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Chicago Historical Society's Collection. — Vol. I.
HISTORY
OF THE
Englisli Settlement in Edwards County
ILLINOIS,
Founded in 1817 and 18 18, by
MORRIS BIRKBECK A\'D GEORGE FLOWER.
BY
GEORGE FLOWER.
WITH PREFACE AND FOOT-NOTES
BY
E. B. WASH BURN E,
Member of the Chicago Historical Society; Honorary Member of the Massa-
chusetts AND Virginia Historical Societies; Corresponding
Member of the Maine Historical Society;
author of the
"Sketch of Edward Coles, and the Slavery Struggle in Illinois in 1823-4."
etc., etc.
CHICAGO:
FERGUS PRINTING COMPANY.
1882.
977.3791
CONTENTS.
Introductory,
Preface,
CHAPTER I.
Prefatory Remarks The Founders of the Enghsh Colony in Illinois,
Morris Birkbeck and George Flower Sketch of Morris Birkbeck
— His Father a Quaker His Education and Early Life in Eng-
land — Travels of Birkbeck and Flower through France -Edward
Coles visits Mr. Birkbeck and Family at Wanborough, England
— Coles afterward becomes Governor of Illinois, and Birkbeck
his Secretary-of-State Characteristics of Birkbeck Embarks for
the United States in April, 1817 — Richard Flower, father of
George Flower Reflections on the United States — George Flower
in the United States a year before Birkbeck. - - 17
CHAPTE R II.
Mr. Flower sails for America — Reflections on the Voyage — Arrives
in New York and visits Philadelphia — Invited to Monticello by
Mr. Jefferson — Journey Westward Visits Dr. Priestly, on the
Susquehanna Lost in the Journey to Pittsburgh — From thence
to Cincinnati — The Town as he found it, and the People - The
Neave Family- Crosses the Ohio River and visits Lexington,
and also Gov. Shelby, in Lincoln County — Fording of Dick's
River — Hears of the Illinois Prairies for the first time — Visits
Nashville, Tenn. — Meets Gen. Jackson at a Horse-Race — Return-
ing East, visits Mr. Jefferson at Poplar Forest, South-western
Virginia — Description of his House and his Personal Appearance,
Dress, etc. — Visits Col. John Coles, father of Edward Coles, in
Albemarle County — Passes the \A^inter with Mr. Jefferson at
Monticello — At the Inauguration of Mr. Monroe, and meets Ed-
ward Coles for the first time Mr. Birkbeck and his Family
arrive at Richmond, from England. - - - 30
775646
2 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.
Joins Mr. Birkbeck and Family in Richmond, Va. — Miss Andrews,
afterward Mrs. Flower Decides to go Westward from Richmond
- Incidents of the Trip Meets with Mr. Sloo, U. S. Land-Officer
at Shawneetown, who conducts the Party to Illinois — They stop
at Gen. Harrison's, at North Bend — At Vincennes — " Painted
Warriors, Bedecked Squaws, and Bedizened Pappooses" - Mr.
Birkbeck's Daughters and Miss Andrews -Difficuities of the
Journey bravely met Mr. Birkbeck proposes Marriage to Miss
Andrews —Offer Declined — Leads to Unpleasant Results — The
Party first Establishes itself at Princeton, Indiana A Visit to
the Shaker Settlement at Busro Account of the French-Cana-
dian Settlement at Cattinet — Birkbeck and Flower start out in
Search of the "Prairies" Pass through New Harmony, George
Rapp's Colony Description of the Place — Cross the W^abash
and enter the Territory of Illinois, and reach the " Big-Prairie "
Settlement — " Boltenhouse Prairie," a Beautiful Sight — Crossing
the Wabash into Illinois Territory — Hard Ride to Birk's Prairie
The Prairie Flies — Captain Birk, a Specimen Pioneer— His
Cabin and his Family Intense Prejudice against the British —
Journey Continued — Reflections on the Pioneers — Long Prairie
reached, where the English Settlement was afterward made ~
Return to Princeton — Timber-land around Boltenhouse Prairie
entered at Shawneetown — Mr. Birkbeck to remain and Mr.
Flower to return to England to procure more Funds and beat
up for Recruits — The Decision made. - - - 47
CHAPTER I \\
Fear of Speculators Desire to get a Grant of I,and from Congress —
Mr. Jefferson Written to on the Subject His Answer — Letter of
Hon. Nathaniel Pope- Reply of Mr. Birkbeck Mr. Flower sets
out for England -Long Horseback-Trip to Chambersburgh, Pa.,
Accompanied by Mrs. Flower The Outfit -Incidents of the Jour-
ney — Mrs. Flower Remains in Chambersburgh — Mr. Flower Sails
from New York to Liverpool -Birkbeck's Notes of Travel — The
Emigrants. __.-_-. 75
CHAPTER V.
First Party of Emigrants Sail from Bristol, in March, 1818 — Many
of Mr. Birkbeck's Neighbors and Acquaintances among them —
Letter of Richard Birkbeck Farm Operatives in England Per-
sons composing the Party Land in Philadelphia, in June, 1818
CONTENTS. iii
— Reach Pittsburgh and descend the Ohio River to Shawnee-
town — Arrive at Mr. Birkbeck's Cabin on Boltenhouse Prairie —
The "Barracks" — Sufferings and Discomforts of the Party —
"Wan borough laid off by Mr. Birkbeck — The next Ship -load of
Emigrants sail in the following Month, April, 1818 — Mr. Flower's
Family with this Party — Other Persons composing it — Mr. Flower
Journeys by Carriage from Philadelphia to Chambersburgh with
his Family — The last Ship-load of Emigrants proceeding to their
Destination — \A/^ant of Harmony — A Black Sheep in the Fold —
Arrival at Pittsburgh — Preparations to Descend the Ohio River
— The Perils of the Voyage — Stop at Shawneetown — The Appear-
ance of that Village — Mr. Fordham comes from the "Settlement"
to meet Mr. Flower and Party at Shawneetown — His Account
of Mr. Birkbeck and condition of Things at the "Settlement" —
Preparations to receive the Emigrants — Log -Cabins and Hard
Food — The first Meal on their Arrival — The blessing of an Iron
Teakettle No Greetings from the Settlement — Mr. Birkbeck and
Mr. Flower at Variance — A short Dialogue between them, and
they never Speak to each other afterward — The Cause of the
Estrangement — First Experiences — A Sickly Season — A Time of
Trial — Labor and Self-Sacrifices of Mrs. Flower — A Noble and
True Woman— The first building of Cabins Close run for Pro-
visions — Settlement in Village Prairie — Emigrants coming in —
Determined to lay out a Town — The spot Selected — The Name
Agreed upon. ---.__ gg
CHAPTER VI.
Albion Founded— Town Surveyed and Laid Off— First Double Cabin
— Benjamin Grutt — Albion a fixed Fact — The Log-Cabin and
Blacksmith-Shop — Rowdyism — Wan borough springs into Exis-
tence in 1818 Efforts to obtain W^ater — Visit to Lexington, Ky.
— Death of William Flower — Building in Albion — Old Park-House
— The Sunday Dinner— Brick-Kilns — Market-House — New Roads
— Brick-Tavern, built by Richard Flower— Kept by Mr. and Mrs.
Lewis— The Mill— The first Store-keepers in Albion — Other early
Settlers — Albion made the County-Seat — Erection of a Court-
House and Jail — Pardon of Perry by Gov. Coles — Disappoint-
ment of the People in not seeing him Hung — Consoling them-
selves with W^hisky and a score of Fights— Thirty-nine Lashes
for a Poor Frenchman — Hon. W^illiam W^ilson. - - 127
CHAPTER VII.
Settlers on the Prairies about Albion— Death of Mrs. Wood Other
I
IV
CONTENTS.
Settlers Billy Harris' Wagon — Visiting England — Changes in
the Country at large, but little in the respective Villages — An-
other Ship-load of Emigrants An Inappropriate Settler— John
Tribe William Clark and Family — William Hall, five Sons, and
four Daughters -A Well Accident — Emigration for 1820 — Quar-
rels of Doctors — Another Well Accident — Lawrence and Trim-
mer Return to England — Col. Carter — Further Settlers Sketched
— Francis Hanks, Judge Wattles, and Gen. Pickering — Mr. and
Mrs. Shepherd -Cowling, Wood, Field, Ellis, and others — Old
Neddy Coad — Accident to the Sons of William Cave -Small-
Traders and Farmers. _____ i^^
CHAPTER VIII.
Religion in the Settlement — Slanders and Efforts to divert Emi-
grants — First Religious Services — Mr. Pell and Mr. Thomas
Brown The Hard-Shell Baptist Preacher ^Jesse B. Browne and
Judge Thomas C. Browne — The Campbellites or Christian Church
— First Episcopal Church — Gen. Pickering an Active Promoter —
Influence of the Chimes of Bells — Bishop Chase Consecrates
the First Episcopal Church of Albion — William Curtis and his
Congregation — Backwoodsmen don't like Episcopacy — The Meth-
odist Church Better Adapts Itself to all Classes — Reflections
Thereon — A Methodist Camp-Meeting Described — Mr. Birkbeck
Unjustly Assailed — Mr. Birkbeck's Letter on Religion — Features
of the Country — A Glowing Description — The Calumnies against
the Settlement Rebutted by Mr. Birkbeck — Toleration of all
Religious Opinions. --____ iQj
CHAPTER IX.
Consultations as to how to Advance the Interests of the Settlement
— The Backwoodsmen begin to Leave the Country — The Michaels
Brothers Moses Michaels Elected to the Legislature, and a
"Weak Brother" — Descriptions of Moving Emigrants — Two
Early Settlers at Albion — One of them become Governor — Eng-
lish and Americans have Different W^ays of Doing Things —
Emigrants from Europe bound for Albion, Land at nearly every
Port from St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico — A W^elshman
Rides on Horseback from Charleston, S. C, to Albion -British
Sketches Recognized by Britains at Albion -Cobbett's Abusive
Letters about the English Colony Cobbett's Character — Replies
by Richard Flower and Morris Birkbeck Dr. Johnson's Charges
— Mr. Fearon's Book of Travels — Adverse Influences — The Evil
Genius of Slavery. ------ 183
A
CONTENTS. V
C H A P T E R X.
)nspiracy against Liberty — The Convention Question — The Salines
— Slaves to Work them — How Slavery got a Foothold in Illi-
nois — Provision of the First Constitution — Gen. Willis Hargrave
— System Adopted to Change the Constitution — The Project
Exposed The Pro -Slavery Men holding all the Offices — ^Judge
Samuel D. Lockwood an Exception — Letters of "Jonathan Free- , 1
man" and "John Rifle"— Handbill "Pro Bono PubHco"— Letters ij '
of Morris Birkbeck — The Election takes Place— Vote of Ed-
wards County — Slavery Men Active and Unscrupulous — Gov.
Coles and Mr. Birkbeck— The latter appointed Secretary-of- State
by Gov. Coles — The Outrages on Gov. Coles by the Slavery i
Party — Letter of Gov. Coles to Mr. Birkbeck — Honorable Excep-
tions among the Pro -Slavery Men, Judges Wilson and Browne
— The Cloven-Foot Exposed by the " Shawneetown Gazette " —
The Death of Mr. Birkbeck — Buried at New Harmony, Ind. —
His Memory to be held in Respect and Gratitude. - 197
C H A P T E R X I. ';
iterest in the Convention Question — Difference between Slaves and
Servants— Asperity and Bitterness of the Contest — The English
Spoke their Minds Freely — Estrangement of Friends —The Eng- '
lish Settlement Persecuted — Outrages on Colored Men — Lawsuit
in Albion — Threatening Letters from Kidnapers — Negroes Kid-
naped in Illinois and Indiana — The White-River Desperadoes —
Their Arrest — Persecution of the Colored Men in the English || {
Settlement — Mr. Flower sends a Colony to Hayti — Account of
Difficulties Encountered — The Colony a Success in Hayti — The 'I
Settlement the Object of Detraction and Misrepresentation — The
Fate attending Discoverers of New Countries and Founders of
Colonies — Illustrated in the Case of William Penn — Treatment ,
of Mr. Flower— The Cause of It. - - - - 257
CHAPTER XII.
[urder of Richard Flower, son of George Flower — Murderer Ac-
quitted — Large Outlays for Food — Relations between New Har-
mony and the English Settlement — Robert Owen Buys Out the 1
Harmonites — New Harmony under Robert Owen — Men Eminent \
in Literature, Science, and Art Flocked Around him — His Doc-
trines Promulgated Spread far and wide — Mr. Owen's Ability as
a Conversationist and His Equanimity of Temper — His Address
to the People of Albion — Rapp's Society at New Harmony. 277
IV
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Emigration to the Settlement Recommences— The Character of
the New Emigrants— The Crackles Brothers— Mr. Joseph Apple-
gath — The Good Farms about Albion — The Courts at Albion —
Attended by Eminent Men — Judge Wilson, Edwin B. Webb,
Col. Wm. H. Davidson, Gen. John M. Robinson, John McLean,
and Henry Eddy Their Visits to Mr. Flower— "A Good Supper
and a Bowl of Punch" — Dreary Travel to Vandalia— Bear-Meat
and Venison — An Enormous Elk, the Patriarch of the Prairies—
The V/restling- Match between Indians and White Men — The
Indians "Down" the Pale Faces— Perilous Ride from the Wabash
to Vandalia — Judges Wilson and Lockwood and Henry Eddy out
all Night in a Dreadful Storm — Horseback the only Mode of Con-
veyance—Its Fatigues and Dangers. _ . - 287
CHAPTER XIV.
Long Horseback Excursions — The Cabin Found — Island Grove — The
Tempest — A Horrible Night — ^John Ganaway's Roadside-Cabin —
A Good Breakfast — Hugh Ronalds' Adventure — Narrowly Es-
capes Death — Long Journey by Wagon — The Delights of that
Mode of Travel— Health and Spirits Renewed — Travel of that
Day and the Present Day Contrasted — Mr. Hulme's Journey —
Mr. Applegath, Bishop Whitehouse, and Mr. Kleinworth's — The
First Crops and Cabins— The Progress Year by Year — The Peach-
Orchard — A Happy Life — Children Growing Up — "Edward's Or-
chard "—The Herding of Sheep— The Boys and Girls— A Charm-
ing Picture of Rural Life— The Hospitable Home— Lingering on
the Porch— The V/elcome Guests— The Lost Child— The Finding
and the Rejoicings — The Wild Animals, W^olves, Bears, and
Panthers — The Panther — The Wolf -Chase — Savage Fight be-
tween Man and Wolf. _ _ . _ . 297
CHAPTER XV.
Marriage Certificates — Average Cost of Marriage — Erecting Log-
Houses— Farmers Trading down the Mississippi— English Farm-
Laborers become Substantial Farmers and Merchants in the
English Settlement — Death of Richard Flower — His Character-
istics-Frequent Festivities and Family Reunions at his House
— The Ancestors of the Flowers — Mrs. Richard Flower — The
Buckinghamshire Party of Emigrants Arrive — German Families
Come in — The Yorkshire Men — Good Pork and Beef at Albion
— The Last Ship's -Party Arrive— Travelers Visiting the Settle-
CONTENTS. vii
ment — Mr. Hulme — Mr. Welby writes an Abusive Book — Mr.
Fearon writes about the Settlement, but never saw It — The
Thompsons — Mr. Stewart an Edinboro' Man — Mr. D. Constable,
the Man with a Knapsack and a Cane — An Admirable Charac-
ter — Good accomplished by Mr. Constable — Sir Thomas Beevoir
and Lady Beevoir visit Albion — The Beevoir Family in England
— The Aristocracy of England not a Degenerate Race — Lord
Frederick's Sermon — The American Clock-Peddler — Defamatory
Books Published in England — Constitution for a Library — Albion
in 1822 and i860 — Its Peculiar Characteristics — No Printing-Press,
no Bank, no Lawyer for Thirty Years — Log-Cabins give way to
Comfortable Dwellings — Town and County Affairs — The Steady
March of Improvement in the Settlement — A Bank Established in
Albion — Two Lawyers settle there — The Doctors — Joel Churchill,
the "Poor Man's Friend" — Cotton grown in the Settlement at
one Time— Limits of the English Settlement — Never any Quar-
rels between the English and Americans — Projected Railroads
— The Southern Cross Railroad bought by Gen. Pickering — Solid
Prosperity enjoyed by the Settlement — Annoyances by Insects —
The "Tires." .._..- 311
CHAPTER XVI.
Difficulty in Establishing Schools — A certain Density of Population
Necessary — In Town or Village of Spontaneous Growth — Oswald
Warrington keeps School at Albion in its Earliest Days — Eng-
lishmen and New Englanders build a School-House near Albion
— A Colored Man Assists, but his Children are not Allowed to
go to School — Another School-House — The Scene at a Country
School— The Little Urchin at School— The Older Scholars— The
Log School-House on the Frontier an Interesting Object — Con-
trasts with the Crowded City-School — Permanent Brick School-
House at Albion — Influences of the School on the Backwoods-
men — The Free-School System in Illinois — Statistics of Educa-
tion in Edwards County — Agricultural Fair at Albion in 1858 —
Splendid Display. ___._- 337
CHAPTER XVII.
Success of the English Settlement— What Contributed to it — Absence
of Land-Speculation — Happy Adaptation of the Country to Set-
tlers — Prairie-Land a Source of National Wealth — Sterling Quali-
ties of the English Laborers and Farmers — Solid Prosperity of
the English Settlement in Illinois — The First Annoyances of
the Early Settlers— The Prairie-Fires— First-Founders of Settle-
VI u
CONTENTS.
ments rarely attain Material Advantages — 'What they are Com-
pelled to Do— The Fate of William Penn— The Compensations
— Striking Incidents in the History of the State — First -Settlers
Accounted for — The Destiny which Befell the First-Founders —
The Remains of Morris Birkbeck Repose in the Graveyard at
New Harmony, Ind. — What became of his Children — The Pecun-
iary Difficulties and Disasters of George T'lower — Leaves Illinois
with his Family in 1S49, never to Return to Live — Cross the
Great Wabash — Begin the W^orld Anew in New Harmony —
Removes to Mt. Vernon, Ind., in i860 — The Last Stage of Life's
Journey— Ready to Lie Down to Sleep. - - . 349
Appendix,
361
Index of Subjects,
Index of Persons,
375
397
INTRODUCTORY.
Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, President of the Chicago Historical Society.
Dear Sir: — Twenty-two years ago there was presented to our
Society a manuscript History of the EngHsh Settlement in
Edwards County in this State, from its commencement in 1817,
by George Flower. From a cursory examination of it myself,
and what is said of it by those who have carefully read it, I am
satisfied it is a valuable contribution to the history of our State.
It is replete with incidents in the Hves of Governor Edward
Coles, Morris Birkbeck, George Flower, and others of that noble
band who fought out the battle of freedom in our State in
1823-4. In the interest of the history of the State, and in
justice to the memory of Mr. Flower, who so generously pre-
sented it to the Society, I think it should be published. I will
cheerfully defray the expense. Yours, very truly,
Chicago, August jo, 1882. L. Z. Leiter.
L. Z. Leiter, Esq.
Dear Sir: — I have received your note of the 30th of August,
authorizing the publication at your expense of the History of the
English Settlement in Edwards County in 1817-18, by George
Flower. For this act of liberality and appreciation of a valua-
ble and extremely interesting contribution to the history of our
State, you are entitled to the thanks, not only of our Society, but
of all lovers and students of history. Your generosity enables
us to pubHsh a manuscript which would long ago have been given
to the public, had not the means and resources of this Society
been crippled by the Great Fire of 1871.
I desire to add to the thanks of the Society my own, not only
for this liberal act, but for the example which I hope and believe
will be the beginning of a series of contributions through the
agency of our Society, to the history of our State.and the North-
West. Very truly yours, Isaac N. Arnold,
Chicago, September 4, 1882. President of the Chicago Historical Society.
PREFACE.
AT a regular meeting of the Chicago Historical Society,
held on the i8th day of September, i860, there was
presented to the Society, through its Secretary, a manu-
script History of the English Colony, founded by Morris Birkbeck
and George Flower, in Edwards County, Illinois, in 181 7-1 8.
This valuable and interesting manuscript was a contribution to the
Society by the author, George Flower, who was then seventy-four
years of age, and residing at Mount Vernon, Posey County,
Indiana. In connection with this History was received a numer-
ous collection of autograph letters written to Mr. Flower by
Lafayette, Jefferson, Cobbett, the Abbe Gaultier, Count de Las-
teyrie, Madam O'Connor, D. Macdonald, then of New Harmony,
Indiana, since Lord of the Isles and Earl of Skye, and other
distinguished correspondents. Many of these letters are pub-
lished in the Appendix. Most fortunately, both the manuscript
and the letters had been borrowed from the Society a few days
before the Great Fire in October, 187 1, and thus saved from
destruction.
Mr. Flower revised his History several times, but finally
completed it when spending some time with his son, the
Rev. Alfred Flower, at his residence on the prairie, about two
miles south of Albion. In the latter part of the month of
December, 1861, Mr. and Mrs. Flower made a visit to their
daughter, Mrs. Agniel, at Grayville, White County, 111. Early in
January, 1862, they were both taken sick on the same day. After
lO
PREFACE.
an illness of one week they both died on the same day, Jan. 15,
1862. What is somewhat remarkable, they had often expressed
to each other, and to their family and friends, the desire that they
might pass away together. Mrs. Flower died at dawn, and Mr.
Flower breathed his last at twilight in the evening. At ten
oclock of the last day the attending-physician pronounced Mr.
Flower out of danger, and there seemed to be every appearance
of his speedy recovery. It was not till the afternoon that the
family ventured to announce to liim the death of his wife.
Listening to the announcement with the utmost composure, there
was soon noticed a sad change for the worse, and although his
bedside was surrounded by his family, he passed away so quietly
and peacefully that no on was aware of the exact moment he
expired. They were buried in the same grave at Grayville. Mr.
Flower was greatly exercised in regard to the condition of the
country at the breaking out of the rebellion, and was intensely
loyal to the Government. His fourth son, Richard Flower, was
among the first to enlist in the First Indiana Cavalry, at Mount
Vernon, Indiana, and he fell in the battle of Fredericktown,
Missouri, in the fall of 186 r. *
The English Colony was located in Edwards County. The
following letter from the Hon. Henry Dodge Dement, secretary-
of-state, gives information as to the organization of the County
in 1 8 14, and of the extent of country it then embraced.
Edwards County was cut off from Gallatin, and then White
County in 18 18 was taken off from the south i)art of Edwards.
In its original organization Edwards County embraced an
immense area of territory — extending practically from the Ohio
river, (for its southern boundary, Gallatin County, was but rela-
tively a short distance from the river,) to Upper Canada, including
what is now a portion of the State of Wisconsin. The following
counties, or parts of counties, in Illinois, have been formed out
of the territory originally included in Edwards County:
* The battle of Fredericktown was fought on October 18, 1861, by Col.
J. B. Plummer (afterward Brigadier-General), of the nth Missouri volunteers.
The rebels were commanded by Jefil". Thompson, called the "Swamp Fox,"
and Col. Lowe. The latter was killed.
PREFACE.
Wabash,
Wayne,
Jefferson,
Marion,
Clay,
Richland,
Lawrence,
Crawford,
Jasper,
Effingham,
Fayette,
Shelby,
Coles,
Cumberland,
Edgar,
Clark,
Macon,
Piatt,
Champaign,
Vermillion,
DeWitt,
McLean,
Livingston,
Iroquois,
Kankakee,
Grundy,
LaSalle,
Will,
Kendall,
DuPage,
Cook,
Kane,
DeKalb,
Boone,
McHenry,
Lake.
II
In the presence of the stupendous changes in this State, it is
hard to imagine that sixty-eight years ago, when Edwards County
was organized, neither Cook County nor Chicago had any
existence, but that the present Cook County was in the jurisdic-
tion of Eldwards County, and its county-seat at Palmyra, at the
Falls of the Big Wabash, a town which has long since ceased to
be.
"Springfield, August 12, 1882.
"Hon. E. B. Washburne, Chicago, 111.
'■^My Dear Sir: — Replying to your favor of the 9th inst., it
affords me pleasure to furnish you the following information
concerning the formation of Edwards County, which would seem
to answer your inquiries and put you in possession of the desired
information. I begin by giving you the original boundaries of
the County, as described in the act creating the County :
" 'Edwards County —organized Nov. 2Sth, 1S14.
" 'All that tract of country within the following boundaries, to
wit: Beginning at the mouth of Bon Pas creek, on the Big
Wabash, -and running thence due west to the meridian line, (3d
P. M.) which runs north from the mouth of the Ohio river; thence
with said meridian line and due north" till it strikes the line of
Upper Canada; thence with the line of Upper Canada to the
line that separates this territory from the Indiana Territory; and
thence with the said dividing line to the beginning.'
'•The south boundary line of the County was about the middle
of Township three (3) south. The territory out of which
Edwards was formed comprised the northern portion of Gallatin,
1 2 PREFACE.
and the eastern portion of Madison County. You will notice that
Edwards not only embraced all the counties in eastern Illinois, as
at present organized, north of Town three (3), south, but a large
portion of Wisconsin as well.
"If you will take a map of the State of Illinois and draw a line
east and west from the 3d P. M. to the Wabash river, on the
southern boundaries of the present counties of Edwards and
Wayne, a glance from this line to the northern line of the State,
and east of the 3d meridian, will disclose the present counties,
embraced in the original county of PMwards.
"The county-seat was located at Palmyra. If you so desire, I
can send you a copy of the law forming the county.
"Very truly yours,
"Henry Dodge Dement."
The History of the English Settlement of Edwards County,
presented in this volume, can not fail to be read with avidity by
all interested in the history of Illinois. The author, George
Flower, was no ordinary man. He has left the impress of his
character and his services upon the State, and his name will
always be honorably associated with the colony he helped to
found. Very few abler men than Morris Birkbeck and George
Flower have illustrated the history of our Commonwealth. Mr.
Birkbeck died before his work was accomplished, but not before
he had acquired a name and a fame for the great service he had
rendered in saving the State of his adoption from the curse of
Slavery. The services of George Flower, and his father, Richard
Flower, in the same connection, entitle them, as well as Mr.
Birkbeck, to the lasting gratitude of the people of Illinois. The
narrative of Mr. Flower is simple and unpretending in its recitals,
and it bears the impress of sincerity and truth. The story of the
struggles, the labors, and the sufferings of the early colonists, the
picturesque descriptions of scenes and events, give to the work
all the interest of a romance.
The following notice by Dr. Barry, the then librarian of the
Chicago Historical Society, and which appeared in the Chicago
Tribune of March 22, 1862, is appropriately inserted in this
Preface, as a just tribute to the character of George Flower :
PREFACE. 13
A great and good man has recently passed from us. English
by birth, American by choice, for near half a century he has
lived among us — so long that the tide of events and the rush of
adventurers had buried from general notice the silver-haired
veteran who once was known, esteemed, and loved in both
hemispheres — the honored founder of a prosperous colony, the
enterprising agriculturist, the philanthropist of large and noble
aims, the strong, true-hearted, and upright man.
Born in Hertfordshire, England, in affluent circumstances, after
gaining some distinction in his native land, by continental travel
for the benefit of British husbandry, he came to America in 181 7
(about thirty years of age) as the associate of Morris Birkbeck in
founding the English Colony at Albion, Edwards County, in
Illinois.
It was no mere sordid impulse that moved either of these
noble-hearted men in their scheme of colonization. Republicans
from deep-seated sentiment and conviction, the Great American
Republic drew them hither as to a congenial home; and here
they jointly established a thrifty and successful colony, transplant-
ing on our virgin prairies the arts and improvements of the old
mother-country. The large wealth possessed by Mr. Flower ^
gave him a commanding, a responsible, and, we may add, a \
laborious position in the new Colony. His spacious mansion, of '
rare extent and furnish in a new settlement, was the scene of
frank and elegant hospitality. Strangers of distinction sought it
from afar. Improved husbandry, with the importation of the
finest fleeces of England and Spain, followed the guiding hand ot
the master-mind. When the history of the Albion Colony is
made known, it will form the truest and best eulogium of its
founders.
The calm and philosophic wisdom of Mr. Elower, united with
a rare benevolence, has left bright traces upon our Western
history. In the eventful strife which accompanied the daring
attempt in 1823 to legalize African slavery in Illinois, no one
enlisted with a truer heroism than he. We, of the present day,
and amidst the dire commotions of civil war, can but poorly
comprehend the ferocity, and the gloomy portents of that strug-
gle. So nearly balanced were the contending parties of the State,
that the vote of the English Colony, ever true to the instincts of
freedom, turned the scale — a handful of sturdy Britons being the
forlorn hope to stay the triumph of wrong and oppression, whose
success might have sealed forever the doom of republican and
constitutional liberty in America.
The failure of that nefarious plot against our young and noble
14 PREFACE.
State, led to an outburst of persecution and wrong against free
negroes, and their humane protectors, transcending even the
invidious hostility of our so-called Black Laws, and Constitutional
Conventions. This wanton and vindictive display of inhumanity,
it was, which gave birth to Mr. Flower's plan for the colonization
of free negroes in Hayti, in which he had the confidence and
cooperation of President Boyer, and which attracted an approv-
ing notice throughout the P'ree-states of the North. Although
but partially successful, its necessity being from the pressure of
subsecpient events less urgent, its conception and management
reflect the highest honor upon its author, whose name will merit
a place among the benefactors of mankind.
Mr. Flower was one of that class of men whose fine insight,
large views, and calm force raised him above all claimants to
popular favor. In his early maturity, he numbered among his
friends and correspondents such personages as our American
Jefterson, Lafayette and the Comte de Lasteyrie of France,
Madame O'Connor (the daughter of Condorcet) of Ireland, and
Cobbett of Fngland. By these, and such as these, his superior
tone of mind and character was held in true esteem. In the
depths of our yet unfurrowed prairies, and amidst the struggle
and hardship of a new settlement, a mind and heart like his
might fail of a just appreciation by his cotemporaries. This sad
realization he doubtless felt. But now that he has passed from
the scenes of his voluntary exile, let it not be said that a true and
gifted manhood was here, and we knew it not. There are those,
now and to come, who will keep green his memory, and take
pleasure in recovering the traces of a noble mind, that lived,
thought, and acted only for human good.
Mr. Flower met with the reverses which are the prescribed lot
of the colonizers of the world. The wealth and position which
he commanded, amidst the financial changes and revolutions of a
new country, were finally succeeded by pinching penury, which
but served, however, to reveal his inward strength, and his unfal-
tering faith. For many years he has lived in retirement in
Indiana, or among his revering children in this State; and for the
last few years has beguiled his age in preparing a history of the
English Colony he assisted to found, which he lived to complete,
at the request of the Historical Society of Chicago. We hope,
for the gratification of the public, and in justice to the author, its
publication may not be long delayed.
On the morning of 15th of January last, there lay, under the
loving and sad watch of dear friends at Grayville, the sinking
form of the aged man, whose worth we have poorly attempted to
I
PREFACE. 15
set forth, and the partner of his long and chequered Hfe. But a
week before they had expressed the hope, often repeated, that,
happily united in life, they might not be divided in their death.
While the rays of the morning sun were gilding the room of the
fond wife, she expired; and soon after the going down of the
same day's sun, followed, to his last and welcome rest, the spirit
of George Flower.
A touching letter, communicating the particulars of Mr. Flow-
er's death, was read at the meeting of the Chicago Historical
Society, held on Tuesday last. The following appropriate and
deserving tribute, passed by the Society, we have pleasure in
placing in our columns:
Whereas, This Society has received from the family of the late
George Flower, the painful tidings of his recent death, at an
advanced age, thus closing a career which for near half-a-century
has been honorably devoted to the welfare of this, his adopted
State ;
Resolved^ That in the estimation of the members of this Society,
the late George Flower, as an enlightened and munificent founder
of the successful colony of English settlers at Albion, in Edwards
County, in this State, founded in 181 7; as an early and distin-
guished advocate of African colonization ; as an intelligent,
high-minded, and patriotic citizen, ever loyal to his adopted
country and its institutions, seeking the highest good of the State,
and laboring for the best interests of mankind, to whose advance-
ment he freely dedicated his superior talents and ample fortune,
unambitious of office or preferment, and in loyal obedience to
the promptings of a nobly -gifted nature, merits a distinguished
place on the roll of the founders and benefactors of this State,
whose institutions he assisted to shape, and whose gigantic
growth and prosperity he was permitted by Divine Providence to
live to witness.
Resolved, That the members of this Society entertain a grateful
sense of the various and esteemed services rendered to its objects
by their honored friend and associate, and especially in his
finished and able memorials, recently prepared for this Society, of
the English Colony at Albion, in whose foundation and growth
he had so conspicuous a part.
Resolved, That this Society deem it due and fitting to express
their high and admiring esteem of the personal character of the
late Mr. Flower, ever marked by a high-toned integrity, and the
(jualities of a true manhood; adorning prosperity by a munificent
bounty and hospitality, and irradiating adversity — the adversity
i6
PREFACE.
which too often befalls the founders of colonies and the benefac-
tors of mankind — with the peace, constancy, and trust of an
exalted faith.
Resolved, That the Secretary communicate a copy of the above
proceedings to the family and friends of the late Mr. Flower,
with the expression of the heartfelt condolence of this Society
with them in their most sad and painful bereavement.
As to the portraits illustrating the volume, that of Mr. Birkbeck
is from an engraving in the possession of E. G. Mason, Esq., of
Chicago, and that of Mr. Flower from an oil painting belonging
to his family. This portrait, life-size, together with a life-size
portrait of Mr§. Flower, painted at the same time, and by the
same artist, have recently been presented to the Chicago Histori-
cal Society, by the family of George Flower. That generous gift
is fully appreciated by the Society, and the donors will not only
receive the grateful thanks of its members, but of all persons inter-
ested in the early history of our State and of the English Settle-
ment in Edwards County. These interesting portraits will adorn
the rooms of the Society.
The Chicago Historical Society and the public generally, are
indebted to Levi Z. Leiter, Esq., of Chicago, for the publication
of this volume. The Society, crippled by the disastrous fire of
187 1, found itself unable to publish the History, and it was only
after a recent examination of it by Mr. Leiter when that gentle-
man, with a liberality only equalled by his interest in everything
connected with the history of our State, generously offered to
defray the entire expense of the publication.
E. B. W.
365 Dearborn Avenue,
Chicaco, October 18, 1SS2.
THE HISTORY
OF THE
English SErriEMENT in Edwards County,
ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER I.
Prefatory Remarks — The Founders of the English Colony in Illinois,
Morris Birkbeck and George Flower — Sketch of Morris Birkbeck
— His Father a Quaker — His Education and Early Life in Eng-
land — Travels of Birkbeck and Flower through France — Edward
Coles visits Mr. Birkbeck and Family at Wanborough, England
— Coles afterward becomes Governor of Illinois, and Birkbeck
his Secretary-of-State — Characteristics of Birkbeck — Embarks for
the United States in April, 1817 — Richard Flower, father of
George Flower — Reflections on the United States — George Flower
in the United States a year before Birkbeck.
Narratives of voyages and travels, from the incidents
and accidents recorded, and new scenes developed at every
step, have been found acceptable reading, especially to
youth, at all times and in every age.
When given in plain style, and in simple language, by
one who has witnessed what he relates, an interest is
sometimes given, denied to fiction in its highest flights
and brightest polish. .
The history of the settlement of a distant people, leav-
2
i8
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
ing a land of high civilization for a wilderness in another
hemisphere, is an event of some interest at the time, both
to actors and spectators. In after-times it may assume a
deeper interest, perhaps as having given tone and charac-
ter to a populous and powerful nation.
In succeeding generations, when the wilderness becomes
peopled, and towns and cities are thickl\' strewn over its
surface, all inhabited by a people speaking the same lan-
guage, an observant traveler will find in different sections
people of various habits and opinions. In communities
sometimes proximate and sometimes remote from each
other, there will exist distinctive features, mental and
physical. Their opinions and intellectual power will
differ, no less than their complexions, form, and feature.
How to account for these differences will be an interesting
problem to solve. Climate, soil, and position have their
influences; but these are all subordinate to the hereditary
bias. The opinions and habits, the physical, mental, and
moral powers, handed down from father to son, are to be
traced in distant generations. Thus we see that the
religion, industry, and thrift of New England are to be
traced to those qualities in the original band of its pilgrim
fathers.
The open-handed hosiMtalitx- of \*irginia, its displa}-,
dilapidation, and loose living, all may be traced to the
jovial and careless cavaliers of King Charles' time, who
settled on her shores.
Pennsylvania, although largeh' intermixed with the Irish
and German elements, yet preserves the characteristics
and aspects of its first-citizens, the Quakers.
FOUNDERS MORRIS BIRKBECK AND GEO. FLOWER, 19
The straight-streeted City of Philadelphia, with its sub-
stantial houses, and neat keeping, reflects the drab-colored
mantle of William Penn.
Taking this view, the character, habits, and opinions of
the first-founders and first-settlers of new colonies assume
in after years an interest they would not otherwise possess.
A distinction should ever be made between the first-
founders and first -settlers. They are classes of men dis-
tinguished from each other in mental tone and eeneral •
habit. Explorers and first-founders, sanguine, enterprising,
and imaginative, are generally men of theory and specula-
tion. The first-settlers are more commonly endowed with
caution, prudence, and closer business habits. Each class
maintains for a considerable time its relative position, in
the planting and early progress of a new settlement.
The natural introduction to the history of the first-
settlers will be a brief biographical sketch of its two first-
founders, Morris Birkbeck and George Flower.
■ The father of Morris Birkbeck, also named Morris, was
an eminent Quaker preacher, whosf good name was well
known by Friends in America, as well as England. His
teachings were held in much reverence at home and
abroad, especially by the more orthodox members of the
Society. Old Morris Birkbeck, as he was familiarly called,
when his son arrived at manhood, although eminent as a
preacher, was by no means so for his wealth or worldly
possessions. But he gave to his son a much better educa-
tion than generally falls to the lot of the children of poor
Friends.
Morris Birkbeck, the youngier, had a thorough knowl-
20 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY,
edge of Latin, and a slight knowledge of Greek. In after
life, he mastered the French language, so as to read it with
facility. Whilst a mere youth, he was appointed clerk to
the Friends' meeting. The duties of this office made him
a ready writer, and a systematic arranger of documents
and papers of every kind. Very early in life, he was
placed upon a farm. A farmer's boy occupies much the
same place upon a farm as a cabin-boy does on board a
ship. There it was that he learned by experience farming
and farm-work. When a young man, he 4iired a farm,
Avith no capital of his own, and with a very small borrowed
capital from a friend. He worked on the farm with great
assiduity, not only with his own hands, but with such
labor as his limited means allowed him to command. He
watched his own progress, or rather his position, with
great solicitude. He has often told me, that many times
when he took stock, after valuing everything he possessed,
even his books and clothes, he found himself worse than
nothing. But, by perseverance, he acquired a little. He
afterward took, on a long lease, a much larger farm called
Wanborough, containing about 1500 acres of land, near the
town of Guilford, in the county of Surrey. This farm he
worked with great perseverance and spirit, always adopt-
ing improvements in husbandry, implements, and live-
stock, that appeared of any practical value. Here he
acquired a competence, and brought up a family of four
sons and three daughters, to whom he gave a liberal edu-
cation, and to whom he was a most kind and indulgent
parent. The farm of Wanborough was a hamlet. A
parish is a large organization. It has its church, parson,
SKETCH OF MORRIS BIRKBECK. 21
vestrymen, church-wardens, and overseers of the poor. A
hamlet is generally a small village or district, occupied,
and often owned, by one person, who is required to pro-
vide for the poor it may contain.
The owner of a hamlet is a potentate on a small scale,
brought into immediate contact with its poor inhabitants,
who, by the laws of England, he is bound to aid in sick-
ness or want, by advice and material assistance.
When I first became acquainted with Mr. Birkbeck he
was nearly fifty years of age, enjoying excellent health.
Mental and bodily activity were combined with unim-
pared habits. In person he was below middle stature
— rather small, spare, not fleshy, but muscular and wiry.
With a constitution not of the strongest, he was yet a
strong and active man. His bodily frame was strength-
ened and seasoned by early labor and horseback exercise
in the open air, which, from the nature of his business, was
necessary to its supervision. He was capable of under-
going great fatigue, and of enduring fatigue without in-
jury. His complexion was bronzed from exposure; face
marked with many lines; rather sharp features, lighted by
a quick twinkling eye; and rapid utterance. He was origi-
nally of an irascible temper, which was subdued by his
Quaker breeding, and kept under control by watchfulness
and care. But eye, voice, and action would occasionally
betray the spirit-work within. Mr. Birkbeck, when I first
became acquainted with him, 'was a widower. When no
friend was with him, he would sometimes sit for hours
in the afternoon, by his fire in the dining-room, his only
companions a long-stemmed clay-pipe and a glass of water
on the table beside him.
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
The little artificial thirst, occasioned by smoking,
\vhen habituall}^ allayed by mixed -liquors, or any thing
stronger than water, he thought had betrayed into habits
of intemperance, unsuspectingly, more individuals than
any other single cause. A leisurely Avalk around the
premises, an observation on any thing out of place, with
directions for the coming labor of the morrow, generally
closed the day's business with him. At tea, he again
joined the family circle, enjoyed the exhilarating refresh-
ment, and the abandonment of all business cares.
The American supper does not exactly correspond to
the English tea; it is a more formal, substantial, and busi-
ness-like meal, not differing from the breakfast and dinner
that have gone before it. The men again return to their
business, and the women to their household- cares. Not
so in England. The English tea, a light refection in itself,
is the reunion of the family party, after the various occu-
pations of the day. The drudgery of business and its
cares are then put aside for the day. A new set of ideas,
more light, buoyant, and refreshing, come to fill up the
evening, preparing mind and body for sound and refreshing
sleep — a book, music, conversation; if the women do any
needle-work, it is then of the lightest kind, neither inter-
rupting conversation, nor disturbing any reader. This
enjoyment is common to all classes in England, in a
greater or less degree; and the loss of this habit is to an
Englishman one of his greatest privations in his change of
country.
If Mr. Birkbeck was absent from the family party in the
drawing-room, — and sometimes he was so, even when his
BIRKBECK AND FLOWER VISIT FRANCE. 23
house was full of visitors — he was sure to be found in a
small study, a little room peculiarly his own, trying some
chemical experiment, or analyzing some earth or new
fossil, that he picked up in his morning ramble in his
chalk -quarries.
After the downfall of Napoleon the First, and the peace
succeeding to a twenty- years' war, Mr. Birkbeck invited
me to accompany him in a journey to France, to which I
readily acceded. We traveled together three months in
that country, avoiding the usual route of English travel.
Passing from north to south, to the shores of the Mediter-
ranean, skirting the Pyrenees, and returning through the
heart of the country by a more easterly route to Paris, we
saw more of the country and Frenchmen at home, than
we otherwise should, if confined to any one of the popular
routes of travel. In this journey we saw much of the
peasantry and small proprietors of the soil; and here and
there an institution, and a man of celebrity and fame.
The Botanical Garden at Avignon, then kept by the cele-
brated de Candolle, was an object of great interest.* In
the hot-house was the tall aloe in its full size and beauty,
in its centennial bloom. A little circumstance occurred
that showed the extent to which art- culture existed in
* Augustin Pyrame de Candolle was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1778,
and died in 1841. He was a celebrated botanist and naturalist, and the
author of many works, which acquired for him a European reputation. He
was educated in Paris, and graduated as a doctor in medicine, but afterward *
devoted himself mostly to the study of botany. In 1806, he was charged by
the French Government to study the state of agriculture in France; and, in
1808, he accepted the chair of botany in the medical school at Montpelier.
It must have been about this time that he kept the botanical garden at Avig-
non, which Mr. Flower visited.
^24 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY..
France, among classes where it would not be expected to
exist. An artist had just arrived with a portfolio of the
flowers of Spain — some hundreds of specimens, which he
had copied in life-like size and color, with a beauty and
fidelity of execution seldom witnessed. De CandoUe,
wishing to retain copies, and the time being short, distrib-
uted these pictures in twos and threes to the young women
of Avignon, many of them in humble life, as seamstresses
and the like. In three days the originals were returned
without a blemish, and the full number of copies depicted
with an accuracy truly astonishing. But I must leave
France and Frenchmen, or I shall never get to the English
settlement in Illinois. On our return, Mr. Birkbeck pub-
lished his " Notes of a Journey through France." It had
a wide circulation in England, and was well known in
America. It was the first book I met with at Monticello,
the residence of Thomas Jefferson.
About this time, Mr. Edward Coles, on his return from
a diplomatic mission to Russia, spent some time in Eng-
land. An introduction to Mr. Coles, in London, was
succeeded by a visit to Mr. Birkbeck's house and family,
at Wanborough. Here an intimacy and friendship was
formed, in consequence of which Mr. Coles, when governor
of Illinois, appointed Mr. Birkbeck his secretary-of-state.*
* Edward Coles was elected governor of Illinois in August, 1822. His
election was followed by a contest which continued for eighteen months, and
which, for bitterness and desperation, is without a parallel in the history of
political struggles in the United States. It resulted from an attempt to
change the free-state constitution of the State into a constitution tolerating
slavery. Though Gov. Coles was a Virginian, and had been a slave-holder,
he was the leader of the free-state men who fought out the great battle
of freedom in that terrific conflict. By this time, the English Colony in
GOVERNOR COLES AND MORRIS BIRKBECK. 2$
Although neither at the time had any such thought,
events were hurrying on to such a consummation. In
less than two years from that time, they were both in
Illinois, a little later, Mr. Coles as governor, Mr. Birkbeck
as secretary-of-state. About this time, Mr. Birkbeck
entertained vague notions of leaving England. The long
lease of his farm was about expiring. He experienced, in
common with other farmers, losses from the low price of
farm produce, induced by the general peace after the long
war. I was traveling at the time in America, dropping
him an occasional letter; but not having a thought of his
coming to this country. In fact, it was a crisis in his fate,
which occurs in the life of every man at some period or
other.
Mr. Birkbeck was of quick perception and lively conver-
sation, often spiced with pungent remarks and amusing
anecdotes. He was a general and rapid reader, and, not-
withstanding his business occupations, showed a decided
taste for scientific investigation, for which he always found
time to indulge. For many years before leaving England,
Mr. Birkbeck absented himself from Quaker meetings. His
general and varied reading, and his more extended per-
Edwards County had become an important factor in the politics of the State.
Morris Birkbeck, Gilbert T. Pell, his son-in-law, George Flower, and Richard
Flower, his father, played an important part in this contest in opposition to
the slavery propagandists. The vigorous and facile pen of Mr. Birkbeck was
called into requisition, and his writings were widely read, and exercised a
great influence on public opinion. In 1824, David Blackwell, then secretary-
of-state, resigned his office, and Gov. Coles, recognizing the services of Mr.
Birkbeck and his exceptional fitness for the position, appointed him in his
place, in September, 1S24. The nomination had to be confirmed by the
Senate, and that body, having a pro-slavery majority, rejected him on January
15, 1825, he having held the office only three months.
26 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IX EDWARDS COUNTY.
sonal intercourse served to loosen him in some degree from
the sect in which he was brought up. Neither did he in
dress conform to the pecuhar garb of the Society. These
were matters of deep concern to the strict ones of the
sect. He did not consider himself as belonging to the
Society of Friends, although I am not aware that he was
ever formally disowned. These were the general antece-
dents of Mr. Birkbeck before he left England.
He embarked with his family from the port of London,
on board the ship America, Capt. Heth, in April, 1817, and
arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, in the month of June, of the
same year.
Richard Flower,* the father of George Flower, resided
for many years in Hertford, the county town of Hertford-
shire, twenty miles northeast of London. There, for more
than twenty years, he carried on rather an extensive brew-
ery. Having obtained a competence, he retired from busi-
ness, and lived upon a beautiful estate, called Marden,
which he purchased, situated three miles from Hertford.
About this time, there was much uneasiness felt b\' all
persons who had to do with agriculture in an\- wa}-, whether
as landlord, tenant, or laborer. The expenses of carrying
on the long French war had introduced an artificial state
of things. Heavy taxes, an inflated paper-currency, high
price for farm produce, were circumstances with which the
people of England had been so long familiar, that they
felt as if this artificial svstem could never come to an 'end.
* Richard Flower, like all the members of the English colony, was a strong
anti-slavery and anti-convention man, and the trusted friend and correspond-
ent of Gov. Coles.
DEPRESSION OF AGRICULTURE IN EUROPE. 2/
All this was changed at the peace. Tenants could not pay
their rents; landlords were straightened; farmers who had
taken leases, under high prices of grain, were losing money
by wholesale. Laborers' wages were diminished; some
were wholly unemployed, and many had to receive paro-
chial relief. The poor-rates increased another tax on the
already-embarrassed farmer. This state of things, I have
before said, produced great uneasiness; and many farmers
and farm-laborers turned their eyes to other countries, to
escape the pressure in their native land.
The colonies of Great Britain — Australia, Canada, and the
Cape of Good Hope— had each their partisans, and emi-
grant aid-societies. A regular line of emigration was thus
established to each of these colonies. France had many
attractions — a fine climate, an amiable and courteous peo-
ple, and the distance of removal short. Land was cheap,
and a market at hand; and just that deficiency in agricult-
ural improvement to tempt an Englishman to introduce
the rotation of green crops, which had so much improved
the agriculture of Great Britain. The old crop-and-fallow
system, which formerly existed in Great Britain, at that
time extended all over France, where wheat was cultivated.
Difference of language was one great objection; but, more
than all, the number and influence of the military and the
clergy were, to persons of our republican tendencies, deci-
sive against a residence in France as civilians. The arbi-
trary conduct of some of the governors rendered a resi-
dence in distant colonies somewhat objectionable.
To persons of fastidious political tastes, the United
States of North America seemed to be the only country
28 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
left for emigration. What added much to the character of
the United States, in the eyes of the people of Europe,
was the judicious choice of her first ambassadors to the
courts of Europe. What must not that nation be, that
could send such men as Franklin and Jefferson to France,
Adams and King to Great Britain. These eminent men
were taken as samples of the talent and integrity of
Americans, giving to the mass of the Republic a higher
standard than it deserved. Men of reading read all that
was written about the country. The Declaration of Inde-
pendence, the Constitutions of the United States and of
each State, were among their reading. In these, the prin-
ciples of liberty and man's political equality are so dis-
tinctly recognized, that they really supposed them to exist.
They did not reflect that a perfect theory on paper might
be very imperfectly rendered in practice. This sometimes
happens in other things besides political constitutions, as
the following truthful anecdote will show:
A celebrated agriculturalist gave a description in one of
his published works of a new breed of pigs, which might
be kept to great profit, at the same time giving a detailed
account of their feeding and general treatment. A farmer
from a midland county, in England, hastened to London,
to acquire more precise information, and, if possible, some
of the breed. His knock at the jdoor was answered by
the lady of the house, who inquired his business. "She
was sorry he had taken the trouble to come so far, her
husband kept no pigs; his were only pigs upon paper. He
wrote to show what might be done." The farmer was left
to reflect that theorists are not always practitioners.
EMIGRANTS IN AMERICA. 29
It must not be hinted that the Constitution of the
United States and the Declaration of Independence are
ojily pigs upon paper. But certain it is that the great
principles professed are marred and controvened by the
American people. But a real liberty is found in the coun-
try, apart from all its political theories. The practical
liberty of America is found in its great space and small
population. Good land dog-cheap everywhere, and for
nothing, if you will go far enough for it, gives as much
elbow-room to every man as he chooses to take. Poor
laborers, from every country in Europe, hear of this cheap
land, are attracted toward it, perhaps without any political
opinions. They come, they toil, they prosper. This is
the real liberty of America. The people of America,
north and south, have never had the nerve to carry the
political principles on which their government was founded
into practice, and probably never will.
CHAPTER II
Mr. Flower sails for America -Reflections on the Voyage — Arrives
in New York and visits Philadelphia -Invited to Monticello by
Mr. Jefferson — Journey \A^estward — Visits Dr. Priestly, on the
Susquehanna — Lost in the Journey to Pittsburgh — From thence
to Cincinnati — The Town as he found it, and the People — The
Neave Family — Crosses the Ohio River and visits Lexington,
and also Gov. Shelby, in Lincoln County — Fording of Dick's
River — Hears of the Illinois Prairies for the first time — Visits
Nashville, Tenn. — Meets Gen. Jackson at a Horse -Race — Goes
with Gen. Ripley in a Flat-boat to New Orleans — Returning
East, visits Mr. Jfefferson at Poplar Forest, South-western Vir-
ginia — Description of his House and his Personal Appearance,
Dress, etc. — Visits Col. John Coles, father of Edward Coles, in
Albemarle County — Passes the Winter with Mr. Jefferson at
Monticello — At the Inauguration of Mr. Monroe, and meets Ed-
ward Coles for the first time — Mr. Birkbeck and his Family
arrive at Richmond, from England.
Having determined to visit America, I sailed from
Liverpool in April, 1816, in the Ship Robert Burns, Capt.
Parsons of New York. The experience of the Captain
can not be doubted, for he had crossed the Atlantic seven-
ty-five times without accident, saving the loss of a yard-
arm. We arrived in New York fifty days after leaving
Liverpool.
My emigration, or rather my jonrney — for it had not at
that time taken the decided form of emigration — was
undertaken from mixed motives; among others the dis-
turbed condition of the farming interest, and my predelic-
tion in favor of America and its Government.
THE JOURNEY AND FAREWELL. 3 1
Whoever has been brought up in the bosom of an affec-
tionate family, enjoying a fair share of refinement and
ease, possessing rather an enthusiastic and sensitive tem-
perament, will find that to leave his home and native land,
perhaps never to return, is an impressive and sorrowful
event. Standing alone on the stern of the vessel, or sur-
rounded "by unsympathizing strangers; carried on by an
irresistible power into the wide waste of w^aters, the land
of his birth receding and sinking out of sight; desolation
and gloom oppress the soul, relieved only by sea-sickness,
substituting physical for mental suffering. How different
the feelings of a family party! Kind friends accompany
them to a loving farewell. The ship contains to them all
that is cherished and dear. A ray of light and hope illu-
minates their watery way. Landing on the far-distant
shore, they revel in all the allusions of anticipated bliss.
There were no steamers and clippers in those days. In so
long a passage as fifty days, our little cabin -party — only
four of us, two Englishmen and two Frenchmen — at first
strangers, soon became as a little band of brotherhood.
At landing, this new bond was broken. Each individual
hastening to his family or friends (for the other three had
been in the United States before), the solitary stranger for
a moment stands alone. The ocean behind, and a vast
'continent before him, a sense of solitude is then experi-
enced, that has never been before and never will again be
felt. "BasTcracre, sir!" and "what hotel!" restores him to
the world and all its busy doings.
From New York, I wrote to the late President Jefferson,
to whom I had a letter of introduction from his old friend,
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
General LaFayette. A kind and courteous reply invited
me to Monticcllo, an invitation I could not at that time
accept. At Philadelphia, where I spent about six weeks,
I became intimately acquainted with that most kind-
hearted of men and active philanthropist, John Vaughan.
The business of his life was to relieve the distressed,
whether native born or foreign, and to give untiring assist-
ance to the stranger, to aid him in carrying out his plans.
To me he opened the institutions of the Cit}', and intro-
duced me to its best society.
It was with him, at one of Dr. Wistar's evening parties,
that I made the acquaintance of Mr. LeSeur, the French
naturalist. We little thought then how soon we were
destined to become neighbors in the distant West. He
at Harmony, on the great W^abash, a place then but a few
months old, and I at Albion, in Illinois, a spot neither dis-
covered nor inhabited. To Mr. Jeremiah Warder and
family I am much indebted for their cordial hospitality
and considerate kindness, which was extended to every
member of my father's family after their arrival two years
afterward.
In the first week of August, 1816, I was mounted on
horseback, pursuing my journey westward. The first point
of interest was the settlement of Dr. Priestly, on the Sus-
quehanna, now known as Sunbury. A more romantically-
beautiful situation can scarcely be imagined. At the time
he made his settlement, that was the Far- West. From the
after discovery of coal-mines, that whole district of coun-
try has undergone such a change as to be scarcely recog-
nizable. Far beyond, in the midst of wild forests, at a
I
DR. PRIESTLY S SETTLEMENT. 33
settlement forming by Dr. Dew^ese and a Mr. Phillips, an
Englishman, I spent an agreeable week in exploring the
heavy-wooded district of hemlock and oak that bordered
on the Mushanon Creek. Dr. Dewese had built an elegant
mansion, appropriate as a suburban residence for a retired
citizen, but out of place in a small clearing in one of the
heaviest- timbered and wildest districts of Pennsylvania.
But neither Dr. Dewese nor Mr." Phillips were country-bred
men. Their habits and tastes were formed in cities; and
both, I believe, soon afterward returned to the city. From
thence I made my way to Pittsburgh, through the wildest
and roughest country that I have ever seen on the Ameri-
can Continent. I was lost all day in the wood, without
road or path of any kind, and a most exciting, though soli-
tary, day it was to me. I climbed the tallest pines, only
to see an endless ocean of tree-tops, without sign of human
life. Toward night, I was relieved by a happy incident.
The distant tinkling of a small bell led me to the sight of
a solitary black mare. Dismounting, and exercising all
my horse-knowledge to give her confidence, I at length
induced her to come and smell of my hand. Seizing and
holding her firmly by the foretop with one hand, with the
other I shifted the saddle and bridle from my horse to her.
With a light halter (which I always carried round the
neck of my riding-horse) in one hand, I mounted my
estray, and gave her the rein ; in half an hour she brought
me to a small cabin buried in the forest, no other cabin
being within ten miles, and no road leading to it. So ter-
minated my first day's experience in backwoods forest-life.
It was no small job to get out of this wild solitude.
3
34 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
It was noon the next da}' before I met a man. We
greeted each other, we shook hands, we fraternized. Ah!
poor man; I should have passed you in a street, or on a
road, or, if to notice, only to shun. He was a poor Irish-
man, with a coat so darned, patched, and tattered as to be
quite a curiosity. He was one of a new settlement, a few
miles off. How I cherished him. No angel's visit could
have pleased me so well. He pointed me the course, and,
what was more, shewed me into a path. I soon afterward
passed the settlement of his poor countrymen. A more
forlorn place could never be seen.
When at Pittsburgh, to Mr. Thomas Bakewell, and
others, I was indebted for many civilities. Leaving the
then town (now city) of Pittsburgh and its smoke, I
passed in a north-western direction, to the almost - de-
serted town of Harmony, built by Rapp and his associates.
The large brick-buidings to be found in no other young
American town, now almost uninhabited, looked very £|
desolate. Rapp and his Society had removed, to form
their new settlement of Harmony, on the Great Wabash.
Further north, in the Barrens of Ohio, the settlement of
Thomas Rotch (now Kendall) was just begun. Mr. and
Mrs. Rotch, well-known members of the Society of
Friends, were from Nantucket — the Rotches of Nantucket
forming a large family connection, all extensively engaged
in the whale-fishery. After spending two or three pleas-
ant days with Mr. Rotch, I crossed the State of Ohio
diagonally, in a south-west direction, passing through
Cochocton and Chillicothe, to Cincinnati. This route
led me through the then celebrated Pickaway Plains —
PICKAWAY PLAINS — CINCINNATI. 35
SO named from tlie Pickaway Indians, whose town and
chief settlement was placed thereon. A level prairie,
about seven miles long and three broad, bounded by lofty
timber, and covered with verdure, must have presented a
grateful prospect in Indian times. Occupied by the white
man, covered with a heavy crop of ripe corn, disfigured
by zigzag fences, it now gave no inviting appearance. A
narrow road, in some places deep in mud, ran the length
of the plain. The little town of Jefferson (so called) was
nothing more than half-a-dozen log- cabins, interspersed
with coniycribs. Not a garden, nor a decent house, nor a
sober man to be found in the place. Although I had
made my sixty miles that day, and the sun was setting,
I pushed on without dismounting six miles further, to
Chillicothe, situated on the opposite bank of the Scioto
River. In crossing the river that night, not being aware
of its size, and not knowing the ford, my journey had well-
nigh found a watery termination. Sometimes swimming
and sometimes wading, I was long in great jeopardy.
At length, arriving safely on the other shore, I was well
prepared by sixteen hours of almost continuous riding,
for supper and a sound night's rest.
Cincinnati, then a town of five or six thousand inhabi-
tants, rapidly increasing and incumbered with materials
for building, presented no very attractive appearance. In
a small cabin, on the bank of the Ohio, about two miles
above Cincinnati, were living two young men, brothers,
with an aged and attached female who had been their
nurse, and now kept their house. Mr. Donaldson, their
father, had retired from the English bar, to a farm in
36 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Wales, his two sons and their faithful nurse had emigrated
to America. I was requested, before leaving England, to
see them if possible, and here I found them. With Dr.
Drake, then a young man, afterward a celebrated physi-
cian, I became acquainted; 1 had boarded with his sisters
in Philadelphia. Mr. Jeremiah Neave, a friend of Mr.
Birkbeck, was at the time a well-known citizen of Cincin-
nati. We became acquainted. He gave me the hospi-
talities of his house. Mr. Neave, although a Quaker, was
most ultra in his politics. An English Democrat, born in
the political hot-bed of the. French Revolution, he partook
of the violent partizanship of those times. Against kings
and priests he bore a sore grudge. The family of Mr.
Neave have long since grown up, and are prominent and
influential citizens of Cincinnati.
At this time I could learn nothing of the prairies; not
a person that I saw knew anything about them. I had
read of them in Imlay's work, and his vivid description
had struck me forcibly. All the country that I had passed
through was heavily timbered. I shrank from the idea of
settling in the midst of a wood of heavy timber, to hack
and hew my way to a little farm, ever bounded by a wall
of gloomy forest.
Crossing the State of Kentucky to Lexington, I was
much attracted by the beauty of the blue -grass farms.
In my short stay at Lexington, I became acquainted
with Dr. Short, Mr. Trotter, and Mr. Saunders, — the
latter an earnest and enterprising speculator and spirited
farmer and introducer of improved stock. From Lex-
ington I went into Lincoln County, to see Governor
SWIMMING DICK S RIVER. 3/
Shelby. Before reaching his residence I had to cro.ss
Dick's River. This was a pecuh'ar stream, unHke any
other that I had crossed. It ran over a bed of Hme-
stone boulders as rapidly as a mill-race, and the ford
was a curve, to be traced only by the eye of the stranger?
by the deeper boiling of the water over its rough and
rocky bottom. I met a man, three miles from the ford,
who gave me warning of its force, and of its deep and
drowning water on either hand if I missed the ford. I
hesitated, fearing for the steadiness of my nerves. My
head swims in rapid water; and I can not tell whether I
am going up stream or down. I cautiously entered, keep-
ing rather a tight rein on my little nag ; a precaution
unnecessary, perhaps; for to turn round was impossible
when once in that rush of water. The water was soon
over my saddle-bow, while the haunches of my horse
were higher than his withers. Another step and the
pomel of my saddle was dry, but the water was running
over my crupper. In this way we slowly and hazardously
went, the water beating hard against us the whole time.
We came out safely it is true; but I confess to have felt
more fear, and exhaustion from fear, than at any other
period in all my journeyings. But the fording of streams
great and small is among my most disagreeable experi-
ences in American horseback-travel. It did impress me
strongly no doubt ; for to this period of my life the dark
and rushing water of Dick's River occasionally troubles
me in my dreams.
Governor Shelby settled in the place he then occupied
when it was a canebrake, and the buffalo all around him.
38 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Old Governor Shelby was a decided character — an honest,
hasty man, somewhat hot-headed. He commanded the
Kentucky horse- volunteers during the War of i8i2. Gen-
eral Harrison was explaining" to his officers the tactics to
be observed at an approaching engagement. "I know
nothing about your tactics," said old Shelby, "but show me
the enemy, and my boys shall whip him." It was at Gov-
ernor Shelby's house that I met the first person who con-
firmed me in the existence of the prairies. It was Mr.
Shelby's brother. He had just come from some point on
the Mississippi, across the prairies of Illinois to the Ohio
River, about Shawneetown.
This was enough; I felt assured of where they were,
and that, w^hen sought for, they could be found. It was
then too late in the season for me to go to explore them.
It was now the last week in October, and I could not
expect to see them other than as a mass of burnt ground,
or covered with snow. So I decided to proceed with my
journey southward and eastward, and endeavor to reach
Poplar Forest, a possession of Mr. Jefferson's, on the west-
ern frontier of Virginia, before Christmas. A few days
more and I was at Nashville, the capital of Tennessee.
Before going to Nashville, I swerved to the right to get a
peep at the Mammoth Cave, some of the wonders of which
were just beginning to be talked about. The country
about it was uninhabited and wild. Mr. Miller, the only
small farmer near, went with me there with half-a-dozen
candles in his hand. We had not traveled more than a
hundred yards before I was satisfied with my exploration.
I saw enough of the nature of the rock to understand the
NASHVILLE— GEN. JACKSON. 39
possibility of its extent. I had no wish to disturb the
millions of bats that were hanging over our heads, with
our slender provisions for exploration. The accounts of its
extent were not generally credited at that time in America;
and, upon my return to England, I was asked by well-
informed men whether Americans were not playing on
the credulity of Europeans.
Approaching the town of Nashville, my horse showed
unusual signs of sprightliness. With head and tail erect,
he went with a bounding step, and seemed to recog-
nize the spot. A negro boy rode up to my side, and
said: "Sir, where did you get that horse.'" "At Phila-
delphia, a place a long way off. Do you know the
horse ? " " Lors, yes." He belonged to Major some-
body, I forget the name, who rode him East, the year
before, and sold him. When at Nashville, some periodical
race came off. I rode out with the crowd to the course.
Generals Ripley and Jackson were pointed out to me; the
former of fair complexion and light hair, rather a young
man, carrying his head stiffly from a wound in the neck;
the latter an older man, lean and lank, bronzed in com-
plexion, deep-marked countenance, grizzly-gray hair, and
a restless and fiery eye. Jackson had a horse on the
course, which was beaten that day. General Jackson was
a whole man in anything he undertook. He was a horse-
racer that day, and thoroughly he played his part. The
recklessness of his bets, his violent gesticulations and im-
precations outdid all competition. If I had then been
told that he was to be a future president of the United
States, I should have thought it a very strange thing.
.^._^_ •^■■■i^i^Bi^HiHHBBttii^kiaMMliM
40 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Years afterward, when I knew him an older and, I pre-
sume, a wiser man, I often thought of the scenes in which
my first impressions of him were made.
I was some da}'s in doubt whether to accept the invita-
tion of General Ripley to accompany him in his flat-boat,
then prepared to take him and his staff to New Orleans.
He proposeci that, after reaching New Orleans, I should
visit the prairies of Oppelousas, and that, should I return
to Virginia, I should do so by way of the Choctaw 'and
Chickasaw nations, in' Mississippi and Alabama, over the
tract that the Abbe Raynal had formerly traveled. The
offer was tempting, but I decided to make my visit to Mr.
Jefferson. A cold wind and a slight fall of snow warned
me that there was no time to be lost in passing the Ten-
nessee Mountains. I fell in with a party of four Virginia
planters and a North-Carolina doctor, returning homeward
from an excursion into Missouri. We traversed the State
of Tennessee at a rapid rate from west to east, and entered
the western part of Virginia the latter part of November.
A part of the region we traveled w'as mountainous, and, in
a great degree, peopled by a very poor and, a portion of
them, a very bad description of people. But a few years
previous, it was the resort of notorious robbers and cut-
throats.
One fellow, I think named Harp, was the terror of the
country. The governor offered fifty dollars for his head.
After many ineffectual attempts at capture, in a death-
struggle with a man as desperate as himself. Harp's foot
slipped. He fell with his adversary upon him, who, taking
advantage of his position, cut off his head with his butcher-
THE JOURNEY — CRITICAL POSITION. 41
knife, put it into his saddle-bags, rode off with it to the
governor, claimed and got his reward. Even at the time
of my journey, a traveler was occasionally missed.
After our second day's journey, we stopped for the night
at the foot of the mountains, at a place of very suspicious
appearance. The men of the house had not the right look
with them. There appeared to be no one ostensible land-
lord. We observed four different men, who came in during
the evening, eyeing us carefully and exchanging but few
words. The wretched negroes were in rags, and their
every movement indicated marked fear and. dread. The
white woman, so called, that poured out the coffee, in
appearance and demeanor, seemed to occupy no higher
position than the negroes. A stack of eight rifles, occupy-
ing a corner of the room, were one by one withdrawn
during the evening. The long shed-like room we occupied
was left for travelers; the family or company of discrcdit-
ables that occupied this establishmfcnt living apart in
cabins at a distance from the travelers' room. I laid down
in my clothes, doubling up my coat and putting it under
my pillow, as my custom was, resolved to keep watch
during the night. My companions (one or other of them)
were awake until morning.
One after the other, each of our hosts (if they might be
so called) dropped in on some pretence, and soon went out
again. We were watching and being watched, and I think
each party was conscious of the fact. But nature would
not entirely resign her dues. It is hard to keep awake a
whole night, after a day's fatigue on horseback. Before
morning I was in a sound sleep, from which I was aroused
42 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
by my companions for an early start, as they said aloud.
As our bill had been paid the night before, nothing hin-
dered us from going to the stable for our horses. Not one
of them had touched their oats or corn. They looked
badly, and one came out rather lame in a hind leg. The
mountain road was steep. The morning's mist did not
permit us to see ten steps before us. Our progress at first
was necessarily slow, and made slower by the lameness of
one of the horses. When at a sufficient distance, we made
a general halt. After a whispered consultation by my
companions, the doctor, as he was called (as much a horse
as human doctor from his appearance), examined the lame
horse, and pronounced him "string cress'd." This opera-
tion is performed by taking a thread of silk or a long hair
from a horse's tail and tying it rather tight around the ten-
der part of the fetlock, just over the hoof, but under the
short hairs that drop over the crown of the hoof, and in
this way the thread is concealed. Inflammation accom-
panied by lameness speedily ensues. The doctor said the
horse had been cress'd, but the string had been taken off
before leaving the stable. ' From this time onward, we were
on the lookout, and kept close order. When beyond the
distance of apprehended danger, our tongues were loosened,
and many stories of robberies and murders were told. |
The horses not eating was accounted for by their teeth
being greased, which, it is said, will effectually prevent a
horse from eating. I had traveled a thousand miles alone;
I now felt satisfied with company. The road was moun-
tainous and rocky, the accommodations bad, and the peo-
ple uneducated, and frequently intemperate — in short of
POPLAR FOREST — MR. JEFFERSON. 43
the class called "poor whites," although many were not
without means. We entered the State of Virtrinia at
Abington. I found Mr. Jefferson at his Poplar - Forest
estate, in the western part of the State of Virginia. His
house was built after the fashion of a French chateau.
Octagon rooms, floors of polished oak, lofty ceilings, large
mirrors, betokened his French taste, acquired by his long
residence in France. Mr. Jefferson's figure was rather
majestic: tall (over six feet), thin, and rather high-shoul-
dered; manners, simple, kind, and courteous. His dress,
in color and form, was quaint and old-fashioned, plain and
neat — a dark pepper-and-salt coat, cut in the old quaker
fashion, with a single row of large metal buttons, knee-
breeches, gray-worsted stockings, shoes fastened b}' large
metal buckles — such was the appearance of Jefferson when
I first made his acquaintance, in 1816. His two grand-
daughters — Misses Randolph — well-educated and accom-
plished young ladies, were staying with him at the time.
After a brief stay at Poplar Forest, I proceeded to the
house of Col. John Coles, in Albemarle County. Messrs.
Isaac and Walter Coles, brothers, lived with him. Mr.
Edward Coles, the youngest brother, was then in England,
forming an acquaintance with Mr. Birkbeck. The sister.
Miss Coles, had just been married. Her husband, Mr.
Stevenson, then a young lawyer, afterward minister to
Great Britain, was then on a bridal visit.*
* Col. John Coles was an officer of the Revolution, and belonged to the
highest type of the old-school Virginians. At his plantation, called Ennis-
corthy, he dispensed a liberal and generous hospitality, and he had, among
his guests, many of the most distinguished citizens of the Commonwealth in
that day. His oldest son, Isaac Coles, was the private-secretary of Mr. Jeffer-
44
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
The greater part of the winter I passed at Monticello,
the permanent residence of Mr. Jefferson, in Albemarle
County. The chief charm of the visit was in the ev-enino-
conversations with Mr. Jefferson," wlio gave me the inner
son, during his two terms of the presidency, and his brother, Edward Coles,
subsequently governor of Illinois, was for six years the private secretary of
Mr. Madison. Enniscorthy is on the Green Mountains, in Albemarle County,
about fifteen miles from Charlottesville, the county seat. The whole surround-
ing country is beautiful, and, at the epoch of Mr. P^lower's visit, the neighbor-
ing plantations were in the highest state of cultivation. The proprietors were
generally men of wealth, education, and refinement, who devoted themselves
to agriculture, con amore. The large and elegant mansion on the Estouteville
plantation, adjoining Enniscorthy, was planned and built by Mr. Nelson, the
architect of the University of Virginia, brought out from England by Mr.
Jefferson, 'i he attention of the visitor to Enniscorthy is attracted by a small
cemetery, in which were buried many members of the Coles' family. Here
also repose the remains of Andrew Stevenson, the speaker of the House of
Representatives for eight years, and afterward minister to Great Britain.* His
second wife was Sarah Coles, the daughter of Col. John Coles and sister of
Gov. Edward Coles, a lady of remarkable beauty and accomplishments. Hon.
John White Stevenson, ex-governor and ex-United States senator from Ken-
tucky, is the son of Andrew Stevenson.
* Nothing can be more interesting than the life-like sketch of Mr. Jefferson
as Mr. Flower first saw him, in 1816, at Poplar Forest. Mr. Jefferson
was passionately fond of agriculture, and never so thoroughly happy as when
overlooking his plantations. His large possessions at Monticello did not seem
to satisfy him, and he purchased an estate in Bedford County, which he called
Poplar Forest, and which was but a short distance east of Lynchburg.
The visit to Monticello of Mr. Flower, with his rare intelligence, his literary
tastes, and his knowledge of men and things in Europe, must have been in-
teresting to both parties. It is melancholy to reflect on the changes which
have taken place at Monticello since Mr. Flower's visit in 1S16-7. That
home, of the "author of the Declaration of Independence, the statute of
Virginia for religious freedom, and the father of the University of Virginia,"
known the world over almost as widely as Mount \'ernon, has gone into the
hands of strangers, and fallen into ruin and decay. Persons from distant
States and countries, holding the memory of Mr. Jefferson in reverence and
affection, in visiting Monticello, now find^the house which he built, and in
which he lived and died, closed to all comers.
* Personal observation.
I
AT WASHINGTON — BIRKBECK S ARRIVAL. 45
history of events, before only known to me, as to the
world generally, in the published records or outside history,
which is all that the public is generally allowed to see,
I was much attracted by the features of the country, and
by the climate of Western Virginia. But the brand of
slavery was upon the land. Dilapidated fences, decaying
homesteads, worn-out land everywhere met the eye, giving
an uninviting aspect to a country perhaps more favored
by nature thkn any other portion of the Union.
Early in the spring, I was present at the inauguration of
James Monroe as president of the United States. At
the house of Mr. Madison, I saw, for the first time, Mr.
Edward Coles, who had just returned from Great Britain.
I again returned to Philadelphia, after a nine-months' ab-
sence, having accomplished a journey of two thousand
miles, without loss of health or accident, and without dis-
turbance or dispute with any human being. I was staying
with my friends at Philadelphia, in some doubt whether to
return to England or to remain a while longer and see
something more. I had almost decided to return, when I
unexpectedly received a letter informing me of the arrival
of Mr. Birkbeck and his family at Richmond. From my
numerous acquaintance, Philadelphia had become my
American home. It is one of the painful experiences of a
traveler to be torn, perhaps forever, from new friends, from
whom he has received many civilities and much kindness.
It is like tearing up a plant that has just taken fresh root.
There were, staying in I'hiladelphia, two young men, one
from Norfolk, England, another from London, who in-
tended to go Westward with me, should I so decide; but,
46 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTV
during the winter, tiieir destinations were altered. One
had received an army appointment in the East-Indies, the
other to fill some situation in Australia. We all three
walked together to the wharf. The bells of the steam-
boats, as they simultaneously struck their warning for
departure, were to us the knell-note of a life-long separa-
tion. We shook each other by the hand for the last time.
I stepped on board the Baltimore boat, they on board the
one bound for New York; and we were lost to each other
forever more in this world. My first solitary journey was
now ended, and a new experience in travel about to begin.
CHAPTER III.
Joins Mr. Birkbeck and Family in Richmond, Va. — Miss Andrews,
afterward Mrs. Flower — Decides to go Westward from Richmond
— Incidents of the Trip — Meets with Mr. Sloo, U. S. Land-Officer
at Shawneetown, who conducts the Party to Illinois — They stop
at Gen. Harrison's, at North Bend — At Vincennes — "Painted
Warriors, Bedecked Squaws, and Bedizened Pappooses" — Mr.
Birkbeck's Daughters and Miss Andrews — Difficuities of the
Journey bravely met — Mr. Birkbeck proposes Marriage to Miss
Andrews — Offer Declined — Leads to Unpleasant Results — The
• Party first Establishes itself at Princeton, Indiana — A Visit to
the Shaker Settlement at Busro — Account of the French-Cana-
dian Settlement at Cattinet — Birkbeck and Flower start out in
Search of the "Prairies" — Pass through New Harmony, George
Rapp's Colony — Description of the Place — Cross the Wabash
and enter the Territory of Illinois, and reach the " Big-Prairie "
Settlement — " Boltenhouse Prairie," a Beautiful Sight — Crossing
the Wabash into Illinois Territory — Hard Ride to Birk's Prairie
— The Prairie Flies — Captain Birk, a Specimen Pioneer — His
Cabin and his Family — Intense Prejudice against the British —
Journey Continued — Reflections on the Pioneers — Long Prairie
reached, where the English Settlement was afterward made —
Return to Princeton — Timber-land around Boltenhouse Prairie
entered at Shawneetown — Mr. Birkbeck to remain and Mr-
Flower to return to England to procure more Funds and beat
up for Recruits — The Decision made.
At Richmond, I joined Mr. Birkbeck and his family,
composed of nine individuals. Himself aged about fifty-
four, his second son, Bradford, a youth of sixteen, his third
son, Charles, a lad of fourteen, a little servant -boy, "Gil-
48 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
lard ", who had lived with Mr. Birkbeck all his life, about
thirteen years old, and with the party was a cousin of
mine, and of my age — twenty-nine, Mr. lilias Pym Ford-
ham. Of the females, Miss Eliza Birkbeck was nineteen,
Miss Prudence Birkbeck, sixteen, and Miss Eliza Julia
Andrews, twenty-five.
Miss Andrews (now Mrs. Flower) was the second daugh-
ter of Rev. Mordicah Andrews of Eigeshall, in the county
of Essex, England. There was great friendship between
the members of Mr. Birkbeck's family and Miss Andrews,
and, latterly, she stood almost in the relation of an elder
daughter. Being on a visit to Wanborough, at the time
Mr. Birkbeck decided on emigrating to America, she con-
sented to accompany them, and under his protection to
share the adventures that awaited them in the new world.
A little orphan girl, Elizabeth Garton, completes the list
of Mr. Birkbeck's family in America, and with me added
to them made up the party that made their way into
Illinois.
These were the original band of explorers. Of this party
thus composed forty years ago, but one is now living in the
Settlement — the little poor boy (now old man with large
family and independent property) Gillard. Yet, consider-
ing the length of time, the many risks and dangers they
encountered, a large proportion of this little band are
living. Three are dead, seven are living and widely scat-
tered : one in England, two in Mexico, one in Australia,
two in Indiana, and one in Illinois. Turning our' eyes
from the scattered remnant now standing on the four
cjuarters of the globe, we will proceed on our journey.
GOING WESTWARD. 49
After consultation, we decided to go westward, exactly
where was uncertain. The journey to Pittsburgh by
stage was a rough affair, in those days. But rough as it
was the convenience of a stage-coach was to be found no
farther. From some accident to the stage, the whole
party were obliged to walk twelve miles into Pittsburgh.
By descending the river Ohio in an "Ark", we should see
nothing of the country, and we had no fixed point to go
to. It was from this point that our journey of exploration
may have said to have begun. Each individual of our
party of ten was to be furnished with a horse and its
equipments. An underblanket for the horse, a large
blanket on the seat of the saddle for the rider, a pair of
well-filled saddle-bags, all secured by a surcingle, a great-
coat or cloak, with umbrella strapped behind, completed
the appointments for each person. The purchase of the
horses devolved upon me. In three days I had them all
mounted. Imagine our cavalcade performing its journey
day by day across the then wilderness states of Ohio and
Indiana.
The omens of our first day's journey were not auspi-
cious. Crossing a bridge made of large logs, over a creek
emptying into the Ohio River, one of the logs was missing,
leaving a gap nearly two feet wide, showing the water
twenty feet below. My horse, young and inexperienced,
leaped high and fell, rolling over me, and falling into the
Ohio River, twenty feet below. She went down out of
sight. In a few seconds she rose again, and with some
difficulty, was saved from drowning and secured, with no
other loss than a broken 'umbrella and a soaking to the
4
50 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
contents of the saddle-bags. Farther on, Bradford Birk-
beck's horse took fright and ran furiously with him
through the woods, endangering Hfe and hmb of the rider.
Luckily the girths broke and spilled everything, -leaving
the rider, fortunately, with whole bones, but with some
bruises.
The regular days' journey, steadily pursued, soon broke
in both horse and rider. In fine weather and hard roads,
it was very pleasant, no remarkable fatigue felt, the party
kept well together, chatting agreeably by the way. At
other times, from excessive heat or some atmospheric
change, a general languor prevarled, and some dropped
behind at a slower pace. The party would be sometimes
strung out, one behind the other, for three or four miles.
The horses, too, became spiritless and dull, so as to require
a touch of the whip or spur. On such occasions, nothing
brought us into order like a loud clap of thunder and a
drenching shower of rain. The privations on the journey
were many. The taverns, as they were called, but, in
reality, often mere shanties, were sometimes destitute of
either door or window, affording only a place on the floor
to spread cloak or blanket. The hot sun, the sudden
storms, accompanied by torrents of rain, thunder and light-
ning, dangers imminent from crossing swollen and rapid
streams were incidents of travel, borne not only with equa-
nimity but cheerfulness by every member of the party.
So the journey wore along.
At Cincinnati, we were entertained in the hospitable
house of Mr. Jeremiah Neave. Before leaving the city, we.
became acquainted with a Mr. Sloo, register of the newly-
INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY. 5 I
opened land-office at Shavvneetown, in the Territory of Illi-
nois. He gave us a more distinct account of the prairies
in his land-district. He was going to Illinois on horseback,
and offered to accompany and conduct us there. By his
advice, we added a pack-horse to our already-numerous
train; for the journey through the wilderness of Indiana
would be attended by more discomforts than the track
through Ohio from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. Our first
halt, after leaving the city, was at the house of a friend of
Mr. Sloo's, at North-Bend — General Harrison. I thought
it rather a cool proceeding to introduce such a strong
party of strangers to the house and family of an absent
friend. The pack-horse was long in arriving. Bradford
had his difficulties; the pack turned in the streets of Cin-
cinnati, dropping a blanket here and a coffee-pot there, the
horse walking on with the greatest indifference, with the
pack swinging under his belly, strewing its contents from
one end of the street to the other, to the mirth of the
spectators and amid the jeers and jibes of all the urchins
of the place. Perseverance conquers all things. Bradford
gathered up his traps and joined us late at North-Bend.
We were very kindly received by Mrs. Harrison, and took
our departure the next day. Cabins now became more
distant to each other, roads deep in black mud, the forest
more unbroken, dark, and gloomy. The additional blank-
ets and food on the pack-horse were often needed. About
two-thirds of the way across Indiana, the road forked.
Mr. Sloo took the southern road, pointing to the lower
ferry on the Wabash, leading to Shawneetown. We con-
tinued due west on the road to Vincennes.
52 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
One sultry evening, when in the deep forest, with our
Hne extended for two or three miles, black clouds suddenly
gathered up, extinguishing what light there was. Thun-
der, lightning, and rain descended and continued, accom-
panied by violent wind. The storm came so suddenly
that the stragglers in the rear were driven into the
woods, and there had to stay. Myself and three or four
at the head of the line pushed on and reached a cabin.
By noon, the next day, all had got together again.
Just before leaving the timber to enter the prairie, on
which the town of Vincennes stands, we met an Indian on
horseback. A new blanket wrapped around him, leggins
and moccasins adorned with beads, a bandage round the
head sustaining a bunch of feathers; his face and breast
painted ochre-red, with tomahawk and rifle, a stalwart
savage was he. Others sat in groups among the bushes,
cooling their legs in the lagoons of water, or engaged in
conversation with each other. Others lay scattered on the
ground, some asleep and some dead drunk. As we pro-
ceeded their numbers increased. Painted warriors, be-
decked squaws, bedizened pappooses, all were there.
They had come in to take their treaty-stipend and traffic
with the agents and traders that lived in Vincennes. They
were a part of the valiant band that surprised Harrison on
the battle-ground of Tippecanoe, and had nearly over-
powered him. Though fighting hard and inflicting great
loss upon Harrison's army, they lost the battle, and with it
their prestige and their country! They came in now not
as supplicants, but painted defiantly! Their look and
manner plainly showed what was the feeling of their
AT VINCENNES, INDIANA. 53
hearts. They only wanted the opportunity to tomahawk
the inhabitants and burn the town. Unfortunate people!
their courage broken, their country lost, their numbers
diminishing, starvation their present doom, and utter ex-
tinction a speedy certainty.
At the \Vell-known tavern of Colonel LaSalle, we quar-
tered ourselves for some time, resting ourselves and horses,
and looking at farms in the environs of the town. The
great Wabash seemed to be the terminus of emigration.
The people from the Eastern States, that were pouring in,
chiefly found locations on the east bank of the Wabash,
toward Terre Haute. Even here, where the river Wabash
is the dividing line between Indiana and Illinois, nothing
seemed to be known of the prairies, excepting the "trace,"
that is, the road or traveled way that crossed Illinois from
Vincennes in Indiana, to St. Louis in Missouri. To ride
that alone was then thought to be a perilous affair.
Here was a period to our progress. We had heretofore
been traveling continuously, and every one of us had ex-
hibited an alacrity in prosecuting our journey with singular
perseverance and assiduity. Good -breeding and good
tempers had ever prevailed. Each yielded his own to the
comfort of others. Youth, which accepts present enjoy-
ment and rejects fears for the future, had much to do with
the buoyancy of spirits which seldom failed us. Six of
our party were under twenty, three were under thirty, and
one, although advanced to fifty-four, was active, intelligent,
and strong. We were not an ordinary party of country
folks; the men looking only for a rich piece of bottom-
land, and the women for the best milk-cow. Mr. Birk-
54 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY,
beck's daughters, well-educated young ladies, of good
sense and refinement, were most agreeable companions.
Prudence, the youngest daughter, rather small and deli-
cate, a brunette, with face and head of intelligence and
character, her remarks were piquant, full of jest and mirth-
enlivening conversation. Her elder sister Eliza, better
grown and plump, with that fair -and -red English com-
plexion so seldom seen here, was of graver mien and per-
haps of deeper feeling, formed an agreeable contrast in
conversation to the more lively sallies of her younger sis-
ter. Miss Andrews, a little older, w^as in intellect and
character more matured and of greater experience in life.
As the head of her brother's house in London, her knowl-
edge in household affairs and domestic economy was more
perfect. Her intelligence and reading, and, above all, more
general and frequent intercourse with good society, gave
her a practical knowledge of life necessarily superior to
tiiose of her youthful companions.
With these agreeable ladies our time never hung heavy.
Conversation never slacked, enmd was never known. If
any one of us was detained by accident or indisposition,
the hand of a kind female friend was ever extended for
our relief. I do n't think that any traveling party, consti-
tuted as ours w^as, ever accomplished so much or pursued
their journey and its objects, despite of its difficulties, with
more perseverance than ours. I am sure none ever pre-
served their tempers better, nor gave offices of kindness
with more good -will, none could have a more sincere
friendship and regard for each other, and none could
enjoy each other's company more than we did.
WHAT TOOK PLACE ON JOURNEY. 55
It is not surprising in a company so constituted and so
situated, that feelings of attachment should have grown
up with a strength and fervor perhaps unconscious to
themselves. Whilst traveling, the daily business of the
road occupied our attention. The care of the horses, the
repair of their equipments, recording our day's travel,
inquiries of the road in order to avoid its difficulties and
dangers, gave full occupation to the men. To pack their
saddle-bags, arrange their own bed, and procure little
comforts for the whole party, which men seldom think of,
but which our ladies 'never forgot, all to be done in our
short halts, or after a whole day's ride, kept the mind and
body in full occupation.
With bodily repose the mind becomes more active, and
perhaps perception of the feelings becomes more distinct.
We had felt the inconveniences of the sparcely-settled
country we had passed over. Perhaps, as we stood on the
vast uninhabited wilds we were soon to enter, an instinc-
tive sense of individuality encountering its solitude and
manifold labors, vaguely presented itself to each indi-
vidual. A few words spoken from one person to another
dissolved the happy charm which had hitherto surrounded
us, and drew a veil from the eyes of many individuals of
the party.
Mr. Birkbeck made an offer of marriage to Miss An-
drews, and the feeling not being reciprocal, was respect-
fully but decidedly declined, although urged by great
strength of feeling. This incident, purely personal and, un-
der other circumstances unimportant, disturbed somewhat
our little party; and even carried its influence to a distant
56 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
period. Some constraint and reserve now took the place
of the free flow of expression and easy intercourse which
had accompanied us during all our journey. Little eratic
movements might be observed. The smoker would some-
times take a long session in silence, and again throw down
his cigar after the first whifif. One young lady would take
two or three extra cups of tea; another would not touch
a drop. Ominous symptoms. Avowals and explanations
between individuals may be imagined but not described.
For a short time, things were a little embarrassing.
I proposed for the hand of Miss Andrews, was accepted,
and was subsequently married to her, at Vincennes, in
1 8 17, at the house of Colonel LaSalle. The venerable
Elihu Stout (who at a great age died last year), a jus-
tice-of-the-peace, and editor of the only newspaper pub-
lished at that time, was the officiating-magistrate. Present;
Mr. Birkbeck, as father to the bride, and Mr. Elias Pym
Fordham and Judge Blake as invited guests and witnesses.
We immediately made arrangements for prosecuting
the final portion of our journey into that part of Illinois
recommended by Mr. Sloo. We agreed to establish the
family at Princeton, the county -town of Gibson County,
thirty miles south of Vincennes. For this purpose, Mr.
Birkbeck and his family immediately went there, and my
wife and I were to join him in a few days.
After breakfast, Mrs. Flower and I mounted our nags
and rode to the village and settlement of the Shakers,
some twenty-five miles north. Few people then came to
Vincennes without making a visit to the Shaker Settle-
ment.
SHAKER SETTLEMENT AT BUSRO. 5/
Besides a special interest pertaining to a sect or associa-
tion of peculiar tenets or opinions, there is a general inter-
est attached to all associations formed with a view of
avoiding some of the evils of life but too common in gene-
ral society.
Arriving at Busro, the Sisters took charge of Mrs.
Flower, the Brothers took care of me. When brought
to dinner the attending brother placed me on one side of
a long table (on which was spread a most excellent meal),
the attentive Sisters bringing in Mrs. Flower, placed her
exactly opposite to me. We kept a grave face in our
novel situation, as became us in so grave and orderly a
place. Busro had the good cultivation, neatness, and
thrift usually found in Shaker settlements. Any society
of bachelors and spinsters, without the expense, care, or
trouble of children, and discarding all personal love, may
well be orderly, neat, and rich, and generally are so. If
they are satisfied under that arrangement, let nobody
gainsay them. I was told that a few backwoods families
occasionally joined them. The parents seldom perma-
nently, the children frequently remained. This suited all
parties. The old people of confirmed old-world habits,
and not always the best of them, usually left. The chil-
dren finding good food, good clothes, and good treatment,
to all of which perhaps they had been strangers, more
willingly remained, and the Shakers found it easier to
impress the minds of children with their peculiar views.
Whatever may be thought of the tenets of the Shakers,
they are peaceable, sober, and industrious; but they were
occasionally badly treated. During the War of 1812, the
58 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Kentucky volunteers, on their way north, made Busro
their camping-ground. They burnt fences and fruit trees
for firewood, killed many cattle, insulted and reviled the
inhabitants, and by force drove one or two of the members
of the Society before them, and kept them as slaves doing
menial service during the campaign. When they returned
they encamped in the same place, doing more mischief,
indulging in their barbarous sport of roasting alive a fat
liog,
To a well -worded and temperate petition from the
people of Busro, asking some compensation for the de-
struction of property by troops in the pay of the United
States, Congress turned a deaf car. There is but one
species of property — property in man, that the United
States Government will exert itself to preserve; in that it
is vigilant enough.
Passing on our way to Princeton, about two miles from
Vincennes, .stands the village of Cattinet, differing in its
houses, fences, implements of husbandry, vehicles, inhabi-
tants, and domestic animals from any other American
village. Its houses are built of thick slabs, or puncheons
set on end. The roofs covered with elm bark, in wide and
long pieces, reaching from ridge to eaves. The garden
fences are pickets or long posts, pointed at the top and
firmly planted in the ground, close to each other, side by
side. Their one-horse carts, or those drawn by oxen,
were made without a particle of iron; the harness without
leather or iron, excepting the bit that goes in the animal's
mouth. A shuck collar, two pieces of wood for a cart-
saddle, rawhide for traces, and for strings and straps, hick-
CATTINET — HALF-BREEDS AND INDIANS. 59
ory bark. When drawn by oxen, the load is pulle(i by a
Httle yoke fastened to the head of the cattle, as in France.
The inhabitants are half-breeds between French and Ind-
ian. Some of them catching the bad points of both par-
ents are disagreeable to behold. A few exhibit a style of
beauty peculiarly their own. The men lived chiefly by
hunting in Illinois, formerly the buffalo, elk, and beaver;
at the time I speak of, deer, turkey, raccoon, and opposum.
They cultivated corn enough to keep a horse or a pair of
oxen. They live chiefly upon an excellent Indian dish
called succotash, composed of corn and beans. They are
of the complexion of the "Bois-brule" of the Far-West.
The lank curs, half-dog half-wolf, lurk with thief-like look
about the door. Here the wild and the domestic cat live
together in harmony with pet 'possum, coon, and squirrel.
There is a vital spirit in Cattinet. As it was in the
beginning so it is now. It is as old as Philadelphia. An
American village would long ago run to ruin, or grown
into a town or city. Riding on the road in front of
the houses, I saw a matronly woman somewhat better
dressed, walking with a composed and dignified step.
Her complexion and features told me whence she came.
She had the peculiar saffron color which I have noticed in
the aged women in the south of France, who have been
exposed to the weather. Saluting with my hat, I asked,
in her own language, "Are you from France, madam.?"
She replied in her native tongue, "And who are you, sir,
that are so inquisitive.?" "An Englishman, madam."
"Ah," said she, "then there are two of us;" meaning that
we were the only two of unmixed blood in the village.
60 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTV.
At Princeton, we first boarded at a tavern kept by Basil
Brown. The party being large, ten persons and eleven
horses, we soon found, even at the moderate charge of two
dollars a week for each person, and the same for each
horse, that the amount could be reduced and more comfort
obtained by keeping house, and by sending our spare
horses into the country, to rest and grow fat on green corn
and pumpkins.
Princeton, surrounded by heavy timber and rich land,
the delight of Americans and dread of Europeans, who are
incapable of clearing off timber to advantage, but ten miles
from the ferries on the Wabash, and twenty-five from Har-
mony, suited us well for a temporary home. By the time
we arrived there, Mr. Birkbeck had already agreed to rent
a house of sufficient capacity, and my wife, as senior, was
soon installed as housekeeper to the large family, which
post she maintained whilst Mr. Birkbeck and myself were
on journeys of exploration in Illinois, and up to the time
when it became necessary for me to go to England.
Mr. Birkbeck, myself, and his son Bradford mounted
again, determined to find these ever-receding prairies. We
went yet thirty miles south to Harmony, where three hun-
dred organized laborers from Harmony, Pa., .were in their
third year of toil and improvement, clearing the heavy
timber off the low and rich lands of the Wabash valley.
It was surprising to see the extent of clearing accom-
plished, and the number of buildings erected by this band
of organized laborers; and equally surprising and pleasing
to see the neatness, order, plenty, and apparent content
that reigned. The long rows of neat cabins, each with a
NEW HARMONY, INDIANA. 6l
small, well-fenced garden in front, perfect in its vegetable
culture and gay with flowers; the women in their quaint
costume, well made of plain and strong materials of their
own manufacture, neat and clean, altogether presented a
striking contrast to the discomforts of many of the individ-
ual first -settlers, detached and scattered far apart, where
nature seemed to overpower the first puny eftbrts of her
individual invaders. Contrasted with the cabins of the
people, stood the large brick -mansion of George Rapp,
completed, fenced, furnished, and occupied.*
Opposite to Harmony, on the Wabash bottom, on the
Illinois side of the river, a tract of about five miles wide
was occupied by a full and heavy growth of cane. Across
this bottom and through this cane the Harmonites had cut
a road to the high lands of Illinois, to unite with roads and
settlements made and to be made. Passing along this
i:oad, the traveler had on either hand a wall of impenetra-
ble verdure, in many places, and for a long distance, full
* Though situated in different States, and twenty-five miles apart, the Eng-
lish Colony and New Harmony had, in the earlier days, much in common.
The settlement at New Harmony, or, as it was first called, Harvionie, pre-
ceded some years the settlement of Albion. The colony that founded Har-
monic was made up of German Lutherans, from the kingdom of Wiirtemburg,
having at their head a schismatic preacher, named George Rapp, a man of
great will, determination, and energy, accompanied by a sort of religious
enthusiasm, and holding an absolute mastery over his followers. The colony
first settled in Pennsylvania in 1804, but, in 1813, Rapp purchased thirty
thousand acres of government land on the Wabash, and on a part of which
New Harmony was built. Contrary to the general idea, Rapp's colony was a
great success, so far as the accumulation of property was concerned, and when
Kapp sold out, in 1825, it was said that the \v&'i.\\.\\ per capita was ten times
greater than the average wealth throughout the United States. The people
lived together like "Shakers." In 1824, Rapp had become fatigued with his
charge, and desired to sell out. It was then he visited Albion, to consult
with Richard Flower, whom he commissioned to go to Europe to offer the entire
62 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
»
twenty feet in height. Cane, whatever may be its size or
height, makes its growth in one season. At its first com-
ing up it is almost'as tender as asparagus, and in that state
is rapidly destroyed by domestic animals, especially hogs.
It bears its seed not annually but periodically, at long
intervals, a quarter or half a century apart, and then dies.
The seed resembles the wild oat, and is said to be nutri-
tious to man and beast. I saw it in its full size and vagor
of growth. I have seen it bear its profuse crop of seed
and die. In the same spot where I saw it in its full and
perfect growth, it is now scarcely so large as m\' little fin-
ger, and from knee to shoulder high. Thus dwarfed and
annually dwindling in size it may continue for many years,
but the day of its utter extinction is near at hand. The
Harmonites had entered a large tract of this cane, and
fenced in three or four hundred acres, on which their nu-
merous cattle and sheep subsisted during the winter season
in the first and second year of their settlement.
New -Harmony property for sale. Mr. Flower effected a sale to Robert
Owen, a rich manufacturer of New Lanark, Scotland, a reformer and philan-
thropist, who had made himself well known in Great Britain, particularly in
respect of his views in regard to the labor question. He came to New Har-
mony in the autumn of 1824, and completed the purchase of the Rapp village
and twenty thousand acres of land, for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The Rappites soon left, and Owen then formed the colony of New Harmony
on a new basis; a colony that has challenged more attention and criticism
than any like colony ever established in this Country. When Robert Owen
finally returned to Scotland, the colony fell under the direction of his three
sons, William, Robert Dale, and David Dale Owen. The two last named
have left their impress upon the country as reformers and thinkers, as scholars
and writers, and men of large accomplishments. This is not the occasion for
a disquisition on New Harmony, which, in competent hands, would be a sub-
ject of the greatest interest. This brief allusion to the colony is made here
because of the intimate relations which had sprung up between Mr. Hirkbeck,
Mr. Flower, and many persons of Edwards County, with Mr. Owen.
ENTER ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 63
Even here we could not learn anything of the prairies.
Crossing a ferry a few miles south of Harmony, we entered
the Territory of Illinois, and, in an hour's ride, we were in
the settlement of the Big-Prairie. This was the first
prairie in the south-eastern part of Illinois, and distant
from the Ohio at Shawneetown about thirty miles through
woodland. It was being settled exclusively by small corn-
farmers from the slave-states. This prairie, not more than
six miles long and two broad, was level, rather pondy, and
agueish. Its verdure and open space was grateful to the
eye, but it did not fulfil our expectations.
Following the directions given to us by Mr. Sloo, we
inquired the way to the Boltenhouse Prairie, so-called
from the name of a man who had built a small cabin on its
edge, near the spot where his brother had been killed by
the Indians the year before. By side of the road we were
following, was a small log-house, our last chance for infor-
mation or direction. Our informant, stepping from his
hut, indicated with his arm the direction we were to take,
across the forest without road or path of any kind.
"Keep a wagon-track in your eye if you can, and you
will find the prairie." A wagon-track, or tw^o ruts on
the open ground made by wagon wheels, can be followed
with some degree of certainty. But this was quite a differ-
ent affair. A light-loaded wagon had passed a fortnight
before, through the woods and high underbrush, leaving
no mark on the hard ground, and only here and there a
bruised leaf or broken stem to indicate its passage. For
seven mortal hours did we ride and toil in doubt and
difficulty.
64 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Bruised by the brushwood and exhausted by the extreme
heat we almost despaired, when a small cabin and a low fence
greeted our eyes. A few steps more, and a beautiful prairie
suddenly opened to our view. At first, we only received
the impressions of its general beauty. With longer gaze,
all its distinctive features were revealed, lying in profound
repose under the warm light of an afternoon's summer sun.
Its indented and irregular outline of wood, its varied sur-
face interspersed with clumps of oaks of centuries' growth,
its tall grass, with seed stalks from six to ten feet high,
like tall and slender reeds waving in a gentle breeze, the
whole presenting a magnificence of park-scenery, complete
from the hand of Nature, and unrivalled by the same sort
of scenery by European art. For once, the reality came
up to the picture of imagination. Our station was in the
wood, on rising ground; from it, a descent of about a hun-
dred yards to the valley of the prairie, about a-quarter of
a mile wide, extending to the base of a majestic slope,
rising upward for a full half-mile, crowned by groves of
noble oaks. A little to the left, the eye wandered up a
long stretch of prairie for three miles, into which pro-
jected hills and slopes, covered with rich grass and decora-
ted with compact clumps of full-grown trees, from four to
eight in each clump. From beneath the broken shade of
the wood, with our arms raised above our brows, we gazed
long and steadily, drinking in the beauties of the scene
which had been so long the object of our search.
\Vc had left Harmony that morning soon after daylight,
went south a few miles to Williams' ferry, then, crossing
over, came to the Big-Prairie as before stated, and drank a
INTENSE HEAT — PRAIRIE FLIES. 6$
cup of water from Mr. Williams' well. This was all the
refreshment we had "taken during the day. We must have
traveled more than forty miles in that rough country in
one of the hottest days of summer. Our clothing had
for hours been wet through with profuse sweat, which
trickled down our faces and dropped on our bodies. We
felt wellnigh exhausted when we came in sight of our
goal. There we stood. We felt no hunger, thirst, or
fatigue. We determined to saddle up again, encounter
the prairie and its flies, and finish our day's work by push-
ing into Birk's Prairie, wWch, by the route we took, must
have been seven miles farther. We passed the spot where
Wanborough stands, and laid us down for the night near
where Henry Huston first made his camp; the strongest
day's fatigue I ever went through, and without refresh-
ment, from the rising to the setting of the sun.
Immediately on entering the prairie, the quietude of
our ride was interrupted by the restless and refractory
actions of our horses. They stamped with their feet,
started to a rough trot, and then broke into a gallop. It
was from the sting of the prairie-fly, a large insect, with
brown body, green head, and transparent wings. These
prairie-flies have a peculiar liking for light and sunshine.
They attack both horses and cattle, and sting them dread-
fully in the open prairie, but will not follow them into the
ordinary shade of a wood or forest. They rarely, if ever,
attack men. This induces the grazing animals to feed in
the prairies by night, and retire to the woods by day.
This annoyance induces travelers, crossing the large
prairies, to travel by night and rest by day.
5
66 ENGLISH SETTLEiMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Early as we were in the occupancy of these prairies,
after the Indians had left, there was a class in before us.
Not numerous, but of characteristics so peculiar as to
deserve a passing notice. They belong to neither savage
nor civilized life, but keep their station between the two;
following up the Indians as they retreat, and moving away
from the farmers as they advance. There were about six
of these families scattered over a distance of fifty miles.
Our first experiences in prairie life were not very com-
fortable. Camping for the night near a pool of stagnant
water, we lay down to rest, turning our horses loose to
graze. In the morning our horses were missing. We wan--
dered all day in vain search. I had separated myself
from my companions in my rovings. The 'second night
found me in a small prairie, about three miles west of the
one we first entered. I lay down in the open prairie with-
out fire or supper, my umbrella, a walking-stick by day,
at night a house for my head. In the morning, somewhat
stiff and cold, I again began my search, and soon became
as wet as if I had walked through a river, from the dew
on the tall grass. For once, I felt glad of the hot sun, to
warm and dry me. As a resource in an emergency, I car-
ried a small bag of ground parched-cornmeal, mixed with
some sugar and a little ground ginger. A tablespoon of this,
with water, in some shell or the hollow of your hand, is
very grateful, prevents extreme hunger, and gives reason-
able nutrition. On this I subsisted for a couple of days.
In my wanderings, the thought struck me of finding out
a Captain Birk, mentioned to me by my old friend Sloo,
as living hereabout, the oldest settler in these parts; he
BiRK, thp: backwoodsman. 67
had been here ahnost a year. Going in the direction in
which I thought he Hved, I espied a trail, made by the
dragging of a log. Following this, I came suddenly to a
worm-fence, inclosing a small field of fine corn, but could
see no dwelling. I wished to see Birk, but felt a little
difiidence in appearing before the captain in my deshabille.
After several day's travel, and two night's camping out,
my toilette was considerably compromised. Looking
closely, I observed, between two rows of corn, a narrow
. path. This I followed until I came suddenly in sight of
a small cabin, within twenty steps of me, a little lower
than the surrounding corn. Looking in the direction of a
voice, calling back a savage dog that had rushed out to
attack me, I saw a naked man, quietly fanning himself
with a branch of a tree.
My first surprise over, finding his name was Birk, I told
him who I was and my errand, at which he did not seem
at all pleased. These original backwoodsmen look upon
all new-comers as obtruders on their especial manorial
rights. The old hunters' rule is: when you hear the sound
of a neighbor's gun, it is time to move away.
What surprised me was the calm self-possession of the
man. No surprise, no flutter, no hasty movements. He
quietly said that he had just come from mill at Princeton,
thirty miles distant, and was cooling himself a bit. Well,
I thought he was cool. I afterward found all of this
class of men, who live in solitude and commune so much
with nature, relying on their own efforts to support them-
selves and their families, to be calm, deliberate, and self-
possessed whenever they are sober. The best breeding in
68 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
society could not impart to them more self-possession or
grve them greater ease of manner or more dignified and
courteous bearing. Birk's cabin, fourteen feet long, twelve
broad, and seven high, with earth for a floor, contained a
four-post bedstead, said posts, driven into the ground by
an ax, were sprouting, with buds, branches, and leaves.
The rim of an old wire-sieve, furnished with a piece of
deerskin, punched with holes, for sifting cornmeal, a skillet,
and a coffee-pot were all the culinary apparatus for a
family of seven. A small three-legged stool and a rickety
clap-board table the only furniture. An ax lay at the
door, a rifle stood against the wall. Himself and boys
■were dressed in buckskin, his wife and three daughters in
flimsy calico from the store, sufficiently soiled and not
without rents. Mrs. Birk, a dame of some thirty years,
•was square-built and squat, sallow, and smoke-dried, with
bare legs and feet. Her pride was in her hair, which, in
two long well-braided black and shining tails, hung far
down her back.
Birk got his title as commander of a company of men
like himself, employed as outlying scouts to the American
army on the Canada frontier. The cabin-door was made
of two strong puncheons, to withstand an Indian attack.
You might always find in the behavior of the females, of
this class of people, the degree of estimation or aversion
in which you were held. Mrs. Birk was sour and silent,
omnious indications. The British and Indians, having
fought together against the Americans, were held by these
people in the same category as natural enemies. To such
an extent was this feeling exhibited, that, at a future time,
HATRED TO THE "BRITISH." 69
quite a respectable farmer in the Big Prairie apologized to
Mrs. Flower for the non-appearance of his wife, by saying
she had lost a brother at the battle of the River Raisin,
and that she always went out of the house into the woods
whenever an English person entered, and remained there-
as long as he or she stayed. Besides, we came with the
intention of settling and bringing other settlers. All this
was distasteful to them. They came to enjoy the solitude
of the forest and the prairie. They wished to be far from
that species of civilization whose temptations could not be
withstood by them, and which made the weaknesses of its
victims augment its own gains. No wonder we were met
by no cordial greetings. Our success would be their
defeat, and the growth of our colony the signal for their
removal. A few dollars liberally given for information
and pilotage, and a dram of whisky whenever we had it
to bestow, would modify the hostile feeling, and we soon
became on friendly terms.
Two or three slices from a half-smoked haunch, a few
pommes of coarse corn -bread, seasoned by hunger, the
best of sauce, gave us a relishing supper. How sleeping
was to be managed, I felt at a loss. As night advanced,
Birk reached his long arm up to a few clapboards over
the joist, and pulled down a dried hog's -skin for my
especial comfort and repose during the night.
Father, mother, sons, and daughters all lay on the one
bed. I, as in duty bound, lay my hog's-skin on the floor,
and myself upon it. But I soon found that
" Big fleas and little fleas.
And less fleas to bite 'em,
70 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
These again had lesser fleas,
And so on ad infinitum."
I removed my not over- luxurious couch outside the
house, to a spot of earth free from vegetation, and there
I lay until break-of-day; glad enough to run to the fire
for a little warmth as soon as it was kindled.
Cold is never more felt than at daybreak, after lying on
the ground without covering, even in the summer season.
Our horses which had strayed, were brought back to us by
John Anderson, one of those outlying hunters who for a
liberal reward acted with efficiency on the occasion. Under-
standing the instinct of the horse, Anderson took a straight
course toward Princeton, until he reached the Great Wa-
bash, at La Vallett's ferry. There he found the fugitives,
arrested by the broad stream, from immediately attempt-
ing a crossing.
Having again joined my companions, we once again
mounted, and proceeded to look at the prairies west of the
Little Wabash. We were advised by Birk to call on a man
named Harris, who lived about twelve miles west of the
Little Wabash. To find a little cabin through fifteen miles
of forest and prairie, without road or even path, is no small
job. But it is astonishing how necessity sharpens the wits,
and how soon signs, before unnoticed and unknown, be-
come recognized. We found him in a small cabin, shel-
tered by a little grove, but no field or cultivation of any
kind about his humble dwelling. He lived in the same
style as Birk and in the same destitution. One article of
luxury only excepted. This was a fiddle with two strings.
We found the prairies desirable as to size, soil, and prox-
A CHARMING PRAIRIE. 7 1
imity to timber, and of every form, each with its own
pecuHar style of beauty. One small prairie charmed me
very much — not more than two hundred yards wide and
about 1-^alf-a-mile long. A thin belt of tall and graceful
trees marked its boundary from other and larger prairies.
Its distinguishing feature was a large Indian mound in the
centre, covered with the same rank growth of grass as in
other parts of the prairie. Its beauties lying in silent soli-
tude, with its ancient burial-place of a by-gone race, gave
to it an unusual and somewhat mysterious interest. These
tumuli are not the burying-place of the present race of
Indians; but of an anterior race, probably displaced by
the Indians as we are displacing them. These prairies
were only less desirable than those east of the Little Wa-
bash as being further from main navigation, the Little
Wabash not being navigable for steam-boats.
Harris returned with us to Birk's, carrying the super-
annuated fiddle carefully along. It was kept in scream
until a late hour, bringing to the inmates of the cabin
happy recollections of Tennessee, the State from which
they had emigrated. The people of which Birk and
Harris were specimens, were serviceable to us in our first
settlement. Dexterous with the ax, they built all our first
log-cabins, and supplied us with venison. In a year or
two, they moved into less-peopled regions, or to where
there were no people at all, and were entirely lost to this
part of the country. The people in this part of Illinois
are mostly from the slave-states, from the class of "poor
wdiites," so-called. When they leave their homes and
come into the little towns, on some real or pretended busi-
'J2 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
ness, they are sober and quiet. They soon get to the
whisky-bottle, their bane and ruin. Getting into a state
to desire more, they drink all they can, becoming disagree-
able, fractious, and often dangerous men. One glass kin-
dles the eye, the second loosens the tongue, the third
makes them madmen. They own a horse, rifle, ax, and
hoe. It is astonishing to see with what deterity they use
a good ax, and how well they shoot with even a bad rifle.
They are not of industrious habits, but occasionally work
with great vigor.
Solitude, watchfulness, and contemplation amidst the
scenes of nature, from day to day, from week to week, and
often from month to month, give them that calm and dig-
nified behavior not to be found in the denizens of civilized
life. Another portion of this class follow a different des-
tiny. Their little corn-patch increases to a field, their first
shanty to a small log-house, which, in turn, gives place to
a double-cabin, in which the loom and spinning-wheel are
installed. A well and a few fruit-trees after a time com-
plete the improvement. Moderate in thair aspirations,
they soon arrive at the summit of their desires. Does a
more complicated mode of life and a larger amount of
wealth add to human happiness .'' The only difference
between these stationary settlers and the roving hunters
appears tQ be in the sobriety of the one and the intemper-
ance of the other.
We returned to Princeton by a more direct route, cross-
ing the Wabash at LaVallette's ferry. Auguste LaVal-
lette was a Frenchman of Canadian birth, I suppose nearly
seven feet high; tall and thin as all the La Vallettes were.
OVERTAKEN BY NIGHT. 73
His brother Francois, recently killed by the Indians, lived
on a similar site on the Wabash, forty miles higher up the
river, on a freestone bluff, now called Coffee Island, and
similar points and residences of Canadian-French families,
forty and fifty miles apart, are to be found up the Wabash
wherever the banks are high and commanding, sometimes
on the Illinois and sometimes on the Indiana side of the
river.
Before leaving Illinois, night overtook us. We halted by
the side of a fallen log, at a point of timber that stretched
into the prairie. A fire being kindled, we sat down on the
grass, talked over and decided what was to be done. I
remember the spot well; it was then called 'the Long
Prairie that runs west and east, toward La Vallette's ferry,
on the Great Wabash (now Rochester), not far from a farm
afterward made by Mr. John Kean, a native of Cornwall,
but somewhat nearer to the farm now owned and occupied
by Mr. John Cowling, and about a-half mile west of his
father-in-law's house and farm, Mr. Edward Coad, now
over eighty years old, enjoying a sound constitution and
good health.
This spot, so particularly fixed in my memory, I never
passed in after years without a halt, to allow the panorama
of the past, with all its vivid pictures to flit before me.
Here our future destinies were fixed, and to the decisions
made here the present English Settlement in Edwards
County, Illinois, owes its existence.
The result of our decision was this : — After clubbing
together all the money we could then command, Mr. Birk-
beck was to go to Shawneetown and enter all the wood-
74 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
land around the Boltenhouse Prairie. We had not money
enough with us to purchase the whole prairie. I was to
return to England to remit him money as soon as possible,
take with me and publish the manuscript of his book con-
taining the record of our journey from Richmond to the
prairies; bring out my father's family; and spread the in-
formation; point out the road to it; and facilitate emigra-
tion general!}'. He was on the home department to pur-
chase more land and make the necessary preparations in
building. I on the foreign mission, to bring in the people.
As will be seen hereafter, he did his duty and I did mine.
In a state of doubt, the wakeful mind allows of no com-
plete rest to the body. Decisions once made, doubts
banished, the way made clear, the mind looses its tension,
and for a while rests in unconsciousness. The bodv
relaxed in fibre, succumbs "to fatigue. Both seek repose
and refreshment in sleep. It was so with us. Stretched
on our blankets, feet to the fire, saddle for a pillow, oblivi-
ous of doubt, insensible to danger, we slept soundly until
morning. After a hasty cup of coffee by our camp-fire,
untethered our horses, mounted and rode to the Wabash,
about six miles distant, was ferried over that stream by
the tall Frenchman who owned that ferry, floundered
through the odious swamp which lay on the Indiana side,
for a mile, knee-deep in mud and water, and, after another
ten-mile ride, rejoined the family at Princeton.
CHAPTER IV.
Fear of Speculators — Desire to get a Grant of Land from Congress —
Mr. Jefferson \A^ritten to on the Subject — His Answer Letter of
Hon. Nathaniel Pope Reply of Mr. Birkbeck Mr. Flower sets
out for England — Long Horseback-Trip to Chambersburgh, Pa.,
Accompanied by Mrs. Flower — The Outfit — Incidents of the Jour-
ney Mrs. Flower Remains in Chambersburgh — Mr. Flower Sails
from New York to Liverpool — Birkbeck's Notes of Travel — The
Emigrants.
Our safe return to Princeton was hailed by our families
with affectionate joy. Thankfully we enjoyed, for a few
days, a home made comfortable by cheerful hearts and
active hands. After needful rest from our harassing jour-
ney in the prairies, we thought of our own position. Our
first measure was to secure as much land as our present
means would allow in the Boltenhouse Prairie. By a jour-
ney to Shawneetown, seventy miles distant, this was done,
and about three thousand acres secured by payment into
the land-office.
It was evident to Mr. Birkbeck and myself, at the time
we made our first entries of land in the Boltenhouse
Prairie, that we were exposed to the invasion of specula-
tors. Having expended all the money we could then
command, by securing but little more than half the land
we intended for own families, we felt fearful, as the point
of our settlement was designated, that speculators might
buy the lands immediately around those we had purchased
^6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
and thus defeat our object in preserving lands at the gov-
ernment price for those we hoped to induce to come from
Great Britain the following year. Fortunately for us, at
this time, there was a great scarcity of money, and the
people in the countries of Indiana and Kentucky, adjacent
to Southern Illinois, were almost all of them more or less
in debt, and we were not then advertised, we had made no
publications. From these circumstances, probably we were
for the time secured from the species of obtrusion we so
much dreaded. I wrote to Mr. Jefferson, asking his
opinion as to whether Congress, on suitable application,
would be likely to make us a grant of a township of land
for our contemplated settlement. His reply was prompt
and full; and as this letter, from that eminent statesman,
so ably covers the whole ground of the inquiry, and is so
characteristic of the man, no apology is needed for its
insertion, feeling persuaded that it will be an object of
interest to the reader long after the general narrative shall
have faded from view. I may add that the original letter
is now deposited in the archives of the Chicago Historical
Society. In long after years, the curious reader of old
documents will not fail to admire the neatness and even-
ness of the handwriting, which is preserved with unvarying
accuracy from the first to the last word of this interesting
letter.* But further action in this matter had to be dropped.
* This letter is still in possession of the Chicago Historical Society, and
is now before me. It bears out all Mr. Flower says of it. It is charac-
teristic of Mr. Jefferson, who was oqe of the most conscientious and painstak-
ing of correspondents. He made it a point to reply to all letters whose
writers had any claim to his consideration, and he never did it hurriedly nor
in a careless or slip-shod manner. The e.\treme neatness and regularity of
LETTER OF MR. JEFFERSON. 'J'J
I was soon on my way to Great Britain to prepare our first
emigrating parties.
" Poplar Forest, 12th July, 181 j.
''Dear Sir: — Your favor of August 12th was yesterday
received at this place, and I learn from it with pleasure
that you have found a tract of country which will suit you
for settlement. To us, your first choice would have been
gratifying, by adding yourself and friends to our society,
but the overruling consideration with us, as with you, is
your own advantage, and it would doubtless be a greater
comfort to you to have your ancient friends and neighbors
settled around you. I sincerely wish that your proposition
to purchase a tract of land in Illinois on favorable terms, for
introducing a colony of English farmers, may encounter
no difficulties from the established rules of our land -de-
partment.
" The general law prescribes an open sale, where all citi-
zens may compete on an equal footing for any lot of land
which attracts their choice. To dispense with this in any
particular case requires a special law of Congress, and to
special legislation we are generally averse, lest a principle
of favoritism should creep in and prevent that of equal
rights. It has, however, been done on some occasions,
when special national advantages has been expected to
his handwriting is the more remarkable when the fact of a broken wrist is
taken into consideration, which seriously disabled him and was a great trouble
and annoyance for many years, and of which he often complained. It was a
most fortunate thing that this letter and many other valuable autograph letters,
written to Mr. Flower, and presented by him to the Society, as well as the
manuscript history of Edwards County, had been borrowed of the librarian a
few days before the great fire in 1871, and thus saved from destruction.
j8 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IX EDWARDS COUNTY.
outweigh that of adherence to the general rule. The
promised introduction of the culture of the vine procured
a special law in favor of the Swiss Settlement on the Ohio.
That of the culture of oil, wine, and other Southern pro-
ductions did the same lately for the French Settlement on
the Tombigbee. It remains to be tried whether that of
an improved system of farming, interesting to so great a
proportion of our citizens, may not also be worth a dis-
pensation of the general rule. This, I suppose, is the
principal ground on which }'our proposition will be ques-
tioned, for although, as to other foreigners, it is thought
better to discourage their settling together in large masses,
wherein, as in our German settlements, they preserve for a
long time their own language, habits, and principles of
government, and that the\' should distribute themselves
sparsely among the natives, for quicker amalgamation, yet
English emigrants are without this inconvenience, they
differ from us but little in their principles of government,
and most of those (merchants excepted) who come here
are sufficiently disposed to adopt ours. What the issue,
therefore, of your proposition may probably be, I am less
able to advise you than many others, for, during the last
eight or ten years, I have no knowledge of the administra-
tion of the land-office, or the principles of its government,
even the persons on whom it will depend are all changed
within that interval, so as to leave me small means of being
useful to you. Whatever they may be, however, they
shall be fully exercised for your advantage; and that not
on the selfish principle of increasing our population at the
expense of other nations, for the additions are but as a
MR. JEFFERSON'S LETTER CONTINUED. 79
drop in a bucket to those by natural procreation, but to
consecrate a sanctuar}^ for those whom the misrule of
Europe may compel to seek happiness in other climes.
This refuge, once known, will produce reaction, even of
those there, by warning their task-masters that when the
evils of Egyptian oppression become heavier than those of
abandonment of country, another's canaan is opened, where
their subjects will be received as brothers and secured from
like oppression by a participation in the rights of self-
government.
"If additional motives could be wanting into the main-
tainance of this right, they would be found in the animat-
ing consideration that a single good government becomes
thus a blessing to the whole earth; its welcome to the
oppressed restraining within certain limits the measure of
their oppressions, but should ever this be counteracted by
violence on the right of expatriation, the other branch of
our example then preselits itself to their imitation, to use
.on their rulers, and do as we have done.
"You have set your country a good example, by show-
ing them a practicable mode of reducing their rulers to the
necessity of becoming more wise, more moderate, and
more honest, and I sincerely pray that the example may
work for the benefit of those who can not follow it, as it
will for your own.
"With Mr. Birkbeck, the associate of your extraordinary
journeyings, I have not the happiness of personal acquaint-
ance, but I know him through his narrative of your jour-
neyings together through France. The impressions re-
ceived from that, give me confidence that a participation
■80 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
with yourself in the assurances of the esteem and respect
of a stranger will not be unacceptable to him, and the less
when given through you and associated with those to your-
self I
"Th: Jefferson.
"To George Flower, Esq."
During my absence in England, danger from the same
source was, no doubt, entertained by Mr. Birkbeck. A
correspondence between him and Hon. Nathaniel Pope,
delegate for the Territory in Congress, on the same subject,
shows in what light the delegate viewed the application
and the applicant.
It seems that Mr. Birkbeck's application was for an
extension of time of payment, as we should now say for a
preemption, on forty thousand acres of land. It is some-
what curious to see how the minds of different individuals,
entertaining the same general views, and actuated by simi-
lar principles arrive at the same conclusions. Thus in
view of danger from land speculation we acted individ-
ually, but in a similar manner. Again, at the time of the
convention question, without any communication with
each other, we gave all the strength of our respective
abilities to defeat that nefarious measure. We shall see
more distinctly the nature of the petition forwarded to
Congress, through Nathaniel Pope, by the perusal of the
following letters. The first letter (Mr. Pope's) was in an-
swer to one accompanying the petition referred to. The
reply by Mr. Birkbeck fully explains his first letter.*
* The original letter of Mr. Pope's is of the number of letters presented
to the Chicago Historical Society by Mr. Flower. The handwriting is
LETTER OF NATHANIEL POPE. 8 1
"Washington, Dec. ij, i8ij.
^' Sir: — \ duly received your letter and petition. It is so
indefinite as to leave me embarrassed in adopting a course.
It is much to be regretted that you had not entered into
more explanatory details. I read, with great pleasure, your
notes on your late tour to Illinois, in hopes of finding a
solution to my difficulties, but in vain; I mean in quan-
tity and terms of payment. I am so much flattered by
your selection of the Illinois Territory as your permanent
residence in the prospect of the permanent advantages
it may derive from your experience in the arts of hus-
bandry, that I can not fail to indulge an ardent wish that
you may succeed in your plan.
"I made some enquiries of Mr. Adams, late minister to
London, now secretary-of-state, who speaks of you in the
most flattering terms. I can not, however, conceal from
you the only cause that will defeat your application. Al-
though not personal to you, yet its operation is hostile to
your views; I mean the fear of speculation. This fear is
not awakened by any part of your conduct, but that of
remarkably smooth, regular, and even elegant, denoting a man of education
and rare adaptation to business. All the older members of the legal pro-
fession in Illinois will well remember Nathaniel Pope, so long and so honora-
bly identified with the history of the Territory and State of Illinois. He was
the first secretary of the Territory of Illinois, holding the office from March
7, 1809, to Decemlier 17, 1S16. In the latter year, he was elected delegate to
Congress from Illinois, and procured its admission as a State in 1818. He
was the first judge of the United States District Court for the State of Illinois,
and held that position till his death, in 1849, a period of thirty-one years.
His successor, Hon. Thomas Drummond, has held the position of District
and Circuit Judge of the United States Courts for over thirty-three years.
Judge Pope was a man of intelligence and education, to which he united a
remarkably acute intellect. He was a good lawyer, an honest man, and incor-
ruptible judge. Maj.-Gen. John Pope, of the United States Army, is his son.
6
82 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
others. The bounty and liberality of the Government
has been so often diverted from the intended objects, that
members of Congress are diffident of supporting applica-
tions of the nature of yours, as they have no personal
knowledge of you. I regret that your arrangements did
not comprehend a visit to this place, at this time, as per-
sonal explanations would have advanced your. plan, which
seems to me replete with important advantages to the
Territory, and well calculated to advance the happiness of
the human family upon a more extended scale than ap-
pears from a limited consideration of its operation. I can
not, however, advise you to come on after the reception of
this letter, as it would be too late to effectuate anything.
Every thing that I can do under the stimulus of no ordin-
ary an.xiety for your success, shall be attempted. I hope to
have the pleasure of hearing from you at an early period.
"In the meanwhile, I beg you to accept assurances of
my zeal in your cause, and with sentiments of respect
and esteem, I am, your ob'd't ser't,
"Nath'l Pope.
"To Morris Birkbeck, Esq."
To which Mr. Birkbeck replied:
" Princeton, January i6, 1818.
"Sir: — Owing to the interruption of the mails, your
favor of the 14th ultimo has only just reached me. I
regret that I did not state more particularly my views in
regard to the object of the memorial I transmitted to you.
As to terms, I should not be so weak as to reject any
advantage which the liberality of the Government might
afford. It is not a reduction of the price I would solicit,
LETTER OF MORRIS BIRKBECK. 8^
m
but such an extension of time of payment as might pre-
clude embarrassment or disappointment. As to quantity,
my idea was that it might be left indefinite to a certain
extent. That is, that I might be allowed t9 engage as I
might require for the purpose specified, not exceeding
twenty, thirty, or forty thousand acres, leaving Govern-
ment to fix the limits. This plan is, I think, not liable to
be abused as a means of speculation, a design which, I
think, would not be imputed to me by those who are
acquainted with my habits; yet it is perfectly natural that
a jealousy of that kind should operate in the way you
mention. I dare say it is now too late for my explanation
to avail anything. But I am anxious to express my obli-
gation to you for your attention, whatever may be the
result. I believe my plan is calculated to produce import-
ant benefits without risk or concomitant evil, and I am
gratified to find that it has your approbation.
" I am, sir, most sincerely yours,
" Morris Birkbeck."
Our efforts in securing a preemption on a large quantity
of land, through the preliminary correspondence with
Jefferson and Pope, were unsuccessful. Our hands were
full of business, and we could not give to it the personal
attention that such business at Washington requires.
We had been two months at Princeton. The family
always there; our two selves almost always away, had com-
pleted our work of exploration. The time now approached
for my return to England, to carry out the next step. To
make publication, bring people to the land, and place our-
84 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
selves in funds. Our first plan was that Mrs. Flower
should remain with Mr. Birkbeck's family and that I
should proceed on my journey eastward and my voyage
alone. To make a will and dispose of our effects in a
secure and desirable manner is always proper, yet how
often deferred.
I therefore, before leaving Princeton, made my will.
Mr. Birkbeck, Miss Birkbeck, and Bradford Birkbeck were
witnesses to that instrument. How little did we think
that this was to be our last united act. That we were
never more to meet again or speak a friendly word to
each other. Before leaving Princeton, we agreed on the
division of our land and the building of our houses. On
the latter point, we differed a little in opinion. He pro-
posed that the north-and-south line, which divided our
land, should run through one house. I living in the
apartments on my land, and his family occupying the
apartments on his land, both families, in fact, living in one
house. Mrs. Flower and myself thought it better to live
in our own house, and that Mr. Birkbeck's family should
live in their house, however near those houses might be.
This was the first difference in our plan of operations that
had ever occurred between us, and, trivial as it may seem
perhaps we may ascribe to it that divergence which carried
the lasting separation that followed; as the ridge-tile of a
house separates two raindrops, that fall within an inch of
each other, in the same shower, casting one eastwardly, to
mingle ultimately with the Atlantic Ocean, the other,
westward, destined to add its atom to the Pacific.
Although our residence at Princeton was one of united
PREPARATION TO RETURN TO ENGLAND. 85
effort and cordial friendship, our feelings did not exhibit
that even and warm glow which shone upon the party as
it journeyed to the West. They partook now more of the
character of an April day, when the clouds fly high and
rapidly cast shadows on the bright sunshine as they pass.
We were now in changed circumstances, our plans re-
quired the division and subdivision of our little party.
Some to turn back, encountering long journeys by land
and voyages by sea, before they could be united again.
And the part that remained, often to be divided through
winter and succeeding spring, some remaining in Indiana
and some wandering in Illinois. This naturally cast a
shade of thought upon us all.
The time arrived for my return to England. All cir-
cumstances being considered, Mrs. Flower and myself
thought it better to take the journey East together. We
should enjoy each other's company three weeks longer,
and, at my return in the following spring, we should again
meet months earlier than we otherwise could. The last
day at Princeton was spent by Mr. Birkbeck and myself
in talking over the business that each was to do separately.
He, in the further purchase of land as soon as funds could
be procured, and in the erection of cabins and other neces-
sary preparations for the settlement in spring. He handed
to me his two manuscripts. One to be published in Phila-
delphia and one in England.
Let it be remembered, in these days of convenience and
fast travel, that then horseback was the only mode of
traveling, and the space contained in a pair of saddle-bags
all that was allowed for papers, wardrobe, and often pro-
visions for the traveler.
86 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
The little horse that had carried me on my solitary
journey, of over two thousand miles, was a high-bred
animal of mettle and of perfect, but of rather slight, frame;
not of sufficient bone and substance to carry my weight
with the baggage with which I was encumbered, and
pressed, as I knew he must be, to a forty-mile daily travel.
I gave him to my little friend. Prudence Birkbeck. She
loved a gallop on a mettlesome nag. Her light weight he
would carry as a feather, and I was well pleased to place
my faithful little horse, to whom 1 was much attached,
with a friend that would take care of him.
Selecting two of the most suitable animals from our
stud of ten, for myself and wife, behold them caparisoned
and both of us mounted. On the back of each horse Avas
evenly laid a soft and rather thin blanket, which received
the saddle, kept steady in its place by girths and crupper,
over the saddle, folded double and sometimes triple, was
laid a large and soft Whitney blanket, kept in place by a
broad circingle. The pad behind the saddle received the
cloak and umbrella, tightly folded in one large roll, and
bound with two leathern thongs. The saddle-bags, stuffed
to their utmost capacity, were laid on the saddle, under
the blanket, kept in place by two loops through which the
stirrup-leathers passed. On the top of all sat the rider.
It is rather a skilful job to pack saddle-bags well. As you
put in their contents, you must poise them frequently, to
see that each side is equally weighted. If you fail in this,
you are plagued the whole ride, by the bags slipping to
one side or the other, to the danger of their striking
against the horse's legs, starting him off in a furious kick-
HORSEBACK OUTFIT. 8/
ing-gallop. A riding appendage, peculiar to horsemen in
America, is the legging. It is a piece of bkie or drab
cloth, about a yard square, folded round the leg from
knee to ankle, pinned with three pins to keep the edges in
place, and tied by two bands of tape or galloon, one below
the knee, the other above the ankle. It catches all the
splash and mud, and, when cast off, the pantaloon is dry
The women, instead of the full cloth riding-habit worn in
England, draw over their usual dress a long skirt, made of
bombazine or some dark-colored stuff, and over their heads
they cast a large handkerchief, which they tie under their
chin. This keeps the bonnet and veil in place, and protects
the face and ears from sun, wind, and rain. Our horses
and ourselves thus accoutred, we mounted, and this is done
by the horses being led to a block — in Western America,
generally the stump of a tree — and even then it takes a
pretty wide stride and fling of the leg for a man to clear
saddle-bags, great-coat, and umbrella. But when once
mounted, with a high pommel in front, cloak and umbrella
behind, you are not easily dismounted. In these long
journeys, there is very little mounting and dismounting,
rarely more than once or twice in a day. Accoutred and
mounted, our friends came around us with full hearts and
tearful eyes, with hopes and, perhaps, some regrets and
forebodings. We turned our horses toward their long and
toilsome journey, and thus we parted with friends we were
destined never more to meet. There is little to recount in
this journey excepting its daily toil. ,
In the lat'ter part of September, the weather is often
very hot. Relaxed by the long-continued heat of sum-
88 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
mer, the body feels excessive languor under autumnal
heat. To accomplish nearly forty miles a-day, encumbered
as we were, was an effort subjecting us to great fatigue.
It would have been to a party of strong men. To my
wife, I felt conscious it was a severe trial. Thinking of
others always before herself, and gifted with a rare spirit
of perseverance and resolution, she would never submit to
the least delay, whatever might be her fatigue or suffering.
It was getting late in the season, and she dreaded for me
a winter's passage across the Atlantic. We never lost a
day during the whole journey. We had but one brief
delay; my horse falling lame, I had to sell him and get
another. But this journey had its perils as well as its
fatigues.
Somewhere in the State of Ohio, the waters were out.
Rain had fallen for many days. From the edge of the
high ground, we saw a valley, nearly two miles wide, cov-
ered with water. The river, about two hundred yards
before and below us, was undistinguishable from the sur-
rounding water, excepting by the guard or hand-rails of a
bridge, and the planks on the top of the bridge, which
were two or three feet above the water, but each sloping
end of the bridge was under water. Sitting on our horses,
and hesitating as to what to do, we saw, in the valley
below, a man on horseback just entering the water.
' We watched him wading about knee-deep, and saw him
ascend the sloping end of the bridge. Suddenly his horse
went down under water, and he, floundering off his back,
reached the dry planks on the top of the bridge. The
horse was carried down stream a long distance before get-
ACCIDENT AVOIDED. 89
ting out. Approaching the man within speaking distance,
we learned that one of the broad planks from the sloping
end of the bridge was gone, but the space being concealed
by the water, the horse fell through. Had we not seen
this accident, one or both of us might have gone through
and been drowned. We soon ascertained that only one-
half of the plank was gone, and that the other half might
be rode over. In fear and trembling we rode over this
half-plank, which was under water and out of sight, and
safely reached the top of the bridge. The prospect was
not inviting. The valley was two miles wide, and one
mile and a-half of it was covered with water. Our way
was along a corduroy-road, straight from the end of the
bridge, across the valley. Over low, miry valleys, the
roads were often made, by digging ditches on each side,
thus raising the way a foot or two above the general level.
Across this slightly-raised road-bed, logs, that is, trunks of
trees, and some of them very large and ten feet long, were
laid side by side. A little earth was sometimes thrown
between them, but they were generally suffered to sink by
their own weight, leaving a rough but hard surface, that
nobody would either ride or drive over if there had been
any other way of passing the swampy vale. Whenever
very high water came, as was the case now, the whole road
would be covered, hiding the deep dykes on each side.
The course of the road was only visible by the projecting
end of a log here and there, or a few logs that had risen,
and were unsteady, wabbling about on the surface of the
water. But what made it most dangerous, were the holes
in the road, concealed by the water. . As the water would
90 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
not assuage for two or three days, we did not like to lose
that time, so we ventured in. A painfully perilous ride it
was; at every step, expecting that both horse and rider
would be down, floundering in the water; and we verified
its dangers, luckily neither fatal nor very injurious. My
horse had stepped over one of those unseen gaps under
water, made by the loss of a log. Mrs. Flower's horse
innocently stepped with his forefeet over also, but the
hindfeet dropped in, bringing the water over the crupper
and up to the seat of the saddle. For a few moments, the
poor animal was standing half in and half out the water, at
an angle almost as steep as the roof of a house. The pres-
ence of mind of the rider, who gave a loose rein and a
tight cling to the pommel, showing no fear by voice or
sudden motion, allowed the sagacious animal to extricate
itself, at the unavoidable risk, by its violent struggle, of
throwing her over its head. A thorough wetting, and
everything wet in the saddle-bags, excepting a slight strain
to the horse, was the only real injury.
In a few days we had passed Pittsburgh, and were
ascending the Alleghanies. The bracing atmosphere of
the mountains, in the latter days of October, made great-
coat and cloak acceptable. The contrast to the hot, damp
and sweltering atmosphere, we had left, was great. It is
astonishing how soon we are restored from fatigue, con-
tracted by exercise, in the open air. Debility is of much
longer duration, from labor in factories, stores, and in
rooms warmed by stoves. Hail, snow, thunder-storms, and
drenching rains are^all restoratives to health and spirits.
The mountains crossed, we halted at the town of Cham-
MR. FLOWER SAILS FOR ENGLAND. 91
bersburgh, at the foot of the east slope of the Alleghanies.
In the comfortable and quiet tavern, kept by Mrs. Hettick
and her daughters, Mrs. Flower found convenient apart-
ments. I was on my way to Philadelphia in twenty-four
hours. Here was another parting. Our original number
were now being widely separated. Mr. Birkbeck's family
hundreds of miles west on the frontier. My wife alone at
the foot of the Alleghanies, and myself gone to another
quarter of the globe. How different now our situation to
what it was four months before. Then united, conscious
of strength from our union, ^nd happiness from our
strength. Now divided by distance and by time, each
fragment exposed to doubt and uncertainty, and, worst of
all, to falsehooQl and misrepresentation of any designing
foe. Each unit felt all its responsibilities. After brief
delay at Philadelphia, to put Mr. Birkbeck's manuscript in
the hands of the publishers, I proceeded on my way. On
arriving at New York, I heard of a ship on the very eve of
departure for England. I straightway walked to the dock,
with my saddle-bags on my arm, and stepped on the
A /in Maria, Isaac Waite, captain, James Flack, owner.
In five minutes we were in motion, and, in half-an-hour
sailing on the ocean, with a fair wind and a calm sea. As
the wind freshened the sea became rough and angry. The
gale stuck right aft with such fidelity that we neither veered
nor tacked until we sighted the west coast of Ireland
which we did on the fourteenth day after leaving the har-
bor of New York. A hard blow, as we entered the Chan -
nel, drove us within fearful proximity of the Tuscar light-
house, whose lights glared ominously on our decks. The
92 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
noble ship, under press of every sail, held hard to the
wind, beam down and keel out, admirably answered to her
helm. It was a fearful moment. We narrowly escaped
wreck and a watery grave on that most dangerous coast.
We were two days longer, buffeted by contrary winds in
the Channel, before we entered the port of Liverpool, which
we did on the seventeenth day from New York, then
thought to be a very rapid passage. If there is no purga-
tory for man between the upper and lower regions of an-
other world, there certainly is between the eastern shore
of America and the western shore of Europe. I suffered
much from sea-sickness during the rough and speedy voy-
age. If I chanced to take a slight meal during a tempo-
rary lull, I acted but as steward for the fish. The continued
suffering of the voyage, after the fatigue of so long and
laborious a ride, reduced my strength much. During the
winter, I was preparing and assisting others to prepare for
a final emigration in the spring.
One copy of Birkbeck's notes* had been left for the
* " Notes of a Journey in America from the Coast of Virginia to the Ter-
ritory of Illinois, by Morris Birkbeck, author of 'Notes of a Tour in France,' "
were published in Philadelphia in 1817, and in London in 1818. The book
was very widely read in England and passed to a third edition. It did much
to stimulate emigration to the English Colony in Edwards County. It was
translated into French and published in Paris in 18 19, under the title of
*^ Lei ires Sur !es Nouveanx Etablissemens qui se forme ni dans les parties occi-
denial des Eiats-Unis Amerique." The French publisher of this volume has
an interesting preface. He says that the work he offers to the public has
been published in Philadelphia in 1S18; that it is written without pretension,
and has no claim to literary merit, but that there will be found in it piquant
details upon the western part of the United States. Those far-off regions
have only a scattered population, and have been but little known up to the
present time, and that, without doubt, it will be interesting to read a collec-
tion of letters written from the Territory of Illinois by an actual inhabitant o'
that country.
MR. FLOWER IN ENGLAND. 93
Philadelphia press, another was being printed in England.
The publication of these notes, and, afterward, a series of
letters from the prairies, gave a wider range of information
as to our proceedings and intentions. During the winter,
I was constantly applied to in person and by letter for
information and advice on the subject of emigration, by
persons in every rank, but chiefly from those in moderate
circumstances.
In describing western America, and the mode of living
there, I found some difficulty in giving a truthful picture
to the Englishman who had never been out of England.
In speaking of a field, the only field he had ever seen was
a plot of ground, from five to fifty acres in extent, sur-
rounded by a ditch, a bank, and a live hawthorn fence; it
has two or more well-made gates, that swing freely on
their hinges, and clasp firmly when shut. The word field
brings this picture to his eye. A zig-zag fence it is diffi-
cult for him to understand, but why gates should swing
freely on their hinges in England and drag on the ground
in America is incomprehensible.
You tell of a log-house. The only houses he has seen
are buildings with plastered or papered walls, with ceilings
and floors, with halls, passages, cellars, and attics, and each
room furnished with a good chimney and hearth. The
simple log-house he can scarcely realize. But few can
comprehend the difficulties arising from an absence of
population. To try and carry them from the conveniences
of civilized life, ever present to their minds, I have said:
suppose you and your family placed under a clump of oak
trees, such as stand in an extensive and beautiful English
94 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
park, with the sky above, the earth below, no fence, no
house, and perhaps no person withhi twenty miles, and you
may have some conception of your situation in a new and
unpeopled country. The gloomily-disposed would shake
their heads in despondency. The sanguine would make
light of the difficulties, and be charmed with the picture.
So people would reflect the color of their own minds upon
the sketch you gave them.
The publication in England of our travels, my return,
and personal communication with a host of individuals,
had given a wide-spread knowledge of what we had done
and what we intended to do. Our call had received a
response from the farmers of England, the miners of Corn-
wall, the drovers of Wales, the mechanics of Scotland,
the West- India planter, the inhabitants of the Channel
Isles, and the "gentleman of no particular business" of
the Emerald Isle. All were moving or preparing to
move to join us in another hemisphere. The cockneys
of London had decided on the reversal of their city
habits, to breathe the fresh air of the prairies. Parties
were moving, or preparing to move, in all directions. At
one time, the movement appeared as if it would be
national. Representatives from each locality, and de-
scendants from every class that I have mentioned, are
now living in the English Settlement of Edwards County,
Illinois. The preparatory movements were completed.
The first act of our drama here properly closes, and the
history of the actual emigration, with the accidents and
incidents of the journeyings by sea and land, now begins.
CHAPTER V.
First Party of Emigrants Sail from Bristol, in March, 1818— Many
of Mr. Birkbeck's Neighbors and Acquaintances among them
Letter of Richard Birkbeck— Farm Operatives in England— Per-
sons composing the Party— Land in Philadelphia, in June, 1818
— Reach Pittsburgh and descend the Ohio River to Shawnee-
town— Arrive at Mr. Birkbeck's Cabin on Boltenhouse Prairie
The "Barracks " — Sufferings and Discomforts of the Party
Wan borough laid off by Mr. Birkbeck— The next Ship -load of
Emigrants sail in the following Month, April, 1818— Mr. Flower's
Family with this Party — Other Persons composing it— Mr. Flower
Journeys by Carriage from Philadelphia to Chambersburgh with
his Family — The last Ship-load of Emigrants proceeding to their
Destination — Want of Harmony— A Black Sheep in the Fold —
Arrival at Pittsburgh— Preparations to Descend the Ohio River
— The Perils of the Voyage— Stop at Shawneetown — The Appear-
ance of that Village — Mr. Fordham comes from the "Settlement"
to meet Mr. Flower and Party at Shawneetown — His Account
of Mr. Birkbeck and condition of Things at the "Settlement" —
Preparations to receive the Emigrants— Log -Cabins and Hard
Food— The first Meal on their Arrival— The blessing of an Iron
Teakettle— No Greetings from the Settlement— Mr. Birkbeck and
Mr. Flower at Variance — A short Dialogue between them, and
they never Speak to each other afterward— The Cause of the
Estrangement— First Experiences— A Sickly Season— A Time of
Trial— Labor and Self-Sacrifices of Mrs. Flower— A Noble and
True Woman— The first building of Cabins— Close run for Pro-
visions—Settlement in Village Prairie — Emigrants coming in —
Determined to lay out a Town— The spot Selected— The Name
Agreed upon.
Early in March, 1818, the ship Achilles sailed from
g6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Bristol, with the first party of emigrants destined for our
settlement in Illinois.
Mr. Charles Trimmer of Yeatley, Surrey, a young farmer,
and a neighbor and acquaintance of Mr. Birkbeck's, with
forty-four men and one married woman, sailed in this ship.
The men were chiefly farm-laborers and mechanics from
Surrey. Many of them had for years worked for Mr. Birk-
beck, others were from his neighborhood, and were either
personally acquainted or knew liim by reputation. This
party was under the especial care and leadership of Mr.
Trimmer. Another party, of about equal number, com-
posed of London mechanics, and tradesmen from various
parts of England, formed another party that sailed in the
same ship. These were under the guidance and direction
of Mr. James Lawrence, merchant tailor, of Hatton Gar-
den, London. Neither Mr. Lawrence nor any one of this
party had a'ny personal acquaintance with either Mr. Birk-
beck or myself, but received their impulse from our pub-
lished expositions. Mr. Lawrence being a man of prop-
erty, a resident of the city, and well acquainted with the
usages at the docks, custom-house, shipping, etc., became
actually the head of the whole party. To him were
addressed the various packages belonging to the emigrants,
which he saw safely through the custom-house, and placed
securely on board ship. His house became the resort of
inquirers, in quest of information. His counting-house
became a sort of office for emigration, where I met people
of all classes, to be catechised and pumped of all I knew,
and everything they thought I ought to know. To such a
pitch had this grown, Mr. Lawrence must, I am sure, have
■Li
LETTER OF RICHARD BIRKBECK. 97
felt a real relief to be on board ship and far away. He
now began to have a taste of what it was to become a
leader of a people, although in a fractional way, and on a
small scale.
I had previously dispatched to Mr. Birkbeck a special
messenger. A young man from London, who wished to
try his luck in the new world, was glad of the opportunity
of having his expenses paid to a point so far in the interior
of America, and then take what might turn up in the lot-
tery of life. By Mr. Robert Walford, I sent Mr. Birkbeck
funds, of which I knew he stood in need. Mr. Walford,
after staying for some time in the Settlement, finding no
suitable occupation, went to Louisville, and opened busi-
ness as an accountant, in which he succeeded, married,
raised a family, and is, I believe, now living.
I here insert a part of a letter from Richard Birkbeck
(Mr. Birkbeck's eldest son), who was left in England to
wind up his father's affairs at Wanborough. This letter is
chiefly interesting to the American reader, as showing the
scale on which some English tenants carry on their farms:
"Wanborough, January i8, 1818.
''My dear Father: — George Flower is now here, and has
been here for nearly a week. With this you will have a let-
ter of credit to the amount of ^3003, that is $15,000, and
hope, according to the following statement, to send out an-
other sum of nearly the same amount, by George Flower, in
April. You will know that I have, by this time, given up
possession of Wanborough on the first instant, excepting
the barn-yard, from that I shall clear everything off by the
first of April. I have received the amounts:
7
98 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Of the valuation of plowing, - £1473
Of the underwoods, - - 1 001 7s. 6d.
;^2474 7s. 6d.
"The above sum is the foundation of the letter of credit
you now receive. The money previously received is in two
sums, one of a £1000, the other of ;^700. By the follow-
ing account, you may judge in some measure of the proba-
ble value of your property:
Sheep, ------- £1200
Horses, ------ 400
Wheat, - - 400
Wool, ------ 700
Barley, Oats, Peas, and Beans, - - 1000
Good-will for my quitting the farm, - 2000
Dung to be paid for by James Onslow, - 1000
^^8700
"This is the rough estimate; you may consider it nearly
what the sum will be. I hope the sum does not fall short
of your expectations. I think it exceeds our estimate."
From this we may form some idea of the manner in
which an English farm is conducted. Although Mr. Birk-
beck left the farm legally on the first of January, the
occupation and tillage was carried on up to the very day
the incoming tenant took possession. The item ;^I473, or
$7000, is for ploughing and tilling, in preparation for the
next crop. ^^5000 more, the value of the underbrush of
the wood, just ready to be cut and made into faggots and
hoop-poles. All the operations of the farm went on from
RONALDS, LAWRENCE, AND TRIMMER. 99
hand to hand, uninterrupted by any change. The landlord
pay $5000 for dung left in the farm-yard, being so much
more than the tenant received when he took possession of
the farm, some fifteen years before. The farm may change
hands, but the farmer never dies. The system of cultiva-
tion is not disturbed by the removal or death of either
landlord or tenant. The ^11,174 7s. 6d., or, in round
numbers, $55,000, may be considered as his subscription
toward laying the foundation of the English Settlement!
In the Bristol ship, besides Mr. Lawrence and Trimmer,
was Mr. Hugh Ronalds, gentleman from Hammersmith,
near London. Mr. Hugh Ronalds became my brother-in-
law, by marrying my second sister, Miss Mary Catherine
Flower, and was for many years my near neighbor in Illi-
nois, at his pleasant residence of Hazle Hill, about half-
a-mile from Park House, and one mile from Albion. Mr.
Ronalds, for many years, carried on a tannery near Albion.
Several years a widower, his family grown and settled, he
now resides comfortably on his income at Grayville, ten
miles from his former residence near Albion, enjoying his
two favorite pursuits, horticulture and literature.
The Lawrence -and -Trimmer party landed safely at
Philadelphia early in June. They made their way some
in wagons some on horseback, over the mountains to Pitts-
burgh, then descending the Ohio in flat-boats to Shaw-
neetown, in August, proceeded without delay on foot, in
wagons and on horseback, to Mr. Birkbeck's cabin on the
Boltenhouse Prairie. Of this first party Mr. Birkbeck had
long notice, and he had made for them the best prepara-
tion he could. He had erected a square of rough log-
100 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
cabins, with two doors in each, and a small sash-window
in every door. This rendezvous, afterward called the bar-
racks, was for all comers. Into this the first ship's com-
pany — eighty -eight in number — went, all men, excepting
three women. I must leave to imagination the various
feelings of its motly inmates, some used to the refinements
of civilized life; all to the comfort of a home however
humble; some without money, all for a time without occu-
pation ; without vegetables ; corn-bread and salt pork their
only diet; whisky their sole luxury and consolation, and
some not able to get that. It was for a time a fermenting
mass. Strange and conflicting emotions exhibited them-
selves in ludicrous succession. Some laughed and joked ;
some moped and sulked; some cursed and swore. Things
worked right in time. The activity and energy of the
national character were soon displayed.
The village of Wanborough was laid off by Mr. Birk-
beck in five-acre lots. On these were built cabins, rented
by some, bought by others. A good ox-mill and black-
smith's -shop were soon after added to the village. At
this time, almost all the five-acre lots are purchased and
thrown together or are attached to adjacent farms.
The next ship with emigrants for the prairies, which
sailed from Liverpool in the following month of April,
was chartered by myself for the party that came with me.
My own immediate family and friends occupied the cabin;
my domestic servants, and other emigrants going out to
join us, filled the steerage; and my live-stock of cows,
hogs, and sheep, of the choicest breeds of England, took
up all the spare room on deck. My father and mother, in
THE EMIGRANTS. lOI
easy circumstances, and aged sixty-three, accompanied me,
with my two sisters, young women grown, one brother,
WilHam, a young man, the other, Edward, a lad, Miss
Fordham, my cousin, going to join her brother in Ilhnois,
with three attached female and one man-servant. The
family of these most respectable people had lived with our
family for three generations, and a distant removal could
not now separate us. These, with myself and my two
sons, young boys, were my immediate family party. But
going to our settlement in this ship were also Mr. Francis
Rotch and brother, friends of Mr. Birkbeck, and Mr. Filder,
a gentleman rather advanced in years, a man of consider-
able property; Dr. C. Pugsley and wife, and small family,
from London; and Mr. Adam Corrie, I think, from the
county of Nottingham, were also passengers. Besides these
was Mr. John Wood, then a young man, now with gray
locks, the father of a large family, a respectable and prosr
perous farmer, near Albion, living in a good brick-house,
on a fine farm, and surrounded by all rural comfort that
a man need desire; also, Mr. John Ingle, and his family,
from Cambridgeshire. Mr. Ingle is now living near Evans-
ville, and his son, John Ingle, junior, is a prominent pro-
fessional man, engaged in all the public business of the
city. Mr. David Bennett, and family, Mr. White, and family,
carpenter and builder, from London, Captain (baptismal
name) Stone, wife, and family, were also of the company.
Mr. Stone was steward on my farm in England. He now
had the care of my cattle, sheep, and swine. These, and
some other names not recollected, made a party of three
score and more, bound to our settlement. It was the same
102 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
ship, the Ann Maria, and the same captain, that brought
me over so safely and rapidly in the previous fall. We
arrived without accident at New York, after a passage of
fifty days, and but one week after the Bristol ship, that
sailed a month before us. To remove all these people and
their luggage, and the animals that I had brought, to our
Settlement, nearly a thousand miles inland, was no smah
undertaking, at a time when there was neither turnpike
nor railroad, and steam-boats few, and in the infancy of
their management. Patience, toil, time, and money were
all required and all were freely bestowed.
On reaching land, the ship's party was broken up, and
smaller parties were formed of people of similar habits
and tastes, clubbing together for mutual assistance on the
way. Those of small means, proceeded on without loss of
time. Those of more means, lingered a little in the cities,
and with their new friends, before taking their departure
for what was then the Far- West.
Mr. John Wood, Mr. Ingle, Mr. White, and Mr. Bennett
formed a party for travel, on their arrival at Pittsburgh,
purchased a covered flat-boat, and descended the Ohio
River together. Mr. Filder, I think, bought a horse, and
rode the whole distance to Vincennes, on the Wabash.
The Rotches, brothers, came, I think, with my father's
party as far as Cincinnati, from thence on horseback. My
father's family spent the first winter in Lexington, Ky.,
whilst I was preparing their residence in Illinois. In this
manner, the various individuals and parties made the
best way they could. Some of them were joined by
individuals and families of English, that were lingering
TRAVELING WEST. IO3
on the sea- board, without any specific reference to our
Settlement; but seeing the emigration, and having read
the pubhcations, joined and went on. I think every
accession from the East was English. Not an Ameri-
can joined us, excepting one, a Captain Kenyon, of a
merchant -vessel formerly trading to India. He came
in my boat down the Ohio. He was not a man suited
to the Settlement by previous habits. An unavailable
member, he did not stay long in the Settlement. I had
traveled much before this trip. First, my journey alone,
two thousand miles; then with Mr. Birkbeck's party west-
ward; and the return with my wife, another one thou-
sand miles; but always on horseback. Now I was to
enter on a new experience of travel. With a covered
traveling- carriage, strongly built but light, and a capital
pair of horses, I drove from Philadelphia to Chambersburgh.
I had often driven on English roads, but never before on
American. The roads were then for the most part in their
natural state, pretty good when dry, almost impassable for
mud if the weather was wet, and, in both cases, plentifully
set with stumps. In many parts of the Alleghany Moun-
tains, the road was merely a track made by the wagons
from Philadelphia, going up the easiest watercourse on the
mountain side, with all the large boulders unbroken, giving
us severe bumps, and sudden and dangerous descents.
The charge for carriage from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
was reduced then to $7 per hundred pounds. With me, in
my carriage, I took my two sons and Miss Maria Fordham.
My father and mother and sisters, resting longer at Phila-
delphia, traveling more deliberately, and proposing to pass
104 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
the winter at Lexington, Kentucky, Miss Fordham took a
seat in my carriage, to accompany me and my wife to
Illinois. The roads were good to Chambersburgh, and I
rapidly drove along.
My wife and I were once more together, and with us a
little daughter, but a few weeks old. We stayed awhile at
Chambersburgh, to make acknowledgment to our newly-
found friends there who had been so kind to Mrs. Flower
during her long and anxious solitude. Conspicuous among
these were Mr. and Mrs. Calhoon. Mr. Calhoon was
cashier of the bank, and all our little money matters
passed through his hands. To others, unnecessary to
name, equally solicitous and watchful in taking every
opportunity in doing a kindness, we shall ever bear grati-
tude in our hearts.
My carriage was soon filled, my horses were strong, and
we were proceeding onward to a given point, in the pleas-
ing hope of meeting again, in the prairies, the friends we
had left at Princeton, and of carrying out together the
scheme of emigration and settlement that we had begun
and thus far carried on to a successful point. The various
objects we had in view, for which I was sent to England,
were all accomplished with singular success. My voyage
across the Atlantic was of unusual speed. The funds for
Mr. Birkbeck were safely sent, exceeding somewhat in
amount his own expectations. The publications made by
book, pamphlet, and newspaper had excited general atten-
tion. By a singular coincidence, my father had sold, a
few days before my arrival in England, his dwelling and
lands in Marden for ^^23,000, thus giving to himself, my
A BLACK SHEEP. I05
mother, brothers, and sisters, an opportunity of returning
with me in the spring, which they wilhngly embraced, to
take up their abode in the prairies.
Both ships arrived in America without accident, most of
the people had crossed the mountains in health, and many
of these, by the time I got to Pittsburgh, were proceeding
down the Ohio River to their ultimate destination. Every-
thing worked smoothly; success was attained, but harmony
was not.
Who can calculate the extent of mischief spread by an
envious temper, a false heart, and a loose tongue. There
came over in my ship, as I have before stated, a doctor
from London, a man of some skill in his profession, with a
pretty wife. They assumed to be fashionable people, and
were so, but of that part of fashion which assumes some-
thing of its external appearance, without possessing any of
its sterling qualities. I had no particular knowledge of
him, but wishing to come to our Settlement, and reputed
of some skill, I gave him every information and all facili-
ties. Having made his neighborhood in England too hot
to hold him, he for some time disturbed our Settlement,
until he went elsewhere to follow his unhappy instincts.
He made a point of coming out in my ship, and, unfortu-
nately for the peace of our neighborhood, bought a town-
share, and so became a town-proprietor. I note the un-
happy propensities of this man as a prominent cause of
the troubles which for a time disturbed our Settlement.
Many of us bound for Illinois met at Pittsburgh. Some
were ruffled in temper. All seemed to be more or less
disturbed by the roughness of the journey passed, and in
I06 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
»
anticipation of the new experiences on the river to come.
A week was often lost at Pittsburgh in fitting up boats or
chaffering for horses. Some were buying flat-boats, some
purchased skiffs, fitted with an awning, for one or two
persons; some determined to take it on horseback; but
most of them went down the river. Here my brother
William joined me, and gave me great assistance on the
voyage and the first two months in Illinois. I purchased
a keel-boat and a flat-boat, and lashed them together,
the former for my family, the latter for my horses; car-
riage fastened on the top of the flat; four English farm-
laborers for oarsmen. With difficulty, I procured a pilot,
who engaged to go a hundred and fifty mjles with me
down the river. But he left me just before coming to a
difficult part of the river, called Dead Man's Shoal. There
was no other resource, I had to take the steering-oar, and
was soon aground. With much labor and difficulty we
got off, poling and shoving up to our knees in the river,
trying to get the boat off. With a "Pittsburgh Naviga-
tor" (a book with a map of the river, in which all the
islands, shoals, and dangerous places are laid down,) in one
hand, and the steering-oar in the other, I took my station
at the helm. With my total inexperience, I found my
new position both anxious and laborious. The labor and
exposure I did not mind, but the constant watching and
state of doubt was trying. I got on pretty v/ell, going
along by day and tying up at night. Put it was not
all smooth sailing. I got into one dangerous scrape, and
out of it, too, as luck would have it. It was this: The
"Navigator" had described a certain island of great length
DOWN THE OHIO RIVER. 10/
close to the north shore, with a narrow and dangerous
channel of rapid water, as especially dangerous, and to
be avoided by every craft descending the river. I had
been long looking for this island, and presently it came
in sight. I was approaching it in the middle of the
river, a very considerable distance off. I was not suffi-
ciently aware of the distance a sand-bar extended from
a point of an island. When about to steer for the Ken-
tucky shore, my boats grounded. In pushing off, we
were swung round into the current leading into the very
channel we were warned to avoid. I felt, as we approached
the danger, as a man may be supposed to feel when he
finds himself and craft drawing into the waters of Niagara.
I was, for a short time, uncertain, weak, and helpless,
through sheer fright. Our two boats, lashed together,
entered the dark channel, overhung by trees. The water
was running at a rapid rate, and the channel was full
of black and dangerous snags. I called to the oarsmen
to give way with all their might. Seizing the steering-
oar myself, which felt in my hands as light as a feather,
giving it sudden twists and turns to port and lee, going
through the crooked channel with scarce room to pass
between the snags, we eventually came out safe. Passing
a flat-boat tied up in the stream beyond, I was accosted
by the old man, as he sat smoking his pipe on the roof
of his boat, "I say, stranger, you must be a mighty favor-
ite summers to get through with your two boats from
that devil's race-course!"
I have found at other times, as then, if surprised by
sudden danger alone, after the first moments of appalling
I08 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
fear, strength as suddenly comes, and you overcome. I
suppose the god that lies dormant in every human breast _
suddenly awakes and carries him through. At Cincinnati,
my crew deserted me, and it was some days before I
could muster another. As we were floating along, one
warm summer day, my eldest son, Richard, walking on
a narrow pathway between the body of the boat and
the edge, missed his foothold, and fell into the river.
Mr. Hayward, a young gentleman from Oxfordshire,
whom we had taken into our boat, heard the splash, and
plunged in; both child and man disappeared. They
came to the surface, Hayward holding the child by the
coat- collar. They were on the lower side of the boat.
Hayward, who was a good swimmer, finding the boat
press against them, with great presence of mind dived,
with the child in his arms, under the boat, and came up
on the other side, where I first lifted my son from the
water, and then assisted Hayward on board. Very for-
tunately, no other injuries were experienced than a fright
and a drenching. They were soon made comfortable by
a change of clothing.
A few little incidents and we arrived at Shawneetown,
a fortnight after Trimmer and Lawrence's party arrived
at the same place; and a poor little village it was, of log-
cabins and a few light frame-houses. It was occasionally
subject to deep inundations from the floods of the Ohio
River. The situation of Shawneetown is handsome, com-
manding long reaches' of the Ohio River, up and down
stream. At that time, it was the only town in Southern
Illinois, if we except Carmi, thirty miles north, on the
NEWS FROM THE SETTLEMENT. IO9
Wabash, the county-seat of White County, then a very
small place.
Leaving my boats, I again proceeded by land in my
Philadelphia vehicle, with two famous grays. Myself, my
wife, my two sons, and Miss Fordham, rode in the carriage,
which was filled with articles of the first necessity. My
brother William, rode on horseback. Mr. Fordham, who
had come to meet me, was also on horseback. He had
remained with Mr. Birkbeck's family during the winter;
making frequent excursions into the prairies, to assist in
the preparatory arrangements, as well as more distant
journeys to Cincinnati and Louisville, for a variety of arti-
cles, with which he loaded a flat-boat and descended the
Ohio. From him we learned all the news of the Settle-
ment; the arrival of Lawrence and Trimmer's party, and
various horsemen who had come overland from Cincinnati.
All these were for the time occupants of the hollow-square
of log-cabins, afterward facetiously called the "barracks"'
from its limited space, offering unavoidably but limited
accommodations to any, and this was becoming more and
more crowded every day. Mr. Birkbeck's family occupied
two cabins at some little distance from the general rendez-
vous.
Enquiring of the health and condition of everybody, he
he said they were generally well, but Mr. Birkbeck he
thought had somewhat changed. He looked older, was
rather testy, and occasionally gave short answers, and said
some other things that rather surprised me. Mr. Fordham
also told me that he had built two cabins on my land.
Near to one he had dug a well. In this cabin he had
no ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
placed a French-Canadian family, from Cattinet, that there
might be some human beings on the place. The other he
had built a-quarter of a mile off on a more beautiful site,
a situation which he thought I should like as my perma-
nent residence. After hearing all this, I decided to drive
to the last-described cabin. After a drive of sixty miles
in two days, we were at the prairies. I entered the prairie
at the same spot from which we had first seen it; now with
quite different feelings and other cares. On entering the
prairie, my large horses were covered with the tall prairie-
grass, and laboriously dragged the heavy-laden vehicle.
The cabin built for me was well sheltered by wood from
the north and east, with an arm of the prairie lying south
in a gently-descending slope for a-quarter of a mile, it was
as pretty a situation as could be desired. The cabin could
not boast of many comforts. With a clap-board roof, held
on by weight -poles, and a rough puncheon floor, it had
neither door nor window. Two door-ways were cut out,
and the rough logs were scutched down inside. All the
chips and ends of logs left by the backwoods builders lay
strewed upon the floor We were now face to face with
the privations and difficulties of a first settlement in the
wilderness. But greater than all other inconveniences was
the want of water. There was no water nearer than the
cabin in which the French family lived, a-quarter of a mile
off.
It is impossible for any one living in old countries,
where the common conveniences of life have been accumu-
lating for centuries and ages, to understand the situation
of an individual or small family when first alighting in
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE. Ill
the prairies without even that indirect aid from art and
cultivation common to all in a civilized community.
The poorest man in an old country things nothing of a
road or a path, or a drink of water from a well. He is the
owner or occupier of some sort of a house, maybe a small
cottage, but even he can shut his door against a storm,
and crouch in safety before a small fire, made in ■&. fireplace,
perhaps enjoying the luxuries of a three-legged stool and
a small deal -table, some shed outside to tie up a horse or
cow. Not so here. A rough roof and a rough floor we
had, and that was all. In three days the Frenchman,
Jean Mummonie, brought us a turkey, for which we paid
him a quarter-dollar, but there were two days to live before
the turkey came. The floor was cleared, and a fire kindled
in a hole where a hearth was to be. One of us had
a-half-mile trip for the water. Then for the first time
we knew the blessing of an iron teakettle. Our first meal
on the floor from such provisions as the carriage afforded,
crackers, cheese, and tea without milk, drank alternately
from one or two tin cups. Some sitting, some kneeling,
some stretched at length, resting on an elbow, ancient
fashion. This may be called beginning at the beginning.
Romantic certainly. Picturesque to be sure. The gypsies
in England, in their snug tents, sheltered by pleasant haw-
thorn hedges, camp-kettles teeming with savory hare, par-
tridge, and trout, raised at other folks' expense, we were
far before or behind them, as the case may be viewed.
But then I was in my own house, on my own land, in a
free ^nd independent Republic, might cast my vote into
any hollow tree for coon or 'possum to be president of the
112 ENGLISH SETTLEMEN't IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
United States. All this is very sustaining to a patriotic
heart just from Europe, from the terribly-oppressing kings,
dukes, priests that we hear so much about. But for this,
how could we have stood it ? The second day was only a
Jittle more embarrassing than the first. Our horses, untied
from the carriage-wheels, had to be led to grass, or grass
cut for them by our pocket-knives. The second night
came; what, nobody from the Settlement only two miles
off; what did this mean.''
On the third day after my arrival, I took my horse and
rode over to Mr. Birkbeck's cabin. When almost in the
act of dismounting, I saw him rise from his seat, from
under the shade of an oak that stood opposite to his
cabin door. He passed before my horse's head into the
cabin, pale, haggard, and agitated. With eyes cast down,
and shaking his head, he said: "No, we can not meet, I
can not see you." Sitting on my horse, and looking at
him in wonder, I said: "We must meet, our property is
undivided, business is urgent, heavy payments are to be
provided for freight and charges." But what! "Stop,
stop," said he, "let a third person arrange all." "So be
it," said I, and rode on. These were the last words that
ever passed between us. When we take a cold, we are
troubled to know how it happened, and think if we had
taken an umbrella, or put on a great-coat, or changed
our shoes, or done something we had not done, we should
not have got it. So it is in our moral diseases. We can
•
not help looking back to see how they came. Was it
both of us leaving him at Princeton alone with his family
on the frontier.' We did not consider, perhaps, sufficiently
WHAT CAUSED THE DIFFERENCE. II3
at the time that the absence of both myself and wife
would leave a dreary, void, and lonely winter for our aged
friend. We, in the vigor of our years and affection for
each others, perhaps, overlooked this, and, possibly, he
might feel somewhat aggrieved on that account in the
solitary winter he had to pass, for a father with his chil-
dren only is in some sort a solitary being. He might
feel that he was deserted, and a thought may have crossed
his mind that we might never return. I think he felt
something of this sort from an expression in a letter to
an intimate friend in England, where he said: "You will
see Mr. George Flower, who intends to return in the spring,
but we all know when time and distance intervene, they
are great barriers to the execution of our intentions." I
was struck with the sentence when I saw it, but the friend
had no such doubt, for he put into my hands a considera-
ble sum of money, to be especially invested. Then again,
instead of riding on with some feeling of injury at my
reception, had I dismounted and insisted on an explana-
tion, things might have been different. But all this is
only saying if things were different to what they are,
they would not be as they are. From that eternal chain
ever lengthening, but never ending, the effect of today,
the cause of tomorrow, what mortal power can change
the smallest link.? This is no place for metaphysical dis-
quisitions, but a relation of events as they occurred.
Here let me pause in the narrative, to do justice to
ourselves in our after unfortunate and unpleasant situation.
We never quarrelled or descended to altercation, never
spoke ill of each other, and never, as I believe, attempted
8
114 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
to do each other any injury. We were silent ever after, as
if we ig-nored each other's existence. The hne of demar-
cation between our lands was about three miles long.
Ever after, I worked on one side, he on the other. When
strangers visited the Settlement, they called on each of
us. I say this in contradiction to the extraordinary false-
hoods promulgated at the time. Regret and sorrow were,
no doubt, the prevailing feelings in each breast.*
But we were now parted forever, and in that situation
were, with all our caution, very much at the mere}' of
go-betweens and tale-bearers, ever to be found on an
errand of mischief. There had arrived before me in Wan-
borough, a man of parts and education. He had made
calculations, before leaving the old country, to settle at
the prairies, and there form his domestic relations. In
this he was disappointed, and bore no friendly feeling to
me in consequence.
The void which our silence left was more than filled
up by our intermeddling neighbors, and Mr. Birkbeck's
annoyance, from indiscreet partizanship, was much greater
* It would be useless at this remote period to inquire into the causes that
led to the severance of the friendly relations between these founders of the
English Settlement in Edwards County. It was undoubtedly a great misfor-
tune to the Colony at that time, because both of the men had strong friends,
who formed themselves into Birkbeck and Flower parties, and which, no
doubt, impeded the growth and prosf)erity of the Colony. While the friends
of both of these men were much excited, and although they were estranged
from each other, they never entered into any unseemly personal wrangle,
and each pursued the even tenor of his way. Had it not been for the sad
accident by which Mr. Birkbeck lost his life, there would probably have been
a reconciliation between them. It was understood that Mr. Birkbeck's visit
to New Harmony, at that time, was for the purpose of seeking the intervention
of his friend, Robert Owen, to bring about a renewal of their friendly inter-
course.
DROWNING OF MORRIS BIRKBECK. II 5
than mine. The wildest reports, mostly ridiculous and
some scandalous, were carried from one to the other, and
were so often repeated, as to obtain some credence with
those that invented and circulated them; and some indi-
viduals were so indiscreet as to write, to their distant
friends, these fabulous accounts. This brought to Mr.
Birkbeck letters, asking explanations of the strange things
they had heard. From this annoyance he could scarcely
free himself by silence or reply. It has been said that
none but fools intermeddle with other people's dissentions.
If judged by that rule, we had many non compics in our
Settlement at tiiat time.
There was that sense of justice in Mr. Birkbeck that
prompted him to repair an injury inflicted from errone-
ous impressions or heat of temper. Seven years after our
short meeting and parting, Mr. Birkbeck went to Har-
mony, and solicited Mr. Robert Owen to use his influence
for a reconciliation between us; but from that journey
he never returned.*
I must anticipate a period of eight years to close the
history of Mr. Birkbeck's family with myself and with
the Settlement. Some time after the death of Mr. Birk-
beck, a circumstance occurred which brought me once
more into personal intercourse with the members of his
* On his return to Wanborough from New Harniony, Ind., June 4, 1825,
Morris Birlvbeck was drowned while crossing Fox River. His body, taken
two days afterward to New Harmony, was buried with every mark of respect
and affection. Thus perished Morris Birkbeck, one of the ablest and most
cultivated men of his time in Illinois, whose influence, wielded in the cause of
freedom and humanity, should always be gratefully remembered.
Il6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
family, then living in Wanborough,* his two daughters,
Mrs. Pell and Mrs. Hanks, neither of whom I had seen
since our parting at Princeton, eight years before. Mr.
Francis Hanks, eldest son of an Irish gentleman, and the
only member of that family now remaining in Wanbor-
ough, married Miss Prudence, the second daughter of Mr.
Birkbeck, by whom he had three daughters. Mr. and
Mrs. Hanks had for some time lived apart. Mrs. Hanks
and her children lived with her sister, Mrs. Pell, to whom
she was ardently attached, and by whom she was much be-
loved. Mr. Hanks and myself had always been on friendly
terms. From the peculiar position of my own and his
father-in-law's family, we had never conversed on his
family affairs. Mr. Hanks now thought it his duty to
take his children under his own care. He called on me
to ask the loan of my carriage to bring his children and
their little effects from Mr. Pell's to his own house. This
led to further conversation then, and to more the next
day. I questioned the wisdom of his intention in taking
his daughters from the custody of their mother, and bring-
ing them to a house without a housekeeper or female
domestic, and in a country where a governess was scarcely
to be procured.
He listened to my suggestions, and, at his request, I
went to see Mrs. Hanks on the subject. Mr. Pell met
* Wanborough was laid out as a town by Mr. Birkbeck in five-acre lots, a
mile or two west of where Albion is located, and there he had his own residence.
A few other families settled there, but the town had no future. Everything
went to Albion, and, at the present day, Wanborough has no existence, even
in name.
AN EMBARRASSING INTERVIEW. 11/
me at the hall-door, with some surprise, for I had never
been there before. I briefly explained the object of my
visit. He invited me in, and opened the door of the
parlor, which I entered. There stood my two former
friends, Eliza and Prudence, pale and motionless. Pru-
dence soon became tremulous, her nervous temperament
scarcely allowed her to stand, but she could not move.
Her sister, with slight motion, invited me to a seat, which
I for a few moments could not take. All the past was
passing through our 'minds, we were scarcely conscious of
existence. I asked Mrs. Hanks if she would like to retain
her children, and received her almost inaudible assent and
thanks. Mr. Pell came in, to our relief; we all made an
effort, and spoke aloud, as if to dissipate the impression
of some unhappy dream that had long oppressed us.
Mr. Pell sat down to table to draw up an agreement, all
of us sitting, participating in what was being written. I
soon returned with Mr. Hanks' signature. Dinner was now
ready. I was pressed to stay. I sat at the right-hand
of Mrs. Pell, Mrs. Hanks opposite, Mr. Pell at the bot-
tom, and three or four children near him. Mrs. Hanks
never completely recovered her self-possession. Mrs. Pell,
calm, conversable, and cheerful. The conversation became
general. Yet it was evident that there were different
parties at the table* feeling a different existence, and living
in different worlds. Three of us saw all the happy days
of the past, and the darker hours of separation and regret
to which the husband could get but faint glimpses. The
children knew no other world than they were enjoying,
and the play to which they soon returned. At leaving.
Il8 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Mr. Pell requested a moment's stay at the hall-door:
"Mr. Flower, there has been an estrangement between our
families, may we hope that it is now at an end, and that
all may be forgotten." As in the evening of a dark and
dreary day, the clouds lighted up with a bright streak o^
sunlight in the western horizon, showing that the storms
are past, giving promise of a fair and tranquil morrow. So
one gleam of sincere, but melancholy, friendship closed
our dark day, but for us there was no morrow. Mrs.
Hanks soon after went to Mexico, wfth her daughters, to
join her brothers, who had gone to that country after their
father's death. Not long after her arrival in Mexico, on
an evening promenade, she was attacked with the cholera
and died. Her children, adopted by her bother Bradford,
have been kindly cared for. A little later, I met Mrs.
Pell, for the last time, at a friend's house in Albion. She
was going, the next day, to New York with her children.
At parting, she came forward, extending her hand with
frankness, and with her own sweet smile, gave me a cor-
dial farewell. This estimable lady was, I believe, the sole
instructor, as well as care-taker, of her children, and this
she was from the circumstances of her situation. Mr. Pell
was a public man, twice in the Legislature, and was often
for long periods abroad.* A wife of ability and industry,
everywhere valuable, is in western America a treasure of
priceless worth. In the performance of her maternal
* Gilbert T. Pell, who married the daughter of Mr. BirkbecU, was a mem-
ber of the " Convention Legislature, " as it was called, from Edwards County,
in 1822-4. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and voted against the resolu-
tion to call a convention to change the Constitution of the State so as to toler-
ate slavery. He was also a member from the same county for 1828-30.
DIGGING THE WELL. II9
duties, and in every sacrifice for the welfare of her chil-
dren, Mrs. Pell found refreshment and strength. She now
took them the journey to New York and the voyage to
England. For their sake, she went to the antipodes of
the globe, encountering the world of water that lies be-
tween England and Australia, where she now is watch-
ing the peaceful progress of her children to wealth and
station, as rewards for the virtues impressed upon them
by her care and love.
I should willingly have avoided these personal inci-
dents, but our histories are so interwoven with the history
of the Settlement that I could not entirely omit them.
On my return from the short interview with Mr. Birk-
beck, I saw that I could receive no benefit or aid from
any previous preparation, and had only myself to rely
upon. No water near, a well was of the first necessity.
Two laborers, one English and one American, were set
at work, and struck a solid sandstone rock three feet from
the surface. The nearest forge was where the town of
Carmi now stands, thirty miles distant. About every
other day, I sent to Carmi to have tools sharpened. Two
sawyers set to work with a pit-saw, broke the iron han-
dle of the saw. I sent a man on horseback to Harmony,
twenty-five miles, to get it mended. He left the saw,
and then rode off with horse, saddle, and bridle. I never
saw him more.
My old friend Birk gave me a call to say ''hozvdye,"
bringing a haunch of venison, for which I paid him thirty-
seven and a -half cents, about eighteen pence sterling.
Think of that, ye aldermen of London! Our money was
I20 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
not decimally divided then. It was the Spanish coin:
dollar, half, quarter, twelve-and-a-half and six-and-a-fourth
cents, all in separate silver coins, no copper passing.
"Birk, I want a smoke-house, well roofed, scutched in-
side, and well chinked. How much.?" "Ten dollars,"
said he. "Find yourself ( that is, feed yourself), haul
your own logs. When.?" "Tomorrow." The house was
built; money paid; whisky given; man rode home; drunk
and happy; all in a quiet friendly way. So the Settle-
ment was planted in two parts, side by side, about two
miles distant from each other.
For a moment let us glance at the situation of these
settlers, a thousand miles inland, at the heels of the retreat-
ing Indians. A forest from the Atlantic shore behind
them, but thinly settled with small villages, far apart from
each other. To the west, one vast uninhabited wilder-
ness of prairie, interspersed with timber, extending two
thousand miles to the Pacific Ocean. Excepting St. Louis,
on the Mississippi, then a small place, and Kaskaskia, yet
smaller, there were no inhabitants west of us. About the
same time, one or two small American settlements were
forming a few miles east of the Mississippi, as we were
planting ourselves a few miles west of the Wabash. The
first member of Congress had to ride an intervening
space of a hundred and fifty miles of wilderness between
the little settlements of his constituents, lying in the
west and east of the State. There were no roads on
land, no steam -boats on the waters. The road, so-
called, leading to Vandalia (then composed of about
a dozen log- houses), was made by one man on horse-
A HARD ROAD TO TRAVEL. 121
back following in the track of another, every rider
making the way a little easier to find, until you came
to some slush, or swampy place, where all trace was
lost, and you got through as others had done, by guess-
ing at the direction, often riding at hazard for miles
until you stumbled on the track again. And of these
blind traces there were but three of four in the southern
half of the State. No roads were worked, no watercourses
bridged. Before getting to Vandalia, there was a low
piece of timbered bottom-land, wet and swampy, and often
covered with water, through which every traveler had
to make his way as he best could, often at the risk of
his life. Such was the state of the country. No man
could feel sure that he was within the limits of the State,
but from knowing that he was west of the Wabash and
east of the Mississippi. We had some difficulties, pecu-
liar to ourselves, as a foreign people. The Americans,
by pushing onward and onward for almost two genera-
tions, had a training in handling the axe and opening
farms, and, from experience, bestowing their labor in the
most appropriate manner, which we, from our inexperi-
ence, often did not. Fresh from an old country, teeming
with the conveniences of civilized life, at once in a wilder-
ness with all our inexperience, our losses were large from
misplaced labor. Many were discouraged, and some re-
turned, but the mass of the settlers stayed, and, by gradual
experience, corrected their first errors, thus overcoming
difficulties which had wellnigh overcome them. The
future success of the Settlement was obtained by individ-
ual toil and industry. Of the first inconveniences and
sufferings, my family had its full share.
122 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
The summer had been very hot and latterly wet. Thun-
der showers of daily occurrence sent mosquitoes in swarms.
My cabin, recently built, of course, of green logs, unfur-
nished, with rank vegetation growing all around it and
up to its very sides, was in its situation and in itself a
sufficient cause of disease. My shepherd and his family
came, bringing a few choice sheep and an English high-
bred cow. His whole family, in a few days, all fell sick,
lying in a small cabin just built about a hundred yards
from my own. Mr. White, carpenter, from London, wife,
and two children, occupied a two-horse wagon and a sol-
dier's tent. There was no house for him ; they all fell
sick. My two sons were speedily taken with fever and
ague, to us then a new disease. Miss Fordham, who
shared our cabin, was attacked with the same disease.
My constitution, strong and good, yielding from exposure
to heat and rain, took another form of disease. Boils
and irritable sores broke out on both my legs, from knee
to ankle, incapacitating me, for a time, from walking.
Thus we were situated for two or three weeks, without
the slightest assistance from any source, or supplies other
than from my own wagons, as they slowly arrived from
Shawneetown, giving us sufficient bedding with flour and
bacon. All the other merchandise and furniture did but
add to our present embarrassment, in attempts to protect
them from the weather, and in endeavoring to dry what
was wet.
We were carried through this period of trial by the
unremitting labor and self-sa'crifice of my wife.* She alone
* Mrs. Flower was a woman of rare intelligence and excellent education, to
CHARACTER OF MRS. FLOWER. 1 23
prepared all our food and bedding, and attended to the
wants of the sick and the suffering by night and day.
To all this was added a fatigue that a strong man might-
have shrunk from, in bringing water from that distant
well. Sustained in her unremitting labors by unbounded
devotion to her family, and a high sense of duty to all
within her reach, her spirit and her power seemed to rise
above the manifold trials by which she was surrounded.
And thus we were saved from probable death or certain
dispersion. The incessant labor of the mother told on
the infant at the breast; it sickened and died. With
returning health we worked our way unaided through our
difficulties.
To our former friends and those that sustained them
in withholding the slightest assistance in our hour of trial,
is it strange that we should accept the separation, and
feel in our hearts that it must be forever.^ We, for some
time, experienced the inconveniences of population in ad-
vance of necessary food and shelter.
which she united an energetic character and a courageous spirit. An affec-
tionate wife, a devoted mother, a kind friend, and a good neighbor, she proved
herself in all the relations of life a true and noble woman. When misfortune
and poverty came to her family in the later years, she met the changed circum-
stances with a cheerful spirit and unsubdued courage. She was of the best
type of an English countrywoman, and preserved, to the end of her days, the
characteristics of her nationality. The sad day arriving when, in pursuit of
occupation to support his family, Mr. Flower was obliged to leave the Colony
he had helped to found, and with which he had been so conspicuously identi-
fied for so many years, he removed to Mt. Vernon, Ind., on the Ohio River,
to take charge of an hotel. Advanced years and impaired health made it im-
possible for Mr. Flower to give much attention to the business, and the brunt
fell upon his wife. With her high shell-comb and her tasteful turban, no
weary guest will ever forget her cheery welcome, or the satisfactoi-y and kindly
manner in which he was entertained.
124 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
The buildings necessary to secure our horses and our
goods, now daily arriving, were built by the backwoods-
men of whom I have before spoken, among them was my
old friend Birk. These men worked well in the morninsr.
slackened toward noon, as the drams of whisky (which
they would not work without) told upon them, and in-
dulged in imprecations, brawls, and rough-and-tumble
fights, toward evening.
Emigrants were continually flowing in. They first
visited Mr. Birkbeck, who had but small accommodations;
then came to me, who, at that time, had still less. At
this stage, we were experiencing many of the inconveni-
ences of a population in the wilderness, in advance of
necessary food and shelter. Do as you will, if you are
the very first in the wilderness, there are many inconveni-
ences, privations, hardships, and sufferings that can not be
avoided. My own family, one day, were so close run for
provisions, that a dish of the tenderest buds and shoots
of the hazle was our only resort.
Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Trimmer, who led the first ship-
load, made their settlement in the Village Prairie, a beau-
tiful and extensive prairie, so-called from the Piankeshaw
Indians, there formerly located. It was situated due north
of my cabin in the Boltenhouse Prairie, about three miles,
the intervening space covered by timber and underbrush,
untouched by the hand of man. Emigrants kept coming
in, some on foot, some on horseback, and some in wagons.
Some sought employment, and took up with such labor
as they could find. Others struck out and made small
beginnings for themselves. Some, with feelings of petu-
A- NIGHT DISCUSSION. 125
lence, went farther and fared worse; others dropped back
into the towns and settlements in Indiana. At first, I
had as much as I could do to build a few cabins for the
workmen I then employed, and in erecting a large farm-
yard, a hundred feet square, enclosed by log-buildings,
two stories high; also in building fo'r my father's family
a house of considerable size, and appointed with some-
what more of comforts than is generally found in new
settlements, to be ready for their reception on the follow-
ing summer. I had as yet done nothing in erecting build-
ings for the public in general, as there had been no time.
One evening, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Ronalds, and I think,
Mr. Fordham, called at my cabin, and, after their horses
were cared for and supper over, we discussed the meas-
ures that should be taken to form some village or town,
as a centre for those useful arts necessary to agriculture.
Every person wanted the services of a carpenter and
blacksmith. But every farmer could not build workshops
at his own door. Daylight ceased, darkness followed.
We had no candles, nor any means of making artificial
light. On a pallet, mattress, or blanket, each one took
to his couch, and carried on the discussion. After much
talk, we decided that what we did do should be done
in order, and with a view to the future settlement, as
well as our own present convenience. The tract of forest
lying between, Mr. Lawrence's settlement in the Village
Prairie, on its southern border, and mine at the north of
the Boltenhouse Prairie, was about three-and-a-half miles
through. Somewhere in the centre of. this tract of wood-
land seemed to be the place. To the right of this spot,
126 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
eastward, lay, about a mile distant, several prairies run-
ning north and south for many miles, and others east and
west to the Bonpas Creek, from three to five miles dis-
tant. North-eastward from Mr. Lawrence's cabin, prairies
of every form and size continued on indefinitely. About
two miles west, and beyond Wanborough, were numerous
small and fertile prairies, extending to the Little Wabash,
from six to ten miles distant. On the south was my
own beautiful prairie. Thus the spot for our town in a
central situation was decided upon. Now for a name.
We were long at fault. At last we did what almost all
emigrants do, pitched on a name that had its association
with the land of our birth. Albion was then and there
located, built, and peopled in imagination. We dropped
off, one by one, to sleep, to confirm in dreams the wan-
derings of our waking fancies.
CHAPTER VI.
Albion Founded — Town Surveyed and Laid Off First Double Cabin
Benjamin Grutt — Albion a fixed Fact — The Log -Cabin and
Blacksmith-Shop— Rowdyism — Wan borough springs into Exis-
tence in 1818— Efforts to obtain Water— Visit to Lexington, Ky.
Death of William Flower— Building in Albion— Old Park-House
The Sunday Dinner — Brick-Kilns— Market-House- New Roads
—Brick-Tavern, built by Richard Flower— Kept by Mr. and Mrs.
Lewis— The Mill— The first Store-keepers in Albion— Other early
Settlers — Albion made the County-Seat — Erection of a Court-
House and Jail— Pardon of Perry by Gov. Coles — Disappoint-
ment of the People in not seeing him Hung — Consoling them-
selves with Whisky and a score of Fights— Thirty-nine Lashes
for a Poor Frenchman — Hon. William W^ilson.
One day was only suffered to elapse between our
decision and the execution of our purpose. Before dis-
persing the next morning, it was agreed that Mr. Ford-
ham and myself should start north from my dwelling.
Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Ronalds were to go south from
the Village Prairie at a given hour on the following morn-
ing. We met the next day in the woods, according to
appointment. The spot seemed suitable. The woods
were rather open, and the ground level. " Here shall be
the' centre of our town," we said. The spot of our meet-
ing is now the public square in the centre of Albion, on
which the school-house, the court-house, and the jail now
stand. The surveying and laying of the town was en-
trusted to Mr. Fordham, who forthwith went to work, and
128 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTV.
completed the survey and the plat. One of our number
went to Shawneetown, and entered the section of six
hundred and forty acres, which was all laid off in town
lots. The public-square was in the middle. The blocks
immediately around, and in the main street, were divided
into quarter-acre lots. The blocks outside were divided
into half-acres. As the distance increased from the cen-
tre, the lots increased in size, until the outer belt of allot-
ments were five and seven acres.
The first double-cabin built, was designated for a tavern,
and a single one for its stable. This was occupied by
Mr. John Pitcher, who, with his family, came out with
Mr. Lawrence. He was an excellent mechanic, and a man
of more than ordinary intelligence. Unsuccessful in
England, he came to the Settlement almost without a
dollar. About two years afterward, he went to Vincennes
(leaving his family at Albion), and undertook contracting
for building on a large scale. He was pursuing his business
successfully, when he was suddenly cut off by a virulent
epidemic, much resembling the yellow fever. He was
visited in his last moments by Mr. Benjamin Grutt, who
was then at Vincennes and accidentally heard of his ill-
ness. Too weak to articulate, with a significant pressure
of the hand and a kindly smile, he took leave of his
visitor, indicating that the little differences which had
arisen between them had all passed away, and were then
forgiven. This reminiscence, Mr. Grutt always spoke of
as one of the most pleasing incidents of his life. His
son Henry, then a boy, is now, I am happy to record,
a gentleman of large property, now residing at St. Louis,
ALBION BEGUN. 1 29
acquired, I believe, in the city by his own industry and
inteUigence. Such opportunities does this country afford
for those who have the ability or good fortune to lay hold
of them.
Another and second double and single cabin were occu-
pied as dwelling and shop by a blacksmith. I had brought
bellows, anvils, tools, and appliances for three or four black-
smith - shops, from the City of Birmingham, England. —
There were three brothers that came with Mr. Charles
Trimmer, all excellent mechanics, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob Penfold. Jacob, the blacksmith, was immediately
installed, and went to work. There stood Albion, no
longer a myth, but a reality, a fixed fact. A log-tavern
and a blacksmith -shop.
Two germs of civilization were now planted — one of the
useful arts, the other a necessary institution of present
civilization. Any man could now get his horse shod and
get drunk in Albion, privileges which were soon enjoyed,
the latter especially.
The town -proprietors, at first four, afterward increased
to eight (each share five hundred dollars), went to work
vigorously. They put up cabin after cabin, which were
occupied as soon as put up, by emigrants coming in.
The builders of these were the backwoodsmen, some
from twenty to thirty miles distant. Attracted by our
good money and good whisky, these men gathered in.
The work was generally done by contract or piece-work
— the price twenty-five to thirty dollars for single cabins,
16 by 18; from forty to fifty for double cabins. The
builders generally worked hard by day. In the evening,
9
I30 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
they gathered around the whisky-barrel, as "bees around
a favorite flower. As the evening advanced, in succession
were heard the sounds of mirth and jolHty, threats, loud
oaths, and imprecations. Rough-and-tumble fights suc-
ceeded, and silence was only restored by the exhaustion
of the mutilated combatants. The birth of our infant
town was heralded by all the scenes of riot and debauch
incident to such occasions.
In August, 1818, the village of Wanborough sprang into
existence for the accommodation of the first-ship's party,
on Mr. Birkbeck's property, and under his immediate direc-
tion. In October, of the same year, Albion was founded
under my more immediate superintendence. It has main-
tained a slow, progressive, solid growth from that time to
this, now more than forty years.
The first efforts of the town-proprietors to obtain water
were signally unsuccessful. The first well dug was in the
public -square, and more than a hundred feet deep, and
no water. The next a considerable depth, and but a
limited supply. We knew not exactly where to dig to
find water. The elevation of the town (being on the
dividing ridge, between the Great and Little Wabash),
giving greater salubrity, was accompanied by the incon-
venience of deep -digging for water. When ignorance is
complete, we are apt to take up with any superstition.
I have often smiled at our resignation in following an
old well-digger, who claimed to be a water-witch, with a
forked hazel-rod in hand, here and there, up and down,
through the bushes, with solemn tread and mysterious air.
The rod is to bend down of its own accord over the spot
DEATH OF WILLIAM FLOWER. 131
where water is to be found. After following the witch
for a proper time, the rod bent down. We told him to
go to work. The result was water at a depth of forty-
five feet, not so deep and copious, but affording a moder-
ate supply. This difficulty about water was all obviated
afterward, when the property was divided. Tanks and
wells then became common as houses. But the want of
water in the first instance was no light difficulty. Popu-
lation streaming in before adequate preparations, add, to
all the other inconveniences, the want of water, and it is
almost fatal. When there were only two wells, I have
known people to stand for two hours in the night to
take their turn to dip their bucket full. Hence the efforts
of the town-proprietors to get an early supply.
During the winter, I rode on horseback to Lexington,
Ky., to visit my father's family. On the road, I was
shocked to hear of the sudden death of my brother Wil-
liam. He came with me and assisted me in the roughest
part of our time. Feeling unwell, he decided to go to
Lexington, and spent the winter with his father, mother,
sisters, and younger brother. He was accompanied and
kindly attended on the journey by Mr. John Ingle. He
sometimes seemed to recover, and at others to get worse.
Suddenly one morning, as he sat up in bed, his mother
in the room arranging the clothes for him to put on, he
sunk back on the pillow and instantly expired. L do n't
think the physicians knew precisely his case. They
thought it heart-disease. This was a melancholy affair
for us all, and a severe affliction to my aged parents.
I was busily engaged, during the winter and spring, in
132 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
building a comfortable dwelling for my father, not far
from my own cabins. The body of the house, 50 by 40
feet, covered by a hipped -roof, consisted of four rooms
in the lower and the upper story, divided by a hall-pas-
sage from north to south. The south front was protected
by a broad, well-floored porch, that extended the length
of the house. Every room was plastered or papered, and
furnished with a good brick-chimney and stone-hearth.
The north front was stuccoed, to resemble stone; the
south, weather- boarded and painted white. The house
was well furnished. Its good proportion, large windows,
and Venetian blinds gave it an appearance of the old
country rather than the new. It had two wings, one of
hewn stone, the other of brick, used as kitchen and offices.
A well, a cellar, stables, cow-house, and every other con-
venience of that sort was appended. A handsome gar-
den to the south was fenced in by an English hawthorn
hedge. Thirty acres of the northern woodland was pre-
served, the underbrush cleared and sowed with blue grass,
it had the appearance of a park. Hence its name — Park
House.
Old Park-House, near Albion, will long be remembered
by old settlers and distant visitors, for its social reunions
and open-handed hospitalities. Here the family party of
children and grandchildren met at dinner on a Sunday.
An English plum-pudding was a standing dish, that had
graced my father's dinner-table from time immemorial.
Here all friends and neighbors, that had any musical
tastes or talent, whether vocal or instrumental, met once
a fortnight for practice and social enjoyment. Strangers
PARK HOUSE — BRICK KILNS — ROADS. 1 33
and visitors to the Settlement received a hearty welcome,
saw all that was to be seen, and received all the infor-
mation they wished for, with necessary refreshment and
repose. It may be truly said that, for thirty years, old
Park House was never without its visitors, from every
country in Europe, and every State in the Union. They
were welcome, unless the family was absent, if their stay
was for a week, a month, or a year.
One of the first things the town -proprietors did, after
digging the wells, was to contract for a large kiln of
brick, for chimneys and hearths, to supply the various
cabins now built and being built. Nothing gives more
real and apparent comfort, than a good chimney and a
tidy hearth. They next built a market-house, about
seventy- five feet long, standing on a stone foundation,
and covered by a shingle -roof One division was fitted
up for the reception of books, that were given by indi-
viduals in England, as a nucleus for a public- library, and
was used for public-meetings and public-worship. When
Albion became the county -town, the first courts w^ere
held therein. They cut roads east, west, north, and south,
and built a bridge over Bonpas Creek, that cost them five
hundred dollars. Their last act of any notoriety, -was the
building of the new court-house-and-jail, which was done
chiefly from their own subscription, with a portion from
the County. The proprietors, if they had done no more,
would have done uniformly well, which is a little too much
to be expected of human nature. They had some violent
disputes and law proceedings, which retarded business
and was for a time injurious to the growth of the town.
134 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
They dissolved partnership, and divided the unsold prop-
erty, and of course all disputes arising out of the associa-
tion were ended. My father took a lively interest in the
growth of the town, and erected several buildings in which
to carry on trades necessary to the existence of the town
and the wants of the Settlement.
The year after his arrival, he built a good two -story
brick-tavern. It was a remarkably dry fall; and the wells
of the town were not more than sufficient to supply the
inhabitants. But my father was not a man easily turned
from his intentions. He ordered a barrel put on a sled,
drawn by a pair of oxen or one horse, and all the water,
necessary to the building of that tavern was hauled nearly
two miles in that tedious way. On the interruption of
the usual teams, rather than hinder the workmen, he had
a fine blooded-mare hitched to the sleigh; from the care-
lessness of the driver, she ran away and had her thigh
broken by the rebound of the sleigh.
Mr. John Pitcher was the builder of the tavern. The
first occupants were Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. The second,
Mr. Woods — not of the family of Wood before mentioned,
but another family from Surrey, with another letter to
their name. Mr. John Woods, the son, has a' store in
Albion, and has long held the office of county-treasurer.
The next building for the benefit of the public was a m^ll.
It was built as a tread-mill, worked by four oxen, relieved
by other four, and* so kept constantly going. It soon
became crowded with grists of the backwoodsmen and
farmers. Besides this, wheat was bought and flour made
for sale. I recollect purchasing the first wheat ground in
THE FIRST WHEAT GROUND. 1 35
this mill. I had to go for it nearly seventy miles, to the
prairies adjoining the Wabash, above Vincennes. It was
delivered at Mount Carmel at fifty cents a bushel, from
thence brought in our own wagons over execrable roads
to Albion, nineteen miles. It was an excellent sample of
white wheat. The history of its growth was singular.
The farmer, three years before, had sown his first crop of
wheat. At harvest, being short-handed, much of the over-
ripe wheat had shattered on the ground. When he brought
his plow to turn over the soil, the volunteer wheat looked
so vigorous that he let it stand. He again harvested, and
again he left the volunteer wheat stand ; and this, the
third harvest, grown in the same way, I bought ; and a
better sample I never saw — two of the crops ripened with-
out any preparation of the soil.
Two other houses of hewn -stone my father built, and
he accomplished many other improvements in and about
town. ,
Of the trades first in order come the stores. Mr. Elias
Pym Fordham, who had taken my little store, sold out to
Mr. Olver, a merchant from Plymouth, England. In after
years, Mr. Olver removed to the neighborhood of Pitts-
burgh, and opened the Edge worth Institute, a seminary
for young ladies, but he left behind him a capacious stone-
house of his own building.
Mr. Joel Churchill, an intelligent and educated gentle-
man, from London, after trying farming in its roughest
form in the woods, some five miles south of Albion (first
in a log-house), soon built a store of brick, and a stone
dwelling-house behind it. His business, by his good man-
136 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
agement and application, in a few years, was much en-
larcfed. To this he added the manufacture of castor-oiL
These businesses, on a larger scale, are now carried on by
Mr. Churchill and his two sons, Mr. Charles and Mr. James
Churchill, both married men. Mr. Gibson Harris, at first
the conductor of a small store for Mr. Francis Dickson of
Vincennes, soon became its proprietor. After years of
close attention to business, he built himself a good brick-
store and dwelling-house. The house is now occupied by
his widow, and the store carried on by one of his sons.
Nearly forty years ago, a young Scotchman in his teens
rode up to my house and wished me to purchase his horse,
.saddle, and bridle, which I did for sixty dollars — a good
price in those days. I built him a forge, which he rented
at first and afterward purchased. With the proceeds of
the horse he purchased iron and went to work. This was
the beginning of Mr. Alexander Stewart, who, after some
years of Jabor and industry, added to his blacksmith-
shop a store; business and capital increasing, he soon weht
largely into the produce of the country, of which pork,,
corn, and wheat are the staples. He is also a principal
proprietor of a large flouring-mill, at Grayville.
Mr. Moses Smith, from a very small beginning, first
purchasing a few articles from the Harmonites and retail-
ing them in Albion, soon increased his store; then added
the produce business. On his son, Mr. John Smith, the
business devolved after the death of his father, which
occurred about three years ago. These may be called
the original stores, two of them from very small beginnings,,
in the earliest years of the town. Mr. Harris and Mr,
BUSINESS MEN OF ALBION. 137
Smith being dead, and Mr. Churchill partially retired-from
the toils of business, it may be said of all three, that their
sons reign in their stead.
A store, owned by an association of farmers, was carried
on successfully by Mr. Henry Harwick for several years,
Mr. George Ferryman, from the Island of Jamaica, came
to us at the period of emancipation, thinking the island
would be ruined ; but he has since told me that the trade
he left has largely increased. What is a little singular,
Mr. Ferryman has twice removed from Albion with all his
family. There must be some strong national sympathy at
work to bring our migrating settlers back. Captain Carter,
one of our earliest settlers, and more recently Mr. Hen-
shaw, both went back to London, and both returned to
Albion.
Englishmen returning to their native country, after
many years' residence abroad, think the old country has
changed since they left it; but fail to see the change in
themselves, worked by time, climate, and national associa-
tions of an entirely different character. Orie of our most
respectable, an early, though not of the earliest, settlers, is
Mr. Elias Weafver, one of Rapp's people, a German, left
the Harmonites, quite a young man at time of their re-
moval, and came to Albion. Understanding the pottery
business, my father built him a kiln, at which he worked
some time; but he afterward changed to a business more
to his liking, of which he also had some knowledge — a
builder. He married, built himself a good house, and has
assisted in the building of many others. He is now liv-
ing, carrying on his business, a prosperous man.
138 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
In 1822, the county-seat of Edwards County was re-
moved from Palmyra, a very insignificant place on the
Great Wabash, at the head of the grand rapids. As
usual, on such occasions, every place of any pretensions
was a rival for the honor. Between Mt. Carmel and
Albion (both young towns, Mt. Carmel two or three
years our senior) was the competition. Albion was more
central, had a better reputation for health, and the pro-
prietors made liberal offers toward erecting the county-
buildings. Be this as it may, the commissioners fixed
the county-seat at Albion. This did not quite suit our
neighbors in the eastern part of the county; and the
County of Wabash was made from the east part of
Edwards — Mt. Carmel the county-seat. In after years,
the court-house, erected on the public-square at Albion,
was followed by the erection of a good brick-building, for
a public-school, sustained by private contributions. The
large jail, recently built, is the third conspicuous building
standing on the public-square.
About this time, one of those accidents, as they are
termed, occurred in Albion, not uncommon in young
towns then, and much more common in old towns now.
A man named Clark, in a grog-shop, stabbed a man
named Hobson. A fellow named Perry, as accessory
after the fact, was found guilty and condemned, and, by
Gov. Coles, almost immediately after, pardoned. Two
murderers let loose on society, with the tacit consent of
the chief- executive officer of the State, called down deep
censure upon Gov. Coles for his misplaced leniency. It
is due, however, to the governor that the extenuating
THE PARDON OF PERRY. 1 39
circumstances which led to this clemency should be
stated.
During Perry's imprisonment, whilst under sentence of
death, there lived near to Albion a young fellow of vagrant
habits, who spent most of his time about grog-shops, and
getting into fights. His youth and strength made him
the bully of the place. The condemned Perry was the
owner of a good rifle. All the backwoodsmen knew the
qualities of their neighbors' rifles. From the frequent
shooting- matches with each other, the range, power, and
accuracy of all the rifles roundabout were known. Perry's
rifle had a good reputation, and was coveted by the young
vagabond. Jack Ellis. Jack, conferring with the prisoner,
agreed to get up a petition, take it to Vandalia, and en-
deavor to procure a pardon from the governor. If he
succeeded, Perry was to give him his rifle. Jack set about
the business with considerable tact. He took a sheet of
paper, with a proper heading, and secretly and silently
sped away to Vandalia, a dreary ride of seventy-five miles,
the weather bad and waters out. When at Vandalia, he
was in no hurry to present himself to the governor, but, as
usual with men of his stamp, first went to the grog-shop.
He soon told his story to the loafers hanging about the
place, and, in exchange for his drams, they gave plenty of
signatures to his petition. The governor signed, little
thinking that the majority of the signatures were procured
at some doggery, within fifty steps of his own lodgings.
Jack, returning with the pardon, had fairly earned his rifle.
In his interview with Perry, after his return, a curious
scene took place. Perry, brought from a neighboring jail,
140 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
was chained to a beam in a house, where Jack announced
the success of his mission, and demanded his rifle. This,
Perry flatly refused. He expostulated on the unreasona-
bleness of the demand. What was he to do without his
rifle.'' Might as well take his life as his rifle! How was
he to live.'' It was unreasonable, inhuman, and much
more to that effect. "Very well," says Jack, "no rifle, no
pardon, here goes the pardon into the fire;" it went, but
not into the flames, but onto the ashes close by. Perry,
in his terror, gave up the rifle, adding to it all his other
earthly possessions, an ax and a cow, and his old woman
too, a faithful paramour, who had stood by him in his life
of crime and trouble. Jack was not exacting, merely tak-
ing cow, ax, and rifle, generously leaving the old woman.
. But there was another party to be appeased; the public.
Disappointed of the exhibition, for which they had espec-
ially come, they became furious. Men and w^omen had
come in from forty miles around, on horseback, on foot,
and in numerous sledges (many wagons were not then in
the country); a great crowd. On learning that Perry was
out of their reach, they raged and cursed at everybody
and everything generally, and Governor Coles in particu-
lar. If the governor had been there, he would have been
in danger that day. Consoling themselves with whisky
and a score of fights, they gradually dispersed. The mur-
der of Hobson terminated in the transfer of a cow, an ax,
and a rifle, from an old ruffian to a young blackguard, and
in giving to Perry a new piece of furniture. Perry claimed
the coffin and the rope that was to hang him, which the
county had procured for his especial use. They were given
THE FIRST COURT — JUDGE WILSON. I41
up to him; the former became a fixture in his cabin as a
corner-cupboard, the latter a happy memento in his rural
hours. Jack did not live long to use his rifle. An insolent
assault on a very quiet Englishman, procured for him a
blow which gave him his quietus. He did not die for
months, but he never recovered from that blow.
The first court in a new county excites great interest,
and the country population are in, almost to a man. At
our first court, a poor Frenchman was convicted of steal-
ing a quart of whisky from a neighboring distillery, and
sentenced to thirty-nine lashes. He was stripped to the
waist, tied to a post, and the lashes laid on without mercy
by the sheriff. The sound of the whip, and the screams
of the poor wretch, sent a nervous thrill through the not
over-scrupulous country-people, who came in to see the
opening of the, court. If an honest vote could have then
been taken, I a<m inclined to think that such institutions,
as courts of justice, would have been banished as danger-
ous and barbarous, by a great majority; and I don't know
that the instincts of the untutored backwoodsmen were
far from being right. A kidnapper, who would steal a
free man, and plunge him and his posterity into everlast-
ing slavery, could not be brought to trial. A murderer
was sure to escape. But the poor creature who had not
stolen to the value of a dime, was thus unmercifully dealt
with.
Hon. William Wilson, a native of Martinsburgh, Va.,
then a young man, residing near Carmi, was the judge of
our circuit. He was a good lawyer, and a most agreea-
ble companion. He was well and widely known, respected
142 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
and beloved wherever known.* At that time, a court or
an election would draw the people into the small towns
from their most secluded haunts for miles around. Their
habits, on those occasions, indicated the existing degree
of civilization. The grog-shops (pioneer institutions in all
young towns) Avere in full blast. You could scarcely cross
the street (even when the court was sitting, perhaps to try
some offender for a breach of the laws), without seeing
two or three crowds swaying and cheering at some rough-
and-tumble fight going on in their midst. Such were the
scenes in Albion, from 1 8 19 to 1821. Here, for the pres-
ent, I will leave the town, and give the rise and progress
of some of the English settlers in the country.
* William Wilson was on the bench of the Supreme Court of the State
of Illinois for the long period of thirty years, lacking a few months. He was
first appointed July 7, 1819, nine months after the State was admitted into the
Union. J.nnuary 19, 1825, he was made chief-justice, and occupied that posi-
tion until December 4th, 1848, when he was thrown out by the adoption of
the constitution of that year. I knew him well, and argued many cases
before the Supreme Court vvhen he presided as chief-justice. He has left
behind him an excellent record, and his memory will always be gratefully
cherished by the profession of his day. He was a good lawyer, and a pains-
taking, conscientious judge. Of fine personal appearance and courteous man-
ners, he presided over the court with great dignity. On leaving the bench,
he retired to his farm near Carmi, White County, where he died, several years
ago. For thirty or forty years after the organization of White County, Carmi
was an. important political centre. There resided Gen. Willis Hargrave, Leon-
ard White, Daniel Hay, Lt.-Gov. Wm. H. Davidson, Chief-Justice Wilson^
Gen. John M. Robinson, U. S. Senator from 1830 to 184T, Edwin B. Webb,
and S. S. Hayes; men who made their mark in their time, and were well
known all over the State.
CHAPTER VII.
Settlers on the Prairies about Albion— Death of Mrs. Wood— Other
Settlers — Billy Harris' Wagon — Visiting England — Changes in
the Country at large, but little in the respective Villages— An-
other Ship-load of Emigrants — An Inappropriate Settler — John
Tribe— William Clark and Family— William Hall, five Sons, and
four Daughters- -A Well Accident — Emigration for 1820 Quar-
rels of Doctors — Another Well Accident — Lawrence and Trim-
mer Return to England — Col. Carter — Further Settlers Sketched
— Francis Hanks, Judge W^attles, and Gen. Pickering— Mr. and
Mrs. Shepherd Cowling, Wood, Field, Ellis, and others— Old
Neddy Coad — Accident to the Sons of W^ilham Cave — Small-
Traders and Farmers.
Having given the origin of the town, I will proceed to
give an account of some of the individuals who first set-
tled on the prairies around Albion.
Mr. Brian Walker, Avith his friend, William Nichols, from
Yorkshire, came to Philadelphia in 1817, and to our Settle-
ment in r8i8. Mr. Walker had, when he landed at Phila-
delphia, one guinea in his pocket. How much was left of
that guinea when he got to. the prairies, there is no record.
He and his friend Nichols got on land, settled side by side
on the skirts of a prairie, one mile east of Albion. They
worked hard, opened land, built their houses, married,
raised large families, and became possessed of abundance.
This is putting in few words the results of the labor of
many years. -Mr. Nichols died a few years ago. Mr..
Walker is yet living on his farm.
144 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY*
Mr. William Wood of Wormswold, near Loughborough,
Leicestershire, a small -farmer, with his wife and a young
son, Joseph, about twelve years old, left England, for the
prairies, in the spring of 1819. Accompanying him, were
two young men, John Brissenden from Woodchurch, Kent,
and Wm. Tewks from Seargrave, Leicestershire, and Miss
Mea, afterward Mrs. Bressenden; and with them came
an acquaintance, with his wife and family, Mr. Joseph
Butler, also from Woodchurch, Kent. Mr. John Wood,
who sailed in my ship, was the eldest son of Mr. Wood.
This party kept together, and came the usual route, from
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and descended the Ohio in an
ark. When near their journey's end, Mrs. Wood was* taken
with the flux, and, on reaching the mouth of the Wabash,
died. On a point of land at the junction of the Ohio and
the Wabash, on the Illinois side, near no settlement or
habitation of any kind, her grave was made between two
trees, on which her name and age were carved.
We can scarcely imagine a more melancholy fate for an
aged man, than "to lose his life-long partner, after their life
of toil, and just at the end of the weary voyage they had
undertaken for the benefit of their family — now to begin
life again in a new country, with his one little son. Mr.
Wood was a man of great vigor and good sense, and a
sturdy laborer and good farmer. With gray hairs on his
head, he opened his farm, planted his orchard, and, for
many years, lived to eat of its fruit.
Mr. Joseph Wood, then a little boy, now a man of
mature years, married Miss Betsy Shepherd. Mr. Wood
is now owner of a large farm and good house, and said to
NOTICE OF EARLY SETTLERS. 145
be the best farmer in the country. He is father of ten
children, and how many grandchildren, I don't know.
Mr. John Brissenden, after acquiring a little money by
working for others, settled on a piece of land alongside of
his old friend, Mr. Wood. He went the usual way, opened
his farm, married, reared a large family, built himself a
capital house, and, besides his possessions in Edwards
County, had a mercantile business at Maysville, Clay
.County. Mr. and Mrs. Bressenden are both living in the
enjoyment of good health.
William Tewks, ditto, ditto. Mr. Tewks added to his
farm, two teams, four stout horses each ; was a carrier,
going between Albion and Evansville, Ind. He acted as
itinerant commission-man between both places, making
the purchases, which his wagon brought home. He drove
one of the wagons himself, and met with an accident,
about three years ago, that proved fatal.
John Scavington from Nottinghamshire, came in the
same year, took to a piece of open prairie beside Mr. Bris-
senden. Mr. Scavington now lives, a well-preserved man.
He has done, as his neighbors before mentioned, as to
house, farm, family, and lands. He has kept to his farm
almost exclusively, and is a hale and prosperous man.
William Harris made most of his money wagoning with
an ox-team. He has, for a few years, retired from that
laborious occupation, and lived on a farm near to Albion.
William Harris' team was a sort of institution in the coun-
try for many years. I would charter Billy Harris' wagon
for a long journey across the prairies. It was strong,
large, well covered, and, when well fitted up with bedding
10
146 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
and provender, was comfortable enough. Mrs. Flower,
children, and myself, have taken many long and pleasant
journeys in it. The best conveyance for our rough coun-
try at that day — no hill too steep, no bog too deep for
sturdy William Harris and his strong ox-team. Not rail-
road-like exactly, but something more independent and, in
many respects, more comfortable.
Mr. George Woodham, who came in Trimmer's party, is
now a man well-to-do in the world. William Harris, John
Scavington, and George Woodham went to England last
year, after an absence of about forty years, to see their old
places and old friends, if any were living. When they
came to this country they were poor men; now in circum-
stances sufficiently easy to take this journey of pleasure,
to visit again the scenes of their boyhood and youth.
England had seen many changes since they were there,
railroads, penny-postage, an extended franchise, free-trade
— all since they left P^ngland. But when they reached
their respective villages, which were in widely-different
parts of England, they found nothing changed. The
church of centuries was yet standing, and likely to stand
for centuries more. The manor-house, the farm-houses,
the cottages on the green were all standing as they left
them, in number and condition.
To record the history of all the men in our Settlement,
possessed of the power of labor, with ordinary intelligence
and industry, would be but to record a monotony of suc-
cess. As a sample, without any exaggeration of their past
or present condition, of all such men which form the
majority of the farmers of our Settlement, I give the fol-
lowing:
NEW EMIGRANTS COMING IN. I47
Early in the spring, 18 19, the ship Colitmbia sailed from
Bristol to New Orleans. In her came Mr. Samuel Prichard
of Bamsted, near Epsom, England, with a wife, four sons
and four daughters. Mr. Prichard was of the Society of
Friends, possessed of property, an agreeable, liberal, and
well-educated man; an acquaintance of Mr. Birkbeck's.
He selected a spot on a gentle eminence, about half-a-mile
from Wanborough, on the road between Wanborough and
Albion. Mr. Prichard unfortunately fell sick with fever,
and soon died. His son, Mr. Thomas Pritchard, and his
brother Edward, reside in the house their father built.
Mr. Prichard's house and place strikes the eye of every
stranger, for the good taste of its arrangement, its neat
and simple appointments. It is a neat two-story frame-
house, porch on the upper and lower stories in front. The
principal feature is the ridge or knoll on which it stands,
so smooth and verdant. I recollect the preparation of the
ground. It was grubbed well, ploughed evenly, harrowed
thoroughly, and then carefully raked by hand. This even
surface was sown with blue -grass, bush -harrowed, and
rolled smooth. It was done thoroughly, and has a beau-
tiful lawn-like appearance to this day. The gate in front
swings as easily, after forty years' hanging, as it did on the
day it was put down. So much for doing things well.
Mr. Jackson, wife, and son came in the same ship. He
was an inappropriate settler — a city man, with confirmed
city habits and tastes; a copyist, a scribe, a small lawyer;
but even he, I believe, got his living here as long as he
stayed, by writing for the clerk of the court.
Mr. John Tribe from Ewell, Surrey, came also in this
148 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
ship. He was without capital, and has supported himself
by the labor of his hands, and is now living, a worthy citi-
zen of Albion, and whose excellent memory has supplied
me with many of the particulars I am now recording. Mr.
Tribe will excuse me for dwelling a little on the general
tenor of his life, as I think his example rather good. He
has not made that accumulation of property that many a
man has, that came with as little as he did; and this,
probably, because he has not given himself up to the one
idea of acquisition and accumulation. As he has labored
along moderately through life, he has always reserved a
little time for observation, reflection, and reading. He car-
ries on the business of carding wool for the country, far
and wide, one of the most useful trades. But the most
necessary and useful trades are not always those that are
best rewarded. His house is small, his living plain and
simple. He reserves a small room for himself, where he
receives any friend who may call. On the table are writ-
ing materials, books, periodicals, newspapers; an excellent
orchard hard by; cows for his family use; milk, butter, and
cream; his vegetable garden, so well cultivated as to sup-
ply him with every vegetable in season ; and a few flowers,
of the choicest kind, that would grace the garden of Queen
Victoria. Is not a New-York millionaire poor, compared
to Mr. Tribe.'
Mr. William Clark, wife, and six children, from Mow-
bary, Surrey, also of the Society of Friends, with two
laborers, one married and one single, arrived about this
time. Mr. Clark's family came down the Ohio River in
an ark, and met with a sad accident. One of his daugh-
THE HALL FAMILY. I49
ters, a girl of twelve years, fell overboard, and was never
seen more. He settled on one of the pretty little prairies
between Albion and the Little Wabash. We were indebted
to his capital and enterprise for the first wind-mill. The
architect was Mr. David Kearsum. He and his brother,
George Kearsum, and a Mr. Simpson came from Norfolk.
Simpson went back to New York, when, in a warehouse,
five stories high, thoughtlessly stepping backward, fell on
the pavement, and was instantly killed.
It was early in 1821, that Mr. William Hall from Ewell,
Surrey, with Mrs. Hall, five sons, and four daughters, also
settled on one of the prairies west of Albion and Wan-
borough. Mr. Hall owned a large water-mill in England.
His family had possessed this mill ever since doomsday;
when the lands in England were all divided by William
the Conquerer, amongst his followers, and recorded in
doomsday-book. Think of this, ye ever-moving Ameri-
cans, who scarcely stay long enough to gather the ripened
ear from the corn you drop in the ground! Mr. Hall was
an Episcopalian; a very well-informed and educated man, of
close observation, and noted facts as he went along. From
his journal and collection of papers, which have been
kindly shown to me by his eldest daughter, Mrs. Mayo of
Albion, I am indebted for many points of information,
which I have been permitted to copy. Mr. Hall had a
decided taste for the natural sciences, particularly ornithol-
ogy and botany. He noted the arrival and departure of
the birds of passage, and their peculiarities in note and
plumage; the seasons, the weather, and some of the inci-
dents of the Settlement as they occurred, forming quite an
I50 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
interesting collection of memoranda, running over several
years. One short note in his journal is significant of the
occasional privations to which first-settlers are liable. "This
day, a loaf of corn-bread without butter, but a little lard as
substitute, and red-root tea, without sugar or milk, was our
onl\' fare." His reasons for leaving England, set forth at
the beginning of his journal, show that the pressure then
existing in England, and felt in different proportions b\- all
classes of societ}', was seen and felt sensibh- b}' him. His
first and chief reason, to use his own words, was "the diffi-
culty of providing for a numerous family, with which God
has blessed me, and the prospect of removing that load of
care and anxiety which fills the breasts of parents on that
account." The other reasons of Mr. Hall (objective), relat-
ing to governmental abuses, though interesting, not being
quite pertinent to this narrative, I omit, with the remark
that the administration of the British Government, since
the reign of \'ictoria, has adopted a more liberal policy
than existed when he and I left England; and a larger
experience would have shown Mr. Hall that the evils of
which lie and man}- others complained, are incident to
Government in all its forms, and are made conspicuous and
fearful when it is administered b}- bad men. Mr. Hall
embarked in the ship Elcctra, from the port of London,
with his wife, nine children, and a young man, Thomas
Ayres, February 25th, 1821; arrived, by way of Philadel-
phia, at Pittsburgh, May 21st, 1821. His flat-boat, besides
his own family, contained twelve others: ^Ir. and Mrs.
Paul, Mr. and Mrs. Hibert, Mr. and Mrs. Kidd, Captain
Hawkins, and ^Ir. Gilbert. "We formed ourselves into
A SAD ACCIDENT. 151
two watches, and took our respective turns of six hours
each, from 8 to 2, and the remainder was into two watches."
The party arrived at their destination without accident.
His settlement was hopeful, and he seemed satisfied with
his present mode of life and its future prospects. In less
than one year, he gives the following account of a sudden
and severe affliction that befel him. In the succeeding
spring, April 21 to 28, we find in his journal this record:
■"This week has been marked to us by one of the severest
afflictions that can befall a parent — the death of a beloved
child." After describing his house, garden of five acres,
orchard, and opening farm, his present satisfaction and
bright prospects of the future, in a long letter to his friend,
Mr. John Marter, on the other side of the sheet we find:
■"Preserve this letter, dear John, as a memento of the insta-
bility of all human felicity. The very day after I wrote it,
on the fatal morning of the 24th of April, 1822, I heard
the sound of my two sons passing through the porch, into
which my bed-room opens. One of them I knew, by his
light step and cheerful voice, to be my beloved Ned, the
other was unfortunate Robert. About half-an-hour after,
I heard the report of a rifle in the woods. I lay about a
quarter-of-an-hour longer, until it was light enough to
dress. When I went out of the door it was just five
o'clock. Upon going to the back of the house, where I
heard a most unearthly bellowing, I saw poor Robert roll-
ing on the ground and writhing in the utmost agony. I
immediately concluded he was dreadfully wounded, and it
was some time before he could speak. He exclaimed, 'Oh,
father, I have killed Ned, and I wish I was dead myself,'
152 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
I uttered an involuntary exclamation, and sank down my-
self upon him. The noise brought out his mother, and the
scene which followed can not be described. Two of the
neighbors, aroused by Robert's cries, assisted me in con-
veying him and his mother and laying them on the bed. I
went with them in search of the body, which was not
found for some time. At length it was brought in, and
buried in a spot which my poor boy had selected for his
own garden. It seems they had found a turkey. Robert
dispatched his brother one way, and lay down himself
behind a log, to endeavor to call up the bird to him with
his turkey-call. After a little while, he heard a rustling
within shot, and soon after saw what he concluded to be
the turkey, took aim, fired, and leaped up, shouting for
Ned, and ran in triumph to pick up his game. Think of
his feelings when he found it to be the corpse of his
brother." So close does sorrow stand to joy in all situa-
tions in life.
Lingering in the Eastern cities, were English families
who had not permanently taken root there. When our
publications about the prairies came out, attracted by the
picture, and pleased with the thought of being a part of
the first among a colony of their own countrymen, several
of these came on ; and many of them without sufficiently
estimating their own powers as first-settlers.
Of this class was Mr. John Brcnchly and wife, and Mr,
John Lewis and wife, one son and two daughters. They
left Philadelphia in 1818, and were the first English settlers
in the south part of the Village Prairie, a little before the
Lawrence-and-Trimmer party arrived. Mr. John Brenchly
LEWIS AND BRENCHLY — THE RESCUE. 1 53
had been a distiller; not a man of country habits, or pos-
sessed of much capital. Mr. Lewis was a man of excellent
education, and possessed a good deal of philosophical
knowledge, but with small pecuniary means; a most
charming companion and desirable acquaintance. These
were both difficult cases for a new settlement. In a few
months they both left their quarter-sections in the Village
Prairie. Mr. Brenchly, for a year or two, lived chiefly by
his labors as accountant, etc., but finally went back to
Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis stayed longer, and, for
a time, rented the first brick-tavern that my father built in
Albion. They went ultimately to Cincinnati, and found
more congenial occupations. It was a great loss to our
musical parties when they left. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
understood music, and had fine voices. Speaking of the
Lewis', reminds me of an accident that had nearly proved
fatal to one of the family. I had dismounted from my
horse, and hitched him by the bridle to the handle of the
well, that stood near the kitchen-door, at Park House, and
had run over to my cabins, about seventy yards distant.
Soon after, a maid-servant came running in haste, and said
that Mary Lewis had fallen into the well. The child,
about twelve years old, was standing on the well-top; the
horse, being suddenly frightened, pulled the windlass and
well-top all off together, and the child dropped in. The
well, about forty feet in depth, was ten feet in water.
Calling to Mr. Matthew Coombs, a Cornish man, then liv-
ing with me, and, fortunately, soon finding a coil of rope,
we both ran over. By the aid of Mrs. Flower and the
maid-servant, I lowered the man into the well. With the
154 I'^NCLISll SKTILEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
same aid, and with great difficulty, we hauled up the man
witli the apparently lifeless body of the child in his arms.
For nearly half-an-hour, every means of restoration was
tried before signs of life appeared. She was saved; and is
now a respectable married woman, and mother of a large
family. This well, at its digging, gave us all a very pecu-
liar fright. The well, fortunately as it turned out, was of
somewhat lander diameter than common. It was sunk
through a solid rock for forty-five feet. The sides and
iloor of the well were of smooth sandstone. The digger,
William Truscott, had nearly finished his work, and was
sweeping at the bottom of the well, just preparatory to
coming up. The family were all in the house. Suddenly
a dreadful hubbub — the mingled voices of a man and a
beast in agony and distress — called every one within hear-
ing to the spot. The cause was at once apparent. One
of my large, fat ICnglish hogs had slipped his hindfeet
over the well, and could not recover himself The hog
struggling to hold on by his forefeet, but slipping lower
and lower, sc^uealed in agony. The man below, looking
ui) in terror, roared aloud for help, whilst he flattened him-
self aeainst the wall of the well, from which there was no
escape. Down went the hog to his own instant death; for
a moment all was silent. "Are you alive, William.'" A
faint voice said, "Oh, yes, pray bring me up." The man
was brought up, almost dead with fright. The hog was
eventually brought up, but split down the back from head
to tail, as if it had been cut with a sharp knife; just as
horses are found on a battle-field, split open by a cannon-
ball.
THE SPRING FAMILY — QUARRELS OF DOCTORS. 1 5$
In 1820, Mr. Thomas Spring, his wife, and four sons left
Derbyshire, England, for the prairies. The second son,
Archibald, was left at a medical college, at Baltimore, to
finish his studies. The family were proceeding to Wheel-
ing by land, when the father, Mr. Thomas Spring, was
taken with a fever, and died at Washington, Pennsylvania.
Henry, Sydney, and John Cthe youngest; Spring came on
with their widowed mother, in a wagon, to the prairies.
They settled on Birk's Prairie. There Mr. Sydney Spring
farmed for many years with good success; married Miss
Prichard, and brought up a large family. He is now living
on a commanding and beautiful spot, in the outskirts of
Grayville, enjoying good health and all the comforts of
life. Mr. Henry Spring is a merchant at Olney. Young
Archibald Spring joined the family, and became a practis-
ing-physician in Albion. The first Dr. Pugsley was, for a
time, his bitter opponent. The enmity between doctors
has always struck me as singular, and their enmity is more
general, and bitterer than is found between members of
other professions. He was, for a long time, the only doc-
tor, and enjoyed almost exclusively an extensive practice
for nearly thirty years. He was carried off by the erysip-
elas; and, a few days after his death, of the same disease,
died Dr. Welshman, a skilful and experienced man, who
had not been two years in the place.
The hands engaged in digging a well for Mr. Lawrence,
in the Village Prairie, met with a fatal accident. The well
had proceeded to a considerable depth. As usual, in the
morning, a man was let down ; he was seen to stagger and
fall. Another was let down to assist him; he fell also.
156 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
With difficulty, others were saved, who went down to bring
these up. Richard Kniffer and Thomas Clem, two active
and able-bodied laborers, full of life and health, a quarter-
of-an-hour before, were now brought up corpses. They
were carried to their graves, and interred with the solemn
rites of burial by their sorrowing companions. They had
incautiously descended, and fell victims to the noxious
vapor at the bottom of the well.
Mr. Lawrence, I think, within one year, Mr. Trimmer, in
two or three, returned to England; and their improvements
fell into other hands before any advantage accrued to
themselves. They had spent as much money as they
thought prudent, and more than they expected. Besides,
Mr. Lawrence was a city-bred man, and both were bache-
lors. To spend their time without wife, housekeeper, or
female assistant of any kind in the house, soon gave them
a distaste for prairie life; so they departed. But all the
farm-laborers that came with them were in immediate
possession of all the advantages of their change of coun-
try. Those of them that are living, and the families of
those that are dead, possess all the independence yielded
by an industrious farmer's life.
About this time, Mr. James Carter, wife, and family from
Lonc^on; Mr. Kenton, market-gardener, from the neigh-
borhood of London; Mr. Coles, wife, and mother, with
four or five children, all from Liv^erpool; Mr. Peters, a
butcher, all came in one party from Pittsburgh. Mr. Car-
ter was, for many years, a well-known resident of Albion,
holding several county-offices, and colonel of the county-
militia. What is rather remarkable, twice Mr. Carter
COLES, SIMPKINS, BOWMAN, AND OTHERS. I 5/
returned to England, and twice returned to Albion,- and,
whilst I am writing, here he is again, not quite fourscore,
hale and hearty, drilling the companies in Albion for the
Secession War of 1861. Mr. Coles' family settled on land
between Albion and Grayville. The family, all grown up
and settled on farms. The old folks have been dead some
years.
Mr. Thomas Simkins and family, a highly-respectable
farmer from Baldock, in Hertfordshire, arrived in Albion
in 1 8 19. He kept, for a short time, the log-tavern after
Mr. Pitcher, and was, I think, the host when Mr. Welby
from England, visited the Settlement, went home, and
wrote a book about us. Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins have long
departed this life; their sons and daughters all grown up
and married, some in Albion and some in other places,
respected members of society, now grandfathers and grand-
mothers.
Mr. Henry Bowman, then a young man, who came out
with Mr. Pitcher from London, for many years kept a
brick -tavern of his own building. Mr. Bowman married
one of the Misses Simkins, is still living.
Mr. Oswald Warrington, with a wife and large family,
for some time, kept a grocery, and was school-master for
some time. He wrote a most beautiful hand, and was
fond of music and sociality, and played on one or two
instruments. After some years, he went to Cincinnati, and
is now carrying on business, although an old man.
In the first year of our settlement, Mr. and Mrs. Orange
from London, by way of New Orleans, came in and bought
land on the south side of the Boltenhouse Prairie, built
158 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
temporary cabins, planted a capital orchard, and laid out
a handsome garden. He went afterward to Cincinnati,,
where he entered into business for a few years; returned,
built an excellent house, in which he and Mrs. Orange
now live. Three sons and two daughters married, with
families, all settled within sight.
Mr. Francis Hanks from Ireland, with several sons growa
and growing up, bought a five-acre lot at Wanborough, and
built him a house; after a tirne he returned; his eldest son
Francis remained, and, on September ist, 1821, married
Miss Prudence Birkbeck, as before mentioned. Mr. Hanks
is engaged in raising stock, and is now living on his farm
at Wanborough, a prosperous man.
Mr. William Hallum from Derbyshire, England, and
several other English families, all farmers, live in the
extreme south of Edwards County, and several over the
line, in the north of White County.
Mr. Isaac Smith, James and Robert Thread, Mr. Stan-
hope, and a number of others live in the north of Edwards,
and over the line. Isaac Smith and the two Threads were
excellent farm-laborers; and lived with me and my father
for many years. They are now wealthy men. James
Thread is recently dead. Isaac Smith is the largest land-
owner in the County.
Mr. Henry Birkett, a planter from Jamaica, came in
about 1820. He built a good house, in which he lived and
died; and he was buried in his garden. He also owned a
share of the town.
Judge Wattles* and Mr. J. B. Johnson settled in Albion,
* James O. Wattles was elected judge of the 5th Judicial District of Illi-
JUDGE WATTLES — RICHARD FLOWERS' FAMILY. 1 59
The former as a lawyer, the latter as a blacksmith, and
afterward as a justice-of-the-peace. Mr. Johnson is now
now living at Harmony, in the latter capacity. Judge
Wattles was an albino, white hair and white skin, with the
peculiar red eyes of that race, dreadfully near-sighted, had
to turn the paper upside down, and put it close to his-
spectacles, to enable him to read it. Notwithstanding, he
was a rapid reader and writer, an excellent lawyer, and a
good presiding-judge. He went to Harmony, when Mr-
Owen began there.
My father's family came from Lexington, and took pos--
session of the Park House. The family consisted of my
father, mother, two sisters, and my brother Edward, twenty
years my junior, and then a stripling youth, now an exten-
sive brewer, and a man of large property, living in Strat-
ford-upon-Avon; Warwickshire, England.
In 1 82 1, Mr. Wm. Pickering,* gentleman, from Apple-
ton Roebuck, in the parish of Bolton Percy, Yorkshire, six
miles from the City of York, accompanied by his friend
and cousin, Mr. Thomas Swale, made their first settlement
in the Village Prairie. On the 9th of March, 1824, he
nois, by the General Assembly, and commissioned January 19, 1825. He
was legislated out of office, January 12, 1827.
* Gen. William Pickering was a well-known man among the old Whig
politicians of Illinois of his day. He was a representative man in the Whig
party in the eastern or south-eastern part of the State. . I often met him in
conventions, and knew him well when in the Legislature. He had a continuous
service in the House of Representatives, as the member from Edwards County,
from 1842 to 1852, a service of exceptional length. He was a man of great
intelligence and public spirit. He had a fine presence, and was thoroughly
English in look and manner. He was an intimate friend of Mr. Lincoln,
who, on his accession to the presidency, appointed him governor of Washing-
ton Territory.
l60 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
became my brother-in-law, by marrying my eldest sister,
Miss Martha Flower. Mr. Pickering, like myself, returned
to England. On his coming a second time to this coun-
try, he was accompanied by his venerable father, Mr.
Mathew Pickering. He also brought valuable live-stock —
a fine bull of the purest Durham blood ; a thorough-bred
Shetland pony; two rams and four ewes of the Lincoln-
shire sheep, famous for producing, in its highest perfection,
the long-combing wool of England; and four rams and
^ight ewes of the thorough-bred Bakewell- Leicestershire
sheep. Gen. Pickering, a widower for many years, is now
a resident of Albion. Mr. Pickering has ever taken a lively
interest in every thing of a public nature. He has served
in the Legislature, is extensively known in our own state,
and also known abroad.
With my father's family, came Mr. Thomas Shepherd,
his wife, two sons, and daughter. Thomas Shepherd had
lived with my parents from his youth; his father with my
grandfather (on my mother's side); and his great-grand-
father with my great-grandfather. Such instances are not
uncommon in England. In these cases, the confidence
between the employer and the employed is mutual, and
the separation like the separation of blood relations. Mr.
Shepherd had the care and management of my father's
garden, and of his riding-horses, and some other arrange-
ments about the house. Mrs. Shepherd had the exclusive
care of the children of the family. Conscientiousness and
integrity were the prominent traits in her character. The
habit of reading, from her childhood, almost amounted to
a passion with her. In a book she indulged at every
THOMAS SHEPHERD AND FAMILY. l6l
opportunity. The habit of reading, aside from the infor-
mation it imparts, and the tone of quietude and reflection
it induces, is eminently suited to those who have the care
of children. Thus the children of our family had always
the advantage of association with a conscientious, kind, and
well-informed friend.
Some of the previous earnings of Mr. Shepherd were
invested in a quarter- section of land immediately after
our arrival, within two miles of Albion. After staying with
my father a short time, he went on his own property, which
soon began to improve under his energetic industry. He
did not live long to enjoy his dawning prosperity. The
active labor, which can be carried on continuously in cooler
climates, too often proves fatal under our hot sun and
sudden changes. The son, also named Thomas, was soon
old enough to work the farm for his mother. A few years
afterward, we see him a married man, and father of a
family. Mr. Thomas Shepherd is an excellent specimen
of a practical farmer; strong, industrious, and intelligent.
The monotony of labor is, in his case, mitigated by the
perusal of useful books, and the varied information con-
tained in the newspaper press. This description of men,
in which our Settlement is rich, are the true conservative
elements of the country. The purely intellectual man, the
exclusively hard-working or purely physical man, are each
of them but half a man. It is knowledge and industry
combined that makes the well-balanced character,
Mrs. Shepherd, the mother, now lives with her son, en-
joying every filial attention. Now in the eighty-fourth
year of her age, she enjoys a book as well as ever : exem-
II
1 62 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
plifyinf^ Montesquieu's maxim, that there is no "pleasure
so cheap as reading, and none that lasts so long."
Two sisters of Thomas Shepherd also came out with us.
Mrs. Carter, the elder, had been a widow for many years ;
she lived with my mother as housekeeper; and a few years
aft«r, married Mr. Wood whose wife died at the mouth of
Wabash, as before related. Mrs. Ellis' husband died at
Pittsburgh. Her daughter and only child married Mr.
John Wood, he who came out with me. Mrs. Ellis was
married in my house to Richard Field, one of Wellington's
old life-guardsmen, who turning his sword into a pruning-
hook, engaged in the better occupation of cutting up corn
and pumpkins, instead of cutting down Frenchmen and
their allies, as he was wont to do in former days; and all
these friends had farms contiguous, or in sight of each
other; and finding themselves every year better off in this
world, until the moment they quit it. In the year i8i8,
Mr. Henry Cowling, and his brother, Mr. John Cowling,
who were afterwards joined by their youngest brother
George Cowling, all Lincolnshire- men, came in. Mr.
Henry Cowling, not finding the Illinois mode of working
for a living quite to his taste, went South into those states
where the practice of making others work for you, whether
they like it or not, and giving them no wages for their
labor, is considered the right thing. Liking the country
well, there he lived, married, and died. Mr. John Cowling,
the second brother, is living on his farm, about four miles
south-east of Albion ; hale and hearty, an energetic and in-
dustrious farmer.
It was in 1818 or 18 19, that Mr. Hornbrook, of Devizes,
A PARTY OF CORNISHMEN. 163
Devonshire, called on me, as he came to see the Settle-
ment; but having made previous decision to remain at
Pigeon Creek, Indiana, where Evansville now stands. He
had brought with him two men, Richard Husband and
Mathew Coombs, and one young woman. They were in-
debted to Mr. Hornbrook between two or three hundred
dollars; as they all three wished to stay wiT;h me, I paid to
Mr. Hornbrook the amount, taking their notes to be re-
paid in work. The young woman lived with me as maid-
servant, and the men kept with me at their work, until
they had faithfully paid me all. Much of the complaint of
servants, leaving their employers in America, on contracts
made in Europe, arises from the contract being made at
the low European price of labor, which begets feelings of
discontent, when they see double the price given for the
, same work in America. I always gave to the persons I
employed the full American wages.
It was in the year 18 17, that a party of Cornish men,
Edward Coad and family, William Tru^ott, Sen., and
Junior, Samuel Arthur and others, under the leadership of
a Mr. Slade, went farther, by nearly a hundred miles, into
the interior of the State than we were; and settled at a
point on the Kaskaskia River, where Carlyle now stands.
This little colony, going much farther into the interior at
that early period, suffered more inconveniences than we
did. Mr. Slade in some sort abandoned his Colony by
getting elected to Congress, and the people came into our
Settlement. Old Mr. Coad, as we then thought him and
called him, lived on my land for several years, and after-
ward bought a piece for himself, where he has lived ever
164 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNT V.
since. He is between eighty and ninety years old, and it
is only within these three years that he has left off working
as vigorously as ever. Old Neddy Coad possesses one of
those simple-hearted and direct natures, that seems to
know no guile, a truthfulness and simplicity of purpose
seldom found united with brighter intellect and higher at-
tainment. His' wife died a few years back. It is said
that she visits them now and then, and is seen by the hus-
band, son, and daughter, who live in the same house. And
why not? We learn from high authority, that spirits visit
their former domicile for slight occasion, even to the pay-
ing, of small but just debts. On questioning one of the
family as to her appearance, she looks, said he, as she used
to do, only about fifteen years younger. If there be a
place where faded beauty can renew its charms, the road
to it will surely be found, and when found, a popular road
it will be. So let us be hopeful, that if fifteen years of
Time's defacements can be obliterated, perhaps the time
may be extended, and our fair friends return to us, fairer
than the lilly and brighter than the rose. All I can say
about the matter is, if such things are to be believed from
the testimony of others, I had rather take old Neddy
Goad's word than that of many wiser and more learned
men. So it will be seen that we are not b^iind the times,
even to a spiritual manifestation.
Richard Husband, before mentioned, was a remarkably
hard-working man. He soon acquired a farm of his own,
and traded to New Orleans for several years in his flat-
boats, which he built himself and loaded with pork and
other produce. On his return from one of these trips he
died at Shawneetown, of fever contracted on the river.
WILLIAM CAVE — ACCIDENT. 1 65
Mr. Samuel Arthur, one of the Cornwall band, a very
young man then and not very old now, has for many years
been a citizen of Harmony, and a respectable man of good
property.
Mr. William Cave, a Devonshire-man, after brief stay in
Ohio, joined our Settlement with his wife and family of
sons and daughters; and lived for sometime on njy farm
about a-quarter of a mile from Park House. Mr. Cave
had been a soldier for many years -in England, a fine, tall,
strong man, and an excellent swordsman. He was fond of
music and played excellently on the violin; and generally
made one of our musical party that met every fortnight at
Park House. One day, as he was chopping down a large
tree near his house, it fell suddenly, knocking down his
two sons, who were caught and crushed under its heavy
branches. One had his scull fractured and died immedi-
ately, and was buried in our small family burying-ground
near Park House. The other lad had his thigh fractured,
which was set by Dr. Spring. He recovered completely,
and only two years ago went to California, where he died
at the age of thirty-two. His sisters, then small children,
are now married and settled in California.
But from time to time little parties came in year after
year, chiefly small-tradesmen and farm -laborers. The
latter, a most valuable class, came from all parts of Eng-
land. The farmers brought with them their various ex-
periences and tools, necessary to work the different soils.
In this way a greater variety of workmen and tools are to
be found in the English Settlement than perhaps in any
one neighborhood in England.
Three brothers, Joseph, Thomas, and Kelsey Crackles,
l66 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
able-bodied farm-laborers, from Lincolnshire, came with a
full experience in the cultivation of flat, wet land; and
brought with them the light fly-tool for digging ditches
and drains, by which a practised hand can do double the
work that can be done by a heavy steel spade. They lived
with me three years before going on farms of their own.
Their experience has shown us that the flat, wet prairies,
generally shuned, are the most valuable wheat lands we
possess.
I omitted to mention, in connection with Mr. Olver, the
name of John May, a laborer from Devonshire, who ac-
companied Mr. Olver's family to this country. John May
was a remarkably sturdy, hard-working, industrious, and
honest man. He married a young English woman who
also came out with Mr. Olver. They were both of them
saving anti industrious people. He worked on Park-House
farm for many years. He became possessed of a good
farm, which he cultivated well, and built upon it a com-
fortable house. What is rather uncommon at his advanced
time of life, he learned himself to read, and enjoyed read-
ing as much as any man in the latter part of his life. His
two sons, living on their own farms, are men of property
and respectability. These I have mentioned are a part of
those who came in i8i8. 1819, and 1820. They are a
sample of the men of which the English Settlement was
made. They are those who encountered and overcame
the first difficulties, who made the way smooth for those
that came afterward. For the present, I must take leave
of the settlers and their little town, not more than three
years old, and proceed to topics of more general interest
connected with their history.
CHAPTER VIII.
Religion in the Settlement — Slanders and Efforts to divert Emi-
grants — First Religious Services — Mr. Pell and Mr. Thomas
Brown — The Hard-Shell Baptist Preacher — ^Jesse B. Browne and
Judge Thomas C. Browne — The Campbellites or Christian Church
— First Episcopal Church — Gen. Pickering an Active Promoter —
Influence of the Chimes of Bells — Bishop Chase Consecrates
the First Episcopal Church of Albion — William Curtis and his
Congregation — Backwoodsmen don't like Episcopacy — The Meth-
odist Church Better Adapts Itself to all Classes — Reflections
Thereon — A Methodist Camp-Meeting Described — Mr. Birkbeck
Unjustly Assailed — Mr. Birkbeck's Letter on Religion — Features
of the Country — A Glowing Description — The Calumnies against
the Settlement Rebutted by Mr. Birkbeck — Toleration of all
Religious Opinions.
The exhibition of religion in the Enghsh Settlement
must not be overlooked. As we have been especially
assailed on that point, it is our duty to show the record as
it is. Our assailants, that accused us of infidelity and all
manner of wickednesses, raised their clamor from no pure
motive, but desired to pander to popular prejudices in any
way to render the Settlement unpopular, in order to stop
emigration to it, as I shall presently show.
In a Settlement like ours, of a mixed population, various
in nationalities, and individually differing in circumstances
as to wealth and poverty, degrees of intellect and educa-
tion, from every county in England, and various districts
of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, from Germany and France,
1 68 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
and from almost every State of the Union, there doubtless
existed almost every shade of religious opinion. In a new
settlement there may not be found enough of any one sect
to support a minister and build a church; and there is not
often liberality enough amongst religious sects to aid and
support each other. Thus there may be a vast deal of
religion laid away and concealed, as it were, no public
exhibition being made of it.
A trivial but singular circumstance occurred, that acted
as a spark to combustibles already laid in train. I think it
was Mr. Pell, the son-in-law of Mr. Birkbeck, who happened
to be in Shawneetown, when a man landed from a boat.
The first thing he asked of the landlord was, if there was any
religion in the English Settlement.'' What the answer was,
I don't precisely know; but it could not be very encourag-
ing, for the man muttered something, and said then he
would not go there; turned round, and went on board
the boat again, to find some place that had a better char-
acter.
Why had this man asked such a question.'' Was it
usual to ask, when one got within a hundred miles of a
place, if there was any religion there.'' This was a puzzle.
What could it mean.'' It meant this: That a parcel of
land speculators in New York and Philadelphia, seeing
that our Settlement was attracting emigrants, whom they
wanted to settle on their land, east of the mountains, set
on foot every disparaging report, as to health, success,
provisions, morals, and religion; plying each individual on
the point at which he was most sensitive. And this began
almost as early as our first-settlers arrived. Of all this, we
PREACHING AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES. 1 69
were for a time unconscious. It was not until after their
attacks appeared in print, that we were at all aware of the
extent of these calumnies. And it took a long time for a
book or a pamphlet, from the Eastern cities, to reach us in
those days.
Mr. Pell, whom we called a smart Yankee, although he
came from New York, saw at a glance that it would never
do to have it said aboard that we had no religion; and
that another Sunday had better not pass without public
worship. As far as my recollection serves me, Wanbor-
ough took, for a short time, tht precedence of Albion in
organizing public religious meetings.
* Mr. Thomas Brown,* a New-Englander by birth, a shoe-
maker by trade, then a resident of Wanborough, now. a
magistrate and a venerable resident of Harmony, procured
a volume of Boucher's sermons from Mr. Birkbeck's library,
and read one of them to a small congregation, assembled
in a little cabin.
A native of the Island of Gurnsey, Mr. Benjamin Grutt,
read the Episcopal service in a room, in Albion, set apart
for the public library. In religious sects, there is scarcely
toleration enough to allow of a united movement. Each
sect, therefore, is left to struggle on as it can. An itiner-
ant minister would occasionally ride in, and give a sermon
* Thomas Brown and his wife were natives of Litchfield, Kennebec Co.,
Maine. They emigrated to Edwards County at a very early day, and settled
at Wanborough, soon after the town was laid off by Mr. Birkbeck, and occu-
pied a cabin adjoining his. Mr. Brown was a most devoted friend and
admirer of Mr. Birkbeck. On the death of the latter, he removed to New
Harmony, Ind., in 1825, and was appointed postmaster of the town by Gen.
Harrison in 1841, on the recommendation of Hon. George H. ProfTitt of
Petersburg, Pike County, then a Whig member of Congress from Indiana.
170 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
in the court-house, and pass along." Mr. Jesse B. Browne
was clerk of the court at that time. He was brother of
Judge Browne of Shawneetown. A fine man was Mr. Jesse
B. Browne, six feet seven inches high, a kind and jovial
man, too. On one "occasion, an itinerant preacher, called
* Jesse B. Browne, after leaving Albion, became a captain in the First Regi-
ment United States Dragoons, then commanded by Col. Kearney. Leaving
the army, I believe, he settled at Fort Madison, Iowa Territory, and, during
territorial times, was a somewhat prominent Whig politician.
Thomas C. Browne was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of the
State, October 9, 1818, and served continually for more than thirty years.
When the judicial system of the .'^tate was changed, in 1841-2, the number
of judges increased and assigned to Circuit duties. Judge Browne was sent to
the north-western Circuit, including Joe Daviess, .Stephenson, Carroll, Lee,
Rock Island, Mercer, Winnebago, Ogle, Boone, and Whitesides Counties.
He settled at Shawneetown, Gallatin County, soon after the Territory of Illi-
nois was organized and was a member of the Territorial House of Represen-
tatives, from Gallatin County, in 1814 and 1S15. He was a member of the
Territorial Legislative Council for 18 16, '17, and '18, when the Territory of
Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State. He was then appointed one
of the first four judges of the Supreme Court by Gov. Shadrach Bond, better
known, even after he was elected governor, as "Captain Bond". Jud^e T. C.
Browne died, several years ago, at San Francisco, Cal., at the residence of
his son-in-law, Hon. Joseph P. Hoge, formerly of Galena, and member of
Congress from the Galena District, from 1842 to 1846.
There was an incident in Judge Browne's career which led to stupendous
results. In the gubernatorial contest in 1822, Chief-Justice Joseph Phillips
ran as the pro-slavery candidate, with what was thought a certainty of an
election. Edward Coles, representing the anti-slavery sentiment, was brought
out as a candidate, and it was thought he would have great strength in the
"Wabash Country", where the influence of the English Colony was beginning
to be felt. The other side feared his strength in that part of the State, and,
to take votes from him, Judge Browne, then a very popular man in the
Wabash Valley, was induced to present himself as a candidate for governor.
The Judge obtained an unexpectedly large vote, falling but a little short of the
vote given to Phillips. As the result proved, he did not take votes from Coles,
but from Phillips. Had not Browne been in the field, Phillips would have
obtained nearly all the votes given to Brov^me, rendering his election absolutely
certain. But for this state of things. Coles could not possibly have been
elected, and thus enabled to play the role he did in preventing Illinois becom-
ing a slave-state.
CAMPBELLITES, BAPTISTS, AND EPISCOPALIANS. I/I
a hard-shellpd Baptist, applied to Mr. Browne for the use
of the court-house, which was readily granted. The good
preacher was invited by Mr. Browne to meet two or three
friends and take a little refreshment, in a private room,
after the sermon. Corn-whisky, the only refection, was
duly honored, each taking his fair share without flinching.
At the end of the sitting, our hard-shell, true to his name,
could sit straight in his chair and walk more steady out
of the door, it is said, than any of his lay -companions.
These were not the days of temperance societies. Cold
water was not then inaugurated.
Soon after my father arrived, in 1819, he preached regu-
larly, in Albion, every Sunday morning. The service was
conducted after the manner of dissenting worship in Eng-
land — singing, sermon, prayer. Earnest, energetic' preach-
ing generally attracts attendance. It was so in this case.
The service was gratuitously performed, from a sense of
duty in holding public worship. No creed, no catechism,
no membership; it was S. free church, even if it could be
allowed to be a church* at all, by more strictly-organized
bodies.
Then came the church, built and brought together
chiefly through the instrumentality of Mr. Daniel Orange,
of a branch of the Baptists called Campbellites or Chris-
tian church. A Rev. Mr. Baldwin, Episcopalian mission-
ary, preached several sermons, gathered the Episcopalians
together, and organized a church; designated as St. John's
Church. Mr. Pickering was an active promoter, and gave
very efficient aid to this organization. But it was not until
some years afterward, when the Rev. Benjamin Hutchins
1/2 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
from Philadelphia, came first as missionary, afterward as a
permanent resident, that an Episcopal church was built.
There was a handsome subscription raised, a large share
borne bv Mr. Hutchins himself; and a church was accord-
ingly built, and furnished with its pulpit, seats, altar, choir,
and bell. But the chime of the English parish-church was
wanting! And without that charm, Episcopacy can never
here attain to the same power, over the feelings of the
people, as it does in England. The touching, but cheerful,
peals, simultaneously, from every parish spire in the realm,
as the shades of evening close in, are felt by all hearts
in every station and condition of life. Their charming
melody warms the hearts of its friends, and does more
to allay the bitterness of its foes than all the preaching of
its clergy, and the exaltation of its ceremonies.
Yet so little valued are these sweet tones in the United
States, that one of the finest chimes of large-sized Spanish
bells, the finest in the world, charged with their full alloy
of silver, which gives such melody to the tone, were
knocked down at auction as old iron, and afterward
broken and melted into water pipes or railroad iron.
The Episcopal church of Albion is sustained not alone
by Episcopalians, but by those who, if they belong to any
church, prefer the old established church to any other.
The building, when completed, was duly consecrated by
Bishop Chase to a crowded congregation.
Mr. William Curtis, a plain, working farmer from York-
shire, a man of small pecuniary means, and limited
education, preaches to a small congregation about two
miles east of Albion. Mr. Curtis is a specimen of a
FORMS OF WORSHIP. 1 73
numerous class of religious men that took root, and
sprang up, under long and violent persecution. These
heads of small voluntary communities are found very
generally in Scotland and the northern counties of Eng-
land, hating episcopacy especially, from which they
received their chief persecution. They claim the right to
preach and teach for every man, whether learned or
unlearned, who feels so disposed. Our religious forms in
Wanborough and Albion, whether of Episcopacy or dis-
sent, although they might suit the religiously English,
were not accepted or in any way attended to by the
backwoodsmen around. By the backwoodsmen I mean
the little- farmers from Tennessee, Kentucky, and indeed
from all the Southern States before mentioned, and some
families from the Eastern States, also, but more particu-
larly the former. The silence and solitude, the absence
from all emotion in which they lived, seemed to demand
some excitement. Whenever they came into town, at an
election, or a court, and frequently on any ordinary
occasion, the warmth of feeling in which they stood in
need, first raised by a little whisky, would show itself in
free fights generally, an erratic movement in that way.
An elegant sermon read from a book, a calm, logical
disquisition, carrying a chain of reasoning, tracing effect
from cause, a hymn sung in moderate tone and without
any gesticulation, a short prayer in a subdued voice; was
all nothing to them. Their religious feeling could only
be excited by more powerful influences, embodied in a
Methodist camp- meeting. This was the exhibition of
feeling in which they delighted. In the camp-meeting
174 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
their feelings could be displayed in all their force, without
restraint, in forms far less objectionable than in grocery-
brawls or street-fights. Well organized and under good
discipline, the Methodist church wisely adapts itself to all
classes; and in this it is not only exceeded by the Roman-
Catholic church, and not by that in its influence over the
backwoodsmen of the North-Western States. Fortunate
in appointing preachers suited to the audience, in the
camp-meeting it avails itself of the influences of nature to
aid the words of the preacher. United the eff'ect is
powerful upon all ; and to a class in a certain stage of
civilization quite irresistible. There is no temple con-
structed by art like the great temple of nature, in beauty,
grandeur, and space. It is in the silence of the grove,
canopied by the blue heavens or the -starry dome, that the
feeble voice of man most easily influences the feelings of
his fellows. Nature in her highest moods exerts a spirit-
ualizing power by the silent appeals of her many beauties;
the temper and feelings become calm and kindly.
Surrendered by these happy influences, the preacher
can more easily raise the feelings to the highest pitch of
fervor, or melt the spirit to a more humble resignation. A
preacher of moderate abilities, with a good voice in the
open air, with a health-inspiring breeze, and the influences
of nature, can act more decidedly than eloquence, reason,
and logic all combined, on the feelings of his hearers,
squeezed between four walls, inhaling the pestilential at-
mosphere of their own breath.
On a warm summer afternoon, as I was riding from Mt.
Carmel, turning a point of wood, came suddenly on a
METHODIST CAMP- MEETING. 1 75
scene that arrested my attention; and, as a stream of
people were going in one direction, I joined them and
went on. We were soon in front of the Methodist camp.
It was in form of a hollow square, on the two sides
opposite and on a portion of the third, were the log-huts,
with roof sloping outward, occupied by families from a
distance, furnished with bedding and a few simple cook-
ing-utensils; these were all, or nearly all, occupied. In
the centre of the third side was an elevated platform for
the preacher, in the shade of three tall, handsome oak-
trees, which stood immediately at its back, in front and
below was what was called "the anxious-pew", a space
about fifteen feet square, enclosed by a light post-and-rail
fence. The body of the square was covered with ranges
of light and even-sized logs, smoothed on one side by the
axe, affording sitting room for about three hundred people.
There was an interlude in the service, and the seats were
nearly vacant; people stood about in little groups, con-
versing, or welcoming some newly-arrived acquaintance.
Inside the camp presented to me a singular scene. In
one apartment was a family cooking, and the meal all
going on, in company with acquaintances from without.
In the next, a little prayer-meeting; and all were kneeling
at their devotions. In the front of the next division, a
lively party of young and old chatting together in high
glee. In the next, stood a solitary man erect and with
rigid mien, and eyes intently fixed on an open bible
held in both his hands. Outside, strangers were continu-
ally arriving, some in buggies and some on horseback,
fastening their animals to the branches of the trees, that
1/6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
in a semi-circle stood round the camp. I withdrew to a
httle distance to take a general view. Nothing could be
prettier. The camp itself, standing as it did in the little
prairie, surrounded by beautiful timber, was an interesting
object. The various parties of youths and gay maidens,
with their many-colored scarfs and ribbons, streaming in
the wind, gave to the whole an air of cheerfulness not to
be exceeded. At a given signal, all assembled inside the
camp and took their seats. The preacher ascended the
stand, and began his discourse in a voice scarcely audible.
As he raised it to a higher pitch, a sort of groan-like
response could be heard from a few in the audience, and
now and then an emphatic "amen"! As the preacher
raised his voice from bass to tenor, so the responses, in
groans, aniens, and shouts of glory increased in number
and intensity. The scenes in the anxious -pew were
getting exciting, and people crowded around. My curi-
osity induced me to press forward to a closer view. I
confess I was startled; but a moment's reflection checked
any censure that is apt to arise in the breast of every man
who sees doings different from his own. All real feeling
is spontaneous; the mode of its display is convential, a
mere matter of taste. There were about fifteen persons
then under the highest excitement, chiefly females. One
man, a Yankee, a near neighbor of mine, was there rolling
and groaning as if in extreme pain, and uttering loud cries
for pardon. Among the many shouters and exclaimers,
one respectable, middle-aged female, of pleasing personal
appearance attracted my attention among the many extra-
ordinary attitudes, erratic motions, and various voices and
SCENE AT A CAMP-MEETING. I//
sounds, in that extraordinary place. With eyes raised
upward, arms raised straight about her head, incessantly
clapping her hands and shouting glory, leaping continu-
ally upward, as high as her strength would carry her, with
all her fine black hair streaming do\yn her back, and per-
spiration trickling down her face, she presented rather a fine
picture of the frenzy. Two young women, recently from
Scotland, were there, affected quite as strongly, but rather
differently. Short hysterical laughter, sobs, sighs, and
weeping exhibited the depth and sincerity of their feel-
ings. The preacher lowered his voice; exclamations
became fainter; he ceased; and silence was restored. It
reminded me of those extraordinary scenes recorded in
history, of children, women, and men, who went about
for weeks and months, singing and shouting, the epidemic
spreading wherever they went. But the scene in the
"anxious-pew" was more pandemonian than paradisical.
Fear and flattery, mingled with fevered hope, formed the
basis of their violent ejaculations and their many mourn-
ful sounds; all seemed to be fearing that the God they
worshiped would bestow an eternity of torment for an
error or a crime. I was impressed, and somewhat de-
pressed, by what I had seen ; for I felt no sympathy and
could yield but partial approval. The social meeting of
distant friends and acquaintance was the best feature of it
all. I could not deny, that the whole affair was well
suited to the times and to the people.
From early documents, I see Mr. Birkbeck acted as
chairman at two meetings, to promote a subscription for
a church, and several notices occur of the Episdopal
12
178 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
service being read by Mr. Woods. It seems, the religious
element was at work as soon as the Settlement existed.
As the infidelity of Mr. Birkbeck was urged by the
enemies of the Settlement, as a reason for its avoidance,
let us hear what he himself says, on that head. In a
printed pamphlet, entitled "Extracts from a Supple-
mentary Letter from Illinois, dated January ist, 18 19,
addressed to British Emigrants, arriving in Eastern ports,
reply to William Cobbett, Esq., July 31st, 18 19," I find
the following. "In the solicitude for the well-being of our
Colony, I have deprecated the formalities practised in lieu
of religion. 1 have, therefore, been deemed a foe to re-
ligion ; that bond which connects the soul of man with the
supreme intelligence in whom we live and move and have
our being. It is the love of God increasing our good-will
to each other. It is a principle of action aiding the moral
sense; a divine sentiment, impelling us to pursuits reason
approves, and restraining us from evil. If I have written
in disparagement of this principle, I plead guilty." These
were his sentiments as published by himself, and should
be accepted as standing on better authority than the
imputations cast upon him by his theological foes and the
enemies of the Settlement. Nothing more need be said
on this subject. These were the aspects of religion in and
about our Settlement, during the first three or four years
of its existence.
It should be remembered, that neither Mr. Birkbeck nor
myself came here as preachers or teachers of religion.
We had found a country especially adapted to the Euro-
pean emigrant, relieving him and his immediate successors
A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. 1/9
from the heart-breaking toil of felling the forest before he
could put in the plow. And what a country.' For those
who will come after us, and can never see it in its original
beauty, I will give a brief record of its features as we first
saw them.
In the month of April, the surface of the prairie be-
comes covered mith a delicious green. It resembles,
when viewed at a little distance, a smooth carpet or well-
shorn lawn. About the first of May the surrounding
woods appear clothed in a verdure of a darker hue. As
the season advances, the verdure increases in intensity,
intermingled with flowers of brilliant hues, from the
smallest to the largest. Herds of cattle and horses are
seen quietly grazing, or reposing in the shade of the
clumps of noble oak-trees that stand dotted about the
prairie, enjoying the cool breeze. It is a fairy-like scene
on which the eye delights to dwell, a perfect picture of
rural felicity and peace. As summer advances, both
herbage and foliage attain to greater amplitude, and
richness of color. The great heat of the summer's sun,
from which all animals seek a shelter, seems to make
perfect every variety of vegetable life. Autumn finds the
tall grass of the prairie in full size, but of a less brilliant
green. Later in autumn, the trees, as if to defy the god
of day, exchange their sober livery of green for robes of
greater brilliancy and more gorgeous beauty. Standing
side by side are trees of various but perfect colors. The
pale-yellow contrasts with the violet or the copper-color.
Whole clumps, of bright scarlet or rich crimson, inter-
mingle often on the same tree with bunches of yellow or
l80 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
carnation. In spring and autumn, the temperature for
many days together is dehcious — about 75'' Fahrenheit.
Sitting at ease, enjoying the beauties of the scene, fanned
by the soft zephyrs that come roUing up from the south,
laden with the perfume of sweet flowers; the lungs in-
haling the delicious balm, redolent of health ; every sense
is gratified and simple existence is a joy. As winter
approaches, the grass becomes dry and brown. A brand
from some camp-fire ignites it. Preceded by dense vol-
umes of smoke, the flames spread wider and wider.
Fanned by an ever- increasing wind from the vacuum
made by its own heat, the progress of the fire becomes
terrific. Animals all fly before it. Those that are para-
lized perish in the flames. The trees are burnt. Their
leaves, small branches, and old trunks are consumed. For
want of material the fire goes out; but the smothering
smoke for a time rolls on, then lifts, displaying a scene of
desolation almost dreadful to behold. The landscape, a
few minutes before arrayed in the brilliancy of autumn
coloring, is now a monotonous, dreary, black waste. And
so it remains until winter advances and the cold sets in.
A heavy fall of snow transforms the whole scene from
black to white. The dazzling whiteness is painful to the
eyes. In its extent, its uniform surface of purest white,
its dazzling glare, there is a grandeur in its very dreari-
ness. With the temperature ten or twenty degrees below
zero, which sometimes is the case, the traveler may
obtain experiences of the steppes of Tartary or the plains
of Siberia on the prairies of Illinois. After a short period
of rain, mud, and swollen streams, the annual changes on
THE MISSION OF THE SETTLEMENTS. l8l
the face of nature again appear to go their perpetual
round. This was the country we had found, made known,
and recommended to others. The ahnost uniform success
of those who came has justified our choice and vindicated
our judgment. Our after mission was to point out its
situation and the way to it; to defend it from the mis-
representations and barefaced Hes, uns(irupulously uttered
by its enemies; to spread before the European pubhc
from time to time our progress and success; to aid many
who had expended all their means; to assist, both by
pecuniary means and long periods of time and labor, any
great object of public advantage, whether of roads, schools,
buildincfs, or laws. And this we did from the first to the
last. In the infancy of the Settlement, Mr. Birkbeck's
pen was active to rebut the calumnies so assiduously
propagated, and in defence of freedom from the evils of
slavery. In the middle of our course my " Errors of
Emigrants", two thousand copies of which were sold by
the publisher in London in two weeks, gave a fresh im-
pulse to emigration. Still later, by special request, I
published a letter in the Lozvell Courier, descriptive of the
prairies, and giving other general information. This was
translated by a Mr. Anderson, a native of Norway, into
the Norse language, and circulated widely in Norway and
Sweden, giving some impulse to the emigration of Swedes
and Norwegians, who formed settlements in the northern
part of our State. In after years, I received letters from
Norwegians, inquiring after their countrymen settled in
Illinois. They, not realizing the extent of our Western
States, little thought that their friends whom they sup-
lS2 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
posed to be my neighbors, were at least four hundred
miles from where I lived. This we did gratuitously; and
if any charges were incurred, at our own cost. Thus were
we engaged. Religion we left to the people. If we
differed from others in their speculation of things, unseen
and unknown, we tolerated all opinions, and as far as was
proper, promoted tiie wishes of our neighbors. Doubtless
we should have given a site for any building of a public
purpose. If for religious puposes, we should never have
put any hinderance to the building of a temple, a syna-
gogue, a mosque, a pagoda, a church, or Friend's meet-
ing-house; and this we should do without feeling ourselves
committed to a single dogma contained in any one of
their creeds.
CHAPTER IX.
Consultations as to how to Advance the Interests of the Settlement
The Backwoodsmen begin to Leave the Country — The Michaels
Brothers — Moses Michaels Elected to the Legislature, and a
"Weak Brother" — Descriptions of Moving Emigrants — Two
Early Settlers at Albion One of them become Governor— Eng-
lish and Americans have Different Ways of Doing Things-
Emigrants from Europe bound for Albion, Land at nearly every
Port from St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico — A Welshman
Rides on Horseback from Charleston, S. C, to Albion — British
Sketches Recognized by Britains at Albion— Cobbett's Abusive
Letters about the EngHsh Colony— Cobbett's Character— Replies
by Richard Flower and Morris Birkbeck— Dr. Johnson's Charges
Mr. Fearon's Book of Travels— Adverse Influences— The Evil
Genius of Slavery.
The members of our family often met at my house, but
more frequently at my father's, to canvass some measure of
interest to the town or settlement. Myself, my father, my
brothers-in-law, Mr. Ronalds, and Mr. Pickering, and some-
times an additional friend or two, composed the party.
Measures for the advancement of the town or country
were then discussed — the erection of some public building,
school, library, a new road, a petition to the Legislature—
and action in each case was often decided upon. If opin-
ions were divided, we would take an appeal to the public
sentiment, and a town-meeting was called. These meet-
ings and discussions were often discordant and sometimes
stormy. However they kept things alive.
1 84 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
In 1 8 19, the hunter-class of backwoodsmen began to
move off, to keep their true position between the receding-
Indian and the advancing white man. With all their
faults, they were an interesting class. We were getting
too populous and civilized for them.
Three brothers, Moses, John, and George Michaels, from
one of the Eastern States — Connecticut, I think — were
among our earliest settlers on the prairie on which Scav-
ington and Brissenden had settled, three miles east of
Albion. With them came two families of Browns, from
the same section. Moses Michaels," for several years a
magistrate, was our first representative in the Legislature,
that met first at Kaskaskia, and afterward at Vandalia. A
most striking example of a man being placed in the front
rank, without possessing a single qualification to lead or to
command. Without one positive, his character was made
up of all negative qualities. It may be observed in higher
offices than those filled by our humble representative, men
are often chosen for their moderate, rather than their supe-
rior, ability.
Other settlers, from the class of poor whites from slave-
states, came in and settled among us; and, now and then,
a more substantial farmer from New York and Pennsyl-
vania. It was curious to see the different appointments of
these various American settlers. The eye could detect
from whence they came as far as it could discern them.
* Michaels was not a member of the legislature when it sat at Kaskaskia,
but only once a member of the House, after the seat of Government had been
removed to Vandalia, and that was in 1820-22. According to Mr. Flower's
account of him, that was quite enough.
THE POOR WHITE SETTLERS. 1 85
When a large wagon came in sight, strong and complete,
generally painted blue, drawn by four strong horses in
high condition, its feed-trough behind, tar-buckets and
water swinging beneath, laden with a full supply of bed-
ding and household gear on which sat sturdy boys and
buxom girls, all dressed in stout homespun clothes, a stal-
wart man in his deep-seated saddle driving; that wagon
came from the Keystone State.
Another traveling establishment, of a far different char-
acter, was more frequently to be seen coming along — a
little rickety wagon, sometimes a cart or light carryall,
pulled by a horse as lean as a greyhound, scarcely able to
drag the vehicle, which contains only a skillet, a small bag
of meal, and a little piece of bacon; a gaunt, emaciated
man and a large family, chiefly daughters, walking bare-
foot, and without a change of raiment. "Where from,
good folks ? " The answer is sure : from A\a.ha.7;ia or
CarolzV/r; a more perfect picture of destitution can not
be seen. Give them time, and with good soil, with free-
dom to work it, they will soon get on, (f sober, which
many of them are. Their only tools are an axe and a
hoe, with, occasionally, a one-horse plow. They have no
team to break up the prairie, and, necessarily, settle in the
woods, girdle a. few trees, and make a few rails, and get in
a corn-patch. After all, these are the best settlers we get
from the South. Their little corn -patch increases to a
field ; their first shanty to a small log-house, which, in turn,
gives place to a double cabin, in which a loom and spin-
ning-wheel are installed. A well with a sweep, a grape-
vine for a rope. A few fruit trees, and their improvement
1 86 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
is complete. Moderate in their aspirations, they soon
arrive at- the summit of their wishes. Tlie only difference
between, the roving hunters and these stationary settlers,
appears to be in the greater sobriety of the stationary
class.
Quite a respectable man, a neighbor, told me that all he
possessed was put into a bee-gum, and carried by himself
and wife, when they came into the State on foot. We have
some from the South with greater pretensions. But they
neither plow, nor sow, nor build houses, nor make gar-
ments. The best of them get into the professions — a
doctor or a lawyer — but their great ambition is to get to
the Leijislature, and then to Congress.
Another class, from another quarter, and with other
abilities, also come to us. Young men fresh from college,
from the New-England States. I have two examples now
in my eye. These two young men came to Albion, their
wits their only fortune. I mean their legitimate wits; that
is, the power of turning their acquirements to the best
account, losing no opportunity. They too decline manual
labor. One went to Carmi. He was a magistrate while
there; afterward cashier of a branch of the State Bank, at
Mt. Carmel; and now conducts a large moneyed institu-
tion at Evansville. The other, at first, took small children
to teach, at two dollars a-quarter, and taught them their
a, b, c. Whenever he could get a little writing in the
clerk's office, he employed himself there. He was soon
seen on a horse, riding the circuit with the lawyers, and
becoming one himself. Tacking his political sails to suit
the breeze, he got elected to the Legislature, and afterward
EAST'N AMERICAN — SOUTHERNER— ENGLISHMEN. 1 8/
became governor of the State of Illinois.* This is a class
representing the active intellect of the country, possessing
a great deal of tact and intelligence.
It is very curious to see how differently the Eastern
American, the Southerner, and the Englishman proceed in
their way of farming, where they all begin with little or
nothing. The Southerner, as I have before stated, goes
into the woods, girdles a few trees, and raises some corn
and pumpkins. It is hard to say how he employs himself
the rest of the year. Industry, that is, systematic and
continuous labor, he seems utterly to avoid ; but he gets
along after his own fashion, and, occasionally, by fits and
starts, he will accomplish more than either of the others.
But his periods of hard work are, for the most part, sepa-
rated by long periods of inaction. The Eastern man, or
* This must have been Augustus C. French of Palestine, Crawford County,
elected governor of Illinois in 1846. His nomination, by the Democratic
party, was the result of an accident. The convention could not agree on
any of the prominent candidates, and in the present parlance, French became
\h.t da7-k horse. He was a very quiet, unobtrusive, honest man, but not in any
way distinguished; living on the Wabash, had never mixed much with society,
and had but little knowledge of etiquette when he first went to Springfield.
It was the custom then, as now, for the governor to give occasional receptions
to the members of the Legislature, judges, lawyers, strangers from abroad, etc.
The story goes that Hon. Thompson Campbell of Galena, who had been
secretary-of-state under Governor Ford, and who was not only a great wit>
but remarkably quick at repartee, attended one of these receptions. Entering
the house, not finding the governor receiving his guests in the front parlor, he
straggled into a back room, where he found him sitting alone on a sofa.
Approaching him, the governor extended'his hand and asked Mr. C. to excuse
him for not 'rising. Quick as a flash, Campbell replied, ''Oh! certainly, cer-
tainly, Goz'enwr; we nrjer expect auythittg like politeness on these little occasions.^''
Mr. Campbell represented the Galena District in Congress for two years, from
1850 to 1852, and was then made a judge of the United States Land-Court in
California. He has been dead some years.
1 88 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Yankee, as we call him, shows great dexterity and good
management in all he does. He has a certain sleight that
seems to make his work go' off rapidly and easily; and
this quality is observable in the women as well as the men,
in the housework as well as in the farmwork, and is very
noticeable when contrasted with the mode of labor of
most of the Europeans. If he meet with a difficulty he
evades it, or lets it stand by, until he is better able to
contend with it. Industrious, economical, and with a
thrifty experience, he seems to get along easily, and sur-
passes the Englishman at a great rate. The Englishman,
unpractised in the ways of the country, does not take
hold of things by the smooth handle. He plants him-
self squarely before his difficulties, he evades nothing, but
works hard and steadily to remove them ; not always with
dexterity, on • the contrary, he often seems to take hold of
things the wrong way. But the Englishman has a higher
standard in his mind. He has seen well-cultivated farms,
and substantial and convenient farm-houses; mansions
surrounded by verdant lawns, kept as closely shorn as the
pile on a Turkey carpet, and the gravel-walks kept as
clean as the floor of the drawing-room. These high
standards he may not reach, but he approaches some-
what toward them. His improvements are more substan-
tial, and he stays upon them. After some years, com-
paring the two, the Englishman has surpassed the Ameri-
can. In a few more, the American is gone; but the
Englishman remains.
The three brother Michaels, who seemed to have less
of the roaming propensity than most Americans that set-
HOW THEY REACHED ALBION. 1 89
tied in the same prairie, with Wood, Brissenden, and
Seavington, are gone; but the latter remain there stronger
and more flourishing than ever.
It is a noticeable fact that emigrants bound for the Eng-
lish Settlement in Illinois, landed at every port from the
St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This arises from
the fact that the laborers and small -farmers of England
are very imperfectly acquainted with the geography of
America. Indeed, among all classes in England there is
a very inadequate idea of the extent of the United States,
and scarcely any of the nationality of each state. The
child at school, looking at the map of England, sees all
the counties, and London as the metropolis of the king-
dom. On the map of America, he sees the states, and
Washington as the metropolis of the republic. He feels
that the states of America and the counties of England
are relatively the same. I question if half-a-dozen maps
are to be found in all England, of the different states
marked with county boundaries. It is a point not ex-
plained to him by his teachers. Thus the error grows up
with him. As various as their ports of debarkation, were
the routes they took, and the modes of conveyance they
adopted.
Some came in wagons and light carriages, overland ;
some on horseback; some in arks; some in skiffs; and
some by steam-boat, by New Orleans. One Welshman
landed at Charleston, S. C. "How did you get here.''" I
asked. "Oh," he innocently replied, "I just bought me a
horse, sir, and inquired the way." It seems our Settlement
was then known at the plantations in Carolina and in the
1 90 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
mountains of Tennessee. The great variety found among-
our people, coming as they did from almost every county
in the kingdom, in complexion, statue, and dialect, was in
the early days of our Settlement very remarkable. Of the
variety of places from which they came, I had some singu-
lar indirect testimony.
When a youth, I accompanied my drawing- master on
his annual sketching tour into the southern counties of
Wales, and adjoining counties of England. From some
three hundred pencil-sketches, we selected six for pictures
in body color, an art I was then learning. Like many first
productions of children, my parents put these, my first
efforts, into frames, and hung them up. By some means
they came in our baggage, and were hung up in my cabins
on the prairies. One day, the Welshman, Williams, look-
ing earnestly at one of them, asked me where that place
was. I told him it was "Pont ne Vaughan," Glamorgan-
shire, South Wales. "I thought it was, sir, or \ should
not have asked ; and there stands the Widow Griffith's
house. I have been there, sir, a hundred times." And
there he stood, exclaiming sometimes in Welsh, sometimes
in English, pleased at the representation that recalled to
him the happy scenes of his youth.
On another occasion, my shepherd challenged another
picture. "Is not that the River Severn, near Bristol, sir.''"
"Yes." "And there are the two islands, called the 'flat'
and the 'steep holmes,' on which I have gathered bushels
of birds' eggs," said he. In this way were my early pic-
tures nearly all recognized. That representations of places,
taken nearly a half-century before in secluded places in
TROUBLES, ANNOYANCES, CONTENTIONS. '^^ I91
England, far apart from each other, should be sent into a
wilderness of another hemisphere, there to be recognized
by persons, some of whom were not born at the time the
sketches were taken, seems a very strange thing.
It will be seen that our position is not on any of the
great highways of travel. We caught none of the float-
ing population as they passed. Most of those who came
set out expressly to come to us. This circumstance indi-
cates some leading sentiment that, in a greater or less-
degree, is common amongst us all. We are, generally
speaking, republican in politics, with a strong bias for
equal freedom to all men. A portion amongst us are of
more liberal sentiments than strict sectionalism will allow.
All, more or less, of a reflective and reading cast, with a
certain vein of enterprise, or we should not have been here.
Thus far we had been successful, contending and over-
coming material objects. We were now to have our share
of trouble, annoyances, and bitter contentions. Enemies
were rising up, seeking to arrest the current of emigration.
New towns and settlements forming deeper in the inte-
rior, and with a fresher popularity, have to encounter envy
and disparaging remarks from many of the inhabitants of
older towns and settlements, themselves young and want-
ing population. To pass them and their town is felt as a
sort of insult. There are persons in almost all places
ready to exaggerate the difficulty of travel, and dilate on
the disadvantages of the place, to which the traveler is.
bound. Others, less scrupulous, give utterance to every
plausible falsehood to arrest the stranger. This we had
to endure, and we suffered from its influence, perhaps in
192 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
a greater degree, from the circumstance of our Settlement
being more widely advertised and known. We lost many-
families, that came out to join us, from this cause. Scores
and hundreds were, by these fabulous stories, arrested, and
many of them ultimately detained from thirty to a hun-
dred miles east of us.
The most remarkable instance of this kind of influence
occurred in the person of Mr. Filder, ^who came over in
my ship. He was over fifty years of age, of apparent
firmness and resolution, worth forty thousand pounds, and
came out expressly to make a member of our Settlement
in Illinois. He was one of those who made the journey
from Pittsburgh on horseback. He traversed the states of
Ohio and Indiana, and arrived at the old town of Vin-
cennes. He had doubtless passed over much rough coun-
try, and experienced many annoyances — bad roads, swol-
len streams, bad cooking, buggy beds— altogether enough
to put an elderly gentleman a little out of sorts.
Finding that he was a man of property, and hoping to
detain him at Vincennes, they plied him with awful accounts
of the English Settlement, and the way to it. When he
got there, he would find no water to drink; all the people
there were shaking with the fever and ague. To get there,
he must sell his horse and buy a canoe, to get through the
swamps and waters; and much more of the like kind-
Although within one day's ride, forty miles, and on the
verge of the prairie country, for which he had taken a
voyage of three thousand miles, and a journey of one
thousand inland, for the purpose of seeing them, these
unfavorable reports made such an impression on him, that
COBBETT S SLANDERS. 193
he rode back the journey, and recrossed the Atlantic,
without seeing what he came to see.
It was as early as the year 18 19, that WiUiam Cobbett
wrote his two letters to Morris Birkbeck, which appear in
the third part of his "Year's Residence in the United States
of America." These had a wide circulation in England
and in America. Written with his usual force and talent,
these letters, with his after-efforts, had a decided effect in
checking the current of emigration to our Settlement, and
in diverting it to other channels. The more so as there
was truth mingled with his special pleading, mistaken
premises, and erroneous deductions. He accused Mr.
Birkbeck of propagating misstatements, in the form of
letters, addressed to fictitious persons in order to give
them the semblance of truth. He quotes from a particu-
lar letter as containing evidence of its own falsity. Now
this particular letter I took to England, and delivered to
the person to whom it was addressed, Mr. John Graves, a
gentleman of great worth and respectability, of the Society
of Friends, living near St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
In replying, Mr. Birkbeck made use of an expression to
this effect (for I have not the words to quote from), "there
is something in your character that throws a doubt on the
iHotive of your statement." The expression, I think, is
correct. With all the strong points of Cobbett's character,
and in them there was much to admire, there was still that
doubt existing in the minds of his most ardent admirers.
His sobriety, amazing industry, persistent perseverance,
self- instruction, the bringing of himself from obscurity to
name and honorable notice, are admirable powers and
13
194 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
traits of character. The cloud of mistrust, which hung
over his motives, even among his many admirers, I pre-
sume was from his pecuHar position as a poUtical writer.
No man could, for so many years as he did, and writing
with his force and ability, maintaining one set of political
opinions, praising all who agreed with him, and pouring
out vituperation and abuse on all who differed from him,
change suddenly, argue for all he had formerly denounced,
praising those he had blamed, and vilifying those who he
had formerly eulogized, either maintain his character for
consistency, or dispel all doubts of his honesty. I have
known many of Cobbett's admirers, and I rank myself
among them ; but I have never known a half-dozen per-
sons who yielded to him their implicit confidence. Be this
as it may. He was in a position, by issuing his disparag-
ing statements through his widely-read Register, to do us
m.uch harm, and would have done us much more, had he
been implicitly believed.
Some of these statements were replied to, in England,
by the pen of my father, and in letters to individuals by
myself, and by Mr. Birkbeck, in a printed address in pam-
phlet form, "To Emigrants arriving in the Eastern States;
published by C. Wiley & Co., 3 Wall Street, New York."
The reports spread in the Eastern States, at first from
sources to us unknown, were anonymous. They were
most dismal — "That all our bright prospects had vanished,
and that we had been visited by every calamity, physical
and moral; by famine, disease, and strife; that the sound
have been too few to nurse the sick, and the living scarcely
able to bury the dead," etc. Cobbett's active pen, it was
WARFARE AGAINST THE SETTLEMENT. 195
said (with what truth, I know not), was employed by cer-
tain land- speculators, in New York and Pennsylvania.
A Dr. Johnson, personifying, as he professed, a society
for the benefit of European emigrants arriving in the port
of New York, makes charges, without any scruple, against
our situation and ourselves. It turned out that he was a
large land-owner in New York and Pennsylvania. These
calumnies were forcibly and well answered. But the venom
had spread before the antidote could be applied. Hun-
dreds who saw the denunciatory accusations, never saw the
replies. When these statements were all tripped up, the
last charge was made, and the*cry of infidelity was raised.
But we were out of reach. Their abuse was, in some sort,
an advertisement. We had powerful interests to oppose
us. The British Government did not like to see its people
strengthening the United States, and neglecting its own
colonies. A number of books and newspaper statements
appeared suddenly in England, some anonymous, some
under assumed names, and one or two with real names^
full of disparagement, falsehood, and abuse.
Mr. Fearon's book of travels, although appearing under
his own name, it is said, was edited and published by the
poet-laureate, and so worded by him as to give an unfavor-
able turn to everything American in the eyes of the Eng-
lish emigrant. To sum up, the British Government lent
the weight of its influence against us. The most popular
writer of the times was actively engaged against us. The
Eastern land-speculator. Tories everywhere. The bigoted
religious (and they were legion) were all against us. They
disparaged where they could not deny, and scrupled not
196 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
to substitute falsehood for truth, whenever the occasion
suited. They influenced the wavering, intimidated the
weak, and forcibly restrained those over whom they had
control.
Thus stood the war without, when we were suddenly
called upon to turn our weapons to an enemy at home — an
enemy more to be dreaded than all the political writers
and land-speculators put together. It was the evil genius
of Slavery that stood within our borders, plotting and
contriving how to make the whole State its prey.
CHAPTER X.
Conspiracy against Liberty — The Convention Question — The Salines
— Slaves to Work them — How Slavery got a Foothold in Illi-
nois — Provision of the First Constitution — Gen. ^A^illis Hargrave
— System Adopted to Change the Constitution — The Project
Exposed — The Pro -Slavery Men holding all the Offices — ^Judge
Samuel D. Lockwood an Exception — Letters of "Jonathan Free-
man" and "John Rifle "—Handbill "Pro Bono Publico "—Letters
of Morris Birkbeck — The Election takes Place — Vote of Ed--
wards County — Slavery Men Active and Unscrupulous — Gov.
Coles and Mr. Birkbeck — The latter appointed Secretary-of- State
by Gov. Coles — The Outrages on Gov. Coles by the Slavery
Party — Letter of Gov. Coles to Mr. Birkbeck — Honorable Excep-
tions among the Pro -Slavery Men, Judges Wilson and Browne
— The Cloven-Foot Exposed by the " Shawneetown Gazette " —
The Death of Mr. Birkbeck — Buried at New Harmony, Ind. —
His Memory to be held in Respect and Gratitude.
There are questions asked at the present day. Scarcely
any one person can give all the answers. It is some-
thing like asking a soldier to give a description of a battle
in which he fought. He necessarily gives the history of
that part of the field that came under his own observa-
tion. This effort to obtain a convention undoubtedly had
a local origin. But the ramifications of this conspiracy
against liberty, soon after its inception, extended over all
the State, even to the- extreme north. There are those,
doubtless, now living, who can tell what part the centre
and north of the State took in this transaction, as I am
about to describe the action of the south. My impression
198 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
is that the treachery came from the south, and the traitors*
from the north; at least, so many of them as were neces-
sary to give an effective aid to the southern faction, that
desired to introduce slavery and establish it over the State.
The better to understand the coming controversy, the
circumstances of the territory must be referred to, as they
existed previous to the year 18 17, and the different tone of
feeling that existed in the two parties living in the south-
ern part of Illinois; one strongly opposing, the other as
determinedly sustaining, the introduction of slavery into
the new State.
A saline, or water strong enough to make salt, was
found in a district of country about ten or twelve miles '
north-west of Shawneetown, on the Ohio River. The
salines were reserved from sale by the United States. The
General Government leased these salines to individuals,
and afterward to the State of Illinois, allowing slaves to-
be brought into the Territory for the purpose of working
them. Under the Territorial law, hundreds and thousands
of slaves were introduced into the southern part of the Ter-
* Mr. Flower is at fault when he describes the "traitors" as coming from
the "north." The northern counties of the State, as they existed in 1822,
were Greene, Pike, Fulton, Edwards, Bond, Fayette, Montgomery, Wayne,
Lawrence, Crawford, Clark, Madison, and Sangamon. In the Senate, in
the " Convention Legislature," these counties were represented by Jiz'e anti-
convention men and t-uio convention men. In the House, in the same Legis-
lature, these same counties were represented by nine anti-convention men
(including Hansen) a.nd /our convention men (excluding Shaw). It will be
seen, therefore, that the "great body of the anti-convention men in the Legis-
lature were from the northern counties of the State, having an organization in
1822. The only anti-convention senator from the middle or southern portion
of the State, as settled at t*liat day, was Andrew Bankson of Washington
County, and the only anti-convention representatives were Thomas >lather
and Raphael Wieden of Randolph County.
TLANTING SLAVERY IN THE SOIL. 1 99
ritory, chiefly from the states of Kentucky and Tennessee.
For all practical purposes, this part of the Territory was
as much a slave-state as any of the states south of the
Ohio River. To roll a barrel of salt once a year, or put
.salt into a salt-cellar, was sufficient excuse for any man to
hire a slave, and raise a field of corn. Slaves were not
only worked at the saline, they were waiters in taverns,
draymen, and used in all manner of work on the north
side of the Ohio River. As villages and settlements
extended farther, the disease was carried with them. A
black man or a black woman was found in many families,
in defiance of law, up to the confines of our Settlement,
sixty miles north, and in one instance in it. In some, but
not many, cases, they were held defiantly; in others, eva-
sively, under some quibble or construction of law; in most
■cases, under a denial of slavery. "Oh, no! not slaves; old
servants attached to the family; don't like to part with
them," etc. And in many cases it was so. In some of
those "attached" cases, however, there was found no bar to
trading off the poor darkey for a few loads of salt, or, what
was better, a little ready cash. This was the planting of
slavery on our soil, within the bounds of the saline, legally
.and without virtuality. The evil plant took such strong
root, that, in a few years, it was found difficult to pluck it
up and cast it from us.
In article 6, section 2, of our first constitution, will be
found the limitations to the term of service and the period
fixed for the termination of slavery, before legally per-
mitted in this section of the State. It reads thus: "No
person, bound to labor in any other State, shall be hired to
200 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
labor in this State, excepting within the tract reserved for
the salt-works, near Shawneetow^n^ nor even at that place
for a longer term than one year, at any one time. Nor
shall it be allowed there after the year 1825. Any viola-
tion of this article shall effect the emancipation of such
person from his obligation to service."
Here the whole thing was supposed to be settled. Every
body thought freedom established, and slavery excluded;
and, under that belief, emigrants from free-states and from
Europe came in, and began to make permanent settlements
for themselves and families.
As the time for excluding slavery drew near, the lessees
of the saline — Granger, Guard, White, and others, and
conspicuous among these, for the zealous advocacy of the
convention cause, was Major Willis Hargrave,* afterward
legislator and general, with other characters in the neigh-
borhood, made a bold stroke to perpetuate their system of
servile labor, not by asking for an extension of time for
hiring hands to work the saline, but they sought so to
change the constitution as to make the whole of Illinois a
slave-state.
Their mode of proceeding was in private caucus. In
these meetings, they adopted resolutions, embodying a
system of action. After the systern of action was more
matured, they appointed a committee of five from each
* Gen. Willis Hargrave was the official inspector of the Gallatin Saline.
His residence was at Carmi, White County. He represented that county in
the Territorial Legislature, in the sessions of 1817-18, and was a member of
the first Senate of the State from 181 8 to 1822. He was a man of influence
in his day, and was one of the boldest and most outspoken advocates of a
change in the constitution, so as to make Illinois a slave-state. While others
temporized and hesitated, he openly advocated making Illinois a slave-state.
INFLUENCES FOR SLAVERY. 20I
county, empowered to appoint a subcommittee of three in
each precinct, well-wishers to slavery, to act in such a way
as they thought best, to induce the citizens to vote for a
convention to amend the constitution. At first it was
endeavored to keep the main object out of view. It was
for a time stoutly denied that the amendments proposed
to be made in the constitution were intended to introduce
slavery. But it was impossible to keep the secret, and
very soon the true object was no longer denied.
Then came articles in the newspapers, advocating the
introduction of slavery for a limited time, quite plausible
and mild at first. They were trying to tickle the fish, and
did not want him to flounder before their fingers were in
his gills, and they could throw him out of his element.
After the action of the conventionists at Vandalia, the
advocacy of slavery, in full, appeared in all the papers in
the southern part of the State, and in those of Louisville
and St. Louis. For a long time, the people were asleep on
the subject, and the slave-holders were enabled, under
cover of this apathy, to mature all their plans. Neither is
this surprising, when we consider the state of the country.
Settlements were far apart; but few took newspapers, and
fewer read them; personal communication was infrequent.
The country people were all engaged in their daily labor,
not dreaming of any impending change in our system of
laws and government. As to the tone of feeling among
the people residing in that large portion of the State south
of our Settlement, it was actively or negatively in favor of
slavery. Our influential men, and all who held office, from
the governor to the constable, were from slave -states.
202 ENGT.ISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Every sheriff and every clerk of the county were pro-
slavery men. Every lawyer and all our judges were from
slave-states, and pro-slavery. I know^ of but one excep-
tion in the whole bar that attended our courts, and that
was Samuel D. Lockwood,* for many years a lawyer and
judge, now living, I believe, at Batavia.
The people were almost all of the class of poor whites,
from the Southern States. Many of them had been negro-
overseers. Such was the population south of our Settle-
ment in Edwards County. The feeling in Edwards County
was widely different; the English Settlement in the west
and the Methodist Settlement in the east were strongly
against slavery. When the action of the conventionists
became known to our people, it aroused the indignation
that had slumbered too long.
The mode of proceeding to influence the vote of the
Legislature, I will give in the words of an eye-witness, to
all the proceedings. The history of the business appears
to be shortly this : "Certain members of that body (speak-
ing of the assembly), anxious to introduce a forbidden sys-
r
tem among us, formed themselves into a junto or caucus.
soon after the commencement of the session, and offered
to other members their votes in favor of any proposition
which those members had any interest in carrying, in con-
sideration of their pledging themselves to support the
measure of a convention. By the accession of these, their
+ Samuel D. Lockwood was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of
Illinois, January 19, 1S25, and held the office continuously till December 4,
1848. As a lawyer he held a good rank, and was distinguished by the probity
of his character and the purity of his life. Illinois never had a magistrate
more respected and beloved than Judge Lockwood.
THE CONTEST IN THE LEGISLATURE. 203
■first victims, the caucus, in fact, became the legishiture, as
by comprising a majority of both houses, it was capable of
carrying every question, that one excepted. Other represen-
tatives, who had not as yet bartered away their independ-
ence, soon discovered that they were completely at the
mercy of the junto; and, in order to recover the means of
serving their constituents on those points of local interest
which, when combined, form the general weal, suffered
themselves, one by one, to be bought over, until the faction
had acquired nearly two -thirds of the whole number of
votes — the strength requisite to carry their favorite meas-
ure, without the accomplishment of which, they declared,
they would not quit Vandalia.
"They repeatedly tried their strength by preparatory
resolutions, and at length, on the 5th of February, brought
forward the main question; but it was decided against
them by a majority of two. They were not, however, to
be so baffled. They carried a vote of reconsideration, and
the resolution was laid upon the table. On the iithof
February, having gained over the deficient votes by means
which it would seem invidious to mention, the resolution
was again brought forward, and again lost, through the
defection of a member who, on a former occasion, had
voted for it. Notwithstanding this second decision, they
persevered in their purpose.
"One of the party, although in the constitutional minority
on the last division, again moved a reconsideration of the
question. The speaker declared the motion to be out of
order, because the mover was in the minority. They
attempted to overrule the decision of the speaker, by an
204 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTV.
appeal to the House; but the chair was supported by a
majority of three. Here, it might be supposed, the ques-
tion was finally decided, and would have been allowed to
rest; but it proved otherwise. On the succeeding day, the
vote confirming the speaker's decision was reversed, and
the motion for reconsideration, made by one of the minor-
ity, carried; and to extinguish the vote of the defaulter,
and create a favorable one in the room of it, as no such
vote could be found in the House, they had recourse to a
proceeding, the most unjust and impudently tyrannical
that ever, as I believe, disgraced the Legislature of a free
country.
"By an arbitrary resolution, in direct violation of law,
they expelled one of the representatives, who had been
established in his seat, by the decision of the House, and
introduced in his room a man favorable to their views, who
had been declared, by the same decision, not to be a repre-
sentative. Thus was Mr. Hansen illegally expelled from
his seat in the Legislature, and Mr. Shaw illegally placed
in. Having accomplished this, they brought forward the
main question the third time, and carried it by the vote of
this man, whom they created a member for the express
purpose, at the close of the session."
Ford, in his history of Illinois, confirms this statement,
but makes the tergiversation of the assembly more appar-
ent. He says, at page 52: "When the Legislature assem-
bled, it was found that the Senate contained the requisite
two-thirds' majority; but in the House of Representatives,
by deciding a contested election in favor of one of the can-
didates, the slave-party would have one more than two-
HANSEN AND SHAW. 205
thirds; but by deciding in favor of the other, they would
lack one vote of having that majority. These two candi-
dates were John Shaw and Nicholas Hansen, who claimed
to represent the county of Pike, which then included all
the military tract and all the country north of the Illinois
River, to the northern limits of the State. The leaders of
the slave-party were anxious to elect Jesse B. Thomas to
the United States Senate. Hansen would vote for him,
but Shaw would not. Shaw would vote for the convention,
but Hansen would not. The party had use for both of
them, and they determined to use them both, one after the
other. For this purpose, they first decided in favor of
Hansen, admitted him to a seat, and with his vote elected
their United States senator; and then, toward the close of
the session, with mere brute force, and in the most bare-
faced manner, they reconsidered their former vote, turned
Hansen out of his seat, and decided in favor of Shaw, and
with his vote carried their resolution for a convention."*
* In the account Mr. Flower has given of the celebrated contest between
Shaw and Hansen, he has simply followed the accepted historical version.
Gov. Rejmolds and Gov. Ford are both mistaken when they state that Han-
sen was admitted to a seat in the lower branch of the Legislature, in order to
vote for Thomas, for U. S. senator, and was then put out in order to admit
Shaw, for the purpose of having his vote for the convention resolution. Han-
sen was the sitting-member whose seat was contested by Shaw. The contest
was settled in the early part of the session, and without any reference what-
ever either to the senatorial or convention question. The House decided that
Hansen was entitled to his seat. It was only at the end of the session, and
after Hansen had held his seat unchallenged for eleven weeks, that he was
turned out, to put Shaw in so by his vote to carry the convention resolu-
tion. The proceeding was lawless, revolutionary, and utterly disgraceful,
and contributed largely to the defeat of the convention scheme before the
people. [See "Sketch of Edward Co>es and the Slavery Struggle in Illinois,
in 1823-4, by E. B. Washburne, Honorary Member of the Chicago Histori-
cal Society."]
206 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY. •
•
We had now no other recourse than to vote against a
convention or become the accompHces of this base faction.
We thought, at that time, that such a scene of base
intrigue was never before exhibited under a representative
government, as prevailed at Vandaha during that session.
Some of the doings of other legislatures, and of Con-
gpess, have enlightened us since that time, and shown us
that men are to be found as unscrupulous now as they
were then. Small rewards were dealt out to small men.
Larger douceurs were offered to larger interests. One
thing, very well known, is, that the southerners offered to
the northerners their support and votes in these terms:
"If you will vote for our convention, we will vote for your
canal." Whether the northmen were invulnerable, the
legislative record will best show. So the measure was
carried in the legislature.*
Taking Edwards County, on the Wabash, which threw a
decisive majority for no convention, following the same
line of latitude westward, to where the Rev. Mr. Peck of
Rock Spring, I think in St. Clair County, headed the no-
convention ticket; then to Edwardsville, where Gov. Ninian
Edwards did good battle for freedom, and on to Alton;
here was presented the first line of batteries against the
slavery - shock from the south. After the vote of the
legislature, up to the time of election, the war waxed
* Mr. Flower is perhaps not entirely accurate in this statement. At this
time the canal cjuestion could not have cut much of a figure. The first grant
of land, for the construction of the Illinois-and-Michigan Canal, was not ob-
tained until 1827. There was then no northern part of the State, as we now
understand it. Sangamon and Pike were then the most northerly counties,
though there were a few settlers in Fulton. All the counties, afterward par-
ticularly interested in the canal, were established subsequent to 1822-3.
birkbeck's address. 207
warm. From our Settlement many communications were
constantly issuing, generally in reply to the advocates of
slavery from the south. The discussion took every form.
The religious, the benevolent, the political, the expedient
arguments were all used by our opponents, and as con-
stantly replied to by us, principally by Mr. Birkbeck.
The native question showed itself then as now. It will
be in place to give a sample of the controversy in an
address from our Settlement which appeared in the Illi-
nois Gazette:
"An Address to the Citizens of Illinois for the day of Elec-
tion, and wortiiy of their serious attention preparatory
thereto :
"Blessed beyond all the nations of the earth in the
enjoyment of civil and political freedom, under a con-
stitution which is the admiration of the wise in every
nation to which the knowledge of it has extended, the
citizens of this great republic have yet to deplore that
there exists within it a system of oppression, greatly
exceeding in its cruelty and injustice all other calamities
inflicted by tyranny upon its victims, an inheritance of
wretchedness, extending from generation to generation.
" In those sections of the Republic where this system
prevails, a large proportion of the people distinguished
from the rest by color, but alike susceptible of pain and
pleasure, with minds capable of improvement, though
disgraced by their condition, are deprived of all rights,
personal and civil, and groaning in hopeless servitude.
The effect of this evil upon the states, laboring under
208 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUTNY.
this curse, (in addition to the every- day misery of the
slaves), is to obstruct their improvement to an astonishing
degree, especially by repressing population. According
to a census made by congress in 1774, Virginia, at that
period, contained 650,000 inhabitants. New York, includ-
ing Vermont, and Pennsylvania, including Delaware, con-
tained together only 600,000 — that is to say 50,000 less
than Virginia alone. In 1820, by the last census. New
York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware contained, omitting
fractions, two millions six hundred thousand free persons;
having increased above fourfold in forty-six years, eight
of which were under the pressure of a consuming war.
But these states had, during this period, delivered them-
selves from slavery, that still more consuming plague with
which we are now threatened. Virginia unhappily remained
in bondage; and by the census of 1820, instead of a popu-
lation of two millions and a-half, which she probably would
have attained, if free, had little more than one million, of
which four hundred and forty-five thousand were slaves;
exposing a deficiency arising from this source in that single
state, of two millions of free persons. In the value of land
and the amount of manufacturing and commercial capital
vested in public institutions, canals, hospitals, seminaries
of learnincT, etc., the contrast is still more remarkable; a
tenfold proportion in favor of the Free-states is probably
below the truth. To this add the number and vast superi-
ority of their towns and cities and cultivated farms, with
the industry, tranquillity, and security of the inhabitants.
Pursue the comparison throughout the Union, and such
is the lamentable result; misery and vice, restraining
birkbeck's address continued. 209
population where slavery prevails, and drying up all the
sources of prosperity.
" We are assembled this day to make our election be-
tween freedom with its blessings, and slavery and its
curses unutterable; between good and evil. Indiana, our
sister state, has given us an example of wisdom by an
overwhelming majority against a slave-making conven-
tion. Ohio, another sister rejoicing in her own freedom,
is exerting herself in the generous hope of laying a
foundation of universal emancipation; as appears by an
earnest appeal to the Union lately issued by her legis-
lature. United as we are with these states in a solemn
compact against the admission of slavery, let Illinois
prove herself worthy of their affinity, and coming for-
ward with one consent on the side of wisdom and virtue,
let us disappoint the hopes of a short - sighted party
among us, who would sacrifice our permanent interests
to their mistaken views of temporary advantage. The
individual who presumes thus to address you is no poli-
tician; has no objects at variance with the general wel-
fare; no ambition but to be a friend of mankind, and
especially his brethern and fellow-citizens of this State."
This address was also published in handbill form,
and freely distributed previous to the election. It was
the last address from our side previous to the vote; and
as it has been said to have been attended with effect,
I have given it the first place here.
In June, a series of letters signed "Jonathan Freeman",
on the free side, replied to by "John Rifle", appeared in
the Skaivncctozvn Gazette. The following are specimens
of the style and talent of each writer:
14
210 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
JONATHAN freeman's LETTER, NO. I.
''To the Editor of tJic Illinois Gazette:
''Sir — I am a poor man; that is to say I have no
money. But I have a house to cover me, and the rest
of us, a stable for my horses, and a Httle barn, on a
quarter of good land paid up at the land-office, with a
middling fine clearing upon it and a good fence. I have
about thirty head of cattle, some of them prime, and a
good chance of hogs; and by the labors of my boys, we
make a shift to get along. We help our neighbors, who
are generally as poor as ourselves; — some that are new-
comers are not so well fixed. They help us in turn; and
as it is the fashion to be industrious, I discover that we
are all by degrees growing wealthy, not in money to be
sure, but in truck.
"There is a great stir among the land-jobbers and poli-
ticians, to get slaves into the country; because, as they
say, we are in great distress; and I have been thinking
how it would act with me and my neighbors. I read
your paper as it comes out, but don't find anything to
clear it up. First of all you gave us an address from a
meeting at Vandalia in praise of a convention ; next you
published the protest of the minority against the tricks of
the slave-party; and then you said we had the whole
matter before us. Though you seem to hang that way,
you have not said hozu slavery is to do good to me, and
the like of me- — that is four citizens out of five in the
State. I have already seen people from Kentucky, and
some of the neighbors have been traveling in that
country. They all agree in one story, that the Ken-
JONATHAN FREEMAN S LETTER. 211
tuckians are as bad off for money as we, some say worse.
People that have been to New Orleans say it is the same
all down the river; no money, but a power of plantations
to sell, if there were any buyers. As money seems to be
all we want, and they want it just as much as we do, I
don't see how those slave-gentry are to make it plenty,
unless sending more produce to New Orleans would raise
the price; as to neighbors, give me plain farmers, working
with their own free hands, or the hands of free workmen.
Not great planters and their negroes; for negroes are
middling light-fingered, and I suspect we should have
to lock up our cabins when we left home, and if we were
to leave our linen out all night, we might chance to miss
it in the morning. The planters are great men, and will
ride about mighty grand, with umbrellas over their
heads, when I and my boys are working perhaps bare-
headed in the hot sun. Neighbors indeed ! they would
have it all their own way, and rule over us like little
kings; we should have to patrol round the country to
keep their negroes under, instead of minding our own
business; but if we lacked to raise a building, or a dollar,
the d — 1 a bit would they help //jr.,
"This is what I have been tliinking, and so I suspect we
all think, but they who want to sell out; and they that
want to sell, will find themselves mistaken if they expect
the Kentckians to buy their improvements, when they
can get Congress- land at a dollar and a -quarter an acre.
It is men who come from Free-states with money in their
pockets, and no workhands about them, that buy improve-
ments. Yours, Jonathan Freeman."
212 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
"JOHN rifle's" letter IN REPLY TO JONATHAN
freeman's FIRST LETTER.
'< Sir: — I have seen in your paper of Saturday last, a
letter signed Jonathan Freeman, about which I wish to
make a few remarks. This Freeman lives near the Wa-
bash, and is a neighbor of mine, and from what I know of
him, I am certain there is something not right about this
letter. I know that he could not have wrote it himself, for
two reasons ; first, the man has not been sober for three
months; and, second, he can't write. Freeman used to be
an honest, industrious man, until about a year ago, when
he got into the habit of going to Albion, keeping com-
pany with the English, and drinking beer. He has got so
haunted to the place, that there is no breaking him off;
and it will be the ruin of him; for beer, you know, has the
effect of stupefying and clouding \h.i mind, as we may see
by all the English that come over. Some chance ones are
peart enough, but in a general way they have what I call
a beer-foGT over them. If it had not been for this. Free-
man would never have allowed any man to put his name
to such an instrument of writing as the one in your paper.
There is no doubt that the English have been cologing
with him on the subject of the convention, taking advan-
tage of him when he was not rightly at himself, and ma}'
be some of them wrote that piece for him; however, I
don't think he ever knew anything about it.
" Now as to the letter itself, let us see whether it is true.
He says in one place, I discover that we are all by degrees
growing rich, not in money to be sure, but in truck. This
JOHN RIFLES REPLY. 213
I do say is not true. I appeal to the farmers throughout
the State, whether any of them are getting rich, in money
or truck, or anything else. They will answer — No. He
says there is a great stir among "land-jobbers and politi-
cians to get slaves into the country; " let me ask who does
he mean by land-jobbers and politicians.' Does he mean
the Legislature.'' If so, the people will not thank him for
libelling two-thirds of their representatives as land-jobbers,
nor will truth justify him; for, in fact, a large majority of
the Legislature were plain farmers like ourselves. Perhaps
he means the people, and there he is equally wrong. The
farmers of this country have no right to be called land-
jobbers; whether they are politicians or not, will be found
out at next election, when, I think, they will show that
they will not be fuddled by British beer, nor cajoled out
of their rights by British influence.
"He says, 'the planters are great men, and will ride
about, mighty grand, with umbrellas over their heads,
when I and my boys are working, perhaps, bareheaded in
the hot sun.' I now ask all the Kentuckians in this State
to give evidence on this point. Do the people of Ken-
tucky ride about, mighty grand, with umbrellas over their
heads.'' We have a great many Kentuckians, Tennesseeans,
and North Carolinians in this State, and we don't find that
they are more grand and proud than other folks. As for
working bareheaded in the sun, I did not know that it was
usual to do that in this country. They say the poor devils
in the old country have to do it ; but there is nothing to
prevent their covering their heads here; and if they are
too lazy to do so, I say let them go bareheaded. The
214- ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
fact is, that the man who wrote that letter for Freeman,
has been used to have poor white folks for slaves; and
they want to keep up the same rule here, which God for-
bid. If they expect to introduce nobility, taxes, and
white slavery among us, they will be mistaken. They
tried that before the Revolution, and much they got by it.
"Again, the writer of this letter says the negroes are
middling light-fingered, and he gives this as an objection
against their admission. This is as much as to say the
blacks are thieves, and therefore we will not admit them
among us as slaves, and keep them under control; but we
wall let them in as free people, and allow them the chance
of stealing like gentlemen. I am a little surprised that
the objection to light-fingered people should come from
that quarter, for I am told that the people of a certain
island over the water are so highly gifted in this way, that
they can scarcely keep their hands out of each other's
pockets; and that they are hung for it by dozens; but
perhaps they wish to keep the business in their own hands
in this country.
"Mr. Editor, I have now done with my neighbor Free-
man. I would advise him to mind his farm, and not be
writing letters to the printer. Or, if he is so very anxious
to be high up in the papers, to get some of his own coun-
trymen to write his documents. I do n't think that any
good will be done by writing, no how; for the people of
this country will have their way, and the majority will
govern, in spite of nabobs, who would make white slaves
of us. June /;, 1823. JOHN RiFLE."
JONATHAN FREEMAN S SECOND LETTER. 2 I 5
freeman's SECOND LETTER.
''Sir: — As you have printed my homely letter, showing
the sort of neighbors the slave-gentlemen and their negroes
would be to us plain Illinois farmers, I send you my sim-
ple thoughts, on what is brought up by way of excuse, by
people who, I believe, know better, though they think that
such as I do not. They say that if slaves from Kentucky
come into Illinois, there will be as many less in Ken-
tucky as there will be more here; so that the number of
the whole will not be greater than if they had stayed there.
I see the matter differently. When a man moves, it is
because he is uneasy, and can't thrive; so he goes where
he can do better; the better people are off, the faster they
will increase. Many people in Kentucky are deep in debt,
and have nothing left to call their own but slaves. In that
case, they can't carry on to any good purpose. It goes
hard with such men's negroes, with bellies pinched and
short of clothing, they roam about by night, and pick up
any thing they can find, to cover their backs or satisfy
hunger. This is a great plague to a neighborhood, and
very hurtful to the slaves. When a gang of these hungry,
naked creatures, that hardly keep up in numbers, owing to
their misery, move into a country where their master gets
good land almost for nothing, they make plenty of corn
and pork, and breed two for one. The neighborhood they
left goes on better without them, and soon fills up their
room; so that the slaves no\v in Keutucky are just as
many more. If Ohio had been a slave-state, there would
have been, at this time, about two hundred thousand more
slaves in the world, and two hundred thousand fewer free
2l6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
persons. Which do you think best, Mr. Editor, to raise
freemen or slaves.-* Some say we ought to let them into
this country from humanity, because they would be better
off. This sounds mighty well; but it is a hypocritical ar-
gument; because kindness to the negroes is not the object.
If they want room, why should they come to Illinois.''
There is plenty of wild land in Kentucky. All Missouri
is open to them, besides the Southern States. We should
consider, too, that when we open a country to slaves, we
close it against freemen, who also want to better their
situation. JONATHAN Freeman."
" To the Editor of the Illinois Gazette:
"Sir: — There are some persons, who, after all the pains
that have been taken to open their eyes, are still hanker-
ing for slavery. Men, under the dominion of passion,
can not hearken to reason. Passion is both deaf and blind,
and Avarice is an overbearing passion, they acknowledge
to be wrong; they are convinced that in the end, it would
be impolitic; but urged by this demon, on they rush. I
can compare them to nothing but the herd of swine we
read of in the Testament, which, 'being possessed by a
devil, ran furiously down a steep place into the sea;' and
a sea of trouble it would be, a sea of troubles from which
they would never be extricated. Suppose twenty thousand
negroes to be in the State (no great number, only about
two to a family) then begins' a war to which there will be
neither truce nor treaty; a war of oppression on the one
hand, and of revenge on the other, rendering both parties
wretched during its continuance, and to be ended, sooner
HORRORS OF SLAVERY DEPICTED. 21/
or later, by the destruction of one or other of them. Look
at old Virginia, which in 1774, was by far the most power-
ful State in the Union, containing six hundred and fifty
thousand inhabitants, more by fifty thousand than New
York and Pennsylvania together, including Vermont, and
I believe Delaware. Look at her condition during the last
war with Great Britain. She could not contribute her
quota of militia to the general defence, through fear of her
slave population. Look at the Carolinas and Georgia.
Consider their constant alarms; the system of nightly
patrols, which, horrible as it truly is, is but the beginning
of sorrows, something by way of prevention. As yet the
power and the show of fighting has been all on one side;
and so seems to be the suffering. The white man holds
the rifle and brandishes the cow-skin, while the wretched
victims, like the souls under the altar, are crying, 'How
long, oh, Lord, holy and true, doest thou not judge and
avenge our blood.''' But is the suffering all on one side.-*
How fares it with the trembling females when their hus-
bands and fathers are out, on this hateful but necessary
duty.-* Do you think they sleep, and if they do what are
their dreams.'* When they have gathered up every tool
which might be converted into a weapon of destruction,
and barricaded their houses, and laid themselves in their
beds with their little ones around them. How fare they ?
The midnight torch and the club, and the spirit of ven-
geance are abroad and awake, and do you think they
repose in tranquility.^
"Such, my fellow- citizens, advocates of this accursed
system, is the inheritance you would provide for your
2l8 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
posterity! I pray you to count the cost before you make
the' purchase. What I faintly describe to you is a very
small part of the misery you would bring on yourselves
and your children; these are pains of precaution, merely;
all this and more must be endured, to put off the evil
day which, sooner or later, will surely arrive. Besides
this, on which would depend your very existence, there
would be on every plantation a perpetual conflict between
the eagerness of the master and the apathy of the slave;
the simplest work must be carried on by violence and
terror.
"The white man, even the w^hite woman (odious to con-
template), must be ready to apply the lash; and there
would be an incessant war of plunder, in which the whites
would have to act on the defensive. Every thing that
can be secured, must be under lock. Your clothing and
provisions and choice fruit and poultry; you might watch
them, but it would be in vain. One thief in a neighbor-
hood is a sufficient nuisance, but then there would be a
hundred^ If mischief to your property, by theft, would
be increased a hundred fold, so would danger from fire;
not through negligence only, but through design. What
precautions are found necessary in slave-states against
this devouring calamity! Yet fires are continually occur-
ring; if you ask how they happened, the invariable answer
is: 'from the carelessness or the malice of the negroes.'
Then, too, would arise an overwhelming flood of gross
immorality, carrying all decency before it. But I restrain
my pen; the catalogue of calamities would be endless;
and could all the advantages, which the conventionists
A DIVINE DEFENDER OF SLAVERY. 219
most absurdly expect, be realized and weighed against
any one of the evils which I have enumerated, they would
be as a feather to a millstone. JONATHAN FREEMAN."
A reverend divine enters the list, with Bible-arguments
for slavery; his letter, over the signature W. K., appeared
in the Republican Advocate; I never learned his name or
residence. He was the Parson Brownlow of that day.
We will give him a hearing, and see how he is handled
by Jonathan Freeman:
*\To the Editor of the Spectator:
" Sir: — The following article, with the signature W. K.,
has appeared in the Republican Advocate and the Illinois
Republican. As it is an extraordinary production, to give
it a still more general circulation, I request the favor of
your inserting it in your paper, with a reply to it from
your ob'd't serv't, Jonathan Freeman."
"'Several gentlemen, who are raising a great hue and
cry against the introduction of slavery into this State,
appear to be influenced strongly by religious considera-
tions and scruples of conscience. One would conclude,
from what they say and write on this subject (if we can
believe them sincere), that they really suppose it contrary
to the spirit and precepts of our holy religion, to reduce
the black curled-headed Africans to a state of bondage to
white men, and bring them into the Western Hemisphere,
and compel some of them to serve the good Christians of
Illinois.
'"That it would better the condition of all Africa to
bring her unhappy sable children to the American Conti-
220 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
nent, no one, it is presumed, can be found so stupid and
destitute of common sense as to deny or, indeed, for one
moment, to hesitate to believe. Therefore, I say nothing
on this head; and shall content myself by referring the
religiously-scrupulous part of the community, and espec-
ially the preaching and exhorting part thereof, to such
passages of holy writ as I would think ought to close
their lips, and which are conceived to be unanswerable, in
favor of reducing the negroes to a state of bondage to the
whites, and of introducing and treating them as slaves
among us.
" 'The passages of scripture to which I would refer, and
which may be deemed conclusive by reasonable and can-
did men, are to be found in many different parts of the
Bible; but it is considered sufficient for our purpose to
quote from the 25th chapter of Leviticus, the 44th, 4Sth,
and 46th verses: " Both thy bondmen and thy bondmaids
which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are
round about you, and of them shall ye buy bondmen and
bondmaids. Moreover, the children of the strangers that
do sojourn among you, of them shall you buy, and of their
families, which are with you, which they beget in your
land, and they shall be your possession; they shall be your
bondmen forever." From these passages, we see very
plainly that the Israelites were permitted to make slaves
of the heathen that were around them. It is very evident
that the African negroes are to be considered as "strangers"
and "heathen" to us Christians, who stand in the place and
footsteps of the ancient Jews, God's chosen people; and
whatever was lawful for them to do, is lawful for us also.
JONATHAN FREEMAN ANSWERS HIM. 221
" * I call upon the teachers of the Christian religion, and
the expounders of the sacred book, which contains its pre-
cepts; likewise the cunning and crafty opposers of a con-
vention, for the purpose of so amending our constitution,
that we may legally enjoy the blessings of slavery, to
explain away, if they can, the plain and obvious meaning
of those passages which I have transcribed. W. K.' "
To our reverend brother, if we yield to him nothing else,
we must thank him for his candor. He at least wishes,
through the medium of a convention, so to amend the
constitution, that we may legally enjoy the blessings of
slavery. He goes the whole hog; and for that I rather
like him, in comparison with that hypocritical, fast-and-
loose crew, who, while working and pleading for a con-
vention, denied that the object was to introduce slavery.
But I leave him to Jonathan Freeman:
" To W. K., Reverend Sir: — I am one of those who are
strongly influenced by religious considerations and scruples
of conscience in opposition to slavery; being quite certain
that it is contrary to the spirit of our holy religion to
reduce any human being to a state of bondage, excepting
as a punishment for crimes. I have attentively considered
the passages you have quoted, and I learn from them that
the laws of Moses permitted the Hebrews, according to
the custom of those barbarous ages, to buy bondmen and
bondmaids, of the heathen round about them; but I do
not discover that they were permitted to make them
slaves. On the contrary, it is evident from all collateral
passages, that the persons who might become bondmen
220 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
ncnt, no one, it is presumed, can be found so stupid and
destitute of common sense as to deny or, indeed, for one
moment, to hesitate to believe. Therefore, I say nothing
on tiiis head; and shall content myself by referring the
religiously-scrupulous part of the community, and espec-
ially the preaching and exhorting part thereof, to such
passages of holy writ as I would think ought to close
their lips, and which are conceived to be unanswerable, in
favor of reducing the negroes to a state of bondage to the
whites, and of introducing and treating them as slaves
among us.
" 'The passages of scripture to which I would refer, and
which may be deemed conclusive by reasonable and can-
did men, are to be found in many different parts of the
Bible; but it is considered sufficient for our purpose to
quote from the 25th chapter of Leviticus, the 44th, 45th,
and 46th verses: "Both thy bondmen and thy bondmaids
which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are
round about you, and of them shall ye buy bondmen and
bondmaids. Moreover, the children of the strangers that
do sojourn among you, of them shall you buy, and of their
families, which are with you, which they beget in your
land, and they shall be your possession; they shall be your
bondmen forever." From these passages, we see very
plainly that the Israelites were permitted to make slaves
of the heathen that were around them. It is very evident
that the African negroes are to be considered as "strangers"
and "heathen" to us Christians, who stand in the place and
footsteps of the ancient Jews, God's chosen people; and
whatever was lawful for them to do, is lawful for us also.
JONATHAN FREEMAN ANSWERS HIM. 221
" ' I call upon the teachers of the Christian religion, and
the expounders of the sacred book, which contains its pre-
cepts; likewise the cunning and crafty opposers of a con-
vention, for the purpose of so amending our constitution,
that we may legally enjoy the blessings of slavery, to
explain away, if they can, the plain and obvious meaning
of those passages which I have transcribed. W. K.' "
To our reverend brother, if we yield to him nothing else,
we must thank him for his candor. He at least wishes,
through the medium of a convention, so to amend the
constitution, that we may legally enjoy the blessings of
slavery. He goes the whole hog; and for that I rather
like him, in comparison with that hypocritical, fast-and-
loose crew, who, while working and pleading for a con-
vention, denied that the object was to introduce slavery.
But I leave him to Jonathan Freeman:
" To W. K., Reverend Sir: — I am one of those who are
strongly influenced by religious considerations and scruples
of conscience in opposition to slavery; being quite certain
that it is contrary to the spirit of our holy religion to
reduce any human being to a state of bondage, excepting
as a punishment for crimes. I have attentively considered
the passages you have quoted, and I learn from them that
the laws of Moses permitted the Hebrews, according to
the custom of those barbarous ages, to buy bondmen and
bondmaids, of the heathen round about them; but I do
not discover that they were permitted to make them
slaves. On the contrary, it is evident from all collateral
passages, that the persons who might become bondmen
224 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
from the pen of the editor of the Illinois Gazette, which
precedes the two letters that immediately follow it, will
show the tone held by the conventionists at that time :
" The writers of the following communications take two
things for granted, which we deem very questionable, if
'not positive mistakes : First, that the main object of the
convention was to introduce slavery ; and secondly, that
the saline can b^ worked with more profit to the State by
free laborers than hired slaves.
"We do not believe that the introduction of absolute
slavery is the object of the friends of a convention, speak-
ing of them as a body ; though there are individuals,
doubtless, who would desire it. We answer for ourselves,
that it is not ours, nor ever was ; and we believe we may
say as much for all the most influential and intelligent
persons of that party throughout the State. As to work-
ine the saline, we are clear that it can not be done either
to private or public advantage by free laborers. Indeed it
is a primary object of the friends of a convention in this
quarter, to procure a prolongation of the privilege of hiring
slaves at those works. Such is the conviction of the
greater advantages to be derived from that species of
labor, in the present paucity of our population."
" ' To the Editor' of the Illinois Intelligencer:
" 'Sir: — In the Illinois Intelligencer oi December 6, is an
account of a meeting of certain individuals styling them-
selves 'Friends of a Convention,' held at Vandalia, of which
Gen. Willis Hargravc was the chairman.
' "As it is thoroughly understood by every citizen who is
"ONE OF THE PEOPLE" SPEAKS. 225
capable of distinguishing his right hand from his left, that
the main object of the convention of which these gentle-
men profess to be the friends, is the introduction of slavery.
I can not refrain from expressing my extreme regret that
the General should have allowed himself to be placed in
such a situation. I should have thought that the lament-
able condition of the Gallatin Saline (of which I understand
he is the official inspector) might have induced him to raise
a warnine voice so loud and so earnest as to be heard
through every county and every plantation in the State,
proclaiming to his fellow-citizens that their hard-earned
dollars expended in salt have passed away into Kentucky
and Tennessee for the hire of negroes ; not leaving a suf-
ficiency to pay even the rent in our depreciated currency,
at the rate of twenty-five cents to the dollar ! He should
have laid before us this distressing fact; and have reminded
us, that if free laborers had been employed instead of slaves,
the amount of their wages, at least, would have remained
in circulation among us, and would have prevented this
valuable national estate from being an enormous drain upon
our specie, instead of being a source of profit to the public.
" One OF THE People.' "
" ' To the Editor of the Illinois Gazette:
" ^Sir: — At a time when avarice and folly are combining
on the one hand for the introduction of slavery into our
State, and virtue with good sense, her never-failing coad-
jutor, on the other, are combining to oppose it, it is amus-
ing to observe the artifices of the slave-party, by which
they endeavor to impose on the public, by mustering and
15
226 ENGLISH SETTLEMl£NT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
mancEuvrino; under the colors of the friends of freedom.
In the Illinois Intelligencer of November i, and in several
other papers, is an account of an affair of this kind. Cer-
tain citizens of Fox-River Township, in White County, to
the number of about sixty persons, being assembled for the
purpose of electing county - commissioners, formed them-
selves into a society in support of a convention, which
everybody knows is designed to bring about the toleration
of slavery ; but, instead of proceeding like men, who have
no cause to conceal their intentions, they drew up the fol-
lowing resolutions :
"(These resolutions were published in this paper of the
8th; lack of room compels us to refer to them in this way.).
"'Here the first resolution, unexceptionable in principle,
is held up as a standard. Governments are instituted to
secure the rights and insure the happiness of the governed,
etc.; under these colors they march to the second resolu-
tion, by which they bind themselves to use every honest
exertion to induce their neighbors and fellow-citizens to
act with them in bringing about a change of government ;
and by which projected change a portion of the governed,
instead of having their rights secured to them according to
the tenor of the first resolution, are to be held, with their
children after them, in perpetual bondage. They then pro-
ceed to appoint a committee to carry into effect, not the
resolutions including the first, but the resolution meaning
the second; thus, laying down the colors of freedom, they
take up the black banner and cut the figure which all peo-
ple do when they are ashamed of their own transactions.
"'The majority of my fellow-citizens of White County
LETTER OF JONATHAN FREEMAN. 22/
will, I trust, put a just value on their rights and their inde-
pendence, and faithfully adhere to the first resolution.
" 'People talk of the right of slave-owners to hold their
fellow-man in bondage; but there is a great difference be-
tween power and right. There may be a power but not a
right to do wrong. The State of New York had the power
to practise slavery, but never the right to do it. The people
of that and other free-states, to their honor and incalculable
advantage, have relinquished that noxious power, and they
can not resume it. The states which have abolished sla-
very have abolished it forever. Nothing short of a dissolu-
tion of all government can introduce slavery among a free
people. The end of government is the intellectual and
moral, as well as the corporal good of the whole. Should
slavery be among their customs, the legitimate object of
government would then be to mitigate the evil during its
existence, and abolish it as soon as practicable. Such as
been the course of the states alluded to. They have
extirpated the accursed thing. We have bound ourselves,
by a solemn compact, not to plant it; and on this express
condition, we have been admitted to all the rights and
privileges of the original States. The criminal power,
which the advocates of slavery are coveting, and would
sanctify under the name of a right, was not one of those
rights and privileges. Slavery was a calamity under
which they were afflicted, and from which we are happily
exempted by our constitution ; and this exemption is one
of the most precious of its gifts.
" 'Jonathan Freeman.' "
228 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
" To the Editor of tJic SJiaivnectown Gazette:
^^Sir: — I beg leave to submit to you and the other
gentlemen of the legal profession at Shawneetown the
following queries, arising from facts, which I shall premise.
"The property of the soil of this State, being vested in
the General Government, offices were opened for the sale
of land, and certain rights and immunities granted to
purchasers.
'■^ Query i. — May not such purchasers require of the
United States protection and support in the enjoyment
of those rights and immunities? When they attained the
number of sixty thousand, or at an earlier period with the
consent of Congress, they had a right to form a govern-
ment under certain definitions and provisions, viz.: that it
should be a republic; that it should have no hereditary
nobility, no church establishment; and no slavery, except
as a punishment for crimes.
'' Q. 2. — If the majority had prefered a monarchy, would
not the United States have upheld the minority in its
right to form a republic?
"■Q. J. — If the majority had attempted to create heredi-
tary rank, or an established church, would not the United
States have supported the minority in their rejection of
those usurpations?
" ^. ^. — If the majority had attempted to introduce
slavery, would not the United States have been bound
to enable the minority effectually to resist it? There was,
however, no need of the interposition of Congress in
resrard to these matters! The constitution of Illinois was
framed in consistency with these stipulations; and under
LETTER OF JONATHAN FREEMAN. 229
those express conditions and limitations, the people of the
territory were admitted into the Union as a State.
" Q. 5. — Did that contract cease to be binding the
moment after it was executed .-*
"If your honorable fraternity shall see good to enlighten
your unlearned fellow- citizens on these points, I may be
encouraged to propose a {qw after queries for your so-
lution, Jonathan Freeman."
In reply to some sneering remarks, as to the absurdity
of comparing the capacity of a curly-headed black fellow
with white men, the following pertinent piece of history
was given:
" To the Editor of the Shaivneetoivn Ga:;ctte:
''Sir: — Before the admission of slaves into this State, I
would counsel the Solomons in our legislature to devise
some plan to prevent any from being bought or stolen, or
in any manner procured or brought among us, who are
able to read or write; as it is to be feared they might soon
be an overmatch for us in those exercises. A negro
fellow, called Du Vasty, in St. Domingo, took it in his
head to write a book in answer to Mr. Mazere, a white
gentleman, who had written in defence of the slave-trade.
In this answer the black breaks out in the following
language:
"'I have discovered,' says he, 'such absurdities, false-
hoods, and equivocations in this work,' meaning the book
of the white gentleman, 'that I have been twenty times
on the point of throwing down my pen, and abandoning
him and his brethren to the profound contempt they have
230 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
inspired. I am a man! I feel it in all my being: I pos-
sess thought, reason, strength. I have every feeling of •
my sublime existence. I am humbled at being obliged to
reply to such childish sophisms, and to prove to men like
myself that I am their fellow. My soul, indignant at this
excess of falsehood and folly, leads me in my turn to
doubt if they are men who dare to discuss a question no
less impious and immoral than absurd.'
"You may perceive from this specimen, Mr. Editor, that
the Carolinians and Georgians have some reason for pro-
hibiting the instruction of their slaves. Yours,
"Jonathan Freeman."
"Sir: — As the following six queries may be answered
in seven words, and require but little legal knowledge,
though your indulgence, I propose them to our fellow-
citizens in general. I would request them to answer in- .
genuously, to the satisfaction of their own conscience, each
query severally and in succession as they read it, and then
to make up their minds about voting for or against a con-
vention designed to bring in slavery.
" Query i. What was the original title of the white man
to the negro .^ Q. 2. The power of enforcing it excepted,
has not the negro as good a title to the white man.?
Q. J. Can the transfer of a bad title improve or confirm
it.? Q. 4. Is not the receiver of stolen goods, knowing
them to be such, as bad as the thief; and should they pass
from one such receiver to another, and so on, is not the
last receiver as bad as the first.? Q. j. Which is the
greatest villain, a horse-thief or a man-thief; a receiver of
LETTER OF JONATHAN FREEMAN. 23 1
stolen horses or a receiver of stolen men? Q. 6. If the
majority of the legislature should happen to be of the
latter class, and they were to pass a law, authorizing their
constituents to steal men, women, and children, or to re-
ceive them, knowing them to be stolen, would such a law
justify the villainy? JONATHAN FREEMAN."
" To tJie Editor of the Illinois Gazette:
'^ Sir: The complaining tone, which has become so com-
mon among us, is no doubt occasioned by inconveniences,
which we pretty generally feel as wants, which we are at
present unable to satisfy.
" People who suffer are apt to complain, and I suppose
there is relief in it; but sometimes we indulge this pro-
pensity unreasonably, and spend time and strength in
grumbling, which well applied might set all to rights.
This, I am inclined to believe, is our present case. Here
we are, about sixty thousand persons, old and young,
possessing the portions of our choice in a rich and beauti-
ful country, lately a wilderness, but under well-directed
industry fast becoming a fertile field. We labor for our-
selves and our children, and have nothing to pay but for
our benefit.
"Our operations commence in the creation of real wealth.
We build houses, and they are 'our own ; make enclosures
which produce more than enough for our subsistence.
We have planted orchards, and are beginning to gather
their fruit. We have store of cattle of all descriptions
(sheep excepted) beyond our wants. We have also made
ourselves clothing; but in this particular, our industry may
232 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY,
have been somewhat deficient. Things have arrived at
this point without much money; for the Httle we brought
A\ith us has been mostly expended in paying for our land,
and in purchasing articles of the first necessity, which are
not to be found in a new country. There are, however,
other articles necessary for our comfort, if not for our sub-
sislance, which can not be procured without money; and
here lies our difficulty. The times are somewhat 'out of
joint'. The old world does not, as heretofore, take off
the surplus produce of the new. The plain articles of
food yield, at New Orleans, which is our emporium, little
more than the cost of freight, and afford us a very scanty
supply of foreign productions of luxury and comfort.
" What is our reasonable course under these circum-
stances.'' To direct a portion of our industry to the supply
of our ozun zvauts, instead of raising umnarketable produce.
Let us examine into the resources of our country, and
avail ourselves of them. Have we no iron -ore in our
State, no clay suitable for pottery.'' At all events, we
should grow the materials of our clothing, as we have cer-
tainly skill to manufacture them; and the skill wJiicJi is
not exerted, is dormant capital, lost to the public.
"No country ever acquired lasting wealth and prosperity
by exporting raw produce. It will be a fortunate event,
wliich we arc now deploring as a calamity, should it put
us in the way of working up, and consuming our own pro-
duce. We shall then be as independent as any people
ought to be. Foreign commerce is not to be viewed as
the source of wealth, but of convenience. We must give
an equivalent for all we receive. . The balance of trade is
, LETTER OF JONATHAN FREEMAN. 233
held by the even hand of mutual interest; both parties are
served by it. The merchants in each country may grow
rich, but it is at the expense of their home customers.
"The real wealth of a country is of its own creation;
consisting in its arts and industry, its productive lands, its
buildings, its roads, canals, and public institutions; and in
the means of enjoyment possessed by the people. Illinois
might be both rich and happy, though walled in from the
rest of the world; certainly neither so speedily, nor to an
equal degree, as through a liberal communication with
other nations. Let us have patience and perseverance,
and all will be well. We generally left our ancient abodes
under the pressure or apprehension of distress ; some from
Avant or fear of it; some from the galling of political
oppression. Now let us be thankful. Want is far from
us, and we are free. Just escaped from the gripe of pov-
erty, or the more horrible gripe of tyranny, it becomes us
not to murmur because we have nothing better than liberty
and plenty. Shall we complain because our corn-cribs are
overflowing and our harvests too abundant.'' If any of us
choose to exchange four or even eight bushels of corn for
a pound of tea, we have good right so to do ; or if we
choose to give a hundred and twenty bushels of corn for a
coat of British broadcloth, so be it, but no grumbling ; the
better way might be to do at present without the tea, and
forever without a coat of foreign fabric, 'to wear our old
coats,' as Dr. Franklin said on another occasion, 'until we
can make new ones;' but this will never take place if we
tolerate slavery; for that would encourage extravagance,
cripple industry, keep us poor, and, blight all our -pros-
pects. Jonathan Freeman."
234 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
" To the Editor of the Shaiuneetown Gazette:
*" Sir: — I would freely commit the question, which now
agitates and disgraces this State, to a congress of wise and
conscientious men, taken from a slave-holding state, and
consent to abide by their decision, confined to this simple
question: 'Is slavery, considered as affecting the enslaving
party, a blessing or a curse? '
"There is not at this moment a civilized nation on the
face of the earth which has tasted the bitterness of slavery
(and it is impossible to drink of that cup without tasting
its bitterness) that does not loathe it as a nauseous and
poisonous draught. The old slave -states of this Republic
are writhing under it as an evil for which they can find no
remedy. The entire Republic, of which we form an incon-
siderable section, as a body, detests it. Europe, though
enveloped by political thraldom, declares even in the con-
gress of Verona her abhorrence of the system ; and Great
Britain in parliament, urged by petitions from the people,
has determined on measures leading to the emancipation
of the slaves in her colonies. Whence then is the infatua-
tion of the citizens of this State, who would beckon into
their land of freedom this outcast abomination of the whole
earth .'' Are there men among us who can exult in the
hope that a majority of their fellow-citizens will be so base
as to hold up their hands for slavery.^ Such men, sir, are
unworthy the blessings of this free constitution; they are
unworthy of the age they live in. Unworthy, as I trust it
will appear, of that community to whom they presume to
look for support in their iniquitous attempt to enslave their
country.
JONATHAN FREEMAN S LETTERS CONTINUED. 235
"Liberators of mankind are embalmed in history; we
dwell upon their names with filial fondness. But those
who in this age of intelligence can employ their talents
and their influence to rivet the fetters which avarice in
times of ignorance has fixed upon their fellows, what shall
we say of them.'' Language is unequal to the expression
of our indignation and our pity!
"I believe, sir, and in that belief I do exult, that the
number of those unfortunate persons is very limited, and
diminishes continually; and that the day of trial will find
the citizens of Illinois worthy of their station. Other na-
tions are strugglifig manfully against inveterate institutions
of political bondage from which we are free; one and all
we pray for their success; and blessed as we are in the
enjoyment of those equal rights (with which our Creator
has endowed all mankind) and with equal laws founded on
those rights, we are not going to introduce into the very
bosom of our families the most cruel and detestable op-
pression.
"Our forefathers of many generations would have sacri-
ficed themselves to secure these privileges for their off-
spring. Let us then with grateful hearts, and hands of
industry, improve the blessings we enjoy, and in due
season we shall abound in wealth and comforts honestly
acquired. JONATHAN FREEMAN."
" To the Editor of the Illinois Gazette:
^^ Sir: — Early in last year, about the time that the con-
vention question was forced through our legislature, the
following resolutions passed the British House of Com-
mons without a dissenting voice:
236 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
'"That it is expedient to adopt effectual and decisive
measures for ameliorating the condition of the slave-popu-
lation in his majesty's colonies.'
'"That through a determined and persevering, but at the
same time a judicious and temperate enforcement of such
measures, this House looks forward to a progressive im-
provement in the character of the slave-population, such as
may prepare them for a participation in those civil rights
and privileges which are enjoyed by other classes of his
majesty's subjects.'
"'That this House is anxious for the accomplishment of
this purpose at the earliest period that shall be compatible
with the well-being of the slaves themselves, with the safety
of the colonics, and with a fair and equitable consideration
of the interests of private property.'
"On the 15th of March of the present year, Mr. Can-
ning, the prime-minister of that Government, stated to the
House the measures which had been adopted in pursuance
of the above resolutions ; from which statement I have
extracted some particulars for the entertainment and in-
struction of our fellow-citizens.
"It is proper in the first place to observe that the British
colonies in the West Indies are of two classes; the one class
is governed by authorities formed after the model of the
mother-country; in those every proposition for the amel-
ioration of the condition of the slaves is uniformly and
violently rejected. In the other class of colonies, the
Government of Great Britain rules without the intervention
of legislative assemblies, and in these it was determined to
establish by law such regulations as seemed best adapted
LETTER CONTINUED. 237
to their present condition; and, accordingly, in the island
of Trinidad, the following provisions are made compulsory
on the Government:
'"I. The chastisement of females by the whip, to be
entirely abolished.'
'"2. The whip as a stimulus to labor to be abolished,
even for males; and only retained as an instrument of
punishment for crimes, and then under strict regulations.'
'"3. Institutions of religious worship are provided for
the slaves, and the encouragement of marriage strictly
enjoined.'
'"4. It is strictly provided that in all future sales (for, as
Mr. Canning observed, the sale of slaves could not yet be
prevented) the husband and wife, the reputed husband and
the reputed wife, and the parent and the child, shall not in
any case be separated from one another.'
'"5. To secure to the slaves by law whatever property
has been secured as theirs by custom; and this law in-
cludes the right of bequest.'
'"6. Those who shall take charge of the religious in-
struction of the negroes shall have the power, and it will be
their duty, to certify the fitness of the slave to give testi-
mony in a court of justice; not in any individual case, nor
at the moment the testimony may be required; but gener-
ally, that such a slave has made such advances under
instruction as to be conversant with the nature of evidence;
and of these "a register shall be kept, and they shall be
considered in that respect as a privileged class.'
'"7. It is also prescribed, in addition to other provisions
favorable to manumission, that every negro shall be allowed
238 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
to purchase his own freedom or the freedom of his child.'"
"Thus has a process begun, under the authority of
government, by which it is hoped that such an improve-
ment in the moral condition of the slaves may be effected,
as will, besides the abatement of their present miseries, fit
them for the enjoyment of their freedom.
" In addition to the above regulations, that government
has, during the last year, formed a treaty with our own, on
the subject of the slave-trade, which is declared by both
governments to be piracy, and punishable by death. By
this treaty, the mutual right of search is admitted ; and
thus the natives of the United States and Great Britain will
in future co-operate for the purpose of extinguishing this
infamous traffic.
"In melancholy contrast to the enlightened spirit of the
present age, the retrogade movement attempted by the
advocates of slavery in this State will be viewed by future
generations, even of our own posterity, with astonishment
and disgust, as it is viewed at this time by other nations.
'What!' they will exclaim (when they read the history of
our present contest), 'would these diffusers of misery and
crime have conveyed the pestilence into the bosom of every
family.-* Was no spot within our extended and still extend-
ing limits of the American Republic, to be exempt from
this defilement? Already has three-fifths of the million of
square miles, which had there been appropriated, become
a field of oppression, b}' the toleration of slavery; and were
they not yet sated? Over every district and over every
plantation must resound the lash of the slave-driver, and
the yells of its victims, to satisfy their unnatural, their in-
JONATHAN freeman's LETTERS CONTINUED. 239
fernal appetite? Yet they called themselves Republicans;
with liberty on their tongues, and tyranny in their hearts;
one hand displaying the declaration of equal rights, the
other clenching the code of slavery with a monstrous avid-
ity! In evidence of the demoralizing influence of slavery
on the society which tolerates it, (this they could do with
unblushing effrontery, whilst other and minor abominations
skulked in corners and hid themselves from the public eye,)
this the master-vice of depraved humanity could stalk
abroad in open day; could raise its head in the Senate;
seat itself on the bench; and dared even to approach the
altars of benevolence and peace.' Such will be the impres-
sions of impartial posterity. But it is with heartfelt satis-
faction I perceive this scene of gloom and discouragement
receding from our horizon ; with confidence I can declare
to my fellow -citizens, that the good cause, the cause of
humanity and of our true interests, is prevailing in almost
every part of the State. The first Monday in August will,
I trust, shine brightly upon us, and find us a wiser and a
better people than our enemies have hoped, and that some
of our friends have been ready to fear. We must not, how-
ever, allow our zeal to relax under these favorable expec-
tations, but continue to exert ourselves in promoting right
feelings and sound principles, so as to meet the question on
that day, not only safely but triumphantly, and not with the
advantage of a few votes only, but with an overwhelming
majority. Many estimable citizens of other states are
waiting with anxiety for a happy issue of this controversy.
Upward of a hundred families, substantial farmers of one
neighborhood in Pennsylvania, whose names could be
240 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
given, if necessary, are intending to move into this State
when the question of slavery shall be set at rest by a right-
eous decision. If we vote faithfully against a convention,
that question, as regards the State of Illinois, will be settled
forever; and then, I firmly believe, true prosperity will
begin to beam upon us, and the blessings of heaven will
reward our honest industry. We shall reteive a great
accession of population and of capital; manufactures of
various kinds will spring up among us; and a home-market
for produce will gradually infuse new life into all our
undertakings. JONATHAN FREEMAN."
" To the Editor of the Spectator.
"5/;-;_In addition to the strictures on the letter signed
W. K., I would impress on the minds of my fellow-citizens,
that many people read the history of the Hebrew nation
in the Old Testament to great disadvantage; because
they read it without reflecting that their institutions were
adapted to the 'hardness of their hearts,' knd to the state
of society in those early times of ignorance and barbarism.
"But the beneficient Creator has implanted in man a prin-
ciple of improvement, as is expressed by the figurative dec-
laration : ' I will take away their hearts of stone, and give
them hearts of flesh.' The object of the .teachings of Jesus
Christ was to promote this happy revolution, not only in
the Jews, but in all nations. He, the great and good inter-
preter, has by one simple passage applied the law to every
man's understanding and conscience: — 'Whatsoever ye
would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto
them, for this is the law and the prophets.'— Math. chap.
JONATHAN freeman's LETTERS CONTINUED. 24I
vii. 12. Consequently, whatever we find in tire institutions
imputed to Moses, or in the customs of the Israelites, which
may appear inconsistent with this fundamental principle of
morality and justice, we may be assured is not the law to
us, or proper for our imitation. Those who cling to the
harsh and the barbarous in the Jewish history, neglecting
justice, mercy, and truth, are not Christians, whatever may
be their pretentions. Nor are they as the reverend W. K.
presumes, 'God's chosen people.' The chosen of God are
those 'of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, who
work righteousness,' who observe the law written in the
heart in these simple characters: — The love of God and
the love of our neighbor. This is the Universal church
in which eastern Seba bends with the native of the far-
thest West, and Ethiopia bows her head and worships.
Returning to the letter of W. K., let us admit (what no
one, excepting this reverend person, pretends to believe)
that the progenitors of our American negroes were the
lawful prey of the Europeans, who tore them from their
country. Now, as the present race is known by tradition
only, of their African origin, I ask what was the kind and
degree of guilt in their forefathers, which could transmit
this dreadful doom of servitude through succeeding genera-
tions.^ The slave-holder thinks nothing of this matter, but
retains the infant in bondage under no pretense of right,
but by force merely, reduced into a form of law by the
slave-holders themselves. If there be a crime to be visited
by punishment, like that which the negroes are now suffer-
ing, tJiis is that cn7ne;^a.nd should power, in the course of
events, change hands, and be transferred from the white
16
242 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
man to the negro, I pray God, that the negro may be a
Christian, with a creed directly the reverse of that pro-
fessed by W. K.. Jonathan Freeman."
" By Authority.
"Whereas certain evil-disposed persons did, in the month
of December last, assemble at Vandalia, and enter into a
combination to control the freedom of election, enjoyed of
right by the good people of this State, in order to exclude
from public service, all citizens who are not of the conven-
tion-party, however suitable and well qualified they may
be to promote the public interest; and for that purpose
did presume to appoint certain secret committees of five
of the said party in every county, who were to appoint
subcommittees of three for every precinct, for the carry-
ing; into effect of the scheme as above mentioned. And
whereas, the first Monday in August next is the day
appointed for the trial of the authors and abettors of said
conspiracy against the sovereignty of the people. All good
citizens are hereby required, for the furtherance of political
justice, to find out and detect, as far as in them lies, these
county and toiviiship coimnittcc-nieii, and to publish their
proceedings, in such manner as shall most effectually bring
to light their underhand transactions. All newspapers,
which are friendly to freedom and independence, are
desired to give this notice a conspicuous place.
"Pro bono Publico."
Toward the close of the wordy warfare, the feelings of
each party became somewhat embittered. The letters of
"American us," to which the two following replies, signed by
MR'. BIRKBECK'S reply TO AMERICANUS. 243
M. Birkbeck, were given, are not at hand; but the nature
of their contents may be judged of by the repHes :
"Wanboro', January 6, 1822.
" To the Editor of the Illinois Gazette:
"The writer in your paper of January 3d, signed 'Ameri-
canus,' is not to be depended on for the truth of his state-
ments. His arguments will speak for themselves; -as will
his candor and politeness.
"In publishing my sentiments on the important ques-
tion of a convention, I perform a duty, as I conceive, to
myself, my family, and my adopted country. In subscrib-
ing my name to those sentiments, I give my fellow-citizens
the means of judging of their sincerity; by the stake I
hold in the general welfare, which is equal to that of
^ Kvi\Q.x\Q^.Xiw'~>^ wlioever lie may be. Having been an inhab-
itant of the Territory before it became a state, I am as old
a citizen as any in it; therefore, no man has a right to stig-
matize me as a foreigner; and no man of honor, under a
fictitious signature, would call his neighbor a 'foreign in-
cendiary.'
"He represents me as a Quaker, whether by way of
compliment or reproach is immaterial ; because it is not
the fact; nor do I appear in the garb and character of that
sect. But what bearing has this on the question.'' I
object to slavery, not as a Quaker, but as a man, and an
American citizen.
" His account of the proceedings at Vandalia is of the
same stamp, with his personal civilities — a tissue of absurd
deductions from erroneous statements. The 'many jocular
244 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
proposals' he alludes to, such as 'if you ivill support the
resolution for calling a convention, I zuill support the law
for cutting the canal,' and the jocular proceeding of burn-
ing in effigy the opponents of a convention, and the jocu-
lar yell of ' slavery or death,' were unseemly methods of
conducting the business of legislation, on behalf of a free
people, who may say, like the frogs in the fable, 'It may
be sport to you, but it is death to us.' Poor frogs as they
deem us! I trust we shall not allow them to finish the
game. M. BiRKBECK."
''For t/w Intelligencer.
"To 'Americanus', Sir: — Under a fictitious signature,
you have presumed to stigmatize me, your fellow-citizen
with equal standing as yourself as regards this State, with
the odious appellation of 'foreign incendiary and exile.'
This you have done to inflame the public mind against m}-
personal character, and to divert it from the arguments I
have adduced against the ruinous schemes of your party. It
would have been more manly to have attempted, at least, to
refute those arguments. You call yourself 'Americanus'.
An American, a true American, declares, in the face of
the world, 'that all men are created equal, and endowed
with unalienable rights of liberty,' and will 'pledge his life,
his fortune, and his sacred honor,' in support of this 'self-
evident truth.' This, sir, is my principle, and these are
my pledges; and shall you, who are an advocate for sla-
very, call me a foreigner.''
"An 'exile,' too, }'ou are pleased to style me. Unless
you chance to be of the few among us who were born in
REPLY CONTINUED. 245
Illinois, you are also an exile from the land of your nativity.
Whether this be to either of us a matter of disgrace or
otherwise, will depend on the causes of our expatriation.
Come forward, sir, in your own name, and state those
causes; let us know your standing, with the occasion and
circumstances of your removal. I will then do the like;
and the public may decide how far you are entitled to
reproach vie, as an exile.
"You represent me as deficient in due returns for polite-
ness received. In what, sir, have I been wanting on that
score, in regard to yourself or any other, to justify 'the
imputation that I am void of gratitude and every virtue.^
In making a solemn appeal to my fellow-citizens against
measures and principles pregnant with calamity, I have
performed a duty to my adopted country; and \ subscribe
my name, that they might judge of my sincerity from the
stake I hold, in common with themselves, in the prosperity
of the State. You have availed yourself of this, to direct
your attacks against my character; thus betraying the
weakness of your cause. The falsehood of your state-
ment respecting the proceedings of the conventionists, has
been exposed by others, which relieves me from that task,
and yourself from farther notice. M. BiRKBECK.
" Wanborough, Feb. 18, 182^."
These are specimens of the many communications on
this subject from our Settlement; and I believe there is no
record of any pro-slavery document from our Settlement
or County.
The day of election came; and thus stood our vote for
congressmen and convention:
246 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
• Election, August 2, 1824.
Albion. Ball-Hill Prairie. Total.
207 280 487
r- ^ ( Cook,
For Congress: \ ^^.
( Bond, - - 89 14 103=384
No Convention, - - - - I53 237 390
Convention, ----- I35 54 189=201
It will be seen that the vote of our Settlement was more
nearly divided than might have been supposed. This may
be accounted for, in part, from the larger number of poor
Southern-settlers in the western precinct, who were acted
upon by the clerk of the court, Jesse B. Browne, and the
sheriff, Henry J. Mills, both pro-slavery men.
The slavery committees were active and unscrupulous in
their endeavors to obtain a majority in our precinct. They
were in the streets and in the grog-shops electioneering
with the greatest blackguards in the county. We were
not sufficiently alive to the weight of this species of influ-
ence. Our mode of operation was different; we spoke our
sentiments freely and gave them publicity through the
press. And there we let the matter rest. Whatever influ-
ence our opinions might have was felt more at a distance
than at home. Cook, the congressman, received 384 votes
majority; and the no-convention ticket 201. The elec-
tion was conducted without violence, although each party
went into it with feelings fully charged with political and
personal hostility. The* backwoodsmen were told to vote
against the damned British, who fought with the Indians
against them during the war, and were no better than they.
We — that is a few of us— that took a deep interest and an
active part in the contest, looked on our opponents as
MR. BIRKBECK APPOINTED SECRETARY-OF-STATE. 247
Tories, traitors to the liberties of their own country, and
enemies to mankind. The pohtical contest over, the
bitterness long remained.
The acquaintance and friendship in England between
Mr. Coles and Mr. Birkbeck induced Mr. Coles to appoint
Mr. Birkbeck his secretary -of- state. A better appoint-
ment could not have been made. The office, before his
appointment, was in a state of great disorder and confu-
sion; during his brief career in office it was reduced to
perfect order and arrangement. Governor Duncan said to
a friend of mine: 'T came to Vandalia with every prejudice
against Mr. Birkbeck as secretary- of-state. But when I
entered the office and saw the order and arrangement,
especially when contrasted with the previous confusion, my
opinion was completely changed." From what has been
seen of the legislature, and the one object that the slave-
party had in view, it is quite apparent that on no condition
would they endure Mr. Birkbeck as secretary-of-state.
Mr. Coles has been censured for abandoning Mr. Birk-
beck too hastily; but the two after-nominations that he
made, rejected also by the senate as soon as made, shows
clearly that they had selected their man, and would have
no other. Their after-conduct showed them to be perfectly
unscrupulous in attaining their end. Considering the
circumstances of menace and intimidation by which he
was surrounded — an infuriated mob led on by two Demo-
cratic Judges, yelling and vociferating under his windows —
■"convention or death" — his position was embarassing. At
Edwardsville, whilst he was there a short time before the
assembling of the legislature, the same means were
248 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
resorted to, with the additional insult of burning and
hangincT him in effigy. Governor Coles, I think, should
receive due credit for maintaining as well as he did the
side of freedom, when surrounded by insult, opposition,
and threatened assassination, rather than censure for par-
tially yielding, in a doubtful point of constitutional power
under his difficult and dangerous position.
To show that I have in no way exaggerated the nature
or degree of opposition exhibited against Governor Coles,
the following letter from Governor Coles to Mr. Birkbeck
will show:
"Vandall\, January gth, 182^.
''Dear Sir: — I had the pleasure to receive, in due course
of mail, your letter of the sixth ult., together with six of
your pamphlets which you were so good as to send me, for
which I return you my thanks. I had previously seen
republished in a newspaper your pamphlet, and had read
it with great pleasure. I could not but wish that every
conventionist in the State had it, and was compelled to
read it with attention. Our society at Edwardsville in-
tends having another large edition of it printed, for the
purpose of having it extensively circulated. I took the
liberty of sending one or two of your pamphlets to some
distant and particular friends, who take a deep interest in
the slave-question in this State. By the by, should not
the review of your pamphlet, which appeared first in the
Illinois Gazette, and since republished in all of the con-
vention papers of the State, be noticed.' It is very
ingeniously written; but what more particularly requires
correction are the fabrications and misrepresentation of
GOV. coles' letter to MR. BIRKBECK. 249
facts. One or two of these were hastily noticed and sent
to be inserted last week in the paper published here; but
no paper has since issued from the press.
"During the sitting of the courts, and the sale of the
lands of non-residents for taxes, we had a considerable
number of persons assembled from all parts of the State,
and a pretty good opportunity was afforded of collecting
the public sentiment in relation to the great question that
is now convulsing the State. The friends of a convention
pretend to be pleased; but it was very apparent they were
not; and the more honest and liberal among them ac-
knowledged that they thought their prospect bad. Our
friends, on the other hand, were much pleased, and ren-
dered much more sanguine of success from the information
they received. The friends of slavery were caucusing
nearly every night, and made many arrangements for their
electioneering campaign. Among others, it is said, they
have appointed five persons in each county, with a request
that these five appoint three deputies in each electoral
precinct, for the purpose of diffusing their doctrines, em-
bodying their forces, and acting with the greatest concert
and effect. This is well calculated to bring their strength
to bear in the best possible manner, and should as far as
possible be counteracted. When bad men conspire, good
men should be watchful. The friends of a convention
appear to be more and more bitter and virulent in their
enmity to me, and seem determined not only to injure my
standing with the people, but to break down my pecuniary
resources.
"A suit has been lately instituted at Edwardsville against
250 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
me for the recovery of the sum of two hundred dollars for
each negro emancipated by me and brought to this State.
The suit has been brought under a law pased on the 30th
of March, 18 19, which was not printed or promulgated
until the October following. In the meantime, that is
about the first week in May, my negroes emigrated to and
settled in this State. What is truly farcical in this suit is,
that a poor worthless fellow who has no property and of
course pays no taxes, has been selected to institute it, from
the fear he has of being taxed to support the negroes I
emancipated; when they, who are all young and healthy,
are so prosperous as to possess comfortable livings, and
some of them pay as much as four dollars a year tax on
their property. I should, indeed, my friend, be unfortu-
nate, were I now compelled to pay two hundred dollars for
each of my negroes, big and little, dead and living, (for the
suit goes to this,) after the sacrifices I have made and the
eff"orts to befriend and enable them to live comfortably.
For I not only emancipated all my negroes, which amount-
ed to one-third of the property bequeathed me by my
father, but I removed them out here at an expense of be-
tween five and six hundred dollars, and then gave each
head of a family and all those who had passed the age of
twenty-four, one hundred and sixty acres of land each, and
exerted myself to prevail on them to hold to an honest
and industrious and correct course. This they have done
in a remarkable degree; so much so, with all the preju-
dices against free negroes, there never has been the least
ground for a charge or censure against any one of them.
And now, for the first time in my life, to be sued for what I
GOV. coles' letter continued. 251
thought to be generous and praiseworthy conduct, creates
strange feeHngs; which, however, cease to give me perso-
nal mortification, when I reflect on the character and
motives of those who have instituted the suit.
"Just about the time this suit was instituted I had the
misfortune to lose by fire two-thirds of all the buildings
and enclosures on my farm, together with about two hund-
red apple-trees and many peach-trees, many of each kind
large enough to bear fruit. And, soon after, the State-
house having been consumed by fire, a project was set on
foot to rebuild it by subscription. Luckily, to the plan and
arrangements, I declined subscribing, and proposed others
which I thought would be more for the interest of the
State, of the country, and the town, and which it is now,
by the way, generally admitted to have been the best.
"This, however, was immediately laid hold of by some of
the factious conventionists, who, being aware that the loss
of the State-house would operate to the injury of their
favorite measure, and being anxious to display great solici-
tude for the interests of the people here, and that too as
much as possible at the expense of the anti-conventionists,
busied themselves in misrepresenting my measures and
motives for not subscribing my name to their paper, and,
with the aid of large portions of whisky, contrived to
get up a real Vandalia mob, who vented their spleen
against me in the most noisy and riotous manner nearly all
night for my opposition to a convention, and for my refusal,
as they termed it, to rebuild the State-house.
"All these, and other instances of defamation and perse-
cution, create in my bosom opposite feelings, one of pain
252 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
and the other of pleasure. Pain, to see my fellow-man so
ill-natured and vindictive, merely because I am the friend
of my species, and am opposed to one portion oppressing
another; pleasure, that I should be in a situation that
enables me to render service to the just and good cause in
which we are engaged; and, so far from repining at their
indignities and persecutions, I am thankful to Providence
for placing me in the van of this eventful contest, and
giving me a temper, zeal, and resolution which I trust will
enable me to bear with a proper fortitude the peltings
which are inseparable from it. In conclusion, I pray you
to do me the justice to believe that no dread of personal
consequences will ever abate my efforts to promote the
good of the public, much less to abandon the great funda-
mental principles of civil and personal liberty; and to be
assured of my sincere friendship.
Edward Coles."
Having made mention of the unscrupulous conduct of
many southern Illinoians, in their intrigues with the legis-
lature at Vandalia, candor obliges me to acknowledge a
class of honorable exceptions in the ranks of the conven-
tionists. Although in favor of the convention, and no
doubt at that time in favor of the introduction of slavery
into the State, they acted with their party in a legitimate
way, casting their votes in favor, but participating in no
way with the disgraceful mobs, and more disgraceful acts
with the legislature, led on by the party of whom Willis
Hargrave, Esq., was the representative. Among these
exceptions I record with pleasure the names of our two
Judges, Hon. Wm. Wilson, and his associate, Judge Thomas
THE CLOVEN -FOOT EXPOSED. 253
C. Browne — the former of Carmi, White County, the latter
of Shawneetown, Gallatin County. Their quiet and dig-
nified conduct at Vandalia was appreciated and remarked
on to me by Governor Coles as strikingly contrasting with
the disgraceful position the other two judges had assumed
as leaders of a drunken mob, yelling "convention or
death," under the windows of the chief-executive officer of
the State, to endeavor by intimidation to gain his compli-
ance with their infamous conspiracy against the liberties of
the people. I lamented to differ with many worthy friends,
men of influence and standing, in our part of the country;
many of whom have since with manly frankness acknow-
ledged their error.
. If any doubts remain as to the intention of the conven-
tion, the following editorial remarks from the Shaunicetoiv/i
Gazette, June 14, 1823, must dispel them:
#"The Convention.
"The vote of the 'last Legislature, recommending the
call of a new convention, seems to have produced a good
deal of excitement in the western part of the State, and
to have called forth already some pretty warm discussion.
In this quarter, as yet, we have heard but little said on
the subject, owing probably to the great degree of una-
nimity which prevails in favor of the measure. The
people in this part of the State (in this and the adjoining
counties particularly) have too great an interest at stake
in keeping up the manufacture of salt at the saline, to be
easily diverted from the course they intend to pursue, by
making the question turn upon the propriety or impropri-
ety of introducing negro slavery. They are persuaded
2 54 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
that, unless the time can be enlarged, during which the
slaves of the neighboring states can be hired to labor at
the furnaces, the works, after the year 1824, must be
abandoned, and this main source of revenue to the State
be lost; besides all the advantages which they individu-
ally derive from the market, which, when in operation,
those works create. The people in this part, also, in
common with others in all parts of the State, desire an
amendment of the constitution in other particulars where-
in it has been found defective, and many (we are far frt)m
concealing it) are in favor of the introduction of slavery,
either absolute, as it exists at present in the slave-holding
states, or in a limited degree — that is to say, to exist un-
til the children born after its admission shall arrive at a
certain age, to be fixed by the constitution."
This, I think, tells the whole story. It will be seen
during the slavery controversy that Mr. Birkbeck was
assailed as a Quaker; as by the land-speculators and the
enemies of the Settlement in the East he had been charged
as an infidel. By these gentry, any epithet that was un-
popular it was considered fair to throw at an opponent.
In one short year from this time Mr. Birkbeck was no
more. His sudden death altered the intentions and
changed the destiny of his famil}'. To Mr. William
McClure of New Harmony, Mr. Birkbeck's library, con-
sistinir of man\- hundred volumes of choice books, was
sold. And, I believe, through the influence and introduc-
tion of Mr. McClure, the two brothers Bradford and
Charles Birkbeck went to Mexico to trj- their fortunes.
They have succeeded — Bradford as a miner at Zacatecas;
DROWNING OF MR. BIRKBECK. 255
Charles, four hundred miles distant from his brother, as an
agriculturalist. Although the general manner of Mr. Birk-
beck's death is well known to me, the minute circumstances
attending that sad event being recorded in the journal of
Mr. Hall, I make from it the following extract: "June 4th,
1825, Mr. Birkbeck w^ent to Harmony, and took a packet
of letters for us to Mr. Owen, who, being on the eve of his
departure to England, had kindly promised me to deliver
them. On his return, on Friday, happened the melancholy
catastrophe of Mr. Birkbeck's death, who was drowned in
Fox River on his return from Harmony. On his crossing
at Fox River with his third son, Bradford, they found the
flat on which they expected to be carried over had been
taken away. They entered the water with their horses
with the intention of swimming over. Bradford's horse
plunged and threw him in the water. Being a good swim-
mer, he, although encumbered with a great-coat, and very
weak from recent illness, had nearly reached the opposite
shore, when he heard his father's voice calling for assist-
ance; and turning himself round he saw him struggling
in the middle of the stream, and returned to his assistance.
Upon reaching him his father caught hold of him and they
both sunk together. Upon rising he desired his father to
take hold of his coat in another place, which he did, and
both sunk again. But this time Bradford alone arose.
Throwing himself upon his back, he floated, and, quite
exhausted, reached the bank; when, after some time, his
cries brought a person to his assistance, w^ho. endeavored
to recover the body of his father. But in vain. It was
not found until the day following, when it was brought up
256 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
with an umbrella firmly grasped in his right hand. Mr.
Birkbeck's horse was also drowned, but Bradford's got over
safely. The body of Mr. Birkbeck was taken to Harmony
and there interred with every mark of affection and re-
spect. So perished Morris Birkbeck, in the sixty-second
year of his age."
Whatever may be thought of Mr. Birkbeck, by those
who would square every man's opinion by their own; the
inhabitants of the State of Illinois, if for nothing else,
should hold his memory in respect and gratitude for the
decided part he took against the introduction of slavery, in
his letters of "Jonathan Freeman."
CHAPTER XI.
Interest in' the Convention Question— Difference between Slaves and
Servants — Asperity and Bitterness of the Contest — The English
Spoke their Minds Freely — Estrangement of Friends— The Eng-
lish Settlement Persecuted — Outrages on Colored Men — Lawsuit
in Albion — Threatening Letters from Kidnapers — Negroes Kid-
naped in Illinois and Indiana — The \Vhite-River Desperadoes —
Their Arrest — Persecution of the Colored Men in the English
Settlement — Mr. Flower sends a Colony to Hayti — Account of
Difficulties Encountered — The Colony a Success in Hayti — The
Settlement the Object of Detraction and Misref)resentation — The
Fate attending Discoverers of New Countries and Founders of
Colonies — Illustrated in the Case of William Penn — Treatment
of Mr. Flower— The Cause of It.
It was no wonder that we felt deep interest and mani-
fested much excitement on the convention question. We
had chosen, as we thought, one of the freest governments
in the world, and one of the freest states in the Union,
because it was new and free, for our future residence. We
had brought to it our property and our families, and to be
there betrayed into the jaws of Slavery, excited our indig-
nation and determined opposition. But, says the slave-
holder, you bring your servants, why may not we bring
ours.^ Because you have no servants to bring; you have
only slaves. The term servant designates one of the parties
to a free contract. The master has no more legal power
over the servant, in England or America, than the servant
has over tlie master. But you have stolen our term and
17
258 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
applied it to your slaves. Servants in the South there can
be none, as long as the poor, degraded negro slave stands
in the way. Keep to the proper designation, and call them
not your servants, but your slaves. A slave, although in
human form, is a being despoiled of all the rights of
humanity; purposely kept in ignorance, driven by the lash,
or the fear of it, to his work, for which his master gives him
no pay. An unfortunate wretch, from whom all the good
to which his nature aspires is withheld; steeped in all that
is vicious and depraved. This is a slave; the man made
brute. To this poor, degraded being is the slave-holder
obliged to entrust his property, his domestic animals, and
his children. We desire not that compound of society
found in a slave-state, a degenerate European aristocracy,
and a full-blooded African barbarism! Besides, we ac-
knowledge no propert}' in man; with principles and prac-
tices so opposite, there can be no peace; let us therefore
keep apart.
Under every form of government, even the most despotic,
where property in man is disavowed, there may and do
exist a variety of ties, both political and social; not sev-
ered by any line of distinct demarkation. They may have
family connections, and many other interests in common.
The rich are frequently brought to poverty, and the poor
often become rich. These classes are not naturally hostile
to each other; for they have a common interest; friends in
. peace and companions in war. But in a nation composed
of free and slave, there is no society. One portion of the
people is separated from the other by an impassible gulf.
The laws made by one class are known to the other only
INFLUENCE OF THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT. 259
by their seventy. Whatever this may be, it is no repubhc.
Give to this tyrannical confederacy some proper name.
The contest through which we had passed was carried on
by that degree of asperity and bitterness which must ever
be felt, where principles and practices are so opposite as
freedom and slavery. We spoke our minds freely, perhaps
rashly, as Englishmen are apt to do, and this, doubtless,
gave to many persons offence, which our silent vote might
not have done. Many families and friends were separated
and estranged from each other; and individuals who had
hitherto met in easy social acquaintance, found avoidance
less disagreeable than meeting. I look back to the part
we took in that contest with some pleasure, and with some
pride. It may be too much to say that our Settlement
decided the fate of the State in favor of freedom; when
other settlements and small communities were exerting
themselves as heroically,, and as well. But when we con-
sider the small majority by which this Free-state held to its
integrity, it may perhaps be inferred that, if our influence,
as well as our votes, had been cast the other way, Illinois
would probably have been at this day a slave-state. This
important election over, the people, once more in quietude,
pursued their accustomed vocations.
The negro question, having been settled by the State-vote
governmentally, came upon us individually in no pleasant
way. In these bickerings and disturbances, whether polit-
ical or personal, we should always bear in mind the differ-
ence of feeling that exists between Englishmen and Amer-
icans, toward the African race. Englishmen, never having
witnessed in their own country suffering, destitution, and
260 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
degradation connected exclusively with any peculiarity of
complexion, have no feeling of superiority or inferiority as
connected with a cuticle of any color. Americans, on the
contrary, North as well as South, retain the old colonial
feeling of hatred to color. In our own neighborhood, the
recent contest left the feelings sore. A grudge was owed
to us; we had pitilessly exposed and zealously fought the
pro-slavery party.
Three black men and their families — Gilbert Burris,
Neptune Calvin, and Matthew Luther — came from the
neighborhood of Carmi, for employment. They appeared
to be very decent men, had been brought up in the habits
of industry and sobriety by the Shakers, by whom they
were emancipated and brought to this State. Their papers
were examined, found to be regular, and were recorded.
Luther was a miller, and attended the mill in Albion,
that was built by my father, and after his death owned by
me. The other two were farmers, and right good corn-
farmers, too. To these I rented land on the usual terms
of ten bushels of corn to the acre. To us it made no
difference, black or white; if they did our work we paid
them their wages. Whenever they or their little property
received injury from wilful theft or violence, I gave them
protection. I soon found this in some sort to be an offence ;
and to my surprise, by some Eastern men as well as South-
ern. We were verdant in those days, and did not know
that " black men had no rights that white men need
respect." A black man named Arthur, who had been in
my service for more than a year, was suddenly arrested
and taken before a magistrate, a New Englander, and
KIDNAPPING — POOR MOSES MICHAELS. 26 1
claimed as a slave. As he came from Indiana, where he
had resided many years, I pleaded that he could not be a
slave — the laws of the Territory and the State alike forbid-
ding slavery. They claimed to hold him by an indenture-
law for ninety-nine years. I pleaded the nullity of the
law. Our poor magistrate, Moses Michaels, who never
dared say " boo to a goose," after spending half a day and
goine over to another magistrate three miles off to consult,
did not give the black man up, but put me in unreasonably
heavy bonds of two thousand dollars for his appearance at
the next county-court, to be held at Palmyra, the then
county-seat, on the great Wabash, nineteen miles and five
months of time distant.
Long before the assembling of the court, parties were
sent over from Indiana to steal the man away, that I might
be mulcted in the penalty of the bond ; whilst they might
run him off and pocket his price when sold as a slave.
The interval between the decision of the magistrate and
the meeting of the county-court was spent in constant
watchfulness, mental disturbance, and frequent skirmishes,
often imperiling life. The man, Arthur, appeared duly at
court. John McLean of Shawneetown, was counsel for
plaintiff; Judge McDonald of Vincennes, forme, as defend-
ant. The counsel conferred together. McDonald exhibited
a decision of the supreme court of Indiana in a similar
case. John McLean was too good a lawyer, and too
shrewd a man, to allow any case to come into court where
the law was dead against him. So the case was never
called, and the man returned to my service as a free man.
So this case was terminated in Illinois, that is to say, after
I had paid my counsel his fifty-dollar fee.
262 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
When at Vincennes some months afterward, I was served
with a writ and arrested by the sherifif, at the instance of
the claimant of Arthur. I had to choose between going
to jail and giving bond. The latter was easily effected.
Before the meeting of the Indiana court, I received several
threatening letters to deter me from appearing at court.
When the time arrived three friends accompanied me there,
all armed. The law was again in my favor. But an enemy
more mighty than the kidnapper fell upon us. A terrible
epidemic, resembling the yellow-fever, prevailed at this
time at Vincennes. We were all four of us taken down
with it, and lay long in a precarious situation between life
and death.
Another case of this kind from Indiana produced another
set of tactics on the part of our opponents. A man of
color was working for me. His pretended claimant, with
suitable associates, suddenly surrounded the cabin of the
black, and had him bound before the alarm at my house, a
short distance away, was given. In this case the kidnap-
pers gained their point, taking him before a magistrate of
pro-slavery tendencies. He gave the man up to the
claimant, who took him into Indiana, and the man was
never heard of afterward. I presented the claimant, a man
of note and in official station, to the grand -jury. Whilst
stating the case, one of the jurymen called out with some
excitement, that the man was quite right in taking the
negro. The foreman of the jury said, "Sir, you only came
to present the facts, and in so doing are quite right." In
turning to leave the room, I saw at once the case was de-
cided, and so it was. The bill was refused. The majority
of the jury were decidedly pro-slavery.
THE "WHITE-RIVER INDIANS." 263
My presentation to the grand-jury gave great umbrage
to all in Indiana who held black men properly entitled to
their freedom, under their fraudulent indenture-law, which
had already been decided by their supreme court to be
null, void, and of no effect.
Kidnapping of whole families of free blacks in the south
of Indiana was no uncommon thing. The moral sense of
the community received no shock at such outrages. A
horse-thief was held to stricter accountability than a man-
thief The south of Indiana, like the south of Illinois, is
chiefly peopled by Southerners, who hold property in higher
esteem than liberty.
In the timbered regions of Indiana, on the White River,
hved a set of desperadoes who had the appellation of
"White-River Indians." Among these were a family sunk
low in barbarism, and all the grosser vices. The sons of
this family, three in number, associated with one or two
others more respectable, but who would not at that period
decline a foray on the pro-slavery side, were sent over to
molest us, especially me and my family, even to the taking
of life. Yet these wretches found harbor and encourage-
ment among the Southern settlers around us.
Suddenly alarmed by the sound of human voices, the
barking of dogs, and the report of fire-arms, I ran over to
my father's house a little before midnight. An Englishman,
Thomas Harding, who lived at my father's as farm-servant,
having occasion to step out of the house, was knocked down
by the blow of a club on the back of his head, by some
man who stood concealed in the shadow, close to the wall
of the house. My father, alarmed by the noise, went out.
264 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
saw one man retreating from the court-yard into the
woods, and another lying bleeding on the ground, appar-
ently lifeless. He dragged the wounded man into the
house and closed the door. At first we thought it an
attempt at house-breaking. But finding who the parties
were, and their object, we assembled our forces. Many
shots were exchanged, and the marauders for a time driven
off. The annoyance from these fellows became so great,
that we determined to rid ourselves of them at all hazards.
Myself, Mr. Hugh Ronalds, Mr. Henry Birkett, together
with a constable, mounted and went in pursuit. We over-
took them after a hard gallop on a hot summer's day, in
the open woods, ten miles distant. We were equal in
number, man for man. They with rifles, we with pistols.
Whilst the constable was reading his warrant, we rode up,
got within the rifle-guard, and presented our pistols,
each to his man. At this juncture, a very ill-looking fel-
low, one of the gang, suddenly rode up at full speed. This
gave them the advantage of one in number, of which the
last comer instantly availed himself, by jumping from his
horse and leveling his rifle at Mr. Ronalds, whom he doubt-
less would have shot had not the man I was guarding as
suddenly leaped from his horse and knocked up the rifle,
when in the act of being discharged.
Many other things of the same character occurred. It
was a state of warfare of the most disagreeable kind. They
were taken back to Albion and bound over.
A circumstance inexpressibly ludicrous occurred in the
midst of the strife. Amid oaths, boastings, refusals to sur-
render or return, when every one was meditating murder
A COLONY FOR HAYTI. 265
on the other, our Yankee constable brought forward a
quart bottle of whisky, with a deprecatory smile and good-
humored voice — "Now, boys, come and take a drink; now
come along with us quiet, and we'll treat you like gentle-
men." The effect was sudden; the transition of feeling
complete. We all laughed, and did as our worthy
constable bade us — at least, all out* prisoners did. We
returned to Albion riding in pairs, with our arms in our
hands. There never was a slave taken in our neighbor-
hood, and I believe that there never was more than one
that came to it.
These, and similar outrages on ourselves, and assaults on
the peaceable blacks settled among us, were of frequent
occurrence. Seeing no hope of just treatment to the free
colored people that lived on my lands, or of relieving my-
self from the trouble of defending them, I proposed that
they should go to Hayti. When they acceded to my pro-
posal, I thought it due to them and myself to acquire more
specific information of the island, and of the terms on
which they would be received. For this purpose, I em-
ployed Mr. Robert Grayham (formerly an English mer-
chant), a gentleman who spoke the French language with
fluency. He was at the time living with his brother-in-
law, Mr. Sorgenfrey, in a prairie west of the Little Wabash.
Their former habits not suiting them to prairie life, Mr. Sor-
genfrey went to Carmi, and Mr. Grayham took this mission
as a first step to a future change. I gave him five hundred
dollars to bear his expenses, with a letter to Gen. Boyer,
then president of Hayti, representing the case, and asking
an asylum for my party of blacks, big and little, about
266 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
thirty in number; also for other free people of color of the
United States, if they chose to go there. Mr. Grayham
returned in good time. He gave me a very pleasing
account of his visit to the island, his interview with Ingi-
nac, the secretary, and with Boyer, the president.
When Boyer heard from Mr. Grayham that I had given
five hundred dollars to get this information for the poor
blacks, he, in the handsomest manner, handed him the
amount, requesting him to give it to me, which he did on
his return. The document he sent me in reply to my long
letter, and many inquiries, was an official one, from the
office of the secretary-of-state, stamped with the insignia
of the republic, with national mottoes and devices. For
propriety and perspicuity of diction, and for the neatness
and beauty of its mechanical execution, it will favorably
compare with similar documents from any government,
whether European or American.
The followmg spring, the colored emigrants prepared to
take their departure. Among them were three brothers,
men of extraordinary stature, standing six feet four, and
over. This family of Joneses, able-bodied men and good
farmers, with two or three other colored families, formerly
lived higher up the Wabash, and were mustered into the
service of the United States by Gen. Harrison, who formed
a colored company to aid in defending the frontier during
the war in 1812. Provided with a good flat-boat, stocked
with sufficient provisions for their inland navigation and
sea voyage, well furnished with axes, hoes, and plows, this
party of colored people left the mouth of Bonpas Creek,
where Grayville now stands, in March, 1823, under the
THE COLONISTS ORGANIZED. 267
guidance and care of Mr. Robert Grayham, the only white
man on board.
The testimonials of their freedom were complete; signed
by the clerk of the county, the secretary-of-state, and by
Governor Coles himself. They floated down the Wabash,
and entered the Ohio in safety. As they were floating
quietly and peaceably down the stream, when opposite
to Shawneetown they were hailed, and invited to land,
which Mr. Grayham acceded to, having many acquaint-
ances, and being well known in the town. When about to
depart, he was compelled to remain, with threats of sinking
his boat if he made the attempt to go. He and the peo-
ple were forcibly detained for four and twenty hours.
They were at length sufi"ered to depart, amid much confu-
sion and violent denunciations. Of the peaceable demeanor
and lawful objects of the emigrants, there was no question.
By a strange inconsistency, the very people who profess
to dislike the existence of free blacks among us, were the
most bitter opponents to their removal.
At the expense of slight repetition, I will insert a letter
addressed by me to the editor of the Shazuncctoivn Gazete,
dated Jan. 22, 1824:
"J/r. Editor: — It will be gratifying to the friends ot
humanity to learn, that the party of colored people that
left the Wabash last March, arrived safely in the island of
Hayti on the 8th of June. To those good people of Shaw-
neetown, and others who have expressed apprehensions
that Mr. Flower and Mr. Grayham had sold these poor
blacks, it will doubtless be a high source of satisfaction to
hear that upon their arrival at Hayti, they were welcomed
268 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
by the people and kindly received by the president, who
put them on a good plantation, about twenty miles from
the capital. To remove erroneous impressions arising
from false reports concerning this party of blacks, I will
give a brief history of their emigration. A few families of
colored people, living on my land as tenants, wished to go
to some country where their liberty and property would be
better secured to them than in this. Some of them made
application to the African Colonization Society; but, re-
ceiving no encouragement or assistance, gave up the plan.
I recommended St. Domingo as a country better suited to
them, and one to which they could transport themselves
with ease. Particular information being wanted, I sent
Mr. Robert Grayham to Hayti, to learn the expense and
difficulties of the voyage, the state of the country, and
what encouragement would be given to black emigrants
from the United States. He returned in October, 1822,
with the requisite information. The answer of the gov-
ernment of Hayti to my inquiries was published in your
paper. In March, 1823, a party of colored people, about
thirty in number, left the Wabash in a boat of their own,
with some freight put on board by myself and others,
under the care of Mr. Robert Grayham, who was to conduct
the boat to New Orleans, and see the people on board a
vessel for Port au Prince. The boat stopped at Shawnee-
town for a few hours. Mr. Grayham, having dispatched his
business there, was in the act of departing, w^hen a mob
assembled on the shore and ordered him to come-to again,
accompanied by a threat of sinking the boat, in case of
noncompliance. The boat was again brought to shore. On
OUTRAGES ON COLONISTS AT NEW ORLEANS. 269
Mr. Grayham's inquiring what they wanted, these officious
people were somewhat at a loss. They wanted him to
sleep on shore! To this unreasonable request he complied,
on condition that a friend should sleep on board for the
protection of property. The next day he departed. Upon
his arrival at New Orleans, Mr. Grayham, as a matter of
courtesy, waited upon the mayor, and informed him that
his boat was manned by free colored people from Illinois
and Indiana, who were going, with their families to Hayti.
This official immediately replied that he would send them
all to jail; and, if they were not sent out of the city in
eight days, he would sell them all for slaves. The remon-
strances of Mr. Grayham against such violent aggression
upon the persons of free inhabitants of the United States,
passing to a foreign country, was to no effect. The men ,
were thrown into prison. But at the intercession of a
humane friend, Mr. Gilbert, the women and children were
permitted to remain on board their own boat; also two
men, for whose appearance and good behavior this friend
gave a bond. Mr. Grayham, placed in this unpleasant situ-
ation, hastily took a passage in a vessel about to sail in
three days for St. Domingo. The poor men, deprived of
the means of earning anything on the wharves, and more
than all they had demanded of them for jail-fees, etc., were
unable to pay their passage money, and would actually
have been sold as slaves by the mayor of New Orleans,
had not Mr. Grayham promptly drawn on me for the neces-
sary funds — three hundred and sixty dollars — to carry them
out of the country. Thus were the free inhabitants of the
United States, while peaceably pursuing their way to a
2/0 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
neighboring country, without fault or crime imputed or
alleged against them, threatened with the doom of slavery,
if they did not submit to the extortion of their money
under the title of jail-fees, by the chief- magistrate of a
city of this Republic, boasting the inalienable and inherent
rights of man, and vaunting itself as the most enlightened
nation of the earth.
"With what indignation will all those good people view
the conduct of the mayor of New Orleans, who could not
help expressing their apprehensions lest Mr. Flower and
Mr. Grayham should have sold these blacks.
"Albion, Jan. 22, 1824.. George Flower."
The mayor of New Orleans was a refugee from Hayti,
which accounts, in some degree, for the unusual violence
he displayed on the occasion. But anxieties were not yet
at an end. The brig, often becalmed, was long on its
passage.
In the meantime, many sinister reports began to be
spread about, and afterward more openly circulated, that
Mr. Grayham and myself had enveigled the black men,
and, under pretence of sending them to a land of liberty,
had' sold them all for slaves in the South. The return of
Mr. Grayham, some months afterward, with a stock of
goods to open a store, in the eyes of many confirmed the
report. It was several months (and I confess to some
anxiety during the time) before I could confute these slan-
ders by the publication of any letters, either from Mr-
Grayham or the colored emigrants. They came, at last,
from both sources — from the poor people, rejoicing in their
THE COLONISTS SETTLED IN HAYTI. 27 1
change of country, and thanking me for my assistance in
eettino" them there.
A He once widely spread is seldom entirely eradicated.
There are probably now living, those who believe that
George Flower sold the free colored people, and pocketed
the money; but only, I am happy to say, among that
class who would have no scruple in doing it themselves.
The emigration of this small colony of blacks from Illi-
nois produced movements of greater importance than w(^re
involved in their own personal destinies. So well pleased
were the rulers of Hayti with the efficient farming, sober
habits, and general industry of the Illinois emigrants, that
they conceived the idea of encouraging the free blacks of
the Unites States to emigrate on a much larger scale.
For this purpose, the Haytian Government sent their citi-
zen Granville, a well-informed and well-educated man, on
a mission to encourage the emigration of free people-of-
color, and offered fourteen dollars a head as passage money
to Hayti.
His mission was successful so far as numbers were con-
cerned. Five thousand or more went, chiefly from the
cities of New York and Baltimore. The influential citi-
zens of Philadelphia took a different view of the emigration
of their free-colored population to Hayti, and decidedly
gave it discouragement. As the question may again arise
in this State, the reasons that influenced the Philadelphians
should be duly appreciated. I therefore give the following
letter which I received at the time :
''Dear Sir: — You will have learned by the public prints
that Citizen Granville arrived some weeks since from
2/2 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTV.
Hayti, for the purpose of encouraging emigration of free
people -of -color to that country. He was accompanied
from New York by Professor Griscom, who was very san-
guine that a society for promoting this object would be
desirable here, as well as at New York. A meeting was
held a few days since with ten or a dozen of our influential
characters, and a full development of the subject was
discussed; the result of which was unanimously against
promoting the views of Granville. Among other objec-
tions, he admitted, that the government was a military
despotism; that the land proposed to be allotted to emi-
grants was to each one fifteen acres; that these lands are
still claimed by the Spanish authorities, and may still be a
source of much contention; that the prevalent religion is
the Roman Catholic; and that with industry a laborer
would not earn more than two dollars a week. The citi-
zens of Philadelphia are by no means likely to promote
the emigration to Hayti while those of New York are
engaged in the object, and now about dispatching a vessel
with passengers. Very respectfully,
"Jeremiah Warden.
''August 1 8th, 182^:'
But these city-bred Africans were not farmers, like the
Illinois men. Barbers, waiters, and a large portion of
them found in the lower strata of city life, afforded poor
materials for any beneficial purpose, and the removal of
most of them was a disappointment to themselves and to
the Haytian Government.
This event, well known at the time, occurred in 1824 or
1825, and is doubtless recollected by many persons now
DISCOVERERS AND FIRST-FOUNDERS. 2/3
living. As the convention question, and the contests about
the rights of the free blacks, formed two prominent points
in our early history, I have dwelt more fully upon these
details. Thus ends the black chapter ©f our history. But
ill-feelings engendered during the contest manifested them-
selves in other forms, and for some time continued to
■disturb and distract us.
There are certain classes of men who appear destined to
receive sometime in their life, and oftentimes during their
whole career, a large share of opposition, detraction, and
misrepresentation. The inventors of new machines, whose
labor-saving power benefits* the whole family of man,
receive cruel opposition in their first attempts to perfect
their inventions and bring them to the notice of the pub-
lic. Scorn, contempt, and ridicule are poured upon them
during their lives, and after dying in their fruitless strug-
gles, some one steps in and reaps the reward of their labor,
and disingenuously claims the honor of the invention.
Fitch and Fulton, of the steam-boat, and Whitney, inven-
tor of the cotton-gin, are familiar instances of this class in
America. Discoverers of new countries, whose penetra-
tion and perseverance have carried their attempts to a
successful issue, and whose toils have changed and im-
proved the condition of the world, are subject to the same
fate. Witness Columbus pursuing his great idea, with
slender and apparently inadequate means, through scorn,
neglect, and opposition, t® a successful issue, after short
eclat, in a dungeon and in chains. The first-founders of
settlements in new or uninhabited countries, seldom fail of
receiving a large share of opposition, detraction, and pecu-
i8
274 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
niary loss. The most remarkable instance of this kind is
to be witnessed in the life and fortunes of the founder of
the great State of Pennsylvania, William Penn. Under
ill-luck and miscarriage the world seldom fails to visit on
the leaders of any great enterprise, reproach and condem-
nation. But in the settlement of Pennsylvania a combina-
tion of happy circumstances led to complete success. The
munificence of the grant! The whole province of Penn-*
sylvania given in fee-simple to its founder; its advantageous
situation on the sea-board; the peculiar state of the mother
country, sending forth emigrants in number, and many of
worth and character; the talent and integrity of its founder;
his ample fortune and life-long devotion to the interests of
the province; a combination of fortunate circumstances
rarely, if ever, witnessed in any other similar enterprise,
did not save the illustrious founder from the fate of men
in his position. Pursued during his whole life by falsehood
and defamation, we find him at its close in debt, compelled
to mortgage the whole province for five thousand pounds,
himself confined to the limits of the Fleet prison, and in
that humiliating situation would have died, without one
friendly voice or helping-hand from the great province he
had successfully established, but for the assistance of some
individuals of his own religious persuasion in England.
For facts so conspicuous the reasons seem rather obscure.
Is it some great law of compensation that runs through all
things, balancing advantage with disadvantage.^ pleasure
with pain ? As the old poet has it,
"Every white must have its black
And every sweet its sour."
LOCAL HOSTILITY TO MR. FLOWER. 2/5
Or is it to be found in the universal but unextinguishable
propensity in every human breast; the love of giving
pain; ethics, morals, and religion notwithstanding?
There is a mysterious antagonism in the order of nature,
running through all life, vegetable and animal. Every
plant as well as animal has its own peculiar enemy, perse-
cutor, and destroyer. But man is the chief enemy of man.
Let no man think to pass through this life without his
share of annoyances, and as in duty bound I had mine.
If he belongs to either of the classes I have mentioned, he
is an imperfect calculator, who does not sum up a con-
siderable share to his own account. It was about this
time that hostile feelings seemed to culminate against me.
I was assailed by legal proceedings, as well as other annoy-
ances, in every way that malice and ingenuity could invent.
But the whole of this hostility was local, confined to our
Settlement, and from a portion of my own country peo-
ple. With American gentlemen and their families, far and
near, from my first entrance into the State up to the
present day, my intercourse has been one of unbroken
kindness and courtesy. It is true, I neglected somewhat
that shield of popularity which men of any standing in
our new western country might not at that day with impu-
nity neglect. I rode into our little town most days to
attend to any business, or speak with those to whom I had
anything to say. I did not linger much, or enter grog-
shops, for I used neither whisky nor tobacco, their chief
articles of sale. I did not sympathise in these matters
with the population around me, and this position an enemy
could turn to my disadvantage at any time. A man to be
2/6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
popular in our new western towns and with the country-
people around, should be acquainted with everybody, shake
hands with everybody, and wear an old coat, with at least
one good hole in it. A little whisky and a few squirts of
tobacco-juice are indispensable. From much of the former
you may be excused if you treat liberally to others. If
there is one fool bigger than another, defer to him, make
much of him. If there is one fellow a little more greasy
and dirty than another, be sure to Jiug Jiini. Do all this
and you have done much toward being a popular man-
At least you could scarcely have a jury-case carried against
you. I did not do all this and was therefore at a disad-
vantage against active enemies who did, and who were
leagued against me to drive me and my family from the
Settlement. This period was the only exception to an
unusual happy life of thirty years duration. And thirty
years is a large slice of a man's life.
CHAPTER XII.
Murder of Richard Flower, son of George Flower — Murderer Ac-
quitted — Large Outlays for Food — Relations between New Har-
mony and the English Settlement — Robert Owen Buys Out the
Harmonites — New Harmony under Robert Owen — Men Eminent
in Literature, Science, and Art Flocked Around him — His Doc-
trines Promulgated Spread far and wide — Mr. Owen's Ability as
a Conversationist and His Equanimity of Temper — His Address
to the People of Albion — Rapp's Society at New Harmony.
About this time, a melancholy event occurred in my
family. Myself and father were at Pittsburgh, returning
from the Eastern cities, when the news of the death of
my eldest son was communicated to us by Frederick
Rapp. It was occasioned by violence, and occurred in the
following manner: My eldest son, Richard, then a prom-
ising lad, was living at Park House with his grandmother,
during my own and his grandfather's journey to the East.
Late in the evening, some backwoodsmen of the lowest
description, as they came from Albion, probably full of
whisky, rode by the house, uttered several whoops and
yells, as if in defiance, as they sometimes would do. The
noise they made, induced the dogs to rush out barking.
My son Richard ran out to call off the dogs, which he did.
As he turned round, to walk into the house, one of the
fellows dismounted, and, picking up a large bone, threw it
at the poor lad. It struck him with violence on the back
of his head. He was assisted to bed, from which he
2/8 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
never arose. The scull was crushed and the brain injured.
Notwithstanding all medical assistance and care that was
given him, he died in a few hours. A court was called;
the man tried, and, of course, acquitted.
Large outlays were required for food during the first
three years; and these expenditures fell almost exclusively
upon the heads of the Settlement. These were drawn,
some from Shawneetown and some from Harmony, the
former sixty, the latter twenty-five miles distant. Between
Albion and Shawneetown, for several years, John Morgan's
horse-team and William Harris' ox-team constantly trav-
eled; these brought us groceries and other commodities
from those quarters. But the chief supply of flour, meal,
whisky, woollen and cotton cloths, all the manufacture of
■ the Harmonites came from Harmony. My first bill with
the Harmonites amounted to eleven thousand dollars, and
I afterward paid them many large sums. It is said that,
between the years i8i8 and 1824, the Harmonites received
from our Settlement, one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, in hard cash.
The first herd of thirty head of large cattle were pur-
chased by me for sixteen dollars a-head. The following
spring, my father sent, from Lexington, Ky., sixty fine
steers and a noble bull, of English breed, a large and
hardy animal, that imparted the first improvement to the
neat stock of the country. In this way, the Settlement
was at first supported, until it raised enough to live upon,
and a surplus to spare. The low price of all produce, for
some years, although advantageous to incomers from the
old country, was discouraging to the farmers. With corn
SALE OF NEW HARMONY. 279
at ten and twelve cents a bushel ; pork, two cents ; beef,
one and a-half cents a pound ; hiring labor would not pay ;
and the farmer who worked for himself, could not feel any
adequate money-remuneration.
In 1824, my father was requested, by, Mr. Frederick and
Mr. George Rapp, to act as agent and endeavor to sell, in ■■
England, all the possessions of the Harmonites, on the
Great Wabash, on which between four and five hundred
Germans, of both sexes, had labored and built for the last
nine years, with all the perseverance and method of that
singular and interesting community.
My father undertook the business, and almost immedi-
ately proceeded to England, accompanied by his youngest
son, Edward Fordham Flower, my junior by twenty years,
then a slender stripling youth. My father left him in
England; and there he is now, a wealthy proprietor of
one of the largest breweries in the kingdom, at Stratford-
on-Avon, Warwickshire.
The description and the advertising of the Harmony
property in England, attracted the attention of Mr. Robert
Owen of Lanark, Scotland, who came over, viewed the
property, and became the owner, by purchase, of all the
possessions of the Harmonites, on the Wabash. The
quantity of land sold by Rapp to Owen was thirty-two
thousand acres, and a large portion of it of the best
quality, between two and three thousand acres under
fence and good cultivation. The town of Harmony was
included in the purchase ; and this was no ordinary little
western town. It consisted of several brick and frame
two-story houses, for the use of small families, all built
28o ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
after one model, and with ample gardens, well fenced in,
and neatly cultivated ; and a vast number of log-cabins,
then inhabited and neatly kept. There were also five or
six very large brick -buildings, three stories high, which
contained the community families, of sixty to eighty indi-
viduals each; Rapp's large brick-mansion; a very large
building called the granary, built of the most solid
masonry; and a very large brick -church, itself a curi-
osity, the plan, it was said, being given to Father George
Rapp in a dream. There were four entrances to the
church, each entrance closed by lofty folding-doors; the
doors are opposite, and one hundred and twenty feet
from each other. The upper story is supported by
twenty - eight pillars of walnut, cherry, and sassafras.
The walnut were six feet in circumference and twenty-
five feet high; the others were twenty-one feet high, with
proportionate circumference; a surprisingly large building
for this new country. There was a very large water-mill
at the cut-off, about a mile from town, complete and in
full operation; an oil-mill; the shops of the various trades
— as blacksmiths', wheelwrights', coopers', carpenters', tan-
nery, shoemakers, etc. — all included; with two magnifi-
cent orchards of grafted fruit in full bearing,^ and two
extensive vineyards. The whole land and town for one
hundred and thirty-two thousand dollars. There was an
after purchase — such as the stocks and tools of various
trades, and a considerable amount of live-stock, altogether
amounting to fifty thousand dollars. Thus did the whole
possessions of the German Harmonites change hands; and
what was the property of Rapp and his associates, became
the property of Robert Owen.
RAPP'S COMMUNITY. 28 I
This singular community of Germans had httle or no
communication with the people of the surrounding coun-
try, excepting through the miller, store-keeper, tavern-
keeper, and their secular head, Frederick Rapp, the
adopted son of old George Rapp, their spiritual leader,
and founder of the society. All who went to Harmony,
with surprise, observed with what facility the necessaries
and the comforts of life were acquired and enjoyed by
every member of Rapp's community. When compared
with the privations and discomforts to which individual
settlers were exposed in their backwood's experiences,
the contrast was very striking. The poor hunter that
brought a bushel of corn to be ground, perhaps from a
distance of ten miles, saw, with wonder, the people, as
poor as himself, inhabiting good houses, surrounded by
pleasant gardens, completely clothed in garments of the
best quality, supplied regularly with meal, meat, and fuel,
without any apparent individual exertion. He could not
fail to contrast the comforts and conveniences surround-
ing the dwellings of the Harmonites with the dirt, deso-
lation, and discomforts of his own log-hut. It opened to
his mind a new train of thought. One of them said to
me, in his own simple language, 'T studies and I studies
on it" — an expression that depicts the feelings of every
person that obtained a sight of Rapp's German commu-
nity at Harmony. Rapp — his people and their language
— departed; Mr. Owen, now the sole proprietor of all the
possessions of its former owners, spoke to the people in
a language they could understand.
Nothing could be more opposite than the systems pur-
282 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
sued by the two distinguished leaders, on the same field
of operation. Whatever might be the merits of Rapp's
community, an avoidance of intercourse between the mass
of its members and all outside barbarians was strictly
maintained; and dissimilarity of language presented a
complete bar to prying curiosity from without.
Mr. Owen proposed his plans and gave his lectures and
discourses, not only to those of his own opinions, but to
all that chose to come and hear him. Mr. Owen, who was
very powerful in colloquy, seldom lost an opportunity of
explaining, what was then called, his new system of socie-
ty. Discussion would arise; his system, doctrines, and
their probable consequences were all discussed, fully criti-
cised, and often warmly opposed. Mr. Owen possessed so
steady a temper, that no attack, however violent and per-
sonal, could disturb it. The equanimity of his deportment,
the quiet flow of argument, the steady and unaltered tone
of his voice, I never knew to be ruffled by the most violent
language and the sometimes hasty imputations of his
opponent. Mr. Owen made a short visit to me and to my
father, and took a brief view of our Settlement. During
the evenings large numbers of settlers would call in to see
and converse with him. It was about Christmas time, and
the season was unusually warm and fine. On Christmas
day, 1824, Mr. Owen delivered an extended and extempo-
raneous address to the citizens of Albion, assembled in the
open air on the public-square of the town. For the accom-
modation of the people, chairs and benches were arranged
in a semicircle. These discussions produced some effect,
and some of our citizens went to Harmony, in the hope of
NEW HARMONY UNDER ROBERT OWEN. 283
realizing some portion of the happier future predicted by
Mr. Owen. Some came back, and are prosperous citizens
in the vicinity of Albion ; some remained, and are prosper-
ous citizens of Harmony.
We need not be surprised at the care with which Rapp
tried to keep his community from general intercourse.
Notwithstanding their strong religious bond, it is very
doubtful if Rapp's society could have been kept together
if they had spoken English. During this visit, Mr. Fred-
erick Rapp came to see Mr. Owen, and in my house the
bargain which transferred the property was consummated-
On this occasion, Frederick Rapp was accompanied by
his niece, Gertrude Rapp, then a young lady of some
seventeen years, in the full bloom of health and youthful
beauty, now I believe Miss Rapp is the only representative
of the family of Rapp living at Economy.
Among the endless variety of people that flocked around
Mr. Owen were some eminent in art, literature, and sci-
ence. This gave to Harmony a pre-eminence in character
and attractions to many neighboring towns.
That the material wants of man can be procured in
profusion without anxiety or injurious labor, has been
satisfactorily proved by Rapp's community, by the Shak-
ers, Moravians, and other well-organized communities.
Following this idea, Mr. Owen argued, that if the mentla
powers of man, well trained and developed from his earliest
infancy, were also organized for the public weal, all the
evils existing in our present form of society would vanish,
as completely as destitution and want have vanished from
the communities above named. Whether this happy con-
summation is ever to be attained is yet doubtful.
284 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
Although Mr. Owen failed to make his community, the
doctrines he taught and the opinions he promulgated
spread far and wide. Accepted by some with fervor,
opposed and denounced by more, they nevertheless were
in a fragmentary way accepted by a vast many. This we
saw in after years, when indiscriminate opposition to all
that Mr. Owen said had ceased. The halls of legislation,
the courts of law, and the family government have been
modified and influenced by the opinions promulgated by
Mr. Robert Owen in the early days of his Harmony com-
munity, followed up by the after- efforts of his son, Mr.
Robert Dale Owen, in the State legislature.
A father of a family, a religious man, opposed to most
of Mr. Owen's opinions, said to me: "Well, in one thing I
think he is right — in the treatment of children — and I
shall leave off whipping."
Mr. Owen wished to carry on this first successful step of
Rapp's a step or two farther. He argued, that when peo-
ple were relieved from anxiety and toils, now often endured
by parents in the support of a family, every child might
receive the best education and training. If all the evils
now inflicted on society from want, suffering, neglected
education, and bad training were removed, there could not
be much left to complain of; and there would be no longer
any necessity for enduring that formidable power called
Government — under all its forms a combination of re-
straint, tyranny, and corruption, now found necessary to
suppress, by its superior force of combination, the numer-
ous individual crimes engendered in our present organiza-
tion of society ; that if the community would only go on
RAPP'S SYSTEM — OWEN'S SYSTEM. 285
and apply its powerful combination to supply man's
intellectual wants, as it had already supplied most of his
physical wants, all the great evils of which we complain
would cease.
Rapp appeared to be content in supplying physical
necessities, so far as house, clothing, food, and fuel, and in
checkinsf those moral evils which arise from their want, or
an indiscriminate scramble to obtain them. Other evils he
thought must be endured, and compensation looked for in
another world. There were some in Rapp's society, it was
said, who had higher aspirations. But Rapp was content
with what they had already gained, and discouraged inno-
vation; probably from a fear of losing what they had
already obtained. "In effect," he said, "the plan can not
be improved; be content with what you have got, go on as
you are going on — do yoiL do all the working and / will do
all the praying." As to children, he told them they had
better not have any. Rapp was probably right, to a soci-
ety of such moderate aspirations, and who were so well
schooled in resignation to a certain class of evils. The
plan could not be improved ; it was perfect as far as it
went.
Owen said— "Go on. You have banished many incon-
veniences and evils already, and this should encourage you
to proceed; apply the same power of combination and do
more. Have children, as many as you can bring up, edu-
cate, and properly train. Attend to their health, and make
them strong men; to their intellect, and make them wise
men; to the supplying all their wants, and make them
happy men. You will find that temperance in all gratifi-
286 .ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
cation attains the maximum of enjoyment. Be as happy
as you can here, and the better qualified will you be for
happiness hereafter." So, in effect, said Owen; but his
views were not carried out in the way he desired them to
be. The materials that gathered around him were proba-
bly too dissimilar and heterogeneous to be formed into a
community of any kind.
From Mr. Owens' addresses and publications we learned
his opinions and intentions. We knew the Harmonites
from our dealings at their store, and what we saw in our
frequent visits to the town. In business they were punc-
tual and honest. Industry and order were apparent every-
where.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Emigration to the Settlement Recommences — The Character of
the New Emigrants — The Crackles Brothers — Mr. Joseph Apple-
gath — The Good Farms about Albion — The Courts at Albion —
Attended by Eminent Men — Judge ^A^ilson, Edwin B. Webb,
Col. Wm. H. Davidson, Gen. John M. Robinson, John McLean,
and Henry Eddy— Their Visits to Mr. Flower— "A Good Supper
and a Bowl of Punch" — Dreary Travel to Vandalia — Bear-Meat
and Venison — An Enormous Elk, the Patriarch of the Prairies —
The Wrestling -Match between Indians and W^hite Men — The
Indians "Down" the Pale Faces.
After the check given to emigration, from causes
before mentioned, the tide began to flow again. Individu-
als and famihes were frequently arriving, and occasionally
a party of thirty and forty. A fresh cause induced this
tide of emigration. It arose from the private correspond-
ence of the first poor men who came. Having done well
themselves, and by a few years of hard labor acquired
more wealth than they ever expected to obtain, they wrote
home to friend or relative an account of their success.
These letters handed round in the remote villages of Eng-
land, in which many of them lived, reached individuals in
a class to whom information in a book form was wholly
inaccessible. Each letter had its scores of readers, and,
passing from hand to hand, traversed its scores of miles.
The writer, known at home as a poor man, earning perhaps
a scanty subsistence by his daily labor, telling of the wages
288 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
he received, his bountiful living, of his own farm and the
number of his live-stock, produced a greater impression in
(he limited circle of its readers than a printed publication
had the power of doing. His fellow-laborer who heard
these accounts, and feeling that he was no better off than
when his fellow-laborer left him for America, now exerted
every nerve, to come and do likewise. Among the many
that came, induced by this sort of information, were three
brothers, Thomas, Kelsey, and Joseph Crackles, three
Lincolnshire men — a fine specimen of English farm-labor-
ers, well skilled in every description of farm- labor, and
particularly in the draining of land. They lived with me
for three years after their arrival. They soon got good
farms of their own; or, I should rather say, made good
farms for themselves. I heard an American neighbor
remark, on the first farm they bought, that nobody could
ever raise a crop or get a living from it. It had not been
in their possession two years, before it became noted for its
excellent cultivation and abundant crops. In this way we
have given to Illinois a valuable population, men that are
a great acquisition to the Country. It was observed that
these emigrants who came in the second emigration, from
five to ten years after the first settlement, complained more
of the hardships of the country than those who came first.
These would complain of a leaky roof, or a broken fence,
and all such inconveniences. The first- comers had no
cabins or fences to complain of; with them it was conquer
or die. And thus emigrants came dropping in from year
to year. '
We received a valuable settler in the person of Mr.
JOSEPH APPLEGATH. 289
Joseph Applegath. Mr. Applegath was a bookseller in
London, a man of good education and general informa-
tion. He came out with the intention of joining Mr.
Owen's community at Harmony. That failing, he took
his apprenticeship in country life in our Settlement. He
was a striking instance with what comparative ease a well-
informed and cultivated man can change his occupation
and even his habits of life. From knowing nothing of
farming or country life of any kind, for several years he
followed it energetically and successfully, acquiring the
habit of labor, which in general seems to go so hard with
those unaccustomed to toil. One secret of this was, he
had nothing to unlearn, and no prejudices on that subject
to eradicate. He looked over the fence of his neighbor to
see how he did a piece of work, and copied after him.
In a few years he retired from habitual labor, but not from
active employment; he frequently gave familiar lectures
to young people in Albion, on useful or scientific subjects,
made easy to their comprehension by his simple language
and arrangement.
But it was the class of farm-laborers and small-farmers,
of whom I have before spoken, that furnished the bone
and sinew of the Settlement. Well instructed in all agri-
cultural labor, as plowmen, seedsmen, and drainers of land,
habituated to follow these occupations with continuous
industry, the result was certain success. Their course was
a uniform progress and advance. Many of them without
money, and some in debt for their passage, they at first
hired out at the then usual price of fifty cents a-day with-
out board, and seventy-five cents for hay-time and harvest.
19
290 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
In two or three years they became tenants, or bought a
piece of unimproved Congress-land at a dollar and a-quar-
ter an acre, and gradually made their own farms. Several
of them, now the wealthiest farmers of the county, earned
their first money on my farm at Park House. It is chiefly
the labor of these men, extending over twenty, thirty, and
even forty years, that has given to the Settlement the
many fine farms to be seen around Albion.
Among the advantages of the meetings of the courts of
law in Albion, not the least were the periodical visits of
intelligent and educated men of the legal profession.
Hon. William Wilson, a native of Martinsburgh, Va., was,
when appointed to his office of circuit-judge, a very young
man. He possessed great amiability and good sense, and
was extensively known through the State; a good lawyer
respected and beloved wherever known. Between him
and myself a lasting friendship existed until his death,
which occurred in 1857. He settled near Carmi, in White
Co., thirty miles south of Albion. Carmi was the home
of Edwin B. Webb, Esq., so many years the represen-
tative of White County in the legislature. Mr. Webb was
one of our best lawyers, and was always relied on as such.
He had a greater hold on the affections of his many
friends and neighbors, by exerting the influence of his
position in healing all breaches, and allaying those irrita-
* Edwin B. Webb of Carmi, White County, was one of the best-known
and most influential Whig politicians of his day, in south-eastern Illinois. He
was first elected to the lower branch of the legislature from White County in
1834, and reelected in 1836, 1838, ,1840. In 1844, he was elected to the
senate, from White County, and reelected in 1846, and finally closing his
WEBB, DAVIDSON, ROBINSON, MCLEAN, EDDY. 29 1
tions which so frequently accompany legal disputation.
Col. William H. Davidson, for many years in the State
senate, and often its presiding-officer, was much beloved
for the amenity of his manners in public and in private
life. Gen. John M. Robinson, then a young lawyer riding
the circuit, and afterward, for many years, our senator in
Congress — these two were Carmi men.
John McLean, a good lawyer, a loud speaker, of sterling
good sense, and blunt and somewhat boisterous manners,
was the most popular lawyer in the earliest days of the
State. A native of Kentucky, he was afterward sent to
Congress.* Henry Eddy, long the editor of the Shawnee-
town Gazette, was a good lawyer, and a most kind-hearted
legislative service in 1S48, which was continuous from 1834 to 1848, with the
exception of two years, from 1S42 to 1844. I knew Mr. Webb well. He
was a well-lcnown figure in Springfield for many years. He was a little under
the middling height, always dressing genteelly, and of pleasant and agree-
able manners. A native of Kentucky, he was a devoted friend of Henry Clay,
and was the Whig candidate for Governor of Illinois in 1852. At the break-
ing up of the old Whig party, Mr. Webb declined entering into the Republi-
can party, and joined the Democrats. He was always called "Bat" Webb,
from his middle name, Bathurst. He died at his home in Carmi, in the fall
of 1858, universally beloved and regretted.
* John McLean was, undoubtedly, the ablest and most influential man in
Illinois at the time of his death. He was elected United States senator in
1825, to succeed Ninian Edwards, who had resigned to accept the position of
minister to Mexico. Having served out .the term of Gov. Edwards, of only
a few months, Elias Kent Kane was elected his successor for the long term.
In 1829, Mr. McLean was elected for six years, to succeed Jesse B. Thomas.
He died, however, shortly after the commencement of his term of service, in
1830. Had he lived, he would have left an indelible impress upon the history
of the State.
Mr. McLean was a member of the House of Representatives from Gallatin
County from i820,to 1822, and of which he was made speaker. He was also
a member from 1826 to 1828, and from 1828 to 1830. He was speaker of
the House both sessions, and elected senator while holding the office in 1829.
292 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN EDWARDS COUNTY.
and benevolent man, universally respected and beloved.*
Judge Hall (afterward known as the editor of the Illinois
Monthly Magazine) was also a practising lawyer, with a '
reputation for literary talent. Judge Thomas C. Browne
was associated with Judge Wilson, on the bench of the
supreme court. These were all residents of Shawneetown,
and usually made the tour of our circuit.
The law business, being small in those days, allowed of
an early adjournment of court, giving time for friendly
intercourse. They generally favored our family with a
visit. Those of them that \uere farmers, as well as law-
yers, would generally spend a day with me, in looking at
live-stock and crops, discussing farming matters generally.
In the evening, several other friends would join the party;
the conversation, unrestrained, was generally free and good-
humored. The hilarity was by no means checked by a
good supper and a bowl of punch. After tales of adven-
ture in their wild and widely-extended circuit, varied con-
versation, anecdote, and song, the party would retire, at a
late hour generally, to meet again six months afterward.
The opening of the legislature at Vandalia, and the ses-
* Henry Eddy of Shawneetown, was one of the ablest and most prominent
lawyers of his time in the State. I can not recall that he was ever in politi-
cal life, except being a member of the House of Representatives from Galla-
tin County from 1820 to 1822, when he was the colleague of John McLean.
He was an anti-convention man in the great struggle in 1823-4, and the editor
of the SluVi^nicctown Sprctator. Like Mr. Webb of Carmi, he was one of the
prominent Whig politicians in the south-eastern part of the State. A man of
education and intelligence, he was distinguished by his courteous manners anil
gentlemanly bearing. He was elected judge of the third circuit in January,
183 
