XI B RARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
977.325
H629
THE
HISTOKT
WILL COUNTY,
ILLINOIS
CONTAINING
A History of the County its Cities, Towns, &e. ; a Directory of its
Real Estate Owners; Portraits of Early Settlers and Promi-
nent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of Will
County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; His-
tory of the Northwest, Illustrated;
Constitution of the United States,
Miscellaneous Matters,
&c., &e.
CHICAGO:
WM. LE BAKOX, JR., & CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET.
1878.
PREFACE.
TN presenting our History of Will County, we deem a few prefatory words
necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement with
our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon the
principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires that
the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the county.
We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not be
attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History of
the County was compiled by Hon. Geo. H. Woodruff, of Joliet, and the Township
Histories by our historians, W. H. Perrin and H. H. Hill. Some of the Town-
ship Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing
larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interesting
events. While fully recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to
write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their
reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers
for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident
belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has been
prepared, believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CHICAGO:
CULVKK, PAGE, HOYXE A CO., PRINTERS,
118 nd 120 Monroe Street.
377.325
CON
S.
PAGE.
History Northwest Territory 19
Geographical 19
Early Exploration 20
Discovery of the Ohio 33
English Explorations and Settle-
ments 35
American Settlements 60
Division of the Northwest Terri-
tory 66
Tecumseh and the war of 1812 70
Black Hawk and the Black Hawk
War ... 74
HISTORICAL.
PAGE.
Other Indian Troubles 79
Present Condition of the Northwest 87
Illinois 99
Indiana 101
Iowa 102
Michigan 103
Wisconsin 104
Minnesota ., 106
Nebraska 107
History of Illinois 109
Coal 125
Compact of 1787 117
PAGE.
History of Chicago 132
Early Discoveries 109
Early Settlements 115
Education 129
First French Occupation 112
Genius of La Salle 113
Material Resources 124
Massacre of Fort Dearborn 141
Physical Features V21
Progress of Development 123
Religion and Morale 128
War Record ol Illinois 130
PAGE.
Source of the Mississippi 21
Mouth of the Mississippi 21
Wild Prairie 23
La Salle Landing on the Shore of
Green Bay 25
Buffalo Hunt 27
Trapping 29
Hunting 32
Iroquois Chief. 34
Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain 43
Indians Attacking Frontiersmen... 56
A Prairie Storm 59
A Pioneer Dwelling 61
Breaking Prairie 63
I1L,IJSTRATIOXS.
PAGE. PAGE.
Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chieftain... 69 ing the River at Davenport, Iowa 96
Indians Attacking a Stockade 72 JA Western Dwelling 109
Black Hawk, the jac Chieftain 76 Hunting Prairie Wolves at an
Big Eagle 80 [ Early Day 108
Captain Jack, the Modoc Chieftain.. 83
Kinzie House 85
Village Residence 86
A Representative Pioneer 87
Lincoln Monument, Springfield, 111. 88
Starved Rock, on the Illinois River,
La Salle County, 111 110
An Early Settlement 116
Chicago hi 1833 133
Old Fort Dearbron in 1830 136
A Pioneer School House 89 (Present site of Lake Street Bridge,
Farm View in the Winter 90 | Chicago, in 1833 136
High Bridge and Lake Bluft' 94 Pioneers' First Winter 142
Great Iron Bridge of Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railroad, Cross-
View of the City of Chicago 144
Shabbona 149
PAGE.
COUNTY HISTORY.
PAGE.
PAG E.
General History of Will County. ...223 Joliet Township 367 Reed Township 404
Channahon Township 591 Jackson Township. 540 Troy
610
Crete
Custer
Du Page
Frankfort
Florence
Greengarden
Homer
606
634
Wheatland
Wesley
Washington
Wilton
Will
536
525
567
598
506
494
641
575
Plainfield "
477
625
583
616
650
.....516
LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Allen, B. P 509
Braidwood, J 869
Beggs, S. R 797
Boyer, Charles E 689
Cagwin, Abijah ...'. 491
Cook, M. H 82
Casseday, G. W 455
Cutter, N. H 491
Demmond, M. H 275
Doolittle, R 491
Daggett, John F 725
Erhard, George 725
Elwood, N. D 347
Francis, Abraham 761
Foster, Lyman 150
Flack, J. J 473
Gongar, John 797
Gooding, William 653
Holden, P. H 527
PAGE.
Holden, Betsy P 545
Holden, C. C. P 563
Holdeu, Sarah J 581
Holmes, A 725
Hagar, Jonathan 743
Harwood, E 419
Henderson, Hugh 329
Higinbotham, H. D 383
Knapp, Ira 815
Leach, Alonzo 311
Little, W. E 365
Miller, T. L 635
Maltby, William 887
McGovney, 797
Mack, Firman 437
Norton, Jesse 311
Osgood, Uri 293
Paige, J. D 311
Patterson, Anson 491
PAGE.
Preston, J. B 707
Preston, Isaac 725
Reynolds, I. N 599
Reynolds, J. S 617
Rowley, Hiram 311
Runyon, A 671
Smith, C. C 851
Sutphen, C. H 401
Sanger, L. P 168
Steel, W. A 186
Stevens, Robert 257
Thornton, Gary 797
Tryon, George 833
Thomas, William : 132
Wool, Willard 66
Woodruff, George H 221
Young, John 204
Zarley, Reason 239
OOO \ 1
IV
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PAOE.
Channahon Township 832
Crete " 889
Ouster " 872
Du Page " 895
Frankfort " 838
Florence " 791
Greengarden " 865
Homer " 765
PAOE.
Joliet Township 659
Jackson " 823
Lockport " 730
Manhattan Township 799
Monee " 900
New Lenox " 778
Plainfield " 855
Peotone " 877
PAOE.
Keed Township 751
Troy " 884
Wilmington Township 801
Wheatland " 814
Wesley " 786
Wilton " 902
Washington " 905
Will " 906
DIRECTORY OF REAL ESTATE OWNERS,
PAGE. I
Channahon Township 971 I Joliet Township 909
Crete
Caster
Du Page
Frankfort
Florence
Greengarden
Homer
....965
950
947
963
957
952
Jackson " 945
Lockport " 934
Manhattan Township 972
Monee " 941
New Lenox " 955
Plainfield " 938
Peotone " 958
PAGE.
Reed Township 929
Troy " 966
Wilmington Township 924
Wheatland " 954
Wesley " 964
Wilton " 960
Washington " 973
Will " 975
AHSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
PAGE.
Adoption of Children 160
Bills of Exchange and Promissory
Notes 151
County Courts 155
Conveyances 164
Church Organizations 189
Descent 151
Deeds and Mortgages 157
Drainage 163
Damages from Trespass 169
Definition of Commercial Terms 173
Exemptions from Forced Sale 156
Estrays 157
Fences 168
Forms :
Articles of Agreement 175
Bills of Purchase 174
Bills of Sale 176
Bonds 176
PAGE.
Chattel Mortgages 177
Codicil 189
Lease of Farm and Build-
ings 179
Lease of House 180
Landlord's Agreement 180
Notes 174
Notice Tenant to Quit 181
Orders 174
Quit Claim Deed 185
Receipt 174
Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure
Payment of Money 181
Release 186
Tenant's Agreement 180
Tenant's Notice to Quit 181
Warranty Deed 182
Will 187
PAOE.
Game 158
Interest 155
Jurisdiction of Courts 15i
Limitation of Action 154
Landlord and Tenant 165
Liens 179
Married Women 152
Millers 159
Marks and Brands 159
Paupers 164
Roads and Bridges 161
Surveyors and Surveys 160
Suggestions to Persons Purchasing
Books by Subscription 190
Taxes 154
Wills and Estates 152
Weights and Measures 158
Wolf Scalps 164
PAGE.
Map of Will County Front
Constitution of the U. S 192
Electors of President and Vice Pres-
ident 206
Practical Rules for Every Day Use.207
U. S. Government Land Measure. ..210 j
Agricultural Productions of Illi-
nois by Counties, 1870 210 j
Surveyors' Measure 211 j
How to Keep Accounts 211 '
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
Interest Table 212
Miscellaneous Tables 212
Names of the States of the Union
and their Signification 213
Population of the United States 214
Population of Fifty Principal Cities
of the United States 214
Population and Area of the United
States 215
Population of the Principal Coun-
tries in the World 215
PAGE.
Population of Illinois 216-217
State Laws Relating to Interest 218
State Laws Relating to Limitations
of Actions 219
Productions of Agriculture of Illi-
nois 220
Population of Will Co 996
Assessors' Report 999
Business Directory 977
Errata 1003
THE (mm
OF ftJE
H. 9.E.
IL10.E
RISE
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States
by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the
Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the
United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States
of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of
Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United
States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi
River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary
of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the
Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National
domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the
" New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old " Northwestern
Territory. "
In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast
magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater
in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States,
including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected
eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula-
tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of
the entire population of the United States.
Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent
flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far-
stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the
highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent
on the globe.
For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North-
west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United
States.
(19)
20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New
World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel
of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than
half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence
to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no
settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that
he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and
disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery
for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize
upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by
DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer
took advantage of these discoveries.
In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the
wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene-
trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which
run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the
first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from
the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian
envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary,
below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent
result'; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders
attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes,
nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by
Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude
Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the
Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette
founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two
years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen-
eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the
present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a
grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were
taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken
of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at
Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac.
During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St.
Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied
as all others did then that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's
children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come.
Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his
king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico
or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe-
dition, prepared for the undertaking.
On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist-
ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of
discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were
astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade
them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as
exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of
frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But,
nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he
was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region
they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which
the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they
separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the
adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and
Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar-
quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the
town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows,
which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to
thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in
giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to
which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the
year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed
in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake.
He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to
Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun-
tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths
of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct
them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on
the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to
witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet
ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage,
returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin,
which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown
waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck
out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were
now upon the bosom of ths Father of Waters. The mystery was about
to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is
beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been
clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
23
Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand
" reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of
France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared
on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a
country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab-
itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas-
tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors.
THE WILD PRAIRIE.
On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon
the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the
boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a
village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a
half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most
hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person.
After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to
about latitude 33, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being
satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course
24 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois,
rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point
to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, ' did we see
such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards,
swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River."
The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and
reported their discovery one of the most important of the age, but of
which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by
the upsetting of his canoe on his way- to Quebec. Afterward Marquette
returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them
until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the
mouth of a stream going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan he asked
to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe,
he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time
passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found
him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at
prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place
fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving
the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been
called Marquette.
While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in
the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre-
paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun
by him. These were Robert de LaSalle and Louis Hennepin.
After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see
the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French
trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of
those ages a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an
expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific,
when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind
of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol-
lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous
western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to
Frontenac, Governor General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan,
dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that
LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with ths Gulf
of Mexico would bind the countiy so wonderfully together, give un-
measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis-
tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized.
LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who
warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received
from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Ohev
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
25
alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at
once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on
these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined
by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie,
passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair am
into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms,
some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed
on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans" of the French, where he found
a laro-e quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with
these? and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors,
LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY.
started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard
of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear-
ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men-thirty working
men and three monks-and started again upon his great undertaking.
By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by
the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called
by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. Ol
French pronounced it Kiakiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee.
"Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the
country," about the last of December they reached a village of the
noi Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment
26 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs,
took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi-
ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes
under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village
of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored,
the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening,
on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have
been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that
is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met
with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent
some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that
place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were
trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men
were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel.
He called this fort " Crevecceur" (broken-heart), a name expressive of the
very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship,
Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the
part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause
him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was
placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered.
While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to
look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to
return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in
the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party
to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour-
ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and
was successfully made, though over an almost unknown route, and in a
bad season of the year. He safely reached Canada, and set out again for
the object of his search.
Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecoeur on the last of February,
1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he
found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to
Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after
leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the
icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River
by the llth of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a
band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen-
nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy-
age they found several beautiful lakes, and " saw some charming prairies."
Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux
nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when
they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
in honor of his patron saint. Here they took the land, and traveling
aearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages.
Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their
captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen,
BUFFALO HUNT.
headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene-
trated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with these fellow-
countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the
borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had
returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went
to France, where he published an account of his adventures.
28 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his
vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring,
De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander-
ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May died. His followers,
reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered
about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them-
selves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan-
tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it
would load them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of
Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba.
They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but,
being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country,
and hardly had an intelligent idea of what they had passed through.
To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the
first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess
this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of
explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed
the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February,
reached the banks of the Mississippi.
On the 13th they commenced their downward course, which they
pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis-
covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters
into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event :
" We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three
leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle
went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti
^meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They found the main
outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a
little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the
reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about
twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to
the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription :
Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvisme Avril, 1682.
The whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after
a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi," the column was erected by M. de
La Salle, who, standing near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of
the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis-
sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where
another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two
succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along
the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
29
treachery of his followers, and the objedt of his expeditions was not
accomplished until 1699, when D'Iberville, under the authority of the
crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth
of the " Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives
" Malbouchia" and by the Spaniards, " la Palissade^ from the great
TRAPPING.
number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets,
and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western
outlet, and returned to France.
An avenue of trade was now opened out which was fully improved.
In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo-
nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by
France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by
30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory
of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the
charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat
and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown
open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ;
had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one
settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu-
ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them
(unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecoeur,)
it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were
peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of
the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored."
The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the
year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois,
and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary
station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil-
lages, tlie other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of
these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest,
dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de I'lmmaculate Conception de
la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of
Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while
Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecceur. This must have been
about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river,
(pronounced WS,-bS, meaning summer cloud moving swiftly") was estab-
lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob-
able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia
and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain
were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta-
tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to
occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being
made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle-
ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England
in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the
famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law,,
who so quickly arose .into prominence in France, and who with his
scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away.
From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the
French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis-
sippi, and the war with the" Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated
* There Is considerable dispute about this date, some asserting it was founded as late as 1742. When
the new court house at Vincennes was erected, all authorities on the subject were carefully examined, and
i/02 fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engraved on the corner-stone of the court house.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 31
injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company
did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened
the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains
indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of
the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the
attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the
New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary
among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort
Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and
Indians, to say nothing of crossbreeds. There are five French villages,
and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues
situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid
(Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred
whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The
three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all
told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and
horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can
be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New
Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and
save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were
found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France
by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem-
ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the
mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low
to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially
occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I
think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber,
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork
and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty
vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans,
plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of
Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five
or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther
up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners
through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise
excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas,
where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river
traders. * * .* From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred
leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at
the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the
Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to
32
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at
Vincennes in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some
individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada.
Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are
like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find
silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also
in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large
pieces are found in the streams."
HUNTING-
At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the
lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at
the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what
may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest
they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan,
at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac,
Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of
LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of
this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another
nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country,
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for
securing the great profits arising therefrom.
The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the
DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO.
This "Beautiful" river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La-
Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet
and Marquette.
While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found
leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which Was the Iroquois.
He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed
to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident
soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition.
While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the
Ohio, which rose in their country and -flowed to the sea, but at such a
distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state-
ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream.
LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great
rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to
embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to
the commerce of China and Japan.
He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov-
ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant,
Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro-
vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul-
pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition,
and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money,
the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred
dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the
necessary supplies for the outfit.
On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons,
embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes
carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the
bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present
City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to
conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed.
The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected
that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After
waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian
34
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them
that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence.
On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they
heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving
CHlKtf.
among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned
from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks.
Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume
their journey ; but just as they were about to start they heard of the
arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved
to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35
had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines
on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec.
He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the
lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in
that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the
expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the
Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet
with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and
after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at
Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers,
Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field.
These zealotis disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted
no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron
saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned .to Montreal the following June
without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian.
After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois
village at Ononclaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a
tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far
as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the
persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669.
The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony-
mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle
himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count
Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he
discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as
an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio
Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony
of Virginia in 1758, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec
replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries
of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to
make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley."
ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS.
When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters
and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts
already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri-
ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States
of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet
under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty
36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as
1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to
secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In
Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov-
ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces-
sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that
power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain
to this unexplored wilderness.
England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a
discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants
to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim.
She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat-
ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord Howard, Gov-
ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the
great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei-
das, Onondagas, Cayugas, arid Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were
taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six NATIONS.
They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in
1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed
was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has
often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was
made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of
Virginia," for which the Indians received .200 in gold and a like sum in
goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid.
The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel
William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was
called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across' the mountains with
presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa-
nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings
regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment,
and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the
cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In
1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant
of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government
of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun-
dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of
June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was
made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000
acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French
were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in the
West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 37
settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain
possession of the whole country. Upon -the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud-
reuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the
consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading
posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further
secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Cel-
eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds
and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which
were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and
within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the
beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found
with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and
a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the
plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society,
among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not,
however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and
though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and
it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the
frontier settlements. Iii 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio
Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees,
on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He
afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down
the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville,
and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur-
ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the
Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy^in preparing
their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party
of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng-
lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and
Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of
the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison.
(They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were
carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This
fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the
king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri-
tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some
variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones
Pickaweke."
* The following is a translation of the inscription on the plate: "In the year 1749. reign of Louis XV.,
King of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisoniere, com-
mander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranqtiility in certain Indian villages of these cantons, have
buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin, this twenty- ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise
Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its
tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and
treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapeile."
88 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY,
This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and
occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about
forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter-
ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter-
mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to
occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing-
ton at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and
Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the
natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan-
caster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June,
these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the
north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts-
burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban-
doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize
the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour,
the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a
chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their
favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing
a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a
settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should
not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first
treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley.
Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manosuvre
each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally
outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con-
tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further
increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni-
tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Ohio
left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were
coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The
French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The
Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when
we wanted help, forsook us."
At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by
title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon
and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng-
lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until
the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans
of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them
away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts
already begun, and would not abandon the field.
Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard-
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39
ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of
Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from
them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young
man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank
of major, and who was 'thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This
personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then
held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just
twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied
by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's
Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monon-
gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to
Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of
the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of th.e French, and
also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol-
lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to
turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral.
Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to
Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the
French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery
of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing
of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the
llth of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here
he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter, received his answer, took his
observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one
but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him,
notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their
homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet
they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754.
From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by
Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would
not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made
in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French
finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications,
and gathered their forces to be in readiness.
The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great
activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring
colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac
men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation which promised
two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent
had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were
40 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of
the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest.
" The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift
river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of
Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian
scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet,
that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent
in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten
miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder-
ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and
swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning
of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw
upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink sixty batteaux and
three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and
stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecoeur,
and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with his men
and tools, marched up the Monongahela."
The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la
Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the
French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi
and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue
of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New-
foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The
first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the
English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted
disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed
the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured,
and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing-
ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived.
He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him-
self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called
by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of
French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked
in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the
morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia.
The English Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one
against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort
Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755--6,
and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions.
The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General
Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 41
acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This
occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle
of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with
various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence-
ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre-
tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to
carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one,
under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie,
against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against
Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a
desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the
Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie
captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne,
of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was
found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession,
rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the
name to Fort Pitt.
The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of
Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to
reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to
capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant
Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga
and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor-
able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated
Montcalrn, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement
Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor,
inarched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of
defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was
fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It
resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal.
The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was
surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it
was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and
under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of
the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same
time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain.
On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent
from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post
in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum-
moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post,
Beletre refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the
42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d
under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom,
no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the
purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was
assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not
desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much
to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while
on their journey home.
Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on 'December 23, and was just one
month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence
across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com-
mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of
the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is,
crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to ." Mohickon
John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White
Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town
on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one
hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of
cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across
Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork.
The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule.
New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large
trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises
with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe-
trated, and the country would have been spared their recital.
The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these
atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading
events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this
noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named
Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as
far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French,
but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his
hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian
to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached
him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He
declared that no treaty had been made with them ; no presents sent
them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation.
He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was
civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies.
The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina,
were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified
February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN.
44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead.
Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander
of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares
and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite
in this enterprise.
The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1768.
Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, " scooped up in the hollow
of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton.
Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit.
Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing
the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out,
however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when
Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian
chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed
musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He
saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He
endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt
was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe
reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post.
Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace
between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764,
continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular
commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark,
which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At
the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went
further south, living many years among the Illinois.
He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a
time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis
in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a
quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon
afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern
Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed.
Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan
for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly
have been carried out.
It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex-
ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest
feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and
were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the chief,
Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their
French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said :
*' Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45
yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves! These lakes, these woods,
these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance,
and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like
the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you
ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided
food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains."
He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them,
no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war.
Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after
the English took possession of their country. These feelings were no
doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the
French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the
English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going
on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments.
In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre-
vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters
of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon-
tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question.
Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States
and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great
Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these
sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and
twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back, to
France, and by France sold to the United States.
In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecceur by
LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set-
tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been
noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia,
Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract
of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St.
Louis.
By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including
all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England;
but they do not appear to have btan taken possession of until 1765, when
Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him-
self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage,
dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath-
olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their
effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen.
It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the
war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that
chieftain By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle-
46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year
1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed-
eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon-
tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom
he afterward lost his life.
As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began
rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the
year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces
explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga-
hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This
was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing-
ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford
and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts-
burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen
miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which
were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort.
Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus-
tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This
same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages.
He found there about sixty-five resident families, and at Cahokia only
forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and
at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year
or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally
Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main-
tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts
was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and
flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the
policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension
of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal
proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the
sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance
of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement
without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy
reach of Great Britain.
The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the
course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they
extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for
themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother
country ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow.'^
In accordance with this policy, Gov. Gage issued a proclamation
in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set-
tlements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 47
strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to
remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its
change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French
population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned
the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which
was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend-
ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern-
ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor
that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the
early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side
of the war for independence.
In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration
to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the
pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth.
One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the
Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it
Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for
settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed
portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the
famous battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and
driven across the Ohio.
During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies
and the perseverance of individuals, several settlements were firmly estab-
lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held
in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling
themselves the " Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the
Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on
the east side of the Mississippi River south of the IHinois. In 1775, a mer-
chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes
as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On
the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for
37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested
by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in
the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com-
panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all
were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of
April, 17SO, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the
" United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made
48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all
signally failed.
When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor-
ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders.
In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time
" Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in-
habitants the whites being a little the more numerous. Caliokia con-
tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were
east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 "when these observa-
tions were made " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230
negroes."
From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and
nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report
made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following
extract is made :
" Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which
appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of
the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la
Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There
are also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philips, which is five
miles further up the river."
St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con-
tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country
west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until
ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the
country including New Orleans, to the United States. At Detroit there
were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to
1768, more than -one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more
than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated the people being engaged
in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here
relate.
It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by
Antoiue de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an
oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width.
As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent
resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space
between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house
(near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn,
and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by
oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had
four gates east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49
gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six-
pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a
parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running
east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen
feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten
to fifteen feet in width.
At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the
enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present
northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was
inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two
stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient
to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The
citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of
Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story,
with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some
hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance,
called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east
gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned
by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and
the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of
twenty -four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning
between nine and ten o'clock, Each furnished four sentinels, who weie
relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who pjr-
formed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ;
even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were
delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened
in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter
town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand-
ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of
every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were
restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were
allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only
at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the
Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house
near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians.
The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two
hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by
fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new "
town was laid out.
On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of
importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of
Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests,
50 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in
this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those
within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their
civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway,
burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state.
Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held
in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived
in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which
had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty
was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented
her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move
unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the
British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. Ht
saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vincennes,
Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy
access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British
intended to penetrate the country from the north and soutn, ana annihi-
late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel,
afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. Ho knew the Indians were not
unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could
the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives
might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose,
he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements
might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the
project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on
November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th,
Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly
encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at
once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been
agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition rtf affairs at the
scene of action to be able to guide them.
Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his
plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions one secret,
the other open the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven
companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three*
months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him
to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand
at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country.
With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather
to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed
in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi-
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 51
stem for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required
number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their
own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to
join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private
volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he
navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified
Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville,
Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may
yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him
with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the s'outhern route, and
as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to
the men their real destination. .Having completed his arrangements,
and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the
24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured
no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with
his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as
far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia.
Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to
Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he
intended to march directly to the Mississippi River, and cross it into the
Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor-
mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the
United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois
country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to
believe by the British that the " Long Knives" or Virginians, were the
most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With
this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would
cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati-
tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency.
The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun,
and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort
near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without
the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently
working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per-
fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the
great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity
from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab-
itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlocked
for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and
when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom-
panied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place
surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus
52 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English
into the possession of Virginia.
In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession
of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun-
daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken.
St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit,remained yet to be taken
before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that
he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection
with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and 'on the 14th of July,
in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of
peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence
that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to
the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts,
placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his
men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville,
erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who
had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond.
In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature
of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor,
and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of
the Old Dominion through their Legislature.
In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the
natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle-
giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton,
having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down
the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing
the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the
rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault,
dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend-
ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort.
Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly
surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at
the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail-
ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of tha
fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to
the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the
force in the garrison.
Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was
contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four
hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio,
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 53
and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the
Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he
saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless
he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the
news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi-
ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi
a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend tire Ohio and
Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray.
On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and
twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching
through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring
rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at
once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back-
woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the
intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind-
ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was
sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement.
During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes
to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him,
and had earned in consequence thereof the title u Hair-buyer General,"
by which he was ever afterward known.
Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising
Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being
apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con-
cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts.
Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in
uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West
would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny
Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from
the commencement, by the British.
" But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the
union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might
have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed."
At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern-
ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the
British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in-
Cliief o the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde-
pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the
Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders,
marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These
expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled
to sue for peace.
54 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
During this same year (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia
were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the
pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian
conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed
to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the
settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at
forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature
sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many
of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These
gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and
continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided
three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who
came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the
10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the
next year (1780) the trouoles concerning the navigation of the Missis-
sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in
relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States
to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right
to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle-
ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur-
ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the
West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth.
The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a
friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had
been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence,
and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the
refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the
satisfaction of both nations.
The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones
ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to.it as the
"Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few
pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians
and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it
in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting
colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the
inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were
compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the
settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable
manner, they fled the country in great haste.
About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con-
cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 55
and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New
York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the dele-
gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for
the benefit of the United States. This law Was laid before Congress
during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep-
tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States
claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body.
This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative
measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same
year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might
have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished
him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew
that th,e safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the
territory.
Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun-
ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town
of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of
American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the
United States.
Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d
day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United
States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and
the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was
anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies
were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in
consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements.
Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of
American parentage occurred, being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter
of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian
Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the
frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of
their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity,
a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives.
For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Indians
committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and
1772 in the history of the Northwest.
During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and
frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan-
dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives,
many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious
56
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers,
was a terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio
valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky,
in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill
and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc-
INDIANS ATTACKING FBONT1BK8MBN.
tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American
banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had
been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon-
querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October
preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the 19th of
April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 57
proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next
September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle
was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West
were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of
the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ;
thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi
River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line
east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junc-
tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and
thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts
were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these
was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements
with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose
lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by
the proper treaty.
To remedy this latter evil, Congress appointed commissioners to
treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set-
tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the
year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however,
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest
she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of
December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded
to the United States. This was done on the 1st of -March following, and
the Northwest Territory passed from the control of (he Old Dominion.
To Gen. Clark arid his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred
and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the
Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region
opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of
Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer-
sonville, Indiana.
While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit
refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do
so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring
of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur
Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian
council at Fort Mclntosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in
appearance. He says :
" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who
live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or
even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being
bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila-
58 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and
money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a
priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel/'
Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and
was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A
land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take
defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances,
incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year,
1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no
entries were recorded until 1787.
The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They
held large tracts 'of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress
adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the
surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the
Ohio, now in its possession. On Jailuary 31, 1786, a treaty was made
with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made
in 1784. That at Fort Mclntosh in 1785, and through these much land
was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply
with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel
their adherence to its provisions, force was used. Daring the year 1786,
the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused
various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to
excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised
bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the
unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga-
tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared-
its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded
between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how-
ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some
grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con-
necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as
the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close <sf the following year a
large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once
took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company
were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction
of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received
750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the
seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on
the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without
the reservations. In addition to this, Congress afterward granted 100,000
acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the
resolutions of 1789 and 1790.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
59
While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing
its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance-
for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the
cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected.
A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition
of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered,
and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina.
By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states
A PRAIRIE STORM.
by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten
states, which were to have been named as follows beginning at the
northwest corner and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cher-
sonesus, Assenisipia, Mesopotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Poly-
potamia and Pelisipia.
There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of
names, the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu-
tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries
of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles
60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir-
ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the
subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into
not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by
the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was
again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year
and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed,
and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com-
pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book,
and to it the reader is referred.
The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company
was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves
Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Miamis.
This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and,
being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the
New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury
Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following
year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company
were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the
23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men,
under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six
boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur-
veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart-
ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow as
soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 3d of October,
had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and
to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur
St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest.
AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS.
The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com-
plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from
the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England
Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over
the Alleghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into
Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike
from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled
on, and lyr April were all gathered on the Yoliiogany, where boats had
been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived
on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded
as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
61
Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwest, not having
yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by
being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed
to administer them.
Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the
Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under
such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum.
Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know
many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu-
lated to promote the welfare of such a community.' 1
A PIONEER DWELLING.
On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held
on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new-
born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the
"Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor
of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block -houses stood
was called " Campus Martins ;" square number 19, " Capitolium ;" square
number 61, "Cecilia;" and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra
Via" Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum,
who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the
judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9,
Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The act
of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest,
62 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a
governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon
the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th
of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the
next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country
that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the
County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the
doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the
2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing
ceremonies.
The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com-
mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four
thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb-
ruary and June, 1788 many of whom would have purchased of the
"Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been
ready to receive them.
On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating
the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In
January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest
in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon
which Cincinnati has been built. Retainirig one-third of this locality, he
sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the
three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which
was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the moulh of which
they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the
town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals " : " Mr. Filson, who had
been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to
its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that
were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being
interpreted, means : ville, the town ; anti, against or opposite to ; 08, the
mouth ; L. of Licking."
Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse
teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays-
ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here
Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789
caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under
water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers
removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left
the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first
was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a
colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami,
whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
63
\>een made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr.
Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the- 18th of November, 1788,
with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain
through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they
were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood
of 1789.
On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States
went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug-
urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer,
an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The
President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General
Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but
BREAKING PRAIRIE.
was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne,
Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were
the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair
was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians ; but while
he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee,
he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men.
General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794,
he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete
victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the
Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the
treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large
tract of country was ceded to the United States.
Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort
Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati.
Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the
64 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures,
known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon-
chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago,
Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west
of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a
rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of
strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks
were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers quarters
were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished.
The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an
acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles.
The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground
upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets
of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now
Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of
of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river,
immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the
Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by
small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of
laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house,
familiarly called the " Yellow House," lJuilt for the accommodation of
the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished
and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was
for some time th'e headquarters of both the civil and military governments
of the Northwestern Territory.
Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec-
ulations were entered into by different persons, who hoped to obtain
from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands.
These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous
schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war.
On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain
was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured.
No sooner had the treat} 7 " of 1795 been ratified than settlements began
to pour rapidly into the W T est. The great event of the year 1796 was the
occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was
this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British
forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel
justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit
and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were
called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before
the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head-
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 6,5
quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after
him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan,
and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements wera
formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle-
town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators
began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland
was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and
Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper the "Red-
stone Paper Mill " in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy
houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous
to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians,
Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that
part of the Northwest.
The election of representatives for the territory had taken place,
and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Losantiville now
known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and
considered the capital of the Territory to nominate persons from whom
the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with
a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly
adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named
the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg,
of Vincennes,. Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob
Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th
of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two
houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President
of the Council.
The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature
September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to
Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes
cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of
Gen. St. Clair.
The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by
the Governor, were thirty-seven eleven others were passed, but received
his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to
the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro-
tracted session of the. first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the
30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the
office of Secretary of 'the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison,' elected to
Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day.
6G THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain,
and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct
the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action
of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to
divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a
committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution.
This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that :
" In the three western countries there has been but one court having
cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders
experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim-
inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements
in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist-
ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * To
minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee
that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and
separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made
by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running
directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States
and Canada."
The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its
suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri-
tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these :
" That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of
the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward
of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the
Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north
until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and
Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a
separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory."
After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of
the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides :
" That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the
said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the
seat of government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the
Ohio River ; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the
seat of government for the Indiana Territory."
Gen. Wm. Henry, Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana
Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut
also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law
CRETE
:
i
Wi-~>.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 67
was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon
thirty -five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven
hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November
the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year,
the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no
township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of
October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the
King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province
of Louisiana.
In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char-
tered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western
colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787,
newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read
throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the
Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern
territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of
the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit-
ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to
a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a
census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number,
and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits;
and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio,
so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came
into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known,
but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly
within the territory of Indiana.
Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties
with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is
memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from
France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode,
the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of
country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction
of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early
part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits
of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year
large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of
Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the
College Township in the district of Cincinnati.
Before the close of the year, Gen. Harrison obtained additional
grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present
limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at
St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the
68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in
and about Detroit.
C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri-
tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post :
" The Town of Detroit. The charter, which is for fifteen miles
square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now,
from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those
two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town
and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four
acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm.
Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The
pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The
streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right
angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant."
During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup-
port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these
wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to
fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also,
a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two
portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of
government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the
domain of Gen. Harrison.
On the llth of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed,
Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the
change to take effect on June 30. On the llth of that month, a fire
occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost every building in the place.
When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in
ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild-
ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more
houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built.
While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade
of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large
tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian,
Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause
of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the
settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the
British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at
the battle of the Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest,
we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life,
and his connection with this conflict.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN.
?0 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
TECUMSEH, AND THE WAR OF 1812.
This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from
the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa,
was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his
mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same
people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century
to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be
chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum-
seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was
declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the
present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he
returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In
1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), who had announced
himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given
them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chief
comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age,
was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of
enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally pleas-
ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed
by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi-
dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who
afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first
house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered
upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of
land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the
Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land
could be made save by the consent of this confederation.
He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; from the south
to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a
matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect.
Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move-
ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was
forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseli's
plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning
artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity.
During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre-
paring for the work. In that year, Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty
with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians
and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon
the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 71
as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any
lands north and west of the Ohio River.
Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and
held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly
angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after
departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict.
Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at
Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the
Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the
prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten-
tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped
near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he
was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of
Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken
up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his
brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating
the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans.
Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned
from the South, and was ready to visit the President as had at one time
previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go
as a chief, which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never
made.
In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at
Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against
the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his
people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif-
ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew
his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai-
den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard.
He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the
Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was,
however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow-
ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan-
tonly murder the captive.
In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and
shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the
27th of September, the American array, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for
the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mai-
den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand-
wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of
the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen.
McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan.
72
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor,
whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed.
Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column
of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief-
tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in
the Northwest.
gffr
INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE.
Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ;
but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson,
who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal.
In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a
beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged
by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His
plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated
and he was compelled to flee the country for safety.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 73
In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a
treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the
United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about
Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored
to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby
slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts,
however, all signally failed.
In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory.
This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western
part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year,
the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and
then began the events already narrated.
While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with
surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the
first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of
the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the
" monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the
close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being
nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its
downward trip.
The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It
effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not
fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green-
ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States
and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should
cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such,
happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty
of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United
States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various
Indian tribes throughout the West, and Northwest, and quiet was again
restored in this part of the new world.
On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city.
It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its
manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed
to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties
organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first
election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings
was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, and
on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For
some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central
location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana),
was laid out January 1, 1825.
74 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was
chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were
under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches
at different convenient points.
Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the
privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the
northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a
more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col-
umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State.
Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was
chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state
the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable
to redeem their currency, and were obliged to suspend.
In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her
northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich-
igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes
was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of
revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that
the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to
navigate the bosom of that inland sea.
Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War,
but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were
opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab-
lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan
University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were
becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended,
and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the
record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros-
perity.
BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in
the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians, in this part
of the United States.
Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the principal
Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the
Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ;
his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early
distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted
to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he
went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
76
BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN.
76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was
permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the
head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the
Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to
his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce
battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The
Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees
for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present City
of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of
the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation.
He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the
head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged
war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled
successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered.
Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to
the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish
Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason,
he did not want two fathers.
The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the
United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines
Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who
at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of
the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was
garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties
with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812
followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by
giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the
Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on
his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre
^ a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British
. eminent but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended
the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard
was defeated.
In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi
were notified that peace had been declared between the United States
and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not
sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog-
nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of
signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he
and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life.
Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 77
Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of
Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of
which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal,
and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of
the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set-
tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his
native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and
his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been
acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would
have been prevented.
Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted
warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three
miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived
many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them,
they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their
time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village
and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who
from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From
one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white
men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained
deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were
finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the
lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the
authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he
was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged
the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty
made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to
enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the
river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On
the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a
band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were
defeated.
This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men
was raised, and Gen. Scott hastened from the seaboard, by way of the
lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of
the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was
repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri-
can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of
the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band,
and defeated them near the Blue Mounds.
Before this action, Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main
army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the
78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the
Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle
which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He
fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites.
On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con-
cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they
ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain
peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi-
sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that
Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs
of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure
of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons.
The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken
to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe,
"there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify
their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of
June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal
cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white
people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the
old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they
reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon
after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth-
place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village
where he was born, where he had so happily lived, and where he had
hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer.
On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and
his lodge, His wife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder
of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re-
mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among
the Indians, living with her upward of forty years.
Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel-
ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all
times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten-
tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County,
Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem.
In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his
annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted
in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3.
His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply
during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre-
sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in
a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. "The
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 79
body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a
seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him
by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it.
Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some
Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons."
No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began
rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin,
now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had
grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence.
In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed,
but did not take active form until two years later, when the State became
a part of the Federal Union.
The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of
Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial
wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this
region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in 183<> was
made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State
was detached two years later. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as a
State, Madison being made the capital. We have now traced the various
divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from
the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances
compelled its present division. , ,
OTHER INDIAN TROUBLES.
Before leaving this part of the narrative, we will narrate briefly the
Indian troubles in Minnesota and elsewhere by the Sioux Indians.
In August, 1862, the Sioux Indians living on the western borders of
Minnesota fell upon the unsuspecting settlers, and in a few hours mas-
sacred ten or twelve hundred persons. A distressful panic was the
immediate result, fully thirty thousand persons fleeing from their homes
to districts supposed to be better protected. The military authorities
at once took active measures to punish the savages, and a large number
were killed and captured. About a year after, Little Crow, the chief,
was killed by a Mr. Lampson near Scattered Lake. -Of those captured,
thirty were hung at Mankato, and the remainder, through fears of mob
violence, were removed to Camp McClellan, on the outskirts of the City
of Davenport. It was here that Big Eagle came into prominence and
secured his release by the following order :
80
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
EAGLE.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 81
"Special Order, No. 430. "WAR DEPARTMENT,
" ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1864.
" Big Eagle, an Indian now in confinement at Davenport, Iowa,
will, upon the receipt of this order, be immediately released from confine-
ment and set at liberty.
" By order of the President of the United States.
" Official : " E. D. TOWNSEND, Ass't Adft G-en.
" CAPT. JAMES VANDERVENTER, Corny Sub. Voh.
" Through Com'g Gen'l, Washington, D. C."
Another Indian who figures more prominently than Big Eagle, and
who was more cowardly in his nature, with his band of Modoc Indians,
is noted in the annals of the New Northwest: we refer to Captain Jack.
This distinguished Indian, noted for his cowardly murder of Gen. Canby,
was a chief of a Modoc tribe of Indians inhabiting the border lands
between California and Oregon. This region of country comprises what
is known as the " Lava Beds." a tract of land described as utterly impene-
trable, save by those savages who had made it their home.
The Modocs are known as an exceedingly fierce and treacherous
race. They had, according to their own traditions, resided here for many
generations, and at one time were exceedingly numerous and powerful.
A famine carried off nearly half their numbers, and disease, indolence
and the vices of the white man have reduced them to a poor, weak and
insignificant tribe.
Soon after the settlement of California and Oregon, complaints began
to be heard of massacres of emigrant trains passing through the Modoc
country. In 1847, an emigrant train, comprising eighteen souls, was en-
tirely destroyed at a place since known as " Bloody Point." These occur-
rences caused the United States Government to appoint a peace commission,
who, after repeated attempts, in 1864. made a treaty with the Modocs,
Snakes and Klamaths, in which it was agreed on their part to remove to
a reservation set apart for them in the southern part of Oregon.
With the exception of Captain Jack and a band of his followers, who
remained at Clear Lake, about six miles from Klamath, all the Indians
complied. The Modocs who went to the reservation were under chief
Schonchin. Captain Jack remained at the lake without disturbance
until 1869, when he was also induced to remove to the reservation. The
Modocs and the Klamaths soon became involved in a quarrel, and Captain
Jack and his band returned to the Lava Beds.
Several attempts were made by the Indian Commissioners to induce
them to return to the reservation, and finally becoming involved in a
82 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
difficulty with the commissioner and his military escort, a fight ensued,
in which the chief and his band were routed. They were greatly enraged,
and on their retreat, before the day closed, killed eleven inoffensive whites.
The nation was aroused and immediate action demanded. A com-
mission was at once appointed by the Government to see what could be
done. It comprised the following persons : Gen. E. R. S. Canby : Rev.
Dr. E. Thomas, a leading Methodist divine of California; Mr. A. B.
Meacham, Judge Rosborough, of California, and a Mr. Dyer, of Oregon.
After several interviews, in which the savages were always aggressive,
often appearing with scalps in their belts, Bogus Charley came to the
commission on the evening of April 10, 1873, and informed them that
Capt. Jack and his band would have a " talk " to-morrow at a place near
Clear Lake, about three miles distant. Here the Commissioners, accom-
panied by Charley, Riddle, the interpreter, and Boston Charley repaired.
After the usual greeting the council proceedings commenced. On behalf
of the Indians there were present : Capt. Jack, Black Jim, Schnac Nasty
Jim, Ellen's Man, and Hooker Jim. They had no guns, but carried pis-
tols. After short speeches by Mr. Meacham, Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas,
Chief Schonchin arose to speak. He had scarcely proceeded when,
as if by a preconcerted arrangement, Capt. Jack drew his pistol and shot
Gen. Canby dead. In less than a minute a dozen shots were fired by the
savages, and the massacre completed. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schon-
chin, and Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped, being
fired at twice. Riddle, the interpreter, and his squaw escaped. The
troops rushed, to the spot where they found Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas
dead, and Mr. Meacham badly wounded. The savages had escaped to
their impenetrable fastnesses and could not be pursued.
The whole country was aroused by this brutal massacre ; but it was
not until the following May that the murderers were brought to justice.
At that time Boston Charley gave himself up, and offered to guide the
troops to Capt. Jack's stronghold. This led to the capture of his entire
gang, a number of whom were murdered by Oregon volunteers while on
their way to trial. The remaining Indians were held as prisoners until
July when their trial occurred, which led to the conviction of Capt.
Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One-Eyed
Jim, and Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. These sentences
were approved by the President, save in the case of Slotuck and Broncho
whose sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life. The others
were executed at Fort Klamath, October 3, 1873.
These closed the Indian troubles for a time in the Northwest, and for
several years the borders of civilization remained in peace. They were
again involved in a conflict with the savages about the country of the
CRETE
THfc
OP TBi
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
CAPTAIN JACK, THE MODOC CHIEFTAIN.
84 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Black Hills, in which war the gallant Gen. Ouster lost his life. Just
now the borders of Oregon and California are again in fear of hostilities ;
but as the Government has learned how to deal with the Indians, they
will be of short duration. The red man is fast passing away before the
march of the white man, and a few more generations will read of the
Indians as one of the nations of the past.
The Northwest abounds in memorable places. We have generally
noticed them in the narrative, but our space forbids their description in
detail, save of the most important places. Detroit, Cincinnati, Vincennes,
Kaskaskia and their kindred towns have all been described. But ere we
leave the narrative we will present our readers with an account of the
Kinzie house, the old landmark of Chicago, and the discovery of the
source of the Mississippi River, each of which may well find a place in
the annals of the Northwest.
Mr. John Kinzie, of the Kinzie house, represented in the illustra-
tion, established a trading house at Fort Dearborn in 1804. The stockade
had been erected the year previous, and named Fort Dearborn in honor
of the Secretary of War. It had a block house at each of the two angles,
on the southern side a sallyport, a covered way on the north side, that led
down to the river, for the double purpose of providing means of escape,
and of procuring water in the event of a siege.
Fort Dearborn stood on the south bank of the Chicago River, about
half a mile from its mouth. When Major Whistler built it, his soldiers
hauled all the timber, for he had no oxen, and so economically did he
work that the fort cost the Government only fifty dollars. For a while
the garrison could get no grain, and W histler and his men subsisted on
acorns. Now Chicago is the greatest grain center in the world.
Mr. Kinzie bought the hut of the first settler, Jean Baptiste Point au
Sable, on the site of which he erected his mansion. Within an inclosure
in front he planted some Lombardy poplars, seen in the engraving, and in
the rear he soon had a fine garden and growing orchard.
In 1812 the Kinzie house and its surroundings became the theater
of stirring events. The garrison of Fort Dearborn consisted of fifty-four
men, under the charge of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant
Lenai T. Helm (son-in-law to Mrs. Kinzie), and Ensign Ronan. The
surgeon was Dr. Voorhees. The only residents at the post at that time
were the wives of Capt. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and a few of the
soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyagers with their
wives and children. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most
friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and the Winnebagoes, the prin-
cipal tribes around them, but they could not win them from their attach-
ment to the British.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
85
After the battle of Tippecanoe it was observed that some of the lead-
ing chiefs became sullen, for some of their people had perished in that
conflict with American troops.
One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing his violin and his
children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into
the house pale with terror, and exclaiming, " The Indians ! the Indians ! "
" What ? Where ? " eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. " Up at Lee's, killing
and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was
given, was attending Mrs. Burns, a newly-made mother, living not far off.
KITTZIE HOUSE.
Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river in boats, and took refuge in
the fort, to which place Mrs. Burns and her infant, not a day old, were
conveyed in safety to the shelter of the guns of Fort Dearborn, and the
rest of the white inhabitants fled. The Indians were a scalping party of
Winnebagoes, who hovered around the fort some days, when they dis-
appeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were not disturbed by
alarms.
Chicago was then so deep in the wilderness, that the news of the
declaration of war against Great Britain, made on the 19th of June, 1812,
did not reach the commander of the garrison at Fort Dearborn till the 7th
of August. Now the fast mail train will carry a man from New York to
Chicago in twenty-seven hours, and such a declaration might be sent,
every word, by the telegraph in less than the same number of minutes.
THE tfOETHWEST TERRITORY.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST
Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk
war, and we now turn to the contemplation of the growth and prosperity
of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili-
The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow
A REPRESENTATIVE PIONEER.
of 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The
inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in
the '80s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the
region distributed through the East by those who had participated in the
Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then
had a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the
former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables
and clothing were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the
88 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in
Illinois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation,
and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over
the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south-
ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind
LINCOLN MONUMENT, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.
them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length,
and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding in
Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, although the
southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The
water courses of the lakes and rivers furnished transportation to the
second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were
pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us,
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
89
from the effects of which the "Western country had not fully recovered
at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies
fully alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting
the vast armies of the Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and
<rov. Morton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the
campaign won bj cur Western troops is a needless task, except to
mention the fact that Illinois gave to the nation the President who save/1
90
THJE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
it, and sent out at the head of one of its regiments tne general who led
ts armies to the final victory at Appomattox. The struggle, on the
FAKM VIEW IN WINTER.
whole, had a marked effect for the better on the new Northwest, g: fing
it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have produced.
In a large degree this prosperity was an inflated one, and with the rest
of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefor by four
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 93
years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of
fortune. To a less degree, however, than the manufacturing or mining
regions has the West suffered during the prolonged panic now so near its
end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has been
quite prosperous through all these dark years, and the farmers have
cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of
fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts a
sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is
becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the
seaboard dependent wholly on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture.
At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the
Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works
of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the
purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving tha
nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid
fair to deal almost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines
of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies.
The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer
season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates; but experienced
navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the seaboard
the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five years it has
become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West
Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi
and Missouri.
As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly,
and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union.
More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the
fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the
next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi
absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward
securing the removal of the Federal capitol to some more central location.
Our public men continue' to wield the full share of influence pertain-
ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that
for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the
principles which should govern the country.
In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for
generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one
can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements
of actualities that fill the columns of ephemeral publications. Time may
bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on
a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of
94
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
LAKE BLUFF.
The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, -with one hundred and seventy feet of gradual ascent.
HIGH BRIDGE, LAKE BLLTF, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 95
the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its
history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural
geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the
cattle raising districts of the southwest.
Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of
the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all
competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile
plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new
empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a
continued progress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must
look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of
the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe,
many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and
transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new
enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in
Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European
consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense.
English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway
loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in
lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East
St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily
grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pro-
gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the quality
of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing
display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest
in the matter is on the increase.
To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would
be useless, so far have we surpassed ourselves in the quantity and
quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving
the world its first article of necessity its food supply. An opportunity
to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at
the outbreak of the great panic of 1873, when Canadian purchasers,
fearing the prostration of business might bring about an anarchical condition
of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure
their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly
claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave
the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries,
and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the
government was able to reach by its most intense efforts of legislation
and compulsion. The hundreds of millions about to be disbursed for
farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial
96
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
nations, set the wheels in motion, and will relieve us from the perils so
long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone.
Manufacturing has attained in the chief cities a foothold which bids
fair to render the Northwest independent of the outside world. Nearly
our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time
support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As
to transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles excep v
food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and our facilities are yearly
increasing beyond those of any other region.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 97
The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the
panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the
depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations.
Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its
anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions,
and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities.
The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter
to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly
transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for
the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting
through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turning toward the
northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a
thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes
to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger
agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as
as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge
structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by
the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre-
gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul is its close rival in extent and importance. The three lines
running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with
the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion
are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to
Charleston, and the Chicago and Canada Southern, which line will con-
nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our
latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines,
and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne
and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the
progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches,
and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as
this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order
of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the
railways could hardly afford to use iron rails, and all our northwestern
lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now
being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and
their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages.
Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade
of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold $24,000,000 of
dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add
seventy per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots
and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have
placed here their distributing agents or their factories ; and in groceries
98
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages
over New York.
Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a
financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle
regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti-
tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months,
they are summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the
prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial
operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on
behalf of home interests.
It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing
section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might
seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision.
ILLINOIS.
Length, 380 miles, mean width about 156 miles. Area, 55,410 square
miles, or 35,462,400 acres. Illinois, as regards its surface, constitutes a
table-land at a varying elevation ranging between 350 and 800 feet above
the sea level ; composed of extensive and highly fertile prairies and plains.
Much of the south (3 'vision of the State, especially the river-bottoms, are
thickly wooded. The prairies, too, have oasis-like clumps of trees
scattered here and there at intervals. The chief rivers irrigating the
State are the Mississippi dividing it from Iowa and Missouri the Ohio
(forming its south barrier), the Illinois, Wabash, Kaskaskia, and San-
gamon, with their numerous affluents. The total extent of navigable
streams is calculated at 4,000 miles. Small lakes are scattered over vari-
ous parts of the State. Illinois is extremely prolific in minerals, chiefly
coal, iron, copper, and zinc ores, sulphur and limestone. The coal-field
alone is estimated to absorb a full third of the entire coal-deposit of North
America. Climate tolerably equable and healthy ; the mean temperature
standing at about 51 Fahrenheit As an agricultural region, Illinois takes
a competitive rank with neighboring States, the cereals, fruits, and root-
crops yielding plentiful returns ; in fact, as. a grain-growing State, Illinois
may be deemed, in proportion to her size, to possess a greater area of
lands suitable for its production than any other State in the Union. Stock-
raising is also largely carried on, while her manufacturing interests in
regard of woolen fabrics, etc., are on a very extensive and yearly expand-
ing scale. The lines of railroad in the State are among the most exten-
sive of the Union. Inland water-carriage is facilitated by a canal
connecting the Illinois River with Lake Michigan, and thence with the
St. Lawrence and Atlantic. Illinois is divided into 102 counties ; the
chief towns being Chicago, Springfield (capital), Alton, Quincy, Peoria,
Galena, Bloomington, Rock Island, Vandalia, etc. By the new Consti-
tution, established in 1870, the State Legislature consists of 51 Senators,
elected for four y^ars, and 153 Representatives, for two years ; which
numbers were to be decennially increased thereafter to the number of
six per every additional half-million of inhabitants. Religious and
educational institutions are largely diffused throughout, and are in a very
flourishing condition. Illinois has a State Lunatic and a Deaf and Dumb
Asylum at Jacksonville ; a State Penitentiary at Joliet ; and a Home for
(99)
100
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Soldiers' Orphans at Normal. On November 30, 1870, the public debt of
the State was returned at $4,870,937, with a balance of $1,808,833
unprovided for. At the same period the value of assessed and equalized
property presented the following totals : assessed, $840,031,703 ; equal-
ized $480,664,058. The name of Illinois, through nearly the whole of
the eighteenth century, embraced most of the known regions north and
west of Ohio. French colonists established themselves in 1673, at
Cahokia and Kaskaskia, and the territory of which these settlements
formed the nucleus was, in 1763, ceded to Great Britain in conjunction
with Canada, and ultimately resigned to the United States in 1787.
Illinois entered the Union as a State, December 3, 1818; and now sends
19 Representatives to Congress. Population, 2,539,891, in 1870.
4 WESTERN DWELLING.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. i(jl
INDIANA.
The profile of Indiana forms a nearly exact parallelogram, occupy-
ing one of the most fertile portions of the great Mississippi Valley. The
greater extent of the surface embraced within its limits consists of gentle
undulations rising into hilly tracts toward the Ohio bottom. The chief
rivers of the State are the Ohio and Wabash, with their numerous
affluents. The soil is highly productive of the cereals and grasses most
particularly so in the valleys of the Ohio, Wabash, Whitewater, and
White Rivers. The northeast and central portions are well timbered
with virgin forests, and the west section is notably rich in coal, constitut-
ing an offshoot of the great Illinois carboniferous field. Iron, copper,
marble, slate, gypsum, and various clays are also abundant. From an
agricultural point of view, the staple products are maize and wheat, with
the other cereals in lesser yields ; and besides these, flax, hemp, sorghum,
hops, etc., are extensively raised. Indiana is divided into 92 counties,
and counts among her principal cities and towns, those of Indianapolis
(the capital), Fort Wayne, Evansville, Terre Haute, Madison, Jefferson-
ville, Columbus, Vincennes, South Bend, etc. The public institutions of
the State are many and various, and on a scale of magnitude and
efficiency commensurate with her important political and industrial status.
Upward of two thousand miles of railroads permeate the State in all
directions, and greatly conduce to the development of her expanding
manufacturing interests. Statistics for the fiscal year terminating
October 31, 1870, exhibited a total of receipts, $3,896,541 as against dis-
bursements, $3,532,406, leaving a balance, $364,135 in favor of the State
Treasury. The entire public debt, January 5, 1871, $3,971,000. This
State was first settled by Canadian voyageurs in 1702, who erected a fort
at Vincennes ; in 1763 it passed into the hands of the English, and was
by the latter ceded to the United States in 1783. From 1788 till 1791,
an Indian warefare prevailed. In 1800, all the region west and north of
Ohio (then formed into a distinct territory) became merged in Indiana.
In 1809, the present limits of the State were defined, Michigan and
Illinois having previously been withdrawn. In 1811, Indiana was the
theater of the Indian War of Tecumseh, ending with the decisive battle
of Tippecanoe. In 1816 (December 11), Indiana became enrolled among
the States of the American Union. In 1834, the State passed through a
monetary crisis owing to its having become mixed up with railroad,
canal, and other speculations on a gigantic scale, which ended, for the
time being, in a general collapse of public credit, and consequent bank-
ruptcy. Since that time, however, the greater number of the public
102 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
works which had brought about that imbroglio especially the great
Wabash and Erie Canal have been completed, to the great benefit of
the State, whose subsequent progress has year by year been marked by
rapid strides in the paths of wealth, commerce, and general social and
political prosperity. The constitution now in force was adopted in 1851.
Population, 1,680*637.
IOWA.
In shape, Iowa presents an almost perfect parallelogram; has a
length, north to south, of about 300 miles, by a pretty even width of 208
miles, and embraces an area of 55,045 square miles, or 35,228,800 acres.
The surface of the State is generally undulating, rising toward the
middle into an elevated plateau which forms the " divide " of the
Missouri and Mississippi basins. Rolling prairies, especially in the south
section, constitute a regnant feature, and the river bottoms, belted with
woodlands, present a soil of the richest alluvion. Iowa is well watered ;
the principal rivers being the Mississippi and Missouri, which form
respectively its east and west limits, and the Cedar,. Iowa, and Des
Moines, affluents of the first named. Mineralogically, Iowa is important
as occupying a section of the great Northwest coal field, to the extent of
an area estimated at 25,000 square miles. Lead, copper, zinc, and iron,
are also mined in considerable quantities. The soil is well adapted to
the production of wheat, maize, and the other cereals ; fruits, vegetables,
and esculent roots; maize, wheat, and oats forming the chief staples.
Wine, tobacco, hops, and wax, are other noticeable items of the agricul-
tural yield. Cattle-raising, too, is a branch of rural industry largely
engaged in. The climate is healthy, although liable to extremes of heat
and cold. The annual gross product of the various manufactures carried
on in this State approximate, in round numbers, a sum of $20,000,000.
Iowa has an immense railroad system, besides over 500 miles of water-
communication by means of its navigable rivers. The State is politically
divided into 99 counties, with the following centers of population : Des
Moines (capital), Iowa City (former capital), Dubuque, Davenport, Bur-
lington, Council Bluffs, Keokuk, Muscatine, and Cedar Rapids. The
State institutions of Iowa religious, scholastic, and philanthropic are
on a par, as regards number and perfection of organization and operation,
with those of her Northwest sister States, and education is especially
well cared for, and largely diffused. Iowa formed a portion of the
American territorial acquisitions from France, by the so-called Louisiana
purchase in 1803, and was politically identified with Louisiana till 1812,
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 103
when it merged into the Missouri Territory; in 1834 it came under the
Michigan organization, and, in 1836, under that of Wisconsin. Finally,
after being constituted an independent Territory, it became a State of
the Union, December 28, 1846. Population in 1860, 674,913 ; in 1870,
1,191,792, and in 1875, 1,353,118.
MICHIGAN.
United area, 56,243 square miles, or 35,995,520 acres. Extent of the
Upper and smaller Peninsula length, 316 miles; breadth, fluctuating
between 36 and 120 miles. The south division is 416 miles long, by from
50 to 300 miles wide. Aggregate lake-shore line, 1,400 miles. The
Upper, or North, Peninsula consists chiefly of an elevated plateau,
expanding into the Porcupine mountain-system, attaining a maximum
height of some 2,000 feet. Its shores along Lake Superior are eminently
bold and picturesque, and its area is rich in minerals, its product of
copper constituting an important source of industry. Both divisions are
heavily wooded, and the South one, in addition, boasts of a deep, rich,
loamy soil, throwing up excellent crops of cereals and other agricultural
produce. The climate is generally mild and humid, though the Winter
colds are severe. The chief staples of farm husbandry include the cereals,
grasses, maple sugar, sorghum, tobacco, fruits, and dairy-stuffs. In 1870,
the acres of land in farms were : improved, 5,096,939 ; unimproved
woodland, 4,080,146 ; other unimproved land, 842,057. The cash value
of land was $398,240,578 ; of farming implements and machinery,
$13,711,979. In 1869, there were shipped from the Lake Superior ports,
874,582 tons of iron ore, and 45,762 of smelted pig, along with 14,188
tons of copper (ore and ingot). Coal is another article largely mined.
Inland communication is provided for by an admirably organized railroad
system, and by the St. Mary's Ship Canal, connecting Lakes Huron and
Superior. Michigan is politically divided into 78 counties ; its chief
urban centers are Detroit, Lansing (capital), Ann Arbor, Marquette,
Bay City, Niles, Ypsilanti, Grand Haven, etc. The Governor of the
State is elected biennially. On November 30, 1870, the aggregate bonded
debt of Michigan amounted to $2,385,028, and the assessed valuation of
land to $266,929,278, representing an estimated cash value of $800,000,000.
Education is largely diffused and most excellently conducted and pro-
vided for. The State University at Ann Arbor, the colleges of Detroit
and Kalamazoo, the Albion Female College, the State Normal School at
Ypsilanti, and the State Agricultural College at Lansing, are chief among
the academic institutions. Michigan (a term of Chippeway origin, and
104 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
signifying " Great Lake), was discovered and first settled by French
Canadians, who, in 1670, founded Detroit, the pioneer of a series of trad-
ing-posts on the Indian frontier. During the " Conspiracy of Pontiac,"
following the French loss of Canada, Michigan became the scene of a
sanguinary struggle between the whites and aborigines. In 1796, it
became annexed to the United States, which incorporated this region
with the Northwest Territory, and then with Indiana Territory, till 1803,
when it became territorially independent. Michigan was the theater of
warlike operations during the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and in
1819 was authorized to be represented by one delegate in Congress ; in
1837 she was admitted into the Union as a State, and in 1869 ratified the
15th Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Population, 1,184,059.
WISCONSIN.
It has a mean length of 260 miles, and a maximum breadth of 215.
Land area, 53,924 square miles, or 34,511,360 acres. Wisconsin lies at a
considerable altitude above sea-level, and consists for the most part of an
upland plateau, the surface of which is undulating and very generally
diversified. Numerous local eminences called mounds are interspersed
over the State, and the Lake Michigan coast-line is in many parts char-
acterized by lofty escarped cliffs, even as on the west side the banks of
the Mississippi form a series of high and picturesque bluffs. A group of
islands known as The Apostles lie off the extreme north point of the
State in Lake Superior, and the great estuary of Green Bay, running far
inland, gives formation to a long, narrow peninsula between its waters
and those of Lake Michigan. The river-system of Wisconsin has three
outlets those of Lake Superior, Green Bay, and the Mississippi, which
latter stream forms the entire southwest frontier, widening at one point
into the large watery expanse called Lake Pepin. Lake Superior receives
the St. Louis, Burnt Wood, and Montreal Rivers ; Green Bay, the
Menomoiiee, Peshtigo, Oconto, and Fox ; while into the Mississippi
empty the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black, Wisconsin, and Rock Rivers.
The chief interior lakes are those of Winnebago, Horicon, and Court
Oreilles, and smaller sheets of water stud a great part of the surface.
The climate is healthful, with cold Winters and brief but very warm
Summers. Mean annual rainfall 31 inches. The geological system
represented by the State, embraces those rocks included between the
primary and the Devonian series, the former containing extensive
deposits of copper and iron ore. Besides these minerals, lead and zinc
are found in great quantities, together with kaolin, plumbago, gypsum,
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 105
and various clays. Mining, consequently, forms a prominent industry,
and one of yearly increasing dimensions. The soil of Wisconsin is of
varying quality, but fertile on the whole, and in the north parts of the
State heavily timbered. The agricultural yield comprises the cereals,
together with flax, hemp, tobacco, pulse, sorgum, and all kinds of vege-
tables, and of the hardier fruits. In 1870, the State had a total number
of 102,904 farms, occupying 11,715,321 acres, of which 5,899,348 con-
sisted of improved land, and 3,437,442 were timbered. Cash value of
farms, $300,414,064 ; of farm implements and machinery, $14,239,364.
Total estimated value of all farm products, including betterments and
additions to stock, $78,027,032 ; of orchard and dairy stuffs, $1,045,933 ;
of lumber, $1,327,618 ; of home manufactures, $338,423 ; of all live-stock,
$45,310,882. Number of manufacturing establishments, 7,136, employ-
ing 39,055 hands, and turning out productions valued at $85,624,966.
The political divisions of the State form 61 counties, and the chief places
of wealth, trade, and population, are Madison (the capital), Milwaukee,
Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Prairie du Chien, Janesville, Portage City,
Racine, Kenosha, and La Crosse. In 1870, the total assessed valuation
reached $333,209,838, as against a true valuation of both real and personal
estate aggregating $602,207,329. Treasury receipts during 1870, $886,-
696 ; disbursements, $906,329. Value of church property, $4,749,983.
Education is amply provided for. Independently of the State University
at Madison, and those of Galesville and of Lawrence at Appleton, and
the colleges of Beloit, Racine, and Milton, there are Normal Schools at
Platteville and Whitewater. The State is divided into 4,802 common
school districts, maintained at a cost, in 1870, of $2,094,160. The chari-
table institutions of Wisconsin include a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, an
Institute for the Education of the Blind, and a Soldiers' Orphans' School.
In January, 1870, the railroad system ramified throughout the State
totalized 2,779 miles of track, including several lines far advanced toward
completion. Immigration is successfully encouraged by the State author-
ities, the larger number of yearly new-comers being of Scandinavian and
German origin. The territory now occupied within the limits of the
State of Wisconsin was explored by French missionaries and traders in
1639, and it remained under French jurisdiction until 1703, when it
became annexed to the British North American possessions. In 1796, it
reverted to the United States, the government of which latter admitted
it within the limits of the Northwest Territory, and in 1809, attached it
to that of Illinois, and to Michigan in 1818. Wisconsin became independ-
ently territorially organized in 1836, and became a State of the Union,
March 3, 1847. Population in 1870, 1,0(54,985, of which 2,113 were of
the colored race, and 11,521 Indians, 1,206 of the latter being out of
tribal relations.
106 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
MINNESOTA.
Its length, north to south, embraces an extent of 380 miles ; its
breadth one of 250 miles at a maximum. Area, 84,000 square miles, or
54,760,000 acres. The surface of Minnesota, generally speaking, con-
sists of a succession of gently undulating plains and prairies, drained by
an admirable water-system, and with here and there heavity- timbered
bottoms and belts of virgin forest. The soil, corresponding with such a
superfices, is exceptionally rich, consisting for the most part of a dark,
calcareous sandy drift intermixed with loam. A distinguishing physical
feature of this State is its riverine ramifications, expanding in nearly
every part of it into almost innumerable lakes the whole presenting an
aggregate of water-power having hardly a rival in the Union. Besides
the Mississippi which here has its rise, and drains a basin of 800 miles
of country the principal streams are the Minnesota (334 miles long),
the Red River of the North, the St. Croix, St. Louis, and many others of
lesser importance ; the chief lakes are those called Red, Cass, Leech,
Mille Lacs, Vermillion, and Winibigosh. Quite a concatenation of sheets
of water fringe the frontier line where Minnesota joins British America,
culminating in the Lake of the Woods. It has been estimated, that of
an area of 1,200,000 acres of surface between the St. Croix and Mis-
sissippi Rivers, not less than 73,000 acres are of lacustrine formation. In
point of minerals, the resources of Minnesota have as yet been very
imperfectly developed ; iron, copper, coal, lead all these are known to
exist in considerable deposits ; together with salt, limestone, and potter's
clay. The agricultural outlook of the State is in a high degree satis-
factory ; wheat constitutes the leading cereal in cultivation, with Indian
corn and oats in next order. Fruits and vegetables are grown in great
plenty and of excellent quality. The lumber resources of Minnesota are
important ; the pine forests in the north region alone occupying an area
of some 21,000 square miles, which in 1870 produced a return of scaled
logs amounting to 313,116,416 feet. The natural industrial advantages
possessed by Minnesota are largely improved upon by a railroad system.
The political divisions of this State number 78 counties ; of which the
chief cities and towns are : St. Paul (the capital), Stillwater, Red Wing,
St. Anthony, Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, and Mankato. Minnesota has
already assumed an attitude of high importance as a manufacturing State ;
this is mainly due to the wonderful command of water-power she pos-
sesses, as before spoken of. Besides her timber-trade, the milling of
flour, the distillation of whisky, and the tanning of leather, are prominent
interests, which, in 1869, gave returns to the amount of $14,831,043.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 107
Education is notably provided for on a broad and catholic scale, the
entire amount expended scholastically during the y5ar 1870 being $857,'
816 ; while on November 30 of the preceding year the permanent school
fund stood at $2,476,222. Besides a University and Agricultural College,
Normal and Reform Schools flourish, and with these may be mentioned
such various philanthropic and religious institutions as befit the needs of
an intelligent and prosperous community. The finances of the State for
the fiscal year terminating December 1, 1870, exhibited a balance on the
right side to the amount of $136,164, being a gain of $44,000 over the
previous year's figures. The earliest exploration of Minnesota by the
whites was made in 1680 by a French Franciscan, Father Hennepin, who
gave the name of St. Antony to the Great Falls on the Upper Missisippi.
In 1763, the Treaty of Versailles ceded this region to England.
Twenty years later, Minnesota formed part of the Northwest Territory
transferred to the United States, and became herself territorialized inde-
pendently in 1849. Indian cessions in 1851 enlarged her boundaries, and,
May 11, 1857, Minnesota became a unit of the great American federation
of States. Population, 439,706.
NEBRASKA.
Maximum length, 412 miles ; extreme breadth, 208 miles. Area,
75,905 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres. The surface of this State is
almost entirely undulating prairie, and forms part of the west slope of
the great central basin of the North American Continent. In its west
division, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, is a sandy belt of
country, irregularly defined. In this part, too, are the " dunes," resem-
bling a wavy sea of sandy billows, as well as the Mauvaises Terres, a tract
f singular formation, produced by eccentric disintegrations and denuda-
tions of the land. The chief rivers are the Missouri, constituting its en-
tire east line of demarcation ; the Nebraska or Platte, the Niobrara, the
Republican Fork of the Kansas, the Elkhorn, and the Loup Fork of the
Platte. The soil is very various, but consisting chiefly of rich, bottomy
loam, admirably adapted to the raising of heavy crops of cereals. All
the vegetables and fruits of the temperate zone are produced in great
size and plenty. For grazing purposes Nebraska is a State exceptionally
well fitted, a region of not less than 23,000,000 acres being adaptable to
this branch of husbandry. It is believed that the, as yet, comparatively
infertile tracts of land found in various parts of the State are susceptible
of productivity by means of a properly conducted system of irrigation.
Few minerals of moment have so far been found within the limits ot
108
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Nebraska, if we may except important saline deposits at the head of Salt
Creek in its southeast section. The State is divided into 57 counties,
independent of the Pawnee and Winnebago Indians, and of unorganized
territory in the northwest part. The principal towns are Omaha, Lincoln
(State capital), Nebraska City, Columbus, Grand Island, etc. In 1870,
the total assessed value of property amounted to $53,000,000, being an
increase of $11,000,000 over the previous year's returns. The total
amount received from the school-fund during the year 1869-70 was
$77,999. Education is making great onward strides, the State University
and an Agricultural College being far advanced toward completion. In
the matter of railroad communication, Nebraska bids fair to soon place
herself on a par with her neighbors to the east. Besides being inter-
sected by the Union Pacific line, with its off-shoot, the Fremont and Blair,
other tracks are in course of rapid construction. Organized by Con-
gressional Act into a Territory, May 30, 1854, Nebraska entered the
Union as a full State, March 1, 1867. Population, 122,993.
PRAIRIE WOLVES IX AN EARLY DAY.
EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The name of this beautiful Prairie State is derived from Illim, a
Delaware word signifying Superior Men. It has a French termination,
and is a symbol of how the two races the French and the Indians
were intermixed during the early history of the country.
The appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabit-
ants of the soil whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the
combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less
savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were
once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile
region in the great Valley of the Mississippi, which their enemies coveted
and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of
war they were diminished in numbers, and finally destroyed. " Starved
Rock," on the Illinois River, according to tradition, commemorates their
last tragedy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than sur-
render.
EARLY DISCOVERIES.
The first European discoveries in Illinois date back over two hun-
dred years. They are a part of that . movement which, from the begin-
ning to the middle of the seventeenth century, brought the French
Canadian missionaries and fur traders into the Valley of the Mississippi
and which, at a later period, established the civil and ecclesiastical
authority of France from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico,
and from the foot-hills of the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains.
The great river of the West had been discovered by DeSoto, the
Spanish conqueror of Florida, three quarters of a century before the
French founded Quebec in 1608, but the Spanish left the country a wil-
derness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in
which condition it remained until the Mississippi was discovered by the
agents of the French Canadian government, Joliet and Marquette, in 1673.
These renowned explorers were not the first white visitors to Illinois.
In 1671 two years in advance of them came Nicholas Perrot to Chicago.
He had been sent by Talon as an agent of the Canadian government to
IOQ
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
HISTOBY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. Ill
call a great peace convention of Western Indians at Green Bay, prepara-
tory to the movement for the discovery of the Mississippi. It was
deemed a good stroke of policy to secure, as far as possible, the friend-
ship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon
an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous, and which
their friendship and assistance would do so much to make successful ;
and to this end Perrot was sent to call together in council the tribes
throughout the Northwest, and to promise them the commerce and pro-
tection of the French government. He accordingly arrived at Green
Bay in 1671, and procuring an escort of Pottawattamies, proceeded in a
bark canoe upon a visit to the Miamis, at Chicago. Perrot was there-
fore the first European to set foot upon the soil of Illinois.
Still there were others before Marquette. In 1672, the Jesuit mis-
sionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard
of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin
and northern Illinois, visiting the Foxes on Fox River, and the Masquo-
tines and Kickapoos at the mouth of the Milwaukee. These missionaries
penetrated on the route afterwards followed by Marquette as far as the
Kickapoo village at the head of Lake Winnebago, where Marquette, in
his journey, secured guides across the portage to the Wisconsin.
The oft-repeated story of Marquette and Joliet is well known.
They were the agents employed by the Canadian government to discover
the Mississippi. Marquette was a native of France, born in 1637, a
Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and of great zeal and
devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the Indians.
Arriving in Canada in 1666, he was sent as a missionary to the far
Northwest, and, in 1668, founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. The A^
following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake Superior, where he||
instructed a branch of the Hurons till 1670, when he removed south, and
founded the mission at St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. Here
he remained, devoting a portion of his time to the study of the Illinois
language under a native teacher who had accompanied him to the mission
from La Pointe, till he was joined by Joliet in the Spring of 1673. By
the way of Green Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, they entered
the Mississippi, which they explored to the mouth of the Arkansas, and
returned by the way of the Illinois and Chicago Rivers to Lake Michigan.
On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the great village of
the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in the county of LaSalle. The
following year he returned and established among them the mission of
the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which was the first Jesuit mission founded
in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. The intervening winter he
had spent in a hut which his companions erected on the Chicago River, a
few leagues from its mouth. The founding of this mission was the last
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
act of Marquette's life. He died in Michigan, on his way back to Green
Bay, May 18, 1675.
FIRST FRENCH OCCUPATION.
The first French occupation of the territory now embraced in Illi-
nois was effected by LaSalle in 1680, seven years after the time of Mar-
quette and Joliet. LaSalle, having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin,"
above the falls of Niagara, which he sailed to Green Bay, and . having
passed thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by which
and the Kankakee he reached the Illinois, in January, 1680, erected Fort
Crevecoeur, at the lower end of Peoria Lake, where the city of Peoria is
now situated. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen
just below the outlet of Peoria Lake. It was destined, however, to a
temporary existence. From this point, LaSalle determined to descend
the Mississippi to its mouth, but did not accomplish this purpose till two
years later in 1682. Returning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of
getting materials with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort in charge of
Touti, his lieutenant, who during his absence was driven off by the Iro-
quois Indians. These savages had made a raid upon the settlement of
the Illinois, and had left nothing in their track but ruin and desolation.
Mr. Davidson, in his History of Illinois, gives the following graphic
account of the picture that met the eyes of LaSalle and his companions
on their return :
" At the great town of the Illinois they were appalled at the scene
which opened to their view. No hunter appeared to break its death-like
silence with a salutatory whoop ot welcome. The plain on which the
town had stood was now strewn with charred fragments of lodges, which
had so recently swarmed with savage life and hilarity. To render more
hideous the picture of desolation, large numbers of skulls had been
placed on the upper extremities of lodge-poles which had escaped the
devouring flames. In the midst of these horrors was the rude fort of
the spoilers, rendered frightful by the same ghastly relics. A near
approach showed that the graves had been robbed of their bodies, and
swarms of buzzards were discovered glutting their loathsome stomachs
on the reeking corruption. To complete the work of destruction, the
growing corn of the village had been cut down and burned, while the
pits containing the products of previous years, had been rifled and their
contents scattered with wanton waste. It was evident the suspected
blow of the Iroquois had fallen with relentless fury."
Tonti had escaped LaSalle knew not whither. Passing down the
lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discovered that the fort had
been destroyed, but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
on the stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search,
failing to find Tonti, he fastened to a tree a painting representing himself
and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the paint-
ing attached a letter addressed to Tonti.
Tonti had escaped, and, after untold privations, taken shelter among
the Pottawattamies near Green J3ay. These were friendly to the French.
One of their old chiefs used to say, " There were but three great cap-
tains in the world, himself, Tonti and LaSalle."
GENIUS OF LASALLE.
We must now return to LaSalle, whose exploits stand out in such
bold relief. He was born in Rouen, France, in 1643. His father was
wealthy, but he renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the
Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man in 1666.
The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a brother, were then the
proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus of which was a seminary or con-
vent founded by that order. The Superior granted to LaSalle a large
tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade.
He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his competitors in
' exploits of travel and commerce with the Indians. In 1669, he visited
the headquarters of the great Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the
heart of New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio River to
the falls at Louisville.
In order to understand the genius of LaSalle, it must be remembered
that for many years prior to his time the missionaries and traders were
obliged to make their way to the Northwest by the Ottawa River (of
Canada) on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower
lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this latter route to the
Upper Lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, pad-
dling them through the Ottawa to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across
the portage to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. This
being the route by which they reached the Northwest, accounts for the
fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neighbor-
hood of the Upper Lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening
the route by Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce
by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and
thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St.
Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This truly grand and comprehensive
purpose seems to have animated him in all his wonderful achievements
and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first
step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake
Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present
114 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the
French crown and a body of troops by which he beat back the invading
Iroq[uois and cleared the passage to Niagara Falls. Having by this mas-
terly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his
next step, as we have seen, was to advance to the Falls with all his
outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was success-
ful in this undertaking, though hu ultimate purpose was defeated by a
strange combination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently
hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them
and co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of
his superior success in opening new channels of commerce. At LaChine
he had taken the trade of Lake Ontario, which but for his presence there
would have gone to Quebec. While they were plodding with their barK
canoes through the Ottawa he was constructing sailing vessels to com-
mand the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans
excited the jealousy and envy of the small traders, introduced treason and
revolt into the ranks of his own companions, and finally led to the foul
assassination by which his great achievements were prematurely ended.
In 1682, LaSalle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, descended
the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico. Erecting a
standard on which he inscribed the arms of France, he took formal pos-
session of the whole valley of the mighty river, in the name of Louis
XIV., then reigning, in honor of whom he named the country LOUISIANA.
LaSalle then went to France, was appointed Governor, and returned
with a fleet and immigrants, for the purpose of planting a colony in Illi-
nois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to
find the mouth of the Mississippi, up which LaSalle intended to sail, his
supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on.
Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed a
stockade and rude huts on the shore for the protection of the immigrants,
calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico,
in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to
find his little colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel
on foot to Illinois, and, starting with his companions, had reached the
valley of the Colorado, near the mouth of Trinity river, when he was
shot by one of his men. This occurred on the 19th of March, 1687.
Dr. J. W. Foster remarks of him : " Thus fell, not far from the banks
of the Trinity, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, one of the grandest charac-
ters that ever figured in American history a man capable of originating
the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment capable of
carrying them to successful results. Had ample facilities been placed by
the King of France at his disposal, the result of the colonization of this
continent might have been far different from what we now behold."
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 115
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
A temporary settlement was made at Fort St. Louis, or the old Kas-
kaskia village, on the Illinois River, in what is now LaSalle County, in
1682. In 1690, this was removed, with the mission connected with it, to
Kaskaskia, on the river of that name, emptying into the lower Mississippi
in St. Clair County. Cahokia was settled about the same time, or at
least, both of these settlements began in the year 1690, though it is now
pretty well settled that Cahokia is the older place, and ranks as the oldest
permanent settlement in Illinois, as well as in the Mississippi Valley.
The reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission,
was probably because the dangeroas and difficult route by Lake Michigan
and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and
traders passed down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin
River route. They removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order
to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower
part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes.
During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population prob-
ably never exceeded ten thousand, including whites and blacks. Within
that portion of it now included in Indiana, trading posts were established
at the principal Miami villages which stood on the head waters of the
Maumee, the Wea villages situated at Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and
the Piankeshaw villages at Post Vincennes ; all of which were probably
visited by French traders and missionaries before the close of the seven-
teenth century.
In the vast territory , claimed by the French, many settlements of
considerable importance had sprung up. Biloxi, on Mobile Bay, had
been founded by D'Iberville, in 1699 ; Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac had
founded Detroit in 1701 ; and New Orleans had been founded by Bien-
ville, under the auspices of the Mississippi Company, in 1718. In Illi-
nois also, considerable settlements had been made, so that in 1730 they
embraced one hundred and forty French families, about six hundred " con-
verted Indians," anoTmany traders and voyageurs. In that portion of the
country, on the east side of the Mississippi, there were five distinct set-
tlements, with their respective villages, viz. : Cahokia, near the mouth
of Cahokia Creek and about five miles below the present city of St.
Louis ; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia, and four miles
above Fort Chartres; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia;
Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia River, five miles above its conflu-
ence with the Mississippi ; and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres.
To these must be added St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the west side
of the Mississippi. These, with the exception of St. Louis, are among
116
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 117
the oldest French towns in the Mississippi Valley. Kaskaskia, in its best
days, was a town of some two or three thousand inhabitants. After it
passed from the crown of France its population for many years did not
exceed fifteen hundred. Under British rule, in 1773, the population had
decreased to four hundred and fifty. As early as 1721, the Jesuits had
established a college and a monastery in Kaskaskia.
Fort Chartres was first built under the direction of the Mississippi
Company, in 1718, by M. de Boisbraint, a military officer, under command
of Bienville. It stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, about eighteen
miles below Kaskaskia, and was for some time the headquarters of the
military commandants of the district of Illinois.
In the Centennial Oration of Dr. Fowler, delivered at Philadelphia,
by appointment of Gov. Beveridge, we find some interesting facts with
regard to the State of Illinois, which we appropriate in this history:
In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown, a depend-
ency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 the English flag was
run up on old Fort Chartres, and Illinois was counted among the treas-
ures of Great Britain.
In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George Rogers Clark.
This man was resolute in nature, wise in council, prudent in policy, bold
in action, and heroic in danger. Few men who have figured in the his-
tory of America are more deserving than . this colonel. Nothing short of
first-class ability could have rescued Vincens and all Illinois from the
English. And it is not possible to over-estimate the influence of this
achievement upon the republic. In 1779 Illinois became a part of Vir-
ginia. It was soon known ( as Illinois County. In 1784 Virginia ceded
all this territory to the general government, to be cut into States, to be
republican in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom, and
independence as the other States."
In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legislation found
in any merely human records. No man can study the secret history of
THE "COMPACT OF 1787,"
and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye these unborn
States. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally became the incor-
porating act, has a most marvelous history. Jefferson had vainly tried
to secure a system of government for the northwestern terjitory. He
was an emancipationist of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery
from the territory Virginia had ceded to the general government ; but
the South voted him down as often as it came up. In 1787, as late as
July 10, an organizing act without the anti-slavery clause was pending.
This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in
118 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF rLLINOIS.
session in New York City. On July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the northwestern terri-
tory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe.
The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice,
the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete
one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that
once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the
breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale received his
A.M. from Harvard, and his D.D. from Yale. He had studied and taken
degrees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He
had thus America's best indorsement. He had published a scientific
examination of the plants of New England. His name stood second only
to that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly gentle-
man of the old style, a man of commanding presence, and of inviting
face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman
in the North. He came representing a company that desired to purchase
a tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony.
It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents an
the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected enough to pur-
chase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made
Dr. Cutler their agent (lobbyist). On the 12th he represented a demand
for 5,500,000 acres. This would reduce the national debt. Jefferson
and Virginia were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia
had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the public credit,
and this was a good opportunity to do something.
Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the northwestern
region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspira-
tion, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The English minister invited him to
dine with some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the center of interest.
The entire South rallied round him. Massachusetts could not vote
against him, because many of the constituents of her members were
interested personally in the western speculation. Thus Cutler, making
friends with the South, and, doubtless, using all the arts of the lobby,
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convictions, he
dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise states-
manship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from
Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," which, preceding the federal
constitution, rose into the most sacred character. He then followed very
closely the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted three years before.
Its most marked points were :
1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.
2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary,
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 119
and every section numbered 16 in each township ; that is, one-thirty-sixth
of all the land, for public schools.
3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the
enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts.
Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " Religion,
morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always
be encouraged."
Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield.
Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing that unless
they could make the land desirable they did not want it he took his
horse and buggy, and started for the constitutional convention in Phila-
delphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was
unanimously adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one
man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voting against it. But as the States voted
as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact was put beyond repeal.
Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis-
consin a vast empire, the heart of the great valley were consecrated
to freedom, intelligence, and honesty. Thus the great heart of the nation
was prepared for a year and a day and an hour. In the light of these eighty-
nine years I affirm, that this act was the salvation of the republic and the
destruction of slavery. Soon the South saw their great blunder, and
tried to repeal the compact. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee
of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance
was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock, in the way
of the on-rushing sea of slavery.
With all this timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and pro-
tracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was
the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end
of the State slavery preceded the compact. It existed among the old
French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. The southern part of the
State was settled from the slave States, and this population brought their
laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from
the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections
misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded
the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the
country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The North-
erner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing
in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt and ignorance. These causes aided
in making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy
with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French settlers to
retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might bring their
120 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
slaves, if they would give them a chance to choose freedom or years
of service and bondage for their children till they should become
thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State
in sixty days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses
for which white men are fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A
negro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous
laws were imported from the slave States just as they imported laws foi
the inspection of flax and wool when there was neither in the State.
These Black Laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was made
to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1817. It barely failed.
It was renewed in 1825, when a convention was asked to make a new
constitution. After a hard fight the convention was defeated. But
slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850. There
were mobs and murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added
to the list of martyrs a sort of first-fruits of that long life of immortal
heroes who saw freedom as the one supreme desire of their souls, and
were so enamored of her that they preferred to die rather than survive her.
The population of 12,282 that occupied the territory in A.D. 1800,
increased to 45,000 in A.D. 1818, when the State Constitution was
adopted, and Illinois took her place in the Union, with a star on the flag
and two votes in the Senate.
Shadrach Bond was the first Governor, and in his first message he
recommended the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal.
The simple economy in those days is seen in the fact that the entire
bill for stationery for the first Legislature was only $13.50. Yet this
simple body actually enacted a very superior code.
There was no money in the territory before the war of 1812. Deer
skins and coon skins were the circulating medium. In 1821, the Legis-
lature ordained a State Bank on the credit of the State. It issued notes
in the likeness of bank bills. These notes were made a legal tender for
every thing, and the bank was ordered to loan to the people $100 on per-
sonal security, and more on mortgages. They actually passed a resolu-
tion requesting the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to
receive these notes for land. The old French Lieutenant Governor, Col.
Menard, put the resolution as follows: " Gentlemen of the Senate : It is
moved and seconded dot de notes of dis bank be made land-office money.
All in favor of dat motion say aye ; all against it say no. It is decided
in de affirmative. Now, gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollar he
never be land-office money ! " Hard sense, like hard money, is always
above par.
This old Frenchman presents a fine figure up against the dark back-
ground of most of his nation. They made no progress. They clung to
their earliest and simplest implements. They never wore hats or cap?
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 121
They pulled their blankets over their heads in the winter like the Indians,
with whom they freely intermingled.
t)emagogism had an early development. One John Grammar (only
in name), elected to the Territorial and State Legislatures of 1816 and
1836, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, " If it
succeeds, no one will ask who voted against it. If it proves a failure, he
could quote its record." In sharp contrast with Grammar was the char-
acter of D. P. Cook, after whom the county containing Chicago was
named. Such was his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that
his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man,
and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard-
less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy
Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson,
Clay, Crawford, and John Quincy Adams. There being no choice by the
people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so balanced that
it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, electing him ; then
went home to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois. It cost
him all but character and greatness. It is a suggestive comment on the
times, that there was no legal interest till 1830. It often reached 150
per cent., usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, and now to
10 per cent.
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PRAIRIE STATE.
In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is about
150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude from Maine to
North Carolina. It embraces wide variety of climate. It is tempered
on the north by the great inland, saltless, tideless sea, which keeps the
thermometer from either extreme. Being a table land, from 600 to 1,600
feet above "the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the health
maps, prepared by the general government, an almost clean and perfect
record. In freedom from fever and malarial diseases and consumptions,
the three deadly enemies of the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State,
stands without a superior. She furnishes one of the essential conditions
of a great people sound bodies. I suspect that this fact lies back of
that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men.
The great battles of history that have been determinative of dynas-
ties and destinies have been strategical battles, chiefly the question of
position. Thermopylae has been the war-cry of freemen for twenty-four
centuries. It only tells how much there may be in position. All this
advantage belongs to Illinois. It is in the heart of the greatest valley in
the world, the vast region between the mountains a valley that could
122 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
feed mankind for one thousand years. It is well on toward the center of
the continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have been
found nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history. It has sixty-five
miles of frontage on the head of the lake. With the Mississippi forming
the western and southern boundary, with the Ohio running along the
southeastern line, with the Illinois River and Canal dividing the State
diagonally from the lake to the Lower Mississippi, and with the Rock and
Wabash Rivers furnishing altogether 2,000 miles of water-front, con-
necting with, and running through, in all about 12,000 miles of navi-
gable water.
But this is not all.' These waters are made most available by the
fact that the lake and the State lie on the ridge running into the great
valley from the east. Within cannon-shot of the lake the water runs
away from the lake to the Gulf. The lake now empties at both ends,
one into the Atlantic and one into the Gulf of Mexico. The lake thus
seems to hang over the land. This makes the dockage most serviceable ;
there are no steep banks to damage it. Both lake and river are made
for use.
The climate varies from Portland to Richmond ; it favors every pro-
duct of the continent, including the tropics, with less than half a dozen
exceptions. It produces every great nutriment of the world except ban-
anas and rice. It is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive
spot known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full
of minerals ; with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel ;
with perfect natural drainage, and 'abundant springs and streams and
navigable rivers ; half way between the forests of the North and the fruits
of the South ; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, cop-
per, lead, and zinc ; containing and controlling the great grain, cattle,
pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is not strange that Illinois has
the advantage of position.
This advantage has been supplemented by the character o'f the popu-
lation. In the early days when Illinois was first admitted to the Union,
her populatio^ were chiefly from Kentucky and Virginia. But, in the
conflict of ideas concerning slavery, a strong tide of emigration came in
from the East, and soon changed this composition. In 1870 her non-
native population were from colder soils. New York furnished 133,290 ;
Ohio gave 162,623; Pennsylvania sent on 98,352; the entire South gave
us only 206,734. In all her cities, and in all her German and Scandina-
vian and other foreign colonies, Illinois has only about one-fifth of her
people of foreign birth.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 123
PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT.
One of the greatest elements in the early development of Illinois is
the Illinois and Michigan Canal, connecting the Illinois and Mississippi
Rivers with the lakes. It was of the utmost importance to the State.
It was recommended by Gov. Bond, the first governor, in his first message.
In 1821, the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route.
Two bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost at
$600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In 1825, a law was
passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In
1826, upon the solicitation of Cook, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land
on the line of the work. In 1828, another law commissioners appointed,
and work commenced with new survey and new estimates. In 1834-35,
George Farquhar made an able report on the whole matter. T^his was,
doubtless, the ablest report ever made to a western legislature, and it
became the model for subsequent reports and action. From ,tfyis the
work went on till it was finished in 1848. It cost the State % large
amount of money ; but it gave to the industries of the State an; impetus
that pushed it up into the first rank of greatness. It was not b wit as a
speculation any more than a doctor is employed on a speculatif ,- But
it has paid into the Treasary of the State an average annual n^jjpum of
over $111,000. f
Pending the construction of the canal, the land and town-jjctt fever
broke out in the State, in 1834-35. It took on the malignanMype in
Chicago, lifting the town up into a city. The disease spread frfier the
entire State and adjoining States. It was epidemic. It cut ^]$J men's
farms without regard to locality, and ut up the purses of the pujtehasers
without regard to consequences. It is estimated that building lots&nough
were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen thejgin the
United States.
Towns and cities were exported to the Eastern marketlty $fie ship-
load. There was no lack of buyers. Every up-ship came freighted with
speculators and their money.
This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 1836*37, and left not
one to tell the tale. They enacted a system of internal .jiiprovement
without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. Th^ordered the
construction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State -in all direc-
tions. This was surpassed by the river and canal 'improvements.
There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or river or
canal, and those were to be comforted and compensated by the free dis-
tribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond cre-
dence it was ordered that work should be commenced on both ends of
124 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the
same time. The appropriations for these vast improvements were over
$12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow the money on
the credit of the State. Remember that all this was in the early days of
railroading, when railroads were luxuries; that the State had whole
counties with scarcely a cabin ; and that the population of the State was
less than 400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with which
these brave men undertook the work of making a great State. In the
light of history I am compelled to say that this was only a premature
throb of the power that actually slumbered in the soil of the State. It
was Hercules in the cradle.
At this juncture the State Bank loaned its funds largely to Godfrey
Oilman & Co., and to other leading houses, for the purpose of drawing
trade from St. Louis to Alton. Soon they failed, and took down the
bank with them.
In 1840, all hope seemed gone. A population of 480,000 were loaded
with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities, really only
towns, namely : Chicago, Alton, Springfield, Quincy, Galena, Nauvoo.
This debt was to be cared for when there was not a dollar in the treas-
ury, and when the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the people to pay
the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet, in the presence of all
these difficulties, the young State steadily refused to repudiate. Gov.
Ford took hold of the problem and solved it, bringing the State through
in triumph.
Having touched lightly upon some of the more distinctive points in
the history of the development of Illinois, let us next briefly consider the
MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE.
It is a garden four hundred miles long and one hundred and fifty
miles wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy loam, from six inches to
sixty feet thick. On the American bottoms it has been cultivated for
one hundred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French
towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without rest or help.
It produces nearly everything green in the temperate and tropical zones.
She leads all other States in the number of acres actually under plow.
Her products from 25,000,000 of acres are incalculable. Her mineral
wealth is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron,
lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone, fire clay, cuma clay,
common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint every thing
needed for a high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elements of
all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an appreciative
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 125,
handling in figures. We can handle it in general terms like algebraical
signs, but long before we get up into the millions and billions the human
mind drops down from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension.
When I tell you that nearly four-fifths of the entire State is under-
laid with a deposit of coal more than forty feet thick on the average (now
estimated, by recent surveys, at seventjr feet thick), you can get some
idea of its amount, as you do of the amount of the national debt. There
it is ! 41,000 square miles one vast mine into which you could put
any of the States ; in which you could bury scores of European and
ancient empires, and have room enough all round to work without know-
ing that they had been sepulchered there.
Put this vast coal-bed down by the other great coal deposits of the
world, and its importance becomes manifest. Great Britain has 12,000
square miles of coal; Spain, 3,000; France, 1,719 ; Belgium, 578 ; Illinois
about twice as many square miles as all combined. Virginia has 20,000
square miles ; Pennsylvania, 16,000 ; Ohio, 12,000. Illinois has 41,000
square miles. One-seventh of all the known coal on this continent is in
Illinois.
Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh of one cent
a ton it would pay the national debt. Converted into power, even with
the wastage in our common engines, it would do more work than could
be done by the entire race, beginning at Adam's wedding and working
ten hours a day through all the centuries till the present time, and right
on into the future at the same rate for the next 600,000 years.
Great Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give to each
man, woman, and child in the kingdom the help and service of nineteen
untiring servants. No wonder she has leisure and luxuries. No wonder
the home of the common artisan has in it more luxuries than could be
found in the palace of good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive
of it, of the vast army of servants that slumber in the soil of Illinois,
impatiently awaiting the call of Genius to come forth to minister to our
comfort.
At the present rate of consumption England's coal supply will be
exhausted in 250 years. When this is gone she must transfer her dominion
either to the Indies, or to British America, which I would not resist ; or
to some other people, which I would regret as a loss to civilization.
COAL IS KING.
At the same rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) the
deposit of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. And her kingdom shall
be an everlasting kingdom.
Let us turn, now from this reserve power to the annual products of
126 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
the State. We shall not be humiliated in this field. Here we strike the
secret of our national credit. Nature provides a market in the constant
appetite of the race. Men must eat, and if we can furnish the provisions
we can command the treasure. All that a man hath will he give for his
life.
According to the last census Illinois produced 30,000,000 of bushels
of wheat. That is more wheat than was raised by any other State in the
Union. She raised In 1875, 130,000,000 of bushels of corn twice as
much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United
States. She harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one-tenth of all the
hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, but it is true, that
the hay crop of the country is worth more than the cotton crop. The
hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana. Go to Charleston, S. C.,
and see them peddling handfuls of hay or grass, almost as a curiosity,
as we regard Chinese gods or the cryolite of Greenland ; drink your
coffee and condensed milk ; and walk back from the coast for many a
league through the sand and burs till you get up into the better atmos-
phere of the mountains, without seeing a waving meadow or a grazing
herd ; then you will begin to appreciate the meadows of the Prairie State,
where the grass often grows sixteen feet high.
The value of her farm implements is $211,000,000, and the value of
her live stock is only second to the great State of New York. in 1875
she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about one-half of all that
were packed in the United States. This is no insignificant item. Pork
is a growing demand of the old world. Since the laborers of Europe
have gotten a taste of our bacon, and we have learned how to pack it dry
in boxes, like dry goods, the world has become the market.
The hog is on the march into the future. His nose is ordained to
uncover the secrets of dominion, and his feet shall be guided by the star
of empire.
Illinois marketed $57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals more
than any other State, and a seventh of all the States.
Be patient with me, and pardon my pride, and I will give you a list
of some of the things in which Illinois excels all other States.
Depth and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ; acres of
improved land ; large farms some farms contain from 40,000 to 60,000
acres of cultivated land, 40,000 acres of corn on a single farm ; number of
farmers ; amount of wheat, corn, oats and honey produced ; value of ani-
mals for slaughter ; number of hogs ; amount of pork ; number of horses
three times as many as Kentucky, the horse State.
Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles of
postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the amount of
lumber sold in her markets.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 127
Illinois is only second in many important matters. This sample list
comprises a few of the more important : Permanent school fund (good
for a young state) ; total income for educational purposes ; number of pub-
lishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value of farm products and imple-
ments, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined.
The shipping of Illinois is only second to New York. Out of one
port during the business hours of the season of navigation she sends forth
a vessel every ten minutes. This does not include canal boats, which go
one every five minutes. No wonder she is only second in number of
bankers and brokers or in physicians and surgeons.
She is third in colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead, hay,
flax, sorghum and beeswax.
She is fourth in population, in children enrolled in public schools, in
law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages.
She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theological
seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots
and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding.
She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is the
twelfth in area. Surely that is well done for the Prairie State. She now
has much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years ago.
A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactures
$205,000,000 worth of goods, which places her well up toward New York
and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing establishments
increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent.; capital employed increased 350
per cent., and the amount of product increased 400 per cent. She issued
5,500,000 copies of commercial and financial newspapers only second to
New York. She has 6,759 miles of railroad, thus leading all other States,
worth $636,458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train
long enough to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her
stations are only five miles apart. She carried last year 15,795,000 passen-
gers, an average of 36 miles, or equal to taking her entire population twice
across the State. More than two-thirds of her land is within five miles of
a railroad, and less than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away.
The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central railroad.
The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State gave each alternate sec-
tion for six miles on each side, and doubled the price of the remaining
land, so keeping herself good. The road received 2,595,000 acres of land,
and pays to the State one-seventh of the gross receipts. The State
receives this year $350,000, and has received in all about $7,000,000. It
is practically the people's road, and it has a most able and gentlemanly
management. Add to this the annual receipts from the canal, $111,000,
and a large per cent, of the State tax is provided for.
128 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
THE RELIGION AND MORALS
of the State keep step with her productions and growth. She was born
of the missionary spirit. It was a minister who secured for her the ordi-
nance of 1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance, and
dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congregation in Randolph
County, petitioned the Constitutional Convention of 1818 to recognize
Jesus Christ as king, and the Scriptures as the only necessary guide and
book of law. The convention did not act in the case, and the old Cove-
nanters refused to accept citizenship. They never voted until 1824, when
the slavery question was submitted to the people ; then they all voted
against it and cast the determining votes. Conscience has predominated
whenever a great moral question has been submitted to the people.
But little mob violence has ever been felt in the State. In 1817
regulators disposed of a band of horse-thieves that infested the territory.
The Mormon indignities finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also
the scene of a pro-slavery mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of
martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law supreme, and gives
to the State unruffled peace.
With $22,300,000 in church property, and 4,298 church organizations,
the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of moral ideas, that
alone is able to secure perfect safety. Conscience takes the knife from
the assassin's hand and the bludgeon from the grasp of the highwayman.
We sleep in safety, not because we are behind bolts and bars these only
fence against the innocent ; not because a lone officer drowses on a distant
corner of a street ; not because a sheriff may call his posse from a remote
part of the county ; but because conscience guards the very portals of the
air and stirs in the deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues
within the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and receives
still more from without. Thus the crime of the State is only one-fourth
that of New York and one-half that of Pennsylvania.
Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. In Belle-
ville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett arranged to vindi-
cate injured honor. The seconds agreed to make it a sham, and make
them shoot blanks. Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted some-
thing, and, unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed Stewart.
He then fled the State. After two years he was caught, tried, convicted,
and, in spite of friends and political aid, was hung. This fixed the code
of honor on a Christian basis, and terminated its use in Illinois.
The early preachers were ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent
according to the strength of their voices. But they set the style for all
public speakers. Lawyers and political speakers followed this rule. Gov.
HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 129
Ford says: "Nevertheless, these first preachers were of incalculable
benefit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality. To them
are we indebted for the first Christian character of the Protestant portion
of the people."
In education Illinois surpasses her material resources. The ordinance
of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to common schools, and
the law of 1818, the first law that went upon her statutes, gave three per
cent, of all the rest to
EDUCATION.
The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its yoking
morality and intelligence it precludes the legal interference with the Bible
in the public schools. With such a start it is natural that we should have
11,050 schools, and that our illiteracy should be less than New York or
Pennsylvania, and only about one-half of Massachusetts. We are not to
blame for not having more than one-half as many idiots as the great
States. These public schools soon made colleges inevitable. The first
college, still flourishing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by the M. E.
church, and named after Bishop McKendree. Illinois College, at Jackson-
ville, supported by the Presbyterians, followed in 1830. In 1832 the Bap-
tists built Shurtleff College, at Alton. Then the Presbyterians built Knox
College, at Galesburg, in 1838, and the Episcopalians built Jubilee College,
at Peoria, in 1847. After these early years colleges have rained down.
A settler could hardly encamp on the prairie but a college would spring
up by his wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and equipped
university, namely, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, with six
colleges, ninety instructors, over 1,000 students, and $1,500,000 endow-
ment.
Rev. J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in tne
State. He settled at Rock Spring, in St. Glair County, 1820, and left his
impress on the State. Before 1837 only party papers were published, but
Mr. Peck published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, of
Bluffdale, published essays and tales showing genius. Judge James Hall
published The Illinois Monthly Magazine with great ability, and an annual
called The Western Souvenir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the
United States. From these beginnings Illinois has gone on till she has
more volumes in public libaaries even than Massachusetts, and of the
44,500,000 volumes in all the public libraries of the United States, she
has one-thirteenth. In newspapers she stands fourth. Her increase is
marvelous. In 1850 she issued 5,000,000 copies; in 1860, 27,590,000 ; in
1870, 113,140,000. In 1860 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries ; in
1870 she had eighty. That is a grand advance for the war decade.
This brings us to a record unsurpassed in the history of any age,
130 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
THE WAR RECORD OF ILLINOIS.
I hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or what to say. 1
can at best give you only a broken synopsis of her deeds, and you must
put them in the order of glory for yourself. Her sons have always been
foremost on fields of danger. In 1832-33, at the call of Gov. Reynolds,
her sons drove Blackhawk over the Mississippi.
When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men offered them-
selves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The fields of Buena Vista and
Vera Cruz, and the storming of Cerro Gordo, will carry the glory of Illinois
soldiers along after the infamy of the cause they served has been forgotten.
But it was reserved till our day for her sons to find a field and cause and
foemen that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. Illinois put
into her own regiments for the United States government 256,000 men,
and into the army through other States enough to swell the number to
290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in
all the war of the revolution. Her total years of service were over 600,000.
She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five years of age when the law
of -Congress in 1864 the test time only asked for those from twenty to
forty-five. Her enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted
to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. Thus the
basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then the quota .itself, at least
in the trying time, was far above any other State.
Thus the demand on some counties, as Monroe, for example, took every
able-bodied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the
quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred days,
for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's attention was called
to the inequality of the quota compared with other States, he replied,
" The country needs the sacrifice. We must put the whip on the free
horse." In spite of all these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country
73,000 years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenth of the popu-
lation of the loyal States, she sent regularly one-tenth of all the soldiers,
and in the peril of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary,
she then sent one-eighth of all that were called for by her loved and hon-
ored son in the white house. Her mothers and daughters went into the
fields to raise the grain and keep the children together, while the fathers
and older sons went to the harvest fields of the world. I knew a father
and four sons who agreed that one of them must stay at home ; and they
pulled straws from a stack to see who might go. The father was left.
The next day he came into the camp, saying : " Mother says she can get
the crops in, and I am going, too." I know large Methodist churches
from which every male member went to the army. Do you want to know
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
what these heroes from Illinois did in the field ? Ask any soldier with a
good record of his own, who is thus able to judge, and he will tell you
that the Illinois men went in to win. It is common history that the greater
victories were won in the West. When everything else looked dark Illi-
nois was gaining victories all down the river, and dividing the confederacy.
Sherman took with him on his great march forty-five regiments of Illinois
infantry, three companies of artillery, and one company of cavalry. He
could not avoid
GOING TO THE SEA.
If he had been killed, I doubt not the men would have gone right on.
Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible ;
there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers
brought home 300 battle-flags. The first United States flag that floated
over Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to
every field and hospital, to care for her sick and wounded sons. She said,
" These suffering ones are my sons, and I will care for them."
When individuals had given all, then cities and towns came forward
with their credit to the extent of many millions, to aid these men and
their families.
Illinois gave the country the great general of the war Ulysses S.
Grant since honored with two terms of the Presidency of the United
States.
One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all
hearts, that must have the supreme place in this story of our glory and
of our nation's honor ; that name is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois.
The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its
symmetry.
In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty.
And well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length
and breadth of our country who knew him only as " Honest Old Abe,"
voted for him on that account ; and wisely did they choose, for no other
man could have carried us through the fearful night of the war. When
his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause
too sublime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all
dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us ; when not one ray
shone upon our cause ; when traitors were haughty and exultant at the
South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North ; when the loyal men here
seemed almost in the minority ; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest
cheek paled ; when generals were defeating each other for place, and
contractors were leeching out the very heart's blood of the prostrate
republic : when every thing else had failed us, we looked at this calm,
patient man standing like a rock in the storm, and said : " Mr. Lincoln
132 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
is honest, and we can trust him still." Holding to this single point with
the energy of faith and despair we held together, and, under God, he
brought us through to victory.
His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With such
oertainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his
foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic.
He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory shall shed a
glory upon this age that shall fill the eyes of men as they look into his-
tory. Other men have excelled him in some point, but, taken at all
points, all in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of
6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the perils of
unparalleled civil war. A statesman, he justified his measures by their
success. A philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to
another. A moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the
foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he exercised mercy
under the most absolute abeyance to law. A leader, he was no partisan.
A commander, he was untainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times,
he was unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of passion, no
thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no purpose of
selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model, and without a peer,
he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that
is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming
time the representative of the divine idea of free government.
It is not too much to say that away down in the future, when the
republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time ; when the great
war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the horizon ;
when the Anglo-Saxon language shall be spoken only by the tongue of
the stranger ; then the generations looking this way shall see the great
president as the supreme figure in this vortex of historv
CHICAGO.
It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch
of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the
Prairie State. This mysterious, majestic, mighty city, born first of water,
and next of fire ; sown in weakness, and raised in power ; planted among
the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains ;
sleeping on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea ,
the youngest city of the world, and still the eye of the prairie, as Damas-
cus, the oldest city of the world, is the eye of the desert. "With a com-
merce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to
the East ; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thou-
sand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the Tiber ;
^ _y
LOCKPORT
-J
OF Tfl
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
138
TO
TO
334 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens ; with liberties more con-
spicuous than those of the old republics ; with a heroism equal to the first
Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem- 1 set
your thoughts on all this, lifted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of
its growth, illuminated by the flame of its fall, and transfigured by the
divinity of its resurrection, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossi-
bility of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her
importance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized
world.
When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact
was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all
lands. There was scarcely a town in the civilized world that did not
shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes red-
dened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. All
eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suffered amid the
scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylae, or
Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill.
Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common
property of mankind.
The early history of the city is full of interest, just as the early his-
tory of such a man as Washington or Lincoln becomes public property,
and is cherished by every patriot.
Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it embraced and occupied 23,000
acres in 1869, and, having now a population of more than 500,000, it com-
mands general attention.
The first settler Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the
West Indies came and began trade with the Indians in 1796. John
Kinzie became his successor in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was
erected.
A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time
of the Blackhawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a
cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the set-
tlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were
divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve voting for it and one
against it. Four years later it was incorporated as a city, and embraced
560 acres.
The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain
and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first
exportation by way of experiment was in 1839. Exports exceeded imports
first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so
weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the
wagon-load in the street.
I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 185
line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the
bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of
business had to cease with the day of small things. Now our elevators
will hold 15,000,000 bushels of grain. The cash value of the produce
handled in a year is $215,000,000, and the produce weighs 7,000,000
tons or 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and a half ton each
minute, all the year round. One tenth of all the wheat in the United
States is handled in Chicago. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of
grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in
1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and
doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain
markets in Europe.
The manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In
1873 manufactories employed 45,000 operatives ; in 1876, 60,000. The
manufactured product in 1875 was worth $177,000,000.
No estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate
that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Before they came
thundering along our streets canals were the hope of our country. But
who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets ? In June, 1852,
there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The
old Galena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elgin. But now,
who can count the trains and measure the roads that seek a terminus or
connection in this city ? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering
in to this center all the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north
of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads,
you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world,
as New York is the commercial city of this continent ; and, second, that
the railroad lines form the iron spokes of a great wheel whose hub is
this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this
seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See
the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections.
Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There
is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping
along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior
regions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left,
swinging around Green Bay for iron and copper and silver, twelve months
in the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural
belt and isothermal line traversed by the Northern Pacific. Another
branch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State.
Another pushing lower down the Mississippi all these make many con-
nections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road,
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of
136
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
OLD FOKT DEAKBOKN, 1830. '
PRESENT SITE OF LAKE STREET IUUDGE, CHICAGO, IX 1833.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 137
branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River.
I can only mention the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, our Illinois Central,
described elsewhere, and the Chicago & Rock Island. Further around
we come to the lines connecting us with all the eastern cities. The
Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne &
Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Cen-
tral and Great Western, give us many highways to the seaboard. Thus we
reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gull
itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pitts-
burgh and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water
courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to
make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that
stretch from ocean to ocean.
This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce
must pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles
of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their wealth
in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible
instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure
one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her
citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural
order of events, they will not be easily diverted.
There is still another showing to all this. The connection between
New York and San Francisco is by the middle route. This passes inevit-
ably through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas
Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne.
But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to
Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav-
ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota,
Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chi-
cago.
But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or
fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city.
Their names are all that is necessary to give. Chicago & St. Paul, look-
ing up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago,
Atlantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State Line ; the Baltimore &
Ohio; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes; the Chicago & LaSalle Rail-
road ; the Chicago, Pittsburgh & Cincinnati ; the Chicago and Canada
Southern ; the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad. These, with their
connections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in
process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new
tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be
added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not
less than $1,000,000,000.
138 HISTOBY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine
minutes of the business hours of the season of navigation ; add, also, the
canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time and
you will see something of the business of the city.
THE COMMERCE OF THIS CITY
has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country
around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum of
$ 20,000,000. In 1870 it reached $400,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed
up above $450,000,000. And in 1875 it touched nearly double that.
One-half of our imported goods come directly to Chicago. Grain
enough is exported directly from our docks to the old world to employ a
semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is
not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal
is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean
vessels will continue to control the trade.
The banking capital of Chicago is $24,431,000. Total exchange in
1875, $659,000,000. Her wholesale business in 1875 was $294,000,000.
The rate of taxes is less than in any other great city.
The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a popu-
lation of 300,000 there were only 186 persons between the ages of six
and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record.
In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went
on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers
and news he could find. As late as 1846 there was often only one mail
a week. A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post-
master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shop to serve as boxes
for the nabobs and literary men.
It is an interesting fact in the growth of the young city that in the
active life of the business men of that day the mail matter has grown to
a daily average of over 6,500 pounds. It speaks equally well for the
intelligence of the people and the commercial importance of the place,
that the mail matter distributed to the territory immediately tributary to
Chicago is seven times greater than that distributed to the territory
immediately tributary to St. Louis.
The improvements that have characterized the city are as startling
as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the
river, and put himself under bonds to carry all the citizens free for the
privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridges
and two tunnels.
In 1833 the government expended $30,000 on the harbor. Then
commenced that series of maneuvers with the river that has made it one
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the lower end of
the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the
foot of Madison street. They took it up and put it down where it now
is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts
had to go up through the willows and cat's tails to the point near Lake
street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough in
which to turn around.
In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank
roads, which acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you
out of the mud, they compromised by squirting the mud over you. The
wooden-block pavements came to Chicago in 1857. In 1840 water was
delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five horse-
power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets
till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The
first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859.
Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Chris-
tian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them
to their work in 1859. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm
telegraph adopted in 1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The city
grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834, the taxes
amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed $60 more for
opening and improving streets. In 1835, the legislature authorized a loan
of $2,000, and the treasurer and street commissioners resigned rather than
plunge the town into such a gulf.
Now the city embraces 36, square miles of territory, and has 30 miles
of water front, besides the outside harbor of refuge, of 400 acres, inclosed
by a crib sea-wall. One-third of the city has been raised up an average
of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water
of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels
extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The closest analy-
sis fails to detect any impurities, and, received 35 feet below the surface,
it is always clear and cold. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in
diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per
day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long,
running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gal-
lons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water-
mains.
The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting
the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, without interrupting
the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels
under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the
turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the
old abominations, and making decency possible. They redound about
140 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and
to the health of the city.
That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul,
the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been
touched. In meeting strangers, one is often surprised how some homely
women marry so well. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awk-
ward, their complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatch-
ed, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire them.
But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new pro-
portions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out
from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power.
They have ability to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder
why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city.
There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the
other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth,
a power, that soon makes it a place never to be forsaken. One soon
ceases to believe in impossibilities. Balaams are the only prophets that are
disappointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has
been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all
the capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation.
The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are,
first, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and
receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that
do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities.
They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both
these laws help Chicago.
The tide of trade is eastward not up or down the map, but across
the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 500 miles to gather in the
business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year,
and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the
great region west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping
south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rocky dis-
tricts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati,
instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of
dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room, farther off than
Paris is from London, and yet they are near enough to prevent the
springing up of any other great city between them.
St. Louis will be helped by the opening of the Mississippi, but also
hurt. That will put New Orleans on her feet, and with a railroad running
over into Texas and so West, she will tap the streams that now crawl up
the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a sea-
port at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis.
Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one-
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 141
fourth of the territory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast
divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Savannah, or some other great port to be created for the
South in the next decade. But Chicago has a dozen empires casting their
treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery
of the world for 500 centuries ; in a garden that can feed the race by the
thousand years ; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a
summer resort equaled by no great city in the land ; with a climate that
insures the health of her citizens ; surrounded by all the great deposits
of natural wealth in mines aud forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder
of to-day, and will be the city of the future.
MASSACRE AT PORT DEARBORN.
During the war of 1812, Fort Dearborn became the theater of stirring
events. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of
Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs.
Kinzie) and Ensign Ronan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only resi-
dents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieu-
tenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and
a few Canadian voyageurs, with their wives and children. The soldiers
and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawattamies
and Winnebagos, the principal tribes around them, but they could not
win them from their attachment to the British.
One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and
his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing
into the house, pale with terror, and exclaiming : " The Indians ! the
Indians!" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. "Up
at Lee's, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who,
when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined)
living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river and took
refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day
old were safely conveyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the
fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagos, who
hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and for several
weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed.
On the 7th of August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to
Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United
States property to the Indians in the neighborhood a most insane order.
The Pottawattamie chief, who brought the dispatch, had more wisdom
than the commanding general. He advised Captain Heald not to make
the distribution. Said he : " Leave the fort and stores as they are, and
let the Indians make distribution for themselves ; and while they ^are
engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 143
Captain Heald held a council with the Indians on the afternoon of
the 12th, in which his officers refused to join, for they had been informed
that treachery was designed that the Indians intended to murder the
white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain
Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displaying a
cannon pointing directly upon the council, and by that means saved
his life.
Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Heald not
to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arms and munitions among
them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites.
Acting upon this advice, Heald resolved to withhold the munitions of
war ; and on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other
property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors were thrown into
the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed.
Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald, and said :
*' Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day: be careful on the
march you are going to take." On that dark night vigilant Indians had
crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty
going on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the
surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud com-
plaints and threats.
On the following day when preparations were making to leave the
fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impend-
ing danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon
the Indian trail among the sand-hills on the borders of the lake, not far
distant, with a band of mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief,
having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior, Little Turtle. When
news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this
force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late.
Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and
arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the morning of the 15th.
It was a warm bright morning in the middle of August. Indications
were positive that the savages intended to murder the white people ; and
when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was
like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occa-
sion, struck up the Dead March in Saul.
Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token
of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Capt.
Heald, with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his
personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied
them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be
taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event oi
his death.
144
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 145
The procession moved slowly along the lake shore till they reached
the sand-hills between the prairie and the beach, when the Pottawattamie
escort, under the leadership of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those
hills between them and the white people. Wells, with his Miamis, had
kept in the advance. They suddenly came rushing back, Wells exclaim-
ing, " They are about to attack us ; form instantly." These words were
quickly followed by a storm of bullets, which came whistling over the
little hills which the treacherous savages had made the covert for their
murderous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove
them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged between fifty-
four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly
Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors.
The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible.
Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his
knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of
his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest
coolness and courage. He said to her, " We have not the slightest chance
for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you."
And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a
demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and tomahawk
them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your
game, butchering women and children, I will kill too." He spurred his
horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and
papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent bullets
whistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him
severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him
their prisoner and reserve him for torture. He resolved not to be made
a captive, and by the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce
them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a squaw, when
the enraged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped
upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel
with savage delight !
In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald
was an excellent equestrian and an expert in the use of the rifle. She
fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though
faint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage
raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face,
and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language,
"Surely you will not kill a squaw! " The arm of the savage fell, and
the life of the heroic woman was saved.
Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with
a stout Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side,
she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same instant
146 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
seized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get
hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While
she was thus struggling she was dragged from her antagonist by another
powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margin
of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by
him so that she would not drown, and she soon perceived that she was
in the hands of the friendly Black Partridge, who had saved her life.
The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and powerful woman, behaved as
bravely as an Amazon. She rode a fine, high-spirited horse, which the
Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their
guns, for the purpose of dismounting her ; but she used the sword which
she had snatched from her disabled husband so skillfully that she foiled
them ; and, suddenly wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie,
followed by the savages shouting, " The brave woman ! the brave woman !
Don't hurt her ! " They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting
them in front, a powerful savage came up behind her, seized her by the
neck and dragged her to the ground. Horse and woman were made
captives. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but
was afterwards ransomed.
In this sharp conflict two-thirds of the white people were slain and
wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only
twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians
rendered furious by the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking
through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the
prairie near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered
on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and
showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness on
the part of the whites to renew the fight; and so Capt. Heald went for-
ward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of surrender
were soon agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should
give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become
prisoners of war, to be exchanged for ransoms as soon as practicable
With this understanding captives and captors started for the Indian
camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and
suffering by Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned
that her husband was safe.
A new scene of horror was now opened at the Indian camp. The
wounded, not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was inter-
preted by the Indians, and the British general, Proctor, having offered a
liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the
wounded men were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was
afterwards paid by the British government.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
149
SHABBONA.
[This was engraved from a daguerreotype, taken when Shabbona was 83 years old.]
This celebrated Indian chief, whose portrait appears in this work, deserves
more than a passing notice. Although Shabbona was not so conspicuous as
Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either
of them.
Shabbona was born at -an Indian village on the Kankakee River, now in
Will County, about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the
band, and went to Shabbona Grove, now DeKalb County, where they were
found in the early settlement of the county.
In the war of 1812, Shabbona, with his warriors, joined Tecumseh, was
150 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
aid to that great chief, and stood by his side when lie fell at the battle of
the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost
every village among the Pottawatomies, and by his persuasive arguments
prevented them from taking part in the war. By request of the citizens
of Chicago, Shabbona, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited
Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears
were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the
whites. Here Shabbona was taken prisoner by Big Foot, and his life
threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time
the Indians (through reproach) styled him " the white man's friend,"
und many times his life was endangered.
Before the Black Hawk war, Shabbona met in council at two differ-
ent times, and by his influence prevented his people from taking part with
the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine,
no chief among the Pottawatomies exerted so much influence as Shabbona.
Black Hawk, aware of this influence, visited him at two different times, in
order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk
was a prisoner at Jefferson Barracks, he said, had it not been for Shabbona
the whole Pottawatomie nation would have joined his standard, and he
could have continued the war for years.
To Shabbona many of the early settlers of Illinois owe the pres-
ervation of their lives, for it is a well-known fact, had he not notified the
people of their danger, a large portion of them would have fallen victims
to the tomahawk of savages. By saving the lives of whites he endangered
his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two
attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and
Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast.
Shabbona had a reservation of two sections of land at his Grove, but
by leaving it and going west for a short time, the Government declared
the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. On
Shabbona's return, and finding his possessions gone, he was very sad and
broken down in spirit, and left the Grove for ever. The citizens of Ottawa
raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois River, above
Seneca, in Grundy County, on which they built a house, and supplied
him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred
on the 17th of July, 1859, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was
buried with great pomp in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw, Pokanoka,
was drowned in Mazen Creek, Grundy County, on the 30th of November,
1864, and was buried by his side.
In 1861 subscriptions were taken up in many of the river towns, to
erect a monument over the remains of Shabbona, but the war breaking
out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the
resting-place of this friend of the white man.
3f
C7?rt
PLAINFIELO
.
Or
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES.
No promissory note, check, draft, bill of exchange, order, or note, nego-
tiable instrument payable at sight, or on demand, or on presentment, shall
be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of exchange, drafts or notes are
entitled to three days of grace. All the above mentioned paper falling
due on Sunday, New Years' Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any
day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or
the G-overnor of the State as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed
as due on the day previous, and should two or more of these days come
together, then such instrument shall be treated as due on the day previous
to the first of said days. No defense can be made against a negotiable
instrument (assigned before due) in the hands of the assignee without
notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser,
due diligence must be used by suit, in collecting of the maker, unless suit
would have been unavailing. Notes payable to person named or to order,
in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes
payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable
every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment unless otherwise
expressed.
In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month
shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, and for less
than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes
only ~bear interest when so expressed, but after due they draw the legal
interest, even if not stated.
INTEREST.
The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in writ-
ing on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater
than ten per cent, is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of the whole of
said interest, and-only the principal can be recovered.
DESCENT.
When no will is made, the property of a deceased person is distrib-
uted as follows :
152 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
First. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts ;
the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of
their deceased parents in equal parts among them.
Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and
no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers and sisters
of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts, the surviving
parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion ; and if there is no
parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their
descendants.
Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or
children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the real estate and
the whole of the personal estate shall descend to such widow or surviving
husband, absolutely, and the other half of the real estate shall descend as
in other cases where there is no child or children or descendants of the
same.
Fourth. When there is a widow or surviving husband and also a child
or children, or descendants of the latter, then one third of all the personal
estate to the widow or surviving husband absolutely.
Fifth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants qf
either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, then in equal parts
to the next of kin to the intestate in equal degree. Collaterals shall not
be represented except with the descendants of brothers arid sisters of the
intestate, and there shall be no distinction between kindred of the whole
and the half blood.
Sixth. If any intestate leaves a widow or surviving husband and no
kindred, then to such widow or surviving husband ; and if there is no such
widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and vest in the county
where the same, or the greater portion thereof, is situated.
WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS.
No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at
law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and every female
of the age of eighteen years, qf sound mind and memory, can make a valid
will ; it must be in writing, signed by the testator or by some one in his
or her presence and by his or her direction, and attested by two -or more
credible witnesses. Care should be taken that the witnesses are not inter-
ested in the will. Persons knowing themselves to have been named in the
will or appointed executor, must within thirty days of the death of
deceased cause the will to be proved and recorded in the proper county,
or present it, and refuse to accept; on failure to do so are liable to forfeit
the sum of twenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made by executor
or administrator within three months from date of letters testamentary or
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 163
of administration. Executors' and administrators' compensation not ta
exceed six per cent, on amount of personal estate, and three per cent,
on money realized from real estate, with such additional allowance a?
shall be reasonable for extra services. Appraisers' compensation $2 pel
day.
Notice requiring all claims to be presented against the'estate shall bd
given by the executor or administrator within six months of being quali-
fied. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the time fixed
by said notice is required to have summons issued notifying the executor
or administrator of his having filed his claim in court ; in such cases the
_costs have to be paid by the claimant. Claims should be filed within two
years from the time administration is granted on an estate, as after that
time they are forever barred, unless other estate is found that was not in-
ventoried. Married women, infants, persons insane, imprisoned or without
the United States, in the employment of the United States, or of this
State, have two years after their disabilities are removed to file claims.
Claims are classified and paid out of the estate in the following manner :
First. Funeral expenses.
Second. The widow's award, if there is a widow ; or children if there
are children, and no widow.
Third. Expenses attending the last illness, not including physician's
bill.
Fourth. Debts due the common school or township fund .
Fifth. All expenses of proving the will and taking out letters testa-
mentary or administration, and settlement of the estate, and the physi-
cian s bill in the last illness of deceased.
Sixth. Where the deceased has received money in trust for any pur-
pose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate the amount
received and not accounted for.
Seventh. All other debts and demands of whatsoever kind, without
regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court within
two years from the granting of letters.
Award to Widow and Children, exclusive of debts and legacies or be-
quests, except funeral expenses :
First. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and ornaments
of herself and minor children.
Second. School books and the family library of the value of $100.
Third. One sewing machine.
Fourth. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and family.
Fifth. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary
cooking utensils, or in case they have none, $50 in money.
Sixth. Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $100.
Seventh. One milch cow and calf for every four members of her family.
154 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
Eighth. Two sheep for each member of her family, and the fleeces
taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle.
Ninth. Provisions for herself and family for one year.
Tenth Food for the stock above specified for six months.
Eleventh. Fuel for herself and family for three months.
Twelfth. One hundred dollars worth of other property suited
condition in life, to be selected by the widow.
The widow if she elects may have in lieu of the said award, the same
personal property or money in place thereof as is or may be exempt from
execution or attachment against the head of a family.
TAXES.
The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of May in
each year, are liable for the taxes thereon.
Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in June,
at which time the town board of review meets to examine assessments
hear objections, and make such changes as ought to be made. The county
board have also power to correct or change assessments.
The tax books are placed in the hands of the town collector on or
before the tenth day of December, who retains them until the tenth day
of March following, when he is required to return them to the county
treasurer, who then collects all delinquent taxes.
No costs accrue on real estate taxes till advertised, which takes place
the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required before judg-
ment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of land, and ten c
eaCb Judgment is usually obtained at May term of County Court. Costs
six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale takes place in
June. Costs in addition to those before mentioned, twenty-eight cents
each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each town lot.
Real estate sold for taxes may be redeemed any time before the expi-
ration of two years from the date of sale, by payment to the County ( lerk
of the amount for which it was sold and twenty-five per cent, thereon i
redeemed within six months, fifty per cent, if between six and twelve
months, if between twelve and eighteen months seventy-five per .
and if between eighteen months and two years one hundred per cent.,
and in addition, all subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per
cent, interest thereon, also one dollar each tract if notice is given by the
purchaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to the
certificate. JURI8 DICTION OF COURTS.
Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for ^the recovery
of moneys for damages for injury to real property, or taking, detaining, o
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 155
injuring personal property ; for rent; for all cases to recover damages done
real or personal property by railroad companies, in actions of replevin, and
in actions for damages for fraud in the sale, purchase, or exchange of per-
sonal property, when the amount claimed as due is not over $200. They
have also jurisdiction in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities,
towns or villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a
private person to arrest any one committing or attempting to commit a
criminal offense. He also upon complaint can issue his warrant for the
arrest of any person accused of having committed a crime, and have him
brought before him for examination.
COUNTY COURTS
Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties having a
population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement of estates of
deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle-
ment of their accounts ; all matters relating to apprentices; proceedings
for the collection of taxes and assessments, and in proceedings of executors,
administrators, guardians and conservators for the sale of real estate. In
law cases they have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in all
cases where justices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have,
jurisdiction when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000, and in all
criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the peni-
tentiary, or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of the peace
and^police magistrates; excepting when the county judge is sitting as a
justice of the peace. Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction.
LIMITATION OF ACTION.
Accounts five years. Notes and written contracts ten years. Judg-
ments twenty years. Partial payments or new promise in writing, within
or after said period, will revive the debt. Absence from the State deducted,
and when the cause of action is barred by the law of another State, it has
the same effect here. Slander and libel, one year. Personal injuries, two
years. To recover land or make entry thereon, twenty years. Action to
foreclose mortgage or trust deed, or make a sale, within ten years.
All persons in possession of land, and paying taxes for seven consecu-
tive years, with color of title, and all persons paying taxes for seven con-
secutive years, with color of title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the
legal owners to the extent of their paper title.
MARRIED WOMEN
May sue and be sued. Husband and wife not liable for each other's debts,
either before or after marriage, but both are liable for expenses and edu-
cation of the family.
156 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
. She may contract the same as if unmarried, except that in a partner-
ship business she can not, without consent of her husband, unless he has
abandoned or deserted her, or is idiotic or insane, or confined in peniten-
tiary ; she is entitled and can recover her own earnings, but neither hus-
band nor wife is entitled to compensation for any services rendered for the
other. At the death of the husband, in addition to widow's award, a
married woman has a dower interest (one-third) in all real .estate owned
by her husband after their marriage, and which has not been released by
her, and the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife
at her death.
EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALE.
Home worth $1,000, and the following Personal Property : Lot of ground
and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the debtor, being a house-
holder and having a family, to the value of $1,000. Exemption continues
after the death of the householder for the benefit of widow and family, some
one of them occupying the homestead until youngest child shall become
twenty-one years of age, and until death of widow. There is no exemption
from sale for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase
or improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption is
valid, unless in writing, and subscribed by such householder and wife (if
he have one), and acknowledged as conveyances of real estate are required
to be acknowledged. The following articles of personal property owned
by the debtor, are exempt from execution, writ of attachment, and distress
for rent : The necessary wearing apparel, Bibles, school books and family
pictures of every person ; and, 2d, one hundred dollars worth of other
property to be selected by the debtor, and, in addition, when the debtor
is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dollars
worth of other property to be selected by the debtor ; provided that such
selection and exemption shall not be made by the debtor or allowed to
him or her from any money, salary or wages due him or her from any
person or persons or corporations whatever.
When the head of a family shall die, desert or not reside with the
same, the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv-
ileges which are by this act conferred upon the head of a family residing
with the same. No personal property is exempt from execution when
judgment is obtained for the wages of laborers or servants. Wages of a
laborer who is the head of a family can not be garnisheed, except the sum
due him be in excess of $25.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 157
DEEDS AND MORTGAGES.
To be valid there must be a valid consideration. Special care should
be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered, and properly acknowl-
edged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not required. The
acknowledgement must be made in this state, before Master in Chancery,
Notary Public, United States Commissioner, Circuit or County Clerk, Justice
of Peace, or any Court of Record having a seal, or any Judge, Justice, or
Clerk of any such Court. When taken before a Notary Public, or United
States Commissioner, the same shall be attested by his official seal, when
taken before a Court or the Clerk thereof, the same shall be attested by
the seal of such Court, and when taken before a Justice of the Peace resid-
ing out of the county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall
be added a certificate of the County Clerk under his seal of office, that he
was a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking the same.
A deed is good without such certificate attached, but can not be used in
evidence unless such a certificate is produced or other competent evidence
introduced. Acknowledgements made out of the state must either be
executed according to the laws of this state, or there should be attached
a certificate that it is in conformity with the laws of the state or country
where executed. Where this is not done the same may be proved by any
other legal way. Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to
be waived must state as follows : " Including the release and waiver of
the right of homestead."
Notaries Public can take acknowledgements any where in the state.
Sheriffs, if authorized by the mortgagor of real or personal property
in his mortgage, may sell the property mortgaged.
In the case of the death of grantor or holder of the equity of redemp-
tion of real estate mortgaged, or conveyed by deed of trust where equity
of redemption is waived, and it contains power of sale, must be foreclosed
in the same manner as a common mortgage in court.
ESTRAYS.
Norses, mules, asses, neat cattle, swine, sheep, or goats found straying
at any time during the year, in counties where such animals are not allowed
to run at large, or between the last day of October and the 15th day of
April in other counties, the owner thereof being unknown, may be taken up
as estrays.
No person not a householder in the county where estray is found can
lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or about his farm or place
of residence. Estrays should not be used before advertised, except animals
giving milk, which may be milked for their benefit.
158 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
Notices must be posted up within five (5) days in three (3) of the
most public places in the town or precinct in which estray was found, giv-
ing the residence of the taker up, and a particular description of the
estray, its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, and stating before
what justice of the peace in such town or precinct, and at what time, not
less than ten (10) nor more than fifteen (15) days from the time of post-
ing such notices, he will apply to have the estray appraised.
A copy of such notice should be filed by the taker up with the town
clerk, whose duty it is to enter the same at large, in a book kept by him
for that purpose.
If the owner of estray shall not have appeared and proved ownership,
and taken the same away, first paying the taker up his reasonable charges
for taking up, keeping, and advertising the same, the taker up shall appear
before the justice of the peace mentioned in above mentioned notice, and
make an affidavit as required by law.
As the affidavit has to be made before the justice, and all other steps as
to appraisement, etc., are before him, who is familiar therewith, they are
therefore omitted here.
Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or
upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall forfeit
and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs.
Ordinary diligence is required in taking care of estrays, but in case
they die or get away the taker is not liable for the same.
GAME.
It is unlawful for any person to kill, or attempt to kill or destroy, in
any manner, any prairie hen or chicken or woodcock between the 15th day
of January and the 1st day of September ; or any deer, fawn, wild-turkey,
partridge or pheasant between the 1st day of February and the 1st day
of October ; or any quail between the 1st day of February and 1st day of
November ; or any wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl
between the 1st day of May and 15th day of August in each year.
Penalty : Fine not less than $5 nor more than '$25, for each bird or
animal, and costs of suit, and stand committed to county jail until fine is
paid, but not exceeding ten days. It is unlawful to hunt with gun, dog
or net within the inclosed grounds or lands of another without permission.
Penalty: Fine not less than $3 nor more than $100, to be paid into
school fund.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or
sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to
the contrary., the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit :
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
Pounds.
Stone Coal, - - 80
Un slacked Lime, - 80
Corn in the ear, - - 70
Wheat, - 60
Irish Potatoes, - 60
White Beans, - - 60
Clover Seed, - - 60
Onions, - 57
Shelled Corn, - 56
Rye, - - 56
Flax Seed, -' - .56
Sweet Potatoes, - 55
Turnips, - 55
Fine Salt, 55
Pounds.
Buckwheat, - -52
Coarse Salt, - - 50
Barley, - - 48
Corn Meal, - 48
Castor Beans, - - 46
Timothy Seed, - - 45
Hemp Seed, - - 44
Malt, - - 38
Dried Peaches, - 33
Oats, - 32
Dried Apples, - 24
Bran, - 20
Blue Grass Seed, - - 14
Hair (plastering), 8
Penalty for giving less than the above standard is double the amount
of property wrongfully not given, and ten dollars addition thereto.
MILLERS.
The owner or occupant of every public grist mill in this state shall
grind all grain brought to his mill in its turn. The toll for both steam
and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting wheat, rye, or other grain, one
eighth part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley and buckwheat not
required to be bolted, one seventh part; for grinding malt, and chopping all
kinds of grain, one eighth part. It is the duty of every miller when his
mill is in repair, to aid and assist in loading and unloading all grain brought
to him to be ground, and he is also required to keep an accurate half
bushel measure, and an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing
the grain. The penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is
$5, to the use of any person to sue for the same, to be recovered before
any justice of the peace of the county where penalty is incurred. Millers
are accountable for the safe keeping of all grain left in his mill for the
purpose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same (except it
results from unavoidable accidents), provided that such bags or casks are
distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name.
MARKS AND BRANDS.
Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats may have one earmark
and one brand, but which shall be different from his neighbor's, and may
be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which such property is
kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The record of such shall
be open to examination free of charge. In cases of disputes as to marks,
or brands, such record is prima facie evidence. Owners of cattle, horses,
hogs, sheep or goats that may have been branded by the former owner,
160 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
may be re-branded in presence of one or more of his neighbors, who shall
certify to the facts of the marking or branding being done, when done,
and in what brand or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which
certificate may also be recorded as before stated.
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.
Children may be adopted by any resident of this state, by filing a
petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which he resides,
asking leave to do so, and if desired may ask that the name of the child
be changed. Such petition, if made by a person having a husband or
wife, will not be granted, unless the husband or wife joins therein, as the
adoption must be by them jointly.
The petition shall state name, sex, and age of the child, and the new
name, if it is desired to change the name. Also the name and residence
of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, if any, and
whether the parents or guardians consent to the adoption.
The court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of the
vhild, or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family or such
child for one year next preceding the application, or if neither are living,
the guardian ; if no guardian, the next of kin in this state capable of giving
consent, has had notice of the presentation of the petition and consents
to such adoption. If the child is of the age of fourteen years or upwards,
the adoption can not be made without its consent.
SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS.
There is in every county elected a surveyor known as county sur-
veyor, who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is
responsible. It is the duty of the county surveyor, either by himself or
his deputy, to make all surveys that he may be called upon to make within
his county as soon as may be after application is made. The necessary
chainmen and other assistance must be employed by the person requiring
the same to be done, and to be by him paid, unless otherwise agreed ; but
the chainmen must be disinterested persons and approved by the surveyor
and sworn by him to measure justly and impartially.
The County Board in each county is required by law to provide a copy
of the United States field notes and plats of their surveys of the lands
in the county to be kept in the recorder's office subject to examination
by the public, and the county surveyor is required to make his surveys
in conformity to said notes, plats and the laws of the United States gov-
erning such matters. The surveyor is also required to keep a record
of all surveys made by him, which shall be subject to inspection by any
one interested, and shall be delivered up to his successor in office. A
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 161
certified copy of the said surveyor's record shall be prima facie evidence
of its contents.
The fees of county surveyors are six dollars per day. The county
surveyor is also ex officio inspector of mines, and as such, assisted by some
practical miner selected by him, shall once each year inspect all the
mines in the county, for which they shall each receive such compensa-
tion as may be fixed by the County Board, not exceeding $5 a day, to
be paid out of the county treasury.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Where practicable from the nature of the ground, persons traveling
in any kind of vehicle, must turn to the right of the center of the road, so
as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering with each other.
The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5 for every offense, to
be recovered by the party injured; but to recover, there must have
occurred some injury to person or property resulting from the violation.
The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State for the
conveyance of passengers who shall employ or continue in his employment
as driver any person who is addicted to drunkenness, or the excessive use of
spiritous liquors, after he has had notice of the same, shall forfeit, at the
rate of $5 per day, and if any driver while actually engaged in driving
any such carriage, shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to
endanger the safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on
receiving written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and
certified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such owner
shall have such driver in his employ within three months after such notice,
he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall keep said driver in his
employment after receiving such notice.
Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohibited
from running their horses upon any occasion under a penalty of a fine not
exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days, at the discre-
tion of the court. Horses attached to any carriage used to convey passen-
gers for hire must be properly hitched or the lines placed in the hands of
some other person before the driver leaves them for any purpose. For
violation of this provision each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be
recovered by action, to be commenced within six months. It is under-
stood by the term carriage herein to mean any carriage or vehicle used
for the transportation of passengers or goods or either of them.
The commissioners of highways in the different towns have the care
and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have all
the powers necessary to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roadsi
build and repair bridges. In addition to the above, it is their duty to
erect and keep in repair at the forks or crossing-place of the most
162 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
important roads post and guide boards with plain inscriptions, giving
directions and distances to the most noted places to which such road may
lead; also to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, and cockle
burrs, mustard, yellow dock, Indian mallow and jimson weed from
seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent
all rank growth of vegetation on the public highways so far as the same
may obstruct public travel, and it is in their discretion to erect watering-
places for public use for watering teams at such points as may be deemed
advisable.
The Commissioners, on or before the 1st day of May of each year,
shall make out and deliver to their treasurer a list of all able-bodied men
in their town, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, and such others as are
exempt by law, and assess against each the sum of two dollars as a poll
tax for highway purposes. Within thirty days after such list is delivered
they shall cause a written or printed notice to be given to each person so
assessed, notifying him of the time when and place where such tax must
be paid, or its equivalent in labor performed ; they may contract with
persons owing such poll tax to perform a certain amount of labor on any
road or bridge in payment of the same, and if such tax is not paid nor
labor performed by the first Monday of July of such year, or within ten
days after notice is given after that time, they shall bring suit therefor
against such person before a justice of the peace, who shall hear and
determine the case according to law for the offense complained of, and
shall forthwith issue an execution, directed to any constable of the county
where the delinquent shall reside, who shall forthwith collect the moneys
therein mentioned.
The Commissioners of Highways of each town shall annually ascer-
tain, as near as practicable, how much money must be raised by tax on real
and personal property for the making and repairing of roads, only, to any
amount they may deem necessary, not exceeding forty cents on each one
hundred dollars' worth, as valued on the assessment roll of the previous
year. The tax so levied on property lying within an incorporated village,
town or city, shall be paid over to the corporate authorities of such town,
village or city. Commissioners shall receive $1.50 for each day neces-
sarily employed in the discharge of their duty.
Overseers. At the first meeting the Commissioners shall choose one
of their number to act General Overseer of Highways in their township,
whose duty it shall be to take charge of and safely keep all tools, imple-
ments and machinery belonging to said town, and shall, by the direction
of the Board, have general supervision of all roads and bridges in their
town.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 163
As all township and county officers are familiar with their duties, it
is only intended to give the points of the law that the public should be
familiar with. The manner of laying out, altering or vacating roads, etc.,
will not be here stated, as it would require more space than is contem-
plated in a work of this kind. It is sufficient to state that, the first step
is by petition, addressed to the Commissioners, setting out what is prayed
for, giving the names of the owners of lands if known, if not known so
state, over which the road is to pass, giving the general course, its place
of beginning, and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve
freeholders residing within three miles of the road who shall sign the
petition. Public roads must not be less than fifty feet wide, nor more
than sixty feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if peti-
tioned for, may be laid out, not less than forty feet. Private roads
for private and public use, may be laid out of the width of three rods, on-
petition of the person directly interested ; the damage occasioned thereby
shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the road is
opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be considered
rescinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit persons who
live on or have private roads, to work out their road tax thereon, Public
roads must be opened in five days from date of filing order of location,
or be deemed vacated.
DRAINAGE.
Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to construct
i drain gr ditch across the land of others for agricultural, sanitary or
mining purposes, the proceedings are as follows :
File a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which
the proposed ditch or drain is to be constructed, setting forth the neces-
sity for the same, with a description of its proposed starting point, route
and terminus, and if it shall be necessary for the drainage of the land or
coal mines or for sanitary purposes, that a drain, ditch, levee or similar
work be constructed, a description of the same. It shall also set forth
the names of all persons owning the land over which such drain or ditch
shall be constructed, or if unknown stating that fact.
No private property shall be taken or damaged for the purpose of
constructing a ditch, drain or levee, without compensation, if claimed by
the owner, the same to be ascertained by a jury; but if the construction
of such ditch, drain or levee shall be a benefit to the owner, the same
shall be a set off against such compensation.
If the proceedings seek to affect the property of a minor, lunatic or
married woman, the guardian, conservator or husband of the same shall
be made party defendant. The petition may be amended and parties
made defendants at any time when it is necessary to a fair trial.
164 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
When the petition is presented to the judge, he shall note there >n
when he will hear the same, and order the issuance of summonses and
the publication of notice to each non-resident or unknown defendant.
The petition may be heard by such judge in vacation as well as in
term time. Upon the trial, the jury shall ascertain the just compensation
to each owner of the property sought to be damaged by the construction
of such ditch, drain or levee, and truly report the same.
As it is only contemplated in a work of this kind to give an abstract
of the laws, and as the parties who have in charge the execution of the
further proceedings are likely to be familiar with the requirements of the
statute, the necessary details are not here inserted.
WOLF SCALPS.
The County Board of any county in this State may hereafter allow
such bounty on wolf scalps as the board may deem reasonable.
Any person claiming a bounty shall produce the scalp or scalps with
the ears thereon, within sixty days after the wolf or wolves shall have
been caught, to the Clerk of the County Board, who shall administer to
said person the following oath or affirmation, to-wit : " You do solemnly
swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the scalp or scalps here pro-
duced by you was taken from a wolf or wolves killed and first captured
by yourself within the limits of this county, and within the sixty days
last past."
CONVEYANCES.
When the reversion expectant on a lease of any tenements or here-
ditaments of any tenure shall be surrendered or merged, the estate which
shall for the time being confer as against the tenant under the same lease
the next vested right to the same tenements or hereditaments, shall, to
the extent and for the purpose of preserving such incidents to and obli-
gations on the same reversion, as but for the surrender or merger thereof,
would have subsisted, be deemed the reversion expectant on the same
lease.
PAUPERS.
Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in conse-
quence of any bodily infirmity, idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable cause, shall
be supported by the father, grand-father, mother, grand-mother, children,
grand-children, brothers or sisters of such poor person, if they or either
of them be of sufficient ability ; but if any of such dependent class shall
have become so from intemperance or other bad conduct, they shall not be
entitled to support from any relation except parent or child.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 167
The children shall first be called on to support their parents, if they
are able ; but if not, the parents of such poor person shall then be called
on, if of sufficient ability ; and if there be no parents or children able,
then the brothers and sisters of such dependent person shall be called
upon ; and if there be no brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the
grand-children of such person shall next be called on ; and if they are
not able, then the grand-parents. Married females, while their husbands
live, shall not be liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations
except out of their separate property. It is the duty of the state's
(county) attorney, to make complaint to the County Court of his county
against all the relatives of such paupers in this state liable to his support
and prosecute the same. In case the state's attorney neglects, or refuses, to
complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor to
do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least ten days'
notice of such application by summons. The court has the power to
determine the kind of support, depending upon the circumstances of the
parties, and may also order two or more of the different degrees to main-
tain such poor person, and prescribe the proportion of each, according to
their ability. The court may specify the time for which the relative shall
contribute in fact has control over the entire subject matter, with power
to enforce its orders. Every county (except those in which the poor are
supported by the towns, and in such cases the towns are liable) is required
to relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully resident
therein. Residence means the actual residence of the party, or the place
where he was employed ; or in case he was in no employment, then it
shall be the place where he made his home. When any person becomes
chargeable as a pauper in any county or town who did not reside at the
commencement of six months immediately preceding his becoming so,
but did at that time reside in some other county or town in this state,
then the county or town, as the case may be, becomes liable for the expense
of taking care of such person until removed, and it is the duty of the
overseer to notify the proper authorities of the fact. If any person shall
bring and leave any pauper in any county in this state where such pauper
had no legal residence, knowing him to be such, he is liable to a fine of
$100. In counties under township organization, the supervisors in each
town are ex-officio overseers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act
under the directions of the County Board in taking care of the poor and
granting of temporary relief; also, providing for non-resident persons not
paupers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and in case
of death cause such person to be decently buried.
The residence of the inmates of pool-houses and other charitable
institutions for voting purposes is their former place of abode.
168 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
FENCES.
In counties under township organization, the town assessor and com-
missioner of highways are the fence-viewers in their respective towns.
In other counties the County Board appoints three in each precinct annu-
ally. A lawful fence is four and one-half feet high, in good repair, con-
sisting of rails, timber, boards, stone, hedges, or whatever the fence-
viewers of the town or precinct where the same shall lie, shall consider
equivalent thereto, but in counties under township organization the annual
town meeting may establish any other kind of fence as such, or the County
Board in other counties may do the same. Division fences shall be made
and maintained in just proportion by the adjoining owners, except when
the owner shall choose to let his land lie open, but after a division fence is
built by agreement or otherwise, neither party can remove his part of such
fence so long as he may crop or use such land for farm purposes, or without
giving the other party one year's notice in writing of his intention to remove
his portion. When any person shall enclose his land upon the enclosure
of another, he shall refund the owner of the adjoining lands a just pro-
portion of the value at that time of such fence. The value of fence and
the just proportion to be paid or built and maintained by each is to be
ascertained by two fence-viewers in the town or precinct. Such fence-
viewers have power to settle all disputes between different owners as to
fences built or to be built, as well as to repairs to be made. Each party
chooses one of the viewers, but if the other party neglects, after eight
days' notice in writing, to make his choice, then the other party maj
select both. It is sufficient to notify the tenant or party in possession,
when the owner is not a resident of the town or precinct. The two
fence-viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the state-
ments of the parties , in case they can't agree, they shall select another
fence-viewer to act with them, and the decision of any two of them is
final. The decision must be reduced to writing, and should plainly set
out description of fence and all matters settled by them, and must be
filed in the office of the town clerk in counties under township organiza-
tion, and in other counties with the county clerk.
Where any person is liable to contribute to the erection or the
repairing of a division fence, neglects or refuses so to do, the party
injured, after giving sixty days notice in writing when a fence is to be
erected, or ten days when it is only repairs, may proceed to have the
work done at the expense of the party whose duty it is to do it, to be
recovered from him with costs of suit, and the party so neglecting shall
also be liable to the party injured for all damages accruing from such
neglect or refusal, to be determined by any two fence-viewers selected
as before provided, the appraisement to be reduced to writing and signed,
/
JOLICT
TO
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 169
Where a person shall conclude to remove his part of a division fence,
and )et his land lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the
adjoining owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by
fence-viewers as before provided, and on payment or tender of the
amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal. A
party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the damages
accruing thereby.
Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mis-
take, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and
material within .six months after the division line has been ascertained.
Where the material to build such a fence has been taken from the land
on which it was built, then before it can be removed, the person claiming
must first pay for such material to the owner of the land from which it
was taken, nor shall hiuch. a fence be removed at a time wh'en the removal
will throw open or expose the crops of the other party ; a reasonable
time must be given beyond the six months to remove crops.
The compensation <)f fence-viewers is one dollar and fifty cents a
day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them, but
in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence-viewers,
must be paid equally by the parties, except in cases where a party neglects
or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of a division fence, when
the party in default shall pay them.
DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS.
Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's enclosure, the
fence being good and sufficient, the owner is liable for the damage done ;
but where the damage is done by stock running at large, contrary to law,
the owner is liable where thore is not such a fence. Where stock is
found trespassing on the enclosure of another as aforesaid, the owner 01
occupier of the premises may take possession of such stock and keep the
same until damages, with reasonable charges for keeping and feeding and
all costs of suit, are paid. Any person taking or rescuing such stock so
held without his consent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three
nor more than five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by
suit before a justice of the peace for the use of the school fund. Within
twenty-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per-
son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known, or
if unknown, notices must be posted in some public place near the premises.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
The owner of lands, or his legal representatives, can sue for and
recover rent therefor, in any of the following cases :
First. When rent is due and in arrears on a lease for life or lives.
170 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
Second. When lands are held and occupied by any person without
any special agreement for rent.
Third. When possession is obtained under an agreement, written
or verbal, for the purchase of the premises and before deed given, the
right to possession is terminated by forfeiture on con-compliance with the
agreement, and possession is wrongfully refused or neglected to be given
upon demand made in writing by the party entitled thereto. Provided
that all payments made by the vendee or his representatives or assigns,
may be set off against the rent.
Fourth. When land has been sold upon a judgment or a decree of
court, when the party to such judgment or decree, or person holding under
him, wrongfully refuses, or neglects, to surrender possession of the same,
after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession.
Fifth. When the lands have been sold upon a mortgage or trust
deed, and the mortgagor or grantor or person holding under him, wrong-
fully refuses or neglects to surrender possession of the same, after demand
in writing by the person entitled to the possession.
If any tenant, or any person who shall come into possession from or
under or by collusion with such tenant, shall willfully hold over any lands,
etc., after the expiration the term of their lease, and after demand made
in writing for the possession thereof, is liable to pay double rent. A
tenancy from year to year requires sixty days notice in writing, to termi-
nate the same at the end of the year ; such notice can be given at any
time within four months preceding the last sixty days of the year.
A tenancy by the month, or less than a year, where the tenant holds
over without any special agreement, the landlord may terminate the
tenancy, by thirty days notice in writing.
When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the tenant,
stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than five days, his lease
will be terminated ; if the rent is not paid, the landlord may consider the
lease ended. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it
shall not be necessary to give more than ten days notice to quit or of the
termination of such tenancy ; and the same may be terminated on giving
such notice to quit, at any time after such default in any of the terms of
such lease ; which notice may be substantially in the following form, viz:
To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your default
in (here insert the character of the default), of the premises now occupied
by you, being etc. (here describe the premises), I have elected to deter-
mine your lease, and you are hereby notified to quit and deliver up pos-
session of the same to me within ten days of this date (dated, etc.)
The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other notice
or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessary.
Demand may be made, or notice served, by delivering a written or
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 171
pnnted, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the same
with some person above the age of twelve years residing on or in posses-
sion of the premises ; and in case no one is in the actual possession of the
said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. When the
tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires by the terms of the
lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender possession, and no notice
to quit or demand of possession is necessary.
Distress for rent. In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by
himself, his agent or attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of
his tenant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides ; the
property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not
liable.
An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of the
amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some justice of the ,
peace, if not over $200 ; and if above that sum, with the clerk of a court
of record of competent jurisdiction. Property may be released, by the
party executing a satisfactory bond for double the amount.
The landlord may distrain for rent, any time within six months after
the expiration of the term of the lease, or when terminated.
In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the lease
assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce lien against
such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant to whom the pre-
mises were rented.
When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part
thereof, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, may seize upon any grain
or other crops grown or growing upon the premises, or part thereof so
abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such grain, or other crops,
or any part thereof, is not fully grown or matured, the landlord, or his
agent or attorney, shall cause the same to be properly cultivated, harvested
or gathered, and may sell the same, and from the proceeds pay all his
labor, expenses and rent. The tenant may, before the sale of such pro-
perty, redeem the same by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation
for work done, or he may replevy the same.
Exemption. The same articles of personal property which are bylaw
exempt from execution, except the crops as above stated, is also exempt
from distress for rent.
If any tenant is about to or shall permit or attempt to sell and
remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, such
portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien of the land-
lord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord to
distress before rent is due.
172 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
LIENS.
Any person who shall by contract, express or implied, or partly both,
with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish labor or material, or
services as an architect or superintendent, in building, altering, repairing
or ornamenting any house or other building or appurtenance thereto on
such lot, or upon any street or alley, and connected with such improve*
ments, shall have a lien upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and
upon such house or building and appurtenances, for the amount due to
him for such labor, material or services. If the contract is expressed, and
the time for the completion of the work is beyond three years from the com-
mencement thereof ; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year from
the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no lien exists.
If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless the work be done or
material is furnished within one year from the commencement of the work
or delivery of the materials. As between different creditors having liens,
no preference is given to the one whose contract was first made ; but each
shares pro-rata. Incumbrances existing on the lot or tract of the land at
the time the contract is made, do not operate on the improvements, and
are only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of
making the contract. The above lien can not be enforced unless suit is
commenced within six months after the last payment for labor or materials
shall have become due and payable. Sub-contractors, mechanics, workmen
and other persons furnishing any material, or performing any labor for a
contractor as before specified, have a lien to the extent of the amount due
the contractor at the time the following notice is served upon the owner
of the land who made the contract :
To , You are hereby notified, that I have been employed by
(here state whether to labor or furnish material, and substantially the
nature of the demand) upon your (here state in general terms description
and situation of building), and that I shall hold the (building, or as the
case may be), and your interest in the ground, liable for the amount that
may (is or may become) due me on account thereof. Signature,
Date,
If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-contractor,
a copy of it should be served with above notice, and said notice must be
served within forty days from the completion of such sub-contract, if there
is one ; if not, then from the time payment should have been made to the
person performing the labor or furnishing the material. If the owner is
not a resident of the county, or can not be found therein, then the above
notice must be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty
cents, and a copy of said notice must be published in a newspaper pub-
lished in the county, for four successive weeks.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 173
When the owner or agent is notified as above, he can retain any
money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim ; if more than one
claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro rata.
The owner has the right to demand in writing, a statement of the
contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the work
progresses, and on his failure to comply, forfeits to the owner $50 for
every offense.
The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for
life, for years, or any other interest which the owner may have.
To enforce the lien of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced within
three months from the time of the performance of the sub-contract, or
during the work or furnishing materials.
Hotel, inn and boarding-house keepers, have a lien upon the baggage
and other valuables of their guests or boarders, brought into such hotel,
inn or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders, for the proper charges
due from such guests or boarders for their accommodation, board and
lodgings, and such extras as are furnished at their request.
Stable-keepers and other persons have a lien upon the horses, car-
riages and harness kept by them, for the proper charges due for the keep-
ing thereof and expenses bestowed thereon at the request of the owner
or the person having the possession of the same.
Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others), and
persons keeping, yarding, feeding or pasturing domestic animals, shall
have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or fed, for the proper
charges due for such service.
All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this state
with fuel, ties, material, supplies or any other article or thing necessary
for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of its road by con-
tract, or may perform work or labor on the same, is entitled to be paid as
part of the current expenses of the road, and have a lien upon all its pro-
perty. Sub-contractors or laborers have also a lien. The conditions and
limitations both as to contractors and sub-contractors, are about the same
as herein stated as to general liens.
DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS.
$ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly
placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now,
United States Currency.
means pounds, English money.
@ stands for at or to. ft> for pound, and bbl. for barrel ; *$ for per or
by the. Thus, Butter sells at 20@30c ^ lb, and Flour at $8@12 f bbl.
% for per cent and # for number.
May 1. Wheat sells at $1.20@1.25, "seller June." Seller June
174 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
*
means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering
it at any time during the month of June.
Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or
stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller
has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling
"short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may
buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed
" bears."
Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or
shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time,
expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The "longs" are
termed "bulls," as it is for their interest to "operate" so as to "toss"
the prices upward as much as possible.
NOTES.
Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the
amount and time of payment are mentioned.
$100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876.
Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown,
or order, One Hundred dollars, for value received.
L. D. LOWJRY.
A note to be payable in any thing else than money needs only the
facts substituted for money in the above form.
ORDERS.
Orders should be worded simply, thus :
Mr. F. H. COATS: Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876.
Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to
F. D. SILVA.
RECEIPTS.
Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus :
$100. Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876.
Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services
rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account.
THOMAS BRADY.
If receipt is in full it should be so stated.
BILLS OF PURCHASE.
W. N. MASON, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876.
Bought of A. A. GRAHAM.
4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at $1.50 - $6.00
2 Seamless Sacks " .30 - - .60
Received payment, $6.60
A. A. GRAHAM.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 176
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.
An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain
thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always
reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder-
standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must
be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a
reasonable consideration.
GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT.
THIS AGREEMENT, made the Second day of October, 1876, between
John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part,
and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part
WITNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree-
ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and
agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in
good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the
month of November, of this year, One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in
the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty-
five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the
fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty -first, and
the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of
November.
And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt
fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part,
contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five
dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered.
In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is
hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the
other, One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and
year first above written. JOHN JONES,
THOMAS WHITESIDE.
AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES.
THIS AGREEMENT, made the first day of May, one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County
of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of
Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part
WITNESSETH, that said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili-
gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for
and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both
live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation ;
176 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
during which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of
Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all
duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects
as directed and desired by the said Stone.
In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said
Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of
one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each
upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of
absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum
otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said
Barclay.
Witness our hands. REUBEN STONE.
GEORGE BARCLAY.
BILLS OF SALE.
A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider-
ation to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The
purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have
power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale.
COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE.
KNOW ALL MEN by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton,
Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred
and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and
by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second
part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of
ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the
town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows,
belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and
to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and
assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree
with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to
warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels
unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives,
against all and every person whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day
of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Louis CLAY.
BONDS.
A bond is a written admission on the part of the maker in which h
pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 177
COMMON FORM OF BOND.
KNOW ALL MEN by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of
Watseka, Iroquois County, State of Illinois, am firmly bound unto Peter
Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be
paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which
payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this
instrument.
Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my
heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two
hundred and fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date
hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ;
otherwise to be in full force and valid.
Sealed and delivered in
presence of GEORGE EDGERTON. [L.S.]
WILLIAM TURNER.
CHATTEL MORTGAGES.
A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment
of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other
creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be
acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct
where the mortgaged resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be
recorded in the recorder's office of the county.
GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE.
THIS INDENTURE, made and entered into this first day of January ,.
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five,
between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County
of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Henshaw,
of the same town, county, and State, party of the second part.
Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider-
ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, convey, and confirm unto
the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and
singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit :
Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ, No. 987,
one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one
Home Comfort cooking stove, No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror
attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green
rep, with lounge corresponding with same in style and color of upholstery,
now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. 4 Prairie Ave., Geneseo, 111.;
178 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
Together with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto "belong-
ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described
goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and
assigns, forever.
Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition,
that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators,
or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul
Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the
interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent. ,per annum,
from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note
bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that
then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con-
tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Provided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the
possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day
of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods
and chattels ; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said
sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid,
shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul
Ranslow, or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns.
And provided, also, that if default in payment as aforesaid, by said
party of the first part, shall be made, or if said party of the second part
shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself
unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his
attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have
the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wherever they
may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the
highest bidder for cash in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time
and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat-
tels to be sold, by at least four advertisements, posted up in public places
in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the
sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason-
able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ; and if there shall be any
overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first
part, or his legal representatives.
In testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto
set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in
presence of THEODORE LOTTINVILLE. [L.S.]
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 179
LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON.
THIS INDENTURE, made this second day of June, 1875, between David
Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John
Doyle of the same place, of the second part,
Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of
the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said
John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept,
and performed, hath let, and by these presents doth grant, demise, and
let, unto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns,
all that parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described
as follows, to wit : .
[Here describe the land.~\
Together with all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have
and to hold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto
the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of
five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent
of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as
long as said buildings are in good tenantable condition.
And the said Doyle, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay
all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and
other fences ; (the said David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra-
tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for
such repairs.) .
Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a
farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said
farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord-
ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also
agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from
cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises.
That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twenty acres yearly
of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land
now in grass, and hitherto unbroken.
It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the
whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then and in that
case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving
three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any
year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other
property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the
non-performance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter-
mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators,
chosen as follows : Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one,
180 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
and the two so chosen to select a third ; the decision of said arbitrators
to be final.
In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in presence of DAVID PATTON. [L.S.}
JAMES WALDRON. JOHN DOYLE. [L.S.]
FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE.
THIS INSTRUMENT, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth
that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, hath
rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot
No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years
from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay-
able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence
of said Aaron Young.
At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest
agrees to give the said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling,.
in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted.
In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year
aforesaid.
Signed, sealed and delivered AMOS GRIEST. [L.S.]
in presence of
NlCKOLAS SCHUTZ, AARON YOUNG. [L.S.]
Notary Public.
LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT.
THIS certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January >
1876, unto Jacob Schmidt, my house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the
City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the
free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at
the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ;
rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable.
PETER FUNK.
TENANT'S AGREEMENT.
THIS certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his
house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi-
nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence
this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly
in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or other
causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield
said premises one year from this first day of January 1876, in as good
condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted.
Given under my hand this day. JACOB SCHMIDT*
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 181
NOTICE TO OUIT.
To F. W. ABLEN,
Sir : Please observe that the term of one year, for which the house
and land, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied by you,
were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I
desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required
to vacate the same. Respectfully Yours,
P. T. BABNUM.
LINCOLN, NEB., October 4, 1875.
TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING.
DEAR SIB: .
The premises I now occupy as your tenant, at No. 6 Indiana Street,
I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take
notice accordingly.
Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. ABLEN.
To P, T. BABNUM, ESQ.
REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY.
THIS INDENTUBE, made this sixteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William
Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and Olla, his
wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part.
Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said
party of the second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured
to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith)
the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois,
with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second
National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of May,
in the year one thousand eight hundred and sevent} r -four.
Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the
first part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid,
with interest thereon, according to the tenor and effect of the said two
promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur-
ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec-
ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these
presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land,
situate, etc.
[Describing the premises.]
To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the
Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto
182 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
belonging or in any wise appertaining. And also, all the estate, interest,
and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of
the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said
party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper
use, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and Olla, his
wife, party of the first part, hereby expressly waive, relinquish, release,
and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit
whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every
part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state per-
taining to the exemption of homesteads.
Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition,
that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis-
trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of
the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore-
said sums of money, with such interest thereon, at the time and in the
manner specified in the above mentioned promissory notes, according to
the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and
every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void.
In witness whereof, the said part} 7 " of the first part hereunto set their
hands and seals the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
JAMES WHITEHEAD, WILLIAM STOCKER. [L.S.]
FRED. SAMUELS. OLLA STOCKER. [L.S.]
WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS.
THIS INDENTURE, made this sixth day of April, in the year of oui
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best
of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Belle, his wife,
of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part,
Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration
of the sum of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted,
bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell,
unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol-
lowing described lot, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law-
rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit :
[Here describe the property.]
Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances
thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and
reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof;
and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of
the said party of the nrst part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to tht
ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 185
above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances.
To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described,
with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs
and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par-
ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unto
the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and
assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the
above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given
by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of
homesteads.
And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first
part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do
covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the
second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and
delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above
conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of
inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power,
and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and convey the same, in
manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all
former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and
encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained
premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the stdd party of the
second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons
lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party
of the first part shall and will warrant and forever defend.
In testimony whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered
in presence of HENRY BEST, [L.S.]
JERRY LINKLATER. BELLE BEST. [L.S.]
QUIT-CLAIM DEED.
THIS INDENTURE, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour,
of Piano, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part,
and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part,
Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera-
tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec-
ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party
of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised,
released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does
remise, release, sell, convey, and quit-claim, unto the said party of the
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest,
186 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.
claim, and demand, which the said party of the first part has in and to
the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit :
[Here describe the land.~\
To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the
appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there-
unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim
whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to
the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second
part, his heirs and assigns forever.
In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set his
hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered DAVID TOUR. [L.S.]
in presence of
THOMAS ASHLEY.
The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore
been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made
equally valid by the laws of this state.
WARRANTY DEED.
The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for
and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveys
and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names) the following
described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of
in the State of Illinois.
Dated this day of - A. D. 18 . \,.' .
QUIT CLAIM DEED.
The grantor (here insert grantor's name or names and place of resi-
dence), for the consideration of (here insert consideration) convey and
quit-claim to (here insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the
following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the
County of in the State of Illinois.
Dated this day of A. D. 18 .
MORTGAGE.
The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants
to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the
payment of (here recite the nature and amount of indebtedness, showing
when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by note or other-
wise), the following described real estate (here insert description thereof),
situated in the County of in the State of Illinois.
Dated this day of A. D. 18 .
RELEASE.
KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago,
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of
One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera-
s
MANHATTAN TP.
f ILUMflJ*
AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 205
ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose
the Vice-President ; a. quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible
to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the
United States.
AETICLE XIII.
SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted,
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris-
diction.
SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro-
priate legislation.
ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and
of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws.
SEC. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per-
sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed ; but when the right to
vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice-
President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu-
tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being
twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way
abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of
representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num-
ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years of age in such state.
SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress,
or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or
military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ-
ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the
United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu-
tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress mav
by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.
SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author-
ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun-
ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques-
tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt
or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts,
obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void.
206
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
SEC. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this act.
ARTICLE XV.
SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro-
priate legislation.
ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT.
NOVEMBER 7, 1876.
COUNTIES.
Hayes and
wheeler,
Republican.
Tilden and
Hendricks,
Democrat.
PeterCooper
Greenback.
Smith,
Prohibition |
Anti -Secret I
Societies.
COUNTIES.
Hayes and
wheeler.
Republican.
Tilden and
Hendricks,
Democrat.
PeterCooper
Greenback.
Smith,
Prohibition.
Anti-Secret]
1 Socleties.il
Adams
Alexander
4953
1219
1520
1965
944
3719
441
2231
1209
4530
2501
1814
1416
1329
2957
36548
1355
1145
3679
1928
1631
2129
2715
970
1145
1881
1601
966
4187
703
1695
1996
627
3496
330
1315
4177
3768
2040
630S
1280
1142
363
1495
2218
900
918
1618
3103
3287
2197
1541
1989
2822
39240
1643
1407
1413
1174
1357
1276
2883
466
2265
2421
742
1302
4669
1140
3160
1142
1433
4207
611
1015
1928
2578
2071
41
11
Livingston
Logan
3550
2788
3120
3567
4554
2009
1553
1566
1231
2952
3465
6363
1115
2209
845
2486
3069
1245
3833
4665
1319
1541
1807
8055
1043
646
2357
1410
3912
980
4851
1522
910
2069
1140
4708
3198
2850
978
4372
650
2795
1911
1570
1297
3851
4770
1672
4505
1733
2134
2595
2782
4076
4730
2444
1430
1939
793
2811
1874
4410
1657
1428
1651
3013
3174
1672
1921
5443
800
1383
1316
4040
772
459
2589
1552
2838
1081
5847
1804
1269
3553
786
5891
2758
3171
2155
3031
936
1984
1671
1751
2066
2131
3999
1644
1568
2105
1170
37
268
114
39
209
135
86
20
347
34
518
10
90
7
201
109
28
104
95
5
48
117
35
it
Bond
17
43
183
145
Macon
16
Boone
2
2
"ii
Macoupin
Brown ...
Madison
Marlon
. 1
Bureau
Calhoun
Marshall . .
"*
1
Carroll
111
74
604
207
236
112
132
102
277
38
129
65
746
94
25
161
61
43
57
204
391
89
282
1
108
770
7
'"i
3
Mason
Cass
Massac
Champaign
6
9
McDonough
Christian
McHenry
"g
3
7
Clark...
McLean
Clay
Menard
Clinton
Mercer
3
Cook
Montgomery
Crawford
Morgan
Moultrie
S
Cumberland .
DeKalb
"16
3
3
Ogle
8
DeWitt
Peorla
Douglas
Pope
DuPage
8
Perry
Edgar
Piatt....
Edwards
Pike
' I
4
Pulaski
Fayrite
Putnam
14
2
55
27
641
29
115
182
341
96
99
26
44
3
288
207
138
39
482
469
133
677
41
70
237
Foru
Franklin
Richland
....
Fulton
"2
1
"9
Rock Island
Gallatin
Saline
Grundy
Schuyler
Hamilton
4
Scott.
Hancock" .
Shelby .
Hardin
134
1
340
249
106
Stark
Henderson
"4
14
"6
St. Clair
Stephenson
: "
1
Henry
Iroquois
Tazewell
Jasper
Vermilion
9
1346
1345
2907
1367
5398
2627
1869
5235
2619
6277
1198
3087
1667
2166
2276
893
2850
1363
524
2632
1647
6001
1329
2080
647
Y40
61
172
26
309
141
55
514
27
100
Wabash
Jersey
12
2
"3
Warren
Washington
1
Jo Daviess
Kane
5
2
White
"8
4
1
Kankakee
Whiteslde
Kendall
Will
Knox
1
1
15
Williamson
' 13
"2
4
Lake
Wlnnebago
LaSalle
Woodford
Lee
2
6
Total
275958
257099
16951
130
157
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE,
How to find the gain or loss per cent, when the cost and selling price
art given.
RULE. Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which
will be the gain or loss.
Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost
price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent.
How to change gold into currency.
RULE. Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold.
How to change currency into gold.
Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold.
How to find each partner's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership
business.
RULE. Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo-
tient will be the gain or loss per cent.
Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be
each one's share of the gain or loss.
How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs.
A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs,
when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa.
NOTE. It is generally assumed that the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent
of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by X or 25 per cent, of itself equals the
(Cross weight.
To find the net weight or gross price.
Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.)
To find the gross weight or net price.
[. Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.)
How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed.
RULE. Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by
6308, and point off ONE decimal place the result will be the correct
answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel.
For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and
point off one decimal place.
How to find the contents of a corn-crib.
RULE. Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short metliod, or
(207)
208 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
by 4i ordinary method, and point off ONE decimal place the result will
be the answer in bushels.
NOTE. In estimating corn in the ear, the quality and the time it has been cribbed must be taken
into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally holds
good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean.
How to find the contents of a cistern or tank.
RULE. Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all
in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off ONE
decimal place the result will be the contents in barrels of 31 gallons.
How to find the contents of a barrel or cask.
RULE. Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length
(all in inches) in REVERSED order, so that its UNITS will fall under the
TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point
off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons.
How to measure boards.
RULE. Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and
divide the product by 12 the result will be the contents in square feet.
How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc.
RULE. Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together
(the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide
the product by 12 the result will be square feet.
How to find the number of acres in a body of land.
RULE. Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the
product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a
remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths.
When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length,
add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width.
How to find the number of square yards in a Jloor or wall.
RULE. Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and
divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards.
How to find the number of bricks required in a building.
RULE. Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22.
The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height
and thickness (in feet) together.
Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches
thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar,
but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space.
How to find the number of shingles required in a roof.
RULE. Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the
shingles are exposed 4 inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches.
To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by
twice the length of the rafters.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 209
To find the length of the rafters, at ONE-FOUKTH pitch, multiply the
width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at ONE-THIED pitch, by .6
(tenths) ; at TWO-FIFTHS pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at ONE-HALF
pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from
the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be
taken inty consideration.
NOTE. By X or % pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be X or % the width of the
building higher than the walls or base of the rafters.
How to reckon the cost of hay.
RULE. Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton,
and remove the decimal point three places to the left.
How to measure grain.
RULE. Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic
feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to
the left.
NOTE. Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel.
The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by
multiplying the number of bushels by 8.
If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find
the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of ear
corn to make 1 of shelled corn.
i
Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments.
In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any
given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the
number of rods and acres.
The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now,
an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on
the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes.
To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to
walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line
straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk-
ing, keep these objects constantly in line.
Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con-
trivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard
measure.
Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of
the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the
left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink.
To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given.
RULE. Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer.
210 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods
being given.
RULE. Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5,
and remove the decimal point two places to the left.
The diameter being given, to find the circumference.
RULE. Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7.
How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given.
RULE. Divide the circumference by 3 1-7.
To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick-
ness throughout will contain when squared.
RULE. Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply
by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144.
G-eneral rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet.
RULE. Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and
then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144.
To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on.
RULE. Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in
inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by M4. Deduct 1-10 to
1-15 according to the thickness of the bark.
Howard's new rule for computing interest.
RULE. The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest
on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal
point two places to the left ; for ten times that time, remove the point
one place to the left ; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three
places to the left.
Increase or dimmish the results to suit the time given.
NOTE. The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate ; thus 3 per cent, per month. In-
verted, becomes M of a month, or 10 days.
When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1,
three ones.
Rule for converting English into American currency.
Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals,
by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90.
U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE.
A township 36 sections each a mile square.
A section 640 acres.
A quarter section, half a mile square 160 acres.
An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter
of a mile wide 80 acres.
A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square 40 acres.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 211
The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east
corner.
The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the
cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de-
scription of a forty acre lot would read : The south half of the west half of
the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west,
or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes
overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain.
The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile.
SURVEYORS' MEASURE.
7 92-100 inches make 1 link.
25 links " 1 rod.
4 rods " 1 chain.
80 chains " 1 mile.
. NOTE. A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet.
Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley-
corn ; three of which made an inch.
Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of
measure is four inches called a hand.
In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes
used, which is a length of nine inches.
The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length.
The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length.
A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches.
A fathom is equal to 6 feet.
A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly
speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal
to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said
to be a league.
In cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches.
An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches.
A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches.
A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches.
HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS.
Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business,
should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic man-
ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac-
quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here
present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended,
and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics
and laborers.
212
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
1875.
A. H. JACKSON.
Dr.
O.
" 13
" 27
April 9
9
May 6
Jan. lOTo 7 bushels Wheat at $1.25
17 By shoeing span of Horses
Feb. 4 To 14 bushels Oats at $ .45
4To51bs. Butter .at .25
March 8 By new Harrow
By sharpening 2 Plows
By new Double-Tree
To Cow and Calf
To half ton of Hay
By Cash
By repairing Corn-Planter.
one Sow with Pigs
July 4 By Cash, to balance account
24 To
4800
6
1750
$8805
$8805
50
1800
40
25
2500
75
15
1875. CASSA MASON. Dr . Cr .
March 21
" 21
" 23
May 1
1
June 19
26
July 10
" 29
Aug. 12
12
Sept. 1
By 3 days' labor at $1.25
$6
8
10
2
2
20
18
00
10
00
75
TO
00
20
S3
25
12
18
9
75
00
00
00
00
To 2 Shoats . at 3.00
To 18 bushels Corn _. at .45
By 1 month's Labor _
To Cash .
By 8 days' Mowing at $1 50
To 50 Ibs. Flour.
To 27 Ibs. Meat _ at $ .10
By 9 days' Harvesting at 2.00
By 6 days' Labor at 1.50
To Cash
To Cash to balance account .
$67
75
$67
75
INTEREST TABLE.
A SIMPLE RULE FOB ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT. FOR ANY
LENGTH OP TIME.
Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product
by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the Interest year) by the per cent, of Interest,
and the quotient thus obtained will be the required Interest.
ILLUSTRATION.
Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An
Solution.
$462.50
.48
Interest month Is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multi-
plied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest) gives 60, and
S^'J.OOOO divided by 60 will give you the exact Interest, whicli is $3.70. ff the rate of 370000
Interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.0000 by 30 6)360 \ 185000
(because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per 'cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per
cent, by 45: and in like manner for any other per cent.
60/$222.0000($3.70
180
"420
420
~00
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.
12 units, or things, 1 Dozen.
12 dozen, 1 Gross.
20 things, 1 Score.
196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour.
200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork.
56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter.
24 sheets of paper. 1 Quire.
20 quires paper 1 Ream.
4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 213
NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS.
Virginia. The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen
Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made
his first attempt to colonize that region.
Florida. Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter
Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was
the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers."
Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time
owned that section of the country.
Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest."
Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River."
Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for " smoky water." Its
prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow."
The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana,"
after Charles the Ninth of France.
G-eorgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first
established a colony there in 1732.
Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the
Mississippi which forms its western boundary.
Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river."
Ohio means " beautiful ; " Iowa, " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota, " cloudy
water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel."
Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French
suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men."
Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was
so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap.
Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly
applies to the river that flows through it.
Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river.
Cortes named California.
Massachusetts is the Indian for "The country around the great hills."
Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long
River."
Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of
England.
New York was named by the Duke of York.
Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William
Penn, its orignal owner.
214
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
Delaware after Lord De La Ware.
New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was
Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel.
Maine was called after the province of Maine in France, in compli-
ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province.
Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green
Mountain.
New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was
formerly called Laconia.
The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of
Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly
resemble.
Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that
section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.
POPULATION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
POPULATION OF FIFTY
PRINCIPAL CITIES.
STATES AND TERRITORIES.
Total
Population.
CITIES.
Aggregate
Population.
996.992
484, 471
560,247
537,454
125,015
187,748
1.184,109
2,539,891
1,680,637
1,191,792
364,399
1.321,011
726,915
626,915
780,894
1,457,351
1,184,059
439,706
827,922
1,721,295
ArKansas
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Jtllinois
Indi ana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New York, N. Y...,
Philadelphia, Pa
Brooklyn, N. Y
St. Louis, Mo
Chicago, 111
Baltimore, Md
Boston, Mass
Cincinnati, Ohio
New Orleans, La.
San Francisco, Cal
Buffalo, N. Y
Washington, D. C
Newark, N. J
Louisville, Ky
Cleveland, Ohio
Pittsburg, Pa
Jersey City, N. J
942,292
674,022
396,099
310,864
298.977
267,354
250,526
216,239
191,418
149,473
117,714
109,199
105,059
100,753
92,829
8ti,076
82 546
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York .
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Bhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas ,
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Total States
42,491
318,300
906.096
4,382.759
1,071,361
2,665.260
90,923
3,521,791
217,353
705,606
1,258,520
818,579
330,551
1,225,163
442,014
1,054,670
38,113,253
Detroit, Mich
Milwaukee, Wis
Albany, N. Y
Providence, R. I
Rochester, N. Y
Allegheny, Pa
Richmond, Va
New Haven, Conn
Charleston, S. C
Indianapolis, Ind.
Troy, NTY
Syracuse, N. Y
Worcester, Mass
Lowell, Mass
Memphis, Tenn
Cambridge, Mass
Hartford, Conn
Scran ton, Pa
79,577
71,440
69,422
(18,904
62,386
53,180
51,038
50,840
48,956
48,244
46,465
43,051
41,105
40.9-28
40,226
39,634
37,180
35,092
33,930
33,579
32,260
32,034
31,584
31,413
31,274
30.841
30,473
28,921
28,804
28,323
28,235
28,233
9.K 7KK
Arizona
Colorada
Dakota
District of Columbia ...
Idaho
9,658
39, SHI
14,181
131.700
14,999
Paterson, N. J
Kansas City, Mo
Mobile, Ala
Toledo, Ohio
Portland, Me
New Mexico
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Total Territories,
91,874
H6.78(i
23,955
9,118
442,730
Wilmington, Del
Dayton, Ohio
Lawrence, Mass
Utica, N. Y
Charlestown, Mass
Savannah, Ga
Lynn. Mass
Total United States
38,555,983
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
210
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.
STATES AND
TERRITORIES.
Area in
square
Miles.
POPULATION.
R. R.
1872.
STATES AND
TERRITORIES.
Area in
square
Miles.
POPULATION.
Miles
R. R.
1872.
1870.
1875.
1870.
1875.
States.
Alabama
50,722
52,198
188,981
4.674
2,120
59,268
58,000
55,410
33,809
55,045
81,318
37,600
41,346
31,776
11,184
7,800
56,451
83,531
47,156
65,350
75.9P5
112,090
9,280
8.320
47,000
50,704
39,964
95,244
s of Mic
996,992
484,471
560,247
537,454
125,015
187,748
1,184,109
2,539,891
1,680,637
1,191.792
364,399
1,321,011
726,915
626.915
780,894
1,457,351
1,184,059
439.706
827,922
1,721,295
123,993
42,491
318,300
906,096
4,382,759
1,071,361
2,665.260
90,923
higan tak
1,671
25
1,013
820
227
466
2,108
5,904
3.529
3.160
1,760
1,123
539
871
820
1,606
2,235
1,612
990
2,580
828
593
790
1.265
4,470
1,190
3,740
Io9
States.
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina...
Tennessee
Texas
46,000
1,306
29,385
45,600
237,504
10,212
40,904
23,000
53,924
3,521,791
217,353
705,606
1,258,520
818,579
330,551
1,225,163
442,014
1,054.670
5,113
136
1,201
1,520
865
675
1,490
485
1,725
Arkansas
258,239
925,145
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Vermont
Georgia
Virginia
Illinois
Indiana
West Virginia
Wisconsin
1,236,729
1,350,544
528,349
"857!639
Total States
Territories.
Arizona
Kansas
1,950,171
113,916
104,500
147,490
60
90,932
143.776
121,201
80,056
69,944
93,107
38,113,253
9,658
39,864
14,181
131,700
14,999
20,595
91,874
86,786
23,955
9,118
59,587
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Colorado
392
Massachusetts. . .
Michigan*
Minnesota
1,651,912
1,334,031
598,429
Dakota
Dist. of Columbia.
Idaho.
*
Mississippi
Montana
Missouri.
Nebraska
'246,280
52,540
New Mexico
Utah
875
Nevada
New Hampshire.
New Jersey
New York
Wyoming
498
1,026,502
4,705,208
Total Territories.
Aggregate of U. S..
* Included in t
965,032
2,915,203
he Railro
442,730
1,265
North Carolina. .
Ohio
Oregon
38,555,983
ul Mileage
60,852
d.
* Last Censu
en in 1874
of Marylar
PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD;
POPULATION AND AREA.
COUNTRIES.
Population.
Date of
Census.
Area in
Square
Miles.
Inhabitants
to Square
Mile.
CAPITALS.
Population.
China
446 500 000
1871
3 741 846
119 3
Pekin
1,648,800
British Empire
226 817 108
1871
4 677 432
48 6
3,251,800
Russia
81,925 400
1871
8 003 778
10 2
St. Petersburg
667,000
United States with Alaska . . .
38 925 600
1870
I 603 884
7 78
Washington
109,199
France
36 469 800
1866
'204*091
178 7
Paris
1 825,300
Austria and Hungary
35 404 4(10
1869
240 348
149 4
833,900
Japan
34 785 300
1871
149 399
232 8
Yeddo
1,554,900
Great Britain and Ireland. . . .
31 817 100
1871
121 315
262 3
London
3,251,800
German Empire
29 906 092
1871
160 207
187
Berlin
825,400
Italy
27 439 921
1871
118 847
230.9
Rome
244,484
Spain
16 642 000
1867
195 775
85
Madrid
332,000
Brazil
10 000 000
3 2V1029
3 07
Rio Janeiro
420,000
Turkey
Mexico
16,463,000
9 173 000
1869
*672!621
761 526
24.4
Constantinople
1,075,000
210.300
Sweden and Norway
5' 921 500
1870
292 871
20.
Stockholm
136,900
Persia
5 000 000
1870
635 964
7 8
120,000
5 021 300
1869
11 373
441 5
314,100
4 861 400
1871
29 292
165 9
169 500
Portugal
3'995' 200
1868
34 494
115 8
224,063
Holland
3 ? 688 300
1870
12 680
290 9
90,100
N ew Grenada
8 000 000
1870
357 157
8 4
45,000
Chili
2 000 000
1869
132*616
15 1
115,400
2 669*100
1870
15 992
166 9
36,000
Peru
2'SOO'OOO
1871
471*838
5 3
160,100
Bolivia
2 000 000
497 321
4
25,000
Argentine Republic
1 812*000
1869
871 848
2 1
Buenos Ayres
177.800
Wurtemburg
1 818 500
1871
7 533
241 4
Stuttgart
91,600
Denmark
1 784*700
1870
14*753
120 9
162,042
1500 000
368 238
4 2
47,000
Baden
1,461*, 400
1871
5 912
247
36! 600
Greece
1 457 900
1870
19 353
43,400
Guatemala
1*180 000
1871
40 879
28 9
40,000
Ecuador
1 300 000
2 18' 928
5 9
Quito
70.000
Paraguay
1 000*000
1871
63*787
15 6
48,000
Hesse
'823*138
2 969
277
Darmstadt
30,000
Liberia
718 000
1871
9*576
74 9
3,000
San Salvador....
600 000
1871
7*335
81 8
Sal Salvador
15,000
Haytl
572 000
10 205
56
Port au Prince
20,000
Nicaragua
350 000
1871
58*171
i
10,000
Uruguay
300 000
1871
66 722
6 5
44,500
Honduras
350 QUO
1871
47 092
7 4
12,000
San Domingo
136 000
7 6
20,000
Costa Rica
165 000
1870
21 505
7 7
2,000
Hawaii
62!950
7*633
80.
Honolulu
7,633
216
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
POPULATION OF ILLINOIS,
BY COUNTIES.
COUNTIES.
AGGREGATE.
1870.
1860.
1850.
26508
2484
6144
7624
7198
8841
3231
4586
7253
2649
32O3
9532
4289
5139
9335
43385
7135
37i8
7540
5002
1840.
1830.
182O.
Adams -- -
56362
10564
I3I52
12942
I22O5
32415
6562
16705
11580
32737
20363
18719
15875
16285
25235
349966
13889
12223
23265
14768
13484
16685
2I45O
7565
15653
19638
9103
12652
38291
"134
20277
14938
13014
35935
5H3
12582
35506
25782
I9 6 34
11234
17864
15054
27820
11248
39091
24352
12399
39522
21014
60792
12533
27171
3I47I
23053
41323
4707
9815
11678
9938
26426
5144
"733
"325
14629
10492
14987
9336
10941
14203
144954
"551
8311
19086
10820
7140
14701
16925
5454
7816
11189
1979
9393
33338
8055
16093
10379
9915
29061
3759
9501
20660
12325
9589
8364
12965
12051
2 7325
9342
30062
15412
13074
28663
18257
48332
9214
17651
"637
14272
14476
3313
5060
1705
4183
3067
1741
1023
2981
1475
1878
7453
3228
37i8
9616
I020I
4422
2186
1390
3124
Alexander _._- . -
626
2931
Bond .
Boone ....
Brown
Bureau . ... --
Calhoun . .
logo
Carroll
Cass ...
Champaign . .
Christian
Clark
3940
755
2330
931
Clay
Clinton
Coles
Cook
Crawford ........ . .
3"7
*23
2999
Cumberland
De Kalb
1697
3247
De Witt
Douglas .
Du Page
9290
10692
3524
3799
8075
3535
8225
3070
1675
6328
Edgar
4071
1649
Edwards ... - ....
3444
Effingham.
Fayette
2704
Ford..
Franklin
5681
22508
5448
12429
3023
6362
14652
2887
4612
3807
4149
5862
3220
8109
7354
18604
4"4
16703
3682
13142
10760
"951
4083
1841
7405
7674
1763
Fulton
Gallatin --.
3155
Greene .... . .
Grundy .....
Hamilton . _ ..
3945
9946
1378
2616
483
Hancock . ..
Hardin
Henderson . .
Henry .. _ ..
1260
1695
3566
1472
5762
4535
6180
3626
6501
4i
Iroquois .. .... ..
Jackson
1828
1542
Jasper .
Jefferson .... ....
2555
691
Jersey ..
Jo Daviess
2III
1596
Johnson
843
Kane .... .
Kankakee. . .
Kendall
7730
13279
14226
17815
6iei
5-292
J553
5128
Knox
7060
2634
9348
7092
2035
759
2m
274
Lake ....
La Salle
Lawrence .....
3668
Lee
Livingston .
Logan . .
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
217
POPULATION OF ILLINOIS CONCLUDED.
COUNTIES.
AGGREGATE.
1870.
I860.
1850.
1840.
1830.
182O.
Macon .. . . .
26481
32726
44I3I
20622
16950
16184
9581
26509
23762
53988
"735
18769
12982
253M
28463
10385
27492
47540
13723
10953
30708
H437
8752
6280
20859
12803
29783
12714
46352
17419
10530
25476
10751
51068
30608
27903
16518
30388
8841
23174
17599
19758
16846
27503
43013
17329
29301
18956
13738
24602
3I25I
12739
13437
10931
6213
20069
22089
28772
9584
15042
12832
13979
22II2
6385
22888
36601
9552
6l27
27249
6742
3943
5587
17205
97"
21005
9331
32274
14684
9069
14613
9004
37694
25112
21470
11181
19800
7313
18336
I373I
12223
12403
18737
29321
12205
24491
13282
1711951
3988
12355
20441
6720
5l8o
5921
4092
7616
14978
10163
6349
5246
7679
6277
16064
3234
IOO2O
17547
5278
l6o6
18819
3975
2265
3924
11079
4012
6937
5588
19228
10573
7914
7807
3710
20180
11666
12052
76i5
11492
4690
8176
6953
6825
8925
536i
16703
7216
"773
4415
851470
3039
7926
14433
4742
1849
1122
1990
6221
2125
Macoupin _ .
Madison
13550
Marion
Marshall
Mason
Massac
McDonough
5308
2578
6565
4431
2352
4481
449
19547
("*)
McHenry .
McLean.
Menard ..
Mercer . .
26
200O
2953
I27I4
Monroe. .-...-
*2I
I5l6
Montgomery _.
Morgan
Moultrie
Ogle
3479
6i53
3222
Peoria -
M
1215
Perry
Piatt
Pike .. ..
11728
4994
2396
3316
Pope
26lO
Pulaski
Putnam _ .. .. .
2131
7944
<ri3io
4429
Randolph
3492
Richland . ..
Rock Island . .
2610
Saline
Sangamon
14716
6972
6215
6659
1573
13631
2800
7221
5524
9303
4240
6739
4810
5133
7919
2514
10167
4457
4609
12960
^2959
Schuyler
Scott
Shelby
2972
Stark
St.Clair
7078
*5
5248
Stephenson . __
Tazewell.. __
4716
3239
5836
2710
308
1675
2553
6091
Union _ .
2362
Vermilion .
Wabash
Warren .
Washington
1517
1114
4828
Wayne
White
Whitesides
Will
Williamson .
Winnebago
Woodford
Total
2539891
476183
157445
*49
55162
218
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
STATE LAWS
RELATING TO RAT.ES OF INTEREST AND PENALTIES FOR USURY.
STATES AND TERRITORIES.
Legal I Rate al-
Rate of: lowed by
Interest. Contract.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Dakota
Delaware
District of Columbia ..
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Ontario, Canada
Oregon .-.,
Pennsylvania
Quebec, Canada
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington Territory
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
per cent
8
10
6
10
IO
7
6
6
8
7
10
6
6
6
8
6
6
6
6
7
7
6
6
10
10
IO
6
7
6
7
6
6
6
10
6
6
6
6
8
10
6
6
10
6
7
12
per cent.
8
Any rate.
10
Any rate.
Any rate.
7
12
6
10
Any rate.
12
2 4
10
10
10
12
Any rate
6
Any rate
10
12
10
10
Any rate
12
Any rate
6
7
Any rate
7
Any rate
12
Any rate
Any rate
Any rate
Any rate
10
12
Any rate
6
6*
Any rate
6*
10
Any rate,
Penalties for Usury.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of principal and interest.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of principal.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Fine and imprisonment.
Forfeiture of entire interest
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 12 per cent.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 7 per cent.
No Usury Law in this State.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of thrice the excess and costs.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of contract.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of excess abo^ e 6 per cent.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
Forfeiture of excess of interest.
Forfeiture of entire interest.
* Except in cases defined by statutes of the State.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
219
STATE LAWS
RELATING TO LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS : SHOWING LIMIT OF TIME IN WHICH
ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT ON THE FOLLOWING :
STATES AND TERRITORIES.
Assault
slander.
&c.
Open
Accts.
Notes.
Judg-
ments.
Sealed and
witnessed
Instru-
ments.
Years.
I
Years,
i
Years.
6
Years.
2O
Years.
IO
I
5
IO
I
2
Col orado
I
6
6
Connecticut
}
6
6
20
17
Dakota
2
6
6
20
I
3
6
20
2O
I
2
e
20
2O
I
6
7
2O
2
2
c
C
Illinois
I
5
10
2O
IO
2
6
20
2o
2O
2
e
IO
20
IO
Kansas
1
2
c
e
JC
Kentucky
I
2
I c
I c
JC
I
1
c
IO
20
2
6
20
20
20
Maryland
1
3
I
12
12
2
6
20
2O
20
2
6
6
6
IO
2
6
6
JO
6
Mississippi
I
3
6
7
7
Missouri
2
C
IO
2O
IO
Montana '.
2
c
JO
IO
IO
I
c
e
IO
Nevada
2
2
A
e
4
New Hampshire
2
6
6
20
20
New Jersey
2
6
6
20
16
New Mexico
I
6
10
IO
IO
New York
2
6
6
20
20
North Caroli na
}
3
3
IO
IO
Ohio
I
6
1C
1C
1C
Ontario (U. Canada)
2
6
6
20
20
Oregon
2
6
6
IO
20
Pennsylvania
6
6
20
20
Quebec ( L. Canada)
5
5
zo
3
Rhode Island ,
6
6
20
20
South Carolina
2
6
6
20
20
Tennessee
6
6
IO
6
Texas
2
4
IO
5
Utah
2
4
5
7
Vermont
2
6
4
8
8
Virginia
I
e
5
IO
20
Washington Territory
2
2
6
6
6
West Virginia
I
5
IO
IO
10
Wisconsin -
2
6
6
20
20
Wyoming...
I
6
iq
IS
15
PRODUCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE, STATE OF ILLINOIS, BY COUNTIES. 1870.
JOUNTIES.
Total
Improved
Land.
Woodl'nd
Other tin -
improved
Spring
Wheat.
Winter
Wheat.
Rye.
Indian
Corn.
Oats.
Number.
19.329,952
Number.
5,061.578
Xumber.
1.491.331
Bushels.
10.133.207
Bushels.
19.995.19g
Bushels.
3.456.578
Bushels.
129,921.39?
JHisliels.
12.780.851
Adams
287,926
13,836
145,045
137.307
57,062
398,611
37,684
186,864
92.902
419,368
241,472
118,594
146,922
150,177
208,337
348,824
105,505
75,342
334,502
168,539
147,633
564,874
,465,458
58,912
120,343
187,196
141,228
80,749
228,132
49,572
175,408
193,999
88,996
311,517
28,117
140,954
265,904
322,510
78,548
90,867
118,951
94,147
156,517
57,820
240,120
312,182
164,004
330,829
207,779
533,724
87,828
322,212
377,505
321,709
205,259
231.059
257,032
173,081
166,057
209,453
25,151
261,635
230,566
494.978
134,173
222.809
92,810
276,682
293,450
144,220
316,883
170,729
93,754
94,454
233,785
55,980
19,319
37,271
140,764
75,079
155,214
72,309
421,748
96,195
85,331
310,179
138,129
231,117
254,857
229,126
75,832
360,251
54,063
266.187
177.592
147,352
92,398
289,809
419,442
128,448
241,373
225,504
112,576
17,761
42,613
29,886
35,491
41,866
63.443
29,793
33,493
16,789
19,803
102,201
80,612
48,868
45,214
19,635
78,350
40,334
17,722
29,548
11,897
17,243
66,803
57,585
56,330
93,460
2,996
3,994
123,823
68,750
93,242
6,256
93,878
43.385
44,771
34,705
12,620
22,478
87,642
67,023
94,888
51,427
82,07b
34,646
10,978
14,244
41,566
21,072
48,117
72,738
12,071
12,462
17,394
18,153
81,224
89,450
61,579
?8,260
-.11,739
33,396
52,547
53,293
40,366
34,931
45,977
83,369
47,804
60,217
24,783
43,643
48,666
68,470
5,978
128,953
87,754
12,516
17,184
162,274
50,618
31,239
70,393
51,085
62,477
44,633
74,908
12,375
76,591
43.167
45,268
83,606
53,078
37,558
27,294
55,852
146,794
78,167
21.823
24,261
116.949
37.238
25,217
19,370
16,191
947,616
42,658
368.625
599
117.502
724
221,298
260
127,054
123,091
504,041
195,118
85,737
610,888
154,485
4,904
212,924
84,697
190
.11,695
65,461
693
247,360
122,703
195,716
351,310
1,008
111,324
223,930
83,093
577,400
150
92,347
232,750
32,306
69,062
445
10,480
329,036
87,808
100,553
558,367
555
92,191
325
480
1,249
7.654
221
2,193
264,134
2.260
1,339
40,963
196,613
861,398
1,207,181
173,652
900
125,628
72.316
36,146
270
10,955
45,793
13,203
651,767
744,891
357,523
196,436
5,580
31,843
350,446
39,762
1,057,497
70,457
44,922
796
1,031,022
150,268
2.279
83.011
247,658
165,721
266.105
452,015
20,989
30
6,240
35,871
4,742
43,811
186
25,721
2.772
45,752
10,722
7,308
3,221
1,619
8,825
20,171
15,497
14,798
21,018
11.540
9,017
7,532
37,508
528
19,759
25,328
11,577
5.195
131,711
512
415
4,930
11,672
133,533
865
96,430
35,766
23,259
524
9,165
5,934
1,452,905
244,220
1,064,052
466,985
337.769
3,030,404
234,041
1.367 965
1,146:980
3,924,720
1,883,336
614,582
1,019,994
813.257
2,133,111
570,427
581,964
403,075
1,023,849
'1,311,635
1,680,225
331,981
2,107,615
352,371
620,247
962,525
565,671
653,209
1,508,763
509,491
1,051,313
295,971
735,252
1,510,401
172,651
1,712,901
2,541,683
799,810
611,951
461,345
887,981
519,120
1,286,326
343,298
674,333
637.39S
681,267
2,708,319
517,353
3,077,028
656,363
1,656,978
1,182,691
4,221,64(1
2,214,468
1,051,54-1
2.127,549
1,034,057
1,182,903
2,648,721
133,12(i
1,362,490
1,145,005
3,723.379
1,973.881
2,054,962
543,718
1,527,898
3,198,835
1,753.141
1,787,066
969,224
384,446
1,029,725
1,399,188
315,958
195,735
334,259
510,080
482.59-1
1,459,653
531,516
4,388,763
440,975
752,771
2,082,578
1,149878
1,423.121
1,615,679
2,062.053
679.753
2,818,027
421,361
2.982.853
836.115
1,179,291
870.521
2,162,943
1,131,458
655 710
1.237,406
2,154.185
759,074
21,627
461,097
579,127
70,852
987.426
26.234
775,100
168,784
721,375
383,821
212.628
269.945
446,324
315.954
1,584,225
136,*55
171,880
1,087,074
216,756
225,074
860,809
290,679
129,152
386.073
497,395
154,589
222,426
261,390
27,164
64,029
269,332
203,464
579,599
26,991
229,286
668,367
430,746
149,931
149,214
285,949
71,770
874,016
74,525
785,608
772,408
468,890
787,952
699,069
1,509,642
131,386
903,197
659,300
490,226
454,648
459,417
475,252
389.446
362,604
272,660
22.097
280,717
910,397
911,127
235,091
452,889
152,251
668,424
198,724
263,992
141,540
334,892
338,760
130,610
161,419
67,886
16,511
86,519
414.487
204,634
276,575
69.793
397,718
119.359
13,463
637.812
316,726
476.851
960.620
505,841
124,473
436.051
110,793
601.054
533.398
404,482
119.653
880.838
1,868.682
180.986
868.903
744,581
Alexander
Bond
1.915
2,658
25.608
15.803
2,754
33,302
6,604
58,502
19,173
5,420
5,225
8,722
3,274
17,337
27,185
5,604
6,551
17,633
7,316
3.851
14,282
830
26,206
16,786
63,976
86,710
4,076
2,565
29,653
4,505
3,343
18,480
107
14,243
31,459
63,498
5,991
12,250
778
1,363
45,779
79,141
399
10,598
2,283
25.155
24,399
2,356
3,273
7,409
41,788
408
9,115
7,343
13,675
4,142
2,976
31,013
30
14,035
57.998
49,087
13,952
22,588
666
8,495
1,376
13,112
14,913
2,516
220
13,897
9,302
700
241,042
13.27C
465,236
75
418,073
12,165
102,577
18,360
Boone
Brown
Bureau
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Champaign
Christian
Clark
Clay
1,894
500
2,651
144,296
60
550
398.059
106,493
7,683
106,096
13,283
Clinton .
Coles
Cook
Crawford
DeKalb
DeWitt
Douglas
DuPage
Effliigham
77
Ford
42,571
365
193,669
Franklin
Fulton
Gallatin
Grundy
21,700
129
181,378
13
161,112
462,379
57,160
890
Hamilton
Hancock
Hardin
Henderson ,
Henry
Iroquois.
Jackson
JoDaviess.
282,758
7.185
2,468
23,618
12,935
5.163
113,547
5.87C
48,308
1,121
14,829
26,163
37.232
29,223
2,404
3,685
1'4,517
36,135
49,182
544
52,401
29,264
39,824
4,283
40,778
1,425
3,296
5,535
6,670
157,504
99! 50:2
1,016
9,248
25,303
2,309
222
7,707
3,235
3.401
20,003
568
23,073
20,841
930
23,686
30,534
1,008
135,362
59,027
1,737
52,476
""72; 2 12
2,576
8,665
418
31,658
8.030
6,228
137,985
20.426
K.ane
188,826
103,466
90,681
267,764
168,914
271,181
Kankakee
Kendall
Knox
\ake
LaSalle
Lee
450,793
120,206
198,056
55,239
160
550
Livingston
Logan
Macon
Macoupin
Marion
Marshall
'106,129
73,261
Mason
McDonough
273,871
401,790
211,801
36,152
289,291
McHenry
McLean
Menard
Mercer
Montgomery
59
18,196
17,128
497,038
92,361
Morgan
Moultrie
Ogle
Peoria
Perry
Piatt. . .
26,382
130
Pike
Pope
Pulaski
Putnam
4.174
1,170
2.025
20,755
809
19,932
21,294
1,610
9,314
2,783
2,016
13,701
14,846
5,300
31,122
509
14,583
1,931
10,486
869
37.310
6,335
1,648
15,237
23,135
. 28,137
450
Randolph
Richland
Bock Island
243,541
200
89,304
56,221
18
15,526
124,630
2,550
527,394
132,417
""ii; 806
""18&290
Saline
Sangamon
Scnuyler
Scott
Shelby. . .
Stark
St.Clair
1,562.621
2,118
72,410
180,231
249.558
202.201
5,712
672,486
164,689
184,321
264
1,996
170,787
2.468
108,307
Stephenson
Tazewell
Union
Vermilion...
Wabash
Warren
Washington
Wayne ...
266
White ...
Whitcsides...,
457,455
195,286
176
408,606
178,139
Will
Williamson
Winnebago
V/oodf ord
Ifsi
/ pf r
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
BY HON. GEORGE H. WOODRUFF.
INTRODUCTORY.
It is probably well known to most who will read these pages, that the writer,
some few years since, delivered two lectures on the early history of Joliet and
Will County, which Mr. James Goodspeed thought worth printing and publish-
ing. Those lectures were hastily prepared, and the record which they gave
was very imperfect. Many names of early settlers were overlooked, and one
entire settlement was strangely omitted in copying. The writer is, therefore,
very glad of an opportunity to* revise and rewrite the sketch, adding many more
names of the first settlers and noticing many matters in our later history. We
will, at the same time, omit much that appears in "Forty Years Ago," that
was not strictly historical. There will be found in the following pages brief
notices, also, of many of our early prominent citizens who have passed away.
But no one will be more sensible than the writer that the record will still be
imperfect, and that some names will probably be left out, and many matters
escape notice which some"one will think to be unpardonable omissions. This is
one of the things which detract from the pleasure of writing local annals ; but
it seems unavoidable, as no one can know and remember everything, and both
the time and space allotted to the writer are limited.
In one respect, the writer is happy. In the previous effort to preserve a
little of our early history, the letter "I" occurred quite often disagreeably
so. The writer did not then know that he had the right to use the word " we."
He supposed that the editorial fraternity had the exclusive privilege of hiding
behind that impenetrable shield. But having discovered that there is no law
to prevent its free use by any one who desires to do so, he has adopted it and
will use it freely, leaving the reader to guess when it means only the writer and
when it means a clique, a city, a township or a county.
The writer regrets that circumstances have made him a fixture in Joliet,
and that, like the sessile crustacean known as the barnacle, he cannot go about
in search of historic food, and can only gather up that which comes within the
reach of his tentacles. But, fortunately, he is to be followed now by others,
who will gather up the history of each township separately, and will thus re-
cord the many names and facts which he will overlook. This, too, will atone
224 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
for the prominence which he has given to Joliet a thing which was unavoid-
able, as an annalist must necessarily say most about events and circumstances
" most of which he saw, and part of which he was."
BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY.
Will County, as it is now constituted, consists of twenty- three and about
one-half townships of land, and is bounded on the north by Du Page and Cook
Counties : on the east by Cook County and the State of Indiana ; on the
south by Kankakee County, and on the west by Grundy and Kendall Counties.
It has an area, therefore, of (about) 541,440 acres, or 840 square miles. In
its widest part it is (about) thirty-seven and one-half miles east and west, and
thirty-six miles north and south. The fractional half township is occasioned
by its embracing a strip about one and a half sections wide of Townships 33
and 34 north, Range 15 east, which lie between Range 14 and the State line,
and are added to the towns of Crete (34) and Washington (33). Otherwise, and
excepting the towns of Wesley and Custer (which are divided by the Kan-
kakee), and the town of Reed, which is the west half of T. 32, R. 9, the
town organizations are identical with the survey of townships that is, each
town consists of a township of land. This will b% apparent at once to the eye
by reference to the map which forms a part of this work.
The plan of survey, which was early established for the public lands, ren-
ders the description and identification of tracts of land easy and certain. This
plan, which is said to have been devised by Thomas Jefferson, and was adopted
in 1786, consists in establishing, first, at convenient distances, meridian lines,
which are called "principal meridians," and which are started from some well-
known point and are run due north and south. Next, a parallel of latitude is
run at right angles with the meridian, and is called the base line. From these
main lines others are run, called township lines, just six miles each way, which
divide the land into townships of six miles square, which are subdivided into
thirty-six sections, of 640 acres each, which can again be subdivided, by imag-
inary lines, into quarters, half-quarters, etc. The lines running north and
south divide the townships into ranges ; and those running east and west, into
townships. The meridian line from whch we count starts from the mouth of
the Ohio River, and is the Third Principal Meridian. Our ranges are east of
this meridian, and the townships are north of the base line. The base line
from which we count is somewhat below Centralia, so that the southern line of
townships in our county is 32 north, and the western range is 9 east. It is
from this Third Principal Meridian that most of the State of Illinois is sur-
veyed. By this simple mode of survey, any piece of land is definitely and
easily described, even down to ten acres. In all townships the sections are
numbered, beginning at the northeast corner and numbering through first
course west, then returning on the second, and so on through the township.
Of course, along large rivers and on lakes, fractional sections occur. Plats of
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 225
the surveys are recorded in the general and local land offices, and sect-
on corners are marked on the prairie by stakes, and in timber by " blazed "
trees.
The county is largely prairie, although it exhibits a great variety of soil
and surface. There are several townships in which there is not a stick of tim-
ber (except as introduced by cultivation), yet considerable bodies of timber are
found along the streams, and in isolated groves which were early called
"islands." In the early settlement of the county, and of the Northwest gen-
erally, the settlers were very careful to select locations adjacent to some grove,
and to secure a timber lot was deemed indispensable to settlement. It was
then supposed that the prairie land two or three miles from timber would be
always open to the range of cattle. The prairie is generally of the kind called
high or rolling, and many of the low portions were called "sloughs," as they
contained water except in the dry season. There is, however, very little of
actual swamp land (although considerable was returned as such) in the county,
and at present scarcely an acre that is not inclosed. The system of drainage
by tiles is coming largely into use, which is making the "sloughs" the most
valuable portions of the land.
The county is well watered, except in the eastern townships, which are the
highest part of the county. A considerable stream is the Des Planes,* or as it
is often called, the Aux Planes, which rises far to the north (in Wisconsin) and
passing through Lake and Cook Counties, enters this county on Section 24,
Township 37 North, Range 10 East, or the town of Dupage, and passes on
through the towns of Lockport (Township 36 North, Range 10 East), and
Joliet (Township 35 North, Range 10 East), a corner of Troy, and through
Channahon (Township 34 North, Range 9 East), into the edge of Grundy
County, where it is united to the Kankakee, and with it forms the Illinois.
Just before leaving the county, it is united with the Du Page, a beautiful stream
of about the same size and naturally the fullest in dry seasons, which rises in
the northern part of Du Page County, where it is fed by copious springs, and
enters this county in the town of Dupage by two branches East and West Du
Page is united on Section 7 of the township, passes through the towns of
Wheatland, Plainfield and Troy, and unites with the Des Planes in the town of
Channahon. This union of the two rivers (by the way) is what gives rise to
the name Channahon, that word being the Pottawatomie word for '* meeting of
the waters." The name was given to it by Judge Peck, one of the early set-
tlers in that locality, of whom mention is made elsewhere. The Kankakee,
which is the largest, perhaps larger than the Du Page and Des Planes united,
enters the county at the southeast corner of Township 32, Range 10, and
dividing it unequally, passes into Township 32, Range 9, then into Township
33, Range 9, which forms the town of Wilmington, near the southeast corner,
*We give what we believe the correct spelling of the name, although it ia often spelled O'Plain. We suppose the
word to be of French origin, and that the meaning is the river of planes, or button-woods, which resemble the
European plane tree.
226 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
and, passing through the town diagonally, goes into Grundy County near the
northeast corner of the town. A smaller stream, known as Hickory Creek,
and which on some old maps was put down as Joliet River, which rises in Cook
County, enters the town of Frankfort (Township 35, Range 12 East), passes
through it and New Lenox (Township 35, Range 11), and empties into the
Des Planes in the town of Joliet, just below the city. Of these streams, the
Du Page, the Des Planes and the Kankakee afford good water-powers, which
have been more or less improved as will be elsewhere noted. Hickory Creek
has also a good water-power at times. Besides these there are minor streams
of much value as water-courses. The most considerable are Forked Creek',
which enters the Kankakee in the town of Wilmington ; Prairie Creek, which
enters the Kankakee from the northeast in the township of Wilmington ; Jack-
son Creek, which f enters the Des Planes from the east in the town of Channa-
hon ; Spring Creek, which enters Hickory in the town of Joliet ; the *Lilly-
cache, which enters the Du Page in the town of Plainfield; Horse Creek,
which enters the Kankakee in the town of Reed, and Rock Run, which enters
the Des Planes in the town of Troy. These last mentioned streams and sev-
eral others for which we have no names, are considerable streams in times of
high water, sometimes becoming impassable where not bridged, but in dry sea-
sons become mere brooks or dry up altogether. The Lilly-cache, however,
being fed by springs which are permanent, is always a beautiful little stream.
In the extreme eastern part of the county in the town of Washington (Town-
ship 33, Range 15), there is a small lake or pond called Eagle Lake, covering
perhaps, a half quarter of land, and surrounded by a considerable tract of
marsh. The Des Planes River below Joliet Mound, expands to a considerable
width, and is called Joliet Lake. The county also, especially along the water-
courses, abounds in springs of good water.
All the larger streams abound in fish of the kinds known in common
language as pike, buffalo, red horse, bass, sunfish, etc., etc. In the times of
Indian occupation they were favorite resorts of the natives for fishing and trap-
ping, and abounded in inuskrats, mink, otter, beaver, etc., some of which still
remain for the delectation of amateur trappers. The muskrat still tells the
weather prophet whether we are to have a mild or hard Winter, and is almost
as reliable as the moon. This region furnished large supplies in the early days
for the fur .traders. The various kinds of water-fowl are still abundant and
furnish " sport " for those whose hearts and consciences will allow them ruth-
lessly to take the life of God's beautiful creatures. The prairies also abound in
the native hens and quails, the destruction of which has been restrained by game
laws. In the early settlement of the county, deer were very abundant and aij
occasional one is seen still, but they have mostly gone with the Indian. Prairie
wolves were also very abundant in the early day, and a source of much vexation
*This name is often spelled Lillycash, which we suppose to be incorrect as there is no unusual amount of cash on
its banks so far as we know. The word cache is French and means a hole or hiding place, the name given by traders
and Indians to the places where they often hid corn and other things.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 227
and damage, and are not yet extinct. Buffaloes, no doubt, once roamed in vast
herds over Will County, but had disappeared before settlement. The timber
which filled the native groves and bordered the streams consisted of the various
varieties of oak, black walnut, hickory, elm, hard and soft maple, button-wood
and iron-wood. Of these and others there was a large and vigorous growth of
fine trees on the first settlement of tho county, most of which in a few years fell
before the ax of the settler for the purpose of building log houses, rail fences,
fire-wood, etc., and, as soon as saw-mills were built, for lumber. There were
also numerous groves of the wild crab-apple, the fruit of which was tolerable for
sauce, when we could get nothing better, and when in blossom the trees were
a sight which cannot be excelled in beauty. Wild plums were also abundant
and good, and wild grapes festooned the trees and furnished a fruit which was
fair in quality and made good wine. The present growth of timber has mostly
grown up within the memory of the older settlers. The scarcity of timber has
now been amply compensated by the discovery of coal and the substitution of
other material for fences, as well as the bringing in at low rates of the products
of the great pineries of Michigan and Wisconsin. For building purposes, a sub.
stitute has also been found in our abundant quarries, and also in the manufact-
ure of brick, the material for which are found in abundance within our own
borders. The bluffs and bottoms of the streams notably of the Des Planes
furnish a limitless supply of the most beautiful limestone. The quarries of
this county and Cook, on the line of this river, have become known the United
States over. The southwest corner of the county embracing portions of the
towns of Wilmington and Reed, which is a rich, level prairie is included in
the coal-fields of Illinois, which furnishes, at cheap rates, the coal needed for
our manufactures and our firesides. The extent of the Wilmington coal-field is
not large, b.ut it furnishes a large supply of valuable coal. The area is esti-
mated at twenty square miles, and the thickness of the vein averages, it is
thought, three and a quarter feet. This, according to the usual mode of reckon-
ing, would give sixty-six million tons. This corner of the county is honey-
combed with shafts, the depth of which varies from twenty to seventy feet.
Hundreds of thousands of tons are annually sent to market. This industry has
built up a considerable city in the township of Reed, of the name of Braid-
wood, the name of which has figured somewhat in our recent history. To show
the different overlying and underlying strata in this locality we give a section
of the Eagle shaft as we find it in the geological survey of the State :
Soil and drift 22 feet, 6 inches.
Sandstone (water-bearing) 24 feet.
Clay shale (soap-stone) 27 feet, 6 inches.
Coal 2 ft., 10 in. to 3 ft. 10 in.
Coarse, porous, water-bearing sandstone 12 feet.
Fire-clay 3 feet.
Coarse sandstone 6 feet.
Greenish fire-clay 15 feet.
228 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
This boring below the coal was made in the hope of finding a second bed of
coal, which, as yet, has not been found.
Through the valleys of the three principal streams, alluvial deposits con-
stantly occur. In the Kankakee Valley, these are mostly in the form of sandy
ridges, similar to those found on the shores of Lake Michigan. In the valley
of the Des Planes, are found extensive beds of limestone gravel and sand.
The most noted of these is the Joliet Mound, one fourth of a mile long and
two or three hundred feet wide, and sixty feet high. This is composed of gravel
and bowlders lying upon a bed of blue clay six feet in thickness. The early ex-
plorers imagined this to be the work of the mound-builders, but its composition
and that of neighboring ridges and bluffs show very clearly its alluvial origin.
The symmetry of the mound which was once so striking, and which led to the
belief that it was of artificial orgin, has been in part destroyed, first, by the
canal, and subsequently by the "Joliet Mound Tile Company," which has ex-
ported it's gravel, and made use of its clay in the manufacture of tile and brick.
All along the valley on either side and above and below it are ridges of gravel,
and a still larger mound, known as Mound Flat Head, presents the same ap-
pearance on its western side, a bold, gravelly bluff some sixty feet high.
Quarries of limestone of different varieties, and of more or less value, are
found in the valley of the Des Plaines from the northern line of the county to
the Joliet Mound. These furnish a supply of stone for building and flagging
that is practically inexhaustible. The particulars respecting the various work-
ings will be given in the township histories. There is also a good limestone
quarry at Twelve-Mile Grove, in the town of Wilton, but its distance from rail-
roads, has prevented its being worked, except for the wants of the immediate
neighborhood. Good stone is also found on Jackson Creek and on the Du Page.
Some of these varieties of limestone furnish the right material for lime, which
is largely manufactured, especially in Joliet. Peat has been found in small
patches in the eastern part of the county, but there are no extensive beds.
Specimens of copper have been found, and iron nodules are found in the
shales overlying the coal ; and it is found in the form of pyrites in the lime-
stone ; but there are no important deposits of either metal. Indications of pe-
troleum have been found in a boring upon the island at Wilmington, and in the
Des Planes River, near its mouth. Considerable oil fever was generated at the
time, and some money thrown away in boring for oil.
A sandstone quarry has been opened between the Kankakee and the feeder on
Section 6, in the town of Wilmington, and also one on Section 20, just across the
Du Page, near its mouth. There are also fine beds of molding sand in the town of
Channahon. This sandstone quarry, a few years since, promised to become a valu-
able property. It was opened by a company, of whom our citizen, M. Haley,
was one, and large quantities were sent to Chicago to aid in the rebuilding of
the city. The Sherman House, and other extensive blocks are built of it.
Quite a town grew up about the locality, but, for some reason or other, it is
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 229
not now worked, and the town of Shermanville is deserted. The opening of
the quarry showed, after the removal of the surface soil, two feet of molding
sand, two feet of fire sand, eight feet of sandstone and clay, and then twenty-
five feet or more of bluish sandstone. This was considered to be what Chicago
especially needed something that would not burn. But its beauty, we have
heard was impaired by containing traces of iron, which soon gave it a rusty
appearance ; and Chicago doesn't like to be thought rusty, and abandoned its use.
Artesian wells have been sunk in Joliet and Lockport, and the number in
Joliet is not less than twelve. From most of these, a steady and copious flow
of water is obtained, and very clear and pure, except that some of them con-
tain a little sulphur. It is believed that in almost any part of the county a
flow of water could be obtained at less than six hundred feet. Water was
obtained in Joliet at less than five hundred feet. The drilling of one of these
wells showed 220 feet of limestone, 80 feet of soap and slate stone, 110 feet of
sandstone, bearing the water. When the first one was successfully accomplished
in Joliet, a great number of our citizens assembled to witness the flow. So
deeply interested, it is said, did some become, that they actually drank more or
less of the crystal fluid, a thing which some had not done before for many
years, thus renewing the experiences of their youth.
*R
SURVEY, ETC.
The reader has perhaps observed on the maps of this State two lines run-
ning parallel to each other and diagonally across the townships, and called the
Indian Boundary. The land included between these lines a strip twenty miles
wide was surveyed in 182122 (the Indian title having been extinguished to
this in 1818) for canal purposes, as hereafter explained. The land lying out-
side of this was surveyed in 1837-38. Consequently the portion lying between
these lines was brought into market earlier than the other. At the time of the
first survey, the parties who did the work were obliged to go to Fort Clark, as
Peoria was then called, for their supplies.
To each of the townships the same act which provided for the survey gave
the sixteenth section for school purposes. Another section, the thirty-sixth,
is also set apart for the same purpose by a later act, but this was too recent to
benefit our State.
At the time of the first settlement of our county the title to the land (the
Indian title having been purchased by treaty) was in the United States. Acts
of Congress had, however, been passed for the purpose of encouraging settle-
ment, by which actual settlers were allowed to gain a pre-emption right, as it
was called, or a right to purchase, to the exclusion of all others, 160 acres of
land, or a quarter-section, at $1.25 per acre, whenever the same should be
brought into market. Land offices were established where settlers could prove
up their rights and receive certificates in the form of receipts for the purchase
money, for which patents were afterward given by the United States. In
230 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
cases where the whole amount could not be secured in one place, or when
prairie or timber could not be secured contiguous, a right to locate one eighty
on unclaimed lands was given, which was called a " float." After the lands
had been opened to pre-emption for a time, public sales were held, and outside
parties, not actual settlers, were allowed to purchase. Early settlers will recall
'how conflicting claims often occurred between "squatters" and other claimants,
and how neighborhoods often established a kind of mock court for their settle-
ment. These were without any authority of law, but their decisions were
generally received without appeal. Certain acts were required by the law to
entitle a person to pre-emption such as a certain amount of fencing, a cabin
and actual residence for a certain period. When public sales occurred, how-
ever, "squatters' rights" were enforced by the combined settlers against spec-
ulators, whether the claimant had done what the law required or not. Many
actual settlers also had not secured their pre-emption by reason of their not
having the money to pay for the land. Speculators and squatters often com-
promised by the speculator paying for the whole claim and giving the squatter
one-half. These various terms, pre-emption, float, claim, squatter, etc., have
now become obsolete in this region, but they were, forty or fifty years ago,
words of great significance.
Another act had been passed by Congress, in 1826, giving t# the State
every alternate section of land in a strip ten miles wide, lying along and each
side of the contemplated route of a proppsed canal. This act appropriated
300,000 acres of land for the purpose of constructing the canal, and laid the
foundation for the Illinois and Michigan Canal, a brief history of which is
given further on. It was, no doubt, this act, as well as the natural beauty and
fertility of the region, which gave rise to the tide of immigration which set in
hither forty to fifty years ago.
EARLIEST HISTORY.
In tracing up the history of any locality or people, it is always pleasing to
go back to the beginning of things, and to learn who first trod its soil and voy-
aged upon its streams. Such an investigation in reference to Will County car-
ries us back to 1673, when Louis Joliet, a French trader, and James Marquette,
a Jesuit missionary, started out from Green Bay on their successful voyage for
the discovery of the great river which, the Indians informed them, flowed to the
Great West. Going up the Fox and across the " divide " into the Wisconsin,
they came, in due time, to the great river, on whose ample bosom they floated
as far as the Arkansas. This was far enough to satisfy them that it emptied
into the Gulf of Mexico, and they retraced their steps. Coming to the mouth
of the Illinois, they returned by that stream to Chicago, having learned from
the Indians that it was a shorter route, passing, of course, up the Des Planes.
Tradition says that they encamped upon the mound below Joliet. However
this may be, it has borne the name of Joliet Mound from earliest times. This
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. . 231
was probably the first time that the region now known as Will County was trodden
by a white man. A few years after, two other early French explorers La
Salle, a trader and explorer, and Father Hennepin, another Jesuit missionary-
passed from the St. Joseph River into the Kankakee, and down it into the Illi-
nois. These facts and the following incident from Indian history, ought to
make the Des Planes and the Kankakee classic rivers. In a very interesting
work published a few years since by N. Matson, of Bureau County (and who,
by the way, seems to be one of our indefatigable searchers after the Indian his-
tory of this region), we find the following tradition respecting the mound :
" One of the most celebrated Indians of history was Pontiac, the chief of
the Ottawas, of Michigan. After the surrender of the Northwest by the
French to England, in 1763, Pontiac for a while contested the claims of the
English, and was known as their most able and bitter enemy. When he could
no longer maintain the contest, he left the vicinity of Detroit, where he was
born and had always lived, and with the remnants of his once powerful tribe
(about two hundred warriors and their families), found a refuge on the banks of
the Kankakee, in this county, somewhere in the vicinity of Wilmington. He
merged the remnants of his tribe into that of the Pottawatomies. This region
was claimed by the Illinois, and a conflict arose between the tribes, especially
in reference to the right to hunt the buffalo to the west of the Illinois River.
After fighting over the matter awhile, a council was agreed upon to settle the
question. This council met at Mound Joliet, in 1769. During a speech which
Pontiac was making in support of his side of the question, he was treacher-
ously assassinated by " Kineboo," the head chief of the Illinois. This act of ^
treachery led to the bloody war which resulted in the destruction of the great
Indian city "La Van tarn," which stood on the site where the paper city of
Utica was afterward built, and to the tragedy of Starved Rock, and to the ulti-
mate extinction of the great nation of the Illinois.
After the visits of Joliet, Marquette, La Salle and Hennepin, there is no record
of these regious having felt the tread of the white man for nearly one hundred and
fifty years. But it was no doubt a favorite hunting and fishing ground for the
Indians ; and many a tale of peace, of the chase and of war could be woven from
the imagination, without doing violence to the facts. The portage from the
South Branch of the Chicago River to the Des Planes was easy and short, and
the canoes of the Indian and of the Indian trader made frequent passages up
and down the Des Planes. The next white man who explored this route, of
whom we have any certain knowledge, was Gurdon S. Hubbard. now the oldest
white settler of Chicago, and who was an Indian trader there, as early as 1824,
and who entered the employ of the great American Fur Company much earlier.
He, no doubt, and other white men in their employ, used to convey goods
along this route and gather up furs in exchange. We have a record of one
such trip (the first), made in 1818. Mr. Hubbard is still living, and we think
the world might be challenged for another such experience as his. To have
232 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
seen Chicago, the mere outpost it was, in 1818, and for some years after, and
then to have lived to see its morasses transformed into a well-built city of half
million inhabitants ! Old Methuselah, in his nine hundred and sixty-nm
years, saw nothing like it.
In high water then, as even now occasionally, the Des Planes emptied through
Mud Lake a portion of its surplus waters in the Chicago River.
practice of the Indians and of the earliest traders seems to have been propheti
of that great traffic which it was decreed that future years should open up
through this beautiful valley, and which, immense as it is, has not yet probab y
reached its acme. No doubt many now living, if not those who are called
settlers, will yet see the steamers plying busily up and down an enlarges
O.RQ vivfir
The peace of Paris, in 1763, terminated the rule of France over the North-
west, and it passed into English possession, a fact which was destined to secure
to this region another type of civilization and of Christianity. Of course, many
of the early explorers, traders and missionaries remained, and of these a
their descendants it was estimated that two thousand remained within the limits
of our State when (1818) it was admitted into the Union. Now, however
there are only the names of a few localities to remind us that the mercurial
Frenchman once exercised the right of |piinent domain here. By the Revol
tion of 1776 and the treaty with England, the country passed into the domai:
of the United States, and, by the treaty of 1833, at Chicago, with the Pott*
watomies, the red man surrendered his domain, also. In 1835, the Indians
the number of five thousand, were assembled at Chicago, received their annu
danced their last war dance in Illinois, and took up their march for new 1
ing grounds on the far Missouri.
FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS.
We will now proceed to detail such facts in respect to the first settlement of
Will County as have escaped oblivion, and have been collected from the men
ories of early settlers and from public records. In so doing, we shall of .
repeat much of what was embodied in " Forty Years Ago."
At the time of the admission of the State, all that portion lying no:
Alton and Edwardsville, with slight exceptions, was a wilderness. Occasi
explorers, soldiers on their marches to the distant outposts, as well as Indi:
traders and trappers, had, however, discovered the beauties of the region and
given glowing descriptions of its attractions. The project of a canal, whi
was entertained during the war of 1812, as we have said, had also called att
tion particularly to this region and led to its purchase of the Indians in 1
and a* early as 1820 and on, an occasional pioneer had pushed out into
great Northwest. The Methodist Church, also, which, if not as early, has 1
as zealous and self-denying, as the Jesuit Society in its efforts to Christianize
the " poor Indian," and to hold the restraints of religion over the pic
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 233
early sent out its missionaries, furnished only with horse and saddle-ba^s a
table and hymn-book, to establish missions over the region so soon to become
3 homes of settlers from the East and from the West and South, where Yan-
kees and Hoosiers, Virginians, Kentuckians and "Buckeyes" were soon to
mingle in neighborhood fellowship, in due time to be followed by Irishmen
(remans, Englishmen, Swiss, Norwegians, Swedes and contrabands "
It was one of these Methodist missionaries who became the first settler
within the present bounds of Will County. This was the Rev. Jesse Walker
a native of the State of Virginia, born in 1766, twenty-five years before the
death of Wesley. He joined the church at the age of .20, and entered the
ministry of the M. E. Church on probation, in 1804. He married the daugh-
f a wealthy planter who was heir to much property in slaves. These she
manumitted, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, and as the
wife of a Methodist minister, than to enjoy the ease and comfort which could be
secured by the sweat of unpaid toil. Like Moses, she no doubt had respect
nto the recompense of the reward, and, no doubt, like him, she had entered
upon that reward and does not regret her choice. In 1806, Walker accom
panied by Wm. McKendree (afterward Bishop), came to Illinois-then included
m the Territory of Indiana. They were highly pleased with what they saw
t the next meeting of the Conference were appointed to the circuit in
>is. It is characteristic of the times, and shows how loosely the Methodist
clergy of that day were held by worldly interests, that Walker returned home
the Conference about noon, commenced preparations at once for the journey
and by 10 o'clock of the next day, he and his family were on the way to their new
d of labor and self-denial. The state of the country at that time rendered
>nly one mode of travel possible-,', e., on horseback-and four horses were re-
for himself, family and possessions one for himself, one for his wife and
young daughter, one for his eldest daughter, a girl of sixteen, while the fourth
Tied, not his library, for an itinerant had only a hymn book and bible but
a small stock of Methodist books, the sale of which must eke out his slender
Jary. Such a mode of travel would not admit of carrying even a sinele
aratoga trunk, had such arks been at that time invented. Happily they were
not needed, as the wardrobe of each member of the family consisted of only one
besides the one worn, and these were spun and woven by the mother and
tughter and were of linsey-woolsey or jeans ! Think of this, ye Flora Me
-tflimseys !
Jesse Walker became an able and efficient preacher of Christianity
Imois, although he bad received but a very limited education. He was a
strong, native intellect, ready wit and good sense-just the man for the
* and the time. There are still some living who remember him well In
find him reporting his labors to the Conference as a missionary among
234 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
the Indians ; and in this capacity he came to the vicinity of Plainfield in 1826,
where, and for several subsequent years, there was an Indian village. In 1827,
he was Superintendent of the Fox River Mission, embracing a large extent of
territory. He is said to have held the first camp-meeting in the State, and
also to have preached the first Protestant sermon in St. Louis. In 1829, he
had charge of the Des Planes Mission, and formed the first class at Walker's
Grove, where the settlement was made, just south of the present village of
Plainfield. Father Walker's labors as Superintendent of the Mission were not
of course, confined to Will County. In the history of Livingston County, we
find mention of his labors among the Kickapoos. The writer speaks of his suc-
cess among this tribe as being considerable, resulting in many conversions. It
is related of the converts that they were very scrupulous in the observance of
the Sabbath, always returning from their hunting excursions on Saturday
night. In this they were a good example to the whites, many of whom we
have noticed start out to hunt on Sabbath morning. This writer also describes
the kind of prayer books made use of, which consisted of black walnut boards
on which they rudely carved the images and figures which represented their
ideas, and these, it is said, they never failed to consult before going to rest at
night. They did not forget their prayers, however sleepy and tired, as white
Christians often do. To return to Walker's Grove.
The Pottawatomie Indians had one custom which is worth recording. They
set apart a certain number of their women as council women, whose duty it was,
whenever the head men held a council, to sit in an inner circle and silently to
listen to all that was said, and record, in their memories, the decisions arrived at
by their lords. They were not allowed to speak in the council, or to gossip about
it among themselves or with others, and only to speak when called upon officially
in relation to any matter thus recorded. It is said that these women were highly
esteemed by the tribe, and were selected with great care, a fact which we can
readily believe, for they must have been possessed of rare and admirable qualities.
Many of these facts we have gathered from Mrs. D. C. Scarles, who is a grand
daughter of Father Walker and the daughter of James Walker, presently to be
mentioned. We are also indebted to the book of Father Beggs another pioneer
preacher of whom we shall presently make mention for some of the facts re-
specting Father Walker. Father Walker died at Plainfield, in 1835, at the ripe
age of 69. At a meeting of the Rock River Conference, at Plainfield, in 1850,
his remains were removed from the old cemetery to the new one, and a monu-
ment placed over them with this inscription : " At the Rock River Conference,
in 1850, his remains were removed to this place by his sons in the Gospel, who
erect this stone to transmit his revered name to coming generations."
It is very much to be regretted that the manuscripts left by Father Walker,
respecting his life and labors, which must have been of great historic value and
interest, were burned, a portion of them in the fire which afterward consumed
the house of James Walker ; and such as were saved from that fire were con-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 235
sumed in the burning of D. C. Searles' house a few years since. While on
the subject of Indians, we will relate an incident which occurred a little later.
During the Black Hawk war, one of the council women of whom we have
spoken, came to Mrs. James Walker, the daughter of Father Walker, who had
been a teacher at the mission, and who was highly esteemed by the Indians,
and left with her her infant boy, to whom she had given the name of Shon-on-
ise, charging her that if she did not return she must be a mother to him, which
Mrs. Walker, without much reflection at that time, promised. The council
woman was then on her way to Milwaukee to attend a council. It so happened
that she was attacked with cholera and died, leaving to Mrs. Walker the charge
she had accepted. This duty she faithfully fulfilled, and the Indian boy was
brought up in the family with Mr. Walker's children, and received the same
advantages of education as his own, and when he became of age was given a
generous outfit. But Shon-on-ise at once showed the truth of the adage, " once
an Indian, always an Indian," for he immediately turned his pony's head
toward the setting sun and sought out his tribe in the Far West. Having the
advantages of education, he became an influential chief among the Indian tribes,
and made frequent visits to Washington in furtherance of their interests. On
such occasions he always called to see Captain James and his foster-mother.
In this village, as elsewhere, the Pottawatomies were generally well dis-
posed toward the settlers, giving them but little annoyance except when under
the influence of good-na-tosh. This article, which, under another name, plays
the mischief among white people as well, was a source of great trouble and,
indeed, of danger to the mission and the early settlers, and it became necessary
to keep strict watch and to use arbitrary measures to keep it from them. On
one occasion, Capt. James Walker, finding that by some unaccountable means
the Indians had access to the contraband article, determined to find out how
they got it. Being perfectly familiar with Indian customs, and speaking their
language, he disguised himself in their attire and walking into their encamp-
ment or village, he seated himself among them, as he found them gathered
together evidently for some special purpose. Presently a man stole in whom
he recognized as an Indian trader from Fox River, and began to deal out the
fire-water. He soon came to Capt. Walker, who jumped to his feet and called
out the name of the trader, who exclaimed, " My God, Captain, is this you ! "
The result was that the traffic ceased, for a time at least. But it is time to tell
who Capt. Walker was.
Capt. James Walker had married one of the daughters of Jesse Walker.
Although of the same name, they were not related. James Walker was a
native of Tennessee, and came to Ottawa at an early day, where he became
acquainted with Jesse Walker, and married his daughter, and accompanied him
in his mission to Walker's Grove. He brought with him a horse-power mill
which he set up for temporary use, and proceeded at once to construct a saw-
mill and a grist-mill also on the Du Page. These rendered valuable service to
236 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
the early settlers in this region. It is said, and no doubt truly, that the lumber
for the first frame building erected in Chicago was sawed at this mill. This
was erected by a Mr. Peck, on the southeast corner of La Salle and South
Water streets, upon a lot which had cost the enormous sum of $80. We pre-
sume that the lot is now occupied by a better building, and that it has advanced
somewhat in price. The lumber was hauled to Chicago by Reuben Flagg, Esq.,
mentioned below. On the organization of Will County, Jas. Walker was
chosen one of the three County Commissioners without opposition, and soon
after was chosen to represent the county in the Legislature. He also served
the county as Commissioner during the years 1845-8. Mr. Jas. Walker died
in 1850, at the age of 57. He was a man of strong good sense, integrity of
character, and enterprise and energy, and a consistent member of the Methodist
Church.
Another Methodist pioneer preacher is identified with the early history of
Plainfield and Will County, Rev. Stephen R. Beggs, who is well known
throughout the county as one of the earliest itinerants through this region.
He settled his family on the southeast quarter of Section 16 of the township,
and built a log house, etc. He subsequently obtained the title to the same at
the sale of the section under the school law. His house became historic, as we
shall have occasion to mention by and by. Father Beggs still survives in a
ripe old age, and is still able to put in his strong appeals in behalf of religion,
temperance and justice. In 1825, a Frenchman of the name of Vetel Ver-
mette, strayed into the same vicinity. He did not remain long and little is
known of him.
In the Summer of 1830, Mr. Reuben Flagg left the State of Ver-
mont with his family, and after a journey of two months arrived in the
vicinity of Walker's Grove, on the 9th day of July. He settled on the north-
east quarter of Section 10 in the township. On his way, he passed through a
village consisting of about a dozen log cabins, a block-house and stockade.
Such an obscure point, surrounded by low, wet prairie, barren sand and impass-
able sloughs, presented no attraction to the emigrant. No prophetic vision of
the great city which afterward arose from the mud, and more recently from its
ashes, had then troubled the brain of even the most enthusiastic squatter. Mr.
Flagg found in the vicinity, besides the families of the Walkers and Verinette,
two other settlers and their families. These were Timothy B. Clark and
Thomas Covel, who had emigrated the same Spring from New England. Mr.
Flagg was accompanied from Detroit by Jedediah Wooley, Sr., who bought out
the claim of the Frenchman Vermette. It is an interesting incident that in
1832, Father Beggs, who was then Presiding Elder, held his first quarterly
meeting in Chicago. The incipient city had by this time grown a little, but it
had not yet become the greatest hog and corn market of the world, and it was
thought necessary that some extra provision should be made for the Methodists
and others that would congregate there upon the occasion. Accordingly, Mr.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 237
Clark, above mentioned, hauled a load of provisions by ox-team express to
Chicago to meet the emergency. A daughter of Mr. Flagg's (now deceased),
was perhaps the first white child born within the precincts of Will County,
although several others claim the honor. To this settlement additions were
soon made. We give the names, so far as we have been able to gather them,
up to 1837, with the dates of their arrival, without vouching for their correct-
ness in all cases. In 18323, Wm. Bradford, John Shutliff, David Smith,
Chester Smith, Ralph Smith and Paul Kingston. Although there are several
Smith families, we believe that these three were brothers.
In 1833-4, Alva Culver, Sereno Culver, Miles Royce, Chester Ingersoll,
Jas. Gilson, Oliver Goss, Deacon Ezra Goodhue, Hardy Metcalf, Benj. Shut-
liff, Jason Flanders, John Bill, W. W. Wattles, Robert W. Chapman, John
Kellogg, Rev. Alfred Greenwood, Wm. Sanborn,^ Benj . Highland, Thomas J.
Lang, James Mather and Andrew Carrier ; in 1835, '36 and '37, Jonathan
Hagar, Levi C. Aldrich, Fenner Aldrich, Samuel Sergeant, Wm. E. Morgan.
J. E. Ambrose, Elder R. B. Ashley and sons, Bela Luce, Myron Piersons, S.
S. Pratt, Dr. A. J. Corbin, Alonzo Ray, Rev. Isaac Foster, Winthrop Wright,
Cyrus Ashley, David Rossiter, A. J. Hatch, R. D. Hatch, Hugh Alexander,
George Burrell, Dudley Beckwith, Lorin Burdick and S. B. Tyler. Flanders,
"Lang, Sanborn and Goodhue came together from New Hampshire.
Mr. Greenwood was the first Pastor of the Congregational Church, which
had been organized by the pioneer home missionary, Rev. N. C. Clark, in Sep-
tember, 1834. It was composed of the following members at organization :
James Mathews and Sarah, his wife ; Ezra Goodhue and Martha, his wife ; An-
drew Carrier and his wife, and Oliver Goss and Mary, his wife ; Ezra Good-
hue, Deacon. The first resolution passed by this Church was a strong temper-
ance one, and the first case of discipline was that of a brother reported to have
sold whisky to the Indians. Mr. Greenwood was succeeded in 1836 by Isaac
Foster^ who was an able preacher and one of the blackest of " black Abolition-
ists " (of which we had a good many in Will County in the early days). He
subsequently removed to California and took up the profession of law, and no
doubt made a sharp and able lawyer. A characteristic anecdote is told of his
California life : California, as well as other free States, had a fugitive-slave
law passed in obedience to the slave power, which in those days was w^ell-nigh
supreme. In this case, however, the statute expired at a certain date by its own
limitation. A " fugitive " was pursued to California and arrested. Foster,
being well known there as well as here for his anti-slavery principles, was
appealed to for the management of the defense. In his investigations, he dis-
covered that the act under which the claimant had proceeded would expire in a
few days. He therefore obtained an adjournment of the case to the day subse-
quent to the expiration of the act. The other party little dreamed that there
was any limit to their rights, and came prepared to insist upon their bond, like
Shylock of old. Foster was ready, and soon surprised the Court and the other
238 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
party by the information that the bond, under which they claimed not only a
"pound of flesh" but the whole man, body and soul, was worthless, and
demanded the discharge of the prisoner. To this demand the Judge was
obliged to yield. Well knowing that other proceedings would be instituted, the
friends of the slave had made arrangements by Svhich he was safely conducted
elsewhere by the underground railroad, and beyond the reach of the man-
hunter, who, in his rage at being balked of his prey, challenged Foster to
mortal combat. Foster declined on the score that it was none of his quarrel,
but offering to get the negro to fight him if he wished.
James Mather built the mill at the upper end of the village, afterward
known as McAllister's. He left Plainfield in 1844, and has died within a few
years in California. Wm. E. Morgan and Samuel S. Pratt, named above,
started the first cabinet shop in Plainfield, and we think in Will County ; and
Pratt, with Benj. Richardson, afterward started a cabinet and chair factory in
Joliet. Oliver Goss and one of the Smiths were merchants. Jonathan Hagar
was for a long time a merchant in Plainfield. He now enjoys the comfortable
fortune which he has acquired by upright and diligent attention to business ; a
prominent man in the Congregational Church and in the prosperous town of
Plainfield. He is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of this
city. Jason Flanders was a native of New Hampshire, came to the grove in
1834, was an industrious, honest man, and a member of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. He died in 1875, at the age of 6b'. Winthrop Wright has been
a prominent man in the dounty, and was Supervisor of the town in 1855 and
1856. A. Culver was Supervisor of the town in 1852 and again in 1857.
Elder Ambrose organized the Baptist Church at Plainfield, and was suc-
ceeded by Elder Ashley, who organized the original Baptist Church at Joliet,
of which we shall speak by and by. We are informed by Elder Ashley, who
still lives in Plainfield, carrying the. weight of 79 years, that himself and Elder
Powell held the first protracted meeting in Chicago. Elder Ashley counts up
more that eighty meetings of that kind which he has conducted.
Chester Ingersoll kept a hotel, we presume in " Mark Beaubien " style, in the
early days, and laid out the first village plat of Plainfield in August, 1834.
He was an active speculator, and subsequently resided at Lockport, where he
held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was the Justice of the Peace who
accomplished an official feat which has probably never been equaled. Justices
of the Peace were legally competent to take the acknowledgments of deeds, etc.;
and the law, as is well known, required that the officer should examine the wife
separate and apart from her husband, in order to relinquish dower. Having
sold a piece of land, Ingersoll, with an eye to thrift or convenience, took his
own acknowledgment, and also that of his wife "separate and apart from her
said husband" and certified to the fact under his own hand and seal, and the
writer hereof put the deed and acknowledgment upon the county records. Just
how he accomplished the feat, history is silent ; but that he did it has long been
JOLiET
flfc ll
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 241
a matter of record. There has been considerable litigation in the way of
widow's claim for dower on score of defective acknowledgment, but we think
this one would defy the sharpest lawyer. Ingersoll emigrated to California
just before the discovery of gold, and died there. Several letters from him are
in the files of the Signal.
Of these early settlers in Plainfield and vicinity, three have been repre-
sented in the bar of Joliet by one son each, viz.: Hager, Flanders and Good-
hue. Thomas Lang furnished us with two brave boys for Company D, One
Hundredth Regiment Sergt. George A. Lang, and John C. Lang, who was
wounded July 22d, before Atlanta. The latter is now on the editorial staff of
the Republican. James Mather built the mill at the north end of Plainfield,
subsequently remodeled by the McAllisters. Later names and facts respecting
the history of Plainfield are referred to in the town history. We are only
attempting to record the beginnings of its history. One fact, however, of later
date we will record. Such was the reluctance of the early settlers to
launch out into the open prairie, that at the land sale in 1835, Judge Caton
found two sections of land in the town of Plainfield still unclaimed, which he
entered. These sections, 30 and 31, with a half-section in Kendall, make (next
to that of C. C. Smith, in Channahon) the largest farm in our county. The
Judge opened the farm in 1838, and resided upon it until 1842 or 1843, and was
a most vigorous granger during those years, and could often be seen driving his
long ox-team and breaking-plow, barefooted, over his ample and fertile acres.
In those years, he used to vary the routine of daily life with occasional petti-
fogging before Justice Hagar. We do not suppose that Mr. Hagar would claim
that it was this experience which qualified him for Chief Justice of Illinois.
The Judge still retains the farm, although Will County cannot claim him as a
citizen. The property was many years in charge of his brother, Win. P. Caton,
who was eight years the Supervisor of the town and Chairman of the Board.
Let us also note the fact that Plainfield was the first town that got a company
(the old battery) into the late war from our county, and she also furnished the
greatest number of volunteers, in proportion to her population, of any town,
and she is also the only town in the county that has erected a monument to the
memory of those who perished in defense of the Union. This monument cost
$800.
WHEATLAND.
Immediately north of Plainfield, lies the town of Wheatland Township 37,
Range 9 the northwestern corner of the county. With slight exceptions, this
township remained unsettled until after 1840. Two things contributed to delay
its settlement. Lying mostly outside of the Indian boundary line, it was not
surveyed until 1837 or 1838, and not brought into market until 1841 ; and
being entirely prairie (with a trifling exception in the northeast corner), it did
not so early attract settlers as other portions. But this was also an advantage, as
it was from these circumstances, kept out of the hands of speculators, and reserved
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
for the hardy immigrant. But so fine a section of land could not long remain
vacant after the discovery had been made that timber was not so mdispei
: the earlier settlers supposed.
iLac Foster, of whom we spoke in the history of Plainfield, settled ,n the
south part in 1837 ; Josiah B. Wightman, in 1838 ; L G Colgrove and Ches-
ter Ingersoll, in 1839; Simeon B. Tyler, in 1841, and Anthony Freeland ,,
1842 These were all on the east side of the Du Page. D. W. Cropsy, the
first Supervisor of the town, settled on the west side, in 1846 hut soon moved
to the east side; and S. Simmons, who was also Supervisor of the town five
years, and our County Judge four years, located there in 1
In 1843 there was a considerable addition to the township. William
McMicken, and John McMicken-the present Supervisor of the town-who
were directly from Scotland, settled in the extreme northwestern corner of th
township. In this year, came, also, Wm. Cotton, A. B. Cotton, James Robms
JotoRobins and Frames Kobins, Englishmen, from the Isle of Wight and
G"W. Brown, from Pennsylvania, and Joseph B. Wait, B. T. Durant War-
ren W. Boughton, P. Haviland and Asa Canfield, from New York; and Wm.
Kinley from the Isle of Man ; and Julius Piedlau and John Martm, from Canada
In 1844 Stephen Findlay and sons founded the Scotch settlement, in the
southwestern part of the town, at and about Tamarack Post Oflta, . In the
same year came Robert Clow and his five sons, Robert, Jr Adam, Will am
and Thomas, and a little later another son, John H. The Clows were Scotch,
Tut had tarried a few years in the State of New York before finaly pitching
their tent in Wheatland, where, the land being still not taken up, they en tared
1 080 acres of its beautiful prairie, embracing Section 15 and parts of 14 an<
We find in the files of the True Democrat an enthusiastic notice of the
visit to Wheatland in 1850. The editor, H. N. Marsh Esq., was then taking t
census of the county. He makes special mention of the Clow plantation, of t
white school houses, and of D. W. Cropsy's fat beeves and toothsome chees<
The same year (1844), came Mungo Patterson, Daniel Catchpole, Jacol
Spaulding, George Wheeler and Elias Myers. The Scotch Church was organ-
Tzed in 1847, by Rev. Mr. Oburn, and the house of worship, which .such a
conspicuous landmark to the travelers over the prairie, one mile north of
rack Post OBice, was built a few years after.
In 1843 the following persons settled in the northwest part of the town-
ship and gave the neighborhood the name of the Vermont Settlement: Dav.d
LTHri. G. Washington Davis and their aged father, Jonathan Dav,s, and
Levi Blanchard. In 1844, Laton Rice, also from Vermont, with h five sons,
Alohonso John I., Asahel, Philander and Isaac, in company with Rudolph
Ho'ughton and General Davis and their families, making the journey from Ver
mont with their own teams, camping out nights, after a journey of forty-f u
days, reached the same settlement and became a part thereof October of
year named. Let us say, in passing, that Alphonso Rice was one of Wh,
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 243
land's contributions to the war for the Union, and that he laid down his life at
Champion Hills in 1863, being a member of Company H, One Hundred and
Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry; and that John I. is now a resident of
Peotone, and, in the year 1877, was Supervisor of the town of Will. To
this Vermont settlement there was added in 1845: Jacob Yaggy (a German)
Edwin Lillie (a Vermonter), and in 1846 Laban Clark and family, and
in 1847, Willard Hayward, and in 1850 Zidon Edson and Dr. Allen and
families. All these, together with the Mr. Kinley we named above, settled in
the same district. To these were added, also, Leland Hough ton, Hiram Johnson
and Sampson Pratt, in 1844 or 1845.
In 1844 or 1845, the following persons settled east of the Du Page : F.
Boardman and A. S. Thomas, and Sumner Heminway, on west side. Mr.
Boardman was Supervisor of the town three years.
In 1846, and the three or four following years, the population of the town
increased rapidly, and among the later settlers were many Pennsylvania Dutch
and Germans, and these now form nearly half of the population of the town-
ship. They are the same staid and substantial citizens they are elsewhere, and
have built two neat and substantial churches.
We have spoken of the absence of timber in Wheatland, and this fact
reminds us of a little story. In 1846, the first election was held in the town-
ship, which, by the way, was then known as " Oregon Precinct," for two
Justices of the Peace. Robert Clow, Sr., did not attend the election, but his
sons did. When they came back, the old gentleman asked Robert, Jr., who
they had put into office. Robert, Jr., replied : " Mr. Lillie." " Varra gude !
Varra gude ! " says he. " And wha' else ? " Me," was the modest and hesi-
tating reply. You ! " says the old man, you ! A-weel, a-weel, timber is
varra scarce in this country, sure enoo. !" But fathers do not always put the
most correct estimate upon their own boys. The people of Wheatland seem to '
have thought the timber pretty good, as they have chosen Robert, Jr., for their
Supervisor seventeen years, while the county has chosen him as its Repre-
sentative for two terms, and finally made him Circuit Clerk and Recorder
Mr. Robert Clow, Sr., died October 5, 1870, at the age of 83 years and 6
months. His death was hastened by an accidental fall.
In the digging of a well in Wheatland, on Section 6, in 1870, a bone was
found forty-four inches long and of the diameter of one foot, supposed to be the
bone of the lower leg of a mastodon, which must, it is estimated, have been at
least seventeen feet high.
Several of the names we have given in this list were residents of other parts
of the county at an earlier date.
THE DUPAGE SETTLEMENT.
In the town of Dupage (Town 37, Range 10), which lies east of Wheatland,
settlements were early made. This town is beautifully watered by the two
244 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
branches of the Du Page which unite just before entering Wheatland The
first settler in this township was Stephen J. Scott, a native of Maryland, who
came into this State in 1826, and made a claim at Grose Point, now known a
Evanston He had the year before located on the eastern shore, but was not
satisfied with the place, and crossed over with his family. There were then but
few white people north of Peoria, besides the garrison. Only two or three famili
of Indian agents and traders at Chicago. While out hunting with his
Willard, then a young man of twenty or more (now a resident of Naperville,
and a banker), he came upon the Du Page River near Plainfield. Struck with
the beauty of the stream and the adjacent prairies and groves, he followed 1
stream until he came to the forks, or the union of the east and west branches,
on Section 7 The beauty and evident fertility of the spot led him at once t
the determination to leave the vicinity of the lake and locate on that spot, and
make it his future home. He, accordingly, in the Autumn of 1830, made
claim, built a comfortable log house and moved his family to the spot,
the farm now occupied by Mrs. Sheldon.
Willard Scott, who accompanied his father, had acquired a good knowlc
of the Indian language and character, and had great influence with the Potta-
watomie Indians, and at a council held at Big Woods in 1832, was largely
instrumental in preventing the tribe from joining the Sacs in their murderous
war upon the early settlers. He had been adopted into the tribe and received
an Indian name-Kish-wash, an Eagle. The sterling honesty and undaunte
bravery of the young man commanded their respect and confidence,
of his early hunting expeditions he wandered as far as Holdeman's Grove, anc
there found a wife in the family of Hawley. This family removed to the a
locality in 1830. These Scotts subsequently removed to Naperville and
identified with the history of Du Page County.
In the years 1830-32, this vicinity was selected as their future
by Israel Blodgett, Pierce Hawley (above named), Robert Strong, John
Dudley, Ralph Stowell, Harry Boardman, Seth Wescott Isaac
Lester Peet Simon Terrill, John Barber and Samuel Goodrich. In 1
the settlement was increased by the coming of Andrew Godfrey .
Lord Philip Lord, Hiram Warren, Hannibal Ward, Daniel Stewart,
Peter Stewart, Samuel Whallen, Shubal Swift, Joseph Berry, S. Cliffc
George Spicer, William Smith and Jonathan Royce and sons.
Isaac Scarrett, above named, was another Methodist pioneer itinerant, am
laborer with Beggs and Walker, and he succeeded Walker, in 1828, as Supei
intendent of Fox River Mission previous to his settlement in Du Page.
' P P Scarrett, was Sheriff of our county in 1854-55. Elder Scarre
died at the residence of his son in Joliet, in May, 1861, at the age of 78
Whallen was a County Commissioner in the years 1841, 1842 and 1843, and died
about five years since at the ripe age of 94. Wm. Smith, commonly known ,
Col Smith, removed, in a few years, to this city, having been elected
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 245
Circuit Court, which office he held for seven years. He was a prominent citizen
until his death, in November, 1870 ; was 82 years old. His son, R. W. Smith,
was Supervisor of Dupage in 1855-57, and has also deceased.
Harry Boardman was one of our most popular and genial citizens and
Supervisor of the town in 1855 ; a son of Jonathan Royce, of same name,
was Supervisor of the town in 1870-73. John Barber was the father of our
well-known citizen, R. E. Barber, Esq., and settled on the south side of the
east branch, and gave name to Barber's Corners. Robert Strong still lives,
one of our most worthy citizens and an Elder in the Dupage Presbyterian
Church, and was Supervisor of the town in 1862. Judge Blodgett, of Chicago,
is a son of Israel Blodgett.
Mrs. Kinzie, wife of John H. Kinzie, one of the earliest Indian Agents of
the Northwest, and for a long tune a resident of Chicago, in a book which
she wrote about her early experience on the frontier, speaks of stopping at
Hawley's over night, after a long exposure in traveling from Fort Winnebago
to Chicago in the Winter of 1831. A brother of Hawley's was killed by the
Indians near his place in 1832, after cruel torture. So far as known, this
and the Dunkard preacher, hereafter noticed, were the only persons killed in
the Sac war within the bounds of Will County, although, as we shall presently
relate, there were many who were badly scared.
Lester Peet taught the first school in the Naperville settlement, Du Page
County, by a contract with the early settlers of that locality, for twelve dollars
a month. Capt. Jo. Naper heads the list of twelve subscribers, who promised to
pay in proportion to the number sent. The writer remembers this ancient
pedagogue well in later years as one who always came to Joliet to attend Anti-
slavery, Temperance and Bible meetings. The first school in Dupage town is
said to have been taught by Josiah Giddings, and the first church organized,
in 1S33, by Rev. N. C. Clark we suppose the same church which now exists
and to which the veteran J. A. Porter now preaches, and who was also its Pastor
many years ago.
The Des Planes River passes through the southeast corner of this town-
ship in which is a widening of the river, which has received the name of Goose
Lake. Any man who supposes it to be much of a lake would certainly be a
goose. Another "Lilly-Cache," which rises near the place where the other
stream of the same naffie rises, runs east and empties into the Des Planes. This,
however, is not a navigable stream. Both have their source in springs. Besides
the timber along the streams, there is, in the south end of the town, a beautiful
island of timber, which, together with a noted spring between it and the river
were all known in early times by the name of Lilly-Cache. The old roads
from Plainfield to Chicago and from Joliet to Chicago, passed on opposite sides
>f this island grove and came together upon the highland near Godfrey's (on
Section 12), a famous tavern stand in the early times, where we got our first
'efreshments on the way to Chicago, and the stage-driver "changed horses."
246 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Godfrey and Spicer, and, perhaps, others named above, settled in this part of
the town. The Illinois & Michigan Canal and C., A. St. Louis R. R.,
which follow the course of the river Des Planes, run through the
same corner- of the town. Martin's Landing, on the canal (a small city), lies
on the line of the township, and partly in Dupage and partly in Lockport.
There is also a Romeo depot on the railroad. In this vicinity one of the paper
cities of the county was early laid off and called Rorneo, to match Juliet. It
was intended, perhaps, as a rival ; but the starting of Lockport by the canal
ended it. Of course, along the east side of the river are found quarries of lime-
stone. These will be more particularly described in the township history.
SETTLEMENTS ON HTCKORY CREEK.
We pass now to the settlements along Hickory Creek. It must be borne
in mind that we are giving the history of early settlements, without strict refer-
ence to present town lines. The Hickory Creek settlement would now be in-
cluded in the towns of Joliet, New Lenox, Frankfort, Homer, etc. W. R. Rice,
in a letter which we find quoted in the combination map of the county, says
that in June, 1829, he, together with William Rice, his father, and Miller
Ainsley, left Fountain County, Indiana, to take a look at the Far West. He
says, " We struck the Iroquois, which we followed to the Kankakee, which, in
turn, we followed to the Des Planes. We then went up the latter until we
came to Hickory Creek. Going up this a mile or two, we found a Mr. Brown
and old Col. Say re, living in an old Indian bark shanty near where Dr. Allen's
house stands (the old Davidson place) ; and about eighty rods northwest across
the creek was an old man of the name of Friend, who had a log cabin partly
built." This account is no doubt correct. The Brown he speaks of died soon
after and was buried on the Davidson place, perhaps the first white burial in
Will County. As is well known to all old settlers, Col. Sayre built a saw-mill
on the creek, near where the Red Mill now stands, but on the north side of the
creek, a little higher up. Mansfield Wheeler, who came to the vicinity in 1833i
went into partnership with him. This old mill has long since gone to the limbo
of things that were, but the writer hereof has often seen the saw crashing ruth-
lessly through huge oaks and black walnuts to supply the needs of new settlers.
It was at this mill that the lumber was sawed for the first frame houses of Joliet,
built in 1834.
To this settlement there also came, in 1830, Lewis Kerchival and son, John
Gougar, Michael Runyon, Jared Runyon and Jas. Eminett; in 1831 John Nor-
man, Jos. Norman, Aaron Ware, Thos. and Abraham Francis, Isaac Pence and
Samuel Pence. There is a tradition that Jo Smith, the Mormon, once preached
at the Point, and that Jas. Emmett and others were converts and left the vicinity.
In 1832, were added Cornelius C. Van Home, John Stitts, Peter Watkins and
sons, Wm. Gougar and son Nicholas, and Joseph, Alfred and James Johnson. The
Johnsons located on Spring Creek, in the edge of what was known as Yankee
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 247
Settlement, most of which is now embraced in the town of Homer. To these
were added, in 1833, Isaac Reynolds and his three sons, Smith, Newton and Milton
Reynolds, Judge Davidson and Matthew Van Home ; and in 1834, G. S. Green-
wood, John Broadie and John Cooper and sons. Later, in 1835 to 1837, came
John Carl, Abel Bliss, L. A. Cleveland and many others. It will be understood
that the above list includes settlers on both the north and south sides of the
creek ; some on what is now known as Maple street. Ohio, Indiana and New
York furnished most of these settlers. Most of these have passed away.
Some have left sons that perpetuate their family names and are counted among
our best citizens.
A daughter of the elder Pence has the distinction of being the first Joliet
bride, for a description of whose wedding the reader is referred to " Forty
Years Ago." Perhaps the most prominent of the persons named above, in our
history, was C. C. Van Home. He taught the first school in the vicinity in
the Winter of 1832. His place in the point of timber that makes out into the
prairie, in which are the Camp Grounds of the Methodist brethren, was known
in the early days as Van Home's Point. He was a marked character, well and
extensively known throughout Cook County, of which we then formed a part.
He was a man of liberal education, great shrewdness, abundant self-esteem and
tenacity of purpose. He got the appointment of Postmaster and Justice of the
Peace soon after coming here. The only mail route at that time in the county
was a weekly horseback one from Danville to Chicago. This passed by the
cabin of Uncle Billy Gougar. As Van Home resided some distance to the
east, the office was kept by one of the Gougar boys. In 1834-5, before a post
office was established at the city of Joliet, the writer hereof made weekly pil-
grimages to Uncle Billy's, after the longed-for letters from home. Well can he
recall the old log house (long since replaced by a comfortable frame farm cot-
tage), with it? two rooms, in one of which the post office was kept. In what a
striking contrast to the place where he now gets his mail, was that old dry-
goods box, roughly pigeon-holed, with the letters of the alphabet rudely inked
on the edges of each partition. With what greed he seized a letter when he
happened to get one, although it cost a quarter, and had been several weeks on
its dreary way. He remembers how, on one occasion, he had to pay about a
dollar for a pamphlet, the margins of which were covered with writing, contrary
to law. But it waspheap, even at that price ! And the writers of those letters
where are they 1 Gone ! all gone !
But we are sadly digressing. Van Home was one of our most useful cit-
izens in those days, transacting the business of the early settlers, aiding them
in obtaining their claims and land titles. It was the good fortune of the writer
to make his acquaintance before that of any other settler, having met him some-
where this side of Niles, when coming into the country, and riding back with
him to "Van Home's Point." It was, perhaps, owing as much, to his influ-
ence as to the good sense of the settlers generally, that two years after he was
248 HISTORY OF' WILL COUNTY.
elected as the first Recorder of the county. But we soon forfeited his friend-
ship by our bad behavior in apostatizing to abolition. But we are anticipating.
It Avill be well remembered that Van Horne, some years ago, removed to Joliet,
and was elected the first Mayor under our city charter, and how he "magnified
his office." It may not be improper to add that one of his sons is now Super-
intendent of an important Western railroad. C. C. Van Horne died of cholera
in 1854.
Several members of the Reynolds family still live in our county. J. S. Rey-
nolds, who was brevetted General near the close of the late war, and who com-
manded the Sixty-fourth Regiment in the important battle at Bentonville, on
Sherman's march from Savannah to Washington, is a son of one of them. Hig-
ginbotham moved to town many years ago, and built a fine house, where his
widow (now Mrs. Sutphen) still lives, while his sons perpetuate his name. He
died in March, 1865.
Many yet living will remember Uncle Billy Gougar, so noted for his strong
good sense and sterling integrity. He held the important trust of County Com-
missioner in 1840 and 1841. He died in 1861 at the age 78. Father Beggs
officiated at his funeral, which was largely attended. Lewis Kerchival was one
of the best citizens and farmers in the county, and died some years since. His
son James C., was Supervisor of the town of New Lenox in 1854 and 1855,
and again in 1858. He died in 1873 at the age of 55, a worthy son of a worthy
sire. Jarod Runyon was, for some years, a Justice of the Peace of the village
of Lockport, and now resides in California. We had a visit from him a few
years since.
FIRST BALL.
Mrs. Kinzie, in her "Waubun," gives an account of a ball on Hickory
Creek, in 1831. She does not tell us at whose house it was held, but we have
ascertained that it was at Mr. Friend's.* Three out of the five single gentlemen,
then resident at Chicago, came down to this ball on horseback, of course.
One or two of them were officers from the Fort. Parties of this kind
were not very frequent, the guests had to be collected from great distances, and'
consequently they were somewhat prolonged. This one opened with a sumptu-
ous repast at noon, at which every luxury which the country then afforded was
dispensed in profusion. As the art of printing had not then been introduced
into this region, we have no menu of the feast, but we kno\$ what the possibili-
ties of the time were. The piece de resistance was undoubtedly a haunch of
venison roasted, which might have been supported with fried bacon and prairie
chickens. The entremets might have been pumpkin pie, crab-apple sauce, or
stewed wild plums, and the fruit was probably melons and wild grapes. There was,
also, no doubt, an abundant supply of corn dodgers, saleratus biscuit and wild
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 249
honey. The ball opened at 2 o'clock, and was kept up, with a short recess for
supper, until the next morning. But the gay scene was terminated by a tragedy.
The Chicago gentlemen, it is presumed, were more stylishly dressed and put on city
airs, and were so agreeable and forward in their attentions to the country belles
that the native beaux Avere eclipsed and compelled to take back seats. The
Chicago bloods were highly elated with the manner in Avhich they carried off
the favors of the girls. Their satisfaction was, however, greatly dampened on
discovering, when they got out their fine horses, in the early dawn, preparatory
to their return, that by some strange visitation they (the horses) had lost
their manes and tails.
JUDGE DAVIDSON.
Judge Davidson came to this section in 1830, from the State of Indiana.
He was originally from the State of New Jersey, where, when a poor young
man, earning his living at surveying, he found a lot of pine land which had not
been taken up. He managed to secure it, and immediately took his ax and
"lifted it up against the big trees." This not only made him " famous," but put
some money in his purse, with which he came to Indiana and there invested it in
lands at Government price. This soon made him rich. When he came to Hickory
Creek, he entered not only the well-known Davidson farm, but several others ;
and he was, while he lived, one of our most prominent and substantial men,
although of retiring disposition, and never seeking office. When he came here,
he was still a bachelor, and in the prime of life. He met his fate in the
daughter of one of his tenants (Mr. More), to whom he was married, and by
whom he had two daughters, well known in Joliet society. His widow has since
married Dr. B. F. Allen. It is said that the Judge always kept the ax with
which he hewed his way to fortune. He acquired his title of Judge in Indiana,
where he held the office of Probate Judge. He died in March, 1844, at the
age of 57.
JOLIET TOWNSHIP.
About the same time, another settlement was made, mostly on the south
side of Hickory, in Joliet Township. Robert Stevens and David Maggard
made claims in 1830, and brought their families in 1831. Stevens located on
the well-known Stevens' place (on Section 2), a well-chosen selection, which
made him, in time, the possessor of a valuable property. The first " fair
grounds " were located on this property in a beautiful grove of oak openings, a
beautiful and abundant spring supplying water. These grounds, with the fair
buildings, were afterward occupied as a soldiers' camp and barracks, when it
became necessary to subdue the " onpleasantness " of our Southern brethren.
David Maggard settled on the bluff on the west side of the Des Planes about
opposite the Rolling Mills. His cabin was the first one erected in the present
limits of our city. It stood on the edge of a ravine up which passed the Sac
trail. This trail, it is perhaps necessary to many readers to explain, was the
trail made by the feet of the Indians and their ponies on their yearly journeys
250 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
from the Great West to Fort Maiden, in Canada, to receive the annuities which
it was the cunning policy of the English Government to keep up long after the
country had passed from their possession. The fruit of this policy Was appar-
ent in the fact that in the war of 1812, the Indians were generally, secretly, if
not openly, on the side of England, and in the massacre at Chicago, and other
barbarities. This trail, which was for many years very plain and distinct, and
which was a well-known guide for the early voyager over the prairie from Niles
hither, and which is now probably entirely obliterated, divided somewhere near
the present cemetery, one branch going south to Ottawa, crossed the old ford
below Joliet, and the other crossed the ford opposite Maggard's cabin and went
on by Walker's Grove to the Great River.
In 1831, Philip Scott, William Bilsland, Major Robert Cook and his aged
father, a Revolutionary soldier, Daniel Robb, Jesse Cook and Reason Zarley,
were added to the settlement. Seth Scott and Aaron Moore, also John Nor-
man, came in 1832 ; William Hadsell and John Goodenow, in 1833 ; Joseph
and Jacob Zumalt, in 1834. We suppose Mr. Goodenow to be the same man
who settled in Yankee Settlement before the war. He was the father of Mrs.
Michael Rodgers, and died some years since at Reed's Grove.
Reason Zarley came here from Ohio, was one of our first Justices of the Peace
while we were yet a part of Cook County. He died Aug. 30, 1859, aged 68 years
and six months. He was born in 1791 ; served in the war of 1812, and was one of
the few survivors that returned from the bloody engagement at Brownstown, where
one hundred and thirty Americans were assailed by eight hundred Indian and
four hundred British soldiers. He was in the army at the time of Hull's sur-
render. He came into the State in 1829, and to this township in 1831, and
settled upon the well-known Zarley farm, which he had purchased when the
canal land was in market, under the act of 1829. There were few here then
except Indians. When the Black Hawk war broke out, he went, with his
family, to Danville, returning, after it was over, to the same place, where he
resided until his death. He was a man of sterling character, high moral senti-
ments, sound mind and strong, good sense and judgment. A large concourse
of citizens attended his remains to their resting-place. A Chillicothe, Ohio,
paper, noticing his death, speaks of him as one of the pioneers of that
country. He was a man of large influence in shaping the early politics of
Will County. It is hardly necessary to say that he has supplied us in his sons
with two editors and printers, one of whom has lately deceased, while the
other, familiarly known as " Cal," still gives shape to our politics and school
affairs ; while a third son, sometimes called " Bill," after long and useful service
as City Clerk, has got a comfortable seat as County Clerk in the old Court
House. Another son, Linton, died in 1850, at the age of 24, having just
entered upon the practice of law.
When our county was erected, Robert Stevens was elected Sheriff" with
great unanimity. He was most deservedly popular. But he did not covet
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 251
office, and he declined to qualify, and all that Summer we were without a
Sheriff. We are glad to be able to state that this is the only time we know of
Bob Stevens (as he was familiarly called) shrinking from his duty, and we
knew him pretty well. And for the honor of Will County, we are also glad to
be able to state, and we do it without fear of contradiction, that from that day
to this there has been no difficulty in getting men to fill the office of Sheriff, or
any other county office. Indeed, sometimes there has seemed to be a super-
abundance of men who were willing to serve the public. We shall, by and by,
give a list of those who have shown their devotion to our county by actual serv-
ice. We should be glad to give a list of those who have been willing to do so
had the county needed them, but this would require more room than our pub-
lisher could spare. Robert Stevens was a native of Kentucky, and raised in
Ohio and Indiana. He died in January, 1864.
William Hadsell, named above, still lingers in our midst, and may often be
seen upon our streets carrying the weight of 88 years of an industrious and
honest life. He begins to fail, but says he should have lived to a handred easy
enough if he had not got caught in a storm on the prairie a few years since and
had to fight lightning, which was a harder fight than he ever had Avith the
British, although a soldier in the war 1812.
John Norman erected the first flouring-mill in Joliet we wish we had a
picture of it and the surroundings, as we well remember them. About opposite
the Penitentiary there was an island in the Des Planes, heavily wooded a
romantic spot then, where the writer often went in search of plants and flowers.
At the head of this island, across one channel, Norman built a brush and gravel
dam, which threw the current strong upon the other side ; near this he built a
log mill. His wheel was placed in the current, and the shaft running into the
mill, turned the machinery which ground the corn. A very simple affair, hav-
ing the capacity of twelve or fifteen bushels of corn in twenty-four hours, but very
useful in those early days when corn-dodgers formed an important part of the
daily rations. This old mill was not as big a thing as the rolling-mills opposite,
but it was built without municipal aid.
In this township, yet farther down on the river, a family settled in 1836 or
1837, which we must not forget to mention that of Robert Shoemaker, the
father of Mrs. Dr. A. W. Bowen and Mrs. Josiah McRoberts (and that's how
we got the Judge). M. Shoemaker, a partner of J. A. Matteson in the early
days of the old wooden block on upper Chicago street, and who has been and
we believe now is a State Senator in Michigan, was his son.
SETTLEMENTS IN JACKSON, REED AND OTHER GROVES.
In the edges of the timber lying along the Des Planes and Jackson Creek,
and in the groves known as Jackson's Reed's, Starr's, Troutman's, etc., which
now form parts of Joliet, Jackson and Channahon Townships, settlements were
early made. In 1831, Charles Reed, Joseph Shoemaker and Wesley Jenkins
252 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
settled in Reed's Grove, near the present station of Elwood. John and Thos.
Coon, the two Kirkpatricks, Thomas Underwood, Eli Shoemaker, Charles
Longmire, James Hemphill, Peter Eib and sons, Archibald Crowl, Henry,
George and Lewis Linebarger, Daniel Haight, John and Samuel Catron and
Theopilus and Robert Watkins settled in some one of these groves in 1831-2-3 ;
and Benj. and Joseph Shanks, Smith Johnson, John Brown, George Young,
Peter Brown and son and R. J. Boylan, in 1833-4, and William Cotton in
1835, and, we had almost forgotten him, Peter Doney. Charles Reed is per-
haps better entitled than any one else to be called the founder of Joliet, as he
came up here in 1833, built a log cabin (the old McKee house) and commenced
preparations to build a mill. These preparations consisted, as his deed of sale
to McKee in the Spring of 1834 says, " of a dam partly made on the east side
of the river, a house, some fence, a mill-race and some machinery for a mill,
both of wood and iron, on the west side of the river." Of this matter, how-
ever, we will speak more particularly by and by. Joseph Shoemaker, a most
excellent man, a warm friend and an ardent Methodist, opened a splendid farm
on the south side of Reed's Grove, which after many years he sold out, and
which is now known as the Rogers' place. He was Supervisor of Florence
four years. We are sorry to say he has left the State. Jenkins was a fine
specimen of a great Hoosier, of whom we have told a pretty good story in
" Forty Years Ago," which we will not repeat here. But we don't know why
he should have been named Wesley, unless on the principle of " lucus a non
lucendo." Hemphill and Eib still have representatives in the county. Joe
Shanks was another specimen of a Hoosier, and was Shanks by name and
Shanks by nature. The best thing that we remember about Joe is that he was
the writer's friend when he ran for Recorder, and gave him his vote, although
it was urged against us that we belonged to a temperance society not a popu-
lar thing with " Hoosiers " then or now. " Wall," said Joe, " I drink right
smart of likker myself, but I allow we'd better have a sober man to do our
business." We commend Joe's philosophy to all voters, and the higher the
office, the more important the rule. George Linebarger is still living near
Elwood, and has been Supervisor of Jackson ten years. R. J. Boylan is still
one of the well-known residents of Jackson, and he held the office of County
Surveyor for eight years (184048), and what he doesn't know about the sections
and corners of Will County is not worth knowing. Boylan sometimes tells the
story of his first arrival at Joliet, in the Fall of 1834. After a long and tire-
some horseback ride from Chicago, he began to look anxiously for the town of
'' Juliet," of which he had heard all along the road, and, fearing that he might
have lost his way, he rode up to a small wooden building, which he found to be
a store. On entering, a long, lank youth rose up from the counter, on which
he was stretched out that is, as much ^of him as the counter would hold of
whom he inquired the way to Juliet. The youth somewhat pompously replied :
" Sir, if you seek the city of Juliet, look aroutid you." Little did Boylan
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 253
dream that he was on the corner of Bluff and Oneida streets, and that he was
addressing the future historian of himself, Joliet and Will County who would
some day have his " pictur " in a book ! It should be mentioned, to the credit
of Jackson Grove Precinct, that they built a school house as early as 1833
perhaps the first in Will County. Henry Watkins, from the Hickory Creek
settlement, taught the school. Any one who remembers his little shiny round
head will not doubt that his scholars looked upon him with the same awe and
wonder as did those in Goldsmith's ''Deserted Village" upon the village
" And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew."
YANKEE SETTLEMENT AND LOCKPORT.
We have spoken of the Johnsons as settling in Yankee Settlement. These
were "Hoosiers," but, as will be inferred from the name, most of those who
settled in that portion of the county embraced in the town of Homer, the north-
ern part of New Lenox and the eastern part of Lockport, and called " Yankee
Settlement," were Yankees. The word meant in that day those who came
from any State east of Ohio, in distinction from those who wese called Hoosiers
a term which, though properly applicable only to Indianians, was popularly
made to cover all others. When more exactly speaking, those from Ohio were
Buckeyes ; those from Kentucky, Corncrackers ; those from Michigan, Wolver-
ines, etc., etc. This was a famous settlement in the early days, containing many
fine families of well-to-do farmers, where we could find more pretty girls forty-
odd years ago than in almost any other locality. How this may be now,
the writer cannot say ; circumstances have prevented him from keeping posted
in this regard. Offshoots of Yankee Settlement were known as Gooding's
Grove and Hadley.
Of those who came in before the Sac war, we recall the names of James
Richie (the first settler and still living, although for some years blind), James
Glover, Abijah Watson, John Pettijohn, Wm. McGaffery, Peter Polly, Joseph
McCune, Daniel Mack, John Blackstone, Dr. Nathaniel Weeks and sons,
William Ashing, John Goodenow, Joseph Cox, Dick Boilvin, Uriah Went-
worth, Calvin Rowley, Holder Sisson, Selah Lanfear, Orrin Stevens, Armstead
Runyon, Edward Poor and Benjamin Butterfield. Some of these persons were
not "Yankees," and some did not return after the stampede occasioned by the
Sac Avar, and Goodenow, Polly and McCune, on their return, settled in other
parts of the county.
Holder Sisson came in 1831, from Chautauqua County, N. Y. Having pre-
viously explored the West, he came with his family ; and at the same time
came Selah Lanfear and Orrin Stevens, with their families, who were from the
same county. They came around the lakes, in a schooner ; and after a long
and stormy passage, landed at an outpost called Chicago, in the latter part of
July. Harry Boardmari, wh<5 settled in East Dupage, came on the same ves-
254 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
sel. Mr. Sisson was a prominent man in the early history of the county. He
was elected one of the first three County Commissioners, and served in that
capacity five years, faithfully and well. He soon moved to the west side of the
river, in the town of Lockport, on the old Chicago road. He has very re-
cently deceased, at an advanced age.
Edward Poor, Armstead Runyon and Benjamin Butterfield were on the
ground previously, and some others. Edward Poor is the first name as grantee
upon our county records. Armstead Runyon was a prominent man in the
early history of Lockport, having been proprietor of a part of the city plat.
We believe he is now living in California (if not dead). Mrs. C. E. Boyer,
of Lockport, is his daughter.
Mrs. Munson, until lately, a resident of Joliet, was a daughter of Selah
Lanfear. We remember her as one of the pretty girls of Yankee Settlement.
If you should call upon ex-Collector Weeks, you would find one of her daugh-
ters, who, in her turn, has pretty daughters too. How the years do creep on,
and what changes they bring !
Calvin Rowley came from the State of New York the first one of the fam-
ily traveling all the way with a peddler's cart. He set up a store near Lock-
port, and traded with the Indians.
After the Sac war another tidal wave of emigration set toward the West,
and brought many to Yankee Settlement in the years 1833-4-5. Among these
were Reuben Beach and sons, Thomas Smith, Chas. M. Grey, George Grey,
Levi Hartwell, Jireh Rowley and four sons, Wm. H. Frazier*, Alanson Gran-
ger, Addison Collins, Frederick Collins, Norman and Horace Messenger, John
Lane, Lucius M. Case, H. S. Mason, Dr. Moses Porter, Abram Snapp, Will-
iam Williams and three sons, Benjamin Weaver, Dea. Levi Savage, S. C.
Chamberlin and sons, William Bandle, Samuel Anderson, John Griswold, Corn-
stock Hanford, Nathan Hopkins, Aaron Hopkins, John Fitzsimmons, Benja-
min Dancer, Cyrus Cross, Andrew Frank, Sylvester Munson, Lyman Cross,
David Parish, Leander Bump, Jacob Bump, Rev. Mr. Ambrose, John Ross,
Hiram Olney (now of Manhattan), Rev. Mr. Kirbey, who became Pastor of
the Hadley Church, and Isaac Preston, now of Lockport, in 1836.
The following persons settled in Gooding's Grove, and gave that locality its
name : Dea. James Gooding and his three sons James Gooding, Jr., William
Gooding and Jasper A. Gooding and his nephew, Charles Gooding, in 1832.
Dea. James Gooding had been a pioneer in Western New York, and was a na-
tive of Massachusetts. He resided at Bristol, Ontario Co., until he came West.
We remember him well a tall, noble-looking man. He died in 1849, at the
age of 82. Orange Chauncey settled in the same locality before the war.
Rev. Jeremiah Porter, the well-known pioneer missionary of the American
Home Mission Society, early organized a Presbyterian Church at Hadley. We
believe that this was the first regularly organized Church in Will County, outside
* Died in 1873.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 255
of the "classes" organized by the Methodist itinerants. Dr. Porter, William
Bandle, Reuben Beach and John C. Williams were Elders or Deacons in this
Church. Soon after the organization of this Church, a Mr. Freeman organ-
ized a Baptist Church of sixteen members. Abram Snapp was one of the
Deacons of this Church. He was the father of Hon. Henry Snapp, and died in
October, 1865. He came to the settlement in 1833. Father Beggs had a sta-
tion here in 1833, and others at Reed's Grove, Hickory Creek, East Dupage
and W T alker's Grove.
Dr. Weeks was for many years a practitioner in Lockport and Yankee Set-
tlement. His sons are the well-known Judge Weeks and ex-Collector Weeks
and Mr. J. H. Weeks, now of Lockport. He was from Western New York.
Dr. Porter was also a well-known physician in the early history of the county ;
one of the reliable men, whether in Church or State ; a strong upholder of
every good enterprise and reform. He moved farther west many years ago, and
is now deceased.
Lyman Cross died at Lockport in October, 1876, at the age of 82. His
death was occasioned by a fall, while at work on a barn.
Mr. Bandle, who was familiarly known as Deacon, was a stone-mason, and
had the job of putting up the stone-work of the first stone building in Joliet
the old block now known as the Darcey Block, from its present owner, but for-
merly and long known as the old Demmond Block, from its first proprietor.
He has been dead some years.
John Lane was a famous blacksmith, especially known as the maker of prai-
rie or breaking plows. The settlers all around used to make pilgrimages to his
smithy. Nobody in all the land could shape and temper a plow like him. He
might have sat to Longfellow for his picture of the village blacksmith :
" The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands ;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands."
On many, many an acre of the virgin prairie of Will County did Lane's
plows upturn the sod, drawn by from four to eight yoke of oxen and steers, and
propelled by a ten-foot ox-gad mounted with a lash perhaps as long, the snap of
which wielded by the hands of the Hoosier driver resounded like the crack of
a rifle. On, on, over the prairie swells, with steady but ruthless tread, moved
the long "breaking team," and on, on, came the giant plow,. cutting the turf
with its sharp colter, and* turning over with its mold-board the rich earth in long,
black ribbons ; before it blooming grass and fragrant herb and beautiful flowers ;
behind it a dreary waste of black, fat humus, inviting the steps and stimulating the
hopes of the sturdy planter. Ah ! breaking teams, plows, Hoosier drivers, prai-
ries, and old Lane himself, are now things of the past ! Mr. Lane died in 1857.
Addison Collins was one of our leading county men ; held the office of
County Surveyor during the first four years of our organization, and served one
256 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
term, 1842-3, as our Representative in the General Assembly of the State. He
died in March, 1864. His brother, Frederick Collins, still lives in the old
locality, one of the staid and substantial citizens of Homer, fast ripening for a
better country. The brothers were from Tioga County, N. Y., and came to the
settlement in 1833.
John Blackstone, generally called Judge Blackstone, was a man of
property and influence. The grove near which is the Hadley post office
was known first as Blackstone Grove. James McKee, of whom we shall speak
by and by, borrowed the money of him wherewith he purchased the Reed claim,
of which we shall presently speak. He was the first Justice of the Peace in
Yankee Settlement, when a part of Cook County. Judge Caton has told the
writer about his coming down from Chicago in 1833, to try a suit before him
perhaps the first lawsuit in Will County. He died in 1848.
Jireh Rowley, commonly know as Capt. Rowley, was also a prominent man
in our early history. He settled first on Section 19, but afterward
bought the Butterfield place on Section 34, a beautiful spot embracing
a little grove, where his youngest son, A. G., now lives. He was an
old contractor on the Erie Canal, and built the great embankment near
Rochester. This was a very heavy and difficult work. The Canal there
crosses a considerable valley and a stream, and passes along the top of
the embankment which Rowley made. While the work was in progress,
Gov. Clinton, having great anxiety in respect to its success-, made frequent visits
to note its condition. On one of these occasions, the Governor and his party
got in the way of the laborers and their teams, when Rowley pretty sharply
ordered them to get out of the way. Instead of being offended at the brusque
mariner of the Captain, the Governor had the good sense to remark to his friends
that he should go home with his mind at rest concerning the job, as Capt. Row-
ley evidently meant business. Three sons still live in the township. The
younger, A. G., has been a Justice of the Peace since 1850, and three years
the Supervisor of the town. Capt. Rowley, when he came West, had married
a Mrs. Grey, and the George and Charles Grey above named were her sons ;
both of these have since been prominent as railroad officials in Chicago, and
George is now agent of the Pullman Car Company. Charles has been Mayor
of the city. Three of her daughters were also included among the " nice girls "
of the settlement, as some of the "boys" still living remember well. One of
these is now Mrs. Chamberlin, of Lockport. Her husband is one of the sons
of Mr. L. C. Chamberlin, and is our well-known undertaker and furniture dealer
of Joliet and Lockport. We remember seeing, not long ago, the fence which
surrounds Oakwood placarded with the words, " Chamberlin's Relief cures all
pain." We do not suppose the sacrilegious painter had any reference to our un-
dertaker or his business, but unconsciously told a truth, which these placards
seldom do. Wm. Gooding was the chief engineer of our canal, and we shall
have something more to say of him in the history of that work. The
fOECEASEDj
JOULT TP.
-
-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 259
school teacher Hanford, so cruelly murdered at Chicago a few years ago, was a
son of Comstock Hanford, born in 1834. Deacon Beach (this settlement seems
to have had a good share of Deacons, and we have noticed that as a rule, it is
'the best men who get this title, and Deacon Beach was not an exception) has
gone to his reward some time since. He died in 1851. Two of the Demmond
boys " Dar " and William are indebted to him for good wives ; and his son,
Eben W., was Supervisor of Crete in 1862, and deceased in October, 1878.
Levi Savage, another Deacon, still lives, and has given to the town of Homer a
Supervisor for six years (1867-72), and to our county a Representative in 1872,
and to the State and nation a brave soldier in his son, Capt. Amos Savage, of
the Thirty-ninth Regiment, or Yates Phalanx. Of William Williams we re-
member little ; he died many years ago ; but we know the family was a good
one from Massachusetts, we believe, as were others of the Hadley people ; hence
the name of the locality which was first known as Blackstone's Grove. One
member of the family was Elder J. C. Williams, for some time a resident of
Hadley, but afterward of Chicago, one of the old, substantial merchants of that
city and an Elder in the Second Presbyterian Church ; while another, Charles
A., was a preacher of the Gospel, once settled in Rockford; and another is the
present Judge Erastus S. Williams, of Chicago. Still another Deacon was
Orange Chauncey, lately deceased (died in 1877), who for a long time, with his
family, resided in Joliet, but left again for the vicinity where he originally set-
tled. This Deacon was a " Universalist " one, but his wife, who still survives,
was a Deacon for a long time in the Baptist Church here or at least she ought
to have been. Alanson Granger is a nam,e well known in Will County, for a
long time a most successful granger on Section 32 of that town. He is said to
-have run the first reaper in Will County an old original McCormick made in
Brockport, N. Y. He was from Cortland County, N. Y., and died in October, 1874,
nearly 72 years of age. To the list of Deacons in Yankee Settlement, we ought
to add the name of Comstock Hanford, inasmuch as he was one of the original
organizers of the Episcopal Church here. Some of these persons we have
named would probably be included in the township of Lockport. It is said
that Butterfield built the first house in the present township (of Lockport), and
that a Mr. Everden built the first house on the town plat in 1831, little dream-
ing that he was beginning to found a city. It is also said that Armstead Run-
yon bought his claim, on which he laid out, in 1836, the town plat now known
as North Lockport, once known as Runyon's Town. To the list of old settlers
in Lockport ought to be added those of D. C. Baldwin, 1834 ; A. J. Matthew-
son and John Fiddyment in 1837; and Dr. J. F. Daggett, 1838.
Dr. J. F. Daggett represented the county in the State Senate after the res-
ignation of Hon. Henry Snapp. A. J. Matthewson is our present County
Surveyor, and is one of the blessings for which we are indebted to the canal,
he having been one of the corps of engineers. West Lockport, where the old
mill still stands, was laid out by a company consisting of Wm. Rogers, Lyman
260 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Hawley, Wm. Gooding and E. S. Prescott. John M. Wilson Judge Wil-
son, of Chicago was also interested in the mill, which was built by these
parties, but whether as one of the original parties to the enterprise or as
a purchaser afterward, we cannot say. West Lockport was once the most
flourishing part of the town. But it seems that in relation to towns,
Bishop Berkley's saying, '-Westward the star of empires takes its way," does
not hold good. Mr. Horace Morse built a tavern on one of Runyon's lots in
1836.
The site on which the most flourishing part of the city is now located, was
laid out in 1837 by the Canal Commissioners, and for many years had the
prestige of being the canal headquarters. It is beautifully located, and was well
laid out under the skillful and careful supervision of the Chief Engineer.
Canal Commissioners Thornton and Fry took up their residence there, and built
fine dwellings fine for that day. We believe it is one of these which has been
remodeled into a beautiful home by Mrs. Boyer.
LOCKPORT TOWN WEST OF THE RIVER.
Across the river on the beautiful bluff which overlooks the town and the
valley of the Des Plaines, as we have said, Holder Sisson moved, after selling
out to Hanford. On this bluff also located Wm. Rogers, Lyman Hawley and
sons, Justin Taylor, Thomas and Harvey Reed, and that "fine ould Irish gin-
tleman," Patrick Fitzpatrick, and 0. and L. M. Clayes, and Cyrus Bronson,
in 1832-5. These farms, which we suppose have mostly passed into other hands,
are among the most finely located in the county. Lyman Hawley was a sub-
stantial man from Western New York, the father of our well-known citizens,
0. L, Hawley (now deceased), our County Clerk from 1849 to 1856 (eight
years), and who also held the office of County Judge four years (1856 to 1860),
and of Walter B. Hawley, who has also been County Clerk. The writer
well remembers a notable "raising" we had in 1835 or 1836, when Lyman
Hawley built his famous barn a big thing for that day when barns were not
very plenty, and which we believe is still extant, although it doesn't look as large
now as when it was the best in all the country. What a lift we had at the big
timbers of green oak, and how glad the boys were when the last rafter was up.
and we all went to the feast set on the lawn, the old but comfortable log house
being altogether too small to hold the guests. What a feast that was, and not
the least among the attractions to some was the fact that we were waited upon
by three or four blooming daughters of the host, for Yankee Settlement did not,
in those days, have a monopoly of the pretty girls. We could name one
old gray head that was there, and who was "sweet" on one of the girls.
But we won't for he is married now to somebody else, and it might make a
fuss.
There were also a Mr. Webb and Thomas Williams still further up the river,
and also a Mr. Turner at the Lilly-cache Grove.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 261
UPPER HICKORY.
In the Upper Hickory Creek timber, east of Van Home's Point, there
were early settlers. In 1831, a Mr. Osborn, Wm. Moore, Robert Williams,
Aaron Ware, John McGoveny and sons, John McDeed, and a Mr. Ghost, and
a Mr. Berry, who soon turned Mormon, settled there. Daniel Lambert, John
Duncan, James Troutman and Hiram Wood, in 1882 ; Allen and Lysander
Denny, Ambrose Doty, Chester Marshall and sons, Francis Owen and sons,
Eliphalet Atkins and sons, Samuel Haven, Myron Holmes and sons, Phineas
H. Holden and sons, a Mr. Dewey, and Peter Clayes, father of L. M., Orlando
Clayes and Charles Clayes, in 1834-5.
A child of John McGoveny, John W., is another first child born in the
county. There were quite a number born first ! However this may be, 'Squire
McGoveny, of Mokena, and Thos. G. McGoveny, of Joliet, are his sons. He
was from Ohio, originally, and came to the region where he settled in 1831,
and died in March, 1869, aged 61. An addition to Mokena is part of his farm.
Allen Denny, on the north side of Hickory, and Samuel Haven, on the south
side, both kept stations on the underground railroad in Antislavery times. The
writer hereof knows of some who paid midnight visits to both stations. A mid-
night ride with one or two fugitives was an exciting thing in those days, not
without danger of being prosecuted, at least.
ILLINOIS BLACK LAWS AND ABOLITIONISTS.
For the information of our younger readers, it may, perhaps, be well to
explain, and here is as good a place as any to do it, that in those days, besides
the general fugitive slave law of the United States, the State of Illinois had in
force statutes against the colored man hardly less outrageous and cruel than
those of the slave States themselves. Many slaves had been brought into this
State while a Territory, and when the State was admitted into the Union the
ownership in these was practically confirmed, although the importation of any
more was prohibited. The southern part of the State was settled by persons
from the slave States, and it was only by a small majority that the State
became nominally a free State. Every colored man was presumed to be a
fugitive from slavery, and, unless he could prove the contrary, was subject to
arrest and sale, although the sale took the form of a lease or indenture. Now,
there were, in those days, all over the North, as is well known, many persons
known as Abolitionists, who had more respect for the God-given right of self-
ownership than they had for the title which human or rather inhuman laws
gave to one man who happened to be white, over another who happened to be
black. These human laws, whether State or national, they held to be against
the law of God, and therefore void "in foro conscientice," however they
might be enforced by human courts. It was an easy corollary to this belief
that to help a man who was fleeing from bondage was a duty that to aid in
262 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
his capture was a crime against God and man. To aid the fugitives, these
underground railroads so called because the matter was generally conducted
secretly and in the night were established, consisting of relays of well-known
friends of the slave, who at any time stood ready to harness a team and forward
the slave to the next station. Of course Canada was the destination of the
fugitives. Nowhere was he safe under the eagle ; only when he got into the
embrace of the lion could he breathe free. As we have said, Denny and Haven
both kept stations of this kind. It happened in the course of things that
Denny, good old Deacon Gushing and Col. Stewart, of whom we shall soon
speak, were once indicted under the black laws of our State for aiding such
fugitives. As all know, our brave soldier boys and Father Abraham's proc-
lamation destroyed the business of the underground railroad. The march of
enlightened public opinion has long since brought about the repeal of the black
laws of our State.
Allen Denny settled in Sheridan, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1811, when 20
years of age. While there, he engaged in storekeeping, and among other
goods, wares and merchandise, sold whisky and its congeners. iJut he went to
hear a lecture of the agent of the State Temperance Society, and was converted
to teetotalism. He at once stopped the sale of liquor, and, with five others, one
of whom was Samuel Haven, he formed a temperance society. In 1835, he
came with the Holmes families to Hickory Creek, where he lived until his
death, well known and highly respected. In the war of 1812, he was a soldier,
and was present at the battle of Black Rock and the burning of Buffalo, and
could give graphic accounts of the stampede of our militia. The Rock Island
Railroad run through Mr. Denny's farm, and he laid off a part of it into the
village of Mokena. We have not the date of Mr. Allen Denny's death. His
brother Lysander died in March, 1872, at the age of 75.
0. and L. M. Clayes we have given as early settlers in West Lockport
Township ; but they soon abandoned their claim there, which was on canal land
and located on Hickory, where their father, Peter Clayes, and another son,
Charles, also settled. Previous to the opening of the railroads, there was a
little village (i. e., a store and post office) in the Clayes neighborhood, named
Chelsea L. M. Clayes, Postmaster; but the Cut-Off Railroad cut off its pros-
pects as a city. Peter Clayes died in 1849, at the age of 74.
Chester Marshall, who, by the way, was also a Deacon of a Baptist Church,
we believe, was also one of these Abolitionists, and a strong temperance man,
always on hand at Temperance and Antislavery conventions. He was a tall,
large, noble-looking man. Our State Senator, A. 0. Marshall, and R. W.
Marshall, lawyers, in Joliet, are his grandsons. He died in August, 1859, at
the age of 80 years. He came to Will County with Benjamin Weaver, of
Yankee Settlement, in 1833, from Onondaga County, N. Y. Phineas H.
Holden was also a prominent man in early times. He was the father of C. C.
P. Holden, of Chicago ; of Major L. P. Holden, of the Eighty-eighth Illinois
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 263
Regiment, and of Dr. Holden, of Frankfort. Ho died in 1872, at the age of 80
years. Of Samuel Haven and the other Havens we will speak by and by.
THORN CREEK AND BEEBE'S GROVE.
Still further east and south, in what is now known as the town of Crete, but
then having two settlements, known as Beebe's Grove and Thorn Creek, there
were early settlements. In 18334, Major Price, Wm. Osborn and Asa Dade;
in 1835-6, Minoris Beebe, Shipman Frank, Quartus Marsh and four sons (Jon-
athan, Edwin, Horatio and Henry), Jas. L. Dean, Wm. Bryant, J. Stalcop, Wm.
R. Starr, Willard Wood, Dea. Samuel Cushing (of whom we have spoken), Nor-
man Northrop, John H. Bennett, Moses H. Cook, Henry Milliken, Charles
Wood, Hazen Adams, John Kyle and son, Enoch Dodge, Henry Ayers, David
Haner, John E. Hewes, J. W. Safford and three sons.
One of Mr. Safford's sons was afterward well-known in Joliet, as the con-
fidential clerk of Gov. Matteson, while he carried on business in Joliet. He
afterward removed to Cairo, and became a prominent business man and banker.
Another son was the Hon. C. P. K. Safford, Governor of Arizona. Both have
recently deceased. A daughter of Mr. Safford became justly and honorably
noted for her efforts in behalf of our soldiers during the war of the rebellion, on
the battle fields of Belrnont and Pittsburg Landing and in the hospital at Cairo.
Many a soldier yet remembers the " Angel of Cairo." She subsequently became
a physician, studied in the hospitals of Europe, where she attracted considerable
notice for her modesty of demeanor and her professional and surgical skill. She
is now, we believe, married, and resides somewhere in New England.
Quartus Marsh was from Monroe County, N. Y. He died in 1850. He
was the first settler in his immediate neighborhood. Jonathan Marsh, who died
at Matteson, lately, and Edwin, who still resides there, Henry Marsh, for some
time a cabinet maker in Joliet, and who got one of Deacon Beach's girls for his
wife, as well as H. N. Marsh, so long known and respected in Joliet and Will
County, are his sons.
Deacon Cushing, we mentioned a little back as one of the indicted.
We have a little more to say about this indictment. It was obtained when the
brilliant Pat. Ballingall was State's Attorney for the District, and C. C. Van
Home was the Foreman of the grand jury and complainant. There were also
on the jury some who were outspoken friends of the slave; but they felt, justly,
that their oaths compelled them to find a bill against an infringement of an un-
just law. When the officer called early Monday morning to arrest the good
Deacon, he was at his breakfast. The officer allowed him to finish, and also to
attend to a duty which was as regularly observed as his morning meal family
devotions. It so happened that in the morning's regular lesson in course
occurred these words: ''"Whether it be right to obey God, rather than man,
judge ye." When brought into court, he was allowed to give bail for his appear-
ance at the next term of court. James McKee promptly volunteered to be his
264 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
bail, and James H. Collins, of Chicago, who was then on his return from Prince-
ton, where he had been to defend Owen Lovejoy, on a like charge, volunteered
to defend him, and John M. Wilson also volunteered to assist. But before the
next term of court, the parties complaining had got thoroughly ashamed of their
course, and Ballingall entered a nol. pros. The fiery eloquence of the prose-
cuting attorney and the voice of the complainant have both been long since
hushed in the grave, while the good old Deacon still lives, fast ripening for that
world where we may believe feeding the hungry and pouring in oil and wine
into the wounds inflicted by the driver's lash, are not indictable offenses.
Blessed be the man against whom no more serious charge can be brought. It
is some compensation to the Deacon to have lived to see the time when such an
indictment is impossible in all our land.
CHANNAHON.
In that beautiful portion of our county which lies between the Des Plaines
and Du Page Rivers, and .near the meeting of the waters, now included in the'
town of Channahon, some settlers came as early as 1832, while the Indian still
cultivated corn on the bottom and fished along the streams. This was a favor-
ite spot with them, and they long lingered here. Their canoes passed up and
down the rivers, and in the mounds which are still distinguishable they buried
their dead. Somewhere near Treat's Island an Indian Avas buried as late as
1835. He was placed in a sitting posture partly out of the ground, and a pen
of saplings placed around him. He is supposed to have been a chief, as the
Indians passing up and down always visited his grave, and left various articles
upon it as tokens of respect. A little flag was also kept flying over it, which
was cared for by the Treats. North of Joliet, the writer remembers to have
seen the grave of an infant in the top of a tree. It consisted of two hollow
slabs in which the body was placed, being fastened together and to the tree by
strips of bark. Perhaps it is a misnomer to call this a grave, and why they
thus disposed of an infant's body we know not, unless it was a dim reflection
of the Savior's words, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." Believing that
the child's spirit had gone straight to the "happy hunting fields," they placed
the body as near as possible to the sky. Among the earliest settlers in Chan-
nahon were Isaac Jessup, Wm. E. Peck, E. C. Fellows, H. D. Risley, Peter
McCowan, Capt. Willard, Michael Morehouse, Jedediah, Walter, and E. G.
Eames, Joseph N. Fryer, Russell Tryon, George Tryon, "Uncle Bont"
Schermerhorn and his four sons Peter, Jacob B., Cornelius and Isaac and
John Ward. These came in 1832-3-4. In 1835, Dr. Peter Schermerhorn,
Joseph Lewis, Sam'l Lewis and Dr. Wm. Lewis, Isaac and Burke Van Alstine,
Wm. Althouse and a colored gentleman for whom we have never heard any name
but "Dick." Several of these settlers were representatives of the old Dutch
families on the Hudson, coming from Schodack and vicinity, and, like their
ancestors, knew good land when they saw it, and then settled down to stay.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 265
Joseph Davis and his sons came in 1836. Isaac Jessup, long a prominent citi-
zen, died in 1853, at the age of 66. He, too, bore the honorable title of Dea-
con, and was County Treasurer in 1843-6. His sons still perpetuate his
name. A daughter of his, Mrs. E. Jessup Eames, had considerable reputation
as a poetess some years ago; and another, Sarah, who died in 1863, was not
altogether unknown to local fame. H. D. Risley was from Salina, N. Y.,
and being elected Sheriff of the county in 1840, he removed to the old
county jail, where he remained four years. He was also a canal contractor in
canal times. The Van Als tines are still extant and residents of the vicinity,
and so is their "Nigger Dick," the same old sinner he was forty-odd years ago.
There seems to be little change in him since the time he came up to attend a
ball in 1836, when his ox-team got wedged so inexplicably between the old
Demmond Block and the precipice in its rear, save that he has grown a little
grayer. Dick has the honor of being the first, and for a, long time the only,
representative of his race in Will County. J. B. Schermerhorn was County
Commissioner in the years 18489, and Supervisor of Channahon 1854-6.
Dr. Peter Schermerhorn was for some years a practicing physician in Channa-
hon and vicinity, and afterward removed to Ottawa, where he died. Wm. B.
Peck, generally known as Judge Peck, having been a County Judge where he
came from in the county of Columbia, 'State of New York, was a prominent
man, something of a politician, and County Commissioner four years 1839-
42. He died in the year 1849, in the 71st year of his age. E. C. Fellows,
the well-known lawyer, and the earliest lawyer in the county, came to Channa-
hon at the same time and married a daughter of Judge Peck. He came to
Joliet in 1835. It is but recently that he has deceased. Of his ability as a
lawyer, especially as a criminal lawyer, everybody in Will County is well
aware. George Tryon was Supervisor of Channahon for the years 185052.
E. H. Jessup, one of Isaac Jessup's sons, was Supervisor in 1862, and John
S. Jessup, another son, represented in part our county in the Legislature in the
year 1872. He was the first victim of minority representation. J. N. Fryer
has been Supervisor from 1866 down to date, and perhaps will be as long as he
lives. Michael Morehouse was a native of Connecticut, born in 1791, a good,
honorable and intelligent man, who died in 1876.
Dr. Knapp and George Tryon came together from Vermont, and were the
first settlers in the 'part of the town where they located, now on the beautiful
"wide water" made by the canal, and the favorite resort of Fourth of July picnics.
The Indians were dwelling on the bottom of the Des Planes, and at a spot
across the river, a little lower down, known then as the " sugar bush," in con-
siderable numbers. They were under the supervision of one of old Bourbon-
nie's sons, a half-breed. Seymor Treat and son had settled at the island still
known by his name, in 1833. The Treats were great friends of the Indians,
never refusing them food or shelter, though their supplies were not very abun-
dant. The Indians held the family in high regard, and when they received
266 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
their last annuity, they gave him $1,000 as a remembrancer, which furnished
him the means to go on with the mill which he was building. He had a son
and daughter. The son/ was known as Dr. Treat. The mill was built at the
lower end of the island. The Indians were friendly to the early settlers, and
never troublesome unless they had drunk too much fire-water. They called
this liquid good-na-tosh clearly a misnomer. As the settlers were not familiar
with the Indian language, they had to resort largely to the natural language of
signs, at which the Indians are as expert as the deaf-mutes. Dr. Knapp tells
an amusing story as to how an Indian tried to make him understand what he
meant when he wanted to sell him some "ho-mo-sis-paw-quet" that is, bee-
sugar or honey. This is a story that can't be told except in pantomime, and
nobody can do it justice but the doctor. If you ever see him, get him to tell
it. It is the best specimen of pantomime we ever saw.
We must note the fact that in Channahon, on the southeast side of the Des
Plaines, is the large plantation of Charles C. Smith, one of the sons of our old
resident and Justice of the Peace, Barton Smith. We gave a little history of
Charley in " Forty Years Ago." He has been Supervisor of Channahon for
several years, and we wish we had his note for a thousand or two dollars. The
village of Channahon was laid out by the Canal Commissioners, and was first
named Swifton, after one of their number ; but Judge Peck got it changed by
an act of the Legislature to its present name, the significance of which we have
already given.
TROUTMAN'S GROVE.
On the southeast side of the river, within the present town, but known then
as Troutman's Grove, there settled, in 1831 or 1832, Joseph McCune and John
Troutman ; and in 1833, Robert Thornburg and sons, one of whom, John
Thornburg, still resides there.
TROY.
Up the Du Page, in the present town of Troy, there were also some settlers
quite early. The first, perhaps, was Jedediah Woolley, Jr., who came in 1831
and commenced building a mill. The enterprise was interrupted by the Sac
war, and completed in 1834. A man of the name of Chipman was engaged
with him in the enterprise. Two men of the name of Rexford also settled
there and rented Woolley's mill. John Van Riper and sons also settled there
early, and a Mr. Fleming. Our well-known citizen, Carey Thornton, also
settled on the Channahon road, and opened one of the finest farms in the
county. It used to be a good place to stop at and eat pumpkin pie.
Josiah R. Holden, a brother of Phineas Holden, of Frankfort Settlement,
was an early settler in this township, having located on Section 32, just across
the Du Page, where the old Au Sable road crosses. He came in 1834, and
was for some years one of our best and most reliable citizens. He now lives in
Michigan with a son, who is Secretary of State. Mr. Holden and his wife Avere
members of the old Plainfield Congregational Church, and they celebrated their
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 267
golden wedding about four years since. They were from New Hampshire.
Mr. H. is now 81.
The famous Haff farm, at the mouth of Rock Run, is also in the town of
Troy. This was opened by the well-known Horace Haff, commonly called
'Squire Haff, in 1836. It was one of the best farms and he was one of the
best citizens of Will County. He resided there many years, but a few years
before his death, sold it and came to Joliet, where he died in November, 1865.
Coming still farther north, Andrew and Marshall King and another
brother settled just west of the mound, in 1833 or 1834. The sons and
daughters of these Kings are still among us. J. Q. A. King, the well-known
coal dealer and a member of Barnett's Battery all through the war, is o*ne of
them. Norman Bradley was also an early settler in the same neighborhood.
Directly west of Joliet, on the Rock Run, was another early settler, of the
name of Colvin, from whom the grove was named.
WILMINGTON AND FORKED CREEK.
On the Kankakee River and Forked (Sreek, in localities which are now in-
cluded in Florence, Wesley and Wilmington, there were early settlers. The
earliest of these were John Frazier, Hamilton Keeney, John Williams, Robert
Kilpatrick, James Kelly, James Jordan, John Howell and George Beckwith,
who came as early as 1834, and perhaps some of them before. Most of these
were Virginians. Joseph Hadsall and Mr. Goodwin came in 1835. These
were mostly in Wesley and Florence. On the river, Peter Polly settled in
1834, at the head of the Island. Thomas Cox went from Joliet, where he was
one of the earliest settlers, to the Kankakee, and laid out the town of Winches-
ter, which was afterward changed to Wilmington, in 1836. He had previously
mad^ an extensive claim, in ] 834, on Sections 25 and 26, including the island.
He built a saw-mill, and some other mills, we believe.
In 1835, Peter Stewart, from Amsterdam, N. Y., visited the West, selected
Wilmington as his location, and moved West with his family in 1836. The
writer well remembers making the acquaintance of the family while they stopped
overnight at the old American Hotel. This hotel, by the way, stood on the
ground now occupied by Bush's Block, where he is now writing. From that
day forth our acquaintance with Mr. Stewart continued until his death in 1868,
at the age of 85. From his first coming to the country, Peter Stewart was an
influential and noted man. He was a native of Scotland, having been born in
1783, at Coilantagle Ford, in the parish of Callender, the spot where Scott
locates the encounter between Fitz James and Roderick Dhu, when
"111 fared it then with Roderick Dhu,
That on the ground his targe he threw."
In Scotland, he was the steward of one of the great lords of the country.
On coming to America he became a lord himself. He acquired a handsome
property by contracts upon the Erie Canal, near Albany. He also built the
268 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Auburn Theological Seminary and the Navy Yard buildings at New York.
On coming to Wilmington, he built a large, fine house, far the finest in the
county at that period, and even now a good one. He laid out an addition to
Wilmington, and built a saw-mill on Forked Creek. He was Superintendent
of Illinois & Michigan Canal after its completion. The old Stewart mansion
was a most hospitable one in the early days. Uncle Peter was a man of exten-
sive information, acquired by reading and intercourse with public men. He
had a fine library, and his home was a delightful one, overlooking the beautiful
Kankakee and Forked Creeks at their junction. Mrs. Stewart was one of the
most lovely of women, and might have sat for King Lemuel's picture of the
excellent woman. None who knew her have forgotten her, although she has
been thirty-two years in heaven. That was a sad day to many hearts when she
died. The writer has one souvenir of a visit to the Stewart mansion in 1842,
a few years before her death. This is a root of that most beautiful herbaceous
plant, the rose-colored spirea, which he found growing in native beauty and lux-
uriance by the spring which wells up beneath the bluff on which the mansion
stands. Mr. and Mrsi Stewart were mainstays in the Presbyterian Church at
Wilmington, while they lived, and liberal supporters of all charitable and phil-
anthropic movements. The Stewart house extended its hospitalities to the
poor fugitives from Southern bondage, and was one of the stations on the
underground railroad of which we have spoken. Mr. Stewart himself enjoyed
the distinction of being called the President of the road. This reminds us of a
story which is told of Uncle Peter. Once when in Washington, during the
Presidency of James Buchanan, he happened to be riding from Washington to
Baltimore in the same car with the President, and to be seated near him. A
lady in the car requested Col. Stewart to exchange seats with her, saying that
she wished to sit near the President. Mr. Stewart, with the bluff and hefcrty
manner for which he was noted, says : " Madam, I am the President.
"Indeed!" says the lady, " Of what are you president?" " Of the under-
ground railroad, Madam," he replied, as, with great politeness and good humor,
he complied with her request. Well, he lived to see "his occupation gone ! "
And men who then were compelled to skulk by night through free States, or
live under the driver's lash, may now vote and hold office, may go to Congress,
sit in Jeff Davis's seat in the Senate and own his plantation ; and a fugitive
slave is Marshal of the District of Columbia, where once there were slave pens
and auction blocks. Verily the world does move ! Mr. Stewart died Sept. 28,
1868. The veteran preacher, J. G. Porter, who was sometime his Pastor,
preached his funeral sermon from the appropriate text, 2d Sam., iii, 38, " Know
ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ? "
The settling of Peter Stewart at Wilmington was accompanied by, and
perhaps the occasion of, the coming of others of his countrymen, until it
became noted for its Scotch element. Among these we recall the names of
Fred Stewart, his son ; Daniel Stewart, his brother (who died in 1874 age
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 269
74), Arch. J. Mclntyre, Peter Mclntosh, John Mclntosh, David Mclntosh,
David Bell, Daniel Mclntosh, the good old Deacon ; Andrew Whitton, a native
of the Isle of Man, and his sons, John and James Whitton ; John and David
Thompson, and Duncan Mclntyre, in 1836-37 ; Peter McFarlin, in 1840.
Dr. Bowen removed to Wilmington from Joliet, and also Edmund Allen,
where they still live.
Wilmington is now well known on account of its water-power, manufactur-
ing enterprises, adjacent coal mines and Kankakee River improvements all of
which will be noticed elsewhere in the town history. There were early settle-
ments farther up the Kankakee.
UP THE KANKAKEE.
Thomas Hatton, afterward a resident of Joliet, and Richard Yates settled
across the Kankakee, higher up, in the present town of Ouster, as early as
1834 or 1835. Still farther up the^Kankakee, there were early settlements, em-
bracing some of the old Indian reservations and the French and Indian settle-
ment known as Bourbonnais Grove. One of our first County Commissioners,
Thomas Durham, was from Bourbonnais. Dr. Todd, a once well-known and
influential resident of the county, purchased five sections of land on Rock
Creek, which empties into the Kankakee, near the county line, and perhaps
some might have been within the present bounds of the county. The deed was
the third one on the records of Will County, as transcribed from Cook County,
and is from Shaw-waw-nas-see to Hiram Todd, dated March 22, 1833, convey-
ing, for the consideration of $4,000, five sections of land, a reservation, to said
red gentleman, by Article 2 of a treaty made October 5, 1832, between Jona-
than Jennings, John W. Davis and Marks Cume, United States Commission-
ers, and the chiefs and head men of the Pottawatomies, the said land lying at
the mouth of Rock Creek, and including the little Rock village. This deed
was witnessed by Luther Rice and C. C. Van Home. Mrs. Shaw-waw-nas-see
did not sign this deed, but another was executed a little later which she signed
(or made her totem), in token of her relinquishment of the right of dower.
She rejoiced in the euphonious name of Ke-kit-o-quah. She probably is not
living to set up a claim for dower on the score of defective acknowledgment.
Cornelius C. Van Home, a Justice of the Peace (then) of Cook County, took
the acknowledgment. Other deeds of Indian reservations executed by Mr.
" Lo " are on the county records ; but as this region has passed out of our do-
main we omit all further notice of its history.
^"IVE-MILE GROVE.
Some persons settled in what was known as "Five-Mile Grove," now in the
town of Manhattan, quite early. The first settlers were a Mr. Stevens and
Ephvaim and Edward Perkins, who settled there in 1832 or 1833 ; Mr. Jones, in
1835, and the Rudds, in 1838. But the town being, with the slight exception
of the grove, prairie and out of sight of land, did not entice many settlers until
270 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
a later day. The Bakers, the Lawrances and the Youngs, who made the grove
such a famous place for excursions, twenty years ago, did not come until 1849
or 1850 ; and about this time the township filled up rapidly with good settlers,
many of whom are now of German nationality. We leave further notice of
it to the township historian.
TWELVE-MILE GROVE.
Twelve-Mile Grove, now a part of Wilton, having two sections of land, mostly
timber, attracted some squatters at an early day. As early as 1832, Samuel
Holcomb settled at the northeast end of the grove, and Abram Huyck, in 1835.
From 1837 to 1840, Frank Chamberlin, James Adams, Horace Fish, Weir
Leavitt, Jabez and Hiram Harvey settled there, and many others soon after.
The Kennistons, Nelsons and others were somewhat later. Considerable his-
torical interest attaches to this grove, on account of the fact that it was orig-
inally an Indian Reservation consisting of two sections of land, reserved by the
same treaty of which we have elsewhere spoken, and is generally known as the
" Se-natch-wine Reservation." One section was reserved to Joseph Laughton,
an Indian who seems to have borrowed a whiteman's name, and the other to
Se-natch-e-wine, which is commonly corrupted to Snatchwine. The man who
bore this name seems to have been a chief. We find that his name occurs often
in the Indian history of this region. We find it also in the treaties of 1815-16
with the Pottawatomies, spelled Sou-nou-che-wome. The name, in its corrupted
form, is perpetuated in a stream in Bureau County Snatchwine Creek and a
township in Putnam County has the same name. We have not been able to
find the meaning of the name. It is not given in the treaties referred to. It
is a great pity that more of these names have not been preserved, as some of
them would be appropriate now. For instance :
Pierce-mack-ie the man who walks crooked.
Mark-sua-ma-nee the man who is sick when he walks.
Oh-ho-shin-ga the man who cooks little in a small kettle.
Shou-ga-tong the horse jockey.
Now-ja-ming-he the man who has no heart.
These names we can readily see would be very convenient to have even now.
In this grove was once an Indian village, of which Se-natch-e-wine was
chief. This reservation of two sections was deeded by the chief in question, and
Joseph Laughton, to James Kibbin, in 1840, and one section was conveyed by
him to the Nelsons. Of course, while the title was unsettled, there were more
or less squatter and conflicting claims, the history of which we cannot go into.
The title was considered defective until confirmed by act of Congress. An old
chief's grave was still conspicuous when the white settlers came. He was
buried in the usual way in a pen of saplings, in a sitting posture, with his
gun, pipe, kettles, etc., all ready for use in the happy hunting grounds. Mr.
Nelson once obtained a perfect skeleton, teeth all preserved, from the ground
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 271
now under cultivation. The plow still turns up Indian relics. Laughton and
Snatchwine, with other Indians, visited the grove after it had become settled
and inclosed. Coming to the fences which had been built, they cut a passage
through them until they reached the site of their old village, where they camped
for some days.
" Old Put " was a noted character in the settlement. His notoriety, how-
ever, was of a kind not likely to attract new-comers, and some of the settlers
determined to rid the grove of his presence. They did this most effectually.
The means resorted to was a coat of tar and feathers and shaving his head,
when he was let go. He stood not upon the order of his going, but went, and
the grove knew him no more. The Indian name of this grove was Na-be-ne-
ka-nong. As Capt. Cuttle says : Please make a note of it. The translation
of the word is "Twelve miles from any other place," hence the name by which
it used to be known. The stream known as Forked Creek runs through the
grove.
WASHINGTON AND WILL.
Some other of the eastern towns of the county are of comparatively recent
settlement. Being outside the Indian boundary line, and being almost entirely
prairie and at a considerable distance from timber, they were settled slowly at
first. The opening of the Illinois Central Road and the Chicago & Danville
Road, has, however, rendered them accessible, and they have rapidly filled up,
mostly with Germans.
The township of Washington, lying directly south of Crete, began to be
settled about 1850. The earliest settlers were Jesse Dutcher, Jacob Barney
and Charles Fuller, who were soon followed by John Rose, Win. Strain, Peter
Abercrombie, Mr. Selvey , and the ubiquitous John Smith, and a little later Joseph
Maxwell, Clinton Fuller and John Bows were added. The Germans then took
possession, and have become a power in the county.
The township of Will, lying east of Washington, was settled about the same
time. John McKenzie, we believe, was the first settler, in 1849, and in 1853
J. M. Gridley, Joseph Baldwin, Mr. Lyons and H. N. Ingersoll ; in 1854-5,
John B. Sollitt, F. P. Lilly, P. McMahon, Robert Patterson, William Consta-
ble and William Pickard. Rev. S. C. Gilbert, a veteran home missionary, preached
the first sermon, in 1854. This is also entirely a prairie township. New York,
New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, Ohio and Virginia, of the States, and England,
Scotland, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Prince Edward Island have furnished
the tillers of its fertile acres.
PEOTONE.
Still another prairie township is Peotone, which was also settled from 1849
down. David B. Booth and James Allen were the earliest on the ground, and
were soon followed by Samuel Goodspeed, P. Armstrong, Ralph Crawford, J.
C. Cowing and others. The Illinois Central Railroad passes through the south-
east corner, and a flourishing station of the same name as the town has grown
272 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
up on Section 24. Its population has also been gathered from various States
and countries.
GREENGARDEN.
North of Peotone lies another prairie township, known as Greengarden, and
before township organization, as Vermont Precinct, and was settled about the
same time, being commenced in 1847 by M. F. Sanders and George M. Green.
Levi Blanchard and James Hudson came in 1848, the latter-named being a
preacher. From 1850 on, the township filled up rapidly, and is now largely
German. The streams emptying into the Kankakee, known as Forked Creek
and Prairie Creek, have their rise in this township.
MONEE.
In the township of Monee, lying between Greengarden and Crete, there were a
few settled quite early. In 1834, John S. Dilley ; In 1835, John M. Chase, N. C.
Tibbitts, S. W. Cooper, Nicholas Young and Ruel Carney ; and in 1836, S. W.
Gaines, Aaron Bond, Otis Philips, Hollis Newton, and a Mr. Hall. This town-
ship has about three sections of timber in the northeast corner, which will
account for its earlier settlement. There is also a little grove in the southeast
corner of the town. The first school was opened in 1836, by Otis B. Philips.
It has filled up in later years largely with Germans. It has a flourishing sta-
tion on the Central Railroad, of the same name.
We believe we have now noticed the first settlements (except Joliet) in the
county, and given the names of most of the settlers down to 1837, and, in some
instances later. Our aim has only been to relate the beginning of things, leav-
ing later history and other names, and statistics generally, to the township his-
tories. Of course the rush of immigrants in the subsequent years was so great
as to forbid our giving names. It now remains to notice the first -settlements
within the present limits of the city of Joliet.
JOLIET CITY.
In 1833, Charles Reed, whose name we have given as one of the first set-
tlers at Reed's Grove, and which frequently occurs on our earliest records, both
as grantor and grantee, made a claim on the southeast quarter of Section 9, T.
35, R. 10 E., and built a log house on the same, and commenced to make a
dam and other preparations for a mill. Mr. Reed had purchased several tracts
of canal land from the State, in 1833, as did others of the first settlers, the
canal land being then in market. He, however, never had any title to this
quarter, except a squatter's right, which he sold, together with his improve-
ments, to James McKee, as we have elsewhere noted. James McKee was a Ken-
tuckian by birth, but came here from Jacksonville, in this State. He was pro-
vided with a float, or a right to enter any vacant land belonging to the State,
which right had been granted to Sylvia Hall, on account of her suffering as an
Indian captive, of which we shall speak by and by. This float, as the assignee
of said Sylvia and her husband, Mr. McKee laid upon the fractional quar-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 273
ter on which Mr. Reed had commenced his preparations for a mill. McKee
proceeded at once to the erection of a mill on a somewhat larger scale than had
been planned by Reed. Reed's millstone, we remember, was made from a large
hard-head, or nigger-head, as they are sometimes called, and for a long time
lay upon the old mill-yard. The dam was considerably above the present stone one
built by the Canal Trustees, about where the lock-house now stands. The re-
mains of it may be seen when the basin is drawn off. A flouring-mill was
raised in the Fall of 1834. The raising of this mill was a notable event, in
which the writer participated. The frame was built, of course, of heavy, green
oak timber, and it required a previous canvass of the surrounding country to
get together enough men to raise it. The old frame is still standing, being the
building just above the Jefferson Street Bridge. Of course, the building of the
present dam below it, rendered it useless as a mill, and it has since been occu-
pied frr various purposes. For a long time, Cook & Stillman had it for a livery ;
then Charles Ward, for storage ; and it now seems to be chiefly used as a boat
house for our amateur boat clubs. A saw-mill was also built below and adjoin-
ing the grist-mill, which used to do a famous business manufacturing oak and
black walnut lumber. Charles Reed, who, as we have already said, is entitled
to be called the founder of Joliet, was born in Virginia in 1874. He was a
soldier in the war of 1812, and- a witness of Hull's cowardly surrender. He
came to the grove which bears his name in 1830 ; Joseph and Eli Shoemaker
accompanied him ; we suppose they came immediately from Indiana. When
the Black Hawk war occurred, he, with the other settlers escaped to Indiana.
Mr. Reed moved to Joliet in 1833, as we have said ; he afterward removed to
Winnebago County, where he died in 1863. He was appointed by the Gov-
ernor one of the appraisers of Canal damages. He was one of the kind of men
made for pioneers, restless, honest, enterprising, fearless and hospitable. He
was also sagacious and a good judge of land and locations. It is said that the
principal thing which made him select this locality, aside from its water-power,
was the fact that it was on the old Sac trail, which showed it to be on the short-
est and best route from Detroit to the Mississippi. It is an unfortunate thing
for Chicago that it] is so far one side of this great thoroughfare. This is prob-
ably what has retarded its growth. We are sorry for it, but we can't help it.
Mr. Reed, after his sale to Mr. McKee, made a claim on the west half of the
section, and built a log house just under the hill on which W. A. Strong's house
stands. But as there was to be no recognition of claims on canal lands, under
the new canal law, he did nor long remain. The house was afterward occupied
by Judge Piersons and family, and was the scene of a mournful tragedy. Mrs.
P., in an insane fit hung herself. This gave the old log house the reputation of
being haunted. But J. C. Van Auken and family afterward occupied it, and,
we believe, were never disturbed. This is the same place which Mr. Joseph
Campbell, who came here in 1839, from the land of oaten cakes, bought at the
sale of canal lands, and is now the beautiful property of W. A. Strong, Esq.
27 4 HlriTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
James B. Campbell, who was Treasurer of the Board of Canal Commis-
sioners, appointed under the act of 1829, held a float from the State also, by
virtue of an act of the General Assembly granting pre-emption rights, etc.,
giving the right to locate any quarter of unsold canal lands. This was the
float originally given to the other Hall girl. He located his float on the
opposite side of the river, on the fractional quarter of Section 9, Township 35
north, Range 10, containing (56.90 acres, receiving for the deficit thirteen acres
on what is now Eastern avenue. His choice has certainly been justified by
time. He laid off the original town of Joliet, and held a public sale of lots in
June, 1834. Mr. Campbell, however, never took up his residence here, but,
we think, resided at Ottawa for some time. He was, however, well known all
over the canal route in an early day. Some of our present property owners
have heard, in recent years, of his widow perhaps have interviewed her or
her lawyers as she re-appeared very suddenly, a few years since, claiming
dower in the lots which Campbell, by attorney, had conveyed to various parties.
Some settled with her by paying different amounts. They might have saved
their money, as she soon went where all earthly rights and claims are not of
much account. At this sale, the lots brought from $19 to $108. The sale
was held in a building then just put up by the Bailey Brothers, on the lot now
owned and occupied by Mrs. Kinney, which they had bought before the public
sale. This was the first frame house put up in the city, and the lumber was
sawed at Saver's mill. This sale was a great event. From " Walker's Grove"
to the "Head of Hickory," from " Treat's Mill" to "the Sag," and from
" Bourbonnais " to "Blue Island," and even from the promising village of
Chicago, the people gathered to the number of perhaps two hundred. A
bountiful collation was prepared by the ladies of the neighboring settlements,
who were present to dispense it. \
Campbell's town was recorded as " Juliet," whether after Shakespeare's
heroine, or his own daughter, or by mistake for Joliet, the writer cannot deter-
mine. There are various theories ; take your choice. The name was changed
afterward, at the suggestion of S. W. Bowen and others, by an act of the Leg-
islature introduced by D. L. Gregg, Esq. And here we wish to notify all peo-
ple, both in America and Europe, that the proper way to spell it is Joliet.
Please do not waste so many 1's and t's and e's when you write it, and although
we are a jolly people, please do not pronounce it Jolly-ett, but Zho-liet; accent
on first syllable. If you wish to go to the root of the subject, the primary
meaning of the word is pretty, which makes it all the more appropriate for our
city.
Early in March, 1834, Albert W. Bowen, a physician in pursuit of a loca-
tion, came to this vicinity and boarded a while with Lewis Kerchival. He had
the sagacity to foresee that a town would grow up in this locality, and made a
claim on Section 2, in this township. He also built a small frame house on Section
10, near where the Union School House now stands, in which he lived after
,.
rat
I &c
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 277
the arrival of his wife. Dr. Bowen, who had been a practitioner for nine years
in Herkimer County, N. Y., commenced the practice of his profession, and
also engaged largely in speculations. He acted as agent for Jas. B. Campbell
in the sale of lots, and soon added East Joliet and Bowen's Addition to the
town. Dr. Bowen procured the establishment of a post office at Joliet, and was
the first Postmaster, holding the office several years, until Taylor's election.
He was one of the most conspicuous men in our early history. Major Bowen,
of the One Hundredth, who gave his life for the Union at the battle of Frank-
lin, Tenn., was his son. Dr. Bowen has for some years resided at Wilmington,
and bears well his 77 years of busy and useful life.
In the Fall of 1833. Charles Clement, having some dimes which he thought
would grow faster somewhere else, left New Hampshire, and, anticipating the
advice of Horace Greeley, came West. Passing through the swamps of Michi-
gan Territory, he struck out on horseback from Niles, followed the old Sac trail
through Northern Indiana and Illinois, and crossed the Des Planes at a ford
north of the city. Seeing no marks of the coming city except the old log cabin
of Maggard, he rode on west to Walker's Grove, and from there down to
Peoria. He returned in the Spring of 1834 to Walker's Grove, where he
heard of Juliet as a point of promise, and he bent his pilgrim steps hither.
This time he struck lower down and found James McKee laying the founda-
tions of McKee's Town, or West Juliet. Convinced that this was the spot for
his dimes, he planted 1,250 of them at once by purchasing an acre of land of
James McKee, west of his mill-yard, which acre embraced land which became the
blocks on the northeast and northwest corners of Bluff and exchange streets,
and extending west to Broadway. Events have fully justified his choice. From
that time to the present, Mr. Clement has mostly resided at Joliet, and been
one of our prominent citizens and property owners, and his dimes have fast
multiplied. He was the first Treasurer of the county. He has held other
positions of trust, and been found faithful. He now enjoys the distinction of
being the " oldest male inhabitant " of the city, and though the writer stands
next in the succession, he hopes Mr. C. will long enjoy the honor. His first
enterprise in building consisted in putting up a frame house on the ground now
covered by Bush's Block, which became afterward the American House, and
which was soon occupied by the family of his brother, Daniel Clement, who,
nth a millwright named Clark, came on in May of the same year. It was
lere that the hands, among them " Uncle Dick Hobbs," were boarding when
the writer came in September.
In June of the same year, M. H. Demmond from Herkimer County, N.
Y., and George R. Makepeace explored the West, and finally made a plant in
the same locality, each purchasing another acre for the same sum of $125, of
James McKee, Mr. Demmond's acre joining Clement's on the north, and Mr.
Makepeace's still further north, on the north side of Oneida Street. They
returned to New York, settled up their affairs and in September came on with
278 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
their families, following the Sac trail from Niles hither. A sister of Mrs.
Demmond's, now Mrs. Foltz of Centre street, a hired man of the name of
Jenny, and a verdant youth subsequently known and described as "Long
George," and sometimes as "Deacon," and at rare and happy intervals by those
whose sense of justice is keen, "Judge," accompanied Mr. Demmond.. We
wish we could illustrate this history with a bird's-eye view of Juliet at this
time, September, 1834. The pen cannot be expected to do it justice. Com-
ing in through the Hickory Creek timber, crossing the tall grass and weeds of
Spring Creek bottom, the first building which greeted the eager eyes of the
traveler, was the palatial mansion of Dr. Bowen, of which we have spoken
sixteen or eighteen feet square. Crossing the slough somewhere near the pres-
ent Cass street, then covered with grass and weeds in which we could almost
be lost, two other dwellings loomed upon the vision. These were occupied by
Thomas Cox and Benj. F. Barker. One of these was afterward moved, and
altered by J. 0. Norton, and is still extant on North Chicago street. Farther
south there were perhaps three other buildings just erected. One of these
became historic as the "Juliet Hotel," and stood on the corner north of the Cen-
tral Presbyterian Church. This was moved a little east a few years since, and has
been cremated. Another was the Bailey house. On the west side of the river,
which was then crossed by a ford below the island, was the old log house built
by Reed, with an addition by McKee ; the Clement house of which we have
spoken ; another which had been built for Mr. Demmond, per contract made by
him on his first visit; and further north, a log house just above Cross street,
in which lived a Mr. Campbell, and which soon after and for a long time was
the home of Barton Smith, Esq., and family. The Maggard house was so far
to the north as not to be included in the city limits during its existence. Men
were busy building McKee's dam, laying the foundation for the mill, digging
the race, and hewing the timbers. Such were at this time all the indications
of the future city. To watch the daily progress of the mill, eat Mrs. McKee's
hot biscuit, and drink her coffee, and explore the suburbs, were the only re-
sources for driving off the blues for the first few weeks ; and a hard time the
writer had of it, no mistake. At this time, Deacon Brandon it is wonderful
how many Deacons we are able to get into this history was lying upon his back,
sick with bilious fever, in the McKee addition, and swallowing unlimited quan-
tities of calomel, not a cheerful sight for the eyes of a new-comer. He was
Mr. McKee's mason. We must not forget a block-house and palisades, built
upon the highest part of the bluff, where H. N. Marsh's house now stands,
during the Sac war. To this spot the writer often retired to dream of the
future city and of the girl he left behind him. In the course of the Fall and
Winter the mill was erected and also a saw-mill, which was rented and run by
Dan. Clement and Clark. Mr. Demmond moved into the house he had built,
and opened a store in one of the rooms, after the arrival of his goods, via the
lakes, which were "hauled" from Chicago with "prairie schooners." The
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 279
Kings, who lived near the mound, hauled several loads. The goods were stored
in Chicago at the old warehouse of Newbury & Dole, on the north side of the
river. Probably few living remember the first warehouse of Chicago. Mr.
Demtnond had a prosperous trade, owing largely, no doubt, to his young and
popular clerk ; but the accommodations were limited, and he soon planned
greater things. He purchased during the Winter the land of McKee, except
three acres sold, and another acre reserved for McKee, and the water-power, mill-
yard, etc., and in the Spring commenced the erection of the old Demmond
block, now owned by John D'Arcy. He laid off " West Juliet," and was soon
busy selling lots, his clerk, who had spent a year in diligently looking at the
bindings of a large law library, being conveyancer.
FIRST WINTER.
The following is probably nearly a correct list of the persons who spent the
Winter of 1834-5 within the present city limits : A. W. Bowen and wife, Wm.
H. Blackburn and wife, Thomas Cox and wife, 0. D. Putnam, Henry Bone
and wife, the two Baileys, George West and wife, N. H. Cutter, Benj. F. Bar-
ker and wife, Eri Dodge and wife, Jay Lyons, Edward Perkins and James C.
Troutman, on the east side of the river ; and M. H. Demmond and wife, Miss
Murray, G. H. Woodruff, James McKee and wife, Richard Hobbs, Charles W.
Brandon, Daniel Clement and wife, Charles Clement, N. H. Clarke, D. Mag-
gard, Asaph Webster, wife and son, Mr. Campbell and wife, a family named
Lumereaux, and probably one or two others, on the west side. Mr. Makepeace
and wife went to Fox River.
V
FIRST CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
During the Winter of 1834-5, the Rev. J. H. Prentiss, of Onondaga
County, N. Y., came on here, under the auspices of the American Home Mis-
sion Society, and believing that there were already some here who needed
preaching to, and that there would probably soon be many more, determined to
locate here, and during the Summer of 1835, came on with his family and es-
tablished a mission. He first preached in a little stone house that stood on the
southeast corner of Broadway and Western avenue, until a house was built by
Demmond, E. Haven, McKee and J. Beaumont and others, for school and
church purposes, on Hickory street, on the edge of Comstock's Pond. The
house is still extant with considerable revamping, and is occupied as a residence
by Mr. Tyrrell. It was long used as a school house and meeting house. Here
the famous pedagogue of the early days, John Watkins, once taught. He has
been called the first teacher at Chicago and at Joliet. Mr. Watkins was a
worthy man and teacher, and we are sorry to take from him the honor of being
first on the ground. But Mrs. Kinzie, in " Waubun," tells of an earlier one
in Chicago, and a daughter of B. F. Barker says that a Miss Persis Cleveland
taught the first Juliet school in the old block-house. If this was so, the writer
protests that he never saw her on his frequent visits to that locality. John Wat-
280 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
kins now lives in Joliet, almost blind, and is occasionally seen upon our streets.
If not the first pedagogue in Chicago, he must have been next, as he taught
school in the same log house where Father Walker preached and lived in the
days of his early labors in that city. S. W. Stone, a later acquisition to our
city, taught in the same building, on Hickory street, as early as 1845; and
some of our young men, who are not so very young, first learned " how to
shoot" paper wads under his administration.
Mr. Prentiss built a shanty on Oneida street, just under the bluff, where he
lived until he got his house finished a house which still remains, and is the
one lately occupied by Mr. Denker, on South Broadway. He was the first set-
tled minister in the city, and organized a Presbyterian Church in August,
1835.
The Episcopal (Christ) Church dates its organization a little ahead. This
was organized in May of that year, by Bishop Chase, of " Robin's Nest,"
Peoria. Comstock Hanford, John Griswold, Miles Rice, Orlin Westover, A.
W. Bowen, Julia Ann Hanford and Amorette B. Griswold were the original
members. Some of these were from Yankee Settlement. All, except Dr.
Bowen, were outside of Joliet.
The original members of the Presbyterian Church were : Simon Z. Haven,
Stephen Hubbard, Josiah Beaumont and his wife Eliza, Daniel Reed and his
wife Cinda, Elias Haven and his wife Emily N., Eliza Prentiss, Delia Butler
(Mrs. Prentiss' sister), and others were soon added. Forty-three names are on
the original record, from August 12, 1835, to March 31, 1838, when Mr. Pren-
tiss left for another field, and the Church soon ceased to have records, Septem-
ber 2, 1838, being the last entry. Among these names the writer will be
pardoned for mentioning were an honored father and mother, Theor and Chloe
Woodruff, and a beloved wife, Hannah B. Woodruff. Rodney House, the good,
gray old Deacon of the present Central Church, who had settled on the Au
Sable in 1833, and moved to Joliet in 1835, was also a member.
Of course, itinerants of the Methodist Episcopal Church were early on the
ground, and organized classes at Juliet, as elsewhere in the county. As early
as 1836, the Joliet Circuit was established, of which Stephen R. Beggs was
first Elder, who at once commenced the work of building the first Methodist
Church building, and organized the Church in 1837. That old Methodist
Church was, for several years afterward, the blacksmith shop of the Rock
Island Railroad. But long, long it had the honor of being the first and only
church edifice in Joliet. Long, long, its walls resounded to the eloquence of
the early preachers of the Church, and the shouts, amens and happy songs of
the brethren, sisters and children. Long, long, quarterly meetings and love
feasts there gladdened the hearts of thejmembership. Many, many, precious
souls were there "born into the kingdom," some of whom still fight the good
fight of faith ; while many, many, have received the palm of victory, and now
shout " amen " to the new song.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 281
1835.
The season of 1835 made many additions to our embryo city, among whom
were John L. and Richard L. Wilson, George Higley and family, Levi Jenks and
family, Archibald Growl, Wm. Walters, 0. F. Rogers, Rev. J. H. Prentiss and
family, Abel Gilbert, Geo. Squire and wife, Rodney House and family, William A.
Chatfield and family, S. W. Bowen, Abijah Cagwin and family, a Mr. Boland
and his two sons, Abner and Andrew, H. N. Marsh and wife, Elias Haven
and sons, David Rattray, James Brodie, Francis Nicholson and wife, W. R.
Atwell (OUF first blacksmith) and wife, Allen Pratt, Dr. Curtis Haven, Barton
Smith and two sons and family, Joel George and wife, Sullivan Demmond,
Jonathan Barnett, Charles Sayer, J. Beaumont and family, E. M. Daggett, E.
C. Fellows, Fenner Aldrich, George Howliston, Alonzo Castle, Asa Rowe,
Elias Hyde, Dr. Daniel Reed, David Crozier, Wm. Sheriff, S. B. Hopkins,
Walter Seeley, Edson White, 0. W. Stillman, John M. Wilson, and a lawyer
of the name of Pepper not a misnomer.
1836.
In 1836, the great speculation year, they came in rapidly. It will be
imposible to recall all. Among the additions were J. A. Matteson, Orange
Chauncey and wife, Albert Shepard, Uri Osgood, James Stout, Thomas,
Edward and Bennett Allen, Dr. R. E. W. Adams and family, Mr. De Berard
and family, John Currey and family, J. J. Garland and wife, Dr. Comstock
and family, Otis Hardy and family, Edmund Wilcox, Thomas R. Hunter, W.
J. Heath, David Richards and family, Hugh Henderson, Capt. Amos Fellows,
J. C. Newkirk, Hervey Lowe, Richard Doolittle, Wm. Blair, Rufus Colton,
Elnathan Bassett, Wm. S. Burgess, Thomas G. Burgess, S. S. Davis, Wm. A.
Boardman, Stephen Hubbard, Giles Jackson (late of Ottawa, deceased), Dr.
Scholfield, Wm. G. Hubbard, Dr. Wallace A. Little, Henry Fish, M. Worth-
ingham, Thomas Culbertson, John Green, Lewis Reed and sons, David L.
Roberts and family, Isaac H. Palmer, E. E. Bush and family, Dr. Simon Z.
Havens, Henry G. Brown, David Richards, Theor Woodruff and George
Woodruff, and our first installment from Germany, George Erhard, John Beltz
and Mr. Gritzner.
TWO SIDES TO JULIET.
Of course, from the Spring of 1835, building progressed rapidly on both
sides of the river. A brisk rivalry, which sometimes got to be right sharp,
sprang, up between East and West Juliet ; for rivers, like
"mountains interpos'd
Make enemies of nations, who had else,
Like kindred drops, been mingled into one."
No sooner did a stranger make his appearance, than he was seized upon by
parties interested in selling lots, and the special merits and advantages of the
East or West Side (as the case might be) were urged with all the earnestness
282 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
and eloquence of a man running for office. Either side called the other
" Canada/' and to get the start in any enterprise or public improvement was
an object which enlisted the energies of all. Communication between the two
sides was difficult and occasionally impossible. For some years, we had to rely
on the ford or precarious foot-bridges, and on skiffs, u dug-outs " and rafts.
After we organized under our town charter, we had a ferry, the boat for which
was built by Otis Hardy ; and the first permanent bridges were built in 1837
(which lost their permanency the next Spring) by the ingenious device of scrip,
a kind of " fiat money."
UNCLE BIGE AND THE DUG-OUT.
We gave in that authentic history, " Forty Years Ago," a few incidents
connected with this bridgeless period, some comic and some tragic ; but we did
not tell the story of "Uncle Bige's" experience in dug-outs. It ought to be
placed on record. When " Uncle Bige" first came to this county, in 1835, he
pursued for a while during that Summer the business of a traveling merchant.
One time, during a period of high water, he came back to Joliet on the West
Side. He left his wagon at some safe place and got some one to take him over
in a boat. The landlord of the tavern where he stayed wanted some tea.
Uncle Bige had a supply in his wagon, and he thought he saw a good way to
pay his board bill, and so undertook to go over and get some. When he came
to the river, he found no means of crossing except a dug-out. He had never
tried to navigate a dug-out, but he had often seen others even little Indians
and squaws row them about at will, and it seemed an easy thing to do. Most
people have the same idea, until they try it. So he got into one end of it
without much trouble this was forty-odd years ago, before he became one of our
solid men pointed the other end toward the place where he wanted to land on
the West Side, and pushed boldly out. The river was booming from recent
rains, but the dug-out went all right for a few feet until the prow struck
the strong current near the center of the river, when its direction was
suddenly changed from west to south. Uncle Bige did not like the change.
McKeestown was his destination, and not New Orleans. He at once tried to
bring about a return to the original direction. He tried to "larboard" and
then he tried to "starboard," but on went the dug-out toward the maelstrom
made by McKee's dam. The prospect was not cheering to a man who had not
made his will. He began to get a little excited and to doubt his ability to
manage a dug-out. To cheer him, the people who had begun to collect on
either shore, gave him some very good advice. One cried out, " Put your paddle
on t'other side ; " and another, " Put your paddle on this side ; " and another,
" Head her up stream," etc., etc. It is one of our good deeds which affords us
great satisfaction in the retrospect, that we offered Uncle Bige some very good
advice on this occasion. It may have been the means of saving a future Judge
to Will County. Who can tell what great results hang upon the most trifling
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 283
actions ! Uncle Bige tried to follow all this good advice, and was, no doubt,
very much encouraged by the interest manifested in his welfare. But the
plaguy dug-out obstinately refused to mind the helm ; whichever side he put
the paddle seemed to make no difference on, on she went toward New Orleans.
His mind underwent a change in respect to dug-outs. He wished he was on
shore where he could read up in the art of navigation. He thought about his
wife and children way back in York State, and, perhaps, of some other things.
McKee's old dam and the maelstrom seemed to be moving up toward him at a
fearful rate. He was fully convinced now that he did not know how to manage
a dug-out, and, seeing not far off, just above the dam, a couple of " staddles"
that had been left standing, he thought he would rather trust them than it, and
concluded to go overboard. This was not a difficult thing to do. The dug-out
spilled him easily as easily as falling off a log, and very much like it. He very
soon found the bottom of the Des Planes, and partly by his own efforts, a la
crab, and partly by the force of the current, he succeeded in seizing one of the
staddles and showing his head above the surface, snorting like a porpoise. The
dug-out went on, bottom side up. He did not care for the ship, but he did
want to save the cargo. The staddle was now his only hope ; clinging to that
with a deathlike grasp, he rested and calmly surveyed the situation. After a
while relief came to him in the shape of a rope thrown from the East Side. By
the help of this he at last made port. It was not the one for which he had
first " bent his venturous prow, " but it gave him real estate security, and that
was what he most wanted. He did not get the tea, but he had taken a valuable
lesson in the navigation of dug-outs, with which he has remained content. He
has never thought he could manage one since. It would take two at least to
hold him now !
JULIET POST OFFICE.
As we have elsewhere said, when the settlement was first made here, our
nearest postoffice was at Uncle Billy Gougar's, and this was called the Juliet
postoffice. The mail route per Indian pony express was from Danville to
Chicago, and passed by Gougar's, through Yankee Settlement. Dr. Bowen,
who was well known at the Postoffice Department at Washington, not only
officially (having held the office of Postmaster in the place from which he came),
but personally, succeeded in getting the route changed to go from Gougar's to
Plainfield via Juliet, and soon after a stage mail route was established from
Chicago to Ottawa by way of Plainfield and Joliet, which in a little while was
run directly from Ottawa to Chicago via Joliet, leaving Plainfield out in the
cold. He was appointed Postmaster in 1835, as we have elsewhere stated.
SPECIAL MENTION.
Now there are a great many of the persons named in the above lists, of whom
we should like to make special mention, and respecting whom we should like to
record some incidents. But the amount of paper we are consuming admon-
284 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
ishes us that we must restrain our inclinations in this regard. Some of these
persons are well known ; they have lived long and still live among us, and how-
ever pleased we might be to write their obituaries, we cannot do so while they
persist in keeping hale and hearty. It would not suit our ideas of good taste.
George West was a Methodist preacher, but out of health for some time, and
soon left.
M. H. Demmond, the proprietor of "West Juliet," was originally from
Massachusetts. For several years he was a merchant in Oneida and Herkimer
Counties, N. Y., where he accumulated a considerable property by diligent
attention and fair dealing. In 1834, he thought he would come West, where
he could invest his gains to better advantage. Circumstances have justified his
course. He died of cholera in 1854, leaving a handsome property to his wife
and his wife's niece, afterward Mrs. Bartleson. Mr. Demmond was never a
member of a church, but he was always the most liberal supporter of such
religious and educational efforts as secured his confidence and respect. He
was the first to welcome Mr. Prentiss, and was his most liberal supporter and
friend. And it is but just to say that in this respect his widow, who still lives
among us, follows the same course. He was also noted for his honorable and
upright dealing, and had the confidence of all.
Abijah Cagwin, " Uncle Bige" we beg his pardon Judge Cagwin, be-
came our County Judge from 1839 to 1842 four years. "Uncle Bige" still
flourishes, like one of the sturdy oaks of fifty years ago, which the woodman has
spared. "Uncle Bige," we mean Judge Cagwin, once built a saw-mill on Hick-
ory Creek, below the Red mill. He built several dams successively which the
high water carried away each Spring, until at last he gave the creek a final dam-
ming (with an n in it) and left it to the Joliet Woolen Factory Company.
James McKee was a Kentuckian, a marked character, well informed, a
great reader, a strong temperance man and Abolitionist, honest but. stubborn, a
great man to discuss moral and political questions, and hospitable. He was
elected a Justice of the Peace and greatly magnified his office. He took the
view that his official oath required him to take notice of every infringement of
the statute, and he did not wait for a complaint to be made, but at once ordered
the arrest of any person whom he saw disorderly. This gave rise to some
amusing scenes. The lessees of his saw-mill used to run it on Sunday, and
McKee would have them arrested on Monday and fine them.
The name Haven has occurred frequently in the preceding lists, and something
more ought to be said respecting this family, once so prominent among us. Elias,
Simon Z., Curtis and Samuel Haven were brothers, who came here about the
same time from the State of New York. Philo A., Orlando H. and James
were sons of Elias Haven, of Joliet, and Dr. Rush Haven (now of Chicago),
Carlos Haven (late of Chicago, deceased) and Dwight Haven, of New Lenox
(School Commissioner of our county from 1865 of 1868, inclusive), are sons of
Samuel Haven, of the Hickory Creek settlement. 0. H. Haven, a young man
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 285
who was once a well-known and prominent citizen of Joliet, and represented
this district in the General Assembly of 1849, died of cholera in 1854. In
1839, he, with Philo A., built the saw and grist mill which once stood below town,
and the dam across the river, which still remains. The California excitement
took James and Philo A. from us, and they have never returned to stay. Dr.
Rush and Carlos also went there, but came back again, with more or less of the
root of all evil. Simon Z. Haven, a physician, returned to New York, and
Curtis Haven was many years a physician in Joliet and died here. Elias
was one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church, in 1835. Dwight
Haven is now, we believe, the only male representative of this once large fam-
ily in Will County. His brother Carlos died in Chicago in 1862, having taken
high rank as a lawyer. Mrs. James Goodspeed is a daughter of Samuel
Haven. He died in March, 1866, at the age of 67.
Hugh Henderson came from Norway, Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1835, and was
one of our best known and ablest lawyers. He was a member of the firm of Hender-
son & Boardman, and afterward of Wilson & Henderson. He was elected Judge of
Probate in 1837, and Circuit Judge in 1839. He was also a member of the State
Constitutional Convention of 1847. He had an eminently judicial mind, and
his legal opinion always carried great weight. Although he was an ardent poli-
tician, he numbered many of his political opponents among his warmest friends.
Frank and courteous in manner, and pure and spotless in character and repu-
tation, his early death was deeply regretted. He was taken sick while on a
visit to his native place, and died there in October, 1854.
We told one story of Dr. Comstock in " Forty Years Ago," and must put
another on record, for the Doctor was one of our characters, one of the best of
the early day. He was an able preacher as well as a good doctor. He was at
home wherever he went. It was a common thing for a woman on going into
her parlor to find the Doctor stretched out upon the lounge, reading, or perhaps
fast asleep. It was the "old Doctor," and nobody thought of taking offense.
On one occasion, he had visited a patient late in the evening, and, wishing to
leave an appointment with another doctor (who, for convenience sake, we will
call Dr. B.) for a council next day, he walked, according to his custom, into
the house (those were the primitive days when we did not lock every door), and
and knowing that the Doctor was not in, opened the door of what he supposed
to be the bedroom occupied by Dr. <B.'s wife, and proceeded to make known his
errand, as he supposed, to her. It happened that the room was occupied by a
(then) unmarried sister of Dr. B.'s wife. She was not a little frightened, at
first, to see in the dim light a strange man of somewhat singular appearance
unceremoniously enter her bedroom (the Doctor wore a shawl wrapped around
his neck and shoulders long before men's shawls came into fashion). But she
soon discovered that the intruder had no evil intent, and listened quietly to his
statement, after making which the Doctor withdrew. Dr. Comstock found out,
the next day, the blunder he had made, and felt that an apology was due
286 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
the young lady. He accordingly called and made his apology by walking
through the room where Dr. B.'s wife and her sister were both sitting, and say-
ing: "In the morning behold it was Leah!" On another occasion, when
he visited a lady patient whose disease seemed to baffle his remedies, he entered
her room with the abrupt remark, " Desperate diseases require desperate
remedies," and forthwith administered a kiss to his astonished patient.
C. W. Brandon, commonly known as Deacon Brandon, was our first stone
mason and stone cutter, and built the Wilson store (soon to be mentioned), and
Barker's stone cottage, long the most costly dwelling in Joliet, now meta-
morphosed. He was also the proprietor of the city of Palmyra. We do not
refer to the Palmyra built by Solomon, and known as Tadmor in the desert,
but the Palmyra of Will County, built in 183o*. If the reader does not know
its history or location, let him look upon the county records, where he will find
all its noble avenues, its splendid palaces and its grand temples recorded by the
same skillful hand that is now writing this history and you will find them
nowhere else. If you have the curiosity to look upon the ground where it
stood, and to dig among its ruins, ask Prof. Palmer to point out the spot to
you. He married one of the Deacon's comely daughters, and lives in the
vicinity ; and if the city has left any bumps he will know where they are, for he
is great on bumps. And while searching for ruins, you might also look up
those of Romeo, Lunenburg, West Lockport, Williamsburg, Middletown,
Vienna, Carlysle, Chelsea, New Rochester, and New Buffalo, all once flourish-
ing cities of Will County ; but now the gopher burrows unscared" amid their
ruins. We suggest to the next Fourth of July orator that, instead of asking,
" Where are Thebes and Babylon ? " etc., he should vary the question and ask,
" Where are Lunenburg ? " etc. Mr. Brandon died in 1871.
E. E. Bush was some time mine host of the old " American," and had the
honor at one time of feeding J. C. Newkirk, John M. Wilson, Charles
Clement, and this deponent, and others not equally celebrated. Bush was a
son-in-law of Lyman Hawley, and consequently the Hawley girls used to be at
the American a good deal, which did not hurt it any ; did it, Charley ? Bush
moved to Lockport, and was long Postmaster there, where he died many
years ago.
John L. and Richard L., and a younger brother who came a little later,
Charles L. Wilson, were the sons of Judge Quartus Wilson, of Albany, N. Y. They
were some time residents here, engaged in merchandising, canal contracting, etc.
They afterward removed to Chicago. Richard L. was Postmaster there, under
Taylor. The Wilsons founded the Chicago Journal We don't know whether
Chicago feels it or not, but she is greatly indebted to Will County for men as
well as for stone and gravel and coal. The list of men we have allowed to go
there would be a long one, embracing some of her best lawyers, physicians,
judges, merchants, capitalists, and public men, editors, etc., and thus we have
helped to raise her out of the mud in more senses than one.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 287
Everybody knows David Richards, and how his farm is now one of the
finest portions of the city, and Richards street, a fashionable avenue. We do
not suppose that when David set his stakes there he anticipated becoming part
of the city.
Lewis Reed had a blacksmith's shop under the bluff, just north of Exchange
street, where a bold and frowning bluff, with a lime-kiln below, stood where
now we make the easy ascent. Could those who want the hill cut down have
seen it then, they would be forced to own that it had already been cut some.
One of Mr. Reed's sons is the Rev. Francis Reed, a Methodist preacher, now
at Mendota.
W. J. Heath, above named, is the man who has been so long known in Joliet
as Justice Heath, and sometimes, by way of eminence, as Chief Justice Heath.
He has worn the justicial ermine many'years ; but he is still extant, and we shall
not, therefore, write his obituary, but must leave that pleasing task to some
future historian. But we have a little story to tell of him. Mr. Heath did not
arrive at the dignity of being Chief Justice of Joliet at one jump, but went
through the preliminary steps of Constable, Deputy Sheriff, etc, It so hap-
pened at an early day, when the Kankakee River formed the boundary line
between Will and Iroquois Counties, that he had given him some papers to serve
on a couple of men who resided on the Kankakee. So he set out to hunt them
up. After a long and lonesome ride, he arrived at the banks of that stream, and
found, living near the ford, one of the men of whom he was in search, on whom
he served his process in due form. But here he learned to his chagrin, that the
other man lived just across the river. Although he was not yet a justice learned
in the law, he even then knew that a process from a Will County Court would not
have any force on the other side of the river. Here was a quandary. He did not
like to lose his fees and mileage on this paper it was half of his day's wages
and the whole was little enough reward for his long ride. A brilliant idea
struck him. He had often heard it said that everything was fair in war and in
love, and he was already enough of a politician to have learned that everything
was fair in politics. Then why not in law. He at once resolved on a strategic
movement. He crossed over, and, riding up to the man's house, found him
with his horse just ready to go away. Mr. Heath told the man that he was
happy to find him and with his horse all ready, as he wished very much for a
man to go over to the other side to witness the execution of a paper. Would
he be kind enough to take that trouble ? The man readily complied. When
they had got safely on the Will County side, Mr. Heath asked the man his name.
The man told him it was Beebee. " Beebee," exclaimed Mr. Heath. " Ah, I
believe I have got a process to serve on you," and accordingly he proceeded to
read to the astonished squatter the document with which he was armed. The
man was so astonished at the cheeky procedure that for a moment he was speech-
less ; but he soon recovered his voice and proceeded to tell Heath what he
thought of him, in language more forcible than elegant. But Heath had saved
288 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
his fees and mileage, and cared little for the man's private opinion. Whether
in this case the end was large enough to justify the means is a problem in
casuistry which we submit to the Joliet Philosophical Debating Club.
BLACK HAWK WAR.
As will be seen from the preceding pages, there had begun to be a consider-
able immigration into this and other parts of the Northwest as early as 1830
and 1831. This immigration was interrupted in the Spring of 1832, by the
Black Hawk war so called from the noted chief who was its prominent insti-
gator. Although the seat of the war was principally to the west and north, on
Rock River, and, although the Pottawatomie Indians of this region were sup-
posed to be friendly, yet great alarm was felt by the settlers in this vicinity.
It was at once feared that the tide of war would sweep this way, and that a
general war of extermination had been resolved upon by the Indians, and that
the efforts which it was known Black Hawk was making to draw in all the In-
dians of the Northwest, would be successful. There was abundant reason to
justify their fears. On the 21st of May, a frightful massacre had been perpe-
trated on Indian Creek, about fifteen miles above Ottawa, within thirty
miles of Joliet, in which fifteen settlers, men women and children had been
suddenly surrounded and massacred, with the usual barbarities of Indian war-
fare. One boy alone had escaped from the settlement and carried the news to
Ottawa. Two girls named Sylvia and Rachel Hall, of the ages of 15 and
17 respectively, had been carried off as prisoners, and held for ransom. As
we have elsewhere noted, this event is closely connected with the history of
Joliet. The news of this and other atrocities might well arrest further immi-
gration and drive out many already here. The settlers at Walker's Grove, with
some who had fled from Fox River, to the number of 125 in all, collected at
the house of Father Beggs, on Section 16, which seemed most favorably located
for defense. This they hastily fortified, by pulling down all the surrounding
outbuildings and fences, and forming outer barricades of the material. The
question arose whether they would escape to Ottawa or remain at the fort. Mrs.
Flagg, the wife of Azariah Flagg, a woman of great decision and judgment,
threw the weight of her influence in favor of staying, and presented so many
and so strong arguments for this course that the settlers finally determined to
stay. It was afterward ascertained that this course saved their lives, and that
the party who had committed the outrage at Indian Creek were laying in wait,
expecting them. Indeed, one person, the old Dunkard preacher, of the name
of Payne, refused to stay, and, trusting to his sacred character, put out for
Ottawa and met his fate a little way from the fort. They chose James Walker
for their commander, and resolved upon a vigorous defense. They collected all
the guns, hoes, scythes, axes, pitchforks, etc., of the neighborhood, and melted
up their pewter spoons for bullets. Here they waited a few days, and no In-
dians making their appearance, and, as they had but four guns, they thought
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 289
the safer course was to go to the fort at Chicago. Thither, accordingly, they
made their way, under the protection of the company elsewhere mentioned,
where they found the fort full of settlers that had fled thither for protection.
The crowded state of the fort rendered their stay there exceedingly uncomfort-
able, and they suffered nearly as much as from their fears of the Indians. The
settlers in Yankee Settlement also fled to Chicago. The alarm had been car-
ried to the Settlement by Hiram Pearson, of Chicago, and Daniel Mack, of
Hadley, who had started for Danville, and who encountered fugitives from the
West somewhere near the Des Planes River. They returned at once and gave
the alarm, and the families were quickly gathered together and went to Chicago.
While there the refugees organized a company of twenty-five, chose Holder
Sisson, of Yankee Settlement, their Captain, and started out on a scout to
ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts of the Indians. They stayed the first
night at an old settler's of the name of Lawton, on the Des Planes, went thence
on to Naperville, then down to Walker's Grove, stopping the second night at
Fort Beggs. They then proceeded on toward Ottawa, and at Holderman's Grove
they met a party from Ottawa, and both parties went to Indian Creek, where
they found the mutilated and decaying bodies of fifteen persons, including six
children. Having buried these, they went on to Ottawa, where they found the
remnants of a regiment which had skedaddled from the encounter at Stillman's
Run. They then returned, over the same route, to Chicago. On their return
they found the body of the Dunkard preacher; neither his long, reverend
beard, nor his peaceful character had availed to save him from the treacherous
savage. After a few weeks' stay at Chicago, the discomforts of the fort were
so great that the settlers from Yankee Settlement returned, and built a fort on
the Sisson-Hanford place ; and those from Walker's Grove returned to that
locality.
Scott had arrived at Chicago, bringing with him a foe more dreadful
than the Indians even. This caused a more sudden stampede from than there
had been to Chicago from the country. Lanfear, and his ox-team, of the Yankee
Settlement, were pressed into the service by Scott to take his supplies to Galena.
At this time there was a Pottawatomie village or encampment between Fraction
Run and Big Run, Lockport, and remained there a year or two after. A story
is told of this fort to this effect : Runyon, wishing to put the courage and
watchfulness of its inmates to the proof, disguised himself as an Indian, and
with rifle and tomakawk approached with stealthy step. He came near paying
dearly for his experiment, as the defenders were about to fire upon him, when
his wife, with the sure instinct of a woman, discovered the disguise and pre-
vented the catastrophe. The settlers on Hickory Creek, Jackson's Grove and
Joliet Township, and all down the river, being, many of them, from Indiana,
sought safety in that direction by a hasty flight. A number having collected
near Gougar's, they sent Robert Stevens, David Maggard and one of the Nor-
mans to reconnoiter. They saw some Indians on the prairie near the Lilly-
290 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Cache, who seemed to be driving off cattle. They returned and reported,
giving it as their opinion that they were Pottawatomies. It was afterward
ascertained that this was so, and that they were on their way to assure the
settlers that there was no cause for alarm. But the settlers had by this time
become so excited that they commenced at once to flee, and te notify all the
region of their danger. Every horse, pony and ox-team was at once brought
into requisition. The chattels of the settlers were hastily loaded, and women
and children placed in the wagons, while the men with their guns rode the
horses as guards. When the settlers gathered together on the prairie, there
were some seventy or eighty, with twenty teams, mostly drawn by oxen. The
stampede, as we have heard it described by some of the survivors, was at the
same time terrible and ludicrous. They tell of one who, hatless and coatless,
with his supplies of flour, sugar and bacon hastily loaded on his horse before
and behind him, was too badly scared to wait the tardy movements of the main
column, and put out at the utmost speed of which his horse was capable, throw-
ing overboard one article after another of his impedimenta in order to increase
his speed, never pausing until he reached the Kankakee. Some accounts have
it that he got on to his horse " hindside afore," and that he did not stop until
he reached the Wabash. But the narrator, we fear, was given a little to exagger-
ation, as even historians sometimes are a thing very much to be deprecated.
But if true, he no doubt presented the boldest front he had to the enemy. The
fugitives met a company of armed men from Indiana, who had come out to aid
and protect the settlers. Some of the fugitives, having cooled off a little,
returned with them. It was this company which built the fort, of which we
have spoken, on the bluff, and which was named "Fort Nonsense" by the
early settlers. Mr. Jesse Cook, named in the list of early settlers of the town-
ship, was one of those who returned and who helped build the fort. Mr. Cook
also relates that, on returning to their homes, they found that the friendly Pot-
tawatomies had shown their friendship by taking care of the pigs, chickens and
provisions they had left in their flight such good care that the settlers never
had to take care of them any more.*
Robert Stevens and David Maggard also returned and concealed themselves
for a few days in a cave under the bluff on the west side. of the Des Planes.
Most of the families returned the next Spring. There was also a block-house
bmilt, which was standing many years after the writer came, in Reed's Grove,
but whether built before or after the stampede we do not know.
It will be seen from this record that Will County figured in the Black Hawk
war. True, no bloody battles occurred on its soil, but there were many races.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 291
No heroes spilled their blood in defense of their hearths and homes, but they
took good care that the savages should not spill it for them. At least four, and
perhaps more, forts were built, and their pewter plates and spoons were freely
sacrificed for the common defense, and Joliet (CampbellstownandMcKeestown),
are monuments of the bloody slaughter of Indian Creek.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
After the Black Hawk war, which was soon brought to a close by the vigor-
ous movements of Gen. Atkinson, while Gen. Scott was fighting the cholera,
the tide of immigration set in strong to the West. No region presented a more
inviting prospect to the farmer than that embraced in Will County. Here, too,
were mill-sites up and down our streams inviting the manufacturer, and any
quantity of sites for towns and cities to catch the eye of the speculator.
The earlier settlements as they were initiated, both before and after the war,
we have pretty fully detailed. By 1835, our population had so greatly in-
creased that a new county was called for. Chicago was so remote that it was
very inconvenient to be obliged to go there as often as the exigencies of business
required. Juliet began to be talked of as a county seat.
During the Winter of 1835 36, through the efforts of our citizens, especially
James Walker and Dr. A. W. Bowen, who went to Vandalia as members of the
Third House, and who were both shrewd and influential men, an act was passed
creating the county of Will. It received its name from Conrad Will, a member
of the Legislature who had died just before. Gov. Ford, in his history, says,
that he was chiefly remarkably for his good nature. We accept the name as a
just compliment to our people. Dr. Bowen got inserted in the act a provision
locating the .county seat not only in Juliet, but on the public square which Camp-
bell had had the sagacity to appropriate for that purpose. Thus the East Side
made a second point on us of the West Side (it had already got the postoffice).
An election was ordered in March for a Sheriff, three County Commissioners,
Recorder and Coroner. A convention was called to nominate the county offi-
cers. This was held in the upper room of the old Demmond Block, which
had just been erected. And here the West Side made a point. This conven-
tion was called without regard to party, and was largely attended by the sub-
stantial settlers throughout the county. Of course they would 'make out a
good ticket. They nominated Holder Sisson, Thomas Durham and James
Walker, for Commissioners; Robert Stevens for Sheriff; George H. Woodruff
for Recorder (here is the point), and E. M. Daggett for Coroner. The ticket
met with some opposition as to Recorder, and Sheriff especially, but it was tri-
umphantly elected. In those days we could make a good run, if nothing else.
The principal tactics we used was to keep out of sight, which we think was sagacious.
It is worthy of note here that at this election those living on the East Side were
obliged to go to Philip Scott's on Section 23, and those living on the West Side
to Plainfield, in order to vote. Robert Stevens declined to qualify as Sheriff, and
292 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
in the Fall, at the first regular election, " Uncle Fenner Aldrich," who had lived
at Plainfield, was chosen in time for the first Circuit Court.
We need hardly say that the Board of County Commissioners answered to
our Board of Supervisors, transacting the business of the entire county. Their
first meeting was held at the "Juliet Hotel," then kept hy Thomas H. Black-
burn, on March 14, 183t>. They appointed Levi Jenks, a west sider, County
Clerk and School Commissioner, and Charles Clement, Treasurer of the county.
They divided the county into ten election precincts, as follows :
1. Du Page Precinct Consisting of Town 37, in Ranges 9 and 10 (now the towns of Du
Page and Wheatland). Elections to be held at the house of David K. Clark. Harry Board-
man, Seth Wescott and Isaac Scarrett to be Judges of Election.
2. Plainfield Precinct Towns 35 and 36, in Range 9 (Troy and Plainfield). Elections at
house of Chester Ingersoll. Oliver Goes, W. W. Wattles and R. W. Chapman, Judges.
3. Canal Precinct Town 36, in Ranges 10 and 11 (Lockport and Homer). Election at
house of Luther C. Chamberlin. Charles Gray, Selah Lanfear and Comstock Hanford, Judges.
4. Joliet Precinct Town 35, Range 10 (Joliet). Elections at the house of Thomas H.
Blackburn. Isaac Merrill, Thos. H. Blackburn and Alonzo Castle, Judges.
5. Hickory Creek Town 35, in Ranges 11 and 12 (New Lenox and Frankfort). Election
at house of Chester Marshall. Mansfield Wheeler, Lewis Kerchival and John I. Davidson, Judges.
6. Jackson Town 34, Ranges 9 and 10 (Channahon and Jackson). Elections at house of
Jasper Willson. Henry Watkins, Seymor Treat and Joseph Shoemaker, Judges.
7. Forked Creek Towns 32 and 33, in Ranges 9 and 10 (Reed, Wilmington, Florence,
Westley and Custer). Elections at house of Robert Watkins. John Kilpatrick, Hamilton Kee-
ney and Thomas Cox, Judges.
8. Rock Village Towns 32, 33 and 34, in Ranges 11 and 12 (Manhattan, Greengarden,
Wilson and Peotone, and two townships now in Kankakee County). Elections at house of Sam-
uel Davis. Archer Caruthers, Samuel Davis and Hugh Carmichael, Judges.
9. Thorn Creek Town 34, in Ranges 13 and 14 (Monee and Crete). Election at house of
Minoris Beebe. Minoris Beebe, , Judges.
10. Kankakee Towns 32 and 33, in Ranges 13 and 14 (Will and Washington, and two
townships now in Kankakee County). Elections at house of Enoch Sergeant.
All Election Precincts also to be Magistrate Districts, and elections were
ordered for Justices and Constables.
Some of these precincts were soon divided. Canal Precinct was divided the
next year into Lockport and Spring Creek (now Homer), and Channahon was
set off into Van Buren Precinct, and other changes soon followed. At this first
session also, the county was divided into seventeen Road Districts, and Super-
visors appointed, and all able-bodied men between the ages of 21 and 50 re-
quired to work five days on the roads. Trustees of School Sections were also ap-
pointed. Viewers were also appointed to lay out the first county road from
Juliet to Plainfield and on to county line. (The first road projected, and not a
good road yet !)
They also ordered a writ of adquod damnum (as the records have it), but
whom it hit or what it did, we can't say ; perhaps it is lying around loose yet.
It was something about a cut-off from the Kankakee to the Des Planes. Jenks
made the two first words into one, but we presume it hurt just as badly.
They also fixed the price of tavern charges at 25 cents a meal, 12J cents for
^
JOLIET
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 295
lodging, and 6J cents for drinks. We regret to say that this is not now in
force.
All cities have their golden age, when everything is bright and lovely, when
the best men are exalted, and the people rejoice. If this period of which we
write was not the golden age of Will County, pray tell us what period was.
Think of it ! The best men in office, a good square meal for 25 cents,
lodging for 12J cents, whisky for 6 cents, no tramps, no burglars, no
gas bills or ice bills, no book or map agents, no lightning-rod peddlers,
no oily-tongued interviewers to persuade you that being a representative man
and an old settler you ought to have your history and portrait in a book ! But,
alas, those times are over and gone.
After finishing the county business, which .took them four days, the County
Commissioners voted themselves $6 each, and adjourned. A dollar and a half
a day was not a very big salary steal.
Let us note that at the end of the year Mr. Clement was allowed $16.60,
being 2 per cent on the money he handled. Having made his pile, he
retired and gave place to Bennett Allen.
MORE JOLIET HISTORY.
The first stone building put up in Joliet was the block of two stores built
by Demmond, of which we have already spoken. Mr. Demmond moved his
store into one part as soon as finished, and soon rented the other. It was
necessary that a building of so much importance should be dedicated. This
could be done properly only by a ball, and it was determined by the proper
authorities that there should be one as soon as the floors were laid and before
the partitions were put up. The boys at once canvassed the county for girls.
Most of us knew where to find them. The result was an extensive and suc-
cessful affair. The fame of it reached Chicago, and some couples came down
to it. Among these were a Mr. and Mrs. Garland, a newly-married couple lately
from Michigan. Of course the hotel accommodations were limited in those
days. Mr. and Mrs. G. put up at the Higley House, the chambers of which
could not properly be spoken of in the plural number, as there were no parti-
tions. Mrs. G. made herself somewhat unpopular on account of the fastidious-
ness she exhibited in objecting to inviting "tired nature's sweet restorer" in so
promiscuous a style, although nature was very tired indeed, having danced till
4 o'clock. She actually refused to go to bed until a partition had been
extemporized by means of a sheet suspended from the rafters ! But when
she afterward came to live among us, and we learned to know her many good
qualities, we forgot her unpardonable prudery, and loved her long and well.
OLD WILSON STORE.
The next stone building was on the east side, and was put up in 1836, by
the Wilson brothers, who had come on here from Albany, and opened a store
on Chicago street in one of Dr. Bowen's buildings. This is the old stone
E
296 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
building next south of the City Hall. Deacon Brandon, as we have said, built
this store. It is one of the buildings that are historic. The Wilsons opened a
store there, where they traded some years, and were succeeded by J. A. Matte-
son, where he kept a store and depot for the cloths which he manufactured, part
of the time with George Bradner for a partner. There, at one time, Alex-
ander Mclntosh, now pretty well known in Will County, was his clerk. Major
Safford was also for a long time his clerk. He has lately died in Cairo, where
he was a banker. The upper story Avas rented for a court-room and Clerk's
office by the County Commissioners, until the old Court House was built we mean
the predecessor of the present old Court House, long since taken down, as the
present one ought to be. Afterward, it was occupied by the Episcopal Church
for religious worship. Our worthy citizen, S. 0. Simonds, taught a private
school there. S. W. Stone, and, we think, K. J. Hammond, taught there also.
We can trace its history no further ; time would fail to tell it all ; for a long
time, now, it has been occupied for a dwelling.
Among other experiences of the old store we ought, however, to note the
fact that in 1851, while occupied as a store house for wool by Matteson, it was
struck by lightning, and perhaps that is why the northwest corner is now
tumbling out. We suppose when a stranger visits Joliet and one of our citizens
wishes to show him the points of interest, he is shown the Opera House Block,
the new churches, the dwellings of Mr. Fox, George Woodruff, J. E. Henry,
the Centennial and Aiken Blocks, etc.; but in the mind of the writer, and per-
haps that of some others, these old buildings, however rusty or decayed, awaken
far greater interest. They are full of memories ; they are historic. And we
have often thought, what if their old walls could speak what if they were all
phonographs what if they had anticipated Edison and had recorded every
word, and every sight and act as well, of the various persons that from time to
time had acted or spoken within them. And what if, at one's bidding, the walls
should give out again the sights and sounds which they had absorbed all the
scenes of joy and sorrow, all the acts of piety and of sin, all the oaths and
prayers, all the words that soothe and comfort, and all the words that irritate
and wound, all the whispers and vows of love, and the pledges of friendship,
both those that have been kept and those that have been broken what, we say,
if some Edison should yet discover the secret of unraveling it all to the listener,
what revelations there would be, even in the commonest houses, the rooms where
any one has dwelt even but a few years ! How many haunted houses there
would be ! Perhaps, reader, there are rooms into which we should not want to
go. But this is not history.
The old wooden block on North Chicago street which made such a famous
bonfire a year or two ago, was built about the same time with the Wilson store,
and was long the center of business on the East Side. The next stone block was
the old one on Bluff street, consisting of six stores, and was built in 1837. We
gave something of its history in "Forty Years Ago," and will not repeat it
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 297
here. There is more unwritten history absorbed by its walls, than perhaps any
other building in Joliet. What visions come and go through the halls of
memory Avhen we chance to walk by it !
The National was built, at least commenced, in 1838, by J. J. Garland and
John Curry, two old citizens, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Garland
died first. He was an active and valuable man here, a member of the old
Union Church organized by the Foots, and one of the fruits of that revival, and Jiis
wife also. Col. Curry more recently deceased, is better known to the present
generation, having been long in business here. He was a brother-in-law of M.
H. Demmond, and one time a partner. He came in 1836, from Oneida Co.,
N. Y., and died in March, 1872, at the age of seventy.
OTHER OLD BUILDINGS.
The next hotel built upon the East Side, after the Juliet Hotel, was the
Exchange, built in 1837, by Abel Gilbert. The upper story was hurried up
and finished first, into a ball-room, in order to get ready for a Fourth of July
ball, with which the boys on the East Side resolved to dedicate it. They were
spurred on by the happy memories of the one in Demmond's Block, and deter-
mined that this one should excel it both in numbers and eclat. The West Siders
were, however, permitted " to jine." Some did. An efficient committee was
appointed to gather in the girls. Every precinct, even away up to " Yellow
Heads," was explored, and teams sent to bring them. The girls did not need
much urging, but came right along, as they still do, we suppose. 0. W. Still-
man, Siil. Demmond, Ed. Wilcox and Allen Pratt, the old "bach" from Bos-
ton, and others, were among the efficient managers. Of course it was a grand
success. The ball opened at 4 P. M., and closed at 4 A. M. Allen Pratt was
especially happy and successful as a general-in-chief. He knew what Boston
style was. It was on account of his eminent services on this occasion that at a
sort of adjourned meeting at Higley Hall the next night, some of the West Side
boys, feeling that he had done them great credit, and that his services should
have some public recognition, crowned and embalmed him. If you want to
know how that was done, you must ask Judge John M. Wilson of Chicago, or
Judge J. C. Newkirk, of Hudson, N. Y. We don't suppose that any one else
could tell the story, although there are several boys still left who witnessed both
the ball and the after part ; but not having judicial minds, it is not safe to rely
on their statements. There are many traditions against which we warn the
public. Another hotel soon after claimed a share of public patronage, and
ministered to the pride of the East Siders. This was the " Waving Banner,"
built, we believe, by Matteson, and opened under the happy auspices of mine
host Jacob Patrick. This was afterward called the Washington, and still stands
somewhat " depalliated " at the upper end of Chicago street, a monument of
the enterprise of 1837. We suppose a good many things happened in this
ancient hostelry which would be very interesting if we could get some Edison
298 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
to unwind them. It was a great center, though situated on the circumference,
for political meetings, military displays and Fourth of July demonstrations. But
perhaps we are spending too much time on these old Joliet buildings. We con-
fess to a tender regard for them, and feel that like old men, they are too apt to
be forgotten for what is fresh and new, and it is not without a pang of grief that we
see one of them take fire and burn up, although we know that it will be replaced
by something better, and gives friend Page an opportunity to show the efficiency
of the Fire Department. And yet we must mention one more, King Gambrinus
would never forgive us if we failed to note the first brewery established in the city
of Joliet, and we presume in Will County. Have you noticed that old rookery
of wooden buildings which stands upon the tow-path, a little way above the
middle bridge ? That was the first brewery, established in 1838, by Beltz &
Erhard, two of our earliest German citizens, the advance guard of the great
host that has since invaded Will County, and who now form so large and valu-
able a class of our citizens. It was built near, or over, one of the finest of
natural springs we ever saw. Its waters were cool and pure and sparkling and
perennial. Whether they were improved after passing through the various proc-
esses which converted them into lager, we shall let each reader decide for him-
self. But we are reminded of a little story. It is said that when lager was
first introduced into the West, which must have been about this time, an old
toper who had always taken his whisky straight, was induced to try a little by
way of experiment. He carefully carried the foaming amber to his lips, and
tasted a little, made a wry and disgusted kind of face, tasted again and deeper,
and then threw the glass at the head of the astonished Teuton, exclaiming
"by wormwood and Epsom salts ! "
There is still another old building that we have not noticed ; we mean the
stone one just above Hyde's mill, a conspicuous object as you go up to the
Iron Mills. This was an old agricultural and plow factory, built by Jones
& Cagwin, in 1854, and for several years in successful operation, and one of
our most important enterprises. It was subsequently occupied by one of the
Sangers for similar purposes. But it seems of late years to have been left to
the moles and the bats, and to have shared the fate of all buildings not occu-
pied, in losing its windows and everything about it except the walls, a sad
proof that the millennium has not yet come.
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.
A condensed history of the canal must not be omitted from this record. It
is intimately connected with the history and prosperity of the county. It was
one and a very important cause by which attention was directed hither.
The project of a ship-canal, to connect the waters of Lake Michigan with
the navigable waters of the Illinois River, was first suggested during the war of
1812, by some writer in Niles' Register. The war had shown of what immense
advantage such a canal would be, both in peace and war. It was one of the
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 299
compensations of that war in the West, and also of the Sac war, that they were
the means of directing attention to this part of the Great West. In 1816, the
title to a strip twenty miles wide was obtained of the Indians, with a view to such
a work. As \ve have already stated, this fact explains what is often seen on the
maps two lines running diagonally across the townships, and marked "Indian
Boundary Line." In 1821, an appropriation of $10,000 was made by Congress
for a preliminary survey of the canal and for the survey of the twenty-mile
strip. Shadrack Bond, the first Governor of our State, in his first message,
had called attention to the feasibility and importance of the work. A survey
was made under the appropriation of Congress, and the work pronounced prac-
ticable. In 1826, Congress donated to the State, for the purpose of its con-
struction, every alternate section in a strip ten miles Avide along the route from
Chicago to La Salle a magnificent appropriation of 300,000 acres. In 1829,
the General Assembly of our State passed an act creating a Board of Canal
Commissioners, and authorized them (not to enter upon the work, but) to sell
the lands, and giving settlers a pre-emption right on the same. Under this act
many of the earliest settlers got their titles to lands in this vicinity. Fortu-
nately, however, the folly of this course was soon seen, and the act was repealed.
In the session of 18345, another act was passed creating a new Canal Board,
and authorizing the Governor to negotiate bonds for its construction, and pledg-
ing the Canal lands for their redemption. But even then the immense value of
these lands was not appreciated by those who had the money to loan. It was
not until at a special session in 1835, when, through the indefatigable exertion
of Col. Strode, of Galena, who at that time represented all the region north of
Peoria, in the State Senate, the act was so amended as to pledge the faith of
the State for their redemption, that the bonds could be negotiated. This was
done by Gov. Duncan in 1836, and in the same year preparations were com-
menced for active work. William B. Archer. Gurdon S. Hubbardand William
F. Thornton, all Colonels, as public men generally were in those days, were
the first Commissioners, who very wisely chose Wm. Gooding as Chief Engineer.
Some changes were subsequently made in the Board, and James B. Fry, another
Colonel, became a member. The first ground was broken at Bridgeport July
4, 1836. The event was celebrated in grand style. Dr. William B. Egan
delivered an able address on the occasion. The work was commenced on the
plan of the "deep cut," that is, feeding it directly from Lake Michigan
through the South Branch of the Chicago River, as is now done. At the time
of letting the first contracts, the mania for speculation was at its height, and
labor and provisions were extremely high for those times. Labor was $20 to
$30 per month, with board. Pork, $20 to $30 per barrel ; flour, $9 to $12,
and other things in proportion. The first contracts were predicated upon these
high prices. To facilitate the construction of the Canal, a road was opened
from Chicago to Lockport, known as "Archer's Road," from one of the Com-
missioners, on which $40,000 were expended. The propriety of this expend-
300 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
iture was much questioned at the time, and unfortunately for the reputation of
Archer for disinterestedness, he was the proprietor of an addition to Lockport.
But it is certain that supplies for the laborers had mainly to be brought from
abroad, as at this time no great surplus was raised along the line. The work
was prosecuted by means of the money obtained from the sale of bonds and of
Canal lands and lots in Chicago, Lockport, Ottawa and La Salle, until 1842, at
an outlay of over five millions of dollars, when the work was suspended.
Although the enterprise was commenced when everything had to be done
in the most expensive way, and when the country was on the eve of a great
financial crash, yet the State could easily have gone through with it and main-
tained her credit if other projects had not been connected with it. The central
and southern portions of the State, with very narrow views, looked upon the
Canal as entirely for the benefit of the north, and insisted upon compensating
railroads as the price of their votes for further appropriations to the Canal ; and,
in 1837, the act was passed, which ultimately swamped the credit of the State
and brought on our financial ruin. By this act, a loan of eight millions was
authorized, on the faith of the State, for the purpose of gridironing our State
with railroads, and a four-million loan for the further prosecution of the Canal.
The sum of $200,000 from the eight-million loan was to be given to those
counties through which no railroad passed for the construction of roads and
bridges. And, absurd as was this scheme at that time, loans were made to the
amount of nearly six millions. As the practical result of all this, a short rail-
road was built from Springfield to Meredosia, and various others were com-
menced at either end, as the act required, and great quantities of railroad iron
were imported, free of duty, by special act of Congress. But before any other
road was completed the whole scheme came to a disgraceful end. It may not
be improper to remark, in passing, that it was by the purchase afterward (pay-
ing in depreciated scrip at par) of this railroad iron of the State and selling to
Eastern roads that (jrov. Matteson laid the foundation of his fortune. The great
commercial prostration which struck the East in 1837 was, by means of the
disbursement of these Canal and railroad loans, warded off from us for a year
or two, and the work of the Canal was kept along, although feebly, until 1842
by the help of Canal scrip and of the " contractors' loan," as it was called, from
the fact that the contractors had sent Gen. Thornton to Europe to sell bonds,
they agreeing to stand the discount, even to 25 per cent, if necessary. This
they could afford to do, now that the prices of labor and provisions had greatly
fallen.
By the Fall of 1840 a debt had been contracted by the State, of $14,237,-
348, which must be paid by a population of 478,929 nearly thirty dollars for
every man, woman and child. And this amount does not include what the
State had misapplied from the school fund and from the surplus deposits of the
United States. By great exertion, the interest on the Canal debt was paid up
to and including 1841 ; but for 1842 no provision could be made, and the work
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 301
stopped entirely. An expenditure, as we have already said, of over five mill-
ions had been made upon it, and the contractors abandoned their jobs, claiming
heavy damages of the State. An act was passed for a settlement with them,
limiting the amount to $230,000.
To the credit of our State, let it be said that the idea of repudiation was
never seriously entertained by our people to any extent, and subsequent pros-
'perity and wise legislation have long since obliterated the debt.
But the Canal could not, of course, be allowed to remain long in this condition.
The bondholders were equally interested with us in devising some means for its
speedy completion. It was a work of too great and too general importance to
be abandoned altogether. In the session of 1842-43 an act was passed which
ultimately succeeded in accomplishing this purpose. By this act, the Canal
itself and all its unsold lots and lands were transferred to a Board of three
Trustees two to be chosen by the bondholders and one by the Governor of the
State. The bondholders were to advance the further sum of $1,600,000 to
complete the Canal on another level. The Trustees were to prosecute the work
and retain possession of the Canal and its revenues until the debt and further
cost of its construction and interest on the same should be fully paid by the
tolls and moneys derived from the sale of lands and lots. The Board was
organized and the work was resumed in 1845, and prosecuted until fully com-
pleted in 1848.
The debt of the Canal and all costs of its construction and the interest
thereon were paid from these resources in the year 1871, and the Canal sur-
rendered to the State, with a balance on hand of $95,742.
In 1865 an, arrangement was entered into by the Trustees with the Board
of Public Works of Chicago, by which the Canal has been completed upon the
original plan of a deep cut, feeding directly from the Chicago River, thus making
it the grand sewer of Chicago nastiness, and justifying, at times, to our olfactories
the theory that the name " Chicago" was originally derived from that animal
familiarly known as skunk. The Indian who christened it must have had a
prophetic smell of 1873 ! Let us console ourselves with the fact that we have
now an abundant water-power, and that our basins are always full, if not
fragrant !
In closing this brief history of the Canal, we wish to pay a tribute to its
Chief Engineer, William Gooding, who was its firm friend from first to last, its
efficient Director, and against whom no suspicions of jobbery were ever enter-
tained. Fully a master of his profession, prepared for all emergencies, urbane
in his intercourse with all, he is entitled to the grateful remembrance of every
citizen of this State, to the prosperity of which he has been so largely instru-
mental.
When the above paragraph, copied from " Forty Years Ago," was written,
Mr. Gooding was still living. He has since died, and we feel that both his
private character and public usefulness demand some further notice in a history
302 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
of Will County. William Gooding was a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and
commenced his service as a civil engineer on the Welland Canal. Subsequently,
he engaged in mercantile business at Lockport, N. Y. He, however, soon re-
turned to his chosen profession on public works in Ohio, in the valley of the
Scioto. In the Spring of 1832, he was married in Troy, N. Y., and returned
to Ohio with the intention of coming West to this region. The breaking-out of
the Sac war prevented this, and he remained for a time in Roscoe, Ohio. The
war being over, he fulfilled his intention of coming West, and, on May 1, 1833,
landed at Chicago, a village then of very small pretensions. He squatted, accord-
ing to the usage of the day, upon land at what became known as Gooding's Grove,
which he afterward purchased, and where his father and brothers had previously
located. Next year, he engaged with the Commissioners of Public Works of
Indiana, and was there employed when selected as Chief Engineer of the Illinois
& Michigan Canal, which position he held until its completion in 1848. He
was then appointed Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of the Board of Trustees,
and so continued until the debt being fully paid, the Canal was surrendered to
the State. During this period he was employed in some special service as
United States Engineer, and also one of the Board of'Public Works of the city
of Chicago, while the Canal was deepened and made the grand sewer of Chicago.
He also received the appointment of Surveyor of Oregon, but declined to accept
the post. Mr. Gooding had been in failing health for several years, and com-
pelled to spend his Winters in Cuba, Florida, California, Alabama, etc., until the
last Autumn found him too unwell to leave home again, and he declined gradually
in strength until the 4th day of March, last, when he closed his earthly career in the
75th year of his age. A large concourse of neighbors and friends, not 'only from
Will County, but from Chicago and the entire length of the Canal met at his late
home to pay their sincere tribute of respect to one who had filled so important a po-
sition in thepublic service, and filled it long and well. Rev. J. Porter, a patriarch in
the ministry, who had long knoAvn and loved him, conducted the funeral services.
Besides his valuable public service, his purity of life, and his urbanity, Mr.
Gooding was also noticeable for his general culture and his refined taste, and the
clear and lucid style of all of his reports and public communications. Mr.
Gooding was also naturally gifted with a fine imagination and poetic taste,
although his chosen profession was severe and dry, and
"The muse but poorly- shines
In cones and cubes and geometric lines."
His beautiful home in Lockport was richly adorned with fruits and flowers,
to the cultivation of which he devoted his leisure moments. This home was in
striking contrast to the one he first occupied at Gooding's Grove, which was a
log cabin of one room, built by contract for $25, he furnishing the timber and a
team to haul it with. This was covered with "shakes," a kind of roof which
would shed the rain and snow, if the wind did not blow, and had its chimney
outside, according to the style of the times, because if placed inside there would
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 303
have been no room for anything else. This was built with sticks plastered with
clay. The furniture was mostly the handiwork of Mr. Gooding, including the
bedstead, made of poles. Mr. Gooding used to tell an interesting incident
which occurred at this original mansion. One bitter cold morning, Col. Wm. B.
Archer, Canal Commissioner, Chief Justice Wilson, of the Supreme Court-, and
Robert Dale Owen, came there before breakfast, having stayed at the Sag over
night, at a hotel which did not promise much in the way of refreshment. To
be so suddenly called upon to entertain these notables was somewhat embarrass"
ing to the young wife. The country did not afford very much variety where-
with to improvise a breakfast. To add to the difficulty, the guests, except Col.
Archer, were strangers, and as the one room was kitchen, bedroom, dining-
room, and parlor, and it was too cold to adjourn to the only other place out-
doors the breakfast must be prepared in their presence. In one all-important
respect, however, the hostess was happy. Some little time before, Col. Archer,
whose tastes were somewhat of the " Hoosier " order, had seen a piece of calico
in Chicago which he greatly admired. It was of a green ground with large blue
and yellow flowers and leaves, very pronounced in style. Wishing to make
Mrs. Gooding some expression of his regard, he had bought five yards of the
goods which struck his fancy, which he had given to her, with the remark that
as she was small it would be ample ; and she had on the dress on this memo-
rable occasion. It is perhaps unnecessary to say that she was not bothered with
a train, and that crinoline had not then been introduced.
CANAL OPENING.
The opening of the Canal, in 1*448, was a day long to be remembered.
Boats started simultaneously from either end of the Canal, to pass over the route.
The one from Chicago arrived here about noon, with all the Canal officials and
Chicago celebrities, bands of music, and supplies, both solid and liquid, in un-
limited quantities. Of course we had some notables here, who were present to
welcome the arrival ; and all the population men, women and children
turned out to see the first boat from Chicago, a sight for which our eyes had
longed so many years. Cannon were fired and the welkin rang with cheers.
Speeches were made by the Chicago notables, and speeches were made by the
Joliet notables. Only one of these, so far as we know, has been preserved.
After various persons had been called out and made their spread-eagle efforts,
our popular citizen, J. A. Mattcson, was called upon for a speech, to which
he responded in the following glowing words : " Mr. President, ladies and
gentlemen I concur."
ANOTHER CELEBRATION.
When the Canal was completed on the original plan of the deep cut, in
1871, there was, of course, another celebration, which may as well be noticed
here. Great preparations were made for this at Chicago, by the Board of Pub-
lic Works and other notables. There was poetry in the occasion. It was the
304 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
"meeting of the waters" the union of the blue waters of Lake Michigan
with those of the sparkling tributary of the Mississippi, the classic Des Planes
the marriage of Michigan and Mississippi and our valley, our beautiful
bluff-bound valley, was the vale in whose bosom the bright waters were to meet.
True, the poetry and the brightness and the fragrance, were somewhat abated
by the odors and the mud of the South Branch, after passing th rough which
those of the lake were hardly fit for the bridal. Tuesday, the 25th of July,
was fixed upon for the day, and four large canal-boats were chartered and put
into holiday trim. On these, a crowd of ten or twelve hundred persons, the
solid men of Chicago, officials and notables, including Gov. Palmer and Gen.
Sheridan, and Members of Congress, Legislature, etc., and, no doubt, a due
admixture of bummers and Bohemians. Of course they did not set sail with-
out a well-stocked commissariat. At 9 A. M. they started, bound for the port
of Lockport. But the first part of the voyage, except for its associations, had
little to interest. It was through the heavy clay and rock of the excavation of
the summit, which lay in huge piles upon the banks, shutting out entirely all
view of the surrounding scenery. The excursionists were forced, as it were, to
turn their attention to the resources on board. These were ample, and were
liberally dispensed by the persons in charge. But, from causes which we have
never heard explained, the progress of the fleet was slow, although a full head
of steam was kept on, and every sheet spread to the wind. They did not
arrive at Lemont until 5 o'clock. It is said that there had been, owing to
head winds, a great amount of seasickness aboard. At any rate, the greater
share of the excursionists went ashore at Lemont, determined to take the
evening train for Chicago. A few, however, went on in the Governor's
steamer.
Meanwhile, great preparations had been made at Lockport for their recep-
tion. Those who went up from Joliet to participate, found the city gay with
bunting, and the. streets filled with the beauty and fashion of the place. The
Canal office was filled with the celebrities of Lockport, and on the west side of
it were long tables, spread with spotless linen and loaded with eatables, and
awaiting the arrival of the fleet. Great was the disappointment when, at 6
o'clock, news was received of the shipwreck at Lemont. But soon the little
steamer arrived, having on board Gov. Palmer and Gen. Sheridan, Mayor
Mason, Senator Judd, and others ; and, although the crowd was not as large as
expected, it was select, and with this, and the Joliet notables, Lockport had to
be content. Gov. Palmer was led to the stand in front of the Canal office, and
introduced to the people. He was full of the inspiration of the occasion, and
said many bright and humorous and clever things, in as happy a manner as
could be expected from one who had just come off a sea voyage and had not
yet found his land legs. Gen. Sheridan and Hayes and Judd followed in a
similar strain, and all were happy. The collation was then devoured by the
crowd, and darkness closed the scene. It was said that, judging from Gen.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 305
Sheridan's own statement and his appearance, his ride to Winchester was noth-
ing to the one to Lockport.
One of our local poets, H. R., broke out into poetry on this occasion,
which we would like to give, but can find room for a single stanza only :
"The waters now have met again
Lake Michigan meets the Des Planes ;
The Illinois joins its refrain,
With onward flow ;
Old Mississippi takes the bride,
Escorts her to the ocean tide,
Joining the groom in wedding ride,
To sea they go."
During the war and at other times, the question of enlarging the Canal to
the dimensions of a ship-canal has been agitated, both in our State Legislature
and in Congress. But all efforts have so far failed. This was the original
idea, and may yet be accomplished. Mr. Gooding was enthusiastic in the
belief that it would be done, and that from the first lock to the head of Joliet
Lake there would be a continuous manufacturing city. In this distance is
nearly half the fall between Lake Michigan and the mouth of the Illinois.
As the Canal neared completion, the citizens of Lockport and Joliet com-
menced to build boats wherewith to navigate its waters. Lockport had the first
boat launched, which was named the Gen. Fry, and the citizens of that place
made Joliet a visit as soon as the water was let into the level. On this occa-
sion, Judge Parks, then the Lockport orator, made Joliet a speech in his usual
happy style ; and Joliet replied by the eloquent lips of William A. Little, and
all were happy. Warehouses, also, went up in both towns. Henry Fish who
is none of your small fry Abijah Cagwin and George Woodruff built the three
warehouses which stand upon the east side of the Canal basin, and M. H. Dem-
mond built the large stone one whose walls yet stand, below the bridge, the
most substantial of them all, and yet the first one to become useless a
prey to the fire-fiend. Otis Hardy built the first Joliet boat and established
the first lumber-yard, and for many years kept it in full blast, with happy re-
suits to himself and the community as well ; for the piles of lumber which he
sold increased, by steady gains, his pile of bank deposits, and this he now dis-
penses, with liberal hand, to all enterprises and charities that command his
confidence and sympathies.
HIRAM NORTON.
Among other benefits which accrued to Will County from the construction
of the Canal, we must not forget to reckon the bringing- in of so many men of
means and enterprise and character. Conspicuous among them was Hiram
Norton, of Lockport.
He was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., February 26, 1799. An orphan at the
age of 14, he went to Canada in search of employment, which he found with
the Canada Stage Company. At 18, having saved a little money, he went to
306 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Lowville, N. Y., and invested it in acquiring an education at the famous acad-
emy of that place, where he remained two years. He then returned to Pres-
cott, Canada, and entered the service of the Stage Company again. He soon
became pecuniarily interested in the Company, and ultimately its proprietor.
He was elected to the Canadian Parliament, and twice re-elected, making his
term of service fourteen years. He also served on Government Commission
for the improvement of the St. Lawrence River and Canal. In 1838, he came
to Illinois with the Consulting Engineer of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and
was so well pleased with the beauty of the country, and its prospective growth
and importance, that he resolved to make it his future home. Lock port was
peculiarly fortunate in being chosen as the spot where he pitched his tent.
Being already possessed of large means, he at once built a fine residence on
one of its beautiful streets, which he soon adorned with exquisite taste. He
aided in the completion of ihe Canal, and when it was finished, rented the val-
uable water power created by it, and established the mills, which have become
famous for their products all over the region. He established, with his sons,
the house of Norton & Company, whose name and reputation are well known
and command unlimited confidence. Mr. Norton was sent by this county to
the Legislature, in 1858. He was elected almost without opposition. One of
the most public-spirited and enterprising of our citizens, he was also one of the
best and purest, and died, sustained by a Christian hope, April 1, 1875.
Mr. Norton paid the highest income tax in 1867 t)f any one in Will
County on $35,000. The benefits of his enterprise still continue to be felt
by Lock port and Will County, in the continuance of the manufacturing and
mercantile enterprises he initiated, by his sons.
JOEL MANNING.
Another valuable addition to our population, for which we were indebted to
the Canal, was Joel Manning, who was appointed Secretary of the Canal Board
at its organization in 1836. He was at the time a practicing lawyer at Browns-
ville, 111., having come into the State some years before. He was born in
October, 1793, and was a graduate of Union College, of the class of 1818. On
the opening of the Canal office at Lockport, he removed to that place, where
he continued to reside until the few last years of his life, when he came to Joliet
to reside with his son-in-law, Henry Fish, Esq. Mr. Manning was a prominent
and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a warm-hearted and
consistent Christian, whose sympathies were not confined to his own denomina-
tion. He passed through all the trials of the hard times which followed the
suspension of the Canal, and when Canal scrip was at a low ebb, and would
hardly support his family with the most rigid economy, he invested some of it
in Canal lots in Chicago, which in time became very valuable. He was
called to pass through "great tribulation " in the loss of children, and. finally
in that of his wife. He died January 8, 1869, universally respected, and
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 307
leaving behind him the odor of a consistent, active Christian life and ex-
CHARLES E. BOYER.
We suppose it was also the Canal which first brought another citizen to
Lockport, a young man of great enterprise and energy, who engaged as a con-
tractor in its construction, and in this and in other like enterprises accumulated
a comfortable fortune. We refer to Charles E. Boyer. He was elected to the
Legislature in 1862, and was a candidate for the State Senate at the time of
O
his death, which occurred September 21, 1868, of typhoid fever. Mr. Boyer
married a daughter of Armstead Runyon, who still survives him.
JOHN B. PRESTON.
Still another valuable citizen of Lockport and Will County was brought
here by the Canal, John B. Preston, a son of the venerable Isaac Preston, who
settled in Hadley in 1836, and now resides in Lockport. He was born in
Washington County, N. Y., in 1817, and was educated for the profession of
civil engineer. He came to Will County, in 1837, and took the position of
Assistant Engineer on the Canal, and served in that capacity until the work
stopped. On its resumption, he took the position of Resident Engineer, in charge
of the south half of the work, and continued until its completion. In 1850, at the
age of 33, he was appointed Surveyor General of Oregon, where he resided
four years in prosecuting the work of that State's survey. In 1854, he took
the position of Superintendent of the Canal, and took up his residence again at
Lockport, remaining in this position ten years. He was afterward Secretary
of the Chicago & Joliet Railroad (now a part of the Chicago, Alton & St.
Louis), and secured for the road the right of way between Joliet and Chicago.
In 1864, he became a member of the firm of Matteson & Preston, in the whole-
sale commission business at St. Louis, and it was while on a visit from there to
his parents at Lockport that he met with his accidental death, in the prime of
life, at the age of 48. Mr. Preston was a man of rare qualities and powers, of
strict integrity, and foremost in every good enterprise. He was an enthusiastic
supporter of the Government during the war, and of every measure for the
enlisting of men and the relief of the disabled. The beautiful public school
house of Lockport might almost be called his monument, as he was one of the
most active in its erection. The writer well remembers the 15th of April,
when the first intelligence which reached Joliet in the morning was that of his
sudden death, intelligence which would have sobered and saddened the com-
munity for more than a day, had it not been almost immediately overshadowed
by news which sobered and saddened the nation.
LORENZO P. SANGER.
Another valuable citizen (now deceased) must be credited to the Canal,
Lorenzo P. Sanger, who was one of the old 1836 contractors, and also subse-
quently one of the firm of Sanger & Casey, who built the Penitentiary, and
308 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
of the firm of Sanger & Steele, who so largely developed our stone in-
dustry. He was one of the most driving, energetic, enterprising men we have
ever had. During the war, he threw all the weight of his political influeuce,
which was not small, on the side of the Union, and would himself have par-
ticipated actively in it had not the weight of years been too much to allow it.
He died in Oakland, Cal., whither he had gone for his health, in March, 1875.
His body was brought home for burial, and rests in Oakwood, beside his wife,
who died some few years before him.
CHANGES WROUGHT BY THE CANAL.
The construction of the Canal of course destroyed McKee's water-power,
and made his mill useless for the purpose for which it was intended, and being
adjacent to the Canal was taken possession of by the State. McKee recovered
damages for the loss of his water-power to the amount of $17,655 and costs.
The Haven boys bought the machinery, and set it up in their mill below. The
construction and opening of the Canal also wrought great changes in the phys-
ical aspect of the region along the route. The west bank of the Des Planes,
which, before its construction, was beautifully bordered with trees and shrubs,
all through Joliet and below, was now denuded, and a stone wall and a rubble
bank given us instead. Our compensation was found in the increased facilities
for business, and in the increased population of the towns and country. The
Canal also brought into our county great numbers of men whose boast it was
that they were from the Emerald Isle, without whose assistance it seemed to be
conceded no canal or railroad could be constructed. Many of these laborers
became permanent citizens, both in town and country. These have acquired
property as mechanics, merchants and farmers. Some have even consented to
hold office and positions of responsibility. The town of Troy is largely settled
by Irishmen and their descendants, and this nationality furnished its fair pro-
portion of volunteers in the late war.
BACK TO EARLY TIMES AGAIN.
The history of the Canal has carried us a little forward in our annals, and we
return to note some things of an earlier date. And first, let us correct a correction
which was made in " Forty Years Ago" in relation to an important event the
first Fourth of July celebration. We have ascertained since, that beyond any
question this was h'eld in 1835. In order not to get two great events on the
same day, and to render our statement credible that Dr. Bowen read the Decla-
ration and attended the first wedding, we shall leave that first wedding entirely
out of this history. It probably will not invalidate the marriage. We are
satisfied, also, that we did not do justice to the military display. Maj. Cook
was the Chief Marshal, and was dressed in full regimentals, and Judge Jonathan
Barnett was Assistant Marshal, and wore a red sash, and both had real swords.
Both rode Indian ponies, and experienced great difficulty in keeping near the
procession on account of the music. This evil was remedied in a measure by
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 309
the fact that " Uncle Dick" Hobbs also commanded, on foot, using instead of a
sword a crooked stick, which probably answered just as well. These points
are settled beyond controversy by S. W. Bowen, our ex-Mayor, who was then
a boy, and, I am sorry to say, such a graceless youth, that he, with Cal Zarley
and others, lay on the ground and laughed at the cavorting of the Marshals,
or, rather, their horses. The writer is also satisfied that he did not do justice
to the oration. Cal Zarley says that he well remembers that when the neigh-
bors gathered together at his father's to talk over the celebration, they were
enthusiastic in their praises of the effort. All agreed that it was a big thing.
The only dispute was as to whether the young orator was a preacher or a lawyer.
Mrs. Hadsall, the good old Methodist sister, was sure nobody but a Methodist
preacher could talk so good ! Our own private opinion, however, is that
the only merit the production had was the fact tjiat it was the first in Will
County. It ought also to be noted that we had one Revolutionary soldier
present. This was the father of Maj. Cook, who was re-interred on the last
Decoration Day, over whose remains our gifted citizen, Capt. Phelps, uttered
some of his finest periods.
We have an interesting contribution to our history from the veteran Hopkins
Rowell, which we will bring in here. We do so with especial satisfaction, as
it also indorses our Fourth of July effort a matter on which we are very
sensitive.
GEOBGE H. WOODRUFF, ESQ. :
Perhaps I can contribute an item to your early reminiscences of Will County. You might
properly include among the early pioneers of Joliet the late Judge Barnett, H. A. Cagwin, Sr.,
and myself. In the Autumn of 1834, we together journeyed from Clarkson, N. Y., and explored
on horseback much of the West and Northwest as far as Dubuque. We passed twice through
Joliet, which then had a name, but not many habitations. A few miles east of this- prospective
city, at Van Home's Point, we found Cornelius Van Home, subsequently a Joliet magistrate and
its first Mayor. He was at this time drawing fence-stuff with an ox-team and " Sucker wagon."
as he called it. This wagon was the product of his own hand, from the rough forest timber.
The wheels were sawed off from a round oak log. They were about three feet in diameter, being
smoothly beveled from the rim to the hub, where they were about one foot through. It did good
service (or answered a good purpose). On the well-known " Linden Heights," just southeast of
the city, we visited Maj. R. G. Cook and his father, John Cook, an old Revolutionary soldier,
formerly from Clarkson. The old veteran occasionally indulged in a little of the " ardent,"
which invariably led him to " fight his battles over again" in so grotesque a manner as greatly
to amuse the by-standers. The remains of both him and his son, the Major, are interred in
Oakvvood Cemetery.
All three of our exploring party made purchases at this time in Joliet. Cagwin and
Barnett remained in this vicinity, while I returned to Clarkson, N. Y. The next Summer (1835),
I returned to Joliet, attended the public land sales at Chicago, and through Mr. Van Home, who
"bid in'' the lands of all the settlers, secured the three eighties, just east of the city, that I
still retain. The " claim" to the gravel-mound eighty I had previously purchased of the "veteran"
John Cook.
I give a little episode of the land sales. Many moneyed speculators were present, threatening
to bid against the claims of settlers. Hundreds of the latter, with sleeves rolled up and faces
frowning defiance dark as a thunder-cloud, surrounded the officers' stand on all sides, ready to
visit summary vengeance upon any presumptuous speculators. All of these were intimidated
310 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
save one. A powerful, gigantic Scotchman, about seven feet high/.dared to bid against a settler,
when in an instant lightning struck him in at least twenty places, and he gladly escaped with
his life.
A CHANGE OF EPISODE SOME RED-SKINS.
At that time there were about three thousand Pottawatomie Indians in two encampments one
upon the Des Planes River, and the other upon the Kankakee, a few miles above their junction
awaiting removal by the Government to Western reservations. After the land sales, I had some
business requiring a horse-back journey to the Mazon River. My route lay through the wild
and trackless region between these two encampments. Before this I had seen many Indians,
but 3,000 wilder, more uncouth and repulsive human beings can hardly be imagined. Their
weird, unkempt hair, and nudity, save a frontal patch tied on, more diminutive than the fig-leaf
aprons of Adam and Eve, formed a scene never to be forgotten. It is not surprising that I got
lost en route to the Mazon, in the midst of such a wilderness of Indians and trackless prairie
combined. Neither is it strange that I was somewhat nervous at occasionally meeting detached
squads- of these villainous fellows during my embarrassed efforts to regain my course, especially
when I knew they had occasionally gobbled up solitary white men. Finally I resolved to steer
for the forks of the rivers and get a white settler there to pilot me on my way. Having a
pocket compass, I was enabled to take my bearings and "strike a bee-line." Two or three miles'
travel on this course, brought me in contact with three Indians ; two of them passed me civilly
enough, but the third being fuller of bad whisky, which they had obtained at "the forks,"
sprang like a tiger to seize my bridle-reins, brandishing a huge knife in the air and shouting
like a hoarse demon, "Money! money!" Being on the alert, I instantly spurred my spirited
steed Blackhawk, and "by the skin of my teeth ' cleared him at a single bound, and then
(wheeling) facing him, with my effective peace-maker leveled at his head, exclaimed, "Take this
money, you devil!" He slunk away like a sneaking prairie wolf, but every hair of my head
seemed stiff as a Russian bristle. Permit me to add that the first season in 1834, I assisted in
raising the frame of the first house in Joliet, and when a bent fell, one man getting his scalp
peeled and Dr. Bowen dressed the wound. The first Joliet Fourth of July celebration was
had in 1835, on the then open prairie near the jail. You were orator of the day, and though
young, a very good one, while. Dr. Bowen and myself had the honor of presenting the follow-
ing toasts :
By Dr. Bowen "Illinois The prospective Empire State, as her great and varied
resources will one day demonstrate."
By H. Rowell "Joliet In July, 1834, not known ; in July, 1835, a city in embryo."
In 1847, I introduced here the first McCormick reaper, Messrs. Stephens, Wheeler and
Higginbottom being the purchasers. And although I did not move my family to Joliet until
1857, I was frequently back and forth, and had sent two different parties with teams and outfit
to make improvements on my Joliet property. As to Judge Barnett, he died ten or twelve years
ago at Kankakee, while Cagwin is or was in California. H. ROWELL.
JOLIET, October 8, 1878.
When elected Recorder, the writer was a clerk for Mr. Demmond, and
opened the office in the Demmond Block. But, as illustrative of the strife be-
tween sides, of which we have already spoken, we would say that the boys over
the river soon began to complain that the Recorder's office was not kept at the
county seat, as the law required. The point was well taken. Demmond had laid
off his town as " West Juliet." He scorned the idea of being an addition to
" that slough over yonder." West Juliet was not then, part of the county seat.
But an escape from the dilemma was quickly found. The school section ad-
joined the town on the south, lying on both sides of the river, and this had been
recorded as an addition to Juliet. A little building about 16x16 was pur-
chased on the school section at no great distance, a little below Porter's brew-
CHK FIRE DEPT
JOLIET
CHICAGO
FOKHICPLl' Or HOMER 7W
TMt U88AR!
Or T2E
IIS!Efi3SIY8FP l!
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 313
ery. (N. B. The brewery was not built then, and therefore had no influence
in the selection.) Here the office was opened and kept until a better one was
built. Jenks, who had been appointed County Clerk, also made that his office
until the Commissioners rented the upper story of the Wilson store.
The first Circuit Court was held in this room (the Wilson store) in October,
1836, by Hon. Thomas Ford, afterward Governor. The entrance to the second
story was by a staircase on the south side. The door has been since walled up.
The Court was constituted by appointing Levi Jenks, Clerk, and Uri Osgood,
State's Attorney. Fenner Aldrich had just been elected Sheriff, having hero-
ically stepped forward to fill the gap caused by Bob Stevens' refusal, and
he rang out the " 0-yez, o-yez, the honorable Circuit Court of Will County
is now in session," for the first time in our history, and with a rhythm and a
roar which I do not believe have been surpassed during the succeeding ages.
Impressed with a sense of the importance and gravity of the occasion, his voice
trembled a little and his chin quivered. But this only made the scene more im-
pressive. But this was not all the Court. A grand jury had been summoned and
were now called. The following was the original panel:
Armstead Runyon, Thomas Reed, Edward Poor, Thomas H. Rickey, Ralph
Smith, Reason Zarley, Isaiah Treat, Joseph Cox, Peter McCarty, Wm. Sheriff,
Justin Taylor, Charles Goodwin, John I. Davidson, Harry Boardman, Ezra
Goodhue, Richard L. Wilson, Samuel Holcomb, George Beckwith, Joseph
Shoemaker, Elias Brown, Aaron Moore.
Five of these did not put in their appearance, and the Sheriff, as is usual
now, we believe, was ordered to fill up the vacancies from the loafers hanging
around. George H. Woodruff, William Gougar, Richard Hobbs, Jonathan
Barnett and E. S. Sill were scooped up. Reason Zarley was chosen Foreman.
We offer this (as finally constituted) as a sample grand jury. They indicted
one man for keeping a gaming-house, two others for selling an estray, and
three for a riot. As to the petit jury, that being, as the name implies, a com-
paratively small affair, we shall not record their names, although our present
worthy citizens, Rodney House and H. N. Marsh, formed a part. J. C. New-
kirk, Esq., now one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of Hudson,
N. Y., and a Judge, defended the rioters and got them acquitted. C. C. Van
Home and Abram Van Home and another were the rioters. It was a claim
dispute and no riot.
Among the early and valuable acquisitions to the West Side, in 1835-36,
were John M. Wilson and Allen Pratt. They came together and were both
from Massachusetts. They had some money and they invested in West Juliet.
Both were long and well known here. Pratt built many buildings. He died
in 1856. Wilson has become known as Judge Wilson, long a practicing lawyer
here, and later a Chicago Judge. Wilson and Charles Clement initiated the
grain trade of Joliet. Their warehouse was an old barn which stood where the
brick block on Bluff street now stands. We have not the figures of the number
314 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
of bushels they handled, but the profits of one year's operations, when the firr
dissolved, were $9. Probably the number of bushels was something less than ar
now handled by Carpenter & Marsh, who in one day this season shipped 10
cars of grain. 0. "W. Stillman was, we believe, the first Justice of the Peace 01
the East Side, and we need not say he was a good one, although the boys used t
say that he had no Bible, and was in the habit of swearing the witnesses on a cop;
of " Volney's Ruins." The Universalist Church is largely indebted to his effort
for the fine church edifice they have. He is now a granger on Maple street.
William Blair was our first tinsmith and stove and hardware dealer. H
ultimately moved to Chicago, where he has long been known as an extensiv
wholesale dealer, and one of the wealthiest and most honorable of her citizens
Deacon Rodney House, of the East Side, opened the first wagon-shop, and Deacoi
Beaumont soon followed on the West Side with another. Deacon Beaumont buil
the house now occupied by Edward Aiken, since re-habilitated (we mean th
house), and in this the good, old Deacon lived, using th'e front room for a sho]
during the week, and, every Saturday night, cleaning it up and holding meet
ings there on the Sabbath, in which he was joined by the good Deacon on th
East Side. We remember to have heard one of the Beechers (Edward) preacl
there. The old Deacon had his peculiarities some of them perhaps wer
faults, as who has not but there never lived a kinder neighbor, and Joliet ha
not had many more earnest and sincere Christians. He always showed hi
colors, and was always on the side of justice and temperance and revivals
He could have no better epitaph than what was said of him by a simple child
who, when she wanted to designate him and did not know or had forgotten hi
name, described him as "the man who lived in the church." She had neve
been to church or prayer meeting or Sabbath school, that she had not found th
Deacon there before her, and she supposed that he literally " dwelt there in th
house of the Lord all the days of his life." Our readers will all remember hoT
suddenly he went home in June, 1876, at the age of 73 years and 9 months
George Woodruff, we need not say, is our present well-known banker, one o
the men who have stuck to Joliet through thick and thin and we have ha<
some pretty thin times and now enjoys the competence he has acquired. Ou
names still get mixed occasionally as they used to do in early days. The mos
ludicrous mistake is when parties go to George H. to borrow money. Onb
strangers do this.
The first public building of the county, which was a Jail and Court Hous<
combined, was built in 1837. Blackburn and Wilson were the contractors at th<
price of $2,000. This stood a little north of the present Jail, and was used not onlj
for holding courts but for other public purposes. The first Baptist Church helc
their meetings there under the pastorate of Elder Solomon Knapp and others
A very powerful revival was enjoyed by this Church during Elder Knapp's
pastorate, in which he was assisted by Elder Powell, an evangelist of mud
ability. This revival was the year subsequent to the one spoken of in " Fortj
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 315
ears Ago," under the labors of the Footes. This church was organized by Elder
shley, of Plainfield, who preached to it every alternate Sabbath until the
ming of Elder Knapp. It consisted of seven original members as follows :
lijah Johnson, Deacon Green and wife, Mrs. Higginbotham, Mrs. Chauncey,
"rs. Cagwin, and Elder R. B. Ashley. The first baptized convert was the
on. Henry Snapp. The place used for baptisms was the deep hole below the
[and. It is hardly necessary to say that this was before the river had been
inverted into a sewer, while it still bore some little resemblance to the Jordan,
ow many and how varied the scenes which transpired within those old Court
ouse walls County and Circuit Courts, temperance and political meetings,
e pleadings both of lawyers and preachers, thrilling trials and solemn charges
Judges, the weeping of the condemned and the rejoicings of the acquitted,
e groans of sinners and the shouts of the redeemed, all have been heard there
it all are silent now. The voices of Newkirk and .Wilson, of Henderson and
oardman, of Fellows, of Osgood and Little are heard there no more. Save
e first two, all are silent in death. The building has been razed to its founda-
ms. Thus .. II7 , ., , ... , ,
" We build with what we deem eternal rock,
A distant age asks where the fabric stood,
And in the dust sifted and searched in vain,
The undiscoverable secret sleeps.''
Perhaps the reader thinks that a pretty large quotation for so small a build-
g as the old Court House of forty years ago. We think so, too, but it came
indy, and we wanted something that sounded well in this history. The
esent Court House was commenced in 1847, and strange as it may seem, this
what the Signal said of it in 1848 : " The new Court House makes a magnifi-
mt appearance and when completed will be an honor to the county." The
'rue Democrat (from which the Republican developed) took down its vignette
' the American bird and substituted a cut of the Court House as an ornament.
; must be remembered that there were then none of the present surroundings,
ie Centennial Block and the Aiken Block, with its classic statuary.
JOLIET INCORPORATED.
In 1837, we had reached such magnificent proportions that it became necessary
i obtain an act of incorporation. We could get along pretty well in every other
sspect but the matter of taxes. These continued to be ridiculously insignificant,
id it was felt by those who had the prosperity of the place most at heart, that a
ist self-respect demanded that we should have more taxes. Accordingly, a
ablic meeting was called in March, at "Uncle Fenner's," at which it was
scided by a unanimous vote that we would incorporate. And so we did, by
tiling an election under the provisions of the general law, for the election of
ve Trustees, two of whom were to be on each side (or in each Ward.) And
ow came the opportunity for one of the fiercest contests between the two sides,
'o gain the odd Trustee was an object of transcendent importance. The act
316 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
required that all voters should own real estate within the corporate limits. This
simplified and narrowed the field. The town was thoroughly canvassed, and it
was ascertained that the West Side had the most property-owners. We think
that from the first and all through our earlier history, the West Side had the
most money, but the East Side had the most shrewdness and diplomacy. So it
was on this occasion. An expedient was found by which the West Side majority
was overcome. Even in those early days that great moral institution known as
the circus, made us an occasional visit. One happened to be here at that time.
The men were invited to become real estate owners and voters. Impressed
with a sense of the high honor, they accepted, and thirty -six voters were added
to the East Side, by the gift of a lot from Charley Sayer. It was a piece of
strategy which has not been surpassed even in modern times. The West Side
had no lots to throw away, and no circus handy, and was defeated. The first
Board were J. A. Matteson, J. J. Garland, Daniel Reed, Fenner Aldrich and
R. C. Duncan ; Dr. William Scholfield, Clerk. But the next year we laid out
the East Side, and without a circus, too. It was generally supposed that Dick
Wilson's was the fertile brain where this scheme was devised. Dick Wilson !
What old settler does not remember him. " Alas, poor Yorick ! where be your
gibes now ? your gambols, your songs ? your flashes of merriment, that were
wont to set the table in a roar ? " This Board of Trustees built bridges, which
with the act of incorporation made us one town. The bridges went off the
next spring, and the " fiat " money with which they were built underwent a
slight change the "i" was lengthened into an "1," that was all. If we were
not fully determined not to admit any politics into this history, we should here
drop a suggestion that such might be the change that would come over all " fiat
money." After playing city two or three years longer, the people concluded
that taxes were no great luxury after all ; at least, we ceased to hanker after them.
The corporation was dissolved by act of Legislature. The era of hard times
had come on, and we were willing to dispense with luxuries.
The city was organized under the present charter, in June, 1852, with C.
C. Van Home, Mayor. Aldermen First Ward N. H. Cutter, D. Cassidy;
Second Ward Joel George, Michael Shields ; Third Ward E. Wilcox, T. J.
Kinney; Fourth Ward F. L. Cagwin, S. W. Bowen; Fifth Ward P. O'Con-
nor, Uri Osgood. But this is modern history and we go back to older times.
FORGOTTEN RIVALRIES.
We have spoken, a little back and elsewhere, of x the rivalry between the
sides of the river. This was especially conspicuous when the Canal was being
surveyed and located. The great question of the day was, would it go down
the river through town, or would it go around through the slough ? Slough
stock and river stock rose and fell alternately from day to day until the matter
was finally decided in a way which made the west siders happy. Demmond
used to tell how Abel Gilbert took the level of the slough with a tin dipper and
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 317
a shingle, in order to convince the verdant inquirer after lots, that the Canal was
bound to take that route.
But we had a common enemy Lockport and, like the Jews during the
siege of Jerusalem, we used, temporarily, to forget our domestic quarrels, and
combine to fight the common foe. The Signal and the True Democrat let
each other alone occasionally, and both pitched into the Lockport Telegraph.
The Canal authorities seemed, at least to our jaundiced eyes, to throw all their
influence to favor and build up a rival city. We used to dilate largely against
the Archer road and the Canal basin and the Canal office, etc., etc. One thing
which specially galled us was a map, wfiich was reported to be drawn and exhib-
ited to speculators and persons seeking a location, displaying the Canal route
from Chicago to Ottawa, on which all the villages were noted, with one excep-
tion. There were Romeo and Athens, Kepotaw and Scotchtown, Lockport and
Channahon, etc., etc.; but the only thing to indicate the whereabouts of Juliet
was a spot marked McKee's Dam. That was a good joke ; and if we did not
meet it with something equally foolish, it was not for want of disposition.
We were also foolish enough at one time to be jealous of Chicago, especially
when she tried to defeat our cut-off. But we have got so big now that we do
not cherish any vindictive feelings, even against her ; and, indeed, all these old
rivalries and jealousies, whether political or personal or between sides of the
river or rival towns, we have long since outgrown, and they only call up a smile
when remembered. For men are like apples. While some are crabs, and no
culture can ever make them anything else, and while, when green, all are more
or less acrid, yet the really good fruit grows mellow with age, the sour juices
of the Spring time are converted into sugar in the heats of Summer and
Autumn, and the fruit becomes pleasant to the eye and grateful to the taste.
So it is with men those who are men. They, too, mellow as they ripen and
lose a large share of their acidity as they pass through the discipline of life and
ripen for the husbandman's use.
Do you question this ? Just watch when you see some of these old fellows
that were at loggerheads forty years ago over town-lots or schemes of specula-
tion or politics ; watch, when you see them meet, and see how they grip each
others' hands and laugh over the rivalries and contests and jealousies that once
made them mad, as the best of jokes.
MATTESON'S FACTORY, ET AL.
There are some other buildings in Joliet beside those noticed in the preced-
ing pages that have become historic, and may, without impropriety, come into
our general history. One of these is the old factory which stands just below
the lower bridge, and which is now occupied as a foundry and machine-shop by
Mr. Sandiford. This building was erected by Joel A. Matteson, in 1845, and
in 1849 manufactured 2,000 yards of cloth per week. It was for several years
a most prosperous enterprise, furnishing a market for the wool raised by our
318 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
farmers, and employment for many persons. The business was, part of the time,
carried _ on under the firm of Matteson & Bradner, and the old Wilson store,
of which we have spoken, was the depot for buying wool and sale of cloths.
This factory was seriously attacked by fire in 1849 (the same Summer in which
the old steam mill was burned). This fire occurred when we had no fire depart-
ment, and for some time its destruction seemed inevitable. Great crowds col-
lected on the bridge and elsewhere to see it burn. It had taken fire in the roof,
and was making a fine bonfire. There was plenty of water close by, and the
idea seems to have struck the minds of 0. W. Stillmah and some others that it
would be a good idea to put it out, although it seemed a pity to spoil the fun of
the spectators who, at such great inconvenience, had left their beds and gathered
there to see it. Stillman, with some assistance, succeeded in getting men
enough of his own way of thinking to organize a line for passing pails back
and forth ; and, after a hard fight to keep the men in the ranks, and with the
devouring element, the building was saved, except the roof and attic. Like
many other seeming calamities, this soon had its compensation, as it led, first,
to organizing a fire company, and, secondly, to its being rebuilt with an additional
story, and cupola as well ; and, under the vigorous exertions of Matteson, it
was soon in full blast, with greatly enlarged capacity. But, in time, a change
came over the old factory. Matteson was made Governor in 1852, and our
city lost his enterprise, and the old factory, after a few more years, ceased to
manufacture cloth, etc. While, however, the factory was still in successful
operation, Matteson built the brick store opposite, and occupied it for the sale of
goods, cloths, etc., and in the second story opened the first bank in Joliet the
old Merchants' and Drovers', William Smith, President, and R. E. Goodell,
Cashier, and that is how we got Goodell, who married the Governor's eldest
daughter.
J. A. MATTESON.
We have probably never had a citizen in Will County to whom we have
been more indebted for his energy and enterprise, than to Joel A. Matteson.
He was born in 1808, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., received the common school
education of the times, and, after a varied experience as teacher, farmer, mer-
chant and contractor in various places, came to Illinois, in 1833, with a wife
arid one child. He first settled on the Au Sable, in the present Kendall
County, when there were but two neighbors within ten miles. He made a^laim
and opened a farm, but when the speculative mania of 1836 struck the country,
he sold out and came to Joliet. From that time to his removal to Springfield,
on his election as Governor, he was the most energetic and enterprising of our
citizens. The monuments of his enterprise still stand in our midst. Among
these are the old factory and the brick store near the Jefferson Street Bridge, of
which Ave have spoken. He also built what was then the finest residence in the
city, on the corner of Jefferson and Chicago streets, which were surrounded
with beautiful grounds, extending over the lots now covered by the Monroe,
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 319
Simonds and Werner Hall Blocks ; and for a long time the light of a happy
and hospitable home shone out from its windows. It was some years since
removed further north, and now another kind of light shines forth there they
call it the Sun. Mr. Matteson was soon called into public service, first as
Justice of the Peace, then as State Senator for four years. His well-known
executive and financial ability secured his nomination and election to the office
of Governor. His nomination was received with great satisfaction in his
own county and elsewhere, by men of the opposite political party. A great
jubilee was held at Joliet speeches and firing of cannon showed the satisfac-
tion of our citizens. One of our present police force will always carry a sou-
venir of that demonstration an empty sleeve. Mr. Matteson's administration
as Governor was eminently successful. His messages were characterized by
large views and enlightened liberality and foresight. During the four years of
his administration, the State made great advances in wealth and general pros-
perity. The debt of the State was reduced $7,000,000, and at the same time
time the taxes were reduced. The 400 miles of constructed railroad were in-
creased to 3,000 miles. Gov. Matteson retired from office with a reputation
and with prospects that seemed enviable, and a fortune that made him a million-
aire, and the owner of a house at Springfield that was palatial. How all this
was reversed is a matter of so recent a date as to render its recital unnecessary,
even if it came within the scope of our history. Gov. Matteson died in the
' Winter of 1872-73, at Chicago, and his remains sleep in the family ground at
Oakwood.
GOLD FEVER.
In 1849, 1850 and 1851, chiefly in 1850, occurred a great hegira from Will
County. The discovery of a little gold by Capt. Sutter in 1848, changed the des-
tiny of the whole Pacific Slope, and of thousands upon thousands of men and fam-
ilies all over the States as well. Those who are old enough will recall the wonder-
ful excitement which took place all over the land, pre-eminently throughout the
West. Gold, gold, gold, was the word upon every lip, the theme of every news-
paper, and of everybody's waking or sleeping dreams. The county papers
were filled with advice showing the folly of leaving a comfortable home and an
honest livelihood for the uncertain venture. The Lockport Telegraph thus
humorously speaks of the matter in 1849 : " The world-wide malady has at last
extended to our midst ; symptoms about the same as elsewhere violent itching
of palms, a sensation of nausea at the mere thought of common business, a
great relaxation and debility of the mechanical muscles, frequent giddiness of
the head, optical illusions in which everything is seen in a yellow light, raging
appetite for maps, reports, dispatches, yarns, etc., terminating in a frantic effort
to sell out and settle up, at which stage the disease is considered incurable."
The editor then falls into a more serious strain, and advises the people to be
content with Will County and steady g&ins. Our other papers spoke in a sim-
ilar strain. But advice had but little effect. Quite a number from our county
320 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
went in the Spring of 1849. Some of these came back the next Winter and
Spring, having been successful. Carlos Haven came back with $5,000, which
he had dug with his own hands in seven weeks. J. A. Gooding and Calvin
Rowley also returned successful. This added fury to the flames, and in 1850
and 1851, the number which went from our county was large. We have tried
to form an estimate of the amount, but have no reliable data. The True Dem-
ocrat, in 1850, gives a list of nearly four hundred that had left that Spring
from Will County. The list embraces many of our best and well-known citi-
zens (then and since). The greatest emigration was in 1850, although it was
kept up in .1851. Most went the overland route. The business of the county
was, of course, greatly affected. Merchants made a point to furnish those
articles needed for an outfit. The papers of the day were filled with advertise-
ments of parties who wanted to sell out, and of emigrant supplies, and with
letters from those who were on the way or had reached the Eldorado. Prom-
inent among the correspondents of the True Democrat, was our friend Alex-
ander Mclntosh, now of the Phoenix. We need not say that his letters are
/
interesting reading now. It was an interesting sight for those who remained
to watch the teams as they passed through, and note their different rigs and
general appearance. From ten to twenty teams a day passed along Jefferson
street during the Spring. There were some curious outfits. We recall an
instance in which two men had an old crow-bait of a horse between them which
carried their slender supplies, and on which they sometimes rode by turns.
Another man was on foot, having a knapsack and rifle, intending when he got
to the frontier to buy a cow to carry his supplies and furnish him with milk,
with which, and his rifle, he expected to subsist. But most went with good
outfits some with cattle and some with horses. Of those who went from our
county, some few became permanent settlers there. The large majority, however,
returned in a year or two, some with pockets full, and some glad to get back with
empty pockets. Our county, no doubt, received back much more than she invested.
We remember one who died en route Benard Ingoldsby who was out of
health when he left. One company lost their way and wandered off, and lost
all they had, and lived upon their teams ; were six days without water, and four
of the company died. Others had a pretty hard time, and were often hungry
and sick. Many now among us could many a tale unfold, some harrowing and
some ludicrous. Two of our boys, one a son of Deacon Brandon, and the
other named Middlernass, met with a frightful accident, the result of their own
carelessness. They came across a keg of powder which had been thrown over-
board by some previous voyager, probably to lighten his ship, and they thought
they would enliven the solitude with an explosion. They adjusted a slow
match and retired to a safe distance. With eager expectation they waited the
result. After waiting what seemed to them a long time, twice as long as neces-
sary, they concluded that the match had gone out. We have always noticed
that persons on such occasions make great mistakes in their estimate of time.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 321
They both approached the keg to lay another train. Just as they got to it, it
had got ready to explode, and did, tearing and burning the poor boys fright-
fully, and almost beyond recognition. Persons who saw them say it was the
worst sight they ever saw. None of those who saw them expected they could
recover, but cared for them as well as they could. But they ultimately did
recover.
SOME ANCIENT DOCTORS AND DRUGGISTS.
We have spoken of Dr. Bowen and Dr. Comstock, but those were by no
means the only doctors in the early days. Dr. R. E. W. Adams came to Joliet
in 1836, and was for many years one of our leading physicians. He was an
active member and one of the organizers of the old Union Church, and was
zealous in all moral reforms. He was soon followed by his brother, M. L.
Adams, the builder of the first foundry, who still resides here, and by William
Adams, so long known as mine host of the National, now a resident of Chicago,
and also Peter Adams, now of Galesburg. Dr. Adams removed to Springfield
some years ago, and has since deceased. We once rode to Chicago with the
Doctor at an early day, before the canal was opened, when we went by private
conveyance. In those days we used to stop at Flag Creek for dinner. The
Doctor was a zealous temperance man. The place where we stopped for dinner
was kept by a temperance man, too ; but the story had got about that he kept
a little of the ''critter" on the sly, for the accommodation of such of his
guests as could not get along without it. While the landlord was out taking
care of our horse, the Doctor mentioned the rumor and suggested the propriety
of making a search to see if any evidence could be found of its truth. In one
corner of the room was a little closet which was locked, but the Doctor had a
key which turned the bolt, and on opening the door, behold there was a decan-
ter well filled with a liquid, the smell of which left no doubt on the mind that
it was whisky. The Doctor took his medicine case from his pocket and took
therefrom a little vial marked "antim. et pot. tart.," and empted its contents
into the decanter, shook it thoroughly and replaced it, locking the door again,
and sat down to dinner as coolly as if he had done a good thing. It relieves
our conscience a little to remember that though accessory after the fact, we
uttered a mild protest at the time. Now the subsequent history of that decan-
ter we are unable to give, and must leave it to the reader's imagination ; it was
no doubt interesting, and, perhaps, cured several persons of a love for whisky,
and thus, on the principle that the end justifies the means, vindicated the act
of the Doctor. While the Doctor was in practice here, he started the first drug
store, in the old wooden store of Demmond's on the corner of the lot now
owned by Mrs, Curry. He afterward moved up into the old wooden block
which stood opposite the old stone block (now burned down), and there he took
into partnership, both in practice and selling drugs, a young doctor of the name
of J. S. Glover, who resided here until his death some years after. Drs.
Adams and Glover were both lame in the same manner and from similar causes
322 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
an affection of the hip joint, and being of the same size were often mistaken
the one for the other. The writer bought out the drug store of Adams &
Glover in 1842, they having before bought out another establishment in the
upper end of the stone block (Haven & Rood), and there, where Page bottles
pop, and some other things, we commenced the brilliant career of an apothecary.
Dr. M. K. Brownson was another of our early physicians, who settled on the
Chicago road in 1835, and came to Joliet in 1836 or 1837. Dr. Brownson
was our Postmaster under Fillmore, and also held the office of Public Adminis-
trator. The Doctor now lives in California. Another early physician was Dr.
Scholfield, who was also City Clerk under the first organization. He left for
the West soon after the city scrip which he executed, went the way of all " fiat "
money, and has been some years dead. Still another of our early physicians,
was Dr. Wallace A. Little^who also left many years ago, and went to Jo Daviess
County, which he has represented in the Legislature, and it is also said that he
has got rich in mining operations. Schofield & Little were in partnership, both
in the practice of medicine and also in running a small drug store for a while.
Another of these benevolent institutions was started in 1846 by Mr. Brown,
the father of our present druggists of that name. This was started on Chicago
street, opposite the old wooden block.
Having spoken of the doctors and druggists of the ancient times, it is proper
that something should .be said of the
HEALTH OF THE COUNTY.
In the early settlement of the county, it, in common with the West gener-
ally, suffered more or less from malarial diseases, and it acquired the reputation
of being unhealthy. During the digging of the canal, too, there were two or
three seasons in which there was an unusual amount of sickness, and many
died, especially among the laborers a good many of them, no doubt, as much
from the treatment they received as from the disease. But since the county has
been generally settled and cultivated, and the people and the physicians have
learned better how to treat these diseases, they have ceased to be formidable.
In common with most parts of the country, this county was visited with epi-
demic cholera in the years 1848 to 1854, and we lost many valuable citizens,
among others C. C. Van Home, 0. H. Haven, M. H. Demmond, Dr. Comstock
and others ; but since the last-named year there has been no recurrence of the
epidemic. In the census of the county taken in 1850 by Mr. Marsh, the pop-
ulation of the county is given at 16,709, and the number of deaths for the year
previous at 232, being 1.38 per cent. This was a cholera year, and no doubt
a large portion of the deaths were due to cholera, although the exact number
cannot be ascertained. Our papers of the time told very definitely how many
died of cholera elsewhere, but were sadly ignorant of its devastations at home
not an unusual thing, we believe. We confidently assert that at present no
part of the Union is more uniformly healthy than Will County. We used to
HISTORY OF WILL COU11TY. 323
boast at an early day, when the question as to the health of the West came up,
and we were charged with being sickly, that there was one disease of which
people never died at the West, to wit, old age. But we cannot make this boast
any longer. A large number of the oldest settlers have recently deceased at
an advanced age, while others still linger, who must ere long swell the list.
Quite a number of persons have deceased within a few years at Joliet, who
have crowded hard upon a hundred years, and we have heard of others who
exceeded that age. We have many now who, by reason of strength, exceed the
allotted limit of fourscore. But inasmuch as Ponce de Leon did not, in 1512,
find in Florida the fountain which would restore to old age the vigor of youth,
and as no subsequent explorer has found it there, or elsewhere, not even in Min-
nesota, and as it is " appointed unto all men once to die " here, as everywhere,
" Pale death, with equal step, knocks at the cottage f the poor
And the palace of the king."
We have spoken of the diseases of the county at the early day. The most
common of these, although not the most formidable, was the one known in com-
mon parlance as the " ague," or the "fever and ague." This has become al-
most obsolete (at least in the original form), but it used to be a common expe-
rience. True, we never could boast of such a prevalence of it as they could in
Michigan, where, it was said, the church bells used to be rung in order that the
people might know when to take their quinine. But it used to be considered
one of the things that was necessary to constitute a man a settler, the other
being the prairie itch. The writer well remembers his first hug at the ague.
He had been in the country some three or four years, and had often laughed at
the exhibition which others made while undergoing " the shakes," and felt him-
self proof against it. He had gone through various other stages of Western
experience ; he had had the prairie itch : had come to the age of citizenship,
if not of discretion ; had bought a city lot and paid taxes ; had run for office,
and got elected ; had gone back East and got a wife ; and yet had never had
the "ager!"
One beautiful September morning, in the year 1838, he thought he would
show the little woman he had persuaded to come back with him, some of the
beauties of the country. This could be done in no better way than by a ride
to Channahon, or the "mouth of the Du Page," as we then called that locality.
Accordingly, in the early morning, with a horse and buggy, we set out. We
could say we now with propriety, and we were not a little proud of it, and that
was one reason why we were going, to show our cousin Minerva Mrs. Risley
who we were. The morning was fine and bracing. We anticipated much
pleasure. For what is more delightful than a drive into the country when the
roads are good, the horse fast and sure, the air balmy and cool, and the dearest
little woman in all the world by your side ! We have said that the morning
was cool and bracing. It soon began to feel quite cool, and so the writer re-
marked to his wife. She said she was warm enough. We rode a little farther?
324 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
and, though the sun got higher, it seemed to grow increasingly cold. In short,
it grew colder and colder, as the sun got higher and higher, a phenomenon that
seemed inexplicable. Presently, he felt an irresistible desire to yawn and
stretch both his upper and lower extremities. There was hardly room to do
this ; out went his legs over the dashboard, while his arms went over the seat
and around his wife, and pushed out right and left, promiscously. And still it
cold and colder grew. He put on the heavy blanket coat, which, fortunately,
he had brought along, and his wife's shawl, which she said she did not really
need. But it all did no good ; the stretching and gaping continued, and even
his teeth began to chatter, and to crown all, he shook yes, shook ; oh, how he
did shake ! and, incredible as it may seem, he shook all over and to the re-
motest extremities, and, like great Caesar's, "his coward lips did from their
color fly." And all the while, the little wife said she was warm enough. If
she had not been the dearest little woman in all the world, he would have been
provoked to see her sit there as warm and comfortable as in July, while he was
experiencing January and February condensed. But by this time she began
to wear a look of anxiety at the strange contortions of her husband. One more
resource remained. Giving the reins to his wife, he got out to try what exer-
cise would do, and told her to Whip up, while he traveled on behind, with his
hands hold of the end of the buggy. He followed this up until too leg-weary
to continue it, and it seemed to do little good. He could not get warm, and
still he gaped and stretched, and chattered and shook, and all the time he had
not the least suspicion what the matter was.
After riding on a while longer, his sensations gradually underwent a change.
Hot streaks seemed to alternate with the cold ones. The gaping and stretch-
ing seemed to moderate, and other sensations took their place. A slight head-
ache came on, and he felt a suspicion of nausea. The pallid and puckered ap-
pearance of the countenance gave place to flushes. The weather seemed to
undergo a change. It grew suddenly warm. Off goes the shawl and blanket
overcoat. He asked his wife, presently, if it was not getting hot, and was
almost provoked at her cool reply that she did not see much change. But it
certainly was getting hot, he knew it was, and off goes his undercoat. He
became thirsty, and longed, oh, how he longed, for water. Strange ideas and
fancies were passing through his mind, and he began to talk strangely and lo-
quaciously, almost , incoherently. The little wife looked more troubled and
anxious than ever, and wondered what had come over her sedate and usually
silent husband. Presently he began to feel strangely tired, listless and uneasy,
and to long for a good bed and rest and sleep. And now, fortunately, the com-
fortable log house of Risley appears in sight. Oh, how welcome ! With no
little exertion he gets out, leaves his wife to look after the horse, and soon occu-
pied the whole of Mrs. Risley's lounge, and one or two chairs besides. When
he and his wife between them had given an intelligent account of what had
been happening on the way, Mrs. Risley says, " Why Hen ! you have got the
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 325
ague ! " Great guns ! here was a revelation indeed. After all his boasted im-
munity from the ague, his defiance of it, the enemy had stolen the march upon
him, and here he was, lying prostrate and humbled before it. And even yet
he was not done with it ; another stage of the disease comes on, the nastiest of
the three. The half-delirious fever passes off, and he begins to perspire. Per-
spire ! that is no name for it ; let us use the more homely but expressive word
he begins to sweat. Ah, how he sweats ! It seemed as if all the water in his
body and physiologists say every man has two or three buckets in him,
(although we have seen some men we don't believe have a gill of water in
them) it seemed, we say, as if all the water in his body was coming to the
surface, and not much sweeter than the Chicago River. And so he continued
to sweat, sweat, sweat, for a good hour, saturating towel after towel, until ex-
haustion closed the scene and he slept. When the afternoon was well-nigh
spent, he awoke, refreshed, and was able to do some little justice to Mrs. Ris-
ley's fricasseed chickens and doughnuts, and to start home, an humbler if not
a wiser man ; subdued in tone and spirit, a little the worse for the encounter, and
with the cheering prospect of a recurrence of the experience in one, or at most,
two days. But he invested $1.50 in a box of Sappington's Pills, and thus
headed off the fever. This is not an advertisement.
A MURDER STORY.
We are sensible that our history is getting dull, and it is high time that we
should enliven it with a murder story. The readers of "Forty Years Ago"
will remember that we recorded one there. We were afraid that we could not
find one for this history, but, by the aid of the Signal, we are able to record
one for the present occasion equally as tragic as that one.
On Thursday, April 30, of the year 1858, some boys, ranging about
Hickory Creek near where it enters the Des Planes, came upon the body of a
female, partly covered with dirt and stones, lying in a gully about one mile
south of the city. It was so much decayed that the features were unrecogniza-
ble. The boys gave the authorities notice of what they had found, and the
proper officers and many citizens went to the spot. The unanimous conclusion
of all who saw the body was that she had been murdered. There was a deep
wound in the temple and another in the breast. The hands and feet had been
cut entirely off, and were found near the body. An inquest was called, and a
verdict was found, in which the public belief was expressed that a foul murder
had been committed. Who could it be? and by whom had the deed been done?
were the questions on everybody's lips. The public were not long held in
suspense. On Saturday, a woman residing in the outskirts of the city, having
heard of the discovery, came forward (after the inquest) and informed the Mar-
shal, J. C. Van Auken, that her daughter a girl of sixteen had mysteriously
disappeared some three weeks previous. The body was taken up again and
another inquest was held, at which the woman testified positively that the body
326 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
was that of her daughter, Mary Cook. Other persons expressed the same
belief. The mother also stated that, at the time of her daughter's disappearance,
she was enceinte, having fallen a prey to the wiles of a man named David Rich-
ardson. One of the physicians who examined the body gave a professional state-
ment in respect to it which confirmed that of the mother. The mystery was made
plain. Our city had been made the theater of a most foul murder, perpetrated to
conceal a crime hardly less diabolical. The public voice was unanimous that the
foul perpetrator must be found and brought to justice. Richardson was found
and arrested on Sunday morning. He had not been long a resident of the city,
but, so far as any one here knew, he had borne a good character, and every one
was surprised to find that he was guilty of so foul a crime. But that a crime
had been committed, there was no room for doubt, and it seemed equally clear
that he was the perpetrator. The Signal said, in its issue of the same week :
" We will not prejudge the case ; but a young and unprotected girl has been
seduced and ruined by a demon in human shape, and murdered to hide her
betrayer's guilt. If there is any virtue in law, let it be applied now." The
Signal spoke the voice of the public, which was almost ready to string Rich-
ardson up to a lamp-post. Indeed, it seemed at one time as though our city
would be disgraced by an application of lynch law.
Two days were consumed by the examination of Richardson. The Court
House was crowded. State's Attorney Bartleson, assisted by Streeter, con-
ducted on the part of the people, with E. C. Fellows for the prisoner. The
former testimony of Mrs. Cook and others was brought forward, and the same
facts reproduced. The old woman swore positively as to the body being that
of her daughter, and the doctor repeated his professional statement. Mean-
while the sharp counsel of the prisoner had adopted a theory for the defense.
The body had been again examined by four other physicians who came into
court and swore positively that the body was that of a woman, and that it had
been used to promote the purposes of science, and was partially dissected.
They affirmed that the body was that of a much older and larger person than
the missing Mary Cook. This testimony produced a ripple in the current of
public opinion which had been flowing so strongly in one direction. Was this
so, or was this a cunningly devised scheme of Fellows' to get the villain clear ?
For a little the question hung in great doubt, each side having earnest advo-
cates. When this suspense was at its height and had become truly painful,
relief came. In walked Constable John Roberts with a veiled lady upon his
arm. The whisper ran around the court-room, " Another witness." She drew
aside her veil, and it was indeed another witness, and no less a person than
the murdered girl herself the young and interesting Mary Cook, alive and
well!
It only remains to say that it was soon discovered that the body was that
of a Mrs. Schemmerhorn, a woman about twice the size of Mary Cook, who had
'died a few weeks before, and who was the wife of a man who tended the lower
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 327
lock. The body had been, resurrected by some one for the purposes of dissec-
tion, as had been alleged by some of the medical gentlemen at the examination ;
some of whom well knew that they were speaking the truth. Old Mrs. Cook
had trumped up her story to get black-mail out of Richardson. The affair
furnished one more warning against hasty judgments founded on circumstances
alone. The doctor who gave the professional opinion has never been called to
fill the chair of anatomy in Rush Medical College. The parties connected with
the case have generally gone elsewhere, although one lingers about here still
who is supposed to have had a hand in it.
If any of our readers hanker after a real murder case, we might relate that of
Benjamin Pickle, the old blacksmith, who was shot through his shop window
on the night of December 6, 1861. Circumstantial evidence fixed the crime
upon his brother-in-law, William Zeph. The paper wad found in the ear of
Pickle's body was a piece of a German newspaper, the rest of which was found
in Zeph's house ; the parts exactly fitted each other. He had a trial, was con-
victed ; his lawyers got him two new trials, and he was convicted the third
time ; then they got a supersedeas, and while the matter was still pending, he
escaped jail and was never found.
The first execution in our county was that of George Chase for the murder
of Joseph Clark, Deputy Warden at the Penitentiary, in April, 1864. This
occurred during the Sheriffalty of John Reid.
OUR WAR RECORD.
We have given some account of the figure our county made in the Black
Hawk war, and, in " Forty Years Ago," we related what was done in the Canal-
Irish war. As to what Will County did in the Mexican war, there is not
much to be told. This is not on account of the politics of our citizens at the
time, for the county then, by a considerable majority, sustained the Adminis-
tration, and adopted the motto " Our country, when she is right ; aye, and
when she is wrong, too ! " As is well known, under the earlier calls for volun-
teers, our State furnished five regiments. For one of these regiments, a com-
pany was organized in Joliet, under the captaincy of Robert Stevens, which
reported at Springfield just one day too late to get in, so quickly had the quota
of the State been filled. What these men would have done to add luster to
the already glorious military record of our county, must be left to conjecture.
That their career would have been a brilliant one we may safely conclude, if
the men were worthy of their Captain. We are able only to name one of them
with certainty, as no muster-roll of the company has been preserved. This
one now wears a star, not a general's but a policeman's, and is known as Frank
Fellows. He was a mere boy at the time, and had to steal his chance to enlist,
as the old Captain, his father, although himself a hero of the Irish war, as w
have elsewhere related (see " Forty Years Ago "), was the very embodiment of
328 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Whiggery, and did not take much stock in the Mexican war. Many public
meetings were held, and considerable excitement existed from time to time dur-
O I
ing the progress of the war. Companies from other counties passed through
Joliet, and the martial spirit was more or less waked up, and, it is believed
that some joined these companies. One from Kane County is particularly
remembered, which marched up and down Bluff street one Sunday, with fife
and drum, not a little disturbing the worshipers in the old stone block. The
ladies of Joliet presented this company with a handsome flag, and quite a time
was had over it, eloquent speeches being made on both sides. This flag was
returned in 1849, twenty months after presentation, by P. R. Norton, Captain
of the company, who assured the ladies that it had waved in triumph over the
battered walls of Puebla, Tampico Alta, Sierra Madre, Convent of St. Domingo
and the Halls of the Montezumas. Uri Osgood received the flag in behalf of
the ladies arid made an eloquent reply. So we at least had some bunting in the
war. Toward the end of the war, our State furnished another (the Sixth) regi-
ment, and we find a statement in the history of the State that one company
was from Will and Iroquois Counties. Whether the regiment reached the seat
of war, and who of our citizens belonged to it, we have not been able to learn.
If any one from Will County fought, bled or died, we should have been glad to
record his name.
In the late war of the rebellion, our county has a proud record. First
and last, between three and four thousand of our citizens went to the war ; and
more than five hundred sacrified their lives to preserve the Government and
the Union.
Having already, as we think, pretty fully and faithfully told the story of
what our county did in this war, we do not think it necessary even to give a
summary here. If any of our readers have not a copy of "Fifteen Years Ago,
or the Patriotism of Will County," he can easily obtain one either of the author
or publisher, for the trifling sum of $4. It ought to be in every man's library,
and in every school district in the county. This is not an advertisement, but
a piece of disinterested and sound advice as disinterested as a patent medicine
advertisement !
THE PRESS, ETC.
We gave in "Forty Years Ago" some account of the first newspaper
started in Joliet, in 1839. This was the premonitory symptom of the well-
known Signal. We understand that the township historian, by whom we are
to be followed, will "write up" the press, and therefore we shall have little to
say on the subject. We wish, however to leave on record our impression of
the immense value of the files of county papers as sources of history. If we
were to have the privilege of living over the past, we would keep files of each
c&unty paper ; not by any means for the sake of reading over the old editorials,
but because their pages would give a picture from week to week of both national
(DE-CEASED)
JOLIET
8r
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 331
and local events, which could be found nowhere else. Even the advertisements
give much of history. There ought to be provision for keeping such files in
our county and city offices ; for the files at the printing offices are liable to be
destroyed by fire, as some have been in Joliet, and as all have been in Chicago.
And we here record our thanks to the proprietors of our papers for the free
access given us to such files as have been preserved. They have afforded us
both amusement and instruction, as well as aided us in our efforts to recall per-
sons and events. We have noticed that editors are not very reliable as prophets ;
for previous to every election we have been told that the fate of the country
hung upon the result, and that if the opposite party triumphed, the country
would go to universal smash ; and yet the other party often did succeed, and
the country went on all the same ! Another thing is very noticeable, and that
is that it was always the other party that did all the mean and dishonest things ;
and, also, that no sooner did a man who had all along been respectable and
reliable, change his way of voting, than he became at once a vagabond and
a scoundrel. Perhaps one of the punishments that will be awarded editors
in the future world, will be to read ever their old editorials ! At any rate, that
is the worst we would inflict upon them. We will give a resume of one number
of the Signal of the year 1846, twelve years after our city was born, omitting
the editorials. It gives a picture of the early times.
In the way of news, we have Gen. Taylor's early dispatches from Mexico,
when he was on the Rio Grande and skirmishing with Gen. Ampudia. We
have also accounts of the negotiations with England, when we backed down
from the " 54 40' or fight " position, and took up a more tenable one on 49,
and the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. As an interesting item of home news, we
are informed that an opposition line of stages has just been put upon the route
from Chicago via Joliet to Ottawa. By the way, we have in Joliet a souvenir
of those old stage times, in the person of our friend Kipp, now a citizen of
Joliet, who in those days held the ribbons for Frink & Walker with a skill and
ability that was never surpassed. We have also, in the way of news, the proc-
lamation of Gov. Ford against the Mormons, who were threatening to cut up
at Nauvoo, and the announcement that a line of telegraph was soon to be
opened from Buffalo to Detroit. The citizens of Joliet village were notified,
'also, to meet at the Court House and organize a wolf-hunt. If you want to
know how this was done, read "Forty Years Ago." (We are referring to that
great work pretty often, but we can't help it.) By way of advertisements, J.
A. Matteson tells the public that he is ready to card the wool and weave the
cloth of the people of Will and adjoining counties, and to buy their wool and
sell them cloth and other goods. Major Safford announces that he has con-
cluded to stop with Matteson another year, and will try to please everybody,
especially the ladies. Uncle Billy Hadsall advertises as the administrator of
the estate of Philip Scott, deceased. (Uncle Billy's own estate will have to be
administered on soon.) Francis J. Nicholson tells the public where he keeps
332 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
the " Emporium of Fashion," and is ready to give the gents the latest styles
just received from Paris, London and Philadelphia. (The fashions have changed
with "Nick" since that day, and will change still more ere many years.)
Alex. Mclntosh advertises a select school, in which he proposes to teach on
common sense principles not to cram ; and " Cal." indorses him, and advises
parents to send their children to him; (Mack's wife now heats him we mean
at keeping school.) Charles Clement says he has lots of goods that the people
can have cheap by calling at his store, opposite Merchants' Row. J. H. Brown
offers pure and reliable drugs and medicines, which can be found in the store
opposite the old wooden block on Upper Chicago street ; and G. H. Woodruff
offers pills and powders to the West Siders at his store, in the old National.
Hervy Lowe says he has seventy-five packages of summer goods he wants to
get rid of at a very small advance above cost, on the corner of Chicago and
Cass streets. M. L. Adams offers to cast anything you want at his steam
foundry, on North Bluff street. Norton & Blackstone, of Lockport, advertise
large and splendid stocks of everything ; and Lane & Weeks, of Lockport,
manufacture steel plows. A. W. Bowen, Postmaster, tells who has letters in
Joliet Post Office, that have not been called for ; among others, Sam Ander-
son and Col. Curry. (If they have not been called for before this time, they
never will be.) H. N. Marsh says he is ready to sell or manufacture anything you
want in the furniture line. (We have got one of his tables, and it's good and
strong yet.) A good cook is wanted at the National Hotel. (That's what the
boarders thought, too.) Dr. Brownson advertises Sappington pills. Daniel
Curtis offers to deal out justice as wanted, and E. C. Fellows and Osgood
Little to superintend its administration. Demmond & Wood advertise dry
goods and groceries cheap at the City Cash Store. (That piece of Wood is our
old reliable insurance man, and we are glad to get him into this history, for he
is a pretty well seasoned piece of timber, although he has lately got more
young.) Richard Doolittle says he keeps an auction and commission store.
(Dick does a little in the way of administering justice now.) P. Filer adver-
tises Jew David's plaster, and tells the poople that they can find it both at
Brown's and at Woodruff's. (That's the plaster the people used to put on the
barn-doors to draw the cows home at night, and it will do it yet.) Etc., etc.,
etc., etc.
METEOROLOGICAL.
Early settlers in the Northwest used to speak of a great fall of snow which
occurred in the Winter of 1830-31, which must have been very remarkable.
It is said to have killed' off the native game animals to such an extent as to
have made them very scarce for several years, and to have been a serious loss
to the Indians. It is said to have been four feet deep on a level. We have
met with some mention of this remarkable snow in the history of Livingston
County. We remember to have heard Mr. Kerchival speak of it when we
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 333
first came. He warned us who had settled under the bluff on the West Side,
that we would some day get snowed in, saying that he had seen the snow one
gentle slope from the top of the bluff across the river, completely concealing
the river. But we have never had any such visitation up to this day. There
was a deep snow which blocked the railroads, as we shall relate further on, a
few years ago. We have neyer been visited in this county by devastating
cyclones, although we not unfrequently have had storms of wind and rain and
hail, which have been somewhat destructive in limited sections. All our
streams are subject to heavy floods, especially upon the breaking-up of Spring,
when snow and ice are abundant, and much loss has been experienced at times
in mills and bridges, etc. In January, 1849, there was a big flood, especially
in the Kankakee. Many families in Wilmington were compelled to leave their
houses, and the upper mill was partly carried away by ice, and also the woolen-
factory and a saw-mill, and the bridge over Forked Creek. The feeder was
also damaged seriously. Another flood in 1867, carried off the railroad bridge
landing it within a mile of Morris, and during the ice-gorge below, the water
rose several feet in the main street of the city. The damage at this time was
estimated as high as $100,000.
Thunder and lightning are often very severe, especially along the rivers,
and occasionally both animals and men have been killed. Such a thun-
der-storm once struck the city of Wilmington, and produced effects which
were startling in the extreme, and at the same time had a ludicrous side.
It occurred during a political meeting held at the hall, in which Judge
Parks was making a political speech, able, and of course on the right
side, for that is where the Judge always means to be, even if he has to
take the back track or go across lots to get there. He had just reached one
of his sublimest flights of fancy and patriotism, holding out the American
eagle with outstretched wings over his attentive audience, who, spell-bound by
his eloquence, had taken little note of the approaching storm, until a thunder-
bolt struck the building and passing into the crowd, struck about twenty of
them to the floor, killing one of the number, and knocking the Judge's spread-
eagle into smithereens, closed his speech with a climax which astonished the
speaker no less than the auditors. The Judge was accustomed to seeing his
audiences electrified, but never before or since in so startling and literal a man-
ner. He yielded the floor, and acknowledged himself vanquished with his
own weapons.
The most terrific storm of this kind occurred on Sunday, the 31st day of
July, 1864. During the morning service at the German Catholic Church in
the north part of the city (the small stone church which has since been replaced
by the present large and fine one) the steeple was struck by a thunder-bolt, which
startled the entire city. The fluid passed down to the gallery immediately
under the steeple, where it separated and passed down to the earth in two cur-
rents. For a moment the whole congregation was paralyzed. When conscious-
334 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
ness returned, the scene was beyond description, and without a parallel in Will
County. The smoke or vapor of some sort which followed the report, gave the
impression that the church was on fire, and an insane rush was made for the
doors and windows, which were broken out and torn from their hinges, and but
for the presence of mind of the Pastor, a still more frightful loss of life must
have resulted. When the terror of the crowd had been calmed, and the fact
ascertained that the church was not on fire, the killed and wounded were looked
after. They were carried out into the open air, and those who were not fatally
injured recovered consciousness in the falling rain. The following persons were
found to be dead : Mrs. Hartman, a young mother, 35 years old, leaving three
children, one a babe; Mrs. Ingles, age 56; Nicholas Young, a lad of 15;
Matthias Engle of the age of 17, and Samuel Weyman of 18 years. About
twenty more were seriously, but not dangerously injured. The entire congre-
gation were more or less affected. The scene was heart-rending the moans and
cries of the injured and the frightened as well and the lamentations over the
dead, no one who witnessed it will ever forget.
We have had many floods in Joliet, more or less damaging to property,
especially to bridges, but the one which was the largest, and which will live
longest in the memory of our citizens, occurred on Wednesday, the 9th of
August, 1865. On that day, which was a rainy one, there occurred during
the afternoon, and again in the evening, two showers, which all who wit-
nessed them will say were the heaviest they ever knew. They seemed to
be like the cloud-breaks we have read of as occurring in some of the canons
of the mountains of the West. Every one, however, went to bed serene,
not anticipating that there was to be anything serious, although conscious
that it was a big shower and the river had commenced to rise considerably.
About midnight, the city was alarmed by the ringing of the bells and
the shouts and cries of the people, and a scene of terror was presented in
the dim light of the stars, which baffles description. The moving about of
people with lanterns and the reflection in the waters, gave a strange and weird
aspect to the city, as seen from the bluff. A river of no mean volume was
pouring down the R. I. R. R. track from Spring Creek, which was now a mighty
stream, covering all the bottom lands in its vicinity. The wall of the upper
basin had given way and a Niagara was pouring out, carrying off King's plan-
ing-mill and other buildings, and greatly endangering Howk & Hyde's mill.
All that part of town known anciently as "the slough," was a second Missis-
sippi, the houses were surrounded by water from Scott street to the eastern
bluff, arid the people were being rescued by boats. Furniture and fences were
afloat, and men and women imploring help from the windows of the upper
stories of the beleaguered houses. The basements on the east side of Scott
street were converted into cisterns, and the provisions and utensils necessary for
the morning's breakfast were afloat. The old Des Planes which had often been
on the rampage before, outdid all former exploits, and was full to the top of the
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 335
tow-path, and poured over the lock without any regard to canal regulations. It
was easy to believe the theory that all this beautiful valley from bluff to bluff
was once a mighty Mississippi. Great feats of energy and daring were per-
formed in rescuing the inmates from the houses in the sloughs and on the bottom
below the R. I. R. R. which was also all afloat. The scenes of that night,
both harrowing and ludicrous, will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed
them. Many families had a tight race to get from the lower floors into the
chambers, and some who had no chambers to flee to, found refuge on the roofs.
The family of James Congden, on C;iss street, reached the second story barely
in time, and in the morning, on taking a peep into the parlor which had been so
neat and cheerful the night before, they found two pigs had floated in and
quartered themselves on the piano, where they were waiting patiently for the
waters to assuage. A hired man of M. 0. Cagwin's, on the same street, was
not aroused until the waters came over his bed. Without taking very much
time to make his toilet, he jumped for the door and on stepping out found the
steps had gone, and when he planted his feet where they had been he went in
all over. He swam for the barn, cut loose his team and saved them from
drowning. The lumber-yards were all afloat and many thousand feet of lumber
sought a Southern market without a shipping bill or clearance. Bluff stock rose
suddenly; many fled thither for refuge. W. S. Brooks said his beautiful place
on Scott street was for sale, but he still stays there, and we presume does not
lie awake nights for fear of a recurrence of the scene. Many felt for a time
that they would like to go up higher; but as the floods subsided we suppose they
concluded it was not much of a shower after all. The excitement and damage
was by no means cdnfined to Joliet. The railroads leading to the city were
flooded and greatly damaged, bridges swept away, culverts destroyed, Bracks torn
up and embankments torn away, and the bridges on all the county roads were
in like condition, and a virtual blockade was> established for a few days. Farm-
ers were also great sufferers, stacks of grain and hay were destroyed, and few
escaped some damage.
RAILROADS.
The opening of the canal made a great change in our mode of travel to
Chicago. We had been wont to go by stage, a long and tedious ride hot and
dusty in Summer, and cold and uncomfortable in Winter. Or, we could drive
our own conveyance, occupying from three-fourths of a day to a day and a half,
according to the weather. Sometimes it required a day to get across the nine
miles lying between "Widow Berry's Point" and the Chicago River, a low,
wet. prairie then, although much of it is now included in West Chicago. It
consumed three days, generally, to go, do business and return. But now the
canal being open, we could go aboard a packet at night and wake up (if we were
lucky enough to sleep) in Bridgeport, transact our business and return at night,
336 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
thus losing only one day. This was a great improvement, and for a while we
were happy and content. But after a few years, we began to sigh for some-
thing better and swifter. Canals were slow. They were safe, to be sure; but
who would not rather risk his life than to be all day or all night going forty
miles, when he could do it in a couple of hours ? We must have railroads.
The principal towns in the county became agitated with railroad projects ; pub-
lic meetings Avere held, and the county papers were filled with the reports, and
with discussions and projects.
The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company was chartered in 1850-51,
and organized in 1851. One of our citizens, N. D. Elwood, Esq., was'one of
the Directors, and Secretary of the Board. The road was opened from Joliet
to Chicago in October, 1852. Matteson was a large contractor, and the
work was driven with his usual energy. The President of the road gave
Joliet and vicinity a free ride. The packet-boat business soon dwindled
and expired. Capt. Connett, the famous canal captain, had to get meta-
morphosed into a railroad conductor. Now we could go from Joliet in the
morning, buy half the city (if we had the dimes), and return at night. Lock-
port was left out in the cold, and she was welcome to her old canal office, over
which Jolietians had growled so many years.
The Rock Island Railroad was opened to the Mississippi in_1854. The
builders of the road (Farnham & Sheffield) chartered some steamboats, and gave
the people a big excursion to St. Paul. Happy the man who was important
enough to get a ticket. Pleasant memories of that excursion still linger in the
minds of many of our citizens. Some interesting stories are told of the affair.
Some strong temperance men at home were said to have been very much afraid
of Mississippi water in its undiluted state. Preachers, on their return, made
the country and the Great West the theme of their discourses. It was not known
then that the writer would be a historian, and everybody had forgotten that he was
Judge, and consequently he got no ticket, and therefore cannot expand the subject.
That was a great oversight in Messrs. Farnham & Sheffield. But there was a
compensation we did not have to drink Mississippi water ! There was an in-
cident, however, connected with this road, which occurred soon- after it was
in full operation, about which we know something and will relate a little.
On Wednesday night, November 1, 1854, a most appalling accident
occurred on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, a few miles below
our city, near Rock Run. The engine of the down passenger train was thrown
from the track by running over a horse, and upon it the two forward passenger
cars were thrown. One of the steam-pipes of the engine was severed, and the
escaping steam was poured through the cars, terribly scalding sixty-two of the pas-
sengers, literally cooking some of them alive. Twelve of this number died within
a few minutes. The train was brought back to the city about 8 o'clock in the
morning, and the scenes of suffering presented at the depot were indescribable
and sickened the heart of every beholder. N. D. Elwood, Esq., and other
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 337
officers of the road were indefatigable in their efforts to relieve the sufferings of
those who survived. The stone house on Scott street, next to the present resi-
dence of W. A. Steele, was appropriated as a hospital, and thither the survivors
were taken. Our physicians, Drs. Harwood, Danforth and McArthur, were
in attendance by order of the railroad company, and nobly acquitted themselves.
The citizens of Joliet, especially the ladies, were untiring in their attention,
and everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the survivors.
Among the number of the dead was a man from Gettysburg, Pa., his mother,
wife and two children five of one family ; their name was Laughlin. A niece
of Mr. Laughlin was also supposed to be fatally wounded, and four others.
Seven others were dangerously scalded, and eleven scalded more or less severely.
Four of these died subsequently, making sixteen deaths in all. The hospital
was established with Dr. McArthur as Director, and Drs. Bailey, Davis, and
others beside the three previously named were called into the service. For
many weeks the attention of these doctors, and of our ladies as nurses, was
demanded. Some of those who survived were seriously injured for life, losing
a'n eye or an ear, and will carry the marks of the terrible burns to their graves.
They will not forget the gratuitous and unremitting services of our men and
women as volunteer nurses.
Two villages have been built up by this road in our county New Lenox
and Mokena.
N. D. ELWOOD.
The Secretary of this road, Nelson D. Elwood, was so long identified with
Lockport, Joliet and Will County, that a brief mention of the part he played
in our history is called for. He came to this county in 1837, and settled at
Lockport, where he obtained employment in the engineer department of the *
canal. Having the misfortune to lose his father at eight years of age, his,
opportunities for acquiring an education were limited; but he was possessed of
so quick and inquiring turn of mind that he readily acquired the elements of a
substantial business education, and was an accomplished penman, accountant
and surveyor. In 1843, he was elected County Clerk, and held the office six
years. During this time he studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Will
County and of the Supreme Court of this State in 1847. On leaving the
office of County Clerk, he formed a partnership with Judge Parks, which contin-
ued through his life. He was one of the original directors of the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railroad, and for five years Secretary to the Board, as above re-
lated, and mainly instrumental in obtaining the right of way. With Gov. Matte-
son, he built the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, commonly known as the " cut-
off," and now a branch of the Michigan Central, and was its President until it
was sold to the Central. Mr. Elwood was also closely identified with the pros-
perity of the city of Joliet. He was Mayor during the years 1855 and 1856,
and an Alderman from 1857 until his death. He was also placed upon the
first Board of Penitentiary Commissioners, and continued until his death. He
338 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
was re-appointed when laid upon what proved to be his death-bed, and this
appointment was made by an administration adverse to him in politics. Mr.
Elwood was long an official member of the Episcopal society, and also eminent
as a Mason, holding many important offices in all the grand bodies of the State,
He died February 24, 1861, leaving one son, James G. Elwood, present Mayor
of Joliet, and a widow now residing in Chicago.
THE C., A. & ST. L. R. R.
The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad was chartered and organized in
1851-52. The work was commenced in 1852, and the road opened to this city
in August, 1854, and from this city to Chicago in 1857. This road added
greatly to our commercial facilities. Passing through Wilmington, Joliet and
Lockport, it gave Joliet another route to Chicago and access to the coal-fields
of our county ; also to Wilmington and Lockport, the railroad communication
they had so long desired. The daily "bus " between Lockport and Joliet was
useless, and that city was happy.
During the Winter of 185455, occurred a great snowstorm, which is, no doubt,
yet remembered by many. The train which left Joliet at noon on the 25th
day of January, with 350 passengers, 22 of whom were members of the Illinois
Legislature, was brought to a full stop when near D wight-. The weather had
grown cold and the engines had frozen up, and they were utterly unable to pro-
ceed. They were held in this condition for six days and nights, during which
it was excessively cold, and there was much discomfort, to use no stronger ex-
pression. It was several miles to timber, and the stock of fuel carried by the
train was soon exhausted. The seats of the cars and also the second-class cars
were cut up for fuel. They had no provisions the first day excepting a few
cans of oysters and a few boxes of crackers, which were in the freight car.
Relief, to some extent, was brought in sleigh sfrom the surrounding farmhouses
and the nearest villages ; and on the seventh day, an engine from Joliet suc-
ceeded in forcing its way through and bringing the shipwrecked train back to
Joliet. Some of the Legislature, among them Messrs. Parks and Osgood, went
forward from Dwight in sleighs.
We wish that this was the only disaster that we were called upon to record
in the history of this road. But on Saturday evening of August 16, 1873.
there was one which was indeed frightful, and exceeded, in the number lost,
that of the R. I. R. R., as there were twenty-three persons killed and thirty-
one wounded. The accident occurred about one-half a mile this side of the Sag
bridge, in Cook County. The train which left Chicago at 9.40 was well
crowded with passengers. Although about ten minutes behind at Willow
Springs, it had the right of way to Lemont, and the conductor ordered the
engineer to make up the time. There was a heavy fog in the valley, and as
the train passed around a curve at the feeder, the engineer saw the flash of a
headlight. He instantly reversed his engine, opened the valve and leaped for
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 339
life. An instant collision occurred with a coal train, coming on at full speed,
and with much the heaviest locomotive. The passenger engine was thrown
into the ditch, and that of the freight train went on like a mad bull, and, toss-
ing the express and baggage cars one side, like a leaf in the wind, plunged,
with terrible force, into and under the smoking-car, which had been raised up
by the collision. The passengers were thrown in a heap to the rear end of the
cars, and some tossed, with the seats on which they sat, into the air, and fell,
bruised and scalded, into the swamps on either side. The smoke-stack of the
locomotive was broken off at the first collision, and the end of the smoking-car
was pushed over the boiler and rested on the top of it, and the escaping steam
filled the car. Only two men in the car escaped injury, and they were in the
first seat and were thrown into the air, while one who sat by their side was
severely scalded. The concussion of the collision was so great that the pas-
sengers in the other cars were stunned for the moment and did not realize what
had happened, and that many of their fellow-passengers were dying around
them and being scalded alive. Indeed, the only effective assistance came from
the neighboring houses, after the citizens had been aroused. The scene which
met them was heart-rending in the extreme ; the cries of the suffering pierced
the night air, and the crash of the collision and the roar and hissing of the
steam were heard at Lemont, and aid dispatched to the scene. Dispatches
were sent from Lemont to Chicago, and a relief train, with physicians, nurses
and supplies, reached the scene at 2 o'clock A. M. In the mean time, the
wounded and scalded had been removed to the uninjured cars, and were
attended by those who had come to their rescue from the vicinity. Their con-
dition was indescribably horrid. Six were found already dead, and forty
wounded, who were enduring the most intense sufferings. They were taken to
Chicago hospitals ; two died on the way and fifteen afterward. Among the
latter were J. W. Smith, the recently-appointed Warden of the Penitentiary;
J. W. Fluerey, the Purchasing Agent of the same ; James O'Neil, a crockery
merchant on Bluff street, Joliet, son-in-law of Dr. Leavy, and two other resi-
dents of Joliet Jacob Lauser and John Metzgar, a brakeman. The engineer
of the coal train was arrested and put in jail. The conductor was a resident
of Joliet and had been some time in the employ of the company here, and was
regarded as a sober and reliable man. He was the son of one of our most an-
cient Irishmen (who died soon after). He was not to be found for some time,
but was afterward arrested at Monee. He could give no explanation, except
that of forgetfulness.
There is still another incident of great interest touching this road. In
October, 1862, the road was sold at the Court House in Joliet on the third
mortgage, for the benefit of the first and second mortgages as well, all repre-
senting the trifling sum of $6,500,000. It was bought in at this sale by Sam-
uel J. Tilden and partner, for the sum of $1,600,000. We are happy to have
this opportunity of getting Samuel and his "barrel" into the history of Will
340 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
County. This he will no doubt feel to be some compensation for having been
swindled (?) out of the Presidency. And as matters have turned out, we are
very glad we did not bid against him. We hardly know why we did not, but
perhaps the following circumstance, which occurred a little before and which
we take from the files of the Signal, will account for it. " The residence of G.
H. Woodruff, of this city, was entered last night by some miscreant and about
$100 taken from Mr. W.'s pants." Now this "miscreant" is the only man
we have not forgiven, but we promise to forgive him if he will return the prin-
cipal, and we will say nothing about the interest and ask no questions. This
is certainly a liberal offer as the interest would now exceed the principal.
Anyhow we give him due notice that he can't do it again ! There ! we have
succeeded in getting into this history, and in such company, too !
Another railroad, the Chicago, Joliet & Peoria Railroad, has been opened from
Joliet to Streator. This passes from Joliet along the east bank of the Des Planes,
through the towns of Joliet and Channahon, crossing the Kankakee near its
mouth, and so on through Grundy, Livingston, Woodford and Tazewell Counties,
to Peoria, connecting with Streator by a cross-road. We thus have access to
vast coal-fields, and our coal dealers supply those who wish with Streator coal.
Yet another railroad the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes has been opened,
which passes through the townships of Crete, Washington, the ancient village
of Crete and the modern ones of Goodenow and Beecher, giving the extreme
eastern part of our county all needed facilities.
The Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, commonly called the cut-off, and now
owned and controlled by the Michigan Central, is becoming one of the most impor-
tant railroad connections, furnishing as it does a direct communication with the
Eastern markets, and it is making Joliet one of the most important centers of the
grain and pork trade, as will appear from statistics elsewhere given. The opening
of this road was strenuously opposed by Chicago, she being unwilling to lose any
part of her immense trade. A fierce paper war was waged during its incuba-
tion, but the project was so important and so obviously just that it was bound to
carry in time. This road was built in 1855, and among the benefits which
accrued to us from it, we must not forget, was the coming here of Calvin
Knowlton, long time its Superintendent. His given name, we think, another
case of lucus a non lucendo. It has also built up two stations the villages of
Spencer and Frankfort.
The Chicago branch of the Illinois Central road, which was part of
the grand scheme of 1837, but had no vitality until Congress made
the magnificent donation of 3,000,000 acres of public lands to the State
for its construction, passes through the towns of Peotone, Will and Monee,
having created the two flourishing villages of Peotone and Monee. Sev-
eral other roads have been projected and surveyed through our county, and will,
perhaps, sometime become fixed facts ; but as they are still in the future, we
leave them for some future historian.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 341
PLANKROADS.
The Oswego & Indiana Plankroad was chartered in 1849-50, and the sub-
scription books opened in 1851, and the stock soon taken. Directors were
chosen in May, 1851. These were J. A. Matteson, M..H. Demmond, H. D.
Risley, Isaac Cook and Uri Osgood. The Directors organized by choosing H.
D. Risley, President ; Uri Osgood, Treasurer, and H. E. Streeter, Secretary.
Under the energetic superintendency of the President, the road was soon
opened to Plainfield. "Work was also done beyond. This road was in use for
several years until worn out, when the road was abandoned. It was under its
charter, which was a liberal one, that considerable railroading was done. A
plankroad was also constructed for a few miles south of the city. Lockport
also rejoiced in a plankroad, chartered under the name of the Lockport, Plain-
field & Yorkville Plankroad, organized in June, 1855, at Plainfield. Hiram
Norton, John F. Daggett, George Gaylord, D. C. Norton and S. Hamlin were
Directors. Hiram Norton, President ; J. F. Daggett, Treasurer and Secretary ;
A. J. Mathewson, Surveyor. They built a road to Plainfield, which has also
ceased to be a plankroad. Plankroads, like many other things, seem to be obsolete.
There are several persons who have been prominent in our early history,
but who have now passed from the scene of their earthly activities, about whom
it is proper that something more should be said than we have found it conven-
ient to do in the progress of our narrative. Some of these we will now briefly
notice. We begin with
JESSE 0. NORTON.
He was born in Benningtori, Vt., in December, 1812. His father, Col.
Martin Norton, was a soldier, serving his country at the time of his birth. He
pursued the usual preparatory course and entered Williams College in 1831,
and graduated with honor in 1835. Having no means, and entirely depend-
ent upon his own exertions, he immediately commenced teaching, first at Wheel-
ing, Perm., and afterward in Potosi, Mo. While here, he formed the acquaint-
ance of the lady he soon married, Miss Phebe A. Sheldon. In about one year
after their marriage they came to Joliet in 1839. The writer well remembers
his first meeting with Mr. Norton, soon after his arrival, and how greatly pre-
possessed he was by his courteous and winning manner, and he soon formed an
intimote acquaintance with him and his wife. His genial manners soon made
him popular and beloved by the community where he had settled, while his
ability and integrity soon won a way for him in professional and political life.
In 1846, he was elected County Judge, and re-elected in 1848. He was chosen
to represent our county in the State Constitutional Convention of 1848. In
1850, he was elected to the State Legislature, and, in 1852, was chosen to rep-
resent this District in Congress, and was re-elected in 1854. In 1857, he
was elected Circuit Judge, and discharged the duties of the position with
ability. In 1862, he was again elected to Congress. In 1866, he received the
342 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
appointment of District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and
removed to Chicago. He discharged the duties of this office with ability until
April, 1869, when he became associated with Judge J. R. Doolittle in the
practice of law, and kept up this connection until the great fire of 1871, which
destroyed their library and papers. He subsequently received the appointment
of Counsel to the City of Chicago. He died August 8, 1875, and his remains
were brought to Joliet, where the greatest portion of his active life had been
passed, and they rest in Oakwood. Mr. Norton was an able and effective
speaker, both at the bar and on the "stump," and in the legislative hall. Dur-
ing his residence in Joliet, he was a member of the Congregational Church
(now the Central Presbyterian). Mrs. Norton and four children survive him.
URI OSGOOD
was one of our first lawyers first in point of time and also of ability. He
came here the same year in which our county was organized (1836) and from
that day to that of his death was one of our most prominent men. He was
gifted with more than ordinary mental powers, and took a high position at the
bar. He also filled offices of trust and responsibility. He was elected to the
State Senate in 1852, and was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1858,
and made a strong canvass in a Republican district and against a most popular
opponent. Mr. Osgood accumulated a considerable property, and established a
private bank. He was a man of strictly temperate habits and pure life. His
death was remarkably sudden. He had partaken of his breakfast as usual, and
risen to go down town to attend Court, when he complained of a pain in his
chest. His family at once sent for Dr. Casey, who arrived in a few moments, but
found Mr. 0. in a dying condition. He did not live half an hour after getting
up from his breakfast. Mr. Osgood was a native of Chenango County, N. Y.,
and 62 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred February 8, 1871.
w. c. GOODHUE,
another Joliet lawyer, died October 19, 1870. He was the son of Deacon
Ezra Goodhue, one of the early settlers of Plainfield, and a graduate of Knox
College, Galesburg. He came to Joliet and commenced the practice of law in
1857. He was comparatively a young man at the time of his death, and his
friends anticipated for him a useful and successful career. He had just served
as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1870, participating actively
in its debates and serving on important committees. He was one of the Com-
mittee that prepared the address of the Convention to the people. Mr. Good-
hue was a member of the Congregational Church in Plainfield. He died Oct.
19, 1870, in the 39th year of his age.
W. E. LITTLE.
In the year 1840, one of the most brilliant and promising young men we
have ever had came to Joliet. This was William E. Little. He was born in
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 343
the State of New York, but while quite young his parents moved to Pennsyl-
vania. He acquired a good education, chiefly by his own exertions. One year
he spent in Oberlin College, Ohio. After leaving Oberlin, he, at the age of
19, entered the law office of his brother, at Montrose, Penn., and afterward
pursued his professional studies at Wilkesbarre, where he was admitted to the
bar at 21 years of age. He was then married to Miss Mary J. Curtis,
and immediately (1840) removed to Joliet. Young as he was in years and in
his profession, he at once took high rank at the Will County bar, which then
numbered in its ranks such men as Newkirk, Wilson, Boardman, Henderson,
Osgood, Fellows, Parks and others, and where he also encountered such men as
Caton, Collins, Spring, Butterfield, Dickey, Goodrich and others from Chicago.
In such a bar and in such a circuit, young Little commanded the respect and
admiration of his older brethren, and was justly regarded as a young man of
great promise. He also soon entered the political arena, and was as ready and as
popular on the stump as at the bar. He was elected, in 1848, by the Demo-
cratic party to represent this district, then embracing Will, Du Page, Iroquois
and Kendall Counties in the General Assembly. While in the Legislature, he
was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and prepared able reports on the
subjects committed to it. It is an interesting incident that, at the same time,
his brother was Chairman of the like committee in the Legislature of Pennsyl-
vania.
In the canvass for the Democratic nomination to Congress in 1850, his
friends brought him out as a candidate for the nomination, and he received as
high as 38 votes. Richard S. Malony, however, received the nomina-
tion. All who knew him believed that his election to Congress was only post-
poned a little, and that a brilliant political career was before him. He was a
graceful and effective speaker, and while he lived he divided the honors of Fourth
of July oratory with Judge Parks. But all his own aspirations and the hopes
and expectations of his many friends were blighted by his early death, which
occurred September 30, 1851, at the age of thirty-four. The members of the
bar of this and adjoining counties, the societies of Masons and Odd Fellows
from Lockport and Joliet testified their respect by full attendance at his funeral,
and numerous testimonials of respect filled the papers at the time.
Mr. Little left a widow and four daughters, who have long been known to
the people of Joliet, and loved and honored on their own account as well as
that of the husband and father. A beautiful tribute to his memory was given
in the True Democrat, from the pen of the assistant editor, Mrs. E. A. W.
Hopkins.
DAVID L. GREGG
must be added to the list of brilliant young lawyers who have once shone at
the Will County bar, and who have now gone to a Higher Court. Of his early
history, we are not informed. He came here at an early day, was some time
editor of the first paper the Courier, the predecessor of the Signal was
344 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
elected to the Legislature in 1840, was appointed Secretary of State by Gov.
French in 1851, came within two votes of Gov. Matteson for the nomination
for Governor ; was appointed Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands by Presi-
dent Pierce, and after his return received an appointment to a Nevada land
office, where he died in 1869. He was first admitted to the bar in Joliet. He
was an accomplished scholar, a brilliant orator and a warm politician.
We must mention the name, also, of
WILLIAM A. BOARDMAN,
once a prominent lawyer in the early day, a partner of Judge Henderson and
a brother-in-law of Joel A. Matteson and Henry Fish. He was a man of strong
reasoning powers and able in argument, although so quaint or odd in his man-
ner of expression as often to make it difficult to suppress a smile. He went from
here to Lake County, where he became County Judge. He died when visiting
some friends in this county, in October, 1872. His death was very sudden.
E. C. FELLOWS.
As appears, from the foregoing pages, Mr. Fellows first came to Channahon
in 1834, and soon after took up his residence and hung out his shingle in Joliet,
and from that time until failing health prevented, he was one of our busiest
and most successful lawyers. He was a man of keen and penetrating mind,
and especially noted as a criminal lawyer, generally employed on the side of
the defense, and no client ever suffered from his neglect. He was a native of
Columbia County, N. Y., and died at Lockport in August, 1876.
J. E. STREETER
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nebraska, was still another Joliet
lawyer for several years, and figured somewhat in our politics. He had many
friends here who justly esteemed him for his many fine qualities of head andheart.
He always labored under the disadvantage of poor health and a feeble physique,
and his ambition always outran his strength. He was a fine speaker, and at the
commencement of our war era, as well as in political campaigns, was often
heard in eloquent advocacy of what he believed to be the cause of justice and
the Union. He enjoyed political excitement, and if his health had been equal
to his ambition, would have made, no doubt, a brilliant career. But consump-
tion had early marked him as her prey, and he died February 20, 18t>3.
FIRMAN MACK,
was for many years one of our most active and reliable business men. He re-
sided in Chicago a few years, and came here about 1837. He commenced here
at his trade as a shoemaker, and gradually increased his business from year to
year, growing with the place until he became a wholesale dealer and manufact-
urer of boots, shoes and leather, employing largely, at one time, convict labor.
He built several stores, not less than six in all, and two fine residences, one on
HISTORY OF WILL COU11TY. 345
Broadway and another on Richard street. He served the city as School Di-
rector, Alderman and Mayor. He was a member and a liberal supporter of the
Methodist Church, and aided liberally all other church and benevolent enter-
prises. He was a man of few words, but he led an active, busy, useful life.
Many will remember his mysterious death, and how startled the community
was by the intelligence that his body had been found in the Chicago River.
Various theories and conjectures have been entertained in respect to his untimely
taking off; but the facts are still wrapt in mystery and will probably never be
known until the great day when all things shall be revealed. His death oc-
curred August 10, 1872, at the age of 55.
j. T. M'DOUGALL
was born in Schenectady, N. Y., came to Joliet in 1845, and was for a long time
a prominent business man here. He received the appointment of Postmaster
under Taylor, which he resigned in 1852, to take the position of Cashier in the
Merchants' & Drovers' Bank, established by Matteson the first bank of issue
in Will County. While on the Tennessee River, in the Spring of 1862, upon
matters of business connected with the army, he was taken- sick and reached St.
Louis only to die May 19, 1862.
REV. EDWARD SAVAGE,
for some time Pastor of the Baptist Church, bookseller, School Commissioner
in 1859 and 1860; highly respected as a Christian and an able preacher; died
of consumption April 27, 1863. He left one son, on whom his mantle has fallen.
He was 46 years of age.
H. D. RISLEY,
one of the early settlers of Channahon, afterward Sheriff of our county for four
years 1840-43, President of the Joliet & Oswego Plankroad, and long and
well known in business circles here and at Wilmington, where he some time
resided; was born in Oneida County, N. Y., and came west from Onondaga
County in 1833. He died in December, 1862.
JOHN MILLER,
one of the earliest settlers of Du Page, and the first Supervisor of the town,
and also our Representative to the State Legislature in 1846 and in 1848, was a
fine specimen of a Will County yeoman, physically, intellectually and morally.
He died, greatly regretted, in March, 1851.
AGRICULTURE, AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION.
There have been several county agricultural associations in our past history,
and two places, besides the one now occupied, have been fitted up for their use.
The first was located on the well-known Stevens Farm, in a beautiful grove hav-
ing a beautiful and abundant spring, and buildings were erected, and consider-
able improvements made. When the war came on, it was changed into a mili-
tary camp and barracks, and afterward reverted to Mr. Stevens. A place was
346
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
also fitted up on the hill above the Penitentiary, on the Lockport road, and
considerable money expended. This was, however, more of a hippodrome, we
believe, than an agricultural association. The present Agricultural and Me-
chanical Association is now (Sept. 12) holding its ninth aimual fair. It has
beautiful grounds in the southeastern part of the city, near the termination of
the street railway, which have been beautifully fitted up with the necessary
halls and stock pens, and all the usual conveniences of such establishments.
There is a fine spring on the grounds which furnishes all the water necessary.
The programme for the fair now being held, offers a large and liberal list of
premiums, which are open to all competitors. The Association was organized
in 1869, under the general act of the Legislature, and has a capital of $26,000.
The Board of officers is as follows : President, Charles Snoad, of New Lenox ;
Vice Presidents, William E. Henry, of Joliet ; C. A. Westgate, of Peotone;
B. F. Carter, of Troy; R. J. Boylan, of Elwood; Frank Searles, of New
Lenox ; Secretary, William T. Nelson, of Wilmington ; Treasurer, E. H. Aikin,
of Joliet ; with a Board of nine Directors, and eighteen Superintendents under
the General Superintendent, L. E. Ingalls.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.
In no way can we so well give an idea of the kind and amount of produc-
tions of the county as by the following condensed abstract from the Assessor's
returns :
PRODUCTS. ACRES. BUSHELS.
Corn ....................................................................... 132,332 4,324,432
Winter wheat ........................................................... 112* 2,330
Spring wheat ..... .... .................................................. 1,<>84 23,069
Oats ....................................................................... 60,796 2,415,712
Rye ........................................................................ 1,438 28,732
Barley .................................................................... 43} 826
Buckwheat .............................................................. 226 2,567
Castor beans ............................................................ 1 22
Beans ...................................................................... 29^ 427
Pease .................................................................... 2 106
Irish potatoes ........................................................... 2,650 T % 5 7 189,506
Sweet potatoes .... ...................................... . .............. 2 125
Apple orchard ........................................... '. ............. 4,025} 1,639
Peach orchard ........................................................ 276
Pear orchard ............................................................ 10
FOUNDS.
Tobacco .................................................................. 5J 6,765
Broom corn ............................................................ 3 10,500
TONS.
Timothy meadow ....................................................... 43,615 56,965^
Clover meadow ......................................................... 4,481 7,474
Prairie meadow ........................................................ 30,180 T 7 5 9 ff 36,650
Millet and Hungarian ......................................... ....... 505J 428
GALLONS.
Sorghum ................................................................. 33 1,385
Vineyards ............................................................... 12| 240
^-e5^O
(DECEASED)
JOLIET
HE U53OT
OF THE
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 349
VALUE.
Turnip and other root crops 82 $90635
Other fruit and berries not included above 22 2363
Other crops not named above 9,148^*^ 3239
Pasture (not including woodland) 88,552
Woodland (not including pasture) 17,830
Uncultivated land not included above 17,279
Area of city and town real estate not included above 1,807-j^
SHEEP.
No. killed by dogs 252
Average value of number killed by dogs $3 30
No. of pounds of wool shorn 30,582
No. of fat sheep sold 961
Average weight per head 108
DAIRY.
No. of cows kept 17,366
Pounds of butter sold 787,012
Pounds of cheese sold 67,860
Gallons of cream sold 10,060
Gallons of milk sold 1,322,646
CATTLE.
No. of fat cattle sold 9,352
Average gross weight per head of fat cattle , 942
HOGS.
No of fat hogs sold 37,500
Average gross weight of fat hogs 254
No. of hogs and pigs died of cholera 2,064
Average gross weight 87
CROPS.
No. of bushels of timothy-seed in 1877 9,513
No. of bushels of clover-seed in 1877 1,898
No. of bushels of Hungarian and millet seed in 1877 4,744
No. of bushels of flaxseed in 1877 13,111
Pounds of grapes .' 15,815
NUMBER. VALUE.
Horses .' 14,547 $571,362 00
Cattle 40,514 402,532 00
Mules and asses 501 ' 16,529 00
Sheep 6,586 7,389 00
Hogs 37,954 39,366 00
Assessed value of land exclusive of city lots 9,271,860 00
THE SORGHUM FEVER AND OTHER THINGS.
From the above it will be seen that sorghum makes but a small figure in
our present agricultural productions ; but, in common with many other counties,
Will County took its turn at the sorghum fever. This raged along between
1855 and 1865. The farmers generally, at one time or another, raised
sorghum. They made their own molasses, and tried to make their own sugar.
Merchants sold sorghum-seed, and the sorghum-mills ornamented the farmers'
door-yards, and the tall and handsome canes grew in luxuriant beauty in his
fields. The war added stimulus to its production, as it seemed for a time as
350 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
though we should be cut off from our Southern supply of sugar altogether.
Sorghum conventions were held, at which samples were displayed and the
modes of cultivation discussed.
Among the most enthusiastic believers in sorghum was the Rev. Royal
Reed, for some time a Congregational preacher here and elsewhere. He be-
lieved that it was going to prove a bonanza to the farmers and the country ;
that it would supply sirup and sugar from its juice, a beautiful dye, outvying
the famous Tyrian, from its seed, the best and cheapest fiber for paper in its
stalk, and last but not least, a spirit could be distilled from the pomace which
would put New England and Jamaica to shame. The dominie had a little planta-
tion on which he raised the cane, and he set up a mill in his yard, and the steam
of his evaporating-pan went up, day after day, a sweet incense to Ceres. He
tried to make sugar, but the product was small. But his rum was a success.
The libations he poured out to Bacchus were the admiration of the neighbor-
hood. Many were permitted to taste just enough to see what could be done
with sorghum, but only in medicinal doses. Not much was heard about the
dominie's sugar, but the praises of his rum were on the lips of not a few. But
the sorghum fever passed away, like many another. It did not prove a success ;
its sirup always had an unpleasant twang, and refused to granulate, and soon
the farmers stopped raising it, and the sorghum-mills rotted and no longer orna-
mented the landscape. This mention of sorghum has given us an opportunity
to tell a pretty good story of its enthusiastic disciple. He is still living, but
just over the county line in Grundy County, so we think it will be safe. It
illustrates the manner in which so many people blunder when they attempt to
quote Scripture, and thus it has a good moral. If it were not for the good moral
we should not tell it. While Pastor of the old Congregational Church here,
he boarded awhile in the family of some ladies who kept a female boarding-
school. They had quite a large family of teachers and boarding scholars.
These ladies had a rule that, as each one, teachers and boarders, took their seats
at the table they should repeat a text of Scripture a very pleasant and com-
mendable practice, in favor of which much might be said. On one occasion,
one of the ladies gave as her text: " Duty is ours, consequences are God's."
It was the dominie's turn next, and he matched her quotation with another
equally scriptural, if not equally beautiful : "Let every tub stand on its own
bottom." The Dominie had to hunt another boarding-place.
How many fevers we have survived ! The bilious fever, the gold fever, the land
fever, the oil fever, the superheated steam fever, the war fever, the sorghum fever,
the woolen-factory fever, the rolling-mill fever, the Linden Heights fever, the horse-
railway fever, the " Dolly Varden " fever and yet we still live! And then
the dress-reform fever, which raged in 1850-51-52. We had thought seriously
of writing up its history, but we feel incapable of doing the subject justice, and
it is a delicate theme. It was a brave and heroic attempt on the part of a few
to bring about a change in female costume ; but it failed, notwithstanding it
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 351
had the zealous support of both the Signal and True Democrat, and those who
were its zealous advocates and exemplars now wear dresses longer than ever !
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL MATTERS.
The donation by the General Government of the sixteenth section of each
township of the public lands one-thirty-sixth was made by the same act
which provided for their survey. This was a most generous donation on the
part of our parental Government, and was designed to furnish a nucleus, at
least, of a general system of education ; and, although many of these sections
were prematurely sold, and the avails of such sales have, in many instances,
been squandered, still the fund derived from this and other sources lightens to
some extent the taxes raised for school purposes. There is besides this, a school,
college and seminary fund, being 3 per cent of the net proceeds of the sale of
public lands, which is distributed by the State to each county in proportion to
the number of scholars. Our county receives nearly $1,000 annually. Cer-
tain fines inflicted for misdemeanors are assigned to the school fund. The
amount varies from $200 to $800, according to behavior of the citizens. In
1877, it was $510.63. There is also a general tax levied by the State for school
purposes, which is distributed to counties according to population under 21
years. The amount received by our county, for 1877. was $16,432.53. In
addition, each school district has the power, within certain limits, to raise the
amount needed for keeping up the respective schools, and also special taxes for
building schoolhouses. In incorporated cities, the city schools come under the
city control, and the corporation has power to assess the needed tax. During
the earlier years of our history, of course, schools were left chiefly to the volun-
tary efforts of neighborhoods. Some of them we have already noticed.
The present system of schools assumed substantially its present shape
somewhere about the year 1850. The duties of School Commissioners were pre-
viously confined to the charge of the funds, and the duties of the School Trustees,
in each township, to the sixteenth section and care of the township fund. It is
greatly to be regretted that the ' people have been so careless in their selection
of school officers. These should be selected with the greatest care and from
the best, wisest and most responsible citizens, without regard to politics. Some
townships have paid dearly for their carelessness in this regard, and still, what
ought to elicit the most interest is really treated as of little importance. The
last published report of the County Superintendent, Mrs. Mclntosh, gives :
The total number of persons between 6 and 21 years 17,602
The total number enrolled in public schools 12,814
The total number enrolled in private schools 1,276
The total number not attending any school 3,615
Number of teachers in public schools 419
Number of teachers in private schools
Total number of schoolhouses 207
Total number of volumes in school libraries 859
Total amount paid teachers for year ending September, 1876 $90,596 03
352 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Total amount paid male teachers for the year ending September, 1876.. 29 057 48
Total amount paid female teachers for the year ending September, 1876, 62,538 55
Number of male teachers 124
Number of female teachers 295
Average monthly wages to males $46 84
Average monthly wages to females 30 06
Total amount of receipts for the year $177,778 69
Total amount of expenditures for the year 137,865 72
Balance on hand 39,912 97
Matters specially relating to the different towns, are left to the township
historian. Private schools have been taught, from time to time, in the principal
towns of the county. In Joliet, by Alexander Mclntosh, S. W. Stone, S. 0.
Simends, K. J. Hammond, Miss C. C. McDonald, and Mrs. Grover. Aji acad-
emy was once organized by the efforts, principally, of Rev. L. H. Loss, and
flourished awhile under the administration of Samuel Emerson. There was
once a young lady's boarding and select school, which flourished some years,
and was managed by Mrs. Crowley and her sister and daughter. S. 0. Simonds
taught a normal school at one time. Commercial schools have also been in operation
much of the time, by Prof. Russell and others. There have been and still are
several parochial schools, and Mrs. Mclntosh has at present a select school.
These will come under the notice of the township historian. Mr. K. J. Ham-
mond had, at one time, a flourishing academy at Plainfield, and there was once
a college, called the Northwestern, in operation there, but which has now been
removed to another county. After its removal, the building was occupied by
an academy under the auspices of the Fox River Union. We wish we could
place upon record a flourishing college or even a high school or academy ; but,
after all, the people's colleges are the most important to our well-being, and
should be looked after in all their interests much more closely and wisely by
our voters and tax-payers, and especially by parents.
LITERARY.
We had intended to devote a page or two, to the literary history of Will
County, but we have found the work too vast as well as too delicate. Although
we should know well where to begin with that first fourth of July oration we
should not know when or where to stop. We have already spoken of Mrs. E.
Jessup Eames, of Channahon, our first poetess in point of time, and, perhaps,
in point of ability. She published a volume in her lifetime which contains
some "beautiful pieces. Mrs. E. A. W. Hopkins, a long-time resident of Joliet
in its earlier days, also has published a volume or two. Of these we could
safely speak ; but when we should undertake to go into a full list of writers,
both in poetry and prose, who have flourished during the forty-odd years of the
county's existence, we should be lost in the multitude of names and in the
effort to select those most worthy of notice ; and we should be sure to leave out
some one who would be entitled to have his or her name handed down to future
fame on the pages of this history. We therefore forbear to undertake the work,
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 353
and leave it to another. Even while we write, we have heard that one of our
well-known citizens has a poetical work in the press ; and it is but a day or two
since, a grave Judge, while sitting upon the bench, broke out into verse at the
sight of a brother lawyer's new overcoat !
PENITENTIARY.
In 1857, the Legislature authorized the building of a new Penitentiary, to
be located at Joliet. Commissioners were appointed to superintend the work.
They purchased a tract of land on Section 3 of this township, of 72 19-100
acres, with a front on the Canal of 55 rods. No better selection could probably
have been made. The ground is underlaid by our limestone strata to such a
depth as to render all tunneling out an impossibility. There was a fine natural
spring on the property, and considerable stone, valuable for its construction, and
large quarries in the vicinity. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad passes
between it and the Canal.
Boyington & Wheelock, of Chicago, were selected as the architects, and a
most extensive and beautiful plan was projected. John B. Preston was ap-
pointed Superintendent of construction and engineer, but served only a short
time, as his duties as Superintendent of the Canal required his time. On his
resignation, George R.. McGregor was appointed to fill the place. Work was
commenced in August, 1857, and by January 1, 1858, $125,000 of work was
under contract with .Sanger & Casey. Sixteen acres were inclosed .by a wall
six feet thick and twenty-five feet high. A beautiful Warden's house occupying
the center of the south front, with winga which contain the cells, was com-
menced on the plan drawn by the architects we have named, furnishing 900 con-
gregate cells and 100 solitary and 100 female. In May, 1859, prisoners began
to be removed from Alton, and by June, 1860, all were removed.
At the start, the prison was leased, but in June, 1867, the State assumed
control, and three Commissioners were temporarily appointed. They were
subsequently elected by the people.
A Warden, Deputy Warden, Chaplain, Matron and Physician were chosen,
and the work has been completed on the original plan. Within the walls, also,
many buildings, sheds, etc., necessary for the mechanical operations carried on,
have been from time to time erected, and at present the walls inclose an im-
mense amount of mechanical and manufacturing establishments, and is a vast
hive of industries, where those who have forfeited their right to freedom are
required to serve the State, and earn their own support.
The original estimate of the cost was $550,000. The sum of $300,000
was originally appropriated to operate it. In 1869, $350,000 more were appro-
priated, and in 1871, $175,000. In 1871, the law was revised for its govern-
ment, and the appointment of Commissioners vested in the Governor and sub-
ject to his removal. The Commissioners were also authorized to lease the labor
of the convicts, and this is the plan now pursued as far as possible. During the
854 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
last year of Gov. Palmer's administration the institution became self-sus-
taining.
The prison has passed through various changes in its administration and
policy, both during its construction and since, and has been a source of much
discussion, which it is not important to record. It seems now to be wisely and
carefully managed, and has been as prosperous during the era of hard times as
any other establishment. The prisoners are under good and kind discipline,
and no efforts seemed to be spared, consistent with their safe-keeping and the
ends of justice, to secure their physical, moral and religious comfort and im-
provement. A chapel with regular religious services, a hospital and well-stocked
dispensary, and the necessary attendants, with a skillful physician outside who
visits the prison daily, a library of 6,000 volumes for reading, and a school and
over 1,000 books for instruction these are some of the provisions made for
their benefit. Each cell is also supplied with a Bible. When the prison was
first planned, it was thought to be on so large a scale that it would answer the
needs of the State for many years ; but it has already been found insufficient,
and a new one is being constructed.
Efforts for the spiritual good of the convicts were made by a former Chap-
lain, Rev. Mr. Lathrop, who is entitled to the grateful remembrance of the
community ; and these are continued by the present Chaplain, A. T. Briscoe,
who resigned the post of Commissioner to take his present one, and is devoted
to his work.
The number of inmates at present (October 12, 1878) is 1,646. Of these,
1,621 are males and 25 females. There are leased 1,244, and employed by
State, 402.
The present Government is as follows :
Board of Commissioners. Robert L. Dulaney, President ; A. M. Jones,
Secretary ; S. H. Jones.
Officials. Robert W. McClaughry, Warden ; Benjamin L. Mayhew, Deputy
Warden ; D. C. Sleeper, Assistant Deputy Warden ; A. T. Briscoe, Chaplain ;
A. W. Heise, M. D., Physician ; Gallus Mueller, Clerk; John D. Leland, Stew-
ard ; Mrs. J. E. Judson, Matron ; C. F. Gross, Usher.
There has been much discussion at times as to the effects of the Prison upon
the prosperity of the city and county, and it is often the theme of partisan
denunciation. One thing seems plain, that the State must either keep its convicts
in idleness and tax the people for their support, or employ them in such work as
is remunerative ; and while it may in some cases interfere somewhat with the
wages of mechanics outside, yet the same objection is urged against labor-saving
machinery. The disadvantages in this respect we think have been trifling and
temporary, while the benefits to the place have been many and permanent. The
Penitentiary gives employment to a great many men besides the convicts, as
guards and keepers, foreman and engineers, and also brings in men to reside
here (who employ their labor) with their families. It makes a ready market
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 355
for the products of farmers in the vicinity, as will appear from the following
estimate which we have seen of an ordinary dinner : 30 pounds of butter, 1,700
pounds of beef, 1,300 pounds of pork, 10 bushels of beans, 300 pounds of hom-
iny, 300 pounds of rice, 10 bushels of peas, 24 bushels of potatoes, 2,800 pounds
of cabbage, 10 barrels of krout, 1,200 pounds of bread, 250 pounds of coffee, etc.
Not the least among the benefits which the city and county have derived from
the location of the prison must be reckoned the valuable and enterprising men it
has from time to time added to our population. Among the earlier of these we
must reckon the genial, large-hearted Samuel K. Casey (now deceased) ; Dr. John
R. Casey, his brother, who was several years the Physician in Charge, and still
resides among us ; and our enterprising citizen, William A. Steele, who was Clerk
for the original contractors, Sanger & Casey, and who has since done so much to
develop the stone business here' The list might be extended through the years,
and would be found to include many valuable citizens, some still residents here.
The amount of supplies purchased from Will County farmers and merchants
for the use of the prison cannot be less than $100,000 annually ; while the
amount paid out by the State and by contractors for salaries and wages to
officers, employes and foremen who, with their families, live in Joliet, will at
least reach the same figure.
We give the statistics of the prison at the date of October 12, 1878 :
CONTRACTS.
NM ne of Contractors. 1 J[S? > E^d. .
Cigar shop National Cigar Company 190
Harness shop Risser & Reitz 100 98
Boot and shoe shop... Selz, Schwab & Co 425 424
Wire fence shop Joliet Wire Fenc-? Company 30 to 60 47
Cooper shop J. H. Winterbotham & Sons 160 171
Butt shop Ohio Butt Company 90 88
Brush shop Ohio Brush Works 65 66
Marble shop Burlington Manufacturing Co... 65 69
Granite shop G. A. Haley & Co 40 22
Tailor shop A. V. Hutching 50 36
Knitting shop H. C. Cullom 25 to 50 33
Total on contracts 1,244
STATE WORK.
State runners in contract shops . 35
Stone department
State shops 56
Stables 16
Yard gang 44
Store and farm 17
Convict kitchen 17
Wash-room and clothing department 26
Cell houses 37
Hospital nurses 5
Warden house 36
Female prison 25
Total on State work 402
Total... 1,646
356 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Of the 402 men employed for State work, 88 men in stone department, 56 men in State
shops, and 10 men in store and farm are absolutely productive. The balance are mostly
employed for the service and at the expense of the institution.
Citizens' pay-roll of Illinois State Penitentiary, 108 men. Contractors' employes at Illinois
State Penitentiary, about 75 men.
Wishing to get some idea of the religious efforts which are made for the
benefit of the inmates of the Penitentiary, we availed ourselves of the kind
permission of the Warden to attend the Sabbath service on the beautiful
Autumn morning which greeted us the 20th of October, 1878. A short walk
brought us to the gate which opens on the graveled serpentine path leading up
from the Lockport road, through a beautiful, well-kept lawn of brightest green,
dotted with flower-beds, to the handsome stone porch which commands the
entrance to the main hall. Pausing here a moment to look at the lawn, con-
sisting of two terraces, the upper one, over which we had just come, in front
of the east wing, and the lower one, running along the west wing to the Chi-
cago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, with a beautiful, well-filled greenhouse at
the dividing wall, we push open the door and find ourselves in the marble-paved
hall, from which we enter the reception-room. Here we find quite a com-
pany, largely composed of ladies, who have come on a similar errand. After a
few moments, the Chaplain and the Warden enter, and invite us to accompany
them. We pass through the iron-grated door in the iron grated partition,
which turns noiselessly upon its hinges at the bidding of a turnkey, and find
ourselves in another hall ; but now we are separated from the outside world,
and can only return by the permission of the turnkey who has admitted us.
But we pass on through another similar door into the prison-yard, where we
catch a glimpse of many work-shops of various kinds, and find the building for
which we are bound, in the second story of which is the chapel. This con-
tains, on the first floor, the kitchen and other rooms, and is bordered all along
the west front by a narrow" terrace of green turf, which affords a grateful relief
to the glare of stone walls and well-beaten thoroughfares. At the south end of
this building, we pass up an outside stairway, through a door in the southwest
corner, which admits us to the chapel, a large, rectangular room, well lighted
and ventilated, and plainly seated, with a capacity, we judge, of ten or twelve
hundred. At the further end is a door, through which the striped audience is
filing in, taking their seats in squads as directed by guards. At the end by
which we have entered, is an elevated platform, filled with the comfortable
rustic chairs of the prison manufacture. These are being filled with that por-
tion of the audience which are not in uniform. In the center of the platform, is
a neat desk, on which lies a large Bible, and a cottage- organ is on the eastern
end. As soon as all the audience consisting, on the main floor, as we judge,
of about eight hundred men, uniformed, and a dozen guards who occupy chairs
on raised platforms on either wall, and on the platform at the south end, of a
company of thirty or forty well-dressed gentlemen and ladies are seated, the
choir of nine young men in the prevalent uniform, assisted by Miss Cleghorn,
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 357
of Joliet, at the organ, commence the singing of a familiar hymn, in which
many of the audience join. The services then proceed very much as in any of
our churches prayer, reading of Scripture, singing, etc., after which the
Chaplain delivers a plain, practical and pungent discourse from the text,
Romans, viii, 34.
After the discourse, the Chaplain invited Mr. Jones, one of the Commis-
sioners, who happened to be present, to make an address, who did so in an
earnest appeal to the hearers to resolve to lead a better life.
During these exercises, the audience was quiet and attentive, and apparently
as deeply interested as any we have ever seen. How much of this was due to
the watchful eyes of the guards, we cannot tell. Although the attendance is
not voluntary (except upon the class meeting), many, we presume, attend also
from choice. If they do not do so for moral reasons, it must afford an agree-
able diversion from the labors and thoughts of the week ; and if they are
greeted every Sabbath with such an array of youth and beauty as met them
upon the occasion of which we write, we should think they would look forward
to it with eager anticipation. But to be thus reminded of the sisters, wives,
mothers and children, whose hearts they have broken and whb-se names they
have dishonored and whose prayers and entreaties they have disregarded, may
not be a cheerful sight !
As the chapel is not large enough to accommodate all the inmates, the east
and west wing attend on alternate Sabbaths.
We scrutinized the audience closely to see if there was any marked differ-
ence in the apparent intellectual and moral development of the striped audience
and the people we meet every day, and were forced to admit that no such differ-
ence was visible. We noticed, also, that many seemed to be deeply interested
in the services.
After the service was over and the benediction pronounced, the largest por-
tion of the uniformed audience withdrew at the north door, in charge of the guards.
A part, however about 200, as we judged remained, and were seated in the
front seats, when the Chaplain commenced a class meeting, opening it with sing-
ing, after which he called upon a brother to pray, when a young convict (who
is the prison librarian) led in a fervent and well-worded prayer every one in
the seats kneeling. The brethren were then permitted to speak briefly, and ten
or twelve responded, one after another, the Chaplain occasionally putting in a
word of instruction or encouragement, arid passing around in his audience and
shaking them by the hand. It was a deeply interesting and affecting sight.
Some alluded to their situation, spoke of the causes that had placed them where
they were, and avowed their purpose to persevere, with the help of God. One
or two thanked God that they had been put where they were, as it had been
the means of their conversion. Among the number who spoke were three col-
ored brethren, and one was especially fervent and happy. His face shone like
that of Moses when he came down from the mount, and we have no doubt that
358 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
the brother had himself been upon the mount and held communion with his
Maker. He avowed his love for Christ and his happiness since he had found
Him. Nothing now, he said, gave him any trouble ; all was joy and peace.
He was full of the spiritual elan of his mercurial race, and spoke on with volu-
ble earnestness, with his eyes rolled up to the ceiling, increasing, each moment,
in fervor, his spiritual Pegasus mounting higher and higher, until he seemed
just ready to go up in a chariot of fire, when he was brought back to earth by
a judicious word or two from the Chaplain and the starting of a hymn, which
brought the dark-skinned brother to his seat, seemingly, we thought, a little
disappointed in being thus brought back to earth. The whole service was most
admirably conducted by the Chaplain, who seemed to have his flock under per-
fect control. About one-third of those who remained seemed to belong to the
class, or society . An opportunity was given to any of the rest to join. On
this occasion, one did so, and was called out in front and greeted by the Chap-
lain with a hearty hand-shake and a word or two of advice.
The service was closed at half past 11 by the distribution of religious papers
and the singing of the doxology, and thus we had spent two and a half hours
in a most interesting manner and without weariness.
We were impressed with the conviction that the Chaplain is doing a good
work in his chosen field ; that he is the right man in the right place, and that
he has, perhaps, as much evidence of his success as falls to the lot of most
Pastors.
We understand that one of the Catholic Pastors of our city also holds a
religious service at the prison, at which the inmates of that faith are permitted
to attend, and that the Chaplain has an afternoon service for the women.
OFFICIAL RECORD.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Previous to the adoption of township organization in 1850, the county had
been divided into precincts for the purpose of election, with precinct Justices of
the Peace and Constables, the county legislation and general business being
transacted by County Commissioners. The list of County Commissioners from
the organization of the county to 1850, is as follows :
Holder Sisson, 1836-39, 4 years, deceased ; Thomas Durham, 1836-38, 3 years, deceased ;
James Walker, 1836, 1 year, deceased ; R. L. Wilson, 1837-38, 2 years, deceased ; J. Blackstone,
1839, 1 year, deceased ; Thomas Cox, parts of 1839-40 ; W. B. Peck, 1839-42, 4 years, deceased;
William Gougar, part of 1840-41, 2 years, deceased ; H. Sisson, 1840, 1 year, deceased; Samuel
Whalon, 1841-43, 3 years, deceased; N. Hawley, 1842-44, 3 years, deceased; F. Mitchell,
1844-46, 3 years; Willard Wood, 1843-44, 2 years ; Robert Stevens, 1845-47, 3 years, deceased ;
James Walker, 1846-19, 4 years, deceased ; J. B. Schemerhorn, 1848-49, 2 years; F. Worcester,
1847-49, 3 years.
On the first organization of the county, there was included a tier of four town-
ships on the south, lying east of Wesley, and also that part of the townships south of
' HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 359
them and north of the Kankakee River, which were lost to us on the organiza-
tion of Kankakee County in 1853, and it was from this part of the county that
Thomas Durham and F. Worcester were chosen. On the organization of Du
Page County in 1839, we came very near losing half the townships of Wheat-
land and Dupage. It was left by the act to the voters residing on the half
townships to decide by vote in August to which county they would belong.
They very wisely decided to remain in Will County. But they had not much
wisdom to spare, as the matter was decided by a majority of one vote.
We shall now close our historical sketch by giving a list of all the other
county officers from the erection of the county to the present time, and follow
it with a list of those who have filled State and other offices from the county.
This will be more cheerful reading, and will get many good men into history :
County Clerks. Levi Jenks, 1836-42, 7 years ; N. D. Elwood, 1843-48, 6 years, deceased ;
0. L. Hawley, 1849-56, 8 years, deceased ; William Tonner, 1&57-64, 8 years ; Henry Logan, 1865-
68, 4 years ; J. C. Williams, 1869-73, 5 years ; W. B. Hawley, 1874-77, 4 years; W. H. Zarley,
1878, now in office.
Recorders. G. H. Woodruff, 1836-42, 7 years ; R. C. Duncan, 1843-47, 5 years, died in 1874.
Circuit Clerks. Levi Jenks, 1836-40, 5 years ; William Smith, 1841-37, 7 years, deceased.
Circuit Clerks and Recorders (offices united). M. McEvoy, 1848-51, 4 years, died in 1861 ; R.
E. Barber, 1 852-55, 4 years ; Alex. Mclntosh, 1856-59, 4 years; B. F. Russell, 1860 67, 8 years,
deceased ; Conrad Tatge, 1868-75, 8 years ; Robert Clow, 1876, 4 years ; now in office.
Treasurers. C. Clement, 1836, 1 year ; Bennett Allen, 1837, 1 year, deceased ; Samuel Anderson,
1838, 1 year, deceased ; William Adams, 1839-42, 4 years; Isaac Jessup, 1843-46, 4years, deceased;
H. N. Stoddard, 1847-50, 4 years, deceased ; Benjamin Richardson, 1851-54, 4 years, died in
August, 1869; C. H. Weeks, 1855-58,4 years; F. D. S. Stewart, 1859-60, 2 years ; Benjamin
Richardson, 1861-62, 2 years, deceased ; Fred. Schring, 1863-66, 4 years ; A. J. Fries, 1867-68, 2
years ; R. F. Barber, 1869-70, 2 years ; A. J. Fries, 1871-73, 3 years ; James W. Martin, 1873-76,
4 years ; John T. Donahue, 1877 ; now in office.
Sheriff's. F. Aldrich, 1836-39,4 years; H. D. Risley, 1840-43, 4 years, deceased ; James
Broadie, 1844-47, 4 years, deceased ; Alonzo Leach, 1848-49, 2 years ; R. J. Cunningham, 1850-
51, 2 years, deceased; Alonzo Leach, 1852-53, 2 years; P. P. Scarritt, 1854-55, 2 years;
George R. Dyer, 1856-57, 2 years ; Alonzo Leach, 1858-59, 2 years ; W. W. Bartlett, 1860-61, 2
years ; George Monroe, 1862-63, 2 years ; John Reid, 1864-65, 2 years ; George Strathdie,
1866-67, 2 years ; H. Johnson, 1868-69, 2 years ; R. W. Marshall, 1870-71, 2 years ; G. M.
Arnold, 1872-75, 4 years ; Warren S. Noble, 1876-78, resigned ; Henry S. Piepenbrink,
1878.
County Judges. Hugh Henderson, 1837, 1 year, deceased; G. H. Woodruff, 1838, 1 year;
A. Cagwin, 1839-42, 4 years ; J. 0. Norton, 1843-1848, 6 years, deceased ; G. D. A. Parks,
1849-52, 4 years ; S. Simmons, 1853-56, 4 years ; 0. L. Hawley, 1857-60, 4 years, deceased ;
C. H. Weeks, 1861-64, 4 years ; David Willard, 1865-73, 9 years ; Benjamin Olin, 1874, still
in office.
School Commissioners. Le\i Jenks, 1836-40, 5 years ; James Stout, 1841-44, 4 years, de-
ceased ; Thomas Allen, 1845, part of year ; G. S. Fake, 1845-46, two years ; H. N. Marsh,
1847-48, two years; K. J. Hammond, 1849-52, 4 years; S. W. Stone, 1853-54, two years; S.
O. Simonds, 1855-56, 2 years ; B. F. Allen, 1857-58, 2 years ; Edward Savage, 1859-60, 2
years, deceased ; S. 0. Simonds, 1861-62, 2 years ; Charles McReading, 1863-64, 2 years, de-
ceased ; Dwight Haven, 1865-68, 4 years; S. 0. Simonds, 1869-73, 5 years; Mrs. S. C. Mcln-
tosh, 1874-77, 4 years ; Joseph F. Perry, 1878, still in office.
County Surveyors. Addison Collins, 1836-39, 4 years, deceased; R. J. Boylan, 1840-48, 9
years; J. Woolley, 1849-52, 4 years, deceased; A. J. Matthewson, 1853-60, 8 years; Adam
360 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Comstock, 1861-64, 4 years ; N. D. Ingraham, 1865-66, 2 years ; Adam Comstock, 1867-74, 8
years ; A. J. Matthewson, 1875, 4 years, still in office.
Coroners E. M. Daggett, 1836-37, 2 years; Joel George, 1838-43, 6 years; C. White,
1844, 1 year; Benjamin Richardson, 1845-51, 7 years, deceased ; A. B. Mead, 1852-53, 2years:
J. H. Reece, 1854-57, 4 years ; Charles Demmond, 1858-61, 4 years, died in 1867 ; E. E. Daly,
1862-63, 2 years; J. H. Reece, 1864-65, 2 years ; A. J. Fries, 1866-67, 2 years ; J. H. Reece,
1868-69, 2 years; Charles Richards, 1870-74, 5 years; M. B. Campbell, 1875-76, 2 years;
Thomas McBride, 1877, still in office.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Town of Channahon. George Tryon, 185052, 3 years ; H. Henderson, 1853, 1 year, de-
ceased; J. J. Schemmerhorn, 1854-56, 3 years; Charles C. Smith, 1857-61, 5 years; E. H.
Jessup, 1862, 1 year ; John T. Randall, 1863-65, 3 years ; J. N. Fryer, 1866-77-78, 13 years,
still in office.
Town of Crete. N. Brown, 1850, 1 year ; A. Wilder, 1851-53, 3 years ; Willard Wood, 1854,
1 year; Z. Henderson, 1855, 1 year.
The town of Washington was then set off.
Crete (continued). Willard Wood, 1856, 1 year; M. Kile, 1857, 1 year; H. H. Mynard,
1858, 1 year ; W. Hewes, 1859, 1 year; C. Tatge, 1860, 1 year ; N. Brown, 1861, 1 year; E. W.
Beach, 1862, 1 year ; H. A. Dean, 1863, 1 year ; C. Tatge, 1864, 1 year ; W. Hewes, 1865, 1
year; C. Tatge, 1866-7, 2 years; C. Horn, 1868, 1 year; J. O'Meier, 1869-71, 3 years; C.
Horn, 1872, 1 year; J. O'Meier, 1873-74, 2 years; D. S. Bordwell, 1875-76, 2 years; J.
O'Meier, 1877-78, 2 years, now in office.
Town of Dup age John Miller, 1850, 1 year; A. C. Paxton, 1851-52, 2 years; R. W.
Smith, 1853-54, 2 years, died January 2, 1869 ; H. Boardman, 1855, 1 year ; E. D. Eaton, 1856,
1 year; A. C. Paxton, 1857, 1 year ; T. H. Abbott, 1858-59, 2 years; B. B. Clark, 1860, 1 year;
J. P. King, 1861, 1 year; Robert Strong, 1862, 1 year; B. B. Clark, 1863, 1 year; E. Virgil,
1864, lyear; R. W. Smith, 1865-67, 3 years; A. Godfrey, 1868, 1 year; J. B. King, 1869, 1
year; John Royce, 1870-73, 4 years ; Thomas Williams, 1874-78, 4 years, now in office.
Town of Frankfort. W. B. Cleveland, 1850-52, 3 years ; M. Van Home, 1853-56, 4 years ;
0. McGovney, 1857, 1 year ; H. S. Higgins, 1858, 1 year ; 0. McGovney, 1859-60, 2 years ;
John Reid, 1861-63, 3 years; J. B. Etz, 1864, 1 year; Josiah Carpenter, 1865, 1 year; George
Bez, 1866, 1 year ; 0. McGovney, 1867-68, 2 years ; J. Hunter, 1869-70, 2 years; S. Shuberth,
1871-72, 2 years ; H. R. Wood, 1873, 1 year ; John Baumgartner, 1874-75, 2 years ; John Mc-
Donald, 1876-78, still in office.
Town of Florence. W. W. Monteith, 1851, 1 year; E. H. Strong, 1852, 1 year; J. Linebar-
ger, 1853, 1 year ; S. Morey, 1854, 1 year; J. Kahler, 1855, 1 year ; J. Shoemaker, 1856, 1 year ;
M. Tuttle, 1857-58, 2 years; J. Shoemaker, 1859-61, 3 years; J. Kahler, 1862, 1 year; J.
Linebarger, 1863, 1 year; J. M. White, 1864, 1 year; C. Hazard, 1865-69, 5 years; S. Morey,
1870, 1 year; J. Shirk, 1871-73, 3 years; Thomas Maher, 1874-76, 3 years; Royal S. Corbin,
1877-78, now in office.
Town of Qreengarden. J. A. Bemiss, 1853, 1 year ; N. Johnson, 1854-55, 2 years ; G. M.
Green, 1856-57, 2 years ; B. K. Hutchinson, 1858, 1 year ; J. W. Young, 1859-1860, 2 years ;
M. F. Sanders, 1861-62, 2 years ; A. A. Angel, 1863, 1 year; G. M. Green, 1864, 1 year; M. F.
Sanders, 1865, 1 year ; L. J. Burditt, 1866-67, 2 years ; G. B. Wood, 1868-70, 3 years ; H.
Eisenbrandt, 1871-72, 2 years ; H. H. Stasson, Jr., 1873-78, 5 years, now in office.
Town of Homer. Samuel Blount, 1850, 1 year ; Ira Austin, 1851, 1 year; Addison Collins,
1852-53, 2 years ; Ira Austin, 1854-59, 6 years ; Alanson Granger, 1860, 1 year ; Amos Savage,
elected in 1861 ; resigned to go to the war ; J. D. Frazer, 1861, 1 year ; S. Knapp, 1862, 1 year ;
Alanson Granger, 1863, 1 year; A. G. Rowley, 1864-65, 2 years : Levi Hartwell, 1866, 1 year;
Amos Savage, 1867-72, 6 years ; J. H. Randle, 1873, 1 year ; J. D. Frazer, 1874, 1 year ;
Amos Savage, 1875-76, 2 years ; A. G. Rowley, 1877, 1 year , J. D. Frazer, 1878, now in
office.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 361
Town of Jackson. S. Johnson, 1850, 1 year; George Linebarger, 1851-53, 3 years ; E^ B.
Crafts, 1854-55,2 years; S. Johnson, 1856, 1 year; George Linebarger, 1857, 1 year; E. B.
Crafts, 1858, 1 year; George Linebarger, 1859, 1 year; D. D. Powless, 1860, 1 year; S. John-
son, 1861, 1 year ; S. Young, 1862, 1 year : George Linebarger, 1863, 1 year ; H. Spangler, 1864,
1 year ; George Linebarger, 1865-1867, 3 years ; Thomas Tait, 1868, 1 year; H. Spangler, 1869-
76, 7 years ; W. F. Keith, 1876-77, 2 years ; Henry Spangler, 1878, now in office.
Town of Joliet. Charles Clement, 1850-52, 3 years ; A. Cagwin, 1853, 1 year; F. Aldrich,
1854, 1 year; Joel George, 1855, 1 year; Edmund Wilcox, 1856, 1 year; E. Wilcox and R. Stev-
ens, 1857, 1 year; S. W. Bowen and J. Shutts, 1858, 1 year ; R. E. Goodell and E. Wilcox, 1859,
1 year ; R. E. Goodell and H. B. Goddard, 1860, 1 year ; R. E. Goodell and George Woodruff,
1861, 1 year; George Woodruff and J. C. Zarley, 1862, one year; S. K. Casey and J. Shutts,
1863, 1 year; W. S. Brooks and John Shutts, 1864-66, 3 years; W. S. Brooks and E. Daly,
1867-68, 2 years ; W. S. Brooks and A. Schiedt, 1869-70, 2 years; William Werner and D. P.
Hendricks, 1871, 1 year; William Werner and W. A. Strong, Jr., 1872, 1 year; William Werner
and R. Walsh, 1873, 1 year; William Werner, A. 0. Marshall, James Boland and N. D. Tighe,
1874, 1 year; W. S. Brooks, John Ryan, James Boland and Nathaniel Barnes, 1875, 1 year; W.
S. Brooks, John Ryan, Antony Schiedt and William Werner, 1876, 1 year ; F. J. Rapple, William
Werner, John Ryan and Mansfield Young, 1877, 1 year ; F. J. Rapple, John Schiedt, William
Gleason, John Lyons, 1878, 1 year ; now in office.
Town of Lockport.J. W. Paddock, 1850, 1 year ; Joel C. Mills, 1851-52, 2 years ; Henry
Torrey, 1853, 1 year; C. Dowd, 1854, 1 year; J. C. Mills, 1855, 1 year; R B. Harrington,
1856, 1 year; A. S. Anderson, 1857, 1 year; C. E. Boyer, 1858, 1 year; William Hanley, 1859,
1 year; S. Sly, 1860-61, 2 years; S. Lonergan, 1862, 1 year; W. H. Baker, 1863-65, 3 years;
J. Fiddyment, 1866-68, 3 years; P. Fitzpatrick, 1869-70, 2 years; J. F. Daggett, 1871, 1 year;
J. H. Arnold, 1872, 1 year; W. W. Marcy, 1873-74, 2 years; Julius Scheibe, 1875, 1 year; J.
A. Boyer, 1876, 1 year; George M. Arnold, 1877-78, 2 years; now in office.
Trenton. William Nelson, 1850, 1 year; M. Baily, 1851-52, 2 years.
The town was then divided into Manhattan and Greengarden.
Town of Manhattan John Young, 1863, 1 year; Clark Baker, 1854-55, 2 years; John
Young, 1856-60, 5 years; Clark Baker, 1861-62, 2 years; G. A. Buck, 1863-64, 2 years; J. E.
Baker, 1865-69, 5 years; G. A. Buck, 1870-73, 3 years; Stephen Robinson, 1873-74, 2 years;
Clark Baker, 1875, 1877-78, 4 years; now in office.
Town of Carey. S. W. Cooper, 1850, 1 year ; John S. Holland, 1851-53, 3 years ; George
Baker, 1854-55, 2 years; B. Sheridan, 1856, 1 year; D. Milliken, 1857-58, 2 years; now
in office.
The town of Carey was then divided into Will and Monee.
Monee.O. Kahler, 1859-62, 4 years ; A. Herbert, 1863-64, 2 years ; E. C. Howard, 1865,
1 year; A. Vass, 1866-68, 3 years; S. W. Cooper, 1869, 1 year; J. Griffith, 1870-72, 3 years ;
J. Kolstedt, 1873-74, 2 years; Leubbe Albers, 1875-77, 3 years; John Koldstedt, 1877, now in
office.
New Lenox. J. Van Duzer, 1850, 1 year; A. McDonald, 1851, 1 year; B. F. Allen, 1852,'
1 year; G. McDonald, 1853, 1 year ; J. C. Kerchival, 1854-55, 2 years ; Dwight Haven, 1856-57,
2 years ; J. C. Kerchival, 1858, 1 year ; Dwight Haven, 1859-60, 2 years ; A. Frank, 1861-63,
3 years; T. Doig, 1864, 1 year; Dwight Haven, 1865, 1 year; T. Doig, 1866-67, 2 years;
Dwight Haven, 1868, 1 year; T. Doig, 1869, 1 year; C. Snoad, 1870-71, 2 years; J. Francis,
1872, 1 year; P. Cavanaugh, 1873, 1 year: Thomas Doig, 1874, 1 year; John Francis, 1876,
1877-78, 4 years ; now in office.
Town of Flainfield.l,. Hamlin, 1850, 1 year; J. Ballard, 1851, 1 year; A. Culver, 1852,
1 year; L. Hamlin, 1853, 1 year; Cyrus Ashley, 1854, 1 year; Winthrop Wright, 1855-56, 2
years ; A. Culver, 1857, 1 year ; D. Vandersoll, 1858, 1 year ; A. Culver, 1859, 1 year; Winthrop
Wright, 1860, 1 year; W. P. Caton, 1861-68, 8 years; A. McClaskey, 1869-76, 8 years; Hervey
Stratton, 1877-78, 2 years ; now in office.
362 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Peotone. M. Wright, 1858, 1 year; S. Goodspeed, 1859-60, 2 years; J. P. Dean, 1861-62,
2 years ; F. Fahs, 1863-64, 2 years; S. C. Guion, 1865-67, 3 years ; S. Goodspeed, 1868-69, 2
years ; T. Gilkerson, 1870, 1 year ; R. Crawford, 1871-72, 2 years ; David L. Christian, 1873, 1
year; R. Crawford, 1874, 1 year; Michael Collins, 1875-76, 2 years; J. B. Sollitt, Sr., 1877, 1
year ; Michael Collins, 1878, now in office.
Town of Reed. John Kilpatrick, 1850, 1 year ; T. T. Tilden, 1851-53, 3 years ; A. Yates,
1854, 1 year; R. S. Nobles, 1855, 1 year; R. Warner, 1856-57, 2 years; J. Martin, 1858, 1
year; F. D. S. Stewart, 1859, 1 year; T. T. Tilden, 1860-61, 2 years ; F. D. S. Stewart, 1862-63,
2 years; M. Stewart, 1864-1865, 2 years; S. P. Stewart, 1866-67, 2 years ; E. Gano, 1868-69,
2 years ; William Conner, 1870-72, 3 years ; Thomas Hennebry, 1873, 1 year ; William Mooney,
1874, 1 year; H. Le Caron, 1875, 1 year; J. R. Marsh, 1876, 1 year; John Young, 1877-78, 2
years, still in office.
Town of Troy. J. H. Robinson, 1850-51, 2 years ; John McEvoy, 1852, 1 year; John T.
Randall, 1853-54, 2 years ; P. Rowan, 1855, 1 year ; G. Kinsella, 1856-58, 3 years ; J. Dillon,
1859-60, 2 years, died in 1867 ; N. Hull, 1861-62, 2 years ; H. W. Searles, 1863-64, 2 years ;
J. Dempsey, 1865-1867, 3 years ; D. C. Searles, 1868, 1 year; William McEvoy, 1869-71,3
years; David Murphy, 1872-73, 2 years; James McDonald, 1874-75, 2 years ; D. C. Searles,
1876-78, 3 years ; now in office.
Town of Wilmington. John Frazier, 1850, 1 year.
The town was then divided into Wilmington, Florence and Wesley.
Town of Wilmington A. J. Mclntyre, 1851-52, 2 years; H. R. Whipple, 1853-55, 3 years;
J. J. Camp, 1856-57, 2 years; R. S. Nobles, 1858, 1 year; J. D. Henderson, 1859-60, 2 years;
D. U. Cobb, 1861-62, 2 years ; A. J. Mclntyre, 1863-64, 2 years ; F. Mitchell, 1865, 1 year ;
E. R. Willard, 1866-67, 2 years; J. H. Daniels, 1868-70, 3 years; S. C. Camp, 1871-73, 3
years; R. C. Thompson, 1874-76, 3 years; S. Silliman, 1877-78, 2 years; still in office.
Town of Wheatland.D. W. Cropsey, 1850-51, 2 years; S. Simmons, 1852-53, 2 years; F.
Boardman, 1854-56, 3 years; Robert Clow, 1857, 1 year; S. Simmons, 1858-60, 3 years; Rob-
ert Clow, 1861-76, 16 years ; J. M. McMicken, 1877-78, 2 years, still in office.
Town of Wesley. John Frazier, 1851, 1 year; H. Warner, 1852-55, 4 years; David Wil-
lard, 1856-61, 6 years; John Frazier, 1862, 1 year; D. Willard, 1863, 1 year; S. S. Case, 1864,
1 year; David Willard, 1865-69, 5 years; Sylvester Jones, 1870-73, 4 years; Guy M. Beck-
with, 1874, 1 year; H. Warner, 1875-78, 4 years; still in office.
Town of Wilton. William Dancer, 1850, 1 year; James Kibben, 1851, 1 year; H. Hervey,
1852-55, 4 years: W. T. Nelson, 1856, 1 year; William Mills, 1857, 1 year.
The town of Peotone was then set off.
Town of Wilton, continued. William Mills, 1858, 1 year; A. Warner, 1859, 1 year; M. 0.
Cagwin, 1860-63, 4 years; M. Dennis, 1864, 1 year; W. B. Bass, 1865-67, 3 years; J. Kenis-
ton, 1868-70, 3 years; S. Smith, 1871-73, 3 years; Samuel G. Nelson, 1874-78, 5 years, still in
office.
Town of Will.S. Storer, 1859-61, 3 years ; H. N. Ingersoll, 1862-63, 2 years; F. P. Lilley,
1864, 1 year; H. N. Ingersoll, 1865, 1 year; F. P. Lilley, 1866-67, 2 years; James Maxwell,
1868, 1 year; F. P. Lilley, 1869-73, 5 years; J. B. Sollitt, Jr., 1874-76, 3 years; John I. Rice,
1877, 1 year; R. Patterson, 1878 ; still in office.
At the July session of the Board, all that part of the town of Reed lying
east of the section line dividing Towns 3 and 4, and running south, through
the township, was set off into a new town, and named Ouster thus making it
sure that the name of the hero of a late Indian battle should be preserved ; and
at the September session of the Board, there was a new Supervisor for the
town of Ouster George W. Petro, 1876-78, 3 years.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 363
Town of Washington. R. Richards, 1856, 1 year; J. White, 1857, 1 year; E. C. Richards,
1858, 1 year ; Z. Dewey, 1859-60, 2 years ; H. Bahlman, 1861-62, 2 years ; R. Dunbar, 1863-64,
2 years ; F. Kouka, 1865, 1 year; R. Dunbar, 1866-68, 3 years ; H. Mathias, 1869-70, 2 years:
F. Wilkie, 1871-78, 9 years ; now in office.
Besides the county officers whose names are given in the preceding lists,
Will County has furnished men to the Legislature, Senatorial and Congressional
Districts of which she has formed a part, and to the State and United States
service, as follows :
Governor. J. A. Matteson, 1852.
Secretary of State. David L. Gregg, 1851, also Commissioner to Sandwich Islands.
Members of Congress. J. 0. Norton, 1852, 1854, 1862; Henry Snapp, 1871, to fill vacancy.
State Senate. John Pearson, 1843, resigned ; Joel A. Matteson, special, 1843 and 1848 ; Uri
Osgood, 1852; G. D. A. Parks, 1856; Henry Snapp, 1868, resigned; J. F. Daggett, 1871, to
fill vacancy ; William S. Brooks, 1872 ; A. 0. Marshall, 1874 and 1878.
General Assembly. James Walker (town of Plainfield), 1836 ; David L. Gregg, Joliet,
1840; Addison Collins, Homer, 1842 ; William E. Little, Joliet, 1846 and 1848; John Miller,
Dupage, 1846 and 1848; 0. H. Haven, Joliet, 1849, to fill vacancy; J. 0. Norton, Joliet, 1850 ;
S. W. Randall, Joliet, 1850; G. D. A. Parks, Joliet, 1854; Hiram Norton, Lockport, 1858;
Charles E. Boyer, Lockport, 1862 ; A. J. Mclntyre, Wilmington, 1864 ; Robert Clow, Wheatland,
1866 and 1870; George Gaylord, Lockport, 1868 ; William S. Brooks, Joliet, 1870; John H.
Daniels, Wilmington, 1870; Jabez Harvey, Wilton, 1872; Amos Savage, Homer, 1872; John S.
Jessup, Wilmington, 1872 ; H. H. Stassen, Greengarden, 1874; William Mooney, Reed, 1874;
Frederick Kouka, Washington, 1876; L. H. Goodrich, Seed, 1874 and 1876; D. H. Pinney,
Joliet, 1876.
United States District Attorney for Northern Illinois. Jesse 0. Norton ; appointed by
Johnson.
Circuit Judges. John Pearson, 1857 ; Hugh Henderson, 1849 ; S. W. Randall, 1854 ; J. 0.
Norton, 1857 ; Josiah McRoberts, 1866, still in office ; Francis Goodspeed, 1877, still in office;
J. E. Streeter, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nebraska.
District Attorneys. MT'I Osgood, 1836; William A. Board man, 1845; S. W. Bowen, 1851 ;
F. A. Bartleson, 1857 ; Henry Logan, 1861 ; S. W. Munn, 1864; C. A. Hill, 1868 ; E. C. Hager,
1872 ; J. R. Flanders, 1876.
Canal Trustee for State. Josiah McRoberts ; appointed in 1853.
Surveyor General of Oregon. John B. Preston, of Lockport ; appointed in 1850.
Delegates to Constitutional Convention, 1847-4$. J. 0. Norton, of Joliet ; Hugh Henderson,
of Joliet.
Delegate.to Constitutional Convention of 1861-62. Francis Goodspeed, of Joliet.
Delegate to Constitutional Convention of 1870. William C. Goodhue, of Joliet.
Penitentiary Commissioners. N. D. Elwood, of Joliet, on first Board ; G. D. A. Parks, of
Joliet, 1864 ; John Reid, 1867.
State Board of Equalization. William P. Caton, of Plainfield, 1867 ; Amos Savage, of Homer,
1876.
United States Assessors. Henry Snapp, H. B. Goddard.
United States Collectors. Charles M. Hammond. 1867; Horace Weeks, 1872; W. R. Penning-
on, Deputy.
Joliet Postmasters. A. W. Bowen, from the establishment of the office, in 1835, to the
administration of Taylor ; J. T. McDougall, 1850, Taylor's administration ; M. K. Brownson,
1853, Fillmore's administration; Calneh Zarley, 1854, Pierce's administration ; Calneh Zarley,
1858, Buchanan's administration ; J. L. Braden, 1861, Lincoln's administration ; H. N. Marsh,
Lincoln's administration; Alonzo Leach, 1865, Johnson's administration; Anson Patterson,
first term of Grant's administration ; James Goodspeed, second term of Grant's administration;
James Goodspeed, Hayes' administration.
364 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
AN OMISSION.
We have already discovered one omission which was made in the list of
early settlers on Hickory Creek, to wit : Asher Holmes, who came in the
Spring of 1835, from Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He has been dead twenty years or
more, but left a widow who still lives, and sons who perpetuate his name.
No doubt we have made other omissions ; if so, it has been involuntary, and
no one will regret it more than the writer.
PARTING WORDS.
The writer has now probably appeared in the role of a historian for the last
time. Without feeling that he had any special fitness for the work, he has been
led to undertake it by a desire to preserve the names and memory of the
original settlers of Will County, and also of the brave boys, their sons, and the
sons of the later comers, as well, who hazarded, and in many cases lost, their
lives to save the Union. While the record may be somewhat imperfect, it is
believed to be in both cases substantially correct. That he has been permitted
to discharge this duty affords him no little satisfaction, although it has greatly
interfered with his legitimate calling.
It is no small satisfaction, also, that he was permitted to see the region we
now call Will County, when it was yet in its pristine beauty ; its prairies, fresh
from the Creator's hand, still the lair of the wolf and the wild deer, while the
canoe of the Indian still shot along its streams, and the solitudes of its forests
echoed the crack of his rifle, and the paths worn by his moccasined feet were
still the guiding trail of the emigrant ; and then to have lived to see those ver-
dant wastes clothed with flocks and herds, with waving harvest-fields, and the vast
forests of rustling corn, in whose depths armies might ambush ; to see its soli-
tudes become peopled with 50,000 civilized and intelligent human beings ; its
streams forced to subserve the ends of manufacture and commerce ; to see the
trail of the Indian obliterated by the railway track, and the ox-team and prairie
schooner displaced by the locomotive and the rushing train ; to see the land-
scape dotted with happy homes, churches and schoolhouses, and the silence of
its wastes broken by
"The laugh of children, the soft voice
Of maidens, and the sweet and solemn hymn,
Of Sabbath worshipers;"
to have been permitted to witness all this change during the years that have
come and gone in quick succession while the panorama has been unfolding be-
fore him this he counts one of his chiefest satisfactions. And while the mem-
ory delights to linger over the past, and the imagination to recall the lovely
pictures presented to his eye forty-four years ago, he is not of the number of
those who say or feel that "the former times were better than these."
(DECEASED)
JOLIET.
Or T3E-
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
JOLIET TOWNSHIP.
The interest which attaches itself to all that is connected with the explora-
tions and discoveries of the early French travelers in the North west in creases as
time rolls on. That history read in the blazing sunlight of the present day,
has all the fascination of a romance, and, after more than two centuries gone by,
the names of many courageous and devoted men rise up in peerless grandeur.
Penetrated with enthusiasm, and bearing high the cross, Marquette, La Salle,
De Frontenac, Joliet, Hennepin, De Charlevoix, the Chevalier de Trull, and so
many others, made their way into unknown lands, and through perils, and in
the midst of savages, in the face of sickness and privation, desolation and
danger, they planted the flag of civilization in this great section of country,
known as the Northwest. In this beautiful valley of the Des Planes, some
of these early French explorers wandered a hundred years before the oldest of
us were born. But in our attempt to write a full and complete history of Joliet
Township, we do not propose to go back to the days of Marquette and La Salle,
and of Joliet and Hennepin, but shall commence at a period still green in the
memory of some who are yet living, and whose minds run back with much dis-
tinctness to the early settlements in the Des Planes Valley. But few more
beautiful localities are to be found in the State of Illinois than this valley, and
the country generally, as embraced in the township of Joliet. Its hills and
bluffs and picturesque grottoes, its fine rolling plains, and its timber-bordered
streams, present a variety of scenery of which the great prairies are wholly des-
titute. The town is watered by the Des Planes River, which enters its borders
from the north, and, passing through the city of Joliet, runs in a southwesterly
direction to its confluence with the Kankakee. Hickory Creek flows in from
the east, and empties into the Des Planes at Joliet City ; while several smaller
brooks, together with the Illinois and Michigan Canal, pass through the town-
ship, so that no section could be better watered or better drained. Underly-
ing the surface of a great portion of the town, perhaps the whole of it, are
beds of stone, which for building purposes is almost without equal in this or
any other country ; and the numerous quarries, more particularly referred to in
the chapter devoted to the city of Joliet, give employment to hundreds of men,
and are, perhaps, the most extensive business carried on in the city, or even in
368 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
the township. The railroad facilities of Joliet are excellent. The Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific ; the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis ; the Chicago, Pekin
& Southwestern, and the "Joliet Cut-off" of the Michigan Central, center in
the city of Joliet, and traverse the township in every direction, affording
means of transportation and of travel. The canal, too, is a valuable auxiliary,
as well as a competitor, in moving the large quantities of freight from this sec-
tion. The township is bounded on the north by Lockport, on the east by
New Lenox, on the south by Jackson, on the west by Troy, and is known as
Town 35 north, Range 10 east of the Third Principal Meridian, with a popula-
tion, in 1870, aside from the city of Joliet, of 2,940 inhabitants. It is about
one-half or, perhaps, two-thirds fine rolling prairie, while the remainder, prin-
cipally along the Des Planes River and Hickory Creek, is well timbered or
was at the time of the early settlement of the country and is, in places, rather
hilly.
In the early settlement of Joliet Township and City, the Empire State con-
tributed much of the population, both of city and township. So far as we have
been able to collect the names of early settlers, and the localities from whence
they came, up to and including 1835, together with the date of settlement, we
give them in the following tabulated statement, which we have taken consider-
able care in preparing :
Major Robert G. Cook New York 1831
John B. Cook (his father) New York 1831
Philip Scott New York 1831
Reason Zarley Ohio 1831
Robert Stevens Indiana 1831
David Maggard Indiana 1831
Benjamin Maggard Indiana 1831
Jesse Cook Indiana 1831
Daniel Robb.. 1831
William Billsland Indiana 1831
Aaron Moore Ohio 1832
R. E. Barber Vermont 1832
Col. Sayre New Jersey 1832
Seth Scott New York 1832
Charles Clement New Hampshire 1833
Rev. George West M. E. Minister 1833
Rodney House Connecticut 1833
Charles Reed Indiana 1833
William Hadsell New York 1833
Dr. A. W. Bowen New York 1834
Elias Haven New York 1834
Philo A. Haven New York 1834
Orlando H. Haven New York 1834
James Haven New York 1834
Dr. David Reed New York 1834
M. H. Demmond New York 1834
Wm. B. Hawley New York 1834
Benj. F. Barker New York 1834
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 369
I
Benjamin Richardson From the East 1834
James Rockwell., Connecticut 1834
Abner Cox Indiana 1834
I. P. King ...Indiana 1834
Joseph Zumalt Indiana 1834
Jacob Zumalt Indiana 1834
Charles Sayre New Jersey 1 1834
James McKee Kentucky 1834
Daniel Clement New Hampshire 1834
Richard Hobbs Indiana 1834
N. H. Clarke 1834
Thomas H. Blackburn 1834
0. D. Putnam 1834
Harlow Webster 1834
Geo. H. Woodruff. New York 1834
N. H. Cutter Massachusetts 1834
Jay Ly,ons 1834
Chas. W. Brandon New York 1834
James C. Troutman Ohio 1834
Edward Perkins New York 1834
Fenner Aldrich 1835
Ilervey Lowe New York 1835
F. Collins Hoosier 1835
Oliver W. Stillman Massachusetts 1836
Robert Duncan Detroit 1835
Thomas Culbertson Delaware 1835
Charles W. Hopkins New Jersey 1835
S. W. Bowen New York 1836
Dr. Zelotus Haven New York 1836
Hugh Henderson New York 1835
Wm. A. Boardman New York 1836
Russell Frary New York 1835
Michael Shoemaker New York ....1835
JohnL. Wilson New York 1835
Richard L. Wilson New York 1835
Charles L. Wilson New York 1835
Abijah Cagwin New York 1835
H. N. Marsh New York 1835
J. Beaumont New York 1835
George Higley Ohio.... 1835
Levi Jenks New York 1835
William Walters Indiana v 1835
0. F. Rogers New York 1835
Rev. J. H. Prentiss New York 1835
George Squire 1835
Wm. A. Chatfield Indiana 1835
C. C. Pepper New York 1835
Francis Nicholson New York 1835
W. R. Atwell New York 1835
John M. Wilson New York 1835
Allen Pratt Massachusetts 1835
Barton Smith Indiana 1835
Jonathan Barnett New York 1835
E. M. Daggett Indiana 1835
370 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
George Howlitson Scotland 1835
Asa Rowe.... '. 1835
Elias Hyde New York 1836
S. B. Hopkins New Jersey 1835
In 1836 we may notice among the arrivals in the new settlement, George
Woodruff, Joel A. Matteson, R. Doolittle, Edmund Wilcox, Uri Osgood,
Thomas R. Hunter, E. C. Fellows and Francis L. Cagwin, from New York,
and Otis Hardy and H. Hartshorn, from Vermont ; Orange Chauncey, Albert
Shepard, James Stout, Thomas, Edward and Bennett Allen, John Curry, J. J.
Garland, W. J. Heath, J. C. Newkirk, William Blair, Rufus Calton, Stephen
Hubbard, Dr. Little, Henry Fish, M. Worthingharn, David L. Roberts, Isaac
H. Palmer, E. E. Bush, Theodore Woodruff, H. K. Stevens, David Richards,
G. W. Cassedy, and a great many others, whose native States we have not
learned. A number of these, together with others mentioned, will receive
additional notice in the history of the city of Joliet, as well as in the
general history. But immigrants were coming in so fast that it is impossible,
after this long lapse of time, to keep trace of them. A confusion of dates
occurs in the attempt, something like that of tongues at the Tower of Babel.
We have enumerated, in the foregoing table, the settlers both in the city
and township of Joliet, and as already mentioned, a preponderance of them
were from New York. Among the first from that State were Major Robert G.
Cook and his father, John B. Cook, and Philip Scott, who settled in the town-
ship in the latter part of 1831. The elder Cook was a Revolutionary soldier,
and was old and feeble when he came to the settlement. A few of the early
settlers who still survive remember to have seen him carried in the first Fourth
of July procession had in the infant city. He died about 1833-4, and was one
of the first deaths to occur in the town. Robert Stevens was born in Kentucky,
but mostly reared in Ohio, and emigrated to Indiana, where he remained some
years, removing to Illinois and to this township in 1831. He settled just east of
the present city of Joliet, where his widow still lives. He arrived in the
Spring of that year in time to raise a crop of corn. During the fright that
prevailed in the scattered settlement incident to the Black Hawk war, Mr.
Stevens took his family to Danville, and sent them under safe escort to Indiana,
while he returned and "put in a crop." David and Benjamin Maggard and
Jesse Cook were also from the Hoosier State, otherwise Indiana, and made set-
tlements in 1831. Jesse Cook made a settlement in what was called Trout-
man's Grove, and now lives in the southern part of the State, and is quite an
old man, but full of energy for one of his years. David Maggard, who is
noted for having built the first house in the present city limits, as elsewhere
mentioned, and Stevens, after he returned from seeing his wife safe beyond
Indian outrages, worked their farms together, as a matter of safety and protec-
tion againt surprise from the Indians. As a further means of safety, instead of
occupying their cabins at night, would sleep in a cavern on the west side of the
river, which they would always leave before daylight, that no lurking savage
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 371
might discover their place of refuge. Maggard's settlement was on the west
side of the river, nearly opposite the Rolling Mills, while Stevens', as already
stated, was on the east side. Usually at evening they would retire to the west
side, and while Stevens cooked supper Maggard would stand guard, or rather
sit guard in a tree-top. One evening he had mounted guard in a tree, and be
ing tired from his day's labor, went to sleep and dropped his gun. The Mag-
gards were related to Stevens' first wife, who survived the hardships of a fron-
tier settlement but a few years. Robert Stevens was the first elected Sheriff of
Will County, after it was detached from Cook, and with an litter indifference to
the honors pertaining to office unknown at the present day, he declined to qual-
ify and left the office to those more anxious to serve the dear people. William
Billsland and Daniel Robb were likewise Hoosiers and came to the neighbor-
hood in 1831.
Reason Zarley, to whom is generally attributed the honor of making the first
permanent settlement in Joliet Township, came to Illinois in 1829, from Ohio, and
to this neighborhood in the Springof 1831, where he made a permanent settlement.
He was a soldier in the last struggle of the United States with Johnny Bull, and
was one of the few survivors of the bloody affair of Brownstown, where 100
American soldiers were attacked by 800 savages and 400 English, but little less
savage than their red allies, and from which few of the former escaped to tell
the tale of carnage. He was in the army, also, at the time of Hull's disgrace-
ful surrender. Mr. Zarley is mentioned as a prominent and influential man,
foremost in every enterprise calculated to promote the interest of the city and
country. When he died, a Chillicothe (Ohio) paper noticed his death, as one
of the pioneers of that section of the country. So far as can be obtained with
any degree of reliability, this comprises all who came to the township during
the first year of its settlement. And the next year (1832), but few additions
were made to the little community, doubtless owing to the fact that the Black
Hawk or Sac war was raging in all its terror, and the mutterings of the storm
extended to this locality. Aaron Moore, a brother-in-law of Jesse Cook, came
from Ohio ; R. E. Barber, from Vermont ; Seth Scott, a brother of Philip Scott,
from New York. These are all that we have any account of settling here this year.
But in 1833, the colony was augmented by the arrival from New York, William
Hadsell ; from Connecticut, Rodney House ; from Indiana, Charles Reed ; from
New Hampshire, Charles Clement and Rev. Geo. West, a Methodist preacher.
Where Rev. Mr. West came from, we have been unable to ascertain. Reed, one
of the very first settlers of the city, and Charles Clement, generally acknowledged
as the "oldest living inhabitant," will be noticed further in the city's history.
William Hadsell is living, but old and infirm, both mentally and physically, and
his memory is too feeble to give any information of special interest in this his-
tory. The year 1834, witnessed the greatest influx of new-comers of any
year since the pale-faces had first "broke ground " in this section. During the
year, the Empire State sent out to the new settlement Dr. A. W. Bowen, Geo.
372 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
H. Woodruff, Elias Haven and three sons, Philo A., Orlando H., and James
Haven, Charles W. Brandon, Dr. David Reed, M. H. Demniond, Edward Per-
kins, William B. Hawley and Benjamin F. Barker. Benjamin Richardson
was from the East, probably from New York ; from Indiana, Abner Cox,
Richard Hobbs, J. P. King, Joseph and Jacob Zumalt ; from Connecticut,
James Rockwell ; from New Jersey, Charles Sayre ; from Kentucky, James
McKee ; from New Hampshire, Daniel Clement, a brother to Charles Clement,
who had come out the year before ; from Massachusetts, N. H. Cutter : from
Ohio, James C. Troutman ; and Jay Lyons, N. H. Clarke, Thomas H. Black-
burn, 0. D. Putnam, Harlow Webster, whose native States cannot now be as-
certained. Dr. Bowen was from Herkimer County, N. Y., and is noticed else-
where as the first physician in the town. He arrived in March and made a
claim on what was afterward known as the " Luther Woodruff Place, ' and dur-
ing the early part of the Summer, built a cabin near where the Union School
House now stands. Soon after his settlement, he opened a store, which he after-
ward sold to Frary. He lives at present in Wilmington, and receives an extended
notice in the general history. Hon. George H. Woodruff, to whose able pen we
are indebted for our general county history, is one of the few old landmarks
still left in Joliet. The Havens came in the Fall of this year, and Philo
and James went to California during the gold excitement, where they still
live. The old gentleman died several years ago. Dr. Zelotus Haven was
a brother of Elias, but came to the settlement the next year. Dr. David
Reed also came in the Fall, and was the next physician after Dr. Bowen, and
located on the west side of the river. Benjamin F. Barker came soon after
Dr. Bowen, and built the first dwelling on the east side of the river, in the
present city of Joliet. Charles Sayre, a nephew of Col. Sayre, was a tailor by
trade, and the first in the town. Brandon came during the Summer. He was a
stone mason, and built a house one mile below the present city. Martin H.
Demmond arrived in June, and was one of the first merchants of the place.
Perkins -settled in Five-Mile Grove, in the southern part of the township, as
the place was then called. Hawley settled during the Summer. Benjamin
Richardson settled first in the Plainfield neighborhood, and came here in 1836.
He was a chair maker, the first of that craft in the township. Abner Cox,
Richard Hobbs, J. P. King and the Zumalts all made settlements during the
year. Hobbs was, for many years, a Justice of the Peace, and his courts, in
those primitive times, furnished the legal fraternity with numerous anecdotes,
illustrative of the pioneer days. James McKee is mentioned in the general
history of the county in another part of this work, as one of the enterprising
men of that early day. He bought a claim from Charles Reed, and upon it
erected a mill, the frame of which, is yet standing, but devoted to other purposes.
Though not the first mill in Will County, it was built on a far more pretentious
scale than had ever been attempted in this part of the State. McKee was the
first Justice of the Peace on the west side of the river. Daniel Clement came
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 373
in May of this year. There were probably other settlers than those mentioned, who
came this year, but if so, their names are forgotten by the few who still survive.
During the year 1835, the settlement grew rapidly. Among those who
came this year were the following : Hervey Lowe, S. W. Bowen, Hugh Hender-
son, Wm. A. Boardman, Russell Frary, Michael Shoemaker, John L. Wilson,
Richard L. Wilson, Charles L. Wilson, Abijah Cagwin, H. N. Marsh, J. Beau-
mont, Levi Jenks, 0. F. Rogers, Rev. J. H. Prentiss, C. C. Pepper, Francis
Nicholson, W. R. Atwell, Jonathan Barnett, John M. Wilson, Elias Hyde,
from New York ; Oliver W. Stillman and Allen Pratt, from the old Bay State ;
S. B. Hopkins and Charles W. Hopkins, from New Jersey ; E. M. Daggett,
Barton Smith, Wm. A. Chatfield, William Walters, F. Collins, from the
Hoosier State of Indiana ; Thos. Culbertson, from Delaware ; Robert Duncan,
from Detroit ; George Higley, from Ohio ; and J. Lyons, Asa Rowe, George
Squire, whose native place we could not learn. Hugh Henderson came in the
Fall of this year, and was the first lawyer in Joliet Township or City. Board-
man came soon after, and was his partner in the law business. Russell Frary
bought Dr. Bowen 's stock of goods, who had opened a store oon after he set-
tled in the town. Frary remained in the mercantile business several years, but
finally sold out and returned to New York. Michael Shoemaker was a brother
to Dr. Bowen's wife, and lived in Joliet till 1840. He formed a copartnership
with Dr. Bowen, which continued from 1836 to 1838, when Bowen sold to J.
A. Matteson, and the firm changed to Matteson & Shoemaker. The latter
finally closed up his business and went to Jackson, Mich., and is at present a
member of the Senate of that State. Hervey Lowe was a brother-in-law of
Gov. Matteson, and now lives in Chicago. John L., Richard L. and Charles
L. Wilson were brothers, and the middle initial of each name was the same, and
was for the mother's family. They were from Albany, and came in March.
Charles died within the present year ; Richard died several years ago, and John
is in Chicago one of the proprietors of the Evening Journal. Abijah Cagwin
settled on Section 12, of this township, and is still living. H. N. Marsh, whose
father first settled in Crete Township, was a cabinet maker, a business he fol-
lowed until 1847, when he purchased the True Democrat, as noticed in the
history of the city of Joliet. Rev. J. H. Prentiss was a Presbyterian preacher,
and the first resident minister in the city or township. Chas. Hopkins settled
here during the Fall. His wife was a literary lady, and a writer of consider-
able merit. Robert Duncan was at one time Recorder, and for many years an
active merchant. Oliver W. Stillman was the first Justice of the Peace on the
East Side, and was elected in 1836, while McKee was the first on the West
Side, as already noticed. John M. Wilson is the well-known Judge Wilson, of
Chicago. Collins came this Summer, and lived for a while in Robert Stevens'
house, whose wife had died just before Collins came to the settlement. Levi
Jenks was for some time Clerk of the County Court, and at last accounts of him
was in California. Win. Walters settled on the West Side, and now lives in
374 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Grundy County. Chatfield was another West Sider, and one of the early
Justices of the Peace. . Allen Pratt Avas an old bachelor or widower, and was a
little near-sighted. " The girls used to have a deal of fun with him," as an old
lady expressed it to us. One evening, he had been with a party of young ladies,
and returning home by moonshine saw what he thought was a black place in
the road, and upon stepping on it found it to be a cow lying down. It sprang
to its feet, bringing him astride its back, and dashed away at full speed, treat-
ing him to a kind of John Gilpin ride. C. C. Pepper was one of the early
disciples of Blackstone. L. B. Hopkins was a merchant, on the East Side,
and Hyde was a carriage maker on the East Side. Atwell was a blacksmith,
and one of the first in the settlement. Of the others mentioned, not much
information can now be obtained. Thus we have endeavored to briefly notice
the early settlers of Joliet Township. It may be that the names of many of
those who settled here in the years named have been omitted from the list -given,
but we have taken much pains and trouble to obtain them so far as possible, and
in doing so have drawn pretty freely on the memories of the few early settlerg
still living and within our reach.
When the first white man came to Joliet Township in 1831, there were
plenty of Indians in the present limits of Will County, and, though of the
friendly Pottawatomies, yet the very fact that they were surrounded by savages,
whose ferocity, when aroused, is scarcely equaled by wild beasts, coupled with
the fact that low mutterings were now and then borne to them on the gale, of the
threatening troubles with the Sacs, then on the verge of taking the war path,
all conspired to divest the wilderness of its romance, and render their every-day
life, to say the least, unpleasant. The Pottawatomies, though friendly as already
stated, were looked upon with much suspicion at times, and required a good deal
of watching to prevent their petty thieving, a penchant for which is a native
characteristic of the red man. While the Black Hawk war was raging in 1832,
the few settlers who remained upon their claims built a fort in the present city
limits of Joliet, which they called "Fort Nonsense," but as it is graphically
described in the general history, we pass it with this slight allusion. Nearly half
a century has passed since Black Hawk led his painted warriors over the prai-
ries of Illinois, and the wilderness where a few hardy pioneers braving danger,
planted a feeble settlement, has " flourished and blossomed like the rose." The
Indians have long since taken up their line of march toward the " land of the
setting sun "; their council fires burn far away in the " untrodden West," and
the little settlement on the Des Planes River, which had its birth, as it were,
in the midst of an Indian war, has grown into a prosperous community, with a
prosperous city in its midst. The half dozen families that settled in Joliet
Township in 1831, have increased in numbers, and, including city and township,
aggregate several thousand.
In all new communities, one of the first things thought of is a mill. This
branch of enterprise engaged the attention of the people of Joliet Town-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 375
ship at a very early period of its settlement. When we look around us at the
magnificent mills of to-day and the unbounded facilities for procuring our sup-
plies of meal and flour, it seems almost impossible to realize the limited means
of obtaining bread by the pioneers of fifty years ago. What would we think
at the present day, of having to go to Peoria to mill, with a wagon and team,
and a rainy season coming on, of being detained six weeks f ? And yet there are
those living within sound of the church bells of Joliet, who remember such an
experience. The first attempt at a mill in Joliet Township was made by one
John Norman, in 1833-4. It was built at the head of an island nearly oppo-
site the penitentiary and was rather a primitive affair. He built a dam across
one branch of the river, and thus turned the current in the other. In this' his
wheel was placed, the shaft communicating with the machinery of the mill. It
was a small log structure, and its capacity for grinding rather limited, as we
have been told that fifteen bushels of grain in twenty-four hours was good work
for it. The next mill was McKee's, built on the west side of the river, 'just
above Jefferson . street, the frame of which is still standing, a monument to
pioneer enterprise. Several saw-mills were built in the town. A. Cagwin built
one on Hickory Creek, near where the Reed Mills now stand. Col. Sayre
and Mansfield Wheeler had a saw-mill also on Hickory Creek, in which was
sawed the lumber for the first frame house in Joliet. Clement & Clark, and the
Haven Bros, built mills in the early times, as noticed in the general his-
tory of the county. But the day of usefulness of these original mills has
long since passed, and the more modern inventions and improvements fill their
place.
The first roads through Joliet Township were the old Indian trails and emi-
grant trails, the latter made by the settlers' wagons passing through the swamps
and prairie grass. When a man in those days started to a certain place he took
the most direct route and turned aside for no surmountable object The stage
route from Chicaga to Ottawa was the first effort at a public highway, and was
opened for travel as early as 1834. Coaches were put on this route, which ran
along on the west bluff of the Des Planes River, and was considered a grand im-
provement on the mode of transit, to the " ox-team express" hitherto in use be-
tween the settlement and Chicago. But for a number of years, there were no
bridges over the water-courses and sloughs, and, as a consequence, travel on this
was sometimes prolonged beyond the specified periods laid down in its time
tables. The first post office was established through the instrumentality of Dr.
Bowen, in February, 1835, who was appointed Postmaster, a position he held until
the election of Gen. Taylor as President in 1848. The mail came by a cross
line from Plainfield where it connected with the Chicago and Ottawa stage line,
that being the nearest station of the line to this settlement, at that time. A
man of the name of McDougall succeeded Dr. Bowen as Postmaster. The first
store in Joliet Township was in the present limits of the city of Joliet, where it
will be noticed. The church history of the township is so closely identified
376 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
with the city that it also will be noticed in that connection, as well as some other
points usually given in the township histories.
The first birth in Joliet Township cannot, at this distant period, be given
with any degree of correctness. Mr. Woodruff, in his " Forty Years Ago," in
speaking of this matter, says : " My own impressions would be in favor of a
McKee, as, according to my recollection, such an event was a yearly one at the
McKee mansion." This is as definite as " Forty Years Ago" is on the subject,
and our own inquiries have failed to elicit any further information ; so, with Mr.
Woodruff, we will accord the honor to McKee, in absence of authority to the
contrary. The first death in the settlement is likewise involved in some uncer-
tainty. Some are of the opinion that Mr. John B. Cook, mentioned elsewhere
as a Revolutionary soldier, was the first to cross over the " Dark River." He
was verging on to his fourscore when he came to this township with his son,
Major Cook, and, it is said, died in a few years after he came. Others there
are who think that the first wife of Robert Stevens was probably the first death.
She was a lady of delicate constitution, and survived wilderness life but a few
years, at furthest. The first marriage occurring in this township, was Thomas
Ellis to Miss Anne Pence, of the Hickory Creek settlement, and the matrimonial
knot was tied for them by. Benjamin F. Barker, a Justice of the Peace. The mar-
riage took place on the 4th of July, 1835, and was a part of the exercises not on
the programme of the first Fourth of July celebration ever held in Joliet
Towsnhip. This celebration of our National Birthday consisted of music, a pro-
cession, reader, orator, dinner, etc., and was held in a little grove of timber
near the present round-house of the C. A. & St. L. R. R., and enjoyed by
the crowd as such free entertainments usually are. Rev. J. H. Prentiss was
Chaplain of the occasion, Jonathan Barnett, Marshal of the procession, Dr.
Bowen read the Declaration of Independence, but the name of the orator of the
day has been suffered to sink into oblivion. It was doubtless interesting, and
did honor to the day they celebrated.
The first practicing physician in the town, as already noted, was Dr. A. W.
Bowen, who settled here in 1834, and is at present living in Wilmington, enjoy-
ing in his old age the competence obtained through a life of honest toil and
square dealing with his fellow-men. Dr. Charles Reed was the next physician
after Dr. Bowen, and came in the following Autumn. The first lawyers are
more particularly noticed in the history of the city, where legal talent usually
congregates, and where it is mostly employed. The first Justices of the Peace
of Joliet Township were Oliver W. Stillman, on the east side of the river, and
James McKee on the west side, and were elected in 1836, the first year of the
formation of the county. The courts of these early Justices afforded many
ludicrous and humorous incidents characteristic of the backwoods. One of these
dispensers of justice, named Lawler, usually held his courts in a building,
the front room of which was occupied as a saloon. A case was tried before him
one day in which two well-known attorneys were engaged Messrs. D. L. Gregg
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 377
and E. C. Fellows. It seemed rather a plain case, but the Justice decided it
adversely to what the majority really expected, which so exasperated Mr. Gregg,
whose case had thus been defeated, that he jumped to his feet with the compli-
mentary remark, "You are a old jackass !" Fellows arose, and with much
dignity said, " May it please your Honor, the Court has been insulted, and
should fine the offender $1,000 and imprison him for life." " Oh," said the
'Squire, " Mr. Gregg and I understand each other. Boys, lets all go and take
something to drink." William R. Atwell was the first blacksmith, and had a
shop on the west side of the river as early as 1834. The first school house was
built about 1836-7, and was in the present city limits, and is further noticed on
another page. A man named John Watkins taught the first school in this
primitive temple of learning, and is still living (in New Lenox Township),
though old and feeble and nearly blind. This was not, however, the first school
in the township, or settlement it was then ; but the honor of teaching the first
school is awarded to a Miss Cleveland, who, it is said, taught in the " old fort,"
which has been frequently mentioned in this work. She lived in California,
the last known of her. Of the early schools of the township but little can now
be learned. The first records are mislaid or destroyed, and hence no informa-
tion can be obtained through that source. Through the courtesy of Mr. Fay,
the School Treasurer, we have examined all the books in his possession, which
consist mostly of loan, cash and account books, but no early records beyond
these account books. The school facilities have increased somewhat since Miss
Cleveland taught in " Fort Nonsense," and Watkins in the little school house,
as we find in the report of 1872 that there were eleven school districts, with
pupils enrolled to the number of 3,589. Forty-five teachers were employed,
and there were in the town seventeen school houses. The special tax of town-
ship was $2,140.12, and city school tax $4,419.70. Mr. Fay's last report to
the County Superintendent of Schools shows the following :
Number of males in township under 21 years of age 3,125
Number of females in township under 21 years of age 3,101
Total 6,226
Number of males attending school in township 1,107
Number of females attending school in township 1,043
Total 2,150
Number of male teachers employed 5
Number of female teachers employed 45
Number of graded schools in township
Number of ungraded schools in township 10
Number of public high schools in township .'. 1
Number of private schools in township
Number of male pupils in private schools 247
Number of female pupils in private schools 357
Number of teachers employed in private schools 14
Estimated value of school property $66,400 00
Estimated value of school libraries 250 00
Estimated value of school apparatus 465 00
Principal of township fund 6,881 80
Amount of district tax levy, etc 22,192 00
378 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
There are in the town eighteen comfortable and commodious school
houses, five of which are built of stone, and the others are substantial frame
buildings. The first bridge in the township of which we have any account was
built over the Des Planes River in the latter part of 1837. At that time,,
two substantial wooden bridges were built about where the lower and middle
bridges now are. They were both washed away, however, in the next Spring,
which was a season of unprecedented high water, and many a day passed before
they were rebuilt, or other accommodations provided for crossing the river
than a " dug-out," or ferry boat, when it was too high to ford. But at the
present day, the town is well supplied with excellent bridges, wherever those
useful and convenient inventions are needed.
In the early settlement of this section of the country, claims were usually
made by "squatting " wherever the new-comer found land or a situation that
suited him, provided there was no prior claim. Building a cabin and enclosing
and cultivating a patch of ground established a pre-emption right to their claim
that is, a right to purchase it, when it should come info market, at the Gov-
ernment price of $1.25 per acre; and at the land sales, though there might
be ever so many speculators present, they dare not bid against a settler, unless
they chose to risk rousing their vengeance. They (the settlers) had organized
a regular court to protect and settle their claims, which was a kind of " Higher
Law," and woe unto him who trespassed upon the rights of this court or
the settlers. A compromise was finally effected between the settlers and specu-
lators, whereby the latter paid for the land and the settlers gave them half, and
thus securing to themselves a reasonable amount of land for nothing. The
land sale of 1835 caused a great rush of immigration to this section and a rage
for land speculation, and soon all the most valuable and available lands were
taken up or secured by the speculators. In 1850, the county adopted township
organization, and this further added to the convenience of laying claims and
locating lands. Upon the organization of townships, this one received the
name of Joliet a name conspicuous in the early history of Illinois as that of
one of the early French explorers, Louis JOLIET. The first Supervisor of
Joliet Township was Charles Clement, who held the position for three years
successively; The present township officers are as follows, viz.: Frederick
Rappell, Supervisor, and John Scheidt, John Lyon, William Gleason, Assistant
Supervisors; Kelly, Township Clerk; W. D. Fay, School Treasurer; J.
T. Millspaugh, Police Magistrate; R. Doolittle, Edmund Wilcox, J. P. Mur-
phy, Patrick Shanahan and William P. Webber, Justices of the Peace.
Joliet Township, including the city, politically is Democratic ; and has
always, we believe, been of that color in politics wherein party lines were
closely drawn. As now, so it was in the days of Whigs and Democrats ; and
upon all important occasions, the latter usually carried the day with ease, par-
ticularly during " canal times," when they used to bring the sons of the " Ould
Sod" to the rescue. As to the township's record in the late war, it has been
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 379
so ably and truly given in the " Patriotism of Will County " that we make no
mention of it here other than to refer the reader to that excellent work. Per-
haps the history of Joliet Township would not be complete without some notice
of Joliet Mound, notwithstanding it is referred to in the general county history.
It attracted a good deal of attention in the early explorations of the country,
and was believed by many to have been the labor of the Mound Builders, the
remains of whose works constitute the most interesting class of antiquities found
within the limits of the United States. But more modern theories and investi-
gations have exploded that idea, and it is generally conceded to once have been an
" island in the ocean," or in the mighty river which is supposed to have flowed
through this valley ages and ages ago, as the southern outlet of Lake Michi-
gan. That it was formed by the action of water there can be little doubt, since
the mound has been dug into a considerable depth and found to be composed of
sand and gravel, deposited upon a bed of clay. Being something of a natural
curiosity, it seems to be a pity to have it destroyed, as is being done at present
by the Mound Tile Factory. It would be an eligible site and a most beautiful
place for a park. Should the city buy it for that purpose and convert it into a
park, a very fine one could be made of it, and the outlay would be well and
judiciously made.
Having traced the history of the township through its early settlement and
down to its organization, touching upon the main points of interest, we come
now to the history of
THE CITY OF JOLIET.
Joliet, or as sometimes styled, and very appropriately, too, the " Stone City,"
is situated on both sides of the Des Planes River, in a beautiful valley, with its
suburbs extending back on to the bluffs like the wings of a great army. It is
thirty-eight miles from Chicago, and connected with that suburban retreat by
two of the greatest railroads in the State of Illinois, and has also water com-
munication with Chicago via the Illinois & Michigan Canal. If Joliet is not a
"city set on a hill," it is certainly "founded on a rock," for the entire surface
upon which it is situated is stone. It is well laid out, the streets broad, with
excellent sidewalks, and bordered with handsome trees. Many fine residences
and business houses, built of stone products of its own enterprise are to be
found here which would adorn any city. Its railroad facilities are excellent ;
having the advantage of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific to the West ; the
Chicago, Alton & St. Louis to the South ; the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern
to the Southwest ; and the Michigan Central to the East. These roads have
been of much advantage in building up Joliet ; and their machine shops located
here give employment to a large number of men. A full sketch of the rail-
roads and of the canal is given in the general history, and so will not be
repeated here.
The names of many of the early settlers of the city have already been given
in the settlement of the township, but no mention made of them beyond the
380 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
date of their coming to the county, their works and their deeds being left for
this chapter. As common in 'townships containing county seats, most of the
important history of Joliet centers in the city of the same name. Here many
of the more stirring events of the times transpired, and here, as just stated,
much of the important history has occurred. Charles Reed is generally re-
garded as the first settler in the city of Joliet, or was, at least, the first to lay
claim to any portion of the land in the original city. He had made a claim on
the southeast quarter of Section 9, upon which, in 1833, he built a small log
house, west of the river, and very near where the National Hotel now stands.
Reed was from Indiana, and had settled in Reed's Grove about 1831, but,
attracted by the water power, came to this place, as already noted, and com-
menced preparations for building a mill. In the Fall of 1833, James B. Camp-
bell and James McKee purchased the " floats " granted by the State to Silvia
and Rachel Hall, two girls who had been captured by the Indians, as narrated
in the general history. Campbell located his float in the early part of 1834, on
the east side of the river, embracing a part of the present city of Joliet. On
the 13th day of May, the Surveyor's certificate was filed, and on the 10th of
June, 1834, the plat was recorded and the town christened to "Juliet," for
Campbell's daughter, it is said ; a name it bore until 1845, when it was changed
by act of the Legislature. President Van Buren and his Secretary of the
Navy, Mr. Paulding, while on a tour through the West, stopped at "Juliet,"
and, noticing the difference in the name of the city and of Joliet Mound, urged
the people to have the former changed to correspond with the latter, which was
done as above stated, by act of the Legislature, and approved February 26,
1845. The act further provided that all additions subsequently laid out " shall
be known as additions to Joliet." In January, 1834, McKee, after purchas-
ing the claim of Reed, located his float on the west side of the river, and laid
it out into one-acre lots. In April, 1834, Charles Clement bought one acre
from McKee, for which he paid him $125, and on which he erected a story and
a half building, the first frame house in West Joliet. Bailey Brothers had some-
time previously built a frame house on the East Side.
As already stated, Charles Reed is regarded as the first permanent settler
in the original town of Joliet, or "Juliet." David Maggard, however, settled
in what is at present the city of Joliet, some three years before Reed. But at
the time Maggard built his house, which was nearly opposite the Rolling Mill,
there was no city of Joliet. and it was years after the birth of the city before
it extended its limits to include Maggard's original cabin. Charles Reed, the
pioneer of Joliet, finally went to Winnebago County, where he died a few years
ago. Charles Clement, who is considered the oldest living resident of the city,
settled permanently in the Spring of 1834. He commenced merchandising after
he had been here some time, a business he continued for many years. In
1839, he with others started the first newspaper in Joliet, which is more partic-
ularly referred to in the history of the city press. In late years, he has retired
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 381
from active business life, and is enjoying his well-earned possessions. Hon.
Goerge H. Woodruff, perhaps the next "oldest inhabitant," also came to Joliet
in 1834. He is still an, active business man of the West Side, and entertains
the warmest feelings for the "country beyond the river," and it may be, some
prejudice for that side of the city. His able pen has furnished some valuable
history to the county, in his lectures of "Forty Years Ago" and the "Patriot-
ism of Will County," a book every soldier of the late war should have. His
last literary effort, and perhaps one of his best, is the writing of the General
County History of this work. Otis Hardy settled here in 1836. His father
died when he was but 16 years old, leaving the care of the family to him, a
duty he faithfully performed. He began business in Joliet as a carpenter, but
finally drifted into the lumber business, which he followed for twenty years.
Mr. Hardy has been a member of the M. E. Church since 22 years of age, a
member of the Quarterly Conference since 1837. and President of the Will
County Bible Society for forty years. He is a man of large benevolence and
exalted charity, and built at his own expense the Richards Street Methodist
Church and parsonage at a cost of over $5,000, besides liberal contributions to
the other Methodist churches of the city. He had little when he came to
Joliet except a strong arm and willing hand, and here he has accumulated his
wealth. George Woodruff, one of the successful merchants and bankers of the
city, came here in 1836. He first commenced in the grocery and commission
business, which he continued a number of years. In 1852, he built a grain
elevator and engaged in the grain business until 1864, in which year the First
National Bank was organized, with him as President a business he is still
engaged in. Edmund Wilcox is another of the old settlers of 1836. He was
for a time engaged in merchandising in partnership with Charles Clement. In
1858, sold out and became one of the originators of the Joliet Gaslight Com-
pany, was its first President, and superintended the erection of the works of
the company. He is at present one of the Justices of the Peace of the city
and township. In 1852, he was on the Legislative Committee for laying off the
city into wards, and also member of a committee to confer with Eastern capital-
ists as to the expediency of building a railroad, the final result of which was
the building by the Michigan Southern, the Rock Island Railroad, one of the
best appointed roads in the State of Illinois. Another of the business men of
the city still surviving, is R. Doolittle. He came in 1837, and was elected
Justice of the Peace a few years later, an office he held for twelve years ; was
also Assignee in Bankruptcy during the existence of the old bankrupt act of
the United States years ago. In 1852, he resumed business as a merchant,
which he had formerly been engaged in, and the firm of Doolittle & Stone
erected the thiee-story brick building on the south side of Jefferson street,
which was the second building west of Ottawa street. He sold to his partner
in 1864, and engaged in railroad contracting, and, in 1871, was again elected
Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. Uri Osgood came from New
382 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
York in 1836, and was a leading lawyer and prominent business man and
banker of Joliet. It is said that he once bought all the land on Jefferson
street from Ottawa street to the river, for two black horses and $50 in money.
It would take a national bank or two to buy the same district now. H. N.
Marsh settled here in 1835, and engaged in cabinet making. In 1848, he
purchased the True Democrat, which, on the organization of the Republican
party, was merged into the Joliet Republican. He continued in the newspa-
per business until the completion of the Rock Island Railroad, in 1852, when
he took charge of the offices here, a position he has ever since held, with the
exception of three years from 1864 to 1867, when he served as Postmaster of
Joliet. Joel A. Matteson is another of the early business men, to whom Joliet,
as well as the State of Illinois, owes much of its prosperity. He set-
tled in the city of Joliet in 1836, and the woolen mill was one of the monu-
ments of his enterprise. His public life commenced as a Justice of the Peace,
and ended as Governor of the State, and was characterized throughout by wise
and able judgment in promoting the interests of the country. His business life,
however, did not remain unspotted to the end. His connection with the canal
scrip is familiar to most of our readers, and without a wish to revive painful
and disagreeable reflections, we leave it to them to draw their own conclusions.
The Cagwins, prominent business men of Joliet, came here when the city was not.
H. A. Cagwin came in 1834, Abijah in 1835 ; Francis L. and 0. D. came in
1838. Abijah Cagwin first settled one and a half miles from the city, where
he remained until 1840, when, having been elected "Judge of Probate" he
moved into Joliet, where he has lived ever since. He and Francis L. engaged
in merchandising, produce, lumber, etc., which they continued some time.
The latter is now in the banking business, and the former is dealing in grain.
H. A. Cagwin clerked for Cox, the first merchant of the place, when he first
came to Joliet ; lives now in California, and 0. D. Cagwin lives in Lockport.
He made a trip to California during the gold excitement in 1849-50, and was
gone three years. Rodney House is another of the early settlers of the city.
He came from New York in 1835, and settled on .the east side of the river, and
was the first carriage maker on this side, while J. Beaumont was the first on
the west side, and had come to the new city a short time before House came.
Francis Nicholson came from New York, and settled on the west side in 1836.
He has been living in the house he now occupies, for thirty-four years.
Dr. A. W. Bowen first settled outside of the city, but moved into it in a short
time, and was among the first merchants, as well as the first Postmaster and
the first practicing physician. We have, so far as possible to obtain them,
given the names of early settlers. If any who are entitled to rank as old
settlers have been overlooked, it is unintentional, and is owing to their names
having escaped the memory of the few still living.
The first merchant in Joliet was a man named Cox, who commenced the
mercantile business, in a very limited way, about 18334. It was for this man
JO,L/ET
;
OF m
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 385
Cox, that H. A. Cagwin clerked when he first came to the place. Further than
this, we know little of this first store and first merchant. The next store was
opened by M. H. Demmond, who used one room of his residence for a store-
house, as soon as it was finished. In the mean time, while waiting for the com-
pletion of his house, his goods were stored in Chicago, in the first warehouse
ever built in that city. In January, 1835, Demmond bought McKee's claim,
except his mill property, and laid it off into town lots McKee having pre-
viously divided it into acre lots only the plat being recorded in June, 1830.
Soon after laying out the West Side, Clement built a saw-mill, and under the
firm name of Clement & Clark, a brisk lumber trade was at once inaugurated.
This year, Demmond set the example, since so extensively followed in Joliet, by
putting up the first stone building. It is the block of business houses on the
West Side, opposite the National Hotel, and upon its completion was appropri-
ately celebrated by a ball, at which all the young people for miles around con-
gregated. By way of embellishment, we draw on " Forty Years Ago," for
the following anecdote, which occurred while Demmond & Curry kept a store
in this stone block. Dr. Adams had a fancy hog, one of the long-nosed kind,
that are said to stick the snout through a fence and pick off the third row of
corn. In those days, all stock was permitted to run at large in the street.
This hog of Adams' seemed to know in a moments when Demmond & Curry's
cellar door was open, and no matter in what part of the town he might be wan-
dering, he instantly appeared upon the scene and slipped in. As they did a
large barter business, they of course took in a great deal of butter, and thus
many a jar was rendered unfit for anything but a Chicago restaurant, by the
hog, and the merchants swore vengeance against him. One rainy night, as they
were closing up, they heard him enter the cellar, and, instead of driving him
out, closed the door and held him prisoner. They caught him, and after sat-
urating him thoroughly with spirits of turpentine, took him to the door, touched
the candle to him and bade him go. He went. With an unearthly yell he
tore through the streets, lightening up the darkness with the lurid blaze, and
terribly frightening the canal people, men and women, who verily believed it
was the " divil himself," and they called upon all the saints in the calendar for
protection. On, on he went, putting straight for the river, like the swine of
old, plunged in the stream and silence and darkness reigned. With this little
digression, parenthetically, we will resume our subject. The next stone build-
ing was erected by John L. and Richard L. Wilson, in 1836, on the East Side,
just south of the City Hall, in which they opened a store. In 1837, the stone
block known as "Merchant's Row," was built. These, with a number of
wooden buildings that had been put up in the mean time, were filled with stores
of different kinds, and Joliet was becoming a place of considerable business.
The first blacksmith of whom we have any account, was W. R. Atwell, who
opened a shop on the West Side, in 1835. The first tinsmith was William
Blair, who settled on the West Side, in 1836, and opened a tin-shop, where he
386 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
remained several years, then removed to Chicago. Charles Sayre was the first
tailor, and as elsewhere noted, settled in Joliet in 1834. J. Beaumont, Rod-
ney House and Elias Hyde were the first carriage makers. Beaumont was
on the West Side, while the other two settled on the East Side. Hugh
Henderson is credited as the first lawyer in the city of Joliet. William A.
Boardman and E. C. Fellows came soon after Henderson ; Boardman and
Henderson were partners in the law for a time. Fellows was from New
York, and settled first in Channahon Township, where he married a daughter
of Judge Peck. Benjamin Richardson, who settled in Plainfield Township, in
1834, and in 1836 came to Joliet, was a chairmaker, and followed the business
for some time in this city. Many of these men, noted as beginning business
here more than forty years ago, are still at their post, and it is a theme of re-
mark that Joliet has a larger number of aged business men than any other city in
Northern Illinois. To this fact is attributable, perhaps, the energy and enter-
prise and solid business qualities which are so strongly characteristic of the
" Stone City," for men usually, as they grow older, lose some of the wild spec-
ulative recklessness of youth, and weigh all new projects well before taking
hold, and younger men will make a fortune and sometimes lose one while
they look at a proposition and debate the practicability of investing in it.
The grain trade, which is one of the most important branches of business
in Joliet, was begun in an early day. John M. Wilson and Charles Clement
were the first grain merchants of the place, and used an old barn on Block 16
for storage purposes. Their net profits for the first year, and the only one, in
which they handled grain, are said to have amounted to the immense sum of nine
dollars. They made a corner in the market and retired from the business at
the end of the first year. But without attempting to follow the grain trade
through all its stages, from Wilson & Clement's "corner" to the vast propor-
tions it has since assumed, we will endeavor to give something of its present
status. There are now five able firms engaged in grain, viz.: Carpenter & !
Marsh, A. Cagwin & Co., E. R. Knowlton, H. C. Teed, Wheeler & Co. and !
J. E. Bush. Carpenter & Marsh are the heaviest dealers. As an illustration,
we give their shipments for one week, taken from a newspaper publication of
1874:
Monday 48 car loads.
Tuesday 44 "
Wednesday , 21 "
Thursday 33 "
Friday 30 "
Saturday 42 "
Total for the week 218 "
They handle annually not far short of three and a half million bushels of grain,
and all of which is shipped direct to Eastern markets. Their elevator capacity
is about thirty thousand bushels, and twelve to fifteen men are employed in
loading and unloading grain. Last year, this firm alone handled 3,750,000
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 387
bushels of grain, most of which was corn and oats, but a little wheat and
barley. A. Cagwin & Co. handle annually about five hundred thousand
bushels of corn and oats, most of which is shipped direct to the East. The
elevator used by this firm was built by Carpenter & Marsh, and will store
from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand bushels of grain. It is owned bv
M. 0. Cagwin. H. C. Teed, Wheeler & Co. handle about five hundred thou-
sand bushels annually, and have storage room for about thirty thousand bushels
in Michigan Central Elevator. They also handle pressed hay, mill feed and
wool, which, together with grain, they ship East, viz.: to Canada, New England
and Pennsylvania. E. R. Knowlton handles about three hundred thousand
bushels of corn and oats, which are shipped East. He has two elevators, one of
which was built by Cagwin, in an early stage of the grain business, and will
store about eighteen thousand bushels of shelled corn, and the other about
twelve thousand bushels of oats. His cribbing capacity is about five thousand
bushels of ear-corn. J. E. Bush, whose warehouse and elevator stand near
the Jefferson street bridge, handles about six hundred thousand bushels of corn
and oats annually, and ships both to the East and to Chicago to the latter
place by canal. He has storage room for about forty thousand bushels. As
will be seen, most of the grain handled in Joliet is shipped direct to Eastern
markets. This is done by the "Cut-off" division of the Michigan Central
Railroad, a very important road for the business of Joliet, as it avoids the
delay and expense of shipping by Chicago. Much of the grain and stock
going East over the Chicago & Rock Island and Chicago & Alton Railroads
are here transferred to the " Cut-off" Railroad, and do not go to Chicago at
all, which, added to that bought at this point, makes Joliet quite a center of
trade.
Next to the grain interest, and perhaps even surpassing it in importance and
as a source of actual wealth to the city, is stone quarrying. Joliet stone is
known throughout the State, and to a considerable extent in many other States.
From the inexhaustible supply of the finest building and flag stone, the large
number of stone buildings and most excellent sidewalks, the city has justly
received the pseudonym of the " Stone City." The neighborhood of Joliet is
as prolific of stone as some neighboring sections of coal. Indeed, from a ramble
among the quarries, we should judge the supply to be sufficient almost to build
a " Chinese Wall" around the entire State. So far, it has been impossible to
form any accurate idea of the extent or quantity of stone in this vicinity, as
the number of quarries now in successful operation required no labor to open
them other than the scraping off of the trash from the surface, and no cause
exists for going to any great depth for superior qualities of the " raw material."
As pertinent to the subject, we quote from the Geological Survey of Illinois :
'' Only from twelve to fifteen feet of beds furnishing ' dimension stone ' are now
quarried, as the bottom of this brings the quarryman down to the water-level,
and the supply has thus far been so abundant as to make deeper explorations
388 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
unnecessary. . . . The stone itself is a very compact, fine-grained, clink-
ing, magnesian limestone, but thin seams of greenish clay run irregularly
through the whole mass, which, upon long exposure in situations alternately
wet and dry, must ultimately cause the most solid layers to split up. The
separation in the quarry into ' ledges,' often twenty-four, thirty and forty inches
in thickness, simply results from the presence of somewhat thicker partings of
this same greenish, shaly clay. These beds were formerly described as com-
posed of light buff stone, while the deeper portions of the quarries now furnish
'blue stone.' The difference results from the difference in amount of oxidation
of the small portion of iron disseminated through the whole mass, the change
having resulted from atmospheric influence. The same change must ultimately
take place in all the ' blue stone ' which is brought to the surface."
Who was first to engage in quarrying, as a regular business, we have been
unable to ascertain, but are of the opinion that as the city grew and developed,
enterprising individuals gradually and mechanically, as it were, drifted into it
to supply the increasing demand for building stone. M. H. Demmond, who is
mentioned on another page as having built the first stone house in 1835, must
have been the first quarryman, though it does not appear that he extended the
business beyond his own immediate wants. JFrom that insignificant beginning
the stone business has continued to increase until it has reached vast proportions,
and the quarries in and around Joliet, in ordinary times, give employment to
more than five hundred men. One of the large quarries here in operation is
that of W. A. Steel, who employs a large number of men, and ships immense
quantities of stone to almost every part of the country, and commands a large
trade throughout this State, having shipped some sixty thousand car loads to
the Government works at Rock Island alone. The Custom Houses at Des
Moines, Iowa, and Madison, Wisconsin, and the Capitol of Michigan were built
principally from his quarries. But our space forbids a more extended notice of
Mr. Steel's well-known quarries. Bruce & Co. have one of the oldest quarries
in the vicinity and employ a large number of p men. From having been long in
the business, they command a large trade and ship extensively to other sections
of the country. The Joliet Stone Company's quarries are among the largest
and best in operation. The Company was organized in 1877, under the State
law, with G. H. Munroe, President ; G. M. Campbell, Secretary and Treasu-
rer, and D. C. Hays, Superintendent. So recently organized, they have not
yet fully developed their quarries, but furnish a superior quality of limestone,
and the bottom layers of the quarries are cement stone. They employ from
twenty-five to one hundred men, and have the most complete steam machinery
for sawing and rubbing stone in use. The Company has recently purchased
and opened a quarry in Alabama, which they are now working extensively.
The Werners are largely engaged in the stone business. Charles, William and
Adam Werner operate separate quarries, of which Charles, perhaps, does the
largest business. William Davidson & Bro. opened their quarries in 1845, and
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 389
ship largely to different parts of the country. Their quarries are on the Rock
Island Railroad and the canal, thus affording them excellent facilities for ship-
ping. Bannon and Kronraeyer both own and operate large quarries, the
former on the west side of the river and the latter on the canal, just south of
the prison, and have a large trade both at home and abroad. There are other
quarries around the city, perhaps, some of which we believe are doing but little
business, while others are standing wholly idle. In this brief glance at the
stone interests of Joliet, it will be seen that the business is one of immense
volume and value. Concluding our brief sketch, we would note the fact that
the United States Government has subjected this stone to new and critical
tests, as compared with the stone from all the important quarries in the coun-
try, and both the War and Treasury Departments for years past have recog-
nized its superiority and drawn on Joliet for immense quantities of it for the
erection of public buildings throughout the country.
The history of the press dates back almost to the beginning of Joliet. The
first newspaper, a copy of which we have before us, was issued on the 20th day
of April, 1 839, and was called the Juliet Courier. It presents a very attractive
appearance, for a country village of forty years ago, and we extract from its
well-filled columns, the following dedicatory poem, by M. N. H., whom many
of our readers will doubtless recognize :
FOR THE JULIET COURIER.
Go, Courier, forth ! and, heedless of all
The thorny paths thou may'st be called to tread,
Press onward ! breaking from the Lethean thrall
That dark discouragements may round thee spread.
Press onward ! and thy banner undismayed
Spread to the breeze that sweeps the sunny West
Our Country's banner! while beneath its shade,
The birds of Jove amid her stars at rest,
Protection all may find, and be with freedom blest !
Press onward! and with fearless heart proclaim
Rest to the weary 'neath the tyrant's yoke ;
Freedom to all who groan beneath a chain ;
Joy to the heart by stern oppression broke !
Then fearless of repulse may'st thou invoke
The sons of freedom to cheer on thy way ;
And feudal serfs from their long dream awoke,
Led by thy high report, shall hither stray,
And find beneath our happier skies a more auspicious day.
Yet shall the watchfires on our hills decay,
And factions wrangle round our sacred flame ;
The stars of Union from their orbit stray,
Like the " lost pleiad," ne'er to shine again
In our proud standard over earth and main ;
Cease not to raise thy voice until its tone
Shall rouse the Patriot to shake off the chain
That fatal luxury has round him thrown ;
For his whole country's good to toil, and that alone.
390 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
And as thy weekly message thou dost bring,
The cause of virtue ne'er forget or slight;
Nor fear to strip from vice its covering,
Before their gaze who look to thee for light !
Nor in thine intercourse with others slight
Their faith which may to thee like error seem ;
But thine untiring zeal for truth unite
With charity for those who strangely deem
Their cause the cause of truth, and THINE an idle dream.
Go forth ! and ever round thine onward course
May flowers of intellect unnumbered spring ;
And Genius taught by thee her own resource,
To thee her joyous tribute gladly bring ;
And Poesy her bright imagining,
Entwine into a garland for thy brow ;
While lofty honor bears with tireless wing
Above all dalliance with the mean and low ;
And public favor, all thou dost deserve, bestow.
' The paper was started by thirteen of the enterprising citizens of Joliet, or
Juliet, of whom were the Allen brothers, Charles Clement, R. Doolittle, Judge
Henderson and E; Wilcox. The press had been shipped to Ottawa, but not
being wanted there, was offered on favorable terms, and was bought by Joliet.
After considerable search they found a man of the name of 0. H. Balch who
had edited a paper in Michigan, and was also a practical printer, and him they
secured as editor and publisher. It was a true-blue Democratic paper, and in
his salutatory the editor promulgated this sensible doctrine : * * * " He
will only state in general terms that he intends to publish a newspaper in which
the principles of Democracy shall be enforced and vindicated, and in which the
National Constitution shall be held up to view as the foundation of our Repub-
lican institutions and the bond of our Union and as the safeguard of our civil
liberties." In its columns we find this item of news, which was probably quite
an achievement in its day, but when compared to present improvements, is
dwarfed into insignificance : " Rapid Traveling. It is stated in the Wilming-
ton (N. C.) Journal, that the mail is now carried from New York to Charleston
(by way of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad) in eighty-four hours." It ex-
perienced the usual struggle for a foot-hold in the newspaper field, and, after
many changes, passed into the hands of D. L. Gregg, a brilliant young lawyer,
and afterward a member of the Legislature, then Secretary of State, and after-
ward United States Consul to the Sandwich Islands. In 1843 it was pur-
chased by Hon. Wm. E. Tattle, who changed its name to that of Joliet Signal,
which name it still retains. He, in a year or two, sold it to Hon. S. W. Randall,
and he sold it to A. 0. Stillman, who in May, 1846, sold it to C. & C. Zarley,
sons of Reason Zarley, the first settler of Joliet Township. Calvin Zarley, before
his death, disposed of his interest to P. Shuts, the other Zarley still retaining his
interest. The firm is Zarley & Co., and their paper has ever remained Democratic,
carrying out the principles heralded to the world on the day of its birth.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 391
The Joliet Republican is the next oldest paper to the Signal. It was
originally established by A. Mclntosh in 1847, as the True Democrat. In
1848 he sold it to II. N. Marsh who owned and edited it until 1852, when
Mr. Mclntosh bought it back, and, in 1857, sold it to Joseph L. Braden, at one
time Postmaster of Joliet, who, in 1864, changed its name to Joliet Republican.
In 1866, Bruden died, and the paper being sold, was bought by James Good-
speed, Esq., the present owner, and the present Postmaster of Joliet. The
Republican is a semi-weekly paper and quite readable.
The Joliet Record was established in 1870, as a Democratic journal, and is
a live, free, outspoken newspaper. It is an able defender of the " true faith,"
and death on political stealings and unprincipled doings generally. A large
quarto paper, it is well filled with chaste reading matter, and a good fireside
journal. D. C. Henderson, the proprietor, is a man of considerable journalistic
experience, and understands making a readable newspaper.
The Phcenix is a weekly paper. In January, 1877, a consolidation was
effected of the Will County Courier, Lockport Phoenix, Lemont Eagle and
Plainfield Echo, and two other publications were added, one at Wilmington and
the other at Braidwood. An editor was stationed at each of these towns ; the
type set up by them and shipped to Joliet on publication day. The matter was
then assorted in such a manner that the reader obtained the local news of all
these points. This plan gives more home news than is usually contained in
ordinary country newspapers. Each editor has more time to devote to news-
gathering, and therefore a better paper can be published at each point and sold
cheaper than by the old plan. The issues at present, together with the editors
and proprietors, are as follows : Joliet Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, editor and
proprietor ; Lockport Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and Leon Mc-
Donald, editor ; Wilmington Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and C. H.
Duck and F. H. Hall, editors ; Lemont Phoenix, J. S. McDonald and W. P.
Haughey, proprietors, and W. P. Haughey, editor.
The Joliet Sun was established July 12, 1872, by C. B. Hayward, as a Re-
publican newspaper. In October, 1874, the proprietor issued the first copy of
the daily Sun, and since then a daily and weekly paper has been issued, the
daily being an evening paper, and the largest daily issued in the Seventh Con-
gressional District. The Sun is a live newspaper, and a true exponent of Re-
publican principles.
The Joliet News was established in April, 1877, as a morning paper, three
columns, by Charles F. Dutcher, as editor and proprietor, and was Independent
in politics. In October, of same year, it was bought by Nelson, Ferris & Co.,
and a weekly Greenback paper added. It is still owned by these parties, and pub-
lished daily and weekly in the interests of the Greenback party. It is in a
flourishing condition, and rapidly increasing in importance.
The first hotel of which we have any account was the " Juliet Hotel," and
was erected in 1834. It was kept by William H. Blackburn in 1836, but
392 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
whether or not he built it, deponent testifieth not. The " Old American House "
was another of the ancient hostelries, and could it have been imbued with the
power of speech for a little Avhile, doubtless it could " a tale unfold," and have
detailed an interesting history of early times and events. But these landmarks
have passed away, with their cramped capacity for accommodating " man and
beast," and no city of its size can boast of better or more commodious hotel ar-
rangements than Joliet at the present day. The " Robertson House," the " St.
Nicholas," and the " National " (when in operation), are models of comfort and
elegance. And a number of others, such as the " Atkinson," " Mansion,"
" Auburn," " City," etc., though making less pretensions, are comfortable
houses of entertainment.
We mentioned in the history of Joliet Township, the erection of the first
school house in 1836, which was likewise the first in the city of Joliet, as it
was built within the present city limits on Hickory street, and is or was recently
occupied as a residence by Wm. Terrell. It was built by Demmond, McKee,
Beaumont and some others for school purposes, and was also used for a temple
of worship. As previously noticed, John Watkins taught the first school in this
house the pioneer teacher, who had taught one of the very first schools in
Chicago. As the demand for school facilities increased, other edifices were erected,
and to-day the city is well supplied with substantial school buildings. The
High School, or graded school buildings on the East and West Side, are built of
stone, though not presenting as attractive outward appearance as some other
school buildings in the county. The schools of Joliet are divided into three
classes, viz., primary, intermediate and high school, and the city into two school
districts by the river. Each district has a high or graded school, under the su-
pervision of six inspectors three to each school, and all subject to the control
of the city government. Then of the ward or primary schools there are six,
viz.; The Rolling Mill, Third Ward, Fourth Ward, Fifth Ward, Sixth Ward
and Seventh Ward. Pupils are required to attend the primary schools in their
respective wards until far enough advanced to enter the high schools. In addi-
tion to the common schools, there are a number of private and Catholic schools.
Mrs. Sarah C. Mclntosh, formerly County Superintendent of Schools, and
whose term of office expired in 1877, has since opened a kind of academy,
which is rapidly increasing in popularity. She at present occupies the second
story of the National Hotel building on the West Side, and has a large and
flourishing school. Mrs. Judge Olin also conducts a private school, but more of
a primary than the one just mentioned. The Convent of St. Francis, in
charge of Mother Francis, Lady Superior, is a kind of boarding-school or
academy of a high order. The first building was put up in 1858, and a large
three-story addition made to it in 1870, at a total cost of about $13,000. It is
built of stone ; is beautifully situated on the West Side bluff, overlooking the
city, and will accommodate sixty or seventy pupils. There are about ninety
Sisters connected with the order here, but most of them travel over the country
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 393
and teach wherever their services may be needed, and only about fifteen are
here permanently. In addition to the Convent of St. Francis, there are three
good schools, aside from the common schools and the Monastery of St. Francis,
conducted under the charge of the Franciscan Fathers of the German Catholic
Church of St. John the Baptist, and are supported exclusively by the members
of this Church, without any aid from the public money. These schools are
attended by about 300 children. Thus, it will be seen from these observations,
that the stranger locating in Joliet is blessed with abundant school privileges,
and can have his choice of public, private or Catholic schools.
It is supposed by some that the first sermon preached in " Juliet " was by
Rev. George West, a Methodist preacher, whose arrival in the settlement is
noticed as being in 1833 ; while others think that Rev. J. H. Prentiss, a Pres-
byterian, was the first to proclaim the Word of God. It is pretty generally
conceded, however, that the first church was built under the auspices of the
Methodists, while the first regular church society was organized by the Episco-
palians. This pioneer was, as it is still, known as Christ's Episcopal Church,
and was organized by Bishop Chase, the first Episcopal Bishop of Illinois, on
the 16th day of May, 1835. (Bishop Chase was the founder of Jubilee Col-
lege, near Peoria.) The following were the original members : Comstock Han-
ford, John Griswold, Miles Rice, Orlen Westover, A. W. Bowen and wife,
Julia Ann Hanford and Amorette B. Griswold, all of whom, except Dr. Bowen
and wife, resided in the adjacent country. Rev. Andrew Cornish was the first
settled Rector of this Church. Before his advent, Rev. Mr. Hallam, Rector of
St. James' Church, Chicago, used to come down at times and officiate. The
church edifice was built in 1857, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Locke, now
Rector of Grace Church, Chicago. It is a frame building, cost about $6,000,
and was dedicated by Bishop Whitehouse, the second Bishop of Illinois. Be-
fore the building of this church, the society worshiped in the school house or
wherever convenience dictated. The present membership is about 160, and the
parish is without a regular Rector. The ministers who have been in charge since
its organization to the present time are as follows : Rev. Andrew Cornish, Rev.
Wm. Bostwick (who died in 1845), Rev. Mr. Brown (his brother-in-law), Rev. Mr.
Todd, Rev. Mr. Pulford, Rev. Wm. Bostwick, Jr., Rev. Mr. Locke, Rev. Mr.
Wilkerson, Rev. Mr. Gilbert, Rev. Mr. Green, Rev. Mr. Tays and Rev. Mr. Mor-
rill. A flourishing Sunday school is connected with this Church, under the
superintendence of Henry Knowlton, with an average attendance of about
seventy-five children. An Episcopal Mission has been organized at the Rolling
Mills, which is in a very prosperous condition. It was established by Rev. Mr.
Gilbert, and is usually attended by the Rector of Christ Church. It also
maintains an interesting Sunday school.
As before stated, the first church edifice in Joliet was built by the Method-
ists, in 1838, and cost $2,500. The Rock Island Railroad when built, in
1852, struck the house and bought it, allowing the society $800 for it. There
394 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
are, we believe, several claimants for the honor of preaching the first Methodist
sermon in this settlement. Father Beggs and a local preacher named Isaac
Scarritt both contend for it, while others accredit a local Methodist preacher,
Rev. Mr. West, as having preached the first sermon. Father Scarritt claimed
to have also preached the first sermon in Chicago, and to have done so bare-
footed, having been in a shipwreck the day previous, and lost his shoes. A
class was formed in the settlement in 1832, the bounds of the mission extend-
ing from Chicago to Peoria and from State line to Fox River, and from 1832
to 1835, was known as Des^Planes Mission ; from 1835 to 1837, as Des Planes
Circuit, which extended from Blue Island to Ottawa, when it became Joliet
Station, and the first church edifice commenced and finished, as above stated,
in 1838. In 1852, after disposing of their first church to the Rock Island
Railroad Company, who converted it into a blacksmith shop, the society built a
brick church, at a cost of $10,000, including a parsonage. This church was
burned in 1859, and was without insurance. The same year, their present
stone church was 'built, at a cost of $8,000, and afterward remodeled, with
$2,000 additional cost, and was dedicated by Bishop Simpson. It has now a
membership of about two hundred and fifty, under the pastoral charge of Rev.
Mr. Axtell, and an excellent Sunday school, of which Elijah Hunter is Super-
intendent. The Richards Street Methodist Church, an offshoot of this, was
built in 1877, at a cost, including parsonage, of $5,500, and was dedicated by
Rev. Mr. Caldwell. Mr. Otis Hardy bore the entire expense of building this
church, except $500. The membership, including thp Rolling Mills Mission,
is about one hundred and fifty. It has a flourishing Sunday school, with Miss
Kate Swarthouse as Superintendent. The Rolling Mill Chapel was built in
1874, and cost about $2,200. Its membership is included in the Richards
Street Church. It has a large Sunday school, and Mr. Webb is Superintend-
ent. The three Methodist Sunday schools have a regular average attendance
of about four hundred children.
St. John's Universalist Church was organized as a church society in 1836,
by Rev. Aaron Kinney. Until they erected a church they used the Court
House for a time, and then fitted up a room in " Merchants' Row," on Chicago
street, in which they worshiped. The first church edifice was built about
1840, and dedicated by Rev. W. W. Dean. It was a frame building, and cost
about $1,800. Their present elegant stone church was built in 1856, at a cost
of $20,000, and was dedicated by Rev. Henry Walworth. It has a large and
increasing membership, and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Laing. Its
Sunday school has an average attendance of about eighty children, is in a
flourishing state, and Mrs. C. A. Dean is Superintendent.
First German Evangelical Lutheran, of Joliet and vicinity, is an offshoot,
or, rather, a part of the German Evangelical Church on the West Side, of which
Rev. Christian Sans became the Pastor in 1860. In 1871, a separation took
place, and the more liberal of .the members, with Rev. Mr. Sans, organized a
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 305
church on the East Side, with the above title. They have erected a very
elegant church, but have only the basement completed, owing to a failure
to receive money subscribed by people in Chicago just before the great
fire. They are making efforts, however, to finish it off by next June, in order
to have it dedicated under the auspices of the Wartburg Evangelical Synod, of
Central and Southern Illinois, to the jurisdiction of which this Church belongs.
So far the building has cost about $6,000, and it will require $2,500 more to
complete it. Rev. Christian Sans is still Pastor of the flock he has so faith-
fully served for eighteen years, and the services of his Church are conducted
in German. He is also .Superintendent of the large Sunday school, which is
attended by from seventy-five to eighty children. A Young Men's Christian
Association and a Ladies' Sewing Society have been organized in connection
with the Church.
The first religious effort of the Presbyterians was inaugurated by the Rev.
J. H. Prentiss, in the Winter of 1834-5. Under the auspices of the Ameri-
can Home Mission Society, he visited " Juliet," and " finding that there were
even then heathen enough to justify the step," says Mr. Woodruff in his " Forty
Years Ago," "came on the next Summer with his family, established preaching,
and soon after organized a Presbyterian Church, sometime in 1835." He
preached in a little stone building that stood on Broadway until the building
of the first school house, when services were held in it. This Church had its
ups and downs, and finally died out, comparatively speaking, but was revived
under the ministerial labors of the Revs. Hiram and Lucius Foote. The
remnants of Mr. Prentiss' old church, some old professors and new
converts, were organized into a Congregational Church, under the name of
the "Union Church," and the Rev. Hiram Foote chosen Pastor. Some
years later, when it had again become somewhat lukewarm, there came a
Second Adventist, who, as an old member informed us, " turned things topsy-
turvy for a few weeks." John M. Wilson (now of Chicago) turned preacher,
and proclaimed " the end at hand " to his excited hearers, who were so
thoroughly convinced of the fact as to have their "long white robes in readi-
ness." C. E. Fellows, a popular lawyer of the time, was another of their leaders
and preachers, and took the ground that whoever provided worldly comforts for
the future would certainly be lost, and so would only buy food enough for one
meal at a time. But when the appointed time came, and this rolling world con-
tinued to revolve upon its axis in the usual way, Fellows became disgusted, and for-
swore belief in all religious sects, " and," says the old member referred to, " went
to the devil as fast as possible." Indirectly, from this old original Presbyterian
Church and upon the remains of those that followed, has arisen the Central Presby-
terian Church of the present day. As such, it was organized in 1844, by Rev.
Benj. W. Dwight, with twenty-two members, and for a time they hired a room
on the West Side, but afterward moved across the river and occupied the Court
House, and still later, the Universalist Church. In 1852, they erected their
396 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
present building, at a cost of $3,000, and, in 1871, enlarged it at an additional
cost of $3,000. It is a frame building with stone basement, and was dedicated
by Rev. R. W. Patterson and Rev. A. H. Dean, Pastor at the time. It has
now about 250 members. A Sunday school was organized cotemporaneously
with the Church, George H. Woodruff, Superintendent. E. L. Spangler is the
present Superintendent, with an average attendance of 164 children. The fol-
lowing are the names of the Pastors of this Church since organized as the Cen-
tral Presbyterian : Rev. M. Strong, called from Rochester, N. Y., preached
one Sabbath and was then taken sick and died. The next, Rev. B. W. Dwight,
Rev. R. Reed, Rev. Mr. De Loss, who built the church, Rev. J. Kidd, Rev.
Mr. Hubbard, Rev. H. D. Jenkins and Rev. A. H. Dean, the present Pastor.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized August 3, 1866, with fourteen
original members. The church, which is of stone, was built in 1867, at a cost
of $9,000, and what is strangest of all in this age of stupendous church debts,
it is free from all pecuniary incumbrances. It was dedicated by Rev. 0. A.
Kingsbury, and at present has 101 members. The following are the Pastors
from its organization to the present time : Rev. 0. A. Kingsbury, 1866-1869 ;
Rev. C. R. Burdick, 1869-1873 ; Rev. James McLeod, 1873-1876 ; Rev. Mr.
Knott, 1876-1877 ; Rev. Thomas M. Gunn, 1877, and still occupies the posi-
tion. The Sunday school was organized in 1863, several years previous to the
Church, and has an attendance of about 125, under the superintendence of D.
W. Pond.
The Baptists organized a society as early, almost, as any other religious
denomination. Their first meetings were held and their first church organized
in the building on the West Side, on Broadway, at present used as a school
house ; and one of the first Pastors of this society was Rev. S. Knapp, who is yet
living in Jolie;. This Church seems to have become for a while extinct, and
that the present one on the East Side grew out of it. The latter was fully or-
ganized February 16, 1853, a council having been called for that purpose, which
was presided over by Rev. R. B. Ashley, of Plainfield. The following are the
original members : Prudence Burdick, J. B. Wait, Jesse Kyrk, Michael Tate,
Margaret Tate, Thos.Tate, Eliza Henry, F. Crouch, Eliza Crouch, Henry Watkins,
J. C.Williams and Sarah Williams. Their meetings were held in the Court House
and other places until July, 1858, when it was resolved to build a church, not
to cost more than $8,000. This section of the country being poor,' and in its
infancy, comparatively speaking, it was determined to send a representative
East to solicit aid, and accordingly Mrs. S. F. Savage was chosen. She was
gone six months, and during that time sent to the Building Society an average
of $500 per month. In this manner, together with what was obtained at home,
their present elegant church building was erected, and dedicated to God in 1859.
The following are the Pastors of this Church since its organization : Rev. J.
F. Childs, 1853-1854 ; Rev. W. J. Clarke, 18C4-1856 ; Rev. A. B. Foskett,
1856-1857; Rev. E. P. Savage, 1859 (supply); Rev. E. Button, 1859-1862;
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 397
Rev. W. P. Patterson, 1862-1864 ;. Rev. C. H. Remington, 1864-1868 ; Rev.
A. G. Eberhart, 1868-1871 ; Rev. R. Leslie, 1871-1874 : Rev. J. P. Phillips,
1874-1877, and Rev. A. H. Stote, the present Pastor. A large and flourish-
ing Sunday school is carried on in*connection with this Church.
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches
in the diocese of Chicago.* The Society of St. Patrick was organized in 1838,
under Rev. Father Plunkett, who commenced the building of the church that
year, and continued on as money could be obtained until their zeal and perse-
verance have resulted in the magnificent stone church on Broadway, which has
cost altogether over thirty thousand dollars. Between two hundred and three
hundred families worship at this sanctuary, and there is also a well-attended
Sunday school. The sad death of Father Plunkett is remembered still by many
of the old members. He had been out on a collecting mission for his church,
and was returning home in the midst of a March snow-storm, riding very fast
against the wind, with his head bowed low to protect his face from the storm,
when his head struck the limb of a tree extended over the road, killing him
almost instantly. After the death of Father Plunkett, Rev. Father Du Pout-
davis, a Frenchman, became the Pastor, and remained about four years and
was succeeded by Father Ingoldsby. He remained also about four years,
when Father Hamilton took charge, remaining about four years, and was
followed by two other clergymen, whose names are forgotten, neither of whom
remained long Father Farley then came and remained in charge for fourteen
years, when he was succeeded by Father Power, the present Pastor. In 1868,
the parish was divided, and another formed on the east side of the river, known
as St. Mary's Parish.
St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Joliet, was separated from the original
parish in 1868, and the new parish formed under the pastorate of Rev. P. W.
Riordan, now Pastor of St. James Church, Chicago. He had been preceded by
Rev. Father Flanagan, who remained about a year, and built a small wooden
church near the Alton depot, which still belongs to the parish. Father Rior-
dan remained about two years and was succeeded by Father Mackin, who re-
mained in charge for five years. Father Murphy was the next Pastor and in
about one year was succeeded by Rev. Maurice F. Burke, the present Pastor,
who took charge in April, 1878. The corner stone of the present magnificent
church, which, when completed will be the finest church edifice in the city, was
laid by Father Murphy in August, 1877, and the work pushed forward with
so much rapidity as to have the basement ready for occupancy in one year, and
on the llth of August, 1878, it was dedicated by Bishop Foley and Rev. Dr.
McMullin, of Chicago. It is built of Joliet limestone ; is 70x132 feet, and
112 to the top of the tower. The spire will extend 90 feet above the tower,
and the entire structure, when completed, will cost about fifty-five thousand
dollars. The supervising architect is P. C. Keeley, of Brooklyn, N. Y., the
Mr. Keegan informs us that when he came here, in 1840, there was bat one little Catholic Church in Chicago.
398 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
stone contractors, Charles and William Werner, and wood contractor, Francis
Devine. A Sunday school is connected with the Church, taught by the ladies
of the parish, and under the superintendence of the Pastor.
The German Catholic Church was organized in 1852, on the West Side,
and the building commenced at the time was erected of stone, at a cost of
about twelve thousand dollars. In 1866, having become too small for the grow-
ing society, it was pulled down and a fine stone edifice erected upon the site,
costing nearly fifty thousand dollars, with a parsonage in connection, also of
stone, and which cost between three and four thousand dollars. The first offi-
ciating priest was Father Regel, a Frenchman, but who spoke the German
language. Since then, the Church has been supplied as follows : Father Cas-
par Mueller, Father Rauch, Father Charles Kumin ; then the Benedictine
Fathers had charge of it about one year, and were succeeded by Father Algeir,
and he by Father F. X. Nolte, who remained for nine years. In 1876, the
Franciscan Monks, with Father Gerard Becher as Superior, took charge of it,
and still continue to administer its affairs. About three hundred families (all
German) worship in this sanctuary.
There are two other German churches in the city, viz.: the Evangelical
Church and the German Lutheran. The latter is located on the West Side,
and is under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Synod, and is the Church to which
Rev. Christian Sans was called in 1860, and of which he remained the Pastor
until 1871, when a separation took place, as narrated elsewhere. The Evan-
gelical Church is on Herkimer and Cass streets, is quite a handsome frame build-
ing and in a flourishing condition.
Having given the first settlement of Joliet, and traced it through its differ-
ent sources of enterprise to its present commercial importance, we return to its
early organization as a village. In March, 1837, a meeting of the legal citizens
of the village of "Juliet" was held, pursuant to ten days' notice, under pro-
vision of the General Act of Incorporation. Joel A. Matteson was President
and George H. Woodruff Clerk of the meeting. The question voted upon was
whether the village should be incorporated, and was decided unanimously by
seventy-eight votes in the affirmative. An election was held at the old Ameri-
can Hotel on the 31st of March for five Trustees, which resulted in the election
of Joel A. Matteson, J. J. Garland, Daniel Reed, Fenner Aldrich and R. C.
Duncan. On the 4th day of April, 1837, the Board organized for business
and appointed Dr. William Scolfield Clerk, and thus the village of " Juliet "
was duly incorporated. In 1841, the Trustees resigned on account of the
repeal by the Legislature of the Act of Incorporation, and from that time until
185*2 it was without any form of government other than township organization.
In these early days, there was a good deal of rivalry between the east and
west sides of the river, in illustration of which we make the following extract
from "Forty Years Ago" : " The town was divided into two wards by the
river. The point contested was to get the odd Trustee, as by the charter each
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 399
ward had two. It was necessary to own real estate in the town to be a voter.
The boys on each side counted noses, and it was found that the West Ward had
a small majority. There were some then on the East Side who were not will-
ing to be fairly beaten. A plan was accordingly devised to overcome this
majority. There happened to be a circus in town, and Charley Sayre executed
to thirty-six of the circus employes a deed of a lot, supposed to be somewhere
in Bowen's Addition, and they were allowed to swear in their votes ! This
gave the victory to the East Side. But although the concocters of the scheme
were so elated at their success that they had a big drunk over it, I don't think
they ever reaped any material advantage from it. One good thing, however,
came out of the affair. Of course the circus boys did not stay to look after
their lot and pay the taxes, and Charley Sayre wouldn't, so our worthy citi-
zen, N. H. Cutter, bid it off at a tax sale for a poor widow, Margaret McGinnis,
who built a little house on it, and so got a home very cheap, which she occupied
many years." But these little contests are long past. The magnificent bridges
which span the river have united the rival sections, and no cause now exists for
jealousy or ill-feeling. In 1839, during the great financial depression which
followed the crisis of 1837, work was suspended on the canal, and from that
time until 1841 the town experienced hard times, as did all other cities, towns
and villages. Eggs sold in Joliet for 3 cents a dozen, venison for 1J cents a
pound, and other things in proportion. But with the resumption of work on the
canal, in 1845, the prosperity of the place revived and the people awoke to
renewed life. Since then, it has grown and developed into what it is now a
prosperous city.
Joliet was incorporated as a city June 19, 1852, and laid off into five wards
by legislative act. The following officers were the first elected under city
organization: C. C. Van Horn, Mayor; Aldermen N. H. Cutter and D.
Cassedy, First Ward ; Jacob George and M. Shields, Second Ward ; E. Wilcox
and T. J. Kinney, Third Ward ; E. L. Cagwin and S. W. Bowman, Fourth
Ward ; P. 0' Conner and Uri Osgood, Fifth Ward. We give below the names
of Mayor and City Clerk, from organization down to the present time :
Mayor. City Clerk. Terms.
C. C. Van Horn S. W. Stone 1852
1853
J. E. Streeter 1854
W. D. Elwood.... " 1855
" Charles Snoad 1856
Firman Mack S. S. Buffum 1857
1858
Frank Goodspeed Samuel D. Smith 1859
.< 1860
S. W. Bowen 1861
.. 1862
W. A. Strong, Jr W. H. Zarley 1863
Edwin Porter << 1864
" ...1865
400 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Mayor. City Clerk. Terms.
S. W. Bowen W. H. Zarley 1866
Elvis Harwood " 1867
" 1868
W. A. Steel " 1869
- " 1870
Edwin Porter W. H. Zarley 1871
W. A. Steel " 1872
W. E. Henry " 1873
A. Scheldt " -....1874
W. A. Steel " 1875
R E. Barber " 1876
Jas. G. Elwood " 1877
William Tonner 1878
The following are the present Board of Aldermen : M. G. Demmond and F.
E. Freeman, First Ward; F. W. Woodruff and Wm. Gleason, Second Ward;
F. Sehring and M. Moran, Third Ward ; T. A. Mason and H. N. Marsh,
Fourth Ward; Peter Collins and P. C. Haley, Fifth Ward; H. Fanning and
He*ry Schoettes, Sixth Ward ; Dorrence Dibell and J. P. King, Seventh
Ward. Other city officers are : Charles Werner, Collector ; John Gorges,
Treasurer, and Thomas O'Brien, Chief of Police. The police force consists of
one policeman in each ward, and in good discipline under Chief O'Brien.
While touching upon the affairs of the city government, we notice in the
highest terms, the efficient and well-equipped fire department. It was organ-
ized on its present basis in 1877, prior to which time it was a voluntary depart-
ment. The department consists of two engines, hook and ladder, with twenty-
one men nine men to each engine, and three to the hook and ladder, all under
charge of J. D. Paige, Chief Engineer. Recently, the new fire alarm has been
introduced, with seven boxes and two 16-inch gongs, one in each engine house.
The horses belong to the department, are well trained, and the engines are of
the very best in use. In a word, the department, under Chief Paige, is as
perfect as in any of the large cities, as a proof of which is the fact that it
captured three of the prizes at the late Firemen's Tournament, in Chicago, viz,:
First national prize, for putting out fire, $350, gold, and a silver water service
valued at $160 ; third national prize, from throwing water a distance, $100,
gold ; and third State prize, for throwing water a distance, $75 in greenbacks.
In the older countries and the larger cities of the world, there is usually
some peculiar characteristic to be observed, either in the style of architecture,
the grandeur of public works or buildings, of magnificent ruins, manners and
customs, etc., but always something to distinguish each city or people from the
rest of the world. Hence, Egypt was noted for its colossal pyramids ; Pompeii
is still famous for its stupendous ruins, and Jerusalem, the mighty city of the
plain and the Mecca of the Israelites, is famed wherever civilization has ex-
tended, for Solomon's Temple, the glory of which has never been equaled by
man. Coming down to modern times, London is characterized by St. Paul's
Cathedral, one of the most magnificent churches in the world, and Paris is
OF F
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 403
noted for the Tuileries. In our own great country, New York has her Crystal
Palace ; Boston, old Faneuil ; Philadelphia, Independence Hall, and Joliet
has her Court House. This huge pile of cream-colored granite, looming up
above the surrounding buildings, as the giant oak of the forest towers above the
insignificant willow, with its lofty cupola piercing the clouds, surmounted with
an illuminated clock, was built in 1846, at a cost of SEVEN THOUSAND DOL-
LARS (!). and is a building of which any city might feel proud. But as this
magnificent temple of justice is more particularly referred to in the general his-
tory, we pass it with this merited compliment. It is an old historical landmark
and should be highly appreciated by the citizens of Joliet.
We have alluded to the first mills of Joliet in other parts of this history
of McKee's, the Haven Brothers, and of Cagwin's and Clement & Clark's saw-
mills. The operations of these primitive establishments have ceased ; the days
of their usefulness have long passed, and more pretentious enterprises of like
character have taken their place. The City Mills were built by William Adam,
on the site of the Havens' Mills, mentioned elsewhere, and originally had five
runs of buhrs. They were remodeled in 1867, and two additional runs put in,
for grinding feed principally. This is the oldest water-power on the river ; the
dam used was built before the State dams and produces a 200-horse power,
which remains about the same during' the entire year, and which it is intended
to lease olit to other manufactories, thus making this a manufacturing district.
These mills were burned July 22, 1877 loss about $30,000 and have
never been rebuilt ; but a wire fence manufactory has been erected on the site,
as noticed on another page. Befqre they were burned, the firm, as William
Adam & Co., did a large business in addition to milling, in meal, feed, etc.,
with lumbermen, and their trade extended up among the pineries. The Joliet
Mills were built in 1856, by Houck & Preston, near the upper bridge, cost about
$35,000, and have six runs of buhrs. They are now owned by Gr. W. Hyde,
who, in 1866, built a grain elevator in connection, at a cost of $12,000, with a
capacity of about 25,000 bushels. The Joliet Woolen-Mills were quite an en-
terprise in their day, and were one of the works of Hon. J. A. Matteson, who
was the prime mover in the affair of their erection. The building was 45x100
feet, and cost about $63,000. After running about two years, it was sold to
WoodruiF, Aiken, Hyde and others, who operated it two years longer, when it
stopped work and remained idle until 1873. It was then sold to W. E. Henry,
but for several years has not been running, and is at present a useless enter-
prise. A paper-mill has been erected near where the City Mills were burned.
It was begun in July, 1877, and finished and commenced to work about the
last of October of the same year. The mill was built by Young & Riebling,
but is owned by F. H. Riebling, operated by Riebling & Kramer and run by
the power of the Adam Manufacturing Co. It cost about $12,000, and has a
capacity of from two to two and a half tons a day. Rag wrapping and hard-
ware paper are specialties, with sometimes small lots of Manila No. 2. The
404 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
mill employs usually about sixteen hands, and has its largest trade in Chicago,,
which is mostly wholesale and shipped in car-load lots.
The Rolling Mills of Joliet are among the largest works of the kind, not
only in the United States but in the world. This immense concern, known
and entitled the Joliet Iron and Steel Company, is located on the Chicago,
Alton & St. Louis Railroad, just north of the city limits of Joliet, with a
switch connecting with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. The
corner stone of the Iron Works was laid in March, 1870, and the Steel Works
built in 1873, and to their location at this point Joliet owes much of her pres-
ent prosperity. To give a full and complete history of this gigantic establish-
ment would require more space than we can devote to the subject in these
pages. A few points will be given, however, showing their extent and capacity,
labor employed, etc., from information received from H. S. Smith, Esq., Gen-
eral Superintendent. The Company's works comprise 100 acres of level
ground with solid rock bottom a few inches below the surface, upon which have
been erected the following structures : Two blast furnaces, coke and coal wash-
ing works, fire-brick works, the Bessemer works, the steel rail mills, the iron
rail mills, the puddle mill, the shops and water works. The walls of all the
buildings are of Joliet limestone, which, considering its cheapness and
the size and shape in which it is quarried, renders it perhaps the best
building stone in the world. The engine and train foundations are of dimen-
sion stone of great size and thickness, laid with but little trimming, yet nearly
with the accuracy of ashlar work, on a flat rock, the upper layei of which is
480 feet thick. The character of the masonry and the size of the stones in
the buildings are first-class throughout. To give some idea of these vast
works, the "blast furnaces," with the different buildings pertaining to this
department, comprise extreme ground dimensions of 420x240 feet ; the extreme
dimensions of the Bessemer works' buildings are 215x157 feet ; the new steel
rajl mill is 445x105 feet, and 25 feet high ; the iron rail mill is 230x80 feet,
and 20 feet high ; the puddle mill building is 190x75 feet ; the buildings of
the fire brick works are 400x50 feet. The shops belonging to the works are of
themselves no inconsiderable establishment. The machine shop is 120x70 feet,
and 20 feet high, with slate roof; the foundry is 100x60 feet, 25 feet
high, with slate roof; the smith shop is 70x60 feet, 18 feet high; the
boiler shop is a wooden extension of the smith shop 75x60 feet; the pat-
tern and carpenter shop is a 2-story building 70x38 feet, with slate roof; the
office and drawing room is a 2-story stone building 45x24 feet. The entire
force required in the steel works when running at full capacity is about 800
men, and 400 for a "single turn." The capacity is as follows: Bessemer
plant, ingots per week, 1,700 tons; new rail mill, rails per week, 1,400 tons.
The iron and puddle mills are not now in operation, nor have they been for
some time, but other departments are running regularly. That these improve-
ments are very substantial, may be gathered from the fact that eight or ten
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 405
years ago, 1,000 tons a month was the maximum capacity of the best Bessemer
works in America, and that the average production of the best English works
of the same nominal size, five years ago, was 1,600 tons per month. At pres-
ent the Joliet Works have attained a capacity of from 6,500 to 7,000 tons per
month. But it is impossible to transfer to paper in our limited space, the full
magnitude of these works, and will pass the subject with this meager notice.
The Solar Stove Works are located but a short distance south of the Roll-
ing Mills. They were established in 1871, by the late Wm. N. Moore, and at
his death passed into the hands of the present proprietors, known as the Solar
Stove Works A. Cochran, President; F. S. Moore, Treasurer, and I. D.
Stevens, Secretary. Since the first organization of these works, they have
enjoyed an uninterrupted prosperity. They employ about forty men, turning
out annually some 3,000 cook stoves and 40,000 pieces of hollow-ware, consum-
ing 3,000 tons of the best pig iron in their production. The stoves of which
they make a specialty, are the Commonwealth, Interior, Columbia, Fidelity and
the George Washington. They also manufacture a Cooper's Barrel Heater,
which has been sold and used in nearly every State and Territory in America.
The company has a large trade and are shipping quantities of stoves through
the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota, and
Dakota Territory.
As a manufacturing city, Joliet has considerable prominence among the
cities of Illinois, and its location is favorably adapted to this kind of industry.
With such a net-work of railroads, together with the canal, it has the very best
shipping facilities, and then the water-power is of incalculable value to the manu-
facturing interests, and should the whole force of the water-power of the Des
Planes contiguous to Joliet be utilized, her citizens will be convinced of the
fact that " there's millions in it." One of oldest manufacturing establishments
now in operation in the city is the Joliet Manufacturing Company. It was
originally established in Plainfield, under the firm name of Dillman & Co., in
1849, as a foundry and a machine shop. In 1863, it was removed to Joliet,
and was still operated by the old firm until 1867, when it was merged into a
stock company with the above title, and A. H. Shreffler, President ; L. E. Dill-
man, Treasurer, and E. C. Dillman, Secretary. From twenty-five to eighty
men are employed, and a specialty is made of corn shellers ; but reapers, mowers
and plows were at one time largely manufactured by these works. Capital stock
is about $69,000, and the factory is near the Michigan Central Depot. R.
Sandiford, successor to the firm of Sanger & Co., and proprietor of the Joliet
Agricultural Works, located near the Jeiferson street bridge. These works
manufacture land rollers, Champion reapers and mowers, horse-powers, etc., and
is an extensive establishment of the kind, employing usually from ten to fifteen
hands. It furnishes power to the factory of the Joliet Wire Fence Company.
The Adam Manufacturing Company was organized and commenced business
in April, 1877 William Adam, President; F. G. Stanley, Vice President, and
406 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
W. J. Adam, Secretary and Treasurer, with $10,000 capital stock. The Com
pany manufactures barbed fence wire and staples ; from two to two and a half tons
of the former per day, and about one ton of staples, is the capacity of the works.
From twenty-five to thirty hands are employed, and the items mentioned are
specialties, though other work is done to some extent. The water-power of the
Company is excellent, the best perhaps on the river, as well as the oldest, and
furnishes power to the paper mill, as elsewhere noticed. The Lock Stitch Fence
Company, manufacturers of barbed wire for fence purposes, have their office at
the Joliet Manufacturing Company, and their factory near Hyde's Mills at the
upper bridge. This Company employ about fifteen men, and their capacity is
from one and a half to two tons per day.
The Joliet Wire Fence Company has a factory just below the Jefferson
street bridge, the power of which is furnished by Sandiford's Agricultural
Works ; it also has a factory at the prison, with its business office on the
west side of the public square. The capacity of the two establishments is suf-
ficient to require the employment of about seventy men, continually. The
Company was organized October 1, 1866, with capital stock of $65,000. H.
B. Scutt, President ; W. S. Brooks, Treasurer, and J. R. Ashley, Secretary.
This is the pioneer establishment, and succeeded H. B. Scutt & Co., who were
the first parties to manufacture barbed wire in Will County. They have a large
and growing trade, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, and from the
St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. There are, we believe, some other factories
of this branch of industry about to begin operations, but of them we have but
little information. From the facts given it will be seen that the manufacture
of barbed wire for fences is developing into quite an extensive business.
The tannery of Houck & Brown is quite a large establishment of the kind,
and is located near the Rolling Mills. The business was originally begun by
Firman Mack & E. Cleghorn, about 1854. Mack had carried on the business
since 1850 on a small scale. The business passed into the hands of M.
Cleghorn (after the death of Mack, which occurred by drowning), who built the
present works about 1863. The works were finally sold, and bought by the
present firm, who have conducted the business on a much larger scale than here-
tofore, and operate a store in addition to their tannery. They employ twenty-
one men, and their business amounts to about $80,000 annually.
The Wind-mill Manufactory of L. Leach is one of the largest of the kind in
the West. In 1871, he invented " Leach's Wind-mill," and began the manu-
facture of it, and does a very large business in wind-mills, selling in nearly every
State in the Union. He manufactures only his own inventions ; and to wind-
mills is added the manufacture of earth augers, well-boring machinery, etc.
There are several other wind-mills represented in Joliet, but Leach's is the
most extensive.
The breweries of Joliet are quite a large industry. The Eagle Brewery of
E. Porter, is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the State. Mr.
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 407
Porter erected his first brewery in 1858, which was burned down ten years
later, when he erected his present massive buildings on the West Side, which
are 80x100 feet, and three stories high. An artesian well, forty-five feet deep,
affords an unfailing supply of water for carrying on the works. The goods
manufactured by the Eagle Brewery are well known and command a large sale
throughout the country. The Columbia Brewery, by F. Sehring, is another
mammoth establishment, and sells a large amount of goods annually. Mr.
Sehring purchased the Columbia in 1868, and has since remodeled it, putting
in steam power and all the modern improvements, and it is now one of the best
appointed establishments of the kind outside of Chicago. There are one or two
other breweries in the city which manufacture considerable goods ; these men-
tioned, however, are much the largest, and have most of the trade.
The manufacture of sewer pipe, drain tile, fire and bath brick and all this
class of goods is an extensive business of Joliet. The material produced in
this section is superior to that of any part of the State of Illinois. The clay
is peculiarly adapted to drain tile and sewer pipe, and wherever the Joliet tiles
have been used, their reputation is good and their merits fully appreciated.
For more than a quarter of a century, this line of industry has been in course
of operation here, and increasing with the lapse of years, until it has become
one of the most extensive branches of business. Joliet has the honor of being
the only point in the United States where bath brick is manufactured and
makes a large quantity of them annually, while the amount of sewer pipe,
drain tile, of every size in use, manufactured each year is simply immense.
Of other manufactures of Joliet, in addition to those already mentioned,
such as brick-making, lime kilns, sash, door and blind factories, planing-mills,
etc., etc., the city is well represented in all these lines and branches; and they
are rather too numerous to admit of particularization in our limited space.
With the brief mention we have made of this particular source of enterprise,
our readers cannot fail to observe the importance of Joliet and its advantages
as a manufacturing city.
Banking was begun in a small way by private individuals in Joliet more
than thirty years ago. The first regular banking institution was the old
" Merchants' and Drovers' Bank," of which Joel A. Matteson, R. E. Goodell
and William Smith were, we believe, the principal stockholders. It was char-
tered and organized as a bank under the above title in 1850, and continued as such
for a number of years. There were, however, banks prior to this, of a private
character, or individuals who did a general banking business in a private way,
of Avhom Uri Osgood was one of the first in this business. But, as stated, the
Merchants' and Drovers' Bank was the first organized effort. In those days,
the banking system was not so thorough as at the present time, and "wild-cat"
banks were as common and as popular (?) as savings banks used to be in Chicago.
Joliet was no exception, and so wild-cat banks existed here, as well as several
sound institutions, before the era of National banks, among which may be men-
408 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
tioned the Will County Bank, the Joliet City Bank, etc. The period of
National banks dates back to 1864, and the first one organized under the
National bank law was the First National Bank of Joliet. It was established
September 4, 1864, with George Woodruff, President, and a capital stock of
$100,000. Mr. Woodruff is still President, and F. W. Woodruff, Cashier.
The Will County National Bank was organized October 10, 1871, with acapital
stock of $100,000, and Henry Fish, President; Calvin Knowlton, Vice President,
and George P. Jones, Cashier. In January, 1873, Calvin Knowlton was elected
President; J. A. Henry, Vice President, and Henry Knowlton, Cashier, all of
whom hold these positions at the present time. The Joliet City Bank was origin-
ally established in 1857-58, by the Cagwins, Woodruff and others. It is still one
of the leading banks of the city, and is ably managed by Francis L. Cagwin,
whose credit is beyond question, and who, in a long business life, has always
paid 100 cents on the dollar. The Stone City Bank was organized by Henry
Fish in 1873, the first President of the Will County National Bank. He is
still the proprietor of it, and is doing a large and safe business. Goodspeed's
Bank was organized in 1870, by Goodspeed & McGovney. In 1872, he bought
out McGovney, and has since been sole proprietor. Westphal & Lagger or-
ganized the German Loan and Savings Bank in the Fall of 1875. It is still-
conducted by them and is the only banking institution on the west side of the
river.
Secret societies are probably coeval with man's existence in organized society,
and perhaps will continue to exist until the last syllable of recorded time. We
know that the causes which actuate them are beneficent and good, because the re-
sults achieved are so grand and glorious. Freemasonry bears an early date in
Joliet. From records preserved by W. W. Stevens, Esq., and furnished us for
perusal, we find that a lodge was organized as early as 1840, under a dispensation
from'the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, before Illinois had a Grand Lodge of her own.
The dispensation was signed by Most Worshipful Abner Cunningham, Grand
Master of Kentucky, and Right Worshipful Philip Swigert, Grand Secretary,
dated November, 1840, and issued to Juliet Lodge, U. D., Juliet, Illinois.
Right Worshipful C. Jackson, proxy of the Grand Master of Kentucky, came
all the way from that Grand Jurisdiction to institute this Lodge, and set the
brethren to work upon the square. It continued under dispensation until Oc-
tober, 1842, when it was chartered by the same august body, as Juliet Lodge
Np. 10. The first officers under the charter were Jacob Patrick, Master; Nor-
man Hawley, Senior Warden ; Aaron Kinney, Junior Warden ; Robert G. Cook,'
Treasurer ; Maurice Murphy, Secretary ; Thomas J. Wade, Senior Deacon ;
Fenner Aldrich, Junior Deacon ; Thomas J. Kinney, Tiler, with twenty-seven
original members, besides the officers. Among them will be recognized the names
of many of the leading citizens of that day, viz. : Jared Runyon, Thomas Will-
iams, David L. Gregg, Joel A. Matteson, James Brodie, Henry G. Brown,
Ethan Wetherbee and Benjamin Richardson, all of whom, with three exceptions,
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 409
joined the first year. This was the first Masonic Lodge in Will County, and,
from the number, appears to have been the tenth in the State. It continued
to work under its charter until 1846, when some dissensions having ariseii in
the Lodge, and the Grand Lodge of Illinois in the mean time having been or-
ganized, the latter Grand Body annulled the charter of Juliet Lodge, No. 10,
and afterward issued a dispensation to establish Mt. Joliet Lodge. In due time
it was chartered as Mt. Joliet Lodge, No. 42, by Most Worshipful Nelson D.
Morse, Grand Master of Illinois, and under which name and number it still
exists. The first officers of the new Lodge were Wm. C. Little, Master; My-
ron K. Bronson, Senior Warden ; and Joel George, Junior Warden. For years,
the first Lodge (Juliet, No. 10) had no regular place of meeting, but kept their
paraphernalia in a chest, and met on the "highest hills, or in the lowest vales,"
metaphorically speaking, but usually in the old stone block on the West Side.
The present officers of Mt. Joliet Lodge are John Gray, Master ; P. B. Ryan,
Senior Warden ; J. G. Patterson, Junior Warden ; and John S. Millar, Secre-
tary, with 160 members on the roll.
Matteson Lodge was organized under dispensation in 1855, by Most Wor-
shipful James L. Anderson, Grand Master of Illinois. In October, 1856, it
was chartered as Matteson Lodge, No. 175, and named for ex-Gov. Matteson,
one of the influential Masons and enterprising business men of the town. The
first officers were: William Smith, Master; Nelson B. Elwood, Senior War-
den ; James T. McDougall, Junior Warden ; Abijah Cagwin, Treasurer ; John
McGinnis, Jr., Secretary ; Benjamin Richardson, Senior Deacon ; W. S.
Brooks, Junior Deacon, and C. H. Swayne, Tiler. The following are the pres-
ent officers : W. G. Wilcox, Master ; J. C. Lang, Senior Warden ; George C.
Raynor, Junior Warden, and J. L. Raynor Secretary, with about one hundred
and fifty names upon the roll of membership.
Joliet Chapter, No. 27, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered in November,
1855, by Most Excellent Ira A. W. Buck, &rand High Priest of Chapter Ma-
sonry for the State. The first officers were : William Smith, High Priest ;
Nelson D. Elwood, King, and A. S. Jones, Scribe. It is in a most flourishing
state, and its affairs are at present administered by the following worthy com-
panions : David Rosenheim, High Priest ; C. C. Olney, King ; C. Puffer,
Scribe, and John C. Lang, Secretary, with about one hundred and seventy-five
members.
Knighthood, the highest order of Freemasonry, was introduced in 1858.
A Commandery of Knights Templar was organized in the Spring of this year,
under dispensation, and in October following, was chartered as Joliet Com-
mandery, ]S[o. 4, Knights Templar, by Right Eminent Sir J. V. Z. Blaney,
Grand Commander of Illinois. The first officers under the charter were : Sir
Nelson D. Elwood, Eminent Commander; Sir S. S. Brooks, Generalissimo;
Sir H. W. Hubbard, Captain General. It is at present officered as follows :
Sir John S. Millar, Eminent Commander : Sir E. W. .Willard, Generalissimo ;
410 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Sir William Dougall, Captain General; Sir J. B. Fithian, Recorder, and the
roster shows a record of 137 members. Sir J. G. Elwood, a member of this
Commandery, is at present Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Commandery
of the State. The Masonic Hall, in which all the bodies held their meetings,
was burned in February, 1866, with a loss to the fraternity of about $7,500,
including jewels, paraphernalia, the private uniforms of members, etc. No
one could enter the hall, and hence, nothing was saved. The insurance was
about $4,000. In July, 1872, they were again burned out, this time at a
loss of $8,000, with an insurance of about $6,000. They have elegant rooms
now in Masonic Block, but do not own the building. It was, however, built
specially for their accommodation, and they rent the upper part of it.
Odd Fellowship is represented by two Lodges and two Encampments. Pow-
han Lodge, No. 29, was chartered July 13, 1847. Charter members were : J.
T. McDougall, Abijah Cagwin, Phineas Wheeler, Mansfield Wheeler, S. W.
Bowen, A. Mclntosh, Harvey Wheeler and William McDougall. The charter
was issued by W. W. N. Parke, Grand Master, and S. A. Corneau, Grand Sec-
retary. The first officers were: J. T. McDougall, N. G.; Phineas Wheeler,
V. G.; S. W. Bowen, R. S.; A. Cagwin, Tr., and Wm. McDougall, P. S. The
present Noble Grand is William Hingston, and R. Sandiford, Secretary, with
sixty-five members. As a matter of interest, we would state here that S. 0.
Simonds, a prominent merchant of Joliet, was Treasurer of this Lodge for nine-
teen years, without interruption, besides holding other offices of distinction in
the fraternity.
William Tell Lodge, No. 219, was chartered October 13, 1857, by Augustus
C. Marsh, Grand Master, and Samuel Willard, Grand Secretary. The charter
members were : Leopold Schwabacher, Adam Werner, Sol. Louer, Gabriel
Hauch, J. L. Guirard and- Martin Wagoner. Joliet Encampment, No. 72, was
chartered by Charles Parke, Grand Patriarch, and N. C. Mason, Grand Secre-
tary, October 8, 1867, and the following were charter members : Ed. Cleghorn,
A. D. Edgworth, G. H. Uchlman, Isaac S. Watson, Jacob Whitmore, Gabriel
Hauch, Fred Schring and C. C. Braun. Eagle Encampment, No. 139, re-
ceived its charter from A. H. Lichty, G. P., and N. C: Mason, Grand Secre-
tary, October 8, 1872. The charter members were : A. D. Edgworth, Frank-
lin Haines, James McEvoy, F. J. Richards, John Brown, John F. Tarball and
George S. Kinney. The present C. P. is W. L. Green, and C. B. Brainard,
Scribe. Pocahontas Lodge, No. 59, Daughters of Rebecca, was chartered Oc-
tober 14, 1873, by G. Bross, Grand Master, and N. C. Mason, Grand Secre-
tary; This is an order conferred on the female relatives of members of Odd
Fellowship.
By far the most important item in the welfare of a city, and that which adds
to the health and prosperity of its citizens, is a plentiful supply of pure, fresh
water, and on this element, in a measure, its safety depends. The blessed,
health- giving water ! No poison bubbles on its brink ; its foam brings not mad-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 411
ness and murder, and no blood stains its liquid glass. Pale widows and starv-
ing orphans weep not burning tears in its depth, but health and life sparkle
upon its surface. The tomb of Moses is unknown, but the weary traveler still
slakes his thirst at the well of Jacob. The lofty columns of Persepolis are
moldering into dust, but its cisterns and aqueducts remain to challenge our ad-
miration. The " Golden House " is a mass of ruin, but its Aqua Claudia still
pours into Rome its liquid stream. The temple of the sun of Tadnor in the
wilderness has fallen, but its fountain sparkles as freshly in his rays, as when
thousands of worshipers thronged its gilded colonnades. It may be that Joliet
will share the fate of Babylon, and nothing be left to mark its site but piles of
crumbling stone. But the numberless wells of pure water will continue to
throw their liquid columns toward heaven as they do now. There are few cities
in Illinois that can favorably compare with Joliet in its supply of good water,
the health-giving element. The artesian wells, of which there are a number in
the city, supply an abundance of water, and that of a quality, too, unsurpassed
by any city or country. The limestone springs of Kentucky, supposed to afford
the best water in the world, scarcely equal that of the artesian wells of Joliet.
These wells, with their inexhaustible supply, are an acquisition to the city, of
which the people should be justly proud, and one, too, that will last as long as
their own granite hills. The first artesian well was put down in 1866-7, and
since that time, in addition to three public wells, a dozen or more have been
sunk by private individuals. The well at the corner of Chicago and Jefferson
streets is 455 feet deep, and at its completion raised water sixty feet, with
thirty-one pounds pressure to the square inch, and with a daily flow of about fif-
teen thousand barrels. Pipes were laid on Chicago and Jefferson streets from this
well, but owing to some defect it does not at present supply them. Another of
the city wells is at the East Side public school, and was bored about one thousand
one hundred feet deep. The other public well is on the West Side. These wells, to-
gether with the number of private ones in the city, afford an apparently inexhausti-
ble quantity of water for all practical purposes. Before the era of artesian wells
the city was supplied by the ordinary wells, in which water was usually obtained
by digging down to the gravel. From the " Geological Survey of Illinois,'' it
appears there are two strata of sand rock reached in boring these artesian
wells, one at a depth of about four hundred and fifty feet and the other at about
one thousand two hundred feet below the surface, and it is in these the best
water is obtained. But without going into a full detail of this feature, the reader
is referred to the " Geological Survey," extracts from which are found in another
department of this work.
Beyond the products of her own manufactories, Joliet makes little preten-
sions toward a wholesale trade. Though all lines of merchandise are well
represented by first-class, enterprising business men, they do not aspire to any-
thing further than a good retail trade, which compares favorably with that of
any other city of its size in this section of the State. The close proximity of
412 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Chicago would not admit of successful competition in a wholesale business ;
there are a few firms, however, that, when occasion offers, wholesale to some
extent, but make no special exertions that way. With a population of about
twelve thousand inhabitants, and such an admirable location, easy of access, rend-
ers Jolieta fine trading point, and we can safely predict for it a prosperous future.
Its citizens are intelligent and hospitable ; its merchants and business men are
enterprising and energetic, and the majority of its business houses are far
superior to those usually to be seen in country towns. As noticed elsewhere,
its grain trade is not exceeded in volume in the State, except in Chicago, and its
stone quarries are unrivaled almost in the world. Its rolling mills and other
manufactories are of the very best, and command a large trade throughout the
country. All these interests, centering here, conspire to render this city sec-
ond to no other section of the country for the man of wealth to invest his
superfluous capital. We have said that the business houses were better
than in a majority of country towns. Indeed, there are blocks of buildings
in Joliet that would be an ornament in any city Munroe's new block,
the Centennial Block, Aiken's Block, the Masonic Block, the different bank
buildings, the post office, Robesson Hall and the Opera House and many
others.
The Opera House was built by the Joliet Opera House Company, and is,
perhaps, the best appointed building of the kind in the State outside of Chicago.
It was built in 1873, is of Joliet limestone from the quarries of William David-
son, and cost $60,000. The upper part is used for an opera house, and the
first floors for stores. Of the latter, three are used by G. Munroe & Son and
the other by G. L. Vance. This building was erected "by a company, of which
the following are some of the principal stockholders : G. Munroe & Son, Wm.
Davidson, J. A. Henry, James Ducker, James B. Speer, Dr. Williams, Henry
Fish, Rodney House, R. E. Barber, W. A. Steel, F. Zirkle, J. D. Paige,
Knowlton, Higgenbotham & Co., D. McDonald and William Gleason, with
James Ducker, President; George H. Munroe, Treasurer, and C. H. Weeks,
Secretary. Robesson Hall was built in 1876 ; is a handsome stone front; the
lower part business houses, and the upper part a public hall. The post office
building is an elegant stone front building, and was erected in 1877 by James
G. Elwood, present Mayor of the city, specially for post office purposes, and
was so adapted and arranged. The lower part is leased to the Government for
ten years, at $600 per annum, while the upper part of the building is the
Mayor's office, Surveyor's office, etc.
The Joliet Gaslight Company was organized in 1857, with a capital stock of
$60,000 paid up. Hon. E. Wilcox was the first President, and superintended
the erection of the Company's works, which were completed and the city lighted
for the first time in January, 1859. The works are located on North Bluff street,
and have sufficient capacity to supply a larger city than Joliet. They have
some eight or ten miles of pipe now laid, and two gasometers one on each side
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 413
of the river. W. A. Strong, an enterprising citizen of Joliet, is President of
the company.
The Joliet Public Library was organized and opened to the public in No-
vember, 1875. It is a free public library, and is kept up by taxation. A well-
stocked reading room is in connection with the Library, where all the period-
icals and leading publications of the day are kept on file for the benefit of those
who feel disposed to pay a visit to the place. The Board of Directors of the
Library Association are : G. D. A. Parks, Mrs. H. S. Smith, Dorrance Di-
bell, Mrs. E. M. Raynor, Benjamin Olin, A. W. Heise, Thomas J. Kelly,
Edwin Porter and George Munroe. G. D. A. Parks is President; Mrs. H. S.
Smith, Vice President; Dorrance Dibell, Clerk, and Mies Charlotte Aiken,
Librarian. This association bought the books owned by the old Joliet Histor-
ical Society, and have now about 1,500 volumes, and are adding more as fast
as their means will allow them. The Joliet Historical Society was organized
in 1867, and assumed the liabilities of the old Library ; and it, in its turn, was
succeeded by the present Library. Among the private libraries of Joliet is
that of Hon. W. A. Steel, which consists of several thousand volumes, and em-
braces most of the standard works of the day, together with many old and rare
books not often found in a 'private library.
Joliet was supplied with street cars, this modern addition to city travel, in
1873. Their lines encircle the city, affording cheap transportation within its
limits to all who desire this mode of transit to "Walker's Express." The en-
terprise of a street railway was inaugurated by E. T. Chase and Norman Carl.
They sold it to a man named Cooper ; and he, after operating it for a time, sold
it to the present owner and manager, J. A. Henry. While, apparently, not
doing a very extensive business, it is yet paying a small dividend above running
expenses.
Oakwood Cemetery was laid out in 1854, and organized under act of the
Legislature in 1857, receiving its charter from the State. It is beautifully sit-
uated on a gentle eminence on the north bank of Hickory Creek, east of the
city limits, and reached by a branch of the City Railway. The grounds are
handsomely and artistically laid out with serpentine walks and drives, well
graded and graveled. Cultivated flowers, ornamental shrubbery and native
forest trees add their beauty to the place, while the " green grass grows rank in
the vapors of decaying mortality." The beauty and care bestowed on the
grounds show a kind regard for the " loved and lost " by surviving friends. St.
Patrick's Cemetery (Catholic) is a beautiful burying-ground, and kept in good
order by the Catholic citizens of Joliet. St. John's Cemetery (German Cath-
olic) is situated northwest of the city, and is a beautiful and well-kept church-
yard.
The professions, both legal and medical, are well and ably represented in Joliet,
and combine an array of talent that will compare favorably with any city in the
State. As a work of this kind is not devoted to eulogiums or fulsome puffs of
414 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
any one, we shall not attempt to particularize the professions beyond the bestowal
of a well-merited testimonial to their character and worth. Joliet has also pro-
duced some eminent men men who have filled high positions with credit to
themselves and honor to their conntry. In the court, the camp, upon the bench,
and at the holy altar, they have figured with distinction. And at the head of
the State Government, in the halls of the law-makers, and as our representa-
tives abroad, they have acquitted themselves with honor and the dignity due
their exalted stations. As the "notables" have been particularly mentioned,
however, in the general history, we will leave the subject, and conclude our
history of Joliet sans ceremonie.
LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP.
This town is diversified between woodland and prairie, and is divided by the
Des Planes River & the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which pass through it
from north to south. Away from the river-bottom, the elevation rises almost
to abrupt bluffs, beyond which, on either side, are beautiful table-lands or broad
rolling prairies of the most productive soil, relieved only by a belt of timber on
the east side of the Des Planes, mostly in Lockport, but extending a short dis-
tance into Homer Township. A peculiarity of this section of the country is
said to be the non-existence of timber on the west side of the water-courses.
Old settlers mention this fact and advance their theories as to the cause,
some of which are vague and far-fetched ; but without attempting to solve the
problem, we will state upon the authority of several parties of this vicinity,
that not a tree stands on the west side of the Des Planes but such as have been
transplanted by the white people, while a fine forest lined its eastern shore at
the time of the early settlement. As regarding this strange freak of nature,
we will pass it with the philosophical reflection of the schoolboy, whose theory
as to the cause of the magnetic needle pointing to the north was "that it is a
way it has." As a civil* township, Lockport is described as Town 36 north,
Range KXeast of the Third Principal Meridian, and is bounded north by Dupage
Township, east by Homer, south by Joliet, west by Plainfield. and is one of the
wealthy towns of Will County.
The first .permanent settler in Lockport Township was Armstead Runyon,
who came to the neighborhood in October, 1830. He was born in Kentucky,
but removed to Ohio when but 15 years old, where he remained until 1827,
when he came to Danville, 111. Here he remained until his removal to
Lockport, as above stated. His first Winter in this section was that of the
"deep snow," so vividly remembered by the few old settlers still surviving, and
who were here that memorable Winter. Mr. Runyon had a large amount of
stock, most of which he left at Danville, except some hogs which he brought
with him, thinking they would winter on nuts and acorns, but they all perished
during the deep snow, as he had nothing to feed them. The next Spring, as
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 415
soon as the snow had sufficiently disappeared to allow travel with safety, he took
his men and went to Danville after the remainder of his stock and for provis-
ions. The high waters, consequent on the melting of such quantities of
snow, detained him six weeks beyond the time he expected to be gone, and his
family run short of provisions before his return. Mrs. Boyer, of Lockport, a
daughter of Mr. Runyon's, informed us that for several weeks before he returned
they had nothing to live on but salt pork and corn bread made of meal so
musty that it did not seem fit for a dog to eat. She remembers but two fam-
ilies then living in what is now Lockport and Homer Townships besides her
father's, viz., Edward Poor and a man named Butler, who lived where Mr.
Milne now lives. Of Butler she remembers but little except that he lived
there ; but whence he came or whither he went she has forgotten. When her
father decided to remove to this section, he gathered up, brought his family and
hired men to the place and lived in a tent until he got his cabin ready to move
into. Mrs. Boyer remembers very distinctly how the prairie wolves used to
come round that tent and render the night hideous with their blood-curdling
howls. When the news came of the Black Hawk war, and that the savages
were moving in this direction, Mr. Runyon was plowing in the field, which he
continued -until noon notwithstanding the exciting rumors. He then gathered
together his family and what goods he designed to take, and moved on to Hick-
ory Creek, where the settlers were to rendezvous preparatory to retreating
toward Danville. But upon his arrival there he found they were already gone.
His company consisted of his own family, Edward Poor's, Holder Sisson's and
Selah Lanfear's. Finding that the Hickory Creek people were gone, they held
a council of war, and, at Mr. Runyon's suggestion, went to Chicago, or Fort
Dearborn, instead of Danville, as originally intended. He was also the first to
propose to come out from Chicago and build the block house which was built on
Mr. Sisson's place, as noticed further on. Indians were plenty in this section
when they first settled here, but of the friendly Pottawatomies ; and Mrs. Boyer
remembers an encampment, or Indian town, on both sides of her father's place,
and their trail from the one to the other was by the house. They used nearly
always to come in when passing, but did nothing wrong and generally behaved
very well. While Mr. Runyon was gone to Danville, and detained so long, it
was reported that the small-pox was at the Indian camps, and Mrs. Runyon
efused to let any of them come into her house ; when they were seen approach-
ig, the proverbial latch-string was drawn in. This very seriously offended the
''noble red men," but they offered no molestation. Mr. Runyon went to Cali-
fornia in 1849, where he lived until his death, which occurred in September,
1875. His daughter, Mrs. Boyer, made a trip there to see him the Summer
before he died. Though one of the very earliest in this section, he had been
away so long that none but the oldest settlers remember him personally.
Many of the early settlements of Lockport were made by New Yorkers
men of intelligence and enterprise qualities still distinguishable at the present
416 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
day. Among these early pioneers, we may mention the following from the Empire
State: Holder Sisson and his brother-in-law Cyrus Bronson, Selah Lanfear,
Lyman Hawley, and his son Warren Hawley, Nathan Hutchins, William
Thomas, William Gooding, Isaac Preston, A. J. Mathewson, David C. Baldwin,
Edward P. Farley, Col. James Wright, James S. Baker, Justin Taylor, Horace
Morse, Hiram Norton, Henry Bush and perhaps others. Sisson was one of the
first settlers in the township, and located on the east side of the river, in Octo-
ber, 1831, on what has since been known as the Hanford place. He was born
in Rhode Island in 1790, and died in April, 1878, at the ripe old age of 88
years. Though born in Rhode Island, most of his life had been spent in New
York, until his removal to the West. He served six months in the war of 1812:
was Captain of a company during the Black Hawk war, and built a fort or
blockhouse on his place near the village of Lockport, in the Spring of 1832.
He first located in Indiana, near the present city of Evansville, at which time
the country was new and very sparsely settled. During the fifteen years he
remained there, he improved five farms, and, finding no market there for his
produce, built flatboats and carried it to New Orleans. As an example of his
indomitable energy, of the four trips he made to the Crescent City, he returned
from two of them on foot. From this Indiana settlement he returned to New
York, but did not remain long, until he again removed to the West, as already
noticed, in October, 1831, and settled in this township. When the Black
Hawk war broke out, the families of the few settlers were removed to Fort
Dearborn (now Chicago) for safety ; they made the trip to that haven of peace
in ox-teams, and on the return to the settlement of the men, Mr. Sisson was
elected Captain, and proceeded at once to build a blockhouse, and make prepar-
ations for defense. On receiving his command, he was ordered by Gen. Scott
to proceed with his company to Indian Creek, in La Salle County, and bury the
unfortunate whites massacred there by the Indians. In November, after set-
tling in Lockport, he went to Michigan where he had sold a drove of cattle "on
time" while living in the Wabash country, to try to make some collections; but
the trip was a fruitless one, as well as one of privation both to him and his
family at home, which at that time consisted of a wife and five little children.
The Winter set in, and he was detained long beyond the time he had intended
remaining ; his family was almost without provisions, or any of the necessaries
of life. During his absence his wife had to go out and cut wood in the forest
and carry it to the cabin to keep her children from freezing. There were few
neighbors, and they were at a distance ; Indians were plenty, but mostly of the
friendly Pottawatomies, and under these circumstances, the heroic woman
endured the long absence of her husband ignorant of his fate, and hardly daring
to hope for his return, owing to the severity with which the Winter had set in.
His sufferings and perils were great, and a man of less courage and energy
would have sunk beneath them. As he was returning from this fruitless trip,
while crossing Mud Lake with his Indian pony, the ice gave way and pony and
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 417
rider were submerged ; the weather was piercing cold and the snow nearly two
feet deep. It was night, and in his frozen clothes he rode on to his home, not
knowing whether he would find his wife and children alive or dead. Upon his
arrival, finding them all well and comfortable as could be expected under the
circumstances, he sat down and wept like a child. But we draw a veil over the
meeting, and, as the novelists say, leave it to be imagined ; to describe it is
beyond the power of any who never experienced a similar meeting. Soon
after the close of the Black Hawk war, he sold his claim to Comstock Hanford
and removed to the west side of the Des Planes, on the bluff where George
Wightman (who married Mr. Sisson's youngest daughter) now lives. The
second night after his removal to this place, a prairie fire, one of those terrors
to the early settlers, came well-nigh ruining him. Sixty tons of hay, standing
in ricks, were burned, and to-day handfuls of the cinders can be picked up on
the spot where the ricks stood. Of 170 head of sheep, they were all burned to
death or injured so that they died from the effects, with the exception of six or
eight ; and of forty head of cattle, many died from the scorching, and those left
he was obliged to sell for a dollar or two apiece to prevent them from starving
on his hands, as he had nothing left to feed them.
Such were the hardships borne by the pioneers who made this country what
it is, and prepared for us homes which cannot be surpassed in any State, or in
any country. And yet we frequently hear people complaining of hard times.
Hard times ! Why, the present generation knows no more of hard times than,
to use a homely phrase, "a hog does of holiday." The few survivors who set-
tled here forty years ago or more can bear witness to the fact of hard times now
and then. Mr. Sisson was elected one of the first Commissioners of Cook
County, when Will, Du Page and Lake were included in Cook ; and when Will
County was set off, was one of its first Commissioners, both of which facts stand
as evidence of his integrity and ability. At the time of sale of the Govern-
ment land, he was selected by his neighbors to look after their claims and inter-
ests, and all who remember the period of " claim law," know something of the
importance and peril attaching to his position. But a look at his face, or his
ringing voice, assured all that with him it was not safe to trifle. When Mr.
Sisson died, the Lockport Standard paid an eloquent tribute to his worth, from
which we make the following extract : "His word was law, his courage has been
for nearly two generations a household word; no taint of suspicion mars the
soundness of his private and public character. His children simply worshiped
him, and they are a unit in the expression that he was never known to do a
mean thing, or set a bad example. His Avidow's views are tersely expressed
in these few words to the writer, that he was the most upright and per-
fect gentleman she ever knew; that his judgment was always clear; he knew
no side but the right. Through all his apparent sternness, he was exceedingly
social, and in many directions as confiding as a child, as loving as a woman;
and it is no exaggeration to say that few lives are so complete in all their details
418 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
and leave so rich a legacy to those that live after it." Cyrus Bronson, a
brother-in-law to Sisson, settled on Section 10, on west side of the river, in 1834.
He was born in the land of wooden nutmegs, but had lived some time in New
York before removing to Illinois. He was killed by lightning in September,
1857, leaving several sons to perpetuate his name. Cyrus M. Bronson lives
one and a half miles from where his father settled forty-four years ago ; another
son, Montraville Bronson, lives in the village of Lockport; David H. Bronson
lives in Me Henry County and Eliel S. Bronson lives in Dupage Township.
The widow of Mr. Bronson is still living but is quite old and rather feeble.
Cyrus M. Bronson, one of the sons above referred to, is quite a remarkable
man and has a most tenacious memory. In fact, as pertaining to early events,
and dates of particular occurrences, he is a walking encyclopedia, and we have
drawn on him extensively for information contained in these pages. Nathan
Hutchins settled under the bluff on the place where Fitzpatrick now lives, who
bought it of Hutchins. The latter's father came with him to this country, but
did not live long was a very oH man when they settled here, and died in 1835,
one of the first deaths which occurred in the town. A brother of Hutchins
came out in 1834 ; and remained two years, when both removed to the neighbor-
hood of Rockford. He was a great hunter (the brother) and had but one eye,
which adapted him for shooting without the trouble of having to close an eye to
draw a bead. A. J. Mathewson, the present County Surveyor, came West in 1837,
and was some time engaged in surveying the canal. In 1865, he was appointed
by the Board of Public Works of Chicago, for deepening the Canal, and, in
1867, was engaged to make a survey of the Illinois River from La Salle to its
mouth. He still resides in the village of Lockport, with an office in Joliet.
William Thomas, General Superintendent of the Illinois & Michigan Canal,
with headquarters at Lockport, settled in Michigan in 1836, but after a time
returned to New York. In 1871, he was appointed Superintendent of the Canal
which position he still holds. D. C. Baldwin settled in this township in 1834,
where, after farming a number of years, sold out and removed into the village,
embarking in the mercantile trade, which he still pursues. He is noted for
having taught the first school in Homer Township. Horace Morse came about
1835, and is mentioned as the first tavern-keeper of the township.
William Gooding, together with the family of his father, who are also men-
tioned in the history of Homer Township, came to Illinois in 1833. He had
been prevented from coming earlier on account of " wars and the rumors of
wars" of Black Hawk. He and his wife and infant son were the first passen-
gers to come around the head of Lake Michigan with the United States mail,
and arrived in Chicago in May of the year mentioned, when the metropolis of
the Great Northwest was mighty in nothing but its mud and mire, and con-
tained but about one hundred and fifty inhabitants besides the garrison. Three
days later, they arrived in Gooding's Grove, then a part of Cook County. In
1836, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Illinois & Michigan Canal,
/ : v ~
.. _ '. ..
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 421
which position he held until its completion, in 1848. He traveled over the
first completed section of railway in the United States, from Albany to Sche-
nectady, N. Y. The cars were something like old-style stage-coaches, and were
drawn by horses. He died at his home in Lockport, in May, 1878. E. P.
Farley settled in this township in 1837, but of him not much could be ascer-
tained. The Hawleys settled here in 1835. The father, Lyman Hawley, set-
tled near where Warren Hawley now lives, and at the time, there was not a
house or cabin between bis settlement and Plainfield. The elder Hawley is
dead, but his son, Warren Hawley, is still alive, and one of the thrifty farmers
of the country. Isaac Preston came to the settlement in 1836. He was born
in New Jersey in 1792, and had lived some time in New York before coming
to Illinois. He remembers to have seen his father with crape on his arm, as
mourning for Gen. Washington, when the "Father of his Country" laid down
his earthly life. J. B. Preston, a son of Isaac Preston, was a man of much
note, and is said to have been the youngest man that ever received the office of
Surveyor General. Hiram Norton was one of the most enterprising men the
town of Lockport has known, and did more in his day, perhaps, for the build-
ing-up of the place than any other man ; and though he has long since gone to
his reward, the evidences of his works are still seen and felt by those who sur-
vive him. Col. Wright sprung from a good old Revolutionary stock, his father
and grandfather both having served in the great struggle for independence, and
participated in many of its battles. He came from Saratoga, N. Y., to Illinois,
in 1833, and to Lockport Township in 1837, and settled in the present village
of that name, on the identical spot where he now lives. He was bronght up
on the battle-ground of Stillwater, where Burgoyne received his first check, and
which was the first of a series of brilliant engagements that resulted finally in
the surrender of the British General and his proud army to the Continental
forces under Gen. Gates. Col. Wright's father owned the farm upon which
stood the house in which Gen. Frazer died. All readers of our Revolutionary
history are familiar with the death of that gallant officer. One historian thus
describes it, in the battle of Stillwater : " Here Arnold did an act unworthy of
the glory of the well-fought battle. He ordered up twelve of his best riflemen,
and pointing to Frazer, who, on horseback, with brandished sword, was gal-
lantly animating his men, he said : ' See that officer. Himself is a host. Let
mo not see him long.' The riflemen flew to their places, and in a few moments
the hero was cut down." Col. Wright says he has often seen the blood-stain
on the floor of this house, where Frazer was laid, just under the window, when
brought in wounded, and where he breathed his last. A few years ago, there
was, says the Colonel, a pot of gold found buried in the barn upon this same
farm, and is supposed to have been buried there by some of the British officers.
Baker settled in the present village of Lockport in 1837, where he has ever
since resided. He is a carpenter by trade, and has always followed that busi-
ness, and perhaps has left his mark on as many edifices as any other man of his
422 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
age in Will County. There are, he says, but three men living now in the vil-
lage that were here when he came, viz., A. J. Matthewson, D. C. Baldwin and
Joshua Croneen. The village proper of Lockport was laid out, but there were
no houses except the Canal office and perhaps a log cabin or two. In one of
the latter a man had lived for a time, named Everdeen, but had moved to Bach-
elor's Grove. There are some who accredit the man Everdeen as the first set-
tler in Lockport Township, but we have been unable to learn anything very
definite concerning him, and, from information received from other sources, are
of the opinion that he was not the first settler in the town at all. He moved
to Bachelor's Grove, in Cook County, but what further became of him we do not
know. Selah Lanfear settled here in 1832, and was so near the line as to be hard
to say whether he was in Lockport or Homer Township. He was in the block-
house during the Sac war, a member of Capt. Sisson's company. He was a
brother of Deacon Asa Lanfear, who settled in Homer a few years later. Jus-
tin Taylor settled here in 1834, but had come out the year before, on a tour of
inspection. He was at Chicago at the Indian treaty, and saw several hundred
Indians start for their new hunting-grounds beyond the Father of Waters. He
died in 1847. His widow married William Sanborn, and is still living. A
coincidence in the family may be mentioned in the fact that they have four sons
dead and four living, one daughter dead and one living. Alomon Taylor, a
brother of his, came here in 1835, and settled on the farm just north of where
Fitzpatrick now lives. He went to California in 1850, and died from an acci-
dent received there. In 1852, his widow married Jacob Smith, and at present
lives about a mile from their original settlement. Joseph Heath came from
Hartford, Conn., about 1834, and settled where C. S. Allen now lives. He
was a young man then, but afterward married and raised a large family of
children, who have gone out in the world to do for themselves, and he has re-
moved to Minooka, where he now lives, enjoying his wealth, gained by a life of
honest toil. Thomas Webb also came from Connecticut, and settled where
Stephen Williams now lives, in August, 1833. He had lived for a time in
Ohio before coming to Illinois, and after remaining on this place about four
years, moved just over the line in Dupage, where he died, in 1840. Michael
Noel was a son-in-law, and lived on the place for some time after Webb moved
away, when he finally sold it to Williams, who now occupies it, as already
stated. William Rogers was from Ash tabula County, Ohio, and settled near where
Daggett's mill now stands, in 1832 or 1833. Mrs. John Giffin, a daughter of
his, is living about one mile southwest of Lockport village. He finally moved
up on the bluff, where he died, some years later. His widow afterward mar-
ried John Mulligan, a man of Irish extraction, but had been raised mostly in
England, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. It is said that she loved
him most devotedly. He was on his way to Pike's Peak, during the gold ex-
citement of 1869, when he died, and she had him brought back and interred at
home. She then rented the farm and went to live with her children, in Livings-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 423
ton County, where she died, about three years ago, but made the request that
he should be disinterred and taken to that locality and buried before her, ^and
she then laid by his side. Her request was complied with, and side by side
they sleep. Harvey and Thomas Reed were from Kentucky ; the latter came
in 1832, and the former in 1834 or 1835, and settled where William Mauer now
lives. He went to California during the gold excitement of 1849-50, and to
Pike's Peak during that excitement, in neither of which he seems to have
amassed any great fortune, thus verifying the saying that " a rolling stone gath-
ers no moss." Thomas Reed settled where D. Mallon now lives, on the West
Side. He sold out about 1858 or 1860, and removed to Iowa, where he died, a few
years ago, more than 90 years of age. He was a warm-hearted Kentuckian,
fond of his bitters, good-natured and jolly, but whole-souled, and generous
to a fault.
James B. Marvin settled in this township in 1834, about one mile east of
the village, where he lived until his death, which occurred a few years ago. He,
with Mr. Mason, mentioned more particularly in the history of Homer Town-
ship, made the trip to California, overland, during the gold fever in 1849 and
1850. They were in Sacramento City when it was burned as a huge bonfire
on the election of Gen. Pierce as President of the United States. A son of
Marvin now lives on the homestead, and the place has never been out of pos-
session of the family since its entry in 1834. Hale S. Mason first settled in
Homer Township, where his history is more fully given, but has lived in Lock-
port since 1846. B. B. Clarke, whose father settled in Plainfield, and lived
for years in Dupage Township, where their history is given, is now a prosper-
ous merchant in the village of Lockport. Gen. James Turney was from Ten-
nessee and John W. Paddock from New York, the first representatives of the
legal profession, and came about 1836 or 1837. Luther C. Chamberlain came
from New York, but settled first in Homer Township. Dr. Chancy White was
an early settler, and one of the first physicians. Joseph Haight was from the
Nutmeg .State, and settled in 1834. Patrick Fitzpatrick is a son of " Ould
Erin," but had resided in Canada from early youth until he came to Illinois.
His first visit was in 1832, but owing to the Sac war then going on, he returned
to Canada where he remained a year and a half, and came back to this section.
He bought the claim of Nathan Hutchins, and settled on the bluff west of the
village of Lockport, where he still lives. He is one of the few old landmarks
still left in the country. When he settled here, he says there was not a cabin
from his place to Plainfield, and Will County was a part of Cook. He voted
at the first election held in Will County, but has forsworn politics since the
defeat of Van Buren in 1840.
Dr. John F. Daggett, who has practiced medicine in Lockport and the sur-
rounding country for forty years, is a native of the Green Mountains of Vermont,
and carne to this neighborhood in 1838. He entered the medical college at
Woodstock, Vt., when but 19 years of age, and taught school through the
424 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
Winter to pay his course through college, from which he graduated in 1836.
He married Angelina Talcott, of New York, a sister of the late Mancel Talcott,
of Chicago, and of Edward B. Talcott, one of the engineers who surveyed and
laid out the Illinois & Michigan Canal. He still lives in Lockport, and looks
as if he was good to practice his profession forty years longer. John Bovee
came from Ohio in 1837 and settled in this township, but has been dead many
years. Hon. Charles E. Boyer came from Reading, Penn., and first located in
Chicago, where he embarked in the mercantile business. In 1839, he came to
Lockport and opened a store, but closed it out in a short time and took a con-
tract on the Canal. He went to California in 1850, and contracted to build
Bear River Canal. He served a term in the State Legislature, and was a can-
didate for the State Senate when he died in September, 1868. Robert Milne
came from the "banks and braes" of Scotland in 1836, and stopped first in
Chicago, where he bought out the first lumber merchant of the Garden City
and engaged in that branch of trade. Although pretty well off in regard to
worldly wealth, it would probably take a longer purse than his to buy the lumber
trade of Chicago to-day. In 1840, he engaged in contracting on the Illinios &
Michigan Canal, and built five of the locks. He settled in the village in 1846,
owns an excellent farm adjacent, and devotes a great deal of attention to raising
blooded cattle, and has imported some very fine animals from the old country.
John Griswold came from Vermont, and settled here about 1834 or 1835,
where he still lives, a prosperous farmer. Benjamin Butterfield is an early
settler, one of the very early ones, and is said by some to have built the first
log cabin in the township ; but we are unable to vouch for the truth of this
statement. He was in the block house built by Sisson in the time of the Sac
war, and went to Iowa. He is said by some to have been in Homer Township,
but he has been away so long that few can tell much about him now. Judge
Blackstone, First Lieutenant of Sisson's company while in the blockhouse,
was also a very early settler, but there is some discrepancy as to his settlement,
whether it was originally in Homer or Lockport. This embraces many of the
first settlers of Lockport Township up to the time when the influx became too
great to keep pace with the arrivals. It may be that there are omissions of the
names of many who should be mentioned as pioneers, but if so we have been
unable to learn anything in regard to them. Many of thetn have gone to their
account, and others have moved away and all trace of them lost.
As already stated, there were plenty of Indians here when the white people
began to settle in the vicinity, but they were friendly, lazy, and not at all times
disposed to heed that commandment forbidding us to steal. Says the "Will
County Gazetteer," of 1860 : "From the observations of the first white settlers
in this vicinity, it is evident that what is now Lockport had long been a favor-
ite resort of the Indian tribes which had occupied this section of the country.
The spreading oaks, the clear running brooks, the rapid river, all made this one
of the brightest spots in this paradise of the red man. Here their graves are
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 425
found, their caches, or places for hiding their corn, etc., and arrow-heads, stone
hatchets and other evidences of their having lived and died here. Even after
the settlements by the whites commenced, the Indians often came here to spend
the hunting and fishing season. Another reason why this became an important
stopping-place for them was, that here was the best ford across the Des Planes
River, and a crossing could be effected here in consequence of the rapid fall and
numerous channels into which the river was divided in extreme high water,
when it could nowhere else." But the time came when, "Lo! the poor Indian,"
with the star of empire, had to wend his way westward. Their old hunting-
grounds have changed into broad, cultivated fields, and herds of domestic ani-
mals now graze where they once chased the wild deer. Their war-whoop is no
longer heard, their council-fires have gone out in the forests and few now living
remember them from personal knowledge. Mrs. Wightman says she very well
remembers the last Indians she saw in this settlement. She and others of her
father's children were sitting on the fence eating butter and bread, when two
Indians came along on their ponies, and snatched the butter and bread from
their hands. Mr. Rogers, who lived in the neighborhood, had called for some-
thing and witnessed their act to the children, became incensed, and seizing Mr.
Sisson's horse-whip rode after the Indians and whipped them every jump for a
mile or more. She was a small child at the time, but remembers the occurrence
and that they were the last she ever saw in the country. Mr. Bronson says
that when they took up their line of march for their new hunting-grounds
beyond the Mississippi, they presented a rather sad and mournful spectacle, as
they trudged along on foot in true Indian file, with heads bowed down and a
melancholy and dejected cast of countenance, that might well have become the
bard of Bonny Doon, when he wrote
"Farewell my friend.-', farewell my foes,
My peace with these, my love with those."
The first white child born in Lockport Township, is supposed to have been
Orrin Runyon, who was born on the 27th of May, 1833. He lives now in Cal-
ifornia. This is doubtless correct, as at that time there were but a few families in the
town. The first birth on the west side of the Des Planes River, in the present limits
of Lockport, was Eliel S. Bronson, a son of Cyrus Bronson, born April 23,
1835. The first marriage was that of Louisa Webb and Michael Noel, and the
matrimonial knot was tied by C. C. Van Home, a Justice of the Peace from the
Hickory Creek settlement. C. M. Bronson says that upon its being reported
that the wedding was to take place, and no invitations having been received by any
of the neighbors, he, but a boy at the time, was dispatched to Webb's to reconnoiter,
but ostensibly to borrow something, as borrowing was an every-day occurrence
at that period of the country's settlement. Upon presenting himself as an
Electoral Commission of one, he found the old gentleman sitting on a three-
legged stool, eating a piece of the wedding cake, Van Home riding away from
the place and the new bride and bridegroom sitting on the bed looking very
426 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
sweet at each other, all of which seemed to indicate that the deed was done,
which proved to be correct, for on entering the house he was introduced to the
bride, and offered a "hunk" of the wedding cake. The Webbs were from
Ohio, and Noel, it seems, had been the girl's lover before the family came West,
and for two years after their removal to Illinois she neither saw nor heard from
him, when finally he decided to pay her a visit, which culminated in a mar-
riage, the first of which we have any record in Lockport Township. The first
death was that of a maiden lady a Miss Miner, and a sister of Dr. Miner, who
lived on a part of Armstead Runyon's land. She died in the Summer of 1834,
of consumption, and was buried on what is now known as the Hanford Place.
Another of the early deaths was that of the father of Nathan Hutchins, who
lived with his son on the west side of the Des Planes, and died in 1835. A
custom prevailed in that early day of carrying all dead people to the grave,
which seemed to the simple-minded settlers to show more affection for the
departed than hauling them in a hearse or wagon. The Fall Mr. Hutchins
died was one of almost unprecedented ague, even in this ague climate, and it
was hard to find, says Mr. Bronson, four men to carry him to the grave who
were not shaking with the ague. There were no grave-yards or cemeteries laid
off at that time, and they carried him up on the bluff and buried him near where
Fitzpatrick's barn now stands. As nearly as the spot can be designated, it is
directly in front of the barn-door, where every time Fitz steps out he treads
upon the sod that covers the old pioneer ; and it would not be in the least sur-
prising should his troubled ghost rise up sometime and confront Fitz for this
apparent desecration of his lowly resting-place. The following circumstance is,
perhaps, not out of place in this connection. A son of Nathan Hutchins went
to Chicago with a wagon and team. He carried a load of produce to be exchanged
for groceries and such goods as were needed at home. They were then living
near Rockford, having moved to that section in 1836. The young man's team
was found stabled by some one who recognized it, and word sent to Hutchins,
who came and took it home. It had been there several days, the proprietor of
the stable feeding and caring for it without knowing to whom it belonged. From
that day to this, the young man has not been heard of. It is said that he had
a little money, and whether he ran away or was murdered is, and will perhaps
remain forever, one of the unrevealed mysteries.
The first practicing physician in Lockport Township was a Dr. Miner, who
came to the settlement in the Winter of 1833-34, and Jived on Mr. Runyon's
place for a year or two. He was an Eastern man, but from what State could
not be ascertained. He was a bachelor or widower, and a maiden sister lived
with him and acted as housekeeper, and is mentioned elsewhere as the first
death in the township. Mrs. Boyer remembers both him and his sister well,
though but a child at the time, but does not know what finally became of him.
Dr. Bronson was, perhaps, the next physician, and removed to Joliet. Dr.
Chancy White came in 1836, and was from New York, and now lives in Gales-
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 427
turg, 111. Dr. Daggett was, perhaps, the next, and has been administering to
.the afflicted of the community since 1838. The lawyers, stores and post office
of the township are more intimately connected with the village of Lockport,
and will be given in that chapter. The first Justice of the Peace was .Tared
Runyon, and was acting in that capacity as far back as 1836 or 1837, though no
one can now tell with certainty just when he received the appointment. One of
the first roads in the town, other than the Indian trails, was near where the
canal is located, and extended from Lockport to Joliet. In 1838, the Canal
Commissioners cut a road direct to Chicago, which bears off to the right of the
Chicago & Alton Railroad, and, in 1839, the road was opened through from
Chicago to Ottawa, on the west bluff, and which afterward became quite famous
as a stage route. It used to be a great thoroughfare of travel, when stage-
coaches were the common mode of transit. The first mill in Lockport Town-
ship, or in Northern Illinois, of any consequence, was built in what is termed
West Lockport, by William Gooding, Eli S. Prescott, William Rogers and
Lyman Hawley. Rogers had pre-empted the land on which the mill was built,
and the names given above were the original proprietors. It was begun in
1836, and completed in 1838 ; was built of stone, and cost $30,000 ; with four
runs of buhrs, and is still in operation. Dr. Daggett bought it entire in 1855
but had owned an interest in it for several years previous. Other mill and
grain interests will be mentioned in the history of the village.
The first minister of the Gospel in this section of the country was a young
man from Massachusetts, of the name of Greenwood, sent out by the Home
Mission of the Presbyterian Church, and who preached for a year and a half at
the house of the elder Bronson, on the west side of the Des Planes River.
After leaving his labors in this town, he went to the wilds of Wisconsin, and
once got lost in what was well known in an early day as the "Big Swamp" of
the Badger State, and came very near starving to death before he found his
way out. He had some property, and when believing he was doomed to perish
in the dismal swamp, sat down and wrote his will, threw it on the ground and
lay down by it to die. But reviving somewhat after a while, got up and pur-
sued his way in a kind of listless manner, until the crowing of a cock infused
new life into him and assured him that relief was at hand. He found the cabin
of a settler, who took him in, gave him food, and where he remained until his
exhausted energies were fully restored. The next preachers to proclaim salva-
tion in this township were the Methodist itinerants, Revs. Blackburn and
Beggs, the latter now living in Plainfield, resting from a long life of labor in
the vineyard of the Lord. Another of the early preachers of that day was a
Congregational minister of the name of Foster, who used to preach at the
schoolhouse, long before there was a church edifice in the town. The old fel-
low had a way of wiping his nose on his coat-tail, when preaching, a perform-
ance not altogether agreeable to his hearers; and so Dr. Daggett, with some
others, raised a contribution and bought the good old preacher a beautiful red
428 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
bandana, which, with due solemnity, they presented to him. The elder Mr.
Bronson was in Chicago one day with his team, and when about starting home
was accosted by a very polite, courteous gentleman, with a slight foreign accent,
who asked to ride out with him. He brought him out in his wagon, found him
very intelligent, and was well pleased with him. Acting upon the injunction
to be kind to the wayfaring man, for many have so entertained angels unawares,
he kept him over night, and in the morning sent him on to Joliet. A few days
later, Mr. Bronson was in Joliet, when the same gentleman came up and spoke
to him, apparently very glad to see him. He then learned that it was Father
Plunkett, sent to Joliet to take charge of the Catholic Church there, and whose
melancholy death is noted in the history of that city.
Education received attention at a very early period in the history of Lock-
port. The first school of which we have any account was taught in 1835, by a
young lady from Joliet, whose name is now forgotten. She afterward married
a man named Eastman, and removed to Chicago. The next was taught by a
Miss Royce, of Dupage Township. Both of these schools were before the
day of schoolhouses, and were taught in a little room built by Capt. lesson as an
addition to his dwelling and intended for a kitchen, but surrendered it for school
purposes. The first schoolhouse was built by the neighbors en masse, and was
a small log cabin. The work and material were donated one man giving logs
enough, delivered on the spot, for a side and an end, and another for a side,
etc., while another cut down a tree, sawed it up and made " shakes," or boards,
to cover it. A log was cut out for a window, a large fire-place with a stick
chimney, and benches made by splitting open a small tree, boring auger-holes
and putting in legs, is a pen photograph of this primitive schoolhouse. There
are some who assert that the first school was taught by a Miss Warren, of War-
renville, Du Page County, as early as 1834, just in the edge of Lockport, near
what was known as the Barnett Place. But of this school we are unable to
learn anything very definite. The schools of Lockport have expanded some-
what since that day. In 1872, we find there were 10 school districts, 1,244
pupils enrolled, 1 graded school, and 15 teachers employed. There were
10 schoolhouses, 4 districts having libraries, with an aggregate of 320 vol-
lumes, and the amount paid to teachers was $6,490. The special tax levied for
school purposes was $8,574.60 ; total expenditures for the year, $9,839.81
leaving a balance of $1,068.36 in the treasury. Further mention is made of
the schools and churches in the history of Lockport Village.
At the land sale which took place in Chicago, for the land embraced in
Lockport Township, the people had organized a kind of protective society
against speculators, and appointed one of their number to look after their inter-
ests. That man was Holder Sisson ; and faithfully he performed the duty. As
the numbers of the claims were called, while Sisson bid on it for them, they
would stand around and watch to see if a speculator bid, and if so, unless he
took it back very suddenly, they put him in the river until he did. The auc-
HISTORY OF WILL COUI1TY. 429
tioneer favored the settlers, and as soon as the Government price was reached,
it was with him "going, going, GONE." Finally, a compromise was effected,
whereby the speculator paid for all the land and gave the the squatter -half.
This enabled many to procure homes who did not have money to even pay the
Government price for a "forty" or an "eighty." As the country settled up,
old settlers say it seemed rather hard that they could not let their stock run at
large, and cut their wild hay where they pleased. When the first settlers came
in, everything was free, the country wild, and every man, for scores of miles,
neighbors. As it settled up, these things changed, and people became more and
more selfish, until it seems, at the present day, that it is every man for himself,
and the take the hindermost. Then a man would loan another a horse or an
ox, or anything else that he had, except his wife and babies, though he had
never seen him before. But now such confidence would, in nine cases out of
ten, be abused. These somber reflections are not those of the historian, but the
echo of some of the old settlers who have seen the country grow up, and have
marked these changes in the people and in their manners and feelings toward
one another.
C. M. Bronson remembers two species of birds quite common here when
his father removed to this section, in 1834, but which have long since disap-
peared. One of them was about the size and very similar to the English cur-
lew. It had a bill about seven or eight inches long, and when disturbed would
rise in the air, and, circling overhead, pronounce very distinctly the word
chelee. The other was somewhat smaller in size, but similar in appearance, and
could say very plainly, "go to work." But as the English and Irish came in,
who are fond of birds as food, and took to shooting them, they soon disappeared.
Mr. Bronson informed us that he was once bitten on the great toe of his right
foot by a massasauga, or prairie rattlesnake, and for eight years was unable to
do any work. He was finally cured by a severe attack of fevers, in which he
came near dying, but which had the effect of driving the poison from his sys-
tem, and when he recovered from it was free from the other also. He describes
a sickly season when 500 canal men died and were buried, and upon the graves
of whom not a drop of rain had fallen from the burial of the first to that of the
last. They had come from a country of a different climate, were little used to
eating meat, and here they had plenty of it, and working hard in the hot sun,
would sicken and die by scores. When one "shuffled off the mortal coil," the
others would hold a "wake;" no matter how pressing work might be, every-
thing was "dropped;" and if the departed had any^of the world's wealth, not a
lick of work would the others do while it lasted, but drink and fight, and some-
times, in their drunken orgies, prepare the material for another wake. A
grave-yard was laid out and consecrated for their special benefit, as the Catholic
Church never bury their members except in holy ground. The following anec-
dote, by a correspondent of the local press, writing under the nom de plume of
"Styx," will serve to illustrate somewhat the Irish character as represented
430 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
here during the building of the Canal. Writing of some of their little frays,
the correspondent says: "Representatives from different parts of Ireland gath-
ered into' separate settlements, and raising the old songs and war-cries that
have so often torn 'the Harp of Erin' to tatters, they have re-enacted the
refreshing dramas of 'Donny Brook Fair' and the 'Kilkenny Cats," in which
every sprig of shillalah was rampant and restless. Funerals and 'wakes'
followed on the heels of each other the 'wakes' being productive of more
funerals, and the funerals of more 'wakes!' The writer remembers seeing a
funeral cortege that started from the flat, near where the prison now stands,
consisting of a dirt-cart with the coffin and mourning occupants, and preceded
by the carriage of the priest, who led the way to the Lockport bury ing-ground.
Wrapt in that kind of dreamy forgetfulness that was introduced by the exciting
watches of the previous night, the occupants did not notice how the hind-end-
board of the wagon had jolted out, nor did they notice, while climbing the hill
at the old prison quarry, the coffin had taken a notion to slip out after the end-
board, but went on to the grave-yard full of grief and lamentations. ' Begorra,
Jamie's gone!' was the startling remark of the sexton as he reached after the
missing casket."
The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad passes through Lockport Town-
ship from north to south, and was built through in 1856. But as a full and
complete history of this great road is given elsewhere in this work, we deem it
unnecessary to recapitulate here. The same applies to the Illinois &
Michigan Canal, which also passes through the town from north to south, and
the history of which is fully given in another page. There is a point or two,
however, upon which we may touch in regard to it. That it is designed to
become, at no very distant day, a ship-canal, upon which will float thousands of
crafts from all parts of the country, there can be little doubt, since a few
shovelfuls of dirt have been judiciously removed from the low divide between '
the Chicago and Des Planes Rivers, permanently uniting Lake Michigan and
the Father of Waters. With this few miles of canal widened and deepened for
ships to pass through, it would be of untold advantage to the whole country.
There are those living to-day who will yet see mighty steamers unloading cotton
and sugar at the piers of Chicago, and taking in the grain of the prairies and
the minerals of the Superior country, steam away to the Crescent City of the
South. As pertinent to the subject, the following extract is from a speech
delivered in the Congress of the United States, by Hon. Carter Harrison, on
this very enterprise': u Fifty years ago, only a prophet could have seen at
Fort Dearborn the site of a mighty city. But his mantle of prophecy need
not have been heaven-born. It was only necessary that its woof, and fabric
should be woven of commercial and engineering sagacity, united to close obser-
vation of the little bayous and the low divide separating its waters from those
of the Des Planes River close by. That divide was only a few inches above
the average surface of the lake, and in high water the birchen canoe of the
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 431
savage passed freely from one to the other. Ages ago,
the prairie States of the Northwest were a vast inland, shallow sea. Its deep
pools were the beds of the present lakes. When 'the bottom of that sea was
upheaved and the barriers to the east and south were broken down, the waters
of Lake Michigan flowed through a long cycle of centuries, through the Des
Planes River to the Mississippi. As the prairies to the south were gradually
lifted, and the outlets to the east were deepened, the southern outlet became
nearly closed. Nature thus wrote on that low divide the first engineer's report
in favor of a ship-canal to unite the Mississippi and the Lakes. She traced
along that flat marsh in the dark waters of that little bayou the plan for tying
the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A gentle breeze parted
sister-waters in that sullen creek and carried them to far-distant oceans, where
one would be caught in the grasp of the stream coming down from Labrador,
the other to be wooed by the warm embrace of the Gulf-stream, again to be
re-united in mid-ocean." With all its natural advantages, it does seem that
the making of this a ship-canal would be one of the grandest improvements of
the age, and we have no doubt but that a few more years will witness the
inauguration of such a movement.
Politically, Lockport Township is Democratic. In the days of building the
Canal, whereon were employed so many sons of the " old sod," it polled up
sometimes rather huge Democratic majorities, as the first thought of the Irish-
man when he arrives in this country is the right of franchise, and hundreds
of them had been freshly imported for canal purposes.
"Young Barney O'Toole was a broth of a boy,
Who crossed over the sea with bold Pat Malloy.
They landed at night it was rainy withal
And the next day got work on the raging canawl,' "
It is stated, and very reliably, too, that at the Presidential election of 1840,
some of the " Canalers " voted not less than twenty times apiece ; and it is
estimated that along the Illinois & Michigan Canal there were probably 5,000
illegal votes polled for Van Buren. But with the completion of the Canal and
the exit of the "Irish Brigade," it has toned down, and the two great parties
are more evenly divided, though the Democrats still have the majority. The
name of Lockport was given to the village by Arm stead Runyon, and the town-
ship named for it. The name originated from the first lock on the Canal
between Chicago and Lockport being at the latter place, and hence, was deemed
an appropriate name.
THE VILLAGE OF LOCKPORT.
Lockport village is situated on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad
and the Illinois & Michigan Canal, about thirty-three miles southeast of Chicago
and four miles north of Joliet. The town site for Lockport was chosen by the
Canal Commissioners, and the village laid out by them. It was selected with
a view of making it their headquarters, and soon after its selection, they erected
432 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.
their Canal office here, which has ever since, with some improvements, been
used for that purpose. The village was laid out under the supervision of Will-
iam B. Archer, by a surveyor named Wampler, and the first sale of lots took
place on the 22d day of November, 1837, and lots sold to the amount of $6,000.
The Canal office was the first building of any importance erected in the town,
and doubtless had considerable influence in inducing the first settlers of the vil-
lage to come to the place. The Canal Commissioners, as well as many other
persons of intelligence, probably over-rated the advantages of this locality for
a commercial and manufacturing town. Joliet, only four miles south of the site
selected for Lockport, had at that time been laid out and established as the
county seat, and the natural advantages of its position, with the agricultural
and mineral wealth surrounding it, would preclude the existence of other towns
in such close proximity. Lockport, with all her wealth, must eventually become
a part of Joliet. It was laid out with much care, and fine taste exercised, as
will be seen from its broad and regular streets. The residences are built with
regard to beauty as well as utility, many of them being surrounded with taste-
fully laid out and highly ornamented grounds. With its eligible location and
romantic site on a sloping hillside, and withal its healthy condition, it is very favor-
ably adapted for, as it no doubt will some day be, a suburban retreat of Chi-
cago.
The first store was established in Runyontown town (now North Lockport)
by a man named Kellogg, and was but a sort of grocery store, a rather small affair.
Goss & Parks kept the first dry goods store at the same place, and at the laying-
out of Lockport proper, removed within its limits, Goss and Stephen Gooding
opening a store in partnership, and Parks likewise opening one on his own
hook. After the retirement of Stephen Gooding, Oliver P. Gooding took
charge of this, and soon other mercantile establishments were opened, and Lock-
port grew rapidly. The first building of any pretensions erected, was the
Canal office, as already stated. There were, however, several cabins and
huts put up within the present limits of the village, by the early settlers, long
before it was laid out as a village. The first tavern was built by Horace Morse,
but Mr. Runyon, we believe, kept travelers before this tavern was built, though
he did not pretend to keep a regular hotel. The first post office was established
in 1836, over on the west side of the river, at the stone mill, and Edward P.
Bush was the first Postmaster. The office remained at the mill until 1839,
when it was removed across the river to the East Side, where it has ever since
remained. While at the mill, the mail came once a week, and was brought on
horseback. In 1839, coaches were put on the Chicago and Ottawa route, and
the mail then came that way, which was considered, in that early day, quite an
improvement, and a considerable advance toward civilization. The first repre-
sentatives of the legal profession were Gen. James Turney and John W. Pad-
dock, both long since dead. At present Messrs. L. S. Parker and W. S. Myers,
men of ability, constitute the "learned in the law" of Lockport. The first
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 433
village schoolhouse was built in 1839; a small frame building, about 18x32
feet, and cost perhaps $200. It was used for schools, -religious services, town-
hall, and anything else that happened to come along. The present handsome
stone building, with its fine clock, was erected a few years ago at a cost of
$30,000 quite a contrast to the little shanty built for school purposes forty
years ago. The present building would be an ornament to any town. The fol-
lowing is the record of the school for the present year: Prof. D. H. Darling
Principal ; Misses Paxson, Gooding, Devine, Parker and Herron, Teachers.
Before Lockport proper was laid out, and as earl 
