Indiana to the second grade in 1804. which gave
rise to an animated controversy, only 400 votes
were polled in the entire Territorj'. Randolph

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

County polled sixty-one with a majority of nine-
teen in favor, and St. Clair eighty-one with a
majority of thirty-seven against the proposition,
but it was carried by a majority of 138, given by
the other counties.

On the third day of February, 1809, the Ter-
ritory of Indiana was divided and the new
Territory of Illinois was organized. The coun-
ties of Randolph and St. Clair were continued
with boundaries as follows : The county of
Randolph shall include all that part of the Illi-
nois Territory lying south of the line dividing the
counties of Randolph and St. Clair as it existed
under the government of the Indiana Territory
on the last day of February, 1809, and the county
of St. Clair shall include all that part of the
Territory which lies north of said line.

For the county of St. Clair the following
officers were appointed : John Hays. Sheriff, in
which office he was continued nine years ; Will-
iam Arundel, formerly of Peoria, Recorder ; John
Hay, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas; other-
wise county clerk, which position he honorably
filled until his death in 1845 ! Enoch Moore,
Coroner, and John Messinger, Surveyor.

Ninian Edwards, who had been appointed
Governor did not arrive in the territory until the
month of June, but Nathaniel Pope, who had
been apointed Secretary, proceeded to make the
necessary appointments which were afterwards
confirmed.

Among the Justice:, of the Peace appointed by
Secretary Pope for the county of St. Clair were:
Antoine Des Champs, who still resided at Peoria,
and Nicholas Boilvin. Antoine Des Champ.s,
was the same who had held the same office while
the county of Peoria was within the Indiana Ter-
ritory. Nicholas Boilvin resided at Prairie Du
Chien, now in the State of Wisconsin, and held
the appointment of Indian Agent for the govern-
ment. He was the father of Nicholas Boilvin and
William C. Boilvin formerly prominent business
men of Peoria.

In 1812 Madison County was carved out of St.
Clair County with the following boundaries :
"Beginning on the Mississippi and running with
the second township line above Cahokia east un-
til it strikes the dividing line between the Illi-
nois and Indiana Territories, thence with the said
dividing line to the line of Upper Canada, thence
with said line to the Mississippi and thence dov/n
the Mississippi to the beginning."

Peoria was then embraced within the limits
of Madison County and so continued until the

year 1821, when it was set off into the newly
created county of Pike. During that period
many conveyances of land were made, especially
in the Military Tract, which were recorded at
the recorder's office of Madison County at Ed-
wardsville. The records of all conveyances
touching lands in Peoria County have been trans-
scribed and now form a part of the records of our
recorder's office.

In the meantime the State of Illinci'. had
been admitted into the Union with its present
boundaries, thus severing from Madison County
all that portion of territory now embraced within
the State of Wisconsin and part of Minnesota.

Pike County was organized by act of Jan-
uary 31, 1821, entitled "An Act to form a new
county in the Bounty Lands," the boundaries of
which were as follows : "Beginning at the mouth
of the ri-linois River and running thence up the
middle of said river to the fork of the same,
thence up the south fork (Kankakee) of said
river until it strikes the State line of Indiana,
thence north with said line to the north boundary
of this State, thence west with said line to the
west boundary of this State thence w'ith said line
to the place of beginning."

For two years thereafter Peoria County was
etubraced within the bounds of Pike County,
and its records of conveyances were kept there
and have since been transcribed. During the
period that Peoria was under the jurisdiction of
Pike County the following named persons held
the office of Judges of the Probate Court, namely,
Abram Beck, commissioned February 12, 1821,
but resigned and was succeeded June 11, 1821,
by Nicholas Hanson, who also resigned and was
succeeded February 15, 1823, by William Ross, the
same day that Hugh R, Coulter received his com-
mission to the same office in the newly created
county of Fulton. At an election held April 2,
1821, Leonard Ross, John Shaw and William
Ward were elected County Cominissioners, Bige-
low C. Fenton, Sheriff, and Daniel Whipple,
Coroner, and at an election held August 5. 1822,
Jatnes M. Secly, David Dulton and Ossian M.
Ross were elected County Commissioners, Leon-
ard Ross, Sheriff, and Daniel Whipple. Coroner.
These all continued in office until after the forma-
tion of Fulton County. During the same period
the following named persons were appointed and
commissioned as Justices of the Peace of Pike
County, namely, February 3, 1821, Abner Eads,
John Shaw, Daniel Whipple, William Ross,
Henry Tupper, Leonard Ross, William Ward;

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

on May 26, 1821, Ebenezer Smith, Stephen
Dewey; on August 29, 1821, John Bolter; on No-
vember 29, 1821, Ossian M. Ross; on January 2,
1822, Charles B. Rouse; on May 22, 1822, Amos
Barcroft.

At the same session of the Legislature, the
county of Sangamon was formed with the follow-
ing boundaries : "Beginning at the northeast
corner of township 12, north on the Third Prin-
cipal Meridian, thence north with said meridian
line to the Illinois River [near the present city
of Peru. — Ed.] thence down the middle of said
river to the mouth of Balance or Negro Creek,
thence up said creek to its head, thence through
the middle of the prairie which divides the wators
of Sangamon and the Mauvaise Terre to ihe
northwest corner of township 12 north, range 7
west of the Third Principal Meridian, thence
cast along the boundary of township I to the
place of beginning." A portion of this territory
was afterwards attached to Peoria County for
county purposes.

By an act of January 28, 182.3, the county of
Fulton was formed with the following boundar-
ies: Beginning at the point where the Fourth
Principal Meridian intersects the Illinois River,
thence up the middle of said river to where ;he
line between ranges five and six east strikes the
said river, thence north with said line between
ranges five and six to the township line between
townships g and 10 north, thence west with said
line to the Fourth Principal Meridian, thence
south with said line to the place of beginning."
These boundaries embraced Trivoli and Elm-
wood townships and part of Knox County. And
it was further enacted that all the rest and resi-
due of the attached part of the County of Pike
cast of the Fourth Principal Meridian should be
attached to and be a part of the said county of
Fulton until otherwise disposed of by the Gen-
eral Assembly. It will be observed that Fulton
County did not acquire jurisdiction west of the
Fourth Principal Meridian.

On the second Monday of April, of the same
year, an election was held for the election of a
Sheriff, Coroner and three County Commissioners.
As already stated Hugh R. Coulter was on the
15th day of February, 1823, commissioned as
Judge of the Probate Court. He continued to
fill that office until after the formation of
Peoria County. At the election held April 14.
1823. (the second Monday) Joseph Moffatt, David
W. Barnes and Thomas R. Covell were elected
County Commissioners, Abner Eads. Slicriff. and
William Clark, Coroner. At an election held Au-

gust 2, 1824, James Gardner, James Barnes and
David W. Barnes were elected County Commis-
sioners, Ossian M. Ross, Sheriff, and Joseph Mof-
fatt, Coroner. These all continued in office un-
til after the organization of Peoria County.
During the same period the following named
persons were appointed and commissioned as
Justices of the Peace of Fulton County, namely,
January 30, 1823, John Hamlin, Samuel Fulton,
Stephen Chase, Hugh R. Coulter, Ossian M.
Ross. June 17, 1823, Amhurst C. Hanson, Will-
iam Eads; December 2, 1823, John Kinzic, (Chi-
cago).

A comparison of these lists of officers with
the lists of early settlers will demonstrate that
the residents of Peoria and vicinity had a fair
representation in the public affairs of both Pike
and Fulton Counties.

At the first election in Fulton County Abner
Eads, of Peoria, was elected Sheriff under the
following amusing circumstances. The election
was to be held at the house of Ossian M. Ross,
the father of the late Lewis W. Ross, and Gen-
eral Leonard F. Ross, near the present site of
Lewistown, which afterwards became the county
seat. The few voters at Fort Clark and vicinity
must either go there to vote or not vote at all.
They had a candidate for Sheriff, .\bner Eads,
and were especially interested in that election.
They mustered in full force, laid in a full sup-
ply of commissary stores, went down the Illi-
nois River to the mouth of Spoon River, near
Havana, then up Spoon River to the nearest
point to the place of election, two canoes being
sufficient to accommodate them. They went
equipped as the custom of the times demanded.
When the votes were counted it was found that
Eads had one majority over Ossian Ross, the other
candidate.

Ross contested the election on the ground
that some of those who had voted for Eads
were not residents of the county, that they lived
on the east side of the river and consequently
were not entitled to vote in Fulton County ; and
on the further ground that Eads could not write,
and was therefore incompetent to discharge the
duties of the office. To obviate this difficulty,
it is said, Eads took lessons in penmanship from
Jesse Wood, who was a preacher and also a
teacher, and in about four weeks advanced far
enough to write his name. But this charge must
be a slander, for it has just been seen that be-
fore that time he had been appointed and com-
missioned by the Governor as one of the Jus-
tices of the Peace of Pike County.

•6o

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

Judge Reynolds, a brother of John Reynolds,
afterwards Governor of the State, was Presid-
ing Judge and ordered depositions to be taken
as evidence in the case, and the log cabin office of
John Hamlin, Justice of the Peace at Fort Clark,
was selected as the place where they should be
taken. His associate, H. R. Coulter, sat with
him. Great excitement prevailed. The contest
was not sustained and Eads was declared elected
Sheriff, and served his term.

By an act of the Legislature of January 13,
1825, Schuyler, Adams, Hancock, Warren, Henry,
Putnam and Knox Counties were formed. The
■boundaries of Knox County were as follows :
"Beginning at a point where the township line
between townships 8 and 9 north intersects the
meridian line, thence east to the range line be-
tween sections 4 and 5 east, thence up said line to
the northeast corner of township 12 north, 4
■east, thence west to the meridian line, thence to
the place of beginning." These boundaries in-
clude all of the present county of Knox, with
the exception of the northern tier of townships.

The boundaries of Putnam County were as
follows : "Beginning at the point where the
township line between 11 and 12 north touches
the Illinois River [the northeastern corner of
the present county of Peoria. — Ed.], thnce up
the said river to the south fork, thence up the
same (Kankakee) to the Indiana line, thence
■up said line to the northeast corner of the State,
thence west on the north boundary of the State
to range line between townships 4 and S east,
thence south on said range line to the line be-
tween townships 11 and 12 north, thence to the
place of beginning." These boundaries include
all that part of the State north of Peoria County
and east of its west line if extended to the
northern boundaries of the State, and lying west
and north of the Illinois and Kankakee Rivers.

Henry County began at the northwest corner
of Knox County, where the township line between
townships 12 and 13 north intersect the meridian
line, thence east to the line between ranges 4 and
5 east (the present westerly boundary of Stark
County), thence north to the north boundary of
the State, thence west on said State boundary to
the said meridian line, thence down said meridian
line to the place of beginning. All that part of
the State lying west of Henry County thus de-
scribed and north of Warren County was or-
ganized as Mercer County. By the same act all
that tract of country north of Schuyler and Han-
cock Counties was attached to Schuyler County
for county purposes unFd otherwise ordered, that

embraced in Knox and Henry Counties still re-
maining attached to Fulton County.

On the same day with the passage of the fore-
going act, Peoria County was created under the
provisions of an act entitled "An Act to form a
new county out of the country in the vicinity
of Fort Clark," Vvhich provides as follows:

"Section i. Be it enacted by the people of
the State of Illinois, represented in the General
Assembly, That all that tract of country within
the following boundaries, to-wit : Beginning
where the line between towns 11 and 12 north
intersects the Illinois River; thence west with
said line to the line between ranges 4 and s east;
thence south with said line to the line between
towns 7 and 8; thence east to the line between
ranges 5 and 6; thence south to the middle of
the main channel of the Illinois River; thence
up said middle of the main channel to the place
of beginning, shall constitute a county to be called
Peoria.

Section 2 provided "That all that tract of
country north of town 20, and west of the Third
Principal Meridian, formerly part of Sangamon
County, be, and is hereby attached to said county
of Peoria, for county purposes. Provided, how-
ever. The citizens of the attached part of said
county are not to be taxed for the erection of
public buildings, or for the purchase of the
quarter-section hereinafter mentioned."

"Section 3. Be it further enacted, That the
county seat of said county of Peoria shall be
established on the northeast quarter of .section
9. town 8 north, range 8 east, and that the County
Commissioners of said county are hereby au-
thorized to purchase said quarter-section of land
of the United States as provided for by the law
of Congress."

"Section 4. Be it further enacted, That on
the first day of March next (1825), an election
shall be held at the house of William Eads, at
which time there shall be elected one Sheriff, one
Coroner and three County Commissioners for said
county, which election shall, in all respects, be
conducted agreeably to the provisions of the law
now in force regulating elections. Provided,
That the qualified voters present may select from
among their number three competent electors to
act as judges of said election, who shall appoint
two qualified voters to act as clerks."

"Section 5. Be it further enacted. That it
shall be the duty of the Clerk of Sangamon
County to give public notice in said Peoria Coun-
ty and the attached part, at least ten days previous
to the election to be held on the first Monday in

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

March next ; and in case there should be no Clerk,
then the Sheriff of said county shall give notice,
as aforesaid, of the time and place of holding
the election."

Section 6 provided, Tliat the county of Pe-
oria sliould receive two hundred dollars out of
the public treasury, as full compensation for their
proportion of non-resident land tax, in the same
way as the county of Pike might or could do
under the act entitled An Act amending an act
entitled an act providing for the valuation of
lands and other property, and laying a tax there-
on, approved February 15, 182 1.

Section 7 provided. That the said county
of Peoria and the attached part of said county
mentioned in section 2 [the portion detached
from Sangamon. — Ed.] should vote with the
county of Sangamon for Representative and Sen-
ator to the General Assembly.

Section 8 declared, That all that tract of
country north of said Peoria County, and of
the Illinois and Kankakee Rivers, be, and the
same is hereby attached to said county, for all
county purposes." This did not include any of
of the newly formed counties of Knox, Henry,
Warren or Mercer.

From this enactment it would appear (some-
what contrary to the general belief) that the
present county of Cook, w'ith its great metropolis,
had never coine within the jurisdiction of Peoria
County, because Putnam County included the
same territory, and was created on the same day
by another act of the General Assembly. But,
it must be observed that the policy of the State
then seemed to be to first lay off the territory
into counties, or part-; of counties, and to attach
them for the time being to some organized
county, for county purposes, until the regular
organization should take place. So it appears
that the counties of Warren and Mercer, which
had formerly been attached to Pike, were for a
time attached to Schuyler for county purposes,
while Knox and Henry still remained attached
to Fulton. That which became attached to Peoria
County was that part of Sangamon north of town
20 and west of the Third Principal Meridian, and
all the territory north and west of the Illinois
and Kankakee Rivers, and east of the line which
divides ranges 4 and 5 east of the Fourth Princi-
pal Meridian. By an act of the Legislature of
1820 the counties of Warren and Mercer were
attached to Peoria County, while Knox and
Henry never came under its jurisdiction. These
circumstances afford the reason why, in laying

out roads, the commissioners of Peoria County
never presumed to go further east than the Third
Principal Meridian, nor west the entire distance
to the Mississippi, but only to the Third Princi-
pal Meridian in the direction of an objective point
to the east, or as far as their jurisdiction ex-
tended toward the lead mines or some point on
the Mississippi. So it was that, although what
is now the great city of Chicago was embraced
within the territory set off to Putnam County,
for six years it remained attached to Peoria
County for county purposes, and all its county
affairs were administered in Peoria. So also all
that territory north of Hancock and west of the
Fourth Principal Meridian was for a time at-
tached to Peoria County, although the counties
of Knox and Henry lay between. That portion of
Sangamon County which was detached therefrom
and attached to Peoria County embraced the three
northern tiers of townships in Mason County,
the northern tier of Logan County, the western
tier of McLean County, all of Tazewell County,
about two-thirds of Woodford County, about one-
half of Marshall County, and all of the present
county of Putnam except one tow-nship.

Immediately upon the passage of the act in-
corporating the county its citizens proceeded to
organize it by the election of officers. Although
the law under which the organization took place
required the first election to be held on the
first day of March, 1825. at the house of William
Eads, yet because a subsequent section required
the notice of election to be given for the first
Monday in March, the said election did not take
place until the 7th day of ^larch, 1825, at which
time Samuel Fulton was chosen for tlte office
of Sheriff; William Phillips, Coroner; and Will-
iam Holland, Nathan Dillon and Joseph Smith,
County Commissioners.

The County Commissioners' Court was organ-
ized on the next day, when Norman Hyde was
appointed clerk of said body. The act creating
the county was appi-oved on the 13th day of
January, 1825, and, between that day and the
i8th day of the same month, the same Norman
Hyde had been chosen by both branches of the
Legislature as Judge of the Probate Court of
Peoria County, so that at the time of his election
as Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court he
was entitled to a conmiission from Governor
Edward Coles for the office of Judge.

The following named persons were appointed'
and commissioned as Justices of the Peace for
Peoria County at the date of its organization,.

62 HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

January 12, 1S25. namely: Thomas Camlin, duly c|ualificd. jurisdiction over the affairs of the

George Ash, John Phillips, Stephen French, Xa- county became vested in them, and from that time

than Dillon, Isaac Perkins, Jacob Wilson, Joseph they have been duly administered by their legal

Moffat, Austin Crocker, John Kinzie, successors.
The officers provided by the law having been

CHAPTER XII.

STRUGGLE FOR THE COUNTY SEAT.

Aside from the importance of the question of
making Ilhnois a slave State, that which most
concerned Peoria County from a pohtical stand-
point was that, at the election of i8?4, Edward
Coles had been elected Governor of the State,
Daniel P. Cook, a son-in-law of Governor Ed-
wards, had been re-elected to Congress (there be-
ing then only one Representative from the State),
and the General Assembly then elected was to
elect two United States Senators, which election
resulted in the choice of John McLean and Elias
Kent Kane. The Presidential election of 1824
had resulted in no choice by the electors, and
the election was thrown into the House of Rep-
resentatives, where Mr. Cook cast the vote of
Illinois in favor of the successful candidate, Mr.
John Quincy Adams. From that time antag-
onisms began to grow up among the leading men
of the country, which finally culminated in the
formation of the Whig and Democratic parties.

Congress had passed an act providing that
new counties might locate their county seats upon
public lands subject to pre-emption and purchase,
upon the same terms that private parties might
enter them. The act of the General Assembly
creating the county of Peoria had located the
County Seat upon government land, and it be-
came one of the first duties of the Commissioners
to secure the title. But in so doing they met
with unexpected objections from the officials of
the Land Office for three reasons ; first, the quar-
ter section, being a fractional one, was not sub-
ject to entry; second, the existence of the French
claims ; third, James Latham had set up a coun-
ter claim under a pretended private entry. This
contest continued for a period of nine years,
and its successful issue reflects the highest credit
upon the successive boards of County Commis-
sioners and other citizens of Peoria who lent
them their assistance.

The history of this important contest is best

toLl by the actors in the following original docu-
ments.

The Board of County Commissioners, at a
special term held on the i6th day of April,
1825, ordered that Nathan Dillon, Esq., one of
the members of the said board, be authorized
to make application to the Register of the Land
Office at Springfield for the right of pre-emption
of said quarter section for the purpose of estab-
lishing the County Seat of Peoria County thereon,
according to said act of Congress.

In pursuance of this order application was
made to the Land Office at Springfield for leave
to enter the said quarter section, which said
application was refused, because it was not sub-
ject to entry under the law. A mdmorial was
thereupon addressed to the President of the
United States relative to the matter, signed by
the Commissioners and other citizens, which was
referred by the President to the Land Office, and,
on the 23d day of November, 1825, the Register
and Receiver at Springfield were instructed by
the Commissioner as follows :

"Gent. A memorial from the Comrs. for the
county of Peoria and other citizens thereof stat-
ing 'that application had been made to your office
to enter the N. E. 14 of Sect. 9, 8 N. 8 E. for
the Seat of Justice for said County, and that entry
had been refused because said quarter section
was a fractional one,' was addressed to the
President & lately referred to this office by him,
with instructions to admit the entry if the objec-
tion stated is the only one to its admission. If
there are others you will report the facts in rela-
tion to the case to this office.
"I am, etc.,

"Geo. Graham."

We are not informed that Daniel P. Cook
had used his influence with the President in be-
half of the citizens of Peoria, but we know the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

President had good reason for favoring any of
Mr. Cook's constituents.

On the 6th day of March, 1826, it was or-
dered by the County Commissioners' Court that
the Clerk transmit to the President of the United
States the thanks of the court for his prompt
compliance with the prayer of their petition for
leave to enter the fractional quarter section of
Jand on which to locate their County Seat, and
also that he be directed to inform the President
that his kind interference in their behalf had not
produced the desired result. Two days thereafter
the court made the following entry:

"Ordered that John Dixon be and he is hereby
authorized in behalf of this court to make appli-
cation officially to the Register and Receiver of the
Land Office at Springfield for a written statement
of the obstacles and objections (if any exist)
which prevent the entry by the Commissioners of
said County of the North East fractional quarter
of Sec. 9 of Township 8 North Range 8 East
of the fourth principal meridian, on which the
Seat of Justice for Peoria County is located,
pursuant to an act of Congress, by Statute of
this State. And as it is anticipated that some
objections may arise on account of the exact
quantity of land in said fractional quarter not be-
ing accurately known, he, the said John Dixon,
is further authorized after procuring from the
Land Officers aforesaid a statement of all the said
objections, etc., to proceed to St. Louis and apply
to the Surveyor General for a plat of the survey
of the above mentioned quarter Section, and if no
plat can be furnished without a rc-survey, to
contract with the Surveyor General for that
purpose, at the expense of this county, for a
speedy completion of said survey, and request a
plat thereof to be immediately made out. properly
authenticated and forwarded to the said Register
and Receiver.

"And the said John Dixon is further author-
ized, if no objections are made, to enter the said
fraction in behalf of and for said county of
Peoria."

This order was made just one year after the
said board had been organized. It fully demon-
strated that they fully understood the business in
hand, as w-ell as a determination to push it to a
successful issue.

At a special term held on the 2d day of
May, 1826. all the members being present, it was

"Ordered that John Dixon be and he is hereby
authorized to borrow on the credit of the county
of Peoria one hundred and eighty-four dollars
62j^ cents by him to be paid to the Receiver of

the Land Office at Springfield, in payment of
the N. E. fractional qr. Sec. No. 9 Town 8 North
Range 8 East of the fourth principal (meridian),
and that he be authorized to issue orders on
the Treasurer to such persons as shall loan the
said county the above money, at any interest
not exceeding 25 per cent, per annum until paid."

It is said that when all else was about to fail
the citizens, either at this time or at some other,
made up a "pony purse" to help the Commis-
sioners to make the entry.

Prior to the passage of the act incorporating
the county of Peoria, Judge James Latham had
come into the occupancy of a house on said
quarter section, which circumstance led to a great
deal of trouble in the permanent location of the
County Seat. On the 12th day of July, 1826,
said County Commissioners' Court made the fol-
lowing order with reference thereto :

"Ordered that Isaac Perkins, William Wood-
son and Henry Thomas be summoned by the
Sheriff to be and appear at the next regular
term of this court, on the first day of said term,
to assess the damage, if any incurred, by James
Latham in consequence of being deprived of his
claim to the land on which the County Seat
of Peoria County is located, the improvement of
which was purchased previous to the location of
said County Seat." Nothing, however, resulted
from this movement, but, Latham having shortly
afterward died, his heirs prosecuted tlicir claim
in the Circuit Court.

On the same day it was ordered "that the
Treasurer pay John Dixon $34.85 for going to
St. Louis by order of the Court, and for postage
and clerk hire up to that date, and going to
Springfield to enter the land for the County
Seat." From this it appears that John Dixon
had performed the duties assigned him by the
previous orders.

On the 5th day of December, following, the
Commissioners then being Nathan Dillon, Will-
iam Holland and John Hamlin (an election hav-
ing taken place the preceding August), the fol-
lowing order was made :

"That William S. Hamilton be authorized to
act as counsel on behalf of this court for the
purpose of obtaining the title to the land on
which the County Seat of Peoria County is lo-
cated, with full power for said purpose, except
that of commencing suit at law. Also that the
Clerk of this court inform said Hamilton that
compensation will be allowed only in event of
their obtaining said title." This William S. Ham-
ilton was a son of the distinguished Alexander

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Haniilloii, nnd his name repeatedly apj)ears in
connection witii the history of Peoria.

On the 6th day of January, 1827, the Commis-
sioner of the Land Office at Wasliington ad-
dressed the following letter to Colonel William
McKee, Surveyor General at St. Louis, Mo. :

"Sir : — The act of Congress passed on the 3d
of March. 1823, confirming certain claims to lots
in the village of Peoria, in 'the State of Illinois
[the French claims. — Ed.], declares that it shall
he "the duty of the Surveyor of Public Lands
of the U. S. for tliat District to cause a survey to
he made of the several lots, and to designate on
a plat thereof, the lot confirmed and set apart
to each claimant, and forward the same to the
Secy, of the Treasury.' As the plat above re-
quired to be made has not been received, and
a Mr. James Latham, having entered the N. E.
fr. 14 9, 8 N. 8 E. of the 4th P. M. under a
'Vincennes pre-emption,' I will thank you to in-
form me if the survey of the village has been
made, and if it has, to furnish me with a copy
of the survey, exhibiting the connection between
it & the adjacent public surveys. I am, etc.,

"Geo. Gk.\ham.

"P. S. — It is presumed that llie Regr. at Ed-
wardsville who acted as Commr. for the settle-
ment of these claims furnished Gen. Rector with
a copy of his report on the subject; if he did
you can obtain a copy from the Regr. Office at
that place."

The nature of the Latham claim, here called
a Vincennes pre-emption, is not fully understood,
nor is it deemed important to inquire into it.

The matter then rested for some time until
after the election of August 4, 1828, when the
County Commissioners' Court, consisting of the
following persons, George Sharp, Isaac Egman
and Francis Thomas, addressed to the Hon.
Elias Kent Kane and John McLean, Senators,
and Joseph Duncan, who had succeeded Daniel P.
Cook as Representative in Congress from the
State of Illinois, a memorial .setting forth in
minute detail the whole situation, with their rea-
sons in support of the claim of the county, and
asking them to use their influence with the Presi-
dent to induce him to allow the entry to be
made in the name of the county, or, in case that
could not be done, that they endeavor to have
a special act of Congress passed to atTorcl the
desired relief. In the same memorial they also
called attention to the great need of a L.ind Office
in the Military Tract.

On the 28th of January, 1830, George E. Gra-

liani, Commissioner of the Land Office, addressed
to .Senator Kane the following letter:

"Sir:— I return the letter of Messrs. Hyde &
Stillman enclosed in your letter of the 26th inst.
"Upon examination it appears that in 1825
the Commissioners for the county of Peoria
made application to the Land Officers at Spring-
field to enter the N. E. frac. ^ of S. 9 T. 8
R. 8 E. under the provisions of the act of 26th
of May, 1824. granting pre-emption to certain
counties for their Seats of Justice (Land Laws,
page 869) which, being refused by these officers
on the ground of the tract being' a fractional
quarter section, they memorialized the Presi-
dent on the subject, and, under his instructions
at that time, had they entered and paid for the
land, tliere would have been no difficulty in the
case, but they having failed to make such a
payment, that tract was entered in November,
1826, by James Latham under a pre-emption cer-
tificate, granted by the Register at Vincennes un-
der the 2d section of the act of the nth of May,
1820 (Land Laws p. 778), and payment in full
made to the Receiver and regularly entered in the
returns of those officers to this office. The letter
of the Register to this office that covered this
entry by Latham also enclosed a protest against
it by William S. Hamilton as attorney of the
County Commissioners.

"In consequence of tlie belief entertained at
this office that that fractional Section included the
lots which had been confirmed to certain individ-
uals at Peoria by the act of the 3d of Marclv
1823 [the French claims. — Ed.], and that tnere-
fore it could not 5e legally granted to either the-
County Commissioners or Mr. Latham, the-
Register was informed in January, 1827. that
this office, not being in possession of a survey
of those confirmed lots, could not decide uporu
the rights of the respective parties until it was-
ascertained that there was no interference be-
tween those lots and that quarter section, A.
survey has not yet been forwarded to this office
of the confirmed Peoria Claims, and until one
is received the Case will have to be suspended."

On the next day Senator Kane addressed to
Stephen Stillman, of Peoria, the following letter:

"Dear sir: — I have delayed to (answer?)
you until I could hear in answer to the applica-
tion of your County Commissioners something
satisfactory. I have waited, however, only to be
informed of the embarrassments which surround
the subject. I send all the papers received frorr*
the Comr. of Gen. Land Office, which gives as
full a view of the matter as can be obtained.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Present me respectfully to the Commissioners
witli the assurance that it will at all times give
nie pleasure to attend to their requests whether
made in an official or individual character.
"With great respect, your obt. St.,

"E. K. Kane.

S. Stillm.vx, E.sq."

On the 3d of March, 1830, the County Com-
missioners' Court made the following order :

"Ordered that Stephen Stillman be and he is
hereby appoijited a Special Agent on the part of
the county of Peoria for the purpose of obtain-
ing for the use of the county the right of soil
to the North East fractional quarter of Section
No. 9, in Town Eight North and Range Eight
East — with full pow'er to act for the county in
the Name & in behalf of Count}- Commissioners,
and that he be particularly instructed & required
to use his utmost e.xertions and all necessary
means to procure if possible the title to said
quarter Section, as it is considered of the utmost
importance that it should be obtained immedi-
ately.

"The Commissioners on the part of the coun-
ty do hereby agree to accept any part of said
■quarter Section (be the same more or less) that
may remain after deducting that which is appro-
priated by the law of Congress for Peoria
Claims, in lieu of a full quarter allowed by law
to each new county.

"The County Commissioners recommend that
a special act of Congress be passed, granting
to the county of Peoria the remaining part of the
fractional quarter section after deducting the
Peoria Claims, as aforesaid, let there be more
or less."

On 'the 5th day of February, 1831. Elijah
Hayward, Commissioner of the Land Office, ad-
dressed the following letter to Senator Kane:

"Sir: — In reply to your inquiry respecting the
entry of the village of Peoria, I beg leave to lefer
you to the letters to you from this office of the
28th of January & Sth of May, 1830, and to
state that as tlie Commissioners of the county
of Peoria did not enter the fractional (|uarter,
at the time they might have done so, under the
instructions to the Land Officers, and as there
now exist conflicting claims under different laws,
to the same land, no entry of it by the County
Commissioners will be authorized without spe-
cial legislative provisions on the subject. With
great respect. Sir."

On the 7th day of March, following, the

County Commissioners' Court, which then con-
sisted of John Hamlin, George Sharp and Ste-
phen French, made the following order :

"Ordered that Abner Eads be and he is hereby
authorized to make a tender of money to the
Register & Receiver of the Land Office at Spring-
field, sufficient to purcha.se, at the rate of one
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the frac-
tional quarter section on which the County Seat
is now located, being the N. E. of S. 9, T. 8
N. R. 8 E. in behalf and in the name of the
County Commissioners of Peoria County, for the
use of said county, and obtain from said Land
Office a certificate of entry that a patent may
be speedily obtained if possible. Said Eads is
authorized to assure the Register & Receiver of
the Land Office, that the Com. of Peoria County
for .said county are willing to accept that part
of the fractional quarter section before named
which may remain after deducting whatever por-
tion may be set apart by the act of Congress
granting Peoria Claims to the Old French set-
tlers as surveyed by Wm. L. Hamilton in 1823.
And said Eads is hereby authorized to call on
the Treasurer for all specie or U. S. paper said
Treasurer may have on -hand and borrow the
balance or a sufficient sum to purchase said frac-
tional qr. Section."

On the 14th day of March, 1831, there was
addressed to the Register of the Land Office at
Springfield a communication supposed to be from
William S. Hamilton, but by whom it was signed
does not appear. It forms one of the links in
the chain of the history of this remarkable con-
test. It contains a full recital of all the facts
accompanied with arguments in support of the
claim of the county, but because of its great
length it is omitted.

On the 3d day of July, 1832, the following
orders were made :

"Ordered that John Coylc & Aquilla Wren,
two of the members of this Court, receive two
hundred dollars from the County Treasurer for
the purpose of making a tender of the same
in the Land Office in payment for the fraction
of land upon which the Town of Peoria is
located."

"Ordered that the Treasurer furnish the said
foregoing Coyle & Wren with twenty-five dollars
to bear their expenses on the foregoing order."

It seeijis that in the meantime action had
been taken by Congress in the line of that indi-
cated in the memorial of the County Commis-
sioners to the Senators and Representatives in

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

Congress, and that the Land Office at Quincy
had been established.

At the September term, 1832. Aquilla Wren,
John Coyle and Edwin S. Jones being the Coun-
ty Commissioners, it was ordered that the Treas-
urer pay Aquilla Wren nine dollars and John
Coyle four dollars and fifty cents as compensa-
tion for their journey to Quincy tendering money
for the said land. On the day following the
following order was made :

"Ordered that John Coyle, one of the members
of this Court, receive of the County Treasurer
two hundred and twenty dollars and repair with
the same to the Land Office at Quincy, to make
payment for the fraction of land upon which the
County Seat is located. If the necessary papers
or returns have not been furnished by the Sur-
veyor General in that case the said Coyle is di-
rected to go to the Surveyor General's Office in
order to procure the papers that may be wanted ;
he is also directed to keep a bill of his ex-
penses."

On the second day of March. 1833. Congress
acted upon the matter and passed an act author-
izing the entry to be made.

On the 24th day of June, 1833, John M. Moore,
acting Commissioner of the Land Office, ad-
dressed the following letter to Isaac Waters,
Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court :

"Sir : — Your letter of the 5th ulto., has been
received and I enclose herewith for your informa-
tion a copy of a letter of this date to the Land
Officers at Springfield, Ills., in relation to the
entry of the fractional quarter Section in which
Peoria is situated, under the provisions of the
act of Congress of the 2nd of March last."

And on the same day the same officer ad-
dressed the following letter to the Register and
Receiver of the Land Office at Springfield :

"Gentlemen : — Under the provisions of the
act of Congress of the 2nd of March last 'to
authorize the County Comrs. of the County of
Peoria in the State of Illinois to enter a frac-
tional quarter section of land for a Seat of
Justice and for other purposes,' you will permit
those Commissioners to enter & pay for the
fractional quarter Section mentioned in said act.

''The receipts, monthly returns and the certifi-
cate of purchase must all designate the entry
as being made under this act, and the Cartf.
of Purchase must conform to the frov'xso to the
1st Section of the act by declaring that 'the said
purchase shall not be so construed as to interfere
with the claim or claims of any other person
or persons to the said fractional quarter section,'

and at the time of making the entry the Com-
missioners should deposit with you for transmis-
sion a duly executed instrument of writing stat-
ing that in making such entry they expressly
exclude therefrom any lands or lot, within the
limits of the fractional quarter Section, belong-
ing to or lawfully claimed by another person
or persons."

Here ended the contest between the county of
Peoria and the government of the L'nited States
with reference to the location of the County Seat
of Peoria County. A patent in due form of
law was afterward issued for the land so entered,
and it became and ever since has continued to
be the County Seat of Peoria County.

But the county had not yet settled its contro-
versy with the heirs of Judge Latham. On the
28th day of May, 1834, there was commenced in
the Circuit Court of Peoria County an action
of ejectment, which upon the records bears the
modest title of John Doe vs. Richard Roe, both
of W'hom were purely fictitious persons, but the
action was brought according to the law and
established forms of actions of ejectment then
in vogue, and the perusal of the record would
be interesting to any lawyer of the present daj'.

The suit was brought nominally to recover
two lots in the town of Peoria as laid off by
the County Commissioners, but really to settle
the title to the whole quarter section of land.

At the October term, 1834, Mr. Hamlin filed
his plea of "not guilty." and thereupon the par-
ties agreed to waive a jury and to let the Court
decide it upon an agreed state of facts, which
was then signed by counsel for both parties and
filed as a part of the record. And the Coun,
after considering the same, rendered a judgment
for the defendant and that he recover of the
plaintiff his costs about his suit in that behalf
expended and the said plaintiff in mercy, etc.

An appeal was then prayed to the Supreme
Court, which was allowed.

On the 25th day of November, 1834, the
County Commissioners' Court ordered that Lewis
Bigelow be authorized to take any measures he
might deem expedient to hasten the procuring of
the patent from the United States for the frac-
tion upon which the town of Peoria is located.
This he did and was allowed compensation
therefor.

On the l"lh day of Xovember, 1834, Mr. Ham-
lin, who was then in Springfield, addressed to the
County Commissioners of Peoria County the fol-
lowing important letter :

■'Gentlemen : — I have this day been able to

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

effect a compromise with the Lathams in the
suit to recover our town. They have withdrawn
their entry at the Land Office, given up their
certificate of etitry, and taken their money ; and
also withdrawn the suit now pending. 1 have
given them my notes for seven hundred dollars
as you will perceive by the receipts herewith
enclosed. $500 is to be paid to them in six mos.
and the other two hundred in twelve. — You will
perceive the arrangement is much less than what
I was limited at.

"As I have made myself responsible for the
payment of the money, I wish the Court to pass
orders in my favor for that amount and paya-
ble at the time these notes are due to enable me
to meet the payment of the same. Say one order
for $500 to be paid on the 17th of May, 1835,
and one of $200 to be paid on the 17th of Nov.,
1835; I was not able to get them to relinquish
up the bond they held for the two lots. Rich-
ard & Philip Latham, who I saw would not take
any responsibility on their part on account of
the other heirs; if it should be thought expedi-
ent to give them anything for their claim to
those two lots it can be done yet, but the grand
obstacle in the way of improvement is now set-
tled and people can now make investments with
perfect safety; I saw all the papers at the Land
Office cancelled and given up. If Mr. Waters
has not yet made out a transcript of the docket
he need not do it."

This letter was accompanied by tlie following
document signed by Stephen T. Logan, attorney
for the Latham heirs :

"John Hamlin has this day executed to Rich-
ard Latham for the use of the heirs of James
Latham his note for five hundred dollars payable
in six months, also for one hundred dollars
payable in twelve months, also at the request of
said Lathams his note to S. T. Logan for one
hundred dollars payable in twelve months, in all
amounting to seven hundred dollars, on a com-
promise of a suit brought by said Latham Heirs
against said Hamlin & as a compromise by which

Lathams are to withdraw in the Land Oftice at
Springfield their entry on the fractional quarter
Section on whicli the Town of Peoria Stands."

On the 5th day of December, 1834, the County
Commissioners' Court of Peoria County entered
the following orders:

"Ordered that the Treasurer pay John Ham-
lin five hundred dollars on the 17th day of May,
1835, as compensation for a note for the said
amount due at the said 17th May to the heirs
of Judge Latham as a compromise of a law
suit, etc."

"Ordered that the Treasurer pay John Hamlin
two hundred dollars on the 17th day of Novem-
vember ,.\. D. 1835, as compensation for a note
given him to the heirs of Judge Latham com-
pleting the payment of the compromise on the
law suit, etc."

"Tlie $700 of the two last orders is the price
of the compromise with the said heirs of Judge
Latham relinquishing their claim and withdraw-
ing their entry at the Land Office for Peoria
Town fraction."

This ended the long controversy for the Coun-
ty Seat of Peoria County. The County Commis-
sioners to whom the ncople of Peoria County are
indebted for this splendid success, with their re-
spective terms of service, are as follows :

WHEN TERM

NAME. ELECTED. EXPIRED.

Nathan Dillon March 7. 1825 June, 1827

Joseph Smith March 7, 1825 M\g., 1826

William Holland ..March 7, 1825 June, 1827

John Hamlin Aug., 1826 Aug., 1828

George Sharp June, 1827 Mar., 1831

Henry Thomas ....June, 1827 Aug., 1828

Isaac Egnian Aug. 4, 1828 Aug., 1830

Francis Thomas. .. ..\ug. 4, 1828 Aug., 1830

Stephen French .Aug., 1830 INIar.. 1832

John Hamlin .-Vug., 1830 Oct., 1831

Resolved Cleveland March. 1831 Aug., 1832

John Coyle Oct., 1831 Aug., 1836

Aquilla Wren March 5. J832 Aug., 1834

Edwin S. Jones Aug., 1832 Aug., 1834

CHAPTER XIII.

GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY BY THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.

During the period of this struggle for the
County Seat the County Commissioners were not
dilatory in setting all departments of county af-
fairs upon firm foundations. On the next day
after their election (March 8, 1825). the Com-
missioners so elected, namely : Nathan Dillon,
of Mackinaw Point ; Joseph Smith, of Farm
Creek : and William Holland, of Peoria, met at
the house of Joseph Ogee, (1) situated below
the ferry landing, took the necessary oaths of
office, and then and there proceeded to transact
the business of the county. Their first order
was to appoint Norman Hyde as Clerk, although
he then had in his possession or, at least, wris
entitled to a commission as Judge of the Pro-
bate Court. They then appointed Aaron Hawley
as County Treasurer and named the County Seat
"Peori.\."

The powers of the County Commissioners'
Court were of a varied character, mostly minis-
terial. The body was, however, denominated
a court, and its proceedings were conducted in
many respects as a court, being opened by
proclamation, and its records being kept in the
same manner as those of a court of record. They
had power to raise revenue for county pur-
poses by levying taxes upon taxable property,
to license and to exact license fees from the
keepers of dram-shops, taverns, ferries, toll-
bridges and retailers of merchandise; to lay out
roads, to build bridges, to erect county buildings,
to fix the boundaries of election precincts and
to appoint judges of the same; to establish the
boundaries of road districts, to appoint super-
visors over the same, and to appoint trustees of
school lands of the several townships.

Tlicy then levied its first county tax of one-

<0 The fecord of this day's proceedings fixes the loc.ition
of the first Court House at the house of Oeee. briow Ihf tfrry
landina. h is said that the real name of this man was Joseph
■Ozier. the other being a nick-name

half of one per cent, upon the taxable property
of the county.

At their ne.xt session an important duty de-
volving upon the Commissioners was the selec-
tion of twenty-four discreet and reputable per-
sons to serve as Grand Jurors at the approach-
ing term of the Circuit Court, to be held in the
month of June following, and the following
named persons were ordered to be summoned
by the Sheriff, namely: William Eads, Abner
Eads. Alva Moffatt, Elijah Hyde, Noah Beach-
am. Sr. (Beauchamp?), William Wright, John
Ridgeman, Robert Bcrrisford (Beresford?), Jo-
siah Fulton, Thomas Camblin, John Phillips,
George Ish, David Matthews, Jacob Wilson,
Elisha Fish, Isaac Perkins. Nathaniel Cromwell,
Walter Dillon, William Davis, Alexander Mc-
Naughton, George Sharp, Austin Crocker, Au-
gustus Langworthy, Allen Dougherty.

A comparison of this list with that of the
taxable inhabitants given on a former page, will
show that this intended Grand Jury was to be
drawn from a territory extending from Fo.t
River to the Mackinaw.

At this session the following named persons
were appointed to the office of Constable, namely :
Reuben Bratton (of Ten Mile), Absalom Dillon
(of Mackinaw Point), Daniel Like (of Peoria),
and George Harlan, of La Salle Prairie.

The following named persons were also select-
ed as petit jurors: Stephen French, Joseph
Ogee. Abner Cooper, George Love, Joseph
O'Brien. Elias P. Avery, Thomas Dillon, Jesse
Dillon, Seth Wilson, John Klein, George Klein,
Stephen Carle and James Walker, to which list
the following were added at the ensuing June
session, namely : Horace Crocker, Noah Beach-
am, Jr. (Beauchamp?). Aquila Moffatt. Henry
Neoly. William Smith, Charles Love, John Sharp,
William Barker, John Cooper, David Hukey ani
Philip Latham.

Norman Hyde having entered upon his du-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

ties as Judge of the Probate Court, resigned liis
office as Clerk and John Dixon was appointed in
his stead. The former was allowed ?I2.50 for
services rendered and for stationery furnished
during his incumbency. Rivers Cormack was
appointed to take the census, but, he having de-
clined the appointment, John L. Bogardus was
at a subsequent session appointed in his stead.

The court had power to appoint Constables,
but could only recommend to the Governor suit-
able persons for appointment as Justices of the
Peace. The fir.st four Justices, Stephen French,
Jacob Wilson, John Phillips and Nathan Dillon,
were apointed inunediately after the passage of
the act creating the county, and. during tliat
year, three others were added, upon the recom-
mendation of the court, namely : John Dixon,
of Peoria; John Kinzie, of Chicago; and John L.
Bogardus, of Peoria.

At the July session Hiram M. Curry, Fred-
erick A. Countryman and Elijah Hyde were ap-
pointed Constables, and at the September term
Archibald Clyborne was appointed to the same
office at Chicago. The court continued to make
recommendations for appointment as Justices and
to appoint Constables during the succeeding
year, but the Legislature of 1827, having made
both of these offices elective, the court was there-
after relieved of the duty of either appointment
or recommendation.

At the December term the financial condi-
tion of the county was exhibited in the account
of Samuel Fulton, Sheriff, which is as follows :

Dr. To amount of taxes as re-
turned by Assessor, includ-
ing twenty dollars received
from Clerk for tavern li-
cense $339 ' 5

Cr. By amount of bad debts. .$ 29 90
By County orders and per-
centage on same 10504

By State paper 4650

By State paper, including

interest thereon 21 60

By $33.45 in specie, being

equal in State paper (').. 6690

By State paper 19 21— $289 15

At this term the county was divided into three
election precincts. "The Chicago Precinct" to
contain all that part of the county east of the
mouth of the La Page River where it empties

(1) state Pajter was worth fifty cents on the dollar.

its waters into the Aux Plain; the elections to
be held at the Agency House or "Cobweb Hall,"
and Abner (Alexander?) Wolcott, John Kinzie
and J. B. Bauljein to be Judges at all general and
special elections.

"Peoria Precinct" to contain all that tract
of country north and west of the Illinois River
and [east of the river. — Ed.] north of township
twenty-four and west of the Third Principal Me-
ridian', the elections to be held at the Clerk's
office and Stephen French, Abner Eads and John
Phillips to he Judges.

"Mackiiuizi' Precinct" to contain the residue
of the county, the elections to be held at the
house of Jesse Dillon, and Isaac Perkins, Will-
iam Eads and Thomas Dillon to be Judges. The
Mackinaw precinct was the smallest, territorially,
of the three, doubtless for the reason it had a
greater population.

At the March term, 1826, another election
precinct was created called the "Fox River Pre-
cinct" containing all that district of country
north of Senachwine Creek, and the River Des-
page, the elections to be held at the house of
Jesse Walker, near the junction of the Illinois
and Fox Rivers, Aaron Hawley, Henry Allen
and James Walker to be the Judges.

At the June session, 1826. another precinct
was added, known as the "Fever River Pre-
cinct," out of the counties of Warren and Mercer
(embracing the territory west of the Fourth Prin-
cipal Meridian and north of Hancock County to
the State line of Wisconsin. — Ed.] and the at-
tached parts thereof, the elections to be held at
the house of Dr. Garland.

.Augustus Langworthy, John Hamlin and
Archibald Allen were appointed first "fence view-
ers" and Stephen French and Isaac Perkins first
"overseers of the poor."

At the September session (1826) among other
allowances of a similar character appear the fol-
lowing: To John Kinzie, John B. Beaubein and
B. Caldwell, Judges, and Archibald Clyborne,
Clerk, each $1, and to John K. Clark $16, for
returning polls of the election held at Chicago m
the preceding month of August, and to John
Kinzie $1.50 for a ballot box for the same. This
was the first election ever held in Chicago.

It will be borne in mind that the general
elections for the State were then held in the
month of August, while the election for President
of the United States was, as now, held in the
month of November. Regular changes in the
membership of the County Commissiohers' Court

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

-I

will lliereforc be noted at the September session,
;incl it now ;ii)pcars that John Hamlin had taken
the place of Joseph Smith.

Reference to the returns of the election show
the following vote for County Conunissioners :
\\'illiam Holland. 105; Nathan Dillon, 106; Jo'in
Hamlin, 172; Stephen French, loi ; Rivers Cor-
mack, 81 ; Hiram M. Curry, 46 ; Gideon Hawley,
18; — the entire vote in the county (no returns
having been received from Fox River Precin,;t)
being 369, the highest vote for any office being
351 for Governor and 351 for State Senator.

At the December session the Sheriff made Ills
second financial statement, as follows :

DEBIT.

To amount returned by Assessor's

books $ 855 93

To amount in State Paper equal to. . 641 93
To balance in treasury, December,

1825 54 15M

To overcharge for collecting the

above 10 25

To order on State Treasurer, 1825.. 100 00

To amount of fines collected 16 50

To amount of tavern licenses 3 00

To amount of sale of town lots 21 00

To amount of State Treasurer, 1826. . 168 75
To amount collected from list of bad

debts, 1825 6 82'/^

$1022 43^

CREDIT.

By amount of delinquent tax list for
which the Sheriff is allowed until the
March term to collect, it being State
paper, $416.69^, equal to $31252

By amount lost by collecting at Chicago
at 50 per cent 27 05

By county orders amounting to 35865

By percentage for collecting the above
$64,405/5. on which commission has
been paid 22 08

By percentage on above orders 7 17!^

728 o7;<;
$294 35M

At a special meeting held in March, 1827,
a ta.x of one-half of one per cent, was levied

and George Sharp was appointed County Treas-
urer on a bond of $2,000, but by an order m.ide
at the April session it appears that John Birket
was appointed to that office, but declined and
Norman Hyde was appointed in his place.

At the June session a new election precinct
was created called LaSalle Precinct, embracing
all territory north of the south line of Township
ten north, and south and west of Sand River,
elections to be held at the house of Elias P.
Avery, thus making Chicago Precinct to cm-
brace all the territory north and east of Sand
River, and Peoria Precinct to embrace all of
Peoria County proper, south of the north line
of Township nine noith.

Simeon Crozier was appointed County Treas-
urer on a bond of $2,000.

.•\t the June session, 1827, two new members
of the Court, George Sharp and Henry Thomas,
appeared and took their seats. What the oc-
casion was for this change at an irregular time
does not appear, but these two continued to serve
in that capacity during the remainder of that
year and all of the succeeding one.

.\t the October session it was ordered that
State paper be paid to the treasurer at 75 cents
on the dollar.

.'\t the September session. 1828, Isaac Egman
appeared as a new inember, the court then con-
sisting of George Sharp and Isaac Egman. Fran-
cis Thomas. Commissioner-elect, did not qualify
until the December .session. Orin Hamlin w.is
the newly elected Sheriff. John Hamlin was
appointed Treasurer and his bond fixed at Si.ooo.
An election precinct called "Henderson Pre-
cinct" was established, embracing the same ter-
ritory as the former one, Mercer and Warren
Counties.

On May 2, 1829, John Hamlin declined the
office of Treasurer and Henry B. Stillman was
appointed under a bond of $1,000. .\fter two
failures to procure seals for the courts, Stillman
finally succeeded in furnishing the county with
three seals, one for the Circuit Court, one for
the County Commissioners' Court and one for
the Probate Court, for which at the September
session, 1829, he was allowed $5.00 each. No
mention is made in the record as to the style
of mounting of these seals, if they had any,
wdiich is not at all probable if the story be true
that is told of Isaac Waters, for some time Clerk
of the County Commissioners' Court, of whom
it is said he carried the seal in his vest pocket,

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

and on one occasion by mistake offered it to the
postmaster in payment for postage. (')

At the Marcli term. 1830. Isaac Waters was
appointed Assessor, County Treasurer and Tal<er
of Census, his bond to be in the sum of $1,000.
At the same time John Dixon resigned the office
of Clerk, of the County Commissioners' Court
and Stephen Stilhuan was appointed his suc-
cessor.

At tlie June session Fox River Precinct wis
reorganized with the following boundaries:
Commencing at the northeast boundary of the
Military Land [near Bureau Junction. — Ed.] and
including the country north and west of the
Des Plain River as far north as the north line
of Township thirty-four north, extending west
as far as the east line of Jo Daviess County.

At the September session George Sharp, John
Hamlin and Stephen French qualified as Com-
missioners in pursuance of an election held in the
preceding month of August. Augustus Lang-
worthy was allowed one dollar for the use of
his horse to carry the abstract of votes to Fulton
County, and Elisha Fulton w^as allowed $5 for
carrying the same.

At the December session the Clerk was or-
dered to transmit to the Sheriff of Warren Coun-
ty the tax books of said county at the request
of the County Commissioners' Court, in writ-
ing under date of September 30, 1830, and that
the said Commissioners be requested to send the
amount due Peoria County for assessinng the
property, $16, by mail as soon as convenient.

It would appear from this order that Warren
County had but lately assumed the dignity of
a fully organized county and had cut itself loose
from the protectorate of Peoria.

Pierce Hawley was allowed $5 for making re-
turns of election from Fox River Precinct.

At the -April session, 1831, Resolved Cleveland
appeared and took his seat as a member of the
court in the place of George Sharp, whose place
had become vacant by his death ; and Isaac
Waters was appointed Treasurer.

Cook County, Putnam County, Tazewell
County. Warren County and all other counties
over which Peoria County had exercised juris-
diction had become fully organized, and the Chi-
cago, Fox River and Henderson Precincts, about
this time, drop out of sight. The judges of
election were thereafter appointed for those pre-
cincts only which were embraced witliin tlie

(I) The old seal of the Circuit Court ap)iears to liiive
been a Hat i>iece of metal like a coin: a jiioce of paper would
be laid on the face of it and rubbed with lead to Rive the im-
presBion of the inscription, and this would be fastened to the
official document by means of a large wafer.

county (if Pforia proper, those existing in 1831
being Peoria. La Marsh and LaSallc Precincts.
.\t the December session John Coyle took his
.seat as a member of the court as successor of
John Hamlin, who had resigned; a special elec-
tion having been held to fill the vacancy, and at
the March session, 1832, Aquilla Wren took his
seat as successor of Stephen French, also re-
signed.

At the September session, 1832, John Coyle,
Edward J. Jones and Aquila Wren appeared as
members of the court in pursuance of the Au-
gust election. Isaac Waters was allowed $1.30
for a record book for the court, and $7.00 for
attending at Hennepin to canvass the votes for
Senator and Representative. Jesse Walker was
allowed $16.00 for bringing the election returns
from Chicago in 1830.

.At the March session, 1833, Seth Fulton was
allow-ed $1.00 for the use of a room in which
the Presidential election had been held. Orin
Hamlin, .Alvah and Aquila Moffatt were granted
leave to erect a mill-dam on the southwest quar-
ter Section thirteen, Township eight north,
seven east. This was on the Kickapoo Creek,
at the point where the Middle Road crosses the
same, long known as the Monroe mill. Stephen
Stillman was allowed $5.00 for the use of a room
five days for that session.

The attention of the court now seems to
have been -largely occupied with the laying out
of roads, licensing and regulating ferries and
dram-shops, and in making preparations for the
erection of county buildings, all of which will
receive proper notice elsewhere. But it ap-
pears that .\sahel Hale was apointed Treasurer
in 1833. and again in 1834 and 1835. his bond
under the last two appointments being $10,000.
At the time of his reappointment, in March, 1833,
he reported $5,560.37 as having passed through
his hands, the largest amount by far the Treas-
urer had ever handled. The reason for this will
appear from the fact that the county was then
realizing considerable sums of money from the
sale of town lots, which had been greatly delayed
by reason of the contest described in the pre-
ceding chapter. This money was being expended
in the purchase of material and in employing
labor for the erection of the county buildings.
At the April session, 183S, the faithful serv-
ices, which for years had been performed by
Isaac Waters in behalf of the county, in various
capacities, came to an end, and by an order of
the court he was, on account of age, infirmitx

HISTORY OF TEORIA COUNTY.

and imbecility of mind, removed from tlie office
of Clerk of tlie County Commissioners' Court
and the Sheriff was instructed to call upon him
for the books, papers and other effects of his
office. William Mitchell was appointed Clerk in
his stead, to serve until the next term of the
court, at which time he received the permanent
appointment.

Isaac Waters had also filled the office of Clerk
of the Circuit Court from 1830. His incom-
petency having been brought to the notice of
Governor Thomas Ford, then Circuit Judge of
the District, that official by letter dated at Water-
loo, July 13. 1835, notified Hon. Lewis Bigelow
of his intention to appoint him Clerk of the Cir-
cuit Court at its ne.xt term, in the place of :he
said Isaac Waters, provided such appointment
should prove acceptable to the people, and by the
same communication he appointed Bigelow as
Clerk pro tcm/iorc until the convening of the
court, with authority to receive from Waters its
records and seal. In pursuance of that appoint-
ment Lewis Bigelow took the oath of office on
the 4th day of August, 1835. and acted in that
capacity until the next term, when he received the
regular appointment. ,

.\t the September session. 1834, John Coyle,
Orin Hamlin and Andrew Thorpe constituted the
court in pursuance of the election in August
preceding. They continued in office until after
the election August I, 1836, when William J.
Phelps. .-Xquila Wren and Samuel T. McKeun
were elected. These continued in office until
August. 183S, when they were succeeded by
Clark D. Powell. Smith Frye and Moses Har-
lan. The terms of office now became three years,
one to be elected each year. This arrangement
continued until the adoption of the constitution
of 1848. During that period the following named
persons were elected at the dates specified, to-wit :
.\ugust. 1839. Clark D. Powell; January 10, 1840,
William Hale, to fill the place of Moses Harlan,
elected to the Legislature : August, 1840, Na-
thaniel Chapin ; .A.ugust I, 1841, Smith Frye; Au-
gust, 1842, Thomas P. Smith and Clementius
Ewalt, one to (ill the vacancy caused by the resig-
nation of Smith Frye, elected Sheriff; August,
1843. William Dawson: August. 1844. Clementius
Ewalt ; .\ugust 4, 1845. Thomas P. Smith ; Au-
gust 3. 1846. Thomas Mooney ; .A,ugust 2, 1847,
James L. Riggs ; August 7, 1848, Joseph Ladd.

The great influx of population from 1835 on-
ward created a necessity for a larger number of
election districts. Accordingly at the June term,
1839, of the County Commissioners' Court the

county was laid off into thirteen precincts, as fol-
lows:

Xo. I to consist of fractional Township 11
N. 9 E. (now Chillicothe) known as Senache-
wine Precinct, the election to be held at the house
of William Dunlap in Chillicothe.

No. 2. NorthaiTipton, to consist of Township
II X. 8 E. (now Hallock), the elections to be held
at the house of Reuben B. Hamlin.

No. 3. Prince's Grove, to consist of Town-
ships II N. 6 E. and 11 N. 7 E. (now Prince-
ville and Akron), the elections to be held at the
school-house at Prince's Grove.

No. 4. Rochester, to consist of Township 11
N. 5 E. (now Millbrook), the elections to be
held at the school-house in Rochester.

No. 5. Charleston, to consist of Township
ID N. 5 E. and E. yi (properly W. Vi) of Town-
ship ID N. 6 E. (that is to say all of Brinfield and
the west half of Jubilee), the elections to be held
at the house of Daniel Belcher in Charleston
(now Brimfield).

No. 6. La Grange, to consist of Sections No.
I to 24 in each of the Townships No. 9 N. 6 E.
and 9 N. 7 E., the cast half of Township 10 N.
6 E. and all of Township 10 X'. 7 E. (that is to
say, the north two-thirds of Townships Rosefield
and Kickapoo, the east half of Jubilee, and all of
Radnor), the elections to be held at the house of
Lewis Coolidge.

No. 7. La Salle, to consist of Townships 10
N. 8 E. and 10 N. 9 E. (all of Medina and Rome),
the elections to be held at the house of Jefferson
Taliafcro. •

No. 8. Peoria, to consist of Sections i to 4,
9 to 12, 13 to 16, 21 to 24, 25 to 28, 33 to 36 in
Township 8 N. 7 E. ; Sections 25 to 28 and 32 to
36 in Townships 9 N. 7 E., and all of fractional
Township 8 N. 8 E. and 9 N. 8 E. (that is to
say. the east two-thirds of Limestone and eight
Sections adjoining the same in the southeast
corner of Kickapoo, and all of Peoria and Rich-
woods), the elections to be held at the Court
House.

X'o. 9. Middle, to consist of Township 8
N. 6 E. ; Sections 25 to 36 in Township 9 N. 6
E. ; Sections 5 to 8, 17 to 20, 29 to 32 in Town-
ship 8 N. 7 E., and Sections 29 to 32 in Town-
ship 9 N. 7 E. (that is to say, all of Logan, the
south one-third of Rosafield, the west one-third
of Limestone and four Sections in the southwest
corner of Kickapoo), the elections to be held at
the house of Thomas P. Smith [at Smithville. —
Ed.].

Xo. 10. Harkness, to consist of Township

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

9 N. 5 E. (Elmwood), the elections to be held
at the house of John Evvalt.

No. II. Copperas, to consist of Township 8
N. 5 E. (Trivoli). the elections to be held at the
house of Joseph Berry.

No. 12. LaMarsh, to consist of Township
7 N. 6 E. and 6 N. 6 E. (Timber), the elec-
tions to be held at the house of William Dufield.

No. 13. Lafayette, to consist of Township 7
N. 7 E. (Hollis), the elections to be held at the
house of Francis Johnson.

At the March term, 1840. Township 10 N.
7 E. (Radnor) was constituted an election pre-
cinct to be called Benton, the elections to be
held at the house of Alva Dunlap.

At the same term township 9 N. 8 E. (Rich-
woods) was constituted an election precinct by
the name of Jackson, the elections to be held at
the house of John Clifton.

At the September term, 1841, the name of La-
Marsh Precinct was changed to Lancaster Pre-
cinct.

At the March term, 1842, Sections 31 and 32
in Township 1 1 N. 9 E. all of fractional 10 N.
9 E. ; Sections i, 2, 11 and 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25,
26 and 35 in Township 10 N. 8 E. (that is to
say, the south tier of Chillicothe, all of Rome
and one-third of Medina) were formed into a
precinct called Rome, but at the June term, 1842,
Sections 31 and 32, township 11 N. 9 E. were
taken from Rome and re-attached to Senache-
wine.

At llic June term, 1843, Sections 25 to 36 in
Townsljip 9 N. 7 E. and sections i to 17, 20 to
30 and 34 to 36 in township 8 N. 7 E. (that is
to say, the south one-third of Kickapoo and a!I
of Limestone, with the exception of five Sec-
tions in the southwest corner) were constituted a
precinct to be known as the Limestone Precinct,
the elections to be held at the house of James
Jones.

This was the condition of the county when
S. De Witt Drown published his map of the
same in 1844. (See Peoria Directory 1844, p. t,i "1
Subsequently at the June term, 1847, Section
32. 8 N. 7 E., was taken from the Middle and
added to the Limestone Precinct.

At the June term, 1848, the Rome and La-
Salle Precincts were vacated and a new precinct
called La Salle was constituted out of the fol-
lowing territory : Sections I, 2, 3, E. '/i of 4,
E. y. of 9, all of 10 to IS, the E. i/^i6, E. ;4
21, all of 22 to 27. E. !<"; 28, E. ^ of 33, all of
34 and 35. in Township 10 N. 8 E. and all of

fractional Township 10 X. 9 E. (that is to say,
all of Medina east of a line running through thL-
center of Sections 4, 9, 16, 21, 28 and 3i. and all
of Rome), the elections to be held at the house
of Thomas Mooney, subsequently in obedience to
a vote of the people at the August election,
changed to the house of Thomas B. Reed.

It does not clearly appear into what precinct
the remainder of Township 10 N. 8 E. fell in con-
sequence of this order, but it can make but little
difference, inasmuch as two years later the Town-
ship organization was adopted, and a re-district-
ing of the county took place, substantially as it
exists at the present time. The County Commis-
sioners' Court went out of existence with the
adoption of the new constitution and for a short
period the affairs of the county were adminis-
tered by the County Court, consisting of the
County Judge and two associates. At the adop-
tion of the Township organization the govern-
ment of the county was entirely changed.

A terrible epidemic of cholera having broken
out in the sununer of 1849, the Commissioners
on July nth granted the use of the three upper
rooms in the Court House to the Board of
Health of Peoria for a hospital for cholera pa-
tients of the city and county, also such beds and
bedding as might be needed at the poor-house,
the county to be at the expense of furnishing the
sick with all necessary medical and ho.spital stores
and provisions, as well as the expense of some one
to take charge of the same as nurse. The rooms
so set apart were used for the purpose indicated sa
long as the necessity existed.

A special term was held on September 3rd,
at which, among other orders a contract was let
to Alva Moffatt for coal to be furnished to the
Court House and Jail for one year at five cents per
bushel. Another special term was held from the
4th to the 6th of September, at which it was or-
dered that William Compher be authorized to pro-
cure the sum of $300 to be sent to Pittsburg for
the purpose of paying for iron for the roof of the
Jail. Then follow eight orders for tlie payment
of bills rendered including three days service for
the Commissioners, the Sheriff and Clerk at that
term. This would indicate that all orders made
at that term had been entered, but the record is
not signed by the commissioners, nor is there any
order of adjournment.

These were the last orders entered by Will-
iam Mitchell as Clerk. Before the next meeting
of the Commissioners, which occurred in less tharu
three weeks thereafter, he was in his grave.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

On the 15th of October, ensuing, it was or-
dered that the vacancy resulting from the death of
Wilhani Mitchell on the 13th of the same month
be filled by the appointment of Ralph Hamlin
as Clerk pro tempore.

It might be inferred from this entry that
Mitchell had died of cholera at Peoria. The fact
was that he was stricken with that dread disease
while in Chicago, and had partially recovered.
He was brought home and suffered a relapse from
the effects of which he died, much mourned by
the entire community. He had been a faithful
officer, had kept his records in elegant style, and
to his methodical ways the people of the county
are indebted for much information collated in this
work. He was cut down in the prime of life
and in the full vigor of manhood, having laid

down his pen in the midst of an unfinished record
never to be completed.

The County Commissioners' Court held its
last session on the 23d day of November, 1849,
at which time as a testimonial of their appre-
ciation of the faithful services of their late clerk,
they ordered that certain notes held by the County
against William Mitchell be cancelled in con-
sideration of the manj' extra official services ren-
dered by him.

The record of the County Commissioners'
Court closes with the following order, "Ordered
that Court adjourn until Court in Course." But
the time for its reassembling never came, for the
County Court was soon thereafter organized and
took up the business where the Commissioners
had left it.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE PROBATE COURT.

By an act of the Legislature of February lO,
1821, Probate Courts tor the settlement of estates
■of deceased persons were first established. Their
organization and jurisdiction were very similar
to those of the probate courts of the present day,
although many changes have since intervened.
They were courts of record without any clerk,
the Judge acting as clerk of the court, as well
as sole Justice. The Judge was to be elected
by the General Assembly and was to hold office
during good •behavior. In the act of the Legis-
lature establishing Peoria County, a similar pro-
vision was made for the election at that .session
of a Probate Judge for Peoria County. Accord-
ingly between the 13th day of January, the date
of said act, and the i8th day of the same month
the Legislature in joint session elected Norman
Hyde to that office. On the iSth day of January
his commission as Judge was issued by Edward
Coles, then Governor of the State, but he did not
■qualify until the 4th day of June ne.xt thereafter,
at whicli time the oath of office was administered
to him by John Dixon, Clerk of the Circuit Court.

On the 6th day of June, 1825, two days after
his taking the oath of office. Judge Hyde opened
•court pursuant to the statute, but there being no
business it was adjourned until the next term.
On July i8th, August 1st, August 15th, Septem-
ber 5th and September 19th similar orders were
made. On the 30th day of September, 1825 the
first estate of a deceased person was entered in
court. On that day John Barker made proof of
the death of Joseph O'Brien and took out letters
of administration upon his estate under bond of
$800, with John L. Bogardus and Daniel Like
as sureties.

Court then adjourned from term to term witli-
•out any further business until the 5th day of
December of the same year, when the first will
was probated. This was the will of Isaac Rems-

dcn, Jr., made in Newton Township, Muskegon
County, Ohio, dated May 13, 1825, the witnesses
thereto being Gilbert Crandall, who signed by
his mark, and Thomas Bell. Upon presenting
the same for probate it appeared that Thomas
Bell had absconded, whereupon Jacob Crooks was
sworn as to the signature of the testator and
Lauret Remsden, as to the signature of the testa-
tor and to that of Thomas Bell, also to the fact
that the will had been found among the papers of
the testator after his death. Pelhemus Remsden
testified to the signature of the testator, and
also to that of Bell, the absconding witness. This
being the best proof that could be obtained, it
was ordered that letters tcstatem issue to Crooks,
the Judge attaching his private seal because no
public seal had been provided.

The court then continued to meet and adjourn
without business until April 11, 1826, at which
time Isaac Perkins proved the death of Elza
Bethard, without heirs or next of kin, whereupon
letters of administration were issued to him as
public administrator. But at the next October
term Handy Bethard appeared in court and
proved himself to be the heir at law of Elza
Bethard, deceased, whereupon the administration
to Perkins was revoked and Handy Bethard was
appointed administrator in his place.

On the 24th of April, 1826, an entry appears
which brings the early history of Chicago into
close touch with that of Peoria. Alexander Wol-
cott, Jr., appeared and made proof of the death
of John Crafts, of Chicago, who had been promi-
nently connected with the American Fur Com-
pany, he having received authority from Crafts'
heirs in Massachusetts, there being no heirs in
this State. Letters testamentary were therefore
issued to Wolcott on a bond of $3,000, with John
Kinzie and James Latham as sureties. On the
20th day of November next thereafter he ap-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

peared and presented the appraisement bill and
sale bill of the estate of said John Crafts, which,
being authenticated to the satisfaction of the
court, was ordered to be recorded, the appraisers
being John Kinzie and Billy Caldwell (.a noted
half-breed of Chicago^.

On the same day came Jacob Crooks, admin-
istrator of the estate of Isaac Remsden, and
presented the appraisement made by Alexander
McNaughton, John Griffith and Hugh Montgom-
ery, sworn to before Nathan Dillon, Justice of
the Peace. As Nathan Dillon resided near the
Mackinaw, in what is now Tazewell County,
we may infer that Isaac Remsden had located
in that neighborhood before his death.

On December loth came John Barker and
presented the appraisement of the estate of Jo-
seph O'Brien, sworn to before Stephen French,
as Justice of the Peace.

On the nth of December came Mary Latham
and made proof of the death of the Hon.
James Latham, late of the town of Peoria, and
letters of administration were granted to said
Mary Latham and Richard Latham, her son. un-
der bond of $2,000, with Benjamin Briggs, Grant
Blackwell and John Hamlin sureties.

On the i8th of January, 1827, Sampson
Bethard made proof of the death of Handy
Bethard, his brother, and took out letters of ad-
ministration upon his estate.

On April 16, 1827, John Barker closed up the
estate of Joseph O'Brien, showing a balance for
distribution among the next of kin of $416.3154-
This was the first estate closed up in Peoria
County.

On April 19, 1827, Richard Latham presented
tlie appraisement of the property of James
Latham made by Peter G. Cowerdin, Charles Tin-
ley and Grant Blackwell, sworn to before James
Tinley. a Justice of the Peace of Sangamon Coun-
ty, and an additional appraisement by John Hum
lin, John Barker and Henry Neely, sworn to be-
fore John L. Bogardus, of Peoria, show^ing a
balance, after deducting some expenses, of
$968.21.

On the 8th day of January, 1828. Richard
Latham presented the sale bill of James Latham's
property at Elkhart Grove, in Sangamon County,
for $722.46, out of which the widow retained
$301.75 on her award.

On April 18, 1828, Alexander Wolcott closed
up the estate of John Crafts, in which, among
other things, he charged himself with $2,500. re-
ceived from the American Fur Company in New

York for Crafts' share of profits on Chicago out-
fit for 1825-26, according to the award of Thomas
Adis Emmett, Esq., arbitrator in the case; and,
after taking credit, among other things, for an
account of The American Fur Company against
the estate for $784, one to John Kinzie for $87.58,
and one to Gurdon S. Hubbard for %22, it left
a balance for the heirs of $1,454.25.

On the same day Alexander Wolcott made
proof of the death of John Kinzie, of Chicago,
and took out letters of administration upon his
estate under bond of $3,000, with John B. Beau-
bein and James Kinzie as sureties.

On the 19th day of May, 1828, Alexander
Wolcott filed an appraisement bill of the property
of John Kinzie, deceased, made at Chicago on
the 22d day of April by Alexander Doyle and
J. B. Beaubein, sworn to before R. A. Kinzie,
clerk, amounting to $805.40, also a sale bill in
the same estate dated April 28th, certified by R.
A. Kinzie, clerk, amounting to $254.87^2-

On the 4th day of December, 1828, Josiah Ful-
ton made proof of the death of his brother, Sam-
uel Fulton, late Sheriff of Peoria County, and
took out letters of administration upon his es-
tate, under bond of $1,000. On January 19th he
filed his appraisement bill taken by H. B. Still-
man and Norman Hyde, sworn to before John
Dixon, a Justice of the Peace.

On the 14th day of October, 1829, it was or-
dered that Alexander Wolcott, administrator of
the estate of John Kinzie, give the notice re-
quired by law of the settlement of said estate.
On the 17th day of December, 1830. came John
Bt. Beaubein and proved the death of Francis La
Framboise, of Chicago, and obtained letters of ad-
ministration under a bond of $3,000, with David
Hunter and John Hamlin as sureties. And on
the same day came David Hunter and proved the
death of .Alexander Wolcott. administrator of the
estate of John Kinzie. and obtained letters of ad-
ministration upon the estate of John Kinzie under
a bond of $3,000, with John Bt. Beaubein and
John Hamlin as securities.

On the 27th day of January, 1831. Francis
Sharp proved the d^.-ath of his father. George
Sharp, one of the County Commissioners of Peoria
County, and administration was granted to hin;
and the widow. Elizabeth Sharp, under a bond
of $4,000, with John Hamlin and .Alexander Cald-
well as sureties.

On the 20th day of May. 1831. the inventory
and sale bill of the estate of George Sharp was
filed, showing a personal estate amounting to-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

$524.o6'4- On the same day David Hunter, ad-
ministrator of the estate of John Kinzie. filed liis
report as follows :

"Monies received—

?ilr. Ho.nlin $ 19 oo

R. A. Kinzie 185.00

Mrs. Wolcott 486.25

I. N. Bailie, rent 50.00

Total $ 740.25

"There is due from the American Fur Com-
pany $2,190.12, with interest at 5 per cent, per
annum from May 12, 1828. This debt is good."
These amounts were charged to David Hunter,
and this is the la.st entry that appears concerning
the estate of John Kinzie.

David Hunter was an officer in the army, and
for a time was in command at Fort Dearborn.
Years afterward he became somewhat distin-
guished as a major-general in the United States
Army.

On the 6th day of February, 1832, Norman
Hyde held court for the last time. There being
no business to transact, court adjourned sine die.
This was the last entry made by Norman Hyde
as Judge. His death occurred soon afterward.
The foregoing entries relating mostly to the es-
tates of prominent persons serve well to illustrate
the simplicity of life in a new country.

On the loth day of November. 1832 Andrew
M. Hunt was commissioned by Governor John
Reynolds as Judge of the Probate Court to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the death of Norman
Hyde, to hold until the end of the next session
of the General Assembly. On the isth day of
Noveinber Judge Hunt took his seat for the first
time as Judge of the Probate Court, and on the
21 St day of November John Hamlin and Simon

Reed presented the last will and testament of
Norman Hyde, in which John Hamlin, Simon
Reed and Andrew M. Hunt were named as ex-
ecutors ; only the first two were qualified, the
third having become the successor of Norman
Hyde as Judge of the Probate Court.

The witnesses to the will were William \.
Stewart, Asahel Hale and Henry B. Stillman.
The bond required of the executors was $1,000,
upon which Aaron Reed became security.

By an act of the Legislature of March 4,
1837, the office of Probate Judge was abolished,
the act to take effect at the next election, to be
held on the first Monday in August. .\t that
time one additional Justice of the Peace, to be
styled, by order of eminence, Probate Justice
of the Peace, was to be elected as other justices
and to keep his office at the County Seat. He was
to have the same jurisdiction as other justices,
in addition to which he was to have ministerial
powers in probate business and jurisdiction when
executors or administors were parties to the suit
to the amount of $1,000, also the same judicial
powers as those of the Probate Judge, but
he was to report his acts to the Circuit Court
for approval. Accordingly the career of Andrew
M. Hunt as Probate Judge closed with July,
1837, and George B. Parker was elected at the
August election of that year as the first Probate
Justice of the Peace. He was succeeded at the
election of 1839 by Dr. Edward Dickinson, who
continued to hold office until after the election
of August, 1843, when William H. Fessenden
was elected as his successor. He continued to
hold until after the August election, 1847, when
Thomas Bryant was elected to the same office,
and continued to hold until November 29, 1849,
when the office ceased to e.xist by virtue of the
provisions of the new constitution.

CHAPTER XV.

EARLY CIRCUIT COURTS.

Prior to the organization of Peoria County
the Judges of the Supreme Court had held the
Circuit Courts, but, with the session of the Legis-
lature which convened in December, 1824, ihe
judiciary was re-organized, the State being di-
vided into five judicial circuits, and five circuit
judgships being created for these circuits. The
first circuit was composed of the counties of
Sangamon, Pike, Fulton, Morgan, Green and
Montgomer}'. These new judges were elected by
the General Assembly and their commissions
were dated on the 19th day of January, iS'ZS.
John York Sawyer was assigned to the first cir-
cuit to which Peoria County, upon its organiza-
tion was attached.

The first term of the Circuit Court com-
menced on the 14th day of November, A. D.
1825, with John York Sawyer. Judge ; John Dixon,
Clerk ; Samuel Fulton, Sheriff, and James Tur-
ncy. Attorney General.

Judge Sawyer was a man of immense propor-
tions physically, and must have made quite an
imposing appearance in the little room in which
the court was held. He was a terror to evil
doers and was very severe upon criminals con-
victed in his court. It is related of him that
while holding court on one occasion a party was
convicted before him of petit larceny, the penalty
for which was public whipping on the bare back
with stripes well laid on not exceeding forty.
The attorney for the defendant had made a
motion for a new trial, and, while absent collect-
ing his books to argue the case. Judge Sawyer
ordered the convicted party to be taken out and
punished according to law by being tied to a
tree near the Court House and publicy whipped,
he himself, from his seat on the bench, counting
the stripes as they were laid on. Upon the re-
appearance of the defendant's attorney the Judge
informed him that he could have a new trial if
lie wished, but at this juncture the defendant him-

self interposed and said he had had trials
enough.

At the April Term, 1825, of the Board of
County Commissioners they had ordered the sum-
moning of Grand and Petit jurors for the term of
be held on the second Monday in June, which was
the time provided by law, but it seems that no
court was held then and the first term was held
as before mentioned in the month of November.
At that term there seem to have been only six-
teen of the twenty-four Grand jurors in attend-
ance, viz. : John Hamlin, Stephen French,
Thomas Dillon. Henry Thomas. George Harlan,
Isaac Waters, Augustus Langworthy, George
Sharp. Seth Wilson, John Klein, George Klein,
Isaac Perkins, John Phillips and Major Donaho.
There were but few cases on the docket for
trial. The Grand jurors returned five indictments
two of which were for affrays, two for assault
and battery and one for murder.

John Dixon was appointed by the Judge as
Clerk of the Circuit Court, he at the same time
holding the office of Clerk of the County Commis-
sioners' Court.

This term of court was somewhat stormy.
The trial of Nomaque, the Indian indicted for
murder, brought to Peoria nearly all the inhabi-
tants of this region, and it is said that ardent
spirits flowed with a freedom not at all conducive
to the faithful administration of justice. Nomaque
had killed a Frenchman by the name of Pierre
Landre. Joseph Ogee and Jaqucs Mctte. whose
names have already appeared in our history, were
sworn as interpreters. William S. Hamilton ap-
peared as counsel for the defendant, and it was
found very difficult to obtain a jury, but, finally
the following named persons were impannelled :
Austin Crocker, Allen S. Daugherty. Alexander
McNaughton, Nathan Dillon. Henry Neely, Will-
iam Woodrow, Peter Dumont. Aaron Reed,
Abram Galentine, Josiah Fulton, Cornelius Doty,

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

David Mattlicws. Tlic Indian was convicted and
sentenced to be hanged. Hamilton carried tlie
case to tlie Supreme Court and obtained a reversal
of the judgment, but Nomaque was held as a
prisoner until another Grand Jury should pass
upon the case.

The other four indictments found at this term
of the court were for personal violence, one
against Joseph Ogee and Jacob Frank for an
affray, one against Levi Ellis and Lyman Leon-
ard for an affray ; one against Abner Cooper for
assault and battery, and one against John Griffm
for assault and battery. We may imagine the
cause of Abner Cooper's getting into difficulty
from the fact that he and his wife had two cases
on the civil docket at the same time for the
slander of the wife, one against Edmond Weed,
and the other against Sallie Weed. Both of these
cases, however, were thrown out of court upon
demurrer to the declarations, and it is likely that
the whole trouble grew- out of some family diffi-
culty. For the defendants A. W. Cavarly ap-
peared as attorney, who it is said was the same
atorney whose absence from the court room had
given Judge Sawyer an oportunity to have his
client publicy whipped as before stated. Will-
iam S. Hamilton had two fines assessed against
him for contempt of court.

Writs of .scire facias were issued against
Lewis Besom, Pierre Chevilire, Frances Borbon,
nic Siegnior, Francis Borbon, Jiie Junior, and
Antoine Borbon. These were probably witnesses
in the Nomaque case, and their names indicate
that the French population had not entirely dis-
appeared from the neighborhood of Peoria.

The court continued in session four days.
No further courts were held until the October
term, 1826. when John York Sawyer again ap-
peared upon the bench with John Dixon as Clerk,
and Samuel Fulton as Sheriff. At this term there
were the usual number of small cases, such as
appeals from Justices of the Peace, slander suits.
etc. The most important business of that term,
however, was the second indictment of Nomaque.
One of the Grand jurors gives the following vivid
description, in Drown's Directory for 1844, of
what occurred at that time. "In the year 1826.
I lived three miles from Mackinaw River, on
the Peoria and Springfield road, in what is now
Tazewell County, but then attached to Peori.?.,
and being that year twenty-one years old, I was
summoned upon the Grand Jury. There were not
then enough adults in Peoria County proper
to form the Grand and Petit juries, hence they
were summoned from the attached portion. All

the Grand Jury but two were from the east side
of the Illinois River, chiefly my acquaintances
and neighbors. We took our provisions and bed-
ding, the latter being a blanket or quilt for each.
It was the practice also in those days to take
;ilong a flagon of liquor, and this was not omitted
on the occasion spoken of. In truth, so faithfully
was the flagon put under requisition, that but two
of our number were sober when we appeared in
court and received our charge. Judge Sawyer
was then the presiding officer; James Turney the
prosecuting attorney ; and Messrs. Cavarly, Pugh,
Bogardus and Turney. the entire bar.

"There were about eight bills of indictment
found by the Grand Jury — one of which was
against an Indian named Nomaque for murder.
He had been tried the fall before ; but obtain-
ing a new trial, he was indicted again this term.
There being no secure jail, the Sheriff (Samuel
Fulton) kept him under guard in the house of
Mr. .•\llen. At night about a dozen drunken
Indians met to rescue him, and attempted to
enter the door for that purpose. Allen sprang,
out of a back window, and seizing a clapboard,
rushed to the front of the house and laid about
him with great fury. He felled four of the Indians
to the ground before they could recover from their
consternation, when the others retreated. Allen
juirsuing the hindmost, continued his blows, the
retreating fellow cryingout 'Schtop. white man I
for God's sake .schtop !' Felling him also, the
five laid till morning, when they were able to
crawl off. Nomaque afterwards made his es-
cape — joined Black Hawk in the war of '32 — was
wounded in Stillman's defeat, and afterwards
found nearly dead by some Peorians, who hu-
manely shot him through to put an end to his
sufferings.

"The court house was a log building on the
bank of the river, in which the jurors slept at
night on their blankets on the floor. There was
a tavern kept by Mr. Bogardus, but it was not
large enough to furnish sleeping accommodations
for them. The grand jury room was a lumber
cabin in which Bogardus kept saddles and other
cattle fixings."

At the next session of the Legislature
the judiciary was again re-organized by abolish-
ing the oflice of Circuit Judge and assigning the
Judges of the Supreme Court to do circuit duty.
The first circuit was then composed of the coun-
ties of Peoria, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams, Pike,
Calhoun, Green, Morgan and Sangamon, and to
this circuit Judge Samuel D. Lockwood was as-
signed. Judge Lockwood is said to have been.-

-f2^^^Q^^2^£^^^i^*^:^:2:^^y

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

one of llie most scholarly and polished gentle-
men that ever occupied the position on the Su-
preme bench of the State of Illinois. It is said
by a recent historian that "he stands out con-
spicuously as the beau ideal of a judge. His
appearance on the bench was the very personi-
fication of dignity, learning and judicial acumen."
He presided over the Circuit Court of Peoria
County from May term 1827, to the October term
1828.

At the first term held by him in Peoria. Sam-
uel Fulton. Sheriff, was indicated for malconduct
in office in allowing the Indian Nomaque to es-
cape from his custody, but no sooner had the in-
dictment been returned than it was nolle prosd',
for the reason that no capias had issued requiring
the Sheriff to take him into his custody.

At the session of the Legislature held in 1829,
another change was made in the judiciary of the
State. A circuit was established consisting of
all the territory west and north of the Illinois
and Kankakee Rivers, embracing that portion of
territory which had formerly been attached to the
county of Pike.

Ricliard M. Young was, by the Legislature,
elected Judge of this circuit and was commis-
sioned on the Z3d day of January, 1829. lie
made his first appearance at Peoria at the June
term, 1829, and held our court continuously un-
til the October term 1S34. Judge Young holds a
consipcuous position in the history of the State of
Illinois. He was first elected Judge of the third
circuit, but, on the formation of the fifth circuit,
which has just been described he removed to the
City of Quincy where he resided during the time
he was upon the bench. He was elected United
States Senator in the year 1836, and served the
full term of six years from the 4th day of March,
1S37. to the 4th day of March 1843. He was
elected to the Supreme Court in 1843, and held
that ofiice until 1847, when he was appointed Com-
missioner of the Land Oflice at Washington. In
1S50, he became Clerk of the National House
of Representatives. In his later years, however.
his intellect became impaired and gradually failed
until it became necessary to send him to an asylum
where he died.

On the 8th day of June. 1830, Stephen Still-
ni.-ui was appointed Clerk of tlie Circuit Court in
place of John Dixon, resigned.

The first person to declare his intention to be
naturalized was George Kingston, aged thirty-
five, born in the town of Bandy, County of Cork,
Ireland, November 15, 1795, emigrated to Amer-
ica the middle of September, 1818, landed at
6

Baltimore, November 18, 1818, an inhabitant of
Tazewell County.

On the nth day of May, 1832, Samuel Conner,
a resident of Peoria County, aged seventy-five
made application for the benefit of the United
States pension laws. He enlisted for the war in
March, 1779. in company "E" commanded by
Captain Gregg in Eroadhead's regiment in the
line of the State of Peimsylvania m the Contin-
ental Establishment and served therein until the
close of the Revolutionary War. His reason for
not making earlier application for his pension
was, "That he had hoped and believed he could
finish the short remainder of his days on earth
without applying for the charitable aid of the
country he had served." '

On the 30th day of April, 1835, William
Mitchell, a subject of William 1\', King of
Great Britain, was naturalized on the testimony
of Charles Ballance. He afterwards served as
an efficient oiilicer of the county in the capacity
of Clerk of the County Commissioner's Court.

Recurring again to the changes made in the
judiciary, it will be noticed that in 1835. the State
w.-is again divided into circuits, and five Judges,
in addition to the one already in office, were
chosen by the Legislature. These new Judges
were Stephen T. Logan, Sidney Breese, Henry
Eddy, Thomas Ford and Justin Harlan, of whom
Thomas Ford was chosen for the sixth district
or that in which Peoria County was situated, —
Judge Young still continuing as Judge of the
fifth or Quincy District. But for some reason not
known Judge Breese presided at the Spring term
of our Circuit Court. This was probably the only
time that distinguished jurist held court in Peoria.

W'e have already become somewhat acquainted
with Stephen T. Logan, w.ho appeared as counsel
for the Latham heirs in their contest with the
county of Peoria respecting the quarter section
of land, upon which the County Seat had been lo-
cated. Within a few months after the termina-
tion of that memorable contest he was elevated to-
the bench and presided over our Circuit Court at
the September term, 1835. He resigned his office
in 1837, on account of the inadequacy of salary,
;uul being chosen again to the same office in the
year 1839. declined to accept. He never after-
wards occupied a position upon the bench, but it
is conceded by all that he became one of the ablest
lawyers of the State, in which profession he was
for three years associated with Abraham Lincoln.
He also filled many positions of public trust, the
duties of which he performed with marked
ability.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Thomas Ford, who afterwards became Gov-
ernor of the State, presided at the May and No-
vember terms, 1836, of our court, but in March,
1837, he also resigned and was succeeded by the
noted Dan Stone as Judge of the Sixth Circuit.
Judge Stone presided from the May term, 1837,
until the May term, 1838. During his incumbency
there arose a' great political excitement over a
decision he had made with respect to the right of
aliens to vote at the general elections. The case
was carried to the Supreme Court, but before it
had reached a final decision the Eighth and Ninth
Judicial Circuits had been formed by act of the
Legislature, and Thomas Ford, on the 2Sth day
of February, 1839, had been again chosen and
commissioned as Judge of the Ninth. As an out-
come of the excitement growing out of the de-
cision of Judge Stone, above referred to, the
judiciary of the State was re-organized by an
act of February 10, 1841, which repealed all
former laws authorizing the election of Circuit
Judges, or establishing the Circuit Courts, thus
again legislating out of office all the Circuit
Judges then in the State. The act then provided
that there should be appointed, by joint ballot of
both branches of the General Assembly, at that
session, five additional Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court, who, in connection with the Chief
Justice and the three Associate Justices then in
office, should constitute the Supreme Court of the
State. The State was then again divided into
nine Circuits, and the Chief Justice and eight
Associate Justices were required to perform du-
ties in these circuits. Thomas Ford was elected
as one of the five new Justices of the Supreme
Court, was commissioned February 15, 1841, but
resigned August i, 1842, to accept the office of
Governor of the State, to which office he was soon
afterward elected. While holding the office of
Circuit and Supreme Judge successively, he again
presided over our Circuit Court from April, 1839,
until the April term, 1842.

At the September term, 1838, Judge Stone
seems to have exchanged with Jesse B. Thomas
of the First District, who presided at that term.

Judge Richard M. Young again held the Cir-

cuit Court as one of the Supreme Judges at the
May term, 1843. John Dean Caton, another of
the Supreme Judges, presided over the Circuit
Court at the October term, 1842, and again
from the October term, 1843, to the October term,
1848. Judge Caton was a Judge of the Supreme
Court for twenty-one years, having been first
appointed by Governor Carlin in the year 1842,
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of
Governor Ford, and then by Governor Ford
in the year 1843, to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the deatli of Judge John M. Robinson, and upon
the reorganization of the judiciary under the new
Constitution, was elected from the Northern
Grand Division. After serving for the period of
twenty-one years in all, he resigned in 1864.

After the adoption of the Constitution in 1848,
T. Lyle Dickey, Judge of the Ninth Circuit, pre-
sided at the May and October terms, 1849, and
William Kellogg. Judge of the Tenth Circuit to
which Peoria belonged, from the March term,
1850, to November, 1852.

William Kellogg was commissioned as Judge
of the Tenth Circuit February 12, 1850, and con-
tinued to fill that office until November, 1852,
when he resigned and was succeeded by Heze-
kiah M. Wead. Judge Wead did not hold court
in Peoria as Judge of the Tenth Circuit, for the
reason that, before the time for the next term
after his election had arrived, the Sixteenth Cir-
cuit, composed of Peoria and Stark Counties, had
been formed, and Onslow Peters had been elected
Judge thereof. Judge Wead did, however, hold
our court at the fall term 1863, to finish up the
business in which Judge Peters had been engaged
as counsel. Judge Kellogg was elected to Con-
gress in 1856, and again in 1858 and i860. His
career after leaving the bench belongs more par-
ticularly to the political history of this county.

From the foregoing it will be seen that Peoria
County, in its early days, was favored, by the pres-
ence in her Circuit Court, as presiding Justices
thereof, of some of the most distinguished jurists
of the State and Nation. (For biographical
sketches see Vol. I.)

CHAPTER X\T.

EARLY ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES.

When Fort Clark was first erected it is said
there was not a white man's dwelhng within one
hundred miles of it. There was, therefore, no con-
siderable population except the Indians, and they
had no need for anything but the trail. Yet,
doubtless, Fort Clark, for some years, was the
abode of a considerable body of soldiers, whose
necessities must have been supplied from the
settlements farther south. For this purpose,
especially during the season when navigation
was closed, a road or roads must have been nec-
essary. Little evidence of such a road has been
found, yet as appears from the public surveys of
Tazewell County, made in the year 1823, there
is a road marked "Road to Fort Clark" on the
township line between Groveland and Fond du
Lac, just at the head of the ravine known as ''Cole
Hollow," through which runs a small creek called
"Cole Creek." As this was the original course
of the road from Peoria to Springfield, it is fair
to presume that, before either Peoria or Spring-
field had any existence, there was a road leading
through this hollow from Fort Clark to the lower
settlements. If so, it was the first road leading
to or from the present site of Peoria.

It has also been seen that the first American
settlers who came to Fort Clark did not remain
long in its immediate vicinity, but many of them,
being farmers, had dirtributed themselves along
the several creeks flowing into the Illinois River,
some of them on the Mackinaw, some on Farm
Creek, some on Ten Mile Creek and some on
the Illinois Prairie, on the easterly side of the
river, while, at the same time, settlements were
forming at several points in Fulton County and
farther west. The people of these settlements
would naturally seek the means of communication
with each other, especially with Fort Clark (or
Peoria), as their center of trade. One or more
ferries would, therefore, soon become necessary.
It is not known at what particular date or by

whom the first ferry at Peoria was started, but
when Ossian Ross came to the mouth of Spoon
River in 1821, he ascertained there was a
ferry at Beardstown and one at Peoria, which
were ninety miles apart, with no ferry between,
and certainly none above Peoria. He therefore
established a third ore at the present city of
Havana, which, for many years, yielded him an
annual income of $2,000.

The map attached to a work entitled "A His-
tory of Illinois, to accompany an Historical Map
of the State by Rufus Blanchard," published at
Chicago, 1883, shows a trail or trace called the
"Fort Clark and Wabash Trace," running in a
straight line from Fort Clark to Terre Haute,
crossing the river just below the mouth of the
lake, in regard to which the author says: "It
was a well travelled road from the settlements of
southern Ohio and Indiana to Fort Clark in an
early day." This may have been the same road
shown on the public survey above mentioned. It
also shows a trail called "Kellogg's Trail from
Peoria to Galena, 1825," on substantially the same
route as that upon which the Galena State Road
was afterwards laid out by way of Princeton,
in regard to which he says : "This trail shows
the first overland route from Peoria to Galena.
It was made by Mr. Kellogg, an old pioneer set-
tler, in 1825, and subsequently became a well
known route."

The map also shows a mail route from Peoria,
by way of Lewistown, to Rushville, and diverging
thence to Quincy, Pittsfield, Jacksonville, cross-
ing the river at Beardstown; this road is dated
1822.

These trails and roads all ante-date any road
laid out by the authorities of Peoria County.

John L. Bogardus. a lawyer and land-trader,
a man of enterprise and ability, was among the
earliest settlers, he having reached Peoria prob-
ably as early as 1819 or 1820. As early as 1824

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

he had obtained concurrent licenses lr<ini the
County Commissioners' Courts of Fuhon and San-
gamon Coimties, to keep a ferry across the Ilhnois
River at the outlet of Lake Peoria. The spot
■where this ferry was located has become his-
toric, as it occupied the place where the wagon-
road bridge is now located, at the foot of Bridge
street in the city of Peoria. Doubtless at that
point the first ferry was established within the
present limits of Peoria County. The County
Commissioners of Peoria County, recognizing the
necessity of such a ferry, as well as the validity
of these licenses, at their June session, 1825, or-
dered them spread upon their own records.

James Eads, son of William Eads, says his
uncle, Abner Eads, established the first ferry at
Peoria.

Communication having in this manner been
established between the settlements on both sides
of the river, if no public roads had before then
led to the spot, they would soon have been at-
tracted thither by the ready means aflforded for
crossing. At that time Farm Creek had its outlet
just above the present location of the wagon
road bridge, and. as the w-ater in the river, as well
as in the creek, would often became bank full or
even higher, the ferry-boat would follow the
channel of the creek to the high water mark in
the river. This was the most eligible location to
be found anywhere near the incipient village, and
was reached from all directions on the opposite
side.

.\t the same June session, 1825, Samuel Fulton,
Alexander McLaughlin and Norman Hyde were
appointed viewers to locate a road leading from
the ferry landing opposite the village of Peorra,
to the "Old Crossing" on Sugar Creek [a trib-
utary of the Sangamon River — Ed.], near Robert
Musick's. This was as far south as their juris-
diction extended. " Sangamon County had, doubt-
less, also laid out a road to meet the Peoria road
at the"01d Crossing" near Robert Musick's, where
a year later a bridge is found to have had an
existence. As this road pointed directly towards
the south, it is reasonable to suppose the "Old
Crossing" to have been the place where the old
Fort Clark road, above mentioned, had crossed
the same creek. Two years later the same road
was, by act of the Legislature (of February 13.
1827), made a state road, which became the stage
road between the two cities. This was the first
road laid out by the authorities of Peoria County.
F"our points on its line are mentioned in the .\ct
of 1827: Springfield, Musick's on Salt Creek [of

which Sugar Creek is a branch — Ed.], Thomas
Dillon's on the Mackinaw Creek, and Peoria.

On January 23, 1826, the Legislature ordered a
state road to be laid out from the county .seat of
Peoria County to the county seat of Vermilion
County (Danville), and thence to the Slate line.
Abner Eads, Samuel Fulton and Dan W. Beck-
with, a surveyor, were appointed viewers to locate
the same, who performed their duties and made
their report as required by the act, and at the
session of the Legislature of 1831, an act was
passed granting them their pay, together with one
Orlin Gilbert and one James Barnes, chain car-
riers, and William Rowan, blazer.

At the same session of the County Commis-
sioner's Court, viewers were appointed to locate a
road leading from Peoria to the southern boun-
dary of the county (the place not designated),
and others to view a road leading from Peoria
to its northern boundary. At the December ses-
sion ensuing these two sets of viewers made their
reports, which were approved, and the two roads
ordered to be opened a sufficient width for the
passage of teams. At this term viewers were
appointed to view a road from Peoria, passing
the Trading Post (Wesley City) and the house
of Isaac Perkins [who lived on Illinois Prairie
— Ed.], to intersect the Springfield road at or
near Prairie Creek.

.■\t the same session a license was granted to
William Clark to keep a ferry at Mackinaw
Bluffs, (at or near the present city of Pekin,
once called "Town Site" — Ed.]

At the June session, 1826, the County Com-
missioners began to turn their attention to a great
highway in the direction of Chicago. John Bar-
ker, George Harland and Samuel Fulton were at
that term appointed viewers to locate a road from
the ferry at Peoria, by the nearest and best way,
to the Third Principal Meridian [the eastern limit
of their jurisdiction — Ed.], and in a direction
to .strike the big salt spring opposite the mouth
of Fox River [South Ottowa — Ed.] At each
end of this line a ferry was licensed — one tc>
Isaac Waters, John Phillips and David Matthews
from a place called Matthew's Landing (now the
Narrows) to the opposite shore; the other to
Jesse Walker, the noted Methodist missionary, to
keep a ferry at the moutli of Fox River, to the
"big spring." In each of these licenses there was
a provision that no ferry should be established
within one mile of the same until the lands in the
vicinity should be sold. This was inserted, not
with a view to the c-eation of a monopoly, but

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

for the public good, for, by so doing, the pro-
prietor woidd be the better enabled to give good
service to the public, than if the limited amount
of travel should be divided between rival ferries.

It must be observed, too, that the County
Commissioners' Court had no authority to lay
out a road south of the river further east than
the Third Principal Meridian, which was the east-
ern boundary of the county; .so that, unless there
had been a road laid out by the adjoining county
from the "big spring" to meet that laid out by
Peoria County, there must have been a link miss-
ing from eighteen to twenty miles in length. But
Peoria County had jurisdiction on the north side
of the river, and so could grant a license to Jesse
Walker, who resided on the north side, to keep
a ferry at that place, just as licenses had been
granted by both Fulton and Sangamon Counties
to John L. Bogardus for the same purpose.
From this fact the inference is almost irresistible
that such a road then had an existence.

At the September term of the same year the
Commissioners so appointed made their report and
the road was established. This was the first road
leading from Peoria in the direction of Chicago.
It was not then a state road, but by an act of
the Legislature of January 12, 1833, Lewis Bige-
low, of Peoria, John M. Gay, of Putnam. James
B. Campbell, of La Salle, and James Walker, of
Cook County, were appointed to locate a road
from Peoria to the mouth of Fox River, and
thence to Chicago. This road must have fol-
lowed substantially the same route as that laid
out by the Commissioners of Peoria County. It
went by way of Hanover (Metamora). Magnolia
and L'nion Grove, to Ottawa, thence to Chicago.

Peoria had thus secured three important state
roads — one to Springfield and the south, one to
the east by way of Danville, which soon became
the great highway of emigration, and one to Chi-
cago, by wliich it was put into communication
with the great lakes and, through them, with the
cities of the East.

The lead mines in the northwestern part of
the State were now attracting much attention, and
adventurers were migrating thither in great num-
bers. It became a matter of importance, there-
fore, to establish communication with that section.
Accordingly the County Commissioners, at their
September term. i8j6. hail appointed Isaac
Waters, Norman Hyde and John Ray as viewers
to locate a road to the lead mines. Again at
their March term, 182S, they resolved that a road
should be laid out ton'ards the lead mines so far
as their jurisdiction extended. It is not material

for our present purpose to ascertain just how far
their efforts in that direction were successful, for
by an act of the Legislature of January 18, 1833,
it is declared that the road leading from Peoria
to Galena be declared a state road. This was
the famous Galena road, a portion of which goes
by that name until the present day. It com-
menced at the public square and followed sub-
stantially the line of Adams street to the city
limits, thence by the present river road to a point
near Mossville, thence on a line almost directly
north through Northampton, Windsor (Tiskilwa)
on Bureau Creek, Princeton, Dixon's Ferry,
thence northwesterly to the west line of Stephen-
son County, where it intersected the Chicago and
Galena road, which it followed to Galena. Three
years prior to its being made a state road, John
Dixon, who had for some years been Clerk of
the Circuit Court of Peoria County, had taken a
government contract to carry the mails every two
weeks from Peoria to Galena. To facilitate the
work Joseph Ogee, the half-breed heretofore
mentioned, was sent, or W'ent of his own accord,
to establish a ferry across Rock River at the pres-
ent site of the city of Dixon, which was, for a
short time, operated by him ; but his management
not proving satisfactory to Dixon, the latter bought
him out and removed with his family to that
place. The ferry was ever afterw-ard called Dix-
on's Ferry, and it was in this way, and by two
Peorians, the city of Dixon was started and re-
ceived its name. The viewers were Joseph B.
Meredith, of Peoria County, John D. Winter and
Joseph Smith, of Jo Daviess County, and Charles
Boyd, of Putnam County. Meredith drew from
the treasury of Peoria County $50.00 for his serv-
ices as Surveyor.

No other state roads seem to have been es-
tablished in Peoria County for some j'ears after-
ward. In the meantime, however, the County
Commissioners were not in any degree negligent
of the public interests in this respect. The influx
of population w'as so rapid that roads in every
direction, and ferries or bridges over the principal
streams became an absolute necessity. And whilst
the Commissioners had their hands full in set-
tling the disputes about the county seat, and in
making preparations for the erection of county
buildings, the subject of public roads was also
receiving all due attention.

The Legislature of 1827 passed an act to the
effect that no one should keep a ferry and charge
toll without first procuring a license from the
County Commissioner's Court, which tribunal
was vested with power to grant such licenses, to

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

fix the rates of toll to be charged, to fix the rates
of license fees or tax upon the franchise to be
paiil by the proprietors, and to hear complaints
against the keepers for non-compliance with the
law.

By the same act the keepers were required
to keep good boats and equipments, to attend
their ferries from daylight until dark, and, upon
call, give passage at any hour of the night (for
which latter service they might charge double
rates), and should give free passage to all public
messengers and expresses and to jurymen at-
tending court.

This law, wise in its provisions as it was,
laid the foundation for many spirited contests
between the proprietors of rival ferries and ap-
plicants for ferry-licenses. In those days a fran-
chise to keep a ferry was regarded as a possession
of great value. ' We, therefore, find great rivalries
springing up between present and would-be ferry-
men.

But wlicre streams were capable of being
bridged, a ferry could be dispensed with. So it
happened that, as early as the month of March,
1827, the County Commissioner's Court com-
menced preparing for the bridging of the Kick-
apoo. On the 14th of that month a recital is
made in their proceedings to the effect that the
Court "then proceeded to examine and ascertain
a suitable site for a public bridge across the Kick-
apoo Creek, and, after thorough examination, de-
cided on the following place : "Amediately above
the present crossing of the public road from
Peoiia to Lewistown." This was the first move-
ment ever made to erect a public bridge within
the limits of Peoria County. It did not, how-
ever, prove to be immediately successful. At the
December session of the same year another in-
spection of the site v.as made. A contract for
building the same was" let to John L. Bogardus,
who entered into bond in the sum of $500. with
John Dixon and Dr. Augustus Langworthy as
sureties, for the faithful performance of his con-
tract. In this, however, he failed, and at the
March term, 1828, it was ordered that a suit be
commenced against him and sureties on his bond,
and to that end the necessary documents be for-
warded to the Attorney General.

Up to this time it had been the custom of the
Court, upon granting a ferry license, to fix the
rates of toll that might be charged. This had been
done in the case of John L. Bogardus, and the
rates allowed him were generally adopted as to all
the others in succession, as their licenses were
granted. At the June term, 1828, however, a

general order was made fixing the tolls to be
charged on all ferries crossing the Illinois River
at the following rates :

For each foot passenger 6,'4 cents.

For man and horse 1254 cents.

For Dearborn, sulky, chair with

springs SO cents.

One-horse wagon 25 cents.

For four-wheeled carriage drawn by

2 oxen or horses 37 J^ cents.

For cart with two oxen yjVi cents.

For every head neat cattle, horses or

mules 10 cents.

For each hog, sheep or goat 3 cents.

For every hundred weight of goods,

wares and merchandise 6;4 cents.

For each bushel of grain or articles

sold by the bushel 3 cents.

All other articles in equal and just proportion.

But (Iciuble these rates might be charged by
John L. Bogardus at the Peoria Ferry when the
river should be out of its banks, so that a land-
ing could not be made at the first material bend
in the (Farm) creek from the ferry.

At the September session of that year began
a contest between Simon Crozier and Jesse
Walker for the ferry at the mouth of Fox River.
Crozier applied for a license to keep a ferry across
the mouth of Fox River, also across the Illinois
River above and belov.' the mouth of Fox River.
James Walker on behalf of his father, Jesse Wal-
ker, made application for a renewal of the lat-
ter's license to keep a ferry at the same place.
These applications were both postponed until the
December term, when, upon Crozier's motion,
they were again postponed until the March term,
1829; but on a subsequent day of the same ses-
sion, said order was reconsidered and the license
of Jesse Walker was renewed.

At the March terra. 1829, viewers were ap-
pointed to locate a road from Peoria to the west
bounds of the county by way of Prince's Grove
[now Princeville — Ed.], and in the direction of
Rocky Island [the Mestern boundary of their
jurisdiction then b:."ing on the line between
ranges 4 and 5 east, but beginning again at the
Fourth Principal Meridian and extending to the
Mississippi River — Ed.]. At the June term, 1830,
these viewers made their report and the road
was established.

At the same March term, 1829, terry licenses
were granted as follows: To William Haines,
a lenewal of the license to William Clark at

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Mackinaw Bluffs ; to William Eads. across the
Illinois River at the Trading Post [Wesley City
— Ed.] ; to Archibald Clybourne and Samuel
Miller, across the Chicago River at the lower
forks near Wolf Point, crossing the river below
the northeast branch and to land on either side
of both branches to suit the convenience of all
persons wishing to cross; and to James Andrews,
across the Illinois River at the mouth of Little
Vermilion iver, near the present city of La-
salle.

On June 13. i8jy. it was again ordered that
a bridge be contracted for, to be built across the
Kickapoo Creek at the ford on the Lewistown
road from Peoria, 164 feet in length, to rest
against two certain tress, one on each side, mark-
ed "B." On the 8th of July following that date it
was ordered that the bridge across Kickapoo
Creek, engaged to be built by John Cameron,
be accepted as finisJied according to contract, and
that he be allowed $jo as a balance due upon the
same. The total cost of the bridge is not here
stated. John Cameron has the credit of having
built the first bridge erected by public authority
in Peoria County, the same resting against two
trees, one on each side, as supports. This bridge,
probably like many of its successors, was not
proof against the action of the water in the
treacherous Kickapoo, for at the December term,
1831, it was found to be in need of repairs,
which were made under the supervision of John
Coyle at a cost of $30.06.

At the December term, 1829, James Scott and
George Miller were licensed to keep a ferry
across the Illinois River within one mile of the
mouth of Bureau Creek. [This was the Henne-
pin Ferry— Ed.] At the June term, 1830, Will-
iam See (a minister of the Methodist church)
was licensed to keep a ferry across the Callimink
(Calumet) at the head of Lake Michigan.

Prior to July. 1830, it had been the custom in
granting ferry-licenses to requqire certain li-
cense fees or taxes to be paid to the county. It
was at that term ordered that the following
named ferries be taxed for the ensuing year, as
follows :

William Haines (Pekin) .$ 4.00

William Eads (Trading House) 2.00

John L. Bogardus ( Peoria) 10.00

Matthews & Chandler (Narrows) 2.00

Miller & Scott (Hennepin) 2.00

James Adams (Little Vermilion) 2.00

Clyborne & Miller (Chicago) 2.00

William See (Calimink) 2.00

After this term the following ferry licenses
were granted : September term, 1830. to Jesse
Egman. across the Illinois River on Sec. 25, T. 7
N., 6 E. [Kingston — Ed.] ; December term, to
Thompson and Wright across the Illinois River
within one-half mile of Sandy Creek (Au
Sable) ; January term, 1831, to Abner Eads across
the Illinois River at his landing, the same to be
located at the mouth o' the ravine next below the
"present Court House" [The Hamlin house below
Liberty street — Ed.], or as near said ravine as
the weather and water would permit. This must
have been not more than two blocks from that of
Bogardus. But as Bogardus had the advantage
of being in direct communication with the roads
on the east side of the river, Eads conceived
the idea of ousting him and appropriating the
whole to himself. He therefore lodged a com-
plaint against Bogardus charging him with not
keeping his ferry according to law. Bogardus
was thereupon cited to appear before the County
Commissioners at the September term, but being
a lawyer, he was not slow to avail himself of any
legal technicality to delay the hearing. There
being only two Commissioners, Cleveland and
Hamlin, present, Bogardus objected to Hamlin's
sitting in the case for the reason he had already
expressed an opinion on the merits. The hearing
was then postponed imtil the December term,
by which time Hamlin had resigned and John
Coyle liad been elected in his stead. The Court
met (probablj' at the Court House), but im-
mediately adjourned to the house of Henry B.
Stillman, all the members, Cleveland, French and
Coyle, being present. Witnesses were examined,
arguments heard and judgment of forfeiture of
his license rendered against Bogardus. for the
reason his ferry had not been kept according to
law. Bogardus took an appeal to the Circuit
Court, but having taken a change of venue to
Sangamon County, the records fail to show what
became of the suit. But Bogardus still retained
possession of the ferry.

At the March term, 1832, the Commissioners
revoked the ferry license of Matthews and
Chandler at the Narrows, and granted one to
\'inecnt Barton, the father of our esteemed fellow
citizen. Williant C. H. Barton, from whom the
village of Bartonville receives its name. Within
a year or two thereafter this ferry seems to have
passed into the hands of Charles Ballance. and
thereafter continued in possession of his suc-
cessors until it was superseded by the Upper
Free Bridge.

At the same term viewers were appointed to

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

locate a road from Peoria, by way of Hamlin and
Sharp's Mill, through the settlement on the fork
of the Kickapoo, in the direction of the county
seat of Knox County. The report of these view-
ers was made and the road established at the
September term, 1832.

The northeast part of the county now begins
to loom up with some degree of importance.
A license was granted to Samuel Allen to keep
a ferry across the Illinois River opposite the (nov.'
extinct) village of Allentown [between the
present village of Rome and the city of Chilli-
cothe — Ed.] A road was also laid out from
the village of Rome through the northern part
of the county to the Knox County line, for the
surveying of which Charles Ballance, as County
Surveyor, was allowed the sum of $18.00.

A road was also laid out from John Coyle's,
passing through Rome to the north line of the
county.

At the March term. i8.?3. John Coyle was
authorized to build a bridge across Dry Run,
where the road crossed it on Sec. 3, T. 8 N., 8 E.,
which bridge was finished and accepted at the
September term following. For the building of
this bridge, which was the second ordered by the
Commissioners, Coyle was to receive $10 in ad-
vance and $15 more upon completion thereof.
This road probably occupied the same ground as
the Galena road, but subsequently a state road
was laid upon it.

At the March term. 1833. viewers were ap-
pointed to locate a road from the public square
across the Kickapoo, to intersect the Knox County
line. The viewers made their report at the
September term ensuing, which was confirmed
and the road located as follows: "Beginning
at the head of Main street at the northwest cor-
ner of the town fraction [now in Dr. Miller's lot,
near the head of Franklin street — Ed.], thence
■west 65 poles, thence north 3714 degrees west,
60 poles to the bend in a ravine, thence south
Si degrees west, 20 poles 20 links to the top of
the bluff, thence north 85^ degrees west, 312
poles to the head of a ravine of the Dry Run,
thence north 22 degrees west, down said ravine
18 poles to a bend, thence south 88 degrees, west
94 poles, thence south 87K' degrees, west 60 poles,
thence south dg'/i degrees west, 194 poles, cross-
ing Dry Run." By closely following the courses
and distances of this survey it is not difficult
to identify it as the original Farmington road,
but, instead of ascending the bluff at Main street
as at present, it ascended it at Howe's Hill (now
State street), and from the top of the blufl it

ran in ;i straight course, disregarding section
lines, to the head of the ravine at the present
entrance to Laura Bradley Park. Many other
roads were located by the Count3' Commissioners,
but being mostly of a local character and having
been superseded by other and later surveys, it is
unnecessary to take any further notice of them.

In 1833 a road was laid out from John Ridge-
way's on the Galena road, through Rome and
Chillicothe, to meet a road laid out by the Com-
missioners of Putnam County. This road was,
by act of the Legislature of February 27, 1837,
made a state road, th; point of intersection with
the Galena road being in section 27, 10 N., 9 E,
[at or near the present site of Mossville — Ed.],
and the points named being Rome, Chillicothe and
Windsor, where it again met the road to Galena.
The same Legislature laid out another road from
Peoria to Galena by Osceola and Savanna. This
seems to have been the original of the Mt. Hawley
and Lawn Ridge road. It began at the public
square, ran up Main street to Knoxvillc avenue,
thence north past Kellar and Mt. Hawley until
it came within two or three miles of the county
line, where it bore o(T to the northwest.

In 1836 a state road was laid out from Chi-
cago to Peoria through Ottawa. This road seems
to have come by way of Peru to Boyd's Grove,
where it united with the Galena road, which it
followed from that point to Peoria.

In the same year a state road was laid out
on the west side of the river from Peoria to
Pekin, thence in a southeasterly direction until it
intersected with the state road leading from
Peoria to Springfield.

About the same time the Commissioners of
Peoria County laid out a road from Peoria in
the direction of Stephenson, the comity seat of
Rock Island County, now the city of Rock Island;
also one beginning at the present intersection of
Knoxville avenue and McClure avenue, running
thence in a northwesterly direction to French
Grove and thence to Kno.xville ; one from Peoria
by way of Hale and Greenwood's mill (now
Pottstown), Edwards, South Port and Newburgh
to Knoxville. The routes so selected by the County
Commissioners were afterwards substantially
adopted by the Legislature as state roads. That
from Stephenson to Peoria was made a state
road by act of February 7, 1837. It came by way
of Lafayette and Princeville, thence diagonally to
Mt. Hawley; that from Peoria to Knoxville by
way of French Grove (since then known as the
Knoxvillc road), was made a state road by act
of January 31, 1837, On the same date an act

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

was passed establishing a state road from Peoria
by way of Canton to Quincy. A few days later
an act was passed establishing a state road from
Warsaw to Peoria, by way of Carthage. Macomi)
and Canton, but it was provided that if a state
road should have already been located from Can-
ton to Peoria (alluding doubtless to the proposed
Quincy and Peoria road), the Commissioners
sliould not lay out the Warsaw road further than
its intersection with such other road. In addition
to these there was also a state road laid out by
act of February 10, 1837, from Peoria to Hender-
sonville in Knox County, by way of Prince's
Mill (now Princeville). This road also occupied
substantially the same route as the one which had
been laid out, in part at least, by the County
Commissioners.

It therefore appears that, within twelve years
c!f its organization. Peoria County had become the
center of a system of ttate roads leading in every
direction; one to Springfield; one to Danville
and the state line ; one to Ottawa and Chicago
south of the river, and one between the same
points north of the river; one to Galena through
Princeton and Dixon ; one to Galena through
Osceola and Savanna ; one to Rock Island through
Lafayette, Wyoming and Princeville; one to
Hendersonville by way of Princeville : one to
Knoxville by way of Kickapoo and Brimfield ;
one to Knoxville following the Kickapoo Creek ;
one to Knoxville by P'armington ; one to Warsaw
by Canton, Macomb and Carthage; one to Quincy
by Canton, and one to Pekin and thence south-
east to the Springfield road.

Another road deserving of mention is that
from Peoria by way of Aiken's Mill to intersect
the road from Peoria to Farmington. The town
of "Peoria Mills" had been laid out near the
place where Lincoln Avenue extended crosses
the Kickapoo. This road commenced at the
South end of Adams, then at Franklin street,
running thence west on First street in Monson &
Sanford's Addition to its western terminus,
thence by courses and distances and following
some of the streets in "Peoria Mills" to a bridge
across the Kickapoo. This survey, taken in con-
nection with the village plat, gives us the loca-
tion of Aiken's Mill nearly one-half mile north
of the Lincoln Avenue or Plank Road bridge.
After leaving the creek, the road zig-zagged
tip the bluff until it finally terminated in
the Farmington road to the northeast of the

county farm. It was doubtless laid out in the in-
terest of the proprietors of the mill and village
site, as many other roads were laid out, and pos-
sibly occupied the same ground as the road that
now leads past the poor farm.

With the completion of this system of roads
Peoria was. well supplied, and, with a very few
exceptions, no other roads of great importance
have since been laid out, except those of a local
character.

By the first of April, 1839, communication
by stage had been established from Peoria over
the following routes: To Ottawa by way of
Northampton, Boyd's. Grove, La Salle and Utica;
or by Chillicothe, Henry and Webster on the
north side of the river ;also by Washington, Han-
over (Metamora), Lyon's Colony (Magnolia)
and Vermilion, on the south side; thence to Chi-
cago by two different routes. There was also a
route from Peoria to Chillicothe. where it crossed
the river, thence to Lacon, and Hennepin and
Vermilion to Ottawa. The route by Washing-
ton and Hanover was much the shortest, it being
only 66 miles, that by Chillicothe and Henry
78 miles, while that by Northampton was 86 miles,
and from Ottawa to Chicago the distance was 80
miles.

From Peoria to Galena the stages went by
way of Northampton, Windsor (Tiskilwa),
Princeton and Dixon, 160 miles : to Oquawka
they went by Charleston (Brimfield). Knoxville
and Monmouth, 81 miles ; to Monmouth by Hark-
ness, Farmington and Middle Grove, 61 miles;
to Fort Madison by Farmington. Ellisville. La-
Harpe, Appanooce, crossing the Mississippi op-
posite Fort Madison. 56 miles ; to Warsaw by
Canton, ilacomb and Carthage. 100 miles; to
Stephenson (Rock Island) by Wyoming. Wcth-
ersfield (near Kewanee) and Richmond (Gen-
eseo), 82 miles. This route did not follow the
state road by way of Lafayette and La Grange
further than Wyoming (Toulon being yet un-
known). To the east and .south the stages ran
by way of Grovcland and Mackinaw to Bloom-
ington. whence other lines ran to \'andalia and
Danville; also to Springfield by way of Grove-
land. Tremont, Conger's Grove. Irish Grove (on
Salt Creek). 68 miles. At Springfield connection
was made with stages to Vandalia, Danville and
Terre Haute. Stages also ran from Peoria to
Havana by Pekin. 44 miles, and to Clinton by
Mackinaw, 55 miles; also to Quincy by Lewis-
town, Rushville and Clayton, 84 miles, and to

90 , HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the same point by Macomb, Augusta and Wabiut by way of Beardstoun, \aples and Alton, 237

Point, 117 miles. These routes continued about miles.

the same for ten years or more, the route to Aside from the means of transportation af-

Ottawa on the south side of the river being so forded by the river and canal, these roads afforded

changed as to run by the Detroit Ferry (Xar- all the facilities for travel and trade enjoyed by

rows), thence direct to Metamora; and the river the people of Peoria County prior to the intro-

route to Havana being extended to St. Louis duction of the railroads.

CHAPTER XVII.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

No sooner had the Commissioners organized
for business than they commenced talring steps
to provide the county with suitable pubHc build-
ings. One of their first orders, made on the day
of their organization, provided for the erection,
on some suitable site to be designated by them, of
a Court House twenty feet square and nine feet
from the floor to the joists, with a good plank
or puncheon floor; also, of a clerk's office fourteen
feet square with a good puncheon floor, both to
be of good materials and finished in a workman-
like manner — the clerk's office to be erected by the
20th of the same month, and the court house by
the 25th day of May, next ensuing. For some
reason, probably a lack of funds, these orders,
four days later, were rescinded and the project
abandoned.

It appears from all accounts that the County
Commissioner's Court was not at that time held
on the qquarter section upon which the county
seat had been located by the Legislature, but at the
house of one Joseph Ogee, below the ferry on the
fraction upon which Bigelow and Underbill's
addition was afterwards laid out; for, at the June
term of the same year, they allowed said Joseph
Ogee the sum of one dollar for the use of his
house for the County Commissioner's Court on
the 8th day of March, and, as the Circuit Court
was then about to convene (as was supposed),
it was ordered that it be held at the house of
Joseph Ogee, below the ferry landing. The June
term was, however, suffered to lapse, and the first
term, which was held in the month of November,
following, as well as the May term of the County
Commissioner's Court of the following year
(1826), was held at the same house; for we find
that, at their July session of that year, said Joseph
Ogee was allowed three dollars for the use of his
house at the time of holding the last Circuit
Court and the Countv Conuiiissioner's Court at

said !May term. The next term of the Circuit
Court (November, 1826) was held at the house of
Louis Beeson, who, at the December session
(1826), was allowed therefor the sum of $16.00.
The location of this building is not given, but
it is not at all improbable it was the same as that
of Ogee. Joseph Ogee was a half-breed with
a full-blooded Pottawatomie wife. He had prob-
ably come with the advent of the American Fur
Company in 1818, to their trading post at Opa
(Wesley City), where it is known that Beeson
had been located. The fur trade was at this time
under control of John Hamlin, of Peoria, and
it is probable the employes had changed their
residence.

It is learned from authentic sources that Ogee
had the best house in Peoria, it being the only
one constructed of hewn logs. He did not.
however, remain here long, but soon afterward
removed to Rock River, as hereinbefore stated.
The house in which the court was held at the
December term, 1826, (The Beeson House) is
thus described in a recent history: "The Court
was held in a log building fourteen feet square
that stood on the bank of the river, just below the
bridge of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway.
It had only one window and its loft was low —
in fact, it was a genuine log cabin." A writer in
Drown's Historical View of Peoria, (1844), sup-
posed to be John Hamlin, says the house in which
the court was held in November, 1826, was "a
log building on the bank of the river, in which
jurors slept on their blankets on the floor."

For the ne.xt two years it appears somewhat
uncertain where the courts were held. At the
January term, 1827. of the County Commissioner's
Court the Sheriff was authorized to procure a
house for the next term of court. No other
orders appear on their records until the March
term, 1829, when John ?Ianilin, for the considera-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

tion of seventy-five dollars, conveyed a certain
house to the county by the following instrument :
"I do hereby assign to the County Commis-
sioners of Peoria County, for the use of said
county, all my right, title and claim to a certain
log house situated in the town of Peoria, for and
in consideration of seventy-five dollars — the said
house known as the one built by Simon Crozier,
and formerly occupied as a store house by said
Crozier.

"JOHN HAMLIN.
"Peoria, 111., March 3, 1829.
"Witness: John Dixon."

At tlie same time it was ordered that "the
Treasurer pay John Hamlin seventy-five dollars
for a house for the use of the County, which
house was formerly occupied by Simon Crozier
as a store house."

It has been supposed by some that this house
was also situated below the present railroad
bridge; but Mr. Ballance, who arrived in Peoria
soon afterwards, says in his History of Peoria,
it was located "at or near where the Fort Clark
Mill stands" [which was on the river bank on the
northeasterly side of Harrison street— Ed. J Mr.
Drown, erroneously supposing it to have been the
building ordered to be erected by the County
Commissioner's at their first meeting, says: "it
was put up on the bank of the river a little south
of Fort Clark on Block 51, [between Liberty and
Harrison streets— Ed.]. It was built of hewn
logs, 16 feet by 14 feet, with a cellar under it
which served as a jail. It stood until 1843, when
it was removed and Mr. Orin Hamlin's steam
flouring mill erected on its site." It is evident this
was not the Ogee house, and it may not have
been the Beeson house, but the one bought of
Hamlin, and that it was situated above the bridge,
instead of below it. The latest history of Peoria,
erroneously locating it below the bridge, says it
had been erected and occupied as a store-house by
Simon Crozier, and was the one in the upper
story of which the Circuit Court was held, when
the cabin court room became too small to ac-
commodate the attendance. It is true it was the
Crozier house, as stated in the instrument of con-
veyance, but it is erroneous to say it was below
the bridge. Nor is the reason there given for
its occupancy correct, for it was no larger than
the Ogee house. A pencil sketch of Peoria in
1831, attributed to J. M. Roberts, which, as a
lithograph, has found its way into the public
prints, corroborates Mr. Drown and Mr. Ballance

in locating it just below Fort Clark. It may,
therefore, be considered reasonably certain that,
while the Ogee house was located below the
bridge, the later one occupied the site of the
"Old Red," or "Fort Clark Mill," now occupied
by the warehouse of the Peoria Transfer Com-
pany.

The style of tlie Iniilding. as already described,
is corroborated by the records, for we find that
at the June term. 1829, it was ordered that the
lower story of the Court House be used as a
jail; anil, at the September term of the next year,
John Hamlin, from whom it had been purchased,
was given the use of the cellar under the same
until the month of .\pril then next at $3.00, which
sum had been paid by F. Bourbonait, the preced-
ing winter, for storing his goods in the basement.

In the meantime this building, called the court
house, was undergoing extensive improvements.
.''it the September term, 1830, the Clerk was au-
thorized to get it repaired, "i. c. plaistered in the
joints, weather-boarded and a window with glass
en the river side, and a plank floor laid loose on
the joice above — the work to be done on as good
torms as could be had reasonably, and that he
sl'.ould present his bills to the next Commission-
ci's Court properly authenticated." At the same
time. John Hamlin was authorized to purchase a
ten-plate stove with the necessary pipe to cost
not more than $30. It does not appear that these
repairs were made, but it is probable they were,
as they are not included in a more extensive
order for repairs and improvements made at the
June term. 1831, which order reads as follows:
"Ordered that the Treasurer pay $16 for repairs
to the Court House as follows: A desk, the
boarding and casing to be of walnut plank 6 feet
long, 4^ feet high, 3J4 feet wide from the wall,
sided in front and posts cased at the other end;
narrow strip on front top, from that inward
slope 12 inches, floored with any kind of sound
plank, one step from the room floor, all but the
floor to be plained, a narrow strip on the inside
end of the slope — four benches, two 14 feet long,
or the length of the room, t\Vo 6 feet long, one
and one half inches thick, with an aditional strip
or piece where the legs are put in. The lower
room, the three hewed logs missing to be put in
place, that is. replaced with a door cheek, a door
to be made of strong inch plank, hinges, pad-lock
and staples to be furnished by the workmen.
Also two benches for table." These improve-
ments were all doubtless made, for subsequently
at the same term, the use of the cellar was given

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

to Jnliii Hamlin ; there was an allowance made to
Moses Clifton of $16.75 for repairs to the Court
House.

The accommodations thus furnished do not
appear to have been sufilicient for all county pur-
poses, for we find several orders subsequently
made for the use of private houses by the Com-
missioners. One significant order appears on
July 10, 1834, when leave was granted (to whom
not stated) to keep a school in the Court House
for one quarter, except in term of Court or w'hen
needed by County Commissioners or for elections.
It is also said to have been used for religious
meetings as occasion required. It was sold to
Bigelow & Underbill in 1835 for $60.00, and ac-
cording to Mr. Drown it remained standing until
1843.

In the year 1833. steps were taken looking to
the erection of a new Court House. But the ne-
cessity for a jail was then pressing upon the
authorities from an unexpected quarter. A gang
of thieves had made their appearance in the
county and it became necessary to send one of
tiiem to Schuyler County for trial, and two others
to the jail in Putnam County for safe keeping
until the sitting of Court. Over and above the
ordinary court costs the expenses attending their
imprisonment were as follows :

To Giles C. Dana for arresting and keep-
ing L. Thomas and Joseph McMeehan $ 2.50

Amos Stevens for conveying Thornton
Hollis to Schuyler Co 49-50

Wm. Compiler for con\eying Webster
Evans to Putnam County 29.00

William Compher for conveying Joseph
McMeehan to Putnam County 29.00

William Compher for pursuing Thornton
Hollis 9.37

William Compher for bringing two
prisoners from Putnam jail 31.00

Obadiali Motley, Sheriff Putnam Coun-
ty, for keeping Evans from Xovember
21 to April 22 68.50

Obadiah Motley for keeping McMeehan

November 28. to April 22 65.37

Total for three prisoners $284.25

It was accordingly ordered that lot 3 in block
37 be set apart for the building of a jail. The
contract for its erection was let to George De-
Pree, who, at the April term, 1835. was awarded
orders to the amount of $381.00, which was prob-
ably not its entire cost, for Mr. Ballance, in his
history, says it was to have cost $1,000, which sum

he thinks too much for so small a building. He
describes it as follows : '■.\bout the year 1834
a jail was built of square logs, on the alley be-
tween Main and Hamilton and between Monroe
and Perry streets. It was si.xteen feet square and
fourteen feet high. The lower story was con-
structed of three thicknesses of logs — two lying
horizontally, and one between them standing per-
pendicularly, so that, should any attempt be
made to bore the logs, the perpendicular ones
would come down and stop the hole. The upper
story was of only one thickness of logs. To give
strength, these logs were dove-tailed at the cor-
ners. Above the strong room there was a strong
floor, and a trap door. Through this trap door
prisoners were passed and then the ladder drawn
up. The floor of the lower part was made by
square timbers fitted close together, and the whole
covered with oaken plank spiked down." It does
not appear to have had any windows in the lower
story, for Henry Hahn was afterwards at the
March term, 1839, ordered to put one in. This
was the only jail Peoria County had until the
year 1849. when a new one was erected as here-
inafter described. The lot on which it was sit-
uated was sold to Halsey O. Merriman, June 9,
1847, for $150, the contract providing for a con-
veyance of the same on or before March i. 1849,
or sooner if it ceased to be used as a jail before
that date.

.•\s the filling of one want often creates an-
other, so the possession of a jail created the neces-
sity of a jailor's house. This was supplied by
contract with Daniel Bristol, who erected one
on the same lot with the jail, for which he was
paid $270.00 at the June term, 1836, but there
is no certainty that this was its entire cost. It
was then inuiiediately rented to Stephen G. New-
hank until the November following at $5.00 per
month.

Initial steps for the building of a Court House
were taken at the June term, 1833, when the
Clerk was ordered to advertise in the Sangamon
Journal for scaled proposals, to be delivered at
the Clerk's office until the 9th day of July then
p.ext. for the furnishing of 150.000 brick on the
jiublic square, at which time contracts would be
awarded; also, that at the same time contracts
would be let for the stone and lumber that might
be wanted to construct a Court House.

The luatter of expensive drawings and a per-
centage to the architects for superintendence
would, to the casual observer, seem to have been
overlooked ; but it was not so, for we find that at
the March term, 1834, Reuben B. Hamlin, who

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

was one of the constractors for furnishing the
himber. was allowed $15.00 for a draft of the
Court House, besides a bill of timber for the
same.

At the July term, i8,i^, tlie bids for brick hav-
ing been received, tlie contract for the same was
awarded to Samuel Hackelton. at $5.00 per
thousand, and to (Alvah) Moffatt and (Reuben
B.) Hamlin was awarded the contract for the
lumber. The brick were burned at the foot of the
bluflf near Knoxville avenue by Moore & Pitt, in
whose employment was Robert Smith, now of
Mossville.

The necessity for a Court House is well illus-
trated by an order made at the same September
term, to the effect that William R. Swinerton be
paid for room rent for the Clerk's office, but that
thereafter the Clerk should have leave to keep his
olYice in the Court House, but not to exclude the
Sheriff therefrom. At the same term Aquila
Wren was allowed $60.00 to purchase plank for
doors and sash for the new building.

At the January term. 1834, John Hamlin was
made agent to furnish rock upon the ground for
the foundation and to procure hewn timber for the
Court House upon the best terms obtainable.
The Clerk was directed to advertise in the San-
gamon Journal, Beardstown Chronicle and St.
Louis Republican, [there being then no news-
paper in Peoria — Ed.] ; that scaled pro-
posals would be received at the Clerk's office until
the third day of the next term for doing the
mason work in laying the foundation walls, and
also the brick work, the county furnishing the
materials. Propo.sAls were also invited for the
carpenter work exclusive of the doors and win-
dows — plans and specifications to be seen at the
Clerk's oflice.

At the March term, 1834, the contract for the
mason work was awarded to Charles W. Mc-
Clallan and the carpenter work to George B.
Macy. John Hamlin was released from his
agency to procure materials, and, at the ensuing
April term, Francis Voris was appointed agent to
superintend the erection of the building and
served until July loth, when he was succeeded by
Isaac Waters.

The work had now been begun, and at the
June term, 1834, the following orders were made
in payment for the first work done on the (then)
new Court House :

F. Voris, digging 85^^ yards foundation

at 10 cents per yard $ 8.50

C. W. McClallan for quarrying 58 win-

dow sills at 621/2 cents each, 2 door sills
at 62V2 cents each, and 200 feet water

table at 61/2 cents per foot 50.00

.Alvah Moffatt for hauling 16.62;^

George Martin for pine plank 283.00

John H. Dusenberry for time and $5.00

advanced for quarrying rock 6.12V2

The Commissioners having undertaken to fur-
nish the materials and to have the work done by
separate contracts, a large amount of labor de-
volved upon them in procuring materials, in
superintending the work, in auditing and paying
accounts, all of which would be interesting if
space permitted. A few leading facts will suffi-
ciently indicate the progress of the building to-
wards completion. At the July special term,
18.54, Joseph Mitchell was paid for hauling caps,
sills, water tables and scaffold poles; Alvah
Moffatt $150, for money advanced to purchase
lumber; C. W. McClallan, $50 on mason work
and John Pitt for hauling caps and sills. At thfe
October term of the same year, John Hamlin
was again appointed agent for the same purpose
oi procuring materials, the lack of which had
c.iused serious delay in the progress of the work.
At this time a controversy sprang up between
the Commissioners and Charles W. McClallan
arising out of this delay. The Commissioners de-
clared the contract violated on his part and took
the whole matter into their own hands. The
ciifficulty was brought to a close by the appoint-
ment of Francis Voris, George B. Macy, William
Compher, Jacob Chrisman an 1 A. S. Buxton as
arbitrators, who awarded McClallan $76 dam-
ages for the delay, and he was then permitted to
go on with his contract.

Down to this period it seems the building was
a plain structure, the exterior consisting of four
brick walls without portico or ornament of any
kind, and possibly without a cupola. It was at
this time determined that it should have a portico
and, if a cupola or bell tower had been pro-
vided for in the original plan, it was now deter-
n.incd that it should have a balustrade. It there-
fore appears that, at the April term, 1836, Joshua
Bow-man was awarded a contract for foundation
stones for the columns, the same to be four feet
square, ten inches thick and to cost $35.00. It
seems that Hamlin and Macy had also been some-
what delayed in their work from causes already
mentioned, and that, in consequence of the altera-
tions, they would be put to additional expense
and be subjected to still further delays. It was
therefore ordered that they should proceed with

COURT HOUSE— BllVr IN Isii.

COURT HOUSK-IUIUT IN 1876

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

their work according to contract, and that all
such extra work, additions, alterations and dam-
ages should be allowed thereafter, the amount to
be computed by two disinterested mechanics.
The work then went rapidly on towards com-
pletion. The walls were up ready for the super-
structure some time in May, and they had "a
raising," with a dinner furnished by that prince
of caterers, Augustus O. Garret, for which he
obtained an order on the treasurer at the June
term. At the same time the clerk was ordered to
post notices for proposals to be in by July i6,
for the painting of the building inside and out-
side.

At the August term, Joshua Bowman was
awarded a contract' to furnish, cut and lay stone
steps around the piazza and up to the back door
of the Court House, at 621-2 cents per foot. The
plastering was not done until late in the fall, for
it appears that on October i6th, Charles W. Mc-
Clallan secured an order for $100, on his con-
tract for plastering to be paid when the first coat
was on. Soon after this the November term of
the Circuit Court took place, and it seems to have
been held in the Court House, while in an un-
finished state ; for at the December term Reuben
Hamlin, William P. Buxton, Nathaniel Dyes,
John Brown, Albert Kurd and Job Ross were
each allowed compensation for suspension of
work on the Court House during the sitting of
the Circuit Court. At the same term Henry Gil-
bert, on the part of the County, and W. A. Blair,
on the part of Reuben B. Hamlin, assessed the
additional compensation to be allowed the latter
under the resolution of the preceding April, as
follows :

To additional size of building $ 300.00

To one extra window 11.50

To extra work on windows 75-00

To balustrades around bell deck 50.00

To damages for failure on part of con-
tract 570.00

To hindrance for lumber this summer. . 50.00

To glue 20. at 31 J4 cents 6.25

To extra work on capitals 150.00

To cash paid for labor 1.50

To cash paid for drayage .50

$1,214-75

The Court House was then far enough ad-
vanced to admit of the occupancy of a portion
of the first story, which was divided into six
rooms, and Horace P. Johnson, an attorney,

brother of Elbridge G. Johnson, subsequently
State's Attorney, was granted leave to occupy
room No. 2 from and after the 9th of December.
On the nth of the same month Joshua Bowman
was awarded the contract for building and erecting
four plain round columns in front of the Court
House, to be completed by the first day of July
then next, at $iO-00 per foot, running measure.
About the same time a contract was entered into
with C. W. McClallan to put a cornice around the
ceiling of the court room, which seemed to be not
attractive enough without one. Emigrants from
the East were now pouring in, and the prosperity
of the times seemed to justify these additional
expenditures to make the Court House more at-
tractive. These two contracts were completed
and settled for, at the June term, 1836. When
this Court House was torn down in 1876, the
sections of these columns were sought after as
relics and purchased by officers of the Court and
members of the bar, some of which may yet be
seen on the sidewalks in front of their dwellings.
The Court House was now practically fin-
ished, a few extra touches, such as gutters and
conductors, lightning rod and shutter blinds on
the steeple being subsequently added, .^side
from the public officers, Horace P. Johnson seems
to have been the sole occupant for a year. At
the December term, 1836, rooms were let as fol-
lows : No. 2 to Horace P. Johnson at $50.00 per
year; No. 3 to Charles Kettelle; No. 5 to E. N.
Powell, at the same rent, and the grand jury
room to A. M. Hunt at $4S-0o, with liberty to the
Grand Jury to occupy it during Circuit Court.
At the July term, 1837, No- 4 was rented to
Onslow Peters, until the December term, for
$12.50. At that term there was a re-letting as
follows : No. 2 to Horace P. Johnson and Jacob
Gale (the latter of whom has but recently died) ;
No. 3 to Charles Kettelle ; No. 4 to Onslow Peters,
and No. 5 to E. N. Powell at $50. At the re-
letting the next year some changes appear: No.
2 going to Johnson ; No. 3 to Kettelle ; No. 4 to
Peters & Gale; No. 5 to George B. Parker (New
Probate J. P.) ; No. 6 to Frisby & Metcalfe, at
$50-00 each. At the June term, 1839, No. 7 was
let to Lincoln B. Knowlton, excepting when
needed for jury purposes. In later years some
of the partitions were taken out and the first
room on the right of the hall was occupied by
the SheritT. and ne.xt to him was the office of the
Circuit Clerk- On the left of the hall a large
room was occupied by the County Clerk, and
this was afterwards also used by the Board of
Supervisors. Next to him was a small room

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

occupied by the County Judge, who shared his
room with a firm of attorneys.

The court room located in the second story
was reached by stairs inside the building, on each
side of which was a jury room, but some years
later a balcony was constructed in the portico
which was approached by twin stair ways, one on
each side of the main entrance. -From that time
onward the court room occupied the entire sec-
ond floor.

The log jail above described was made to serve
its purpose until the year 1849. when a more com-
modious one and bettor suited to its purpose was
completed on the corner of Washmgton and
North Fayette (now Eaton) streets. The process
of procuring this needed improvement was even
more tedious than hj.d been that of the Court
House. On June 7, 1844, the Commissioners made
an order that notices be given in "The Press"
and "Register" (Peoria newspapers) requesting
any person or persons to produce plans at the
succeeding September term for a jail to be built
of stone. Nothing further seems to have been
done until December 4, 1845. when a contract was
entered into with George O. Kingsley for the
erection of a jail, of which the plans are not
given, for $6,640. At the March term, 1846, the
jail was located upon lot number one of the
subdivision of lots one and three, in block eigh-
teen, in the town of Peoria. Chester Hamlin
was appointed to superintend the work and to re-
port progress at each succeeding term, and to
have two per cent commission. Charles Ulrich-
son, .an architect, was allowed $10 for examining
the plans and specifications.

Kingsley made .some little progress in the
work, for which he was paid $616, in the aggre-
gate; but, at the September term, 1846, the con-
tract was by mutual agreement rescinded. The
work was then suspended for that season, but at
the December term the Clerk was directed to ad-
vertise for proposals to be submitted at the Jan-
uary term, 1847, for the building of a jail accord-
ing to plans and specifications in the Clerk's of-
fice. On January 6, 1847, a contract for the
erection of the same was let to Thomas Turbitt.
Thomas P. Smith and William Smith, substantial
farmers of what is now Logan township, for
the sum of $7,450.

The progress of the building seems to have
been very slow, probably on account of lack of
funds. But. although the jail still lacked the
root as contracted for, from the furnishings of
which the contractors seem to have been re-
lieved, it was on April 14, 1849, accepted as

fully completed and, on settlement, there was
found due them the sum of $1,695.99. It would
seem that the contractors had been relieved from
that part of the contract which required a copper
roof, and that a temporary one had been sub-
stituted which was afterwards replaced by an
iron one. Thus, after the lapse of five years from
the first movement in that direction, the county
found itself in possession of a substantial jail.
Its acceptance from the contractors was prob-
ably hastened somewhat by the fact that the old
one had been sold to Merriman, under a con-
tract which provided for the delivery of pos-
session on March i, 1849.

That part of it which fronted the street had
the appearance of an ordinary brick dwelling
house of the style in which such bouses were
usually built. It was of brick and was used for
the Sheriff's or jailor's house, while the rear
portion, or jail proper, was of stone. The cells
were on the first floor ranged around the outer
walls, in which grated windows were inserted.
A hall ran between the two ranges of cells. On
the second floor was a large room called the
debtor's room, so called from the barbarous prac-
tice of imprisoning men because they could not
pay their debts. It was later used as a place of
confinement for female prisoners. The brick por-
tion still stands, but the jail part has been re-
moved.

In 1867, the Board of Supervisors bought the
lot on which the present jail is located for the
sum of $6,000, the same having originally be-
longed to the county and having been sold by the
County Commissioners for seventy-five dollars.
The new jail was completed at a cost of $75,000,
and was placed in the custody of the Sheriff on
the 24th day of February. 1869.

The Court House erected in 1835, having be-
come insufficient for the needs of the county and
a more secure place for the records having be-
come a matter of prime necessity, it was about
the year 1858 determined to erect a new one. A
very chaste and beautiful plan was adopted at an
estimated cost of about $100,000. It was to stand
on the northwest side of the public square with
one front on the square and one on Jefferson
avenue. It was, however, not thought wise to
proceed at once with the erection of the entire
building, but only so much thereof as would af-
ford sufficient room for the Clerks' offices and a
safe depository for the records. The plan adopted
contemplated a rotunda in the center approached
through a portico on each front, and surmounted
by a Itandsome dome. In one wing of the first

^ ^fe^ i^

'.J^ CX^oCCy /l>'>'2'"T-t/>7^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

floor were to be ihe Clerks' offices and, in the
other, rooms for the other county officers. A
court room was to occupy each wing of the sec-
ond story. The first story of the northeast wing
was erected according to the plan. The portion
so erected was divided lengthwise into two rooms,
occupied respectively by the Circuit and County
Clerks. It was thoroughlj' fire-proof; and, al-
though unsightly in appearance, served these pur-
poses well for a period of nearly twenty years.

On the loth of December, 1874. Mr. Horace
G. Anderson, chairman of the committee on pub-
lic buildings, submitted a report to the Board of
Supervisors in favor of the erection of a new
Court House. After quite fully setting forth the
insufficiency of the existing one, the report con-
cluded with three resolutions, as follows :

"Rcsohcd. I. That the County of Peoria
needs a new Court House, and, that, in order to
build the same, it is necessary to issue County
bonds.

"J. That the question of issuing county bonds
to the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, to run not e.xceeding ten years, and to
draw not exceeding eight per cent interest, be
submitted to the legal voters at the next April
election.

"3. That the County Clerk be instructed to
give the proper notic^' that the question will be
submitted to be voted upon at that election, and
that he cause to be printed on the ballots to be
used at that election the words, 'For County
Bonds' and 'Against County Bonds,' as pro-
vided by law."

After being amended so as to change the
time of voting from April until the next No-
vember election, the resolutions were adopted by
a vote of 16 in the affirmative to 9 in the nega-
tive.

The vote on the question of issuing bonds,
taken November 2. 1875. resulted in the affir-
mative; 4.213 votes being cast for and 2.697
against the issue.

Plans were invited and, after much time spent
in their examination, those of Messrs. Wilcox
and Miller, architects, of Chicago, were adopted
on March 31. 1876.

The architects' description is as follows :
"Style, Venetian Italian ; plan, cruciform with
grand colonnade entrances or porticoes forty-two
feet wide on the two fronts. .Xt the Main and
Hamilton street fronts, two story colonnades and
arcades. Size. 177 feet front, by 90 feet on
Main and Hamilton. Height to cornices, 90
feet, and to top of lantern one hundred and
7

sixty-six feet from the base line. Material of
the -exterior walls, Amherst stone from the
Clough quarry near Cleveland, Ohio."

The contract was let to Philip H. Decker, of
Chicago, on May 12, 1876, at his bid of ?2o6,-
071.31, and was signed by John A. McCoy (of
Millbrook), Chairman of the Board of Super-
visors.

"The old Court House was sold to David
Burns for $250, to be removed within ten days.
On Saturday, the 13th of May. the members of
the Peoria bar, many of whom had grown old in
the practice of their profession beneath its shad-
ow, assembled in the court room of the con-
dcnnicd structure for a formal leave taking be-
fore the work of demolition should commence^
Jonathan K. Cooper presided. Speeches were
made by Judge Gale. E. G. Johnson. E. P.
Sloan, D. McCuIloch, Judge Loucks, John
Holmes and others. The speeches were full of
reminiscences incident to the courts, court-
houses, lawyers and judges in early times. Some
of them were historical, some humorous, but all
appropriate to the occasion."

The corner-stone was laid on Satitrdaj', Sep-
tember 30, 1876. The ceremonies on that occas-
ion were simple, appropriate addresses being
made by Jonathan K. Cooper, Esq., one of the
earliest members of the bar then living, and by
Hon. Joseph W. Cochran, Judge of the Circuit
Court. After the speeches, Thomas Cratty, Esq.,
a prominent member of the bar, and Mark M.
Aiken, one of the oldest settlers, officiated in plac-
ing within the stone many documents and arti-
cles of historical value

The building was completed in the beginning
of the month of November, 1878. On the i8tli
of I hat month the event was celebrated by a grand
reception to the public accompanied by a ban-
quet. This was followed by a season of speech-
making introduced with prayer by Rev. J. D.
Wilson, Rector of Christ (R. E.) Church, and
participated in by Messrs. Lawrence W. James,
Thomas Cratty. Washington Cockle. P^ullcr. Mc-
Coy. Tipton. Crenier. and Judges David McCuI-
loch. Joseph W. Cochran and Sabin D. Puter-
baugh. All day long there was a throng of
visitors to the new building, and at night it
amounted to a crusli. About 250 persons sat
down to the banquet prepared by Charles H.
Deane. proprietor of the Peoria House.

.Vfter sundry additions to and deductions Iniin
the original contract price, resulting in changed
of specifications had been duly allowed, the nc;
cost of the building was found to be $248,968.7'!.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

It is wnrmcd by .steam generated at a boiler
house in the rear of the jail across Hanijltim
street, and conducted through a tunnel.

The clock in the K.vver was manufactured by
the Seth Thomas Clock Company, of New York,
The bell. \Veighing 4.000 lbs., is from the iMe-
neely and Kiniberly Bell Works, at Troy, New
York. Both bell and clock were furnished by
the -American Clock Company, of New York, at
a cost of $2,495. T'"" stone coping around the
square was furnished by Messrs. Triebel & Son.
of Peoria.

.\fter the demolition of the old Court House
until the completion of the new. the courts were
held in two buildings, originally churches, the
First Baptist situated on the lot now used as a
part of the county jail premises, purchased for
temporary use as a Court House, and the Congre-
gational church situated on the corner of Main
street and the alley in the block ne.xt aliove the
public square. Both buildings have since been
removed.

THE ALMS HOUSE.

On the nth day of December. 1847. the Coun-
ty Commissioners purchased of William Mitchell
the south half of the northeast quarter of sec-
tion g. township 8 north. 7 east, for a poor farm
for the sum of $1,000. The buildings then on the
land were considered sufficient for the present
needs of the county, and Commissioners im-
mediately took measures to have the same opened
for the receipt of paupers by the first of Febru-
ary ensuing. They visited the farm, bought fur-
niture and provisions, and in person proceeded to
make all necessary arrangements for the support
and accommodation of those who should come
under their care. Having invited and received pro-
posals from different persons to undertake the
superintendence of the same, that of Hiram Part-
ridge was accepted, and, on the second day of
February, 1848, he was appointed the first Super-
intendent of the Poor Farm of Peoria county for
one year, at the salary of $275 — he to give bond
in the sum of $1,000, and to have charge of the
Poor House and the poor to be placed therein.

On the 9th of March ensuing it was ordered
that the Poor House be established on the south
half of the northeast quarter of section 9, town-
ship 8 north, range 7 east, and that the same was
then ready for the reception of the poor of the
county ; that notice thereof be published in the
public newspapers and notices sent to the several
overseers of the poor, requiring all persons
chargeable to the county to be conveyed thither.

On the 7J1 ni February. 1849, thai lieing the
end of his first year, Hiram Partridge was paid
$75, the balance due on his salary ; also $68 for
three cows and twenty-two hogs purchased of him,
and $8 for harvest hands paid by him. He was
re-appointed Superintendent for the ensuing year
and for the services of hiiuself. his wife, three
boys and the use of i yoke of o.\cn, one wagon
and one horse, he was to receive three hundred
and seventy-five dollars. The next year for the
same service, less the yoke of oxen, but plus the
use of a cow, he was only to receive $275. This
ended his appointmems by the County Commis-
sioners, but he continued for years afterwards
under appointment by the Board of Supervisors.

"In the summer of 1865, the Board of Super-
visors purchased the northwest quarter of section
10, 8 No.. 7 E. known as the Herron Farm, ad-
joining the poor farm, and as an addition thereto,
for which they agreed to pay $9,000. This tract
consisted of 160 acres, and increased the poor
farm to 240 acres. On the 22d of February.
1869. a committee previously appointed re-
ported that they had received several propo-
sitions for the erection of an almshouse, and
that the bid of G. L. Ryors, for $50,000,
made on the basis of the plans shown, was
considered to be the lowest and best ; also that
thj committee had prepared a bill to be presented
to the Legislature authorizing the Board to issue
and sell bonds to the amount of $60,000, for the
purpose of erecting the building under considera-
tion, but the Board cut down the cost of the pro-
posed building to $30,000. and a contract was
entered into with Charles Ulrichson.

"In February, 1870, the committee in charge of
the work reported that Mr. Ulrichson had com-
pleted the contract, and that the building was
ready to be delivered to the County.

Contract price for building $31,879.00

E.xtra allowance for smoke house, out-
houses, etc 3,131.61

Heating apparatus furnished by Keyser

& Co.. St. Louis 2,940.00

Total cost of bfilding $37,950.61

"In closing the account, it was voted by the
board to present Mr. Ulrichson with an order on
the County Treasurer for $500.00 as a token of
respect and honor for the faithful manner in
which he had performed his part of the contract.
This sutu added to the above total makes the cost
of the Peoria County Alms-house $38,450.61."

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Ever solicitous for the welfare of the un-
fortunates, our Board of Supervisors, in the year
iSSo, began to agitate the project of providing
an asylum for the insane poor. As early as the
April meeting in 1881, a committee appointed at
the preceding meeting in December, reported a set
of plans; but, in view of prospectivelegislation cov-
ering the same ground, the matter was postponed.
At the meeting in March, 1882, the committee in
charge again reported a set of plans prepared by
Mr. Ulrichson, for a building to cost |28,3go.oo
which were adopted, but the matter was again
postponed. At the September meeting of the same
year a resolution was adopted to submit to the vot-
ers at the November election a proposition to issue
bonds to the amount of $50,000. payable in twenty
years with interest at 454 per cent, which proposi-
tion was ratified by the voters. Subsequently
$40,000 of these bonds were issued and sold at
9354 cents on the dollar.

At the March term, 1883, the committee was
authorized to receive bids to be submitted to the
new Board to be elected in April following. The
new Board entered into a contract with A. F.
Miller for the erection of the main building,
which was to be of brick, three stories in height,
and, with the firm of Kinsey & Mahler, for the
plumbing. The building was completed by the
time of the meeting in December at a cost, as
nearly as has been ascertained, of $37,000.

At the July meeting in the year 1885, the
Board purchased of Patrick Jordan the north
half of the northeast quarter of Section 9, T.
8 N., R. 7 E., at the rate of $90 per acre, thus
making the poor farm consist of two contiguous
quarter sections of land.

In March, 1886. the main building or alms-
house proper was consumed by fire to such an ex-
tent that only the walls were left standing — the
asylum, although closely contiguous, was not
burned.

At the April meeting a special committee, con-
sisting of the chairman. E. J. Case, Charles P.
King. John S. Potter, A. D. Campbell, Crosby
White and Thomas Clinch, was appointed to set-
tle with the insurance companies and to attend to
all matters pertaining to the re-building of the
alms-house. This committee reported at the May
special meeting that they had settled with the in-
surance companies for $14,030.43: that they had
the walls of the burnt building braced and stayed
in a thorough manner, had secured plans and
specifications for its re-building and had received

liids for the work. The contract was then
awarded to Fred Meintz for $15,172. By the
time of the meeting in December of the same
year, the building had been completed, with some
changes and modifications in its structure, at a
cost of $17,020.86.

The fire had consumed not only the building
but nearly all its furniture and equipments, ren-
dering it necessary to replace them all with new,
at a great expense, but the committee reported
that not only was the building better than it had
been before, but also that it was then better fur-
nished. Seventy-five new bed-steads had been
made by one of the inmates at a cost of not to
exceed eighty-five cents each.

The condition of the institution at that time is
reported as follows : The number received was
85; discharged, 45; deaths, 16; average number
of inmates, 142 ; average cost of each per day,
I4^cents.

The following is the inventory of live stock
and farm products on hand at that time: 4
mules worth $600; 3 horses, $100; 20 milch cows,
$500 ; 3 two-year old steers, $75 : 3 one-year old,
$45: I two-year old heifer, $40: 3 one year. $75;
I bull, 12 calves, $100 : 53 old hogs, $636 ; 85
shoats. $350; 9 acres corn, average 35 bushels
per acre ; 45 acres corn : 40 acres oats, 1,500
bushels: 20 acres rye, 15 bushels per acre: 8
acres potatoes, 300 bushels ; 30 acres meadow
yielding 50 tons hay.

The expenses as follows : salary of overseers,
$1,200; inspectors, $200: physician. $300: inci-
dentals. $33785: repairs and lumber, $1,309.60;
hired help. $1,218.50: provisions for one year.
$6,986.71 : cash turned into the County treasury.
$i.257.3^-

The last extensive improvement erected upon
the poor farm was a hospital for the sick and
infirm. The adoption of this much needed im-
provement had occasioned a spirited contest in
the Board, between the advocates of an independ-
end hospital, to be owned and under the contnil
of the County, and those who favored uniting
with the City of Peoria in the erection of a larger
building for the use of both City and County.
The advocates of the first plan prevailed and a
plan was adopted sufficient to accommodate about
sixty patients.

Plans were presented and adopted at the Sep-
tember meeting in the year 1896. but the contract
was not let until a subsequent date, when it was
let to H. J. Kinney at his bid of $10,281.00. By

loo HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the time of the Seplcmher meeting in 1897, tlic From these statistics it will be seen that the

building was completed at a total cost of $11,- County is now well equipped with public build-

418.88. ings. But the rapid increase of population and

Since that time a small chapel has been erected business betoken the near approach of the time

on the farm costing a few hundred dollars, the when the Court House, at least, will have to lie

actual amount not ascertained. enlarged.

CHAPTBR XVIII.

EARLY CHURCHES.

As already seen, the Roman Catholics can
rightly claim to have been the first to proclaim
the Christian religion within the present boundar-
ies of Peoria County. In fact, that was the only
form of Christianity known in this region for
more than one hundred years. What its influence
for good may have been upon the people of those
days we have no need here to inquire, for be-
tween those times and the present there is a
hiatus of several years when there were no white
people here, and the church, if the former in-
habitants ever had one, had ceased to exist as an
organized body. If any French people remained
in this region after the destruction of Lc Ville de
Maillet they were like sheep without a shepherd.

As the American settlements began in the
southern part of the State, we must look in that
direction for the first appearance of the church
among the pioneers. The Methodists and Bap-
tists, having inbibcd the true missionary spirit at
an earlier day than the Presbyterians or Congre-
gationalists, they were the first to enter upon the
missionary soil of Illinois. But for many years
their numbers were few, and, in many cases, their
preaching as well as their doctrines were crude,
but being men of earnest zeal and consecrated pur-
pose, they wielded a mighty influence over the
people.

To those who had left christian homes and in-
fluences in the settled portions of the country, to
try their fortunes upon the frontiers, the coming
of the missionary or local preacher was regarded
as a benediction from on high ; he was soon taken
into their confidence, became the adviser in all
their plans, was present at their marriage feasts,
baptized them and their children into the visible
church, buried their dead and administered con-
solation to the bereaved.

Unfortunately no vital statictics, except the
records of marriages, were, in early times, re-

quired to be kept. But from tiiis meager record
we may learn something of the introduction and
growth of the church among the people. For the
first six years after the advent of Abner Eads and
his party into the region around Fort Clark, we
find no trace of any marriage having been per-
formed by a minister of the gospel.

It has been stated that William Eads, brother
of Abner Eads, came with his family to Fort
Clark in 1823, and that his coming was the plant-
ing of IMethodism in Peoria. If this is the true
date of his arrival, the singular fact is revealed
that, very soon after his coming, he received an
appointment as Justice of the Peace, for he was
commissioned as such on June 17th, and in De-
cember of that year, the records of Fulton County
disclose the fact of his having exercised the func-
tions of that office in the performance of a mar-
riage ceremony. As these early marriages, both
in Fulton and in Peoria County, disclose many in-
teresting facts regarding the formation of society
in this county, they are here given by name. The
first marriage in Fulton County after it was sep-
arated from Pike took place on July 2, 1823, and
is of special interest to Peorians. It was the
marriage of Thomas Lee Ross and Susan Nye, a
niece of John L. Bogardus. the first lawyer of
Peoria, celebrated by the brother-in-law of the
groom, Hugh R. Coulter. J. P. Thomas Lee
Ross had a brother Ossian, a prominent citizen,
who was defeated in the race for Sheriff in 1823,
Iiy Abner Eads of Peoria. The next marriage
ceremony, which occurred July 20, 1823, was that
of Dr. Alexander Wolcott, Indian Agent at Chi-
cago, and Eleanor Kinzie (her real name being
Ellen Marion"), daughter of John Kinzie. the
founder of Chicago. This marriage ceremony
was performed by John Hamlin, J. P., of Peoria,
on a trip to Green Bay, as elsewhere related. Dr.
Wolcott was a graduate of Yale College ; studied

I02

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

medicine, became Surgeon's Mate in tlic army,
was appointed Indian Agent at Ft. Dearborn, and, •
not long after the organization of Peoria County,
received an appointment as Justice of the Peace.
Among other Fukon County marriages are the
following: 1823, August 3, John Gerrel and Ann
Griffin by John Hamlin, J. P.; 1824, March 10,

Alvah Moffatt and Clancy Eads by

J. P. ; November 2, Theodore Sargeant and Rach-
el Brown by David W. Barnes. County Commis-
sioner; 1825. February 22. William C. Clark and
Polly Wentvvorth by Ossian Ross, J. P. Theo-
dore Sargeant was at first rejected as suitor for
her daughter by the mother of Polly Wentworth,
and then married Rachel Brown ; his companion
in travel, David W. Barnes, performing the cere-
mony, while Polly Wentworth married the ped-
dler, William Clark, of Peoria. She probably,
under the name of Mary Clark, was a member of
the first Methodist class of Peoria.

During the first year of its existence there
were, so far as its records show, nine marriages
celebrated in Peoria County, only one of which
was by a minister of the gospel. They were the
following: 1825. March 22, William Blanchard
and Betsy Donoho by Jacob Wilson, J. P. ; April
22. Abner Cooper and Sarah Chilton by Stephen
French. J. P. ; June 23. Levi McCormick and
Lydia Eads by Nathan Dillon. J. P. ; August 18,
Samuel Miller and Elizabeth Kinzie. by John
Kinzic, J. P.; in December, Jacob Wilson and
Emily Donoho (date and officer performing cere-
mony not known): December n. .Archibald .W-
len and Lauretta Remsen by John Di.xon. J. P. ;
January 19, 1826. John Hamlin and Elizabeth
Smith, by Rivers Cormack. a minister of the
gospel; December 22, David Harkey and Mar-
garet Barber by John Phillips. J. P.

During the next two years there were eight-
een marriages in the county, not one of which
was celebrated by a minister. Rivers Cormack is,
therefore, the sole representative of the sacred
office in the matter of marriages for a period of
three years next after the organization of the
county. Who he was, whence he came or whither
he went seems not to be known. Had he done
much preaching he certainly wqjild have been
mentioned. He was, during the same year, ap-
pointed to take the census of the county but de-
clined the offer. He is subsequently mentioned
in connection with one or two other positions of
minor importance, but does not seem to have
been a man of much influence. He is not men-
tioned as a voter at the first election, nor doe.^

his name appear among the list of taxable in-
habitants.

In the year 1825. the same in which the
county was organized, the Methodist missionaries
began to appear.

.'esse Walker is the first regular minister of
the Methodist Church to appear on the marriage
rcords, May 3, 1828; Isaac Scarrett, a (Method-
ist) missionary, April 22, 1829, the second; Ger-
shom Sillinian, an elder (minister) of the Bap-
tist Church, September 21, 1831, the third; Pal-
mer Dyer, rector of St. Jude's Episcopal Churcli,
January 19, 1835, the fourth; Isaac Kcllar, a
minister of the Presbyterian Church, September
15. 1835. the fifth; Calvin W. Babbitt, minis-
ter of the Presbyterian Church, October 5, 1835,
the sixth ; and Jeremiah Porter, a minister of
the Presbyterian Church, February 15, 1836, the
seventh. These are all the ministers who.se
names appear upon the marriage records for the
first eleven years of the county's history. At
that period the influx of population began to be
very great, other ministers soon came and the
marriages became about equally divided between
them and the civil officers.

.■\t the first meeting of the Illinois Methodist
Conference, begun and held on October 23, 1824,
Rev. Jesse Walker was appointed a missionary
to the Indians near Fort Clark and up the Illi-
nois River toward the State of Michigan, in-
cluding all the country between the Illinois and
Mississippi Rivers. It does not appear at what
precise date he arrived at Peoria, but it must
have been late in the fall. He found the people
quite willing lo receive him, and immediately
set about forming a class, an organization whicli
lies at the foundation of every Methodist Church.
The names of the members were as follows :
William Early (the leader) and his wife; Su-
sanna Walker, wife of the missionary, James
Walker, his wife and son ; Rev. Pierce Mc-
Cormack. a local preacher ; William Eads and
wife: Mrs. Rebecca Eads, wife of Abner Eads;
William Holland and wife: Mrs. James Latham,
Mrs. John Dixon, Mrs. Hamlin. William Blanch-
ard and Mary Clark.

Of these. James Latham, formerly Probate
Judge of Sangamon County, had come in 1821
as Indian Agent, with his family, in company
with John Hamlin, bringing with him William
Holland as government blacksmith. As nothing
is said of the wife of William Blanchard, it is
probable the organization took place before his
marriage, which occurred March 22. 1825. John

-t^^^^X^/h"^^^ I

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

103

Hamlin was not yet married, and it is said that
Mrs. Hamlin, above mentioned, was his mother.
Rev. Jesse Walker was then in his fifty-ninth
year, and had a son James, married. He had
his residence here at the time of the organiza-
tion of the county, for his name ajipears on the
poll book of the first election.

During that winter seventeen others were
added to the church, among whom was Mrs.
Ogee, a Pottawatomie Indian, wife of Joseph
Ogee, elsewhere mentioned.

John Dixon, afterw-ard Circuit Clerk and
founder of the city of Dixon, is also mentioned 3-'
a member. The first meetings were held in the
log cabin of William Eads. who continued to be
a prominent member of the church for years.

At the conference which met in .\ugust. 1825.
Rev. William See was appointed to the Peoria
circuit, and Jesse Walker was continued as a
missionary to the Indians. In the spring of
1826 he accompanied Mr. John Hamlin, in a
Mackinaw boat, on a through trip by water from
Peoria to Chicago. At this time these tw'o enter-
prising men began to see the importance of e.stab-
lishing commercial relations with Chicago, for,
in the month of June following, the missionary
obtained a license to keep a ferry across the Illi-
nois River at the mouth of Fox River, doubt-
less to connect the road then being laid out
from Peoria with one from that point to Chicago.
The fact of this visit is well established, and it
is believed he at that time preached the first
Methodist sermon ever heard in Chicago.

In the summer of 1826 a camp meeting was
held on the banks of a small stream, about a mile
north of the present Court House, in Peoria.
The exact location of this camp does not seem
to be known, but inasmuch as it was customary
to hold them in the woods, Birket's Hollow
would seem to fit the location given.

At the conference held in September. 1826,
Revs. Walker and See were continued at their
posts, the famous Peter Cartwright being the
Presiding Elder. In the month of November
following, Mr. Isaac B. Essex and family arrived
at Peoria and joined the Methodists. Jesse
Walker appointed him teacher for the Indians,
with whom he gathered the few white children
there were in the village.

The conference which met m Septendier,
1827, appointed Rev. Smith L. Robinson to the
Peoria circuit. Rev. William See went to Chicago,
where he became the fir.st resident preacher.

In the summer of 1828 a very successful camp
meeting was held on Farm Creek, opposite Pe-

oria and about two miles distant, at which Niniari
Edw-ards, then Governor of the State, was pres-
ent. At the conference of that year Revs, Jesse
Walker and Hardin H. Farkington were ap-
pointed to the Peoria circuit. This was the last
year of Jesse Walker's ministrations in this neigh-
borhood. He then went farther north and seems
to have been located for a time on Fo.x River,
also at Plainfield. nine miles from Joliet. and
afterward spent some years in Chicago, v.here
he occupied a log house on "Wolf Point." both
as a dwelling and a church. He died October

.S. i8.?5-

He was a most earnest and indefatigable
worker, the pioneer of Methodism in a large part
of this State and Missouri, having founded the
churches in St. Louis and Chicago, as well as in
Peoria. He was a Virginian by birth, born in
Rockingham County, June 9, 1766, removed to
Tennessee in 1802. and in 1806 came to Illinois,
locating first at Turkey Hill, St. Clair County.
In 1807 he held the first camp meeting ever held
in Illinois, at a point near Edwardsville, and grad-
ually worked his way north with the advancing
frontier. He was of short stature and very dark
complexion, walking with an erect, independent
bearing. He was a man of great force of char-
acter, inured to all manner of hardships, and
rendered most valuable services to the early
churches.

The work so auspiciously commenced by Jesse
Walker was. however, doomed to decline. In
September, 1829. James Latta was appointed to the
Peoria circuit. Peter Cartwright continuing as
Presiding Elder over a district extending from
St. Louis to Wisconsin, over which he was ex-
pected to travel several times in a year. Peoria
circuit was also large, and it w'as necessary for
Rev. Latta to preach at some point nearly every
day. .-Mjout this time (April 22, 1829) the name
of Rev. Isaac Scarrett appears on the records
of marriages as a missionary, but the record fails
to show- any appointment until the conference
of 1830, when he waj appointed to the Peoria
mission, which seems to have meant the work
among the Indians. The same year Rev. Stephen.
R. Beggs was appointed to the Tazewell circuit,
which then included Peoria. He found the class
in Peoria had been dis.solved, but through his
efforts four families were gotten together and
William Eads made class-leader. In June. 183 r.
Mr. Beggs went with Jesse Walker to Chicago
and assisted in organizing the first class there.
At the conference of 1831 Rev. William Royall
was appointed to the Peoria mission, but found

104

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

no church members here and only about ten fam-
ilies in the village. He was succeeded the next
year by Rev. Zadoc Hall, who, in November, or-
ganized a class consisting of William Eads and
wife, Laura Hale, .■\bigail Waters and David
Spencer. Preaching was at lirst held in the log
tavern of William ]-lads on Water street be-
tween Fulton and Liberty, and in the summer in
the old court house on the river bank. Mr. Hall
had seventeen regular appointments and traveled
that year about 5,000 miles. He labored for forty
years in Central Ilhnois.

.\t the conference in September. 1833. Kev.
Joel .\rrington was appointed to the Peoria mis-
sion. Rev. John Sinclair being Presiding Elder,
and a class was organized with Mark \l. .Xiken,
who had but recently arrived in the place, as
leader. The population was then growing rap-
idly, and regular services began to be held on
the Sabbath. They were of a union character,
and, when Mr. Arrington could not be present,
they were led by Rev. Jonathan G. Porter, a
Calvinistic Methodist (as it is said), a shoemaker
by trade, whom Mr. .'Kikcn had brought with him
from the East. In September (1834), just be-
fore conference meeting, a new class was formed
consisting of Mark M. .\iken, leader, Samuel B.
King, Abigail Waters, Hannah Harker, Laura
Hale, Mrs. Hamlin, Nancy Phillips, Mary Cald-
well and Josina W. King. This was the begin-
tiing of what proved to be a permanent organiza-
tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pe-
tiria. This was a noted year for the formation
of churches, it having witnessed that of the -Meth-
odist, Protestant Episcopal and two Presbyterian
Churches in Peoria, and one of the latter denom-
ination at Princeville. .-Xt the ensuing conference
Rev. Leander S. Walker and Mark Robinson
were assigned to the Peoria circuit, and in 1835
Rev. William C. Cummings. The latter held
meetings in the. house of Daniel Bristol, after-
ward a local preacher, also in the carpenter shop
of Samuel Markley, and later in the new Court
House. The first Sunday-school in Peoria was
started by the Methodists in the .same year.

In 1836 Peoria was made a station, and Rev.
James W. Dunahy appointed minister. After six
months' service he was succeeded by Rev. N. G.
Berryman. At this time a lot 72 feet on Fulton
by 71 feet on Madison street, was donated by
Mark M. Aiken and Asahel Hale for a church.
In 1837 Rev. Asahel E. Phillips was assigned
to Peoria. He also preached in the Court House,
and, as is said, in Rev. David Page's .Academy
on Second street. In 1838 Revs. William F.

Williams and William Cundiff were assigned to
Peoria, and a Rev. Knox labored some here dur-
ing that year.

At the conference of 1839 Rev. Stephen Beggs
was appointed to the Peoria station and Rev.
Enos Thompson to the Peoria circuit. The
church at Peoria was found to be in a very de-
pressed condition, and the only dwelling house
the minister could obtain was a dilapidated one,
where he was compelled to remain in very uncom-
fortable circumstances for three months, when
his necessities were relieved by the generosity
of George B. Parker, through whom a good house
was secured and offered to the pastor free of
rent. The only place of worship they had was
the carpenter shop of Daniel Bristol, situated
on the alley between Water and Washington
streets. But the indefatigable Beggs was not
content with that. So, rallying his forces around
him, they went into the woods and cut timbers
for the sills and plates of a new building, begged
lumber from the sawmills and brick from the
brickmakcrs. When the material was all ready
they assembled at the church and had a "rais-
ing." One man hauled the brick for the foun-
dation and another laid them up, and in just
one week from the beginning the frame was up.
Funds were then .solicited far and near for its
completion; the sawmills were again appealed to;
Josiah Fulton gave a large red-oak tree, others
felled it. sawed it up, hauled it in and split it
into shingles. Jacob Wilson gave the poles for
the rafters, which were carted four miles, and
another brother hewed and framed them, and
Leonard L. Looniis lathed and plastered the build-
ing for his donation. The building was 31 by 40
feet, situated on the same lot which had been
donated by Mark M. Aiken and Asahel Hale.
Its furniture was not costly, the seats being made
of slabs supported by wooden pins in the usual
style.

The Methodist Church had now become an-
chored at the corner of Fulton and Madison
streets, where it remained for many years. It
had passed the pioneer state, and thenceforward
its history belongs to the City of Peoria.

The organization of the Presbyterian Church
bears a great resemblance to the political frame
work of our government. First there is the Gen-
eral .Assembly, embracing the whole country';
next below that are the synods covering a smaller
territory, now co-incident with the several States ;
next below them are the presbyteries, of which
there are now eleven in the State of Illinois;
and ne.xt below them is the session of the par-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY,

lo:

ticular church, which is the lowest in authority.
Formerly the territorial extent of synods and
presbyteries was much greater than now ; the
synod of Indiana at one time covering not only
tliat State, but all of Illinois and Missouri.
Presbyteries also overlapped State lines, churches
in Illinois being attached to presbyteries lying
liarlly in Illinois and partly in Kentucky, Indi-
ana or Missouri. On October i6. 1828, the Cen-
ter Presbytery was formed, which covered the
entire State of Illinois, the first meeting of which
was held at Kaskaskia, January 9, 1829. The
first Presbyterian church in this vicinity was or-
ganized at Canton on Saturday. September 13,
182S. by Rev. John M. Ellis, then a missionary
of the American Home Missionary Society. It
is not very certain to which presbytery the Canton
church would have bc;longed, but probably to the
Presbytery of Missouri, of which Mr. Ellis was
a member. But in about a month thereafter, by
the action of the Synod of Indiana, the new pres-
bytery was formed and Canton fell into the Cen-
ter Presbytery. This church was known as the
Fulton Church, as it embraced all the territory
of Fulton County where any Presbyterians were
found. The next nearest Presbyterian churches
were at Springfield and Jacksonville, the first
named having been organized January 30, 1828,
by Rev. John M. Ellis, the last by Rev. John
Brich, one of the three Presbyterian ministers
whom Mr. Ellis found in the State on June 20,
1827. This minister shortly became closely identi-
fied with the formation of the Presbyterian Church
of Peoria.

It appears that at the Presbytery of Sangamon,
which met at the Sand Prairie Church in April,
1834, Rev. Calvin W. Babbitt and Flavel Bascom
reported that there were twenty members of the
Presbyterian Church in the county of Peoria who
desired to be formed into a church. Thereupoi
the presbytery appointed those two ministers to
perform that duty.

On the i6th day of August, 1834, a churcli
was organized at Princeville by Rev. Robert
Stewart, who had but recently been ordained and
was then stated supply at Canton, and by Rev.
Theron Baldwin, then in the service of the
American Home Missionary Society. Jonathan
E. Garrison. Hugh White, James Morrow and
Erastus Peet were its first ruling elders, and,
nine months after its organization. Rev. Calvin
AV. Babbitt, who had preached the first sermon
on that occasion, became its minister. He re-
mained about three years, when he w-as succeeded
for a short time by Rev. George G. Sill.

Early in the summer of that year Rev. Flavel
Bascom, who, a year before, had begun his labors
as a missionary in Tazewell County, "went to
mill" to the one owned by Joshua Aiken on the
Kickapoo, three miles west of Peoria, where he
met the proprietor. Joshua Aiken was a Con-
gregationalist, and reported two others of the
same faith, Moses Pettengill and Dr. Enoch Cross,
who had just arrive J at Peoria. Mr. Bascom
found them with their wives, who were sisters,
occupying an unfinished attic in the house of the
widow Betsy Aiken, on the bluff near where the
St. Francis Hospital now is. It was there those
three men resolved on taking the preparatory steps
to found a church. But both Pettengill and Cross
were soon prostrated with the terrible fever
which prevailed that year, and the project had
to be deferred. The conditions then existing are
thus graphically described by Dr. Cross himself
in a communication written to the church at its
semi-centennial :

"We found the Court House not quite up to
our notions of so dignified a structure. It w-as
a log building, some fifteen feet square, standing
on the low bank of Lake Peoria, on one side of
which was a raised platform for the Judge, and
its seats for lawyers and jurors were formed out
of logs split in halves and the split side turned
up and raised from the floor by wooden pegs.
It was there, in that humble room, and from that
rude pulpit, that the early members of your
church gladly assembled to listen to the word,
though dispensed to them from uncultured lips.
Much that was then of deep interest to nie has
faded from memory. But one of our preachers
I distinctly recollect. He was an Englishman
and a Methodist. If he did not agree with Paul
in the doctrine of "predestination," in practice
he did harmonize with that apostle in not being
a burden to the church. Six days in the week
he labored with his own hands, not at tent-
making but at shoemaking, and when the holy
Sabbath came, his work bench was placed at one
side of the judge's seat, and hammer and lap-
stone, with other implements of his trade, were
neatly covered over w:th his leathern apron, while
he. having donned a clerical black coat and a
white neck-tie. stood before us ready to feed
his little flock, which did not often number more
than eight or ten. unless we reckon the flock of
sheep and lambs that took shelter from the heat
in the basement or cellar kitchen under the court
house floor, or the |;rairie mice which, to the
great delight of the children, held high carnival
between the logs. Serine of us were lovers of

io6

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

sacred song, but sucli music as \vc tlK-n niailc
would not now be considered very "artistic," yet
it was full of devotion and sincere worship,
though its melody was sometimes a little dis-
turbed liy the plaintive bleating of sheep and
lambs beneath our feet."

During the same year a committee consisting
of Rev. Romulus Barnes, who seems to have been
then laboring in Fulton County, and Cyrus L.
Watson, then at Rushvillc, were appointed to
organize a church at Peoria. That committee
came to Peoria in December. 1834, and. upon
invitation. Rev. Flavei Bascom, then of Pleasant
Grove, but who had preached occasionally at Pe-
oria, assisted in the exercises. The organization
took place December 28, 1834. (>)

But there was another element then in Peoria
that had not full faith in the orthodoxy of their
New England neighbors, who seemed to be in
the ascendency. So, under the leadership of one
Samuel Lowry, an Irishtuan who had been ruling
elder in a Cincinnati church, and therefore was
still a church official, a few of the orthodox
faith got together in his house, on Water street
between Main and Hamilton, on December 22,
and having Rev. John Brich present, proceeded,
without any authority from the presbytery, to or-
ganize a church according to their own notions.
This was not known to the presbyterial com-
mittee, who proceeded to fulfill the duties of their
appointment on the 28th day of the month, as
above stated. The Lowry church, therefore, ante-
dated the regular organization by six days. Mr.
Ballance, in his history, says this church consisted
of Samuel Lowry, Mrs. (Andrew) Gray, Mrs.
(Matthew) Taggart, John Sutherland, Nelson
Buck, and perhaps one or two others. The regu-
lar organization consisted of Moses Pettengill and
Lucy his wife. Dr. Enoch Cross and Charlotte
his wife, Robert E. Little and Clarissa his wife,
Theodore Tarlton and Belinda his wife, Joshua
Aiken and Jane his wife, Mrs. Betsy Aiken, Miss
Sarah Aiken and Lucmda Hardesty, all of whom
except Mrs. Hardesty were from New England,
and all Congrcgationalists except Dr. and Mrs.
Cross and Mrs. Hardesty. who were Presbyterians.
Samuel Lowry and John Sutherland were chosen
elders of the first organization, and Moses Petten-
gill, Enoch Cross and Joshua Aiken elders of
the second or regular organization. Both parties
made application for admission into and recogni-
tion by the presbytery at its next meeting, which

(II t'.vnisL Watson w,is the f;itlier of Charle.'i P. Watson
and Cyrus L. \Vatson, stenograpbic reporters of the Peoria
Circuit Court.

was held in Quincy, April 2, 1835. The church
organized by the committee of the presbytery was
at once received, but action upon the re(iucst of
the Lowry church was deferred and a committee
of investigation appointed. It appeared from their
.•ip|)lication that Mr. Lowry had presented a paper
purporting to be a record of its doings, together
with a subscription for the erection of a house
of worship, and evidence that a missionary had
been appointed to labor at Peoria. The com-
mittee reported against the reception of the church
on account of irregularities in its organization.
The name of the missionary intended for this
church is not given, but in the summer of that
year (1835) Rev. Isaac Kellar removed from Ha-
gerstown, Maryland, to Peoria, and commenced
preaching there as a missionary. At the meeting
of the presbytery at Canton October 7. 1835,
Mr, Lowry again appeared, requesting admission
for the First Presbyterian Church of Peoria,
and another cominittee of investigation was ap-
pointed, which committee reported, "that al-
though they consider the paper from that church
purporting to be a record of its doings, deficient
in point of form, yet, as it does appear from the
face of the document and froin the testimony of
the clerk of that church to have been the design
of both Mr. Kellar, missionary, and of the people
regularly to organize the church according to the
views of the presbytery, and further, though the
election of ciders in that church appears to have
taken place before the regular ecclesiastical or-
ganization of the chuich; yet, as the people had
obtained a charter of incorporation as the First
Presbyterian Church of Peoria, and supposed
themselves to be regularly organized at the time,
they therefore recommend that the First Presby-
terian Church of Peoria be recognized as under
the care of presbytery and that Mr. Samuel
Lowry be admitted to take his seat as a ruling
elder from that church." The report was adopted,
and the church was thereafter recognized as in
regular standing. Samuel Lowry had so far suc-
ceeded in establishing a church sound in the faith.
Rev. John Brich, the hero of this transaction,
without whose official presence the church could
not have been organized, only preached a few
weeks, and it is said was succeeded for a short
time by Rev. Charles Gault before the advent
of Isaac Kellar, but he soon went farther south.
John Brich was an Englishman by birth and pe-
culiarities. In the school of the Countess of
Huntingdon he received his education for the min-
istry. At what period he came to this country
is not known. Physically he was large and capa-

f^/^^

'y^^t'U^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

107

ble of much endurance. His talents were respecta-
ble, but his learning and culture were limited.
But he had sound sense, a warm heart and an
earnest zeal in the Master's cause, which he pur-
sued self-denying)}', traveling extensively at his
own charges, visiting the people in their widely
scattered houses ana settlements, everywhere
preaching the word and gathering churches as he
was able." (>) He perished in the noted change
of temperature Friday, December 16, 1836. It
.seems that, finding himself unable to proceed on
his journey, Mr. Brich took the saddle from his
horse and sat down at the foot of a black-oak
tree, where he was found dead in a sitting pos-
ture. The place where he was found was about
twelve miles southwest of Lincoln, in Logan
County, and possibly on the road from Peoria to
Springfield.

Samuel Lowry had purchased two lots, i and
3 in block 19, from the County Commissioners,
situated at the south corner of .\dams and Jack-
son streets, upon which the congregation pro-
ceeded, in the year 1835, to erect a frame house
of worship by subscription, under a promise from
Mr. Lowry that he would, when he should obtain
the title, convey the same to the trustees, and
which promise he was afterward charged with
having violated. This was the first church build-
ing erected in Peoria County. It is said to be
still standing, having been converted into a dwell-
ing by the addition of a second story, and now
occupied by Peter Hayden. Xo. 113 Jackson street.
The Pettcngill church, as the other one came to
be called, also proceeded to erect a house of wor-
ship on the southeasterly end of lot 5 in block 14,
just across the alley from Rouse's Hall, on the
northeasterly side of Main street. They purchased
the southeast half of this lot from the County
Commissioners on April 29. 1835, but the deed
was not placed on record until .August 25. 1836.
This deed was made to the trustees of Main
Street Presbyterian Church, which shows they had
a corporate existence at that time and by that
name. Flavel Bascom took up a temporary resi-
dence here and served as a supply until the ar-
rival of Rev. Jeremiah Porter, November 22, 1835.
In a letter to the church on the occasion of its
semi-centennial, Mr. Porter says: "A small
church was being built on my arrival in Peoria,
and the people were worshipping in the upper
story of a drug store — John P. Burlingame's.
The unpretending church being completed after
a few months, we occupied it." Mr. Drown says

U) " History of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois."

it was erected (possibly dedicated) on the 26th
day of April, 1836. "It was a building 28x50
feet, plastered inside and outside, and marked
to represent stone work." Its erection was con-
temporaneous with that of the Court House, and,
with the exception of that building, was the most
pretentious structure in the village.

The two churches having each a house of wor-
ship of its own, went on peacefully for the next
two years, when the great division between "Old
School" and "New School" took place, the Lowry
church taking the side of the "Old School" and
the Main Street church the side of the "New
School." The latter continued, with varying for-
tunes, under the pastorates of Jeremiah Porter
(1835- 1837), John Spaulding (1837-41), William
T. Allen (1843), and J. S. Lamb (1845), until
October 27. 1847, when by the action of the con-
gregation it was changed to a Congregational
form of government, as it had always been in
spirit.

The Lowry church, however, became in course
of time torn with dissensions. Soon after the
advent of Rev. Isaac Kellar, some members of
his old charge in the East and others from the
same vicinity located in Peoria, .^niong others
may be mentioned the Schneblys, the Lindsays, the
Campbells, Clark D. Powell, and others who were
the staunch friends of Mr. Kellar. For some
unexplained reason a hostile feeling sprang up
between Samuel Lowry and Mr. Kellar. and Mr.
Lowry began to assert such authority over the
church property as to dictate who should preach
at certain times. The distinguished prelate. Phi-
lander Chase, Episcopal Bishop of Illinois, was on
one or more occasions placed in the pulpit to the
exclusion of Mr. Kellar, when he was there ready
to perform his duties as missionary supply. There
had also been an attempt made by the Lowry
party to have one Rev. John Williamson installed
as pastor, to whom the majority objected. These
high-handed proceedings led to an examination
of the title of the church property, which was
found to be the private property of Samuel Lowry
or his son. John Kyle Lowry. The majority then
withdrew and established their place of worship
in the Court House, proceeded to elect elders and
engaged Mr. Kellar as their supply — they claim-
ing to be the legitimate First Presbyterian Church
of Peoria. In this proceeding we find the names
of Henry Schnebly, Robert Campbell. John A.
McCoy. Samuel Livingston and William Weis,
with twenty-six others. A long warfare ensued,
which was carried to the synod, thence to the
General .Assembly, thence back to the synod and

io8

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

into tlie presbytery, llie contest being whether
there were two churches or only one, and if only
one which was the one. The controversy seems
never to have been fully settled, but in course
of time, on account of removals and other causes,
the Lowry church became very much weakened
and finally became extinct for want of members ;
not, however, without obtaining title to the two
lots occupied by the church, they having been first
deeded to John K. Lowry, and by him to the
church, and then mortgaged by the church for
about $500.

The church in which Mr. Kellar was the stated
supply thus became the only Presbyterian Church
of the "Old School" in Peoria, its official desig-
nation being the "Presbyterian Congregation of
Peoria," and. after the Main Street Church had
become Congregational, it was the only Presby-
terian Church in the city until 1853. In 1844
this congregation completed a .substantial brick
building on Fulton street between -•Vdams and
Jefferson streets, which at this writing is being
demolished. After passing first into the hands
of the Universalists, and then to the Jews, it was
finally devoted to business purposes. The con-
gregation worshipped in that building until .^pril,
1852, when they entered a new and elegant church
on the corner of Main and Madison streets, which
still stands, but is now used for business pur-
poses.

The Congregational Church continued to wor-
ship in their first building until about 1850, when
a new building was begun on the site of the old
one and completed in July, 1852, when they occu-
pied that building and remained until many other
changes had taken place which belong to another
part of this history. Thus it was that Congre-
gationalism and Presbyterianism were planted to-
gether, grew up side by side and have ever been
in friendly co-operation in the service of their
common Lord and Master.

During the same period other Presbyterian
churches were springing up in other portions of
the county. Rev. George Sill, a minister of the
Reformed (Dutch) Church, who resided between
Farmington and Canton, preached at Brunswick
and Rochester. At Brunswick a Reformed Church
was organized, which afterward became Presby-
terian. At Rochester a Presbyterian Church was
organized, which on October g, 1838, was received
into the presbj'tery, but in 1856 it was formally
dissolved. In 1836 a church of the Associate
Reformed (now United) Presbyterian denomina-
tion was organized with ten members at Smith-
ville by Rev. John Wallace. Its first ruling elders

were John McFaddcn. Thomas P. Smith and
Thomas Smith, all prominent citizen.s. This or-
ganization is still in existence.

Of the Protestant Episcopal Church we have
the following accounts. Mr. Drown gives the fol-
lowing quotation from the Illinois Chaiii[>ion of
November 1, 1834: "A meeting of gentlemen
friendly to the establishment of a Protestant
Episcopal Church in this county was held at the
house of Mr. Garrett in Peoria, on the 27th of
October, 1834. The Rev. Palmer Dyer, from New
York, presided, and William Frisby, Esq., was
appointed secretary. An Episcopal Church was
organized in due form, by the name of 'St.
Jude's Church, Peoria.' This is understood to be
the first and, as yet, the only regularly organized
parish of any denomination in the county. The
following gentlemen are the officers duly elected :
The Rev. Palmer Dyer, rector; Messrs. Edward
Dickinson, Samuel C. Baldwin, 'wardens: Messrs.
A, O. Garrett, Dr. Joseph C. Frye, Wm. Mitchell,
Dr. Rudolphus Rouse. Dr. Geo. Kellogg. P. A.
Westcrvclt, Wm. Frisby, A. M. Hunt, vestrymen;
William Frisby, Esq., clerk."

Mr. Ballance says that at that time Mr. Gar-
rett was keeping a tavern at the corner of Main
and Washington streets ; that Mr. Dyer had put
up there as a traveler or boarder, and, as there
was no house of worship in town, he preached
in Mr. Garrett's ball-''Oom. He proposed to or-
ganize a society for religious worship. There
were few, if any, Epif-copalians present, but no-
body objected to preaching, and all were more or
less ardently in favor of it. So he organized an
Episcopal Church, without any reference to the
kind of religious training his audience had had,
or the religious opinions they entertained. After
giving the names of the officers as above, accom-
panied with some characteristic comments, he
says, "it was for several years recognized by
Bishop Chase as a very proper Episcopal organi-
zation, yet at a subsequent time he ignored it
and treated it as never having existed, and or-
ganized in its stead another which he called St.
Paul's Church, which is regarded by that denomi-
nation as the parent church of the city." This
statement concerning St. Jude's Church having
had an existence for several years is cor-
roborated by Peck's Gazetteer of 1837. which
gives one Episcopal Church a place among
those of Peoria. Of a church building no
token of reinembrance seems to have been pre-
served. In fact, it would seem from the language
of that publication that it did not have one.
It says, "Peoria now has * * * iii'o Prcsby-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

109

tcrian houses of zvorshif, and congregations (Main
Street and Lowry's — Ed.], one Methodist, one
Baptist, one Unitarian and one Episcopal con-
gregation." None are mentioned as having houses
of worship except the Presbyterians. The others
were simply congregations of worshippers.

Prior to the year 1834 there were no Episcopal
churches in tne State of Illinois. The general
convention of that church, observing the destitute
condition of the western country, had made pro-
vision in favor of feeble dioceses, under which
provision clergymen came into the State from
several parishes, organized a diocese and assem-
bled a regular convention. This convention was
held in Peoria on Monday, the gth day of March.
1835, Rev. Palmer Dyer, rector of St. Jude's
Church, of that city, being the secretary. There
were probably not more than four clergymen
present, but it was resolved unanimously. "That
this convention do hereby appoint the Rt. Rev.
Philander Chase, D. D., a Bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States of ."Kmerica,
to the Episcopate of Illinois, and that he be and
is hereby invited to remove into tliis diocese and
to ;.ssume the Episcopal jurisdiction in the same."
Bishop Chase accepted the situation, and about
the same time Rev. Samuel Chase having received
ministerial orders, the bishop made an arrange-
ment with him to come to Illinois as a mission-
ary. The two, in a quaker wagon drawn by a
pair of fine horses, traveled down the St. Joseph's
River to the town of Xiles. and thence to Michi-
gan City, where the bi.shop delivered the first
Episcopal sermon ever preached at that place.
From Michigan City they drove along the water's
edge of the lake to Chicago, then a newly built
town of but few houses but having a flourishing
trade. Peoria was his next stopping place : here he
officiated, preaching to the congregation which
had been recently formed by Palmer Dyer. From
Peoria he went to Springfield, where Mr. Samuel
Chase had found an opening for a school, .\fter
officiating at Springfield he went to Jacksonville
and performed like service there. His intention
was to go on as far as Alton, but he was deterred
from doing so by a report that the cholera had
broken out at that place.

On his return to Springfield he received a
letter from his wife, enclosing one from Palmer
Dyer urging him to attend the next general con-
vention to be held at Philadelphia. While there,
on the 28th day of June, 1835. he administered
tlie communion for the first time in Springfield.
He then undertook a perilous journey by way of
Danville, and thence through the State of Indiana

to his former home in Gilead, in the State of
Michigan. After having made due preparation
for the journey, he set out for the general con-
vention at Philadelphia.

After due consideration, that convention re-
ceived into its fellow-ship the diocese of Illinois,
which had been recently formed, and of which
Bishop Chase was now regularly constituted the
bishop. The condition of the church in Illinois
is thus described by the committee to whom this
whole matter had been referred : "It is but little
more than two years since the introduction of
the worship and ordinances of our church into
this State, and it is less than one year since there
was only a solitary clergyman in the whole of
this extensive and inviting field. This church
had been organized in some of the most impor-
tant towns of the State. The clergy of the dio-
cese consists of the bishop, four presbyters and
two deacons. Communicants in four parishes, 39;
baptisms, 2 adults, 14 infants; confirmations, 13;
Sunday-school scholars in three parishes, 58;
marriages, 3 ; burials. 5.

"But one house of worship has been completed
in the diocese. The good hand of God hath
been manifest in effecting thus early the forma-
tion of the diocese upon the very frontiers of the
far West, and in securing to it, at the commence-
ment of its existence, the invaluable blessing of
the Episcopal supervision. Clergymen are only
wanting to gather the people into the congrega-
tions and to extend throughout the Prairie State,
by the blessing of God, the reign of apostolic
truth and order."

This convention met in September. 1835. at
which time Bishop Chase was confirmed in his
appointment to the Episcopate of Illinois, but
there was no home for the bishop, no salary
attached to his appointment, no parish to receive
him and no school for the education of the min-
istry. There was but one church in the whole
diocese, that at Jacksonville, and only three or
four clerg>'men, two of whom, as he says, were
on the wing with no permanent support to detain
them. It was at this time that he determined
to revisit England in the interest of the college
which he intended to found.

Such were the small beginnings of the Prot-
estant Episcopal Cluirch in the State of Illinois,
which, at that time, had its headquarters in
Peoria.

.Mthough the Baptist missionary. Gershom
Silliman, was on the field, as appears from the
marriage record, as early as 1831. it does not
appear that they had any organized church in

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTV.

the county until the year 1836. On the 14th day
of August, of that year, a church was organized
at Peoria with the fcllowing members : Henry
Headly, who was their preacher ; J. R. Stanton,
A. M. Gardner, Adam Gardner. William H. Swin-
erton, Alpheus Richardson. Ruth Chichester. Mary
Stanton, Mary Frye and Melinda Harrison. For
some time they held their meetings in the court
house. In the latter part of the year 1837 Rev.
Alexander Rider took charge of the church, and
from 1839 to 1842 Rev. A. M. Gardner was pas-
tor. In the autumn of 1843 Elder J. D. Newell
became pastor, and a year later it was determined
to erect a church. Benjamin Frye, George W.
Willard and Smith Frye were elected trustees,
and a lot on Hamilton street opposite the public
square, now owned by the county and used as

a lawn appurtenant to the jail, was purchased
of Thomas L. Mayne for the sum of $200. The
pastor made a successful trip soliciting aid frcmi
Eastern churches, realizing between $1,700 and
$1,800. They then erected what at that time
was considered a very fine church, built of brick,
with basement, audience room, portico approached
by two wide flights of .steps from the street,
and the whole surmounted by a steeple. The
dedication took place October 17, 1846. From this
church have sprung all the other churches of that
denomination in the city.

Thus were laid the foundations of those Prot-
estant churches which have continued to shed
their benign influences over this community until
the present day.

CHAPTKR XIX.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

By the compact entered into between the
United States and the State of Illinois at the
time of its admission into the Union, the sixteenth
section in every township was granted to the
State for the use of the inhabitants of said
township for the use of schools. A solernn trust
was tlius created in favor of the people in each
township, to be utilized in some form in the
interest of public education as the Legislature
might direct. At its first session an act was
passed for the protection of these lands against
depredators who would rob them of their tim-
ber, also for the leasing of them for limited terms.
Nothing further was done until the fourth Gen-
eral .'\ssembly, which convened November 15,
1824.

.'\bout a month before the passage of the act
creating Peoria County, an act was passed for
the establishment of a system of free schools.
This measure was introduced by Joseph Dun-
can, of Jackson County, afterwards Governor,
and was approved by Governor Edward Coles
and his council of revision on the i8th day of
Jaimary. 1825.

This act introduced a new feature into the
legislation of the State. Before that time the
affairs ol each county, including the oversight
of the seliool lands, had been in the hands of the
county officers, and no such thing as local elec-
tions for town or school officers had been known.
By this act a system closely resembling the
town system of New England was introduced
for the government of public schools. It em-
liraced many of the essential features of our
present school system, but greatly lacked tlie
power to raise sufficient funds by taxation to
maintain it.

The County Commissioners of Peoria County
were, however, prom.pt to avail themselves of all
the benefits of the then existing school laws.

such as they were. On the 12th day of March,
1825, only five days after their organization, act-
ing under a previous law, they made an order ap-
pointing Abner Eads and Daniel Prince trustees
of school section 16, township 8 N. 8 E. The
number of school children then in the village
must have been near thirty, for we find that
number actually in school the following year.
There is no public record yet discovered tiiat
any school was kept in Peoria during that year,
but it is very certain that Norman Hyde, Clerk
of the County Commissioner's Court, taught dur-
ing the latter part of the winter and the suc-
ceeding summer. Hon. James Latham, form-
erly Probate Judge of Sangamon County, who
died in December of the year following, was at
that time a resident of Peoria County, and among
the papers of his estate appears the following,
evidently in the handwriting of Norman Hyde :

"Estate of James Latham, deceased,
To N. Hyde.- Dr.

1825. June 22. To amount of school
contribution $ 3 00

1825. June 22. To amount of school
bill 6 95

1825, August 24. To amount of last quar-
ter schools 2 61

Then follows an itemized postoffice bill

amounting to 5 41J4

-Also an itemized bill of probate fees.... 8 00

Total $25 87^

",MI of which is to be indorsed on Hyde's
note to Latham."

From this it would appear that Latliam had
had at least one child in school during the win-
ter and summer of 1825. and, inasnnich as the
debt was owing to Norman Hyde in person, and

I 12

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

tliat it was allowed among other items of per-
sonal services, the inference would be that he
had been the teacher. In corroboration of this
view, in a letter received from Elijah Hyde Fer-
guson, a nephew of Norman Hyde, dated De-
cember 2. 1899, the writer says that he had heard
his uncle (Norman) say he had taught school
at Fort Clark the first or second winter after his
arrival. That he was also postmaster is shown
by the public records.

At the September term, 1825, of the County
Commissioner's Court, the record shows that,
upon the petition of the "common school voters"
of the village of Peoria and its vicinity, it was
ordered that fractional townships 8 and 9 N., R. 8
E. (now Peoria and Richwoods) should form
a school district in pursuance of the act of 1825.
That an attempt, at least, was made to organize
the district and to build a school house appears
from a document found among the papers of
Elijah Hyde, brother of Norman Hyde, which
reads as follows :

"In pursuance of an order of the legal voters
of Peoria school district. No. i, the trustees made
the following appointment of families in classes,
to erect and finish a school house sixteen by
eighteen feet, and at least ten feet high from the
ground from (to) the eaves bearers, to-wit :

"The first class to consist of Henry Neely,
James Walker, John Hamlin, John Parker, to
cut the logs for the body and sills, ribs, butting
poles, joists, sleepers, eaves bearers, chimney
and chinking stufT, door facing, curtain, to split
puncheon stuff for floor, benches, and all other
necessary timber for the said house; the second
class to consist of Isaac Waters, James Latham,
William Clark. Aug. Langworthy, to cut and
split 700 clajiboards, hew the puncheon stuff for
floor, .seats, and lay the floor; the third class to
consist of William Holland, Abner Eads, George
Sharpe, .Mva Moffatt, to haul all the timber and
stone for the house, and to chink the same, cut
and face the door and windows and cut out the
fireplace; the fourth class to consist of Isaac
Hyde, John Di.xon, John L. Bogardus, Archibald
Allen, to build the chimney and daub the house,
make the door, windows and writing tables and
hang the door and bank the house.

".\11 the classes to join to raise and cover
the house and lay the floor.

"To Mr. Elijah Hyde: You are requested to
call on each individual in the above classes, and
notify all those belonging to the first, second and
third classes to meet and perform their several
portions from Wednesday to Friday next, both

inclusive, and the fourth class to meet and per-
form their respective portions of labor also from
Monday to Wednesday ne.xt, both inclusive : and
you will fail not to serve the same on each of
the above named persons before the 12th day of
the present month, and make due return thereof,
and thereof fail not on pain of five dollars.
Witness: Norm.w Hyde.

"Clerk of Peoria common school district. No. I.
Peoria, Dec. 25, 1825."

."X discrepancy appears in this paper in the
fact that it bears date December 25, but the com-
mand is that it should be served on the 12th day
of the same month ; also in the fact that the
fiiurtli class w'cre to perform their work, which
included the finishing of the building, on the
same day the others should have commenced
theirs. It shows, however, an attempt to com-
ply with the law in respect to the erection of
the school-house. It is probable, however, that
it was never erected, for in the following year, as
will be .seen, Maria Waters could not find a suit-
al)le room in which to teach until she got the
Ogee house, which was then or afterwards ■ sed
as the Court House. This proposed school-
house is never heard of afterwards.

The next move was the creation of another
district, embracing all of townships id and 11
N. Ranges 8 and 9 E. (all of Medina, Hallock,
Chillicothe and Rome). Previous to this time there
had been other schools of a private character.
While Peoria County was yet a part of Fulton
County and about the year 1823-4, one Peter
Grant had taught a small school at Fort Clark at
so much per quarter. He subsequently removed
to Lewistown and thence to Palmyra. Missouri,
wlicrc he died in 1840. In the year 1826 one
John Essex, under the direction or employment of
Jesse Walker, the noted missionary, taught an
Indian school, to which white children were also
admitted.

The next school taught in the county, after
that of Essex, of which we have any certain
knowledge, was taught in the summer of 1826
by Miss Maria Waters, daughter of Isaac Waters,
afterwards the Clerk of the County Commission-
er's Court, and who on the i8th day of Novem-
ber of the same year became the wife of James
P. Harkness. She lived to a great age, highly
respected. In 1876 she furnished the Prcsiilent
of the Illinois Industrial University the follow-
ing account of her school, which is so well cor-
roljorated by contemporaneous events that its
truthfulness cannot be doubted:

"In May, 1826, as was then the custom, I

"T^i^f/^Aixic^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

113

wrote out an article of agreement proposing to
teach school at Peoria, as Fort Clark had then
come to be called, enumerating the branches I
proposed to teach — spelling, reading, writing,
arithmetic, geography and needle work, at $1.50
per scholar, for a term of three months and board.
The teachers in those days boarded around among
the patrons of the school. Thirty scholars were
subscribed and I had an average attendance of
twenty-four. My patrons were Judge Latham,
then Indian Agent; Dr. Augustus Langworthy :
Joseph Ogee, Indian interpreter : John L. Bo-
gardus, John Dixon, John Parker, George Sharp,
William and .\bner Eads, Captain Joseph Mof-
fit and Isaac Waters. The school was commenced
in a log cabin owned by William Holland, the
village blacksmith, where it was continued but
one week, because there were no windows and
no light except the open door. It was opened the
second week and completed in Ogee's new
hewed log cabin, whicli was afterwards used as
a court house."

This is all we know of the earliest schools of
the county. C) The system attempted to be
inaugurated by the act of 1823 was of .short
duration.

The ne.xt Legislature modified the taxing
I)Ower. by limiting the tax to one-half of one
per cent., so that no person should be taxed for
the support of any free school witliout his con-
sent in writing expressed, but that no person not
paying tax should be permitted to send any
scholar to a public school. It also provided that
persons so consenting might vote to raise one-
half the necessary funds by taxation, the other
half by subscription. The same act provided for
the appointment by the County Commissioner's
Court of three trustees of school lands for each

(1) In a recent volume entitled " Schools and the Teachers
of Early Peoria" by >Iaj. Henry W. Wells, the author has by
K^eat research collected the names of a number iif Teachers
wlio had taueht in Peoria from the earliest settlement until
about the time of the commencement of the free scho<tIs. In
addition to Those mentioned in the text he jiives the foIlowinK:
is.ii. Isaac Sheldcn l>ewey; IS.I.'i, Cyrus W. Parker: 1.H.14.
Miss Mamaret Kash. now Mrs. H. Couch: I8:t.'). Misi Hiiielow:
18:i8-44, Miss .lane Taegart: 18:i7-9. Miss .lohnson: ls:i:-s. Miss
Royes; 18:i8. .\sa T. Cassell: lS38-il. Miss Sarah Winslow: lS3'.i.
Mr. Uice. Miss Abby Lovett: 1814. Wm. Kusby. .lohn Porter:
184.^. Robert Cotjper: 1846-T. .\lfred Washburn: ls47. .^nasta•■ia
.lovce. Mr. Hooper, Mrs. Walker- 1848. Rev. .1. L. <'haint)er-
lain. Samuel I, Coulter: I8(;i. .Mrs. (instorf: ls4"-jU. S. V.
(tttnian: I8.'>I. Thomas (Jriffith: dales not uiven. Mr. Kerris.
Charles Doty. Mr. Hay. Miss Ellis. The School Commissioner's
a<-eount l>cio'ks shtiw others: 1S.17, Moses Winslow. >Irs. (iurlev.
Eliza Wilson. Miss jJedford: 1838, Mary Waters and .1, E.
Houelas.

The School Comm'ssioner's hook also shows the follow-
iuK Townships II N. 9 E. \HM. U. W. E Elmer: 18.17. Laura
(ioodsell. Nancy .\twood. .lulia Bates, .\bner Russall. Mary
Curry: Township lO N. 8 E. lS;i8. S II White. O. S. SprinRcr.
.\. M. Howard. Township X. 8 E., 18.17, Moses Winsluw, E.
lialley; is:i8. .1. i;. Brjson.

townsliip. with power to survey and plat the
same : to lease the same for a period of ten years
and to collect the accruing rents. They had also
power upon petition of a majority of free-holders,
to lay off their several townships into school
districts, to contain not less than eighteen scholars
subscribed or going to school. Although trustees
of school lands had theretofore been appointed,
yet this was the real origin of our boards of
trustees, which, in all changes of the school law,
have been continued until the present time.

.-\t the September term, 1827. of the County
Commissioner's Court, the following trustees were
appointed in pursuance of said act : For town-
ship 1 1 N. 8 E., John Thomas, Resolved Cleve-
land and Simeon Reed ; for township 10 N. 8
E., Henry Thomas, Stephen French and Elias P.
.\very, and for township 8 N. 8 E., George Sharp,
William Clark and William Birkett.

It seems, however, that the old districts
formed under the law of 1823 had not been
abolished, but that a new element had been en-
grafted on the remnants of the old system in
the organization of the Township Board of Trus-
tees. Accordingly we find that at their Septem-
ber term, 1829. the County Commissioners divided
district Xo. i on the east and west line that runs
between sections 10 and 15 in township 10 X. R.
8 E, the north district to be called the LaSalle
district, the south to be called Love's district,
but (by what authority does not appear) they
proceeded to appoint Simeon Reed. Resolved
Cleveland and Hiram M. Curry trustees of the
former, and Samuel Merrill, Moses Clifton and
David Sturm trustees of the latter, these officers
being elective under the law of 1825.

In the meantime an act had been passed, ap-
proved January 22, 1829, which provided for the
;ippointnient by the County Commissioner's Court
of a commissioner and agent for the inhabitants
of the county, who should be a resident thereof
and give bonds for the faithful discharge of his
duties. This was the first act providing for the
appointment of school commissioners. Upon pe-
tition of nine-tenths of the legal voters of the
township (changed in 1831 to three- fourths), he
should proceed to advertise the school lands for
sale for forty days, by posting and by publica-
tion in a newspaper nearest the land, such sale
to take place at the county scat and during the
sitting of the Circuit Court (this last clause re-
pealed in i8,u ).

Xothing special was done under that act by
our County Commissioners, e.xcept the appoint-

114

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

iiicnt of Archibald Clybourne, Saimic! Miller and
John Bt. Beaubien as trustees of township No.
37, N. R. 14 E. (Chicago).

At their September term, 1S31, the County
Commissioners appointed Jeriel Root as the first
commissioner or agent for the disposal of the
school lands in Peoria County, but it does not
appear that his duties were very oppressive, for
there were no petitions filed nor sales made dur-
ing his incumbency. But, the law having made
provision for the sale of the school lands, the
(|Ucstion would naturally present itself, in what
manner could the proceeds of such sale be ren-
dered available for the support of the schools.
The Legislature of 1833 devised a plan whereby
the inhabitants of any township might associate
themselves together for the purpose of building
a school house, in which event they might borrow
from the Commissioner upon personal security,
the funds belonging to such township, upon con-
dition they should erect a good brick, stone or
frame school house within one year, and after the
■first year should cause a school to be kept there-
in at least three months of each year, until the
money should be repaid. By the same act pro-
vision was made for the distribution of the in-
terest upon the township funds, so created, among
such teachers as might by the law be entitled
thereto, the requisite being the keeping of a
proper schedule.

It was under the law, as it then stood, that
most of the school lands of Peoria County were
sold. The County Commissioner's Court, at the
March term, 1833, appointed Andrew M. Hunt
as commissioner and agent for their sale, and it
-vvas under his administration that the first sales
•were made. At the same term Samuel T. Mc-
Kean, Ashbel Merrill and Thomas :Miner were
appointed trustees of township II N. 9 E. ; John
Coyle, Reuben Hughitt and William Nixon, trus-
tees of township 9 N. 8 E. ; Stephen Stratan,
John Hinkle and Absalom Cox, trustees of town-
ship 7 N. 7 E. ; Nicholas Sturm. Samuel Mc-
Clelland and Zelotes Mark, trustees of township
10 N. 8 E. ; William Eads, Alvah Moflfatt and
Reuben B. Hamlin, trustees of township 8 N.
8 E.

No account has been preserved of any school
having been kept in Peoria after that of Maria
Waters, until the year 1832, when Mr. Charles
Ballance, a young lawyer lately come to the
place, "seeing some children about and learning
there was no school in the village, rented a room
and opened a school, but it was so badly patron-
ized, for want of children, that in a short time

it wa,s closed. Several attempts of this kind
were, with more or less success, made by youn^
ladies." (>) At the July term. 1834, the County
Commissioner's Court granted leave (to whom
not stated) to keep a school in the Court House,
for one quarter, except in time of court, or
when needed by the County Commissioners or for
election. It is possible that this permit may have
been given to Miss Elizabeth Morrow, who, two
years later, becaiue the wife of a highly respected
citizen. Mr. Amos Stevens, for Mr. Ballance re-
lates that in that year she came to Peoria, and,
not being able to rent a room for that purpose,
he gave her the use of a small frame house he
had built for an ofKce, on the site of Herron's
stone front building on Main street, opposite the
Court House. But the young lady teachers men-
tioned by Mr. Ballance were not without a com-
petitor in one George H. Quigg, to whom the
use of the Court House may have been given in-
stead of Miss Morrow. In the "Illinois Cham-
pion" of December 6, 1834, appears a notice that
Rev. Leander Walker would preach at the
"School House" Sunday, December 14th, and
every other Sabbath thereafter. But the location
of the school house is not mentioned.

.■\t the June term, 1837, Andrew M. Hunt
resigned the office of School Commissioner and
Charles Kettelle was appointed in his stead, giv-
ing bond in the sum of $20,000.

In the Peoria "Register and Northwestern
Gazetteer" of January 20, 1838, appears a notice
that Methodist services were held every Sabbath
in Mr. Douglas' school-room, A. E. Phelps, min-
ister. This room must have been occupied only
temporarily for a .school-room, for in the issue
of September 22, 1838, of the same paper appears
a notice that Mr. J. E. Douglas would re-com-
mence his school in the Main Street Presbyterian
church on Monday, October 8.

But few changes were thereafter made in the
school laws until the session of 1840-41, when
the entire system was revised and remodeled,
but the same general plan was retained. The
office of School Commissioner now became elective,
as also that of district director. Trustees were
still to be appointed by the County Commission-
er's Court, and they were given power to ex-
amine teachers or to appoint examining boards
for that purpose. Every teacher must have a
certificate for the township in which he proposed
to teach.

Charles Kettelle was the first School Commis-

(U " Ballance's History of Peoria."

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

115

sioner elected by the people. He was re-elected
in 1843, and served until 1845, when Ezra G.
Sanger was elected and served until 1847.
Charles Kettelle was then re-elected and again
in 1847, and served until June, 1848, at which
time he resigned. Clark B. Stebbins was elected
at the ensuing election in August and served one
term. Ephraim Hinman was elected in 185 1
and served until his successor was elected under
the free school law of 1855.

Another revision of the law took place in
1845, when the Secretary of State was made Su-
perintendent of common schools, and the several
School Commissioners were made cx-oiHcio sup-
erintendents of schools in their respective counties.
They were required to visit all the townships,
inquire into the manner of conducting schools,
e.xamine teachers in the rudimentary branches,
grant certificates good anywhere in the county.
The board of trustees was made elective, with
power to appoint a treasurer who should be
superintendent in the township, and w'ho should
also loan the funds of the township and gen-
erally perform the duties of clerk and treasurer.
The trustees were given power to lay off their
townships into districts, to purchase libraries, also
real estate on which to erect school houses, and
generally perform such duties as are incumbent
upon such officers until the present time. Al-
though subsequent revisions took place in 1847
and 1849, the general plan here outlined remained
until the adoption of the free-school law of 1855.

The school lands of Peoria County were all
sold between the years 1834 and 1846, both in-
clusive. As the law during all that period re-
quired the petitions for the sale in any one
township to be signed by three-fourths, at least,
of all the legal voters thereof, such petitions af-
ford very good evidence of the distribution, as
well as the growth of the population, the value
of the lands and the names of the voters. They
may be found in the office of the County Superin-
tendent of schools, but lack of space forbids the
insertion of these interesting documents in the
body of this work.

Thus it was that, step by step, there grew up
around this donation of school lands as a nucleus,
a system having all the essential agencies for
the operation of a complete system of public
schools. But like an engine without steam, it
lacked the propelling power — the power of tax-
ation. This essential element had been aimed
at in the Duncan law in 1825, but for causes al-
ready stated it had failed. It was only after a
lapse of thirty years, and as the result of the

most persistent efforts on the part of the advo-
cates of absolutely free schools, this main spring
of the system was finally supplied.

A series of noted conventions were held in
different localities, beginning with one at
Vandalia during the session of the Legisla-
ture in the jear 1833, all looking to the establish-
ment of an efficient system of public education.
The next convention was held at Vandalia at
the beginning of the session of the General As-
sembly which convened in December, 1834. At
this convention there were present from Peoria
County William A. Stuart, Esq., and John Ham-
lin, then our Representative in the Legislature.

Another convention was held at Springfield,
that city being then the State capital, commenc-
ing on the i8th day of December. 1840, at which
time Peoria was represented by Onslow Peters,
who, among other able speakers, made an ad-
dress. At that convention was organized "The
Illinois State Education Society," of 'which Hon.
Cyrus Edwards was made president, and Colonel
Thomas Mather and Hon. Samuel H. Treat, of
Springfield, Hon. William Thomas, of Jackson-
ville, Dr. W. B. Eagan, of Chicago, and Onslow
Peters, of Peoria, were made vice-presidents. A
committee was appointed, of which Mr. Peters
was a member, to prepare a memorial to the
Legislature, which was presented on the 13th day
of January. 1841. This committee consisted of
twelve of the ablest men in the State — lawyers,
preachers, editors, etc.

In its number for May, 1844. the "UnioM
Agriculturist" proposed another educational con-
vention, in which Peoria was advocated as the
most suitable place for it to be held, because it
could be more easily reached than Springfield, on
account of the facilities offered by navigation on
the river. This call was taken hold of with great
vigor and determination by the friends of pop-
ular education throughout the State. That con-
vention was held at the time and place designated,
and. although not so numerously attended as
was hoped, it demonstrated that Pcorians were
w-ide awake to the cause on behalf of which it
had been called. As this was a noteworthy
event in the early history of Peoria, it will be of
interest to here record the names of those in at-
tendance from this county, many of whom are
inseparably connected w'ith its history in more
respects than one. They arc as follows : .-Xmos
Stevens. Dennis Blakeley, Dr. Edward Dickin-
son, William R. Hopkins, Rev. Isaac Kellar, Will-
iam M. Nurse, A. Cooper. J. McClay Smith,
William .\. Herron, Dr. L. A. Hannaford, Rev.

Ii5

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

G. E. Sill. William W. Thompson. L. Coolidge,
R. Edgcrton. George Robinson, Isaac Hamlin,
Thomas N. Wells. William II. Fessenden, Will-
iam Hale. Jonathan K. Cooper. David Page,
Jacol) Gill. Jacob Gale. Alfred G. Ciirtenius,
Moses Pcttengill, Dr. Rudolph Rouse and
Onslow Peters. Hezekiah M. Wead, afterwards
a resident of Peoria, was one of the four who
represented Fulton County. William M. Thomp-
son then represented the Peoria district in the
State Senate. On his motion Onslow Peters was
made chairman on the second and third days of tlie
convention, in the absence of Rev. Mr. Kent, of
Galena, who had presided on the first day. Jon-
athan K. Cooper was at first made secretary, but.
being obliged to absent himself. H. N. Wead was
made secretary on the third day. After three
days' deliberation the convention unanimously
recomiucnded a system amendatory of the school
laws.

The Peoria convention was not without its
influence m shaping the future legislation of the
State. Hon. Hezekiah M. Wead had been placed
on a committee of that body with John S. Wright
and D. J. Pinckney, to prepare and submit to
the Legislature a memorial expressive of its senti-
ments and wishes, and had taken an active part
in its preparation. This important document was
presented in person by Mr. Wright to the com-
mittee on education of the Senate (1845), of
which committee Mr. Thompson, of Peoria, was
chairman. A bill was prepared and introduced,
which embodied many of tne amendments sug-
gested by the memorial, but only a few of them
met with the approval of the Legislature at that
time. It was. however, enacted that the Secretary
of State should be cx-ofHcio State Superintendent
of the common schools, the School Commissioners
should be c.v-officio County Superintendents in
their respective counties, and examiners of teach-
ers. The entire law was revised and made more
efficient in many of its provisions.

Mr. Wead and Mr. Thoiupson were botli
members of the Constitutional Convention which
framed the Constitution of 1848, and. with Jolm
M. Palmer, chairman of the committee on edu-
cation, and other friends, labored diligently to
have some provision inserted in the new consti-
tution insuring to the people of the State the
benefits of a system of free schools. But the
time for tliat measure had not yet arrived, and
the consummation of their efforts was left for
future legislative action.

In the meantime the friends of popular edu-

cation did not relax their efforts to bring rihout
that much desired result. Conventions were held
at Jacksonville in June. 1845. at Winchester in
September, 1845, at Chicago in October, 1846, and
at several other places between that date and
January, 1849, at which time the school law re-
ceived its last revision, prior to the adoption of
the free-school system.

No sooner had the people of Peoria County,
under the provisions of the new Constitution,
adopted the township organization system, than
its Board of Supervisors took active measures to
further the interests of public education.

In the month of Septeml)er. 1850, two young
men arrived at La Salle from the east. One was
William H. Powell, afterwards State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, the other, Charles
C. Bonney, afterwards a prominent attorney of
Peoria, now of Chicago, who attained a world
wide reputation in connection with the Congress
(if Religions, at the Columbian Exposition. 1893.
Mr. Powell located at La Salle, where he es-
tablished an academic school, called "The La
Salle Institute." Mr. Bonney came to Peoria.
where, on November 4, 1850, he opened a school
of similar character, which he named "The Peoria
Institute." It was kept ni the basement of the
Baptist church on Hamilton street, opposite the
Court Hot'se. The courses of study were elemen-
tary higher English, French and Fine Arts. It
was continued through four terms, when Mr.
Bonney gave up teaching and entered upon the
study of law in the office of Peters & Blakeley.
He was admitted to the bar September 23, 1852,
but continued an active interest in educational
matters for .several years thereafter.

In the latter part of the year 1851 he conducted
a correspondence with Governor French, Secre-
tary of State David L. Gregg. State Treasurer
John Moore, Professor J. B. Turner, Professor
William Goodfellow. Dr. E. R. Roe and others,
in favor nf a State educational convention. The
l)roposal was received with favor, and arrange-
ments were made for a first meeting, which was
held at Springfield in the month of July, 1852.
Little was done, however, except to discuss plans
for future action. On account <>{ illness Mr.
Bonney was unable to attend.

On December 28. 1852, at the in.stance of Mr.
Bonney, "The Peoria County Educational Soci-
e) . ■' was organized, with Onslow Peters as presi-
dent. Mr. Bonney as secretary, and a vice-presi-
dent and corresponding secretary in each town-
ship. Under the authority of the Board of Super-

/C.^^^^.^2^<r-ri.^ >^j94^^-*--^-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

1 1 '

visors, who appointed him public lecturer on
•education, Mr. Bouncy also organized a "Town-
ship Educational Society" in each township.

In his capacity as pul)lic lecturer he held
more than twenty educational conventions, and
made more than twenty addresses during the
years 1852-3. In a recent letter to the writer
Mr. Bonney says: "My experience in organiz-
ing the educational conventions to which I have
referred, was exceedingly interesting and grati-
fying. The attendance was remarkably good, and
the interest far beyond what could have been ex-
pected."

Mr. Powell came to Peoria in the winter of
1853-4 and engaged in the real estate business
with Henry S. Austin and Jacob Guyer, under
the firm name of Austin. Guyer & Company.
.After two years' residence liere, he was elected to
tlie office of State Superintendent of Public In-
struction. He then took up his residence in
Springfield, and, after the expiration of his ter:n
of office, removed to St. Louis.

In the fall of 1853. a call was issued for a
convention to be held at Bloomington, on the
26th day of December of the same year. This
call was headed by Alexander Starne. Secretary
of State and cx-ofUcio State Superintendent of
Schools, and signed by thirty-one leading educators
and friends of public schools, among whom appear
the names of Hon. Onslow Peters, then Judge of
the Peoria Circuit Court : H. O. Snow, Principal
of Peoria Classical Institute : Mr. C. C. Bon-
ney [to whose name is erroneously attached the
title of superintendent of schools. Peoria County
— Ed.J, and W. H. Powell, of La Salle Institute.
That convention was held according to appoint-
ment, and immediately after its adjournment the
State Teachers' Institute was organized. The
Legislature was memorialized to adopt three
measures : first, the establishment of the office
of State Superintendent : second, the establishment
and support of normal schools : third, absolutely
free schools. The Institute so brought into ex-
istence adjourned to hold its next annual meet-
ing at Peoria, on the 26th day of December, 1854.

-^ special session of the Legislature had been
called by Governor Matteson, who, doubtless
largely influenced by the proceedings of the con-
vention lately held at Bloomington, as well as by
the public press, which was then teeming with
vigorous and well written articles on the subject,
had included in his proclamation the subject of
the establishment of a system of free schools.
Just before the convening of the Legislature

in special session Hon. Washington Cockle, of
Peoria, had been elected to fill a vacancy in the
Senate from his district. He entered upon his
duties at the opening of the session and. on the
28th of February. 1854. wrote to his home paper
the following letter :

"Sprinxfield. February 28. 1854.
'The most important bill to the future interest
of the State has just passed the Senate and is now
a law-. The great principle has been settled that
every child in the State shall have an education ;
that property shall pay for this its greatest safe-
guard ; that the only enduring and reliable foun-
dation for our republican institutions has now
been laid, and the future progress of our State
will be as great in moral and intellectual culture
as it has been in material wealth. The bill
authorizes the appointment of a State Superin-
tendent of Common Schools, whose principal duty
it shall be to prepare for the next General As-
sembly a plan for a system of common schools
recognizing the great principle of education for
all, has passed both houses. This is the entering
wedge."

The Legislature had passed an act creating
the office of State Superintendent of Public In-
struction, with directions to him to investigate
the system prevailing in the several States, to
formulate a bill for an act to create a system of
free schools for Illinois, to visit the various sec-
tions of the State and to explain his system to
the people, which he should report to the ensu-
ing session. Hon. Ninian W. Edwards, of
Springfield, was soon afterwards appointed to
that office and discharged his duties in a remark-
ably able manner.

On March 23d. of that year, have been organ-
ized at Peoria a stock company, having in view
the higher education of boys, which was known as
"The Boys' Stock School."

One of the most important services ever ren-
dered to the State of Illinois was the bringing
to the City of Peoria by this association, of Mr.
Charles E. Hovey. first Principal of the school.
It was at a time when public interest in popular
education was at the boiling point.

The State Teachers' Institute was to hold its
next session at Peoria, and. upon coming to the
Peoria. Mr. Hovey at once grasped the situation
and threw himself into the work with a remark-
able degree of tact and energy. He at once took
a leading position, not only in Peoria, but in the
State at large.

Il8

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

The Illinois State Teachers' Institute held
at Peoria in December, 1854, was a most notable
one.

Ninian W. Edwards, State Superintendent, in
a very able manner presented his plan for a new
and improved school law. Professor J. B. Turner,
formerly a professor in Illinois College, and Dr.
R. C. Rutherford, presented the plan of the In-
dustrial League for a State University with a
normal department. There were also present as
invited guests. Professor Charles Davies, for
many years connected with the Military Academy
at West Point, and author of a popular series of
text-hooks on the various branches of mathe-
matical science, who delivered two addresses ; also
Professor Calvin Cutter, of Warren, Massachu-
setts, a'.uhor of Cutter's Anatomy and Physiology
for schools, who also delivered an able address
on the importance of that study; also Dr. L.
M. Cutcheon. of the University of the State of
Michigan. Professor John N. Niglas, the Prin-
cipal of the Germon School at Peoria, was also
present and took part in the exercises and dis-
cussions, as did several other Peorians, active
among whom were Henry Grove and Elihu N.
Powell.

This session was held in the Court House, then
the largest hall in the city, which was well filled
day and night. It was at this meeting the "Illi-
nois Teacher." a periodical issued in the in-
terest of public education, was at first started, the
place of publication being the city of Blooming-
ton. .\t the ne.xt session of the institute, which
was held at Springfield. December 26-29. i855.
Mr. Hovey was elected its president and sole
editor of the "Illinois Teacher," of which he
assumed the entire financial responsibility. He
removed its place of publication to Peoria, where
it met with phenomenal success. ( ' ) Two years
later he was at the head of the Normal Uni-
versity. In an historical sketch of "Early Educa-
tion in Illinois," contained in the report of the
State Superintendent for 1885-6, it is said of
him : "The vigor with which he conducted the
"Illinois Teacher' for the next two years (with
his friend N. C. Xason for printer and publisher,
who made the journal the best work of its class,
typographically) : the life he gave to the State
Board of Education : the enthusiasm he aroused,
which brought to the Chicago meeting of the
Association in December. 1856, over three hun-
dred teachers from outside the city; the sagacity

(1) See chapter on "The Press.'

he showed in adhering to the plan for a normal
school as an institution by itself, to be chartered
at once, and, at the same time, in not only avoid-
ing a rupture with the men favoring a univer-
sity, which would have been fatal, but in retain-
ing their good will and support, which were
essential to success ; the genuine Yankee grit he
displayed in building, almost literally without
money, the normal school building (for he was
chairman of the building committee, as well as
Principal of tlie scliool) during the financial
crash of 1857 and the years of depression which
followed ; the skill he evidenced in selecting for
his assistant teachers, the men with whose help
he was able to organize the school upon sound
principles, ,so that it was speedily admitted to
be one of the best normal schools in the coun-
try — all these show that he was the man for the
work which it fell to him to do."

It was this man whom the board of directors
of the "Boys" Stock School, " of Peoria, brought
to Illinois.

.■\s a result of the influences heretofore de-
tailed, the General Assembly in 1855 inaugurated
the free-school system, not only by general act,
but by a special act for the city of Peoria.

.•\lthough the frame work of the system was
then in existence, the changes made in the law
rendered the work of putting it into operation one
of no small magnitude. The townships were to
be divided into districts ; directors, as well as
trustees, were to be elected : taxes were for the
first time to be levied and colleected; sites were
to be selected, school houses to be built and
teachers were to be employed in every district.
The term of Mr. Hinman as County Commis-
sioner was about to expire, and. inasmuch as the
political cyclone then sweeping the country had
wrested him from his moorings in the Demo-
cratic party, he could not expect another nomina-
tion. A new candidate was found in the per-
son of a young man in his twenty-fourth year,
who. at the ensuing election in November, was
successful.

After his nomination and before his election,
on the loth day of October, 1855. the Peoria
County Teachers' Institute was organized in the
"Boys' Stock School," on Si.xth street. No full
account of this meeting has been discovered, but
the names of a few of the teachers present are
remembered. Charles E. Hovey, the Principal
of that school, was the instigator and principal
manager of the movement. Ephraim Hinman
County Commissioner, and David McCulloch,

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

119

soon to be his successor, and Henry B. Hopkins,
first superintendent of the Peoria city schools,
were present, also Messrs. H. O. Snow, R. H.

Allen and Clark, teachers in the Peoria

public schools; the Misses Matthews and Wood-
worth, of the Peoria Female Academy : Mrs.
Hovey. and possibly Miss ?Ierrington. who after-
wards became the wife of E. W. Coy. principal
of the high school, now prominently connected
with the public schools of the City of Cincin-
nati.

The duties devolving upon the new County
Commissioner were arduous. The new law was
complicated and hard to be understood. It re-
quired prompt action on the part of the new-
school officers to put it into successful operation
at an early day. He therefore addressed himself
to the work with youthful ardor, visiting the
schools, holding meetings, consulting with school
officers and teachers, and in every way possible
urging forward the work of organization. He
would go Ijy rail as far as the two railroads then
in operation would carry him. and then take a
circuit on foot. When within reach of the city
he would appoint a meeting at some suitable
point for Friday night, and then send to the
city for help. Hovey and Hopkins, and possibly
others, would come by private convej-ances, assist
in the meeting (rather take charge of it), and
then convey the weary Commissioner to his home.
In this way the work was inaugurated, the results
of which will appear from the appended table,
one of which was the erection of thirty-four new
school houses within the short period of two
years.

The Commissione." also brought before the
P.oard of Supervisors the matter of the "Peoria
County Teachers' Institute," and obtained ap-
propriations for its support for two years. At
his instance also, the Board made appropriations
for sending a copy of the "Illinois Teacher" for
two years into every district in the county (1,^2
in all).

During his incumbency the swatrip lands of
the county were sold, but contrary to his recom-
mendation that the moneys derived therefrom
should be used for the establishment of a county
normal school, they were distributed among the
townships and added to the principal of their sev-
eral school funds.

The "Peoria County Teachers' Institute," in
the early days of its existence, held semi-annual
meetings, the second of which took place at the
'"Boys' Stock School," March 24-29, 1856. The

first day was consumed with its organization and
routine business. The exercises of the second day
consisted of a blackboard exercise in vowel sounds
by Miss Brown and a drill in reading by Mr.
Clark, both of Chillicothe: an exercise in teaching
English grammar, by H. B. Hopkins, of Peoria;
an exercise in teaching arithmetic, by R. H. Allen,
of Peoria : an exercise on outline maps by C. E.
Hovey. and a general discussion on the best
methods of opening a school at the beginning of
a term, participated in by Messrs. Winship. Clark,
of Chillicothe. Clark of Peoria County (Logan)
and Clark of Peoria City. Drill exercises of
like character continued throughout the entire
week. Evening sessions were helj in the Court
House, where lecture.^ on practical topics were de-
livered.

On Wednesday evening Dr. C. C. Hoagland, of
Henry, who had been prominently connected
with the schools of Xew Jersey, lectured on the
method of teaching composition. On Friday
evening Professor Foster lectured on chemistry,
and on Saturday evening Dr. Cutcheon on physi-
ology-. To the last named an admission fee of
25 cents was charged.

The third institute was held in the new school
house at Chillicothe. in October. 1856. This was
a noted gathering. Through the influence of Mr.
Hovey a half dozen or more Xew England girls
had found positions as teachers in Peoria. They
all attended the institute and made it one of
pleasure, as well as profit. To their credit be it
said, the sprightliness of these young girls and
the life and spirit they imparted to the institute
went far to give it popularity among the teachers
of the county, and so to increase its usefulness.

The fourth institute was held in .\pril. 1857,
in the Congregational church at Elmwood. in the
basement of which Professor Tait was conduct-
ing an academy.

The fifth institute was held at Princcville. Oc-
tober 10. 1S57. This institute was in charge of
Dr. C. C. Hoagland, Mr. Hovey. who had been
the principal leader of former institutes, having
been elected Principal of the State Xormal Uni-
versity.

The sixth institute was held at Peoria in .\pril,
1858. Of this one no definite account has been
discovered. X"o mention is made of any institute
in October. 1S58. It is poss'ble none was held.

The seventh institute was held at Peoria,
.\pril 2. 1859. the eighth at Brimfield. September
6. 1859. The latter was in ch.arge of Xewton
Bateman, State Superintendent.

I20

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

Hon. Nicholas I'. W'orlliington, al present
Jiulge of the Circuit and Appellate Courts, was
then in charge of an Academy at Brimfield.

The Peoria County Teachers' Institute, thus
auspiciously inaugurated, has had a continued his-

which is not here practicable. It is enough to say
that it has been one of the most potent agencies
in furthering the cause of popular education in
Peoria County.

The progress made in the schools of the county

tory up to the present time, the full account of is indicated by the following table:

1856 110

1857 Itlti
li^58 147
l.'sSfl 129
1860 158
18(51 160
1862 150
1872 160
1880 16,)
1890 16:i
1900 166;

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4370

6575

14267

141

7344

16426

184

148

7657

16199

185

187

8026

1769(i

125

140

8154

18009

128

168;

7818

18844

104

165

lOjfi}

22988

117

219

1106.-!

25568

228

18423

295 1:^

299

16426

36609

359 j

26.00'
38.00'
82.00
81.17
80.90
29.00
29.00,

44.18
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40.92

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18571

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14620

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187877

16286

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75085

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118

84099

77430

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31691

63618

7.3

127

35861

58881

7.7

131

49929

68698

149

7.4

141

38790

46375

187

7.1

131

88172

149493

160

84881

15(Jt;37

1.58

8.1

160

134023

244301

150

8.1

168

209138

453807

162

8.6

166

14
19
9
3
26
26
12
15

The free school law having gone into opera-
tion in the year 1855. the reports from the several
townships for that year were so very meager that
no report was made to the State Superintendent.
The reports for the year 1856 were also very
meager and afford no reliable basis for compar-
ison. The report for 1857, may therefore be taken
as the basis of comparison for subsequent years.
The progress annually made until . 1862 — after
that year at intervals of eight and ten years — is
shown in the table.

.-\ few of the peculiarities shown in this table
may need explanation. The disproportion be-
tween the number of schools and the number of
children in attendance results from larger school
houses, particularly in the towns and cities, while
the ratio between the number taught and the
number of children under 21 has remained about
the same. The number of school houses has not
greatly increased, but, from the largely increased
number of teachers employed, it may Ke concluded
(which fact is shown by the reports) that the
number of scliool-rooms in which schools are

kept has been correspondingly increased. Another
marked feature is that, while the rate of wages
paid to teachers has been doubled, the ratio be-
tween the wages of male and female teachers has
remained about the same ; the number of male
teachers gradually growing less and that of female
teachers rapidly increasing. The most significant
feature of the table, however, consists in the
great increase of local taxation, and the corre-
sponding increase of the amount paid to teachers,
showing the willingness of the people to tax them-
selves for the support of the public schools.

The list of County School Commissioners and
Superintendents will be found in the chapter on
County" Officers.

Charles P. Taggart, a young lawyer of Peoria,
succeeded Mr. McCulloch as Commissioner in
1861. and conducted the affairs of his office with
such marked ability that he was appointed a
member of the State Board of Education, in
which capacity he had much to do with the affairs
of the State Normal University. He was suc-
ceeded in 1863, by William G. Randall, who re-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY. 121

signed before tlic expiration of his term. Nich- elected to the same office under the title of County

■olas E. Worthington received the appointment at Superintendent of Schools, the name having been

the hands of the Board of Supervisors to fill out changed by the Legislature,
tlie unexpired term, and at the next election was

CHAPTER >

RAILROADS.

A glance at the map of Illinois, in the year
1838, will demonstrate how singularly wise were
the legislators of the preceding year, in locating
the lines of the projected railways constituting
the great internal improvement system. The
main line of the Central Road began at the con-
fluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, run-
ning thence to Vandalia, Shelbyville, Decatur,
Bloomington, La Salk, Dixon, and terminating
at Galena, following almost the identical route
on which the Illinois Central Railroad was after-
ward located. Another line was located from
Alton to Shawneetown, by way of EdwardsviUe,
Nashville and Pinckneyville, with a branch from
EdwardsviUe to Mt. Carmel by way of Carlyle
and Salem. A third line was to run from Alton
to Paris, thence to the State line to meet an
Indiana road from Terre Haute, touching Shel-
byville and Charleston on the way. A fourth
line ran from Quincy by way of Mt. Sterling,
Mereidosia, Jacksonville, Springfield and Decatur
to Danville and thence to the State line to meet
another Indiana road from Covington, almost the
identical line on which the Wabash Road was
afterward laid. Another and shorter line was
located from Bloomington to Pekin, with a
branch from Mackinaw to Peoria. The last of
the series, and that in which Peoria was greatly
interested, was located from Peoria by way of
Canton, Macomb and Carthage to Warsaw on the
Mississippi River, almost the identical line now
occupied by the western division of tlic Toledo,
Peoria & Western west of Canton.

The grading on the lines from Peoria to
Warsaw and from Bloomington to Pekin was let
by contract, and by December, 1838, twelve miles
west from Peoria and twelve miles east from
Warsaw had been .so let, also the whole work
from Bloomington to Pekin and Peoria. The
estimated cost of the line from Bloomington to

Pekin and Peoria was $11,736 per mile, or $630,-
810 in the aggregate for 53^ miles, and that
from Peoria to Warsaw $8,331 per mile, or $906,-
396 in the aggregate for 116 miles. In these esti-
mates the rolling stock was not included.

The amount of money expended on the Peoria
& Warsaw Road was in the neighborhood of
$700,000. This did not include the iron nor the
spikes, which were a much smaller factor in the
building of railroads then than now. From a
construction contract now in possession of the
writer, the style of the roads then being con-
structed by the State may be gathered. The
specifications and prices ran as follows : For
white pine timber work per lineal foot span,
"Long's Plan," including side covering requisite
on each section for bridges, etc., thirty dollars ;
for longitudinal rail per lineal foot 5x7 inches,
nine cents ; for each cross tie 8 feet long 6x6.
inches, seventy-two cents ; for mud sills per lineal
foot 7x9 inches, twelve and one-half cents; for
foundation blocks per cubic foot, at least eighteen
inches in diameter, fifteen cents; for mechanical
work per section putting down blocks, rails, se-
curing iron work and completing superstructures,
twelve hundred dollars ; for painting per square
yard for bridges, at estimate of engineers ; for
excavating for block pits per cubic yard, at esti-
mate of engineer ; for transportation of each one
hundred pounds of iron rails, spikes, etc., from
Peru, at estimate of the engineer, work to be
begun in forty days and completed by August
27, 1840, a period of fifteen months. The bubble
having burst and the work having been suspended,
the contractor afterward laid in a claim for dam-
ages, in which he represented that he had pro-
ceeded to make the necessary arrangements to-
complete the work on said contract, had per-
formed a portion thereof, and had received some
estimates toward the amount of work already

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

125

done; lliat on the ist day of June, 1840, by a
general order of the Board of Pubhc Works,
the work was suspended to his damage, to-wit :

For altering a gristmill into an over-
shot sawmill for the purpose of sawing
railroad timber $1,000 00

For loss of use of said mill from June,

1838, to 1st October, 1840 1,50000

For difference between contract price and
purchase price for delivery of 4,000
cross ties 1.360 00

For difference between contract price land
purchase price for delivery of 16,000
feet lineal measure of rails 507 00

For loss on teams, tools, etc., in pre-
paring to commence work on contract 500 00

For loss of time and expenses in pro-
curing said contract and neglecting
farming and other business i.ooo 00

For amount supposed to be due for
labor done on the contract not included
in estimate 500.00

$6,367 00

According to this claim, he had purchased his
cross ties for thirty-eight and was to receive
seventy-two cents for them from the State, and
that he had purchased the rails at $52 per thou-
sand lineal feet and was to receive $90 per thou-
sand from the State.

The railroads contemplated by the Legislature
of 1837 were expected to conform to the descrip-
tion here given, but the project failed, and for-
tunately, as it now seems, none of them except
a short line from Springfield to the Illinois
River were completed.

The Peoria & Oquawka Railroad Company
was chartered by Act of the Legislature, approved
February 12, 1849. The town of Oquawka
( Yellow Banks, from its sand hills) had been
laid out on a gigantic scale about the year 1836-7.
Even at that early day the proprietors were con-
templating a railroad to Peoria. It is said that
lots were offered at public sale ; that chartered
steamboats, with bands playing and flags flying,
came all the way from St. Louis, giving a free
ride to all who wished to come, and that, under
the stimulus of this outer exciting cause, and a
still more potent one within, some of the lots
were run up to $1,500, $1,800 and even $1,900
apiece, a price never since realized It was
to this ambitious town that Peoria. Knox and
Warren Counties proposed to build a railroad.

because it was a good shipping point on the
Mississippi River.

The Peoria & Oquawka Railroad Company, by
its charter, was to have a span of life of fifty
years, with the right to construct and maintain,
during that brief period, a railroad from Peoria
on the Illinois River to Oquawka on the Mis-
sissippi River, on such route as its directors
might select. Its capital stock was to be $500,-
000, divided into shares of $100 each, with the
privilege of increasing the same to $1,000,000.
The company was afterward authorized to build
a branch road to commence at or west of Mon-
mouth, from thence to the Mississippi River at
or about Shokokon in Henderson County [oppo-
site Burlington. — Ed.]. This proved the death
blow to the hopes of Oquawka of becoming the
emporium of the military tract. Burlington was
now to become the western terminus of the rail-
road. Asa D. Reed, of Fulton County. William
J. Phelps. Rudolphus Rouse. Peter Sweat and
Joshua P. Hotchkiss, of Peoria, were added to
the Board of Commissioners. Two years were
added to the period of completion.

The Commissioners having performed their
duty, the subscribers -o the stock held their first
meeting at the Court House in Knoxville, on Fri-
day, the 20th day of June, 1851. The meeting
was called to order by Elihu N. Powell, Esq.,
of Peoria, on whose motion Hon. Charles Mason,
of Burlington. Iowa, was chosen chairman, and
Harmon G. Reynolds, of Kno.xville, secretarj'.
A committee of six. consisting of James W.
Grimes, of Burlington, James Knox, of Knox-
ville, Abner C. Hardmg, of Monmouth, Julius
Manning, of Knoxville, Elihu N. Powell, of Pe-
oria, and Ivory Quinby, of Monmouth, were ap-
pointed a committee to draft a code of by-laws,
and Charles Mason. Abner C. Harding, James
Knox, Asa D. Reed, James W. Grimes. Samuel
Webster, Julius Manning. Rudolphus Rouse, and
Washington Cockle, were chosen the first Board
of Directors.

The directors were instructed by resolution to-
immediately secure the graded track owned by the
State between Peoria and Farmington (the old
Peoria & Warsaw), and to contract for the re-
pairs to and the superstructure for the same, so
that that part of the road might be completed at
the earliest possible period, and in the most per-
manent and substantial manner. Had it been
known then that as valuable coal deposits lay un-
derneath the prairies as were known to exist
along the Kickapoo Creek, possibly this instruc-
tion might have Iieen followed. But other conn-

.124

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

sels prevailed, and tuo years later under legis-
lative authority, the route by Farmington was
abandoned and the more expensive one up the
Kickapoo was adopted.

The faith of the tompany was irrevocably
pledged to the completion of the road from Pe-
oria to Monmouth, and thence to a point on the
Mississippi River opposite Burlington, leaving that
pan between Monmouth and Oquawka to be com-
pleted after the Burlington branch should be
built, and upon that pledge the stock had been and
should thereafter be subscribed.

James Knox, of Knoxville. was chosen Presi-
dent. William R. Phelps, of Peoria. Treasurer,
and Robert L. Hannaman, of Knoxville. Secre-
tary.

Thus was launched into existence that company
to which Peoria was indebted for its first rail-
road. What was expected of it by its projectors
at the lime of its charter in 1849. may be gleaned
from the comments made by the editor of the
Knoxville Republican at the time of its com-
pletion through to Galesburg. In its issue of
February 4. 1857. in comparing the actual results
with the first anticipations, it says: "In 1849. little
was known of the business and travel that rail-
roads make — that ever follow as a matter of course
upon their construction. No one that wished to be
deemed sane would hazard an opinion of the busi-
ness that would approximate the ordinary and
actual result. In that year, we believe it was.
a committee was appointed to determine what
this road would do if completed, and the
estimate W'as so meager that it was never pub-
lished. The result of their deliberations was.
that a train of cars once a month would be suffi-
cient to do the business of the road, and that one
pas.senger train a week would more than accom-
modate the traveling public."

The first construction contract was let to
■ Chaunccy Hardin and Ivory Quinby (with whom
was associated Abner C. Harding as silent part-
ner), on the fourth day of October. 1851. for the
construction of that portion of said road between
Knowille and a point on the Mississippi bottom
opposite Burlington, where the piling was to com-
mence, including all bridges and the furnishing of
good T railway iron of the weight of fifty pounds
to the yard, for which they were to receive $12,-
000 per mile, to be paid, as follows: first, $100.-
000 in the stock of the company to be subscribed
by the contractors ; second, the proceeds of all
subscriptions to the stock in the counties of War-
ren and Henderson; third, the residue in bonds of
the company, convertible into stock at the option

of the li'ilders. and bearing interest at the rate of
7 per cent, per annum. They were akso to build the
road across the bottom to be paid for on the es-
timate of the engineer of the company. They were
to furnish a locomotive engine with necessary
freight cars as soon as one mile of the track
sh.:)uld be completed, and should coinplete the
whole within two years, provided the said bonds
could, within that time, be converted into cash or
used to buy the iron at a discount of not more
than ten per cent. Bv a subsequent contract the
company itself undertook to furnish the iron at
$5,000 per mile, and the contractors were relieved
from that duty. The road was completed from the
Mississippi River to Galesburg by the 17th day of
March, 1855, at which time it passed into the pos-
session of the Chicag ) & .\urora Railroad Com-
pany and the Central Military Tract Railroad
Company (then 'about being consolidated under
the name of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad Company), by virtue of a contract or
lease by which that combination was to have pos-
session until it should be rciiubursed for its ad-
vances for railroad iron, for the security of which
it held the lua.iority of tlic l)oiids of the road. This
was the origin of that great system of railroad,
which, under the name of the C. B. & Q.. has
spread itself over the western country. The Pe-
oria & Oquawka could never release it.self from
the grip thus acquired, and the entire line from
Peoria to Burlington was soon absorbed by that
grow'ing corporation.

The Peoria & Oquawka Company had made
some .sort of an arrangement with the Governor
to purchase the right of way of the old Peoria
& Warsaw Railroad, but the Legislature of 1852
had released it from that obligation on account
of the impracticability of the route, and had also
relieved it from the necessity of going by way of
Farmington, provided it would build a branch to
that town, which was subsequently done, the ini-
tial point being Elmwood.

The company undertook to build the east end
from Peoria to Knoxville by letting it out by con-
tract in short sections, and had substantially com-
pleted the road to Edward's Station by the 3d day
of .Vpril. 1855. Being unable to go on with it any
further, it entered into a contract with Wm. S.
Moss, William Kellogg, Charles S. Clarke. Hcr-
vey Lightner, and Richard Gregg, all of Peoria,
under the firm name of Kellogg. Moss & Co., to
which firm James Knox, of Knoxville. was soon
afterwards admitted, for the construction of the
road from the end of the completed portion near
Edwards to Knoxville, and at the same time gave

/^o^c...,^ ^ £..U4^^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

12!;

them a lease for five years for the entire line to
Burlington, subject to the rights of the Chicago
& Aurora and Central Military Tract Roads. In
fact, this lease was of such a comprehensive na-
ture that, for the time being, it transferred to Kel-
logg, Moss & Co. the entire road with all its roll-
ing stock and equipments of every kind, its uncol-
lected subscriptions to stock, all unappropriated
first and stcond mortgage bonds, and all other as-
sets, they to pay the stockholders annual divi-
dends of four per cent, upon their stock after the
completion of the road from Peoria to Burlington,
and after the expiration of the lease they were to
retain possession until re-imbursed all their out-
lays.

The company having failed to furnish C.
Hardin & Co. the iron to lay the track between
Galesburg and Kno.Kvillc. that firm refused to go
on with their contract any further than Galesburg.
In view of the commercial importance to which
Chicago was rapidly attaining, it might be in-
ferred that, having reached Galesburg, and there
come into direct communication with a line lead-
ing directly to that cit)-, the towns of Galesburg.
Monmouth. Burlington and those further west
would have little interest in the completion of the
road to Peoria, and it soon began to appear as if
Peoria was to be ignored. Kellogg, Moss &
Co.. had completed their contract from Edwards,
and. in the month of December. 1856. the company
entered into a contract with them for the com-
pletion of the road from Knoxville to Galesburg,
to be completed by the first of February, 1857.

In the meantime, the Legislature having auth-
orized the Peoria and Oquawka Company to ex-
tend its road to a point on the Indiana State line,
not more than forty miles north or south of an
east or west line through LaFayette. that part of
the road had been partially built. The first con-
tract was let on the 17th day of June. 1853. to
VVm. H. Cruger, James Hurry, Charles A. Sccor.
and \Vm. F. Buckner. under the firm name of Cru-
ger, Secor & Co.. for that portion of the road
from Peoria to the Chicago & Mississippi Rail-
road (now the Chicago & .\lton). Between that
date and June 20, 1853. said Hurry and Buckner
had dropped out and Samuel Gilman and Thos.
C. Fields had become members of the firm of
Cruger. Secor & Co.. at which latter date a new
contract was let to them for the completion of
the road from the river to the Chicago & Mis-
sissippi Railroad, and afterwards, on December
22, 1856, they took the contract for the remainder
of said road to the Indiana line. This "Eastern
Extension." as it was called, was also heavily in-

cumbered, and its bonds fell into the hands of
eastern capitalists who were interested in main-
taining the continuity of the road from Burling-
ton to the Indiana line, while the first and second
mortgage bonds of the western end had fallen
into hands that seemed intent upon breaking
that continuity at Peoria.

The last rail was laid on the road between
Peoria and Galesburg on the 31st day of January,
1857, and on the next day trams began to run be-
tween these two points. On the 2d day of Feb-
ruary, 1857, the road between Peoria and the Chi-
cago & Alton was completed and trains began run-
ning. On the i2th day of April, 1857', the trains
began to run over the bridge across the Illinois
R'.vcr, V. hich had been erected in the interests of
both .sets of contractors. The test of the bridge
was made on that day by drawing a construction
train loaded with bridge timbers from the easterly
side and- back again to East Peoria. In antici-
pation of what loUows it may be stated that, by
special act of the Legislature of February 21,
1861, the name of the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad
Company was changed to the Logansport, Pccria
& Burlington Railroad Company, .\nother act of
February 14. 1863. provided for the sale, under
foreclosure, of the road from Peoria to the In-
diana line and the organization of a new company.
The road was sold, March 21, 1864, and conveyed
by the purchasing committee. May 14, 1864, to the
new compauv called the Toledo, Ptoria i Warsaw
Railway Company, which was afterwards, on De-
cember 14, 1865, consolidated with the Mississippi
and Wabash Railroad under the name of The
Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway Company,
which company built the Western Division from
Hollis, in Peria County, to Elvaston, which, with
the line from Elvaston to Warsaw, already con-
structed by the Mississippi & Wabash Railroad,
constituted the present through line from Peoria
to Warsaw. The road was sold under decree of
foreclosure, and. on May 22, 1880, was deeded
to the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad
Company, and again sold under decree of
foreclosure and conveyed July i, 1887. to the
Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad Company,
which now owns and operates the entire prop-
erty. Trains began running from the Chicago &
.-Mton (Chenoa) to the eastern branch of the
Illinois Central (Gilman). on the 2i3t day of Xo-
veinber. 1857. and to the State line, on the 31st
day of December, 1859, where connection was
made with the Logansport. Peoria & Burlington to
the east, by which it was hoped that the
Peoria & Oquawka Railroad should become a

126

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

part of a great trans-continental line between the
east and the west.

But complications arose between the repre-
sentatives of these respective interests, which cul-
minated in the C. B. & Q. becoming the owner
of the entire line from Peoria to Burling-
ton.

In the summer of 1857, Abner C. Harding
became a member of the firm of Kellogg, Moss
& Co., after which it continued under the name
of Moss, Harding & Co., in whose interests the
road was operated until the month of October,
i860, when they sold out their interests to the
C. B. & Q.- Not Ion/ afterwards the mortgages
were foreclosed and the title to the road went
into that company, where it still remains.

The State had acquired the right of way for
the old Peoria and Warsaw Road, one hundred
feet wide through what is known as Water street
from Bridge street westward, and the .C. B. &
Q. claimed the exclusive right to occupy this
entire strip for railroad purposes under the grant
from the State to the Peoria & Oquawka Com-
pany.

The Peoria & Oquawka Company had also
as early as 1851, secured a permit from the city
council to occupy the same strip within the limits
of the city. The C. B. & Q., had therefore a
strong hold upon the ground as successor to all
rights of the Peoria & Oquawka Company,
and was not at all disposed to yield those rights
in favor of any rival company. As no route
could be established through the city, without
either coming in over this right of way or cross-
ing it at one or more points, much litigation
arose between Moss, Harding & Co., and their
successor, the C. B. & Q., and other companies
seeking an entrance, and, in at least one instance,
a very important line of road, the Peoria &
Hannibal, was entirely defeated.

On February 11, 1853, a charter was granted
to the Illinois River Railroad Company to build
a road from Jacksonville, by way of Virginia.
Bath and Pckin, to LaSalle. From the fact that
Peoria is not mentioned as a point on the route,
it is to be presumed the intended route lay wholly
on the eastern side of the river; but, by a later
act, the company was authorized to unite with
other roads and to build a bridge across that
stream. The point in view was to reach Peoria
by building a bridge at Pekin, and by coming in
on the westerly side of the river.

On the I2th day of February, 1853. a charter
was granted to the Peoria & Bureau Valley
Railroad Company to build a road from Peoria

to Bureau ^'alley at a point not higher up the
Bureau Creek than Indian Town (Tiskilwa).
This road was completed by the fall of the year
1854. and the first passenger train reached Peoria
about dusk on the evening of November 9th of
that year. This being the first railroad to be put
in operation whereby Peoria was brought into
railroad connection with the rest of the world
(the Peoria and Oquawka, although the first to
lay its tracks in the City, not being then com-
pleted), a time of great rejoicing was had. Hun-
dreds of people gathered at the foot of Main
street where the train came to its first full stop,
speeches were made and every possible demon-
stration of joy was indulged in.

The Illinois River Road was finished from
Jacksonville to Pekin about the year 1859, but
never extended any further on the easterly side
of the river than that point, the Peoria &
Bureau Valley having supplied all needed rail-
road facilities from Peoria to La Salle. There
was therefore a gap of only ten miles between
Peoria and Pekin to be filled, to make direct
communications between the river towns south
of Peoria and Chicago. It was thought, not with-
out reason, that the Chicago & Rock Island
Company had some designs upon the Illinois
River Road, as a further extension of its lines
in that direction. This gap. therefore, became
the seat of contention between rival interests.

In the meantime the Eastern Extension of the
Peoria & Oquawka road, having passed through
divers hands — it having for a time been known
as the Logansport. Peoria & Burlington road, and
afterwards as the Toledo. Peoria & Warsaw road
— had been making a struggle to obtain a foot-
hold in that portion of the City southwest of
Walnut street, w-here it entered the City over its
bridge. These conflicting interests led to almost
interminable litigation. Injunction followed in-
junction, there being as many as five pending at
one time. When one company could not obtain its
point in any other way it would resort to strat-
egy, only to have its tracks removed by force
from what was claimed as the rightful possession
of another.

At this late date it is impossible to convey even
the faintest idea of this strife. The result of this
contention was that the tracks coming into Pe-
oria from the southwest, instead of being con-
structed on parallel lines. as they might have been,
took a form resembling the meshes of a fish-net,
ultimately causing such a blockade of trains as to
render the formation of a terminal company a
great necessity.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

127

The Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville Company,
after much litigation, succeeded about the month
of August, 1864, in completing its line into Pe-
oria, but not as far as Bridge street. These con-
testants were not the only companies interested in
getting into Peoria from that direction. The Pe-
kin & Decatur road, chartered in 1855, with its
termini at Pekin and Decatur, afterwards
changed to the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur road,
and still later, by sundrj' consolidations, to the
Peoria, Decatur & Evansville road, had been
built ; also the Danville, Urbana, Blooniington &
Pekin road, afterwards changed to the Indianapo-
lis, Bloomington & Western, had been projected.
These roads were looking towards Peoria as af-
fording more profitable termini than Pekin, but
the way did not seem clear for their entrance.
There had been a charter granted to a company
called the Peoria & Springfield Railroad Company,
with power to build a road between those two
cities, which had procured the right of way and
had constructed that part of its road from Peoria
to Pekin, including the bridge across the Illinois
River at the place now known as Bridge Junc-
tion. Over this track the Indianapolis, Blooming-
ton & Western and the Pekin, Lincoln & Deca-
tur had obtained the right of way by lease.

In the year 1868, the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw
Company built its road from Hollis, in Peoria
Count}', to Warsaw, following practically the old
Peoria & Warsaw Railroad west of Canton. It did
not, however, build its line from Peoria to Hollis,
but obtained the use of the Peoria, Pekin & Jack-
sonville track over that portion of its line.

In addition to the Chicago, Burlington & Quin-
cy, there were, therefore, four other roads enter-
ing Peoria from the southwest: the Indianapolis.
Bloomington & Western, the Pekin, Lincoln &
Decatur, the Peoria. Pekin & Jacksonville, the
Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw (Western Division),
the first two coming in on the Peoria & Spring-
field track and the two latter over the Peoria,
Pekin & Jacksonville track.

The Peoria & Springfield road, as well as the
Peoria. Pekin & Jacksonville road, having been
sold under decrees of foreclosure, the purchasers
entered into an arrangement for the joint use of
these tracks by the four roads named, and. to
that end, the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway Com-
pany was formed and the two tracks between
Peoria and Pekin were conveyed to it. the stock
being divided between the four roads named.

In the year 1880, the Lake Erie & Western
road reached Peoria, coming in by way of Farm-
dale and East Peoria, thence connecting with the

Peoria and Pekin Union track near Wesley City.
That company has also become interested in the
Peoria &: Pekin Union stock.

The St. Louis. Peoria & Northern Railway
Compan.v was organized February 29. 1896, for
the purpose of uniting and consolidating three
other companies. Its road was completed and put
into operation to its junction with the Peoria &
Pekin Union at Grove Station, and thence over
the Peoria & Pekin Union track to Peoria.

Thus it happens that si.x other roads enter
Peoria over the tracks of the Peoria & Pekin
Union Comany.

The Peoria & Pekin Union Company, in the
year 1881-2 erected the L'nion Passenger Depot on
Water Street between Chestnut and Oak streets,
into which all the passenger trains, except those of
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.arriving in and
departing from the city, now enter. The com-
pany has also extensive freight houses between
their passenger depot and the river.

Other important railroad connections are had
over the old "Eastern Extension" road, now
known as the Toledo, Peoria & Western. In
1869, the Peoria, Atlanta & Decatur Railroad
Company was chartered with power to construct
a road from Peoria to Decatur, The township
of Peoria subscribed $100,000 to the stock of
this road, and it was built mainly in the interest
of Peoria. It was completed, from its junction
with the Toledo, Peoria & Western at Farmdale,
to Decatur, in 1874. From Farmdale it has had the
use of the Toledo, Peoria & Western tracks into
the city. By a consolidation of this road with the
Paris & Decatur Company, chartered in 1861,
and the Paris & Terre Haute Company, chartered
in 1874. a new company was formed called the
Illinois Midland Company. In 1886, this road
was sold under foreclosure, and. in February,
18S-, reorganized as the Terre Haute & Peoria
Railroad. In 1892 it was leased for a period of
ninety-nine years to the Terre Haute & Indian-
apolis Railroad Company and became known as a
part of the "Vandalia System."

The Lake Erie & Western Railroad is the re-
sult of a consolidation of the Lafayette, Bloom-
ington & Mississippi Railroad, which had been
opened in 1871, with certain Indiana and Ohio
lines, constituting an entire length of 710 miles,
of which 118 miles are in the State of Illinois. In
May. 1885. a further consolidation was effected
with the Lake Erie & Mississippi Railroad, organ-
ized to build an extension from Bloomington to
Peoria. The road was sold under decree of fore-
closure in 1886, and a new organization effected

128

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

under the present name. As already stated, this
road comes into the city by way of Farmdale and
East Peoria, at both of which points it crosses the
tracks of the Toledo. Peoria & Western, thence
to its junction with the Peoria & Pekin Union
near Wesley City. The extension from Blooming-
ton to Peoria was built in 1887-8, the first trains
reaching Peoria in the spring of 1S88. The main
line from Peoria to Sandusky, Ohio, is 416 miles,
with branches from Indianapolis to Michigan
City, 161 miles, from Fort W'ayne to Rushville,
Indiana, 109 miles, and from Akron, Ohio, to Del-
phos, Ohio, 162 miles. Early in 1900 the entire
system was bought in by the Lake Shore & Mich-
igan Southern Company, and now belongs to that
system, although still retaining the name of Lake
Erie & Western Railroad.

The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company has.
for many years, had a branch line from Dvvight
on its main line to Varna in Marshall county,
where it again branches to Lacon, in Marshall
County, and Washington, in Tazewell County. In
recent years it has had a running arrangement
with the Toledo, Peoria & Western, whereby
trains have come into the City of Peoria over the
tracks of the latter, thence over the tracks of the
Peoria. Decatur & Evansville, to Delevan, in Taze-
well Coimty. where it formed a junction with its
Kansas City branch, and to Lincoln in Logan
County, where it again met its main line leading
from Chicago to St. Louis. Recently, however, it
has acquired the Chicago. Peoria & St. Louis
road, and is now running tlirough trains from
Chicago to St. Louis over that line.

The Toledo, Peoria & Western road has also a
running arrangement with the Wabash Railroad,
whereby a direct line is maintained between Pe-
oria and Chicago.

The Rock Island & Peoria Railroad enters
the city from the north by way of Princeville,
Dunlap, Alta and Peoria Heights. The present
coinpany is an outgrowth of two other com-
panies, the Rock Island & Peoria and the Peoria
& Rock Island Companies. The road was opened
its entire length, January i. 1872, and in 1877 it
was sold under decree of foreclosure under its
present name. It is now operated in the interest
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Company.

It was constructed mainly tlirough Peoria en-
terprise. As first organized the company was
called the Peoria & Rock Island Railroad Com-
pany. It was organized about Xovemberi, 1867.
The first meeting of stockholders was held at
Bureau Junction soon after its organization, at
which lime there were nine directors elected, five

of whom were from Peoria, namely: \ ...am
F. Bryan. Valentine Dewein, William II. Cruger,
Henry T. Baldwin, and Dr. William R. Hamil-
ton ; two from Stark County, namely : Patrick
M. Blair and Miles A. Fuller; and one each from
Henry and Rock Island, namely: William A.

Wiley from Henry, and French from

Rock Island. On the night of. the same day a
meeting of the directors was held in the room
over the First National Bank of Peoria, at which
time Dr. Hamilton was unanimously chosen
President, and a resolution was passed authoriz-
ing him to select a corps of engineers and pro-
ceed to survey whatever route he thought best
between Peoria and kock Island.

Two main routes were surveyed, one by way
of Dunlap. Princeville, Wyoming. Toulon, Galva,
Bishop Hill. Cambridge. Osco, Orion, and Coal
Valley, with a possible variation of the same
from Toulon to Cambridge by way of Kewanee,
instead of Galva. The other route was from
Peoria to Kickapoo, thence through Jubilee,
Brimfield, West Jersey and Lafayette.

Estimates were made upon each of Lhese
routes, what it would cost to grade, bridge and
tie the route. The corporate authorities along the
line were then asked to subscribe to the stock of
the company, and to issue their bonds i" pay-
ment thereof. To authorize such a subsLi.i.'tion
it was necessary to hold an election in each cor-
poration proposing to subscribe. The City f Pe-
oria voted to subscribe $100,000: the County of
Peoria. $100,000; Princeville Township, $50,000;
Akron Township, $.?o.ooo; Brimfield Township
voted to subscribe 850,000. but the Pr: -"ville
route having been adopted, the proposed suuscrip-
tion of Brimfield was never made. and. through
some legal technicality, the subscription of Akron
Township was declared void after three thousand
dollars had been paid.

The following numicipal subscriptions were
made in Stark County : Valley Township, $30,-
000 ; Essex Township, $25,000; Toulon Township,
$50,000; Toulon Borough, $10,000; and Goshen
Township. $50,000. In Henry County the follow-
ing: Henry County. $50,000; Galva. $25,000;
Cambridge Township, $50,000: Osco Township,
$50,000: Orion Township. $30,000.

Bonds were issued in payment of these sev-
eral subscriptions, all of which were negotiated
by Dr. Hamilton in Hartford. Connecticut. The
contract for grading the entire road was let to
the firm of Prescott & Jamison, who fir' ' J it,
and the bridging was let to other par In

about a year from that time the work had so far

....^^^.j^^h^ o'-^^^-ZiiU'

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

129

progressed that the company was reaily tn iiiaUe
a contract for the superstructure and equipments,
and a contract was then made with Benjamin \V.
Smith, of Columljus. Ohio, who had his main
office in New York City, to furnish the iron, lay
the track, build the station houses, and furnish
the necessary equipinent for the road for a mil-
lion and a half of the bonds of the road, the
company giving him at the same time $1,200,000
in stock so as to enable him to control the road,
the company furnishing the ties. The bonds of
the several municipalities were sold by the com-
jiany at an average of about ninety cents on the
dollar. With the means thus provided the road
was completed.

Subsequently, through foreclosure of the mort-
gage to secure its own bonds, the road passed
out of the hands of the company and a re-organ-
ization took place by which the present Rock
Island & Peoria Railroad Company obtained the
cnntrnl of the road, .\hhough the several mu-
nicipalities along the line never realized anything
out of their subscriptions, yet they were abun-
dantly repaid for the same in the advantage accru-
ing from the building of the road.

After having acquired the road from Gales-
burg to Peoria and that from Yates City to Lew-
istown. the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Com-
pany also acquired title to a road leading from
Buda on its main line to Elmwood. entering Pe-
oria County to the north of Princeville and pass-
ing through (he villages of Monica and Brimfield.
From Lewistown it extended its route to Rush-
ville. crossing its line from Rock Island to Saint
L<Hiis at Vermont in Fulton County, thus plac-
ing Peoria in communication, by that roiUc. with
both Chicago and Saint Louis.

.\bout the year 1873. the Atchison. Topeka &
Santa Fe road was built through the northern
part of the county, crossing the Illinois River
about one mile north 01 Chillicothe and running
west through Chillicothe. Hallock. Akron. Prince-

ville. and Millbrook, along the line of which have
sprung up the new villages of Edelstein, Laura
and Cha.se. It has also acquired the road for-
merly known as the Chicago, Pekin & Southwest-
ern, which passed through the towns of Minonk,
Roanoke and El Paso in Woodford County,
thence to Washington, and terminating at Pekin
in Tazewell County. At Eureka it unites with
the Toledo, Peoria & Western with which it has
the joint use of its track to the Pekin Junction,
a short distance east of Washington. At Pekin
it connects with other roads coming to Peoria.

In 1878 a company was organized at Mon-
mouth called the Burlington. Monmouth & Illi-
nois River Railroad Company, with the view of
constructing a narrow gauge road to some point
on the river, but later it was determined to
change it to a standard. A company then organ-
ized with a view of utilizing the old State grade
westward from Peoria. This company was called
the Peoria & Farmington Railroad Company, and,
by the year i88j. had built the road to Farming-
ton and were operating it. The Iowa Central
Company which was then building a road cross-
ing the Mississippi at Keithsburg and pointing
towards Chicago by way of Streator. consoli-
dated its interests with the Peoria & Farmington
Company and finished its road to Farmington in
the spring of 1883. since wnich time it has been
operated as a continuous line about five hundred
miles in length.

The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com-
pany is now (1901) constructing a road from a
point on its main line near Sterling, in Whiteside
County, to the City of Peoria, coming into the
city from the west by way of the Kickapoo
Creek from Pottstown.

The City of Peoria having become so abun-
dantly supplied with railroads leading to all
points of the compass, has become one of the
most important distributing points in the Missis-
sippi \'alley.

CHAPTKR XXI.

POLITICAL ANNALS.

When the first American settlers came to
Peoria, James Monroe was President of the United
States, Shadrach Bond was Governor of lUinois,
Ninian Edwards and Jesse B. Thomas were
United States Senators and Daniel P. Cook was
sole Representative in" Congress. The Constitution
of 1848 apportioned the State into Representa-
tive districts to continue until the first census
should he taken, after which the number of Rep-
resentatives and Senators was to be fixed by iho
General Assembly. Under this first apportion-
ment, Madison County, which then included Peoria
and all the northern part of the State, was en-
titled to one Senator and three Representatives.
George Cadwell was Senator and John Howard,
Abraham Prickett and Captain Samuel White-
sides were the Representatives. Elections for
Senators, Representatives, and members of Con-
gress were to be held on the first Monday in
August. The Governor and other elective State
officers were to hold office for four years, Sena-
ors four years, and Representatives two.

The first general election held after the set-
tlement of Peoria occurred in the year 1820, when
James Monroe was re-elected President, Daniel
P. Cook was re-elected to Congress, George
Cadwell was re-elected State Senator from
Madison County, and Joseph Borough, Nathaniel
Buckmaster and William Otwell to the House.
The Second General Assembly, which met on the
4th of December, 1820, fixed the number of
Senators at eighteen and of Representatives at
thirty-six, which ratio was continued until 1831.
At the same session the County of Pike was
erected and was attached to Greene County as a
Senatorial District, and was given one Repre-
sentative by itself.

At the election of 1822, Edward Coles was
elected Governor, Daniel P. Cook was re-elected
Representative in Congress, George Cadwell was
elected State Senator from Green and Pike Coun-
ties, and Nicholas Hansen received the certificate

of election and took his scat from Pike County.
This seat was contested by Jolm Shaw, but Han-
sen was declared elected.

A resolution for submitting to a vote of the
people the question of calling a convention to
amend the Constitution so as to permit the hold-
ing of slaves, having passed the Senate, the same
came to the House for adoption. The House
lacked one vote to insure its passage, and this
vote was supposed to have been secured by the
sudden conversion of one William McFalridge,
previously an anti-slavery member. The resolu-
tion was put upon its passage, but to the amaze-
ment of its supporters, when the name of Han-
sen, of Pike, was called, he recorded his vote
against it. Shaw, the contestant of Hansen's
seat, was known to favor it. A resolution was
then introduced to re-consider the vote by wliich
Hansen had been awarded the seat, which resolu-
tion prevailed, and, upon the final vote, Shaw was
successful, and Hansen was unceremoniously
turned out. The resolution for submitting the
ciuestion of the Constitutional Convention was
adopted and went to the people at the next
election.

,\t this session Jesse B. Thomas was re-elected
United States Senator, and the County of Fulton
was erected out of the territory formerly belong-
ing to Pike County, including Peoria and all north
of it. Greene, Morgan, Pike and Fulton were
given a Senator, and Fulton and Pike were
given one Representative.

At the election which took place, August 2,
1824. after a most exciting campaign, the question
of calling a convention was overwhelmingly de-
feated, the vote standing 4,972 for, and 6,640 (a
majority of :,668) against it. Fulton County
gave sixty votes against the convention to five
in its favor, while Pike gave 165 against and
only 19 in its favor.

At that election Daniel P. Cook, who was a
vigorous opponent of slavery, was re-elected to

HISTORY OF PEORIA COL'XTY.

131

Congress; Thomas Carlin (afterwards Governor^
was elected State Senator from Greene, Pike
Morgan and Fulton Counties (the last two be-
ing new counties attached to Greeene and Pike
for election purposes) ; Nicholas Hansen was re-
elected as Representatives in the lower House
from Pike and Fulton Counties, and Archibald
Job from Greene and Morgan Counties, the other
half of the Senatorial District. Hansen having
resigned before the expiration of his term, he
was succeeded by Levi Roberts, of Pike County.

At the Presidential election which followed
in November, the total vote cast in the State was
less than one-half of that cast on the slavery
question. There being no election by popular
vote, and Illinois having but one Representative,
Daniel P. Cook, the vote of the State was cast by
him in favor of John Quincy Adams, who was
known to be opposed to the further e.xtension of
slavery.

It was the Legislature elected on that event-
ful second day of .\ugust, A. D. 1824, that enac-
ted the law by which Peoria County was erected
as heretofore related.

A second session of this General Assembly
was held commencing January 2, 1826, at which
time a reapportionment of the State was made
for Senators and Representatives, and. although it
had been enacted at the first session that the new
County of Peoria should vote with Sangamon in
the choice of Senators and Representatives, it was
at this second session enacted that it should be
associated with Pike, Fulton, Adams, Morgan
and Schuyler, and that this large district, em-
bracing nearly if not quite one-third of the State,
should have one Senator and one Repre.senta-
tive. This General Assembly also elected two
United States Senators, John McLean to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Ninian
Edwards, and Elias Kent Kane for the full term
of si.\ years, the latter of whom, as we have seen,
rendered valuable service in securing the title to
our county seat.

At the election which occurred in August,
1826, Ninian Edwards, of Madison County, who
had formerly been Territorial Governor, was
elected Governor, but Samuel M. Thompson, his
associate on the same ticket for Lieutenant Gov-
ernor, was defeated by William Kinnney, a Bap-
tist minister, as was also Daniel P. Cook for Con-
gress by Joseph Duncan. At this election the
first poll was opened at Chicago, then atttached
to Peoria Cou"ty, where thirty-one votes were
cast ; one at Galena (known as the Fever River

precinct), where 202 votes were cast; one at
Mackinaw where 51 votes were cast, and one at
Peoria where 8t votes were cast — 369 in all, of
which Edwards received 239, Thompson 247, and
Cook 250. Archibald Job, of Morgan County,
was elected Senator from the counties of Pike,
Fulton, Adams, Morgan (which for that elec-
tion alone formed part of the district), Peoria,
and Schuyler, he having received only 36 votes
in Peoria County against 174 for James Harris,
87 for Lewis Kinney, and 54 scattering. Henry
J. Ross, of Pike County, was elected to the lower
House from the counties of Pike, Adams, Schuy-
ler, Fulton ana Peoria, which at that time, as
well as thereafter, formed a Representative Dis-
trict, and which for subsequent elections were
to constitute the Senatorial District as well. Hen-
ry J. Ross had 40 votes in Peoria County against
96 for John L. Bogardus, 154 for Jesse Harrison
and 39 for Ossian M. Ross.

Peoria County at this time was not Demo-
cratic. At the August election, in the year 1828
(Jo Daviess County with its two hundred and
more votes having been cut off), George For-
quer, the half-brother of Thomas Ford, after-
wards Governor, received fifty-six votes for Con-
gress, to nine for Joseph Duncan, the Democratic
candidate : Henry J. Ross, for State Senator,
received fifty-nine votes, against six for John A.
Wakefield : Ossian Ross received thirty-eight
votes for Representative, against eighteen for
John Orendorf and six for John Turney; Orin
Hamlin received forty-eight votes for Sheriff,
against tw'elve for William Clark. Peoria Pre-
cinct distributed its thirty-three votes as follows:
For Forquer. 23 : Duncan. 9 ; Henry J. Ross, 26 ;
Wakefield. 6; Ossian Ross, 5; Orendorf, 18;
Turney, 6: Hamlin. 15; Clark, 12. Duncan for
Congress. Henry J. Ross for Senator. Turney for
Representative and Hamlin for Sheriff were the
successful candidates in their respective districts,
that of Duncan being the entire State.

.\t the Presidential election of that year,
Peoria County cast the following vote: For
the Jackson electoral candidates. Richard AL
Young. 41; .\. M. Houston, 43: John Tay-
lor. 46 ; and for the Adams candidates. Eli-
jah Ties. 91; Samuel H. Thompson. 93: and
George Webb. "8 votes. Peoria Precinct cast
81 votes, distributed as follows: For lies,
51; Thompson. 54: Webb, 52; for Taylor, 29;
Houston, 29; Young. 27. Chicago Precinct cast
42 votes, of which 26 went for the Adams ticket,
and sixteen for the Jackson ticket. Precinct

13:

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

No. 4 (Warren and Mercer Counties) returned
14 votes for lies. 13 for Thompson and 3 for
Taylor.

In those days newspapers cut but a small
figure in politics. The first newspaper published
in Peoria County was the "Hennepin Journal"
(at Hennepin, now the county seat of Putnam
County), which began publication September 15,
18J7. This was the only newspaper published in
Peoria County during the heated Presidential
campaign of 1828.

At the State election of 1830. there were no
political issues before the people, the candidates
for Governor being both Democrats. John Rey-
nolds was elected Governor. His opponent was
William Kinney, the Hard Shell Baptist min-
ister, then Lieutenant Governor. Neither one
was a teetotaler : they both spent liberally in pro-
viding the people with physical, as well as in-
tellectual stimulants. Henry J. Ross held over
as State Senator, and Joel Wright, of Pike Coun-
ty, was sent to the lower House as a new mem-
ber from the Peoria District. On account of
the new apportionment expected, the election for
Congress was postponed until August, 1831, when
Joseph Duncan was again elected from the State
at large.

The State having attained to the requisite
population for three Congressman, the Legisla-
ture, which met December 6th. 1830. apportioned
it into three Congressional Districts. Peoria Coun-
ty falling into the Third, which embraced the en-
tire northern part of the State, including twen-
ty-two counties of the fifty-six then organized.
Several new counties north 01 Peoria, and for-
merly included in it, having now become fully
organized, a Senatorial and Representative Dis-
trict was erected out of the counties of Peoria,
Putnam. Cook. La Salle and Jo Daviess. At
the election of 1832. Joseph Duncan was elected
to Congress from the Third District, but, being
elected Governor two years later, resigned his
seat and was succeeded by William L. May, a
Democrat, then of Springfield. James M. Strode,
of Cook County, was elected to the Senate, and
Benjamin Mills, of Jo Daviess County, to the
lower House, from the Peoria District.

At this period two men make their appear-
ance in public life, whose names are intimately
and permanently interwoven with the history of
Peoria. One was Benjamin Mills, our Repre-
sentative in the Legislature, proprietor of Mills'
Addition to Peoria, the other was William L.
^Liy, who in later years obtained the charter to

build the wagon-road bridge at Hudson (now
Bridge) street, the first to be erected over the
navigable portion of the Illinois River.

Benjamin Mills resided at Galena. He was
a lawyer of remarkable learning and ability, and
enjoyed the reputation of being the most brilliant
lawyer at the Galena Bar, if not in the entire
State. He was a native of Massachusetts, came
to Illinois in 1819. settled first at Greenville;
probably lived for some time in Sangamon Coun-
ty, and about 1826 or '27. went to Galena where
the lead mines were attracting much attention.
He took a prominent part in all measures having
for tlieir object the establishment of a freo-
school system.

William L. May was a lawyer by profession,
but possibly more of a politician than a lawyer.
He was a native of Kentucky, came to Edwards-
ville at an early day and removed thence to Jack-
sonville. In 1826. he was elected to the Legis-
lature as the Representative of Morgan County,
and two years afterwards, having received an
appointment from President Jackson as Receiver
of the Land Ofiiee at Springfield, he removed
to that place.

In 1834. these two men. Mills and May. were
pitted against each other in the race for Congress,
line from each end of the district. For some time,
as it is said, they canvassed the district together,
making speeches to the same audiences ;but Mills,
getting tired of it. proposed to May that they
should go home and make no more speeches dur-
ing the campaign, to which May agreed. But
there being no railroads nor telegraphs and but
few newspapers, it was charged that May violated
his agreement, and. without the knowledge of
Mills, continued speaking in his own end of the
district, where the population was more numerous.
He won the day and took his seat in Congress,
where he retuained for two terms.

.\t the same election James W. Stephenson, of
Jo Daviess County, was elected to the Senate and
Jolm Hamlin, of Peoria, to the House of Reprc-
>entalive-.. Mr. .Stephenson having resigned be-
fore the expiration of his term, was succeeded by
James W. Strode, of Cook County, for the re-
mainder of the term. John Hamlin was the first
member elected to the Legislature from the pres-
ent limits of the County of Peoria. Rock Island
County had been carved out of Jo Daviess and,
for this one election, voted in the Peoria district.
.•\t this election Peoria County cast 2^j votes in
all for Governor. On March loth of this year,
"The Illinois Champion and Peoria Herald." the-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

133

first newspaper within the present limits of the
County, was started by Abram S. Buxton. It was
at first neutral in politics, but soon became Whig.

The ninth General .Assembly held two ses-
sions, commencing December i, 1834, and De-
cember 7, 1835. Among Mr. Hamlin's associates
were Abraham Lincoln, John Dougherty, Jesse K.
Du Bois, James Semple, John T. Stuart and
Orlando B. Ficklin, all of whom became promi-
nent in State, and some in National politics.
William L. D. Ewing was elected to the United
States Senate in place of Elias Kent Kane, de-
ceased ; acts were passed in aid of the Illinois
& Michigan Canal, and a new apportionment law
was enacted, by which Peoria and Putnam Coun-
ties were constituted a Senatorial district, with
one member of the Senate, and Peoria a Repre-
sentative district with one member of the House.

.•\t the election in August, 1836, William L,
May was re-elected to Congress, John Hamlin
to the Senate, and Francis Voris, of Peoria, was
elected as a new member of the lower House.

It was about this period that Elijah P. Love-
joy, a Presbyterian minister, came to Alton and
commenced the publication of The Observer, a
paper which condemned slave-holding. Three
times within twelve months his plant was de-
stroyed by a mob. Having as many times re-
established it, a fourth attack was made Novem-
ber 7, 1837, during which Mr. Lovejoy was foully
murdered.

.\i the election of 1838 Thomas Carlin was
elected Governor, John T. Stuart Congressman
from the Third or Peoria District, John Hamlin
was re-elected State Senator from Peoria and
Putnam Counties, and William Compher and
Moses Harlan were elected to represent Peoria
'County in the lower House.

The first session of the Legislature elected at
that time made large appropriations for the com-
pletion of the public works. But a financial crisis
having set in, and the State being already more
than $13,000,000 in dclit, a special session was
called to meet December 9. 1839. This was the
first .session ever held in Springfield. Its prin-
cipal enactments were the stopping of the public
works, the calling in of all unsold bonds and
the abandonment of the whole system.

The great influx of population had increased
the vote of Peoria County from 531 in 1S36
to 1,529 in 1840, which were almost equally di-
vided between Van Buren, who received 767
votes, and Harrison, who received 753, while
Birney, the .\bolition or Liberty candidate, re-

ceived only 9. In view of the approaching na-
tional census and a new apportionment, the Legis-
lature had postponed the Congressional election
until 1841, but the apportionment having not then
been made. Congressmen were elected in the old
districts, John T. Stuart being then re-elected
from the Peoria District.

Three new counties — Bureau, Marshall and
Stark — having been carved out of Putnam, John
Hamlin was elected State Senator to represent
the entire Senatorial District then composed of
five counties, while William J. Phelps repre-
sented Peoria County alone in the Lower House.

The Legislature elected in 1840 had performed
tlie most wonderful exploit in apportioning the
State into Senatorial and Representative districts.
Especially was this the case in regard to Peoria,
which was thrown together with Stark and Bu-
reau in a Senatorial District, aLso by itself for
one Representative, and with Fulton for one and
with Stark and Bureau for one. The election
of 1842 showed 930 votes in the county for
Thomas Ford for Governor, against 767 for
Joseph Duncan ; for William W. Thompson, Dem-
ocrat, for otate Senator. 923 against 744 for
Charles Ballance, Whig : for Representative from
Peoria County, 942 for Levi .\. Hannaford, Dem-
ocrat, against yyi for Phelps. Whig : for Rep-
resentative from Peoria and Fulton, 948 for Sam-
uel Hackelton, Democrat, against 747 for David-
son, Whig: and for Representative from Peoria,
Bureau and Stark, John H, Bryant, Democrat,
had 923 over Brees, Whig.

This Legislature was intensely Democratic.
Sidney Breese was elected United States Senator,
the State was apportioned into seven Congres-
sional Districts, all of which except one were
Democratic. That into which Peoria County fell
was the Fifth, composed of the counties of
Greene, Jersey, Calhoun. Pike, Adams, Marquette
(never organized). Brown, Schuyler, Fulton, Pe-
oria and Macoupin, So ludicrous was this di-
vision that Simeon De Witt Drown, who after-
ward became the historian and .statistician of
Peoria, in March of that year commenced the
issue of a little campaign sheet called The Gerry-
mander, the first number of which contained a
map of each district with a representation of the
animal it was supposed to resemble. The First
was called "The Swing Tailed Roarer." the Sec-
ond "The He Goat," the Third "The Porcupine."
the Fourth "The Bureau Entire Swine," the Fifth
(Peoria District) "The Xondescript," the Sixth
"The Jo Daviess Setter," and the Seventh "The

134

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Kangaroo." In liis Historical Review of Peoria,
published in 1851, he gives a map of the district
with a picture of the Nondescript.

For reasons already stated, the first election
in this district was fixed for August, 1843, the
second in August, 1844, .so that, within the space
of one year, two regular Congressional elections
took place in this county. At the election in
August, 1843, Stephen A. Douglas was the Demo-
cratic candidate for Congress, Orville H. Brown-
ing the Whig candidate, and Moore the

candidate for the Liberty or Abolition party.
There were 1,821 votes cast in Peoria County,
of w-hich Douglas received 948, Browning 830,
and Moore 43.

It will be observed that the county was still
very evenly divided between the Whigs and the
Democrats, the Whigs having gained in three
years 181 votes, the Democrats 177, and the Abo-
litionists 34 — a total gain of 282 votes. The
Abolition vote was found mainly in Peoria, Cop-
peras and Harkness precincts.

The Abolition party was the first in the field
for the campaign of 1844, it having met at Buffalo
August 30, 1843, less than a month after Stephen
A. Douglas had been elected to Congress from
this district. Its candidates were Jaines G. Birney
for President, and Thomas Morris, of Ohio, for
Vice-President. The Whig party met in Balti-
more May I, 1844, and nominated Henry Clay
for President and Theodore Frelinghuysen for
Vice-President. The Democratic party met in
Baltimore May 27, 1844, and nominated James K.
Polk and George M. Dallas for the same offices.
Each of the parties adopted a platform of prin-
ciples upon which it went into the campaign
with the utmost vigor and enthusiasm. The
Whigs had the Pcona Register as their organ,
while the Democrats had the Peoria Deiitocralic
Press, and De Witt C. Drown, on his own be-
half, as a supporter of "The Mill Boy of the
Slashes," as Clay was popularly called, was pub-
lishing The Gerrymander. At the August elec-
tion Douglas was re-elected to Congress, Thomp-
son to the State Senate, while Levi A. Hanna-
ford was elected to represent Peoria County, John
S. Zicber, proprietor of The Demoeratic Press, to
represent Peoria and Fulton Counties, and B. M.
Jackson to represent Peoria, Stark and Bureau
Counties in the Legislature. This Legislature
was uneventful, except for the election, of James
Semple as L'nited States Senator, to fill the va-
cancy occasioned by the death of Samuel Mc-
Roberts, and for the submission to a vote of the

people of a proposition to call a convention to
revise the Constitution.

At the August election, 1846, Augustus C.
French (D.) was elected Governor, the vote of
Peoria County standing for French 1,061, for
Kilpatrick (W.) 676, and for Eells (Ab.) 108;
Stephen A. Douglas was re-elected to Congress,
tile vote in this county standing for Douglas
'•073, Vandeventer 613, and for Wilson (Ab. )
105. Peter Sweat was elected to the State Sen-
ate, the vote in this county being 819 for Sweat,
868 for Lincoln B. Knowlton (W.), and 108 for
Moses Pettengill (Ab. ). There seems to have
been no party contest in Peoria County for mem-
bers of the lower House, Washington Cockle
having received 1,231 votes, Thompson (Independ-
ent Democrat) 194, Root (Anti-Monopoly) 63,
and Smith (Ab.) 113, as Representatives from
Peoria County; Samuel Hackleton received 1,14a
votes aginst 117 for Birge (Ab.) for Representa-
tive from Peoria and Fulton, and Thomas Epper-
son received 1,000 votes against 553 for Thomp-
son (Whig) and 106 for Porter for Representative
from Peoria, Stark and Bureau Counties. But
Henry S. Austin, of Farmington, was elected by
the vote of Fulton County, with Cockle, of Pe-
oria, and Epperson, of Stark. The county cast
794 votes for and 401 against calling a Constitu-
tional Convention.

An election for delegates to that Convention
took place on the 19th day of April. 1847, when
Lincoln B. Knowlton, of Peoria, and William W.
Thompson, of Brimfield, were elected to repre-
sent Peoria County, and Onslow Peters, of Pe-
oria, to represent the counties of Peoria and Ful-
ton in the Convention. A constitution was framed
and submitted to a vote of the people March 6,
1848, and ratified by a vote of 59,887 for and
15,850 against.

The new Constitution went into effect April
I, 1848. Great changes were effected by it in the
conduct of the internal affairs of the Slate.
The Senate was limited to 25 members and the
House to 100 ; elections were thereafter to take
place on the Tuesday next after the first Mon-
day in November, and the General Assembly was
to meet on the first Monday in January ; the
Judges were made elective, those of the Supreme
Court to hold for nine years, and those of the
Circuit Courts to hold for six j'ears, the elections
to be held on the first Monday in June. There
was created a County Court, which was to have
jurisdiction in all probate matters, thus doing
away with the office of Probate Justice of the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

135

Peace. The County Judge, with such Justices
of the Peace as might he designated by law. was
to transact the county Ijusiness instead of the old
County Commissioner's Court. But a provision
that the General Assembly should provide, by a
general law, for a township organization under
which any county might, by vote of the people,
organize, having been inserted, of which Peoria
County soon afterward availed itself, this power
of the County Judge was exercised only for a
short time here. The State Government was
very much strengthened and the imposition of the
two-mill tax. to be devoted to the payment of
the public debt, gave it character and credit
abroad which it had not enjoyed for many years.

At the time this new Constitution went into
effect. Augustus C. French was Governor, Sidney
Breese and Stephen A. Douglas were United
States Senators, William A. Richardson was our
Representative irf Congress, Peter Sweat was
State Senator, and Washington Cockle. Henry S.
Austin and Thomas Epperson were our Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature.

A division in the Democratic party in 1848
had led to a serious complication. The regular
convention met in Baltimore May 22. and the
Whig convention at Philadelphia on June 7, 1848.
The disaffected Democrats met in Buffalo June
22, where they adopted the name of "Free Soil
Party." The Liberty party, then known as the
Liberty League, met at Buffalo.

The Whigs nominated General Zachary Tay-
lor, the Democrats General Lewis Cass, the Free
Soilers Martin Van Buren, and the Liberty League
Gerritt Smith for President of the United States.
The vote of Peoria County at this election stood
1,237 for Taylor, 1,161 for Cass, 368 for Van
Buren.

The first election for State officers under the
new Constitution was held, as before, in the
month of August, but after that time in Novem-
ber, as now. The term of Governor French hav-
ing been cut short by the adoption of the new
Constitution, he was, by common consent, re-elect-
ed, the Whigs making no nomination. William
A. Richardson \Vas re-elected to Congress from
the Peoria District, and again in 1850. which was
the last election under the apportionment of 1843.
David Markley. of Fulton County, was elected
State Senator from the new district composed
of Fulton and Peoria Counties, and Ezra G.
Sanger Representative from Peoria County,
which, for the time being, constituted a district
by itself. The Legislature elected at that time
was Democratic. It elected General James

Shields United States Senator in place of Judge
Breese. endorsed the I'olicy of the administration
in regard to the Mexican War. and. what might
now seem surprising, also endorsed the "Wilmot
Proviso." This step demonstrated that Illinois
had then reached the limit of subserviency to
the slave power. This Legislature also intro-
duced the system of township organization, by
which Peoria County has now been governed
for the period of half a century. It also pro-
vided for the submission of the question of or-
ganizing under that law, to a vote of the people
at the general election in November, 1849. At
that election Peoria County voted for township
organization 2,147. and against it ig. This was
a triumph for Onslov Peters, who is generally
regarded as the fathe;' of that law, and probably
led to his election as Circuit Judge four years
later.

In pursuance of this vote, the County Court,
which had been in existence imder the new Con-
stitution only one year, and then consisting of
Thomas Brjant. Judge, and Joseph Ladd and
John McFarland. Associate Judges, entered an
order at its December term, 1849. appointing Da-
vid Sanborn, George Holmes and Mark M. Ai-
ken Commissioners to divide the county into
towns (townships, as now called), who performed
their duty, and on February 5, 1850, reported to
the Court the division as it now stands, with the
single exception that a small piece, extending
from the city to the bridge at the narrows, has
been taken from Richwoods and added to Peoria.

The first election lor Supervisors occurred in
April, 1850, and the first meeting took place on
the 8th of the same month, only twelve town-
ships being represented, as follows : Hollis, by
Stephen C. Wheeler; Akron, by Benjamin Slane ;
Rosefield, John Combs; Limestone. Isaac Brown;
Orange, Samuel Dimon ; Princeville. L. B. Corn-
well ; Richwoods, Josiah Fulton: Jubilee. William
W. Church: Chillicothe, Charles S. Strother;
Millbrook, Clark W. Stanton : Benton, Jonathan
Brassfield; Trivoli, David R. Gregory. It being
discovered that Orange and Benton bore the same
names as two others in the State, which was not
allowable, the name Benton was changed to
Radnor, and Orange to Fremont, but the latter
name having also been appropriated, the town
was finally given the Indian name of Kickapoo.

The coimty having now become fullj- organ-
ized under the new Constitution, it will be un-
necessary to follow up the elections as closely
as has been done heretofore.

A new Congressional apportionment law was

136

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

passed in 1852, by whicli the Stale was divided
into nine districts, the Fourtli consisting of Ful-
ton. Peoria. Knox. Henry, Stark. Warren, Mer-
cer. Marshall. Woodford, Mason and Tazewell.
Under this apportionment the following Con-
gressmen were elected : 1852 and 1854. James
Knox; 1856, 1858. and 18O0. William Kellogg.
At these same last three elections Owen Lovejoy,
afterward elected from the Fifth or Peoria Dis-
trict, was elecfed from the adjoining Third Dis-
trict, and was the contemporary of Judge Kel-
logg during his entire period in Congress.

The next apportionment was in 1861. when
the State was divided into thirteen districts,
with one from the State at large, in consequence
of the population exceeding the estimate when
the act was passed. The Fifth District, which
was the famous "war district." consisted of the
counties of Peoria, Knox, Stark. Marshall, Put-
nam. Bureau and Henry. Under this apportion-
ment the following Congressmen were elected :
1862, Owen Lovejoy. who died March. 1864, and
was succeeded by Eben C. Ingcrsoll. who was
again elected in 1864. 1866 and 1868. In 1870
Bradford N. Stevens succeeded him.

The next apportionment was in 1872. into nine-
teen districts, the Ninth consisting of Peoria,
Knox. Stark and Fulton, in which were suc-
cessively elected in 1872 Granville Barriere, in
1874 Richard H. Whiting, in 1876 and 1878
Thomas A. Boyd, and in 1880 John H. Lewis.

The next apportionment took place in 1882,
when the State was divided into twenty districts,
the Tenth consisting of the same four counties,
Peoria. Knox. Stark and Fulton, in which were
successively elected the following Congressmen :
1882 and 1884. Nicholas E. Worthington ; 188O,
1888. i8go and i8g2. Philip Sidney Post.

The next apportionment was made in 189.?.
when the State was divided into twenty-two dis-
tricts, the Fourteenth consisting of Marshall,
Peoria. Fulton. Tazewell and Mason, in which
there has been elected but one Congressman —
1804. i8q6. i8q8 and lyco, Joseph V. Graff.

The Senatorial and Representative apportion-
ment made by the new Constitution governed in
the election of 1852, when Peter Sweat was elected
to the Senate and Charles P. King to the House
of Representatives. Peter Sweat having been ap-
pointed Postiuastcr by President Pierce, he re-
signed his position, and at a special ejection held
on the 4th day of February. 1854. Washington
Cockle succeeded him as Senator for the re-
mainder of the term.

-An apportionment was made at a special ses-

sion of the Legislature, which convened Febru-
ary 9. 1854. when Peoria, Marshall. Putnam and
Woodford were made a Senatorial District, and
Peoria and Stark were made a Representative
District with two members. Under this appor-
tionment the following Senators were elected :
1854 and 1856, Dr. John D. /Vrnold (Anti-Ne-
braska); 1858 and i860. George C. Bestor (R.);
and the following Representatives: 1854. Henry
Grove (.\nti-Xeb.), of Peoria, and Thomas J.
Henderson, of Stark (Anti-Neb.); 1856, John
T, Lindsay, of Peoria (R.). and (accidentally)
Martin Shallenberger (D.), of Stark: 1858,
Thomas C. Moore (R.). of Peoria, and Myrtle
G. Brace (R.). of Stark: i860. Flbridge G. John-
son (R.). of Peoria, and Theodore F. Ilurd
(R.). of Stark.

Another apportionment was made in 1861,
W'hen Peoria, Stark, Marshall and Putnam were
made a Senatorial District, and Peoria and Stark
continued as a Representative District with two
members. L'nder this apportionment the follow-
ing Senators were elected: 1862 and 1864, John
T. Lindsay (D.). of Peoria: 1866 and 1868,
Greenbury L. Fort (R), of Marshall County:
and the following Representatives : 1862, Will-
iam W. O'Brien (D.), of Peoria, and James
Holgate (D.). of Stark: 1864. .Mexander Mc-
Coy (R.), of Peoria, and Richard C. Dunn (R.),
of Stark; 1866. Thomas C. Moore (R.). of Peoria,
and Sylvester F. Ottman (R.), of Stark; 1868,
William E. Phelps (R.), of Peoria, and Bradford
F. Thompson (R.), of Stark.

The Legislature elected in 1866 had submitted
to tlie voters of the State a proposition for call-
ing a convention to frame a new Constitution
for the State, which proposition had been adopted
at the general election of 1868. The Legislature
elected at that time provided for an election of
members of the Convention which was to meet
at the State Capital on December 13. 1869. That
election was held at the same time as the gen-
eral election for that year, when Henry W. Wells
(R.). of Peoria, and' Miles A. Fuller (R.). of
Stark County, were elected as Representatives
from the district composed of those two counties.
The Constitution framed by that Convention was
ratified at an election called for that purpose
and held on the second day of July, 1870. and
went into cflFect on the eighth day of August,
of that year. By authority of that instrument
the Governor and Secretary of State made a new
apportionment for Representatives in the Gen-
eral .Assembly to be elected at the next election,
the Senatorial Districts to remain as they then

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

137

were, but each was entitled to two Senators.
By this apportionment Peoria County became en-
titled to three Representatives, to be voted for
on the cumulative plan : that is. the voter could
have three votes which he might distribute among
the three, or. if he should see fit. divide them be-
tween two. or vote them all three for one can-
didate. This is what is known as the "Minority
Representation" plan, inasmuch as it gives, in most
cases, the minority a chance \o elect the third
man. The Senators thereafter to be elected were
to hold for four years. At the election of 1870
Lucien H. Kerr, of Peoria, and Mark Bangs, of
Marshall County, both Republicans, were elected
to the Senate, and James M. Rice (R.) and Sam-
uel Caldwell (R. ). with John S. Lee (D.). were
elected to the House of Representatives.

A new apportionment was made by the Legis-
lature elected at that time, by which Peoria
County became, and has ever since continued to
be, a Senatorial District by itself, and entitled to
one Senator and three Representatives. Under
this apportionment the following Senators have
been elected: 1872 and 1876. John S. Lee (D.) ;
1880 and 1884, Andrew J. Bell (D.) ; 1888, Mark
M. Bassett (R.) ; 1892, John M. Niehaus (D.) ;

1896 and 1900, James D. Putnam (R) — also the
following members of the House of Representa-
tives: 1872. Julius S. Starr (R.). Michael C. Quinn
(D), Ezra G. Webster (R.) : 1874. William Row-
cliffe (R.), Julius S. Starr (R.). Patrick W.
Dunne (D.) : 1876. Latham A. Wood (R.). Xelson
D. Jay (D.), Robert S. Bibb (D.) ; 1878, Horace
R. Chase (D.), Bernard Cremer (D.). Washing-
ton Cockle (R.) ; 1880, Joseph Gallup (D.). David
Heryer (R.), John M. Niehaus (D.) : 1882, Sam-
uel H. Thompson (R.). Joseph Gallup (D.), Mich-
ael C. Quinn (D.) ; 1884. Mark M. Bas.sett (R.).
John Downs (D.). William McLean (D. ); 1886.
XeLson D. Jay (D.), James Kenny (D.). John M.
Hart (R.); 1.S8S. John M. Hart (R.), James
Kenny (D.). David B. Stookey (D.) ; 1890, John
Johnston (D.), John L. Gehr (D.), Thomas J.
Edwards (R.) : 1892, Peter CahiU (D), John
Holmes (D.), William O. Clark (R.) : 1894.
.Aquilla J. Daugherty (R.), .Alva Merrill (R.).
Peter Cahill (D.) ; 1896, Aquilla J. Daugherty
(R.), .\lva Merrill (R.). Almon H. Bristol (D.) ;
1898. Alva Merrill (R.), Edward D. McCulloch
(R.), Peter F. Cahill (D.): 1900, Alva Merrill
(R.), Edward D. McCulloch (R.), John F.
Buckley (D.).

CHAPTER XXII.

THE IMPENDING CONFLICT.

The campaign of 1840 was a memorable one.
The electoral, as well as the popular vote of 1836
had been divided be;ween Martin Van Buren,
William Henry Harrison, Hugh L. White, Daniel
Webster and Willie P. Mangum. Van Buren
had been elected President and Richard M. John-
son Vice-President. In 1840 the opposition were
more united. The Whigs had placed in nomina-
tion for the Presidef.cy that sturdy old pioneer
Governor of Indiana Territory, William Henry
Harrison, the hero of the battle of Tippecanoe,
with John Tyler, of Virginia, as the candidate for
Vice-President, while the Democrats had staked
all their hopes of success upon Van Buren. In
drawing a contrast between Van Buren and Har-
rison, a recent writer says : "On the other hand,
it was asserted that General Harrison had lived
in a log cabin. This fact was made to play an
important part in the vanvass, and log cabins were
erected in the public parks of some of the
wealthier cities, ornamented with coon skins,
after the fashion of frontier huts, to show the
complete identification of the party with the com-
mon people and their interests. Monster meet-
ings, covering many acres of ground, were held
in many parts of the Union. Eloquence and
.song — 'Tippecanoe and Tyler, too' — with per-
haps a little cider drinking, united to extol the
merits of the Whig candidates. General Har-
rison himself addressed an open air meeting at
Dayton, Ohio, estimated to number about 80,000
people. On this tide of popular favor, Harrison
and Tyler were carried into office by an over-
whelming majority." A comparison of the votes,
however, shows a majority which, in these days,
would not largely exceed that of Mckinley in
some single btate at the late election, the vote be-

ing 1,275.011 for Harrison, and 1,128,702 for Van
Buren. The Abolition candidate, James G. Birney,
received only 7,509 in the entire Union, of which
only nine were cast in Peoria County.

These Abolitionistj of Peoria were found
chiefly in the Main Street Presbj'terian Church —
a church, Presbyterian in name but Congrega-
tional in realty. Two years later their voices
were heard.

On the 13th day of February, 1843, occurred
a scene in Peoria which well illustrates the dom-
ineering power of the slave oligarchy in those
times. On the 3d day of the same month, and
again on the loth. there appeared in the "Peoria
Register," a notice as follows : "The Peoria
Anti-Slavery Society will hold a meeting in the
Main Street Presbyterian Church, on Monday
evening, the 13th inst., at early candle-lighting,
for the purpose of organizing and electing offi-
cers for the ensuing year."

This little notice had much the same effect
upon the pro-slavery clement as the matadore's
flag has in the bull ring. To say they became
excited is putting it too mildly. They were an-
gered, they were maddened, they were exasper-
ated, they were furious. They called a meeting at
the Court House at 3 o'clock on the same day
on which the Abolition meeting was to take
place at the church. That no injustice may be
done their memory their proceedings, published at
the time under their own sanction, are here given :

"Peoria, February 13, 1843. — At a large and
respectable public meeting of the citizens of
Peoria, convened at the court house in this town,
at 3 o'clock p. m., on motion of Mr. E. \. Powell,
Andrew Gray was chosen chairman, and John
S. Zieber, secretary. Mr. J. McCoy then moved

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

139

the adoption of the following preamble and reso-
lution, which was seconded bj' G. T. Metcalfe,

Esq.

"Whereas, we have noticed, with extreme re-
gret, an advertisement in the Peoria Register of
the lOth of February, 1843, in substance as fol-
lows:" (Here follows the notice already
given) and,

"\Vhere"S, we are desirous of expressing our
entire disapprobation of the views and principles
generally entertained and promulgated by the
members and advocates of said society, believing
that the doctrines advocated by them are in
direct conflict with the laws and Constitution of
the United States, and their ultimate, if not
direct tendency, is to produce discord and dis-
union between the Federal States of this Union
with no possibility of benefit resulting to those
in whose favor their sympathies appear to be
enlisted ; and that the organization of such a
society in the town of Peoria would tend to dis-
courage and disgrace us as a community, and
create domestic and personal difliculties and dis-
orders ; therefore,

"Resolved, That we will oppose the public
organization of any anti-slaverj- society in the
town of Peoria, and that, however desirous we
may be that our opposition should be confined
to reason and argument alone, yet, in case it shall
become necessary, in order to prevent the catas-
trophe, that force should be used (how much-
soever we may regret that necessity), we shall
hold ourselves bound to employ it when all other
measures shall have proved unsuccessful."

"On motion of Mr. I. Underbill it was Re-
solved, that a committee of five be appointed
whose duty it shall be to attend the anti-slavery
or abolition meeting referred to in the preced-
ing preamble and resolution, read the same to
the meeting, and take such steps as may be
deemed proper to carry out the same.

"The following named gentlemen were then
by nomination appointed said committee, viz :
I. Underbill. E. N. Powell, C. Cleveland. G. T.
Metcalfe and Henry A. Stillman. and on motion
X. H. Purple was added to the committee.

"On motion of N. H. Purple, Esq., Resohed,
Tliat the citizens of Peoria will attend en masse
at the Main Street Presbyterian church this
evening and aid the committee to enforce the
resolutions of this meeting.

"On motion of G. T. Metcalfe. Resolved, That
the proceedings of this meeting be published in
the 'Peoria Demoratic Press' (Signed) A.
Gray, chairman, and John S. Ziber, secretary."

A statement of the proceedings which fol-
lowed this meeting was made out and signed by
five of the most respectable citizens of Peoria
who had taken part in the anti-slavery meeting,
which statement was presented to the two papers
then published in Peoria, "The Democratic
Press" and "The Peoria Register," but refused
insertion in either of them. It is as follows :

"Mr. Editor : — A few weeks since some of the
citizens of this place, supposing themselves to be
in possession of the constitutional right of liberty
of speech, and feeling bound to do something
in behalf of human rights, agreed to meet in the
Main Street Presbyterian Church (their own
house), on Monday, the 13th inst., for the pur-
pose of organizing an anti-slavery society. They
believed that such efforts were sanctioned by the
laws of love, and have yet to learn that any
statute law- or constitutional principle was vio-
lated.

"Well, sir, the evening arrived and the friends-
of freedom organized the meeting by appointing
Mr. Taylor chairman. His election was opposed
by a loud no from those who came to deprive Ui-
of our rights. But as they bad no right to vote
Mr. Taylor took the chair. Having stated the
object of the meeting and his views in taking
the chair, he called on Mr. Allen to lead in devo-
tional exercises, singing and prayer. As soon
as prayer was ended. ]Mr. Purple, in behalf of the
committee consisting of Messrs. Jletcalfe. Still-
man. Underbill and Cleveland, from a meeting
held in the court house in the afternoon, stepped
forward and called the attention of the meeting to
a paper which he held in his hand containing a
preamble and resolutions, the purport of which
was that anti-slavery principles were illegal, un-
costitutional and discouraging, and that if we
would not peacefully dissolve the meeting, they
would do it by violence. Mr. Allen then at-
tempted to reply to the communication, but was
immediately interrupted by loud and boisterous
yells and stamping from the crowd. The chair-
man then arose and asked, "Shall Mr. Allen be
heard?" Some said, "Hear." He then spoke
three or four minutes in behalf of our inalienable
rights to the liberty of speech, amenable only
to the regular action of the law. He then at-
tempted to read the constitution of the Peoria
.Vnti-Slavery Society, that the people might un-
derstand its principles, but was immediately
stopped by the same outcries. Again the chair-
man asked, "Will yon not hear this constitution
read?" .Again some said. "Hear." He then read,
the first paragraph and was immediately and ef-

• 140

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

fccUially stopped by the most fierce and violent
noises. The chairman attempted in vain to quell
the disturbance. The spirit of violence seemed
to rise higher and liigher every moment. The
Sheriff and other peace officers were present, but
did nothing to secure to us the possession of our
house and the freedom of .speech. Many wealthy
and influential members of the community were
there, some of them countenancing the riot. Law
and order were completely trampled under fool.
Under these circumstances it was thought best to
adjourn. We did so. and after some time left the
house without molestation. Thus we escaped
personal injury, but had our inalienable rights
rudely and violently taken from us. (Signed)
failles Taylor. John Reynolds. Moses I'ettcngill.
.■1. T. Castle. T. Adams."

On the night of ihe 14th of the same month
another public meeting was held in the court
house, of wliich tlic following is an official re-
port :

"Peoria, February 14. 1843. — Pursuant to pub-
lic notice the citizens of Peoria assembled in the
court house this evening at 6 o'clock, wlicn. on
motion. Fr. Voris. Esq., was called to the chair,
and L. Howell appointed secretary.

"On motion of Mr. Bryan, Resolved, that a
committee of five be appointed to draft resolutions
expressive of the sen.sp of this meeting.

"The chair was authorized to appoint tlie
committee as follows • W. F. Bryan, Andrew
Gray, \V. R. Hopkins. E. X. Powell and J.
Rankin."

"After the committee had retired a short time
they returned the following report, which so
tersely and forcibly expresses the prevailing sen-
timents upon the slavery question, that no mere
abstract or condensation thereof would do it
justice :

■ "Whereas, An effort has been made by a very
small minority of our citizens and others to effect
a public organization of an abolition society in
Peoria : and,

"Whereas. The principles of modern abolition-
ism are at utter variance with the letter and
spirit of our glorious and revered national Con-
stitution, which teaches and enjoins harmony and
union l)etween the citizens of the several States :
and.

"Whereas. It is the duty of every good citizen
to support and maintain the government which
affords him protection, and of every patriot and
lover of his country to frown indignantly upon

the first dawning of every attempt to alienate
any portion of the citizens of the Union from citi-
zens of another portion :

"Resolved, That the citizens of Peoria are op-
posed to the formation of an abolition society
within their community, and will resist every at-
tempt to effect the public organization of such
a society among them, so long as they possess
the power to do so.

"Resiili'ed. That, so long as the great mass of
our population is utterly opposed to the principles
and practice of modern abolitionists, and regard
them with abhorrence, as revolting to all those
sentiments of pride and self-respect which white
men ought to possess, and to all lessons of patriot-
ism and veneration for the Constitution and laws
of the country which we have received from our
fathers, we will not submit to the introduction
among us of a society avowing these principles.

"Resolved, That the late abortive attempt to
effect the public organization of an abolition so-
ciety in this place might justly have been re-
garded with contempt and indifference, on ac-
count of the insignificance of the number of per-
sons who were concerned in it, had not the fact
that an active and latterly avowed agent of a for-
eign society was at the head of the attempt,
made it apparent that the puny infant was des-
tined, by the aid of foreign nurses and tutelage,
to become a giant, whose strength would hid de-
fiance to all efforts to resist his treasonable
projects.

"Resok'ed, That we entertain as high and holy
regard for 'liberty of ;peech,' in its rational con-
stitutional sense, as do any of the misguided
zealots whose distempered philanthropy trans-
forms the world (botli temporal and spiritual)
into a negro ; but that a'c cannot and Zi'ill not per-
mit that sacred right to be used as a 'wooden
horse' for the introduction among us of runaway
slaves, free negro loafers, practical amalgamation,
treason, disunion, civil war, the destruction of all
those rights of 'life, liberty and property' (to
which we have at least an equal claim with the
negro), and other evils necessarily resulting from
the establishment of abolition principles.

"Resolved, That we rejoice in the sudden and
effectual abortion of the recent attempt to foist
an abolition society upon us, and proclaim our
unalterable determination to frou'n upon every
succeeding attempt as indignantly and as effectu-
ally as upon the first.

"Resolved. That we look on the negro race

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

141

with kindness, but that we do not desire them,
hke frogs in Egypt, in our bed clianibcrs and
around our tables.

"Resolved. That we view the press as an ex-
l)ression of the views of the people and not as
the director, and we will support no print that
advocates views contrary to our interests and
our honor.

"Resolved, That ue view slavery as the do-
mestic business of the South, not our business or
our sin. and a matter in which no State or indi-
vidual has a right to interfere, particularly against
the wishes of those interested.

"Resolved, That abolition has been the ruin
of every town in which its seed has taken root.
We want no such forced products here, and ask
in tones of authority to be let alone, and that
in the Rev. VVm. T. .\llen we see a disturber
of the public peace, and one whose business is
agitation and abolition, and that his services here
can be dispensed with."

"On motion of Mr. May, Resolved, that a com-
mittee of five be appointed to request the pro-
prietors of the newspaper presses of our town
not to give publicity to any of the proceedings
cif the abolition .societies, nor to publish any of
their notices whatever, nor any communications
advocating their peculiar doctrines, and if any
of them refuse to comply with such request that
we withdraw our support and patronage from
such newspaper press.

"The chair was authorized to fill the connnit-
tee, and he appointed I. Underbill. E. X. Powell,
G. T. Metcalfe. L. B. Knowdton and L. Howell.

"On motion of Dr. Castle, it was resolved that
the proceedings of the meeting be signed by the
chairman and secretary and published in The
I'rei's and Registei: (Signed) Fr.vxcis Voris,
Chairman: Licwis Howell, Secretary."

Prior to the month of September. 1842. Mr.
Samuel H. Davis had been editor and proprietor
of the Peoria Rei;iste". a Whig publication in no
wise tainted with abolitionism. .\t that time he
dispcsed of the Register to the Messrs. Butler,
by whom it was published at the time of the
transaction just related, but for reasons not neces-
sary to state here. Mr. Davis had continued to
edit the paper under an arrangement made with
Messrs. Butler until that time.

On Wednesday, the 15th day of February,
1S43, there was han(>ed into the office of that
paper the resolution passed at the meeting of the
citizens of the court house on the 14th of the
same month. Mr. Davis had not been at either
meeting. On being informed of the proceedings

at the Main Street Presbyterian Church, he ap-
prised the proprietors of the Register that he
should speak of them iji terms of the severest
condemnation. They replied that, being opposed
in principle to the views of the abolitionists, they
had determined to publish nothing more on either
side. He then informed them that he could have
nothing further to do with the paper and that
they must procure another editor. This closed
his connection with that paper.

Mr. Davis then issued a pamphlet, giving a
full account of the transaction, wdiich he read at
an anti-slavery convention held at Farmington on
the 8th day of March follow-ing. As before stated,
Mr. Davis was not ;.;i abolitionist, but a Whig,
and issued this pamphlet, not in the interest of
the abolitionists, but in defense of the rights of
free speech and of the freedoin of the press.
.*\t the Farmington convention resolutions were-
passed, not only severely criticising the proceed-
ings, but condemning by name the persons inter-
ested therein as mobocrats and rioters, and that
the Sheriflf. Coroner and Constables by name had
proved themselves recreants to the high trust and
solemn responsibilities they had by oath assumed.

.Mthough, on the occasion of the second meet-
ing, the court house was well filled, the number
of persons being estimated at between two and
three hundred, yet Mr. Davis was satisfied that
the greater portion of them wished to be con-
sidered as merely spectators: that upon a divis-
ion of the house being taken only forty-four
had voted upon a certain question, twenty-four
in the affirmative and twenty in the negative.
from which fact he concludes that the mass of
the population did not enter into the views of
the mob, but, on the contrary, they were the
friends of law' and order.

In commenting upon the proceedings. Mr. Da-
vis said: "The friends of free discussion would
doubtless be glad to know how far either of the
two political parties were implicated in these out-
rages. On this occasion they ran together like
kindred drops of water, .^t the first luceting.
when it was resolved to resort to force, if neces-
sary, to carry out their ends, and the people were
called upon en masse to enforce the resolution,
both the chairman and secretary were LocoFoeos,
anil at the next meeting (on Tuesday night)
these dignitaries were both Whigs. It was dis-
covered on Tuesday morning that the mob had
gone too far, and the Loco Focos. with a tact pe-
culiar to them, contrived to shift off the respon-
sibility upon their opponents. Hence, on Wednes-
day it w-as said by them that it was a Whig dis-

142

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

turbance — that the committee to report resolu-
tions at the second meeting were four-tifths
Whigs, and tliat the committee to call on the
newspaper proprietors were all Whigs. If these
persons reflect the principles of Wliigism, then
I wish to have nothmg more to do with it.
But they do not. No! True Whigism is the
impersonation of all that is lofty in morals and
liberal in politics. Its master spirits are John
Qiiincy .Adams and Henry Clay. Look at the
former, sustaining by his mighty power in the
Representatives' Hall of Congress, the right of
petition and of free discussion on all subjects
against the nialignan: and exasperated opponents
of this constitutional privilege. See the 'White
Slaves of the North' fawning around their South-
ern masters and joinir.g in the crusade to expel
the 'Old Man Eloquent.' See how, with the spear
of truth, the veteran statesman made them quail
before him, while for three days he stood forth
the champion of the dearest right granted in the
charter of our liberties. There was Whigism,
and there was one of the master spirits. In
the other hall of Congress see Henry Clay, na-
ture's own nobleman — the equally fearless cham-
pion of all the rights guaranteed by our free Con-
stitution. See him when petitions for the aboli-
tion of slavery in the District of Columbia were
poured into the Senate chamber, and when the
Southern Senators would sternly forbid their re-
ception, see him bearding the lions in their dens,
and, armed at all points with the panoply of
true wisdom, advocating their reference to the
District Committee, with instructions to report
fully, calmly and kindly, the reason which must
impel Congress to decline the action sought."

After speaking of several other bright lights
of both parties, w-ho had stood by the principles
of free speech and free press, he concludes as
follows :

"There are some, aye, many men — may I not
say of both parties? — planted by Providence upon
this frontier of our ct'Untry, who cherish an in-
herent love of liberty and are governed by the
highest of all obligations, i\Ior.\l Principle.
These at the proper time will speak out — not in
the impulses of passion, nor in the unbridled
licentiousness of a mob, but through the still and
quiet, yet more potential, expression of their un-
bought and unpurchasable suffrages."

Lawless as these proceedings were, it cannot
but be observed there was underlying them a
laudable sentiment of patriotism, a love of the
LInion of the States and a determination that,
not in Peoria, should any encouragement be given

to a political organization fraught with danger
to our institutions. Men who had been trained
to believe, as many of them had, that the insti-
tution of slavery had the sanction of divine au-
thority, could not see it in the same light as
did the Abolitionists, and believing that organized
political action in favor of its overthrow tended
directly to the dissolution of the Union, they
were wont to regard the abolitionists as enemies
of their country not to be tolerated. Although,
in the light in which the institution is now seen,
they were grossly misguided, it must be remem-
bered their sentiments did not differ from those
entertained by the great majority of their coun-
trymen. The instigators of this inovement were
men of the highest respectability, five, if not six
of them, being leading attorneys, one of whom
afterward became a Justice of the Supreme Court,
one a Judge of the Circuit Court, while the others
maintained a respectable standing at the bar dur-
ing the remainder ot their lives. The others
named were business men in good standing, most
of whom either had been, or afterward became,
public officers; some of them afterward also be-
coming ardent Republicans.

It must be remembered, too, that in a business
point of view Peoria was then much more closely
allied with the South than it has been for many
years last past, the Illinois River then being its
chief avenue of commerce. Although, at this
distance of time, and in view of the changed cir-
cumstances under which we live, their actions
may appear unjustifiable, yet we cannot with-
hold from them an acknowledgment of their hon-
esty of purpose. The incident well illustrates the
temper of public .sentiment of the times.

About this time there was coming to the
front a man of mighty power as an orator — one
possessed of the courage of the lion — one who
afterwards became noted as an anti-slavery leader
and who, for a short period, represented Peoria
County in the National Congress. From the day
that Elijah P. Lovejoy was slain by the slave
power, his brother Owen, who was also a minis-
ter of the Gospel, devoted his life to the exter-
mination of that institution. He resided near
Princeton, in Bureau County, and kept a station
of what was known as the "Underground Rail-
way." The abolitionists of the North had a se-
cret understanding among themselves that, when
runaway slaves should come to any of their
houses, they should receive food and shelter and
free transportation to the next nearest station,
which was usually accomplished in the night
time. In this way the fugitives were soon safely

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

143

landed in Canada, beyond the reach of their
pursuing masters. At the house of Owen Love-
joy many of these fugitives received food and
shelter while on their way to a land of freedom.

Lovejoy was not an abolitionist of the school
of William Lloyd Garrison and others who be-
lieved the Constitution of the United States to
be "a covenant with death and a league with
hell," but that it was one of the greatest safe-
guards of personal liberty; that the provisions
therein contained for the protection of the slave-
holders were but temporary in character and in-
serted simply to bridge over an emergency, and
that under its benign influence the whole couiuiy
would ultimately become free. Politically he was
rather of the Lincoln and Seward school, while
personally his noble soul would not permit him
to refuse assistance to a fugitive seeking free-
dom, although the laws of the land forbade the
act. In this respect he believed, with many other
abolitionists, that there is a higher law, govern-
ing in the domain of conscience, morality and
religion, to which a man is bound to yield obedi-
ence although all human law may be against it.

So believing, he yielded to the demands of this
higher law as they were presented to his con-
science, and in so doing, voluntarily ran the risk
of amenability to the law of the land.

Accordingly, at the May term, 1844, of tlie
Bureau County Circuit Court, Hon. Richard M.
Young presiding as Judge and Norman H. Pur-
ple, of Peoria, Prosecuting Attorney pro tent.,
the grand jury returned a bill of indictment
against Lovejoy for a violation of tlie law of
the State. It contained two counts ; one for har-
boring, secreting and clothing a certain negro girl
named Agnes, then and there being a fugitive
slave, he, the said Lovejoy, knowing her to be
such ; the second, for committing a similar offense
with respect to another negro slave, called
"Nance." The case came on for trial at the
October term, 1S42, Hon. John Dean Caton pre-
siding; Norman H. Purple and the noted Ben-
jamin F. Fridley, State's Atorney, for the prose-
cution, and James H. Collins, of Chicago, and
Lovejoy in person, for the defense. The evidence
presented a strong case against Lovejoy. The
prosecution was conducted with marked energy
and vindictiveness, while opposing counsel availed
themselves not only of every technical ground
of defense, but in vehement terms denounced the
laws under which the indictment w-as preferred
as unconstitutional and void. Fridley was noted
over the north part of the State for his homely
wit and drollery, and used his power in this re-

gard without stint on this occasion. But when
out of hearing of the jury he used it with equal
effect upon the instigators of the prosecution.
When the case was about to be called, one of
them, addressing him, said : "Fridley, we want
you to be sure and convict this preacher and
send him to prison." "Prison ! Lovejoy to
prison!" said he; "your prosecution will be a
d — d sight more likely to send him to Congress."
Less than twenty years from that time, and at
the time of the first emancipation proclamation,
he was canvassing Peoria County for his fourth
term in Congress, against a very popular opponent,
Thomas J. Henderson, then doing .duty at the
front as Colonel of the One Hundred and
Twelfth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers.

Another crisis in the slavery controversy was •
fast approaching. It was supposed to have been
settled, so far as the Territories were concerned,
by the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Now, how-
ever, Texas, an independent State upon our
southwestern borders, was asking admission with
its existing institution of slavery. This was ac-
complished at the close of Tyler's administration.
The Mexican war soon followed and brought into
the possession of the Government vast territories
in addition to those already in its possession.
Slavery agitation was again renewed with such
a degree of violence ;',s to again seriously threaten
the perpetuity of the Union. The question was
again brought to a settlement, as was supposed,
forever, by the compromise of 1850 — the wisest
and most experienced statesmen in the land be-
ing then in Congress.

In 1854 Owen Lovejoy was elected to the
Legislature as the Anti-Nebiaska candidate from
Bureau County, and vigorously supported .Abra-
ham Lincoln as the candidate for L'nited States
Senator. In 1856 he was elected to the Congress
of the United States. While a member of that
• body an incident occurred which well illustrates
the indomitable courage manifested, not only by
him, but by other men holding like principles
w'ith him.

After the rendition of the Drcd Scott decis-
ion, and on the very verge of the outbreak of
the Civil War, Mr. Lovejoy came face to face
with the autocrats of the slave power in the halls
of Congress. About the time of the Dred Scott
decision one Ephraim Lombard had brought an
old negro, gray-haired and bent with age. but a
slave, to the neighborhood of Bradford, in Stark
County. The people there would probably have
taken no e.xception to this, for the poor old negro's
sake, had not Lombard boldlv stated that he had

144

liT STORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

brought him there as a slave ; that by virtue of
the Dred Scott decision, as he interpreted
it, what was a man's property in one State he
had a right to take into and hold as properly
in every State (a doctrine now advocated in de-
fense of another public abomination), and that
notwithstanding the Constitution and laws of Illi-
nois he had the same right to hold "Old Mose"
as a slave here as he had in Mississippi. To
defeat this defiant attitude of Lombard, and it
becoming known that "Old Mose." notwithstand-
ing his age. had the fire of freedom burning in
his heart, it was quietly arranged that he should
be provided -with frej passage to Canada. "Ac-
cordingly." says the relator, "one Peter Risedorf.
and another equally daring, met him by the light
of the stars, and before morning he was placed
in the care of Owen Lovejoy. at Princeton,
twenty miles away. From there he was speedily
"franked" by a member of Congress to friends
in Canada." This having been reported to Con-
gressman Singleton. Representative of Lombard's
old district in Mississippi, the former undertook

to reproach Lovejoy on the floor of Congress
as a "nigger stealer." This brought out from
Lovejoy that phillipic which has echoed around
the world: "I do assist fugitive slaves. Pro-
claim it then upon the housetops; write it on
every leaf that trembles in the forest : make it
l)laze from the sun at high noon and shine forth
in the milder radiance of every star that be-
decks the firmament v)f God ; let it echo through
all the arches of heaven and reverberate and
bellow along the deep gorges of hell, where slave-
catchers will be very likely to hear of it ; Owen
Lovejoy lives at Princeton. Illinois, three-quarters
of a mile east of the village, and he aids every
fugitive that comes to his door and asks it. Thou
invisible demon of slavery, dost thou think to
cross my himiblc threshold and forbid me to give
liread to the hungry and shelter to the houseless?
I bid you defiance in the name of my God."

Such were the sentiments entertained on both
sides of the. question less than a score of years
before the "inevitable conflict" broke out into-
open warfare.

CHAPTER XXIII.

I&y4 TO IbJG— RE-ADJUSTMENT OF PARTIES-
DOUGLAS AT PEORIA.

-LINCOLN' AND

Although the compromise of 1850 was sup-
posed to have forever settled the agitation of
the question of slavery in the Territories, yet,
as events subsequently proved, it was nothing
but a rope of sand.

The Southern States were not satisfied to let
well enough alone, and, when the time had ar-
rived for organizing Territorial governments in
Kansas and Nebraska, which were within the
icrritory made free by the Missouri Compro-
mise, a provision was introduced that they should
be left free to have slavery or not, as they should
determine for themselves. This provision be-
came known as the "Popular Sovereignty," other-
wise derisively called the "Squatter Sovereignity."
doctrine of Stephen A. Douglas. Xo sooner
was it known that it amounted to a virtual abro-
Ration of the Missouri Compromise (which it
became, in fact, before the bill passed), than the
whole North was ablaze with excitement. The
Free Soil Democracy had, in 1852, adopted a
ringing platform in opposition to slavery and all
that grew out of it, one of its planks being,
"That we inscribe on our banner. Free Soil, Free
Speech. Free Labor, and Free Men, and under
it will fight on and fight ever until a triumphant
victory shall reward our exertions." Little did
the men w'ho adopted that platform dream that,
within a little more than a decade thereafter,
through the rashness of the slave-owners them-
selves, their most ardent hopes were to be
realized.

The excitment growing out of the introduction
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill reached Peoria in the
month of February. 1854. .A meeting was held
at the court house on the night of March 2d.
at which Dennis Blakeley presided, and Jesse L.
10

Knowlton acted as secretary. A committee o£
five, consisting of A. N. Sheppard. a dashing
young Southron ; Thomas J. Pickett, editor and
proprietor of the "Peoria Republican" (until then'
the leading Whig paper) ; Samuel Dimon, a,
substantial farmer from Kickapoo ; Hervey Light-
ner, and John Hamlin, two leading business mea
of Peoria, two of whom were Democrats and
three Whigs, was appointed to draft resolutions
expressive of the sense of the meeting. The reso-
lutions expressed regret at the course of Sen-
ator Douglas and some of the Representatives in
Congress; averred that the pending bill violated
the letter of the compromise of 1850; that it
would tend to disturb the harmony existing be-
tween the sections : would create sectional dis-
trust and perpetual agitation, and urged upon
the Legislature to instruct the Senators and re-
quest the Representatives to vote against the
clause repealing the Missouri Compromise.

.\ counter meeting was then called to meet
at the Court House on the 9th of the same
month. This call was headed by Julius Manning,
one of the ablest members of the Bar. and was
signed by over one hundred leading Democrats.
^L•lnning was made president of the meeting,
James M. Cunningham, vice-president, and A. B.
Chambers, secretary. Wellington Loucks, Milton
McCormick, William S. Moss, .\ugustus O. Gar-
ret and John Jewell were appointed a committee
on resolutions. The resolutions had doubtless
been undergoing the process of incubation for
a week, but respect for the speakers present re-
quired that the committee should retire long^
enough for them, in the meantime, to arouse
the enthusiasm of the meeting. During the in-
terval speeches were made by S. .Vd.ims, Julius

[46

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Manning and Daniel O'Kccfc, tlie must typical
Irish gentleman that has ever lived in Peoria.
Speeches and resolutions alike indorsed the Kan-
sas-Nebraska bill and eulogized its champion.

Peoria County having become associated with
Kno.K and other counties in a new Congressional
District, had, at the election of 1852, sent to
Congress James Knox, of Knoxville, a gentle-
man of irreproachable character, and one ardent-
ly opposed to the further extension of slavery.
He was a candidate for re-election in 1854. Dr.
John D. Arnold, of Peoria, another man of fine
scholarship and abilities and of irreproachable
■character, was a candidate for the State Senate,
against John Burns, of Lacon. Henry Grove, a
leading lawyer of Peoria, and Thomas J. Hender-
son, of Stark County (afterwards Congressman),
were candidates for the Legislature, all of whom
^vere elected. The Whig party having died, and
the Republican party not having as yet been born,
the ticket was headed, "The People's Ticket.'" a
convenient name at all times for those whose po-
litical status has not yet become clearly defined.
The vote in Peoria County stood : for State Treas-
urer, Moore (D), 1407; Miller (P), 1476; Con-
gress, McMurtry, (D), 1392; Knox (P), 1499:
State Senator, Burns (D), 1377; Arnold (P)
1504; Representatives, Moss (D), 1401 ; Grove
(P), 1440; Moucriefe (D), 13S9; Henderson (P),

^488- . .., ,

"Never before," says a recent historian, had

it been so difficult to classify the members of the
"Legislature. There were among them a few old
Whigs, who still adhered to the name, gloried in
it, and were loath to surrender it ; there were also
straight Democrats, Anti-Nebraska Democrats,
Know Nothings, Free Soilers and Abolitionists.
'On the main question of the Kansas-Nebraska is-
sue the Senate stood fourteen Democrats and
■eleven Anti-Nebraska or inchoate Republicans;
while in the House there were thirty-four Demo-
-crats and forty-one in opposition." [Our Senator
and Representatives being classed with the anti-
Nebraska forces— Ed.] Lyman Trumbull, an
anti-Nebraska Democrat, was elected United
States Senator to succeed General Shiclilx
Democrat, .\braham Lincoln was the caucus
nominee of the Whigs and General Shields
• of the Democrats, but neither of them could be
■elected. The contest finally narrowed down to
Governor Matteson, on the Democratic side, and
Mr. Trumbull, on the Anti-Nebraska side; the
latter receiving fifty-one votes to forty-seven
for Matteson— two not voting for either candidate.
5o close was this election that, if the delegation

from Peoria had been Democratic, the result
would have been just the opposite of what it w.is;
and. as their majorities were less than
100 (.except Arnold's, which was 167), it ap-
pears that Trumbull had an exceedingly small
margin. In this Legislature our good friend and
late fellow citizen. Dr. Robert Eoal, represented
Marshall County, and was a stanch supporter of
Mr. Lincoln until, to save the day, Mr. Lincoln's
name, at his own request, was withdrawn in
favor of Mr. Trumbull — a Democrat — so com-
pletely had old party distinctions disappeared in
view of an impending sectional crisis.

The campaign which preceded the election
of 1854 was a notable one. Senator Douglas
had in no small degree lost caste with the free-
soil element in his party, and, in order to secure
the election of a Democratic United States
Senator as his colleague, it was necessary for
him to make luse of the most vigorous measures
to prevent an open rupture. He therefore billed
several meetings at important points in the
State, one of which was to be at Springfield
during the State Fair, one at Peoria on the
i6th of October, one at Lacon on the 17th, and
one at Princeton on the i8th. When this had
become known, the attention of the Whigs at
Peoria was turned towards Mr. Lincoln as the
proper person to answer him. To this end the
following letter, the original of which, in the
hand-writing of Jonathan K. Cooper, is still in
existence, was written and is here reproduced
substantially in its original form :

"Peoria, Sept. 28, 1854.
"Hon. .\bram Lincoln.
"Dear Sir:
"Lhiderstanding that Judge Douglas is ex-
pected to address our citizens on the 16th of
next month on the principles of the Nebraska-
Kansas bill, and feeling that what he may
then advance should not be suiifered to pass
without suitable notice, the under.signed. on be-
half of themselves and the Whigs of Peoria,
are exceedingly desirous that (if not too great
a lax upon your time and strength) you will
consent to be present, and take a convenient
opportunity, after the speech of Judge D.
to reply to it, and give us your own views upon
the subject. Permit us to say here, that we are
not unmindful of the good service you have
heretofore repeatedly rendered us, nor insen-
sible of what we already .owe you on that ac-
count — but this rather encourages us to .solicit
and look for a renewal of the favor.

(^fes^c Je^^i;?:. als/s^Z^

in_02-'e--'.-^^ , (X^j^ tj.ejLiLdU.J^ c-GL-ecA^s-^^ TC^^^C/'^iT/c^ ^Io^G^ui^^lZzo- l^y.^,^^^

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^gj^fcJU^ _X^^^^^^^^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

147

"Hoping that you may find it convenient to
respond favorably to our wish, and that, at
no distant day, it may be in our power to tes-
tify our high and warm appreciation of your
patriotic and efficient public services, we re-
main, very truly,

"Your friends and fellow citizens —
Jno. Hamlin, Jonathan K. Cooper,

A. P. Bartlett, C. W. McClallen,

Lorin G. Pratt, Thomas Bryant,

Joseph C. Frye, John T. Lindsay,

C. Ballance, Jno. A. IMcCoy,

Geo. C. Bestor, D. D. Irons,

Jno. D. Arnold, V. Dewein,

Hugh W. Reynolds, A. McCoy,

Kdward Dickinson, Wni. A. Herron,

John King, John Dredge."

This note, dated five days before his Spring-
field speech, was probably the first request re-
ceived by him to answer the Senator at Peoria,
as his friends in Springfield did not move in
the matter until after that time. But be that
as it may. Mr. Douglas did, on October 3d, de-
liver an address at the State Fair in defense
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. On the next day
Mr. Lincoln, in a speech of four hours' dura-
tion, replied, and was followed by Mr. Douglas
in a speech of two hours. Although there were
many addresses delivered at the Fair by the
leading politicians of the State, yet no one of
them seemed the equal of that of Mr. Lin-
coln. It was therefore decided by his friends
to urge him to take the stump and follow Mr.
Douglas to the several places at which his
meetings had been called.

Having accepted the invitation of the Whigs
of Peoria, a joint debate was arranged be-
tween him and Mr. Douglas, which took place
on October i6lh. the day appointed for the
Douglas meeting. The speaking on that memor-
able occasion was at the south corner of the
(old) court house, where a small platform had
been erected, partly under cover of the portico,
the speakers and officers approaching it through
a window, while the vast multitude covered the
space as far out as where the new Soldier's
Monument now stands. The meeting had been
announced for some time as a Douglas meet-
ing, and it had become known, only a few days
beforehand, that Mr. Lincoln was expected to
be present to reply. Mr. Douglas was met at
some distance from the city by a large number

of Democrats, and a procession, preceded by a
brass band, was made up of footmen, horse-
men and citizens in carriages, all under direc-
tion of Smith Frye. former Sheriff, as chief
marshal. By the time it had reached the pub-
lic square it numbered fully five hundred per-
sons. The meeting was presided over by Wash-
ington Cockle, then State Senator, with the fol-
lowing Vice-Presidents: William McMurtry, of
Knox County, candidate for Congress; Alex-
ander Moncriefe, of Stark Courity, candidate
for the Legislature; W. B. Baker, of Tazewell
County; John Page, of Woodford County, and
John Burns, candidate for State Senator, of
Marshall County.

The speech of Senator Douglas occupied
nearly, if not quite, three hours, closing at five
o'clock. Mr. Lincoln then came forward and
f/poke in substance as follows : "My Fellow
Citizens : I would like to make a bargain with
you: Judge Douglas has occupied all the time
allotted to him in his opening speech. It is
now late in tlie afternoon, and if I begin my
speech now, I will not be able to finish it until
the time you will want to go to your suppers,
and as I would not like to have my speech cut
in two. I would suggest that we adjourn this
meeting now and come together again prompt-
ly at seven o'clock. I can then finish my speech
by ten and Judge Douglas can finish his by
eleven, which is not an unusually late hour
at this season of the year. And. as he has the
last speech, if you w'ant to hear him skin me,
you had better come. C-) Vvhat do you say?"
Immediately a cheer of approbation went up
from his friends all over the vast audience, ac-
companied by throwing of hats into the air and
other demonstrations of approval. This gave
Mr. Lincoln the advantage of a larger night
audience, as well as an opportunity to arrange
his thoughts beforehand. The program for the
evening was carried out as stated, but when the
time came for Mr. Douglas to reply he seemed
to be much worried and spoke in angry tones,
sometimes in a manner not excessively court-
eous. Of cour.se. both sides claimed the vic-
'tory, and the party papers were profuse in
laudations of their respective champions.

Of this speech Mr. Lincoln's biographers say:
"Lincoln, as before, gave Douglas the open-

lit This last sentence is from Dr. Boal's st,tlenient. The
rest of the quotation is supplied from my personal recollection.

148

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

ing and closing speech, explaining that he was
willing to yield this advantage in order to se-
cure a hearing from the Democratic portion of
his listeners. The audience was a large one,
but not so representative in character as that
at Springfield. The occasion is made memor-
able, however, by the fact that w'hen Lincoln
returned home he wrote out and published his
speech. We have, therefore, the exact revised
text of his argument, and are able to estimate
its character and value." (')

Thus it happened that at Peoria, more than
a year before the delivery of his celebrated
"lost speech" at the Blooniington Convention,
Mr. Lincoln, in a speech which is now among
the classics of the world, outlined tho.se argu-
ments against the further extension of slave ter-
ritory, which became the fundamental articles
of faith of the Republican party, and which led
it to final victory and the overthrow of the
slave power.

The next day Senator Douglas was to speak
in Lacon. .As the Peoria meeting did not close
until nearly midnight, and as there were then
no railroads leading into Peoria, it became
necessary for them to remain there over night.
The next day the Senator departed by boat and
Mr. Lincoln went in a carriage with Dr. Robert
Boal and Judge Silas Ramsey, both of Lacon,
who had come to Peoria to hear the speaking
and (to invite Mr. Lincoln to reply to Mr.
Douglas at that place. As the matters which
occurred on that day have been the occasion of
much controversy, the following statements de-
rived from original sources are here given. Dr.
Boal. having, by invitation, delivered an address
on the subject of his political reminiscences of
Lincoln at tlie annual banquet of the "Creve-
Cocur Club" of Peoria, February 22, 1899. the
editor of this work called his attention to an
apparent omission in his having said nothing
about the Peoria debate. His reply was in sub-
stance that he had intended to do so. but to his
regret it had slipped his mind. He afterwards,
by request, wrote out the following statement
and forwarded it, under date of April 17. iSgg:
"In the summer of 1854, after the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise and the passage of
the Kansas and Nebraska Act, Senator Doughi-
found it necessary to go before the people of
Illinois to defend his action. He made speeches
at .several points in the State : among them was

Ij Abraham Lincoln; A History; Nicolay & Hay.

the one made at Peoria. The .-\nti-Nebraska
People (as they were called), composed of both
Whigs and Democrats, invited Abraham Lin-
coln to answer him at the places where he was
billed to speak. The Legislature to be elected
in that year ( 1854) was to choose a United
States Senator, and both Mr. Lincoln and Sen-
ator Douglas were interested in the result of
the election. — the former as a prospective can-
didate for Senator, the latter to obtain a col-
league who was of his political faith and would
act in harmony with him. The meeting at
Peoria was presided over by the late Washing-
ton Cockle. In introducing Senator Douglas he
spoke of him as having done much for his State,
l)articularly in securing the grant of land to
build the Illinois Central Railway; but, to the
best of my recollection, carefully avoided any
defence of the Senator's action in relation to
the slavery question in the Territories. Mr.
Douglas commenced his speech about half-past
2 o'clock, and continued it until after 5 o'clock
P. M. After he concluded. Mr. Lincoln arose
and said he had a proposal to make to the
audience which was, that they go home and get
their suppers, then come back and he would
talk to them. .N.s an additional inducement he
said that Senator Douglas had the closing
speech, and 'if you would like to .see him skin
me, you had better come back.' The people had
stood for nearly three hours in front of the
steps of the Old Court House from which the
speakers addressed them. They were tired from
standing so long, but they came back in in-
creased number, and with increased interest.
At about seven o'clock Mr. Lmcoln slowly arose
and, after surveying the large audience, com-
menced his speech by saying, 'He thought he
could appreciate an argument, and. at times,
believed he could make one. but when one
denied the settled and plainest facts of history,
you could not argue with him ; the only thing
you could do, would be to stop his mouth with
a corn cob.'

"I write this as I recollect it. and I believe
I have given it substantially as he said it.
Senator Douglas had an appointment to speak
at Lacon the next day. The late Judge Silas
Ramsey and myself went to Peoria to hear the
speeches and to induce Mr. Lincoln to go to
Lacon. the next day, to answer Senator Doug-
las. He agreed to go. We took him up in a
carriage. Senator Douglas went up in the Mail

/'^m^UL^ /%c.^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

149

Steamer, to Cliillicotlie. which connected witli
the branch of the Rock Island, which was only
finished to that point. A number of Peorians
went up on the boat and took the train to
Sparland. Among them was the late Judge
Powell of Peoria. In the conversation which
took place between the Senator and the Judge,
the latter told the Senator that Mr. Lincoln
was on the way up to Lacon to reply to him.
Mr. Douglas was surprised to hear it. but
said little in reply. He did not expect to meet
Mr. Lincoln. When we arrived about one
o'clock at Lacon, we found Senator Douglas
at the hotel. Mr. Lincoln went in to see him,
and, after a few minutes, came out and told
his friends that Mr. Douglas said he was sick
and worn out, and would not speak. Mr. Lin-
■coln, with his usual magnanimity, said he would
take no advantage of him and would make no
speech. The people were greatly disappointed.
Nearly half the population in the county were
in town to hear the distinguished men. .^n
agreement was made between Senator Douglas
and Mr. Lincoln that both would go home and
stop their meetings. Mr. Lincoln left soon after
the arrangement ,was made. Senator Douglas
remained until the next day, and left ostensibly
for Chicago. I was going to Chicago and was
with him in the omnibus. Between Lacon and
Sparland a carriage met us and stopped the
omnibus. Senator Douglas got out of it, and
took his satchel with him. I said to him, 'I
thought you intended to go to Chicago.' 'Yes,'
he said, 'but I will catch the train at Henry'.
Instead of taking the train at Henry, he went
to Princeton in Bureau County, and made a
speech that day which Owen Lovejoy answered.
In so doing he violated the agreement made
with Mr. Lincoln and made a remarkably rapid
recovery from his illness."

In the year 1872, Ward H. Lamon. Esq.,
of Springfield, published a biography of Mr.
Lincoln in which occur the following passages
relative to this memorable occasion. After
giving an account of the Springfield meeting,
he relates the following concerning the meeting
at Peoria and what followed :

"But the speech against the repeal of the
compromise signally impressed all parties op-
posed to Mr. Douglas" late legislation — Whigs.
Abolitionists and Democratic Free-Soilers — who
agreed with perfect unanimity that Mr. Lin-
coln should be pitted against Mr. Douglas

wherever circumstances admitted of their meet-
ing. As one of the evidences of this sentiment
Mr. William Butler drew up a paper addressed
to Mr. Lincoln recjucsting and urging him to
follow Douglas until the election. It was sign-
ed by Wm. Butler, Wm. Jayne, P. P. Enos,
John Cassady. B. F. Irwin and many others.
Accordingly Lincoln followed Douglas to
Peoria, where the latter had an appointment,
and again replied to him in much the same
spirit, and with the same arguments as before.
The speech was really a great one, almost per-
fectly adapted to produce conviction upon a
doubting mind. It ought to be carefully read
by every one who desires to know Mr. Lin-
coln's power as a debater, after his intellect was
matured and ripened by years of hard ex-
perience."

After quoting from the speech he continues :

"No one in Mr. Lincoln's audience appre-
ciated the force of his speech more justly than
did Mr. Douglas himself. He invited the dan-
gerous orator to a conference and frankly pro-
posed a truce. What took place between them
was explicitly set forth by Mr. Lincoln to a
little knot of his friends in the office of Lincoln
& Herndon about two days after the election.
We quote the statement of B. F. Irwin, ex-
plicitly indorsed by P. L. Harrison and Isaac
Cogdale, all of whom are indifferently well
known to the reader :

" 'W. H. Herndon, myself. P. L. Harrison
and Isaac Cogdale were present. What Lincoln
said 'was about this: that the day after the
Peoria debate in 1854. Douglas came to him
(Lincoln) and flattered him that he (Lincoln)
understood the Territorial question from the or-
ganization of the Government better than all the
opposition in the Senate of the United States,
and he did not see that he could make any-
thing by debating with him. and then reminded
him (Lincoln) of the trouble they had given
him. and remarked that Lincoln had given him
more trouble than all opposition in the Senate
combined : and followed up with the proposition
that he would go home and speak no more dur-
ing the campaign, if Lincoln would djo the
same, to which proposition Lincoln acceded.' "

In the year 1892. William H. Herndon. who,
for many years, had been a partner of Mr. Lin-
coln in the practice of law, published a biography
of Mr. Lincoln in which the subject is treated
in substance the same as had been done by Mr.

ISO

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Lamon. After speaking of Douglas' violation of
the agreement with Lincoln, he says :

"Lincoln was much displeased at this action
of Douglas, which tended to convince him that
the latter was really a man devoid of fixed
political morals. I remember his explanation in
our office made to me, William Butler, William
Jayne, Ben F. Irwin and other friends, to ac-
count for his early withdrawal frorn the stump.
After the Peoria debate. Douglas approached him
and flattered him by saying that he was giving
him more trouble than all the United States Sen-
ate, and he therefore proposed to him that both
should abandon the field and return to their
homes. Now Lincoln could never refuse a po-
lite request — one in which no principle was
involved. I have heard him say. 'It's a fortunate
thing I wasn't born a woman, for I cannot re-
fuse anything it seems.' He therefore consented
to the cessation of debate proposed by Doug-
las, and the next day ( ?^ both went to the town
of Lacon where they had been billed for speecbe;.
Their agreement was kept from their friends,
and both declined to speak — Douglas on the
ground of hoarseness, and Lincoln gallantly re-
fusing to take advantage of 'J"flge Douglas' in-
disposition.' Here they separated. Lincoln going
directly home, and Douglas, as before related,
stopping at Princeton and colliding in debate
with Owen Lovejoy. Upon being charged after-
wards with his breach of agreement. Douglas
responded that Lovejoy bantered and badgered
him so persistently he could not gracefully re-
sist the encounter. The whole thing thoroughly
displeased Lincoln."

In a foot-note is a letter from John H. Bryant
relating to the Princeton speech. It took place
as announced on October iSth. the next day after
the Lacon meeting. He staid over night at Tis-
kilwa, where he was met by a number of Demo-
crats and escorted to Princeton. Douglas spoke
first one half hour and was answered by Lovejoy
for one half-hour, when Douglas again spoke,
continuing his speech until dark, w'hen there was
no opportunity for Lovejoy to further reply.

In the year 1887, while attending court in
Peoria, Mr. Leonard Swett, of Bloomington, a
warm friend of Mr. Lincoln, made a statement
in the presence of the writer hereof and of several
other well known citizens of Peoria, ainong whom,
as he now recollects, was Dr. Boal, then re-
siding in Peoria, the substance of w-hich state-

ment was as follows : As the writer now recol-
lects. Mr. Swett stated that he w-as at Lacon
on the day after the debate at Peoria, and pos-
sibly was present at the time of the agreement
between Lincoln and Douglas. He further stated
that, when they met, Mr. Douglas said in sub-
stance. "See here, Mr. Lincoln, this is not your
fight. I am now engaged in a controversy with
men of my own party in which I wish not to
be interfered with. I do not wish to be drawn
into a controversy with the opposition. Your
time will come later on. and I hope you will not
persist in following me up any farther now."
This is, in substance, although it may not be the
exact words used by Mr. Swett, and he may not
have repeated the entire conversation.

Mr. Swett furtlier stated that, after the agree-
ment had been reached. Mr. Lincoln was, on
the same day or night, taken in a carriage across
the country to Kappa on the Illinois Central
Railroad, and the next morning, the i8th of Oc-
tober, was attending Circuit Court in Blooming-
ton. The ne.Kt day (the 19th) Mr. Herndon says
he reached Springfield, and at once set to work
on the revision of his Peoria speech. The state-
ment made by Mr. Lincoln to his friends' in his
office at Springfield, a day or two after the elec-
tion, seems to be abundantly corroborated.

About this time a new element became prom-
inent in the political affairs of the country, which
for a time threatened to lead to serious conse-
quences. The principle of native Americanism, or
opposition to any alien-born having a right to par-
ticipate in the affairs of the Government, was not
new, but at this time it had assumed the form
of a secret, oath-bound society, having lodges,
grips and passwords like other secret orders. In
the collap.se of the old parties it attained to
great prominence and influence. It drew largely
from the Whig party, especially in the Southern
States, in some of which it held the balance of
power. To all outside of its own organization it
professed to "Know Nothing," and hence it was
generally known as the "Know-nothing party,"
and no one could tell with certainty beforehand,
for what candidates its votes would be cast. In-
ternally it was intensely Native-American, and,
from its leading principle, had adopted the name
of the American party wherever it had a ticket of
its own. This party had its lodges and all its
equipments in Peoria as in other places.

The American party was the first to organize
for the great Presidential campaign of 1856. It

Ai . \ ^^Ua/^^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COL'XTY.

I ;r

held its national convention at Philadelphia on
the igth day of Febrnary. 1856. and placed Millard
Fillmore in nomination for President, and An-
drew J. Donelson for Vice-President. On the
22d of the same month a most important confer-
ence took place at Decatur, Illinois, a conference
composed of twelve editors of the leading Anti-
Nebraska papers of the State. Thomas J. Pickett,
editor of the "Peoria Republican." was one of
the twelve, and in him Peoria has the distinction
of having contributed efficiently to the forma-
tion of the Republican Party in this State. The
convention, which was presided over by Paul
Selby. then of "The Jacksonville Journal." adopt-
ed a platform of principles and recommended the
holding of a State Convention at Bloomington on
the 29th of May ensuing. A State Central Com-
mittee, of which Mr. Pickett was a member, was
appointed to take the matter in charge. Abraham
Lincoln was present and took part in the de-
liberations of the committees.

On the same day these Illinois editors met in
Decatur, a still more important meeting took place
in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania. This was a general
meeting of Anti-Nebraska politicians from all
parts of the North, with a few from the border
States. At this meeting a National Committee
was appointed : a call was issued for a National
Convention to be held at Philadelphia on the 17th
of June ensuing: an address was issued to the peo-
ple and resolutions adopted demanding the repeal
of all laws which allowed the introduction of slav-
ery into Territories once consecrated to freedom';
resistance by constitutional means to slavery in the
Territories; the immediate admission of Kan-
sas as a free State, and the overthrow of the ad-
ministration then in power. This was the origin
of the National Republican party.

The public mind at this juncture was in an
exceedingly feverish condition. The Democrats
were early in the field. Their State convention
had been called to meet in Springfield on May ist.
As early as March 4th a mass convention was held
in Peoria to name the delegates for the County,
at which time the following gentlemen were ap-
pointed: William S. Moss. Peter Sweat (then
postmaster), Washington Cockle, with Messrs.
Smith and French. Ten days thereafter Senator
Trumbull made a great speech in the Senate on
the report of the Committee on Territories, re-
garding aflfairs in Kansas, which brought on a
quarrel between him and Douglas on the floor of
the Senate. This speech was given to the people

of Peoria County before the Democratic County
Convention of May ist, and served to add fuel
to the llame already kindled. About this time
also a brutal assault was made by Preston S<
Brooks, of South Carolina, upon Senator Sum-
ner in the Senate Chamber. This also was taken-
up as a party question. This indignity was de-
nounced by the Republicans of Peoria, as well as
all over the North.

In pursuance of the call issued by the editors,
the Illinois Convention assembled at Bloomington
on the 29th of May and formally organized the
party in this State. It was composed of leading
men theretofore in antagonism with each other,
but then all united in the advocacy of one com-
luon cause. William H. Bisscll was nominated for
Governor, with a full ticket for other State offi-
cers. Peoria being honored in the nomination of
William H. Powell as the candidate for Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction. The name "Re-
publican" was adopted, a platform was formulated
and delegates were appointed to the Philadelphia
convention.

The Democratic National Convention conven-
ed at Cincinnati on June 2d. and nominated James
Buchanan as its candidate for President, against
Franklin Pierce, the then incumbent. Stephen A.
Douglas, the champion of "Popular Sovereignty"
in the Territories, and Lewis Cass, the idol of the
State of Michigan. It adopted a platforin in-
dorsing the Kansas-Nebraska bill, but repudiated
its chief advocate by nominating a Northern man
with avowed Southern principles, who afterwards
trampled it under foot.

The X'ational Republican Convention convened
at Philadelphia on the 17th day of June, in pur-
suance of the Pittsburg call, and placed in nom-
ination for President, General John C. Fremont,
and William L. Dayton for Vice-President.
.\mong other resolutions relating to the same
subject it declared that it was both the right and
duty of Congress to prohibit in the Territories
those twin relics of barbarism— polygamy and
slavery, and denied authority of Congress, of
any Territorial Legislature, of any individual or
association of individuals, to give legal existence
to slavery in any Territory of the L'nited States,
while the present Constitution shall be main-
tained.

The lines having been thus clearly drawn be-
tween the three parties, and State tickets having
been put into the field, the Counties, the Legis-
lative and Congressional Districts soon fell into-
line.

152

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

On the gtli day of May a call hail been is-
sued for an Anti-Nebraska meeting to be held at
the court house in Peoria on the 21st of the same
month, to appoint delegates to the Bloomington
Convention. This call was signed by B. L. T.
Bourland. .^mos Stevens. Bradford Hall and .Alva
Dunlap. as the committee. This was the first step
taken towards the organization of the party in
Peoria County. The convention, or meeting
(there being no delegates appointed), was duly
held as announced. Thomas C. Moore being chair-
man and Campbell C. Waite. one of the editors
of the "Peoria Republican." secretary. Dr. John
D. .Xrnold. .Amos Stevens and Thomas J. Pickett
were appointed a committee to prepare resolu-
tions, and while they were deliberating. J. C.
Vaughan. editor of the "Chicago Tribune." made
a powerful speech in support of the principles
•of the new party. The delegates chosen to the
Bloomington Convention were John T. Lindsay,
Amos P. Barllett. B. L. T. Bourland. Amos Stev-
ens. Dr. John D. .Arnold, Richard Scholes, Sam-
uel Dimon, Thomas C. Moore. .Alva Dunlap,
George C. Bestor and .Alexander McCoy.

The Blooniington Convention was duly held
with the results heretofore stated. The Demo-
cratic Congressional Committee convened in Pe-
oria on July 31, and nominated James W. David-
son, of Monmouth, as candidate for Congress.
It having become known that James Knox
would not be a candidate for re-election to Con-
gress, the minds of Republicans were at once
turned towards Judge William Kellogg, of Can-
ton. .A call signed by B. L. T. Bourland, Dr.
Robert Boal and Thomas J. Henderson as a com-
mittee, was issued for a Congressional Convention
to be held at Peoria on the first Tuesday in
August. That convention, the first Republican
Congressional Convention in which Peoria County
took part, was held at Peoria, according to the
call. Judge Silas Ramsey, of Lacon, being the
presiding officer. Judge Kellogg was nominated
for Congress : a long string of resolutions, in
line with the National and State platforms, were
adopted : Senator Trumbull's course in the Sen-
ate was indorsed, as also that of Knox in the
House of Representatives. A central committee
consisting of Messrs. Grove. Bourland and Dun-
lap. of Peoria, Greenbury L. Fort, of Marshall.
and Dr. Harris, of Tazewell, was appointed.

.Another county convention was called and
held on the 16th of .August to nominate County
officers and to choose delegates to a district nom-
inating convention to be neld at Princeville.
Thomas J. Pickett, one of the editors of "The

Republican." was nominated for Circuit Clerk,
against Enoch P. Sloan, editor of "The Press,"
the Democratic candidate : John H. Batchelder
was nominated for Sheriff, against Frank W.
Smith; and Alfred R. Kidwell for Coroner,
against Milton McCormick.

The Princeville convention was duly held, and
nominated John T. Lindsay and Calvin L. East-
man for the Legislature, and Alexander McCoy
for State's Attorney. Dr. John D. Arnold was
nominated for re-election to the State Senate
at a convention subsequently held in Lacon.

On the 9th of October a monster mass meet-
ing of Republicans was held at Peoria, at which
speeches were made by .Abraham Lincoln, Lyman
Trumbull. William (commonly designated as
Deacon) Bross, of Chicago, and others.

On October 21st another meeting was held at
Peoria, addressed by Owen Lovejoy and other
prominent Republicans. Not to be outdone by the
Republicans, the Democrats also brought to Pe-
oria some of their leading men. On September
I2lh they held a mass meeting at Peoria, which
was addressed by William A. Richardson, can-
didate for Governor, Colonel Carpenter, a prom-
inent politician from Kentucky. John A. Mc-
Clernand (now lately deceased), a member of
Congress from Illinois, Robert HoUoway, of Mon-
mouth, and Wellington Loucks, of Peoria.

On November ist. however, their greatest meet-
ing was held, at which Stephen .A. Douglas made
one of the greatest efforts of his life, closing with
the words, "Buchanan is President, Breckenridge
is Vice-President, and Dick Richardson is Gov-
ernor of Illinois." The prediction proved true
only in part, for Richardson was defeated at the
polls by William H. Bissell. the first of a long
line of Republican Governors, which remained
unbroken for a period of thirty-six years.

Peoria County, however, went Democratic, Bu-
chanan receiving 2,534 votes. Fremont 2.156, Fill-
more 465 ; for Governor, Richardson had 2,552
votes, Bissell 2,275, Morris 302; for Congress,
Davidson had 2,694, Kellogg 2,278, Griffith 75 ;
for Circuit Clerk, Sloan had 2.666. Pickett, 2,365.
Lindsay and Eastman, for the Legislature, doubt-
less both had majorities in the District, but by
mistake in the middle letter of his name, many
votes were cast for Calvin .1/. instead of Calvin L.
Eastman, and in that way Shallenberger. the Dem-
ocrat, obtained the seat and held it through the
session. Kellogg was elected to Congress and
.Arnold to the State Senate.

Two days after the inauguration' of President
Buchanan the famous Dred Scott Decision was

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

153

•promulgated by the Supreme Court of the United
States, by which slavery was made national and
freedom local. A new phase was now added to
the already perplexing situation. Great encour-
agement was thereby afforded the slave oligarchy,
seeing, as they did. that all three departments of
the government, legislative, executive and judicial,
were then arrayed on their side. It seemed now
that slavery was forever intrenched in the Con-
stitution of our country, and that what was sup-
posed to be the "land of the free" to people of
all nationalities, races and colors, was henceforth
to be the protector of human slavery and oppres-
sion in its vilest form.

But God's clock had struck the hour of slav-
ery's doom ; the shadow had gone down upon the
dial and it could not be brought back. It was
now to be seen whether human enactments could
stand against eternal principles of right and jus-
tice, whether iniquity enacted into law should
prevail against the law of God.

When Mr. Douglas returned to his home in
Chicago after Congress had adjourned in 1858,
Mr. Lincoln was there to engage in the contest.
Mr. Douglas spoke to an immense audience from
the balcony of the Tremont House, taking for his
text that sentence in Mr. Lincoln's Springfield
speech, in which he had said "I believe this Gov-
ernment cannot endure permanently half free and
half slave." Mr. Lincoln spoke in reply from
the same place on the following night. From
that time until the election a political battle raged,
which has no parallel in history. On July 17
Mr. Douglas spoke again at Springfield, and was
replied to by Mr. Lincoln. Soon after this a
joint debate was arranged between them to take
place at the following places and dates: Ottawa,
in Lovejoy's District, on .\ugust 21 : Freeport.
in Washburn's District. .August 27: Jonesboro, in
Samuel Marshall's Listrict. on September 15 ;
Charleston, in .-Varon Shaw's District, on Septem-
ber 18; Galesburg. in William Kellogg's District,
on October 7: Quincy. in Isaac N. Morris' Dis-
trict, on October 13 : and at Alton, in Robert
Smith's District, on October 13: three in Repub-
lican and four in Democrat Districts.

.Mlhough Peoria was not named as one of
the points at which one of the joint discussions
should be held, yet it had the benefit of a speech
from each of the champions at the very beginning
of the contest. The Republican Congressional
Convention had been called to meet at Peoria on
the 19th of .August, just two days prior to the
debate appointed at Ottawa, and an immense
mass meeting had been arranged for that oc-

casion. Mr. Lincoln had spoken in Lewistown on
the 17th. The Democrats had also arranged for
a meeting for Senator Douglas on the i8th, the
day preceding that of the convention. Immense
crowds attended both meetings, but it was con-
ceded that, on account of longer notice and more
extensive advertising, the Democrats had the
greater number. Mr. Douglas made one of his
strongest efforts, in anticipation of what was
before him in the near future. On the next day
Judge Kellogg was re-nominated for Con-
gress, after which Mr. Lincoln replied to
the speech of Douglas, and was followed
by Judge Kellogg in one of his most elo-
quent efforts. These speeches of Lincoln and
Douglas may be regarded as the preface to
the great debate which followed. In the interval
between the debates each candidate filled speak-
ing appointments of his own. The Fourth, or
Kellogg's District, seemed to be the battle ground.
During the campaign Mr. Lincoln made at least
five speeches in this District and Douglas fully
as many. Three days after the Freeport debate
Mr. Lincoln and Judge Kellogg attended the
Republican County Convention of Tazewell Coun-
ty, at Tremont, where both made characteristic
speeches.

The headman's axe at Washington was now
busily engaged in decapitating all Democratic
Federal office holders who would not fall into
line with the administration party. On the 4th
day of September it was announced in the pub-
lic press that James W. Davidson had been re-
moved from the office of United States Marshal
for the Northern District of Illinois, and that
Charles N. Pine, of the Chicago Herald, an ad-
ministration paper, had been appointed in his
place. Four days later, at the Douglas Democratic
Congressional Convention held at Peoria. Mr.
Davidson received and accepted the nomination of
that party as competitor of Judge Kellogg.

There were only two State officers to be elect-
ed in the year 1858. State Treasurer and Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction. The Republican
candidates were James Miller and Xewton Bate-
man, those of the Douglas Democrats. William
B. Fondey and e.x-Governor .Augustus C. French,
and of the .Administration Democrats, John
Dougherty and ex-Governor John Reynolds.

The local nominations for Peoria were, on
the Republican ticket. George C. Bestor. for the
State Senate, nominated at a convention held at
Lacon. September 2d : Thomas C. Moore and
Myrtle G. Brace for Representatives: David D.
Irons for Sheriff, and Daniel Bristol for Cor-

154

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

oner, all nominated at Princeville, September Stli.
The Douglas ticket was E. C. Ingersoll and Jacob
Jamison for the Legislature, nominated at Prince-
ville, September 15th; William S. Moss for State
Senator; John Bryner for Sheriff, and Dr. John
N. Niglas for Coroner. On the i8th of Septem-
ber the National (or Administration) Democrats,
at a convention at Lacon, nominated Henry S.
Austin for State Senator, and on the 23d of the
same month, at Peoria, nominated Jacob Gale
for Congress, Matthew McReynoIds and Wash-
ington Corrington for the Legislature, George
Jenkins for Sheriff and Samuel Tart for Coroner.

George W. Rancy had for a number of years
been conducting a Democratic newspaper in Pe-
oria, under the title of "The News," then re-
cently changed to "The Democratic Union." He
had never been friendly to the "Popular Sov-
ereignty" doctrine of Douglas, and had taken the
side of the Administration in the Kansas-Ne-
braska imbroglio in 1856. He was now to receive
his reward. Peter Sweat, one of the oldest and
stanchest Democrats in the County, whose loy-
alty to party had always been equal to that held
by him towards the country, had espoused the
Douglas side of the controversy. He was then,
by appointment of President Pierce, Postmaster
at Peoria. The axe now fell upon his neck, and
Raney got the place, just five days after Gale's
nomination to Congress.

The joint-debates between Douglas anil Lin-
coln at Ottawa. Freeport. Jonesboro and Charles-
ton having been held, their next meeting place
was at Galesburg on October 7th. On their way
there both spoke at Pekin, Douglas on the 2d and
Lincoln, with Kellogg, on the 5th. En route Mr.
Lincoln stopped at Peoria and went to Pekin on
the steamer Nile. On the 7th one thousand
persons went from Peoria to Galesburg to hear
the great debate. On October 14th, Carl Shurz
addressed the Germans of Peoria in the German
language. The debates between Lincoln and
Douglas closed at Alton, on the i6th of October,
but Mr. Douglas, not being satisfied with the

condition of affairs about Peoria, returned here,
and on the 23d of October made a speech in
Parmely's Hall, which was filled to overflowing.
But the Republicans were determined not to let
him have the last speech here, and so they got
Schuyler Colfax to close the campaign in the
same hall on the night of November ist.

The result in Peoria County was as follows:
State Treasurer— Miller, 2,593; Fondey, 2,639;
Dougherty, 272.

Congress— Kellogg, 2,601 ; Davidson, 2,623 ;
Gale, 286.

State Senator— Bestor, 2,585; Moss, 2,603;
Austin, 281.

Representative— Moore, 2.569; Ingersoll. 2.-
666; McReynoIds, 288; Brace, 2,565; Jamison,
2,632; Corrington, 245.

Sheriff — Irons, 2,622; Bryner, 2,664; Jenkins,
218.

Coroner— Bristol. 2,.">44; Niglas, 2,008; Tart. :!2!).
The result in the State was : for State Treas-
urer, Miller, 125,450; Fondey, 121,609; Dougherty,
5,071. Although the Republicans carried the State
for their State ticket, enough Democratic Sen-
ators and Representatives were elected to return
Douglas to the United States Senate, he receiving
fifty- four votes on joint ballot, to forty-six for
Mr. Lincoln. Never in the history of Peoria
County have its people had the privilege of hear-
ing so many and such masterly speeches as dur-
ing the campaign of 1858. Within a radius of
fifty miles Mr. Lincoln spoke at least five times,
Mr. Douglas four, Carl Schurz once, Schuyler
•Solfax once, Judge Kellogg a number of times,
nith other speakers nearly every night, who in
ordinary times would shine as bright political
stars. During that campaign, from July gth
until the day of the election, a period of just one
hundred days, Sundays excluded, Mr. Douglas
made one hundred and thirty speeches. Thence-
forth his battle was to be with the Administration-
wing of his own party, while Mr. Lincoln fast
rose in the minds of the people to the first rank
of living statesmen.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1860.

The parties in the campaign o£ i860 were early
in the field.

The fir.st to nominate its National ticket was
the "Constitutional Union" party, the successor
of the "American" party of 1858. It held its con-
\cntion at Baltimore on the pth day of May and
nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, for President,
and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for Vice-
President. The "Republican" party held its con-
vention at Chicago on May i6th and nominated
.Abraham Lincoln for President and Hannibal
Ifamlin, of Maine, for Vice-President. The
Fourth, or Peoria Congressional District, was rep-
resented in this convention by Henry Grove, of
Peoria, and E. W. Hazzard, of Galesburg. The
Democratic convention first met in Charleston,
South Carolina, on April 20th. where a split took
place between the adherents of Douglas and those
opposed to him. A portion of the Southern del-
egates having withdrawn, those who remained
adjourned to meet in Baltimore on the 19th day
of June, at which time Douglas was nominated for
President and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama,
for Vice-President. But the latter having de-
clined, Hcrschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, was
substituted. The Fourth Congressional District
was represented in this convention by Benjamin
S. Prettyman, of Pekin, and Robert Holloway,
of Monmouth.

The delegates who had seceded at Charleston
organized a separate convention and adjourned
to meet at Richmond. Virginia, on June nth. at
which time another adjournment was taken to
Baltimore on the 25th of the same month. Hav-
ing by this time been re-inforced by some newly
chosen delegates, the convention proceeded to
the nomination of candidates, when John C.
Brcckcnridge, of Kentucky, and Joseph Lane, of
Oregon, were respectively chosen as candidates
for the offices of President and Vice-President.

The four parties, as thus organized, held their

respective conventions in Illinois, the Repub-
licans nominating Richard Yates for Governor,
Francis A. Hoflfman for Lieutenant-Governor,
Jesse K. Dubois for Auditor, Ozias M. Hatch
for Secretary of State, William Butler for Treas-
urer, and Newton Bateman for Superintendent of
Public Instruction. For the same offices the
Douglas Democrats nominated James C. Allen,
Lewis W. Ross, Bernard Arntzen, G. H. Camp-
bell, Hugh Maher and E. R. Roe. The Brecken-
ridge Democrats nominated T. M. Hope for Gov-
ernor and Thomas Snell, formerly of Peoria
County, for Lieutenant-Governor, while the Bell-
Everett ticket was headed by John T. Stuart
for Governor and Hugh S. Blackburn for Lieu-
tenant-Governor.

It does not appear that either the Bell-Everett
or the Breckenridge party made nominations in
Peoria, but that here the contest lay wholly be-
tween the Republicans and Douglas Democrats.
William Kellogg was the Republican and Robert
G. Ingersoll the Democratic candidate for Con-
gress ; William Pitt Kellogg was the Republican
and S. Corning Judd the Democratic candidate
from this District for Presidential Electors ; Dr.
John D. Arnold held over as State Senator, so-
there were no candidates for that office. Elbridge
G. Johnson, of Peoria, and Theodore J. Hurd, of
Stark, were the Republican, and John T. Lind-
say, of Peoria, and Jacob Jamison, of Stark, were
the Democratic candidates for the Legislature ;
Alexander McCoy was the Republican and
Henry B. Hopkins the Democratic candidate for
State's .Attorney.

The campaign was one of intense excitement
and enthusiasm, rather than of argument. The
principles advocated by the several parties had
been settled, and it now only remained to line up
the voters in favor of their respective candi-
dates.

This campaign developed some new features

'156

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

in politics, uliicli added greatly to tlic cntlnisiasiii.
There being no hall in Chicago large enough to
accommodate the Republican Convention, a wood-
en building was erected for that purpose, which
was named "The Wigwam." The name was a
catching one, and suggested the erection of such
buildings in all the principal cities. Although
there were then in Peoria two good-sized halls,
the Republicans determined to have one of their
own. The lots now occupied by the National
Hotel and the adjoining one being then vacant,
the use of them was procured for a "Wigwam."
This was a large rectangular building, inclosed
with upright siding, and having a pitched roof of
common boards. It was plentifully supplied with
doors and windows, so it could be used as well
for day as for night meetings. It stood some
distance back from both Hamilton and Jefferson
streets, and was in every respect such a building
as to attract a crowd on short notice.

Another noted feature of the campaign was the
organization known as the "Wide .Awakes." a
uniformed marching order made up principally
of young men. It had its origin somewhere in
New England, but such was its taking qualities,
that it rapidly spread over the whole country.
It introduced the use of oil in place of the old-
time pine-knot torch : its uniform consisted of a
flat cap with straight visor, and a black rubl)er
cape. It was officered as a military organiza-
tion, and was drilled to march in military order.
During the campaign counter organizations
sprang up among the Democrats under the names
of "Ever Readies." "Little Giants" and "Doug-
las Clubs." They made it a point to attend every
important meeting of their respective parties,
often going many miles to add to the numbers and
enthusiasm.

.At this time the two leading parties were well
sustained by their party organs, the "Peoria
Transcript" and the "Democratic Union." For
some time the former had been owned and op-
erated by N. C. Geer. but on the loth day of
July. i860, on account of failing health, he sold
out to Enoch Emery and E. A. .'\ndrews. Mr.
Geer died a few months afterwards. Mr. Emery
retained his connection with the paper, first in
company with Mr. .Andrews, and later on by
himself for many years, and made it one of
the leading Republican papers in the State.

A change had also taken place a short time
before then, in the ostensible retirement of George
W. Raney from the editorial management of the
"Democratic Union." and the putting of William
Trench in that position. .As already seen, Mr.

Raney had been a strong supporter of the Bu-
chanan, or Danite wing of the Dcniocrati,c party,
and still held the Peoria postoffice under ap-
pointment from Buchanan, It would not, un-
der these circumstances, have been the proper
thing for him to espouse the cause of Douglas,
whom he had so recently and so vigorously op-
posed. .\t the same time, his paper being the
only Democratic one of any prominence in the
District, the party could not well afford to do
without it. It was, soon after the split in the
party, brought about that Trench, a strong Doug-
las Democrat, was put in as editor, and continued
to occupy that position until after the election,
when Raney again assumed the editorial man-
agement of the paper. These two papers were
edited with ability, and, with the exception of
occasional campaign dirt-throwing, reflected great
credit upon the press of the District.

The occasion of the dedication of the "Wig-
wam," on August 3ist, was made the occasion of
one of the greatest demonstrations of the cam-
paign. Delegations, made up largely of Wide
.Awakes, came from Tazewell, Woodford, Mar-
shall, Fulton and Knox Counties, with bands
playing and banners floating. The capacity of
the wigwam was found to be whol'y inadequate
to accommodate the numbers in attendance, and
three extra stands were provided in the Court
House square, where speeches were delivered,
both during the afternoon and at night. -Among
the speakers were David Taggart. a prominent
politician of Pennsylvania; Dr. Mansell, William
Pitt Kellogg, of Canton; Elihu N. Powell, of
Peoria ; Hon. Joseph Knox, of Knoxville ; Owen
Lovejoy, then Congressman from the Third Dis-
trict : .Albert Potthoff and others, of Peoria. The
number in attendance was estimated at not less
than thirty thousand.

.Another exciting feature of the campaign con-
sisted in the joint discussion held between the
candidates of the respective parties. Notable
among them were the discussions of Judge Will-
iam Kellogg and Robert G. Ingersoll, opposing
candidates for Congress, and those of William
Pitt Kellogg and S. Corning Judd, opposing can-
didates for the position of Presidential Elector.
It rarely happens that such an array of oratorical
talent can be brought together in a single Dis-
trict. Judge Kellogg was in the prime of life,
and had already achieved a wide reputation as an
orator at the bar. on the rostrum and in the halls
of legislation. State and National. Ingersoll was
not yet twenty-eight years of age. but had al-
ready begun to make his mark as an orator, which

^:^.^^ ^^e^^i^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

•57

afterwards gave him world-wide fame. Pitt Kel-
logg had before then been pursuing his profession
in a quiet way, but his talent as an orator had
been discovered by Richard Yates, who had
pushed him to the front in politics and was well
rewarded for his favors shown. Kellogg soon
showed himself to be one ot the ablest debaters
in the field. Judd was probably the most polished
and scholarly of the four, and was possessed of
talents sufficient to have carried him to the high-
est position. But unfortunately for him his
sympathies for the South afterwards led him into
a decided opposition to the war policy of the
Government, and he never afterwards achieved
any great political distinction. But during this
campaign he conducted his side of the debates
with tact and ability.

The principal event of the campaign on the
Democratic side w'as a monster mass meeting at
Peoria, on the 19th of September. Delegations
were present from Fulton, Tazewell, Woodford,
Marshall, Warren and Knox Counties. Their
papers claimed 30.000 voters in attendance and
75,000 people participating in the meeting. Speak-
ing took place at two stands, one on the north
side of the Court House, where sneeches were
made by James C. .A.llen, candidate for Governor :
Hon. A. C. Dodge, of Iowa, and Colonel J. L. D.
Morrison, of Belleville: and one on the .south
side, where the people were addressed by James
W. Davidson, of Monmouth : Richard T, Mer-
rick, of Chicago, and Samuel S. Marshall, of
McLeansboro. At night speeches were made
by Robert G. Ingersoll and Bernard .-Xrntzen, a
banner was presented by the ladies to the "Ever
Readies," and a grand ball was given at Parmely"s
Hall by the "Ever Ready" Clubs.

The array of speakers in this campaign was
very large. Meetings were held at all principal
points in the County. Elmwood. Brimficld, Roch-
ester, Princeville, Chillicothe, Kickapoo, Lancas-
ter, Trivoli, Smithvillc, and other centers of
population, in school-houses, public halls, or in
the open air, as best suited the convenience of
the people.

When the night of October 9th arrived it
seemed as if the Wigwam had been converted
into a veritable pandemonium. The State elec-
tions in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana had
taken place on that day, and reports said the
Republicans had carried every one of them.
Enoch Emery, editor of the "Transcript," read
the telegrams from the platiorm as they came
in, and. as every one favorable to the Repub-

licans was read, shouts of applause rent the air,,
horns were blown, hats were hurled towards the
rafters of the great buildmg, hand clasped hand,
and in many cases tears of joy ran down the
faces of stalwart men. This demonstration was
followed by one of a more formal character on the
night of Thursday, October nth, when all the-
"Wide Awakes" were called out, a torch-light
procession was formed and glee-clubs sang songs
through the streets. The news of Tuesday night
had been confirmed, and now the election of
Lincoln was considered certain.

The ensuing week w-as one of intense ex-
citement. Speaking from a Republican stand-
point, a writer in the "Transcript" of the 25th
says: "The Republican cause, with Lincoln as its
representative, has aroused the citizens of Pe-
oria County as they were never aroused before.
The campaign of i860 will be memorable in the
Central City for the vigor and enthusiasm with
which the Republicans of this action have signal-
ized it. The great Wigwam on the corner of
Hamilton and Jefferson streets has been crowded.
with interested audiences night after night for
the purpose of listening to Republican speeches,
and the enthusiasm has increased with each meet-
ing."

The same might have been truthfully said on
the Democratic side, for the adherents of the
"Little Giant" had almost as much cause for the
outgushings of their enthusiasm as had those of
the "Rail-Splitter" of \e\v Salem,

.At length the memorable 6th day of No-
vember arrived, the day which was to decide the
fate of slavery in the United States, and to lead
their people to a higher realization of the prin-
ciples contained in the Declaration of Independ-
ence. From early morning until the close of the
polls excited crowds gathered about the voting
places, eagerly soliciting votes, arguing the ques-
tions involved, discussing the merits and demerits,
the consistency and inconsistency of the respective
candidates, as well as scrutinizing the qualifica-
tions of the voters. The parties were organized
for the fray as they had never Deen organized be-
fore. Rallying committees had been appointed in
each ward, distributors of ballots had been se-
lected, and challengers stationed at the windows.
If determination to win was ever .seen at any
other election it had its equal on that day.

When night came the inner circles of politi-
cians assembled at the newspaper offices and com-
mittee rooms where they might be the first to re-
ceive the news of the election, be it welcome or

158

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

unwelcome. But tlic great mass of the population
assembled at the headquarters of the respective
parties, "The Wigwam" and "Parmely's Hall."

As the Republicans had anticipated certain
victory, their an.xiety to hear the telegrams was
almost without restraint, and, as their anxiety
was more or less gratified with favorable reports,
their enthusiasm became unbounded. When, at a
late hour, reports had been received giving
assurance of tlie election of Mr. Lincoln, it
seemed as if Bedlam had been let loose, and to
use an expressive modern phrase, the Republicans
proceeded "to paint the town red." The pen must
here give place to the imagination. For wild
enthusiasm the like of this scene has never,
before or since, been seen at Peoria. On
Wednesday the e.xcitement continued, but in
a more quiet and earnest form. In the after-
noon an impromptu meeting took place at
the Wigwam which was filled to overflowing,
all intent on receiving confirmatory news of the
great victory. Congratulatory speeches were
made, and songs were sung amid every conceiv-
able demonstration of joy. At night this scene
was repeated in an intensified Iform. There
seemed to be no end to Republican rejoicing.

On the night of Friday, November gth, there

was a great illumiuation of the city, private dwell-
ings as well as public buildings, newspaper
offices and business houses, displaying lights in
every window ; a great torch-light procession of
Wide Awakes, followed by a company of fantastics
and citizens on foot, paraded the streets, while in
the Wigwam the scenes of Tuesday and Wednes-
day evenings were repeated.

While refraining from any participation in
these scenes, it is known there were luany Demo-
crats, who through constitutional scruples had
been induced to vote for Douglas, that now
secretly rejoiced in Lincoln's election.

What has been said of Peoria was true of all
other cities in the North. The writer had the
privilege of hearing John Sherman deliver an ad-
dress to an immense audience in Philadelphia
early in the campaign, where he first saw a com-
pany of "Wide Awakes." He heard Douglas at
Harrisburg and again at Chicago, where he wit-
nessed the illumination on his arrival in tlic city,
and can safely say that, in no campaign that has
taken place since then, have the scenes there en-
acted been repeated. The moral victory of free-
dom over slavery had now been won. The next
contest was to be of a different character.

CHAPTKR XXV

PEORIA IN THE GREAT UPRISING.

The people of Peoria County were not wlioUy
unprepared for war. There were then in the city
several niihtary companies well officered and
equipped. The most popular of these was "The
National Blues," a company composed of some
of the best blood in the city. It dated its exist-
ence from July pth, 1856, during all of which
time it had been the pride of the people. Its
uniform, which close!)- resembled the dress uni-
form of the United States Army, together with
the fine physique of the men, imparted to it a
splendid appearance. It had been feasted and
toasted time and again, and, to raise money for
its support, entertainn.ents with tableaux vivant
and other spectacular performances had been
given in the public halls. The other companies
were the following: "The Peoria Rifle Company,"
organized August 4th, 1856, had forty members,
and occupied an armory on Adams street soutli
of Pecan. Paul Distler was Captain, Gottleib
Voelkers, First, and Jcseph Herwig Second Lieu-
tenant. "The Lafayette Rifle Company," organ-
ized August 5th, 1856, occupied an armory be-
tween Main and Fulton streets. The number of

its members is not known. Its Captain was

; William Gebhart was First and

Frederich Streibich was Second Lieutenant.
These two companies were composed of men of
German nationality.

"The Peoria Enimett Guards," a company com-
posed of Irishmen, organized iti August. 1857.
and numbering twenty-eight men. occupied an
armory between Main and Fulton streets. .Au-
gustine H. Bushell was Captain George L. Cor-
coran First and Patrick Kelly Second Lieutenant,
John Gorman, Orderly Sergeant, H. George,
Treasurer, and Patrick W. Dunne. Secretary.

Not' any of these companies entered the army
as an organized body, but they all became disor-

ganized by their members joining the companies
recruited for the war.

When the people of Peoria awoke from their
slumbers on the morning of April 13. 1861. it was
to learn that Fort Sumter had been fired upon
by the insurgents at daybreak of the preceding
day. Owing to a prevailing storm the wires were
so badly demoralized the messages had to be
thrice repeated before it was definitely learned
that war had actually begun. Then for the first
time the gravity of the situation began to be real-
ized. Without waiting to hear from other places
Peoria at once rushed to the defense of the coun-
try. That afternoon "The National Blues" in full
uniform marched to the Court House Square,
planted a flag-staff fifty feet high, ran up the stars
and stripes, and saluted the ensign of their coun-
try with cheers and several volleys of musketry.
{') .\n immense crowd as.sembled to witnes-s
the scene, all animated by one common feeling
of devotion to the flag.

Hon. Julius Manning, a leading lawyer, a life-
long Democrat who had been a supporter of Mr.
Douglas in the late campaign, then occupied an of-
fice on Main street and many were anxious to learn
his sentiments regarding the present crisis. Pro-
ceeding to his office the crowd demanded a speech.
In response to their call he appeared upon the
balcony and, in a few short, impassioned and elo-
quent sentences, unequivocally declared himself
for the Union, the Constitution and tlie flag of

(11 There i.s considerable t'onfusioii in the newspaper
nccoimts of what followed dnrini: the next two weeks, and a
doubt has been thrown upon the date of this pole-raising.
The "Transcript" was not issued on Sunday and its account
would place it at the becinnin^r of the week folIowinR. But
the " l)emi»cratic Union " of Sunday, .\pril U. nave an account
of it substantially as it is in the text. \ careful comparison
of the two papers, aided by my own recfllcction, convinces me
that the events occurred substantially as they have been
related.

i6o

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

the country, pledging liimselt to support the aulli-
orities in putting down what he fully realized to
be a formidable rebellion. This demonstration
was entirely impromptu, but before it was over it
had assumed the character of a mass meeting. It
was the first public demonstration of the war. and
Manning's speech did much to bring the waver-
ing, if any there were, to the support of the ad-
ministration. Flags were also hoisted on the City
Hall, the Engine Houses and other public build-
ings.

Sunday came, and with it a feeling of deep
solemnity. The morning paper brought the news
of the evacuation of Fort Sumter. Allusion to
the great fact of existing war was made in the
leading pulpits, and earnest exhortations were
made to stand by the constituted authorities.

On Monday. April 15th. the excitement became
intense. President Lincoln on that day issued his
call for 75.000 militia from the several States, and
called an extra session of Congress to assemble
on the fourth day of July then next ensuing.
During the day it wa; ascertained that the quota
from Illinois would be six regiments.

On the same day Governor Vates issued his
proclamation convening the Legislature in extra
session on the 23d of the same month.

These several proclamations were heralded to
the people through extras issued from time to
tmie during the day, as well as through the regu-
lar papers of the next morning.

.\lthough the excitement was intense, there
was as yet no organizatiow. In the evening the
people came together at the Court House. Ly-
sander R. Webb, one of the editors of the
"Transcript." called the meeting to order, and on
his motion William A. Willard. Mayor of the
City, was called to the chair. Mr. Webb and
William B. Whiffin. -n Democrat attached to the
"Democratic L'nion." were made secretaries. The
object of the meeting was stated by Senator
George C. Bestor, who had formerly been Mayor
of the City. A stirring address was made by
John Bryner (afterwards Colonel of the 47th
Regiment), after which the form of enrollment
was presented by Mr. J. Corwin Hansel for the
information of those desiring to enlist. A com-
mittee consisting of Messrs. Bestor, Willard,
Bryner and Webb was selected to draw up and
present resolutions expressive of the sentiments
of the citizens of Peoria, and, during their re-
tirement for that purpose, addresses were made
by Mr. John Durham, and Mr. William Trench,
late editor of the "Democratic Union." The pre-
amble and resolutions declared that, Whereas, the

Government of the L'nited States was then in'
danger from designing knaves and traitors, and
the flag of our Union had been insulted and dis-
graced, therefore be it Rcsokcd. "that, as friends
of the Union and lovers of liberty, we will defend
that flag at the cost of our lives, our fortunes and
our sacred honor ; that the L'nion has conferred
too many blessings upon us to hastily destroy or
disturb our progress for the sake of present or
future autocrats: that, as Illinoisans, we pledge
the United States all we are. and all we possess,
for the preservation of this glorious Union."

When the roll was opened for recruits, forty-
seven names were attached, that of Jacob Corwin
Hansel being the first. The Zouave Cadets also
held a meeting for organization, which was ad-
journed until the ne.xt evening.

Tuesday morning opened with additional e.x-
citemcnt. The substance of the proclamations of
the President and Governor, was published under
staring head-lines, and the citizens were called
upon to stand by the Government. All who were
desirous of forming a military company were re-
(|uested to meet at the Court House that evening.
The "Thanscript" editorially thus describes the
situation : "The excitement in our city, for the past
few days, has exceeded anything ever before
known. Yesterday people paid little attention to
business, but thronged the streets awaiting extras
containing the news. National flags were flung
out and patriotic demonstrations broke forth on
all hands : party and party feeling were swallowed
up in one united determination to stand by the
L'nion. the Constitution, the stars and stripes,
the Glorious Harbinger."

The Democratic Union of Tuesday (there be-
ing no Monday issue of that paper), came out
unequivocally in support of the authorities, quot-
ing President Jackson's motto, "The Federal
L'nion; by the Eternal, it must and shall be pre-
served."

This day seems to have been taken up largely
in recruiting. — no public meetings having been
held. But the Zouave Cadets met at night and
effected a partial organization. Wednesday, the
17th, brought a repetition, in an intensified form,
of the excitement of the two preceding days.
Mention was made in the morning papers of the
formation, on the preceding night, of the Wasli-
ington Rifle Company to be commanded by Dan
!Miles. W'bo w'as arranging his business so as to
take command : a call was made for a meeting of
the Zouave Cadets that evening and for a public
meeting at the Court House.

It was also announced that the rural dis-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

i6i

tricts had become equally aroused with the cities
and towns, and, as a conspicuous evidence of pa-
triotic devotion, it was stated that one man had
walked in from Knoxville, a distance of forty
miles, for the purpose of enlisting in his country's
service. On that day Valentine Dewein, a prom-
inent merchant, gratuitously tendered the use of
liis unfinished building (now Nos. 108-110 South
Adams street) as headquarters for the recruits,
and a meeting was called for that place during
the day.

Before night Captain Dcnnison's company was
full and had been tendered to the Governor by
telegraph, over one hundred men having volun-
teered their services to the Government. Later
in the day a message was received from the Gov-
ernor accepting the company. The officers were
Charles E. Dennison, Captain ; John Wetzel, a
veteran of the Mexican War, First, and Charles
Proebsting. once an otficer of the Prussian Army,
Second Lieutenant ; Loyd Wheaton ( > ) First.
Robert Wilson. Second, .Me.xander Jackelfalusy,
a countryman of Kossuth, Third, and Frederick
A. King. Fourth Sergeants; Charles Reiss, First,
David i). Snyder. Second, Anthony Roehrig,
Third, and Samuel Caldwell, Fourth Corporals;
Henry C. Pierce and Henry Walton, Musicians.
According to announcement another highly pa-
triotic meeting was iield at night in the Court
House at which John Durham presided, and
speeches were made by Dr. Corcoran. Mark M.
Aiken. E. K. Raymond, Barrett White, and others.
Seventy-seven new names were enrolled, of
whom thirty were Germans. A second company
was started and those wishing to join it were re-
quested to meet at Dewein's Hall, the new head-
quarters, on Thursday evening. Up to this time
forty companies had been tendered tu the
Governor.

On Thursday the City was somewhat more
quiet, but still active operations in the way of
recruiting were going on.

On the evening of this day. as was afterward
reported. Senator Beslor spoke at a meeting in
Chicago, where he pledged himself to vote at the
called meeting of the Legislature for an appro-
priation of $1,000,000. and for the raising of 100.-
000 men to put down the rebellion. .At night the

(1.) Lo>(i W'tie.itnn is n son of William ('.. Wheaton. nnre
.-( ifsident of Heciln and Chii'f Knuinc>er of the Peoria & Han-
nibal Kailroad. The son who is now a distiniitiished officer in
the Phillinines. was educate<i in the Peoria schools; was a
member of the National Blues, entered the army in Captain
Dennison's Company: served throtii^h the war. rapidly rose in
rank in the voluntee service, entered the regular arniv and is
now a Major-General, havini; distinguished himself in the
PhiUipine War.
11

Streets were thronged with people, a meeting of
the National Blues was held at their armory, one
of the Zouave Cadets at their new rooms on
Main street, and one of the volunteers at their
hall on Adams street.

There was an immense crowd at the meeting
at the Court House. It was presided over by
George W. Raney, who, as has been noticed, had
been the leader of the Buchanan wing of the Dem-
ocratic party in the campaign of 1858. Union
speeches were made by L. .^. Willard, a young
lawNLT. by W. W. O'Brien, who afterward be-
came a vigorous opponent of the Lincoln admin-
istration, by Enoch P. Sloan, a strong Douglas
Democrat, and by Lysander R. \\ebb and Jolm.
Durham, Republicans. By this time every ves-
tige of party spirit seemed to have been swallowed
up in one united and patriotic sentiment for the
salvation of the Union.

l-Viday. tlic 19th, came with no abatement but
ratlier an increase of excitement. The "Trans-
script," in closing a review of the situation, said:
".\ week of such events is worth a life-time in or-
dinary firesides. H'c have a govern )nc lit." On
the following morning (.•Xpril 20) it said: '"The
war spirit in Peoria rose yesterday to fever heat.
The headquarters of the volunteers were crowded
throughout the day. In the morning the German
Turners, to the number of forty stalwart men
marched with fife and drum to the Blues' head-
quarters and volunteered. Over two hundred had
offered by night, out of which one hundred and
ninety passed inspection. Drills were organized
and last night Blues' hall and several others were
opened as drill rooms for recruits. The anxiety
of the men to get into the company already ac-
cepted exceeds anything we ever saw before."

.■\ddison S. Norton had, at 8:30 o'clock on ill';-
night before, commenced the enrollment of a sec-
ond conqiany. and by 8 :30 P. M. on the 20th, the^
company was full and he was obliged to refuse
applicants. On that day he tendered the company
to the (iovernor but received no reply. Later 011
lu' was advised that the quota was full.

On the same day the Board of Supervisors
appropriated $10,000 to equip the soldiers and to-
Iirovide for the families of those who might be
in need of help, and several gentlemen made stand-
ing offers through Mr. Holland that each of them
would, at his own expense, support the family of
any soldier who needed such help during the war.
let it continue as long as it might. Flags were
tlung out from the banking houses of M. P. Stone
& Co.. (now the First NationaO : L. Howell &
Co.. (now Peoria National) ; S. Pulsifer & Co.,

162

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

(ill the Iron Front): at llic American Pottery
Company's building, at the Bureau Valley Depot,
at the Peoria House, at the Insurance Office of
R. Bills & Co., and at other places, including
many private residences.

During this day (Saturday) Captain Denni-
son's company were mustered in front of the
residence of Senator Bestor on Main street, oppo-
site the Court House, where a splendid flag, the
handiwork of Mrs. George C. Bestor and Mrs.
William S. Gregg, was presented them. Prayer
was first offered by Rev. J. M. VVaite, the pre-
sentation speech was made by Mr. Bestor, the
Star Spangled Banner was sung as a solo by j\Iiss
Harris, the audience joining in the chorus, the
closing prayer was made by Rev. S. J. G. Worth-
ington of the First Methodist Church, after which
three cheers were given for the Union, three for
the ladies, three for the stars and stripes, and
three for the Peoria Volunteers,

On the same afternoon an excited street meet-
ing took place on Main street in front of the build-
ing of the Peoria Marine and Fire Insurance
Company (the Iron Fiont. Nos. 209-211), caused
by the raising of a splendid .\mcrican flag, and by
the playing of the Star Spangled Banner on the
roof of the building by the Cecilian Band ( an or-
ganization composed of men of Irish nationality).
Henry Grove and Robert G. Ingersoll made patri-
otic speeches from the balcony of the same build-
ing, and Julius Manning and William W. O'Brien
at other places. In the evening another meeting
took place in the Court House, presided over by
George C. Bestor, with Enoch P. Sloan as secre-
tary. A stirring speech was made by Henry
Grove, followed by one from Dr. George L. Lu-
cas, Herman W, Snow (late member of the
Fifty-second Congress from the Ninth District)
offered a series of resolutions, which were passed,
to not buy of or sell to any citizen or citizens of
the States in rebellion any provisions, arms, am-
munition, or other implements of war tending to
encourage them in their disloyalty, or suffer the
same to be done by others, until they should have
returned to their duty or ceased to bear arms
against the Government ; also, as far as possible
to prevent the transit of the same through our
State for such purpose, and a committee of two
from each ward was appointed to see that this
resolution should be strictly observed.

On the same evening the Zouaves met to com-
plete their organization, at which time Mr. Frank
Peats, formerly of the Rockford Zouaves, volun-
teered to drill them in the then new tactics.

Thus ended the hitherto most memorable week
in the history of Peoiia.

The second Sabljatli of the war brought with
it a deeper feeling of .solemnity than that which
had characterized the first. Two hundred of the
best citizens of Peoria had devoted their lives to
their country's service, and, as to one-half of
them at least, this was to be their last Sabbath
in Peoria before encountering the perils of active
warfare. The churches were well attended at the
morning service, although many people were en-
gaged in the work of preparation for the depar-
ture of one of the companies, and the enlistment
of men for the others.

It was in the afternoon, at Parmely's Hall on
.•\dams street, the interest of the day reached its
climax. It was annoimced in the morning papers
and at the several churches, that a special service
would be held at the hall at 3 o'clock in the after-
noon, at which the two companies of volunteers
would be present. Before the hour appointed tlie
great hall was packed with an expectant throng,
with only seats enough in front reserved for the
soldiers. At length the measured tread of two
hundred stalwart men was heard on the stairway,
increasing in volume as it reached the top of the
second flight leading to the hall ; and as the col-
unm marched down the middle aisle, bearing
aloft the Star Spangled Banner, the flag of our
country began to have a significance never before
known to many of the beholders. The exercises
were short but very impressive. The opening
prayer was offered by Rev. Daniel M. Reed, pas-
tor of the Universalist Church, followed by two
addresses, one by himself and one by Rev. Wilber
McKaig. pastor of the Presbyterian (N. S.)
Church. A feeling of the deepest solemnity per-
vaded the meeting, and both addresses were re-
plete with commendations of the patriotism al-
ready displayed by the soldiers and with words
of encouragement to the courageous performance
of the lesponsible duties they had assumed.

Monday, the 22d, was a day of continued ex-
citement. The Court House Square was filled
with squads of volunteers practicing the various
military evolutions, but for want of a sufficient
(juantity of firearms, it was found impracticable
to drill all the men in that branch of tactics. The
National Blues had resolved not to enter the ser-
vice as a body but to offer themselves individu-
ally, .so they might be of greater service in several
companies. It was at this point their services be-
caiue of the greatest value. Having, in the course
of several years' practice, becoming well skilled in

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

163

military tactics, every man of them was now able
t(i tr.ke charge of a squad of new recruits. In this
way the companies recruited at Peoria were, at
once and successfully, initiated into the require-
ments of the military service.

Up to this time volunteering had been going
on with very little system. A few men having
some knowledge of military affairs, would put
their heads together, get the names of those will-
ing to enlist, enroll their names and call a meet-
ing for organization and election of officers. When
once organized, a tender of the company would be
made directly to the Governor. If accepted, the
company would be ordered to the general ren-
dezvous at Springfield, and, when mustered into
the service, would be assigned to some particular
regiment, a very tardy method of organizing an
army. In this way Captain Dennison's company
became attached to the Eighth Regiment { the sec-
ond organized for this war), under command of
Richard J. Oglesby as Colonel.

On the 22d of April, however, a dispatch w:is
sent to the Governor by a young lawyer then in
his 28th year, which seemed almost audacious in
its tone. It read as follows :

"Peoria, April 22, 1861.
"Td Governor }'a!cs:

"With your permission I will raise a regiment
of one thousand men to be ready on call. Will
you accept?

"R. G. Ingersoll."

Coming from a Democrat, a lately defeated
candidate for Congress, this dispatch not only
.startled the people of Peoria when, on the next
morning, it appeared in the papers, but it brought
re-assurance to the Governor, as well as to the
entire community. That it was not a piece of
bravado is proved by the fact that, although the
offer could not then be accepted, it was afterward
made good in the raising and mustering into the
service of ,the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, on the
20th of December of the same year.

The Legislature soon afterward passed an act
for the organization of ten new regiments, in
pursuance of which, as hereafter stated, the Gov-
ernor appointed Peoria as the rendezvous of one
cif them, and the organization then went on in a
niofe orderly manner.

A new element of excitement about this time
took possession of the public mind. A strange
craft had gone up the river, in the shape of a
small steamboat, and such was the excited state
of public feeling that it was at once supposed to

be a transport of supplies for the Rebel Army.
A meeting had been appointed for that evening
(Monday the 22<i) at the Court House. The
committee that had been appointed at a former
meeting to see to the execution of the non-inter-
course resolutions of Mr. Snow, reported the fact
of the passage up the liver of the strange craft
aforesaid, and that it was supposed to be loading
with a cargo of corn for the Southern army.
Thereupon a scene of almost uncontrollable ex-
citement ensued. The meeting had been called to
order by George W. Raney, Hon. Elihu N.
Powell had been chosen as Chairman and Edward
Hudson, Secretary. Speeches were made by R.
G. Ingersoll, Joseph F. Wilson, Lucien H. Kerr,
and others, and it was resolved to intercept the
passage of the boat down the river and to have
her cargo unloaded, should it prove to be des-
tined for a .southern port. Mr. J. M. Fowler was
appointed to see the bridge closed, and a resolu-
tion was adopted that no boats be allowed to
descend the river after that date with any pro-
visions or other articles contraband of war. This
threatening aspect of affairs was deemed by
many sufficiently serious to call for extreme
measures, and one gentleman moved that a com-
mittee be appointed, whose business it should be
to select a secret vigilance committee to look after
the conduct of the suspected ones, and to stand
guard over the safety of the city. This proposi-
tion was violently assailed on account of the
secret character of the proposed committee, and
the measure was defeated ; but. instead thereof, an
open committee was appointed consisting of the
following gentlemen ; John Durham. Robert G.
Ingersoll. David McCulloch. B. M. Greenman,
William S. Gregg, Charles Holland. Dr. George
L. Lucas, Amos P. Bartlett, Enoch P. Sloan,
William G. Wheaton. Hugh W. Sweeney, Wash-
ington Cockle, Benjamin Cow'ell, William W.
O'Brien. Tobias S. Bradley. James M. Cunning-
ham. John Bryner. George Ford. Charles Ballance,
John Comstock. Jacob Hepperly. Roger J. Brass,
Jesse L. Knowlton, Horace G. Anderson, and
Julius Manning — about one-half Democrats and
one-half Republicans. The appointment of this
committee, although wholly unnecessary, as was
afterward proved, served a good purpose in that
it placed the responsibility of whatever action
migiit be taken upon a cominittee of trusted citi-
zens, and by this means possibly averted acts of
mob violence. This committee held one or two
meetings, looked wise and knowingly, said little,
shook their heads when questioned, but did little
more. The suspected boat did not appear on

164

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Monday niglit nor on Tuesday. The next day
(24th). in response to a telegram for instructions,
Mayor Willard received one from Governor
Yates that the authorities at Springfield did not
want the lawful commerce on tiic Illinois River
interrupted. On that, or the succeeding day, the
boat arrived and landed at our wharf, when it
was discovered that her mission was none other
than the collection of produce for the St. Louis
market.

This day (April 24, 1861) witnessed the first
departure of volunteers from Peoria. Captain
Dcnnison"s Company, then called the "National
Blues," but sometimes "Company A," armed with
the muskets and equipments of the old company,
and many of them still further armed with re-
volvers and bowie-knives presented to them by
over-zealous citizens, took their departure at
11:15 o'clock by the Logansport, Peoria and
Burlington (now T. P. & W.) Railroad. .Xn
immense concourse of citizens turned out to wit-
ness their departure. They were escorted to the
station by Captain Norton's Company of volun-
teers, The Peoria Zouaves, The Emmett Guards,
and a large number of citizens, the procession be-
ing headed by the Peoria bands. No formal
leave-taking was had at the depot, but amid loud
cheers, waving of handkerchiefs and other de-
monstrations of encouragement, they were hurried
into the cars and were soon on their way. Their
route was by the L. P. & B. to Chenoa. thence by
the Chicago & .\lton to Springfield. The Cecil-
ian Brass Band accompanied them to their des-
tination and returned the next day. On account
of a slight accident this side of Washington, the
train was delayed about an hour. At Washing-
ton. Crugcr, Eureka and Secor, large crowds were
gathered at the stations and loudly cheered them
as they passed. .'\t El Paso the people turned out
en masse, with fife au'l drum, and gave the Com-
pany an enthusiastic leception.

The day following (April 2Sth) the Company
was mustered into the service for ninety days, as
part of the State Militia. But it was then found
that no more than sixty-four men of the rank
and file could be received, the Company then
having ninety-six of that grade. To bridge over
this emergency the officers set aside thirty-two
of those least fitted for duty, and had the remain-
ing sixty-four mustered into the service as Com-
pany E, of the Eighth Regiment Illinois Volun-
teers, of which Richard J. Oglesby, afterward
Governor and United States Senator, was com-
missioned as Colonel. The thirty-two who had
been set aside from Dennison's Company either

joined other companies or waited for an oppor-
tunity to rejoin the Company with which they had.
started out.

On the evening of the 26th the Home Guards
met at the Court House, at which time five to si.x
hundred names of valiant men, ready to do, to
dare and to die (at home), in defense of their
families and possessions, were reported. (')
Hugh J. Sweeney was chosen president of
the meeting, and J. K. Murphy secretary. A
committee of three from each ward was appointed
to call meetings to organize into companies, no
company to number less than fifty-six, and a com-
mittee of one from each ward was appointed to
procure arms. The papers of the day stated that
Peoria then had five companies of volunteers
fully organized and drilling.

Two weeks of the war had now elapsed and
Peoria County had taken a proud stand in defense
of the I'nion.

On Monday, the 2Qth, three doulile wagon
loads of volunteers came from Brimfield, the ma-
jority of whom joined the Zouaves. On that
evening that company elected Frank Peats, Cap-
tain, John Hough, First, and Joe H. Stevenson,
Second Lieutenants. The Peoria Light Artillery
elected Peter Davidson, Captain, W. J. Gardner,
First, and Herman Borris, Second Lieutenants.
Captain Norton's company marched out on the
prairie west of the city for a drill. At the re-
(|uest of the Bar, Judge Powell ordered that no
jury be called for the May term of the Circuit
Court.

blatters now remained in a more quiet state
of expectancy for several days. On May 3d, how-
ever, the President issued his call for 42,000 vol-
unteers for three years. 20.000 regulars for five
years, and 18.000 seamen.

The Legislature, just then adjourned, liad
passed an act for the raising of ten regiments, one
for each Congressional district, and the Governor,
in pursuance thereof, had appointed Peoria as the
place of rendezvous for the regiment to be raised'
in the Fourth District. .1 suflicient number of
companies had already been tendered and the
Governor, in appointing the place of rendezvous,
designated tlic following companies to compose-
the regiment :

Mason County Volunteers. Mason County,
Captain S. P. Walker ; Monmouth. Warren Coun-

U.) This was a movement crowinc out of the excitement
of the times for which there wa!^ then no present necessity, as
there were very few. if any. dssloyal men in the city, and they
were not in the least prominent. Subsequently, however, such
an oreanization became one of the main factors in preventini:
the success of a gigantic conspiracy in the North.

^.-J.^o-^^^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

165

-ty, Captain J. S. ^loore ; Fairvicw. Fulton County,
Captain A. D. Rose : Peoria, Peoria County, Cap-
tain A. S. Norton ; Orion, Henry County. Captain
Warren ; Galesburg. Knox County, Captain F. M.
-Smith ; Kew Boston, Mercer County, Captain E.
P. Wood ; Lacon, Marshall County, Captain B. F.
Baldwin ; Eureka, Woodford County, Captain J.
D. Rowel 1 ; Fulton Blues (Lewistown), Fulton
County, Captain L. F. Ross.

This order was issued on May 7th. In the
meantime active preparations were going on at
Peoria, but when the order came it was found
that only one company, Norton's, had been
accepted.

The old County Fair Grounds (now Table
Grove Addition^ was secured for the camp,
which was named Camp Mather, after the Ad-
jutant General of the State. The Fulton
Blues, Captain Leonard F. Ross was the first
to go into camp, which it did on Saturday,
May nth. The Lacon Company, Captain
Baldwin, arrived on Monday, the 13th. at 8 A.
M., and Captain Norton's (Peona) Company
at an early hour the same morning. On the
same day five companies, occupying twelve to fif-
teen coaches, arrived en the C, B. & Q. Railroad,
namely: Fairview Independent Rifles, Captain
Rose, go men ; Galva Company, Captain H. H.
Bush, 96 men (in place of Orion Company) ;
Monmouth Union Guards, Captain Moore, 108
men ; Mercer Blues. Captain Wood, 96 inen ;
Galesburg Invincibles, Captain Smith, 103 men,
who proceeded at once to the camp and were
sworn in. The Eureka Company, Captain Row-
ell, and the Mason Regulators, Captain Walker,
64 men. arrived later in the day and were duly
sworn in. On the 23d of May Captain David-
son's Company of Artillery also went into camp
-at the .same place, but not as part of the same
regiment.

On the 26th of May the entire regiment was
mustered into the service of the United States by
Captain John Pope, of the United States Army.
It was designated as the Seventeenth Regiment of
Illinois Volunteers.

On the loth day of June the regiment took its
departure for Alton. The regiment, having by
that time been somewhat imperfectly armed and
equipped, left camp in the afternoon, marching by
the customary road down Spring Hill, thence to
Main street and down Main street to the river.
Arriving at the levee it was massed in solid square
and there addressed in a few eloquent and patri-
otic remarks, by Hon. Hezekiah M. Wead, after
which it embarked on the steamers Sam Gaty and
Lasalle, and was soon on its way to its new quar-
ters at Alton, where, after being fully equipped,
it was ordered into active service.

Up to this time all volunteers had been ac-
cepted for the period of three months, the limit
of time the President was authorized by law to
accept them. But the term of service being so
short and the probable duration of the war being
much beyond this limit, it became very apparent
that new levies would have to be made in the
near future. The War Department therefore ad-
vised the retention of the organization of all com-
panies already formed, as well as the formation
of others in anticipation of the action of Congress
at its approaching special session in July. It will
therefore, appear that many companies begun
under the calls already mentioned, but not ac-
cepted, were continued over and mustered in under
subsequent calls. While it appears that Peoria
County had only tw'O companies actually mustered
into the service of the United States under these
calls, there were others already recruited and
ready to enter the service whenever an opportun-
ity should be presented.

CHAPTER XXVI

MUSTERING OF TROOPS.

During the interval between the mustering of
the first 75,000 men under the call of the Presi-
dent and the meeting of Congress in July, matters
remained in a confused condition. The President
had exhausted his power and yet there was no
prospect of the rebellion being subdued. On
the contrary, it was continually growing in
strength. The State of Illinois having made pro-
vision for the organization of ten regiments of
infantry and one of cavalry, it was for a time
doubted whether or not any of them could be
mustered into the service of the United States
during the period for which the first six regi-
ments had been accepted. Then it was decided
that six of them could be received to take the
places of the first six when their term should e.x-
pire. but later the War Department concluded
to accept the whole of the ten regiments of in-
fantry. As already seen, in the make-up of the
Seventeenth Regiment, only one company from
Peoria had been accepted. But such was the
anxiety of the boys to get into the army that many
of them were willing to enlist in regiments form-
ing in other States. Finding an opening in the
American Zouave Regiment forming at St. Louis,
afterward known as the Eighth Missouri, two of
our companies concluded to join it. Accordingly
the Peoria Zouave Cadets, nearly a full com-
pany of quite young men, left for St. Louis on
the 19th day of June, expecting to join that regi-
ment as a company, with Frank Peats as Captain.
Peats was at the time with the Seventeenth Regi-
ment as drill officer, but had been with the
Zouaves at Peoria, and had signified his willing-
ness to become their Captain. But upon looking
into the situation he found it not so inviting
as he had expected, and upon arrival of the
company at St. Louis declined the honor. This
had the effect of disorganizing the Company
for a time, but a large number of them con-

cluded to remain, and, uniting with about forty
men recruited by George W. Baker, at Pekin,
they succeeded in organizing a new company
under G. R. Swartout, as Captain, and as such
joined the regiment.

On the 25th of June, the Elmwood Guards.
David P. Grier, Captain, with about one hundred
men, left for St. Louis and joined the same regi-
ment. Captain Grier's company were sworn in
the ne.xt day after their arrival and became Com-
pany G. of the .\merican Zouave or Eighth Mis-
souri Regiment. The Zouaves were sworn in on
the 28th of the same month.

Soon after this the War Department decided
to accept the regiment of cavalry tendered by the
State, and active measures were soon taken to
have the same organized. A movement w'as set
on foot by William A. Murray to organize a
company at Peoria. He succeeded in raising
about thirty men, when it was decided to unite
them with a similar company then forming at
Knoxville under Jehiel B. Smith as Captain.
They first went to Quincy and then to Alton,
where, as part of a regiment consisting of seven
companies, they were sworn into the service of
the L'nited States July 3, 1861.

Captain Davidson's Company had at first been
sworn into the service of the State for only thirty
days, but, in anticipation of another call, the
men had been induced to remain in camp, and
now. on the 5th of July, they were accepted into
the service of the United States. They broke
camp at Peoria, on July loth. and embarked for
Alton on the Steamer Sam Gaty with nearly one
hundred men and four si.x-pound pieces of artil-
lery. Before embarking they were mustered in
front of the residence of Dr. Rudolphus Rouse at
the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, where
a splendid flag was presented by the ladies in a
speech by Elbridge G. Johnson, Esq., responded

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

167

to by Captain Davidson. From Alton the Com-
pany was moved to St. Charles. Missouri, and
thence to several points, in the same State, finally
arriving at Jeflferson Barracks, where, on August
17th, it was mustered into the services of the
United States as Battery A, in the Second Regi-
ment of Illinois Light Artillery. Its operations
during the war were confined principally to the
States of Missouri and Arkansas.

The time of service of the three-months men
was now about to expire and it was ascertained
that a small percentage of them were willing to
re-enlist. Especially was this true of the first
company sent out from Peoria (Captain Denni-
son's) who, contrary to their wishes, had been
kept on garrison duty at Cairo and not permitted
to enter the field of active operations. It was
ascertained that only about twenty of them would
re-enlist in that regiment, but, through active
efforts in recruiting new men, it was re-organized
and mustered in for three years under Captain
John Wetzel.

In anticipation of another call volunteering
continued to be actively carried on, there being
as many as eight recruiting offices in Peoria at
one time. During the months of May. June and
July, the Secretary of War had authorized the
formation of seventeen independent regiments of
infantry and five of cavalry. Among the former
was one to be raised by Captain John Bryner,
which was afterward known as the Forty-seventh
Regiment of Illinois Infantry. Previous to the
announcement of the receipt of this order, there
had been no fixed purpose on the part of any of
the Companies then being raised as to what
regiment they should join, some preferring one
and some another. But as soon as it was an-
nounced that Bryner had received authority to
raise a regiment to be commanded by himself as
Colonel, they began to rally around him, and in
an increditably short time his regiment was full.

The terrible disaster to our army at Bull Run
on July 2ist, instead of discouraging enlistment
only led to greater activity. On the day follow-
ing that event Congress had authorized the Presi-
dent to call into the service 500,000 men. On the
23d Governor Yates telegraphed, the Secretary of
War as follows : "Being advised that you are
receiving tenders of additional troops. I desire to
tender you for Illinois, thirteen additional regi-
ments of infantry, most of them now ready to
rendcEvous : three additional regiments of cav-
alry and one battalion of light artillery. Illinois
demands the right to do her full share in the
work of preserving our glorious Union from the

assaults of high-handed rebellion, and I insist
that you respond favoral)ly to the tender I have
made." This tender was in addition to the
regiments already being formed under the author-
ity of the War Department, as already mentioned.
It was accepted by the Secretary of War on the
25th. On the same day. Colonel Bryner was au-
thorized to raise his independent regiment of
infantry, it being one of the seventeen first men-
tioned. By the 28th he had seven companies
pledged and more in prospect. On the 31st
he received orders from the War Department
to have his regiment ready to marcn in
thirty days. He then had sixteen companies
tendered him. only ten of which could be accepted.
It was announced that the regiment would ' go
into camp at the Fair Grounds on the 14th. On
the loth. detachments from Captain Lowe's Com-
pany of "Peoria City Zouaves." then changed to
"Peoria City Rifles." and Captain Cromwell's
Company, commenced preparing the Fair
Grounds for the reception of the regiment. By
the 14th several companies had taken up their
quarters there and the remainder followed in a
few days thereafter.

Camp Lyon, as it was then named, now became
the center of attraction. The same scenes that
had been witnessed while the Sevententh Regi-
ment was encamped there, were now repeated.
.\ccording to previous announcement a mass
meeting of the citizens was held there on the 22d.
at which time spirited addresses were made by
Thomas G. McCuUoh, Jonathan K. Cooper and
Washington Cockle, all urging a vigorous prose-
cution of the war and encouraging men to enlist
in the service of their country. One week from
that time. August 29th, it was estimated that fully
5.000 people of both sexes had assembled there in
mass meeting. No better evidence of the unity
of sentiment then -prevailing can be found than
the patriotic speech delivered on that occasion
by Hon. Xorman H. Purple. After reviewing
the whole situation and the causes which had
led up to the war. the Judge concluded as fol-
lows : "We must fight together the battle for the
Union. The slightest dissension or disunion upon
this great question is the sure harbinger of in-
glorious defeat. Let us first settle the previous
question whether we have a government. It will
be time enough to wrangle about local or national
politics when it shall have been determined that
we have a nation.

"Whatever may have been our previous politi-
cal differences or predilections. I have an abid-
ing confidence — yea. I may say. a personal kno'i'l-

i68

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

edge, that llnTf is ;iii hom-st. iruc-licarlcil ])atri(it
at the helm. The storm may rage, the winds
may howl, the w-aves may roll mountain high
across her decks, but tlic ship will never sink if
it is in the power of that man to hold her on her
course and bring her safely into port. I did not
vote for him, nor knowingly aid in his election.
I Iioncstly wished fur liis defeat. I voted for
John C. Brcckcnridgc. God forgive me for that
sin or error, whatever it may have been. He said
he was a true-hearted. Union-loving man, and I
believed him. Subsequent events have con-
vinced me that we were mutually — mistaken."

Such was the great demand for this speech tliat
it was republished in tlie tri-ucckly "Transcript."
of which a large extra numhcr was printed. Tlu-
splendid tribute paid to the President, with whiMu
Judge Purple had an intimate acquaintance, speaks
well for the head and heart ot each of these great
men who had often met in forensic debate, and
who entertained for each other the highest per-
sonal regard.

At the same meeting Hon. Hezckiah M. Wead
also made a patriotic speech, which was spoken of
in terms of high praise by those who had been his
political opponents. Unfortunately the text of
this speech has not been preserved.

The attention bestowed upon this regiment by
the citizens of Peona w-ere of such a marked char-
acter that, at a meeting of the officers on the sec-
ond day of September, the thanks of the regiment
were extended to the ladies for the many deli-
cacies, as well as substantials. furnished the men,
to Judges Purple and Wead for their patriotic
speeches, to Rev. Hazen of the Christian Church
and Hibbcn of the Second Presbyterian Church
for their services in administering to the spiritual
welfare of the men, and to Messrs. T. G. McCul-
loh, John C. Grier and .Alexander G. Tyng for
their lively interest manifested in the regiment.

This regiment was organized and sworn in on
the i6th day of August. lS6i. remained in camp
at Peoria until September 21 st. when it left on the
Logansport, Peoria & Burlington Railroad by way
of Chenoa for St. Louis. It remained in camp at
that place, receiving its arms and clothing until
October 9th, when it commenced active duties.
At the time of leaving Peoria it was officered as
follows :

I-icld and Staff Ofnceis.

Colonel. John Bryner. Peoria: Lieutenant
Colonel, Daniel Miles. Washington. Tazewell
County; Major, William A, Thrush, Peoria;

Jdjntant. Rush W. Chambers. Peoria; Quarter
Master. William Stewart. Henry, Marshall Coun-
ty; Surgeon, George L. Lucas. Peoria; I'irst
.Issistant Surgeon. Tmothy Balil), Peoria; Chaf'-
lain. Rev. Jeremiah Hazen, Peoria.

In the latter part of July, Bazil D. Meek,
F,sq., of Woodford County, being in St. Louis on
business relating to the soldiers, called upon
General John C. Fremont, then in command of
this Department, and obtained leave from him to
raise a regiment of cavalry in Central Illinois.
Mr. Meek immediately telegraphed Robert G.
Ingersoll, Esq., of Peoria, to go to St. Louis and
join him in his efforts. On arriving at St. Louis,
Mr. Meek magnanimously offered the first place
in the regiment to Ingersoll on account of his
more extended acquaintance, he being coinmis-
sioned Colonel and Meek, Lieutenant Colonel.
Recruiting did not begin until some time in Sep-
tember, and the recruits began arriving at Camp
Lyon not long after the departure of the Forty-
seventh Infantry. This regiment was called
the McKinstry Guards in honor of (General
McKinstry, Fremont's Adjutant General and
Provost Marshal of St. Louis. It afterward
became the Eleventh Regiment of Illinois Cav-
alry.

On account of the approaching winter and the
necessity of supplying the regiment with horses,
tents and full sujjply of camp equipage, the or-
ganization of the regiment did not proceed with
the same degree of rapidity as that of the regi-
ments of infantry. It was not until December
20, it was irustcred into the service. It remained
in camp until February 22d, when it marched to
Benton Barracks, Missouri, arriving there on
March .3d. It remained at Benton Barracks un-
til March 25th, when it was ordered to the front
and, in a very short time thereafter, was for the
fir.st time under fire at the memorable battle of
Shiloh, on the 6th of April. According to Army
regulations the regiment consisted of twelve
companies instead of ten. as in the infantry regi-
ments, with three Majors, and three battalion
Adjutants. The regiment, when it left Peoria,
was officered as follows :

Field and Staff Officers,

Colonel, Robert G. Ingersoll, Peoria ; Lieu-
tenant Colonel, Bazi! D. Meek, Woodford County;
Majors, Sabin D. Puterbaugh, Pekin, David J.
W.aggoner, Lewistown, James H. Johnson,
Peoria; Adjutant, David T. N. Sanderson,

.^O , ^o^^/

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

169

Pioria ; Battalion Adjutants. George H. Chappell,
Thomas Bracken, Liicien H. Kerr; Oiiarteriiias-
tcr, William Currie. Peoria: Surgeon, James Mc-
Master, Dixon ; First Assistant, Robert F. Strat-
ton, Maquon.

In the latter part of August Captain David P.
Grier and First Lieutenant Hugh Xeill, of the
Elmvvood Guards, then stationed at Cape Girar-
deau, arrived home with instructions from General
Fremont to raise a company of Sharp Shooters,
to be attached to the Eighth Missouri Regiment,
to which this company belonged. This company
was rapidly raised to tlie number of one hundred
and ten men, who, with Hugh Xeill as Captain,
left for St. Louis on the 17th day of September.

On Xovember 15th a pleasing incident oc-
curred in the visit of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry,
Colonel T. Lyle Dickey commanding, to the
Eleventh Regiment at Camp Lyon. Colonel
Dickey was on his march southward, and having
encatnped at a point on the cast side of the
river in the vicinity of Peoria, brought his entire
regiment to the city, on a visit to Colonel Inger-
soU and his regiment, of whom tliere were then
about seven hundred in camp. Having spent
a pleasant afternoon at Camp Lyon. Colonel
Dickey returned to his own camp in the evening.

In May, 1862, rumors that the enemy in great
force was advancing on Washington, resulted
in an urgent call upon the Governors to forward
immediately to Washington all the volunteer and
militia forces in their respective States. In re-
sponse lo this call five Illinois regiments, in-
cluding the Sixty-seventh, were organized and
mustered into the United States service for three
months. These regiments relieved the veteran
forces at Camp Butler and Camp Douglas, which
were sent to the front. The Sixty-seventh Regi-
ment, with Roswell M. Hough, of Chicago, as
Colonel, and Eugene H. Oakley, of Peoria, as
Lieutenant Colonel, was organized at Camp
Douglas. Chicago, June 13. 1862, where it re-
mained during its term of service doing guard
duty.

.\s soon as these calls became known Charles
K. Purple, of Peoria, son of the Hon. Norman
H. Purple, organized a company, consisting mostly
of citizens of Peoria County, which were re-
cruited in the latter part of May and the be-
ginning of June. This company was mustered
in with the Sixty-seventh Regiment at Camp
Douglas, and remained in service until the 6th
day of October, 1862. when it was mustered out.

.\ company was also formed at Canton under
•command of William H. Fritcs. as Captain, of

which a number of Pcorians became members,
and remained in service until the 27th day of
September.

The crisis of the war seemed now to have
arrived. The Union armies had been successful
in capturing several strong positions. But every
Union success only called for more men to hold
the territory gained, while it enabled the rebels
to concentrate their troops at other strong points,
threatening the safety of the Capital itself. In
this crisis seventeen Governors of loyal States,
together with the President of the Military Board
of Kentucky, addressed a note to the President
advising him to call for such additional forces,
and to take such additional measures, as might
be necessary in his judgment to put down the
rebellion. The President, having already issued
his call for 300,000 additional troops, now in-
creased it to 600,000 to be enforced by draft,
unless within a certain number of days the quotas
of the several States should be filled by volun-
teers. The efi'ect of these calls was quite equal
to that produced by the first call in April of the
preceding year. The time had now come when
the industrial classes must take up arms, either
voluntarily or by compulsion.

In the morning papers of July 24th appeared
a call signed by many of the citizens for a
w.U" meeting at the Court House that night. The
Court House was so crowded the mcctirig had to
be adjourned to the open air. when E. C. Inger-
soll made a great speech, urging the immediate
filling up of the quotas from this State (there
having as yet been no general enrollment, nor
any assignment of quotas by counties, townships,
cities or wards). A resolution was passed call-
ing for a special meeting of the Board of Su-
pervisors and the appropriation of $15,000 for
the support of the families of present and future
volunteers, and $10,000 for bounties for enlist-
ments. .A committee of nineteen was appointed
to visit every township in the county to urge upon
the Supervisors to vote for these appropriations,
^leetings were appointed to be held simultaneous-
ly on July ,^0 in every township, but when that
night came the meeting appointed for Peoria had
to be adjourned imtil another night because the
good speakers were all in the country. Good
work was however, being done in a private way.
By the 2gth the sum of $1,900 had been raised
by private subscriptions to encourage volunteer-
ing, and by August ist a new camp ground had
been selected and was being put in readiness
for the new recruits. This was named "Camp
Peoria."

I/O

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

On Saturday, August 3d. a meeting was held
at the Court House addressed by Henry Grove,
E. C. IngersoU and Washington Cockle, at
which time a resolution was passed instructing
the Supervisors of Peoria Township to vote for
the appropriations asked at the previous meet-
ing. On the 5th the Board met and voted the
appropriations and promised more when needed.
On the 6th the County Clerk gave notice to
the Assessors of the townships to file their lists
of persons liable to do military duty within ten
days from that date. At that time there were
eleven recruiting officers in the city, and vol-
unteering was going on at a lively rate. But
a few days were given to fill up the quota before
drafting should begin. Within the time speci-
fied, however, the quotas were filled and the
county escaped the draft.

It was afterward ascertained that, up to that
time, under all calls made, the quotas of Peoria
County were 1,721 men, all of whom had been
furnished.

Under these calls a rendezvous was appointed
at Peoria, where several regiments in order took
up their quarters. The first to arrive occupied
the County Fair Grounds (Camp Lyon) ; the
others occupied the prairie in the northeast quar-
ter of the city.

The regiments brought together at Peoria at
that time were the following:

The Seventy-seventh. Although not mus-
tered into the service as early as some of the other
regiments, the recruits for the Seventy-seventh
began to arrive early in August. There was
a spirited contest between the friends of Charles
Ballance, Esq., and Captain David P. Grier, as to
which of them should be Colonel. Mr. Ballance
finally succeeded in getting the commission, but
after holding it a short time resigned, and Grier
was Colonel when the regiment left Peoria. This
was one of the Peoria regiments. It was fully
organized and mustered into the United States
service on the 3d day of September, 1862. It
remained in camp until October 4th, at which time
it proceeded to Covington. Kentucky, and re-
ported to Major General Gordon Granger, com-
manding the army of Kentucky, who assigned it
to duty in the division commanded by General
A. J. Smith. At the time of its leaving Peoria
it was officered as follows :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel. David P. Grier, Peoria ; Lieutenant
Colonel, Lysander R. Webb, Peoria; Major,

Memoir \'. Hotchkiss, Peoria; Adjutant, John
Hough, Peoria; Quartermaster, David McKinney,
Peoria; Surgeon, Charles Winnie, Peoria; first
Assistant Surgeon, James M. Cowen, Magnolia;
Second Assistant Surgeon, John Stover,
Minonk: Chaflain, Rev. William G. Pierce, of
the Congregational Church, Elmwood.

The Eighty-fifth was considered a Mason
County regiment. It was the first on the ground
at Peoria, and took up its quarters at Camp
Lyon. It was organized and sworn into the
service of the L'nited States on the 27th of
August with the following field and staff of-
ficers :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel. Robert S. Moore. Havana; Lieutenant
Colonel, Caleb J. Dilworth, Havana ; Major, Sam-
uel P. Cummings, Astoria ; Adjutant, John B.
Wright. Havana ; Quartermaster. Samuel P.
Wright. Havana ; Surgeon, Joseph P. Walker,
Mason City: First Assistant Surgeon, Phil. L.
Diffenbecker. Havana: Second Assistant Surgeon,
James C. Patterson, Mason City; Chaplain, Rev.
Joseph F. Barwick-. Havana.

The Highly- si.xth Regiment was considered
a Peoria regiment, and was one of the earliest
on the ground. It was organized and mustered'
into the service of the United States by Captain
R. C. Ewing on the 27th day of August, 1862,
at Camp Lyon. At the time of its leaving Peoria
it was organized as follows :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel. David D. Irons, Peoria; Lieutenant
Colonel. David W. Magee, Peoria ; Major, James
S. Bean. Trivoli ; Adjutant, James E. Prescott,
Peoria ; Quartermaster, Charles H. Dean, Peoria ;
Surgeon. Massena M. Hooton, Peoria; First As-
sistant Surgeon, John Gregory, Farmington ;
Second .issistant Surgeon, Israel J. Guth, Peoria;
Chaplain. Rev. George W. Brown.

The Eighty-fifth and Eighty-sixth Regiments
left Peoria on Sunday, the 7th day of September,
on a train of cars propelled by four powerful en-
gines, and were hurried to the front at Louisville,
Kentucky, where they remained until the 1st of
October. They then entered the field of active
service, and, on the 8th of that month, were both
engaged with the enemy in the bloody battle of
Perry vi He.

The One Hundred and Second Regiment was
organized at Knoxville in August by the venerable
ex-Lieutenant Governor William McMurtry, and

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

171

was mustered into the service of the United
States on September ist and 2d. On September
22d it was moved to Peoria, where it took up its
quarters in Camp Lyon, lately evacuated by the
Eighty-fifth and Eighty-sixth. It remained in
camp at Peoria until October 1st. when it was
moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it imme-
diately took the field of active operations. At the
time of leaving Peoria it was organized as fol-
lows :

field and Staff Officers.

Colonel, William McMurtry. Henderson ;
Lieutenant Colonel, Franklin C. Smith. Oneida;
Major, James M. Mannon, Aledo; .Idjulant,
John VV. Pittman, Galesburg ; Quartermaster,
Francis H. Ruger. Galesburg; Surgeon, David
B. Rice. Monmouth ; First Assistant Surgeon,
William Hamilton. Oneida; Chaplain. Rev. Amos
K. Tullis, Hendersonville.

The One Hundred and Third Regiment was
raised wholly in Fulton County. On the 6th of
September nine companies arrived at Peoria and
went into camp and organized the regiment.
Finding there were enough extra men in the
companies already in camp, a tenth company was
formed, thus completing the regiment, which was
mustered into the service of the United States
on the 2d day of October.

On the 31st day of October they left camp
and went to Cairo, where they took boat for
Columbus, Kentucky, and were there placed on
the cars and arrived at Bolivar. Tennessee, in
fifty-two hours from Peoria. Amos C. Babcock
was at first elected Colonel, and Parley Stearns
Lieutenant Colonel, but they having resigned,
the regiment when it left Peoria was officered as
follows :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel, William A. Dickerman. Liverpool ;
Lieutenant Colonel, George W. Wright, Lewis-
town ; Major, Asias Willison, Lewistown ; Ad-
jutant, Samuel S. Tipton, Lewistown ; Quarter-
master, William Mellor, Vermont ; Surgeon,
Richard Morris, Ellisville; First Assistant Sur-
geon, Sidney S. Buck, Fairview; Second As-
sistant Surgeon, James W. Van Brunt, Berna-
dotte ; dhaf'lain. Rev. William S. Peterson,
Canton.

The One Hundred and Eighth Regiment was
organized at Peoria, and mustered into tlie
service of the United States on the 28th day
of August, 1862. It remained in camp at Peoria
until the 9th day of October, when it proceeded

by rail to Covington. Kentucky, and on its arrival
there reported to Major General Gordon Granger,
and was assigned to the First Brigade of the
Third Division, Army of Kentucky. Having beea
equipped for field service, it marched with its
division from Covington on the 17th day of
October to Nicholasville, Kentucky, where it
went into camp on the ist day of November.
When it left Peoria it was organized as follows :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel. John Warner, Peoria; Lieutenant
Colonel, Charles Turner, Pekin ; Major. Reuben
L. Sidwell, Metamora ; Adjutant, Benjamin F.
Foster, Peoria; Quartermaster, George W.
Raney, Peoria ; Surgeon, John Cary, Peoria ;
First Assistant Surgeon. Richard A. Conover,
Eureka; Chaf'lain. Rev. George W. Gue.

The One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment was
recruited principally in Stark and Henry Coun-
ties. It was mustered into the service of the
United States at Peoria on the 20th and 22d days
of September, 1862. It left Peoria on the 8th
day of October by rail, and arrived at Cincin-
nati about midnight on the lOth, when it im-
mediately crossed the Ohio River and reported
to Major General Gordon Granger. It was there
brigaded with the Thirty-third Indiana, and
Seventy-seventh, Ninety-seventh and One Hun-
dred and Eighth Illinois. At the time of its
leaving Peoria it was organized as follows :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel. Thomas J. Henderson. Toulon. Stark
County; Lieutenant Colonel, Emory S. Bond,
Cambridge, Henry County ; Major, Joseph M.
Hosford, Geneseo, Henry County; Adjutant,
Henry W. Wells. Cambridge, Henry County ;
Quartermaster, George C. Alden, Annawan,.
Henry County ; Surgeon, John W. Spalding,
Galesburg; First Assistant Surgeon. Luther S.
Millikcn. Wyoming; Chaplain. Rev. Roswell N.
Henderson.

From the foregoing it will be observed that
several regiments were in camp at Peoria at the
same time. Colonel John Bryner of the Forty-
seventh Regiment, having resigned his commission
early in September, was soon thereafter appointed
commandant of the post at Peoria. Under his ex-
perienced management the camp soon assumed
all the regularity of a well organized army.
During this period daily dress parades of the
entire command were had at five o'clock in the
afternoon, at which hour many people froni'

aj2

HISTORY OF PF.ORIA COUNTY.

Peoria, as well as from tlic surrounding coun-
try, would visit the camp. In fact, the camp was
visited daily by many hundreds of people from
the surrounding country, bringing to their friends
supplies of delicacies and substantial food not
to be found on the menu of army rations. Thus
were the days and weeks pleasantly spent in

■ camp while the soldiers were being drilled,
clothed and equipped for the service.

On the 27th day of September the people of
Penria witnessed the greatest military display
which has ever occurred in , the history of the

■ county. On that day there was a grand review
under command of Colonel Bryner of the five
regiments (the Seventy-seventh, One Hundred
and Second, One Hundred and Third, One Hun-

/drcd and Eighth and One Hundred and Twelftli),
then at Camp Peoria. Thousands of spectators
from Peoria and the surrounding country wit-
nessed the scene, and all felt a just pride in the

■ appearance, as well as the advanced state of dis-
cipline of the men.

On the day of the departure of the Scvcnty-
seventli Regiment one of the largest gatherings of
people, from the country as well as from the city,
that ever assembled in Peoria on any similar oc-
casion lined the streets. But the train which had
transported the One Hundred and Second Regi-
ment to Cincinnati, a few days before, and which
was expected to take the Seventy seventh, had
been impressed into the service of the Govern-
ment for the movement of other regiments from
Springfield, and the Seventy-seventh was loaded
into twenty-four bo.x cars seated with new pine
boards, with the soft side uppermost, and straw
for their bedding. One coach only was supplied
for the invalids and officers, but it is to the credit
of the latter that most of them shared the less
comfortable accommodations with the privates.
The train reached Logansport on Sunday inorn-
•ing. the 5th, and Cincinnati at noon of the fol-
lowing day. The boys had learned by this time
that soldiering was not to be boy's play. Other
regiments fared about equally with them.

The next week was one of sadness for Peoria.
On the same day the Seventy-seventh left Peoria
the bloody battle of Corinth was fought, in which
the Forty-seventh sustained heavy loss. Colonel
William A. Thrush being one of the number
Tcilled. On the 8th and gtb the equally bloody bat-
tle of Perryville was fought, in which the Eighty-
fifth and Eighty-sixth took part, the latter also
suffering severe loss. Word had also been re-
ceived that seven companies of the Eleventh Cav-
■alry had been taken prisoners.

On Thursday, the 9th. the One Hundred and
Twelfth Regiment was moved from Camp Peoria
through a beating rain, and as the men came to a
Hag suspended across the street they insisted on
saluting it, although the rain was pouring in tor-
rents. Being massed on the street, they uncovered
and gave three lusty cheers for the Star Spangled
!3:inner, and then moved on to the depot, where
they embarked and were soon under way to the
front.

On Saturday evening, the nth of October, a
meeting of citizens was held at the Court House
to arrange for the funeral of Colonel Thrush.
Resolutions were passed and a committee of ar-
rangements appointed to act with other siiuilar
committees, the saine being composed of the
following well known citizens: Henry I. Rugg,
Thomas G. McCuIIoh, .Alexander G. Tyng, Hon.
Elihu N. Powell, P. R. K. Brotherson, Dr.
Benjamin F. Miles, James M. Cunningham,
Hon. Marion Williamson. Hon, Washington
Cockle. Mark M. Aiken, Jonathan K. Cooper
and William .A. Herron.

The funeral services took place at the Second
Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 19th,
at which time a great concourse of people were
present. The services were conducted in the
open air by Rev. John S. McCuUoch, pastor of the
United Presbyterian Church, of which the family
of Colonel Thrush were members. The coffin
was draped in the American flag and covered
with wreaths of flowers. At the conclusion of
the religious services a procession was formed
consisting of the One Hundred and Third Regi-
ment of Infantr\' (the only one then in camp),
the members of the National Blues, the members
of his own regiment (the Forty-seventh) then
in the city, the Master Masons. Knights Templar
(of which organizations Colonel Thrush had been
a member, who also furnished the Guard of Hon-
or), all of which were followed by a long line of
private conveyances, the whole procession being
over one inile in length. At the cemetery the
usual ceremony of the Knights Templar was ob-
served, and all that was mortal of Colonel Will-
iam A. Thrush w-as consigned to the tomb.

While the five regiments already named were
being drilled and equipped, several movements
were set on foot looking to the organization of
at least three regiments of cavalry to be rendez-
voused at Peoria. These, however, were finally
consolidated into one under the command of
Colonel Horace Capron.

The Fourteenth Regiment nf CaniWy was re-
cruited and organized in the fall and winter of

J>V(^^MA(^^. a4. (£ir^J^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

173

1862. witli headquarters at Peoria. On January
7, 1863, the first and second battahons were mus-
tered into the service of the United States, and
on February 6th the third battahon. During the
months of February and March it received its
horses and equipments, and was placed in thor-
ough discipline, ^^arch 28th it started for the
front. April 17th it arrived at Glasgow. Ken-
tucky, where it was brigaded and immediately
entered upon active field duties. It drew its re-
cruits from all parts of the State. At the time
of leaving Peoria it^was organized as follows:

1-icld and Staff Officers.

Colonel, Horace Capron, Peoria County;
Lieutenant Colonel, David P. Jenkins: Major,
Francis M. Davidson ; Adjutant, Henry W. Car-
penter :QMar<i'r»ia.s/iT, Samuel F. True: .S";(/-
geon, Preston H. Bailhachc. Springfield : First
Assistant Surgeon. George A. Wilson, Peoria;
Chaplain. Rev. Samuel Chase. Jubilee.

During the summer and early fall nronths. in
anticipation of a draft, an enumeration had been
made of those liable to perform military service,
with the following result in Peoria County :

E.VROLL

"ment.

Akron 290

Brimfield 358

Chillicothe 266

Elmwood 415

Hallock 236

Hollis 166

Jubilee 146

Kickapoo 235

Limestone 409

Logan 241

Medina 212

Millbrook 224

Princeville 256

Radnor 244

Richwoods 175

Rosefield 244

Timber 337

Trivoli 309

Town of Peoria 100

First Ward 616

Second Ward 524

Third Ward 511

Fourth Ward 470

Fifth Ward 344

Si.xth Ward 302

Total 7630

• .\LRE.\DY
ENLISTED.

77
126

13.3

137

41
f.7
94
87
54
68

108
84
,16

III

159
107
14
7-2
68
64
44
69
16

1975

No further calls were made upon Peoria Coun-
ty, except for filling up regiments already in the
field, until 1864.

The One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment.
Early in the spring of 1864 the Governors of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, believing that the re-
bellion was nearing its close, and desiring to aid
the Government in every way possible, tendered to
the President a volunteer force of eighty-five
thousand men for one hundred days to relieve
the veteran soldiers from guard duty at our forts,
arsenals and elsewhere. Of this number, Illi-
nois furnished thirteen regiments and two bat-
talions, the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth being
one of them. The regiment was raised at Peoria
and was mustered into the service of the United
States on the ist day of June, 1864, and on the
8th of June, it moved to St. Louis by steamboat,
arriving there on the lOth ; thence it moved to
Columbus. Kentucky, where it remained about a
week, and was then moved to Cairo as a garri-
son for tliat place.

With commendable patriotism this regiment
remained on duty for nearly two months after its
time had expired, for which it received the thanks
of the President in a personal letter to its com-
mander. It was mustered out at Peoria on the
25th day of October. 1864. When leaving Peoria
it was organized as follows :

Field and Staff Officers.

Colonel, Peter David.son, Peoria (formerly
of the Peoria Battery) ; Lieutenant Colonel, Hor-
ace H. Wilsie. Galesburg; Major, Solomon Z.
Roth, Lamoille : Adjutant, David T. N. Sander-
son. Peoria: Quartermaster, John Bryner. Peoria;
Surgeon, Charles H. Latimer, Peoria : First As-
sistant Surgeon, Allen M. Pierce, Tremont : Sec-
ond Assistant Surgeon, Joseph Shugart ; Chaplain,
Rev. Joseph T. Cook.

.\nother call for volunteers was made July 18,
1864, under which the One Hundred and Forty-
Sixth Regiment, under Colonel Henry H.
Dean, of Rockford. was organized at Camp But-
ler, September i8th. for one year. In Com-
pany G. of this regiment. Captain Ephraim F.
Molton, of Pavillion, about twenty m;?n from
Peoria, and in Company I, Captain George W.
Baker, of Washington, about forty men from
Peoria enlisted. These served until the close of
the war. doing principally guard duty.

-\nothcr call for volunteers for the period of
one year was made December 19. 1864. The term
of service of the One Hundred Day men having
then expired, many of them re-enlisted under

,74 HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the new call. In the One Hundred and Forty- Total Credits under all calls 4,907

eighth Infantry. Colonel Horace H. Wilsie, of

Galesburg; Company C. Captain Benjamin F. Total Deficit 286

Burnett. Tremont : Company F. Captain Frank

A. Thomas, of Galesburg. and Company G, Cap- Recruiting was stopped before the companies
tain Robert G. Walsh, Camp Point, were a con- had all been filled. Had it continued a short
siderable number of men from Peoria. In the time the quota from Peoria County would have
One Hundred and Fifty-first Infantry, Colonel been entirely made up. Every call made upon it
French B. Woodside. Quincy; Lieutenant Colonel by the Governinent was filled by volunteering.
Herman W, Snow, of Peoria, about forty men A close inspection of the reports, however,
from Peoria enlisted in Company A. Captain will show that, up to the time of the last calls, the
Harmon .\ndrews, of Sparland, and about thirty county was very far in advance of the require-
in Company E. Captain Herman \V. Snow, of mcnts of the Government, k will be seen that,
Peoria. Upon the organization of the regiment, „£ jts total credits of 4.907 men. only 764 were
which took place at Quincy on the 23d of Feb- furnished during the year 1865. leaving a balance
ruary, 1865, Captain Snow was promoted to the of 4,163 furnished before January ist of that year,
office of Lieutenant Colonel. Both these regi- But out of that number a very few enlisted
ments were sent forward tp Chattanooga, where during the year 1864. the only men furn-
they continued to perform active service until the ished during that year being those in the One
close of the war. Hundred and Thirty-ninth regiment of One Hun-

In the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Illinois jr^j jj^y men. and those who enlisted in the One

Infantry, Colonel Gustavus A. Smith, of Decatur, Hundred and Forty-sixth One Year Men. It

Company A, Captain Jacob B. Veagley. of Akron. follows, therefore, that Peoria County, as well as

Peoria County, a few men. and in Company G. other counties of the State, had, under the calls

Captain Edmund L. Wells, about forty men from of jgg, furnished enough three-year men to prac-

Peoria County, were enlisted. The regiment was tically clear it of all calls made in 1864 except

organized at Camp Butler, February 28. 1865, for ^^^^ igj-j

one year. It performed service in Tennessee in -j-j,^ contributions in money standing to the

guarding railroads until the close of the war. credit of the County of Peoria, the City of Peoria

A considerable number of Peorians are found g,,^} ji^^. several townships in Peoria County, in

scattered through other regiments, but the fore- jj^g Adjutant General's office, in aid of the su-

going are believed to be all the regularly organ- prcssion of the rebellion are as follows:
ized bodies from Peoria County.

The services rendered the Government by gener.\l soldiers

Peoria County, as they appear from the Adjutant bou.vties. expense, families.

General's Report (Revised), foot up as follows: peoria County. $ 31.464 46

Population in i860 36.475 Peoria City . . . 152,000 00 $2,172 91 $66,993 66

Revised enrollment, January, 1865 7,303 Hallock 6,11500 141 75

Quota of 1861 1.023 Princevillc .... 7.02400

Quota of 1862 698 Princeville

Quota on Call of 700,000 Feb. i and (Association) . 6,633 80

March 14, 1864 1.405 Millbrook 12,45000

Quota on Call of 600,000 July 18, Elmwood 20.801 00

ig64 1,222 Trivoli 21,28850

Total Quotas to Dec. 31. 1864. . . . 4.348 $,57,806 76 $2,314 66 $66,993 66

Total Credits to Dec. 31, 1864 4.143 * ^^^^ 66

Deficit.'. 205 2,31466

Quota, 1865, to Dec. 31 845

$327,115 08

Aggregate to be raised in 1865. .. . 1,050

Credits to Dec. 31, 1865 764 -j-j^jj ^.^gt g^m does not cover the many thou-

Total Deficit 286 sands of dollars in value of the contributions

Total Quotas under all calls S.I93 made through the Christian and Sanitary Com-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY. 175

missions, those made through private hands, nor the purses of our citizens as freely as streams

the moneys paid for bounties to substitutes, those of water.

made to clear townships and wards from drafts, Peoria County did its ivltolc duty towards the

nor those paid for transportation to and from su['frcssion of the Great Rebellion, and in re-

camps, hospitals and battle-fields in aid of sick storing the siilyremacy of the Constitution and

and wounded soldiers, and for the burial of the lazi's of the Union over every foot of the Na-

dead. For all such purposes money flowed from tional domain.

CHAHTBR

AUXILIARY WORK OF LADIES AID SOCIETIES AND OF THE
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

At the time of the outbreak of the war there
was located on the northeasterly side of Main
street, at the foot of the bluff, a small water-cure
establishment under the proprietorship of Dr.
Mortimer Nevins. but operated principally by
women. On the 26th day of April, 1861, just two
weeks after the beginning of the war, there ap-
peared in the public press of tlic city a call for
a meeting of women to be held there on the 30th
of the same month to form themselves into a
company of nurses to attend upon the sick and
wounded soldiers. The next day after the pub-
lication of this call a meeting of otiier ladies was
held at Rouse's Hall to make arrangements for
preparing bandages, lint and shirts for the use
of the soldiers. Mrs. Julia P. Bourland and
Mrs. Erastus D. Hardin were made president and
secretary, a committee was selected to procure ma-
terial, and the next meeting was appointed to be
held at the house of Mrs. Matthew Griswold
(now the Cosmopolitan) on Madison avenue,
on Tuesday, the 30th. the same day as that ap-
pointed for the meeting at the Water Cure. There
was no rivalry between these two organizations,
the one being intended to supply a corps of
nurses, the other for the furnishing of supplies
for the hospital service, of which the Govern-
ment then had a very meager supply, consider-
ing the necessities of the times.

.•\t this writing it does not appear possible
to trace with any degree of minuteness the op-
erations carried on by these patriotic ladies dur-
ing the first year of the war. nor to show any
direct connection between them and the more
comprehensive work inaugurated at a later date,
and carried forward through the agency of more
perfect organizations.

In addition to the efforts put forth in Peoria,
w-e find the ladies of Elmwood engaged in the
summer time in the laudable work of making

havelocks to sliield the men from the intense
rays of the southern sun, and in the winter time
the ladies of Peoria, in response to a call of the
Ladies' Aid Society of Palmyra, Missouri, en-
gaged in the equally laudable work of making
mittens to protect their hands from the cold. So
the work went on during the early stages of the
war, the women lending a helping hand wherever
tliey could find a place to do so.

It is now an admitted fact that all the great
organized sanitary movements of the war had
their origin with the women of New Y'ork City.
While it is true that, at earlier dates, local or-
ganizations had been formed in other cities, yet it
was at a great meeting, held at Cooper Institute
on the 6th day of May, 1861, that the "Women's
Central .Association for Relief" was organized for
the purpose of concentrating the scattered efforts
of the women of the country upon the one com-
mon object of furnishing comforts, stores and
nur.ses, in aid of the medical staff. These humane
eflforts were met, not only with cold indifference,
but with positive opposition by the military au-
thorities, and there seemed to be an impassable
harrier interposed between their friends at home
and these brave defenders of their country, whose
health or very lives might depend upon the kind
ministrations of loved ones, who were not only
willing but an.xious to contribute to their well-
being.

But the women were not the only ones to
see the necessity of better sanitary measures in
the army than those at its command. "The Physi-
cians and Surgeons of the Hospitals of New
York" artd 'The New York Medical Association
for Furnishing Hospital Supplies" had held sev-
eral meetings, and were equally anxious to con-
tribute what they could to the accomplishment
of similar purposes, but the doors seemed barred
to them al.so. A delegation representing these

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTV.

177

three powerful associations was dispatched to
Washington, and, after a hot contest of nearly
a month's duration, they so impressed upon the
authorities, not only their sincerity of purpose,
but the feasibility of their plan of operations that,
on the 9th day of June, 1861. the Secretary of
War issued an order appointing a commission
consisting of distinguished ministers of the
gospel, physicians, army officers and laymen, to
be styled "A Commission of Inquiry and Advice
in Respect to the Sanitary Interests of the United
States Forces." This was the origin of the great
"United States Sanitary Commission," Through
its instrumentality those who contributed of their
free will to the alleviation of the sufferings of the
sick and wounded and to their restoration to
health, were made sure their gifts would reach
the desired end, and so the whole people were
encouraged to increase their benefactions.

In the course of a few months this great Com-
mission had extended its operations throughout
the entire country east of the Mississippi River.
by estal)lishing agencies for the receipt and dis-
tribution of stores in many principal cities. Its
agents for the receipt of contributions were found
in every town, while for their distribution its
agents were to be found in every camp, on every
transport, in every march, on every battle-field
and in every hospital. It held out one hand
towards the people for the reception of their
gifts, and with the other distributed them to
those in need.

In consequence of active military operations
in Missouri, the "Western Sanitary Commission."
which had been appointed, September 10. 1861, by
General Halleck, had so far completed its ar-
rangements to supply the needs in that vicinity,
that it chose to retain its form of organization,
and continued to act as an independent body
throughout the war. It so happened that a
portion of the gifts of Peoria reached their desti-
nation llirough the hands of the one. and other
portions through the hands of the other organiza-
tion, according to their respective facilities for
reaching their desired destination.

The work of the Sanitary Commission, how-
ever, grand as it was. had reference only to the
physical well-being of the soldiers, while their
religious interests were left to other hands. The
■^'oung Men's Christian Associations of the coun-
try, early in the war. perceiving that the usual
perfunctory ministrations of one chaplain to a
regiment were wholly inadequate to supply the
religious needs of the soldiers, held a conven-
tion of chosen delegates at New York City on
12

November 16, 1861, and organized the United
States Christian Commission, having in view the
promotion of the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the officers and men in the army and navy, in
co-operation with chaplains and others. Im-
mediately after its appointment the Commission
met in Washington and organized by choosing
George H. Stuart, a wealthy philanthropist of
Philadelphia, as Chairman, and Hon. Bejamin F.
Maniere. of New York, Secretary and Treasurer,
who. together with Rt. Rev. E. S. Janes. D. D., of
New York. Rev. Benjamin C. Cutler, D. D., of
Brooklyn, and Charles Demond, Esq,, of Boston,
constituted the E.xecutive Committee, A plan of
operations was at once arranged, to which the
approbation of the President, the Secretaries of
War and the Navy, and the General in command
was secured, and the work entered upon at once.

The full extent of the needs of the men in
the army did not impress itself upon the minds
of the people of Peoria at as early a date as in
some other places. The great battles in the East
in the summer of 1861. and those in Missouri dur-
ing the same season, had aroused the people of
the East, and likewise those in St. Louis, to the
necessities of the situation, and had led to the
organization of the Sanitary Commission, and
the Christian Commission as well, in those sec-
tions. But it was not until the great movements
of the army in February. 1862. that the people
of Peoria were awakened to the full extent of
the necessities of the situation.

Prior to February. 1862, there had been in-
existence in Peoria a society of women called the-
"Ladies' Assistance Society," designed chiefly for
the relief of the poor. The Young Men's Chris-
tian -Association also had an organization for re-
ligious work, but as yet it does not seem to have
become affiliated with the Christian Commission.
On February 2. 1862. it became re-organized as-
a corporation, with William Reynolds as' Presi-
dent, and through it a new impulse was given to
the work of the Association in the city, but as yet
no work seems to have been undertaken for the
soldiers.

Fort Donelson was captured by General Grant
on February 16. 1862. after a hard fought battle,
in which many Peorians were engaged, .\n at-
tempt was made by several of our citizens ta
reach the scene of the conflict, but they were
intercepted at Cairo with the announcement front
the military authorities that all the supplies,
nurses and surgeons necessary for the occasion
had already arrived. The only one to obtain a
pass to the front was James T. Rogers, who had

I7S

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

aulliorily to act for the Sanitnry Commission
as their agent to collect supplies at Peoria. On
the 27th ot February the wounded who were able
to be sent home began to arrive, and great was
their praise of Mr. Rogers for his indefatigable
exertions in their behalf upon the field of bat-
tle, where many had lain for a long time with
their wounds undressed.

On Tuesday, the 4th day of March, at the in-
vitation of the Ladies' Assistance Society for all
who desired to aid in the preparation of hospital
comforts for the wounded soldiers, a meeting of
ladies was held at the house of Mrs. Alfred G.
Curtcnius, corner of Main and Madison streets,
at which time and place was formed the "Ladies'
Soldiers' Aid Society of Peoria," to meet every
Thursday afternoon as long as aid should be re-
quired. Contributions from gentlemen in money
and dry-goods to be sent to the same place were
solicited. On March 6th a call signed by Mrs.
Caroline T. Cockle, Secretary, was published for
■a. meeting to be held the same afternoon in the
room over A. P. Bartlett's store, where work
■would be ready and where all ladies were most
earnestly requested to meet and assist in the good
cause, and where donations in money and dry-
goods from gentlemen would be gratefully re-
ceived. As the necessities were urgent, they did
not wait for the time for the next regular meet-
ing, but on Tuesday, the nth, a call signed by
Mrs. Margaret Wcis, Mrs. Nancy Culbcrtson and
Mrs. Cockle was published for a meeting the same
afternoon, at the same place, as they were anxious
to forward a box of supplies during the week.
Contributions of jellies and other delicacies for
the sick, and old linen or catton table cloths,
sheets and worn garments were called for. No
further account has been discovered of this first
contribution of the Peoria Ladies' Aid Society
to the sanitary work of the army. That it was
forwarded according to their expressed intention
there can scarcely be a doubt. One week later it
was announced that there were 10.000 sick and
wounded soldiers at Paducah, and that sheets,
towels and handkerchiefs were needed, also but-
ter, ale and porter, but that the noble ladies of
the loyal States had supplied their principal
wants. The fact was that the ladies of Cincin-
nati had by their promptness of action anticipated
all others and sent them hospital supplies in
abundance. On the 20th of March two large
boxes were made ttp by the Peoria ladies, the
contents of which were as follows :

Box No. I — 20 cotton sheets. 60 pillow cases,
12 linen handkerchiefs, 7 flannel shirts, 3 canton

llannel shirts, 30 cotton shirts, II second liand
shirts, 15 pairs cotton drawers, 87 crash towels,
3 bed ticks, 23 pillow ticks, 3 pairs of woolen
socks, 7 bundles cotton rags, 6 bundles linen rags,
I bundle lint, compresses and bandages, 5 pack-
ages magazines and papers, 5 fcatlier pillows, i
can tomatoes, I can peaches, i can cherries.

/Jii.r .Vi). -'. — 14 tumblers jelly, 2 cups jelly. 2
I)owls jelly, 4 jars jelly, i jar pickles, i bottle
peaches, i bottle blackberry jam, 2 bottles wine.
These boxes were marked "From Peoria Sani-
tary Committee," care Messrs. Greely & Gale,
St. Louis, and were shipped by express, free of
charge, by Mr. William C. Boilvin agent, Peoria.
From this it would appear that the Sanitary
Commission then had an agency or committee
in Peoria to receive and forward its supplies.
The great battle of Shiloh was fought on the
6th and 7th of April. On the loth the Ladies'
.\i(l Society was to meet, and calls were made
for the usual supplies to be .sent for a box to
be prepared that day. But all such efforts were a
mere ])ittancc in comparison with the necessities
that were now upon them. On the morning of
the vjtli a large meeting of gentlemen, called upon
short notice, was held in the Court House to take
measures to send a delegation of physicians and
others to the battle-field to attend the wounded
and to contribute to their relief and comfort in
such other manner as, in the opinion of the meet-
ing, might be thought advisable. E. G. Johnson,
Esq., acted as Chairman, and Henry B. Hopkins,
Esq.. as Secretary. The first action was to tele-
graph General Halleck if civilians would be per-
mitted within the lines. On motion of Jonathan
K. Cooper, Esq., the Ladies' .^id Society was in-
vited to co-operate, and that it be requested to
place at the disposal of a committee, to be there
appointed, the supplies that they had prepared for
the hospital at St. Louis. A committee was ap-
pointed to wait upon the physicians, who in a
short time reported that Drs. Nevins, Andrew.
Evans, Guth, Hooton and Colburn were ready to
go. and that others had expressed a willingness,
but were prevented by the condition of their
patients.

A committee of .solicitation was appointed con-
sisting of John J. Wcad, John C. Grier. Elibu N.
Powell. Charles Ballance. E. C. Ingersoll. Sidney
Pulsifcr, Hugh W. Reynolds, Washington Cockle.
Luther Card and David McCulloch. Another
committee consi.sting of G. W. Rancy. ^^^ W.
O'Brien and Henry Grove was appointed to wait
on Mayor Gardner T. Barker and request him
to call a special meeting of the City Council to

^^^u>«^72:2^^ ^^ (^^^t>»--

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

1/9

make an appropriation. That committee soon re-
ported that the Mayor had consented, and had
promised that, if the Council did not make the
appropriation, he (the Mayor) would contribute
out of his own pocket as largely as any other man
in the city. An E.xecutive Committee consisting
of Elbridge G. Johnson, E. C. Ingersoll, Elihu
N. Powell, Washington Cockle and Henry B.
Hopkins was appointed to take charge of the con-
tributions with discretionary power as to their
use. The Ladies' Aid Society was requested to
meet at 8 A. M. on the loth instead of 2 P. M.,
and to bring their supplies at that hour. Speeches
were made by E. G. Johnson and Henrj- Grove,
the latter concluding his remarks with a dona-
tion of $50. A subscription was then opened and
$400 pledged on the spot. Drs. Nevins, Eaton.
Guth. Evans. Hooton and Colburn left on the
lotli, accompanied by James T. Rogers, agent of
the Sanitary Commission, and David D. Irons,
his assistant, with $1,600 in cash, $500 of which
had been contributed by the City Council, the
balance by private individuals (the largest con-
tributors declining to make their names public;,
all raised within twenty-four hours. They had
also in charge twenty-seven boxes, shipped free
by the United States express.

.-\t this point it will be remembered that, upon
receipt of the news of the battle. Governor Yates
had provided transportation for the wounded of
the Illinois regiments to points in this State.
Upon arrival at Cairo, therefore, the Peoria dele-
gation found the wounded from this section lo-
cated at Cairo and Mound City, but supplies still
needed. On Saturday, the 12th. a meeting of the
Ladies' Aid Society was held, at which with their
own hands they had made up one hundred sheets.
On Tuesday, the 15th, another meeting was held
and another box prepared. Their meetings now
became frequent, and their hands were kept busily
at work. On May 14th it was announced that
Rev. Mr. Eliot, of St. Louis, had sent twelve
pieces of cotton goods to Peoria to be made up
into garments for the soldiers, of whom there
w'ere 5.000 in the hospitals in that city. Their
rooms were tlienceforward kept open daily.

.■\bout this time the Young Men's Christian
.\ssociation of Peoria entered upon active work
in connection with the army. The raising of
troops in the summer of 1862 had brought sev-
eral regiments to Peoria, among whom the Asso-
ciation at once began religious efTorts. A sol-
diers' committee was appointed consisting of
William Reynolds, its President, .\lexandcr G.
Tyng, George H. Mcllvaine, William Carpenter

and David \\ . McU'illiams to have the direction
of the work, who at once visited the camps and
made arrangements for holding nightly meetings,
the officers lending them all the encouragement
possible. There were then at Peoria the Eighty-
sixth Regiment, Colonel Irons, stationed at the
Old Fair Grounds, or Camp Lyon, the Seventy-
seventh, Colonel Grier, the Eighty-fifth, Colonel
Moore, and the One Hundred and Eighth, Col-
onel Warner, at Camp Peoria, near the Pot-
tery. The first meeting was held at the camp
of the Eighty-sixth and was attended by about
two hundred persons, the next at Camp Peoria,
which was also largely attended. Deeming it nec-
essary to raise funds for the purchase of religious
reading for the soldiers, a meeting was called
for that purpo.sc at the First Presbyterian Church
on Sunday evening, August 17th, at which the
sum of $185 was raised. The .American Bible
Society donated 4.000 testaments, and the Young
Men's Christian Association of Chicago 400 .sol-
diers' hymn books. The meetings were continued
nightly for two months, during which time the
One Hundred and Second, the One Hundred and
Third and the One Hundred and Twelfth Regi-
ments came into camp, and meetings were held in
each of them from time to time. L'p to X'ovember
3d. when the committee made its first report, about
sixty meetings had been held. $210 in cash had
been collected, nearly all of which had been ex-
pended for tracts, hymn books and other read-
ing matter, there having during that time been
distributed 4.500 hymn books, 3,000 testaments
and a large amount of tracts and other religious
reading. This work among the soldiers en-
camped at Peoria was productive of much good.
One of the secular papers, after enumerating the
amount of work done, bore this testimony to its
effectiveness; "This has been no sectarian
movement, as nearly every church in this city has
assisted in the religious aid of those about to go
forth — perhaps to die — in defense of their beloved
country, and it is gratifying to know so large a
number of the soldiers have expressed their
thank> at the great interest taken in their eternal
as well as temporal welfare. Go where you will
in this day of strife — in the tent — the hospital —
or on the battle-field — where one is discovered
prepared to meet his Maker, there also is found a
true hero, if need be, ready to do or die a
martyr for those he loves."

About this time also the Young Men's Chris-
tian Association became affiliated with the United
States Christian Commission, their President,
William Reynolds, having received a commission

i8o

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

from thai body. In the first report to the Chris-
tian Coniniission Mr. Reynolds, the President,
bore testimony to the work of the Ladies' Aid
Society in the following language : "We have a
Ladies' Aid Society in this place that are, and
have been for the last year and a half, actively
engaged in sending supplies to our sick and
wounded soldiers. They have now an agent in
the South with a large amount of sanitary stores,
etc.. for the wounded in the last two battles."

Soon after sending in this report Mr. Reynolds,
on the 2d of February, 1863, left for the front,
visiting Memphis, and the army then before
Vicksburg and on the Yazoo River, where he
found the men in bad condition. After an ab-
sence of about a month he returned and made
arrangements for a more protracted visit at a
later date. On the ist of February the Associa-
tion had sent its City Missionary, Rev. Hiram
Doane, to labor in the hospitals at Nashville, but
the unwholesome air of that service proving dele-
terious to his health, he proceeded to Memphis
and became Chaplain of the Forty-seventh Regi-
ment, and remained with it until the 21st day of
July, when he died at the United States Hospi-
tal at Vicksburg, a martyr to the cause lie so
much loved, and after havipg witnessed the glor-
ious achievement of the army in the capture of
that stronghold.

On March 31st Mr. Reynolds, accompanied
by Rev. Sanford H. Smith, then in temporary
charge of the Second Presbyterian Church, of
whicli Mr. Reynolds was a member, and accom-
panied also by Miss Mary Smith, left for the
Army of the Mississippi, .'\fter laboring for a
while in the hospitals of Memphis and among tlie
soldiers around that city and at Fort Pickering,
Mr. Reynolds, in company with Mr. A. K. Bur-
rell. of the St. Louis Association, proceeded to
Helena and Vicksburg. leaving Mr. Smith and
Miss Smith at Memphis, where the latter ac-
cepted a position in the Union Hospital. In their
second report the Peoria Committee bear testi-
mony to the self-sacrificing devotion of the patri-
otic women in the following language: "When
the history of this W'ar is written, one of its most
glorious pages will be the record of the self-
denying devotion of these Christian women, who
have left comfortable and, in many cases, lux-
urious homes for years of labor in Southern
Hospitals."

From Helena Messrs. Reynolds and BurrcU
proceeded to Milliken's Bend, and thence with the
army on its march to Grand Gulf and the rear of
Vicksburg. In two weeks' time at this point they

distributed about three tons of religious reading-
matter to the soldiers. Leaving Milliken's Bend
on the 8th of May, they reached home on the
15th of that month. On the loth of June the
Association commissioned Rev. Mr. Jennison, of
Michigan, to go to \'^icksburg, where he was at
the time of the surrender and where he remained
until the latter part of July, when stricken down
by disease he was obliged to return home. At the-
same time Rev. Mr. Cornelison, of Illinois, was-
commissioned to labor in the hospitals at Mem-
phis, from which place, after a service of seven
weeks, he, too, was obliged to return.

During this 'year (1863) the .\rmy Committee
of the Young Men's Christian Association, which-
was then in full affiliation with the United States
Christian Commission, consisted of .-Mexander G.
Tyng, George H. Mcllvaine, William Reynolds,
Rev. S. Wycoflf, and Thomas G. McCulloh.

During this year also the work of the women-
of Peoria assumed a new phase.

"On June 3d, 1863, in Rouse's Hall at a
meeting presided over by Hon. H. H. Leavitt, of
the Supreme Court of Ohio, and a delegate to the
Presbyterian General Assembly in session in this
city, the loyal women of Peoria organized them-
selves into a society bearing the name of The
Woman's National League, the objects and aims
of which are indicated by the follow-ing pledge
which the members were required to sign:

THE PLEDGE.

"We. the undersigned women of Peoria, be-
lieving that in this hour of national peril to our
country, every influence, moral as well as military,
should be l)rought to bear in the great struggle
for National existence against a wicked rebellion :
and that, while our fathers, husbands, sons, and
brothers are giving their treasure and their blood,
it is our duty to contribute the influence which
God has given us in our social .sphere to the
same holy cause: and that, in this solemn crisis,
loyalty to our country is bound to be outspoken,
even in tlic case of woman, as true loyalty to our
God:

"We. therefore, do constitute ounselves an as-
.sociation to be known as 'The Woman's National'
League of Peoria,' and do pledge our uncondi-
tional adhesion to our National Government in
its struggle against the present rebellion, engag-
ing to assist it by whatever means may be in our
power, in the maintenance of our National L'nion,
and of tlie integrity of our National domain.

"To this end we further resolve and pledge our-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

i8i

selves to encourage and sustain our brave soldiers,
by deeds of kindness and by words of cheer, to
use every fitting opportunity of expressing our
-unflinching determination to stand by the 'dear
old flag.' and to honor those who fight in its de-
fense, until the day of its sure and certain tri-
umph ; and to prove, in every way we can, that
■we consider loyaltj' to our country a part of our
allegiance to our God."

To this constitution about three hundred ladies
subscribed their names, and continued to work
under it during the w-ar and until their services
were no longer needed.

The Army Committee of the Young Men's
Christian Association lor the year 1864. consisted
of .Alexander G. Tyng, Chairman ; George H.
Mcllvaine, Corresponding Secretary: Theodore
Higbie, Treasurer; William Reynolds. President
of the Young Men's Christian Association :
Thomas G. !McCulloh. Rev. William E. McLaren
(now Bishop of Chicago Diocese) and Rev. S.
Wycoff. Their work for that year is best told in
their own words.

".•\bout the 1st of June. Chaplain McCabe, and
Mr. William Reynolds, of our Committee, com-
menced canvassing the district, and in two months
raised over forty thousand dollars. Their first
meeting was held at Galesburg, where one thou-
sand eight hundred and twenty-one dollars were
raised. Next Peoria was visited, and in two
meetings two thousand five hundred dollars were
given. Bloomington gave one thousand five hun-
dred and fifty dollars ; Springfield, one thousand
six hundred dollars: and Jacksonville, two thou-
sand dollars. It was at the last place that these
gentlemen met Mr. Jacob Strawn. the giant
farmer of the West, who, when the cause was
presented to him, at once handed them a check
for five hundred dollars, saying that he would
make his contribution ten thousand dollars, in-
stead of five hundred, if the farmers of Morgan
County would give a like sum. This proposition
was .It once accepted by Rev. Mr. McCabe and
Mr. Reynolds, and, on the 6th of July, they con-
menced the canvass of the county. They were
much assisted in this work by M. P. Ayers. Esq.,
banker of Jacksonville, who made all the appoint-
ments, and assisted at the meetings. In nine days
they held eleven meetings, in country school-
houses, churches, and groves, and raised ten
thousand seven hundred dollars ; which, with Mr.
Strawn's ten thousand dollars, and two thousand
dollars collected in Jacksonville, made twenty-
two thousand seven hundred dollars, given by

Morgan County, Illinois, to the Christian Com-
mission.

"The people of Central Illinois are awake to
the best interests of our soldiers, and believe our
noble Commission the best channel through which
to help them. Peoria, with St. Louis, Chicago,
and Mihvaukee, compose the Western Department,
and have assigned to them, as their field of labor,
'The -Army of the Mississippi.' Our own branch
has, however, recently had for its special care the
station of Cairo, the gate of the Western Army.
During the last year the Chicago Committee
erected there a building suitable to the wants and
needs of the work, and we intend to keep from
three to five delegates at work there all the time,
looking after the spiritual and temporal wants
of the thousands that pass and re-pass constantly.
We have also given attention to the navy on our
Western rivers, which has been much neglected,
and have now completed arrangements by which
we are enabled to send a package of books and
papers, semi-monthly, to every one of the fifty-
nine vessels composing the Mississippi squadron.
We found .Acting Rear -Admiral Lee a warm
friend of the Commission, and received from him
all the assurance we need.

'"The funds intrusted to our hands by the
friends of our soldiers have been, to the best of
our ability, faithfully applied to the objects for
which they were given, and many a brave man,
in his hours of want and pain, has blessed us
and those who gave us the means to aid him.
Our work has been carried on with the most rigid
economy at all consistent with the magnitude of
the work. We pay no office salaries, and our en-
tire expense has been less than two per cent, on
amount of cash and cash value of stores collected.

'"During the past year we have received eight
hundred and eighty-nine boxes, barrels and kegs.
These stores have been sent to Cairo. Memphis,
Vicksburg, New ' Orleans, and fJashville, and
many thankful acknowledgments have been re-
ceived.

"Finding that many soldiers, well watched
over by the Christian Commission while in the
hospitals, often suffer greatly for proper food and
care while traveling home on furlough to recruit,
as separated from their regiments they are gener-
ally without money, we adopted the following
plan : Arrangements have been made with all
the dining stations to take tickets furnished by this
Branch in full payment of meals. .A very cordial
and hearty response has been given by all the
proprietors, and very liberal discounts made. -As

I«2

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

these sick and wounded men all pass through
Cairo, our delegates will visit every boat and
train, and every sick soldier, without money, will
be furnished tickets for the necessary meals on
his journey. These tickets will be redeemed at
the end of each month. Much suffering will thus
be relieved, and each soldier w-ill return with
grateful recollections of the Christian Commis-
sion."

From the reports sent in to the central organi-
zation, the work of the Peoria Committee for 1862
may be summarized as follows : Men in home
work, 16; meetings held for soldiers, 80; public
meetings, 2; copies of Bibles and Testaments dis-
tributed, 4,000; pages of books, tracts, etc., 30,-
000 ; hymn books, 5,000 ; papers, $5,000 ; maga-
zines 1,000; cash expended by Committee. $270.

For the year 1863, cash received, $1,654.15;
cash expended, $881.35; boxes shipped, 154;
donated, $158; value of same, $3,100; delegates
sent, 6; copies of scripture distributed, 12,000;
Hymn and Psalm books, 11,500.

For the year 1864, cash received, $49,373.12;
number of bo.xes and packages donated, 822 ; value
of same. $16,672: boxes distributed. 889; cash re-
mitted to central office, $22,835; cash paid for
stores distributed, $6,757.10; cash paid for pub-
lications distributed, $2,619.44; cash paid delegates
for expenses and for hospital stores and comforts
paid for by them, $2,721.15; for stationery dis-
tributed, $133-75; cash paid for chapels, chapel
flies, tents, wagons, horses and other stock, $1,-
291.61; for freight, labor, etc., $39.78; rent and
office expenses, $496.98; for expense of meetings
and salaries of collecting agents, $764.25 ; cash re-
mitted to or purchases for other offices, $5,200;
copies of scriptures distributed, 12,950: knapsack
books, flexible and paper covers, 5,357 ; bound
books. 1,956; magazines and religious newspapers,
9.100: pages of tracts, 60,000; delegates commis-
sioned. 41; in field. January i, 1865, 12; aggre-
gate number of days' service, 1.526.

Subsequent reports of the Central Association
not being at hand, the work of the Peoria branch
cannot be followed out in all its details ; but from
reports of the local Treasurer it appears that, from
January i to .-Xpril i, 1865. the cash receipts were
$9,316.59; for the month of April. $2,531.70, with
84 boxes, barrels and kegs : and for the month of
May, $1,375.19 — making the total cash receipts up
to that time, which was practically the close of
the war, $63,922.99.

Soon after the organization of the Woman's
National League of Peoria it began to systematize

its work. In August, 1863, it organized "The
Soldier's Rest," and, in January, 1864, "The
Freedmen's Aid Committee" as branches of, or
as auxiliaries to, its own work. Further divis-
ions of its work are indicated in the following
brief summary extracted from its own history:

"Mrs. Curtenius was President as long as the
League existed, Mrs. William Weis was Vice-
President, Mrs. L. R. Webb and Mrs. Julia P.
Bourland, Secretary, and Miss Lizzie Calligan,
Treasurer after the first year. Mrs. Lucie B.
Tyng succeeded Mrs. Bourland in 1865."

"The labors of this Society in behalf of our
soldiers were manifold, and different organizations
attended to specific interests under the one general
head. The "Soldier's Aid Society' confined its
operations chiefly to the soldiers in the field ; the
"Soldier's Relief Society' attended mainly to the
relief of suffering in the families of those who had
gone to risk life in defense of their common coun-
try; while a 'Soldier's Rest' was setablished and
maintained by the 'League.' where soldiers could
find a temporary home in their goings to and from
the field of battle. Receptions were held, all man-
ner of stores provided in connection with the
Christian and Sanitary Conuiiissions, and the
comfort of our soldiers looked after in all possible
ways. The aggregate resources of the League,
from first to last, were :

"Receipts from June 3, 186.^, to July 5. 1S66,
$11,692.10 in money, and $1,948.64 in sanitary
stores. Of this $1,935.05 was e.xpended in dinners
and festivals: $1,485.70 in receptions to soldiers;
$2,913.40 in Soldier's Rest; $1,085.75 "t care of
sick soldiers; $1,307.64 in sanitary stores (ad-
itional) : $2,162.63 in Freedmen's Society, etc."

Thus it was that a supplemental army of men
and women grew up whose services were ren-
dered to the country, not onlj- without pay, but
with a self-sacrificing devotion never before wit-
nessed in the annals of the world.

As the war progressed new avenues of useful-
ness w-ere constantly opening up to the Sanitary
and Christian Commissions, and to the women of
the country, to extend their ministrations more
directly to the soldiers. One of the most useful
of these was the establishment of special dietary
kitchens in connection with the General Hospitals.
In this domain of activity the hand of woman
became a most powerful agency. The tcstimonj'
of the Christian Commission in this regard is as
follows : ""The experience of our Hospitals in
treating patients suffering from dangerous
wounds, amputations, and those diseases which

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

183

have proved most fatal, has shown the great vahie
of the most careful nursing and suitably prepared
diet. To meet this want more fully than had been
hitherto supplied, to secure a.s nearly as possible
the home attentions of a wife, mother or sister to
those most needing their care, the Christian Coni-
missi<in has taken charge of the special diet
kitchens in nio.st of the United States General
Hospitals, with the consent and under the direc-
tion of the surgeons in charge, adding cooking
utensils and supplies to those already furnishe<l
by the Cjovernmcnt. The ladies engaged in
superintending the cooking in these kitchens are
earnest, cultivated. Christian women, acting under
the general direction ot Mrs. .'Vnnie Wittcmeycr,
with her headquarters at Louisville."

In one of her reports, Mrs. Wittemeyer, Super-
intendent of this department of the work, says :
"The ladies personally supervise the preparation
and seasoning of every article of food, and arc
careful to see it go to the wards suitably prepared
and m sufficient quantity. * * * They (the
kitchens) are kept perfectly clean and neat, arc
well furnished and equipped with stores, and
everything connected with the work is conducted
in a systematic and orderly manner."

After giving a list of articles and the number
of rations issued through these kitchens, Mrs.
Wittemeyer continues her report: "Some of the
articles furnished in the above list may seem unfit
for sick men ; but when we take into considera-
tion that there are many wounded men. who are
allowed by the surgeon to eat any thing they may
choose, and others who are homesick, or hope-
lessly ill, or dying, who in their loneliness and
suffering remember and crave those things I)e-
cause a kind mother's hand once prepared such
dainties for them, it is no longer a matter of
wonder. And since the loved ones at home can-
not cheer them with their presence and love in
their dark hours of suffering, it is a delightful
task to substitute home food and home comforts.

"In addition to their duties in the kitchen,
the ladies visit the patients in the wards, write
letters for them, and perform such other of-
fices of kindness and trust as their condition re-
quires."

In such labors of patriotism and love the
ladies of Peoria County, together with the great
body of loyal women both South and North, were,
during the war, heroically engaged. They
wrought not for fame or glory. They kejit no
record of their benefactions, and the amount
thereof will never be known. But their goo<l
and patriotic deeds will continue to live in the

grateful reniemberance of every Union veteran,
and, when the final account shall be revealed, they
will doubtless receive the blessing: "Inasmuch as
ye did it unto one of these, my brethren, ye did
it unto me."

The magnitude of this auxiliary work can
never be fully realized, but an approximate idea
can be formed from that which is known. The
money value of the supplies received by the
United States Sanitary Commission was esti-
mated at $15,000,000, while the cash receipts of
the Central Treasury were about $5,000,000. The
Historian of the Commission states that the re-
ceipts of the Branch Treasurers were never
known, but they must have received and dis-
liursed at least $2,000,000 more. "With each of
them were affiliated hundreds or thousands of
'Sewing Circles' and 'Soldiers Aid Societies' es-
tablished in every loyal town, village and country
neighI)orhood in the North. Each of these raised
a certain amount of money — larger or smaller for
its own local work of gathering supplies — making
theni up ,Tnd forwarding them to the branch
with wliich it corresponded." The Commission
made strenuous efforts to collect the statistics of
this work, but not one in five hundred re-
sponded to the circulars sent out. "They had
done what they could and cared not -whether their "
work was remembered or forgotten. The very
few' answers these circulars called forth proved
that full returns would have shown an aggre-
gate of contributions severally small, but exceed-
ing all the cash receipts of the Branch and
Central Treasury together."

The Chicago Branch of the Sanitary Com-
mission was a marvel of success. At an early
stage of its existence, deeming an organization of
the women of the Northwest essential to the call-
ing forth of all its resources, the Commission
called to its assistance two eminent ladies. Mrs.
Mary .\. Livermore and Mrs. Hoge. through
whose indomitable energy and executive ability
the women of every county, city, town and school
district were brought together into effective and
harmonious work. "The towns were divided into
districts, and every home was visited: a central
depot of deposit was appointed, to which humble
as well as rich were alike invited to send con-
tributions. In the country, committees went in
wagons, begging as they went, and taking pos-
session of what was given, as they labored from
house to house. This was done day after day.
first in one direction and then another, through
mud and rain, by men and women. These col-
lections were made bv the delicate ladv who

1 84

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

could ill bear the exposure; by the fanner's wife
who could ill spare the' time; liy the tradesman
who could ill neglect his business; by the clergy-
man who could ill forego his strength. To re-
marks deprecating such efforts, the answer was,
'Our soldiers do not stop for the weather, neither
must wc' "

But their crowning efforts were in the or-
ganization of the great Sanitary Fairs at Chi-
cago, one held in the last week in October, 1864,
the other in the spring of 1865, the proceeds of
the first being $>8o,ooo. and of the second $220,000.
So bountifully did the people give that at the
close of the war, this branch had a surplus of
$130,000. of which it donated $80,000 to the Sol-
•diers' Home and $50,000 to the United States
Christian Commission.

In the four years of its existence this branch
disbursed "",660 packages from its storehouse,
and $405. 79J from its treasury. It received 31,-
969 packages from its tributaries, the remainder
it purchased. The value of the whole disburse-
ments amounted to $1,056,192. "This." says the
report, "is the sanitary work accomplished dur-
ing the war by the Aid Societies of the North-
west. This is what they achieved by their devo-
tion, enthusiasm and patriotism. This is the bril-
liant result of their self-denying, tireless, abund-
ant labors. This is what tliey did for their
country in its hour of need. This is their record
and their monumeiU."

The contributions from Peoria County are
not. and jierhaps never will be. fully known. Per-
haps it would make us too proud if they were.
It was never intended they should be. But from
the meager statistics wc have, some idea may
be gained of the manner in which they came in.
In the report of the receipts of the Peoria
Branch of the Christian Commission from Jan-
uary I to April I, 1865, we find the follow-
ing cash contributions from this county: From
supper of Ladies' .'Vid Society of Elmwood,
$605.00; German Church, Peoria, $2.00; Colonel
D., Peoria, $5.00; U. P. Church, $36; Smithville,
$13.00 ; Erimfield, $222.90 ; \V. D. Barstow, Peoria,
$2.00; Mrs. Morse, Peoria County. $2.00; Wesley
Chapel, $37.00; Ladies' Aid Society, Jubilee,
$50.00: Chillicotbe, $12,80; Elmwood lady, $2.00;
Limestone and Salem, $50.21. These sums ap-
pear small to the people of the present day. but
it must be remembered these gifts were made
near the end of a four years' war, during which
time- the resources of the country had been un-
•dergoing a continual drain, and every penny then

being contributed was consecrated money, and
went into the treasury of the Connnission in
the same spirit as did the widow^'s mite, beside
which the lordly gifts of a Rockefeller or
Carnegie are as the chaflf which Hies before the
wind. During these three months the receipts of
the Peoria Branch were $9,418.18. of which sum
$3,000 were received from the Tazewell County
Sanitary Fair. But the cash contributions were
not those of the greatest importance. It was
the constant inflow of supplies, the products of
their ow-n constant and assiduous labors that told
most loudly of the devotedness of the loyal
women to their country's cause. During the
month of December the Peoria Branch of the
Commission received from the various societies,
churches and individuals of Peoria County, and
forwarded the same to the army as follows: From
Ladies' Union Relief Society, Peoria, one box of
soldiers' clothing, containing 167 garments; Pros-
pect Soldiers' Aid Society, 2 kegs. I box ; Prince-
villc Soldiers' Aid Society, 3 boxes ; Kickapoo
Soldiers' .\id Society. 2 boxes. 4 barrels ; South,
port Ladies' Relief Society, 5 barrels ; Ladies'
Union Relief Society, Peoria, i liox, containing
346 garments, shipped to St. Louis.

During the month of .■\pril, 1865. wc find the
following additional receipts : From Peoria
Ladies' Soldiers' .■Md Society, 6 boxes tomatoes;
Princevillc Ladies' Aid Society, 3 barrels horse-
radish ; Lancaster Soldiers' Aid Society, i box ;
Millbrook Soldiers' Aid Society, 2 boxes ; Sum-
merville Ladies' Aid Society, i box, i barrel, i
keg; Princevillc Soldiers' Aid Society, 3 boxes, 5
barrels, 3 kegs ; Lancaster Soldiers' Aid Society,
I box : Logan Soldiers' Aid Society, 4 cans. The
mention of these societies is not intended to give
them prominence over others not mentioned, for
every village, and it might be said every neigh-
borhood, had its .society of women engaged in the
laudable work. The above are extracted from the
few reports at hand, while other societies were
doubtless no less favorably mentioned in other re-
ports of the Commission.

But the history of Peoria County's connec-
tion with the sanitary work of the army would
lie incomplete were no reference made to Aunt
Lizzie Aiken, the story of whose life has been
so happily told by her friend, Mrs. Galusha An-
derson, in a little book entitled "The Story of
Aunt Lizzie Aiken."

"In October (1861) the want of nurses began
to be felt in the Illinois camps. Just outside of
Springfield w-as Camp Butler, filled with re-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

185

>cruits, many of whom were sick with the measles.
The head surgeon of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry,
■'Governor Yates' Legion,' Major Niglas, of
Peoria, returned home, anxious to find competent
nurses to assist him. Nor was he alone in his
solicitude ; the mothers of Peoria had sons in the
camp, and many of them came and implored Mrs.
Aiken to go and care for them. Her own love
■of her country, and her heart filled with sympathy
for the suffering soldiers responded to the ap-
peal, and she consented to accompany Major
Niglas, provided some lady could be found to
join her. An advertisement for such a person
was put in the local papers, and the next morn-
ing Mrs. Mary Sturgis, a widow, presented her-
self and was gladly accepted. The two nurses
were about the same age, and at once took the
greatest liking to each other. Both were earnest
Christian women, both were alone in the world ;
Mrs. Sturgis a widow. Mrs. .A.iken having no
home, on account of her husband's illness.

"Nevertheless, in October, the two ladies and
Mrs. Sturgis' daughter Mary accompanied Major
Niglas when he returned to Camp Pjutler. They
found in the Major a kind friend, who looked
after their welfare so long as they w-ere with
the regiment. They reached Springfield toward
nightfall, and. taking a carriage, rode the six
or seven miles to camp, through the quiet fields
flooded with the radiance of the full moon.
Nothing could have seemed more remote from
war and its distresses than this peaceful prairie.
On reaching the camp they found that they were
e.xpected. A new tent had been provided for
them, just opposite the long row of hospital
tents." They remained with the regiment in
all its movements until July 26. 1862, when, hav-

ing reached Memphis, they were installed in the
hospital service, and continued there until the
close of the war — the idols of the soldiers.

Of her years of toilsome and devoted service
to her country, time and space forbid us fully to
relate. Her own estimate of her work, as well as
that of other loyal women, as told by herself,
shall conclude this chapter :

"There is so much to be done, so much need
of more being done, so many sad hearts all
about me to be cheered, so many broken spirits
to be lifted tenderly and bound up lovingly, such
great dark errors, such hungry, wolfish sorrows,
all about me, to be struggled with and con-
quered for myself, as well as my brother soldiers,
that I feel I cannot make a play-day of one
single day in wdiich God gives me the glorious
privilege of living. * * * j deem my mission
one of the holiest ever entrusted to mortals. I
am content to work in a humble sphere, not
forgetting that, though I may not be the swift
flowing river, I may be a drop or portion of it,
which is pouring its blessings out upon suffering
humanity. * * * What rich, tender, happy,
yet sad experiences I have had during my al-
most three years of .service. I see grim-visaged
war sit with frowning brow, holding his drip-
ping sword, which has caused rivers of blood
to flow on the battle-field, and deeper rivers of
anguish from broken hearts and desolate fire-
sides ; what Spartan-like giving up of house-
hold idols, what noble acts of devotion and sacri-
fice of self! My sister, we are making up the
leaves of a glorious history, and I thank God
woiuan is writing her golden sentences upon its
pages."

CHAPTER XXVIII

POLITICS OF PEORIA COUNTY DURING THE WAR.

Judging from the unanimity with which the
people of the North resented the insult offered
the national flag in firing upon Fort Sumter, and
the unanimity with which they sprang to arms
in defense of the Union, it could scarcely be be-
lieved there would have been any divided coun-
cils concerning the means to be employed in sup-
pressing the rebellion. But no sooner had the
first outburst of patriotic enthusiasm died away
than it began to be whispered about that there
were Southern sympathizers in our midst, and
that a band of secessionists in the city were hold-
ing secret meetings at night. This charge, when
openly made through the newspapers, was met
from the Democratic side with the accusation
that those instrumental in circulating it were
bent on stirring up strife at home, and were at-
tempting to inaugurate a course of political pro-
scription against the Democrats.

It was subsequently ascertained that there
was then in existence a secret political organi-
zation of a most dangerous character, called the
"Knights of the Golden Circle." which, in time,
threatened the very existence of the nation.

There being no general election of State of-
ficers in 1861, the election for county officers
passed off without much excitement. Norman
H. Purple and Julius Manning for the Constitu-
tional Convention and Charles Feinse for Coroner
had no opposition, while John C. Folliot for
County Judge, Charles Kettelle for County Clerk,
Isaac Brown for County Treasurer and Charles
P. Taggart for School Commissioner had ma-
jorities ranging from 1,200 to 1,400.

Many leaders of that party, by reason of the
places of their nativity, their family connections,
their commercial relations and political affinities,
entertained strong sympathies with the South, and
it was exceedingly difficult, if not quite impos-
sible, for them to sever their party ties, or to

co-operate w-ith a party which could tolerate such
men as Lovejoy, Sumner, Phillips and other noicii
abolitionists.

Although at the outset the great majority of
the Democrats were anxious to extend to the
administration all the assistance in their power
for the suppression of the rebellion, yet it was-
soon discovered that an opposition to some of
the measures of the administration was spring-
ing up, chiefly with reference to the ever re-
curring question of slavery. It had become patent
that, in the presence of our armies, slavery could
not be tolerated. Escaped slaves were contin-
ually coming into the Union lines with their
families of women and children. What to do
with them became a burning question. Later on
it became the settled policy of the administration
to either give them employment or to enlist
them in the army ; in either case, the person so
employed or enlisted to be forever free, — the
question of compensation to be determined with
respect to them, the same as with respect to other
species of property.

Every movement looking to the freedom of
the slaves was seized upon by the sympathizers
with the South as an evidence of the purpose of
the administration to convert the war, which
ought to be waged solely for the restoration of
the Union, into a war of emancipation.

As time wore on and the secret designs of
the Northern Secessionists, under the influence
of the "Knights of the Golden Circle," became
more and more apparent to the administration,
it was deemed wise to adopt the most effective
measures to counteract them. This determination
led at first to local suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus, arrests of civilians by military au-
thorities and their trial and punishment by mil-
itary courts and commissions where the courts
of law were still unobstructed; to the convictiorr.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY..

187

imprisonment and banishment beyond the Union
lines of those found guilty; to the exclusion of
seditious newspapers from the mails and to their
final suppression.

While, as before remarked, the great ma-
jority of the Democrats were loyal at heart, yet
it was felt there was an undercurrent of op-
position to the administration, prompted by some
as yet unseen influence, which portended trouble
in the future.

These antagonistic influences were well cal-
culated to provoke bitter partisan feelings be-
tween the opposing interests, and were made the
basis of political action between the Democrats
and Republicans. This war of words waxcJ ex-
ceedingly hot at Peoria before the close of the
campaign of 1862.

The policy of the Democrats seemed to be to
throw as much discredit upon the conduct of the
war as possible. Their attitude towards the party
is well illustrated by an editorial in the "Demo-
cratic Union," issued on the National Holiday,
July 4, 1862, which says, "The Union, which used
to be a sacred word, is now a scouted appella-
tion, and the Constitution, the palladium of lib-
erty, it trampled under foot. * * *

"Other counsels than those which have been
omnipotent at the Capital must prevail, or there
will soon come a time when the celebration of
our national anniversary will not only be a farce,
but it will be a rebuke to the craven spirits which
have suffered the destruction of their country."

On July i2th, in an article on the United
North. "The Democratic Union" said : "The con-
servative part of the Xorth are willing to use all
constitutional means to put down the rebellion,
but they are not willing, and will never consent,
that the war shall be prostituted for party pur-
poses or by means that set the Constitution at
defiance. * * * And nothing is more certain
than this : that the legitimate, and we may say
the unavoidable, result of their labors is not only
a divided Xorth, but anarchy and civil war at our
own hearth-stones."

Such effusions as these could not have been
otherwise than distasteful to men like E. C. In-
ger.soll, who had a brother at the head of a
regiment fighting the rebels, whom they were
calculated to encourage. It. therefore, happened
that in about a week thereafter the "Union." in
which he seems to have had some interest in
connection with G. \V. Raney and E. P. Sloan,
wa'i offered for sale. It continued to be issued
regularly until .August 28th, after which time, if

issued at all, it must have been weekly or at ir-
regular intervals until the 27th of September,
when its publication ceased.

The Democratic State Convention having
been called for September loth, a call was issued
by the Democratic County Committee for a con-
vention to be held on the 4th day of that month
to name its delegates. That call was issued Au-
gust 13th, and just one week prior thereto the
country had been startled by the announcement
that a large number of "Knights of the Golden
Circle" had been indicted by the Grand Jury of
the United States at Indianapolis, for divers con-
spiracies against the Government. On the 28th
of the same month the "Transcript" published a
long expose of the operations of the same secret
organization in Southern Illinois, in which many
prominent citizens, some of whom have since
filled high offices in the States and the Nation,
were implicated. These charges and counter-
charges had the effect of working up the pas-
sions of the party leaders to a high pitch of ex-
citement.

The Democratic County Convention was held,
as announced, at Peoria on the 4th of September.
The resolutions adopted declared the Democrats
to be true and unqualified friends of the Con-
stitution and the Union ; that, in the language of
the Immortal Jackson, "The Federal Union — it
must and shall be preserved ;" that, while the
war had been brought on by the joint action of
the abolitionists and secessionists, yet it was the
duty of all to rally to the support of the Con-
stitution and the restoration of the Union, and
to declare eternal hostility to all traitors so long
as they remain such, both North and South : that
they opposed the Government's purchasing or col-
onizing the negroes : asserted that certain rem-
edies could be found in the laws for all infrac-
tions thereof, and no person ought to be trans-
ported out of the State : that every person charged
with offenses against the law should have the
right to a speedy trial by jury; and that they
pledge their unqualified and united support to
the President in maintaining the Constitution,
preserving the Union and putting down the re-
bellion.

The Democratic State Convention was held
on September loth. as previously announced. It
resolved that the Constitution and laws made in
pursuance thereof are and must remain the su-
preme law of the land, and must be preserved and
maintained in their rightful supremacy: that the
rebellion must be suppressed, and that it was^

.188

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the duty of all good citizens to aid the Genenl
Government in all legal and constitutional meas-
ures necessary and proper to accomplish that
end ; that it is the duty of all good citizens to
sustain the President against the purpose of the
radical Republicans to induce him to "pervert the
efforts to suppress this wicked rebellion into a
war for the emancipation of the staves, and for
the overthrow of the Constitution." It also de-
clared against the entrance of free negroes into
the State, against the illegal arrest of citizens,
and against all unjust interference with the free-
doin of speech and of the press. This Convention
nominated James C. Allen for Congressman at
Large. .Mexander Starne for State Treasurer and
John P. Brooks for Superintendent of Pulilic In-
struction.

Tlie Republican or Union Congressional Con-
vention, as it was then, called, having been ap-
pointed to be held in Galesburg on the i6th of
September, a County Convention to name dele-
gates was held at Peoria on the T.nli. Owin
Lovejoy beins a candidate for nomination in
the new Fifth District, attended and made a
speecli in the evening, in which he indorsed fully
the measures of the administration, and the recent
letter of Mr. Lincoln to Horace Greeley, which has
since became so famous. That Convention adopted
a series of resolutions to the effect that Peoria
County, "having contributed $50,000 and 3.000 of
her .sons to the supression of the rebellion, de-
■ mands, and has the right to demand, that the mil-
itary operations be conducted with all the force,
power and energy at the command of the Gov-
ernment : that every means authorized by the laws
or usages of war', confiscation or emancipation,
•or both, be made use of to subdue the rebellion ;
that we demand that no peace or truce, no com-
promise, no cessation of hostilities and no media-
tion be allowed or thought of, until the traitors
and rebels lay down their arms and the full au-
thority of the Government be restored to every
inch of soil rightfully belonging to it, and that
we invite all who are for the Government with-
out an if or a but to unite with us in sustaining
the administration."

The Congressional Convention met, according
•to appointment, on the i6th at Galesburg and
nominated Lovejoy for Congress. It adopted a
long series of resolutions declaratory of Repub-
lican principles and of approval of the measures
■of the last Congress. They further declare that,
notwithstanding recent reverses to our arms, the
■whole power of the loyal people ought to be put

forth to crush the rebellion; tliat slavery had
been the only disturliing element in our Govern-
ment ; that the rebellion was inaugurated to es-
tablish a slave empire, and that the only path to
a permanent peace lay througli its complete de-
struction.

The lealin;,' Democrats of Peoria County were
men of intelligence, of sound judgment, of strong
convictions and of determined will. They were
as conscientious in their convictions, and for like
reason, as were the majority of Southern peo-
ple, in their support of the Southern Confederacy.

There were also those in that party who con-
sidered it no time for hair-splitting on constitu-
tional questions. Mr. Lincoln had declared his
paramount object to be to save the Union; that he
would save it with slavery if he could, or with-
out slavery if he must. The Republicans and
those who were known as War Democrats were
willing to follow him in the assertion of ihii'
doctrine to' its legitimate consequences, even to
the total extinction of the institution of slavery.

The time had therefore come when a separa-
tion between these two elements must begin.
The first to move in the direction of separation
was Hon. Walter B. Scates. of Chicago, who
had formerly been one of the Justices of the
Illinois Supreme Court. In a Democratic Con-
vention, recently held in Chicago, he had en-
deavored to introduce resolutions strongly sup-
porting the war measures of the administration,
which resolutions had been smothered and not
even permitted to be read. He then came out
in a long letter powerfully arraigning the in-
stigators of these arbitrary proceedings, and call-
ing upon the conservative men of the State,
Democrats and Republicans, to hold a convention,
excluding both sets of e.xtremists — the Abolition-
ists and anti-war Democrats — and to pledge the
entire resources of the State, both in men and
property, to sustain, aid and assist the Govern-
ment in its gigantic struggle for existence. Ten
days, he said, would be long enough to convene
the war men who would come, ready not only
to pledge their all. but to enter the field to
drive back their adversaries. This letter ap-
peared in the "Transcript" of September 19th,
three days before the first proclamation of eman-
cipation, and in the same issue one from Eben
C. Ingersoll. of Peoria, indorsing the views and
position of Judge Scates, and seconding his call
for a convention of unconditional Union men of
whatever party. The letter of Mr. Ingersoll hav-
ing reached his brother, Colonel R. G. Ingersoll,

*^^^^r4^^\^i^<^<.^>/£^^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

189.

at Corintli, Mississippi, the latter, under date of
September 22d, wrote indorsing the course his
brother had taken. Other defections from the
Democratic party followed soon after.

The convention called for by the letter of
Judge Scates was not held, but in pursuance of a
regular Republican call their State Convention
was held at Springfield on the 24th of September,
the same day as that mentioned by Judge Scates.
Eben C. Ingersoll was nominated for Congress-
man at Large. William Butler for State Treas-
urer and Xewton Eateman for State Superintend-
ent of Public Instruction.

The platform adopted took advanced ground
on the issues of the war. It declared that there
were only two parties in this country, the loyal
and the disloyal ; reiterated in a general way ap-
proval of the acts of the administration, and in-
dorsed the proclamation of freedom and con-
fiscation issued by the President, September 22,
1862, as a great and iiiipcraHz'C icar measure es-
sential to the salvation of the Union.

The next day after the Republican State Con-
vention the regular Democratic County Conven-
tion for the nomination of county officers was
held at Peoria. The recent abandonment of the
party by E. C. Ingersoll and others rendered it
very essential that both wings of the party should
be satisfied with its platform. That a struggle
had taken place between them in the committee
on resolutions is evident from the report sub-
mitted to the convention. The first series de-
clare that the Democrats were the ever true and
imqualified .friends of the Constitution and the
Uniim : that the Federal Union must and shall
be preserved : that the Democrats were opposed
to paying for negroes to be emancipated by the
States ; that they were opposed to military ar-
rests and transporting men out of the States with-
out trial, and, while deprecating the extravagan-
ces of portions of the public press, and still
more strongly condemning all secret organiza-
tions, they would ever protest against all un-
just interference with the freedom of the press
by arbitrary and illegal arrests, or by extra-ju-
dicial suppression of newspapers in the loyal
States, where the ordinary courts of justice were
unmolested, as tyrannical oppression to the in-
<lividual and oppressive to the public.

This portion of the report was intended for
the Knights.

The next division, evidently drawn by a dif-
ferent hand, was intended to please the pro-
slavery members of the party. It contained a
facetious reference to the recent declarations of

the President already quoted. Following the
Springfield platform, it declared it to be the duty
of all good citizens to sustain the President,
not against the rebellion, but against the pres-
sure of radical Republicans to induce him to de-
part from his declared principles and to pervert
the war into one for the emancipation of the
negro ; agreed with him that such a measure
would be ruinous, impolitic and calculated to
strengthen the arm of the rebellion and to-
weaken the Government, and that it would have
no more effect to put down the rebellion than
the act of the Pope in issuing his bull against
the comet.

This resolution had evidently been prepared
before the issuing of the proclamation of emanci-
pation, and the occasion had been passed when it.
could have had any force. But the innuendo it
contained might still have the effect of holding
the President up to ridicule in the position he
then occupied.

But up to this point the \\'ar Democrats had<
been ignored. A final resolution was therefore
appended to the report of the committee on reso-
lutions, which read as follows:

"Resoh'ed, That we discard and repudiate
any and all party affiliations or associations with'
those whose known sympathies are with the rebels
in arms against the Government of the United
States, and we are in favor of the general Gov-
ernment making use of the most vigorous meas-
ures consistent with the Constitution to suppress-
the rebellion, regardless of the consequences to
the persons or property of the rebels resulting-
from legitimate warfare." (•)

No Republican could have wanted anything
better than this last resolution. But the report
had as yet nothing about the emancipation proc-
lamation in the terms of approval or condemna-
tion. To supply this palpable omission and to
still further please the secessionists. George
Jenkins in open convention offered the following
resolution, which was adopted :

"Resolved. That the recent proclamation of
the President freeing the slaves of rebels is un-
wise, unconstitutional and calculated to pro-
long the present rebellion."

(1-^ Up to t}iis time tlie writer Ii:i(! been a T)oinoer:it. and.
durioK tlie rampainn whifli followed, supj'orted (ien, llertder-
soii at;nins.t Owen Lovejoy for Coueress. He was on the com-
mittee on resolutions which reported this piatforni. Finding
the refohitions already cut and dried for the oecasiiin. tiut not
to his liking, he. on the spur of the tiionient. penned this last
resolution and demanded that it be reported. No one had
the elTrontery tt> oppose it. and it went through the couimittee-
and the couyentioD unchallenged.

igo

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Tlicrc being a nicivcinciit on foot to nominate
a fusion or inilcpcnicnt candidate for Congress
from the Fifth District, the Democrats of Peoria
County resolved not to send delegates to a Dem-
ocratic Congressional Convention. Colonel
Thomas J. Henderson, of the One Hundred and
Twelfth Illinois Infantry, having been re(|uestcd
to allow his name lo go before the Galesburg
Republican Convention as a competitor of Love-
joy, had declined on the ground that he would
not run as a candidate of any /'arty. A conven-
tion of (what they called themselves) Uncondi-
tional Union men was therefore called to meet
at Princeton on October 3d, which convention,
much against his inclination, placed him in nom-
ination as a candidate for Congress.

The great majority of Democrats preferred
him to Lovejoy, while the secession element of
the party reluctantly accepted him as the last
chance to beat the Abolitionist. The anomalous
condition of affairs at this time will be better
understood by bearing in mind that Enoch
Emery, the editor of the "Transcript," was Re-
publican candidate for the Legislature with Cal-
vin L. Eastman, of Stark County, against Will-
iam W. O'Brien, of Peoria, and James Holgate,
of Stark County, on the Democratic ticket.
O'Brien was generally regarded as the spokes-
man of the anti-war or secession element, while
Colonel Henderson was an unconditional Union
man in command of a regiment in the field, and
in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war.
Emery was a vigorous, pungent and sarcastic
writer, and had published many articles severely
reflecting upon O'Brien and others of secession
proclivities, but it would not do for him to re-
flect seriously upon Colonel Henderson, the com-
petitor of Lovejoy, who was leading a regiment
against the rebels, while Lovejoy was staying at
home attending to his own election. O'Brien and
his friends were in a similar or worse dilemna.
They had a candidate of their own in James C.
Allen, candidate for Congressman at Large
against E. C. Ingersoll, a War Democrat. But
they had Colonel Henderson, a War Deinocrat, as
their candidate for Congress in the Fifth District,
against the abolitionist. If they could support
him, why, it might be asked, could they not sup-
port Ingersoll? The answer is, that in Allen
they had the candidate they wanted, while in
Henderson they had the only available candidate
they could get, while the War Democrats were
free to vote for Henderson and Ingersoll without
voting for either a secessionist or an abolition-
ist. The anomalous position in which the Dem-

ocrats found themselves will more clearly ap-
pear from a comparison of their platform with
that upon which Henderson was nominated, one
of the principal i)lanks of which is as follows:

"Kcsohi-d. That from the day of his inaugura-
tion, when Mr. Lincoln recorded a solemn oath
in Heaven to maintain, support and defend the
Constitution, he has committed no act calculated
to shake the confidence of the .American people
in his honest and earnest desire to suppress this
wicked rebellion and to restore the Government
to its supremacy over the entire land. We be-
lieve he was sincere when he said, in his letter
to H.:)race Greeley, be would save the Union in
the shortest way under the Constitution : we be-
lieve be meant what he said when, in the same
letter, he remarked 'the sooner the National au-
thority can be restored, the nearer the Union
will be the Union as it was;' we believe that he
was equally sincere in saying, 'my paramount
object in this struggle is to save the Union, and
is not either to save or to destroy slavery;' and
we further believe that, in the spirit of these
sentiments and in the fervent hope that thus
peace might sooner be restored, he, as President
and Commander in Chief, issued his recent proc-
lamation ; and, finally to the remark of Mr. Lin-
coln to those who came to congratulate him, 'I
trust in God I have committed no error,' 'we
say, Anicii." Others equally patriotic followed.

These brave words, probably better than any
others extant, express the true sentiments of the
War Democrats of that period.

It very .soon became apparent that the patri-
otic professions of those wdio could give their
support to Allen upon the Springfield platform,
to O'Brien upon the Peoria platform, and to Hen-
derson upon the Princeton platform, were the
boldest kind of pretenses and shams. The War
Democrats, therefore, began to rebel, some to
forsake the party altogether, others to select the
candidates representing their own sentiments and
disavowing .■\llen and O'Brien.

On the 7th day of October, only four days
after the Princeton Convention, Washington
Cockle appeared upon the .same platform with
Ingersoll and made a speech denouncing the
Democratic State Convention of September loth,
as not properly representing the party, over forty
counties not having been represented and the
platform as not expressing its true sentiments.
Others who did not care to openly break away
from the party confined their speeches to the
advocacy of Henderson's election, and left the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

191

others to look out for themselves. Xotably was
this the case with reference to O'Brien, who
ran far behind Henderson, and considerably be-
hind the State ticket.

On the 14th of October the Republican or
Union County Convention for the nomination of
county officers was held at Peoria. That con-
vention resolved that, during the present war, they
would know no issue but that of the earnest and
(Vigorous prosecution of the same ; that they
would repudiate all party until our common
country should be free from peril, and, to that
end, they would support no man for any office
not an avowed Union man at all times and under
all circumstances.

It would be going beyond the scope of this
work to enter into details of all measures cal-
culated to encourage the rebels, which were either
passed by, or proposed in the Illinois House cf
Representatives, to which O'Brien and Holgate
had been elected. It is enough to say they were
of such a character as to induce Governor Yates
to prorogue the Legislature until ihe day next
preceding the expiration of their term of office.
A series of resolutions had been adopted by the
House which, after denouncing the administration
in unmeasured terms, declared "that the war hav-
ing been diverted from its first avowed object to
that of subjugation and the abolition of slavery,
a fraud both legal and moral has been perpe-
trated upon the brave sons of Illinois who have
gone forth to battle for the Constitution and
lavkfs," that the war could not result in the pres-
ervation of the Union unless the President's
emancipation proclamation be withdrawn, and
that Congress, the administration and the ex-
ecutives and Legislatures of the several States be
memorialized ''to take such immediate action as
shall secure an annistice in which the rights and
safety of the Government shall be fully pro-
tected, for such length of time as may be nec-
essary to enable the people to meet in conven-
tion aforesaid,"- — "to so adjust our national dif-
ficulties that the States may hereafter live to-
gether in harmony." These resolutions were
passed by a strict party vote, the Representatives
from the Peoria District voting in the affirma-
tive.

About this time a new and unheard-of ele-
ment entered into the counsels of the Democracy
of Peoria. The operations of the "Knights of the
Golden Circle" throughout the country had, lor
some time, been watched, arrests had been made
and some of them convicted and imprisoned.

Among these was Clement L. Vallandingham. the
Commander-in-Chief of the order, a prominent
politician and Congressman from Ohio, who had
been tried by a military commission at Cincin-
nati, and sentenced to the penitentiary for treason-
able practices. His sentence had, however, been
commuted by the President to banishment be-
yond our lines into the Southern Confederacy.
Tlirough the assistance of the rebel authorities
he had made his escape, and, having reached Can-
ada, had commenced his operations there. While
thus in exile he had been nominated by the
Democrats as their candidate for Governor.
"Here," said John Sherman, "is a convicted
traitor nominated as the Democratic Governor of
Ohio. He is opposed to the Government, opposed
to the war, will not vote a man to suppress the
rebellion and will not vote a dollar to sustain our
soldiers. And j-et the Democratic party call upon
the Union men to elect this man as Commander-
in-Chief of the army and navy of Ohio, and this
in the midst of a war with the enemies of the
country whom he was convicted of aiding." This
man's cause tlie Democracy of Peoria County
were also called upon to champion

Their convention for the nomination of county
officers met at Peoria on the 17th day of Sep-
tember, 1863. After passing the usual resolu-
tions of denunciation of the administration assert-
ing their own loyalty to the Constitution and the
L'nion, and their opposition equally to secession
and unconstitutional means of suppression of the
rebellion, they further resolved that they were in
favor of peace upon honorable terms, and would
sustain all constitutional means to that end by
whomsoever administered.

The resolutions of the Springfield Mass Meet-
ing having met with the unqualified condemnation
of the War Democrats, a call signed by over
one hundred of the leaders,— such men as John
A, McClernand, A. J. Kuykendall. M. M. Bane,
E. C. Ingersoll, M. Brayman, S. W. Moulton,
Thomas W. Harris and I. N. Haynie,— was is-
sued for a convention to meet at Decatur on the
1st day of October. That convention was largely
attended, E. C. Ingersoll. of Peoria, being placed
on the committee on resolutions. It resolved that
the prosecution of the war into any and every
part of the L^nion. and wherever armed insurgents
could be found, is constitutional, and that they
denounced all resolutions, by whomsoever passed,
which maintained contrary principles : that they
were satisfied with the Constitution as it then
was, and opposed any amendment to the same, or

192

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

any armistice with the rebels; that the preserva-
tion of tlie Union was the paramount issue, and
that they repudiated all parties and their sym-
pathizers which sought to embroil the people of
States and incite treason and armed resistance
to law anywhere, and whose armed or secret pur-
pose, if consummated, must end in rebellion ; that
they denounce the twenty-third resolution [the
most offensive of the series — Ed.] of the Spring-
field meeting and all "who stand upon, abide by,
or adhere to or sympathize with the same * * *
as being in antagonism to and in direct conflict
with the principles, the imtarnishcd name and
glorious history of the Democratic party, and
as affording aid and comfort to the enemy;" that
the Union must be preserved — each State in all
its equality and sovereignty ; that every nation
has an inherent and God-given right of self-pro-
tection, and the authorities have all power nec-
essary to preserve it ; and that it was the duty
of all good citizens to accord a hearty support
to all measures necessary to suppress the re-
bellion. Other resolutions declaratory of the pol-
icy of the Democratic party followed, but the
above are sufficient to show the irreparable breach
between the secessionists and the War Democrats
which occurred at this time.

The Unconditional Union men of both parties
met in convention at Peoria on the 8th of October
and placed in nomination candidates lor county
officers, Jesse L. Knowlton for Treasurer. George
W. Maurice for School Commissioner, and John
Anderson for Surveyor. The Democratic candi-
dates were elected, but by majorities less, by more
than one thousand, than those of two years be-
fore.

The course of the "Knights of the Golden
Circle" — or "Sons of Liberty," as they had by this
time come to be called — up to this time had been
only preliminary to the great contest which was
to take place in the election of a President in
the year 1864. The line of demarcation between
the secessionists and the imconditional Union
elements in the Democratic party having been
clearly drawn, the former were left at liberty to
pursue their own course untrammcled by the
presence of the latter.

The strength of the "Sons of Liberty" in the
North having become known to the Confederate
Government, it was determined to establish a
communication with them in the interest of the
rebellion. To this end a commission consist-
ing of Jacob Thompson. C. C. Clay and J. P.
Holcombe was dispatched to Canada ostensibly
to operate in conjunction w'ith the disaffected of

the Xortli. to utilize the prejudices existing
against the conduct of the war, for the interest
of the Confederate States. The real object was
to orgamzc the disaffected in the North into an
actual rebellion, and to establish a Northwestern
Confederacy. The scheme embraced an armed'
uprising of rebel sympathizers of the North, the
release of 8,600 rebel prisoners then at Camp-
Douglas near Chicago, 7,554 at Springfield, about
6,000 at Rock Island and 5.000 at Alton. These
were to be armed and organized to take posses-
sion of the Government ; Chicago was to be cap-
tured and all its wealth devoted to the cause o£
the conspiracy.

The time agreed upon for this uprising was
that of the Democratic National Convention at
Chicago, which was at first set for July 4th, but
for reasons of their own, the time of the meeting
of the convention was postponed until August
29th.

The disgrace of having entertained this gang-
of conspirators for a day rests upon the city of
Peoria. Between the time first set for the great
uprising and the day to which it had been post-
poned, one of their preliminary meetings actually
took place in this city. It was held on the sd*
day of August. 1864; it had been largely ad-
vertised as a grand mass-meeting of the Demo-
crats, and. as had been anticipated, drew a large
crowd. The call as published in the "Evening
Mai!." was signed by about one hundred and fifty
leading Democrats, of whom seven were from
Peoria County; the objects stated were "to take-
into consideration the perilous condition of our
country and express our indignation at the act
of the President in kidnapping and removing
beyond the jurisdiction of the civil authorities the-
Colcs County prisoners," and calling upon the
people to rally in their might. Thomas A. Hen-
dricks. Daniel W. Voorhees. George H. Pendle-
ton and other distinguished speakers were ex-
pected to address the meeting. The number of
voters claimed by the Democratic papers to have
been present • was 25.000, but the Republicans
claimed that the numbers from outside the city
were very small. But whether small or great it
was a disreputable affair. Two stands for speak-
ing were erected, one on the north, the other on,
the south side of the Court House. The promi-
nent speakers from a distance who had been in-
vited and were advertised to speak did not ap-
pear. The "Transcript" of the following day
says that from the corner of Washington street
the great procession reached only one and one-
half blocks up Main. The "Evening Mail" gave

i^i{/fUl(^c

ft^

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

193

neither the numbers nor the length of the pro-
cession. But long or short it was characteristic
of the occasion. There was not an American flag
in it except one carried by a farmer near the
tail end. Revolvers, sent here by the Sons of
Liberty as boxes of law books, were openly dis-
tributed ; many of the men composing the pro-
cession were armed with revolvers and daggers,
and one of the floats represented President Lin-
coln in his coffin, the lid of which they were in-
dustriously nailing down.

The following, among other mottoes carried in
the procesion, are attested by the report of the
"Evening Mail" of the following day, and, com-
ing from a friendly source, will not be disputed :
"The Union, the Constitution and the Laws."
"Would rather die freemen than live slaves."
"Ours is a white man's Government — defile it
not with miscegenation."

"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
"Give me liberty or give me death."
"Usurpation unchecked is despotism accepted."
"The President is not the master but the ser-
vant of the people."

"Lincoln inaugurated the reign of terror."
"Let there be no strife between mine and
thine, for we be brethren."

"We come under the banner of peace."
There was not a banner, nor a motto, nor a
transparency in the whole procession condemning
the rebels in arms against the Government, or
giving encouragement to the sold=ers in the field
in their endeavors to suppress the rebellion.

After this disgraceful exhibition of disloyalty
had closed, the meeting was first called to order
at the north stand by William W. O'Brien, of
Peoria, who was still a member of the Illinois
Legislature, then enjoying its long vacation by
order of Governor Yates, and on his motion Rob-
ert Holloway. of Mercer County, who, in the exile
of Vallandigham, was Commander-in-Chief of
the Sons of Liberty, was called to the chair. An
address of welcome was delivered by Jacob
Gale, the Mayor of Peoria, and prayer was ad-
dressed to the Throne of Grace by the Rev.
Smithson, a blatant secessionist, who had re-
cently been deposed from the ministry of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for lying, but who
was then going about the country making se-
cession speeches.

A committee on permanent organization rec-
ommended for President General James W.
Singleton, of Quincy. a city in which was lo-
cated one of the head centers of the Sons of

Liberty. Twenty-five Vice-Presidents were
named, among whom are found the names of the
same Robert Holloway, Vice Commander-in-"
Chief, and S. Corning Judd, of Lewistown, Com-
mander-in-Chief, for the State of Illinois of the
Sons of Liberty. But few of the other twenty-
three afterward achieved any fame other than
that derived from their participation in that
meeting.

Ten new.spaper correspondents present were
made secretaries, two of them at least represent-
ing papers that had come under the ban of the
administration.

In his introductory address General Singleton
said the object of the Democrats was "an armis-
tice and a call for a convention to settle upon
the terms of peace."

Letters expressing sympathy with the objects
of the meeting were read from Fernando Wood,
the noted secession Mayor of Xew York : from
Thomas H. Seymour, of New York, and from
George H. Pendleton, who. at the demand of the
secessionists, was soon to become a candidate for
the office of Vice President of the United States.
Speeches were made by Amos Green, David Shee-
han, S. Corning Judd and Rev. Smithson. all of
a character in sympathy with the object and intent
of the meeting.

The "Transcript" of August 8th, in summing
up the character of the meeting, gives the fol-
lowing as the facts : ( i ) The American flag
was excluded from the procession. (2) A white
flag with a single star floated over the speaker's
stand, and trailing beneath it were the stars and
stripes. (3) Xo cheers were heard for the
I'nion, hut cheers were frequent for Jeff. Davis,
for the Northwestern Confederacy and for Stone-
wall Jackson. (4) No word was uttered against
the rebels, while the administration were de-
nounced as traitors and the Chief Executive as a
man deserving to be hanged. (5) While pro-
fessing to be for freedom of speech and freedom
of the press, one speaker declared he would put
padlocks on the mouths of every clergyman and
silence every pulpit in the land. (6) That one
of them had said to a well known lady that
Grant could not take Richmond, and that, if
necessary, to prevent him the peace men would
turn in and help the rebels.

When this deluge of denunciation had ceased,
a motion was made and declared carried, that an
adjournment be taken to Springfield on Aug-
ust 18th.

At Stand No. 2 the meeting was called to

194

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUXTY.

order by VV. W. O'Brien, and speeches were
made in the same strain by several other promi-
■jient Democrats.

In the evening, the report says, 5,000 as-
sembled in the Court House Square to listen to
William A. Campbell, Jr., of Chicago, a Mr.
Clark, of Christian County, and for an hour to
O'Bnen. whose remarks, fortunately for his good
name, were not reported.

The resolutions adopted were the most de-
nunciatory of any yet adopted by the Democrats.
Having repeated substantially what ihey had said
before in denouncing the administration, they pre-
ferred the following direct charges against it:

"It has denied to sovereign States all consti-
tutional rights, and thereby absolved them from
all allegiance."

"It has trampled down a nation that it may
install a military despotism upon the ruins of
constitutional liberty."

"It has and is still waging a bloody and re-
lentless war for the avowed purpose of extcr- ■
minating 8,000.000 of freemen from the homes of
their fathers, and blotting from the American
Constellation one-half of the States of the
Union."

"It has sought to arouse and enlist the most
wicked and malignant passions, reckless of all
ends if it but subvert the existing Government
and immolate American citizens."

"It has struck down freedom of speech and
■of the press."

"It has stripped from the American citizen his
panoply and conveyed him to the bastile without
process of law. without charge and without op-
portunity of trial."-

"It has, by military violence, suppressed the
freedom of the ballot and dictated elections at
the point of the bayonet."

"It has annulled every constitutional guaranty
for the protection of the citizen and subjected
liim to an impossible tyranny of military vio-
lence."

When the 20th day of .\ugust. the day of the
projected uprising, had arrived, there was found
to be a screw loose in the machinery. The Gov-
•ernment had sent a regiment of soldiers to Camp
Douglas, and it had become noised abroad in
and around Chicago that the newly arrived con-
tingent amounted to seven thousand men. There-
upon the Valiant Knights flunked, and never
afterward boasted of their valor.

The election in Peoria County, as usual, went
Democratic. On the local ticket there were three
War Democrats, Ingersoll, Taggart and Sloan,

upon whom the vials of the rebel wrath were
poured out without stint, to which they replied
in kind. The Democratic majority averaged one
hundred and seventy-eight, as follows:

For Governor —

Robinson (D)

Oglesby (R)

Congressman at Large —

Allen (D)

Moulton (R)

Congress, Fifth District —

James S. Eckles (D)

Eben C. Ingersoll (W. D.)

Representatives —

William Rounseville (D)

Jacob Jamison (D)

.Alexander McCoy (R)

Richard C. Difnn '. . . . (R)

States Attorney —

George E. Ford (D)

Charles P. Taggart ( W. D)

For Circuit Clerk —

Thomas Mooney (D)

Enoch P. Sloan ( W. D)

For Sheriff-
George C. McFaddcn (D)

Samuel Crouse (R)

The result in the nation and in the State was
overwhelmingly Republican or Union — Lincoln
being re-elected President; Oglesby. Governor;
Moulton. Congressman at Large, with the other
Republican candidates for State officers; Inger-
soll was elected to Congress in the Fifth District,
while McCoy and Dunn were elected to the Leg-
islature and Taggart as State's Attorney by the
aid of the Stark County vote, leaving to the
Democrats the barren victory of holding the
county offices in Peoria County.

What followed was but the subsidence of the
storm and the calming of the troubled waters.
.•\nother short military campaign and the adoption
of the Thirteenth Constitutional .Amendment
completed the great victory. In the latter great
event the Representatives of Peoria bore a con-
spicuous part. On the 31st day of January. 1865,
the final vote was taken in the House of Repre-
sentatives upon the passage of the resolution to
submit to the Legislatures of the several States
an amendment to the Constitution of the L'nited
States declaring that "neither slavery nor invol-
untarj' servitude, except as a punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States.

3.750

3.561

189

3747

3.568

179

3.743

3.570

173

3.738

3.742

3.583

153

3.571

171

3.758

3.545

213

3.728

3.568

160

3.7.^8

3.535

203

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

195

or any place subject to their jurisdiction," the
same having already been adopted bv the Senate.
On that vote Eben C. Ingersoll, the Representa-
tive from the Fifth District of Illinois and at
the time a citizen of Peoria, voted in the alfirma-
tive. Upon the announcement of the vote a
scene of the wildest enthusiasm broke forth in
the House, as well in the galleries as upon the
floor, and it was several minutes before the Speak-
er, by vigorous pounding of the gavel, was able
to restore quiet ; but having succeeded in pro-
curing a temporary lull, as related by General
John A. Logan, "advantage was instantly taken
of it by the successor of the dead Owen Love-
joy, Mr. Ingersoll, of Illinois, his young face
flushing with the glow of patriotism as he cried.
'Mr. Speaker ! In honor of this immortal and
sublime event, I move that the House do now ad-
journ.' The Speaker declared the motion carried,
amid renewed demonstrations of enthusiasm."

Ingersoll rushed to the telegraph and sent
home this dispatch : "John Brown's soul is
marching on. The Constitutional Amendment
passed to-day."

It was then late in the afternoon, and llie
amendment did not receive the approval of the
President until the following day. It was then
telegraphed by Senator Trumbull to Governor
Oglesby at Springfield, who immediately sub-
mitted it to the Legislature. On the same day,
the amendment coming to a final vote in the
Senate, our Senator, John T. Lindsay, who had
been elected as a Democrat, voted in the affirma-
tive. It was carried bv a vote of 18 to 6, three

voting in its favor being Democrats. "This action
of the Senate having been reported to the House,
Alexander McCoy [Representative from Peoria
and Stark Counties — Ed.] moved that the latter
body concur. The previous question having been
moved by Merritt L. Joslyn and carried, the
joint resolution was adopted by a vote of 58
to 28. Six Democrats did not record their votes,
all the others voted in opposition."

It now required only a few months' time to
complete the great work commenced by President
Lincoln, and to give the sanction of law to the
measures of freedom which he had but imper-
fectly inaugurated in his Proclamation of Eman-
cipation. That proclamation was not universal.
It did not profess to emancipate the slaves in
those parts of the Union which had remained
loyal. Had the Union been restored and peace
secured without a constitutional amendment,
slavery would still have received protection under
the American flag.

"But the hand that guides the destiny of na-
tions suffered not the cloud of war to lift from
our horizon until an amendment to the Consti-
tution of the L^nited States had been submitted
to the people for adoption, wherebv it was de-
clared that slavery * * * should not exist
within the United. States, or any place subject to
their jurisdiction." As soon as that was done, our
armies met with immediate and triumphant suc-
cess, the rebellion was crushed, the Union re-
stored, slavery was abolished and universal free-
dom proclaimed to every man wheresoever the
flag should float.

CHAPTBR XXIX.

THE MONUMENTS.

The clmid of war had not yet been altogether
lifted when the people of Peoria County began
to consider the propriety of erecting memorials
to those of their fellow-citizens who had yielded
lip their lives in defense of their country and
their homes. This thought took definite form at
the September meeting, 1865, of the Board of Su-
pervisors, when Dr. John Emery, the Super-
visor from Trivoli township, offered the follow-
ing resolution :

"Resolved, That an appropriation of

dollars be made for the erection of a suitable
monument to be erected iti the Court House
yard, upon wdiich shall be inscribed the names of
all the soldiers who have died from this county,
with their company and regiment."

This resolution was referred to a committee
appointed by the Chairman of the Board, con-
sisting of Dr. Emery and Messrs. Matson and
Day, with instructions to procure plans, specifica-
tions and estimates and report at the ne.xt meet-
ing of the Board. This committee reported at the
April meeting. i866, that they had received sev-
eral plans, each to cost about the sum of $5,000.
The contract was awarded to Robert Campbell,
of Peoria, who proceeded at once with the work.
The site chosen was near the center of the Main
street side of the square and about midway be-
tween the old Court House and the street. The
corner-stone was laid with Masonic ceremonies.
Grand Master Harmon G. Reynolds officiating.

The dedication of this monument, which took
place on October n. 1866. was the occasion of
one of the greatest demonstrations ever witnessed
' in Peoria. It was felt that the laying of the
corner-stone, although executed with all due
decorum, had not afforded the returned soldiers
or their friends an opportunity for testifying in an
appropriate manner their devotion to their coun-
try or their veneration of the memory of those

who had fallen in its defense. It was therefore
resolved to make its dedication the occasion for a
more patriotic demonstration. General Benjamin
F. Butler was invited, and accepted the invitation,
to deliver the principal oration. On the day ap-
pointed an innnensc concourse of people assembled
at Peoria, consisting largely of war veterans and
their friends, from this and neighboring States.
A pleasing incident of the occasion was the pres-
ence of "Old Abe," the veteran war eagle which
had been carried throughout the war by the
Eighth Wisconsin Regiment, with whom some of
tht Peoria regiments had been brigaded in many
a weary march, and with whom they had stood
shi>uldcr to shoulder in many a hard fought
battle.

Early in the day the Peoria House, corner of
Hamilton and Adams streets, where General But-
ler had his lodgings, was surrounded by an ex-
cited throng rending the air with cheers for the
hero of New Orleans, and for their old com-
mander. General John A. Logan, who also was
present. A procession was formed, in which
eleven companies of infantry and one of cavalry
appeared, followed by an immense throng of
civic societies, the Peoria Fire Department and
citizens in carriages and on foot. After march-
ing through the principal streets it finally reached
the public sf|uarc. where the exercises were to
take place.

"Spencer's band played a patriotic air, after
which Colonel R. G. IngersoU introduced Rev.
Mr. Pierce, of Elm wood, who opened the ex-
ercises with an appropriate prayer. Gilig's band
played a dirge, after which the dedicatory poem
by Mrs. P. R. K. Brotherson was read by Col-
onel R. G. IngersoU."

After the reading of the poem the monument
was formally dedicated by the veteran preacher
and chaplain. Rev. Richard Haney, in a few

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

197

simple Init impressive and patriotic sentences.
The oration was tlien delivered Ijy General But-
ler. Passing in review some of the leading events
of the war, and dwelling at some length upon
the patriotic spirit of the people and the heroism
of the men who had fallen in defense of the
Union, the General closed with this eloquent
and patriotic peroration :

"Is it not, therefore, fit that this monument
should be raised to them, and upon it their names'
inscribed as a perpetual memorial to their chil-
dren and ours, as an object of gratitude, of love,
of emulation and of reverence to those that shall
come after them? Our children, and our chil-
dren's children, shall be inspired to deeds of
heroic valor by their example in the field as sol-
diers; our posterity will bless their memories and
keep them green forever, for their preservation of
popular government and free institutions, as citi-
zens. And we may not on this sad. thnii"'
joyous occasion, forget the true officers, regular
and volunteer, who led them, of whom, when we
say they were captains worthy of such soldiers.
we pronounce their highest eulogy. Yet the liv-
ing will pardon us, and the dead will smile upon
us, for putting before them in the foremost ranks
of honor, as they stood before them in the front
rank of battle, the true defenders of their coun-
try — the private soldiers."

When the new Court House had been erected,
and it had become necessary to alter the grade
of the square, this monument was removed to the
Jefferson street front, where it still reinains. At
the time of the removal and before it was reset,
the entire shaft was worked over, repolished and
about fifty names added to those already chiseled
on its sides, and the three lower bases, which had
begun to show signs of deterioration, were rc-
Iilaced with new ones. This new work was done
by Messrs. Triebel & Sons, whose names have
since then become imperishably associated with a
grander work of art situated in another quarter
of the same square.

Although not costing so much money, nor so
pretentious in appearance, as some that have since
liecn erected in other counties, yet being one of
the first of its kind, and undertaken when the
county was yet struggling with the burdens im-
posed by the w;ir. it affords a lasting testimonial
of the devotion which the people of Peoria County
bore to the memory of their patriot dead, and.
from the time of its erection until now. it has
marked the rallying spot where the living may
commemorate tlieir patriotic achievements.

Sfiriitgdalc Scldicrs' Moninnciil.

.Among the Peoria men who fell at Fort Donel-
son was a young man nained Henry Miller, whose
remains were among the first to be brought home
for burial. This circumstance brought out a
suggestion in the "Transcript" of March 15,
i86j, that a suitable lot be purchased for the
burial of such of the soldiers as should lose their
lives in the war witliout having a suitable burial
place provided. The Directors of Springdale
Cemetery immediately tendered the gift for that
purpose of the best lot in the cemetery and of
suitable size, subject to the only conditions that
it should be governed by the rules and regula-
tions of the Association governing other lot-
holders, and that some person or pc-sons be des-
ignated to keep it in order and repair. This offer
was afterward made good in the donation of the
choice lot on which the monument was erected
and in which m.any soldiers lie buried.

The Women's National League of Peoria hav-
ing, after a period of three years devoted to con-
stant and assiduous labor, completed its work, its
members turned their attention to the erection of
a suitable monument to the soldiers w-ho lay
buried in their cemetery lot. Accordingly, on
July S. 1866, the League, by unanimous vote,
merged itself into "The Soldiers' Monument So-
ciety." agreeing to donate the balance in its treas-
ury ($82.19) as a nucleus towards a fund for the
erection of the monument. The following ex-
tracts are taken from an account of its erection
and dedication from the pen of Mrs. Lucie B.
Tyng in Johnson's History.

"Very shortly after the disbanding of the
Women's National League of Peoria the active
members of the same organized a new society,
having for its object the erection of a suitable
monument to the soldiers who are buried in
Springdale Cemetery. A lot of about one hun-
dred and fifty feet square had been presented for
the burial of the soldiers by the Cemetery Asso-
ciation, and the women composing this .Associa-
tion felt that it was a fitting close to their labors
of love for their soldiers, to honor their final
resting places.

"In the spring of 1870 the monument was
completed and in its place. It was designed and
executed by Mr. Robert Campbell, and cost $2,500.
It is an imposing and attractive structure, and
can be seen from all parts of the cemetery. It
faces the burial place of the soldiers. Thirty-
seven soldiers are buried in this lot at Springdale

198

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Cemetery. Each grave is provided with a small,
neat headstone, with the name of the soldier
carved upon it. There are three unknown graves.
The Monument Association also paid into the
'Trust Fund of the Cemetery' one hundred dol-
lars to ensure the perpetual care of this lot for
all time. The dedication took place May 30, 1870,
Decoration Day. It was a beautiful day and large
numbers of people came in from the surrounding
country to be present at the ceremonies. Many
hundreds gathered at the soldiers' lot. The com-
pany were formed into a hollow square around
the graves. A platform had been erected for the
accommodation of the speakers and singers, and
General Magee officiated as master of ceremonies.
Thirty-four little girls, dressed in white, were
detailed to strew flowers. They stood at the
graves during the services, and at the proper
time placed the flowers on the mounds tenderly
and reverently. Prayer was offered by Rev. VV.
A. Spencer. Misses Ballance, Truesdale, Tiles-
ton and Mowatt sang the Decoration Hymn. The
statue, which had been draped in the American
flag, was then unveiled by Miss Annie Curtenius.
The dedicatory address was delivered by Rev, S.

A. Kingsbury. D. D. After this a .soldier's
requiem w^as sung by Mrs. Frank I'ield, Mrs. C.

B. .Mlaire, Messrs. Charles F. Bacon and S. S.
Patton."

The Chairman then introduced Colonel Lucicn
H. Kerr, who read a dedicatory poem written by
Peoria's gifted authoress, Mrs. Frances B. M.
Brotherson. for which reference must be made
to her published works.

At the conclusion of the reading of tlic poem
the benediction was pronounced by the venerable
Rev. John Benson. In the afternoon of the same
day impressive exercises were held at the Sol-
diers' Monument in the Court House Square,
where an eloquent address was delivered by Col-
onel Robert G. Ingersoll.

Shortly after the dedication of this splendid
tribute to the heroes of Peoria County, an act
of Congress was passed donating four pieces of
artillery to the Association, which, in course of
time, were placed at the four corners of the sol-
diers' lot in the cemetery, where they still remain
mute defenders of priceless remains.

From the time of the dedication of the Spring-
dale Soldiers' Monument until now, it has been
the custom to hold the principal exercises of
Decoration Day (May 30) at this spot, so hal-
lowed to the hearts of all patriotic men and
women. In these exercises the military organiza-

tions of the city, Bryncr Post of the Grand .Xrniy
of the Republic, the Sons of Veterans and all
kindred organizations, together with the citizens
of Peoria unite with the ladies of the Associa-
tion. The monument at the Court House, as well
as that at the cemetery, having been duly dec-
orated, a procession is formed which first marches
to that at the Court House, where a military
salute is given, then to the soldiers' lot in the
• cemetery, where appropriate exercises are held,
generally consisting of a prayer, an address, a
military salute, the strewing of flowers on the
graves and the placing of an .\nicrican Hag at the
head of each.

For the purpose of perpetuating these annual
ceremonies the Soldiers' Monument Association
maintained its existence under that name until
the year. 1876. when it was again reorganized as
the "J.adies' Decoration Day .Association," under
which name it still exists.

In the year 1884, there being then aliout forty
graves in the lot [there are one hundred now —
Kd.], it was found that additional ground would
be needed before any more interments could be
made. An agreement was entered into between
the Ladies' Decoration Day Association and Bry-
ner Post of the Grand Army of the Republic,
whereby an adjoining lot, forty feet square, was
purchased for $160, each Association to pay one-
half the purchase money and one-half of the in-
terment fee of $15 for each subsequent interment.

The Ladles' Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.

As years rolled by and their ranks began to
grow thinner by deaths and removals, the fires
of patriotic devotion enkindled in their hearts by
the torch of war, instead of dying out. continued
to glow with increasing fervor, and the ladies
of the Association longed to know if anything
remained undone which might yet be done, to
fittingly commemorate the names and services of
those who had yielded to their country the full
measure of patriotic devotion. Then the thought
came into their minds that another monument
was needed in some public place, one that should
embrace all branches of the service in which the
.sons of Peoria, as .soldiers or .sailors, had borne
a part. With them to conceive such a thought
was to resolve to put it into execution, and to re-
solve was to accomplish.

The result of this resolve is the chaste and
classic shaft which now adorns the .south en-
trance to the Court House Square. The spotf

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

199

chosen is one of greater historic interest than was
probably conceived of at the time of its selection,
for it is within a few feet of the south angle of
the old Court House, where, on the 16th day of
October, 1854, Lincoln and Douglas met in their
great joint debate, and within a few feet of the
spot on which the National Blues, on the 13th dav
of April, 1861, erected their liberty pole and ran up
and saluted the flag of their country. It was here
also that Peoria's first contribution of her sons
were drilled for the war, and within hearing dis-
tance of it were the stands from w'iiich the most
distinguished statesmen hdd discussed questions
of the most vital interest to the country.

But the spot was rendered still more historic
by the dedication of this monument, in which the
President of the United States and the members
of his cabinet, with other distinguished states-
men, bore a conspicuous part. The President hav-
ing planned a visit through the Western States,
and the citizens of Peoria having undertaken the
holding of a great corn carnival, it was so ar-
ranged that the visit of the President, the dedi-
cation of the monument and the opening of the
carnival should take place on the same day. Oc-
tober 6. 1899. The occasion called forth prob-
ably the largest concourse of people from Peoria
and tlie surrounding counties ever witnessed in
the city. The scenes that day enacted cannot
be better described than in the words of the local
press of the ensuing day. From the '"Herald-
Transcript" the following extracts are made :

"The President of the United States was given
a welcome such as no other city but loyal old
Peoria could give. It was a display of pure,
]iatriotic interest and an an.xicty to do honor to
the nation's Chief Executive. For many weeks
Peorians and the people in surrounding cities and
towns have been on the anxious seat over the
coming of Mr. and Mrs. McKinley and their
guests, and for two hours prior to the arrival of
the train yesterday, Adams and Chestnut streets
from the Court House to the Union Station were
thronged with humanity. Every upstairs window
contained as many faces as could be crowded into
it. while many sought the roofs of buildings and
other vantage points.

"The Presidential train was the finest and the
most sumptuously equipped that ever came into
Peoria. It consisted of the private car Campania,
occupied by the President and his wife; the com-
bination car .Atlantic, the sleeper Ixion, compart-
ment cars Chili and Omenia, the last two being
for the use of the cabinet. In addition to the
regular train was the Hawkeye, the Iowa Cen-

tral's private car. in which the Peoria delegation
went to Bushnell to meet the Presidential party.

"The procession started from Chestnut street,
proceeded up Adams to Main, up Main, passing
in review before President McKinley, to Jeffer-
son, thence to Hamilton ; up Hamilton to Madi-
son ; down Madison to Fulton ; on Fulton to-
Jefferson, then to Franklin, where the procession
disbanded.

"The children's parade proved a most interest-
ing feature of the display. It is estimated there
were from 5.000 to 6,000 school children in line.
The girls wore white dresses and the boys blue
caps. The girls carried arches of flowers and
!)oquets. and the boys flags. They rallied at the
top of Hamilton street hill and marched down
Hamilton street to the Court House, going around
the square and past the reviewing stand."

A stand had been erected, covering the side-
walk, on the southwest side of the square, facing
the monument. There the President and other
distinguished guests, the ladies of the Association,
committees in charge, the Mayor, the Chairman of
the Board of Supervisors and others prominently
connected with the ceremonies were seated, while
the vast throng of not less than 70,000 people
crowded around the stand and the monument,
filling the entire space from the southwest side
of Main street to the Court House with one
densely packed mass of humanity. The exercises
were opened with a most fervent prayer by Rev.
John Weston. D. D.. pastor of Calvary Presby-
terian Church, himself a veteran of the war, after
which the monument was unveiled by Mrs. Sam-
uel -A.. Kinsey. Chairman of the Committee hav-
ing charge of its erection, who had labored as-
siduously for six years towards the accomplish-
ment of this worthy object. As the canvas
dropped to the ground the sculptor, Mr. Fritz
Triebel, overcome with emotion, burst into tears,
and, amid the plaudits of the admiring throng,
was grasped by the hand by the President of the
United States and received his congratulations.

The monument was then inspected. The
President and Cabinet officers, accompanied by
prominent Peorians, marched around the monu-
ment, viewing it from all sides.

Mrs. Lucie B. Tyng. President of the Me-
morial Day .Association, then made the following
address, which so aptly expresses all that was in-
tended by the monument as to entitle it to a
permanent place in the history of the County:
"Mr. President and Fxicnds:

"Early in the Civil War a band of loyal, patri-
otic women of Peoria organized them-ilves into

200

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

a society, whose aim was to care for and honor
the soldiers who liad gone into the field of bat-
tle to support our Government and maintain our
country, one and undivided. To this end they
faithfully labored and prayed. Nothing was left
undone which could minister to the comfort of
our soldiers, or cheer their hearts. 'When the
cruel war was over' these same devoted women
continued this ministry, clicrishing the memory ot
those who died, and erecting a monument to their
honor in Springdale Cemetery, and also provid-
ing for the resting place within its Iiallowed
grounds for such soldiers as had no family burial
place, and have died in our midst in these years
which have intervened. Each year as the .^oth
of May has come around they have strewn their
graves with flowers, and lovingly recounted their
deeds of loyalty and valor, and kept their mem-
ory green. But as years passed by and our ranks
of faitliful women were thinned by death, it came
into the hearts of those who were left to build
a soldiers' monument in our city which woubl
last for all time, and tell to our cliildrcn and
children's children our loving gratitude to tliese
brave men who took their lives in their hands
and went forth to vindicate and sustain our Gov-
ernment in its hour of peril. Desiring to offer
tliem only our very best, we appealed in loving
confidence to those in authority in our county
and city for means to aid us in carrying out our
aims, to make this monument worthy of the pur-
pose for which it was designed. To their eternal
honor wo gratefully record that they responded
most generously to the appeal, and our county
and city pledged each $10,000 towards the work.
Providence raised up for us an artist of our very
own. a gifted son of Peoria, who, though long
dwelling among the classic associations of Italy,
yet sprang with ardor to the work for his native
city, and carried out our plan in a most satis-
factory manner. It stands before us now. the
embodiment of all we could desire, a permanent
monument to the soldiers of Peoria County, both
living and dead, an ornament to our beloved
city lc:fng after we are lai<l to rest.

■'In behalf of the Ladies' Memorial Day .Asso-
ciation of Peoria, wdiose work for the soldiers
has never ceased since the beginning of the Civil
War, and with a heart full of thanksgiving to all
who have made this offering possible to us, I
present this Soldiers' Monument to Peoria Coun-
ty and City, through their representatives, the
Chairman of the Board of- Supervision, and his
honor, the Mayor of the city, as a sacred charge.
May it speak to all who sec it of the honored

men whose service fur our country it commem-
orates, and may the principles for wliich their
lives were given l)e enshrined in our hearts and
minds forever."

Mr. John C. Kingsbury, Chairman of the
Board of Supervisors, accepted the monument on
behalf of the county in an exceedingly neat and
appropriate address, and was followed by Mayor
Menry W. Lynch, wdio accepted the monument
on behalf of the city.

Colonel Martin Kingman, President of the
Day, then delivered an address to the ladies of the
Memorial Day Association, to his comrades of the
Grand .Army of the Republic and to his fellow
citizens, which, after having recited with patri-
otic fervor the events which had led to the erec-
tion of this memorial shaft, concluded with the
following eloquent peroration :

"Behold the completed structure! A marvel
of stone and bronze, original in conception, per-
fect in finish, the creation of a sculptor famed
on two continents, our own gifted, ni-ipired Fritz
Tricbel.

"Comrades, a kind Providence restored us to
our homes and peaceful pursuits. Gathered about
this splendid shaft, these silent and pulse-
less figures, we thank God that we had some
little share in advancing the cause for which our
brothers gave their lives; we prize and love more
than ever the dear old flag they and we de-
fended, and which, floating to-day over Havana,
San Juan and Manila, proclaims a victorious and
expanding democracy, and is the promise of light
and liberty to the darkened and the oppressed
world around."

-At the close of his address Mr. Kingman in-
troduced to his fellow citizens as the "Citizen,
Soldier and Statesman." William McKinley.
President of the United States, who remained
standing while being welcomed to the city by its
Mayor, Henry W. Lynch. The President then
spoke as follows :

''Fellow Citizens : — I am glad with my fellow-
citizens of Peoria County and members of the
Grand .Army of the Republic, and Ladies' Me-
morial Day Association, to stand about the monu-
ment dedicated to patriotic service and heroic de-
votion in the holiest cause for which mankind
ever engaged.

"This monument awakens sacred memories,
fellow-citizens, and that is its purpose. It was
erected by these patriotic women that it might for
all time perpetuate a glorious page of American
history. It tells the whole story of war. the
seige, the march, bivouac, battle line, the suffer-

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

20l

ing. sacrifices of the brave men who, from '6i to
'65, upheld the flag. It tells of every page of
history of that civil struggle, and tells. of its tri-
umphant consummation at Appomattox Court
House, when Grant accepted the surrender of
Lee, and we were kept a nation.

''l like this monument. I like this symbol I
face to-day, 'the defense of the flag.' That is
what we do wherever and whenever that flag is
assailed, and with us war always stops when the
assailants of our flag face Grant's term, 'un-
conditional surrender.' I do not intend to make
a speech here to-daj'. I could add nothing of
patriotic sentiment to that already uttered. I
desire to express in this presence my apprecia-
tion, not of the tribute paid to the President of
the United States, but the tribute the people of
Peoria County have paid to the great defenders
of the American flag in time of our great peril.

"Vou arc proud of the monument. "^'ou
should be proud of the demonstration which led
to its unveiling. Six thousand school children
of the city with flags in their hands and love
of country in their hearts, and I could not but
think, as I looked at the glorious procession, that
my country is safe.

"God bless the school children of America.
God bless the patriotic women of the United
States and the patriotic band that carried this
monument to a successful consunnnation.

"I congratulate you ; you have everything in
Peoria. I congratulate you that you found an
artist of so high skill, born in Peoria, to execute
"this work.

"I thank you over and over again for this
splendid demonstration of patriotism and devo-
tion."

At the conclusion of the President's address
the vast audience joined in singing "America,"
Lem H. Wiley, the Chief Cornetist of the Sev-
enty-seventh Regiment Band, sounded "taps,"
and this splendid memorial to the jjatriotism of
the sons of Peoria County was dedicated.

No more fitting conclusion can be given this
chapter than the following tribute paid to the pro-
jectors of the monument by the editor of the
newspaper from which these extracts are taken :

"The tall, graceful, dignified monument, occu-
pying the southeast entrance to the Court House
Square and challenging the attention and ad-
miration of every passerby, is a most fitting sym-
liol of the spirit of loyalty to the American arms
that is enthroned in the heart and soul of Peor-
ians. Primarily, it is a monument to the soldiers
who have sacrificed their lives on battle fields
that the sacred institutions of the country
might live; but furthermore, it is a monunM-nt to
the band of noble women who have striven for
years, in the face of many trials and disappoint-
ments, to make it possible. Those who know of
the struggle that they have been through, can ap-
jircciate what the magnificent shaft means to
them. The sculptor has thrown all his skill and
energy into the bronze groups that adorn the
shaft, and it will always be a credit to the city,
its designer and executor, and the Ladies' Me-
morial Day Association."

CHARTER

PEORIA IN THE BLACK HAWK AND MEXICAN WARS.

The causes which led up to ihe Black Hawk
war have been so thoroughly discussed, and the
war itself has become so much a part of the
current history of the State, as to render it
unnecessary to repeat the same here. As Peoria
County figured somewhat largely in that war, our
attention will be directed principally to the opera-
tions in which its citizens took a prominent
part.

On or about the 6th of April, 1832, Black
Hawk crossed the Mississippi and commenced
his march up Rock River Valley, accompanied
by about five hundred warriors on horseback,
while his women and children went up the river
in their canoes. General Atkinson, who was
then in command at Fort Armstrong, warned
him against this aggression and ordered him to
return, but he refused. It was his intention to
enlist on his side the Winnebagoes and Potta-
watomics, and, had he succeeded in his design,
there was nothing to prevent a serious disaster
to the white settlements in the northern and cen-
tral portions of the State. Without revealing
his full design to General Atkinson, he pleaded
that he was going to join the Pottawatomies in
making *'ieir corn crop for that season, his real
design, however, being to wage a general war-
fare upon the whites.

On being informed of the movements of Black
Hawk, Governor Reynolds, on April i6th, called
for one thousand mounted volunteers from the
central and southern portions of the State, to
rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d of the same
month. The Governor was in daily receipt of
information as to the operations of the Indians
from Judge Young, Colonel Strode, and Ben-

jamin Mills, at Galena, who urged speedy action
for the protection of the frontiers.

Upon receipt of this niti>lligence two hundred
men, luider command of Major Stillman, were
ordered to guard the frontier near the Missis-
sippi, and two hundred under Major Bailey
for the protection of the frontier between the
Mississippi and the settlements on the Illinois.
The country was in a great state of alarm, and
independent volunteer companies were formed
at every important station to patrol the coun-
try and to guard the homes of the settlers
against threatened attack.

The troops or lered to rendezvous at Beards-
town were duly organized into four regiments,
an "odd battalion" and a "spy battalion." This
force left Beardstown on the 29th of April and
marched up the Mississippi River by way of
Oquawka. On arriving at the latter place, some
delay having occurred in the receipt of supplies,
messengers were dispatched to General Atkin-
son, at Fort -Armstrong, who sent them a boat
loaded with provisions. They then marched up
the river to the mouth of Rock River, where
they were all mustered into the service of the
United States by General Atkinson.

In the meantime, an "odd battalion" of rang-
ers, to be under command of Major Isaiah Still-
man, had been organized and mustered into the
service of the State. This battalion consisted of
a company recruited in Peoria County, of which
Abner Eads was Captain, William A. Stewart,
First Lieutenant, and John W. Caldwell, Second
Lieutenant : a company recruited in Fulton
County, of which David W. Barnes was Cap-
tain, Thomas W. Clark, First Lieutenant, and

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

203

Asa Langford, Second Lieutenant : and another
company from Fulton County, of which Asel F.
Ball was Captain. William D. Baldwin, First
Lieutenant, and Daniel S. Baughman, Second
Lieutenant.

The following is the full muster roll of Cap-
tain Eads* company :

Odd Batt.\lio\- of R.\ngers.

"Roll of Capt. Abner Eads' Company of
Mounted Ranging Volunteers, enrolled at Pe-
oria, Illinois, by virtue of an order from the
Commander-in-Chief of the Militia of the State
of Illinois, to Brig. Gen. Josiah (1) Stillman,
(for the service of the United States). Mus-
tered into the service April 2$, 1832. Discharg-
ed June 28, 1832.

Name .\sd Rank. Enrolled. Remarks.

Captain, lS."i2,

Abner Eads. April 2:5.

First Lieutenant,

William \. Stewart,
Second Lieutenant,

.John W. Caldwell. " "

Sergeants,

First, Aquilla Wren. " " Promoted to Quar-
termaster Sergt.,
May 17, '.Ti.
Sec. Hiram >L Curry, " " Orderly Sergt.. May

17 to May 21.
Third, Edwin S. Jones, " " Orderly Sergt., May

21 to June 28.
Fourth, John Hinkle, " " Left Company by

permission to team
for service.
Corporals,

First, William Wright, "
Second, John Stringer,
Third, John Hawkins, "
Fourth, Thos. Webb, " "
Privates,

Bristol. John E,

Brown, Harrison,

Cooper, Jeremiah,

Clifton, John,

Carle, Stephen.

Conner, Joseph H., " "

Cox, Jefferson,

Cox, John, " "

<l^ Major Stillnian's real name was Isaiali, not Josiah.

Clark, Ebenezer, .\pril 2:i.

Cleveland, Hiram.

Caldwell, .Mexander,

Doty, James, " " Killed in battle of

May 14, near Syca-
more Creek.

Dodge. John B.,

Egman, William, " " Left Company by

permission to team
for serxlce.

Eads. William,

Love, Elias,

Moffatt, Alvah.

Moats. Jacob,

Moore, Sylvanus, May S.

Miner, Harris, May 3.

Owen, John C,

Phillis, Joseph, April 23.

Redick, George,

Ridgeway, David,

Root, Lucas,

Roos. David,

Ross, John,

Reed, Thomas B.,

Reed, Simon,

Sharp, Francis,

Smith, Rice,

Taliafero, Jefferson,

Tamplin. Thomas,

Trial, William D,. " ■

Thurman. Johnson T.,

Thomas, Henry, May 1.

Wood, William L., April 2:!.

"I do hereby certify the within accounts and
items to be correct, and each man furnished
forage for horse from May 17th until the date
of discharge.

"Peoria, July 5, 1832.

"Abner Eads, Captain.
"Peoria Volunteers.
"I certify, on honor, that I have care-
fully examined this muster roll of the above-
nantcd battalion and find it correct.

"Lewistown. Fulton Co.. Sept. 16. 1S32.
(Signed) "Thos. M. Tavlor, Brig. Major.

5 B. 16 Ills.
".Acting Adjutant for the above Battalion.
"I hereby certify, on honor, that I have care-
fully examined this muster-roll, and that I have
this seventeenth day of September, 1S32, mus-
tered and minutely inspected the above named

204

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Company of said battalion on the 281I1 day of
June, 1832, and discharged the same.

(Signed) "Hiram M. Curry,

"Inspector and Mustering Officer."

The foregoing copy differs somewhat from
that contained in the Adjutant-General's Report
published in 1882. This has two more names —
William Kgman and Thomas Taniplin — and has
the appended certificates, which the other has
not. It was copied directly from the original
yet remaining in the office of the Adjutant-Gen-
eral, omitting some explanatory notes.

The report further shows that the mess, in
which Jefferson Taliafero was, lost its camp-
equipage, valued at $14; that Taliafero's horse,
worth $35. died while in the service of the Uni-
ted States; that Wm. Eads lost a horse wnrlh
$55, Francis Sharp one worth $95, and that one
belonging to Harris Miner had strayed or was
stolen from Rock Island.

They were mustered into the service of the
State at Peoria on the 23d day of April, but not
into the service of the United States until May
l6th, two days after the battle of Sycamore
Creek or Stillman's Run, of which an account
■will be given. Another company recruited in
Tazewell County, of which John .Adams was
Captain, Benjamin Briggs, First, and John O.
Hyde, Second Lieutenant, marched with Major
Stillman's battalion for a time, but it appears,
from official reports, to have afterwards belonged
to the Fifth Regiment under command of Col-
onel Samuel Whiteside.

The Peoria Company left Peoria on the 7th
of May and marched directly for Dixon's Ferry
where John Dixon, formerly Circuit Clerk of
Peoria County, then resided. They were joined
on the way by the two companies from Fulton
County. They camped out three nights on the
way. arriving at Di-xon's Ferry on the morning
of the lOth before any of the other troops had
reached that point. From John Di.xon they re-
ceived information that Black Hawk had passed
up the river with about seven or eight hun-
dred Indians, wdio were not in a very friendly
state of mind towards the whites. The other
volunteers who had already been mustered into
the service of the United States, arrived on May
13th and found Stillman's men in a state of al-
most uncontrollable anxiety to be led against
the Indians.

Governor Reynolds, who was with the volun-

teers under General Whiteside (the regulars un-
der General Atkin.son not having yet arrived),
«eems not at first to have favored any such
movement, but finally being over-persuaded, and
still being Connnander-in-Chief of the forces
under Major Stillman, caused to be issued the
following order: "Major Stillman: You will
cause the troops under your immediate com-
mand, and the Battalion, under Major Bailey
to proceed without delay to the head of 'Old
Man's Creek,' where it is supposed there are
some hostile Indians, and coerce them into sub-
mission."

The accounts of what took place during the
next day are so confiicting that it is almost
impossible to arrive at the exact truth of the
matter. The following, taken from the report of
the Adjutant-General published in 1882, is prob-
ably as near the truth as it can he ascertained :

"On the following morning. May 14, 1832,
tluy started with 275 men (Stillman's Brigade)
and reached the 'Old Man's Creek' without ad-
venture, pursuing their cour.se up that stream
some fifteen miles, to Sycamore Creek. They
dismounted for the pm-pose of passing the
night. While engaged in camp duties, three In-
dians, bearing a white flag, came into camp, and
were taken into custody. These were soon fol-
lowed by five more, who came near the camp,
no doubt with the purpose of inviting an attack.
(Or, as Black Hawk said, to see what would be
done to the first three — Ed.) In this they suc-
ceeded and a party of Stillman's men imme-
diately started in pursuit, while others followed
as soon as they could mount, and soon three-
fourths of the command had joined in an ir-
regular chase across the prairie. The soldiers
overtook and killed two of the Indians, and
pursued the others to the edge of the forest. At
this juncture Black Hawk, with about forty of
his men. arose from an ambu.sh, and, with ter-
rific yells, charged on the assailants, who, in their
turn, retreated in hot haste followed by the in-
furiated savages. The fearful din caused by the
retreating soldiers and their pursuers caused a
stampede in the remainder of the forces of the
camp, and they all fled in an inglorious panic,
and, in spite of the efforts of Major Stillman
and others to rally them, the retreat was con-
tinued until they all reached the main force at
Dixon. Major Perkins and Captain .Xdams, of
Tazewell County, with about fifteen men. made
a stand in which thev somewhat checked the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

205

Indians, and thus saved the lives of many of the
fugitives, who would otherwise have fallen vic-
tims to their pursuers. This rally cost the brave
Adams his life, his body being found the next
day near the dead bodies of two of the savages,
whom he had undoubtedly slain before he him-
self was killed. As a result of the fight, eleven
whites and seven Indians were killed, besides
many wounded on both sides, (i)

"During the night of the battle, known since
as "Stillman's Run,' Governor Reynolds made a
requisition for 2.000 men to be in readiness for
future operations, while the utmost consternation
spread throughout the State and Nation. Exag-
gerated reoorts of the numbers of the Indians,
and the skill, ability, cunning and cruelty of
Black Hawk, added much to the general alarm.

"General Scott, with i.ooo United States
troops, was immediately ordered to the North-
west, to superintend the future operations of the
campaign.

"When the news of Stillman's defeat reached
the camp at Dixon, a council of war was held,
and it was determined to return immediately to
the battle field.

"The next morning, after obtaining ten o.xen
from Col. John Dixon, which were slaughtered
and issued to the men without bread or salt, the
whole force marched to the scene of the en-
counter. The dead were recovered, in most in-
stances frightfully mutilated, and the fragments
gathered together and buried ; but. although
Major Henry and his men eflfectually scoured
the surrounding country for miles in every direc-
tion, the enemy could not be found and the whole
force fell back to Dixon.

"The new levies, under the call of Gov. Rey-
nolds, were to meet, some on the 3d of June
at Beardstown, and the others on the loth of the
same month at Hennepin.

"The men first recruited now asked to be
discharged, but, the Governor appealing to their
patriotism, they agreed to remain from twelve
to fifteen days longer, and the companies under
Bailey (Covell's. McClure's. Pugh's and .\dams'),
with .■Millman's Battalion (Captain Eads". Barnes'
(■-) and Ball's companies), were organized into
a regiment known as the Fifth Regiment, or

il; The printed report shows but ten killed. James Doty
of Captain Eads Company was the eleventh man. as now ap-
pears from the orieinal " Muster out " roll.

... '-' '" Barnes' company were Aver>' Dallon and Fountain
W atkins, of Peoria County.

Whiteside's Brigade, under Col. James John-
son, and received into the service of the United
States, and one part ordered to Ottawa for the
defense of that place, while the others remained
at Dixon to guard the stores, around which
General Atkinson had caused embankments to
be thrown."

Governor Reynolds wrote an account of the
transaction which is slightly, but not in any ma-
terial particulars, different from the foregoing.
It is very evident that the whole force under
command of Stillman was badly stampeded by a
very few shouting and yelling Indians. That
the whole matter was brought about by the too
precipitate action of some of Eads' men is also
apparent. It has been publicly charged that they
were too freely supplied with rations of whisky,
but this is denied by the survivors. They also
deny that there was any violation of a flag of
truce, but in this the evidence seems to be over-
whelming. Black Hawk says that, after failing
to obtain the assistance of the Pottawatomies
and Winnebagoes. he was on the point of re-
tiring across the Mississippi River, but when he
learned of the approach of the volunteers, he
sent a flag of truce to invite them to a confer-
ence, and that this flag of truce was violated by
the killing of one of the bearers and holding the
other two prisoners. In this he is corroborated
by others, buc the accounts are so conflicting it is
deemed unwise to attempt a reconciliation.

Three days before this battle, on the nth day
of May, 1832, an order was made by the Judge
of the Peoria Circuit Court that, so many of
those persons summoned to attend at that term
as Grand Jurors who .vere absent as volunteers
in the service of their country, should be ex-
cused for not attending. The names of those
who had been summoned but did not report were
the following: Jesse Egman, John Hinkle,
William Dufield, John Eno, Thomas ilorrow,
Jefferson Taliafcro, and David Ridgeway. But
only three of them, namely, John Hinkle, David
Ridgeway and Jefferson Taliafero appear in the
roll of the company. Two other names are re-
ported as having been with the company —
Steven Carroll as flag-bearer, and Dr. Augustus
Langworthy as Surgeon, but the records fail to
show these names.

The day after the battle the remains of the
slain were gathered together and buried in a
trench ; but, being unmarked, the place of their

205

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

sepullure was for many years unknown. But on
Novcnaber 14th and i5tli, A. D. iSgg, Rev. Rob-
ert Newlands, of Stillman's Valley, Illinois, as-
sisted by J. A. Atwood, made an exploration of
the suppos(td place of burial in which they were
signally successful. An excavation was made
and the remains of one soldier at the head of the
trench were disinterred, which gave abundant
proof that this was the place where all the slain
had been buried. Soon afterwards an associa-
tion was formed called "The Battle Ground
Memorial Association," which became the pur-
chaser of the battle ground, and it is the inten-
tion of that association to erect a monument to
the memory of the dead. An appropriation for
that purpose was recently mads by the Legis-
lature.

After the battle the Peoria men in Captain
Eads' company were sent on scouting duty west
of Dixon to the Mississippi River, thence along
Henderson River and through Fulton County
back to Peoria, where the company was dis-
charged June 28, 1832.

The news of Stillman's defeat spread rapidly
over the country as far south as Peoria and
Fulton Counties. The people became terror-
stricken and began fleeing from their homes to
places of supposed safety. Mr. John Hamlin,
of Peoria, was then in Springfield and, hearing
the news of the defeat and of the flight of the
people, hastened home with all possible speed.
Arriving here he organized the people of Peoria
for defense and arrested their flight by placing
a guard at the ferry at the outlet of the lake,
thus preventing a stampede in that direction.
Measures vi'ere then taken to rebuild, or rather
repair. Old Fort Clark, and it was put in a con-
dition to afford some measure of defense, but
the scare was soon over. Black Hawk, with his
forces, instead of coming toward the Illinois
River, beat a retreat toward the Wisconsin, and
finally escaped across the Mississippi and the
war was at an end.

Our neighbors of the northern part of Ful-
ton County wer^ put into a still worse condi-
tion of trepidation and fright than the people of
Peoria County. Upon receiving news of Still-
man's defeat, it was reported that three young
men from the vicinity of Canton had been
killed and a number of others wounded. This
news not only cast a gloom over the com-
munity, but created such a feeling of insecurity
among the bravest of the settlers as to amount

to a panic. The excitement was intense. Stories
of slaughtered families, of burnt homes, of cap-
live women and children subjected to every
fiendish indignity, were current subjects of con-
versation at every gathering. Meetings were
called in every neighborhood and preparations
for defense or refuge begun. Block-houses and
stockade-forts were erected and scouts kept con-
stantly in the prairies to the northward, to warn
people of the approach of the Indians. One of
these forts, consisting of two block-houses and a
stockade, was built within the present limits
of the city of Canton.

One of these scouts w-as Peter Westerfield,
an old frontiersman, who was a Baptist preacher
and a man of undoubted courage and experience
on the frontier. Taking with him a French-
man, the two rode north until they reached a
point on the line between Farinington and Ellis-
ville. There they discovered what seemed to be
the trail of a recent party of Indians crossing
the country, but which, in fact, waS' the trail of
mounted white men going from Peoria westward.
Having satisfied themselves that this trail had
been made by a party of mounted Indians, they
started back towards Canton to alarm the citi-
zens and take measures for the safety of them-
selves and families. As they ncared Big Creek
north of the city they heard some shooting which
they concluded must be that of the Indians mur-
dering their neighbors, but which, in fact, was
produced by some hunters and some parties
shooting at a mark. Crossing the stream with
all possible speed, they raised the cry of "In-
juns!" "Injuns I" "The Injuns arc killing
Barnes's folks. Flee for your lives." On, on
toward the fort they rode, and still their cry
was, "Injuns! Injuns!" "The Injuns liave killed
everybody at Barnes's and Thurmans."

The whole country for miles around was then
put in a state of alarm. From neighborhood to
neighborhood, from grove to grove, as fast as
the fleetest horses could carry the news, the peo-
ple were aroused to the utmost activity of de-
fense. All w-as the wildest confusion. Men
sounded the dreaded alarm, wonien screamed,
small boys, paled with fright, crept into the
densest hazel thickets and fled for their lives.
"To the Fort I To the Fort !" was now the cry,
and soon the people were gathering, a pale,
nervous, affrighted throng, within the little wood-
en enclosure which was their only hope of safety.
Hastily constructed stockades were erected and

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

207

breastworks thrown up. but when they came to
look over the situation tlicy found they had bi't
few arms and little ammunition with which to
defend themselves. The woman seemed pos-
sessed of greater presence of mind than the men,
for, while the latter were so frightened they
could not pour the melted lead into their bullet
molds, a woman volunteered to do so and
made them without spilling a drop of the
melted metal. Other women prepared kettles of
boiling water with which to greet their savage
foes, while the men, at some places for want of
better arms, cut cords of clubs from the adjoin-
ing forests.

Looking back at it from this distance of time,
the whole performance seems like a farce ; but
to those who witnessed some of the exciting
scenes which occurred in and about Peoria at
the out-break of the late rebellion, it presents a
scene of sober reality. The scare, however, was
soon over, and when it was ascertained that there
was no danger from the approaching foe and
people had become restored to their sober senses,
they were able to look back with amusement
upon the ludicrous performance through which
they had passed.

During the latter portion of his life. Major
Stillman was a resident of Peoria County. He
died, .'\pril 15. 1861, leaving his widow surviv-
ing him, to whom he left, by will, all his prop-
erty, amounting to probably $4,500.

THE ME.XIC.\N \V.\R.

Actual hostilities between Mexico and the
United States began on the 24th day of April,
1846, when General Anita crossed the Rio
Grande, surrounded a small detachment of dra-
goons, killed some of them and captured the
rest. The news of this affair reached Washing-
ton in time for Congress to declare war on the
lith of May following, two important battles not
then htard of having been fought on the 8th and
Otii of the same inonth. The news of the out-
break of the war reached Peoria by way of New
Orleans about May 13th, ten days from that
city. The Southern States were then reported
to be ablaze with excitement; Louisiana had
called out four regiments, and had appropriated
$100,000, and one of the leading bankers had
offered to advance to the Government $500,000
to defray the expenses of the war. In the next
issue of "The Weekly Press," May 20, it was

announced that, on the preceding day, news
had been received through the "New York
Journal of Commerce" up to 3 :30 o'clock of the
llth inst., communicated by magnetic telegraph
from Washington, that Congress had, on that
day, declared that, by the act of the Mexican
Government, a state of war existed between the
two countries ; that the President had been auth-
orized to accept 50.000 volunteers, and that Con-
gress had appropriated $10,000,000 for the equip-
ment of the army — the volunteers to furnish
their own clothes and horses, but, when mustered
into the service, they should be equipped by the
Government. The same paper had news from
Point Isabel, the seat of war, up to April 24th,
communicated through the "New Orleans Delta"
of the gth of May (the same date as that of the
second battle, Resaca de U Palma.) Such were
the facilities for obtaining important news in the
year 1846. The ne.xt issue of "The Weekly
Press," May 27th, contained the President's Mes-
sage to Congress and his Proclamation declaring
war to exist between the two countries.

On May 25th, Governor Ford issued his
proclamation calling for three regiments of vol-
unteers from Illinois, each regiment to consist
of ten companies, each company to consist of
one Captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, four
corporals, two musicians and eighty men. But,
inasmuch as the State forces were then in a dis-
organized condition, it was ordered that the
commanders of regiments and odd battalions,
or, if there were none, the Sheriffs of the proper
counties, should order the regiments to convene
en masse, and enroll therefrom the number of
volunteers offering.

To understand this order, it seems proper to
mention that the State was then divided into
five military divisions numbered from one to
five — the fifth embracing substantially the whole
of the Military Tract — each having a Major Gen-
eral. Each division was subdivided into bri-
gades, the Second Brigade of the Fifth Division
consisting of the counties of Fulton, Peoria,
Henry and Knox, and had. or was supposed to
have, a Brigadier-General. Brigades were again
subdivided territorially into regiments, to be
designated by the superior officers as the popu-
lation subject to do military duty should de-
mand. It is inferred that Peoria County con-
stituted a regimental district. .\l a subsequent
date Governor Ford issued his General Order
No. 2, directing that non-commissioned officers
and privates should uniform themselves with

208

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

blue jeans or cassinet jacket or roundabout,
having standing collar and brass buttons, pants
of the same material and glazed (oilcloth?) cap;
the clothing to be paid for by the United StatC'?,
the persons furnishing clothing to be secured on
the pay-rolls of the volunteers.

This order appeared in "The Weekly Press"
of June 3d, and, in the same issue, there was an
order of Lincoln B. Knowlton. ".\djutant and
Judge Advocate of the Peoria Regiment of Illi-
nois Militia, per order of James B. McClellan,
Major General Fifth Division Illinois Militia, in
the absence of the commander of the regiment."
requesting every able-bodied man in Peoria
County liable to do military dut)', to appear at
the Court House Square, on Saturday, June 6th,
to see who were willing to volunteer — not over
one hundred men to be received. By a post-
script, it was announced that two companies
w-ould be received from the Second Brigade of
the Fifth Division. Strong appeals were made
to the patriotic citizens of Peoria County not to
be backward in furnishing her quota.

Unfortunately no account of this meeting has
been discovered, but it is a well authenticated
fact that a company of volunteers was raised at
Peoria, of which William L. May was Captain.
Materials for their uniforms were provided, and
the ladies of the city and those living in the
vicinity volunteered to make their pantaloons anil
roundabouts. When all was ready the company
assembled at Peoria, were duly organized and
drew their uniforms. The ladies presented them
a flag in front of the Court House, and a steam-
boat was at the wharf ready to transport them
to Alton, where they were expected to join a
regiment and be mustered in. But just then an
order was received from Governor Ford to
disband the company, as the quota of the State
was full. Of those who were thus ready lo
march on a perilous expedition at the call of
their country only the following names have been
ascertained : Allen L. Fahnestock, Kellogg
Barnes, John W. Williams, Riley L. Scott, Ne-
bat Hinkle, Alexander Dufield, — all recruited in
or near Timber Township by Mr. Fahnestock.
It has not been ascertained from whom the ma-
terials for the uniforms were procured, but the
names of the makers have been preserved i)i
an order made by the County Commissioners
Court at its September Term, 1846, when it was
"Ordered that the Treasurer pay the following
persons the sums set opposite their respective
names for services rendered in making round-

abouts and pantaloons for volunteers." Then
followed the names of twenty-seven ladies and
four gentlemen (probably tailors), with the
number and character of the garments made by
each, the amount allowed for each garment being
fifty cents, and the number of garments 50
round-abouts and 50 pairs of pantaloons.

Notwithstanding the disappointment suffered
by these men who so promptly came forward as
volunteers in their country's cause, it must.be set
down to their credit that it was no fault of theirs
that Peoria County was not more fully repre-
sented in the Illinois troops in our war with
Mexico. There was one. however, (DeWitt C.
Frazer) who, unwilling to take the chances of
the company from Peoria being accc[)ted, joined
a company recruited at Pekin, which was ac-
cepted and became Company C, in tlie Fourth
Regiment, commanded by Col. Edward D. Baker.

In the year 1874 it was found that a con-
siderable number of veterans of the Mexican
War were residing at and in the vicinity of
Peoria, and it was determined to organize them
into a permanent society. A meeting for this
purpose was held at the Court Hou.se on Sep-
tember 8th of that year, at which Samuel O.
White presided and DeWitt C. Frazer acted as
secretary. A State convention had been called
to meet at Bloomington on the 23d and 24th
days of the same month, and Harry Heinike,
Richard W. Burt. John Drury. Samuel O.
White, DeWitt C. Frazer, Thomas Shcppard and
Robert Sullivan were appointed delegates. A
resolution was adopted to organize a society for
further re-unions, for .social purposes and to con-
sider their claims upon the Government for pen-
sion.

A second meeting was held May i8th, 1876,
at which the name of "The Central Illinois Asso-
ciation of Veterans of the ]VIe.\ican War" was
chosen, a constitution was adopted, Samuel O.
White was elected President, DeWitt C. Frazer,
Recording Secretar)', J. W. McKenzie, Corre-
sponding Secretary, and R. W. Burt, Treasurer.
R. W. Gilliam, of Chillicothe, was chosen 10
represent the Association at a National Con-
vention to be held at Philadelphia.

.•\t the Centennial celebration at Peoria. July
4. 1876, the Mexican War Veterans took a prom-
inent part. Before the formation of the grand
procession of that day they met at the Chamber
of Commerce Building, where they were pre-
sented with an elegant United States flag in an
address by Mrs. Hattie Milliken, sister of the

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

209

Secretary, which was happily responded to by
Capt. R. W. Burt. They then joined the pro-
cession, being conveyed in a wagon drawn by
four horses beautifully decorated with American
and Mexican flags, mottoes and portraits.

But the most interesting event in the history
of the Association was a grand re-union held
at Peoria on the 23d day ot May, 1878, at which
Gen. James Shields, the principal guest, was re-
ceived by the citizens generally with becoming
civil and military honors. The exercises of the
day were held at Jefferson Park, where a wel-
coming address was made by Jlichael C. Quinn,
Esq., which was followed by an historic address
by General Leonard F. Ross, of Fulton County,
and this by one by General M. S. Barnes of Gales-
burg. Capt. R. W. Burt then introduced Gen-
eral Shields, who spoke briefly to the audience
then present, but, in the evening at Rouse's
Hall, he delivered a more extended address.

Since then meetings of the Association have

been held at irregular intervals, until the mem-
bers have become so much reduced by death
that the later meetings have assumed the char-
acter of social gatherings held at the residences
of the members, at which the memories of scenes
enacted on the tented field are kept alive. The
last of these social gatherings was held January
II, 1901, at the house of Hon. Julius S. Starr, by
invitation of Captain R. W. Burt, whose daugh-
ter, Mrs. Starr, entertained them with a dinner,
which was partaken of by eight of the survivors
of the Mexican War — all of them over seventy
years of age. Their names and ages are as fol-
lows: John Gragg, 70; John Daily, 73; Will-
iam Schroeder, 75 ; Thomas Sheppard, 77 ; Will-
iam Tamplin, 76: John M. Guill, 77; R. W.
Burt, 78; John Wertz, 83. After spending a
pleasant afternoon in relating their old army ex-
periences, their photographs were taken in a
body.

CHAPTBR X>

COUNTY OFFICERS.

Upon the opganizalion of Pike county, and
down to the time of the organization of Fulton
County, the following officers were commission-
ed: On February 12, 1821. Abram Becl< was
commissioned as Judge of Probate, but resigned
and was succeeded by Nicholas Hanson, who
held the office until February 15, 1823. At an
election, held April 2, 1821, Leonard Ross, John
Shaw and William Ward were elected County
Conunissioncrs, Bigelow C. Fcnton, Sheriff, and
Daniel Whiffle, Coroner. On August 5, 1822,
James M. Seeley, David Dalton and Ossian M.
Ross were elected Commissioners, Leonard Ross,
Sheriff, and Daniel Whiffle, Coroner.

Upon the organization of Fulton County,
Hugh R. Coulton was commissioned Judge of
Probate, February 15, 1823, and held his office
until the organization of Peoria County: John
Moffatt, David W. Barnes and Thomas R. Cov-
ell were elected County Commissioners, Abner
Eads, of Peoria, Sheriff, and William Clark,
Coroner. At the election of August 2. 1824,
James Gardner, James Barnes and David W.
Barnes were elected Commissioners, Ossian ^T.
Ross, Sheriff, and Joseph Moffatt, Coroner.
These all held their offices until the organizatio:i
of Peoria County.

A full list of the County Commissioners by
whom the affairs of the county were adminis-
tered under the first Constitution, having been
given in a preceding chapter, it will not be neces-
sary to repeat them here. The first officers to be
installed, other tlian those mentioned, were the
Clerk of the County Commissioners Court, the
Sheriff, Coroner, Judge of the Probate Court,
Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Treasurer.
Taking these up in this order, we find that Nor-
man Hyde was appointed first Clerk of the County
Commissioners Court, ]March 8, 1825. This office

was continued under the Constitution of 1R48. un-
der the name of County Clerk, the incumbent
being Clerk of the County Court and Clerk of •
the Board of Supervisors after that body suc-
ceeded to the administration of the affairs of the
County, and, although the Constitution of 1870
provides for the election of a Clerk of the Coun-
ty Court, as well as a County Clerk, yet, by
statute, these two offices are filled by the same
person. This office has, therefore, been a con-
tinuous one from the organization of the County,
although a part of the duties formerly belonging
to the office now devolve upon the Clerk of the
Probate Court. It is a remarkable fact that, in
three-quarters of a century, it has had only
twelve incumbents. The following is the list
with tlic date of service of each:

CLERKS OF THE COUNTY COM MIS.SIONEKS COL'KT .\NU
COUNTY CLERKS.

Norman Hyde, March 8th to June. . . . 1825

John Dixon 1825-1S30

Stephen Stillman (resigned) 1830-1831

Isaac Waters 1831-1835

WuL Mitchell (died in office) 1835-1849

Ralph Hamlin (to fill vacancy) 1849

Charles Kettelle 1849-1865

John D. McClure 1865-1882

James E. Pillsbury 1882-1890

James E. Walsh 1890-1894

Charles A. Rudcl (resigned) 1894-1900

John A. West (to fill vacancy) 1900

Lucas Butts hjoo

At the same election at which the first Board
of County Commissioners was elected, Samuel
Fulton was elected the first Sheriff of Peoria
County. This office has also been continuous

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY,

21 I

from the organization of the County. TIic fol-
lowing is a Ust of the incumhents :

Samuel FultoTi 1825-18^8

Orin Hamlin ; 1828- 1830

Henry B. Stillman 1830-1832

John W. Caldwell 1832-1834

William Compher (resigned) 1834-1835

Thomas Bryant (elected Oct. 5, 1835) 1835-1840

Christopher Orr 1840-1842

Smith Frye 1842-1846

William Compher (vacated office,

leaving deputy in charge) 1846-1850

Clark Cleveland (Deputy) 1850

James L. Riggs 1850-1852

Leonard B. Cornwell 1852-1854

David D. Irons 1854-1856

Francis W. Smith 1856-1858

John Bryner 1858-1860

James Stewart ; 1860-1862

J. A. J. Murray 1862-1864

deorge C. McFadden 1864-1866

Frank- Hitchcock 1866-1868

Samuel L. Gill 1868-1870

Frank Hitchcock 1870-1880

Samuel L. Gill 1880-1882

Cyrus L. Berry 1882-1886

Warren Noel 1886-1890

Cyrus L. Berry 1890-1894

Charles E. Johnston 1894-189S

John W. Kimscy 1898

CORONERS.

William E. Phillips Mar. 7. 1825-1826

Henry Necley Aug. 7. 1826-1828

Resolved Cleveland Aug. 4. 1828-1832

William A. Stewart Aug. 6, 1832-1S36

John Caldwell Aug. 1. 1836-1837

Edward F. Kowland (special

election) Feb. 13, 1837-1838

Jesse Miles Aug. 6, 1838-1840

James Mossman 1840-1842

Chester Hamlin 1842-1844

Jeremiah Williams 1844-1848

John C. Heyle 1S48-1850

Charles Kimbcl 1850-1852

Ephraim Hinnian 1852-1856

Milton McCormick 1856-1858

John N. Niglas 1858- 1860

Charles Feinse 1860-1862

Thomas H. AnlclitY 1862-1864

Willis B. Goodwin.

Philip Eichorn

Willis B. Goodwin.
Michael M. Powell.
John Thomp.son . . .

James Bennett

Henry Hoeffer

Samuel Harper ....

1864-1868
1868-1870
1870- 1876
1876-1882
1882-1884
1884-1892
1892-1896
1896

JUDGES OF THE PROB.\TE COURT AND PROBATE JUS-
TICES OF THE PE.\CE.

Norman Hyde (died in office), June 4, 1825, to

July. 1832.
Andrew M. Hunt. Nov. 10, 1832, to July, 1837.
George B. Parker (P. J. P.) (Office of Judge

aliolished). .Aug., 1837, to Aug.. 1839.
Edward Dickinson, (P. J. P.) Aug., 1839, to

Aug.. 1843.
William H. Fessenden. (P. J. P.). Aug., 1843,

to Aug., 1847.
Thomas Bryant, (P. J. P.), .\ug., 1847. to Nov.,

1849,

At this point the office of Probate Justice of
the Peace was abolished and jurisd'xtion in
probate matters was conferred upon the County
Courts created by the new Con.stitution. The
Constitution of 1870. provided for the reorgan-
ization of Probate Courts in counties having
70.000 population. Peoria County having, in i8qo.
attained the requisite population, the office of
Judge of tiic Probate Court was revived, the
following being the list of incumbents since that
period :

Leslie D. Puterbaugh (resigned).... 1890-1897
Joseph W. Maple (to fill vacancy).. 1897-1898
Mark M, Bassett 1898

l'R0B.\TE n.ERKS.

George M. Gibbons 1890-1S94

Fitch C. Cook 1894-1898

Charles A. Roberts 1898

COUNTY JUDGES.

Thomas Bryant (with two assistants

for county business until 1850)... 1849-1857

Wellington Loucks 1857-1861

John C. Folliott 1861-1865

John C. Yates 1865- 1882

Lawrence W. James (resigned) 1882-1890

Israel C. Pinkney 1890

Samuel D. Wead 1890-1894

Robert 11. I.ovett 1894

212

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.

Prior to the ycnr 1853 Peoria County lia'l
formed part of a much hirger Judicial Circuit
than after that time. 1 he Sixteenth Judicial
Circuit vas erected by act of the Legislature at
its session of 1853. It embraced the counties
of Peoria and Stark, which, thereafter until the
years 1877, constituted one circuit. Onslow Peters,
of Peoria, was the first Judge of the new Circuit.
He opened Court for the first time in Peoria
on the second Monday in May, 1853. He was
re-elected at the regular election in June, 1855,
but died in Washington City on February 28,
1856.

Jacob Gale was elected to fill the vacancy oc-
casioned by the death of Judge Peters, but. after
serving a few months, he was succeeded by
Elihu N. Powell in November of the same year.

Judge Powell served until the end of the
term and was succeeded, at the June election
in 1861, by Amos Lee Merriman. Judge Merri-
man resigned in the latter part of the year 1863,
and was succeeded by Marion Williamson, who
filled out the remainder of the term.

Sabin D. Putcrbaugh was elected at the reg-
ular election in June, 1867, and held the office
until March, 1873, when he also resigned. There
being less than one year left of the unexpired
term, the vacancy was filled by the appointment
of Henry B. Hopkins. Judge Hopkins served
until the regular election in the month of June
following, when he was succeeded by Joseph W.
Cochran.

At the same election John Burns, of Lacon,
was elected Judge of the adjoining Circuit, com-
posed of the counties of Tazewell, Woodford,
Marshall and Putnam. By act of the Legisla-
ture of 1877 these two circuits were united and
provision was made for an additional Judge. Da-
vid McCulloch was elected to that office, and, since
then, three Judges, under arrangements made
among themselves, have held the Circuit Court.

In 1879 Judges Burns and McCulloch were
re-elected and Xinian M. Laws succeeded Judge
Cochran.

At the election of 1885 Thomas M. Shaw, of
Marshall County. Nathaniel W. Green, of Taze-
well County, and Samuel S. Page, of Peoria
County, were elected. Judge Page resigned in
1890. and was succeeded for the remainder of
the term by Lawrence W. James of Peoria.

.\t the election in June. 1891. Judges Shaw
and Green were re-elected, and Nicholas E.

Worthington. of Peoria, succeeded Judge James.

.At the election in June. 1897, Judges Shaw*
and Worthington were re-elected and Leslie D.
Puterbaugh, son of Hon. Sabin D. Puterbaugh,
succeeded Judge Green.

Judge Thomas Shaw, after faithful service of
nearly sixteen years, died on April 15th. 1901,
and, at a special election held in the month of
.August following. Theodore N. Green, son of
Hon. Nathaniel W. Green, was elected to fill the
vacancy.

The bench is now composed of Nicholas E.
Worthington and Leslie D. Puterbaugh, of Peoria
County, and Theodore N. Green, of Tazewell
County.

ST.\TE"s ATTORNEYS.

Prior to the year 1S53. it does not appear
that Peoria had any resident State's Attorney.
After the formation of the Sixteenth Circuit,
and until 1870. the State's Attorney was elected
for the entire circuit. Since the adoption of the
new Constitution of that year, each county has
elected its own. The following is the list of
State's .Attorneys from 1853 unt'l the present
time, all of whom have resided in Peoria:

Elbridge G. Johnson 1853- 1856

Alexander McCoy 1856-1864

Charles P. Taggart (resigned second

term) 1864-1867

George Puterbaugh 1867- 1872

William Kellogg 1872-1880

.Alva Loucks 1880-1883

John M. Niehaus 1883-1892

Richard J. Cooney 1892-1896

John Dailey 1896-1900

William V. Tcft 1900

CIRCUIT CLERKS.

John Dixon 1825- 1S30

Stephen Stillman 1830-1831

Isaac Waters 1831-1835

Lewis Bigelow 1835-1839

William Mitchell 1839-1845

Jacob Gale 1845- 1856

Enoch P. Sloan 1856-1864

Thomas Mooney 1864-1868

George A. Wilson 1868-1876

John A. West 1876-1880

James E. Walsh 1880-1888

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

213

Francis G. Minor 1888- 1892

James E. Pillsbury 1892-1896

Tliaddeus S. Simpson 1896

COUNTY TREASURERS.

Aaron Hawley March 8,

George Sharp March 14,

Norman Hyde April,

Simon Crozier June,

John Hamhn

Henry P. Stillman

Isaac Waters

Asahel Hale

Rudolphus Rouse

Ralph Hamlin

Joseph C. Fuller

Amos Stevens

Charles Kettelle

William M. Dodge

Ralph Hamlin

John A. McCoy

Joseph Ladd

Isaac Brown

Allen L. Fahnestock

Thomas A. Shaver

Edward C. Silliman

Isaac Taylor

Frederick D. Weinette...

Henry H. Forsj'the

Charles Jaeger

Adolph H Barnewolt....
Jacob F. Knupp

827

827-1828

828-1829

S29-1830

830-1832

832-1837

837-1838

838-1839

839

839-1841

841-1843

843-1845

845-1851

851-1855

855-1859

859-1865

865-1867

867-1869

869-1871

871-1882

882-1886

886-1890

890-1894

894-1898

898

SCHOOL COMMISSIOXERS AXD SUPERIXTEXDEXTS OF
SCHOOLS

Jeriel Root 1831-March, 1833

Andrew M. Hunt (resigned) 1833-June, 1837

Charles Kettelle (resigned) 1837-June, 1845

Ezra G. Sanger 1845-1847

Clark B. Stebbins 1848-1851

Ephraim Hinman 1851-1855

David McCulloch 1855-1861

Charles P. Taggart 1861-1863

William G. andall (resigned) 1863-1865
N. E. Worthington (name of

office changed) 1865-1873

Mary E. Whitesides 1873-1877

James E. Pillsbury 1877-1882

Mary Whitesides Emery 1882-1890

Mollie O'Brien 1890-1894

Joseph L. Robertson 1894

COUXTY SURVEYORS.

Norman Hyde 1832

Charles Ballancc 1832

Thomas Phillips 1835-1839

George C. McFadden 1839-1849

Henry W. McFadden 1849-1853

Daniel B. Allen 1853-1857

Samuel Farmer 1857-1859

Richard Russell 1859-1861

Daniel B. Allen 1861-1865

Luther F. Nash 1865-1867

Charles Spaulding 1867-1869

.'\rthur T. Birkett 1869-1875

Robert Will 1875-1876

Daniel B. Allen 1876-1896

Leander King 1896-1897

Charles H. Dunn 1897

CHAPTBR XXXII

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES— PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY— WEALTH
—POPULATION AND POPULAR VOTE.

The great source of wealth to the people of
Peoria County lies in its agricultural products.
As already observed, the majority of the first
settlers were farmers, who had come to Illinois
to lay the foundations of their fortunes by taking
up and improving the fertile lands with which
the State so plentifully abounded. For sonic
years, however, they had to contend against the
one great hindrance to their prosperity, their re-
moteness from a suitable market. This rendered
it possible for local dealers and merchants to
practice extortion upon them by combinations to
keep up the prices of their own commodities,
while forcing the farmers to take the very low-
est prices for the products of the farm.

To 'obtain relief from such impositions, at-
tempts were made by the farmers to form com-
binations among themselves, which to us seem
to partake somewhat of the nature of modern
trusts, but which in reality were intended to
counteract other combinations formed against
their interests. An instance of this kind is found
in "The Farmers' Exporting Company." a cor-
poration chartered by the Legislature, February
23. 1841, at the head of which were Samuel T.
AIcKean. Joel Hicks, Nathaniel Chapin, William
Moffitt and Edwin S. Jones. It was to have a
capital stock of $20,000, divided into shares of
$25 each, of which no one person could own
more than one hundred shares. It was granted
power to purchase and export any of the products
of the country and to sell the same, to import
goods and to sell or otherwise dispose of them,
to construct boats, ware-houses and other build-
ings, and to do all other things necessarily con-
nected with the produce business. It was pro-
vided with all the officers, and endowed with all
the powers, necessary for the orderly transac-
tion of its business, and had power to increase
its capital stock to $50,000. It was to be located
on La Salle Prairie, and, when once located, it
could not be changed to any other point without
the consent of a majority of the stockholders

expressed at a regular meeting. Whether or not
this project ever took definite form by the or-
ganization of the company has not been ascer-
tained. But the fact that the charter was asked
for and granted, is indicative of one of the de-
mands of the times.

Two years later, at a place a few miles west
of Peoria, a meeting of farmers was held at
which resolutions were adopted expressing, m
the strongest terms, their indignation at the
manner in which they were being treated by the
merchants. Those who attended that meeting
were strongly in favor of organizing a combina-
tion among themselves of a nature which, in
more modern times, has taken form in "Tlie
Grange."

The farmers of Peoria County also took
steps at an early day looking to the further-
ance of their own interests by organizing an ag-
ricultural society. Competition was stimulated
by offering premiums, not only for the best
products of the soil, but for the best specimens
of domestic animals, and also for the best
samples of home manufactured commodities.
The Peoria County Agricultural Society was
formed in the year 1841 with Smith Dunlap,
President, John C. Flanagan, Recording Secre-
tary, Amos Stevens, Corresponding Secretary,
and Peter Sweat, Treasurer ; the number of mem-
bers being 15. It held its third fair in the year
1843, the premium list of which is still to be
seen. The number of members at that time was
300. The fair was to be held at Kickapoo-
Town in the month of October, and, in order
that all might have a good opportunity to pre-
pare for the competition, the announcement of
the proposed premiums was published in April.
The premium for the best acre of wheat or corn
was to be $5.00 ; for the best oats and barley,
$3.00 ; for the best sample of cheese or butter,
$2.00: for the best stallion, $5.00; for the best
bull, $3.00; for the best l)oar, $2.00; .other
horses, neat cattle and hogs to receive lower

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

215

premiums or certificates of excellence according
to grade. In the department of home manu-
factures, tlie best specimen of 10 yards of sucker
jeans or flannel was to receive $4.00, and a like
sample of iinsey woolsey, $3.00 ; the best one
pound sample of flax-thread, or of colored wool-
en yarn, was to receive $2.00; the best one-
quarter pound of sewing silk, $4.00; the best
pieced quilt or woolen coverlet, $4.00; the best
uoolen hose, $2.00; the best quick-set hedge,
$10.00: the best 25 lbs. sugar, made from corn
stalks, $10.00. Premiums of not exceeding $1.00
w^ere to be paid in one year's subscription to the
'"Prairie Farmer" ; of not exceeding $2.00 in
one year's subscription and one back volume of
said publication : of $3.00 in one year's sub-
scription and two back volumes, but if over
$3.00. one year's subscription, two back volumes
and the balance in cash.

Of the success attending this fair no in-
formation has been obtained. The newspapers
were then too full of discussions upon political
subjects, such as the tarif?, the United States
Bank, the prospects of Presidential candidates,
Clay. Webster, Silas Wright, Martin Van Bur-
en, James Buchanan and others of equal note,
to give much attention to a county fair, held
twelve miles from the county-seat. We have
every reason, however, to believe it was held
according to appointment, for only a few months
later William M. Nurse & Sons, in advertis-
ing their celebrated fanning-mills, inform us they
had had diplomas awarded them at the agri-
cultural fairs held at Peoria and Ottawa.

The Society held its third annual meeting at the
Court House on October 23, 1843. at which
time William J. Phelps was elected President ;
John Armstrong and Samuel T. McKean, Vice-
Presidents ; John C. Flanagan. Recording Sec-
retary; Thomas N. Wells, Corresponding Sec-
retary, and the following named Directors :
Daniel Hollis, John T. Egleston. Amos Stev-
ens. James Higgins, F. S. Kellogg. Jeriel Root.
Aaron Oakford, Daniel Sanborn, Edson Hark-
ness, Leonard Blood, Therrygood Smith and
Andrew M. Hunt. It was resolved that stated
meetings should be held on the first Monday
of the March term and on the first Tuesday of
the September term of the County Commis-
sioner's Court.

Unfortunately no records of the transactions
of this society have been found, and it is not
known to the writer for how many years it kept
up a continuous existence. There appears, how-

ever, to have been a society in the year 1854,
having the same name, with Dr. Charles M.
Buck as President, E. G. Johnson and A. B.
Chambers, Vice Presidents ; Thomas J. Pickett,
Corresponding Secretary, and Isaac Underbill,
Treasurer. About this time the Board of Super-
visors began to take steps to purchase a location
for county fairs, which finally resulted in the
purchase, on March i, 1855, of 20 acres of the
ground now known as Taole Grove .\ddition
to the City of Peoria, and, on October 6, 1856,
in the purchase of 2.25 acres adjoining the same.
These were fitted up as elsewhere described, and
fairs were held there for several years.

In the year 1855, the society was re-organized
under the name of the "Peoria County .Vgricul-
tural and Mechanical Society," under which name
it continued to hold fairs until about the year
1872. In 1857 the State Fair took the place of
the County Fair. During the war, on account
of military occupancy of the grounds and the
damage thereby done to the property, no fairs
were held. From fragmentary reports rendered
to the State Board of -Xgriculturc. it appears that
successful fairs were held in 1S67 and 1868. and
subsequently until 1872. .•Kt the fair of 1870 there
were 1.200 entries and $4,230 paid in premiums ; in
1871, $7,000 were paid in premiums. In 1872 the
Society had 300 members, and 200 volumes in its
library. A fair was held October ist to 4th of that
year, at which there were 1.302 entries, and $3.9^)0
paid in premiums. At this time the property
was valued at $12,000.

On May 4. 1871. the Board of Supervisors
had leased the grounds to the society for a period
of 99 years upon a nominal rental of $1.00 per
year, and as a further consideration, it was to
hold one County Fair annually, or a State Fair,
except in case of civil war, pestilence or famine
or other cause rendering it impracticable or im-
possible. The fair grounds, on account of their
remoteness from railroad stations, the difficulty
of access and the scarcity of water, having been
found unsuitable for State Fairs, a corporation
called the "Peoria Fair Association" was formed
in the early part of the year 1873, having in
view the procurement of new grounds suitable
for fair purposes. It had a capital stock of $50,-
000. and. soon after its organization, proceeded
to purchase a tract of land of irregular shape
lying on the easterly side of the Rock Island &
Peoria Railroad.in sections 34 and 35 Richwoods,
containing about 35 acres, and fitted the
same up for the accommodation of the State

2l6

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Fair, as well as for county fairs. State Fairs
were held there in the years 1873 and 1874. In
1876 the corporation reported the whole of its
stock as having hcen issued and then held hy
eighteen shareholders, that it had real estate
valued at $75,000 and 180 volumes in its library.
At the fair held that year there were 1.849 en-
tries, and $5,935 paid in premiums, besides $3,200
paid on buildings and other improvements. Other
fairs are reported as follows: 1877, September
12-14 — 1,162 entries, $3,301 paid in premiums;
1878 — no report as to entries, gate receipts, $4,-
584. other receipts. $1,670, premiums paid. $3,177,
expended on grounds. $1,200; 1879 — gate receipts,
$8,380. other receipts $5,060, paid in premiums
$10,306. About this time the county fairs were
superseded by local fairs held at Dunlap, Elm-
wood, French Grove and other places, under the
auspices of "The Patrons of Husbandry."

Successful State Fairs were held at Peoria
at which premiums were paid as follows: At
the Old Fair Ground in 1857, premiums, $8,104;
1862, paid on the field trials, $715 — no fair having
been held on account of military occupation ; at
the new grounds called Jefferson Park, in 1873,
premiums. $10,679; >" 1874, premiums, $12,541; in
1881, premiums. $15,563; in 1882. premiums. $15.-
668; in 1890. premiums. $19,793; i'l 1891, prem-
iums. $22,600; in 1S92. premiums. $21,507. It
stands to the credit of Peoria County that, .-xt
each and every one of these fairs, the State
Department came out with a surplus of receipts
over expenditures. Notwithstanding this fact,
the Legislature has seen fit to locate the State
Fair permanently at the State Capital, where it
will, in all probability, have to be aided by ap-
propriations from the State Treasury.

About the year 1873 a new movement called
"The Patrons of Husbandry" was inaugurated
throughout the country. It consists of a national
organization, subordinate State organizations,
county organizations and local organizations act-
ing in concert, each lower one owing allegiance
to the higher and called "Granges." In 1873
there were seven local or sub-granges organized
in Peoria County ; in 1874 twelve, and later eight,
making twenty-seven in all. In 1874. the County
Grange was organized and still maintains its ex-
istence. It became incorporated for business
purposes. March 12, 1875. For sometime its meet-
ings were held at Peoria, but in a few years
they were changed, and since then have been
lield with the living sub-granges. The principal
duly of the County Grange has been to look

after the welfare of the sub-granges, especially
their co-operative interests; in organizing and
conducting, for some years, a grange co-operative
store at Peoria; in organizing the County Farm
crs' Institute; in organizing an insurance com-
pany at Aha ; in establishing and conducting an
annual fair at Dunlap; in causing injunctions to
be issued to prevent illegal use of county money,
and in organizing united efforts to influence legis-
lation in favor of industrial interests.

Of the original twenty-seven sub-granges, of
which there was at least one in every township,
only nine survive, namely: Orange, Dunlap,
Radnor, Hallock, Alta, Salem, Princevillc and
Charter Oak. The work of the sub-grange is
mainly social, educational and co-operative, the
latter consisting in part of the making up of co-
operative orders for goods for the supply of its
members. Frequent meetings being held, at
which measures of public or local importance are
discussed, the grange has become the farmers'
school, at which its young people are instructed
not only in regard to matters affecting the peo-
ple, but also in the rules of parliamentary law
by which business may be transacted in an or-
derly manner. It is estimated that, since the time
of their organization. Orange Grange has held at
least 1,000 and Dunlap Grange 750 meetings.

These organizations have entirely superseded
the old time agricultural societies with their an-
nual county fair.s, and have been instrumental in
111 inging organized efforts more closely in touch
with the people, an object foreshadowed in the
"Farmers' Exporting Association" of 1841, and
in the resolutions of the public meetings in 1843
before alluded to.

ACRICLLTUR.\L PRODLXTS.

Of the progress made in agricultural industry
in Peoria County for the last half century, much
can be learned from the following table, which
has been compiled from the census of the United
States, in decennial periods:

18.W

1860 1870

1880

1890

Indi-inCorn !bu.).

1.013,S«1 •.

l.im.W2 (160.3-Jt

I.10!',.589 3,74J..5n7

Wlieal

■ 1 as. 1.57

3>3.9m 124.ini

I47.i:i8

•►>l.fi09

Oats

138.718

203.-203 XH.mi

7:i:i.4ii7

l.a58.083

Rvc.

8-2

»1,0:W 99..W2

las.srn

1.5.860

Harle.v

8Sli

22.J0i l0.2-'8

3.50

i.4^ai

Buckwheat

■2.nX7

7..595 731

3.:^-7

168

Potatoes.

38.-J-2SI

n>.xv) rft8.n:w

145 «:«

178.6.'iO

Sweet Potatoes

784

2.1B3 3.KW

■.'.748

94^3

Hay itonsl.

12..5.53

29.4fi5 -".OSS

■•4.638

69,.580

Butter lbs).

OO.Stll

393.948 •i54.48>

676.001!

884.941)

Cheese

19.5<X1

lS.n;« 4.5i5

6.5.016

3.063

Orchard Product

(1) S11.351

S21.307 S38.7r,<)

535 565

Wool libs ).

40.-«n

8.400 8.485

46.677

4ij76'

{1' Including small fruits.

l^jyiylr^'T^^T^ ^ . /S ^<^-^ /u-xUZ.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

217

Horses.

Mules and Asses.
Neat Cattle.
Swine.
Sheep.

Market Garden,
Clover Seed. (bu.J
Grass Seed, "
Sorghum igals.)
Honey ;ibs. I.
Barn yard poultry.
Eeas (doz.).

18.T0

(.28.5

12.24.T

2.1.2.57

16,837

1870
8,83B

l.').93.T

3.5.386

6.7(iO

S14.6S8 SUI.012

204

1860

9.211

326

19,266

20,62.5

:,RI9

3,883
12,7(it
21..S39

64
6.3->8
4.024

1880

13,.58.5

.5.54

28.939

70.297

6.728

5*4.789

2,636

495

16.271

11,512

144.841

1890

17.265

421

36.368

88.823

6.680

543.082

1.5,736

1.747

4.476

0:i..59O

281.376

486.808 747.191

ASSESSED VALUATION'S OF PROPERTY.

The increase in the assessed vahie of prop-
erty is shown by the following table compiled
from the returns made by local assessors :

1860 1870 1880 1889(1 > 1900(2

Lands, 53,565,4.56 53,815,887 56,773.386 SO.129.565 54.821,884
City and

Town lots 3,096,9-23 4,88.5,786 5.114,477 6,863,168 8,13.5.5&5
Rail Road

property. 333,020 .541,306 772.315 1.71.5,384

Personal, 1,9,58,221 2,.536..503 2.887.976 2.829.474 3.007.349

Totals. 58,9.53.620 511,779,542 515,548.224 S17.5.36..591 515,964,818
Total
taxes
levied. 1.37.837 344.598 537.398

I) The fi;;ures for 1890 could not be collected without great
labor.

i2 For 19()0 the fi;:ures show one-fifth of actual value. This
would give a total valuation of 579.824, (j90. For previous years
it would range from, say one'third in 1860. to one-fifth in 1889.
For 1901 the total valuation is S89,.599.945. one-fifth of which
would he 517,919,809.

VALUATIONS EV TOWNSHIPS.

The relative wealth of the several townships
in 1851, according to the assessors' returns, and
in 1890 according to the one-fifth valuation, as
equalized by the Board of Review, is shown by
the following table:

Assessed V

ALUE.

EyUALIZED \

ah;es by

Board or

Review. 1900.

Townships

ia5i.

Lands.

Lots.

Person-
al.

Totals.

Akron

SSJ.Ol?

S 34-1.830

S 1.8S5

S 53,137

5 399.822

Biiiulicld

11 3, .520

3.59.300 20.3.55

67,785

447,410

Chilhcothe. ..

122.715

■*7.538 118.876

80,524

296,938

Elnuvood

12.5.662

294.385 lt9.42!l

75,6:10

519.444

Hallock

8(i.l42

200.2(il

7.782

35,711

243.7.54

Mollis

51,842

158.671

3,407

21,127

183.205

Jubilee

77,265

1.57,295

224

:W,222

187.741

Kirkapoo

106.395

269,965

.5..5.55

41.923

317.445

Limestone

97. W8

393,467

42,684

4:16.151

Logan

86,4-16

274,490

1.5.093

70,792

:160.375

Medina

1 16.610

190,714

8.iao

:i5,:!61

234.705

Millbrook....

76.452

279.445

8.2:12

6:1,861

:i51.511

Peoria

1.251.011

140,446 7.231.072

2,300. 42!)

9. 678, .5:18

Princeville.. .

89.494

281.232, 46.360

92,:i:t«

119,928

Radnor

113,743

254,.570 21.881

72,282

348.7:43

Richwoods.. .

12.5.091

458.012 395.1.50

6:1,196

916.158

Rosefield

87,367

162,741 , . 2,1576

31,977

2l)0.:i94

Timber

97,110

193,314 18„508

:!9.413

251.2;t5

Trivoli

1.56,709

278, 003 i 4,979

45,947

:i.2«7.:«3

328.929

Total?

.3.067,052

4,7»4.639!8,0«0,644

16.1-22.676

POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS.

The population of Peoria County by Town-
ships, according to the United States Census, has
been as follows :

I860. 1870. 1880. 1890. 1900.

City of Peoria. 14.015 2-2.849 -29.259 41.0-24 .56.100
Townships

Akron. 1.107 1.185 1.216 1.0-23 1.009

Brimfield. 1.6(i7 1..547 1.843 1..589 1.4-26

Chillicothe. 1,i:i3 1.486 l.:i57 -2.451 -2..585

Elmwood. 1,977 2,410 SA'M) 2.451 -2.330

Hallock. l.OIW 1.094 1.085 1.084 1.1.50

HoUis. 716 980 1.160 1.-2(>5 l.:«8

Jubilee. 802 m' 872 785 744

Kickapoo. l.-2(i5 1.440 1,417 1,6.18 1.611

Limestone. 1.66:! 2.:f02 2..501 3,IM6 3,461

Logan, l.:i55 1,065 1.046 1.3:« 1.4-24

Medina. 930 905 7->3 7:« 760

Millbrook, 1,024 1,075 1,16:! 966 9-2St

Peoria, 280 794 9$I2 2,2:!0 1.478

Princeville. 1.-2:14 l.:!:i5 1.682 1.663 1.717

Radnor. 1.109 918 1.197 1.096 1.247

Richw-oods. 997 l.-2:!9 1.-282 -2.244 5.171

Rosefield. 1.090 1.108 l.-J-.M 1.116 1.1.50

Timber. I,5:i0 1,707 1,774 1,.530 1.913

Trivoli. 1.617 1,2:!4 l.i:!0 1.101 1.015

Totals for County. 36.601 47.540 .55.a55 70.378 88.608

POPULAR VOTE.

The popular vote for President of the United
States from 1856 to 1900, inclusive, the political
complexion of the county, and the periods of the
rise and fall of parties, are shown by this table.

"c!

•a
c
a

a
_o

.'£

.-
.2

a
'0

(fi

18.52

3613(

18.56 21.59

•2082

3»U-i)

«m

1860; ;!789(3)

3539

40(4)

TSfiR

1861! 3739

3.5:!6
4212

7273

1868: 4-252

»t6(

1872' :!963

:tH.59

7fi2-2

1876 .5443

4B65

9.5

1(W0S

1880; 6705

510n

720

lISiK)

1884 6737

6fl:!2

4:b

100

liBtH

18881 7476

6677

215115

14483

1892| 8053

7-256

....!.... 321

ISilU

1896| 10615(5)

9012

ia5|....;26(6)

lWi98

UHXIi 9433

10700

■299!. ...iis

I 5

'2063.1

fl) Whig. Democrat and Free Soil vote. ('^ Fillmore.
(31 Douclasand BrcckcnridKe. iV Bell. (5i I'nion of Demo-
crats and Poinilists with 129 Gold Democrats added. A) Mid-
dle of the Road Populists.

CHAPTER X>

:iii.

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL HISTORY.

(Prefatory Note by the Editor.). The con-
tents of tliis chapter are derived largely from
the "History of Peoria County," published by
Johnson & Company in the year 1880. It may
be proper to state, however, that scientific re-
search has since then been diligently prosecut-.-d
by members of "The Peoria Scientific Associa-
tion." to whom the editor of that work was large-
ly indebted for the matter there presented.

That portion appearing under the sub-title,
"Coal Measures," was prepared by William Gif-
ford, of Radnor Township, who, during a long
life, had devoted his leisure moments to the
study of his favorite science. Geology. He had
collected a large number of rare specimens in
Mineralogy, as well as in Geology, which he turn-
ed over to the A.ssociation.

That portion appearing under tlic sub-titU',
"Economical Geology." is taken from "The
Geological Survey of Illinois," Vol. V, pp. 249-

251-

The sub-title, "Flora." was prepared by James
T. Stewart, M. D., who carefully revised the
same for this work, a few weeks before his
death. On that account, as well as for its in-
trinsic merit, it ought to be highly prized as an
historical relic.

That portion appearing under the sub-title.
"Fauna," was prepared by Frederick Brendel,
M. D., under whose experienced eye the same
has been revised for this work, and many cor-
rections in orthography have been made.

The Editor desires to express his high appre-
ciation of the scientific value of these articles.

PHYSIC.VL GE0GR.\PHY.

"The physicial geography of Peoria County is
very simple. It is situated about seventy-five
miles north of the center of the State and is
bounded on the north by Stark and Marshall

Counties; on the east by the Illinois River, on
the south by the Illinois River and Fulton Coun-
ty and on the west by Fulton and Knox Counties.
It embraces an area of fourteen full townships
and seven fractional townships bordering on the
Illinois River, or about six hundred and thirty
square miles. The Illinois River extends about
fifty miles along its eastern and south-eastern
borders. Kickapoo creek and its several af-
fluents traverse the central part of the county,
and drain the northern and southern portions.
Spoon River intersects the northwestern town-
ships for a distance of ten or twelve miles.

"The surface of the county was originally
nearly equally divided into timber and prairie.
The prairies are usually small, the most exten-
sive ones being those in the western and north-
ern portions of the county and extending over
the highest lands between the water courses.
There is also a narrow strip of prairie extending
along the river from the north-east corner of the
county to the outlet of the Kickapoo, having a
width varying from one to three miles. This
belt of prairie covers a sandy terrace below the
river bluflfs. and is elevated from thirty to fifty
feet above low water level."

"The cretaceous and tertiary periods are not
represented in this or adjacent counties. They
were probably lost by denudation, together with
some of the upper coal veins, during the long
and turbulent period.

"The four divisions of the Quaternary are well
defined. They rest directly on the upper carbonif-
erous, a coal measure. The alluvial deposits are
confined chiefly to the right bank of the Illinois
River, forming a terrace of about twenty-four
square miles, called LaSalle prairie, one of the
best corn-producing sections of Illinois.

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

219

COAL MEASURES.

"The great geological feature of Peoria Coun-
ty consists in its coal measures, which are co-
extensive with its borders. Only two veins (four
and si.x) are worked to any extent. Coal from
vein four is brought to the surface by horizontal
tunnels at an expense of one cent per bushel,
and half a cent in localities where it can be
stripped. At no place in Illinois, or perhaps in
the world, can coal be mined and brought to
market so cheaply as in this county. It is now
delivered fo consumers in the city of Peoria for
one dollar and fifty cents per ton. The thickness
of this vein is from three feet, ten, to four feet,
eight inches, and is generally covered with a fer-
ruginous shale and concretions of bi-sulphuret rf
iron, richly stored with marine fossils, which arc
eagerly .sought for by scientists. Its horizon is
thirty-two feet above low water of the Illinois
River.

"Coal vein six is also worked with little labor,
by horizontal tunnels. It is sixty-two feet above
coal vein four, and is a good blacksmith coal,
makes a hard vitreous coke, and is exclusively
used in Peoria and contiguous cities for making
gas. It contains but little pyrite, and in most
localities has a good limestone covering. One
distinctive mark of this vein is a clay seam, or
parting, from one to two inches thick, dividing
the coal horizontally into two equal sections.
The fossils overlaying this vein are well pre-
served and the species numerous. Among <he
most common are Nyalena angulata, Pleuroto-
mania carbonana. Solcnomia radiata, and Pro-
ductus pratteninus.

"Coal vein five has no reliable outcrop in this
county, but its horizon is well defined in the
towns of Limestone, Jubilee, and Kickapoo by its
characteristic fossil.s — Fusalina ventriccosa. Hem-
punites crasa, Chonetas niesscloba. etc. The
horizon of this vein has furnished a number of
fossil coal plants, which ha\e been figured and de-
scribed by Leo Lesqucrcux, and are now being
published by the State of Pennsylvania.

"Coal veins seven, eight and nine are the only
other veins represented in this county above the
Illinois River, and they are too thin for mining
and not easily stripped coal.

"The horizon of coal vein nine in ^his county
has given to paleontologists the most perfect coal-
measure fossil found in this State, if not in the
world. Coal vein three lies one hundred and
thirty-three feet below four, consequently aboi't

one hundred and twenty feet below the Illinois
River. It is about three feet thick, and is con-
sidered a good coal. It is not worked in this
county. One hundred and twelve feet below
three, a coal vein was reached in Voris' boring —
opposite to Peoria — three feet thick, which is con-
sidered coal vein one of the Illinois field, and the
base of the coal measure resting on the con-
glomerate, twenty feet above the St. Louis lime-
stone. Coal vein two has not been e.xplored in
Peoria County, but crops out on Spoon River in
the southwest part of Fulton County.

ECONOMICAL GEOLOCV.

"Sandstone of good qu